#papa dagda too

[kiripipou]

[hamadynes]

I think my favorite Bylaude/Claudeth headcanon is that although Claude and Byleth never have any kids of their own, their family is huge cause every time they travel for diplomatic missions or even just to do some world traveling, they always return with at least one extra passenger.

Adolescent boy on the back streets of Dagda who introduced himself by trying to stab Claude out of hunger and desperation before he realized who they were? Byleth wordlessly offers him some bread and an apple as Claude compliments his agility. “Now, why don’t you come with us and we can get you some real food.” They find out quickly that he’s actually deaf, but Claude is great at reading people and Byleth never said much in the first place. Doesn’t mean they don’t grab books on sign language as soon as they’re back in Fodlan though.

Abandoned twin girls living in a seaside cave cause their parents died fleeing the war in Fodlan? Claude coaxes them out by asking if they want to pet his Wyvern. They take them to see Petra and she’s heartbroken by the whole thing so they have a big feast and the girls get hand tailored clothes before Byleth asks if they’d rather stay in Brigid under Petra’s care or come back to Fodlan with her and Claude. They’re clinging to Claude’s legs though, cake smeared across bright smiles, so the answer is less than surprising.

Nothing could prepare them for finding the tiny bundle half buried in the dirt at Fodlan’s Throat. The baby is obviously mixed, but pale and tiny with a barely whispered cry. Claude is furious, until Byleth grabs his hand and PULLS cause they have to get medical attention NOW. He survives but suffered irreparable brain damage. Doesn’t matter though, he’s THEIRS now and that’s all that matters.

It gets to the point that the rest of the Deer are surprised if they don’t come back with another child tucked against their back. It’s a VERY fond exasperation though, cause the rest of the class is always taken by their new little ones. They’re all aunts and uncles a thousand times over and do their best to teach every new niece or nephew about their new home or about useful skills. Cyril is especially enthused but gentle with them, surprising everyone and no one at the same time.

The first time one of the kids calls Claude father, he absolutely cries. It’s probably when he’s tucking one of them into bed and they whisper a sleepy, “G’nigh’. Love you, Papa.” He holds it in long enough to book it back to his bedroom and Byleth just smiles at him like, “I know. I love them too.”

Then, one day Claude walks into his and Byleth’s room looking for something and just stops dead. Cause there’s his wife passed out on the bed with all their kids just sprawled around or cuddled up to her and Byleth herself has an Almyran storybook still propped on her chest and Claude’s just. Overwhelmed. His family is the very picture of the world they’ve struggled so hard for. And though things aren’t perfect yet, here’s the proof it’s getting there