I need salve for my ch. 132 wounds and I figured I'd share it T_T These four are so precious. Thanks Cib for referring me to the idea! Now my brain is infested with chapters for these four ahhhhhh

Armin has often sought refuge within the forests but Annie doesn't want a house there. Too many memories...is what Annie said and that's all Armin needs to know. The ocean...has left a bitter taste in his mouth—he'd prefer not to have a home where an old dream was tainted.

After analyzing his wants more, he finds a two-story cottage in a valley where sunflowers bounce back and forth from the wind and the water wheel in the nearby river supplies added electricity for the turbine in the cellar. "This place can't be serious" was Annie's snort when they arrived, but to Armin, this new setting is relaxing. Housing themselves in this valley where snow-drizzled mountains stand tall in the distance and green fields encircle them has Armin realizing he'd rather be here than anywhere else—he's glad he made the choice he did.

"I still don't understand why you gave up the title of Commander…" Gabi who walks through the threshold after Annie murmurs, "Isn't your system like Marley? Your rank would get you a house in the nice part of the city, right? You'd probably get big perks too like the best food and transport."

"The city has become too loud and crowded," Armin answers, "I already didn't like living in it before and it's only gotten worse now. Jean knows that and I'm confident he'll do a more than fine job as Commander. Besides, living here where it's quiet and away from everything...it just felt more fitting for both of us."

Annie—who inspects the perimeter of the long living room and kitchen—swivels her attention to Armin then flees. Remorse bleeds into otherwise focused pale-blue, "This place is nice, you know," she emphasizes, "What I said earlier…"

"It's fine," Armin smiles sincerely at Annie to assure her he's not offended by her blunt comments—that's just one of many qualities he appreciates her for, "This place will take some getting used to but if you don't like something, I can work on it. The other towns aren't too far off for supplies and cars have made it far faster to travel now."

Annie's wilting shoulder posture adopts the regret housed in her eyes, "I wouldn't want you to do that…"

"I don't mind doing it. I haven't tinkered around with anything for a while. Besides, I need more garden soil for the backyard. "Electrifying excitement shoots through Armin. His small smile uplifts higher, "You guys want to see?"

Falco shares his puzzled gaze with Armin, "Backyard?"

Armin's head tips to the side, "You haven't seen one before?"

"The ghettos in the Liberio internment camp were pretty cramped," Gabi answers for Falco, "We were lucky to see areas which didn't have much industry or buildings."

Sympathy breaches Armin's expression. He didn't have much but his Shiganshina home allowed its residents a small backyard to play in or put up laundry. Turns out, these children were robbed of even that.

"Our garden is not as extravagant as the government courtyards you've seen but I'd like to think it's pretty on its own. I think you guys will like it." The glimmer of childish wonder in Falco's eyes lights a fire in Armin's chest. His incisors show with his smile, "Follow me!"

Wood boards creak as they travel through the wide kitchen to the white-painted backdoor of the house. When the door opens, the greeting sun is so blinding, Armin thinks the kid's hitching breath is because of the sunlight stabbing their eyes.

"Wow."

As Armin's vision clears, Gabi sprints ahead on the cobblestone path with Falco not far behind her. She jumps on the second bar of a wood fence which blocks entry into a staircase of red and blue flowers then hops to the other side where Armin hoped to grow either pumpkins or corn. Meanwhile, Falco is captured by the same object Armin was—a tunneled archway where vines of pink-blossomed flowers snake along the curve and length of the thin steel bars. Gabi seems to lose interest in the flowers and empty squares pending planted crops quickly; she runs to the far side of the grassy backyard where the river rests and twists and turns for miles ahead. The speed of the current is laughably slow and Armin figures the water wheel attached to the house is for decoration now since technology from the mainland has been adopted in urban and rural areas. Armin follows the kids and stands at their side in a spot on the riverbank which is shadowed by a cauliflower-shaped tree sitting all by it's lonesome. Armin makes a mental note for the future—this would be the perfect spot to sit and fish.

Under his watchful eye, Gabi and Falco inch closer to the river's edge, admiring the peaceful plup of rushing water and watching tadpoles squirm away when the two dip their hands in to touch them. Armin has seen Liberio, has seen the poor conditions the internment zone imposed on Eldians—these children must have barely seen a potted plant before let alone a garden or backyard.

"This entire place is ours and you two can stay here for as long as you like," A soft, side-smile tugs the end of Armin's mouth when their attention zips to him. Judging by the width of their eyes, the two kids seem shocked, "And whenever you feel comfortable to go out on your own, you're more than welcome to visit us."

The high smile on Falco's lips wavers a bit. Skeptical eyes dart to the garden then back to Armin, "We're already enough trouble as it is. I wouldn't want to be more of a nuisance to you and—

"You aren't a nuisance and don't think Annie thinks you are either. She has...a different way of showing how she cares."

The young boy's smile is uncertain albeit appreciative, "Thanks, Armin."

Sincerity shines in the brown of Gabi's eyes and in her small smile, "Thank you."

Armin nods and backsteps away. He lets the kids play—they are more capable than he ever was when he was their age and he probably would only get in the way if he tried to help them. The retired soldier returns to Annie who scopes out the garden with crossed arms.

"Problem?"

Annie immediately shakes her head, "Just checking out what seeds we'd need when we go into the city," her forefinger points to the row of empty soil rectangles before her, "I take it this section will be where you'll put pumpkins and corn?"

Armin beams at Annie—leave it to a person as acutely perceptive as her to tell, "How did you know?"

"...lucky guess."

The ex-commander jabs a thumb at the open space at the border of the garden, "I also planned to put an apple tree there. Green apples to be more specific. Did you guess that I would do that too?"

Annie tries too hard to hide when she blushes. It makes Armin want to laugh, "Sounds like something you would do so I can't say I'm surprised. You already know they're my favorite."

"Oh? Are they really? Then I'll plant two trees!"

Annie's blush intensifies. A little too frequently, she tries to keep her vision away at him and she does so right now—they haven't done a very good job of holding each other's gaze without heating up for the past couple weeks. It must be harder for her to open herself up to vulnerability than him and Armin doesn't mind that—she's told him what her upbringing was like. The ex-soldier leans his head until his ear is aimed at the sky, trying to get a peek at her eyes but Annie keeps her concentration away as she explores the rest of the backyard. To Armin, trying to get her to look at him without fleeing afterward has turned into a game and if he has to resort to making goofy faces, so be it.

"Hey!" Falco's exclaim has Armin and Annie's neck snap to the river, "Gabi, stop that!" "You don't know what's in the water!"

"I'm just trying to get a better look!" Gabi, whose shoes lay shed on the patchy, green riverbank, has her calves deep in rippling, crystal-blue water, "Look at the size of that fish!"

Armin is not so panicked as Falco—he already knows the water is free of leeches or anything truly worrisome—but as Annie charges forward, Armin realizes he failed to tell her such a fact.

"Gabi," the controlled firmness in Annie's voice is like a whip and Falco staggers back a little, "Get out of there. We don't know enough about the river to go swimming in it!"

"I'll only be a minute!"

"Gabi, now."

"After a minute, I said! You guys think I'm going to get hurt by a fish slapping me? I'm probably stronger than when you both were at my age!"

An audible noise of frustration resounds in her throat. Right as Annie picks up a foot to peel off her boot, Armin grabs her shoulder, "Annie, she'll be okay. I know you're concerned but trust me. I've done more than enough research about this place. We need to be more concerned about rodents around the plants than leeches or crocodiles."

The tell-tale twitch of Annie's eyebrow returns after she allows her boot to fall from her grip, "I think I'm starting to regret agreeing with you on inviting them here."

A chuckle reverberates Armin's chest, "I'm not too used to kids either but after what they've been through, they deserve it. Their parents and families are gone and when the world moves on, those kids will get left behind. You and I know what that feels like, Annie."

Armin is bewitched by how irritation pales Annie's blue eyes then transforms— heartfelt emotion floods them with an electric-blue hue. Her closing eyelids seal those beautiful things away from him again and if he's being honest, he doesn't like that—Annie's had her eyes closed for too long already.

"...you're right about that," Annie exhales deeply, "I guess I'm still getting used to all this. I'm not used to a lot of things...sorry."

"No need to apologize," both of his hands brush the silk-smooth strands on the side of her face back, "It's all an adjustment. We'll pick it up."

"I don't know if that's actually possible for me or if it's you being hopelessly optimistic again…"

The pad of Armin's thumb skids at a leisure pace across Annie's cheek—it's one thing he's always wanted to do when she was so far away, "Guess we'll find out."

At long last, circles harboring calm winter-blue land on Armin. He could stand here and get lost in a gaze he had been robbed of for years but his desire resides elsewhere. His neck bends and Armin's lips latch with hers. The effects of the kiss do a wonderous thing—the tension in Annie's neck softens, so much so, she's almost completely limp in his hands. A pleasant fog washes over his brain as lip-over-lip, they move and Annie follows his lead. They were far more awkward before as there was never a time when he or Annie weren't shaking like leaves when they tried something new but holding her like this has her more relaxed than Armin has ever seen her.

"Ew! Get a room!"

An adrenaline spike halts Armin. Their lips unlatch as they twist their heads to the side— Gabi is in direct line-of-sight of them and paired with her stuck-out tongue is a face scrunched in disgust. She's also caught the fish she wanted to see up close—a large trout—and the young girl manipulates its fish face by holding its mouth open, forcing the trout to appear shocked. Falco, who stands on the river's edge with a hand over his embarrassed face, shakes his head.

"Alright...that might get a little annoying down the line," is Armin's weak admission.

Annie snorts, "I'll just give her more chores then. I wanted peaceful days not dealing with a stubborn kid."

"I don't think that will work but it's worth a try."

"She won't get dinner if she keeps up the attitude then."

"...Annie, no need to go that far."

"Warriors in training had to run with weighted backpacks for two straight days without food. I doubt the regiment was different ten years after I was in training. Believe me, Gabi will be fine. She's a tough kid. Both of them are."

The corners of his mouth are by his ears and Annie quickly notices. Pink splotches her cheeks and how she rips her sight away will never stop being entertaining to Armin.

"They are tough kids. It's why it makes me happy that you said yes to letting them live with us, Annie," he pecks her reddened forehead, "I always knew you were kind."

"...don't test me."

"I already did."

"Don't you get on my nerves now, Arlert."

"I thought that was kind of the deal when we agreed to live with each other…"

Annie grabs his nose with pinched fingers and wags his face side-to-side, "Then don't be surprised when I return the favor."

Armin laughs as strong fingers retreat from his nose's bridge. As Annie walks off, her focus drifts back to plotting out where they will plant crops and flowers. He's not sure if she hears him or not but he says anyway, "I've been waiting a long time for you to."