Oh god! BRING ON THE TISSUES! More angst and sadness… at least these two are back together again. Sorry for the short chapter but it's all I can think of for now. Enjoy!

Exhausted, frightened and physically numb from the cold water, Eren thought they would never get to land. His lips and fingers were tinted soft blue, his skin a ghostly shade of white covered with goose bumps. He wanted to die, not wanting to suffer any more of the cold. However, every time he looked at that golden phial clung tightly in his shaking hands, he pushed himself to live on and complete his goal. Mikasa hugged her brother tightly, trying her best to use her own body heat to warm his shuddering body. If they didn't get out the water soon Eren there was a possibility Eren would die from hypothermia.

"Mikasa I see the cove… but it looks like it's occupied by humans. There's a gigantic black tall ship moored a little way from the cove"

Eren's heart lurched and forced himself to look up. In the distance he spotted the Maria, standing tall casting a dark black shadow on the moon lit water. His gaze turned to the camp fire and to the crew who sat happily around its warmth. In the warm flickering orange hue, he recognised the face of Petra her face subdued and filled with remorse then his gaze fell on the Captain he loved. Those stunning grey eyes he had grown to love were completely expressionless, hard and indifferent. His mouth was set tightly in an inhospitable thin line whilst his companions drank their fill of brandy and ale.

"Is that Captain Levi Eren?" Mikasa asked gently to the freezing boy.

Eren nodded. He suddenly felt small and helpless. What if the Captain no longer wanted him by his side? It would kill him if he was rejected a second time… but he had to convey his message and his capture to Levi. He had to warn him and to make him leave.

"Okay. Hold on tightly, we'll be at the shore soon. I'll alert the Captain for you and don't you dare fall asleep on me. You'll freeze to death if you do" Mikasa shook him from nodding off.

She then turned to Armin who looked fearfully at the humans.

"Armin, I'll go on alone from here. I need you to give a message to our people. Tell them Eren was killed, not by the hands of his lover but by Commodore Smith during his capture. You're good at tactics. Encourage them to fight for our princes cause. I'm counting on you"

Armin sighed but his eyes were fixed with resolve.

"I won't let you down. I'll do anything to help Eren. Don't worry Eren, everything will be alright"

Armin gracefully dove back down into the inky depths.

"Let's get you to shore. Come on" Mikasa whispered lovingly to her brother, stroking his hair to calm him. She knew he feared rejection and loneliness. That was one of the things he hated the most.

"It's alright. I'm here. Don't worry, he will take you in. After what you have done for us and for his safety, he must. Let's go" Mikasa soothed.

Little by little, they edged closer and closer to shallower water. Mikasa was shocked that Eren could barely stand, completely weakened and cold and had to drag him to the shallows.

"CAPTAIN LEVI! CAPTAIN LEVI PLEASE HELP ME!" She screamed, waving her free arm towards the campfire trying to alert the Captain. Captain Levi was lost in his own thoughts, still gazing into the flickering camp fire however, Petra heard her cries. Startled she looked around, trying to find the source of the female voice that needed help. She directed her gaze towards the sea and it was then she saw a beautiful girl waving for attention, panic-stricken struggling to hold her friend who was close to passing out above water. Petra cried out horrified. It was none other than Eren Jaeger.

Not caring about the looks of confusion directed at her from her other companions, she tugged Levi's arms

"Captain the boy is back but it looks like he's in trouble"

"What are you talking about? Eren has gone back to his family Petra" Levi replied addled.

Petra pointed to the two figures in shallow water.

Levi's heart felt as if it had been ripped out of his chest and he felt his eyes. Eren had come back to him. Without thinking, he ran towards the submerged two not caring whether his clothes got wet from the icy water. However, he almost doubled over with fright and sickening horror when he discovered what had happened to Eren's body. Lying limp and motionless in Mikasa's arms, clutching a strange sort of vial he no longer had the tail of a merman. What replaced that magnificent tail was the lower body of a human. However those pair of long muscled legs looked as if they pained him greatly, swollen and red.

"What… what happened to him?" Levi said finally, shock hitting him.

Mikasa was unable to control her emotions and she hugged her brother tightly.

"My… my brother is too reckless. He - He was captured by Commodore Erwin Smith!"

"WHAT!? When did this happen?!"

"Right after he left you. He was captured and the Commodore threatened to hurt and kill anyone dear to him. In exchange for his voice and abilities Commodore Smith promised him he wouldn't lay a finger on you and our people. The vial he holds now, that's his voice and everything that makes Eren a merman" Mikasa said through tears of anguish.

Levi knelt into the frigid water and touched Eren's pained face, wet with tears.

"I told you not to do anything reckless for my sake… yet you do it anyway? Foolish brat"

"Please you have to take my brother in. He's being hunted by my own people and sooner or later, the Commodore's men will get him too. Please you have to hide him! I beg you"

Levi's heart and stomach filled with a black bile, making his mouth turn bitter: The feeling of utter contempt and hatred towards his enemy. The Commodore had tricked Eren to sacrifice everything. He would use Eren's abilities for himself and use them against Levi. Knowing the Commodore, he would not keep to his word. He would hurt anyone regardless just to see Levi destroyed. Without a second thought, he took Eren from Mikasa's grasp. His naked body was ice against his own warm skin. He slipped off his jacket and draped it over Eren's covering his exposed body and to shield him from the cold. He picked him off the ground and let his head loll against his shoulders.

"Bozado! Get brandy! A strong one. Men fill a tub with warm water! FAST! Petra, take care of Mikasa and ask her any questions relating to the battle and what Eren went through. QUICKLY OR THIS BOY WILL DIE!" Levi bellowed to his men, his face dark and frightening.

Levi strode quickly to his private tent, carrying the frozen body. Tenderly, he laid the trembling body onto his mattress and wrapped his body in warm woollen blankets. Delirious, Eren seemed confused when Levi tried to take the vial away from him. He fought and struggled but Levi was stronger.

"It's alright. I promise to look after it. It's more precious to me than anything in the world…"

He kissed Eren's forehead.

"… because, it's part of the boy I treasure"

"Captain, I brought the whisky and I've prepared hot towels" Gunther said entering the large tent.

"Thank you Mr. Schuitz" taking the necessities from him thankfully.

"Do you need help?"

Levi shook his head.

"No, I'll see to him personally. Thank you for the offer though"

Taking the brandy bottle, he opened the stopper and lifted the boy's feverish head carefully, pouring the sweet liquor into his mouth. Within minutes, Eren's convulsions began to decrease, his body warming from the results from the brandy. Now was the difficult part, warming his limbs and torso. Taking a heated damp cloth, Levi pressed it to Eren's right calve. Searing fire coursed through Eren's left leg, his body burning. It felt as if he was being scorched alive. Soundless screams uttered from his lips. Levi's soul broke… so his voice was really gone.

'I'm burning' Eren mouthed.

"Calm down. It's only luke warm water. It will be over shortly" Levi replied softly, continuing to place the heated towels on his body. Eren ground his teeth tightly, trying to cope with the burning. He looked into Levi's despondent saddened gaze. He thought he would have made him happy, but he had only succeeded in making the person he loved, more heartbroken then ever. He reached a shaking hand to Levi. Levi took the boy's cold palm, kissed it softly and pressed it to his face.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry Levi" Eren pronounced.

"I know Eren. You did well. I don't blame you… I should have known you would do something like this. Didn't I tell you not to sacrifice anything for my sake?"

Eren nodded his aquamarine eyes forlorn. He watched Levi bend over him then press his mouth against the base of his neck. His breath was warm and moist, comforting to Eren. Levi examined the beautiful pearly crystal tear drop that hung at Eren's neck. He picked it up and placed it within the small hollow at his neck. Levi's soul crushed. It was a perfect fit. Once again he pressed his mouth to Eren's neck tenderly.

"I will never hear you sing again!" Levi cried out softly.

I am not crying. I am not crying! Screw that… SOMEONE HUG ME! T_T

Evening Falls