I'm sorry for the last updates guys. I had a VERY busy day.

Are you guys ready for the last chapter? Because I'm sure as fuck not. Don't start crying on me, or I'm going to end up crying too D: Now go read the fluffy ending!

Epilogue
Eren

"Eren, everyone is going to be here any minute and your shit is still all over the family room," Levi chastises me as I enter the apartment, having just returned from classes.

I exhale sharply and kick off my shoes, dropping my backpack with them. Blankets and pillows and textbooks and notes are still all over the floor from my late night cram session last night. Levi is cleaning the floor to ceiling glass, a white bandana covering his nose and mouth, and a second one covering his hair. I'm used to seeing him like this. It happens quite often, considering he seems to always be cleaning.

It's been just over three years since Levi and I left the Marine Corps. The Scouts Regiment was disbanded when Levi left. After the devastating losses of that last mission against the Titans, the government wanted to call a meeting to stop funding the squad. Erwin told them not to bother, deciding not to fight them. He knew he'd never be able to find a captain to replace Levi, and he'd never be able to find privates to join the squad. That last operation caused the Scouts Regiment's already shaky reputation to plummet.

After we left the Marines, I moved in with Levi in Boston and started attending college full time while working part time at a restaurant down the street. Levi technically only left the Marines for a few months before Erwin found out that the Marine Corps office in Boston was looking for a Drill Instructor. I knew he wasn't happy being away from that life, the only life he had known for over a decade, but I didn't realize how unhappy he was until he jumped all over Erwin's offer. His titles were all reinstated and he started a new job doing what he loves: whipping shitty brats into shape. Now he's happy with his career, and with his home life, which makes me happy.

Mikasa left the Marines only about a year after I did. Once she felt like she had served her purpose, she left the Corps and found her own place in Cape Cod (she says she's always wanted to live there, but I know that she really only moved there because it is close to Boston), started attending school, and got a part time job. Armin still works as a communications officer with the Marines in New York City. Every once in a while, he'll make a weekend trip up to Boston to visit, or Levi and I will grab Mikasa and head down there. I've kept in touch with the other privates I befriended on that base- Jean, Marco, Connie, Sasha, Krista, and Ymir- but I haven't seen any of them since I left. Some are still serving, others have left and have spread out all over the country.

Levi still keeps in touch with his friends too, Hanji, Mike, and Erwin. Hanji and Mike are still on the base, and Erwin still holds his position as commander over a large number of Marine Corps units. But his job takes him all over the country, and often enough he manages to sneak in a visit with us when he's in the area.

A few days ago, Levi informed me that Erwin would be visiting this weekend, and was bringing Hanji and Mike with him. He said that he also invited Mikasa and Armin to come visit as well. I don't know why, but I didn't argue. I like having big get-togethers, and it's not very often that I get the chance. Almost never, actually. So these last few days, I've helped him clean the entire apartment top to bottom, despite the fact that it was already spotless. Levi even got a dining room table to put in that empty space to the left of the kitchen, on the other side of the front door. He's been acting a little weird ever since he talked to Erwin though. I wonder if it's because so many people are going to be here. I know he doesn't like big gatherings, which is why I'm confused as to why he invited so many people to come over. Well, that man never does anything without a plan, so there must be a reason.

After picking up all my things and putting them away, I walk up behind Levi where he's still scrubbing at non-existent spots on the floor-to-ceiling window and wrap my arms around his waist. I nuzzle into his undercut, the short hairs tickling my nose.

"It's already clean, Levi. I can think of a better way to spend the time before they get here," I purr suggestively, grinding my hips against his ass.

"Tch, I am not going to have my dick in you when they start knocking on the door," he snorts. "Go wipe down the table."

I exhale in defeat, pressing a kiss to his neck before snatching a cloth away from him to go clean the table. I don't even reach it before there is a knock on the door. I change course for the front door and pull it open to see Mikasa and Armin standing there. Mikasa pulls me into a hug, followed by Armin.

"Come in," I say, ushering them into the apartment. "Make yourselves comfortable. Can I get you anything to- God damn it Levi, it's clean! Put that shit away and come entertain our guests."

"Shut the fuck up," Levi retorts, but pulls the bandanas from his face anyway.

"Ah, love," Armin teases with an overly dramatic sigh.

Levi does as told though and sits down with Armin, Mikasa, and I. We talk and catch up, and when Erwin arrives with Hanji and Mike in tow, Levi heads into the kitchen to start making dinner. I stand to go help him, but Hanji jumps to her feet, pushing me back into my seat.

"You stay and visit with your guests, I'll help short stuff make dinner," she says, then skips towards the kitchen.

I stare after her, still a little surprised, but then sit back on the couch with a shrug. Erwin has a knowing smile on his face and I raise an eyebrow at him in question. He doesn't say anything though, just as I expected.

"So how is school going, Eren?" he asks.

"Great!" I say with a smile. "I've finished all my general education classes, so this semester I'm taking only criminal justice classes for my major, and I love it. No more stupid math or science classes."

"Have you decided what you're going to do when you graduate?" Armin asks.

I shrug. "Not really. I think I want to do something federal, but it'll be hard to find something that won't require me to move. I've been thinking a lot about just applying to Boston Police Department's police academy, but Levi doesn't want me to become a cop."

"Why not?" Mikasa frowns, looking past me towards the kitchen where Levi and Hanji are preparing dinner.

"Because he's going to annoy the shit out of his suspects and he's going to get himself shot," Levi retorts from the kitchen. Hanji giggles, but it comes out as more of a snort before Levi elbows her in the ribs and she starts laughing harder.

I roll my eyes. We've had this argument a dozen times already, and we have guests over, so I'm not about to get into it with him again. But when Erwin laughs, both Levi and I look at him in surprise.

"Did you forget that Eren served a year with you in one of the deadliest units in the entire military and survived? And you're worried about him working as a beat officer?" Erwin questions Levi.

"Serving in the Scouts Regiment, I was always there to watch his back and to get him out of trouble when his big mouth was about to get him into trouble," Levi explains. "I don't trust anyone else to protect what's mine."

"I'm not a kid anymore, Levi. I'm not that same snot-nosed brat that you met four years ago. The Marines, and especially you, have really turned me around and straightened me out. You have to trust me."

I can see Levi's shoulders tense slightly from where he stands over the stove. He knows I'm right, but that doesn't stop him from worrying. He doesn't say anything, and I know it's because to this day he still has trouble expressing his feelings in front of other people. He's gotten better about it when it's just the two of us, but now that our apartment is full of other people, he can't bring himself to say what he wants to say. But I know exactly what it is he wants to say. He's said it before. He's still worried about losing me like he lost Isabel and Farlan, like he lost Petra, Oluo, Gunther, and Eld, and like he lost countless others in between. He can't say that with everyone here though, but Hanji comes to the rescue for him.

"Aw, honey, he's just worried about you because he loves you. I would be worried too if my significant other wanted to become a police officer. It's a dangerous job," she says, draping an arm over Levi's shoulders.

"I know," I murmur. I don't really want to talk about this in front of everyone else. This is a conversation Levi and I need to have in private. So I quickly try to change the subject. "So how are your classes going, Mikasa?"

The conversation grows light and cheery again as Mikasa talks about her classes this semester. Armin talks about how his job is going and the new units he's working for. Erwin and Mike also talk about how they've been doing- and I get the feeling the two of them have been doing very well, if I'm reading the subtle hints right- and Hanji loudly shares her stories from the kitchen. Everyone relaxes and we laugh and talk and it's wonderful. I wish they'd never have to leave.

When Levi and Hanji finish cooking, they recruit Armin to help them take it to the table. I try to help as well, but Erwin and Mike stop me, taking me over to the table where we take our seats. I sit on one side, and Erwin across from me with Mike next to him, leaving the head of the table open for Levi. Mikasa takes the seat next to me.

Levi sets a plate in front of me and my eyes widen. It's a German stew that my mother taught me how to make when I was little. I've made it a few times for Levi, and I remember telling him that it's my favorite, but I don't remember ever teaching him how to make it. He must've been paying closer attention than I thought the last time I made it.

"Wow, thank you, Levi," I smile as he takes his seat. "Why didn't you tell me this is what you were making? I could've helped you."

He shrugs. "I wanted it to be a surprise."

God I love this man. What did I ever do to deserve someone like him? I let the thought slide as everyone digs in. I take a taste of the stew and I almost moan out loud. It's exactly like I make it, like how my mom used to make it.

"It's perfect," I smile.

"Good," he replies with a small smile of his own.

Conversation continues as we eat, mostly led by Hanji who talks loudly and animatedly all throughout the meal. Armin, Erwin, and I laugh and talk with her, while Mike, Mikasa, and Levi remain quiet listeners. But even Mike and Mikasa offer a few conversational inputs every once in a while. Levi remains silent throughout the whole dinner, and I can tell that something isn't quite right with him. He eats his dinner, all of it, but he seems very tense, and I can't tell why. Everyone has finished eating and we're all still sitting around the table chatting, and I'm about to ask him if he's okay, but he clears his throat and speaks up for the first time since we started eating.

"Okay, there's something I need to say and if I hold it in any longer, I'm going to go fucking crazy," he says, looking down at his empty bowl.

I tense a little. What could he possibly need to say? Is he still upset about what we were talking about earlier? About me going into the police academy? This isn't really the time or the place to have this argument, but with how tense and obviously anxious he is, I decide not to stop him. He's going to say what he has to say and I need to just listen.

"Eren..." he starts, but then hesitates before trying again. "Eren, we've been together for, well officially three years, but unofficially a bit longer than that." He glances nervously over at Erwin as he says that and Erwin just rolls his eyes with a sigh. He knew we were together while on the same squad for a while.

This isn't what I was expecting from him. What does how long we've been together have to do with him being angry that I want to join the police academy? It has nothing to do with it, which means this must be about something else. Is he about to break up with me? In front of everyone? I realize that I'm holding my breath, but realizing that doesn't mean much because I suddenly can't breathe.

"I should've known from the moment I first met you that this is where we'd end up." Now he's looking at me, and I'm so nervous about where this is going that I want to break eye contact, but I can't. My eyes are glued to his blue-grey ones, and I can't look away. "I tried to deny how I felt for a long time, but it wasn't long before that became impossible. You are everything I could've ever hoped for in a partner. You're smart, you're funny, you're beautiful, and you're so full of spirit. I am so ridiculously in love with you, and for some reason I can't figure out, you love me in return. But the reason why doesn't matter to me. All I know is that I can't go back to living a life without you."

He suddenly stands and moves so he's standing right by my chair. He pulls something out of his pocket and slowly, he lowers to one knee. He opens the box and a simple silver band sits nestled in the black felt. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears and I still can't breathe and oh fuck I was so wrong about where this was going. I think I'm about to pass out.

"Eren Jaeger," he says, and I can tell he's just as nervous as I am. "Will you marry me?"

I don't know how I got there, but I'm on my knees in front of him, my arms around his neck. There are tears streaming down my cheeks, but I can't stop them. I can hear Hanji squealing somewhere behind me, along with Armin. God I'm so happy I think I'm going to explode. I pull back from Levi just enough to look him in the eye.

"Yes."

He breathes out a huge sigh of relief and a smile starts to pull at his lips. I take his face in my hands and crush my lips to his. He chuckles into my lips, but his arms wrap around my waist as he leans into the kiss. I can feel his tongue trace my lower lip, begging entry into my mouth, and I almost allow it until someone clears their throat. We pull apart in surprise. It seems I'm not the only one that forgot we weren't alone.

Levi takes the ring from the box and slips it onto my finger before helping me to my feet. Suddenly, my arms are full of a squealing blonde and a crying sister. Erwin and Mike step up to Levi to congratulate him with firm handshakes because they're such tough shits that they can't just give each other a damn hug. But then a bawling Hanji is there, her impossibly long arms managing to wrap around everyone and pull us into one big hug. Somehow I end up in Levi's arms and I laugh, pressing a kiss to his lips.

I see so much love in Levi's eyes, love I know is reflected in my own, and I don't think I have ever been happier in my life. Surrounded by my closest friends, engaged to the love of my life... The road here may have been shitty at the start, but I wouldn't have gotten through it without Levi. I owe everything to this captain that steered me straight.

I know I basically repeated the last line of the last chapter at the end of this one, but the last chapter was going to be the real end until I decided to do an epilogue, but I really liked that last line, ending it with the story title, you know? So I just repeated it again at the end of this chapter ._.

Guys, it's officially over T^T Thank you everyone that read this little ficcy of mine! And extra thank you for everyone who left comments and kudos! I love all of you! And I hope you'll continue to enjoy some of the other works I throw out there. Until next time!

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