A/N: Hope you enjoy, leave a review if you can, and if you have any ideas for me - or some corrections - let me know!


(Mello P.O.V)

"I'll be home soon, Mihael. I promise."

I sniffled. "But it's still a long time."

"One month, my boy. And I'll write to you any chance I get. After this I'm in retirement and I'll train you to be a cadet. I promise you."

I hugged him tightly, still sniffling. "I'll train by myself until you come back. I'll be ready for the corps, you'll see."

"Oh, my little Mihael. You will indeed rule the world. A strong little man like you can only have bright things in your future. For now, there is darkness. But there will always be light. Do not forget that."

"I won't, da. I won't."

"I won't." I repeated to myself, sifting through pages of my story for errors. I'd needed something to take my mind off of things.

My father usually sent a letter before he returned. He sent a letter a week before he would be back home. But there was nothing. I worried he'd met with a terrible fate, but I could only assume he'd forgotten. Perhaps he lost track of time. It was hard to believe since he always put his family first before anything else. Especially when I demanded at least a few letters from him every now and then. So what happened?

I took a breath and backed away from my story. Lord knows I wasn't paying attention to it anyway. I was too afraid of what had happened to my father. It had been two days since he was supposed to return but nothing. He was late, and he'd never been late before in his past.

Could that mean…

"Mihael?" I heard Armin say from his crib.

He didn't speak much since he was only two and very shy, but he said my name perfectly. No stutter or mispronunciation. He was on the mark. I guess it was kinda cute, but I still didn't like sharing a room with him.

I got up from my seat and trotted over to his crib, peaking in over the railing. "You okay, little brother?"

He held his hands out to me and I sighed.

"Of course you want to be picked up." I mumbled before lowering the railing. "Come on then."

He clambered into my arms and I carried him over to my bed. From there he sat in my lap as I read out my story, still looking for errors. It wasn't a good story, but I was a nut for perfection.

Armin tapped my cheek to get my attention. "Story?"

I hummed at this before sighing yet again. "You want a story? What kind of story?"

"Happy." Was his reply. "Happy story."

I grumbled. "Fine then. But no sleeping on my bed. You're going back in the crib if I see you nodding off."

He seemed to understand since he nodded, but what did I know right? I couldn't speak his baby language, and he couldn't speak hardly at all. We practically knew nothing about each other.

I took a breath and began a story for him. It didn't last very long however since I heard the sound of horses coming in from down the road. When I got excited about this, Armin giggled and got excited as well.

I set the toddler on the bed and ran for the front door. I knew my mother was going to come in and grab him anyway. And like I'd said, I was always the first to greet my father when he came home.

Always.

…but it wasn't my father I would be greeting.

I opened the door to see a semi-tall red headed man with his arms in the salute my father had practiced. He was wholly unfamiliar to me.

"Good evening lad. Would your mother be in at the moment?" He asked.

I didn't answer. Something about his voice, low and somber, sent shivers down my spine. I didn't like it. I didn't like it one bit. Something was wrong.

My mother stepped in suddenly, Armin in her grasp. "What's going on? Where is my husband?"

He took a moment to take a breath. That I liked least of all. Like he was preparing for the worst.

"Madam, while on the scouting mission we met with a few of the five metre class titans, as well as one fifteen metre titan. All were dispatched… but… your husband suffered major injuries."

"What…" my mother practically whispered. "Where is he? What's happened to him!?"

"He's in our care… but he wishes to see you."

"I'm coming too!" I exclaimed.

He was wary of this. "My boy… you may not like what you see…"

"I don't care! That's my da! Take us to him!" I nearly yelled.

The man gave in with a small sigh. "Alright then. Please, follow me."

I hurried to follow the man with my mother tailing behind me. I could feel my heart racing in my chest with fear. My father never got hurt on missions, so why now all of a sudden? What had happened!? Did someone else do this to him!? Did someone lead the titans to him!? Those bastards! I'll kill them if I find out that's what happened!

The man led us to a large tent where more than a few people were gathered around. All of them were soldiers, and more than a few had been recently injured. Something told me though… that none of them had it worse than who was in the tent.

Sadly… my father was the only one in the tent.

We walked in and I felt my heart still.

He lay there, motionless, bandages over his eye, his head, his chest… and over the stump that was once his arm.

The nurse who was bandaging him looked up to find us, and my father's eyes turned to us. The look of fear in his eye was wholly unfamiliar to me. He was always strong, always fearless, and always stood up taller than the rest. But this… this wasn't him. This wasn't my da.

The man before me blinked, and a single tear fell down his cheek. "Mihael,"

I nearly flinched when he spoke. His voice was not like it was before.

I swallowed my breath, fought the tears away, and strode up to his side. Without breaking one single tear I took his hand into my mine – which had to be done with both my hands since I was so small – and hugged his arm to my chest.

I swallowed back the tears and smiled half-heartedly. "You forgot to write."

He chuckled weakly before gesturing to his bag that had been discarded on the other side of the tent. "Was attacked while writing it. I'd never forget to write to you, son."

I hugged his only arm once more. "At least you got away with your life."

"More than a few could say. I'm happy about that." He coughed out.

I kept up my smile, biting down the need to cry. "Do you still hurt?"

He shook his head, still smiling weakly. "Not right now, no. Not with you being so brave."

My mother suddenly put a hand on my shoulder. "Darling, could you take Armin home and wait there for me? I won't be long. I just need a moment with your father alone."

I nodded to her and let go of my father's arm, trading it for Armin. After this, I just left the tent, not bothering to say good bye to my da. I think I was too scared to. I didn't want that to be the last thing I said to him.

Goodbye meant forever. And I didn't want to lose him yet.

All the soldiers were stunned to see me walk out of there without a tear in the eye. I even heard a few whisper how brave I had been. I didn't like that. Bravery wasn't hiding away tears like a child.

But adults could be weird some days.

Grisha and Kalura had met me at the end of the fray with Eren and took Armin from me before we headed back to my home. When I was certain no one was looking at me, I sniffled…

...then I cried…

…and I sobbed.

Why… why did this have to happen!? Why did my father get hurt! Why did god do this to him! Why did they take his arm! Why did they break him! Why! WHY!

WHY!

I don't know where I found the things I threw, but I threw them. Logs bricks, sticks, anything that could make a sound in the silence of my mind! I needed something to break! I needed to destroy something! ANYTHING! I needed the world to burn! I needed to see the world crumble around me so I could see my own wasn't the only one broken! I needed destruction!

I felt someone grab me and hold me close. Grisha, I think. But I still squirmed to be free. I didn't want to be held! I wanted to destroy things!

"Mihael, stop this!" The man demanded loudly.

I didn't stop. I kept squirming, wailing loudly and demanding to be let go.

"STOP IT RIGHT NOW!"

I finally stopped when I heard him yell. I just sat in his arms, waiting for him to speak.

He loosened his grip. "It's alright, my boy. I know you're hurting right now, but you have to be strong. Your parents need you. You brother needs you. You must show some strength and take care of those around you. Your father will need all the help you can offer. The man would do the same for anyone else. Follow in that and do what you know is right for your family. Grieve and be angry for now, but do not make things worse for yourself or your loved ones."

I sniffled slightly before letting the tears fall. "I'm sorry. I just…"

"I know. I'm upset as well. But you have to be strong. Be brave. You already showed you can be both by seeing your father the way he was. Now show it by taking care of him and your mother. They'll need you now more than ever."

"But… I'm just a kid."

"You're a tougher kid than you let on. And I know you can do anything you set your mind to. Just like your da."

I sniffled once again before wiping away the tears. "I'll… I'll try. For momma… for da."

He hugged me closely then. "Grieve today, but wake up tomorrow and show your strength."

I nodded. "I will."

I will.

My father was let out of the infirmary a week later when his stitches were alright and cleaned. The commander of the Survey Corps awarded him with a medal of valor and released him from his duties as squad leader.

After that… came the real change.

I'd woken up one morning to find my father trying to cook for himself. My mother had been with Armin and he was having difficulty with the eggs.

So I stepped in.

I made the eggs, cut the fruit, and sliced the bread he'd wanted. For lunch I did the same. Made the food and served it. Then dinner. Then repeat on the next day. After this I would do chores to help my mother out, or keep Armin company for her while she did the shopping or gardening. Then after a few weeks I did the shopping, finding the better deals and helping out my mother a bit more. Then I did the gardening when she couldn't.

After a while… I was doing everything.

Wake up, make breakfast – which I did in record timing now – helped Armin with his clothing, since he was growing rapidly now, go out and get some yard work done, then leave for the square to make a buck or two while also finding things to buy for myself and the family, then come home and make dinner. My mother made lunch since she was almost home constantly now, especially after having twin girls a year or two after my father's encounter with the titans. Armin was not always pleased about having to share a home with girls, but I found it nice. Especially since now Armin knew why I disliked him for so long.

We still shared a room together, but things were much nicer now than before. Especially since he could talk more and share thoughts.

I became the provider, the negotiator, and the most depended on. I was okay with this. Especially since it took some weight off the family's shoulders. Once in a while I had time to myself, and I always used that time to get money for myself. I'd even borrowed my grandfather's guitar when he moved in with us after grandmother's passing. He taught me the correct notes, and then off I was to the square. I didn't make much, but it was a nice way to pass the time. And more than a few people looked forward to my playing when things got too boring.

All the while, I smiled happily. Showing my family that this was something I did because I wanted to. I lost much of my childhood because of this…

…but my father was happy. He was healthy.

Everyone was.

And that was all that I needed…

…right?