A/N: I'm listening to the SNK sound track as I write this. Let's hope it does not influence anything. And how could you guys not believe me when I say I'll stop hurting them? This fic only has three or four chapters left! I'm wrapping things up!

Brook Uchiha Daughter of Zeus - Mobile review boxes?

Tshifter - That kind of broke my spirit a little... You can't spend every waking hour wanting for someone else. Codependance makes me uncomfortable. Levi has already looked all over, as I have said before. And it's angst.

MssCassandra - Very.

purpleinkpen - You don't have to review if you don't want to!

Eren woke up with a jolt, suddenly remembering where he was. He scanned himself. Tears were running down his face, but otherwise he was unharmed. He tried to wipe his tears away, but they wouldn't stop flowing. The sun was going down.

In his dream, he had seen three people. Levi, Mikasa, and Armin. Why hadn't he seen his parents? A sudden aching for all five filled Eren's chest, making his tears heavier. He got up, more determined than ever to get home.

When he was younger, he was bullied often. His parents didn't know the real reason, since Eren refused to tell them, but they comforted him anyway. Eren had confessed to a boy when he was in middle school and was promptly turned down.

"Ew, what the fuck?" had been his answer.

Ever since then, Eren had been bullied by the more homophobic people. Names like "Gaylord", "Cock-sucker", and "Gayger" were their favorites. Eren hated himself.

But Mikasa and Armin were there. They had stayed by him when he was at his worst. And his parents were there, sliding cake into his room when he cried. He was never alone, and he was thankful.

Eren reached a police station. For a second, he just stood there, staring stupidly. Then he laughed bitterly. So he only found one now? After all that, after sleeping on a fucking bench-

Eren almost started crying. Instead, he walked inside. The man standing there eyed him for a second.

"How may I help you?"

In the end, Eren had decided to go to his parents' house. He stood in front of the door, nervously shifting from foot to foot. Yes, he hadn't seen Levi in all this time, but it had been weeks since he had seen his parents. He was both excited and terrified.

He knocked on the door. There was no answer at first. Then, Carla opened the door. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth, which was stretching into a smile. She flung herself at Eren, now openly sobbing. Eren just stood there, standing stupidly for the second time that day. Then, he let out some strangled noise and hugged her back, holding back his tears to seem strong.

Grisha stepped out. His eyes widened a fraction, and his face became unreadable. Carla looked at him, then to Eren.

"I think we need to talk." she said, sniffling and wiping her eyes on her sleeve. Grisha nodded his agreement, and the three of them walked in.

Inside, it still smelled like Eren remembered. Of course it did. He hadn't been gone for more than a month, but it felt like years. Years of feeling a small sadness pressing at the back of his mind.

"We've been thinking," started Grisha as they seated themselves at the table, "Ever since that day. We still don't agree with it. We still think it's immoral. But if you're willing to forgive us for our behavior, we're willing to ignore it."

Before Eren could even open his mouth to answer, Grisha went on. "That does not mean we accept it. We will ignore it for your sake, but nothing more. Understand?"

Eren thought for moment, then nodded. "Don't be rude." he said finally, grinning at his parents. They had a long talk, just to catch up. Then, his parents went into the living room and called someone. Two someones, actually. When they came back out, Carla looked excited, and Grisha looked nervous.

"We have an idea."

"Legout, let go." said Armin, pulling away. The Jeagers had called him and asked him to come over. Armin was anxious to go see them. Was it about Eren?

"Don't wanna." said Legout stubbornly, clinging to Armin for dear life.

"Legout!" Armin complained, dragging out the vowels. Legout frowned and pushed Armin against the wall. Armin stifled a yelp.

"What are you doing?" asked Armin cautiously.

"Nothing." said Legout, not moving from his position. They were currently beside the school, where they had been chatting when Carla and Grisha called him.

"Armin!" they heard a feminine voice shout. Mikasa. Then, a lower tone-

"Armin!" it was Jean. Legout held back a growl. This seemed like a good idea at first, but then when it started working, Legout wasn't liking it so much. He had seen Jean's jealous stares, and wanted nothing but to punch the horse-face right in his dumb crotch.

"I really should go." said Armin, trying to maneuver himself out of Legout's grasp. Legout watched him for a few minutes before leaning in and pressing a kiss to Armin's lips, quickly. He ran off soon after breaking apart.

Armin watched him with wide eyes. Get your shit together, he told himself, walking out to meet Mikasa.

"Did the Jeagers call you too?" he asked by way of greeting. Mikasa nodded.

"Jean just happened to be with me." she said. Armin smiled at Jean. Jean had a strange expression on his face.

"We had better go." said Mikasa, eager to get going. She half dragged Armin to the Jeagers' house and practically broke the door down.

"Eren!" she smiled in relief and immediately ran to hug him when she saw him there. She started to assess him for injuries as Eren laughed, telling her not to worry. Armin was surprised when he felt relief flood into his chest; he hadn't been worried, right?

Armin ran up to Eren and hugged him, too.

"Where were you?" he asked.

Eren told his story. They listened quietly. Eren omitted the part with Mike, saying he had gotten lost on the way home. Mikasa looked skeptical, but she didn't say anything. She was still wearing her red scarf.

"And we have an idea." said Carla when Eren was done.

"Which would be?" asked Armin politely. As Carla told him, Armin realized what truly great people they were. They didn't agree with homosexuals, and yet they were able to come up with this and willingly do it.

The rest of the week went by in a blur. A Christmas tree was put up, stockings were hung, and Christmas decorations were put up everywhere. Eren wanted to go see Levi as soon as possible, of course, but the plan his parents had come up with kept him from doing so until Christmas day.

Finally, Christmas came.

"Levi?" asked Armin. He had called the grumpy man in order to ask him to come to a Christmas party.

"Don't want to." said Levi, sounding sour. The absence of Eren must have really taken it's toll on him.

"Yes, you do." said Armin. "And by the way, it's at your house. Zoe and Irwin gave us the OK. See you then!" and with that, he hung up. This was going to be good.

At the party, Armin and Mikasa hauled in a huge gift for Levi, wrapped in festive wrapping paper. They shoved it into a space near Levi's tree.

"You can only open it after the party." said Armin sternly.

As for the party itself, Levi didn't have much fun. Zoe kept wiggling her eyebrows at him and Armin smiled whenever they made eye contact. Mikasa just glared at him. There was confetti all over the place and it was making a huge fucking mess. Petra and Auroro had gotten back together and were making out in a corner. Erd and Gunther were also there, along with Dot Pixis.

And that present was fucking huge.

When the party was over, Levi cleaned. He cleaned all the spilled beer and the confetti and the present wrappers. And then he walked over to the present, examining it. Attached to it was a note.

Dear Levi-not-Rivialle,

I doubt that is your name, first of all. Why did you tell Mikasa such an outrageous lie? Anyway, this note is to explain a few things. First of all, I'm sorry.

Levi raised his eyebrows, emotion filling his chest. The handwriting changed for a second, getting darker in color.

I'm sorry for hitting you. I don't know what came over me. I do feel a sense of guilt, but I do not condone-

The rest was scribbled out. It continued,

Sorry for my husband. He tends to get carried have thought a lot on the subject since then, and have come to a conclusion. We do not agree, but we love our son. Please...

Take good care of him.

Eyes nearly overflowing with hopeful tears, Levi opened the box.

A/N: We're nearing the end! I'm going to cry. When I finish this arc, I'll do an extra chapter - a marriage! But I'm not done yet.