On this day, Greil would reminisce about the memories they shared together. Even long after her death, when he consistently kept his body and mind occupied with managing his mercenary company, her presence still lingers, and sometimes he feels as if she’s watching over them.
On this day, Greil would think himself delusional for even entertaining the idea of Elena surviving and meeting the rest of his newfound family. Letting himself be consumed by the past when he’d always be a beacon for others, someone who guides them to thrive in the present... He couldn’t let the emotions that took over that day get to him, but at the same time, it would be wrong to let himself forget about the gravest mistake he’d made. He needed to engrave that memory into his head as a permanent reminder of what he did, so that it would never happen again.
The memory still stings every now and then. But today is different, and the recent months before it too. He can hold her in his arms again, sleep next to her, tell her stories about their children that would make them turn away in embarrassment… and it’s all real.
“Ah, you’re awake.”
He got up earlier than usual to sneak into her kitchen, cook up a meal and set the table with flowers he had preserved from the day before. Greil had kept quiet about his plans, but with Elena being able to read him like an open book, he doesn’t know if she figured it out on her own.
“A gift for one special lady on her special day.” When he sets down the soup over the dining table, an odd wave of nerves rushes over him for a split second. He did study a cookbook beforehand for this occasion, but he didn’t know he’d be this keen for approval. It really has been that long, huh.
“On one of my missions, I came across a riverside that reminded me of Gallia. I want to take you there, maybe have a picnic date, but,” a chuckle, “I don’t want to hog you all to myself. The people you’ve been helping out probably have a surprise of their own, and I’m sure Ike has his own present for you. You’re really loved, you know?”
On the days she wakes up to one of the sweetest sounds she knows. Greils voice is as warm as the stray ray of sunlight that streaks across her face. She stretches and the covers fall from her shoulder and into her lap. Sleep is blinked away and she stares up at him, the ghost of a smile crossing her lips.
In days long passed, she would still be in his arms right about now, wiggling to break free so she might help start everyone's day. It may be her day, but it means nothing without them.
Elena watches him set the bowl down. She is famishes, but first and foremost...
Elena wraps her arms around his torso as best she can and rests her head against his chest. "How long has it been since we've had a day all to ourselves?" She pulls his waist closer until not even air can squeeze its way between them.
She is loved... Elena won't disgrace the people who care for her by deny it, nor will she be so narcissistic to think it is a given that she should be. So many have allowed her to persist, to carry on when things felt so empty and hopeless.
Just this once, she wants to be selfish.
"We'll have to apologize to them once we return." Tomorrow isn't a given, but she wants not to live like today is her last. "We can cook something tomorrow to make up for it."
For today, just this one day, she would like to relive one moment in that bygone peaceful life.
