When they left the military, they expected that the terrors they left behind would never happen again.
It was not something they actually thought about. It just came naturally for them to think that everything would be okay.
It wasn't.
It started with changes in the weather, sunny days turning into cold evenings in just a few second.
Earthquakes almost imperceptible. More than once they woke up terrified, the footsteps still ringing in their ears.
Until one day they weren't just nightmares.
Eren could see Carla and Armin running, her little legs carrying her closer to the blond, their laughs mingling together in the air. He saw his best friend lifting his daughter off her feet, the girl flying for a moment before she fell again in the arms of her godfather.
He could feel a smile forming in his face, his hands supporting him as he leaned back.
And then it happened.
It was like the earthquakes, but not quite. It made him jump, making it hard for him to stand. The ground rumbled, the sound making Eren raise his eyes to search for Armin.
Their eyes met, both filled with fear and determination.
"I'll get the horses, you go for Mikasa!" Armin shouted, managing to stand and holding Carla very close to him. Eren could see tears on her eyes, her little voice lost in the sound as she questioned Armin.
Mikasa was waist deep in their wardrobe, her eyes frenetic as she threw everything they wouldn't need.
"Not a time to be packing, Mikasa!" he shouted, kneeling and grabbing her waist.
"I'm looking for our straps!" she shakes her head, her hands trembling as she tried not to cry. How could this be happening? This had to be a nightmare, it had to be.
"Mikasa, you can't use them!" his pregnant wife shook her head, hands not stopping. Once she found a brown belt, she stood.
"You and Armin can! We still have time!" she pulled hard and threw one of the sets of straps to Eren who catched them in the air and tried to untangle them.
"Go with Armin, I'm right behind you!" he kicked out his shoes, his brain not even concentrating as he put the belts on, years of being in the military making it easy.
"I'm not leaving you!" she cried, her hand resting in her belly as she tried to calm down.
"Mikasa" he grabbed her shoulders, pulling her in a hug, the footstep outside louder and louder "Go, now" she took deep breaths as he released her, nodding as she turned and ran.
Eren couldn't believe this was happening again. He took a second to calm himself down, pushing away the images from years and years ago, the screams and the blood and everything.
The belts were a little tight, but otherwise it fitted him. He hadn't grown a lot since he was fifteen, if only he had gotten a little buffer and that would be it.
He raced back, the horses standing a few feet away from the porch, Mikasa helping Armin with the last belts and Carla already in one of the horses.
"Daddy!" she screamed, her hands gripping the saddle and her eyes wide with fear.
"Carla. Everything's going to be alright" he ran his hand down her head, kissing her forehead. He wasted no time and started to get ready, gas and blades already set up for him.
"What is happening?" he turned around, Armin nodding to him as he helped Mikasa sit on her horse with Carla. In the distance, he could already see dark, tall figures running towards them.
"We'll explain later, alright baby?" he kissed her head; made sure she wouldn't fall off and slapped their horse on the butt.
Mikasa was in the middle, Eren at her right and Armin on her other side.
"A 10 meter class!" Armin suddenly shouted, his eyes staring at his left.
"Just keep going, it's still far!" Mikasa shouted, her eyes looking at the titan's way only for a second before focusing back.
"We'll have to do it with all of them; there aren't many trees around here!" Eren frowned, his voice carried away by the wind.
"Mommy!" Carla shouted, her eyes fixed in the upcoming village. From there, gigantic humanoid figures were raising, their bodies surrounded by steam.
Mikas made a sharp turn, Eren not far behind her. Armin followed, his frown borrowed as he thought.
"We can't keep going like this!" Armin shouted, the wind making it hard to speak and hear.
"We have to!" Mikasa cried, tears falling from her eyes. She pulled herself closer to Carla, her eyes scanning the whole place.
"Armin!" Eren shouted, turning around his horse "Keep going! Protect them at all cost, do you hear me?"
"I didn't need you telling me!" Armin nodded, his horse taking Eren's place.
"Eren!" Mikasa shouted, wanting but not stopping "Don't do it!"
"I have to, Mikasa!" he looked at her eyes, stopping his horse as she kept going. "I love you, remember that! I'll see you guys in no time!" he waved, a forced smile in his face. He had to do it; he had to protect the ones he loved.
Even if it meant he had to turn in a monster to do it.
"Mommy, what is daddy doing?" Carla asked, trying to look past her mother.
"He's going to protect us. Don't look, sweetheart" Mikasa closed her eyes, tears slipping slowly.
A sound very much like thunder resonated behind them, but she didn't let Carla see.