Third Autumn…

"Are you sure you'll take this? I didn't think it would be this bad."

"This is perfect Hanji. I think we can manage." He replies as they stand companionably beside each other in front of the house, looking out at the neglected property. A decrepit tool shed stood sadly to the left and a broken down smaller building beside it; which might have been connected to the tool shed before but now it sits in ruins covered in fresh grass and moss. Grass grew free and tall all around the property. Everywhere they looked was peaceful and green.

He had met Hanji during the critical days of his pregnancy when Erwin had introduced them. She was good friends with Erwin and she was studying to become a medical doctor at the time, already in her last year of residency. But later she joined Erwin in the army to become a medic. He ran into her again a few weeks ago, while he was grocery shopping with the kids. She was still as loud, exuberant and enthusiastic about her endeavours as he remembers. Levi invited her for tea later that afternoon.

How convenient, he thought as he recalled her offer. "You know when your children get bigger, this apartment will be too small for all of you. And you're only living on your savings right? That's going to run low soon. I have an old cottage that I inherited from my grandfather. It's a fairly big property, though it could be a little dilapidated now that no one takes care of it. It's near Dauper of Maria, a small village community, but it could be good for you and the kids." He stares at her, considering. "If we move to a new home… Hanji, when are you going back out?"

Hanji is quiet. Gently placing her tea cup down. "We just need to pick up a few more supplies before we head out again, three days from now. I'll find him, or have someone find him. I'll let him know Levi." She says nodding, looking into Levi's eyes earnestly, trying to show him her sincerity.

"Alright, so I'll arrange the papers for you to sign; there shouldn't be any trouble with that." Fixing her glasses, she looks down to Levi who stood a little shorter than her. "All your waiting hasn't been for nothing." She says gently in comfort, amazed at Levi's patience and trust in a man he hasn't seen in years. Levi is quiet for a moment, "Erwin said he would come home. I believed him." He says at last, with a sigh, like there's no other choice but to believe in Erwin. "Well, good luck Levi. You should wake the kids now and show them the new place. I'm sure they're sore from sleeping in that car." Hanji says smiling.

He quietly watches Hanji walk to her car, but he calls out when she opens the door to get in. "Hanji!" Surprised, Hanji looks back questioningly at Levi. "Thank you." He tries his best to show his appreciation for her and everything she had done for his family, smiling wide and without reserve. For a second, Hanji is stunned, silent and wide-eyed, and a slow flush creeps onto her face. After a moment, she grins wide and waves her hand at him as she gets into her car, "So beautiful." She whispers to herself. "Erwin, you've been missing out."

Levi watches Hanji drive away before he walks to their small car to wake his children. He opens the side door and sees all three of them sleeping, adorably holding each other's hands. "Hey kids, wake up now. We're here." He says as he unbuckles each one. He leans against the car with his arms crossed as he watches them get out one by one. First Mikasa, Eren, and then Armin. They stand in front of him as they gape at the new environment. Amazed at all the nature that isn't found in the city streets of Rose. "This is our new home now. Do you like it?" He says.

"Yes, Daddy!" Armin says, blue eyes stare in wonderment as he walks around slowly, inspecting his new surroundings.

"I love it here, Dad!" Eren shouts excitedly. Already running off to explore.

"It's wonderful!" Mikasa says sensibly, but already following after her brothers.

They trod to the tool shed, climbing over the moss covered roof of the fallen building then sliding down, laughing ecstatically. They look here and there "What's this? What's that?" Ahh-ing and Ooh-ing as they go. "Hi little ants!" Armin greets happily as they jump over an ant trail. Eventually all three of them start greeting whatever they meet as they move along. "Hi little frog. Hello pretty butterfly. How are you doing tiny snail?" All the while, laughing freely, joyfully and without holding anything back.

Levi smiles contentedly, listening to their laughter as he unpacks their things from the car.

After he unpacks everything, he realizes that there was a lot to clean up and Levi zealously does so. Sweeping dust from the floor as two children and a wolf chase down a butterfly heartily. Taking down cobwebs from the ceilings as Eren climbs a small tree and reaches for a bird, "Come here Mr. Birdy." And his Daddy bandages a scraped elbow and wipes a few tears after his fall, "It's alright. You're alright." Levi kisses a forehead and watches fondly as they move along again.

Sometimes he discovers something to repair. A rotten floorboard as his foot falls through. And he hammers away to cover the hole as three children stomp around the house, laughing enjoyable as they do so, trying to discover if there are other weak spots on the floor. A leaking rooftop as it rains one night. And he places down this cup and that bowl to catch the rain drops as three children play 'avoid the rain drop'. It was Armin's hand that got wet with rain drops and they giggle enjoyably as they play the game longer.

The next day, he hammers away to cover the holes on the roof as three children play in the tall grass. Mikasa tries to befriend a wanderer house cat, "Come here Kitty." And the cat hisses and swipes a claw at her. The little girl falls back and disappears into the tall grass after the shock of getting hissed at. Then reappearing suddenly as a wolf, pouncing at the cat. And three little wolves chase after a poor house cat.

Sometimes he discovers something beautiful. The sparking marble of the sink and countertop in the kitchen as he washes away the grime. The striking floral patterns on the windows as he wipes away the dirt. The dark wood of their floor that he polishes with a wet rag, where Mikasa and Armin drop their collection of bugs and a frog, grinning proudly at him as the frog leaps away with a croak of indignation. He tries to smile, not wanting to disappoint them, but truly feeling disgusted at the assortment of insects. Fortunately, they move along again to collect more of the same, presumably. And they don't notice the grimace that he tried to pass for a smile.

It takes him almost a week to get everything done, organized and clean.

He is bathing them to prepare for bed and tells them as he shampoos Mikasa's dark, long hair while Armin and Eren play with the bubbles in the bath, "Would you like to visit the town tomorrow?" And suddenly all activity stops. Three wet faces all turned to him. A mix of different expressions. Excitement, apprehension, but mostly joyful anticipation. "Let's go Daddy!" And just as suddenly, all activity starts again. Eren and Armin jumping and splashing in the tub and Mikasa rinses her own hair with a laugh before she joins her brothers.

That night he tells them the story of a man who left his family to fight in a war, and to keep them safe.

One night, as they are watching fondly over their sleeping babies, Erwin reaches for Levi's hand. He kisses each small knuckle and lays their hands to rest gently on little Armin between his older siblings, between their parents. Levi gazes at Erwin questioningly, knowing by his actions that he was about to say something vital. And after another moment of thought, Erwin does "Levi." He starts. "His majesty has called me to fight in his war against the Titans to the south. They need me on the front lines." Levi gives a nod as he grips Erwin's hand a little tighter. "This is my chance to repay him my family's debt to the royal household." Levi nods again as he hides his face in Mikasa's hair who was sleeping peacefully beside him. Erwin raises their hands and gives another kiss to Levi's. He feels the wetness from Erwin's cheeks. "I'll come home to you and the children. I promise you, Levi." He continues, the resolve in his voice heard in its gravity. Levi doesn't bother to ask 'how long or is there another way'. Because somehow, Erwin's promise is enough, like he has no other choice but to believe and put his trust in this man. Hiding his tears in his daughter's hair, he grips Erwin's hand a little tighter and they fall asleep like that; with their one-year-old twins and three-month-old Armin cocooned protectively in their embrace.

Levi reaches up a hand to wipe the unbidden tears on his cheeks and continues even after hearing the children's breathing even out in their sleep.

A few nights later it snows. On this night Erwin says his goodbye while the children sleep soundly in the bedroom. Erwin encases Levi in his arms tightly. Their final embrace. He can feel Levi's tears through his shirt and certain that Levi feels the wetness on his shoulder. "I'll be back soon. I love you." Erwin whispers softly, brokenly. Slowly, they break apart and Erwin heads to the door, already in uniform. Levi stands stiffly, fists closed tight as Erwin closes the door. "I love you. Come back to me." He whispers to the now empty room. I'll raise them well, he promises silently.

Then he kisses Mikasa, Eren and Armin tenderly as he adjusts the warm blanket over them. He dries his cheeks again as he stands slowly and quietly to turn off the lights and close the door. He goes into the living room and he picks up the things that the children had been playing with that day and puts them back to their place. He picks up the last thing on the floor, a flower in a pot, and as he places the flower pot on the window sill, he looks outside the window. It was a bright night with the light of the moon in clear skies, and the first snow of the winter fall lazily onto the ground. And in the distance he sees the tell-tale lights of a car heading in their direction.

Smiling to himself he walks to the kitchen and prepares some tea. As he is pouring tea into a second cup, there comes a knock on the door. He strides confidently to the door, but it seemed like he doesn't reach it as quickly as he wanted to. It doesn't open as quickly as he wants it to. The whole world in slow motion.

Finally, he opens the door. The world up to speed again as snow and the cold come, unwelcome, into his home. He gazes narrowly at the uniform and quickly up to the unchanged face of his first love. In the next instant, they are tangled in an embrace. Levi's arms reach up around Erwin's shoulders as Erwin wraps his arms around Levi's waist, half carrying him. "Erwin." Levi whispers wetly, the same time Erwin says, "I'm home."

They stay in their embrace for a while longer but when it got too cold to stay outside, Erwin carries his lover into their new home and closes the door behind him. Levi slowly unwraps his arms around Erwin. And standing on his own feet, he says calmly "I've prepared tea in the kitchen." He clasps their hands together as he pulls the taller man in the direction of the kitchen. Then he adds, a little peeved, "How convenient your timing, old man. Coming home after everything's been done and settled." And hearing the endearing, amused rumble of laughter coming from the taller man behind him, he smiles to himself and abruptly turns around. He stands on his tip toes and Erwin's shocked question "What's wrong-"is effectively interrupted by his kiss.

Third winter since Erwin left,

Erwin comes home.

A message for you, sweet reader: Whew. Well, that was fun. Remember to drop a review. I'd really like to know what you think which parts you liked or didn't like and where I can improve or anything at all, let me know. I'm still loving this story, so I'll be writing a few more scenes and snippets in this AU, maybe a sequel or a prequel. But I need to focus on my school work for now, so I can't promise when. Alright everyone, thank you for reading. Feedback much appreciated. :)

-msmali