Hello my children! So SAD NEWS TIME: We will not be posting for the next approximately two weeks...IM SO SORRY DONT KILL US. Ill be in Europe on vacation as well as out for a convention weekend so...I will not be available to post :(

But until then enjoy this update! And also...to keep you entertained over these hard two weeks, does anyone have a guess as to the gender of our newest little scout? We're getting close to time! Tell us your thoughts ;)

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

ENJOY~~~~~

~Aria

-Ghosties

The days of the following week were a bit more relaxed. Eren's fever had finally broken and receded, much to everyone's relief. He still had migraines, and sometimes food came right back up, but he was better.

Levi was also getting better, his ribs had almost finished mending. His shoulder was still wrapped in a bundle of bandages, though Hanji said it was mainly a precaution before they began trying to rehabilitate his muscles.

Meanwhile she remained mystified as to why he was healing so quickly. The stubborn Corporal finally grew tired of her questioning and snapped at her. She decided it must be because, despite having been injured, Levi was listening to her suggestions as to how to recover quickly.

Eren stirred to the sound of a knock at the door. He yawned and opened his eyes blearily, noting that Levi had risen from his desk and gone to answer it.

"Hello sir, is Eren awake?"

He grinned from the bed, "Yeah I'm awake!"

Levi glanced over at him and rolled his eyes, "Come in then, Arlert."

The blonde smiled graciously, "Sorry to disturb, I just wanted to give Eren something." He offered a small wave as his gaze landed on his friend, "Hey Eren!"

"Armin," he returned warmly, shifting himself into a sitting position. "So, what brings you to our humble abode?"

Off to the side, Levi scoffed and attempted to get back to work.

"This actually," the other said, presenting a bag.

Instantly Eren's eyes were upon it, curiosity visible on his face, "Okay… and what is this?"

The blonde rubbed the back of his head shyly, "Well… it's just something I got from an elderly man while on a supply run. I've been meaning to give it to you for awhile now."

"You shouldn't have gotten me anything else," his friend whined, "the party and baby things were enough Armin."

Armin shrugged, "I didn't have to pay for it, he just gave it to me. Now come on, it'll help you pass time since you're on bedrest."

Eren looked defeated but amused as he reached for the bag with a mutter of, "Fine then." He pulled out a rather hefty wrapped package and settled it on his lap delicately. He sucked in a breath suddenly and then laughed, patting his stomach softly.

"This kid has your legs, Levi," he breathed as he began opening the gift.

A rather prideful smirk was the only response he got.

The brunette paused in shock when he finally had the package open. In his lap lay an old and weathered book… but not just any book. He looked imploringly to his best friend, eyes tearing up a bit, "A-Armin.. Is this really-?" He cut himself off, a lump forming in his throat.

Those bright blue eyes twinkled happily, "Yes. I couldn't believe it myself….but, it's the same one."

He ran his hands over the worn cover, tears beginning to trickle down his cheeks. He pulled back the cover and began turning through the pages wordlessly. Memories of sitting on the riverbank and reading through those very pages with Armin stirred from the back of his mind. Back when Shiganshina was home, back when everything had seemed fine.

Eren let out a wet laugh as the dear and familiar sketches of the outside world lay themselves out before him. "I c-can't believe it," he wept.

He pushed the book to the side gently and brought his friend in for a tight embrace. "Thank you A-Armin," he cried softly, "thank you so much."

Armin chuckled and accepted the hug easily. "Heh, h-hopefully it'll help you pass the time."

"Definitely," he blubbered as he slowly pulled away. The titan shifter wiped in vain at his eyes, bringing the book back to himself and cradling it.

It was one of the things he always held fondly in his memory, and now he had it in his hands. He could share the same stories and pictures with his husband and child.

Eren opened to a random page with a drawing and held it in front of him. "Look baby," he said through the lump in his throat, "one d-day we'll go see all of this. We'll see every bit. Just you w-wait."

The blonde took this time to quietly leave, but not before offering a comforting pat to the other's shoulder.

Levi approached after a time, bringing his lover in to rest against his side. "What is this book?" He asked in a low tone of voice.

His husband smiled a bit sadly, "This is a book Armin, Mikasa and I used to look at all the time." He flipped through a few pages, peering down at the images fondly.

"Isn't that kind of shit taboo inside the walls?" Levi questioned carefully, scanning over the colorful pages as Eren flipped through.

Eren shrugged noncommittally, "...technically?"

Levi smirked and gave the younger a quick kiss on his brow, "Oh well."

Eren giggled and tucked his head underneath his lover's chin, snuggling into the niche there. Levi shook his head lightly at the action but held him close.

"Do you think our baby will get to see the ocean one day?" the younger whispered dreamily into the calm air.

"How the fuck should I know?" Levi deadpanned.

Eren let out a ridiculous scoff, nudging his lover in the gut, "Romantic, aren't you babe?"

Levi growled in his throat, pulling Eren closer and nipping his neck playfully, "Not in the fucking least."

Eren awoke from his midmorning nap to find his husband, hunched over the makeshift desk they had set up in their room, signing papers, back turned and vulnerable. The shifter yawned quietly, slipping his feet over the side of the bed and softly padding onto the floor. His lips twitched into a smirk when Levi didn't seem to notice his awakening.

He began to slide his feet lightly across the floor, approaching his husband with caution, intent upon scaring him. Well, not scare him really-Eren had learned long ago that it was impossible to scare Levi, since the man was practically supersonic and could sense you approaching a mile away. More of what he was going for was the jolt of adrenaline he'd get when Levi snapped around and pulled him into his lap, pinching his side and saying something like 'you know you can't sneak up on me you little shit'.

Eren grinned at the thought.

He was closing in fast, faster than normal and Levi still seemed ignorant to his presence. Maybe he was losing his hearing in his old age? Eren almost snickered at the thought.

He was right behind him, practically breathing down his husband's neck as he grabbed the man's shoulders and shouted a loud, "Good morning!"

Levi was quick to react, but not in the way Eren had been expecting.

The man swung around, hand latching onto his arm with excessive force and quickly twisting it behind his back. Eren shrieked in pain, completely unsuspecting and confused as to why Levi was being so harsh. Tears sprung to his eyes as he struggled in his tight grip.

"L-Levi! Ow ow ow! Please stop I'm s-sorry!" Eren gasped out, beginning to panic and wondering if this was even Levi that had him locked in such a hurtful hold.

"Eren?!" Levi's hold immediately let up and Eren fell back toward the bed, cowering and glaring at his lover with tear filled emeralds.

"What the hell did you do that for?!" he yelled, "It was just a stupid joke! Ow, ow!" He cradled his sore wrist in his hold.

Levi looked horrified.

"Why the hell were you sneaking up on me?! I could've fucking killed you dumbass!" His voice sounded mad but his face was sincere and worried.

Eren's face twisted into a venomous pout as he turned his head away from the Captain.

"You should've heard me coming. You always hear me when I sneak up on you," he sneered.

Levi sighed and sat next to Eren on the bed, fingers going to trail through his lover's hair as the younger's eyes avoided his angrily.

"I didn't hear you. I'm sorry. It was just my instincts acting, I didn't mean to hurt you."

Eren huffed and pretended to pout more (though Levi really expected it was just for more of his attention-which he didn't mind). Then something occurred to him.

"I didn't actually hurt you did I?" he asked quietly, hands reaching for his lover's.

The brunette shrugged a bit, lifting his wrist that had been twisted behind him. "You hurt my wrist a little," he said sourly.

Levi's brows knit together as he took the appendage in his hand and kissed it.

"I'm sorry..." he murmured hotly against Eren's skin, kissing his wrist a few more times for good measure. The teen squeaked a bit, cheeks heating up.

At least he was still getting the attention he wanted...

"Levi?"

"Hmm?"

Eren rubbed the back of his neck nervously, looking at the other, still wrapped in a few bandages from his incident, eyes trained on him. He frowned.

"D-did they ever figure out what kind of head injury you got?" he stuttered as his spouse continued to litter his hand and arm with kisses and nips.

How Eren's pregnancy had led to the Corporal being such an affectionate man was still a mystery to the teen.

Levi pressed another lingering kiss into his palm before lifting his head, an elegant eyebrow raising at the question.

"Why do you ask?" he purred, trailing his lips to kiss his husband's cheek.

Eren stifled a shudder.

"I-I mean..." he sighed as Levi began to rub his wrist and arm gingerly. "You didn't hear me coming and...I don't know, did they ever say anything?"

Levi's arms left him suddenly as the man went to look through their small window. He had a sombre look to his face, making Eren chew his lip nervously.

"Y-you didn't get any brain damage did you?" the teen questioned, panic rising.

"No that's not it."

The stark man turned back to him slowly, fixing a piece of his dark hair that was a millimeter out of place. Eren's eyes were mournful and beseeching-Levi hated seeing that disgustingly sweet pity directed at him, he didn't need that shit.

"You never told me what happened."

"You don't need to hear the details," the man said turning away again.

"Yes, I do," Eren hissed.

Levi looked to him, brow furrowed.

Eren stood on wobbly legs and stalked up to his lover, "I'm your husband, I deserve to know."

"Eren-"

"Stop," Eren growled, his determination showing itself again. "I know you think it's too much for me, but it's worse not knowing. I love you and I can't stand not knowing what happened, I...it's my fault since I wasn't there and I just-"

"It wasn't your fault Eren. Stop blaming yourself for shit you can't control."

"And you stop hiding shit from me because you think I'm too fragile. I'm not some dainty flower," he pressed.

The short man sighed again and wrapped his arm around Eren's protruding middle.

It was quiet a moment, almost peaceful except for the small air of tension. Eren was about to open his mouth again when his lover finally spoke.

"I severely broke my arm, my shoulder was dislocated and the muscle torn," he started.

Eren swallowed heavily as the details poured out.

"Nothing a bit of rehabilitation can't fix, infact it's healing abnormally fast, which Hanji said is likely because I'm so in shape."

Eren nodded slowly, "O-ok."

"Small concussion from...all the shaking. But that's already subsiding. Hanji estimates I had about six broken ribs, but they're mending well.. And," the man grunted uncomfortably, "some likely permanent hearing damage."

Teals eyes widened in disbelief.

"W-wait are you serious?"

Levi rolled his eyes, "Do I seem like a person to fucking joke around, Eren?"

"N-no but! That's awful...Levi, oh my god..."

He frowned and pulled Eren into his chest. The teen was close to tears again at the news.

"S-so are you going to go deaf or something?!"

"No, Eren. I'm just not fucking supersonic like I used to be."

"That's still bad! How are you going to work in the field?! What if something bad happens because you lost your hearing?!"

Levi groaned dramatically, pinching Eren's side and burying his face into his warm shoulder. The teen squeaked a bit and stared at him.

"I'm not deaf, Eren. I can still hear fine. And it's not going to affect me. I'll adapt like always. I can still kick your teeth out no problem," he retorted.

He was quiet, silently nuzzling his nose into his husband's charcoal hair. Eren breathed in slowly, trying to calm himself. Despite Levi's air of calm, he couldn't help but worry about the change-and he could tell that though he brushed it off, the shorter male was still concerned about his loss.

He had relied for his entire life on his instincts, and now they were dulling.

"I love you...and I know it's not my fault but I'm s-still sorry," he whispered, hugging Levi's neck closer.

"Shut up," the older deadpanned, then quieter, "I love you too."

Eren grinned into the man's hair. He danced his fingers along his lover's back, chuckling at the shiver he received.

Eren hummed into his ear, kissing his cheek lightly and nuzzling against his superior. Levi pulled away slightly, his steel gray eyes gazing intently into Eren's bright oceans. He smirked devilishly, pulling the younger flush to his body, the only thing stopping their skin from touching being the large bump that was their child.

"I love you more everyday I see you like this," Levi hummed, his hands rubbing across Eren's belly in delicate patterns.

Heat rushed to his cheeks as they bloomed a bright pink. Levi didn't give praise often, but when he did, it made the world stop and sigh. The young man grinned widely, watching as his husband leaned down to place a kiss to their baby's residence.

At peace-everything seemed perfectly at peace, even with all the trouble they'd faced so far.

"Are you sure it's permanent damage and not you just getting old?" Eren purred.

Levi flicked his nose and kissed him roughly, biting his lip as he pulled away.

"I'll show you old..."

Yayyyyyy! Stay alive during this hiatus my friends, you can do it.

Read and review our darlings! Until a few weeks from now T - T

~Aria and the Ghosts