Levi was setting the table and Eren was moving his things into the house and they were already having their first argument as an official couple.
"I don't want your dad supporting us," Levi said.
"But my dad has always supported me."
"Yeah, and you're 21 and have a job and a boyfriend. Time to grow up."
"But Levi …!"
"But Levi nothing." He picked out forks and spoons from the drawer. "You can use your dad's card to your heart's content but nothing, NOTHING for this house or us." He set the silverware down rather hard. "I can support myself."
"But I'm gonna bring more expenses to the household."
"You have a job. I have two jobs. We'll be OK."
The two glasses Levi carried hit the table with a loud tap. He was frowning.
"Y'know … about the house payment," Eren said, "My dad—"
"I don't want to hear about your dad!"
"Levi …!"
"I'm a grown man. I don't need another man to support me."
Eren scowled. "So … I'm a grown man but you want me to let you support me?"
"That's different! You're my boyfriend!"
"So you're the man of the house?" Eren sneered.
Levi set the bowl in his hands down so hard it broke. "Shit! I only had four of these!" He glared at Eren. "Goddamnit, Eren! I'm not saying that! I'm just saying that I'm older and so I should be the one to take care of you …"
Eren glowered at him.
Levi sighed. "Eren, darling, I love you. I just want to take care of you." He listlessly picked up the pieces of the broken bowl. "Now and forever …"
Eren sucked in a startled breath. "What?"
"What?"
"You said … forever."
"Of course. I couldn't live without y—"
Eren sprinted around the table and launched himself at Levi, wrapping himself around him in a bear hug.
Levi and Eren sat side by side in class now, in the back row, next to the door. Eren sometimes gazed towards the big, bright windows but Levi always elbowed him and gestured for him to pay attention to Shadis.
They had switched seats so that Eren sat on the aisle and Levi sat to his left. Eren was right handed and Levi was left handed so this meant that they could both take notes and hold hands at the same time.
The last day of class for the year, Levi was later than usual and Eren grew worried. Finally Levi showed up. He had three white roses in lavender-colored tissue paper.
"Sorry I'm late. These are for you."
Eren blushed and grinned and tried not to look at all the girls in the class who were well used to their lovey-dovey ways and were staring and smiling delightedly.
"These were my mother's favorite flowers. I wanted to get a dozen but I couldn't afford any more"
"Oh, Levi, they're gorgeous."
"That's you, me, and Mikasa." Levi said. He touched each rose as he said it.
Eren had to struggle not to cry.
Levi's face grew melancholy. "My mom always told me that my dad was small like me and blond and he was a regular. He brought her two white roses every time he came to see her to represent the two of them. I remember how good they smelled and how soft the petals were."
"Did you ever get to meet him? Your dad, I mean?" Eren asked.
"No. I may have seen him but I don't remember. I stayed with a neighbor when mom was … was working." Levi ran his hand through his hair. "I remember she described his hair as 'cornsilk'. What does that mean?"
"My mom says that. It means fine and light blond, like the silk in corn."
"Oh." Levi fingered his own thick, straight, coal-black locks. "I guess I don't look much like him."
"But you're half him and he cared about your mom. That's something."
"I often wonder ... if he knew about me … if he would care."
"I'll bet he would."
"I don't know. I guess it's just wishful thinking. Hell, I'm 26 now that would make him, what? At least in his 50's probably? He has a wife and a family and never thinks of my mom."
"He might. He might think of her in the dark of the night as the one who got away."
Levi snuffled. Eren realized he was quietly crying.
"D'you think? Maybe?"
Dear Petra,
This is my final letter to you.
When 'Kasa is ready—if she ever decides to—I will allow her to contact you. You don't have to respond, of course, but I highly recommend it. She's a wonderful kid and very like you.
I'm so glad you gave me Mikasa. I know I can never understand the discomfort, inconvenience, and pain you went through to have her, but she is my greatest gift and it's all because of you.
We are fine, here. I have a fiance now and he's wonderful. He adores Mikasa.
I hope you are well.
Anyway, I wish you the best.
Goodbye.
Epilogue I -Two years later -
"You OK?" Eren said.
Levi fiddled with his tie. "I am so fucking nervous."
"It'll be fine"
"Fuck, what if I say something stupid and ruin it."
Eren patted Levi's arm. "You can't ruin it. You'll be perfect."
Levi let out a long slow breath.
"He's an incredibly intelligent child, he's just been through so much," the social worker said. "He needs structure and love. You two are a perfect fit!"
The scrawny little boy's blond hair had been carefully combed and fell into his blue eyes. He looked up at Levi and Eren with trepidation.
Levi crouched down and held up a small bouquet of four white roses.
"This is our family, Farlan" he told the boy, "You, me, daddy, and your sister, Mikasa."
The boy looked at the roses as if he'd never seen something so beautiful. "Which one is me?" he asked softly.
Levi touched the rose closest to him, "This one, right here."
Farlan burst into tears and fell into Levi's arms.
Epilogue II -Mikasa and Farlan aged 56 and 54 respectively, stood elbow to elbow washing dishes. Their wives sat at the kitchen table behind them, chatting animatedly. The house on the beach was full of children. Children in swimsuits, children tracking sand, so many children. Grandkids and great-grandkids.
Levi, age 77, came in the door like a hurricane. "I know no one is tracking sand into my house!" The youngest ones ran, squealing, and the oldest ones looked abashed.
"Broom. Dustpan. Clean this up now!"
"I can do it, Grandpapa," A rangy 27-year-old grandkid said.
"Nope. These little reprobates did it, they clean it up."
A small, black-haired girl tried to sneak by and Levi grabbed her and tickled her unmercifully. She scream-laughed and shot off.
"Reprobates!"
Eren wandered in from the kitchen with a toddler on his hip with flame-red hair. "Hold Isobel for me a second, old man. I have to grab her swimsuit."
"I'll 'old man' you in bed later on tonight, brat."
"I'm holding you to that," Eren said, grinning.
"Oh, you'll be holding something …"
Eren laughed and retrieved the swimsuit.
On the table sat a vase filled with a dozen plus white roses.