Disclaimer: I have been working and teaching BollyX and now I'm unemployed again and interviewing so I have a lot of time to write once more.

XD


They were sitting on the sofa, Levi rubbed the bridge of his nose while Petra groaned in frustration. They went through every available house the listing agency gave them and nothing spoke to both of them.

There were stacks of possibilities laying at their feet, neatly stacked thanks to Levi.

"Why does this have to be so hard?" Petra asked turning to look at Levi who sighed shrugged in response. That wasn't the response she hoped for but it would suffice. "At this rate, a tin can would be better."

"No, it wouldn't. We will find a place, Petra." He finally says assuring her. He reaches for her hand and squeezes it gently.

"I know but I hoped it would be sooner rather than later. You have to return to the work site across the country."

Shit. It wasn't that Levi forgot to call the boss and check in, he just...you know. He forgot. After all, finding a new place to live with Petra was more important at the moment so they weren't homeless. What a dilemma. "I'll handle that. Don't worry about the resort project. I don't want us to be homeless."

As sweet as that sentiment was, she also didn't want to cost him his reputation in his field of work. She leans closer and kisses his cheek and whispers, "You're the best boyfriend ever."

"Tch. You're damn right about that."

They lean in, lips brushing against each other before Petra tears herself away hastily and runs toward the kitchenette, "Clive, no! Off the counter!"

"Why am I always sharing with the cat?" Levi groans watching the huge cat leap from the counter and run through the apartment into the bedroom. Levi reaches for his cellphone and sees the voicemail icon appearing at the top of his screen. He clicks on it and puts the phone to his ear.

"Clive!"

Levi tenses up, ignoring Petra shouting at the cat who was now experiencing the cat version of zoomies.

This was a phone call he never thought he would receive. "Tch."


Petra's phone dinged, a text from Zoe wanting to meet up. Levi practically rushed her out the door so he could manage his own issues.

Zoe wanted to meet a few blocks over at a small coffee house. Petra was surprised but thrilled to see Mikasa sitting with Zoe as she walked in. She filled Mikasa in on what has been happening.

"You haven't found a new place, have you?"

"The market is terrible. Nothing catches our eye or it is too expensive."

"Let the pipsqueak buy it. He can afford it." Mikasa crossed her arms defiantly. "He told Eren to pay for our trip. Fair is fair."

Zoe grinned while Petra shook her head. Sounds exactly like something Levi would do. In his defense though, Eren was trying to woo Mikasa. "I don't think this is the same thing." She began slowly.

"How isn't it?"

"Okay children, besides the price tag, Petra and Levi haven't found anything that catches their eye." Zoe interrupted before the younger girls could debate the situation at hand. "There are a few places up for sale down the street from Erwin's house."

"Including the one with the weeping willow in the back yard?" Mikasa asks curiously.

"Weeping willow?" Petra asks raising an eyebrow looking from Mikasa to Zoe. "Why is there a weeping willow?"

"There was a couple who lived there since the 1970s. They were teenage lovers and married. There was a rumor they lost their unborn child not long after and he bought the tree for her. She had a green thumb and grew that tree. He died several years ago of cancer and she died a few months ago of old age."

Petra's heart ached for the deceased couple. Their story was gut wrenching to hear. "That is terrible, Zoe." She shrugged a bit in her seat and sighed heavily.

Mikasa bowed her head and looked down at her coffee mug without a word.

"Erwin helped the widow move somethings around before she died. She invited us for dinner one evening. She was the sweetest thing." Zoe finished off her drink and cleared her throat. "Maybe that isn't the best place for you and Levi."

"No, definitely not that house. It sounds like more like you want to ghost hunt in there, Zoe."

Petra bites her lips and watches the two of them go at it. She knows Zoe means well but she also knows, Zoe likes the paranormal and this was straight up her alley. She would bring aluminum foil hats over for them and if she ever became pregnant, Zoe would demand the place be exorcised for good measure. Haunted house down the street from Erwin, is not happening.

"No! Never. I'm just trying to be helpful." Zoe defends herself.

"Right, and in two weeks after they're settled, you'll be hosting seances in the attic." Mikasa says knowingly.

"Hey!" Zoe feigns offense.

Mikasa waved the waiter down and the young man walked over wearing a smile, "Can I get you ladies something else?"

"Yes, I'd like to add on a strawberry danish." Mikasa responded politely and looked to the other two as did the waiter.

"I'll have another coffee, pitch black." Zoe adds with a grin reaching from ear to ear.

"I'm good with my latte." Petra says smiling. The man nods and walks toward the counter to get their additional order and refill.

"If Erwin or I hear about any houses for sale, we will let you know, Petra. We won't sit on it."

"I appreciate it."

The waiter steps back over with the refil of coffee and the danish for Mikasa before walking away again.

"You'll appreciate hosting seances in the attic or out back."

"Dammit, Mikasa!" Zoe hisses as she picks up her full mug and sips the hot black liquid. Petra feels her phone vibrate and pulls it out to see a text from Levi asking her to return to the apartment.

"Well on that note, I do need to get back to the apartment. Levi needs me."

"Levi needs friends." Mikasa says as if she is clarifying the statement.

"No, I think something is up. I don't know, it could just be a feeling." They nodded and Petra left them to their devices and hurried out as she called for an uber.


She entered the apartment, expecting anything. Anything including Clive growing arms and hands to fight Levi. Instead, Levi sat on the couch, hunched over with his phone on the cushion beside him. Clive rested on the floor a few feet away, watching him like a sadist, enjoying the man's misery. Misery? Well it looked like it.

With a concerned look she closed the door behind her and walked to him, settling on her knees in front of him. "Are you okay, hun?"

Levi breathes deeply and nods slightly, refusing to look at her.

"Did something happen with the resort?" She asks.

"No it wasn't them. I did have to call them and tell them I couldn't return anytime soon."

"What?!" Petra asks with wide eyes, sweat beading on her forehead. "What happened, Levi?"

Levi's palms were sweaty and his throat dried out. He looked through the strands of hair that fell along his forehead, he could see the concern written all over Petra. Shit. He hated worrying her but this...well, he would have to share sooner rather than later. He took another deep breath and sat up a bit straighter. "Remember m uncle who wanted me to stick around and take over his ranch?"

"Yes."

"Kenny Ackermann."

Petra nodded, understanding that was his name and waiting for the rest of the explanation.

"He died last night in his sleep. They think it was his heart." Levi begins explaining, "I have to go settle his estate. The fucker finally died." He somewhat chokes on the last sentence. The last blood relative he has is gone. Despite his outward appearance, he couldn't wrap his brain around it. Kenny always seemed invincible. The kind of man you think will outlive everyone else.

"Oh Levi." Petra frowns finally and leans up to wrap her arms around him comfortingly. "I'm so sorry." She couldn't imagine how bad he was taking this if he couldn't hold it completely together. Levi never choked on a word and this was heartbreaking. She held him in her arms for quite some time. There was silence except for the Clive moving and the few sounds they could hear from outside. Her hand moved lovingly up and down his back.

"I'll take time off and go with you, Levi." Petra declares planting a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"You don't have-" Levi begins but is cut off.

"Yes, Levi I am. I know you're strong enough to go and handle the bullshit." Petra stares into his eyes fiercely, announcing her position, "You shouldn't have to handle this alone. Lean on me. I am going with you, stubborn man. "

"Tch. You're stubborn as well." Levi says sardonically and rolls his eyes at her then wraps his arms around her. "This isn't going to be a fun vacation, you know?"

Petra nods understanding.

"I'll make arrangements then." Levi says monotonously as he sobers up.