Part two, yay. Hope you guys like it. The language is a tiny but stronger than before (not too terribly bad, but let's be honest, nothing would sound as bad if it were Levi speaking haha).


A year after his first encounter with Samantha, Jean never saw or heard from her. Of course he never tried to find her either. There had been other things preoccupying him like his job as soldier, as if it needed to be said. However, when he had walked past a records office, he did pause.

The memory of Samantha flashed through his mind. He wouldn't have told anyone, but she was his first kiss. He had his first kiss with her and never bothered to see how she was doing. He went into the room and went to the medical files. The dates were disorganized for the most part, but he managed to find the papers from last year. He trifled through them, searching for the name.

"What are you doing?"

Jean jumped and quickly slammed the cabinet shut "Nothing."

Eren was making a face "That's not nothing."

"It's nothing."

"Who are you looking for?"

"No one."

Sighing Eren said "Levi had me start organizing them, so I may be able to help."

"I'm looking for a girl…."

"Trying to find a blind date?"

"No."

"You sure? You might need one who's blind with that horse face."

"Shut up you dumb ass."

Ignoring him Eren shoved him out of the way "What's her name?"

"Samantha, I don't know her last name."

"What's her squad number?"

"She's not in the military."

Eren pulled away and raised an eyebrow "You're looking for a girl who isn't in the military under military files? I hope she's smart, because someone is going to have make up for the lack of IQ."

Clenching his jaw Jean snapped "She was treated by our Med team you damn idiot."

"Should've started with that pony boy."

"Jesus Christ Eren! I do not look like a horse!"

Eren again ignored him and moved around to the other side. He opened the drawer and pulled a folder out.

"Here you go stalker, and it's Samantha Tanis."

Jean growled snatching it from him. Once it was in hand, Jean stalked out of the room.

It was a rare day that Jean had off. He spent three hours on a horse on the off chance he'd find the right house. He kept glancing at the piece of paper he scribbled the information from the file on. Some people looked a little concerned seeing him hop of his horse and start walking down the small street. Even though he wasn't in full military uniform, it was obvious he was from the Scouting Legion.

Jean's stomach churned as he neared the house. He tied the horse at a small tree and walked up to the door. He gulped and his fist knocked on the wooden door. A woman answered then blinked "May I help you?"

"Uh… I.. er, I umm I'm looking for Samantha Tanis?" He mentally punched himself. So much for practicing what he was going to say when he got to the door.

"She's not here right now, may I ask why she's needed?"

"My name is Jean; I met her last year during the attack…"

Ms. Tanis's eye grew so wide Jean thought they were going to pop "My god, you're the soldier who saved her?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Please, please come in. I can't thank you enough, oh my, I'm so sorry, I would offer you something to drink or eat but we don't have anything made. Would you like me to makes something? I'm sure it must've been a long ride over here."

Jean stepped into the house but looked a little uncomfortable "No thank you, I'm fine."

She pulled Jean in for a hug and he couldn't do anything but stand in shock "I honest to God cannot thank you enough for what you did for Samantha. My baby girl, my only baby girl would've been killed if it weren't for you."

"I…"

"Oh I'm sorry! I just… anyway, she's probably down the street. She had a rough day."

"Thank you. Sorry to just show up."

"No, no don't be. In fact if you ever want to come back, you are more than welcome to."

He nodded before leaving. His pace was slow as he went down the dirt road. Jean's eyes took in the street. This was where she lived. He guessed she must've been close to gate, because it wasn't the same place he found her a year ago.

His eyes fell on the figure of a girl sitting on a bench with a book in hand. Jean felt his nervousness go up about five hundred percent.

"Is it a good book?"

Jean saw her jump a little and she looked up. Her eyes, not as severe as her mother's, went wide "Jean? What are you doing here?"

"I don't know."

She place string in the book and closed it "Did you come all the way from the headquarters?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

He rubbed the back of his neck "I uh wanted to see if you were still okay."

"Oh well, I guess I am. I probably received better medical care than I should have because we wouldn't have been able to afford a real doctor but I'm not complaining."

"So your leg isn't too bad?"

"No, it's healed really well. Almost can't even tell it was broken."

"That's good."

They fell into silence. Neither knew what to say, or even what do, if anything.

Samantha finally said very quietly "Ivo proposed last week."

Jean inhaled sharply. He knew from their talk before that the guy would, but it still stung. Typical. It didn't matter what he wanted, he'd never have it.

"Congratulations." Jean replied. His voice had an edge to it. His eyes fell to her left hand and then furrowed slightly.

"You're not wearing a ring."

She shook her head.

"Why aren't you wearing one?"

"Because I said no."

"But why?"

"You know why."

He met her gaze "You turned him down for me?"

"I turned him down because I wasn't in love with him."

Jean's cheeks went pink "So then you're saying….?"

Samantha blushed as well "You're going to think I'm absolutely crazy."

"Why would I think that?"

"I didn't know if you were alive or not, and I knew for a while Ivo was getting to ready to propose and I had been terrified. A few weeks ago I woke up in the middle of night. Something felt off, not bad, but different. My room had this weird warm feeling and I almost jumped out of my skin. There was a guy standing near my bed in a military police uniform. He smiled at me, and said that I was making the right choice. And I asked him who he was, and told me he was your friend."

By now, Jean felt his heart racing in his chest.

"It was about then I realized what was happening. I noticed the soft glow around him and when he moved toward me, on my walls I swear on my life Jean there was a shadow of wings. He took my hands and said gently that I was completely doing the right thing, and that you still thought of me too, and if I waited it would all work out."

"What exactly did he look like?" Jean's voice was shaking a little.

"Freckles, tall, dark hair, he said his name was Marco, and I'm so sorry because I remember you talking about him when we met..." Samantha knew it must have hurt because when Jean had spoken of his best friend, the boy was alive.

He couldn't believe it. Well, he believed Samantha, but he didn't believe it.

"Was that all?"

"It's all he said about you, the rest was about some other things."

Jean let out a dry laugh "Great. So you dumped your childhood best friend because my dead best friend who apparently is an angel now told you too. Doesn't matter that I was the one who saw him dead, I get no solidification that something good happened to him after he died and you do. How is that fair?"

Samantha had thought he'd think she was an absolute crazy person, but instead Jean was upset because he wasn't the one to see him.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sure." Again his voice was sharp.

"I can tell your upset but don't get mad with me over this."

"The person I should mad at is dead! Damn it, it's all my fault! I don't blame Marco for not seeing me because I got him killed!" His fists were rolled up tightly, and no matter how hard he tried to fight it, his eyes were tearing up.

"Jean…"

He stood trying to not shake. Jean thought he had mostly gotten past the pure anger for Marco's death. Clearly, he was mistaken.

He couldn't do this. It didn't matter if Marco had told Samantha he would be there. He realized in a split second if he were to die, this would be her, someone living with years' worth of pent up anger and regret to come for ever letting anyone in.

Another part of Jean knew, despite it all, he wanted her. He was about to lose it, his mind was literally a hurricane. No sane thoughts, they were all swirling around.

Before Samantha could say anything else someone was walking up.

"Your mom said the soldier who rescued you last year was here."

"Uh yeah, Ivo this is Jean, Jean this is Ivo."

Jean took another deep breath. He wasn't going to let anyone else see him like this. Jean stood up just a smidge straighter and offered his hand. The other young man took and the grip was tight from both people. Jean quickly sized him up. They were about the same height however Ivo was less built than Jean.

"Sammy, do you mind if I talk privately with him?" Ivo asked his eyes not moving from Jean.

"Ivo, are you really-"

"I just want to talk, don't worry." For a moment Ivo's smiled reassuringly at her.

Sighing she began to walk back. As soon as she was out of earshot Ivo clenched his jaw "So… you're the one who saved her?"

"We've already established that." Jean was just as tense.

"I've been waiting for years to ask her to marry me."

"And?"

"What the hell do you mean and? She turned me down for you."

"I know."

"Then what the hell is your problem?"

"I don't have a problem." He glared.

Ivo grabbed Jean's shirt collar and growled "If you're going to act like her turning me down for you isn't worth your time then you better go tell her you don't love her back but believe me if you break her heart you will pay hell."

Jean shoved him away "Don't fucking touch me or you won't even have limbs left to threaten me with."

"I want her to be happy and if that's with you then fine, though I can't see why she wants someone as crude and arrogant as you."

"Yeah well, at least I'm not built like a twig that would break at any moment."

Irritated Ivo sighed dejectedly "All I'm asking is that you take care of her and don't leave her stranded."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Don't die; if she has to shed one tear over you, I can't explain how badly you're going to pay."

"Can't pay if I'm dead."

"So then don't die."

"I'll do my best."

"You need to better than that."

"Well that's all I can do. And I'm not taking this kind of advice from you because as far as I can tell, she did pick me over you, so I'll do what I can, but not because you asked me too."

"Fine."

Ivo left, and Jean walked back down the dirt. Samantha appeared and she looked at him a little amused "So… did you two work out your testosterone issues?"

"W-what?"

"I didn't have to be there to know it was about me."

"I guess we did."

"Good." She stated before saying "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Are you still upset over earlier?"

It took a moment before he answered "No. I think I'm better."

"Good." She said again.

In honesty, it still bothered Jean, but seeing Ivo made Jean realize there was no way in hell he was letting Samantha go.

"I'm glad you're still alive."

Jean let out a chuckle "Yeah me too."

"Are you going to head back soon?"

"I probably should."

"If you're okay with it, would mind if I write to you?" Samantha's face again blushed.

"I'd like that." He gave a sheepish smile.

"Hey, how did you find me? I never gave you my last name…"

"Oh well… I uh… I was going through some medical files… and just kind of used that…."

"Oh. Okay then. Well, you know my last name and where I live, so when do I get to know yours?"

"Kirschtein."

Samantha nodded "Jean Kirschtein… suits you."

"Thanks, I think."

She shrugged "Just wanted to hear what it sounded like."

When she had seen Marco, he had spoken with her a little bit more however, the last part would've freaked Jean out. It freaked Samantha out as well, but she couldn't unhear it. Marco had told Samantha not to worry because while Jean was rough around the edges, he would end up being a great father.

Her face flushed just thinking about what she was told.

The pair wound up at the house and Jean untied his horse's reins.

"Thank you for coming to see me."

"I would've done it eventually."

"I know."

Jean knew that it would take a while to go back and that his visit wasn't going to be long, but he still felt empty. Samantha grabbed his hand.

"Is it too much to ask you to try not to die again?" She gave a small chuckle, however her eyes told a different story.

He squeezed her hand before leaning his head down. His lips met hers. It wasn't a long kiss.

"I promise I'll write back to you."

"I'm holding you to that."

"And if you see Marco again, tell that damn jerk that his messages would be appreciated."

"I'll try to get the message to him." She laughed.

Jean kissed her once more before getting into the saddle.

"Thank you Jean."

"I'd do it again." Jean replied. He'd saved her over and over if he needed to.

"So would I." Samantha smiled.