Rumors had been spreading around that the local maid cafe had a male dressed up and working as a female maid. However, those who came just to look ended up leaving in assumption that the rumors were false due to the fact that Armin pulled off the look quite nicely. There was simply no one who could believe a short blond male with a baby-face that wore pink dresses existed.

However, after the male-maid rumors had been cleared, new ones popped up. Soon, rumors of two 'lesbians' working in the local maid cafe sprung. This was due to the fact that many of the customers witnessed Annie casually staring and flirting with Armin. During work hours, she would occasionally give him hugs, squeezing and holding him for just a second too long. Eyes would widen.

Armin carefully set down a tray of cakes and coffee at a nearby table, wary of spilling the food. But his motor skills weren't his strong point, so it was inevitable that he tripped over his own feet while trying to work simply to prove that. Annie stared from behind, admiring the way Armin leaned forward when setting the tray down, revealing the back of his legs. Armin certainly didn't know how to lower himself when wearing a dress. Annie knew better, but she wouldn't admit it.

She let a small smile slip as one of the ruffles underneath the boy's dress flipped up, revealing more than just his legs.

So Armin didn't wear underwear with his uniform, huh. I suppose he couldn't anyway.

Thankfully, no other customer saw.

Annie walked over to Armin and tapped him on the shoulder. She might as well tell him how to bend over properly. It was bound to happen again.

"Armin." she said.

Armin flinched and sprang forward, surprised and unprepared for someone to be touching him, "W-What?" he cried. Suddenly the tray of food slipped away from Armin's fingers and fell on the floor, landing with a crash and a big mess.

"AHH!" Armin shouted, staring at the floor, "I-I'm so, so sorry," he pleaded with the customer, who was still sitting at the table.

Armin leaned forward once again in an attempt to clean up the mess.

Annie sighed, somewhat internally admitting that this was all her fault.

"Armin, let me help you with that."

Armin, still awkwardly leaning forward, accidentally slipped on the discarded remains of the cake and fell forward, his face in the rest of the cake that had not been slipped on.

The sly piece cake was flung in Annie's direction, causing her to slip and collide with Armin. Annie cursed as she felt herself loose her balance and in the worst possible direction. That day, poor little Armin was squished between cake, floor and Annie.

The nearby customer only laughed.

"You two are so cute! Little maid lovers working together and having accidents!"

Annie heard that, thinking for a moment if that particular customer was a bit deranged.

But at the moment, she was more concerned about Armin.

Annie grabbed Armin's hand and attempted to hoist him up. Armin took it and tried to use whatever strength he had to lift himself up. Unfortunately, Armin didn't have that needed strength and he only fell back down again with Annie. It wasn't easy to stand on spilt coffee and cake.

This time, Annie's knee rammed into his leg.

"Ouch!" he squealed.

"I'm sorry, Armin." Annie pleaded, reaching over and clutching his face into her arms, pulling him into a half-hug.

Various 'awww' sounds came from distant areas of the cafe. Annie ignored them.

At this point, the floor had been wiped with Armin's dress, so getting up was easier. Annie lifted him while hanging onto the table for support. She almost wanted to spit 'Armin, you clumsy fool,' but she didn't, knowing it would hurt his feelings.

Lucky for him, he had other non-physical talents that kept him useful.

Annie stared at Armin's dress with dissatisfaction. He had completely ruined it -again. This wasn't the first time his lack of grace had gotten the best of him.

She sighed, motioning to the messy floor. "Armin, go into the back and change. I'll take care of this."

"Okay, thank you, Annie." he half-whispered and dashed off.

Annie leaned down (properly) and began to scrub the grimy area. It wasn't too hard. It was only cake and coffee, nothing sticky or troublesome like caramel. At some point, she felt the ever so patient customer peering down at her with amusement.

Annie slowly glanced upwards, "Do you mind?" she said, coldly.

He only laughed, unaffected by her dagger-like words, "Oh, not at all! I only came because I heard that lately there had been quite a lot of excitement going on around here."

"Hmm," Annie only mumbled, half-agreeing with him. She continued to scrub. He would get no excitement from her.

"That other maid though," he continued to speak, "There's something about her, but I just can't put my finger on it."

Annie froze.

The customer shot a finger in the air. "Aha! Low sensory issues. That's why she's so clumsy. She needs to see a doctor and have her nervous system checked out! Poor doll..."

Annie rolled her eyes. For a moment, she thought he was onto something.

"Yup, it kills us all. Have a nice night, Sir…" She finished cleaning and dismissed him.

Annie found Armin in the kitchen. He was wearing his normal clothes.

"Ah! Annie, I went to change, but then I saw the time. Our shift is over. Time to go home!"

"Well, finally." she complained, ripping her apron off. "I'll meet you outside, Armin. Just let me get my things first."

"Okay," he responded, and waited.

As they were walking, Armin noticed that the nights were getting colder and darker. Winter was almost upon them. Then he also remembered something else. He wanted to tell Annie, but he wasn't sure if she would find it interesting.

"Um, Annie."

"Hmm," she responded, fumbling with something in her pocket.

"I have good news. Well, good for me, at least. Um…I got a scholarship for a university. Apparently, they liked my performances in school. They want me to go to their university so that they can interview me for enrollment." he said the last part with greater enthusiasm than the first.

"Good for you." Annie responded, her voice a bit less sarcastic than it normally was.

"T-The problem is that it's really far away, and I'll have to move out of Eren's place in order to attend."

"How far?"

Armin gulped and scratched the back of his neck. "About 200 miles, more or less."

Annie stared off into space, popping the gum she was chewing from the bubble it was into a shrivel. The noise echoed through the night, creating a dense atmosphere.

"Okay, so…when do you plan on moving out?" she asked bluntly, but Armin could tell that she was worried about something.

"Very soon. I have the money and I want to go to school, but…" He stopped.

"But?" Annie looked up at him and raised her eyebrow.

Armin wondered if it would be appropriate for Annie to stay in Eren's apartment while he was away. Even though Mikasa was there, perhaps it would be alright -if they ever got along. Armin pondered this while Annie waited for his response. After quite some time, she assumed he simply didn't want to finish his sentence, so she let it slide with a shrug of her shoulders. She concealed the roaring feelings of sadness and despair sliding through her veins. The blonde wanted Armin to stay by her side forever. Armin wished for the same.

Meanwhile, at home, Eren and Mikasa were making up after their fight.

"Mikasa, I don't hate you. I'm sorry I shouted." Eren confessed.

"…Okay. I accept your apology. But, I'm still going to watch out for you because you know you wouldn't last a day without me."

More like the other way around…Eren thought.

Mikasa walked over to the table Eren was sitting next to and threw a small object in his direction. It slid across the table and stopped in front of him. It looked like a small man's wallet.

"What's this?" Eren questioned.

"Pictures," Mikasa said, "Of Sasha and Connie's wedding. I thought I'd show them to you since you or Armin didn't come."

"Did you go?"

"Of course. Take a look at them. The cake was extravagant."

Eren opened up the small wallet, pulling a stack of pictures out. There was one of Sasha's dress, along with Connie in a Tux. They both looked very happy together.

Suddenly, Armin and Annie came bursting through the front door.

"We're home!" Armin shouted.

Eren looked up from what he was doing. "Armin! Come look at these pictures!"

"Oh?"

Armin walked over to Eren. The brunet held up one of the pictures to his friend's face. It was a shot of Connie feeding Sasha a piece of their wedding cake.

"These photos are wonderful, Eren!" Armin gasped and took the others, looking at each of them one by one.

Annie walked over to where Armin was and leaned over his shoulder, studying the photos.

"So, they're together now, huh? Didn't see that one coming." Annie said sarcastically. She then walked away and proceeded to lie on the couch, relaxing in the soft pillows.

"You know, Armin. You should consider settling down. I mean, I could give you some pointers if you want." Eren nudged his friend.

"Since when were you good at things like that, Eren?"

"Hey! I had more girlfriends in High School than you did! Mr. Forever Single!"

"You had one, Eren."

The two continued to grumble about girls until Mikasa interrupted them. "Eren, what's for dinner?" she quietly shouted in their general direction.

Eren looked up. "Huh? I don't know. Pancakes?"

"That's not dinner, Eren. That's breakfast."

"Well, too bad. Because it's all I know how to make."

Mikasa sighed. He probably didn't even make them as good as their mother used to.

Eren shrugged. "It's either that, or instant ramen."

They went with the ramen.