Ratings: T
Warnings: Medical

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in this story: living (or passed) human beings or fictional characters. These events never happened, according to history or as the original author intended them. This is a work of fiction and is not intended to offend. For entertainment purposes only. Thanks.

Author's Notes: Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all my readers! Happy Birthday to Levi, as well.

Chapter 5: DECEMBER 17th - Noon

There was a lot of commotion in Isabella's room when Levi and Furlan returned. Nurses were entering and leaving, machines were being wheeled in, and there were many clipboards with papers being shuffled around.

"What happened?!" Furlan demanded, his face pale.

Levi followed Furlan into the room, equally puzzled. "What's going on?" He asked.

Uri looked up from beside Isabella's bedside. "Wonderful news! We have a donor!" He replied, giving Levi a bright smile.

"We do?!" Furlan gasped.

"From the list?!" Levi asked.

"From-" Uri began.

"Me." Erwin stated, cutting off the doctor. He was still sitting in the chair beside Isabella's bedside, but he had his jacket off and a blood pressure cuff around his arm, which a nurse was checking.

"You?!" Furlan gasped.

"What?" Levi asked, his voice soft and full of disbelief. "You're a match? When did you even get tested?!"

Erwin smiled softly at Levi. "I am. I got tested three days ago, the day after you. You went to get some coffee for us and I thought that if you weren't a match for Bella, then maybe I could try." Erwin waited for Levi or even Furlan to speak, but both men just stared at him with their mouths open in shock. "It doesn't hurt to try," Erwin continued, hoping that they would speak.

"You're really… a match?" Furlan asked, trying to string words together to make a coherent question.

"I am." Erwin affirmed, speaking slowly so that they could understand him through their surprise.

"And you're… you're serious about this?" Levi asked, then licked his lower lip. "You really… you really are going to my sister your liv-" He covered his mouth with his hands as his voice cracked. Tears filled Levi's eyes and he came over to wrap his arms around Erwin's neck.

Erwin pulled Levi into his lap and hugged him close. "Yeah," he confirmed in a voice full of confidence. "I am a match, and I am going to donate part of my liver to your sister."

"And, if we can do the operation tonight, then you folks might just be able to spend your Christmas at home." Uri stated with a smile. "We'll need to keep both Isabella and Erwin here for a week, but if all looks good, they can rest at home for the next six to eight weeks. We'll check on their progress each week."

Levi made a soft sound of disbelief, then looked to Isabella. She smiled sweetly at Levi, her yellowed cheeks turning a faint pink as she watched him cuddle his boyfriend.

Levi nodded, smiling happily as he looked up at Erwin. "It looks like we're going to be staying in Bakersfield for a little while longer than we thought." he teased.

Doctor Reiss had been able to book an OR that night, which left Levi, Erwin, Isabella, and Furlan with little time to prepare for the surgeries. Furlan called Zackly and immediately took time off. Levi called Mike and informed him of the situation, so that he could make arrangements for the cafe for the next eight to ten weeks. Erwin called Hanji to ensure that she could look after the pharmacy for him during his recovery time. And Isabella spent time with each of them for as long as she could before a resident came to prepare her for her surgery.

Erwin was admitted to the hospital after he had finished his call to Hanji and completed signing the various papers that would legalize the donation. He was given a hospital gown and placed in a bed beside Isabella's, which Levi came to stand between to support both his sister and his boyfriend.

"The procedure is fairly routine," Doctor Reiss informed them, confident that everything will go well. "You'll be eating hospital jello in no time."

Levi squeezed Erwin's hand and kissed him, unable to step away from his bed. He found it difficult to say anything and kept anxiously glancing at the clock instead. Erwin found it amusing and kissed Levi as often as he could.

"It's going to be alright," He comforted him. "I'll be out in no time."

"I love you," Levi replied, unable to say anything else. "I love you, and I want you to remember that."

Erwin only chuckled softly. "I know. And I love you too."

Since the surgeons needed to harvest part of Erwin's liver first, he was the first to be taken to the OR. Levi held his hand until he was informed he could no longer follow along. He stayed where he was told to wait for a long moment, until Furlan came out and took him to the cafeteria for tea. And to wait.

The wait was long. Levi felt as if the clocks had slowed down to torture him on purpose. He had a tea in the cafeteria with Furlan, but they were both too nervous to eat. Filled with worry, they returned to the waiting area to pace and anxiously await any news. No one came out to inform them when the surgeries switched, so Levi and Furlan waited. And waited. And waited.

Finally, the long wait was over. Doctor Reiss approached them, smiling confidently. "The surgeries were both successful," he informed them. "And both Isabella and Erwin have been taken back to room 34-40. You'll be able to see them in ten minutes or so. They won't wake up for probably an hour or two, but nurses are just attending to them now."

Levi and Furlan both exhaled with relief, unaware that they held their breath at the sigh of their surgeon.

"Thank god," Furlan gasped.

"Thank you, Uri," Levi sighed, taking Uri's hands in his own and shaking them. "So much."

The doctor smiled at them both. "Get some rest, both of you." He chuckled, "Today was a good day."

DECEMBER 24th

The week passed by in a blur for Levi and his family. Isabella's body had taken Erwin's liver well and she was growing stronger every day. Erwin patiently. followed doctor's orders and appeared to be well on his way to a speedy recovery, and teased Levi's friends by boasting about his new 'hero scar.'

Levi and Furlan had taken turns at the hospital so that Erwin and Isabella were never alone. In the time that they had been together, Furlan had put an extra effort into getting to know Erwin, and they had become good friends. Since the holidays were right around the corner, they would use the rotating turns at the hospital to shop for gifts and prepare for Christmas. Since they heard no news from Uri on when Erwin and Isabella would be discharged, they prepared to spend Christmas in the hospital.

It was the morning of Christmas Eve when Uri entered room 34-40 with a brilliant smile. "I bring only good news," he greeted all of them. "Your discharge papers have been arranged. You two can spend Christmas at home."

Levi's eyes widened in surprise and he immediately hugged Erwin. Furlan went for a more casual pat on Bella's back, but he blushed as he touched her. Erwin and Isabella both reached out a hand, managing to cross the gap between their beds to high five.

The group was in good spirits as they filled out the discharge papers, changed clothing, and made their slow but steady way back to Isabella's apartment.

Isabella was amazed to find it already decorated for the holidays. Levi and Erwin had decorated it each day, filling it with red bows, gingerbread boy pillows, and a very traditional pine Christmas tree.

"I can't do table-trees anymore," Levi confessed, blushing. "Indiana is magical in the winter time. It changes you."

Furlan chuckled. "I think it's love that changed you, Levi," he teased.

"I think it's Christmas," Isabella replied. She yawned and then held her hands out to Furlan so that he could help her up. "I'm off to bed," she announced. "But I will see you all for Christmas lunch."

Levi nodded, then helped Erwin to his feet as well. He had decided to sleep with Erwin in his uncle's old room, grateful that Isabella hadn't removed the old bed.

"It's too bad we couldn't do much to prepare for your birthday, Levi," Erwin began, glad to be able to sleep beside Levi in a comfortable bed again. He appreciated that Levi helped him into bed and tucked him in.

Levi waved a hand to dismiss the idea, then turned out the light. He joined Erwin in bed and kissed his cheek. "You gave my sister your liver, that's more than I can ask for." He tease.