#raphadue

“Magnolia, please put your shoes on. Your socks will get dirty if you play outside in them.”

“Okay, Papa!”

“Have fun, dear.”

Raphael was just walking through the door to their house as Dedue finished speaking, and he had to quickly step to the side to avoid being barreled into by his daughter, who quickly slipped her shoes on (the wrong feet) and rushed out the door. Raphael laughed and stuck his head out the door behind her.

“Hey, Maggie! Don’t get too tired before your birthday dinner! Wouldn’t want you to sleep through it!” he yelled after her. The rambunctious, pig-tailed red-head turned to look at him, flashing a gap-toothed grin.

“I’ll be fine, Daddy! I can play all day long and still be wide awake!” Magnolia boasted with a vigorous nod of her head, and Raphael laughed as she turned around and headed for the large barn that sat across the backyard.

As the last few chuckles rumbled through his chest, Raphael went back inside, smiling when he saw his husband working away in the kitchen. Breathing in deeply through his nose, Raphael could smell the cake baking away in the oven, and his mouth started watering in anticipation.

Raphael crossed the room and came up behind Dedue, his arms slipping around his waist as he pressed a few kisses into his neck. Dedue hummed and turned his head, his long silver hair tickling Raphael’s nose, and Raphael found his lips captured in a tender kiss. He smiled against Dedue’s lips as his arms tightened around his husband.

Eventually Raphael pulled away, placing one more quick kiss on Dedue’s bearded cheek. “Hey hun! It smells really good in here! Maggie’s gonna love her cake!” Dedue chuckled as he picked up a wooden spoon and resumed stirring the contents of the large bowl on the counter.

“Thank you, darling. I think she will love it too,” Dedue said, “Did you get the dogs all fed?”

Raphael nodded enthusiastically before resting his chin on Dedue’s shoulder. “Yep! Watered and weeded the garden too! You’ve been working hard all day cooking and baking, so I wanted to lighten your load as much as possible.”

“I appreciate that, Raphael.”

“Anything for you, love!”

Dedue turned around in Raphael’s arms and pressed their foreheads together, his hands reaching up to gently cup Raphael’s face. His gentle fingers felt nice as they ran through his beard, and Raphael let out a content sigh as he gazed adoringly into Dedue’s seafoam eyes.

“It is hard to believe that Magnolia is turning five already,” Dedue mused, his nose brushing lightly against Raphael’s, “It feels like only yesterday that we brought her home as a newborn.”

“Yeah, time sure flies! It’s been a wild ride, this whole parenting thing.”

“Indeed, but I would not trade it for anything.” Dedue paused to press his lips against Raphael’s in a quick, tender kiss. “You and Magnolia are irreplaceable precious to me, and you both have made my life truly a blessed one filled with almost overwhelming amounts of love and happiness that I once did not think that I deserved. I love you with all of my heart, my sunshine.”

Raphael’s eyes became misty as he listened to Dedue speak. They really had been through a lot together; attending the academy, fighting in a war, and afterwards recovering from the resulting trauma as they led the rebuilding efforts in Duscur. Raphael knew all of Dedue’s heartbreaking past and his deep insecurities that he had hidden quite well from everyone else. And he would never, ever question the fact that he had fallen head-over-heels in love with Dedue, and that love would never fade as long as Raphael’s heart continued to beat inside of his chest. He could never have imagined that his first, completely innocent encounter with Dedue in the monastery greenhouse all those years ago would lead to where he was now: overwhelmingly happy, fulfilled, and unconditionally loved.

“Aw, sweetheart! You’re gonna make me cry if you keep saying that kind of stuff!” Raphael gushed, as he removed his arms from Dedue’s waist to instead snake them around his neck. “I love you too, Dedue, forever and always.” Raphael’s voice dropped to a whisper, and he kissed Dedue again, smiling against his lips when Dedue wrapped his arms around him in a tender embrace.

“Beefsteak! Gimme back my shoe!”

Raphael pulled away from Dedue and turned around just in time to see Beefsteak burst into the house through the large dog door. The Saint Bernard rushed into the living room and hopped onto the couch, looking absolutely pleased with himself as his tail wagged vigorously behind him. Raphael took note of the little shoe that was sticking out of Beefsteak’s mouth, and he chuckled and shook his head.

Magnolia suddenly threw open the door that Beefsteak came through only moments before, panting heavily as her face scrunched up with annoyance. She spotted Beefsteak on the couch and let out a shout as she sprinted across the kitchen, but she stumbled and started to fall.

“Watch it!” Raphael quickly scooped Magnolia into his arms before she could hit the floor. She blinked in surprise as Raphael cradled her, before she burst into a fit of giggles.

“Yay! You saved me, Daddy!” she said, and Raphael raised an eyebrow at her.

“I sure did! You gotta be more careful. You could’ve hurt yourself, you know.” Magnolia averted her gaze for a moment, and she fiddled with the hem of her dress.

“I’m sorry...I’ll be more careful next time,” she mumbled, and Raphael smiled, kissing her forehead.

“It’s all good, as long as you mean it.” Raphael peppered a few more kisses over Magnolia’s face, and she fell into a fit of giggles.

“That tickles!” she said, another delighted squeal escaping her when Raphael rubbed his bearded cheek over hers.

“Oh does it now?” Raphael teased and he continued his relentless assault by rubbing his beard over her neck. Magnolia giggled and wriggled in his arms, trying in vain to escape her dad’s clutches.

Raphael heard Dedue laugh behind him, and his husband was suddenly hovering over Raphael’s shoulder. Raphael glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, and saw a rare, mischievous glint in those beautiful eyes of his.

“Magnolia, you might be pleased to find out that you are not the only ticklish one here.” Raphael’s eyes widened in realization, but it was too late, and he yelped when Dedue’s fingers jabbed into his sides.

“H-Hey! That’s cheating!” Raphael protested, his booming laughter filling the room as Dedue continued to tickle him. Magnolia let out a surprised gasp.

“Daddy, you’re ticklish too?!?” she said, her blue eyes wide as saucers at this incredible revelation. A devilish grin spread across her face, and she pressed her small fingers against Raphael’s neck. Raphael laughed as she relentlessly tickled him, and when tears started to leak out of the corners of his eyes, Dedue took pity on him and pulled Magnolia into his arms.

“I think that is enough, dear. Give your poor dad a break.” Dedue said. Magnolia pouted, but a smile crossed her face again when Dedue set her down, and she placed a hand on one hip and pointed at Raphael.

“Okay, but you better be ready, Daddy, ‘cause I’m gonna tickle you good next time!” she said, giggling when Raphael growled playfully and lifted his arms in front of him as if he was going to try and catch her. He laughed when she ran off into the living room, and she suddenly gasped.

“Oh no! Beefsteak! Dahlia! My shoe is not a treat!”

Raphael shared a look with Dedue, who chuckled and shook his head. Leaving Dedue to continue making Magnolia’s cake, Raphael went into the living room, where Magnolia was trying to tug her shoe from Beefsteak and Dahlia, who both had a tight hold on opposite ends.

“Okay you two, you know better than to chew on shoes!” Raphael scolded, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared down the two large dogs. They both let out a couple of guilty whines, and they’re jaws slowly opened, letting the shoe fall to the floor with a wet ‘plop!’

“Eww, that’s gross!” Magnolia’s face scrunched up with disgust as she pinched a still dry spot of the shoe between her fingers and held it up. Raphael opened his mouth to respond, but he was cut off by a loud knock on the front door. As Magnolia continued to stare dubiously at the soggy shoe handing in front of her, Raphael crossed the room to answer the door.

“Hey Raph! Long time no see!”

“Maya! You’re here early!”

Raphael let out a jovial laugh as he lifted his sister into the air and gave her a tight hug. She hugged him back, and when she was set back onto her feet, she was set upon by Beefsteak and Dahlia, who gave her many sloppy dog kisses. A moment later, Magnolia nudged Raphael and the dogs out of the way and squealed happily.

“Auntie Maya! You made it!”

Maya grinned at Magnolia and placed a hand on her head to ruffle her hair. “Of course, squirt! I wouldn’t miss my favorite niece’s birthday for anything.”

“But I’m your only niece!”

“Haha, you’ve got that right!”

Magnolia giggled as she hugged Maya’s legs, and she gazed up with wide, hopeful eyes. “Did you get me a present?”

“Well yeah. It’d be silly not to get a present for such a cute and well-behaved little lady like yourself.”

A rumbling chuckle came from the direction of the kitchen, and Raphael looked up to see Dedue lift a hand to his face, looking to be trying to stifle any more laughter. Their eyes met across the room, and Raphael a soft smile spread over his face. Dedue mirrored his smile, and even though they had been married for quite sometime now, the sight still left Raphael speechless and made his heart race.

“Oh wow! What a cool painting!”

“You like it? I managed to be in the right place to see the wyvern migration last year, so I painted it for you.”

“I love it! Thanks Auntie Maya!”

Maya knelt down so that Magnolia could easily jump into her arms and give her a tight hug. When they parted and Maya stood back up, Dedue walked into the room and took a turn hugging his sister-in-law.

“It is good to see you, Maya.” Dedue said when he pulled away, “Will you be staying long?”

“Well, I’ve really got nowhere else to be,” she mused, shrugging nonchalantly, “I don’t really want to impose too much on you guys, though.”

“It is no trouble at all. Please stay as long as you would like.”

“Yeah!” Maya interjected, wrapping her arms around Maya’s legs, “Stay Auntie! We got some new doggies that you haven't met yet!”

“Oh do you now? Well, you’ll definitely have to show me!”

“Yay!”

“That will have to wait,” Dedue interrupted, gesturing towards the kitchen, “Dinner is ready, and after we can have your birthday cake, Magnolia.”

“Yay! Papa’s cakes are the best!” Magnolia said, grabbing Maya’s hand as she tugged her eagerly into the kitchen. Raphael watched with an amused grin on his face; his family brought such joy to his life, and it was a wonder that he ever knew the definition of happiness before Magnolia came into the picture.

“Darling.” Raphael was snapped from his thoughts and found that Dedue was standing before him. Ah, that’s right. He knew the definition of happiness, because ever since Raphael had confessed his feelings for Dedue, long ago in the greenhouse at Garrag Mach, Raphael had a well of infinite happiness as long as his loving husband was by his side.

“Will you go and get our presents for Magnolia?” Dedue continued, and Raphael nodded, but paused for a moment to wrap his arms around Dedue and kiss him tenderly.

When Raphael pulled away, Dedue was staring at him with a raised eyebrow, his cheeks flushed a slight pink in color, leaving Raphael a bit entranced by the beautiful sight. “Raphael?”

“Ah, right, I’ll go get them now!” Raphael said quickly, and he hurried off to their bedroom, before the urge to kiss his husband breathless prevented him from doing so.

After an evening of great food and family bonding, Maya retired for the night, as she was a bit worn out after her long journey. Raphael eventually found himself sitting in bed alongside Dedue, with Magnolia nestled in between them as they read some of her brand new books together.

“...and they lived...happily ever after!” Magnolia read, a beaming smile crossing her face as she closed the book. “That one was amazing! I wanna be a brave hero, just like the wyvern knights in the story!”

“You can do anything you want, Maggie!” Raphael said as he ruffled her hair, “You just gotta work hard for it and never give up.”

“Really?” Magnolia’s eyes went wide for a moment, before her eyebrows scrunched up thoughtfully. She went quiet and crossed her arms over her chest, and Raphael shared a glance with Dedue, who only shook his head and shrugged.

“Daddy! Papa!” Magnolia suddenly shouted, springing up onto her feet and turning around. She placed one hand firmly on her hip, and pointed her finger at her parents. “I know what I want for my birthday next year!”

“Uh, already?” Raphael blinked and cocked his head to one side, “But your birthday this year isn’t even over yet!”

“But this is important,” Magnolia said. Her gaze moved down to her feet, before her head jerked back up, an odd look of determination in her bright blue eyes.

“I want a baby wyvern!”

Raphael just stared at his daughter for a moment, completely dumbstruck. She wanted a what?

“M-Magnolia, sweetheart,” Dedue said, and Raphael turned to see that his husband’s face had paled slightly, and his jaw was set in a rare grimace. “That might not be possible…”

“Aww, why not?” Magnolia said, pouting as she crossed her arms over her chest, “I’ll be really good! I’ll make sure to never, ever do anything bad again!” Raphael turned his head to hide a goofy grin, and Dedue just sighed and shook his head.

“We will...talk about it.”

“Yay!”

“That is not a yes.”

Magnolia didn’t seem to mind, as she giggled and flopped back onto the bed, snuggling up against Raphael. She yawned sleepily and looked between her parents with a pleading expression.

“Papa, Daddy, can I sleep with you tonight? Pretty please?” Raphael chuckled and glanced at Dedue, who smiled softly and nodded.

“Of course. Just because it is still your special day.” Dedue said, and Magnolia let out a triumphant ‘hah’ as she wiggled under the covers and let Dedue tuck her in.

“Hehe, thanks,” she mumbled, yawning again as she curled up, her eyes slowly slipping shut, “I love you Daddy. I love you Papa. Today was the best...birthday...ever…” Her voice trailed off to some incoherent mumbling, and soon the birthday girl was sound asleep.

“Whew! She’s quite a handful sometimes!” Raphael said, his voice dropping to a whisper so as not to disturb Magnolia.

A low chuckle rumbled through Dedue’s chest, and he leaned over to press his forehead against Raphael’s. “I agree. She seemed to enjoy her birthday.”

“Oh yeah, I’m really glad she liked the books that I picked out for her. Er, but I didn’t think she’d get so attached to the wyvern riders like that…” Raphael scratched at his beard as a sheepish grin crossed his face, and Dedue shook his head.

“Maybe she will forget about wanting a wyvern by next year. She is far too young for that.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Maybe if she still wants to be a wyvern rider when she’s a lot older, we can look into it for her.”

“We will see.”

Raphael could sense the apprehension in Dedue’s tone, so he leaned over to place a chaste kiss on his lips. Dedue hummed contently as he returned the kiss, and when Raphael broke the kiss, his golden eyes gazed deep into Dedue’s beautiful seafoam green, and a swell of warmth flooded through his chest.

“Thank you, Dedue,” Raphael said, a tender smile crossing his face as he caressed Dedue’s cheek with the back of his hand, “for loving me, and Magnolia. For making me the happiest man in the world for all these years that we’ve been together. I didn’t really think that I could be this happy. Sometimes I think I might explode or something!”

Dedue’s eyes widened slightly, before he chuckled and placed his hand over Raphael’s. Dedue’s gaze never left Raphael’s as he lifted his hand to his mouth and placed a kiss on his knuckles, before entwining their fingers together.

“My darling sunshine, I should be the one thanking you.” Dedue’s fingers brushed over Raphael’s wedding ring, and Raphael noticed that his husband’s eyes had become quite misty. “I once did not care for my own life, but you were the one to show me how precious my life truly was, and is, and will always be. I do not think I would be as happy as I am now without you by my side, helping me raise our beautiful daughter.”

“Aw, hon, you’re making me blush,” Raphael teased, and Dedue laughed as they kissed once more, and they settled down on the bed, making sure that Magnolia had enough room between them.

“I love you, Dedue.” Raphael whispered.

“And I love you, Raphael. Always.”

“Wow! Is this really where Raph lives now?”

Maya’s jaw dropped as she glanced back down at her map, double checking that she was in the right place. Her travels through the Kingdom and Duscur had been largely uneventful, but gave her many opportunities to paint some rather beautiful landscapes. Duscur especially, since it was an entirely different country, built anew after being razed during the Tragedy. Her brother and his husband, Dedue, were the ones who led the rebuilding effort, and Maya’s heart swelled with pride at the fact.

Looking up from the map, she adjusted the weight of the pack on her back and started down the road, her destination the house that sat in the middle of a vast valley, overflowing with blooming flowers of all kinds of different colors. It was summertime in Duscur, but the climate here was a bit colder than Fódlan, so Maya was wearing a light jacket to chase away the slight chill in the air.

As she approached the house, two major things caught her eye: the huge garden on one side of the front yard with a greenhouse on the other, and an enormous barn that was visible from behind the house. Did her brother and Dedue start raising horses or something?

Maya was just about to knock on the door, when a loud barking noise hit her ears. She turned towards it, but was suddenly knocked off of her feet when something large barreled into her, and she fell to her back with an ‘oof!’ Fear welled up in her for a moment, but dissipated immediately when a wet tongue raked across her face, and she started laughing as she pushed herself upright.

It was a dog that had tackled her, and a huge one at that. His pink tongue hung out of his white jowls, which dripped with drool. His head was covered with dark brown fur, that turned white at his neck and legs, before finally turning light brown over his back. His long fluffy tail was wagging so hard that she thought it would fly off at any moment. Maya giggled and reached up to pet the dogs head, and he barked happily.

“Beefsteak! What’re you barking at-Maya?!?”

Maya looked up as the front door opened, a beaming smile crossing her face when Raphael stepped outside, his eyes wide with surprise when he saw her. He looked the same as he always had, with his massive muscles trying to break out of his shirt and blindingly bright smile on his face. The only thing different about him that she noticed was the blond beard that now covered his face.

“Hey Raph! Long time no see!” Maya said. She tried to push herself to her knees, but Beefsteak started licking her face again, forcing her to fall back onto her elbows.

“C’mon, Beef! That’s enough, you big lug!” Raphael said, reaching down to gather Beefsteak into his arms with ease, as if the large dog was as light as a feather. Beefsteak whined and wiggled around, choosing to assault Raphael’s face with slobbery kisses instead.

“I didn’t know you had a dog!” Maya said as she stood up, wiping her face.

“Sure do! This here is Beefsteak!” Raphael said, laughing as he rubbed his bearded face against Beefsteak’s head, who barked and finally managed to wiggle out of Raphael’s arms. He tried to lunge at Maya again, but Raphael caught him around the middle mid-jump, so Beefsteak could only whine and wiggle his paws in her direction.

“He’s huge! I’ve never seen a dog like him before.” Maya said, moving to stand next to her brother to get a better look at Beefsteak.

“He’s a Saint Bernard! They’re known for being huge, but my Beefsteak here is just a big ‘ol softy, right Beefy?” Raphael cooed, and Maya giggled when Beefsteak barked and licked Raphael’s face again. He then finally seemed to calm down a bit as he sat down on his haunches, looking back and forth between the siblings as they finally had a chance to hug.

“So he’s just like you, eh bro?” Maya said as Raphael lifted her into the air with his massive, strong arms.

“Ha! I guess so. They do say that dogs and their owners start to look and act alike after a while.”

“I’ll say. You’ve certainly gotten hairier.” Maya reached up and pinched a bit of Raphael’s beard between her fingers. “Why’s your beard so scruffy? Hasn’t Dedue taught you how to properly groom it yet?”

“C’mon sis! That’s harsh!”

“Ah, hello Maya.”

Maya and Raphael turned to the door to find Dedue standing in the entryway, a small smile on his face. He also hadn’t changed much, except that he also had a full beard, although his was much more well-kept than her brother’s. Dedue seemed to be in the middle of cooking, for he had an apron draped over his front, and the smell wafting out of the house behind him had Maya drooling almost as much as Beefsteak.

“Darling, bring your sister inside. You will both catch a cold standing out here, and dinner is almost ready.” Dedue said, crossing his arms over his chest and raising an eyebrow at his husband, who blushed and rubbed at the back of his neck.

“Eh, sorry hun, I got excited.” Raphael said, grabbing Maya’s travel pack from her. Maya thanked him and headed inside, with Beefsteak padding along beside her. She gazed around the room, and a small smile crossed her face. It was a modest size, with a fireplace on one side and a large couch on the other. Two large dog beds sat in one corner, and the kitchen was a good size, big enough for someone as bulky as Dedue to maneuver around comfortably.

“Make yourself comfortable!” Raphael said as Dedue quickly gave Maya a hug before returning to the kitchen. Maya sat down on the couch, and was immediately joined by Beefsteak, who assaulted her face with more slobbery kisses before he lay down, his head resting on her lap. She laughed and ran her hands through his soft fur.

“Did you have a good trip, Maya?” Dedue asked as he flipped some steaks over in a pan on the stove. “You arrived much sooner than we expected.”

“Oh, yeah!” Maya said as Raphael sat on the couch on the other side of Beefsteak. “I managed to hitch a ride with a couple riding in the same direction once I hit the Duscur border. Real funny pair. One of ‘em kept on falling asleep while he was talking to me, and the other tried picking fights with any knights that we passed on the road!”

“Hm, they sound familiar…” Raphael mumbled, his face scrunching up thoughtfully.

“They sound like Caspar and Linhardt.” Dedue commented, not looking up from his cooking.

“Yeah! Those were their names!” Maya exclaimed, “They did say they knew you guys when I told them who I was going to visit. They said to say hello for them.”

“I’m glad they’re doing well. They kinda just up and vanished after the war, so I was worried about where one of my best sparring buddies ran off to.” Raphael said. Maya opened her mouth to respond, but she was interrupted by a loud scratching sound coming from the back door on the other side of the kitchen.

Dedue chuckled and abandoned his cooking for a moment to go and open the door. Maya’s eyes widened as another dog trotted through the kitchen and into the living room, stopping in front of Maya and sitting down. She was just as huge as Beefsteak, but seemed to be of a different breed. Her face and ears were dark, while the rest of her fur was a light brown.

“Maya, that is Dahlia.” Dedue said, looking over at the dog fondly. “She is a Mastiff. She may look intimidating, but you will not find a sweeter companion.” Maya let out a delighted squeak as she reached out to scratch behind Dahlia’s ears.

“Oh my gods, you are so cute!” Maya said, and she giggled when Dahlia stuck out her tongue and panted happily, her tail wagging vigorously. She heard a loud whine coming from her side, and Maya turned to see Beefsteak staring at her with sad eyes. Maya laughed and pet his head with one of her hands, while the other continued to pet Dahlia.

“Jeez, Beef! You just can’t let your sis get attention without butting in, huh?” Raphael said, laughing as he rubbed Beefsteak’s belly. He immediately rolled over, tail wagging and leg kicking when Raphael scratched at just the right spot.

“Dinner is ready. Raphael, will you help me for a moment?” Dedue said, and Maya, Dahlia, and Beefsteak all immediately turned their attention to him.

“Yeah!” Raphael leapt up from his spot on the couch, quickly moving to his husband’s side to help him set the table.

“Need me to do anything?” Maya asked, feeling a bit awkward about just waiting around while her hosts worked.

“You can feed Beefsteak and Dahlia if you want!” Raphael called, almost hitting Dedue with a plate as he spun around to address Maya. “Oops, sorry honey!”

“It is fine. Please be more careful, darling.” Dedue said, chuckling as Raphael flushed with embarrassment. “Their food is in that barrel by the door. One scoop each.” Maya smiled and nodded, barely restraining herself from teasing Raphael and Dedue; her brother and brother-in-law were too cute for their own good.

“C’mon doggies! Time for dinner!” Maya said, and she had to run to the barrel, because as soon as the word ‘dinner’ left her mouth, both of the dogs barked excitedly and barreled along right behind her, their heavy footsteps almost making the entire house shake. Maya laughed as she quickly scooped out the food into the two bowls that sat against the nearby wall. Beefsteak dug messily into his meal, while Dahlia used a little bit more restraint while she ate.

“So where did you find those two?” Maya asked when she sat down to eat with Dedue and her brother. She took a bite of the Duscur bear steak - and it was the best thing she had ever tasted in her life - while eyeing the other end of the table where Raphael and Dedue’s free hands were entwined and resting on the surface.

“While we were still working hard on the rebuilding efforts,” Dedue said, sighing as he glanced over at Raphael, who was busy shoveling as much meat as he could into his mouth, “we found Beefsteak and Dahlia as puppies, sick and starving to death. We could not just leave them, so we took them in a nursed them back to health. They have not left our side ever since.”

“Aw, you guys are so awesome! I’m glad you were able to save them!” Maya said, looking under the table where the two huge dogs lay, quite obviously waiting for any scraps that may fall from their plates.

“Us too!” Raphael said, swallowing a mouthful of meat and managing to dribble sauce down his chin.

“Raphael, dear,” Dedue grabbed his napkin and wiped the mess from his beard, “You are making a terrible mess of yourself.”

“Whoops! Sorry Dedue! Your cooking is just so good! I could eat like ten helpings of this meat!” Raphael gushed, and Maya giggled when a light blush rose high on Dedue’s face. They really did seem like they were made for each other; gentle giants with the kindest hearts. As soon as Raphael had introduced Dedue to her, she had no doubt in her mind that they would be together forever.

The meal continued with casual conversation, and when they were done and cleaning up, Maya suddenly remembered something that she wanted to ask about.

“Oh, hey Raph! What’s with that barn you guys have? Do you have horses?”

Raphael smiled and shook his head. “Nope! Do you wanna see what we have out there?” Maya’s eyes lit up with curious excitement and she nodded eagerly. “C’mon, it’s feeding time anyway.”

“Past feeding time. It is a wonder that they are not causing a ruckus by now.” Dedue commented, and now Maya was really curious as to what was in that barn.

The three ventured outside, the evening sun bathing the land in an orange glow as they made their way to the barn. Dedue and Raphael shared a smile as they pushed open the sliding doors, and Maya’s jaw dropped at the sight.

Dogs of various breeds were scattered throughout the large barn, and Maya did a quick count; there were at least 20 of them. When Dedue and Raphael stepped into the barn, all of the dogs turned towards them, and a chorus of barks and howls started up as they rushed to their owners.

Maya shrieked with unconstrained joy as she was suddenly surrounded by fluffy, excited dogs, and she crouched down so that she could pet as many of them as possible while getting a bunch of sloppy kisses.

“Why do you have so many dogs?” Maya said, laughing as she held up a fluffy yellow dog with an elongated body.

“Well, when we nursed Beefsteak and Dahlia back to health and resumed the restoration efforts, we realized that there were so many other homeless dogs that needed help,” Raphael said, “After Duscur was fully rebuilt, we build this barn together and decided to take in as many dogs as possible. We make sure they’re happy and healthy, and some of the people from the nearby town have adopted a few of them already.”

“Aw...You guys are so wonderful!” Maya gushed, and the dogs around her suddenly bolted off towards Dedue when they noticed that he was starting to fill up their food bowls. Maya set down the dog that she held, and she lay down instead of running after the other dogs, which confused Maya. That is, until she saw six puppies run up to the dog and start nursing.

“Babies!” Maya exclaimed, unable to handle the overwhelming cuteness without shedding a few tears.

“Oh yeah! Her name is Sausage!” Raphael said, patting Maya on the back. “She’s a Corgi! She was pregnant when we found her, and she gave birth just a few weeks ago.”

“They’re...perfect.” Maya said, sniffing as more tears fell down her face.

“Why are you crying?” Raphael said, an alarmed look crossing his face as he looked Maya over. “Are you sick? Or hurt? Or-”

“Raph, please,” Maya said, laughing as she wiped away her tears. “They’re just...so cute and precious. I love them.” One of the puppies finished her meal and bounded over to Maya, barking as she nibbled on her shoe.

“That one is named Paprika.” Dedue said, smiling softly as he placed a hand on Maya’s other shoulder. “She is the runt of the litter, and almost did not survive birth. I had to rub her back continuously for a long time before she finally started breathing on her own.” Maya picked her up and started sobbing again when little Paprika starting licking her face with her tiny tongue. Raphael and Dedue shared a glance, and Dedue nodded.

“Would you like to adopt her, Maya?” Raphael said, and Maya stared at him with wide eyes. A huge, beaming smile slowly spread across her face, and she nodded vigorously as she hugged Paprika gently against her chest.

“Oh my gosh, can I really? I’d love to!” Maya said, kissing the top of Paprika’s head as she started falling asleep in her arms. “I’ll take good care of her.”

“We know you will.” Dedue said with a nod, “She cannot leave her mother permanently yet, so you will have to stay with us until she is ready. Is that alright?”

“Yeah! I’ve got all the time in the world. Oooh, I think I could get some really cool paintings done around here too, with the flowers and dogs and…” Maya said, trailing off to mumble to herself. Dedue and Raphael laughed, and as Maya finished helping them tend to the dogs, she couldn’t help but feel incredibly proud of her brother and Dedue, and what wonderful things they were doing with their lives. She followed them back into their house, with little Paprika tucked away against her chest, and she was excited for the weeks to come.

*

“Wow, what a day!”

Dedue chuckled as Raphael plopped down on the bed next to him, quickly discarding his shirt before snuggling up against Dedue. Setting the book he had been reading aside, Dedue wrapped his arms around Raphael, pulling his head to rest against his chest as Dedue placed a kiss on his forehead.

“Indeed. Did Maya get settled in alright?” Dedue asked, and Raphael nodded, his soft facial hair tickling Dedue’s chest.

“Yeah! She’s got Paprika sleeping with her, and Beefsteak and Dahlia too! They really like her a lot!”

“Good. It will be nice to have the bed to ourselves for once.” Dedue mused. Beefsteak and Dahlia usually slept in their bed with them, and Raphael had to build them an extra large and sturdy one in order to hold their massive dogs as well as themselves.

“Heh, yeah it will.” Raphael said, grinning as he kissed Dedue, who sighed contently, wrapping his arms around Raphael and pulling him close. Calloused hands roamed over Raphael’s back, tracing over faded scars and taut muscle that had become as familiar as Dedue’s own. It felt like a dream, being wrapped in the arms of the man who loved him, living a peaceful life away from war in a recovered Duscur that he and Raphael had rebuilt with their bare hands. Dedue smiled against Raphael’s lips, and the latter pulled away slightly, his beautiful golden eyes gazing deep into Dedue’s seafoam green.

“What’re you thinking about, dear?” Raphael asked, nuzzling his nose against Dedue’s, laughing as the silver hairs of his beard tickled his nose.

“You,” Dedue said, taking Raphael’s left hand in his so that he could run his fingers over his wedding ring. “Or rather, you and I. I feel like I was blessed by all of the deities in both Fódlan and Duscur with the most wonderful man that I get to call my husband.” Dedue chuckled when Raphael’s face flushed pink.

“Aw, Dedue, you’re makin’ me blush here...” Raphael said, burying his face in the crook of Dedue’s neck to hide his embarrassment.

“It is true though.” Dedue cupped Raphael’s face with one hand while his other continued to trace the scars over his back, causing Raphael to shiver, “I think if someone had told me back in our academy days that I would end up married to the love of my life and living in a rebuilt Duscur, I would not have believed them.”

“C’mon honey,” Raphael said, his brow furrowing as he pouted, “Don’t talk like that! You’re the greatest guy that I’ve ever met! I had the biggest crush on you when were we still in school!”

“Really?” Dedue blinked as he tilted his head. He never would have guessed that Raphael had harbored feelings for him that soon. Dedue had always assumed that Raphael did not grow to love him until they had reunited after the start of the war.

“Yes really! I was super sad when the war tore us apart, ‘cause I never got to tell you how I felt until five years after that. I was also really scared that I’d...never see you again.” Raphael’s face fell, and Dedue smiled softly, cupping Raphael’s face as he placed a chaste kiss on his lips.

“I am sorry for worrying you, my darling sunshine,” Dedue whispered, his fingers setting in Raphael’s soft beard, and a beaming smile slowly returned to Raphael’s face. That beautiful, ethereal smile that never failed to take Dedue’s breath away. He was determined to spend the rest of his days making sure that smile was never absent from his husband’s face for longer than a few moments at a time.

“It’s fine! It all worked out in the end! We’re married and living a good life. I’m just...really happy Dedue!”

“I am happy too, Raphael.” Dedue chuckled when Raphael grabbed his face and kissed his tenderly, but he pulled away shortly after, lips pursed together as if he had eaten something sour.

“Hey, hun?” Raphael asked, “Do you, uh, think my beard is scruffy? Maya said it was.” Dedue blinked at him, before letting out a hearty laugh.

“Honestly, it could use a bit of trimming.” The horrified look that crossed Raphael’s face was so silly that Dedue laughed harder.

“Dedue! Why didn’t you say anything before? Ugh, how embarrassing…” Raphael’s voice dropped to a mumble, and he pouted again as he rolled over onto his back.

“I thought that you kept it that way on purpose. I can help you trim it if you want.” Dedue said, and Raphael rolled back over on top of him, causing Dedue to grunt and his face to flush.

“Really? You’d do that for me?” Raphael said excitedly, causing Dedue to chuckle at his unbridled enthusiasm.

“Of course, darling.”

“Yes! Gods, I love you so much, Dedue!” Raphael said, laughing as he slid his arms under Dedue, pulling him into one of Raphael’s signature bear hugs that Dedue honestly could not get enough of.

The greenhouse had not changed much during the five years of war spanning across Fodlan. Dedue was grateful for that, as he had been slightly worried about its condition after seeing how utterly devastated the cathedral was. The plants seemed to still be thriving; he wondered if Ashe was the one who took care of them in his absence. His thoughts wandered to the past, and he cringed as he picked up a watering can and started to tend to the plants.

Dedue honestly expected to be long dead by now. He was incredibly lucky when the survivors from Duscur rescued him from his impending execution after he took His Majesty’s place. All he had cared about after the fact was reuniting with his lord and serving him the best that he could. Nothing else mattered to him. So why...why did he feel so...incomplete? Hollow? It did not make sense to him.

“Dedue! It’s really you!”

The wind was knocked from Dedue’s lungs as someone large barreled into him from behind, booming laughter echoing throughout the greenhouse. It was a familiar laugh, and Dedue’s eyes widened as a pair of strong arms wrapped around him, lifting him off of his feet as he was crushed into a tight bear hug.

“Raphael?” Dedue managed to say when he recovered from the shock. He was set back onto his feet and he turned around, finding Raphael beaming at him. He hadn’t changed much over five years, besides somehow gaining even more muscle and growing out his hair a bit. The sight of his trademark blinding smile rendered him speechless, and a feeling Dedue had not felt in quite some time stirred deep within his chest. Raphael had not been at the battle on the Great Bridge of Myrddin, and when Dedue inquired about it, Ashe had said he had been recovering from a previous injury and could not join the march.

“Yeah! It’s me! I’m so glad to see you. I was really worried when you didn’t show up with the rest of the class.” Raphael said, his smile somehow growing larger as he placed his hands on Dedue’s arms. “Gods, I’m just...so happy to see you!” Dedue was taken aback by Raphael’s exuberant amount of enthusiasm. Dedue had thought that he would have been used to it by now, but being away from his loud, boisterous friend for so long made him forget how much light Raphael had brought to his life.

“I am...happy to see you as well.” Dedue said, a neutral look on his face, even though he desperately wanted to return the smile aimed at him. He wondered why he could not bring himself to smile, when the man that made him the happiest was standing right in front of him. The one who had approached him one day during their time as classmates, without the fear or contempt that many others had held for him, but instead with incredible kindness and warmth. It was an infectious warmth that would continue to grow and grow within Dedue as he and Raphael spent more time together, until Dedue realized too late that the warmth he felt had grown into something more than one would feel for just a friend.

The start of the war had been swift and jarring, and it forced them to part ways before Dedue could tell Raphael how he truly felt about him. Now that he had finally reunited with Raphael, however, Dedue was feeling...hesitant. He felt like a weight was bearing down on his chest, a weight filled with many feelings from these past five years. Those difficult years, filled with pain and worry and sadness and fighting. So, so much death and destruction plagued him, compounded by fearing for his life, and wondering if His Highness and his friends, especially Raphael, were dead and ultimately making his efforts worthless. He felt like he had been slowly suffocating from the crushing weight of his buried, festering feelings.

“Are you okay?”

Dedue was pulled from his thoughts and found Raphael staring at him, his brow furrowed and a rare frown on his face. His honey-colored eyes were filled with concern, and Dedue’s heart felt heavy. A wave of guilt passed through him. Raphael did not need to waste his time worrying about him of all people. Jaw clenched, he steeled the wall surrounding his true feelings and nodded his head slightly. He couldn’t look Raphael in the eye as he said the first thing that came to his mind.

“O-Of course...As long as His Highness is alive and well, I-.” Dedue was interrupted when Raphael made an annoyed huffing noise, shaking his head forcefully as he cut Dedue off.

“Uh, yeah, that’s great and all, but that’s not what I asked. Are you okay, Dedue?” Raphael said, his gentle, non judgmental gaze boring into him, and Dedue felt his throat tighten up as he tried to swallow. His composure started wavering, and he trembled slightly. How could he lie to someone as sincere as Raphael? Dedue did not know what to do. He felt like running away, sprinting straight out of the greenhouse and finding somewhere to hide. A place where Raphael could not bare witness to his weakness, his darkness. Dedue did not want to snuff out the brightest light in his life.

Large, warm hands suddenly closed around his own, and Dedue finally lifted his gaze to Raphael’s. The most beautiful smile greeted him, and Dedue felt tears welling up in his eyes. The wall he had built up was cracking, and it scared him. Dedue let out a shaky breath when Raphael’s hands moved to cup his cheeks, and even though they were calloused from the rigors of battle, they were gentle, warm, and so, so soft.

“You know, Dedue, you don’t have to lie to me. These scars,” Raphael said, his voice dropping in volume as his thumb brushed over the large scar on Dedue’s left cheek, “they’re all new. And I know that a lot of them are not just skin deep.”

Raphael did not need to say more, as the wall finally shattered and Dedue let out a strangled sob, before breaking down completely as tears flooded down his face. His hands moved to cover his face, his entire body trembling with the force of his pent-up anguish.

“I-I am...not okay...Raphael…” Dedue choked out between sobs. Raphael was silent as he wrapped his arms around him, a hand moving to the back of his head. Raphael gently coaxed Dedue’s head down until his face was resting against a broad shoulder. Dedue only sobbed harder, his arms wrapping around Raphael, hands gripping his shirt as if he were hanging on for dear life.

“It’s okay to not be okay, Dedue. Let it out. I’m here. I’m here. It’s okay.” Raphael whispered in Dedue’s ear, and he repeated it like a soothing mantra. It felt like an eternity had passed before Dedue’s sobbing finally slowed, and Raphael patiently held him the entire time, until Dedue took a deep breath and let it out slowly, the last of his tears falling down his face and dripping onto Raphael’s already soaked shirt.

“Feel better?” Raphael said when Dedue slowly lifted his head from his shoulder. Large hands cupped his cheeks again, and Dedue sighed as he nodded slowly. Raphael smiled brightly as he brushed his thumbs over Dedue’s moist and red cheeks, wiping away the remaining tears.

“I’m glad to hear it. Sometimes you just need a good cry to get all those bad feelings out. And...you’ve been through a lot these past five years, right? I was...really worried when you didn’t show up with Dimitri and the Professor and the rest of us.” Raphael continued, a light blush dusting his cheeks, causing Dedue’s brow to furrow in confusion.

“You worried for me?” Dedue asked, and Raphael’s blush only deepened as he averted his gaze, his hands dropping from Dedue’s face as he fiddled with his collar.

“Well, uh, yeah. You see, there was something that I wanted to say to you, but then the war started, and I had to leave to go take care of my sis, and you had to go with Dimitri and before I knew it such a long time had passed and-”

“You are rambling, Raphael.”

“Oh, whoops!” Raphael said, and the slightest of smiles finally graced Dedue’s face again; he could not recall the last time he had really smiled. In fact, Raphael was probably the last person to make him smile, so it was fitting that the same man would help him to smile again.

“Ah, anyway, what I wanted to say to you is that, uh...Well, you see…” Raphael said, and Dedue waited patiently, watching fondly as the object of his affection struggled to get to the point.

“I just...I really like you, Dedue!” Raphael finally blurted out, his arms waving dramatically in front of him to drive his point home. Dedue stared at him, eyes wide and jaw hanging slightly open. He what?

“I-I’ve liked you for a really long time, but before I could work up the courage to tell you, it was too late!” Raphael continued, “I...was really scared that I would never see you again...never getting the chance to tell you how I really felt.” A sad look appeared in Raphael’s eyes, and Dedue’s smile grew as he listened to the rest of Raphael’s confession.

“You’re just...a really awesome person! You’ve always been the type to help people out, even to the people who would say unkind things about. I was always so happy being your friend, and just being around you. You’re brave and strong and kind and fun and a good cook and...you’re really handsome too!” Raphael gushed, his voice raising in volume as he spoke. Dedue’s eyes somehow widened even more, and his face flushed a bright red in color at the total sincerity of Raphael’s words. He was stunned into silence, and Raphael nervously rung his hands together.

“So, uh, what do you think? Do you, um, like me back?” Raphael asked, swallowing nervously as he waited for Dedue to speak with bated breath. Dedue snapped out of his daze and a wide smile broke out over his face, and it was probably the biggest smile he had ever wore.

“Raphael,” Dedue finally said as he reached out and took Raphael’s hands in his. He noticed that they were shaking slightly, and Dedue chuckled and gave them a gentle squeeze. “I do not know how anyone could not develop feelings for you. You are the most kindhearted and loving man that I have ever met. You are...like a ray of sunshine. You spread warmth wherever you go, and you light up every room that you enter. You have certainly become the brightest light in my life. It was...so dark in these long, long years without you.” Dedue paused when he noticed that Raphael was gawking at him, his jaw hanging open and eyes bugged out. He chuckled and brought one of Raphael’s hands up to his face.

“Raphael, I adore you.” Dedue said, his seafoam eyes locked with those honey-colored ones he loved so much, and he pressed his lips to the back of Raphael’s hand in a lingering kiss. Dedue laughed when Raphael made a strangled noise in the back of his throat, his mouth opening and closing rapidly like he was a fish out of water gasping for air.

“Y-You really mean it?” he finally managed to blurt out, and Dedue nodded, a large hand moving to cup Raphael’s cheek.

“Yes, of course.”

“Yes! Yes yes yes!” Raphael exclaimed, letting out an excited ‘whoop’ as he wrapped his arms around Dedue and lifted him off of his feet again, his laughter echoing throughout the greenhouse. Dedue’s laughter joined in, and when he was set back onto his feet, Raphael’s arms stayed securely around him.

“I adore you too, Dedue!” Raphael continued, and Dedue smiled fondly at him. “Not only that, but I love you! This is the best day ever!” Dedue laughed once more and nodded.

“I agree, on both accounts. I love you as well, Raphael.” he said as he gently caressed Raphael’s cheek with the back of his hand.

“Ah, I’m so happy!” Raphael said, his smile turning shy as his eyes locked with Dedue’s. “Hey, Dedue? Can I, um, kiss you?” Dedue’s heartbeat quickened at the question, but he smiled and nodded.

“Of course. I would like that.”

Raphael beamed at him, and his hands moved to cup Dedue’s face as he slowly leaned up, pressing his lips to Dedue’s in a gentle kiss. Their first kiss. Dedue felt giddy at the thought, and it was an odd feeling for him, but certainly not a bad one. He smiled against Raphael’s lips as they both moved their heads to try and deepen the kiss. It took a moment to find a rhythm, with their combined inexperienced hindering them, but after Raphael pulled away for a moment to let out a sheepish giggle, they kissed again. This time their lips fit together perfectly, like it really was meant to be.

As they lost themselves in their intimate embrace, a warmth spread through Dedue’s chest. He never thought that he could find such happiness, with someone who loved him unconditionally. Someone who Dedue loved just as much. Life had been so, so hard for him, but it seemed that things would finally be looking up. Even though there was still a war to be fought, Dedue knew that he could face any challenge with Raphael at his side.

When they finally pulled apart to catch their breaths and to gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes, the moment was interrupted when a loud growling noise filled the room.

“Whoops!” Raphael said, his face flushing as he rubbed at his stomach. “All of this confessing feelings and stuff made me really hungry!” Dedue blinked at him, and he suddenly burst out laughing so hard that tears started running down his face.

“You...you really have not changed a bit, Raphael.” Dedue said, and he raised an eyebrow when Raphael pouted at him.

“Hey, I’ve changed a lot! Just look at how big my muscles have gotten!” he said, flexing his arms for Dedue, who laughed again and shook his head.

“Ah, my mistake. You certainly do look stronger, my sunshine.” Dedue said, and Raphael beamed as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

“Ah, gods, you’re embarrassing me, Dedue.” Raphael said as he slipped his hand into Dedue’s, entwining their fingers together. “C’mon, love! Let’s go get some food!” He tugged at Dedue’s arm, who chuckled and let himself be pulled towards the door.