Chapter Text
Life was never perfect, it never had been since you were born or the long life you'd led past that. Good things didn't need to be perfect, you knew that, so many beautiful things in your life had never been perfect.
Your father, who you missed even to this day was never perfect but oh, how you loved him. Your time teaching at Garreg Mach, hectic and all over the place, was never perfect, but some of your fondest memories. You still had so many fond memories every time you walked the halls of the monastery, pranks with your students and first kisses, the same view of the sun you remember when you'd first had a night talk with Claude.
Your heart clenched in your chest, eyes screwing shut as you took a deep breath.
Today would have been your anniversary.
You remember the hysterics of the wedding even now as your feet lead you toward the graveyard, you were both still scuffed from the battle he'd swooped in to save you from. Your dress was too big and a cat knocked over the cake but Claude always made you laugh about such trivial things. It was something you'd never forget, the way the light shone in from the Cathedral over him in those moments, even now the stained glass would catch the light just right to shine over his tombstone.
"It would have been 87 years today." You say it quietly as you move to sit, the sun shines and the birds chirp, but your heart is heavy as it always is around these times.
It wasn't like before, at least. Your tears flooded your eyes for so long and almost Garreg Mach along with it, he'd always tease how your tears brought the rain, he'd comfort you till the sun shone again back then, now you had only his memories to renew your spirits and the soft smiles of what friends were left. It got better every year, but of course, you'd never stop missing him, thinking of his laughter brought a lump to your throat, the sting of tears in the corner of your eyes.
It began to sprinkle rain, gentle drops hitting the petals of the small bushel of sunflowers you'd brought.
It was never something the two of you had thought about, when you were young, so in love and ruling over the world you'd created, peaceful, willing to be ignorant. In time, as he aged and you...did not, well, it was hard. The talks got rough but like always, he'd make a joke just enough to make you laugh, remind you he'd be here until the world took him kicking and screaming. You were glad he lived a long happy life, you weren't sure it would have been easy if he hadn't. In his sleep, fingers laced with your own and you cried. "I love you, never forget that." He'd said, and you knew, of course you did, you never doubted that.
"Byleth...?"
You jumped, you'd been so lost in thought you hadn't even heard someone come down the stairs, and you wiped your tears, sniffling and taking a deep breath. It was Seteth, someone who understood your turmoil more than most now having lost his wife. You were more than glad for his comfort when he reached out to you.
"Apologies if I...am intruding but, the rain I, well, I guessed that perhaps." He was beating around the bush and you chuckled, taking a deep breath and standing from your spot in front of Claude's grave, watching the rain trickle down the stone. Seteth moved up beside you, taking in the same sight as you with a contemplative expression, something he did often when you broke down like this from time to time, he never judged, but he was supportive. Flayn was a blessing as well, she didn't understand losing a lover, but both understood time practically standing still in age, stuck in time to lose those you loved if you weren't careful.
"I'm sure he would be reprimanding you if he knew you'd come down again, my friend." It made you laugh, looking up at the clouds above as the rain came down, soft but constant. "The flowers don't need anymore rain, Byleth, he'd say." You brought a smile to his face instead, you knew he was right, Claude hated to see you sad, broke his heart, he'd be proud to know you'd been better over the years but on occasion, it broke through and you'd come right back here. Sometimes you'd stop to chat, or sit with a cup of his favorite tea, complain about students or politics, things that you'd always done. He'd encouraged your friendship with Flayn and Seteth before he passed, telling you to chat with them when he was gone, do those things with them, and you did, but you'd always come back around.
"Come, let us get you out of the rain, we can have tea in my office." You were somewhat reluctant, but you agreed, you knew it was for the best and Seteth knew how you liked it, and you knew he kept sweets in his top drawer for Flayn. The good ones. Composing yourself, you followed the man through the halls, greeting those who said hello along the way and sighing when you reached the peace of his office, settling yourself in a chair across from him.
He'd set it up before coming to get you, it looked like, and you shook your head as he poured you a cup, raising a brow when you did. "I'm becoming too predictable, Seteth. You even put the sugar in it before we'd come back." A soft smile took over his features, only shrugging. "I would not say predictable, but I know the date and things have been stressful for you lately, it is only natural I come prepared to comfort you when you are in need." A blush took over his cheeks. "It is what a friend does, of course." You chuckled, blowing over the rim of your cup.
"Of course, as I do for you as well." He agreed, and you motioned toward the drawer, the goodie drawer, he sighed, pulling it open. Flayn had a sweet tooth much more than you did, but times like these, you took comfort in them with a hot cup of tea. He gingerly placed some small scones on a plate for you, handing them over and glad to see you smile about them, anything was better than the sad and almost exhausted expression you wore when you got like this. It passed, always did, he understood it all too well, an understanding he wished neither of you had to have. Despite that, part of him was glad for the closeness the two of you had, over the years you reached a mutual understanding of one another in your loss, and when one needed the other, you were always there.
Often, you'd end up in one anothers company like this, with tea or lunch, sometimes late in the night and talked until the rain stopped or they felt comfortable again. There were times you snuck in to his office, curled up in a chair and feeling safer than before until he found you in the morning and encouraged you to get something in you. Or the other way around, you'd find him, arms crossed with furrowed brows in your own office.
Today, you were content with the gentle company and snacks, the rain settling after some time and you rose to go, Seteth raising with you. He rested a gentle hand on your arm as you look toward the windows, his thumb stroking over you and feeling the muscle that laid underneath. "You know you may always stop by, Byleth. Do not overwork yourself." You gave him a gentle smile, raising to rest your hand over his own, trying to ease the worry from his face. "I will be fine, I always am, Seteth."
The look he gave you made you not want to leave, but you knew despite yourself that you needed to get back to work, Garreg Mach didn't run itself, unfortunately. You encouraged him not to fret, and went back to your business, he had his own to tend to after all, and work never kept you apart for long anyway.