It had been a couple of days since my discussion with the soldiers from the Garrison. The soldiers had watched me with disbelief when I'd mentioned Erwins name but the Captain had promised he'd make contact with him. I'd started too give up hope by now. I guessed the man hadn't even contacted Erwin, not believing me to know him. We were working on the fields today. The events of the last couple of months started to get a tool on me after this failure trying to get the custody of Eren and Mikasa. I still hadn't talked to them about it and the gathering of the orphaned children was going to begin in a few days. I put my hand up to my eyes as I felt the tears building up yet again. Mr Arlert looked at me and I gave him a weak smile trying to show him it was alright.
"Mrs Evans." The sound of my name made me look up. Coming towards me was the Captain from the Garrison to whom I'd spoke with. I stopped and looked up at him. "Commander Smith is waiting for you in the town."
The carriage ride into to town felt like it took forever. At last it stopped outside the house that the Garrison held as office close to the refuge camp. The Captain led me inside and knocked on the room. After a short moment I could hear Erwin call out for us to enter. The Captain opened the door for me and ushered me to walk in.
"Thank you!" I said with a low voice to the Captain who nodded at me. I walked in to the room and he closed the door behind me. Erwin stood in the room, looking down at some papers at the desk.
"Ms Evans. It glads me to see you alive." He said when the door closed, looking up at me with his neutral smile. I smiled slightly. "So I heard you had some business to discuss with me?" He walked around the desk and came towards me.
"Yes, I have." I said and looked up at him. "The thing is I need your help Erwin. There's been decided that all the children whom lost all relatives will be put in an orphanage."
"So I heard." Erwin said and I bit myself as I lowered my eyes.
"It's just…my neighbour's children, I've grown very fond of them and…and…" Tears built up in my eyes now as I thought back to Carlas last words. "…I promised their mother, I promised her to take care of them…but they won't let me since I'm not a relative to them. They told me the only why was if I knew someone in the government or a commander and I remembered I heard that you've been appointed the commander of the survey corps a couple of weeks back. So I just…I…" I started trembling and I put my hand over my chest since my heart felt like it would shatter from all the pain and hurt I was feeling at the moment. All the things that happened to me this year came too me and it hurt like hell. "Please Erwin. I've done everything you and Levi asked of me. I stayed away; I didn't interfere nor complained, I continued living just as he told me to. Although it pains me and I want to see him, I've stayed away. So now I beg you for this one thing. Please, help me." My legs gave in because of the exhaustion I've felt the last couple of days. I continued pled to him thru my cries, for how long I didn't know but suddenly he kneeled down in front of me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Valerie." I looked up at him, wide eyed since he'd never said my first name before. He smiled at me. "I'll make sure you gain custody over the children, and I expect nothing in return expect from what you already do." For a short moment I just stared at the man in disbelief and then my body moved on it's on. I wrapped my arms around his neck and cried into his chest. I felt him tense for a moment before he relaxed. I moved away since I realized what I done and looked down at the floor. "Sorry and thank you." He reached out his hand and I looked at him, he still smiled.
"It's alright." I took his hand and he helped me stand. He let go of my hand when I'd gotten on my feet. "I'll take care of this and send someone to get you when the papers for the custody needs to be filled out." I nodded and smiled at him.
"Thank you so much Erwin."
After that I was brought back to the fields, running to Eren and Mikasa and hugging them as I told them the news. Just a week later I was summoned to fill out the papers of custody of Eren and Mikasa, they were now my responsibility for real. This gave me new energy and yet again I could ignore my exhaustion and focus on the two children whom now become a part of my life for sure. A year since the attack passed by and the government had decided they would try to reclaim Wall Maria with the strength of soldiers and refuges. Erwin had sent a message to me informing me he'd made sure I didn't need to be a part of this mission. Mr Arlert, on the other hand, together with two hundred fifty thousand others was forced to go back to Wall Maria. I promised him that I would take care of Armin until he came back. Just over a hundred of people did.
"Armin." He was sitting with his grandfather's hat, just staring at it. I sat down besides him in silence. Tears run down the boy's face. I sighed and then pulled him close to me, stroking his hair as his tears escalated. We sat like that for a while until he calmed down and I stroke away the last tears on his face and looked at him. "I'm not leaving you. I'll always be here for you, Eren and Mikasa." I told him and gave him a comforting smile. He nodded and lowered his eyes. I kissed his forehead. The next day I made sure to get in contact with Erwin and yet again ask him to help me with the custody. He didn't question it and in just a week I did not only have the custody of Armin but also a small house within the Trost District. How Erwin had managed to do it I didn't know but I was happy and the three of us soon could move into the small house. After the mission in whom so many people died the food shortage alleviated a little as well and soon things turned into as much of a normal day it could.