The stars were shining especially bright that night, as though attempting to keep Shez company. He could identify some of the constellations by name now, though he hadn't retained most of the lessons Hapi had given him. He was usually too focused on the way her eyes lit up whenever she spoke about them, too focused on her voice and how freely she spoke, deep within the recesses of the night and far enough away from camp that they didn't risk anyone overhearing them.

Private, stolen moments. The ones that brought him the most amount of joy in this bleak, endless war.

He sat in a clearing somewhere in south Adrestia, watching lights flicker from camp across the river. He sat, waiting patiently for Hapi, listening to the sounds of the crickets and the wind rustling in the leaves.

It felt like both a second and an eternity passed before she was sitting next to him, smiling in a gentle way, a way that was seen so rarely by anyone but him. It blew him away every time, smiling brightly back up at her.

"Hello, my love," he murmured, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as she leaned in to give him a quick peck to the cheek. She snuggled closer into him, taking comfort in his presence.

"I'm glad the skirmish went okay," she murmured, resting her head on his shoulder.

"We had it handled," Shez assured her. "It was only some bandits."

"Still," she said. "I don't like the idea of losing you. Especially if I'm not there to at least try to help."

"I know," Shez said. He hoped he could convey just how much he meant it.

"I just..." She trailed off, thinking her words through. "It's like I look at you and- and suddenly everything is okay. I haven't felt that in years. I don't want to lose that."

"You won't," Shez murmured. "I promise."

"I better not." The words were vaguely threatening, yet the vulnerability in her tone and the way she snuggled into him made it all the more special to Shez.

She was special to Shez.

"I love you," he said, loud in the quiet of the night.

Byleth held out a hand to Hapi, pulling her closer when she took it. “What is it?” He asked. Seteth grumbled under his breath and shuffled a few papers, but Byleth ignored him. 

“I’m leaving for Coco’s now instead of after lunch. This is your last chance to come with me.”

“Why the change?”

Hapi threaded their fingers together idly. “There’s a storm coming in from the east. If I leave now, I won’t get caught in it.” She cocked her head at him. “You sure you don’t wanna surprise her for her birthday? We could say it’s good for relations with the former Empire or some nonsense like that.

Byleth chuckled. “No, I should stay.” He lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss over her wedding ring. “Be careful on the road,” he said in a solemn voice. 

Some folks complained that the new Archbishop was hard to read. Hapi, however, could read her husband perfectly. And right now he was already worried sick and wishing he wasn’t the new Archbishop. 

“I will,” Hapi said. “Don’t let this place fall apart without me.” That got another smile from Byleth. Hapi drew him close and kissed his smile. 

She expected him to pull away after a few heartbeats with a final reminder to keep safe. Instead, Byleth opened his mouth to her, squeezing her hand firmly. It broke her heart a little, this plain display of regret, and she wished the weather hadn’t changed. She wished he didn’t have to say behind. She wished that Constance could just come celebrate in Abyss with the rest of their friends. 

Hapi sighed as Byleth’s tongue slipped into her mouth. It was only two weeks, she consoled herself as she cupped his cheek. She had waited five years for him. She could do two measly weeks. And so could he.

When they parted, they still stood close enough that their noses brushed together. Byleth tilted his head up to kiss her forehead. “I love you,” he murmured. 

Hapi kissed his chin. “I love you too, Chatterbox.” She stepped away but held his hand and his gaze for a moment longer. 

Then she finally spared Seteth a proper look.

Seteth had turned almost completely around in his seat, eyes resolutely fixed on the window behind his desk. Hapi snorted. “See yah, Setty.”

He never responded to his nickname so it was a mark of how flustered he had become that he waved a hand vaguely in her direction. Apparently Byleth had forgotten he was there entirely, for he whipped his head around to stare at Seteth with a red face. Hapi’s laugh was almost a cackle.