This is it, guys! The final chapter to Only Lonely has arrived!

I got a kick out you guy's reviews. There were mixed reactions to the previous chapter. Some of you were like "FUCK YEAH, DRAMA!" Some were crying, asking "Why did you do this to my feels?!" Then others weren't very happy, but decided they still loved me. So thanks, guys! I really enjoy replying to all the reviews, from chapter 1 till now. Thank you so much!

Thank you to those who favorited and added this story to your alerts! 126 faves and 182 alerts! This story has the most faves and alerts out of all of my other ones! I'm glad so many of you decided to give my first SnK story a chance! I really appreciate all of you! :D

Let's see what happens to Eren and Levi, shall we?

Chapter 15 From Shore to Shore

"Dad! Please come and get me!" Eren wailed into his cell phone. "Please… I need to get out of here before I end up hurting more people… It's going to take a long time for me to forgive you, but you went to rehab for me and Mikasa, so how could I not give you a second chance? Even though I'm still hurt by you, I really need someone right now. I need my family. So please… I'll be waiting at the front gates. I'll explain everything then… thanks, Dad."

Eren hung up his phone, hiccupping. He tried his best to erase Levi and Hanji's naked bodies against each other from his mind, but the image was still fresh. He leaned against Hanji's door, sobbing uncontrollably. He eventually slumped to the ground.

"Eren?" Armin poked his head outside of the brunette's dorm, hearing sobs. "Eren!"

Armin quickly went back in to grab Mikasa, and the two rushed over to Hanji's door and knelt beside him.

"Eren, look at me! What happened?" Mikasa cupped Eren's face. "Eren!"

Mikasa had never seen her brother cry like this. He rarely did. This is twice in one day she'd seen Eren look completely devastated, and both times it had to do with Levi.

"Let's bring him back to the dorm." Armin suggested, lifting Eren up by one arm.

Mikasa took Eren's other arm and helped him up. "Come on, Eren. It's okay." She told him comfortingly.

Eren leaned on Mikasa's shoulder, stopping his flow of tears. They brought him back to the dorm and sat him on the connected beds.

"Did Levi not want to talk to you?" Armin asked. "What happened?"

Eren looked down. "Levi… and Hanji… they were…"

Eren broke down again, not wanting to remember what he just saw.

"What were they doing? Eren!" Mikasa gently shook Eren. "We can't help you if you don't tell us what happened."

"They… were in bed together… naked!"

Armin and Mikasa's eye bugged out of their skulls. "What?!"

"That's it! They're both going to die!" Mikasa stood up, a fiery vengeance in her eyes.

"Wait!" Eren grabbed Mikasa's sleeve. "It's not worth it. I… I've decided to leave."

"Eren!" Mikasa cried. "Where are you going to go?"

"With Father." Eren handed Mikasa the letter Grisha wrote to him. "I think Levi had something to do with it… but he went to rehab. He's better. He wants to come back in our lives. And though I'm not sure when I'll forgive him for hurting Mom… I know she would want me to give him a second chance."

Mikasa looked up from the letter, her eyes filling up with tears. "Eren…"

"And… I need to leave before I hurt anyone else. I hurt Levi… and I feel like Father right now." Eren lamented. "And I never want to follow in his footsteps as an unfaithful bastard. This is all my fault, so I need to leave and never hurt Levi again. He trusted me with his heart. I never wanted to hurt him."

Eren stood up and started packing his things. "I can go to summer school and finish out the year at that time. Levi will have graduated before summer school starts, so I'll wait until then to come back. Armin, take care of Mikasa while I'm gone."

Mikasa grabbed Eren's arm. "If you're leaving, I'm coming with you." She told him.

"But Mikasa! You can't afford to miss class! They don't offer Japanese in summer school!" Eren protested.

"It's fine." Mikasa smiled softly. "I can test out. But Eren… I promised to protect you. There is no way I'm letting you go with Father alone, even if he is better. You are all I have. I refuse to let you get hurt again. I should have been there when it happened, so from now on, I'll never leave your side. You're my brother, and I'll always have you back."

Eren exhaled. "Okay… then let's go. Father will be here soon."

Mikasa slowly stood up. "If Levi and Hanji are drunk, then I can probably sneak in there and grab my stuff."

Eren shuddered. "Be sure to spare me the details." He said flatly.

"Of course." Mikasa left his dorm room.

"Eren…" Armin bit his lip. "Are you sure leaving is the best solution? Isn't that what your dad did?"

Eren froze, his eyes widening. "…this is different." He finally replied. "Unlike him, I actually realized my mistake. And I don't want to hurt Levi anymore by my presence."

"But won't leaving him hurt him more?" Armin questioned, trying to change Eren's mind.

"No, it wouldn't!" Eren snapped, glaring at Armin. "I've betrayed him, and he has betrayed me! Nothing good will come out of staying! It's too late in the year to switch dorms, anyway! And what the hell am I supposed to say to him, huh?! 'Oh, hey Levi, I saw you sleeping with Hanji, and I'll forget about that.'"

Armin sank down. "Eren…"

"And what is Levi supposed to say to me?!" Eren interrupted him. "'Oh, hey brat, it's totally okay that you made out with a girl, even though you promised you had feelings for me and wouldn't hurt me.'"

"That's not what I'm saying!" Armin finally cried out. "You two have been through worst scrapes, haven't you?!"

Eren looked away. "But the difference is… we had each other to get through it. But… we've betrayed each other. Nothing can fix that. Ever."

Eren finished packing his belongings into his two suitcases. "Bye, Armin. I'll call you as soon as I'm situated. And when I do, do not tell Levi where I am and who I left with. If he confronts you, tell him Mikasa and I left with a man and you were unable to see his face. If you don't do that, I will never talk to you again."

"Eren… don't go…" Armin choked, tears falling over. "You're my best friend. We vowed to stick together always."

Eren closed his eyes, forcing more tears back. "I'm sorry… I just don't have the strength to fight anymore. Can you please leave and go back to your dorm? I need to do some remodeling in here."

Crestfallen, Armin stood up and walked out.

Eren moved his bed back to its original spot. Eren dug in one of Levi's drawers and pulled out the green duct tape from before.

"This is quite the bittersweet reunion huh?" He spoke to the duct tape, pulling some off.

Eren split the room in half again, back to the time when they were just bickering strangers. Eren clutched his clam pendant in his hands as he looked around the dorm for the last time.

"Goodbye… Levi."

~.~.~.~.

"Eren. Eren!"

Eren's eyes snapped open, bringing him out of the painful memory. He looked up to see Mikasa staring down at him worriedly.

"Eren, are you alright?

That's right. Eren thought to himself. I'm not in Mitras anymore. I'm not a freshman at Kibou University, either. I decided to never go back there ever again. I'm in Karanese… and it's been three years since the dreadful day.

"Yeah…" Eren looked forward. He was sitting on the Karanese shore, watching the waves crash. The ocean didn't seem as beautiful to him like the one in Mitras, even though it's the same ocean, just miles apart.

"You've just graduated from Karanese University, you should be a bit happier." Mikasa tried to smile naturally, but Eren could tell it was forced. "You're officially a marine biologist."

"That's right." Eren laughed half-heartedly. "And you'll be leaving for Japan soon. Enlightening little Japanese children by teaching them English. I think that's much more exciting."

Mikasa bit her lip. "Eren… they have offers in Okinawa for marine biologists. You already know the basics of Japanese, it won't take long for you to learn."

"Its fine, Mikasa. I want to stay here in Karanese." Eren assured her. "Besides, Dad needs someone here, y'know. He's been getting so much better, but he's not all the way, yet."

"I understand." Mikasa glanced at the setting sun, sighing. "Speaking of which, he will be back from his last patient soon. Be sure you're back for dinner, Eren."

"I will. I just wanna sit here for a while longer." Eren said.

Mikasa walked away, leaving Eren alone on the beach. Eren reached underneath his T-shirt and pulled out the clam pendant. Not satisfied with the view his was getting, Eren took off his shirt and tossed it aside. Eren palmed the pendant, sadness filling his heart.

Eren had thought about chucking the necklace into the ocean countless times. One time he actually did, but he scrambled in after it as soon as he threw it. He also never opened it. He didn't want to because…

"I hoped Levi would come back for me." Eren whispered. "I hoped I would never have to think Levi didn't love me anymore."

Of course, the wish was impossible. He willingly left Mitras, not leaving a trace of himself behind. He hasn't had contact with Levi since that day, not even talking to Petra. He also continued to tell Armin not to tell Levi anything about him when they spoke on the phone. And like a good best friend, he did just that.

I'm so dumb, hoping he would come back for me. I didn't even want him to. And… I'm not starting to regret it, am I? No! No… I'm not…

Eren stared at the pendant.

"On the day that you feel like I don't love you, open it and read the message inside." Levi's voice filled Eren's mind.

"I might as well." Eren sighed, opening the clam. "I don't think he has feelings for me anymore…"

True to Levi's words, a small piece of paper rolled into a scroll fell out. Eren closed the pendant and picked up the paper, unrolling it.

My dearest and lovely Eren,

I love you. I love you so much. If you don't believe anything else I say, believe that. I'm no romantic, but know that I'll never stop loving you, no matter how much time passes.

I am sorry for whatever I did to make you feel like you weren't loved. I tend to mess things up, so please forgive me. I won't reappear to kiss your sorrows away until you are ready for me to do so. Sit by the shore in the evening. It doesn't matter what shore. I will come for you and sweep you away. You can hit me and yell at me. I can take that. The worst possible thing, however, is you leaving my life forever.

I will wait for you. So please come back to me. I love you.

Levi

Eren blinked, noticing that teardrops were falling onto the small letter as he rolled it back up and put it inside the clam.

"Levi…" Eren finally let go, allowing his tears to cascade down his face. "Levi…! Levi…! I love you! I still love you, even after all of this time!" He shouted into the rose colored sky.

Eren covered his eyes with his arms, hiccupping. "I'm so sorry for betraying you! I'm so sorry for leaving you! I didn't want to hurt you anymore. I fucked up so bad! I wasn't ready for you to come back all these three years, but now I am! Come back to me, Levi!"

Eren bawled into his arm, knowing that his words were fading into the sky. Levi isn't here. He would never hear his words.

"Eren."

Eren gasped, removing his arm from his face. A short black haired man was standing a few feet away from him, his arms open, as if ready to receive a long-awaited gift.

"…" Eren couldn't form any words. This has to be an illusion. That's not him! That's not Levi. There are many short black haired men in Karanese.

"Eren." The man said again, just as gently.

Eren felt his legs move on his own as he stood up. He sprinted over to the man.

"Levi! Levi!" Eren leapt into his arms, knocking them both on the sandy shore.

Levi wrapped his arm around the matured brunette, squeezing him tight. His own eyes filled with tears of relief. Eren pulled away slightly to press butterfly kisses all over Levi's face, his tears freely flowing.

"I've missed you so much." Levi whispered to Eren.

"H-How?" Eren choked, his voice shaky. "How did you find me?"

Levi sat up, pulling Eren into his lap. Eren wrapped his legs around him, holding him close.

"I had no idea where you were until last week." Levi told him, stroking Eren's hair. "Even after graduating, I never stopped looking for you. You did a good job not leaving a trace, because I never got a lead. Armin refused to tell me where you were. But I never gave up hope. Then… last week, after my millionth Google search, I saw that your father had a business number at a clinic I could call. It was just put on the clinic's website. The website didn't list its address, so I still had no idea where you were.

"I called, and he never answered. But then, I received a letter from him a few days later. He expressed that as a reward for helping him get out of his addiction, he would tell me where you were. He told me that you never opened the pendant I gave you. So… I figured that maybe… just maybe… you had hope that I would find you. Is that true?"

Eren nodded, his weeping never ceasing.

"I've been here for three days… and I've waited by the shore." Levi continued. "You hadn't read the pendant, and once I saw you almost throw it in the ocean. I… was afraid to approach you. Actually afraid. But I'm so happy you leapt into my arms today. I've missed everything about you. Petra misses you… and so does Hanji. If you want, they said they would travel here with Armin if you want to see them."

"Yes… I do want to see them!" Eren dug his head in the crook of Levi's neck. "But… I wanted to see you more. I'm so sorry for betraying you. I-"

"Eren." Levi silenced him. "I've decided to ignore my own feelings of hurt, because you have done so much for me, it was extremely childish and selfish of me to run off and get drunk with Hanji. I hurt you. And I will spend every day making it up to you if you'll let me."

Eren leaned his forehead against Levi's. "I will… on one condition."

"Anything." Levi replied immediately.

"…you'll finally tell me what you majored in."

The look on Levi's face was priceless. "That's all?"

Eren giggled. "Yes. You never told me."

Levi cleared his throat. "I majored in social work. I want to be a child and family social worker."

Eren gasped. "Really?"

Levi sighed. "Yes, really. Damn, you look so surprised. See, this is why I didn't want to tell you."

"No, I think that's great." Eren assured him. "What inspired you?"

Levi shifted a little to make himself more comfortable. "Well, I had a dysfunctional family and an awful childhood, and I don't want families and children to go through what I went through. I want to help them so they have a chance to escape that hell. It's ironic, right? I want to help people solve their problems, yet I can't solve my own."

"But you did." Eren told Levi. "You looked for me. I'm the one that ran away and made it difficult. But here you are. You never gave up on me, even though I gave up. If you could handle an idiot like me… you can do anything."

"You're not an idiot." Levi murmured, tucking some of Eren's hair behind his ear. "You're my idiot."

"And here I thought you were going to say something nice." Eren pouted.

The two stared at each other.

"I'm just so happy you're here." Eren ran his hand up and down Levi's arm. "I never thought I would see you, touch you, or hear your voice again."

"Same." Levi leaned in closer.

Eren met him halfway and closed his eyes. The feel of Levi's lips felt slightly foreign since it's been three years, but at the same time, it felt so familiar and welcoming. Eren tangled his fingers in Levi's raven hair as the two tipped backwards. When Levi's head hit the soft sand, Levi pressed Eren's naked chest flush against his body, not planning on letting go ever again.

"Levi…" Eren murmured against Levi's lips. "I don't need the pendant anymore."

"Why?" Levi sat up slightly, a bit confused.

"Because you told me that if I ever feel like you don't love me, to open it." Eren replied. "I'll never feel that way again."

"You said that before… so what's different this time?" Levi asked, a smile etching onto his face.

"I know what it's like to leave you, and I never want to experience that again." Eren said. "And… you never wanted to leave me, you always loved me. Now I know… because you're right here in front of me. So, I want to return this clam to the ocean with the message inside. It'll be like a message in a bottle."

"Sure." Levi helped Eren to his feet. "But before we do that… I want to do this."

Levi knelt down on one knee, feeling self-conscious. But after gazing at Eren's shocked expression, he felt more confident.

"Eren, I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Levi began. "You gave me more happiness and love than anyone in this world. Your smile gives me strength, your laugh makes my heart throb, and your beautiful eyes make me believe that everything will be okay."

Levi reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box and opened it. Eren's legs felt weak as he stared at what was inside. It was a beautiful ring with a gorgeous pearl sitting in the middle.

"We don't need to have the ability to have children to show that we'll stay committed to each other. We don't need the permission of others to have a happy life together in the same house. All we need is each other's love. So Eren Jaeger… will you marry me?" Levi asked. "We can wait for a while to actually get married. You're still really young, and you have your whole life ahead of you. I... I just want to know if you want to have a future with me."

Eren's legs were so shaky, he almost fell to his knees.

"Yes, I want to marry you." Eren said softly. "Yes."

Levi slid the ring on Eren's left ring finger. It fit perfectly.

When Levi stood up, he took Eren's hand and walked with him to the ocean.

"Let's toss the clam together." Eren suggested, letting go of Levi's hand to unclasp the necklace. "I'll keep the pearl chain. I can put this engagement ring on it after I get my wedding band.

"Of course." Levi chuckled at Eren's eagerness.

With the pendant in his hand, Eren took Levi's hand.

"Okay, on the count of three." Eren instructed Levi. "One… two…three!"

Eren and Levi swung their clasped hands back and let go of the clam, watching it sail into the ocean. The waves immediately swallowed it, carrying it out to sea. Eren and Levi held each other's hand again, saying their mental farewell to the pendant.

Eren's pearl ring shimmered in the setting sun, sending out a ray of hope of a better future to the reunited lovers.

Only Lonely: Finis

The end!

Thank you so much for reading, you lovely people! This has been an awesome journey! I'm sad this is over. Like, I'm literally about to cry as I'm typing this. It's always hard to let go of your first story in each fandom you write in.

Since I figured many of you would be sad (the reviewers said so), I also updated two of my newer Riren stories: Eyes of the Beholder and Sugar and Spice. So go check those out! I have many ideas for other stories with this pairing! So stay tuned!

If you have questions about my stories, leave it on my tumblr! Also, if I get enough followers, I will start posting sneak peeks to future stories along with questions asking for your suggestions (hint, hint) for my stories. Along with other fun stuff! So go follow me at punkrockkitsune! The link is also on my profile.

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Thanks again guys! And I'll see you in my other stories! :3

PRK