(sounds of distant trumpets) Chapter 5 my darlings! We do hope you enjoy, and kindly review and tell us what you think-we adore your input.

Now-prepare yourselves!

We do not own Attack on Titan or any of the characters belonging thusly.

Enjoy!

~Aria

-GhostiesandGhoulies

As his pregnancy kept progressing, Hanji had begun calling him to her lab so that she could check his vitals and other general things like his weight and food intake. Levi always made sure he was present during the check ups in case she ever found something unusual while she was checking Eren over.

"Levi, we need to go see Hanji again," the titan shifter called to his husband.

His senior's brow was furrowed as he stepped out of their bathroom, "Didn't we just go see her a week ago?"

Eren rolled his eyes in response, "You know how she gets."

"Goddamn shitty glasses."

They were quick to head to her lab in hopes that they wouldn't have to deal with an unexpected visit to their room. Eren allowed the door to swing open with an audible creak to announce their presence.

"Hanji! We're here," the titan shifter said loudly when there wasn't an immediate response.

"Oh! HELLO MY DEARS," the woman exclaimed from the other side of the room. There were several loud crashes as she practically leapt over the work benches she had scattered about the room.

The raven haired Corporal wrinkled his nose at the sheer lack of cleanliness, "This place is a disaster waiting to happen."

Finally she came into their view as she approached them excitedly. "I'm glad you remembered to come this time! Makes things go a lot quicker." Her eyes then traveled to Eren, her brown eyes going wide as she took in his protruding stomach. "Wow Eren...you're seriously growing quickly," Hanji observed with nervousness evident in her voice.

Eren immediately picked up on her uncertainty, "..Is that bad?"

"No! Well.." the brunette rubbed the back of her head anxiously, "maybe.. See, this was an extremely experimental thing and I don't really know what the end result may be given your shifting abilities."

Levi, who stood nearby, narrowed his eyes. "And what the hell is that implying here, shitty glasses?"

The researcher seemed to deliberate her response before replying. "Thing is, Eren's stomach is bigger than a child should be at this point in time - I mean, he should only be showing a bit," she stated, "therefore… the possibility is there that the baby could be.. different."

"Different how," Levi ground out venomously.

She bit her lip, "It's a low chance, but.. Eren could be carrying a titan child."

"What?!"

Hanji winced at their simultaneous outcry. "We still have limited knowledge about his abilities, it very well could come out a shifter or even a titan! I can't tell just by looking at his stomach!"

"You are not cutting him open," Levi spat, "so you had better fucking find out a way to tell."

Eren was surprised by the ferocity in the other's tone, "Levi…"

"No, I'm not going to let you carry if it's a fucking titan."

He flinched at the cold stare he received. Anger welled in the pit of his stomach, "Even if it has your blood pumping through its veins?! Even then you would have me kill it before it has even lived?!"

"Yes." There wasn't even a trace of hesitation in his tone.

He was horrified at that answer. "E-Even if it was our child, y-you'd kill it..?"

"There's a big difference between a child and and a titan," Levi countered haughtily.

"Oh so I guess there's also a big difference between a titan and a human too, huh?" Eren snapped back, hurt reflecting in his green eyes.

Hanji sucked in a breath, wincing slightly.

That stopped any response the short Corporal may have had, "No Eren that's not wh-"

"That's sure as hell what it sounded like!" Tears came into his eyes, "I can't believe you would say something like that… We don't even know what it will be. It could just be a large baby!"

"Which is why we need Hanji to find out, I'm not going to let you carry it if it's a goddamn titan."

"And I'm not going to let you dictate this choice! It's my child too, Levi, not just yours!" Eren was glaring by that point, "Even if it is a 'fucking titan' I'm going to carry it because it's our child. I won't kill it before it has even had a chance to live." He felt so betrayed, so bitter at the response his lover was giving.

"You could die if it grows too large, you realize that, don't you," Levi asked, voice no longer conveying the frustration he felt; instead it had gone to a deadly monotone.

"Hanji could figure something out," the younger said resolutely, refusing to believe otherwise.

Those cool gray orbs darkened, "And if she can't? I would lose you, Eren." His pregnant lover shot up faster than Levi had ever seen him, grabbed him by the collar and brought him close.

"Hanji would figure something out," came the scathing reply. He shoved him a bit away and stalked out of the room, leaving behind his two superiors in shock.

Once outside, Eren heaved some shaky breaths, a hand going to his stomach. "Don't worry," he whispered, "I won't let them lay a hand on either of us…" A slight fluttering against his fingertips brought a smile to his face. He decided to get out of the area for the time being, not wanting to see Levi so soon after an argument.

"Eren?"

The brunette jumped and whirled around quickly to come face to face with Armin. "Oh.. it's just you," he breathed.

Armin didn't miss the relief that had painted his tone. "Did something happen?" he asked gently, not wanting to upset his friend.

"Uhh.. no.. nothing," Eren replied in an unconvincing manner.

So, he didn't want to talk about it. "Okay," Armin conceded, "then do you want to come with me to the study hall?" He figured from his behavior that Eren probably just needed some time to cool down. Upon seeing intrigue light up those already bright eyes, he knew he had made the right decision. The blonde smiled, "Come on, then."

The duo headed off to said hall, Eren sparing a glance over his shoulder as they left.

He heaved a sigh as they rounded the corner, "So why are you going to the study hall?"

"Do I need an excuse to go and read books?" Armin asked with a mocking tone.

They slipped quietly into the room and Armin collected a large stack of books. Eren sat down next to him and listened to the blonde as he enthused over topic after topic-battle strategies, animal behavior, the ocean, everything. Eren could listen to his friend ramble on for hours without tiring; he found it so relaxing.

"Eren?"

He lifted his head to look at his friend. "Hmm?"

"Are you feeling alright? You've looked a little green around the gills since you, umm, stomped out of Hanji's lab," Armin spoke cautiously.

"I look green?" Eren asked, a worried look on his face as he felt his own forehead.

"I-it's a term of phrase, Eren," Armin laughed. "I just mean to say you look...down."

The green-eyed teen frowned. "It's Levi," he admitted sourly.

Armin nodded quietly. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

Eren sighed and shook his head. Armin looked a bit surprised as his friend stood from the study table they were seated at, and turned away.

"N-no I-thanks for reading to me, Armin. I think I may just need to be alone for a bit. I'll see you later."

He began to walk toward the door but was stopped by a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned around.

Armin's blue eyes were filled with a sympathetic sadness as he spoke, "I'm here for you, Eren. Anytime. Just...let me know if you want to talk about anything, okay?"

Eren allowed a small smile to grace his lips before nodding to his friend and exiting the hall. He walked aimlessly down the halls of headquarters, unsure of where to go. He had too many friends, he decided, because every corridor he checked had someone there who would call out to him as he walked past. Was it such a crime to want to be alone for ten minutes?

As a last resort, he threw on his cloak and treked outside. It was a misty day, with thick patches of fog making the sky seem dreary. The scenery made him sad, but he'd rather that than have to face anyone right now-especially Levi.

He curled up against a tall oak tree, cape wrapped around him tightly, and cried. He couldn't stop the tears that poured down his cheeks, he was just so.. hurt from his lover's reaction.

Was it wrong of him to feel such an undying love for their child? He would love them, no matter what they looked like; no matter what they were. Did Levi not feel the same way as he did?

The thought only spurred on more tears. His mind was a whirr of various emotions, he found it difficult to process them. A headache began forming from it all. Then, from the depths of his being, emerged a strong longing that he hadn't felt so completely in years… He wanted his mother.

Eren shook his head as broken sobs escaped him. She was gone, he knew she was; but he wanted so desperately for her to be there.. to comfort him and help him through the complicated situation he was in. He needed her guidance and wisdom.

A cold wind billowed past, sending shivers up and down his spine. He wiped in vain at his face. He hated that he cried over practically everything. It was so frustrating.

Something brushed against his arm.

He yelped and fell back, away from the touch, trying to escape whatever had come upon him. Eren wiped again at his eyes in order to see what it was.

There, sitting where he had just been, was a small kitten. It looked at him with its big eyes and let out a rather miserable mew.

His first instinct was to bring it under his cloak so as to keep it from the cold air. The only thing that was stopping him was the fact that it was a mess. The fur was matted down in certain areas, and then sticking out on end in others. Even one of its ears had a piece missing.

Eren sat up and extended a hand out towards it.

The small kitten backed away a bit in response, eyes not leaving his hand.

"Hey, hey," he called quietly, so as not to further scare it, "it's okay. I won't hurt you."

It stretched out its neck and sniffed cautiously. Apparently it deemed him safe enough as it reluctantly began to approach.

Eren broke out in a smile when its small head made contact with his fingers. Despite its scraggly appearance, the fur was very soft. He brushed his fingers along the top of its head, chuckling as it leaned in closer. "There we go," he said, "told you I wouldn't hurt you."

The kitten mewed again, almost as if to reply to him.

He continued petting the small creature, eyes surveying the surrounding area as he did. "I wonder where your mother is, there's no way you would be all on your own yet." He saw nothing in the immediate vicinity. The sound of purring broke his concentration.

Eren smiled again, continuing his ministrations on the feline's scalp. "You're a good little kitten," he murmured to it, as if it could understand him.

When another gust of wind billowed through the area, he decided to take the trust he had gained in the kitten to the next level. He scooped it up in his hands and brought it to rest against his chest, making sure to close his cloak back after he had. It mewed again from its new position and wriggled in his hold.

"It's alright, you'll be warmer now," he said matter of factly. He began stroking the unruly fur affectionately, looking around again in case the mother cat made herself known.

The odd thought struck him that perhaps the reason the kitten was alone was because its mother had died somehow. It was a miserable idea and it only succeeded in bringing back his previous sour mood. Tears once more stung the corner of his eyes.

"You can't be alone in this world," Eren whimpered, "not so young… you still need your mom." The love of a mother was special and something that couldn't be replicated.

He had learned the feeling of losing someone so precious as his mother at a young age; so he knew to cherish the time he had with his loved ones and accept everything as it was given. His mother may have had an odd way of showing it but he knew deep down that she had loved him. Despite his frustrating stubbornness and his constant habit to disobey her, she had loved him unconditionally. If there was anything she had left him to pass on, it was that ability to love someone no matter what.

So even if Hanji's theory came out to be correct and his child was some kind of titan and human hybrid, he would love them. It would still be his flesh and blood, and he would still strive to love them for as long as he could, because he knew the time he spent with them was fleeting.

Now if only he could get his lover to understand that.

The kitten had managed to wriggle its way up to his neck and was nuzzling against his cheek.

Eren smiled sadly, tears still lingering in his eyes.

Suddenly the tiny feline began meowing almost frantically. It was loud in his ears and he did his best to sooth the kitten.

But every time the desperate call went unanswered, his heart broke a little more. His tears were back, "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry you're alone."

"EREN!"

He was startled by the loud cry of his name. It took him a moment to process that it was Hanji that had called to him.

"Eren! Where are you!?"

That was definitely Armin.

"Eren you had better fucking answer us!"

He couldn't stop a wave of fear as he heard his lover's angry voice sound seemingly louder than the rest. He hadn't even noticed how thick the fog had gotten until that moment. It was no wonder they had resorted to calling for him. How long had he been out there?

The kitten meowed again loudly. Eren pet it in a comforting manner, trying desperately not to cry anymore. The mother cat had yet to show up, he found it increasingly unlikely that she would.

"Eren?"

Was that Mikasa? How many people had emerged from the base to come look for him? He pushed himself to his feet and almost immediately fell afterwards from dizziness. The brunette mentally scolded himself for continuously doing that. He stumbled a bit and clutched at the tree, being mindful of both his growing child and his feline friend.

"Eren!"

Suddenly there was the sound of several sets of feet coming towards him. He tried desperately to collect himself before they found him, practically willing his dizziness to fade.

Armin and Mikasa were the first to reach him.

"Eren are you okay?" the blonde asked with worry clearly written on his face.

Mikasa meanwhile hovered nearby.

"I'm fine," he insisted, "just had another bout of dizziness." The kitten mewed from its perch, rubbing against him and purring. A reluctant smile worked onto his face.

Hanji approached with concern painting her features, "Eren, what on earth got into you? You've been missing for two hours!"

The titan shifter blinked in surprise, "Two hours..?" He bit his lip nervously and chanced a look to his lover who was gazing back at him with a surprisingly level expression.

Levi's eyes shifted just a bit and one of his elegant brows rose, "What the fuck is on your shoulder?"

Eren's green eyes filled with a dark fire. Was he really going to do this to him again? He reached around and plucked the mewling kitten off his shoulder and brought it close to his face.

"This," he spat, "is Cookie. And I'm keeping her because she's all alone in this world. Just like me and my baby, apparently."

Levi's eyes flashed dangerously, causing Eren to step back when he went to reach for him.

"Eren you can't keep that cat. It's mangy as hell and probably has fifty different diseases. Put it down and come the hell inside before you catch a fucking cold," Levi stated coldly, reaching again for Eren's hand.

The teen pulled back once again, "No."

"No? Excuse me?"

The air was painfully thick, and it wasn't from the fog. Those others in the search party stiffened as they sensed the ensuing battle between two of the most bullheaded people in the corps.

"Er, we'll give you two some privacy," Hanji quipped, grabbing both Mikasa and Armin by their collars and fleeing the scene in fear.

Neither Eren nor Levi even noticed their absence.

"That little mutt is probably going to fucking die anyway, brat, so just let it go. We can't fucking handle a cat right now," Levi pressed, body stiff and unapproachable.

Eren hugged Cookie the kitten closer and turned slightly away, "Too bad. Apparently we can't handle a baby either so I guess that means we're on our own, right baby?" He stroked the cat's ear and turned to walk away.

Levi snagged his shoulder and pulled him back roughly. "Eren!" he hissed.

"Don't touch me!" Eren yelled in frustration. He could feel tears working their way back to his eyes.

"Eren, won't you just listen to me for one damn second?!"

He was being pulled on again, but Eren couldn't find the will to fight back. Levi brought him close, hands like shackles on either of his arms, pinning him in place. He let out a strangled sob.

"You can't keep that kitten and you know it. We're already going to have a little brat running around and I don't want that filthy thing getting anyone sick," he turned Eren's chin back towards him when he tried to look away, "A baby is enough. Put the cat down."

"Well apparently I'm not allowed to have my baby, so yes! I can have this cat!"

"Stop being irrational!"

"Stop being an emotionless asshole!"

A gust of wind blew and Eren shivered despite himself.

"You need to stop stomping outside and freezing yourself," Levi continued in a softer voice. He loosened his grip on Eren's arms and instead pulled him closer to wrap him in his arms. Eren let out another choked cry.

"It has nowhere to go..." the younger said in a hushed tone.

"I know. But you can't save everyone, Eren, and we don't have the time for a sickly little cat."

"..."

"Eren...will you please listen to reason for once?"

"If it's about my baby then absolutely not."

Levi's arms went rigid before slowly relaxing again.

"Our baby. And I just don't understand why you think having a titan kid is okay after all the shit you face each day."

"What the hell does that mean?" Eren yelled back.

"Do you want your child to face the hatred you do everyday because you can turn into a titan?" Levi asked, gray eyes staring lostly into the foggy horizon.

"I-I...no but..."

"If we end up having a titan child it will face all that and more, Eren. I don't want that and I know you don't either," Levi kissed his brow and pulled back to look at the kitten in his husband's clutches. He stroked its head gently, "You're treated like shit for no reason and I don't want our baby to face that too."

Eren was quiet. He looked down at his boots with a frown.

"Sooo..."

"Hmm?"

"The reason you wanted to get rid of it...was because you didn't want it to have an unhappy life?"

Levi nodded, eyes locked upon his.

"I-I'm sorry. I still don't think I could do it," Eren sniffed.

The older sighed and ruffled Eren's shaggy hair.

"FUCK!"

Eren jumped back in shock as his lover shouted out.

"Levi?!"

"Fucking cat!"

Eren looked down in confusion, only to see a large, hissing cat prowling around the base of the tree. His eyes widened and he felt Cookie wriggling in his grasp, slipping out of his hands and scampering over to the other cat. Cookie rubbed up against the other cat, which Eren could only assume was its mother.

"Yeah there's no way you get to keep that fucking cat now," Levi grumbled, rubbing at his bitten ankle.

"Her mom came back," Eren said, watching as the mother picked the kitten up by the scruff and began to groom its wild fur.

"She needs to take better care of that thing," Levi sneered, grabbing up Eren's hand to tug him away.

But Eren refused. Instead, he pulled Levi back and watched happily as the mother cleaned up her baby, purring and rubbing lovingly over its messy hair.

"She's loves her. Even though she's dirty and her fur is matted down and knotted together; even though she looks so mangy - she still loves her," Eren explained sweetly, resting his head on his lover's shoulder.

Levi said nothing.

"It's the same with our baby. No matter what it looks like, I'll love it."

"I'm sorry, Eren," Levi murmured.

"Hhm?"

"I was out of line. I shouldn't have yelled, and if there's something wrong with our baby..." he sighed, "We'll deal with it together."

Eren smiled to himself, burying his face into Levi's warm chest. He shivered against another brush of wind and huddled closer to his lover. Levi hugged him close, rubbing warmth into the younger's arms.

"Let's go inside before we freeze to death," Levi ordered.

The teen nodded, swaying gently on his feet.

"Eren? Are you feeling okay?" Levi pulled back to look into his husband's eyes.

"I'm just a little t-tired. And my legs hurt," he hid his face further into Levi's cloak, embarrassed to say he didn't think he could walk back without falling over.

Thank god Levi seemed to understand. He held Eren's cold cheeks between his hands and made him lift his head.

"I'll carry you then," he said, low voice sending pleasant shivers through Eren's frozen nerves.

He gave a little squeak as he was swept off his feet. Levi picked him up bridal style and began to trek off towards headquarters. The fog had started to fade again, leaving the air merely moist and misty. Eren squirmed in Levi's arms, trying to worm closer to his husband.

Levi hissed a bit and pinched Eren's thigh.

"Stop squirming, you little shit," he complained.

Eren giggled and tucked his head under the other's chin.

"Yes, Captain."

Levi huffed and continued walking. He kept his eyes on the building, glancing down at the brat in his possession every once in awhile. His aqua eyes were starting to droop, and before Levi knew it the teen had fallen asleep, snoring softly in his arms.

He shook his head with a smirk.

As he walked into headquarters, Hanji bounded up to him excitedly, Armin and Mikasa in tow.

"Hey!" she shouted, shrilly. "Did you guys figure things out?"

She took in Eren's slackened form.

"Woah, wait did you kill him?!"

Everyone looked to her with a scowl.

"We talked it out. He fell asleep when I brought him back in," Levi explained calmly.

"And the cat?" Mikasa asked.

"Its mother came back for it."

The group nodded in understanding.

"I'm going to take him up to bed now," he decided, sharing a swift moment of eye contact with Hanji as he did.

The scientist smiled, "I'll follow you up and make sure he hasn't frozen his fingers off."

They traveled upstairs in silence, and even stayed silent as Levi tucked his lover into bed.

"Hanji."

"Yes, Captain Grumpy?"

Levi ignored her, "If it should get to the point..."

He straightened abruptly and looked her straight in the eye, straight into her soul.

"Levi?"

"Save him. If the baby is hurting him then save him not the baby. If it's in distress and it comes down to him or the baby, choose him. And don't tell him there was option to save the child."

Hanji stared at him with wide eyes.

"But Eren wouldn't wa-" she started, but Levi held up a hand to stop her.

"It doesn't matter what he wants. I know he would kill me if he heard this...but if the baby dies we can make another assumedly. He can't be replaced."

The scientist glanced down at the shifter sleeping soundly in the bed. She smiled sadly and looked back to her comrade.

"Okay," she agreed.

"Thank you."

"But," she stood from the edge of the bed, a determine look in her brown eyes, "I'll do everything I can to make sure it never gets to that."

Levi scoffed lightly, reaching out and sweeping a wisp of hair from Eren's eyes.

"Whatever, shitty glasses."

The woman smiled and slipped out the door. As she closed it behind her, she could see Levi leaning over to lay his head against Eren's stomach.

After note:

Ahahaha...whoops. I'm sorry if you weren't expecting the angst but...it is me and Ghosties afterall ;)

Until next week!