18 years later (And you thought it was over)
It was a beautiful autumn day in London as a 35 year old man walked down the street. In his hand, his 8 year old daughter was patiently following after him. About to visit a graveyard with her father.
It has been 18 years since that day and the grown up man now has a family with his wonderful wife Nicole.
Brandon wanted to let his daughter see all of the people he had lost, he had already been there alone once. But this time it was more special.
They walked at a steady pace since they loved the scent of the autumn leaves and the nature. It made them feel home. When the two of them walked past the bushes and into the graveyard the child suddenly looked up and tucked at the older's sleeve.
"D-Dad" the girl whispered. The man looked down at his daughter, her teal-green eyes looked at him with confusion. 'She has her mothers eyes' He thought to himself, smiling warmly.
"What are we doing here?" She asked, looking around a little bit uncomfortable. Causing her beautiful red hair to dance with the wind
He got down on knee and gazed into her lovely eyes."Levi Rose Roberts" Brandon began quietly. His Adam's apple slowly moved up and down as she took a silent breath.
"We're here to see something that really means much to me" The man said softly and tucked a piece of his daughter's red hair behind her ear. The younger looked at him and remained quiet as her father's golden brown eyes lit perfectly with the sun.
"Your uncle Levi Ackerman" Her eyes became wider
"I was named after a guy and not a girl" The girls whispered and he nodded "Was he special to you?" she whispered quieter, afraid that someone would hear them even though it was empty.
The man nodded again and kissed her forehead softly as she hugged his neck. "That man saved your mother and died in her place" Brandon whispered into the hug "If it wasn't for him. Your mother would..." He trailed off at the thought of Nikki dying. He had moved on from his past. The man wasn't harming himself anymore though his scars were still there as a memory. But he was proud of them.
She pulled away and continued to listen. "There was once two persons in my life that made your uncle Levi happy, they are now also resting in peace with him. I gave your sister that name after a woman who Levi once loved..." Brandon continued.
"And what about Nick?"
"Your brother has his name after my father and a friend that was really special to Levi" He exclaimed reluctantly
"Why didn't you bring Isabel and Marco?" The child asked and took a hold of his hand as they walked
"I will someday bring your siblings here one day..." He sighed a little bit. They walked around, searching for a certain tombstone. Then, he noticed how his daughter stopped and pointed at something.
"Is this the one, Dad?" She asked
He looked down and saw the tomb.
Rest. In. Peace
Levi Ackerman
2000-2016
Brandon nodded gently at her. So the younger bent down to lit the candles for his brother's tombstone. Her short hair softly flying with the wind.
He smiled and placed the white lilies in front of the stone as she took out a crimson rose to place it with the lilies. "Thank you uncle Levi" the girl said "For saving my mom"
The sunshine striked over the setting making the view unbelievably beautiful.
The candles made the portrait of the dead man more emotional and the elder felt a tear wanting to leave his eye. He remembered that he used to cry almost every day before, it was now rare for him to cry.
"He was a great man, Levi" The man smiled sadly, his tears threatening to fall again. But Brandon kept them in as he placed his hand on her shoulder while mourning the loss of his brother and she snuggled against him.
And the man thanked him deeply for everything he's done, hoping he will have a better life with his family in heaven.
He smiled to himself knowing that Levi has it better now.
With Isabel
With Farlan
With His Mother
With the His own Mother
With Chloe
And with Mackenzie
The elder smiled, He took out a folded note from his pocket, opening it up and placed it right in front of the tomb. The child stood up and hugged her father's waist as they walked away. Leaving the note on the tomb.
Thank you Levi,
For being there for me. For caring about me. For finding me crying in that tower where we first met years ago. for helping me find a new family.
For saving my wonderful wife Nikki and died in her place. And for being the greatest brother anyone could ever have.
I hope that you have it better up there, with my mother, your mother, with Isabel and Farlan and with everyone we have lost throughout our journey.
I can't wait until the moment I take my last breath and crosses your path so we can be with each other again. I owe you my life and to embrace your loss, I named my daughter after you.
And this time, I wasn't too late
I love you, Levi Ackerman
And with those word, he vowed to protect his family from anything or anyone. He would protect them...
Until death would split them apart.
Because he knew that Levi would have done the same.