Pairing: Eren/Mikasa

Setting: Post Series;A few weeks after the titans were destroyed.

Words: 3026

Rating: T (For language)

Notes: Let me have my happy ending feels.I probably kept alive far more people than realistically might be at the end of the series but I don't care. I like to be happy okay.

November 15th – Future

"At ease," Levi said with a nod.

Eren dropped his stiff salute, seeing Mikasa and Armin do the same from the corners of his eyes. Levi wasn't watching them, merely looking down at their files in front of him on his desk. Eren easily saw which one was his since it was double the size of the other two, probably thanks to Hanji. Eren steadied his shaking hands by his side.

"The Commander told me why you'd be coming but that doesn't mean you're off the hook. As your commanding officer, you brats still have to go through me." Levi gazed at them with his dark eyes for a moment.

Eren swallowed, but nothing was gonna get in his way. It was time to give the people he loved most in the world the life they deserved.

"Why do you want to leave the military?" Levi propped his elbows up on his desk and leaned over.

"The war is done, Sir," Eren said. "The world is safe; our goal has been reached."

"So? There is still a lot to do and standing right in front of me is a brilliant strategist, fighter, and who the people consider to be a hero. Why should I end your terms early when I still have use from you three?"

"We've always wanted to see the world, Sir," Armin spoke up and Eren could see the small smile on Armin's lips; Eren could only imagine what distant lands were on Armin's mind. "All three of us, together and now we can."

"It can wait. The world will still be there when you get out." Levi clearly wasn't letting go without a fight.

Eren supposed he should feel flattered but that didn't mean he wanted to stay. There was something much more important he wanted. "Armin and Mikasa are here because of me." Every time he watched one of them get hurt, get in danger, Eren felt feel a pang of guilt. Armin could have easily gotten a research or teaching job, but he fought alongside Eren and Mikasa, she could have done whatever she wanted with her life, but she refused to leave his side. "They would've never joined if I hadn't in the first place. They never wanted this life but they stayed with me for far longer than they probably should've."

"Ain't that the truth," Levi said. "Though it's a good thing for humanity they could put up with your dumbass. Regardless, it doesn't change the fact that I still need you three. "

There was a lot left to do. Eren knew Levi wasn't lying to them but Eren's choice was even more important to him. His friends risked their lives for the world, and now it was time for them to have peace.

"With all due respect, Sir, there are plenty of well deserving soldiers who want the glory of restoring what's left of humanity, and rising it back up. But me? It would be my greatest honor to take Armin to see the ocean and all the places he's told us about. And…" Eren paused for a moment. "And to give Mikasa the life she always wanted. They both deserve that and I will make it happen."

Levi looked them over, but he didn't say a word. Eren had been unsure this would work before he even went to the Commander, but he was gonna damn well try. Without Armin, none of their plans would have succeeded; they would still be fighting off those bastards if it weren't for him. He deserved a long time away from these walls. Mikasa, she was right by his side right till the end of all this. Just like she always had been. How many times had she risked her life for him? All Eren wanted to do was give her a home, far away from all this, the home she had always dreamed of.

"It's…" Eren started again. "It's too hard to be here…now that everythings over. All I can see are the horrible things, the people we've lost, the family…" He met Levi's eyes. "I want to take them away from that." Eren felt a hand on his shoulder as Armin stepped up next to him and a hand on Eren's arm as Mikasa did the same. It was a breath of relief every time he remembered they survived this together. They lived.

"And we want to do the same for Eren, Sir," Mikasa said. Her face was expressionless as she watched Levi, but Eren could hear a softness to her tone, one he had become quite accustom lately.

Levi's eyes remained on all three of them, his expression unchanging. "Get outta here, you shitty brats." His hands moved to pick up their files as he looked away from them.

Eren blinked at him. Was he letting them go or…?

"Don't just stare at me, Jaeger. Get out. I don't want to see any of your faces around here anymore."

"Thank you, sir." Eren couldn't fight his wide grin. He choked back a laugh as the realization hit him. They could leave. He felt his body move to give the ever familiar salute. Mikasa and Armin followed suit but even Eren could see the looks of just plain happiness on their faces.

"Just go." Levi said, waving them off.

"Sure you don't want a hug?"

"Get the hell out of here before I change my mind and make you single handedly clean up some of the messes you've made in this place."

Eren didn't need to be told again. He swung open the door and ushered Armin and Mikasa out before moving to walk out for the last time.

"Jaeger."

He stopped to look back at Levi who was watching him again. "Yes, Sir?"

"Just because the titans are gone doesn't mean the worlds turned into a bucket of sunshine and rainbows. Take care of them."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Eren said, moving to shut the door.

"And don't get Ackerman pregn-"

Eren couldn't slam the door fast enough, heat rising to his face. That asshole just had to get the last word didn't he? A few soldiers walking by eyed him but by the time he let go of the handle both Mikasa and Armin had collided with him. Mikasa was holding him tightly, her arms wrapped around his waist, her head buried in his chest. Armin had his arms around the both of them, a wide grin on his face as he looked at Eren.

"You did it," Armin said.

Eren had to wonder when Armin had gotten so tall, when he stopped looking like the little boy Eren once knew but he had a feeling Armin would say the same about himself. Time had slipped by them all, barely noticing the change, but things were gonna be different now.

"Not without your help, just like always," Eren clasped a hand on Armin's shoulder. His other hand was already on Mikasa's back, holding her close.

"They look happy…"

"Shut up, Sasha, they can probably hear you."

"Awwe, c'mon, Connie, I just wanna know if they are leaving us or not."

"You two are the worst eavesdroppers I 've ever seen."

"Jean, shut up, you aren't helping."

Eren tilted his head to look around the corner of the hallway they were standing by. Sasha was staring right back at him, with Connie practically on her back trying to look over her head. Jean was standing nearby but off to the back clearly not too interested, but still there.

Sasha let out a small squeal at being caught, but she still didn't move. "Are you guys…?"

Eren nodded.

They were all silent for a moment. There were so few left now; so much less then when they started. Some were forced to watch leave and some vanished never to let their friends know if they would be okay. The remaining 104th trainees stood watching each other, unsure what to say.

Mikasa released one arm from Eren and extended it out to Sasha, whose fallen face looked like she was about to cry. "Come on," Mikasa said, a warm smile on her face.

Eren couldn't help how much that smile suited Mikasa; much more than the expression most people had gotten to know her with, and how much he hoped it would be on her face more.

Sasha barreled into them; her arms wrapped around them so tight that Eren had to steady himself to keep everyone from falling over. He let out a laugh as Armin pulled Sasha close to them. Connie quickly followed suit, squeezing in behind Sasha, causing her to laugh as he accidentally tickled her sides. Soon Eren couldn't even distinguish who was laughing between the five of them. Well, save for that one person who was still sulking against the wall.

"C'mon, Jean, you know you're gonna miss us," Eren said, looking out at his remaining comrade.

"Yeah, like a wart on my face."

Eren detangled himself from the massive group hug to walk over to Jean. They had never really gotten along, but Eren was pretty sure he'd be dead if not for Jean, and Eren knew for a fact Mikasa would be. It would feel incredibly wrong not to say anything to the man he fought alongside for so long.

"What do you plan to do now," Jean grunted, crossing his arms as he glanced over.

Eren leaned up on the wall next to him. "We'll take one of the caravans out of the city. They've got a few running to take people who want explore and push civilization back out into the world. Since all we have is each other right now, it's easy to travel."

Jean seemed to make some kind of grunting noise in what Eren thought might be agreement. That or disgust. He was never quite sure with Jean.

"Armin's our leader now. He's gonna take us to all the places he's always told us about. See the world without having to worry if we are going to get eaten the next moment."

Jean arched an eyebrow. "And Mikasa?"

Eren glanced over at his her; she was currently being questioned rapidly by Sasha. Mikasa would smile and try to answer but before she could Sasha had ten more questions. Eren couldn't even distinguish what she was asking about she was talking so fast. A smile pulled at his lips. Mikasa reminded him of when they were kids; that light smile, her glowing face. Her eyes were still worn from the horrible experiences she was forced into, but she seemed so much happier now the weight of the world was off her shoulders. It was all he had ever wanted for her, to see her carefree again. He knew what they saw, what they did would haunt them for a very long time, because he felt it himself, but they could learn to move on now; to start over.

Eren felt a sharp jab in the ribs from Jean's elbow. "Stop staring at her and just answer me, asshole."

"Heh," Eren could feel heat rising up to his cheeks but he refused to acknowledge that in front of Jean. "We used to fight all the time when we were in training. She always wanted me to leave, and I was never gonna. It took me a long time to realize she only wanted me to leave so she could have what she had lost, a home so that's what I'm gonna give her."

Sasha gave Mikasa another large hug, causing her to laugh under the tight pressure of Sasha's arms.

"Once we're done travelling, we're gonna pick out the place we'd like to stay. Armin I'm sure will keep going on trips, but I'll be happy being able to stay home." The word even sounded foreign in his mouth. He hadn't had one, well a traditional one, in a long time but he could now.

Mikasa walked over to place her hand on Armin's arm. He leaned down so his ear was level to her face. Eren couldn't hear what she said from where he was but whatever it was it made Armin glance over at Eren with an amused grin on his face.

"With Mikasa." Jean's voice brought Eren back to the conversation.

"Of course," Eren said without thinking of the implications behind his words until they were out.

Jean didn't seem to be surprised though; he simply looked over at Eren. "Does she know that?"

"I, uh…" Eren knew Mikasa knew he loved her, that he cared about more than anyone in the world because he had told her as much, but that he wanted his home to be wherever she was? That he wanted to spend the rest of his life waking up next to her? That there was no part of his life he could imagine without her by his side? He had no idea.

"I suggest you let her know," Jean said. "You should know better than anyone who knows what tomorrow could bring. That's not the kinda thing you should leave unsaid."

"Couldn't let me leave without another lecture could you?"

Jean looked like he was about to snap but before a word could come out both Mikasa and Armin pulled Eren and Jean into their own hug. Connie and Sasha weren't far behind.

"Okay okay," Jean grunted trying to squeeze out but considering how tightly Eren was squished against Mikasa, Jean, and the wall, there was no where he could go.

"Just let it happen, Jean!" Connie called out.

Jean grunted but there was a smile tugging at his lips.

"Hey," Eren said above the laughing that had started up again. "Thanks."

"Yeah, whatever, Jaeger."

The wagon was pretty large and a lot fuller than Eren had expected as he sat near the back of the wagon squeezed in-between Armin and Mikasa. There was a cover over the top to keep out any bad weather, and a few of the side panels were open to see what was outside around them. Naturally, Armin had them sit right in front of one. Eren stretched out as best he could, careful not to hit the people or bags in front of him. Armin practically had his head out the panel as the bumpy cart traveled.

"Calm down, buddy, we haven't even gotten to Wall Maria yet. This isn't anything new," Eren chuckled, but Armin wasn't having it. Eren leaned back against the wooden panel behind him before his eyes looked over to Mikasa curled next to him. Her legs were pulled up underneath her, her eyes on a book in her lap. A sun hat hid some of her face from him, but he could see her dark hair from underneath it. It was getting longer, much longer than he had seen it since they were kids.

"Hey."

Mikasa looked up at the sounds of his voice. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothings wrong," Eren said. "You don't have to always assume that anymore."

A smile crept across her face. He would never get sick of seeing that. Not after seeing her so sad for so long. "Yeah, you're right." She closed her book to give him her full attention. "So what is it?"

"Well," Eren wasn't exactly sure what he was supposed to tell her. Sure they had talked about what they would do after they traveled but Eren couldn't get Jean's words out of his mind. That bastard. "I was just thinking about once we see everything we want to see."

"I thought we were going to pick which place we liked best and stay there?"

"Well, yeah, I mean we'll still do that. I just meant," Eren paused for a moment. "I thought that then we could have our home. Together. Wherever it might be. It doesn't really matter to me, 'long as you are there with me."

Eren watched Mikasa's smile reach across her lips, her eyes shining in a way they he never wanted to get used to. "I'd like that."

"Yeah, me too." Eren dipped his head down to press his lips to hers. He felt her hand reach up to run through his hair, her lips moving with his. A sigh slipped through his mouth as the realization that this was his life now hit him. No military rules, no uniforms, no gear, and most of all no titans; all he had was his bag, Armin, and Mikasa. Eren's hand reached up to brush across her cheek, and that was really all he ever needed.

"You guys are gonna be so boring this trip."

Eren pulled away from Mikasa to grin at Armin. "Feeling left out?" He reached an arm wrap around Armin's neck and pull him over to them.

"I'm completely okay with you not kissing me," Armin laughed but made no motion to move as Mikasa reached over to brush some hair out of Armin's face.

Eren looked from Mikasa to Armin, hs two best friends in the world. The ones he almost lost, the ones he couldn't live without.

"I think mom would be proud," he said, wrapping his other arm around Mikasa.

"No." She leaned her head against Eren's shoulder. "I think she is proud."

"Hannes too," Armin sat up a little straighter once Eren let go of him, but he didn't move too far away.

Eren nodded, a smile on his lips. They really did it. They were free.

"Look!" A voice called from somewhere in the wagon. "Wall Maria!"

The vast wall loomed over them in moments, the large wooden doors the only thing blocking them from the outside world. Armin's head was out the window again, but his hand was clasped tight onto Eren's shoulder. Eren looked down to Mikasa, who was already watching him. He heard the doors creak open, the chains and gears moving to open the thick wood that for so long had been kept shut.

"Ready?" he breathed, his hand grasping onto her.

"Ready."

Despite the wagon moving again, the wall passing by them, Eren couldn't bring himself to look away from her.