Erwin and Eren passed the time amicably. Eren watched TV and Erwin read. They played a game of chess that Erwin won easily.

Later, just before dinner, there was a hesitant tap at the door.

"Come in!" Eren said.

It was Jean not looking like himself.

Jean, in fact, looked terrible. Erwin was shocked and even Eren seemed taken aback. He looked thinner and more pale and dark circles were under his blue eyes.

"Jesus, bro, you look like warmed over shit."

"Eren!"

"It's just how we talk, dad. You know that."

Jean laughed faintly. "Yeah, been working longer hours and playing too much with The Boys."

"Well, come give me a hug, asshole!"

Jean did. He crossed to the bed and bent down to give Eren a long hug.

"I missed you dude! How are Armin and Annie?" (Annie was one of The Boys by unanimous vote.)

"They're fine. It's sucked playing without you, though."

"Ha, ha! Don't worry I'll be home soon."

The conversation quickly moved on to the games they all play together and what had happened while Eren was away and Erwin tuned out.

He had a chair, which he kept pulled up by Eren's bedside next to the little rolly-around stainless steel table that Eren ate off of. He sat down there now, scrolling through his phone and with his Kindle on his lap so he could read.

He found a funny post and sent it to Eren before he discarded his phone for his Kindle.

Eren's phone buzzed and he glanced at it, laughed, and showed it to Jean before they began chattering again. Before he put his phone down he checked his texts then he laid the phone on the bed right next to his thigh, just a foot or so from Erwin. Erwin's eye caught a name.

Levi.

He tried to stare without staring. He had no desire to invade Eren's privacy. But had he texted Levi?

His feelings were overwhelming. Curiosity. Guilt. What had they talked about? Him most likely … or maybe not.

Jean didn't stay long, much to Erwin's surprise and Eren's disappointment.

Erwin walked him out. He had known Jean for ten years, had had him in and out of his house a million times, had gone to his lacrosse games with Eren. He caught the boy's arm as he went to get in the elevator.

"Hey, Jean. Are you OK? Like, really? You know you can talk to me about anything."

To Erwins absolute shock and sudden discomfort Jean broke down crying. Erwin fumbled a box of hospital tissues off of a nearby table and pushed them at him, patting his shoulder.

"Jean," he asked gently, "what is it?"

"I'm just so upset. He could have … could have died!"

"But he didn't Jean. He's OK."

Jean got hold of himself with a visible effort. He sniffed back his tears and stood tall, squaring his shoulders. "I have something to tell you, Mr. Smith."

Jean hadn't called him 'Mr. Smith' in ten years.

"What is it? You can tell me anything, Jean. You know I mean that."

Jean looked up at him, tears in his eyes. "I love him. I've always loved him."

"Of course, you're friends—"

"No. Not like that."

Erwin suddenly got it. "Jean, does he know?" he asked after a while.

Jean looked down at his clenched hands miserably. "No."

"Well, you need to tell him."

Jean stared down at his feet. "When did you tell Mr. Ackerman … Levi, I mean."

Erwin frowned. He didn't want to do this. To be forced to do this right here in the bright fluorescent lit hallway of the hospital. Finally he gave up and sighed.

"I never did."

"Then you know how I feel, " Jean said grimly. He got on the elevator and the doors closed.

Erwin was genuinely shaken when he went back into Eren's room. Eren was playing on his phone, adding all the apps he'd lost. "Awww, I can't remember any of my passwords!" he lamented. He finally looked up and saw his father's face.

"Eren," Erwin said, "We need to talk. I need your advice."

Hange and Moblit met up at Dreamers, got shit-faced and took an Uber back to Moblit's house.

They secured more alcohol and collapsed laughing on the couch. Hange turned on the TV on low and they immediately began making out like two teenagers. They'd been making out for over a week now with kissing and groping and various other 'non-sex' kinda stuff. But tonight Moblit had a proposition.

"Hey … you wanna … you wanna do it? I've got condoms and stuff."

Hange hesitated. "Any cool toys?"

"No," Moblit looked shamefaced at his lack. "Sorry."

"You are just so cute!" they squealed, then more sultry, "It's OK. We can improvise." There was a wicked grin to go with that attitude. They leapt up and drained their drink and pulled Moblit toward the bedroom.

Levi's phone buzzed at two am. He fumbled for it. Hange. What the fuck?

"Hans? Is everything OK?"

Hange giggled very quietly down the line and Levi was immediately suspicious. Hange wasn't quiet. Ever.

"Hans? Are you sure you're OK? Are you in a safe place?"

"I'm at Mobe's"

Levi relaxed immediately.

"You sound pretty drunk."

"Not any more!"

Levi relaxed back into the bed and stared at the ceiling. "So what's up? It's two fucking am."

Hange's voice dropped to a whisper. "Mobes and I did it!"

"What? What?! As in sex?!"

"Yeah, knocked boots, made the beast with two backs, the horizontal mambo!"

"Geez, Hans! That's great! Was it good?"

"Fan-fucking-tastic! You've never lived until you've gotten a guy off with one hand and had your fingers up his ass with the other!"

"Jesus, shitty-glasses! TMI! I didn't need to hear that! I have to talk with the guy on a daily basis!"

"Oh, it was wonderful. We did all sorts of things! Mobe is not as straight laced as he looks!"

"Oh, Jesus god help me," Levi groaned. "Well, I'm glad you had a good time. Were you two careful?"

"Always."

"Good. I'm going to sleep now, you sex machine. You should have more respect for us who aren't getting any!"

"'Night, Levi." Another giggle. "Love you,"

"'Night, Hans. You fucking maniac. I love you, too."

Eren looked sober. Erwin sat in his chair, which was pulled up close to the bed and Eren used the controller to lower the bed so Erwin wouldn't have to look up at him. "What's up?"

Erwin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "We need to talk about Levi."

Eren didn't look happy. At all.

"What about Levi?" he crossed his arms—bare under his hospital gown—over his chest. The effort clearly hurt. That didn't stop him.

"I really care for Levi,' Erwin said.

"Then why don't you tell him so?! Why do you keep shoving him away?!"

"Eren. I'm not used to this. This is all new to me. I haven't felt this way about anyone since your mother."

Eren got quiet at that, thinking.

"Then talk to him," he said. "Tell him how you feel. Once and for all."

Erwin studied his hands. "I'm not sure I can now. I think Levi has made up his mind. I don't think he'll trust me now."

Eren let out a heavy breath and let his head fall back onto his pillow.

Erwin let him think. Let him arrange his thoughts. He genuinely wanted Eren's advice.

Eren's head came up. "We need to get everyone here. Talk to everyone."

"Everyone?"

"Well, Levi won't come of course but … Mike, Nanaba, Moblit, Hange. Tell them the truth. Get their help."

"I don't want everyone ganging up on Levi …"

"Dad, they're our friends … our family. They can use discretion. They can help."

Eren and Erwin agreed that they needed the whole 'family' there and in on the conversation. Erwin texted Mike, Nanaba, Hange, and Moblit and asked them to plan a visit.

Everyone gathered in Eren's hospital room. Mike had brought two pizzas again and Eren was feasting messily. They exchanged pleasantries, talked about their day, and ate. Even Erwin ate. He hadn't realized how poorly he'd been taking care of himself.

When the food was gone (much to Eren's sorrow) they all found comfortable seats and paid attention to Erwin.

Erwin hesitated, getting his thoughts in order.

"We are gathered here today …" intoned Eren and everyone laughed, even Erwin.

"Ah, ha-ha, yes, well we did call you all here to talk about something. Something important." He looked around at all his friends—no, his family—and tried to not be too somber.

"I've made a decision," he said firmly. Everyone looked expectant.

"I've decided that I want Levi in my life." He paused to let that sink in.

"In your life as, like what?" Hange asked. "As a friend, as a lover? What?" She leaned forward, gaze on his face.

"As anything he'll let me be." He looked down at his hands that he was twisting in his lap. He purposely made himself relax and flex them.

"Is that … is that going to be possible now?" Nanaba asked.

"I don't know but I want to … I want us all to work on that goal. If y'all are willing to help."

Everyone immediately nodded and he sighed gratefully. "The truth is that I miss him. No … I'm miserable without him. I'd like us to …" he colored slightly, "... strike up a romance but I understand he may not want to … now."

"Levi's tough, and I think he cares about you a lot, Dad. It may take some time, but I think he'll come 'round," Eren said encouragingly.

Eren reached out and took his hand. "I hope so, for your sake. I'm sure that he genuinely cares about you and I want him in your life even if he won't be part of mine."

"I'm sure that he's very fond of Eren," Moblit said. "He asks about him constantly."

"Agreed," said Mike. "He pesters me every day for news." Nanaba nodded.

Erwin turned to Hange, who had been silent. "Hans? What do you think?"

They took a long time answering which stressed Erwin.

"I'm not sure. Well I'm sure that he cares for Eren. That's obvious, but I'm not sure about how he'll react to you, Erwin."

Erwin's face fell.

"Does he ask about Erwin at all?" Nanaba asked.

"No. And I've seen this before. Something will happen and he will, sort of … divorce himself from that person. Like they never existed."

Moblit shook his head and Nanaba looked sad.

"I do know that he's not dating or hooking up—that I know of …"

Everyone sat silently, minds racing. Finally Mike brought his huge hands together in a resounding clap that made everybody jump. "Well, then, we need a plan!"

Everybody leaned forward attentively.