A/N: Hope everyone is safe and sound. The world is facing such a huge crisis. Stay home guys. And stay safe. Here's a new chapter for you to read in quarantine!

Chapter Summary: Time for Levi and Hange to head back to Stohess.

The next morning finds me standing in front of the Jaeger residence with four eyes. Our car is waiting outside the gate, ready to head towards Stohess as soon as we're done saying goodbyes.

"Hey Levi", they whisper to me as we wait for someone to get the door. "It's March 30, you know."

"Yeah. So what?"

"So make sure you wish Eren a very happy birthday!"

"Huh?! What–" I'm interrupted by the sound of the door opening and when I look ahead, there is Carla standing in front of us. Hange wastes no time in running ahead and giving her a hug, which she returns with a smile. "How've you been doing?" they ask in a concerned voice.

She smiles in reply. "Coping. Or trying to, I guess."

"You strong woman!" Hange grins and pats her back. "You'll be fine. Don't worry about a thing!"

She sighs, still smiling. Then turns to look at me. "Come on in Levi."

"Whaaat?! Asking Levi, but not me?!" Hange feigns hurt. "You're cruel Carla!"

I roll my eyes. "Quit acting like you won't barge in even if she tells you not to."

They grin. "That I will."

Well, Carla looks better than yesterday. That's good. When I met her with her after arriving, she was a mess. Sitting stone-faced in her bed with tears streaming down her face. When I called her name, she looked up at me, but her mind seemed far away. I looked to my side, where Eren was standing. And it hurt to see him so scared and helpless.

What could I do in this situation? Carla needed someone to be by her side and lend her their strength. Someone who cared deeply about her. And thankfully, I didn't have to wait. Hange burst into the room with Armin and took charge. They strolled over to Carla and held her in their arms, whispering softly. And soon after that, the distant look in her eyes slowly started to fade away.

/Flashback/

"Hange?"

"Yeah."

As she slowly untangles herself from Hange and sits up straight, it seems she's regained her senses.

"When–" she clears her throat, sore from crying for so long. "When did you come?"

"Just a while ago", they reply quietly. "Levi's here too."

At that, she seems to finally notice the rest of us. "Ah! Levi, Armin", she tries to get up. "I'm so sorry I didn't notice. Here, sit. Did you guys–"

"Carla", I interrupt her. "We're fine. Don't worry."

"Oh…" she seems lost again. As if she's suddenly forgotten what to do.

"Mom", Eren calls in a broken voice. It's no wonder he didn't wanna come inside. Seeing his mother breaking down like this must be traumatizing for him. "Mom…" he reaches out. Hange motions for him to come closer while they stand up and move away. He sits next to her, holding her hands with his own trembling ones. And Carla breaks into tears, holding onto him for support.

"Eren… why did this happen Eren?!" she cries out. "H–How could he leave us like this?!"

"Mom…" by now Eren's crying too. "We have to b-be strong, alright? You still have me, and… and I still have you." He holds her closer. "We gotta… we gotta help each other get strong." He takes a breath, trying to stop his own voice from breaking. "Dad wouldn't want to see us cry, right?"

"Then he should've stayed alive!" she whimpers. "Why did he have to die…? Why him?!"

Eren looks at her with teary eyes. "I don't know mom…" he whispers. "I don't know."

/End of Flashback/

After that, I talked to her for a short while, telling her to be strong for Eren and take care of herself. And that she can rely on us for anything anytime. Then, when we were about to leave, she asked to talk to me for a moment.

"You said I can rely on you for anything, right?"

"Of course Carla."

"Then, will you promise to take care of my boy? This is a difficult situation for him. And I know he's trying to put up a strong front so I don't worry about him. But I know. He's my child after all. I know he's suffering too much and trying to bear it all on his own. And… I know he'll listen to you. So Levi, could you help my baby? He's trying to run away from his pain because he thinks he might find a way out. Will you help him face it and accept it as a part of life?"

"…"

"Levi…?"

"…Yes. I will."

Take care of Eren, huh? Would she still be saying those words if she knew how I feel about his son?

Or maybe she does. That's why she said it – the corrupted and defiled part of my heart supplies.

No. No, no! Not again. Get a grip Levi. You're 34 years old for fuck's sake. Have some control over your own thoughts!

After Carla greets us inside, the first words that leave my lips are –

"Where's Eren?"

Hange snorts. And if I'm not imagining it, I'm pretty sure that the smile on Carla's face is not simply for courtesy.

Well, fuck! So much for self-control.

"He's upstairs in his room", she offers.

"Still sleeping?"

This isn't good. Too much or too little sleep is an indication of depression. But I guess I can't expect him to get back to regular lifestyle so soon. It's just been two days. He'll need more time.

"No", Carla replies. "He came downstairs for breakfast just a while ago."

"Oh." Good. So he's eating now at least.

"We're about to leave actually", Hange intervenes. "Came to say goodbye to you guys."

"Leaving so soon?"

"Yeah", this time I reply. "Can't ditch office for too long, you know. And Isabel's alone too. So–"

"Isabel?"

"Levi's daughter!" Hange jumps up and down. "She's such a cutie Carla! You gotta meet her!"

"Alright, enough with you", I drag them backward. Really, I know they're acting more hyper than usual to cheer her up, but this is going over the top! "Come on! We should get going." Then I turn to Carla. "Give us a call if there's anything we can help you with."

She looks lost in thoughts. I'm about to call her name again when –

"Levi?"

My head shoots up hearing the familiar voice. There, at the top of the stairs, wearing a simple t-shirt and a pair of shorts, with a look of surprise on his face, stands my green eyed brat. I'd be lying if I say my heart didn't just do a somersault hearing his voice. I'd also be lying if I say I wasn't worried that I might have to leave without seeing him one last time.

So… yeah. Long story short – I was hoping to meet him. And I have.

"Eren…" I breathe out.

"EREN!" Hange rushes past me so fast that it makes my eyes hurt. "HAPPY BIRTHDAAYYY!"

"Thank– Gahh!"

Within seconds, he is captured in a death grip.

"Knock it off shitty glasses", I say, annoyed. "You're choking the boy."

"I am?!" they ask as if they had no idea. But thankfully, their hands let go of Eren who immediately crouches down and starts panting.

"Really Hange! How in the world are you so strong?!"

They laugh.

"Eren", I start hesitantly. But the moment I look into those intense eyes staring at me with expectation, I forget the words.

It's 'H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y' – my mind supplies. Come on Levi! Say it! Happy. Birthday. Eren. Three simple words!

I open my mouth, then close it. Then open it again. And –

"Did you sleep well?" I blurt out.

Wow! Great! You just fucked up your chance.

He looks surprised. And I'm so fucking embarrassed that I have to look away.

"Yeah", he smiles. "You?"

I raise an eyebrow at that. There's no way he knows I had trouble falling asleep last night. And I sure as hell am not going to tell him that a bratty teenager kept me up all night because I couldn't get him out of my fucking head. I'd bite my tongue and die before I do that!

"Slept like a log." So I lie.

"Well", it's Hange again, now jumping down the stairs two at a time. "Why don't you boys head upstairs for a while? Carla and I have some adult things to discuss!"

"Who are you calling a boy shitface?" I growl.

"Oh Levi!" Damn! I don't like the look on their face. It's the look that warns me that some high level shit is going to sprout out of that mouth. "I almost forgot you're older than me! Kinda hard to remember when you're so tiny, you know", they finish with a wink.

See, I told you. High level shit!

"Hange fucking Zoe! You better–"

"Just shut the fuck up and go upstairs with him!" they whisper in my ear furiously. "I'm giving you guys a chance to spend some alone time before leaving! Why can't you just thank me and take it?!"

I stare at them, albeit dumbfounded.

Spend time… with Eren?

"Don't ruin his life because of your half-assed conviction."

I should leave. The more I stay in his presence, the weaker my resolve becomes, and the conflict between reason and emotion continues to grow. I can't let that happen. Not when my selfishness could ruin two of the people I hold close to my heart. Not when it's about Isabel and Eren.

I turn around, about to leave and drag four eyes with me, when I feel a hand gripping my wrist. It's strong and warm and I know exactly who it is. And that's specifically why I have to leave now or I'm gonna get trapped by those eyes again.

"I'll wait in the car Hange", I say without looking back.

There's an audible sigh, probably from Hange. And then my vision is filled with sea green and chocolate brown and sun-kissed olive.

"Eren!" why is he standing so close?! My instinct tells me to take a step back. But I hold my ground, unwavering. Surely, I can't let a seventeen year old stupid brat intimidate me!

It's Eren who steps back after a moment. The determination on his face gets replaced with anxiety and nervousness as I continue to stare at him with unreadable eyes.

"Ah…" he rubs one hand with another. "Will you– Can I–" he pauses. "Will you come with me for a moment?! I n-need to talk."

"…"

"Please…?"

I sigh. How did I ever think I could win against those puppy eyes?

"Lead the way brat."

A/N: Eren's room, huh? So? What do you think is gonna happen now? We'll see in the next chapter!

Take care everyone. And thanks for reading ^_^