AN: I finally got around to writing the next chapter! And this one ends on a happy note too! Other than that the entire dream sequence was completely written in the moment cause I felt like this is an ErenxLevi fic so why not at least hint of it? Anywho, please enjoy~

I've always hated hospitals. They reminded me of when my mom was dying. The bright fluorescent lights reflecting off the cold, bleached-white walls made the entire place feel so lifeless. The pungent smell of disinfectant and all-purpose cleaners burned my nose and stung at my eyes. It wasn't the cleanliness of hospitals that made me hate them though. Sure it was uncomfortable, but I knew it was necessary. It was the sounds you heard in a hospital that I hated.

Every machine seemed to have a different beep or alarm to it. I especially hated heart monitors with their endless yet rhythmic beeping. In fact, I didn't just hate them, I feared them. I feared when that consistent beeping would turn to a flat tone of death, a sign that your loved one was gone forever. It reminded me of the pain I felt when my mom passed away, and it scared the hell out of me.

By the time we had reached the hospital, Marco had been moved from the ER to an overnight room. The doctors concluded that his seemingly endless slumber was caused by great amounts of stress and lack of sleep, probably caused by just starting a new job at WOFCORP. Thankfully, they believed that he would wake up once his body regained the energy it had lost from many sleepless nights. Nonetheless, Jean was in a terrible state. He blamed himself repeatedly for not noticing that Marco wasn't taking care of himself, and held his boyfriend's hand the entire time. Jean was leaned over his love, whispering in his ear, begging him to be okay.

It was long passed visiting hours, but thankfully due to the influence of WOFCORP, we were granted permission to stay with the two for an hour and give support to Jean. The hospital also told Jean that due to his close relationship to Marco, they would allow him to stay overnight. I knew it was mostly due to the influence of Armin that made this happen though. Immediately when we got to the hospital, instead of going straight to the room number Jean had texted, he veered off to a service desk and used his way with words to get what he wanted. Of course he didn't mention that the two were actually dating to the nurse. We all knew when it was or wasn't the right time to let people in on that fact about them. This world is a cruel one.

Even though Marco had been given a private room, it was pretty crowded with all of us in it. The problem was: what could we do? Other than a few pats on the back and kind words to Jean, we were helpless. None of us were miracle workers. None of us had even taken any medical classes that would give the authority to guarantee Marco's condition to get better. Not that I ever believed doctors anyway. They had always lied to me. "Don't worry. With this new treatment everything will be alright." It was all lies that left a bad taste in my mouth.

The hour passed painfully slow with us all standing awkwardly in a tentative silence. Armin was the only one really talking. He had always been pretty close to Jean, not to mention he had a way with words that could soothe anyone in a dire situation. Just the sound of his voice sometimes was enough to calm a person down. When my mom was dying, sometimes I'd call him up just to listen to the sound of his voice when I couldn't sleep.

I was thankful when finally a nurse came in and told us it was time to leave. Everyone gave encouraging words to Jean before making their ways back home. I was utterly exhausted when we reached the apartment and drifted into a deep sleep the moment my head hit my pillow.

It was rare that I ever remembered my dreams. But for some reason I did that night, rather vividly too. I was in a garden. It was kind of like the ones you see illustrated in children's fairy tale books, full of perfect flowers and trees bearing fruit that look too good to actually be real. At first I thought I was alone, and just walked along the white cobblestone paths that led all around the place, but then I head a shuffling of leaves. When I turned around, there was Levi emerging from behind one of the trees.

That wasn't really the weird part of my dream though. I usually seemed to meet people I already knew in my dreams, that wasn't anything knew. The weird part was that he was completely naked. I looked down and realized that I was too, but for some reason, my dream self didn't really care. We didn't do anything, not a word was spoken. We just stood there, staring at each other. But... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't checking him out.

Armin knocking on my bedroom door repeatedly the next morning woke me up. "Eren? Can I come in?" He said in a rather excited voice.

I mumbled an incoherent approval as I rubbed away the sleep from my eyes. Damn. I kinda didn't wanna wake up from that dream. Hell, I more than kinda didn't want to. More importantly, how could Armin be so bubbly in the mornings? It was still a mystery to me even after all these years of knowing him. "What is it?" I yawned out, stretching my arms above my head.

"Jean called and he and Marco are home now. Apparently Marco woke up really early this morning and couldn't wait to get back home. They've invited us over," Armin beamed as he said it. Something was definitely up, and Armin knew what it was.

"Mmm… What time is it anyway," I was sitting up on my bed at this point, adjusting to the lights Armin had switched on when he came into the room.

"Like seven, seven thirty. Why?"

"Seven! When the hell did Marco wake up? God! I'm going back to sleep, wake me up when its noon," I laid back down on my bed and grabbed a pillow to shield my eyes from the glaring lights above me.

"Eren!" It was Mikasa this time. Apparently at some point in my talking to Armin she had come to stand in the doorway.

Groaning I kicked off the blankets and sat up again. "Alright, alright. I'm up." I yawned again and threw my legs over the bed. "I'm not changing with you two in here though, so if you don't mind," I gestured a hand towards the door as I stood up sleepily and made my way over to the dresser. When I was done getting ready the two where already waiting on the couches in the living room for me. "You two are in a hurry. Shouldn't we give them a little time before we all rush over there? I mean, Marco did just got out of the hospital and all."

"Of course we are! We're not supposed to be there until lunch time!" Armin said excitedly, bouncing up and down in his seat.

My jaw dropped. "What?" I stammered out, looking at him with mixed feelings ranging from what the fuck to I'm going back to sleep.

"We aren't supposed to be there until noon," he stated the fact again, obviously not sensing any of my emotions.

"I get that! Why the hell did you wake me up so early then? I'm going back to bed," I grumbled and started moving towards my bedroom.

"No, no, no!" Armin bounced up hurriedly from his spot on one of the couches and grabbed my arm. "I woke you up early so we could get everything together."

"Everything together?" I was confused as hell now.

"Armin, you still haven't told him have you?" Mikasa piped in nonchalantly.

Armin's eyes got wide as if he just realized why I was so confused. "You're right! I must have been so excited that I completely forgot!"

"Forgot what? In case you haven't noticed, I'm still in the dark here," I gave him a questioning yet serious look.

"Well, Jean has been planning it for a while and stuff. Like really planning. Seriously planning. And I think Marco passing out finally pushed him to do it. Like, you know, how when someone you really love is in danger you realize all the things you should have done with them? Well, of course Marco's case wasn't as serious, but I still think Jean experienced that, so he decided to finally do it." Armin began babbling off quickly, yet he still hadn't answered my question.

"Do what!" I said in a frustrated voice.

Armin smiled brightly with his head titled slightly to the side. "He's gonna ask Marco to marry him, silly!"