Hey Everyone! So, I actually finished this chapter some time ago, and I just forgot to post it... Oops... Well, here it is, and Chapter 9 should follow soon. I've almost finished that one. Anyways, enjoy, and please favorite, follow, and especially review. It keeps me motivated. Love you guys! Happy Reading ~HeartQueenVivaldi

The Choice We Make

Chapter 8

As Levi and Eren pulled into Levi's childhood neighborhood and approached Kenny's house, Eren gasped. Levi was also surprised at what he saw. The house that had previously been run-down and sad-looking was completely overhauled. He had done some yard work and had done a lot of work on the house itself. He painted the outside a nice off-white color, and the front door was new and modern.

Levi was suddenly anxious to see inside the house, so he climbed out of the car and walked across the street. Eren followed close behind. There were at least six other cars on the street in front of the house.

They walked up to the house, and Levi knocked. They waited, but no one came to the door. Levi pushed down on the handle and was surprised when the door swung open. He stepped into the entry and his jaw dropped. Eren stepped in beside him and gasped again. "This isn't even the same house we came to back then."

Levi shook his head. "It's certainly not the house I grew up in anymore." He took a few more steps in and took everything in. There was new carpet in the living room, the walls were painted, and there was all new furniture. Levi didn't recognize any of the decorations, either. Then Levi's eyes landed on the piano he grew up playing against the opposite wall. It had been restored and re-stained. The lid was up, and the keys that had been missing or broken were replaced, and Levi guessed that if he were to sit down to play it, it would be perfectly tuned.

Levi turned into the kitchen and found sparkling granite countertops and new, dark wood cabinets. He had put in new flooring, and everything complimented the décor in the living room. Levi was speechless. It made him want to go upstairs and explore, see his childhood room that he shared with Eric. What had Kenny done to it? Did it look as nice as the rest of the house, or had he not bothered with it?

The back door suddenly opened, and Levi was face to face with Kenny. The man looked a few years older than he had even at the wedding, but he had a smile on his face that grew into a grin upon spotting Levi. "Hey, Runt! You came. I'm so glad. What do you think of the house? I've done some work on it, as I'm sure you noticed. Do you like it?"

Levi scanned the rooms again then said, "It's unbelievable. I barely even recognize it."

"Yeah. Is it too much?" Kenny asked.

Levi shook his head. "It needed it." Eren moved in the corner of Levi's vision, and he said, "You remember my husband, Eren?"

Kenny smiled at Eren and held out a hand to shake. "I do. Good to see you again, Eren. Please, come make yourself comfortable. Everyone's in the back yard. I'm just getting the burgers going, and Nanaba's cutting the watermelon as we speak."

"Thanks." Eren said then he followed Levi out the back door and into the yard. They were immediately surrounded by Levi's old friends.

Petra had the kids with her, and they were running around with some other kids. She and Oluo were immediately congratulating Levi and Eren yet again on their marriage and asking how the honeymoon was.

Nanaba had them try the watermelon, which was a good one with lots of flavor. She, of course, had to give them each a hug and ask about their honeymoon just like everyone else.

There were even people there that Levi hadn't seen in a long time, including Rico, Eld, and Gunther. Seeing some of these people again put a smile on Levi's face. It made him realize his childhood wasn't all bad. It was also filled with good people who were willing to help him and Eric in their darkest moments. Levi proudly introduced Eren to all of these people.

Levi observed closely as all of the people he loved from his childhood interacted with Kenny, who seemed to get along with every single one of them now. He didn't know if it was out of pity or something else, but regardless the smiles were real.

Kenny made them all burgers and they ate until they were so full, they couldn't eat another bite, then Nanaba announced she had a cake they would be having later.

Levi was so glad to be reconnecting with all of the people he didn't realize how quickly the time was passing, and before they knew it, the sky had grown dark and Nanaba had brought out a massive chocolate cake with the words "Good Luck Kenny" written across the top in blue frosting. She cut it up and distributed it, telling people they better come back for seconds.

Before they knew it, people started to filter out and go home until only Levi, Eren, and Nanaba remained with Kenny, helping to clean up a little. Levi wandered into the house with a pile of forks to put in the dishwasher. When he turned to go back outside, he noticed Kenny leaning against the doorframe leading outside. "Thanks for coming, Levi."

"I came because Nanaba asked." Levi said, already on the defensive.

"I know. I figured that was the case. I'm grateful regardless. I wasn't kidding when I said I want to make it up to you, though. Have you been upstairs?"

Levi shook his head. "I don't live here anymore, remember? I don't feel like I have free reign like I used to."

Kenny laughed and said, "fair enough. But why don't you go take a look. I'll do this." He took over and ushered Levi toward the stairs. Levi went, wary, but interested.

Levi walked up the stairs, not surprised to see the hardwood floors and new, tan paint going up the stairs. Everything else had been improved, so why not the stairs? He reached the top landing and looked up the short hallway at all of the closed doors.

Levi started with the bathroom across the hall from his and Eric's room. It had, of course, been redone just like everywhere else. The old bathtub that Levi had enjoyed throughout his years here had been replaced with a newer style and a shower head had been added. The tile beneath his feet resembled the laminate floors that had previously been there, and the look gave him a feeling of nostalgia. He didn't know why. Many of his experiences in that bathroom had been bad ones: picking glass out of wounds given to him by Kenny breaking bottles over him, or trying to fix his injuries on his own, knowing he would never be taken to a hospital by Kenny unless his very life was in danger.

Levi looked away from the tile and avoided seeing his reflection in the mirror. He knew he would only see himself as he was now, but he feared seeing the teenager with a black eye and purpling bruises over his shoulder and collar.

Levi closed the door behind him as he went back into the hall. He moved on to open Kenny's door next. His room looked much the same, having only replaced the carpet and he had a new bed. Other than that, everything was the same. He still had the same dresser, the one Levi had slowly stolen money from bit by bit so that he could buy more piano music. Being in that room made Levi feel like he was going to be caught doing something he shouldn't, so he quickly left it, closing the door behind him.

Then the only room left was his own room. Not knowing what to expect, Levi nudged the door open. Upon entering the room, Levi had a rush of memories flow over and through him. The two single beds remained exactly where Levi and Eric had left them. Clearly, they had been moved since the carpet was replaced, but they had been returned to their original positions. Covering the tops of both his and Eric's dressers were a couple dozen pictures in frames.

Levi scanned the pictures and realized every picture was of him, Eric, or their mother. Levi leaned in closer to inspect one with his mother holding him, and Eric standing close by. Eric was looking at Levi like he wasn't sure what to think of this new addition, but their mother had a giant grin spread over her face. She was beautiful. Levi had never seen pictures of her before.

The majority of these pictures were more of the three of them, and in every single one, Kuchel was smiling because of something Eric was doing, or just looking at baby Levi. "I miss her, you know. Your mom was really a great person. She made choices I didn't approve of, but she was still my baby sister, you know?"

Levi turned at the sound of Kenny's voice. He was much less wary of him than he had been even a few hours ago. "What was she like?"

"She was kind and thoughtful. She was a pianist, too." Kenny looked at Levi with a strange glint in his eyes that made Levi wonder if he knew. "Kind of like you." Kenny finished, and Levi laughed lightly.

"So, you knew then." Levi stated.

Kenny nodded and laughed. "I might not have been a good guardian… actually I was a shitty guardian, but I at least had something going for me. I knew you were teaching yourself how to play, and stealing money to buy more music, but I couldn't bring myself to stop you, even when I was drunk and at my worst. It just reminded me too much of her."

"How did you know it was me and not Eric?" Levi asked, leaning slightly against the dresser and folding his arms over his chest.

"I would sit on the front porch and listen, especially in your later years as you got better at it. At one point, I think you even surpassed your own mother. Possibly." Kenny said, then picked up one of the photos on the opposite dresser and held it out to Levi.

Levi took it and realized it was his mom, sitting at a Steinway grand piano and playing. "I think I would have liked to hear her play."

"You would have, indeed. She wasn't the best or most talented pianist out there, but she played with spirit and heart. I could listen to her play for hours given the opportunity. I play a little, but nothing like her, or you, I can imagine." Kenny took the photo back and put it back in its place. "Do you still play?"

Levi nodded, sitting down on his old bed. "It's what I do for a living, actually. I write music. I finished my degree in piano performance a little over a year ago." Levi said. "Now I spend most of my time writing music. I love it."

Kenny smiled at him. "I'd love to hear you play one day."

"Technically, you already have." Levi said.

"Not since you lived here?" Kenny phrased it more like a question than statement.

"Yes, you have. At my wedding. The song that played as we all walked up the aisle was a piano piece. A recording of me playing it. I wrote that." Levi explained.

Kenny nodded. "Ah. I see. I wondered where you had gotten that music. I had never heard it before. Now it makes sense. I wouldn't have heard it before, no one but Eren would, right?"

"That was kind of the idea." Levi confirmed.

"Well, I'd still like to hear you play in person." Kenny said.

"I think I could arrange that." Levi replied.

They were interrupted by Nanaba calling up the stairs for them, telling Kenny that the guests were about to leave and to come say goodbye. Kenny just smiled at Levi before leaving the room to rejoin the party. Levi followed close behind.

When Levi reached the last few steps, he looked to the bottom of the stairs to see Eren watching him curiously. Levi just whispered, "I'll tell you later" and they went back to conversing with others.

Soon there were only four people left in the house: Kenny, Nanaba, Eren, and Levi. The backyard had been cleaned up by Nanaba and Petra, and they sat in the living room talking for a while longer.

When Kenny asked if Levi would treat them to a song, Levi couldn't resist the opportunity to play what he now knew to be his mother's piano and the piano he had grown up learning on. He played a few pieces: an arrangement he had just finished that would go into a book he was putting together that he wanted to publish, the one they had danced to at his and Eren's wedding, and Piano Man, which he knew Kenny would probably enjoy.

Before they knew it, Levi and Eren were on their way out the door, wishing Kenny good luck on his surgery next week.

…

Levi didn't quite know why he was so nervous for Kenny on the day of the surgery. He didn't really care that much for the man, but he had recently gotten rather attached to him regardless, and he was hopeful that Kenny had actually changed a lot.

Nanaba had closed her deli for the day so that she could be at the hospital with him to wait. She promised Levi, she would give him a call as soon as she knew anything.

Levi tried to distract himself all day. He worked on writing music, watched Eren paint, did some yard work, started a complex Czech meal for dinner, and tried not to look at his phone. He jumped when he felt hands on his waist, but quickly relaxed when he realized it was just Eren.

"You should relax. It's going to be alright." Eren said lowly, wrapping his arms around Levi's waist.

With a shake of his head, Levi continued shredding potatoes. He was making enough potatoes for them to have enough leftovers for an entire week of dinners.

Eren sighed into Levi's neck and reached forward to still Levi's frantically moving hands by gently laying his own hands over them. He removed the potato and the grater from Levi's hands and put them on the counter. "Come on. Let's wash your hands and go take a break for a minute. Then I'll help you."

Levi huffed but resigned to doing as his husband asked. He washed his hands then let Eren lead him away to the living room, pocketing Levi's phone as they passed. The settled into the couch, Eren behind and Levi in front, and Eren ran soothing fingers up and down Levi's abdomen and arms. "What's for dinner?" Eren asked as he felt Levi start to relax in his arms.

Levi spoke quietly. "It's a Czech dish called Halušky … It's really good."

"That's a lot of work for a dinner from what I can tell." Eren said, still stroking Levi's abdomen.

"Yeah, but it's not hard. Just time consuming." Levi relaxed further into Eren's embrace and closed his eyes, grateful for Eren's intervention.

"Sounds good. I'll help finish up in a bit." He reached for the TV remote on the back of the couch and flipped the TV on. "Want to watch an episode?"

"Of what?" Levi asked.

"Whatever you want." Eren replied, already opening Netflix.

They chose to watch an episode of an anime they had gotten into recently and finished two episodes before Levi said it was time to go back to the kitchen to finish dinner. They stood side by side, cooking bacon and making the foreign dish together under Levi's instruction.

They finished the dish, ate and enjoyed it very much, and cleaned up. Just as Levi was closing the door to the dishwasher, his phone rang in Eren's pocket.

By the time Levi had turned around the phone was already within arm's reach, sitting in the palm of Eren's hand. He snatched it from Eren and read the incoming name. Nanaba. He answered and waited for the verdict with bated breath. He put it on speaker so Eren could hear.

Nanaba's sweet voice rang through the kitchen through the speaker of the phone. "He's going to be alright, Levi. The surgery was successful. They are confident they removed the entirety of the mass and he can go home in a few days. He's awake but drugged and a little loopy. The hospital staff said he could start having visitors tomorrow when they move him to a different room."

Levi felt his heart calm and his shoulders relax. He looked up at Eren who had a pleasant smile on his lips. "That's good" he said to Nanaba. "We might come see him tomorrow."

"I think he'd like that. I'll see you tomorrow then, Levi. I hope we'll see Eren, too?"

"Of course." Eren spoke up. "Unless Levi doesn't want me there."

"I always want you there." Levi shot at him with a scoff.

Eren grinned, clearly pleased with himself for something. Levi rolled his eyes and hung up the phone after saying goodbye to Nanaba, who just laughed at their antics.

Levi felt much better after the phone call and was able to relax enough that he was even up for a round of sex with Eren, who appreciated it very much.

The next morning, the pair of them climbed into Levi's car to head to the hospital where Kenny was being taken care of, and an hour later they were walking into his room where a nurse was checking on him. Kenny spotted them and a lazy grin spread across his face. He looked genuinely happy to see Levi and Eren. Levi wasn't sure he would ever get used to that.

Kenny excitedly took the nurse's hand and pointed at Levi. "That's my nephew. The one I told you about." Kenny slurred a little as he spoke, clearly still high on pain meds.

Levi rolled his eyes. "What have you been telling people, huh?" He went to sit in the chair by Kenny's bed and Eren followed close behind to sit close by.

"Only that you're the best nephew ever!" Kenny nearly yelled, his eyes a little unfocused.

Levi scoffed. "I bet you say that about Eric, too."

Kenny snorted, "Nah. He won't even talk to me. But you will." Then Kenny's face fell, and he looked sadly at his sheets. "Think he'll ever forgive me?"

Levi raised an eyebrow. "I haven't forgiven you either, remember? I'm just giving you a chance to earn forgiveness."

Kenny sighed and slumped back against the pillows. "Yeah… I know. Am I doin' okay?" He looked up at Levi hopefully.

Levi rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you're making progress. Slowly but surely."

"Well, that's something, I guess." Kenny said and the nurse smiled down at him.

Levi looked up at the nurse, then back to Kenny. "So, how are you feeling?"

"Great!" Kenny perked up again, right on time as Nanaba walked into the room and traded places with the nurse, who left the room. "Nana!"

Nanaba chuckled at him and approached the bed to give him a kiss on the forehead and hand him some yogurt and a banana. "You're crazy when you're drugged, dear. Now, eat your breakfast."

"This better not be any of that cafeteria shit." Kenny said, eyeing the food warily.

Nanaba rolled her eyes. "Language, Kenny. And it's not. Even if it was, it's only a banana and yogurt."

"You'd be surprised! These guys can make even bananas taste like shit." Kenny eyed the yellow fruit with apprehension.

"I got it from a grocery store, so eat it, you big goof. And stop swearing." Nanaba ordered him, and Kenny did as he was told. Nanaba locked eyes with Levi and said, "You should have seen him yesterday. He was so out of it he didn't understand where he was, and he was cursing like a sailor at anyone who walked by the room."

"bo I wabnt." Kenny said through a mouthful of food and Nanaba gave him a stern look.

"Don't speak with your mouth full. I swear, you're like a child sometimes."

Kenny swallowed what was in his mouth and tried again. "No, I wasn't."

"You were, but it's okay. I got some good video of it. The combination of pain meds and coming down from anesthesia made you a little crazy."

"Oh, I have to see that." Eren said. "Do you have it with you?"

"Yep! Here." Nanaba walked around the bed, pulling her phone from her back pocket and pulling something up on it.

She started the video and gave the device to Eren so he and Levi could watch the video. Kenny was sitting up in bed in a different room and they immediately heard lots of F-words and other, similar language. Even Levi though it was rather creative the way he was using some of those words.

Occasionally the camera would point to the door where a doctor or nurse would stick their head in just to provoke more swearing from Kenny, then they'd walk away laughing when Kenny would go off on them.

The video was quiet for a second while Kenny stared off into space and said one more, quiet "fuck".

Then Nanaba asked, "why do you keep saying the F-word?"

He looked at her and shook his head exaggeratedly, "Why the fuck not?"

Levi and Eren both burst out laughing. Then there was a lull in the video before they could hear a big truck in the background of the video. Kenny looked out the window at a semi-truck with three trailers behind it. He looked back at the camera with wide eyes. "That's a big truck!" Then he quickly went back to watching out the window as if he'd never seen a semi-truck before while Nanaba could be heard trying not to laugh in the background.

The shenanigans continued until the end of the video with more cursing, amazement at everyday things, and he seemed amazed when Nanaba had to remind him that they were dating when he asked why she was there. At the very end of the video a doctor came into the room and asked if he was ready to head to his new room. He leaned back on his rolling bed and scoffed. "It's about time. Let's roll." He made a finger gun with his hand and rolled his wrist to point to the door, making both the doctor and Nanaba burst out laughing, then the video ended.

By the time Eren handed the phone back to Nanaba, both he and Levi were nearly in tears from laughing so hard, and Kenny just pouted at them.

Eren and Levi stayed for a couple hours, visiting and chatting until Kenny fell asleep and they decided to call it for the day. A doctor informed them that Kenny was doing very well and would likely be able to return home in only a few days.

Levi only hoped that Kenny's desire to make a difference would continue now that he wasn't going to possibly die soon.