A:N/ Same old Elyse. Same old characters that don't belong to me.

Your reviews are always so encouraging and nice. Thank you so much! xx

It had been a year since then. She was going to reach her 18th year by next week while the babies were about to reach their first year. The babies were starting to crawl and sort-of walk here and there before falling and giggling. It was too much especially for poor Nifa and Dieter.

But, she was grateful for their help especially with how Erwin and her have been since last year.

Shaking her head, Elyse began to focus on happier upcoming things. Her 18th birthday was going to be a momentous occasion since she was going to see her brother and father for the first time in a year. Levi had been trying to search for their uncle to no avail, so he decided to take a break by buying a small house in Paris despite Elyse's offer for him to live with them.

"No offense, Elyse, but three screaming babies don't sound too appealing right now." Levi said over the phone much to Elyse's disappointment, but she understood. Sometimes, she found herself wanting to scream when they wouldn't stop crying.

Her father, still miffed at her for ignoring his protests of adopting more children, decided to visit since it happened to kill two birds with one stone. He had a meeting with Erwin and his father, so Ansel Ackerman always put business first. But, Elyse could also hear the interest in his voice when he spoke of seeing his grandchild even though she stressed that it was grandchildren, but it was a step for him, so she was going to be wary about him and her kids.

Freida was supposed to visit, but due to scheduling conflicts, she promised she would make it for the Eren's first year party. Elyse understood, she remembered how she had taken a break from Julliard to join a show and that had been hectic.

She sighed, wistfully, thinking about it, but a tug on her skirt made her look down from her book and she smiled, widely, as Mikasa held her arms up towards her.

"Okay, ma petite. Up you go." Elyse cooed, picking up her daughter with a laugh. Mikasa giggled, laying her head in the crook of her mother's neck, sucking on her thumb. Elyse tsked, and pulled Mikasa's thumb out of her mouth.

Mikasa pouted, but she complied as she proceeded to put sticky fingers in her mother's hair, playing with it. Elyse sighed, but she let her daughter explore, settling back in the couch on the living room as Mikasa babbled and cooed.

Elyse could hear Eren and Armin's high-pitched gurgles as Nifa tended to them, with the help of Dr. Zoe, well, Hange, and Dieter.

She smiled, happily. It was days like this that she was grateful for. Yes, she might not be a ballerina in Paris, living her dream, but she was still in Paris with her children and a beautiful estate.

With the babies, it seemed that the estate was alluring people to come in and play with her great children. Dr. Zoe, Eld, Gunther, and Petra were constantly there and Elyse never felt alone.

Especially now that Erwin was gone most of the time.

It had bothered her at first. She had tried to take steps in beginning their friendship, but Erwin was adamant about what he said. He returned to being aloof and taking care of things from a distance. Sure, the kids knew who 'papa' was and they climbed all over him once he got home, excitedly. Erwin would spend time with them in his own way and when he could, but there was one thing that changed.

He was ignoring her,avoiding her, and shunning her.

Angrily, Elyse had tried to confront him about it, but he had posted Dieter at his office, and Dieter told Elyse that no one was to bother him unless it was an emergency. Elyse was ready to rip Erwin's face.

They barely talked anymore. He would go down for dinner, and he would feed the kids, simply telling her that he had a new business venture and that he'd be spending more time away from the estate, as if he wasn't already doing that. He would only discuss about the children, and Elyse had stopped trying to talk to him about anything else, pissed at what he did of avoiding her and stopping her from barging into his office.

God, she hated him, and yet…

Sometimes, she missed him. He had been such a presence in her life ever since that winter night, unbearable or bearable, but him no being a presence now bothered her. Sure, he was still good with the kids and her, taking care of them, but it made her feel uncomfortable to share a life with someone who wouldn't talk to her.

But, the weird man refused to let her help him, so she had no choice but to comply.

Mikasa moved in her arms, snapping Elyse from her thoughts and she pointed to the backyard, meaning, in her baby language, that she wanted to go out. Elyse laughed, but an idea popped in her head.

"Dieter, Nifa! Can you get the babies ready for a trip outside?" Elyse called, getting up and carrying the squealing Mikasa. Elyse walked inside the nursery, and she groaned once she saw Eren fussing in poor Dieter's arms.

She placed Mikasa down in the playpen and she picked up the crying Eren, who stopped once his mother picked him up.

"How about we go outside? Would that make you happy, mon petite?" Elyse asked, in her baby voice, her excitement affecting the suddenly happy baby boy.

Dieter stared at her, warily, "Miss Elyse, I don't think that's a very good idea. The press will-"

Elyse waved his worry away, focusing on changing the babies while directing him to grab a baby bag.

"The press won't do anything especially with you near. Besides, I want to show them Paris not the backyard." Elyse stated, nuzzling Armin's drooling face as he grabbed his mother's face.

Elyse giggled, but she sighed inwardly as she looked at her biological baby. Armin was starting to look exactly like his father which rubbed the salt in the wound more. She remembered how floored she had been when her son opened his eyes for the first time. It was the moment after the tense discussion Erwin had with her about not having any sort of relationship with each other, which had her torn because her compassionate side was calling out to help him, but her angry, stubborn side made her want to rip his face off for being so frustrating.

Blue eyes that mirrored Erwin's looked back at her, and Elyse bit her lip, fighting the tears that were beginning to fall on her cheeks.

Elyse closed her eyes at the memory, but she smiled as soon as Armin babbled, "Ma." It had been his first word and it had been the happiest day of her life and she almost dropped the bottle she had been warming up for Eren.

She thanked Dieter for getting everything ready in the black SUV. They went downstairs, and they put everything they needed in the SUV and they left.

It had been a mistake. Elyse pressed a hand to her forehead as the press relentlessly tried to go through their security detail as they tried to take pictures of her children. Dieter shot her a look, and Elyse had no choice but to nod reluctantly. Dieter gathered two of the children, and Nifa gathered the supplies. Elyse chose to hold Mikasa because she was the one that was wailing the loudest at the confusion and chaos that was going around her.

Guilt teared Elyse apart, promising herself that she would have to wait for her children to get older in order to bring them out.

Once they all entered the car, Elyse sighed, "I'm sorry, Dieter, you were right."

Dieter didn't say anything for a moment, and then he said, "It's not easy being doing everything on your own."

That's when Elyse began to feel her eyes water, and she shook her head once Nifa shot a horrified Dieter a dirty look.

"He's right. It's hard. I feel like a single parent." Elyse whispered, softly, caressing Mikasa's head as she slept.

The ride back home was quiet.

When they got home, Dieter and Nifa helped Elyse bring the babies in. Once they settled them on the ground, the children began to squeal and Elyse looked up as she saw Erwin, angrily pacing the floor.

Erwin looked up then and motioned for them as they waddled to him. Elyse felt guilt once again shot down her spine as he began to gently inspect them, seeing if they were hurt in any way. Dieter and Nifa entered then after closing the car doors, and they paled once Erwin's glare met their gazes.

"I would like to talk to my wife alone. Bring the kids upstairs." Erwin ordered, sharply, once he was satisfied with his kids' inspection.

Elyes froze, as she watched Dieter and Nifa obey, immediately. The sound of the nursery door closing made Erwin stand, slowly, his back straight and his glare not leaving Elyse's form.

"You want to explain what you were thinking. They're barely one, Elyse. Have you not learned from your run-ins with the paparazzi? God, Elyse, do you understand what could've happened?" Erwin demanded, his jaw clenched as he studied her.

Elyse looked down, guiltily, "I realized I was wrong, Erwin. Please, can we not drag this out-"

"It's not only your life that you're responsible for. You have three other lives to think of. I have half a mind to punish you right now."

Rage blinded Elyse then. She was weary of feeling useless as she stayed in the estate, alone with wailing children sometimes. How dare he. How dare he make it seem like she was the only one responsible for their children.

"…Punish me? Are you fucking serious, Erwin? I'm their mother. I'm the one who takes care of them, day in and day out. You have no right to say what I did was wrong. You're the one who's barely here. And, of course, I feel fucking horrible, but fuck you, I'm human, Erwin. Human. Not everyone can be a damn dutiful robot like you." Elyse hissed, angrily, pushing a finger into his chest.

Erwin didn't blink nor did he move. He stood there, still glaring at her.

"I'm sorry, I was under the impression that you were a saint. You being so innocent and young. Perfect little Elyse, tell me when did you start deciding to curse at the man who practically takes care of you and our children." Erwin shot back, his eyes narrowing.

Elyse closed her eyes, clenching her fists, and she opened her eyes, shooting a poisonous look at him.

"Leave me alone, Erwin. You may be our children's father, but you are nothing to me. Just like you wanted." Elyse stated, unflinching and unmoving under his domineering gaze.

With that said, Elyse fled up the stairs and opened the door to the nursey, meeting the sympathetic gaze of Nifa and an apologetic one from Dieter.

"Leave me alone with them, please." Elyse ordered, softly. Nifa and Dieter nodded, hesitantly, and left, closing the door behind them.

She approached their cribs, watching as they fed quietly. So innocent, so oblivious to what was going on with their parents. That's when Elyse began to think about the future, how they were going to question what was going on with their parents, being confused of what love is because they can't see it between her and Erwin, not a single trace.

"I'm sorry." Elyse whispered, tracing Eren's cheek as he began to sleepily drink his bottle, "I'm sorry."

That's when all the frustration and loneliness came out as Elyse softly sobbed.

She didn't see Erwin after that. And before she knew it, she realized that Erwin had left that same night they fought and hadn't come back home yet. She didn't feel any emotion at that, all she felt was stress at the thought of her brother and father coming home to an Erwin-less home.

That would surely upset her father. He would probably think about his business failing rather than worry about his daughter's well-being.

Her 18th birthday was tomorrow, and she wanted to at least have a happy occasion. Her 17th birthday had been spent cleaning up diapers and feeding crying children while Erwin was at work, ignoring her, and Dieter and Nifa were off doing errands.

But, Elyse found herself worrying about nothing as he watched Levi, her father, and Erwin come out the car the week after. Elyse ran to her brother, his arms wide open, and she laughed when he grunted at the force.

"It's not like I died, Ely." Levi said, his voice muffled by her hair, but Elyse didn't let go for another moment.

Elyse turned to greet her father by kissing his cheek and he actually smiled a little at her. "You look well for a mother who has three children." He said, and was that a bit of teasing in his voice?

Elyse smiled at the compliment, realizing that she did slightly miss her father, and that's when she knew she was lonely.

She hesitantly turned to look at Erwin, but he already had passed them, dealing with Dieter at the front door, talking to him about something.

Elyse sighed, inwardly, in relief.

Neither Ackerman men seemed to notice the tension between the couple as they walked inside the house.

"So, where are they?" Levi asked after a moment. Elyse smiled at that and called for Nifa. Nifa appeared, carrying Mikasa and Armin, while Eren wobbled next to her, holding onto her pants.

Levi's eyes softened at the sight of them. He bent down to deal with Eren first, who stared at him curiously. Levi held his hands out and Eren, courageously, went up to him and he fell into Levi's waiting arms, looking at him.

Elyse felt a warm feeling as Levi picked him up and squeezed Eren's nose, playfully, and Eren giggled at that. Her father simply stared at the spectacle, unimpressed, yet Elyse noticed that he stared at the babies, with a slight turn of his mouth, but he began to talk to Erwin and Erwin nodded, motioning to go upstairs up to his office.

The men excused themselves and Levi stayed to play with the kids, who were now climbing all over him, curiously.

"That's your uncle, little ones." Elyse introduced, sweetly. Amused at how curious her kids could be, Elyse pried them off of their uncle before they started biting, due to their curiosity. Eren also had the habit of doing it.

Levi watched as Elyse placed them in their play pen in the living room and he watched as Armin grabbed a long dark lock, refusing to let go of his mother's hand.

"He really does look like Erwin." Levi stated, scrutinizing the little boy as Armin finally let go of her. He stared at Eren, wordlessly, and Elyse knew he was thinking about their mother, so she changed the subject.

"Mikasa is beginning to look like tante." Elyse mused, softly, watching as Mikasa picked up a toy to play with. Levi nodded, turning his attention to the little girl.

It was quiet for a moment, but Levi turned to Elyse and she raised an eyebrow in questioning, "What is it?" She asked.

"Erwin…he told me that you know about…" Levi trailed off as if trying to find the right words. Elyse paled, her heart beginning to beat faster.

About how he almost choked me to death and how I told him that he was nothing to me.

Elyse waited, the dread almost eating her alive as Levi tried to find the right words.

"Elyse, he admitted what he'd done to you because he respects me enough to tell me when he's in the wrong especially when it comes to my sister. He also mentioned how he's now keeping his distance from you and the kids." Levi stated, carefully.

Elyse sighed, irritably, at the last part. "Stupid, right?" Levi raised an eyebrow at her, but he sighed after a moment, "Look, Elyse, I believe that Erwin is doing what is best with the situation right now."

Elyse, bitter and angry from all the loneliness and helplessness she felt the whole year surged within her being, and she grabbed her brother's arm, leading him in a secluded part of the living room so she could voice her anger without being angry in front of the gurgling babies.

"I begged him to ask for help, and he told me he did all he could. Fine, I get that, but that doesn't excuse you for not being there for your partner, because it takes two to make a baby, when you promised to try and start being friends with each other because God knows that the romantic prospect of the relationship flew past when you marry a stranger."

Levi simply listened, trying to grasp that the angry words were coming from his sister.

"Don't get me started on how if he really did all he could, then why marry someone and have a family with them just to shut them out."

Levi stopped Elyse there, pinning her with a glare that immediately made her close her mouth.

"Elyse." The way her brother said her name made her freeze. She had pissed him off.

"I know that you're angry. I know that you're lonely. But, you need to understand that PTSD is a real thing." Levi stated the last part with a strained note.

"Of course, I knew that. I'm not oblivious to it, and I knew you had it once you moved to the city after Germany. You didn't have to tell me, your nightmares did." Elyse stated, sharply, tired of being treated like she was a little girl.

Levi nodded, sharply, and he relaxed, giving up, "That's not all you have to understand, Elyse…Erwin and I, we served in the Army, but we served in a…special unit. One that might kill me since I revealed it to you."

Elyse paused then. Staring at her brother, shocked and terrified, Elyse tried to make sense of what he was insinuating. A special unit that takes their secrecy seriously.

"What are you saying…" Elyse finally managed to say, still hesitant.

Levi looked at her, his narrowed gaze tense and serious, "The day that Erwin mentioned his plan of marrying you to save you from father's wrath, I had been hesitant. I knew of his struggle, but I respected his moral ideals into making sure that you were going to be taken care of and that his child would be legitimately his. You never mentioned any attacks, so I was thankful and pleasantly surprised with how Erwin was handling everything. Before he had an attack, he mentioned how he was becoming more relaxed in your presence and the children's, so he thought it would be safe for him to be around you and them, which triggered what happened to you and what almost happened to Mikasa."

"Levi, you're saying things that I already know." Elyse stated, her anger and bitterness returning at the memory of the night Erwin decided to shut himself out of their growing family without thinking of how it would affect them.

Levi shook his head, grabbing her arm, "I'm not finished, Elyse. Once he told me that, of course, I yelled at him, told him he was an idiot for letting himself go. But, after a moment, I remembered how much he struggled after he got home from it all. We all did. But, Erwin…the man had it bad, Ely. He needed more than a normal PTSD therapy, and I don't blame him. Do you think Erwin wanted to marry you and have children just so he could treat you this way? He may have had his dutiful reasons with marrying you, but he really loves the kids. Erwin just wanted to be human with a family of his own, but it almost got him to kill you and Mikasa. Do you understand that, Elyse?"

Elyse had begun shaking at that point, wrapping her arms around her as she imagined the horrors that surrounded Erwin when he came back. Her brother had mentioned how bad it had been for himself and Elyse witnessed it firsthand, but he said that Erwin was worse, and that made Elyse want to cry and run to Erwin to apologize for what she did…for what she said to him.

"I understand." Elyse stated, quietly. Levi softened then, letting her arm go.

"If Erwin could, he would. You should at least know that about the man, Ely." With that said, Levi shot a sympathetic look at Elyse, and all Elyse could do was mentally kick herself.

Dinner was a quiet affair. The usual even without guests when Erwin would come home and Elyse would feed the kids, the sounds of silverware meeting porcelain and babies gurgling would be the only sounds heard.

Her father, Levi, and Erwin were having a quiet discussion while Elyse fed the babies, distracting herself with them. When her father and Levi retired to their rooms, with Nifa being on vacation and Dieter on duty, Elyse placed the babies back in their cribs, thanking God that they fell asleep quickly. Elyse heard Erwin's office door that led to the nursery creak open, quietly.

She looked up and she saw Erwin, looking slightly disheveled with his tie loose on his neck and his top button on his dress shirt unbuttoned, pausing at the sight of her.

They stared at each other for a moment before he looked away first, clearing his throat, softly.

"I apologize. I didn't know you were in here." Erwin said, smoothly, as if they never had that argument.

Elyse approached him, slowly, and Erwin watched her, carefully. He still held on to the door knob and Elyse noticed that his knuckles were showing white from him clutching it, tightly.

"I should be the one apologizing." Elyse said, softly, as she bit her lip, nervously. Erwin seemed a bit taken aback, but understanding dawned on his features.

"Levi said something, didn't he? He should know better than to slip up like that." Erwin sighed, wearily, and Elyse noticed that his hold on the door knob loosened and ran a hand through his blonde hair.

"He said something to put me in my place. I shouldn't have the said the things I did." Elyse apologized, trying to defend her brother's actions.

Erwin glared at her, as if he was reprimanding her, "Elyse, you have no reason to apologize. If that's how you feel, then so be it."

God, why was he still being frustrating?

Stamping down her frustration, Elyse stared at him, completely sympathetic, "No, you don't understand…I've been feeling bitter and lonely because…well, I don't really have anyone here besides the babies and the help, which is great, but it's still lonely. I used to be surrounded by the people I care about, but now, I'm not. The babies are great, but taking care of them is a hassle in its own. Dieter and Nifa are nice, but they don't get too personal for understandable reasons. I had you, but…you disappeared and I got hurt."

That last part was hard for her to admit and Erwin stared at her as if she suddenly had two heads. Where is a rock, so she could crawl into it and hide?

"So, that's why I said those things. And, I hope you will forgive me." Elyse finished, trying to prompt him to speak to her.

"…Elyse. I didn't realize…" Erwin trailed off and he groaned, cursing to himself, quietly, "Shit, I'm a fucking idiot."

Elyse didn't know what to say to that. She was uncomfortable and nervous and she didn't know what to do as she stood there while the man she had barely spoken to for a year now stood there, having an existential crisis.

Erwin finally stood up, straight, and he walked towards her in one swift stride and she stiffened when he grabbed both her arms.

"You're saying that you…missed me? Truly?" He asked it, as if demanding a criminal of an answer.

Elyse blushed at that, but she nodded, slowly. "We were becoming friends, and it was nice." She offered, lamely.

Erwin smiled at that, and Elyse was struck with how much she missed his smiling face. After a moment, a frown darkened his face and he stepped away with a sigh, warning Elyse.

Erwin looked at her then at the babies, hesitantly. He offered her an arm, motioning for her to follow him.

"Let's discuss this in the office." Erwin stated, quietly, opening the door for her while placing a hand on the small of her back, leading her inside his office.

Once he closed the door, he motioned for Elyse to sit in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Erwin asked as he walked towards the mini-bar he had next to his desk.

Something that will make me relaxed in your company would be nice.

"No, I'm fine." Elyse replied, softly. She heard Erwin pour his usual drink, Jameson. She had noticed that was his favorite when he got home for dinner, and she made a note of that and told Nifa to always have it prepared in the house.

That was when she was still trying to be friends with him, and he didn't even tell her if he noticed or not, still pointedly avoiding her.

Erwin returned, sitting on the chair next to hers that was also facing the fireplace. He took a long gulp from it before putting it down on his arm rest as he swirled the contents in it around.

It was quiet, and Elyse waited for Erwin to talk before she would start losing it, mentally.

"I'll go back." Erwin finally stated, his voice low and lost in thought. Elyse turned to stare at him, but he was busy staring at the fireplace, his concentrated blue eyes too lost in thought.

"…I'm sorry?" Elyse asked, confused. Erwin took another sip, "I'll go back to therapy."

Elyse blinked.

"It might not work, but it's a start." Erwin said again, standing up, immediately restless as he still held on to his drink and putting a hand in one of the pockets of his dress pants.

Of course, he looks like a damn movie star. Oh, Elyse, pay attention, will you.

"Therapy? For the…attacks?" Elyse asked, trying to make sense of it all.

Erwin nodded, "Yes, the last time I went must've been at least seven years ago. But, I think it's necessary once more." Elyse was too startled to respond, scared that Erwin might bolt once more if she voiced any sort of opinion.

He turned around and placed his drink on the coffee table and walked towards her, bending down to look up at her. He, gently, grabbed her hands and he held her hesitant gaze.

"I'm truly sorry about what I said, too. I…I have missed your company and the children, and I took it out on you because…Elyse, you can hear this a thousand times and deny it, but you are…a saint. Now, don't protest, just listen. You gave up everything to marry a stranger and have taken two children in your care while giving an excruciatingly painful birth to our son. You had a dream and you had a life before this, and you gave it up because…you are compassionate and kind. You have such a beautiful soul."

Elyse was floored, flustered and her eyes darted around the office, trying to avoid his gaze. A gentle tug of her chin made her look at him, and he smiled at her, dazzling and gorgeous as always.

"I will try to give you what you want. A friend. It will be hard, but-"

"It won't be hard because I'll be here. I want to be friends, Erwin." Elyse interrupted, finally finding her voice as soon as she heard the doubt in his voice.

They have gone so far, and Elyse wasn't about to have him retract on her now. She started feeling slightly powerful, as if she was appointed to be Erwin's emotional guardian at this point.

Erwin chuckled, and Elyse's heart ached. She had missed that sound. She had missed the ability to make him smile and laugh with her stories or words.

The clock struck midnight and the sound of church bells echoed in his office, and Elyse froze, worried that the babies might wake at the sound. Also, she was confused. She never heard the sound of church bells in their manor before.

Erwin noticed and laughed, "Don't worry. This office is soundproof. I usually take phone calls on speakerphone. Also, I tend to curse loudly."

It was Elyse's turn to laugh and it felt good to let go.

The slight pressure on her hands made her look down and she saw Erwin placing a kiss on her hands, and she blushed as he looked up at her, smiling.

"By the way, Happy Birthday, Elyse." Erwin greeted.

Elyse rolled her eyes, finally feeling at ease, "You're not smooth at all."

Erwin shrugged and chuckled, and Elyse knew that they were finally on the way to being friends once more.

Her brother insisted on punching her arm 18 times to keep up their birthday tradition, and Elyse whined.

Elyse didn't want a big celebration much to her father's disappointment. He wanted to use it as a business boost, so Elyse compromised. The backyard at the manor held a beautiful rose garden with antique patio furniture. She would take the kids out there whenever she thought it would be good to have fresh air. The sound of the water crashing on the crocks sounded, and it used to calm Elyse when she watched the kids. So, her father invited some of the business partners including the Mr. Garnier who she was supposed to marry to their house for a garden party in the evening. And, they were preparing for it.

Elyse sat down to take a break and Levi had begun the punches.

"You're the one who started the tradition, Elyse. I don't understand why you should be exempted from it." Levi argued, placing the last punch on her upper arm.

"I started it because it was an excuse to annoy you." Elyse argued back, rubbing her upper arm, "Besides, I'm a mother now. You can't just punch my arms anymore. I need them to carry my precious children."

Levi pointed at Erwin with a pointed look, "That's why you have that large man to help you." Elyse looked towards the direction he was pointing at, and she softened at the sight. Erwin was holding Mikasa as he watched Eren and Armin waddle around everywhere.

Elyse bit her lip in worry when she saw Armin fall, but once he got up, she sighed in relief.

"Look at you, being all motherly." Levi teased. "It seems like yesterday when you came up to me, crying about how you shit your pants."

"You're so lucky I love you." Elyse mumbled, bright red at the mention of an unfortunate incident in her life.

Levi shrugged, chuckling. He looked to where she had been looking before and he cleared his throat, "So, I take it that you and Erwin talked."

Elyse smiled, slightly, at her brother. "Yeah, we did. He told me he's planning to go back to therapy."

Levi nodded at that, a smile playing on his lips, "Well, well, what did I tell you about him being a good man?"

Elyse rolled her eyes, "The man is good, but he's dense and unreadable. I had to admit to him that I had missed him before he realized that he wasn't doing anyone any favors with his avoidance."

Levi hummed in agreement.

"Levi, Elyse. It's time." Erwin called as he motioned for Nifa to pick up Eren and Armin. Elyse could see the cars approaching the winding road, slowly, and she sighed, shooting her brother an amused look.

Levi shot one back, and Elyse realized that she didn't know what being lonely was anymore.

The birthday celebration, Elyse pleasantly thought, wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. The evening cool fall air was enjoyable and the ambiance and the setting was gorgeous. Her father and Levi weren't fighting, and Elyse noticed that her father and her brother were talking to business partners together. She was taken aback by that, but she didn't dare question it.

Maybe it was a birthday miracle.

Wives of the business partners were young. Not her age, but they were young compared to their own decaying husbands. Some were nice, which Elyse felt they had to be, and some were straight-up nasty, thinking that Elyse wasn't a big deal.

Yes, because your husbands don't work under my father, my brother, and husband.

The babies were a joy for everyone who met them. The ladies cooed and played while the men slapped Erwin's back, drunkenly congratulating him for joining parenthood.

Elyse realized that this would technically be the first public appearance of her babies, but Erwin had calmed her, saying that it was a small group compared to what they were usually used to. He was right, as always. The babies were more curious than scared as they basked in the attention, and it also made them tire easily.

Elyse thanked Nifa and Dieter as they moved them to the nursery.

"Miss Elyse! Happy birthday!" A pleasant voice greeted her. Elyse looked to where the voice was and she broke out into a huge smile at seeing the source of the voice.

"Petra! Wow, it's been forever!" Elyse greeted, hugging the petite blonde tightly.

Petra giggled at that and sighed, "Being your husband's assistant means that I have to be in charge of all the business ventures. He bought a lot in the last year, and I don't even know why. He's selling most of them, keeping one, which is a bit odd."

Elyse raised an eyebrow at that, too, "Just one business venture? Which one is it?"

Petra opened her mouth to respond, but a sight behind Elyse must've surprised her as she gasped, softly. Elyse turned around and she saw her brother staring at Petra, also taken aback.

"Levi?" Petra asked, as if she couldn't believe he was there. Levi got up and approached them, slowly.

"Hello, Petra. It's been awhile." Levi greeted, acknowledging her with a nod of his head.

Elyse could feel some awkwardness in the air and she wished that she could disappear in that moment because it was pretty quiet and they were just staring at each other.

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to-"

"Elyse." Erwin called her name, and Elyse looked up, gratefully. He motioned for her to come over as he stood with a group of men.

"Seems that my husband needs me, so…" Elyse trailed off, leaving quickly, trying to be discreet. She walked over to Erwin, who smiled at her and placed an arm around her waist. He gave her a look before turning back to the group of men.

Ah, he wants me to play the wife. Got it.

Elyse placed the pretty smile she practiced back in Julliard during her acting classes, and by the appreciative looks of the men, it means it had worked.

"Good evening, gentlemen." Elyse greeted, turning on a hostess charm, "I hope you're enjoying yourselves tonight."

"Ah, Miss Elyse. Your estate is charming." One of the men complimented. "Almost as charming as the birthday girl herself."

A practiced giggle slipped through her lips as she swatted his arm, playfully, "Oh, please, you flatter me too much, Mr.…?"

"Mr. Pixis. Mr. Dot Pixis. I worked with your father and your husband back in Germany. It's a small world out here."

Elyse found herself completely charmed by the man even though he seemed a bit drunk.

Erwin chuckled at that, his arm still around her waist, playing the doting husband, "You just happen to work with everyone, Pixis."

The men began to laugh at that, and Elyse smiled, politely. She scanned their faces and she noticed that one of them was staring at her a bit too much. She wondered who he was, and if someone answered her thoughts, the man opened his mouth.

"So, Elyse, tell us, how did you manage to land our stoic Erwin here?" He asked, and Elyse knew it was meant to be teasing but she could sense the seriousness in his voice. The men didn't seem to notice as they eagerly laughed and encouraged her to answer.

"Well, we first met at a party that my father held at our house back in New York City. He was visiting my brother back then and he had been trailing me throughout the whole party without talking to me. I just had it and turned to him and demanded him to talk to me if he was insistent on following me the whole night. The rest was history." Elyse lied through her teeth.

She added the Erwin stalking her part for her amusement and a warning pinch from Erwin made her smile even wider at him.

That's right, Erwin. You creepy man.

"Well, that seems to be Erwin's way of picking up women." The man said, his teasing tone still holding that serious note.

Elyse laughed with the rest of the men, but Elyse noticed that Erwin was too busy staring at the man who spoke.

"Niles, how is your wife?" Erwin suddenly asked, smiling his secret smile. Elyse noticed that the man, Niles, blanched at that, but he smiled back.

"She's fine. She's carrying our second child. That's why she couldn't make it tonight." Niles stated, and Elyse was starting to know the tension between the two men.

She decided to cut in.

"If you'll excuse me, gentlemen. I must attend to the other guests. Such a pleasure to speak with you." Elyse said, pleasantly. She stole a quick glance at Erwin, his nonchalant face actually looked threatening as he stared at the man before him.

"Honey," Elyse called for him, her voice holding the slightest hint of warning, "would you like to join me in greeting our guests?"

Erwin seemed to wake up at that and he looked down, his arm tightening around her waist, smiling a trained smile.

"Of course, dear. If you'll excuse us." Erwin excused them, and he brought them aside to join other people.

Before they could, Elyse looked up at him, worried, "Are you okay, Erwin?"

Erwin nodded, sharply, "Yeah, it's just that even if it's a party, you must be on guard all the time. Men like them are dangerous game players. I just happen to be really good at the game."

Elyse laughed at that, softly. He was starting to open up to her, and with his weird lingo, she found herself at ease.

Ironically, playing pretend with Erwin was starting to feel normal once more.

A:N/ YAY PROGRESS. YAY BETTER ENDING THAN BEFORE. BUT, WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

Also, on a more serious note, I'm keeping France in my prayers. And, as you can tell by this story, I am in love with France even if I still haven't gotten to visit this lovely country. Pray for France xx.