DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own anything regarding the Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) series with the sole exception of my own characters and their story-lines or their involvement within the story. Everything else belongs to Hajime Isayama.

Jean took a deep breath in hopes of calming his nerves, though the action was in vain, and knocked on the heavy oak door. There was a moment of silence, and with each passing second he could feel small tremors form in his hands.

"Come in!"

Steeling his nerves, Jean fought back the blush that wanted so desperately to color his cheeks as he opened the door. He stepped into the room, instantly catching sight of Rosalie's form sitting at a small table.

The brunette spared him a glance and smiled before turning back to the small journal she was writing in. "Hey!... I didn't expect to see you until dinner tonight, with the others." She chimed, and after a moment of thought, she closed the small book and looked up with an unimpressed expression on her face. "Not that I'm not happy to see you or anything, but... Did Papa send you to keep an eye on me again?"

As she spoke, Jean had already began to cross the room. He pauses for a moment and stares at her, his brows furrowed in confusion and slight concern. "What do you mean? We had planned to go visit my mom, since your father thought it best for you to get some fresh air."

A look of realization flashes across her face before it quickly turned into one of annoyance. Letting out a sigh, Rosalie lets her head droop as she pinches the bridge of her nose. "Oh yeah, that... I'm sorry, Jean, I must've forgotten.. again."

"Idiot... What are you apologizing for? You can't help it." Jean replies as he crouches in front of her seated form. He reaches up and pulls her hand away from her face, prompting her to look at him. "If you don't feel up to it today, we can go some other time. Just say the word."

"No! I... I want to go! I haven't seen your mom since we were in the Cadet Corps, I'd like to see how she's doing..." She replies and with that, she was out of her chair in an instant, swaying slightly from lightheaded feeling she received almost instantly. "Woah... L-let me just get my sweater and we can go!"

Jean stands, somewhat concerned at first before a chuckle escapes him as she trots over to a small wardrobe in the corner. "Calm down, we have all day. She's not going anywhere." His eyes then trail down to the small book on the table. "What's with the journal?" He asks, picking it up and flipping through the pages aimlessly, a teasing smirk forming on his face. "Writing about all of my amazing accomplishments and how dreamy I am? You don't have to be so secretive about it, Rosie."

"Hah! In your dreams, Kirschstein!" Rosalie snorts, slipping on the coral pink sweater she retrieved from the closet. She then walks over and holds her hand out for the small tome, Jean hands it to her and she gives it a small once over before putting it in her skirts pocket. "Hange thought it'd be a good idea to start writing down what I remember." She informs, looping her one of her arms with his as he leads her out of the room. "Says writing it down may help me retain information, since I've been struggling with it since the injury."

Jeans eyes instantly move to the area in question. "I see..." he murmurs, "Well lets hope it helps."

"When did those two get so close?"

Armin looks up at Eren curiously before following the brunets gaze, his eyes locking on Rosalie and Jean as they made their way to the stables. The duo seemed to be in good spirits, seeing as Jean was talking animatedly while Rosalie laughed gleefully at whatever was said. "They've always been on good terms." The blond replied, sending the male beside him an awkward smile as he clicked his tongue. "They've gotten even closer after the Trost incident."

Eren's scowl softened for a moment before it returned tenfold. "Damn that Horseface! He made his move while I wasn't looking! How can Colonel Turner be alright with this?!"

Armin laughs and gives his friend a small pat on the shoulder. "It was bound to happen Eren, no matter who she's with, you wouldn't have liked them. The same goes for Mikasa, had she'd shown any interest."

"But it's Jean!" Eren groans, earning a confused look from Mikasa as she joins them. "Of all people, why'd it have to be Jean?!"

"You two be careful. And be back before dark!" James fretted about, watching with hawk-like eyes as Jean helped Rosalie onto the horse. "The streets aren't safe at night, all the drunkards come out and cause trouble for anyone crossing their path."

"We'll be just fine, Papa." Rosalie replied with a laugh, patting his hand as it came to rest on the saddles horn. "We're only going to visit Mrs. Kirschstein, it'll only be for a few hours."

James sighs and turns his attention to Jean, causing Rosalie to roll her eyes as the two seemingly have a silent conversation with their eyes.

Due to the Survey Corps recovering from the excursion in Trost itself, it didn't take long for the duo to reach the inner parts of the city as well as the market place not far from Jean's home.

Currently they were walking amongst the throng of civilians and merchants, leading their horse by its reigns as they searched for a suitable gift for Jean's mother, per Rosalie's request. The male had earlier brushed off the idea, saying it wasn't necessary, but the brunette was adamant about making the older woman's day. Thus leading to their current situation.

"Fabrics can be expensive... Oooh, what about flowers? A nice bouquet might put you on your mamas good side, Jean-boy.~"

Jean lets out a groan at the nickname, looking up to the sky as if asking for strength. "Don't call me that... And honestly, I don't see why you're so worried about it. She'll be happy enough with just seeing me."

"Well, somebody's full of themself."

"Oi!"

Rosalie laughs and takes his hand, intertwining their fingers as she leans into his side. "Well, I for one, want to make a good impression!" She states with a nod, looking up at him with a wide smile. "Besides you haven't seen her since that training exercise all those months back! She deserves something pretty for all that patience..." With that, she reaches up with her free hand and gently pinches his cheek. "Don't be such a grump!"

Jean grunts and moves away from the offending limb. "Get the damn flowers... Just quit lookin' at me like that..." He grumbles, flustered as he looks away from her expectant gaze. However, that didn't stop the small smile tugging at his lips when she cheered happily.

Keeping their hands intertwined, Rosalie pulled him to the closest flower stand she could find, chatting animatedly to the female vendor as she picked out the flowers for the small bouquet.

Jean sighed to himself and let the two continue on, opting to look around the small square. It wasn't that he didn't want to see his mother. He was happy and grateful for the opportunity. However, what did put a damper on his mood was the constant stare of an older man -a merchant from Wall Sina, he recognized- directed straight at the brunette beside him. They had accidentally bumped into the man earlier, and right as he was about to give them what he considered a lecture, he paused in a stupor -giving Rosalie time to apologize and pull Jean away.

By this point, Rosalie was finished with the vendor and had turned back to him, confusion dawning her features as his grip on her hand tightened. Following Jean's gaze, her eyes met with those belonging to the gobsmacked merchant, and he quickly turned back to his wares. However, his eyes remained wide and his face, ashen in color -as if he'd seen a ghost or someone long forgotten.

"Jean, don't worry about it." She mumbles, tugging on his hand to gain his attention. "He won't do anything. It's bad for business to cause a scene."

"Do you know that man?" Jean asks, turning to her as they fell in step once more, beginning to make their way out of the square.

Rosalie shakes her head. "No, never seen him before in my life. Maybe he mistook one of us for someone else?" She replies, shrugging before holding the reasonable sized bouquet up for him to see. "Anyways, enough about that! What do you think?"

After tethering the horse, Jean hurried up the small steps to his childhood home as Rosalie knocked on the door. The brunette then handed him the bouquet, and not a moment too soon, the door swung open revealing an all too familiar face.

Rosalie nudges him in the side, prompting him to hold out the flowers awkwardly, his cheeks tinged a light rose-petal pink. "Hey, Ma..."

"Jean-boy!"

In an instant after silently taking the bouquet, his mother had brought him into a warm embrace, twittering on as her composure broke altogether leaving her a blubbering mess in the doorway. "Oi, stop crying, there's no need for it." Jean sighed, returning the hug gently, giving Rosalie a fierce side-eye as she giggled into her hand.

The older, plump woman stepped back and dabbed her wet eyes with her apron. She then stared at her son for a moment before she reached up pinched his cheek harshly. "What took you so long to visit?! Your father and I were worried sick!" She exclaimed scoldingly, ignoring the his grunts of pain. "The only relief we had was earned by not receiving a letter informing us of your death!"

Rosalie shook her head, sending Jean a playful look before turning to address the older woman. "I don't see how you put up with him, Mrs. Kirschstein. Nothing but trouble, this one!"

"Oh, don't I know it!... But it's a mothers job to love her children, no matter the grief they put her through.." She sends Jean one last look before ending her assault on his reddened cheeks. She then turns and pulls Rosalie into a small hug, only to pull back and cup the girls face in her hands. "It's good to see you, dear!" Her eyes then trail to the small bandage gracing the girls hairline, prompting her to turn and whack Jean on the arm.

"Oi! What the hell was that for?!" Jean yells, rubbing the attacked area.

"I told you to watch after this girl! She's the only one who'll put up with your nonsense!"

"You don't think I know that? It's not my fault she's an idiot!"

Rosalie sent the male a scowl at his words, though before she could retort his mother turns back to her, gripping her shoulders gently. "You're too good for him, child. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into."

"Oi, what's that supposed to mean?!"

His mother however, ignores him and waves him off. "No matter. You're here now, and that's what counts."

Jean's brows furrow. However, despite his annoyance, a small feeling of warmth blooms in his chest at seeing the two women getting along. Well, that is until his mother turned back to the brunette at his side, her next words followed by Rosalie's laughter coloring his face a new shade of red.

"I can't wait to tell you all about Jean when he was little! He was so chubby and had the cutest tush!"

"MA!"