I've got a few lovely people (JanieZ, Kittens Hellfire, and one guest)asking for a sequel to Silence and Assurances, so here it is!

Reply to a guest: I was thinking of turning this series into its own story, but I only had things planned up until this chapter. One of the reasons why I'm not separating it from this drabbles collection is because I don't really know how long this one will last, but there will be certainly more to come; the precise number, though, is a mystery even to me haha. A while ago I saw a few people who published several short stories like this, "multi chapter" fics and one-shots together under one name, so I'll be doing the same! Before the chapter's title I'll include the name of the series. So, so far we have (in chronological order):

Office!AU: Devil Of A Boss

The Baby: Silence, Assurances, Truth

(please, don't mind the ridiculous names lmao)

All messages and reviews sent this weekend will be answered some time this week!

Enjoy! xx

V. Truth

Erwin regarded her in silence, face completely void of any emotion and chin propped up in his joined hands. Mikasa sat across from him, the mid morning light bright against her face and shadowing his form slightly, dark eyes meeting his even stare with a cool gaze of her own. The ticking coming from the clock to her left was the only sound besides their breathing, and she felt like she could choke at any moment due to her wild heartbeat she felt in the front of her throat.

He seemed like the right person to open up to, she concluded just a few days before; their commander would listen to her and would, hopefully, understand the fragile situation they were in, maybe would even help them come up with a way to break the news to the other members of Squad Levi. But now she wasn't so sure anymore. Erwin had listened to her story in absolute silence, hadn't asked anything nor did any emotion flicker in his blue eyes. Mikasa wouldn't have felt bothered by it under normal conditions, but all the side effects of her pregnancy were weighing her down; her back hurt greatly and she was absolutely tired, and she should have remained in bed that day, but had decided to talk to him before it was too late.

The commander leaned back and lowered his hands to the tabletop, finally glancing away for the first time in minutes. "This is a surprise." The woman across from him slowly released a breath she was holding and unclenched her fists on her lap. "I admit I'd have liked it better if both of you had trusted me and told me about it before, though."

She pressed her lips together; she wouldn't let herself be guilty tripped by this man in a moment like this. "I'm trusting you now," her fingers curled around the arms of the chair and she shifted to a more comfortable position, "without Levi's knowledge."

His thick eyebrows rose up slightly, genuinely surprised by her sudden confession. So this decision was hers and hers alone, she was taking all the risks and would face his judgment like the brave soldier she was, would shoulder the weight of her choices without the help of the unborn child's father. Erwin rearranged his pen lying by a finished stack of paperwork; truly admirable, he admitted, an almost content smile touching his lips. He could feel her wary gaze focused on his shoulder, knew she wouldn't face him while the gears turned in his head.

"Very well." Her muscles relaxed at his words, and they both turned to face each other. "I understand why you were hesitant. It's a complicated situation that you two are in, but I'll help as much as I can."

Mikasa bowed her head slightly, fingers wrapped tightly around the chair as she pushed herself up on her feet. "Thank you, sir." Her palms were flat against the tabletop whilst she straightened her back, muscles screaming in pain as she tried to balance the extra weight she had been carrying for nine months now. "It means a lot for us – the three of us."

Erwin nodded his head after she gave a slow salute and turned to his drawers to retrieve a brand new pile of reports, half aware of the door opening as the woman made her way outside. He was somewhat relieved to know that Levi was the father, someone they could trust, not a faceless, nameless soldier that wasn't close to the group. Now he could also discard the possibility that she had been forced to do anything; he knew Mikasa was one of the prideful type, and if she had been abused in any way she would never tell anyone.

Now he had to find a way to help them. He understood their worries; how to tell her childhood friends that their squad leader was the one who got her pregnant? But the duo seemed to have forgotten that Armin was very understanding, and Eren admired and respected the corporal; they would accept it, immediately or on the long run. The rest, though, he agreed with her that they couldn't predict any possible reactions.

"Mikasa...?" The man snapped out of his reverie, papers halfway out of the drawer, and glanced up at the door to see Armin facing the pregnant woman, who had a hand latched around his wrist in a painful grip and one shoulder leaned against the doorframe of the office. The strategist let the maps fall from his hands as he moved closer to her, cupping one palm around her elbow to better support her, voice already laced with panic. "Mikasa, are you okay?"

He shot up from his seat and walked across the room, the faint drip drip sound of drops falling on paper getting louder as he approached the young soldiers, and it didn't escape his eyes the round water beads that slid down her ankles. "Her water broke," he said in a surprisingly calm tone, one strong and firm hand rested on her forearm to better support her back, and Armin forgot how to breathe for a while. Erwin swallowed, hooked one arm under her knees and lifted her off the ground. "Tell someone to get Levi!"

Armin whirled around and darted down the hallway, nearly tripping on his own feet as he searched for anyone that could be sent after his superior, but surely, Erwin meant to say Eren instead of Levi, right?

The corporal entered the same damned infirmary room three steps ahead of the titan shifter, swiftly walking past the commander that stayed by the door and heading towards the woman lying on the bed, surrounded by a medic and two nurses, with a loyal Armin to her right holding her hand and bearing the pain of her grip. Her eyes lit up at the sight of his approaching form, but were quickly hidden under her eyelids as her muscles contracted and she grit her teeth to hold in a gasp.

Levi didn't have the luxury of holding her other hand throughout the birth process; Eren had held it, and the older man had to content himself with supporting her by the shoulders whenever she pushed and forced the baby out of her, and also wiped away the sweat from her flushed face. She panted and let out short, small cries – such a weird sight to see her like that, the one who could take a sword to the stomach and still stand was currently writhing in pain right before his eyes – and her brother to her left, more agitated than Levi had ever seen, tried to calm her down, but at the same time snapped at the medic that he do something to spare her of this!

At times he swore he could see her mouthing his name, other times her eyes tried to find his, but there was never much time for eye contact between one contraction and the other. He also felt out of place; he couldn't hold her hands, she couldn't face him, and he wanted to be the one cursing at the doctor. He wanted to brush her damp hair away from her face, but also didn't, he wanted to say words of encouragement but something was holding them back. Levi had always known he would be a terrible lover, and now he was going to become a terrible father.

Mikasa arched away from the bed, letting out one of the most painful sounds ever since the labor began. Both boys cringed and winced at her vice-like grip on their hands, one shrill cry joined hers soon after, and the woman choked on air and fell limp against the mattress as she took in large gulps of air. Two pairs of grey eyes watched the doctor as he held the bloodied body of their baby in his hands, and the man moved to the far side of the room to get the child cleaned.

Her mouth was still agape when Eren turned to her, one bright grin on his face. "You did it, Mikasa!" She tried so hard to smile back at him as she finally released their hands, but her eyes were still searching for the father, and so Levi stepped into her line of vision. He held her gaze steadily, his was impassive and hers was spent, but that's how it had to be for now.

Armin was gentle as he helped her sit up and placed one glass of water to her lips, and she greedily drank it all. "You should rest now." Then he turned to the boy across from him, "Come on, Eren."

"What?" He protested almost angrily. "No way, I want to see the baby first!"

"Eren." The blond glanced at their squad leader, but he was too busy staring at the space between his hand and Mikasa's. It didn't take Armin too long to understand what was going on; Erwin hadn't messed up the names, he had intended to say Levi from the start, and his presence in the room only strengthened the boy's suspicions that this man could be the father. "Let's go." He left no room for arguments as he turned away from the bed and marched for the door, leaving his friend no other option besides follow him outside whilst muttering curses under his breath.

Levi tried to say something, but soon they were joined by the medic, one small blue bundle in his arms. "It's a healthy boy. Congratulations," he said with a smile, passing the baby to Mikasa's already waiting arms, then parted without another word to the duo.

The corporal sat on the edge of the bed, leaning forward to take a glimpse of his son's face. Pale skin, flushed chubby cheeks, small round nose, and a tuff of black hair decorated the top of his head; it was impossible to say who he resembled most, and he wondered if his eyes were light like his own or dark like hers.

"Did you pick a name?" He rasped out, watching as she stroked one fingertip on the baby's soft skin.

Mikasa nodded tiredly, "Caleb." Then she glanced up at him, irises much brighter than usual, a tired smile on her lips. "Do you like it?" He, too, nodded, and she shifted slightly as she turned to him. "Do you want to hold him?"

He gazed down at the baby, unsure if that was the right thing to do. "What if I hurt him?"

"You won't," she assured softly, balancing the newborn on one arm as she reached for the man and tried to position his arms correctly.

"Mikasa, don't." But she shook her head, her disheveled hair and tired appearance making her seem oddly attractive, and she carefully placed the infant in his arms.

"You'll have to do it, sooner or later." Both parents watched Caleb's tiny fingers flexing, his mouth working as soft sounds escaped past his lips, and his still blissfully closed eyelids. "Talk to him."

Levi furrowed his brow, but directed his gaze back to the baby nonetheless and swallowed before trying. "Oi, Caleb." It sounded like the tone he used to reprimand Eren back then; gruff, dry and short-spoken. Mikasa's shoulders shook as she laughed in silence, and the man clicked his tongue at her actions. "Why the fuck are you laughing?"

"Levi," she tried to sound stern, but her weariness and muffled giggles wouldn't let her. "Watch your mouth."

His tongue clicked against his teeth again, but he was smirking at her and his eyes softened when the baby let out a small coo. "You really should sleep." Mikasa was about to protest, but it was his turn to shake his head and shush her. "I won't leave. I promise."

She seemed satisfied with the answer she got and leaned back onto the soft pillows she was given, exhaling deeply through her nose when he brushed her fringe away from her face, and his lips ghosted over her forehead in a kiss. The baby cooed again in his arms, dark grey irises looking up at him and then moving about the room, catching sight of four figures at the doorstep, watching the whole scene unfold.