The next day life went on. Erwin felt fine with just a red mark on his back. Work on the movie had gotten harder as the director had decided he wanted an entirely different and new set for a series of scenes.

Erwin drove Levi to the warehouse where they were building the set and they kissed lingeringly before he drove off smiling, towards the diner.

Levi entered the warehouse and found Mike already there. He had driven his truck inside and leaned against the front fender, texting.

"Mike."

"Levi! I was just texting Nan. We've got another ultrasound today!"

"Is that that thing where you can see the baby?"

"Yep! I won't lie. I'm really excited to see how he's grown!"

"Why do you say 'we' are getting this thingie done? They ultra-whatever-ing your dick, too?"

"Haha, don't bust my chops! It's a couple thing. You'll understand in a few year—" Mike stopped abruptly. Levi was not straight. He was with Erwin, another man. He probably wouldn't be getting married to a woman and having kids.

"Aww, man, I'm sorry."

Levi, his mouth set into a grim line, shrugged. "Whatever." He turned to stalk over to the piles of lumber and supplies for building the set.

Mike got in his truck and headed for the diner.

The Chicago Diner didn't serve breakfast (although Erwin was considering it) but Erwin often went by in the mornings to make sure there was enough cash in the safe and everything was stocked up. This morning he was meeting the dairy truck.

"Milk, butter, eggs, sour cream and all of this is cheese," The driver was saying as they both counted out the quantities. "Cream cheese, and ice cream mix."

Erwin carefully checked off each item and counted quantities himself.

When he was satisfied he clapped the delivery driver on the shoulder. "Perfect as always, Dan!" and the man smilingly tipped the hand truck back and began taking the supplies in.

Mike drove up as Erwin was standing on the loading dock.

"Hey Mike! What are you doing here? I thought you'd be at work."

"I was but I wanted your advice about something."

Erwin's eyebrows drew down at Mike's serious tone. "Shoot."

"You and Levi … you're a couple now right? You've done it?"

Erwin, whose ass was so sore he preferred not to sit down, smiled. "I'm honestly not sure about the couple thing, but I asked him to move into my house with me."

"Well, fuck! Did he say yes?"

"Kind of." Erwin grinned.

"That's wonderful!"

"Did he say something this morning?"

"No not really but he seems on edge. I stupidly mentioned Nan's ultrasound and …" Mike cringed.

"What is it?"

"Well I was going on about how the ultrasound was a couples thing—you know what I mean—and I said that he'd understand in a couple of years."

Erwin's face fell. It was true, he couldn't give Levi a baby. That made him incredibly sad. But he could be a companion and a lover and a friend. And he could supply him with a fully grown son in the way of Eren. Erwin didn't know what to do.

"Anyway," Mike said "I just wanted to tell you and apologize. I wasn't thinking."

Erwin squeezed Mike's arm. "No, it's certainly not your fault. I think maybe the 'moving in' thing might have him spooked."

"Well, I'm gonna go get us both coffee and breakfast. Maybe that will improve his mood."

"I'll come by the set around lunchtime."

"See you then."

The day was a busy one. An entire set of interiors had to be built from scratch. It was Mike and his crew's job to build the room and then it was Levi's and his team's job to paint, wallpaper, furnish, etc including all the lamps, pictures, knick knacks, etc.

Since the rooms had to be built from scratch before Levi could work, he had mostly nothing to do aside from overseeing construction and making notes on things to go in each set.

By lunchtime he was bored and when Erwin came by he decided to go to the diner to eat.

"How was your day?" Erwin asked brightly.

"Boring. How was yours?"

"Not bad. Got a truck in, opened the diner, nothing exciting."

"Hmm"

"You're brooding aren't you? Can I help?"

"Did you ever wish you could've had more kids?"

Erwin pursed his lips. "Marie and I always wanted a big family but Eren was all we could have. We were grateful for him."

"Of course. He's a good kid."

They sat in silence for a bit then Erwin said, "There's always adoption. There's a lot of kids who need homes. What do they call them? Forever homes."

"Forever homes," Levi echoed. "Y'know I was almost put into the system."

Erwin's eyes widened.

"My uncle didn't want me but he changed his mind at the last minute. I don't know that I was better off with him."

Erwin stroked Levi's arm across the counter.

"I know all of this is scary. It's scary for me too, but we can get through it together."

Levi seemed to come back to himself then and he smiled at Erwin. "I wish I could kiss you."

Erwin was pleased and flattered but also grateful that Levi had acknowledged that in the busy diner them kissing would be a problem.

"I'll kiss you plenty this evening. When do you want to move into my house? Immediately or do you need time to process it?"

"Nah, let's do it this week-end. Rip the band-aid off quickly."

"Good. I'll confess that I'm very excited!"

Levi caressed his face just for a second before anyone could notice. "Always the romantic. Have you told Eren about this? Is he prepared to hear his dad getting railed on the regular?"

Erwin blushed bright red at the thought of getting 'railed on the regular' and couldn't collect his thoughts.

"He … uh … he will be thrilled."

"Make sure you tell him by Saturday!"