Hello, Goodbye

Falling Again

Later that night everyone was celebrating. Everyone but me... and Claude. Lillie and I slowly snuck out without anyone being aware and went to his room. I knocked on his door gently and he immediately opened it. "Thalia? Is something wrong?" I shook my head, smiling. "No, but do you have a second." He nodded and motioned the two of us inside. I turned to him, ready to get this over with. "I'm sorry I blew up on you. It just threw me by surprise that the second I come back to Fodlan, you leave. Please be honest with me Claude. Does this have anything to with me and Small Lady?" Claude's eyes widened and he started shaking his head. "No! This has nothing to do with the two of you. I've just realized that I can't achieve my dreams here. I want to tear down the mountains that separate our world and this one. I have used my Fodlan blood to the best of my ability. And I believe leaving the Alliance in Dimitri's hands is the best decision. Also, him being with you helps me achieve my goals as well. You're just like my mother Thal. Finding love in a world that's not your own. You being with Dimitri could help me break down those barriers. Which is why I am more than willing to set aside my feelings for you."

I only looked at Claude in awe. I knew he had big dreams but I had no clue they were that big. I nodded in understanding and he gave Lillie a kiss on the top of her blonde head. "The two of you will always mean the world to me. And don't you think for a second that I'm not gonna come visit. There will be all sorts of reunions and meetings when I'm King of Almyra." I smiled at the tall man in front of him. I believe if I could admire him any more than I did that this moment would be the time that I did. "Now get out of here. You and the Prince have some catching up to do." I wrapped my free arm around Claude's neck and he gave me a comforting squeeze. "He should be in the spare chambers closest to the estate room." I gave him a kiss on the cheek as I left his room. "Mommy he's nice. I like him." I smiled at the young girl in my arms as I walked down the hall. "Me too Lillie. Me too."

I made it to the room where Dimitri should have been and knocked on the door. A moment later it opened and I saw him. He stood there in just a white tunic and a pair of black pants. He had some of his hair tied back and I could see more of his face. Despite the eye patch and the obvious signs of stress and lack of sleep he wore, he still looked like Dimitri. Lillie started squirming in my arms as she reached for Dimitri. I was so astonished. I had never seen a kid take to a new adult like Lillie was. Dimitri took her from me with a smile on his face. "Thalia, come in please." I walked into the room and the click of the door was heard shortly after. He walked over to the bed and sat with Lillie in his lap. I joined him and she stood between us hugging us both. "Thalia... what exactly happened with you these past few years? If you don't mind talking about it. I know when you found out you were pregnant and how Felix left with you, but I don't know anything beyond that."

Lillie fell down on the bed eliciting a giggle from me. "Well... I stayed in Derdriu for the duration of my pregnancy. Claude's grandfather thought it would be best until deemed otherwise. Five months after the fall of the monastery that all changed. Claude had received a letter from Felix stating that you had been executed. Hearing those words from Claude absolutely destroyed me. It was decided then, that I would go to Almyra after she was born. To prevent information from getting into the wrong hands. Which happened anyway but still. On the 15th day of the Horsebow Moon, Felix came to us with a wild declaration that he believed you were alive. I got really bad sick the same day and they had to take her. I almost didn't make it. I had lost so much blood and I kept having convulsions on the table. They thought I was a goner. But once I came to I was shipped off to Almyra. I stayed with the royal family there until just the other day."

I closed my eyes as I recounted those events. The thought of everything that had happened made my head spin. I felt an arm wrapped around me and I was pulled into a firm chest. My eyes widened in surprise as I felt warmth radiate off him. "I'm so sorry, Thalia. I wasn't there when you and my child needed me the most and I am so sorry." He pulled back from me and placed a hand on my cheek, caressing it gently. "I know I have so much to atone for. And I completely understand if you don't trust me. Especially after you seen me in the Holy Tomb that day. But I would like to at least try. If you'll have me." His voice. That was the one thing about him that hadn't changed. Tears come to my eyes as I placed my hand on top of the one he had on my cheek and smiled. "I would like that. A lot." Dimitri smile and then turned his attention to Lillie who had begun to jump up and down on the bed.

I grabbed her and began to tickle her. She squirmed in my arms, but I didn't let go. "Mommy stop! Please mommy! That tickles!" A lighthearted laugh made it's way from my throat. A knock on the door stopped us. Dimitri was just about to get up when the door opened. In walked Ingrid and Annette. "Hey guys. We were just wondering if we could borrow Lillie for a while." I knew what they were doing. They were wanting to give me and Dimitri some time alone. In looked to him and we both nodded and Ingrid picked the child up off the bed. "Bye mommy! Bye daddy!" They walked out the door and once they left I began to cry. Dimitri must have known it was coming because the second the waterworks started I was pulled into a firm chest. I wrapped my arms around his torso. "When Claude told me that day I was so scared! So scared that Edelgard and her stupid war took my childs father away from her. But most importantly I was scared I would never see you again." He pulled me into his lap and I wrapped my arms around his neck then and cried into his shoulders. A small smile creeped it's way up to my face. "Your still really strong. She has your crest you know. When I was pregnant with her, she would practically kick her way out of my belly every day. By the way..." I pulled back to look at him. "Your hair looks really good like this. If I'm being completely honest, it's kinda sexy." A blush made its way to my face at my own words.

A hand went to my back and he laid me on the bed with him hovering above me. "Thalia... Can... Can I kiss you?" I was surprised at his statement. He was asking for my consent. I was reluctant but I nodded. He slowly lowered his head till he was hovering just above my lips. His breath on my skin was hot and I could feel my skin tingle. He then closed the distance between our lips. My eyes fluttered shut as his lips moved against me. They were firm but still held some restraint. His lips felt...nice against mine. My hand drifted up to his face and I held him in my hands. He pulled back slowly to look into my eyes. "Goddess, I've missed you so. I know that what we had isn't to come back in the blink of an eye. I'm not sure what I can do and what I can't. I know while I was gone Claude filled that void for you. But... I never stopped loving you. Even amongst my bloodlust, you were always in the back of my mind trying to pull me back to sanity. I looked for you the days following Edelgards declaration, but not even Claude would tell me where you were." A stray tear fell from his eye and onto my face. "I... I love you Thalia. I always have. And I want to rebuild this. To love you and Lillie unconditionally. " I brought myself back up to meet his lips.

He was rather surprised but kissed me back nonetheless. Dimitri sat up in the bed and pulled me with him as our lips danced together. His hands went to my hips as he pulled me back into his lap. We pulled away from each other breathless. A yawn then fell from my lips. "You're exhausted, aren't you Thalia?" I nodded and laid my head on his shoulder. He tangled a hand in my hair and another on my back and held me close. I found it harder and harder to keep my eyes open. "Get you some rest. You're going to need it." I nodded slowly and closed my eyes. Eventually falling to sleep.