So...who read the last chapter of the Manga? It's done. That's it...11 years done. My heart! But that's okay because now I know that I want to happen to Ryder. I've been waiting for this moment!
I know it's been a while since I've posted anything, but I hope you still enjoy this chapter and are ready dive back into this relationship!
Hanji let me sit in silence for as long as I needed until I was ready to leave the room and find Levi. I kept thinking about how I would tell him the news of his unborn child. I knew that excitement probably wouldn't be the best idea for him, so I decided on a very direct approach. I would just tell him and be done with it. No games.
As I walked down the hallway to the office that Levi was in, I could feel my heart thumping even harder. I stopped at the door with my hand on the handle and took in a few deep breaths before twisting it and opening the door. Levi was sitting on the sofa while Commander Pyxis was sitting across from him.
"Ryder! How are you? I was told that you've been feeling poorly recently?" Pyxis greeted me.
"I'm feeling better now, thank you. I'm sorry for interrupting the meeting." I apologized.
"That's okay, we'll be done shortly. Feel free to sit with us." Pyxis offered.
"No thank you, I have other things I could be doing." I told Pyxis. I then looked at Levi and said, "Just let me know when you're done, okay?"
"Oh Levi, it sounds like you're in trouble!" Pyxis teased.
"No no! Just wanted to tell him something." I laughed as I waved off Pyxis' comment. After saying my goodbyes, I left the room and made my way down to the kitchens. I was feeling hungry after not eating anything due to my morning sickness, so I figured I could pinch something from the kitchen to munch on.
I walked in and saw all the cooks making and preparing food for dinner, but I snuck by them as I made my way for some bread. I grabbed two slices of bread and was looking around for some items to place in-between them, so I could have a sandwich, but all the people in the kitchen made it difficult to find anything.
"Ryder! What are you doing?" I turned around and saw the familiar face of Rose. With her round face and plump cheeks, I was happy that it was her who caught me taking some food.
"I haven't eaten today, so I thought I'd have a sandwich." I explained to her.
"Why haven't you eaten anything?" She asked.
"I wasn't feeling too well, but I'm pretty hungry now."
"Is everything alright?" Rose asked me.
"Everything is fine, don't worry. I just want a sandwich." I answered.
"Well don't you worry about that, I'll make one for you right now. Just wait over there and I'll bring it to you." Rose pointed to a barrel in the corner of the room. I walked over and sat down on it. There was a huge part of me that wanted to tell Rose about my news, but I kept my mouth shut. My nerves continued to build as I waited for the sandwich that Rose was making me. Images of the possible reaction that I was going to receive kept flashing across my vision. Would Levi be happy? Mad? Quiet? Hug me? All of these thoughts kept racing, but they stopped when Rose appeared. "Here you go!" She handed me my sandwich wrapped up in a blue cloth for me to take with me.
"Thank you, Rose. I'm excited to eat it." I thanked her as I stood up from the barrel. Rose opened up her arms to hug me and I walked into them, so I could give her a hug.
"Congratulations. You two will make fine parents." She whispered into my ear. I pulled back and stared at her with a shocked expression as I stuttered,
"H-How did you-"
"I've been around a while, Ryder. I know that face very well." She smiled at me before winking.
"Please don't say anything, I haven't told him yet." I explained.
"Your secret is safe with me." Rose told me. I thanked her and gave her one last hug before leaving with my sandwich. I walked outside into the courtyard and sat down on a bench. I could hear the birds chirping with a soft breeze blowing my hair to the East. I opened up my blue cloth and saw a pristine sandwich ready for me to eat. I picked up one half and began to eat. I couldn't believe how perfect this sandwich tasted and it was so simple. I believed that it was all Roses doing.
"Hello Ryder." I looked to my left and saw Pyxis walking towards me.
"Hi Pyxis. Would you like to join me?" I patted the seat next to me and he sat down.
"Where did you get that sandwich?" He asked me.
"Rose from the kitchens made it for me. I was feeling quite hungry." I answered.
"Rose is a nice lady. She always makes the best potatoes." Pyxis said. I nodded my head in agreement.
"I'm guessing you and Levi have finished your meeting?" I questioned.
"Yes, we finished quite a while ago, but he got pulled into another one. Eren has set us more mail." I sighed at the mention of Eren's name. Since he had left to go to the mainland by himself, none of us knew what he was doing. However, he continued to send letters explaining this plan that was extremely vague and had no actual direction. The letters read as if he had lost his mind.
"Do I even want to know what he's written?" I asked.
"Apparently he's had another meeting with Zeke and he has a plan, but he hasn't gone into detail about anything yet." Pyxis answered.
"Oh Eren. Why are you like this?" I mumbled to myself before taking another bite of my sandwich.
"He's always been quite the trouble maker, hasn't he?" Pyxis laughed to himself.
"He's also always had big dreams. Just like his friends." I added. "I bet they miss him terribly."
"They probably do, but I'm sure they also know what he's like. Better than any of us anyways."
"You're right about that, but I don't think even they understand why he's done this. I'm sure it'll all come out in due time."
"You're right about that, Ryder." Pyxis got up from the bench and smiled towards me. "I better get going now. I need to go complete some paperwork. We will catch up soon, Ryder." I waved him goodbye as I continued to eat my sandwich.
Hours went by and I still hadn't seen Levi. He was either pulled into a meeting or he needed to go and speak with someone. Either way I hadn't told him about his unborn child yet. I skipped dinner because I felt my stomach begin to turn once again. I decided to take myself to bed instead, so I could relax that way my stomach would calm down.
I washed my face and took off my clothes. I walked by the mirror in the bedroom and stopped as I looked at myself in my undergarments. Even though there were no visible signs of the pregnancy, I still placed my hand on my lower abdomen and smiled. Inside me was a baby that was going to be the perfect mix between Levi and myself. It was a dream come true. When I thought back to where we were several years ago and how Levi continuously shut me out to where we were now it brought tears to my eyes. Our relationship had come so far and I don't think either of us could've predicted it. I wiped the corners of my eyes before grabbing my nightgown and slipped it on. Once it was on, I heard the door open and in walked Levi.
"There you are, I've been looking for you." I said.
"I've spoken to too many people today." He grumpily said as he walked into the bathroom.
"Levi, I have something to tell you." I called after him.
"Can it wait?" He asked from inside the bathroom.
"Um…it's kind of important." I could hear the splashing of water and could imagine that Levi was quickly washing his face and running water through his hair. He came out and looked at me with a tired expression while his hair dripped water from his quick wash.
"Well, what is it?"
"Uh…how do I say this?" I asked more myself than I did Levi. Levi sighed before turning back around and walking back into the bathroom to finish cleaning himself off. "I'm pregnant." I whispered to myself, so Levi didn't hear me as he continued to wash himself.
"Is it about the doctor?" He asked me from the other room.
"Yes." I answered.
"You're so dramatic Ryder. This better be worth this silence." Levi complained as he finished cleaning himself off and walked back into the bedroom. I just stared at him. All of a sudden, I was having trouble breathing as I looked at him. "Well…"
"I…We…This…" I placed my hand on my stomach as I was trying to find the words. Levi stared at my hand and then looked me in my eyes. He did that twice. Looked at my stomach. Looked at my eyes. Then he walked towards me before he stood in front of me.
"Ryder…why are you holding your stomach?" He asked. I couldn't find the words to tell him. "Ryder…"
"Levi, I'm…I'm pregnant." I whispered. He didn't say a single word. He just stared at me with those grey eyes. Suddenly, he knelt on the floor and placed his hands on my hips as he looked at my clothing covered stomach.
"You're pregnant." He quietly said.
"Yes. We're having a baby." Levi placed his forehead against my stomach and didn't say anything. I placed my hand on the top of his head and I could feel the strong intimacy in that moment. I could feel that Levi was trying to make a connection with our child. He was mentally telling them everything he was going to do for them as he made promises that they couldn't even understand yet. I felt tears roll down my cheeks as I thanked the universe for this moment and for this blessing of ours because I knew that Levi would be the best father in the world.
How beautiful. Such a special moment, but oh my God! Levi and Ryder are going to be parents! I wonder what Levi is going to be like throughout the pregnancy? Any guesses or ideas?
Leave me a comment and let me know! :)