Against The Tide

by ArumikaHaven

After Eren and Mikasa run away together, an unexpected letter reaches Armin a year later and starts a chain of events the trio never thought they would have to face. Against the tides of hardship, Mikasa is forced to reflect on her whole life, relationship with Eren, her friendship with Armin and make the ultimate choice that will provide herself and her family the best future.

9. Breaking The Chain

That night, Hange had allowed the two of them to bond with their newborn daughter, believing that she had done enough work, and Eren would let her know if there was something that had gone wrong in the night. As a result, after she had ensured Armin was settled fully, she snuck back off towards her cabin, hoping for some much-needed rest and to be able to tend to her wounds. It had been a long night for everyone, and logically Hange couldn't do much else for Armin except let his body regenerate on its own. Mikasa was worn out, sleeping peacefully while Eren sat at her bedside, holding a sleeping Carla. He didn't sleep at all, his mind flooded with endless thoughts as he gazed down at his daughter. He knew this would likely be the only time he could hold her for a long period of time…if he decided to continue his plans.

By the time the sun had peaked its way over the hillsides on the horizon, its warm light had shined down on a white surface, which sparkled at its lumination. A cool breeze blew over the clearing, brushing the white powder slightly from its surface as it whistled gently through the bitter air. Hange had practically slept through most of the day, allowing her exhaustion to cling her to the bed the night before, figuring she had needed the break. When she had finally awoken, she was quick to dress herself before rushing off towards the main cabin, hoping that the first night had gone smoothly for the new mother.

Carefully, she opened the front door, before sliding her way inside and closing it silently behind her. She then made her way across the room, at first checking in on Armin, who still remained limp on the couch, steam evaporating from his mangled face. Hange cocked a brow, taking a moment to look over him for a moment as she hummed softly in her focus. His body had been healing just as any other titan holder would be able to do...however, he should have recovered just as fast as Eren did with his legs, or at least in a few hours after the birth. What was different this time? Why was he taking so long to recover from a bullet wound, especially when he had faced many during his time over in Marley? She frowned worriedly, moving to brush his blonde hair from his face, carefully fanning away the steam. Suddenly, the steam dissipated, revealing that the wound in his cheek had grown slightly, and the flesh of his jaw had caved in, revealing the remainder of his teeth. It seemed almost as if.. his face had been decaying away, and his body had been decomposing just as many Titans had years prior.

Hange felt a sinking feeling in her gut, flinching away from the sight as she gave a shaky gasp. Her eyes panned downwards, checking over his chest. For a moment, it remained eerily still, as if his body had been peacefully laid to rest sometime throughout the night. Suddenly though, Hange watched as his chest rose up in a very small breath, ensuring he was still alive. She exhaled in relief, attempting to calm her pounding heart.

Eren was the first one up,, having not really slept much. Mikasa was completely spent, as she slept soundly in bed. She was laying on her side, her arm reached out and her hand resting on her sleeping newborn, who slept in the bed with her. It would only be until a bassinet was properly put together. The baby had also been dressed in lavender colored pajamas, obviously small enough to fit her. The baby also seemed to be sleeping peacefully, her tiny hand gripping Mikasa's finger as the two rested. Eren gazed down at them lovingly, brushing Mikasa's bangs from her face. He closed the window curtains to keep the sunlight from coming in too much, and exited the bedroom, sensing something was off. When he entered the living room and saw Armin's sight, he instantly knew something was wrong.

"Hange...he hasn't healed yet...?" Eren asked, keeping his voice low as to not wake Mikasa or the baby, but his tone was urgent as he looked down at his childhood friend, seeing the horrid condition of his face. He got a sinking feeling in his gut when he saw the wound on Armin's face, which should have been fully healed by now, looked as if it was getting worse.

Hange turned towards Eren, her eyes widening as she realized that he was just as clueless. She lowered her head in defeat, placing her hand carefully on Armin's chest as she shook her head, silently answering his question as she recognized the urgency within his words.

"I was hoping you'd know a bit more than I would... but given your urgency…I'm going to assume you're just as surprised as I am..." Hange confessed worriedly, kneeling beside him before she carefully grabbed a rag, using it to wipe the dried blood from his mangled mouth, a somber expression falling over her features.

"He did take damage to the head... do you think maybe... that this was the final strike for him?" Hange's question blurted out suddenly, her voice remaining cold as she turned her glance upwards towards Eren.

His answer alone would be what controlled her own reaction to the situation. She knew that her time with the Titans had taught her a lot... but she had now once again been met with a problem that had stumped her. Obviously, she didn't want this to be the case... but by connecting all of the dots she had made over the years in her work with the Titans as well as Eren.. her conclusions had not been drawn to any sort of happy ending.

Eren's face fell at her question, feeling the same hopelessness as she did. He approached his friend, feeling his head where it wasn't damaged as he gathered his thoughts.

"I'm not sure. I've..never seen this before. He should have healed by now..." Eren rambled a bit as he tried to collect his thoughts.

"Hange..how did this happen? I was outside...I didn't see how the whole thing started..." He admitted, trying to see if he learned how the injury occured, it could help him figure it out faster.

In the bedroom, Mikasa stirred softly to the sudden whimpering of her baby. Her eyes opened as she gently sat up, groaning a bit as she did, her body still quite sore and cradled Carla in her arms. It amazed even her that the baby's quiet whimpers could wake Mikasa out of such a deep and exhausted sleep, she must have developed that 'mom hearing' her own mother once told her about long ago when Mikasa was a child.

It was a bittersweet memory of herself when she was about six or seven, trying to sneak a rabbit into the house while her mom napped on the couch. Yet despite how quiet Mikasa was, her mother still heard her. Mikasa was brought back to reality when Carla fussed a little, gripping Mikasa's front with her tiny fist.

"Are you hungry, sweetheart? It does look like it's late in the day...here we go little butterfly.." Mikasa cradled her newborn close to her chest, undoing her top and helping her baby latch on. To everyone's relief, the baby took to latching on easily that morning before everyone fell asleep, and Mikasa didn't seem to have any struggles with nursing. So there was no need to take a trip to town for formula. In the living room, Eren and Hange kept their voices down as they continued the conversation.

"My assumption would be he had gotten through the cellar door and came up through the interior entrance in the middle of the living room. Before any of us were able to react... Armin had jumped in to shield Mikasa and I, taking the hit pretty close range too... that's what also alarms me.." Hange continued on to explain, attempting to shake away the heavy subject lingering in the air. She blinked softly, shaking her head a bit as guilt fell over her like a dark cloud of smoke.

"It's almost as if.. his body is decaying while he's still alive... It still steams as if it was a decaying titan, and he hasn't gained his consciousness yet... Its like he's in some tortuous coma..." Hange hypothesized, lowering her head as she realized the reality faced before them.

If Armin was still alive, while his body had actively given up on him.. surely there would be no humane reason not to have to put him out of his misery. She could tell by the tension within his muscles, that he was feeling every single second of this... despite being in a state of comatose. Slowly, she turned to look back toward Eren, frowning softly as a somber cloud fell over her eyes.

"Eren.. you know if this goes on for too long... We will have to end this for him..." Hange's words hung heavy in the air for a moment, her head lowering back down to Armin while her hand remained on his chest, which continued to rise softly in his little breaths. Eren's eyes darkened at the mere suggestion of that, as he looked away, trying to calm his shaking.

"We can't do that to Mikasa...she needs him..they both do.." As he spoke, suddenly a dark side of his mind seemed to overtake his thoughts as the very real possibility of something was realized.

If nothing could be done for Armin...if they had to put him out of his misery...Mikasa would turn to Eren for comfort. And maybe...they could have a life together...he could watch his daughter grow...even if it was just for three years. If Armin…couldn't be saved..all these newfound complications and problems would be solved. It would be nothing more than a little bump in the road…and Eren could just leave his plans halfway…he could just give it up. Because even though he chose to resume them, the longer he was here with Mikasa, and now little Carla…the more he wanted to just stay.

As he came to this realization, he looked down at his childhood friend, trying to block out his selfish thoughts. But…were they really selfish…? He would be doing Armin a mercy, if he truly was feeling all of this pain…and unable to heal. Eren knew that normally if titan holders couldn't heal, it meant they had little will to live…but even with that knowledge, this somehow didn't completely feel like that.

"Forty eight hours...if he's still exactly the same in forty eight hours...I'll do it. I'll take him away from the cabin so Mikasa doesn't have to see or hear it..." Eren decided grimly.

In the bedroom, Mikasa could hear Eren and Hange talking, but she couldn't quite make out the words. She felt nervous...anxious...why couldn't she hear Armin's voice? Surely he had healed by now? Maybe he did...and was out getting supplies or tending to the horses...she knew he wasn't still asleep because he wouldn't have left her side. As she tried to figure it out, she could feel her exhausted body growing tired again.

Carla finally finished, yawning sleepily and nuzzling against Mikasa's chest. Mikasa's eyes softened as she held her baby close, and soon they both drifted back to sleep. Mikasa kept her hand laying protectively over Carla as she couldn't fight to keep her heavy eyelids open any longer, hoping when she woke again, Armin would be sitting at her side.

Hange felt her stomach churn at Eren's grim response, her head lowering softly as she blinked away the emotion forming within her eyes. "Forty eight hours with no progress... then you can do it..." Hange corrected him softly, hoping that this would add some sort of hope to Armin's fate. But, with all of the cards stacked against him, Hange knew well that she was fighting for something she was unable to regain. Part of her knew that this very well could be the gruesome end to another one of her comrades. With the gaining of life, another had to be lost, especially in such a cruel world, where this system was the simple nature of things. The thought caused her to blink slightly, turning her head towards the bedroom door as her brows furrowed.

"What are you going to tell her? She's going to be asking for Armin as soon as she's awake enough to realize that he isn't there." Hange questioned him, turning her eyes towards him again as she glared at him for a moment, feeling her expression harden.

"Don't leave her out of this just because you think this is a chance to gain her back. The least you can do is show her a decent form of respect and let her know about her childhood friend and partner." The words came out more bitterly than she had anticipated, but her warning had seemed necessary.

Eren froze at Hange's words, feeling almost creeped out. It was like she could read his mind. He sighed, leaning against the wall near the fireplace with his hands in his pockets.

"I'll tell her the truth...she has a right to know. Besides...", Eren looked down at Armin again.

"He wouldn't want Mikasa kept in the dark." He said simply as he attempted to gather his thoughts. It was selfish for him to even consider the possibility of winning Mikasa back if Armin was no longer in the picture...and he knew that should be the last thing on his mind. He felt ashamed for even hoping for the demise of his childhood friend...but ever since he saw the future, the past, and the paths...his mind has been an unstable mess.

"In any case...it's getting late. Mikasa should eat soon, she needs to keep her strength up for the baby..." He said, needing some air.

"I'll go into town and pick up some supplies" He decided before exiting the cabin. Hange watched as he left, feeling a sense of unease in the air before looking back down at Armin worriedly.

As the sun began to set more, Mikasa finally began to wake up properly. Her eyes slowly opened, her body still felt heavy but she could tell she was at least somewhat rested. Carla was awake, looking up at the ceiling and kicking her little feet, babbling softly. Mikasa smiled weakly, sitting up and cradling her daughter close.

"Aren't you the lively one..awake before mama" She cooed sweetly, snuggling her little one close. She noticed it was eerily quiet in the cabin, and she got a bad feeling. She still felt too weak to get up without help, everything below her waist felt like heavy jelly. She was fairly certain her legs had no strength at all.

Hange nodded in response, standing to her feet before she moved to grab an extra throw that had been folded neatly in the corner of the cabin. She unfolded it and threw it over Armin's unconscious body, sighing softly as Eren's words lingered in her head. The thoughts racing around in her mind caused her to tense up, emotion constricting itself around her chest tightly as she heaved a shaky sigh. She had lost far too many people in her life, and Armin was amidst those she had wanted to keep safe, especially after the harsh events within Marley. Armin had still been so young and didn't even get to see the child he had dedicated his entire loyalty. He was so quick to return to his friend in need, and instead of a peaceful escape from the sadistic ways of humanity... he had met it face to face, and it now had possibly sealed his fate.

The silence in the room had proven to be too much for Hange as she swallowed heavily, composing her emotions before she walked across the cabin and made her way into the bedroom. She knocked gently on the door for a moment, before carefully opening it fully, greeting Mikasa with a forced smile. She took a few more moments of silence to fully compose herself as she gently walked to the side of the bed. Her eye fell upon Carla, as her smile had turned more genuine. Gently, she leaned her hand down towards her, carefully caressing her squishy cheeks as she continued to babble happily. A bittersweet expression fell upon her face as she continued to look over Carla, turning her glance towards Mikasa.

"How are you feeling? Did nursing go okay for you?"

"It's been going smooth, Carla's certainly figured it out.." Mikasa replied with a soft smile, gently cuddling her baby closer. Her eyes softened a bit as she slowly recollected the events of last night.

"Thank you Hange...for everything. I don't think I got a chance to say that yet.." Mikasa admitted softly, as she relaxed back against her pillows, cradling her baby close.

Carla babbled, looking at Hange curiously, before reaching her tiny hand out and trying to grip Hange's glasses, trying really hard to pull them off but not able to. Mikasa looked down surprised at her newborn's strength but couldn't help but smile. Hange broke into a small laughter at Carla's attempts to remove her glasses, pulling her head away before she had tried again. She then placed her finger inside Carla's grasp, hoping it would suffice as a fair trade and distract her enough.

"She's certainly got your spirit… now let's hope she doesn't get that strength of yours.. or we'll have a mini you running around." Hange joked playfully, attempting to lighten the mood from her sudden question, which had caused a somber tone to linger in between them. Hange frowned, silently cussing out Eren for leaving her to have to give her the news, glaring at the wall before her for a moment as she frantically attempted to conjure up the proper wording for her answer.

"She's already so curious about everything.." Mikasa noticed, not taking her eyes off Carla. Though as she let her thoughts run, the lingering question returned as she looked at Hange with worry.

"How's Armin...? Is he okay...?" She asked, trying to steady the anxiety in her voice, not wanting to scare Carla. Hange fell silent, struggling to find an easy way to explain this to Mikasa, but in the end knew there was no easy way.

Eren took his time in town, picking up ingredients to make Mikasa a healthy meal. He picked up some fresh chicken, potatoes, some veggies, and extra blankets for Carla. He also bought some ingredients for tea, and soon loaded all the supplies in a sack he attached to his horse's saddle, before mounting back up and riding out and back to the cabin. As he rode, his thoughts raced. His mind was a mess. He wanted Armin to wake up...he didn't want to lose his best friend..and he didn't want Mikasa and Carla to lose him either. But on the other end...if Armin was gone...Eren could have a life with Mikasa...and his child. A life he so painfully yearned for. But with that thought came immense guilt and shame...even disgust with himself. What was wrong with him? Just a few short years ago, never would any part of Eren, not even the devil on his shoulder, would wish for Armin's demise. Armin was his best friend, he even knew Armin longer than he knew Mikasa…he was like a brother to Eren. The Eren he once was…the one that pleaded with Levi to save Armin instead of Erwin five years ago…now he was internally hoping for Armin's demise…how had so much changed in such a short amount of time? It was maddening.

Back at the cabin, Hange finally took a breath and began.

"Mikasa…" Hange started softly, her tone growing much more serious as she moved to place her hand on hers, squeezing it reassuringly. "Armin took a pretty hard hit to the head… we all thought he'd be healed up at least by morning… but…" her voice trailed off, her head turning away from her as she felt her shoulders tense. She swallowed the lump in her throat, exhaling softly. "He still hasn't woke up… and his face seems to be decaying away… he's still alive… but he can feel every single thing…" Hange explained, her voice cracking as she felt her words beginning to jumble, her mind racing.

"Eren and I agreed that we're going to give him forty eight hours… if he doesn't heal or progress in any way… Eren has agreed to peacefully put him out of his misery.." Hange's words hung in the air like a heavy stone, causing a grim tension to linger within the room and she allowed the silence to consume both of them. Hange kept her head low, and that familiar hopeless tone had laced within her words.

"He's still out on the couch… I've made him as comfortable as possible… but even Eren doesn't know what's going on…" Hange offered small reassurances, hoping it would ease the blow for a moment. Quickly though.. she had realized that it had been no help, as tears began to swell in her eye. She gritted her teeth, leaning her head against Mikasa's hand.

"I'm sorry Mikasa… I know this is the last thing you needed to hear… we're doing what we can for him…"

Mikasa stared at Hange as the words and the reality of them slowly sunk in. She looked down softly at Carla, letting her thoughts ponder before finally looking up at Hange. And to Hange's surprise...she had a small smile, thought there were tears sparkling in her eyes.

"Hange…this is Armin we're talking about. And I know…he'll be okay. I know he will. Armin's been through hell and back...there's so many times we thought we were going to lose him but he always survived...I know it seems crazy but I just...I know he'll be okay" it was hard to tell if Mikasa was in some denial, keeping her composure from her motherly instincts for her daughters sake...or if she genuinely believed Armin would be okay...it was difficult even for Mikasa herself to tell. She gently squeezed Hange's shaky hand. "I know Armin will pull through" She assured softly.

Hanges expression shifted worriedly as she continued to watch her. She noticed the tears sparkling in her eyes, causing her own heart to shatter as she fought back her own tears. Although her words were reassuring, Hange could sense the heavy emotion lingering in between them.. but Mikasa's immense strength had easily recovered after the birth. Hange knew it was her way of coping.. but she couldn't help but worry about the possibility of her snapping, breaking a limit that she had been teetering on since Erens return. Hange knew better than to express her concerns though… figuring it would push a limit that was unnecessary.

"I know Armins pulled out of a lot… just… please consider the worse case scenario…" Hange's words were brief, but it was all she was able to conjure up in terms of him.

Clearly, she had been taking this much harder than the rest of them… she always took this harder. It was soul crushing to see what three kids had gone through, only for them to be close to death's grasp more times than they could count. She knew how much all of them relied on each other, and one lost one would be crushing… slowly, the commander stood to her feet, turning her focus towards Carla again.

"You make sure mama stays resting little one… maybe you'll be the one to bring uncle Armin back." She whispered softly to her, using het finger to gently caress her cheek once more. She tried to force a smile, but it had quickly faded, her soft eyes watching the newborn carefully.

On the ride back to the cabin, Eren's horse struggled a bit to trudge through the deep snow that fell last night. His thoughts raced as he saw the cabin coming into view. That same dark thought crossed his mind...maybe he would come home to a corpse. But at the same time..he didn't want that.

Mikasa understood Hange's worry, and she had the exact same anxiety in the back of her head. But she knew Armin...and he wouldn't go down without a fight. He was stubborn as hell..more than he even knew. His entire body had been burned so badly he was a shell of his former self...and he survived. This time wouldn't be any different. She couldn't lose him. She knew she had to save her strength for Carla as well...she had just given birth and endured extremely hard labor.

If she allowed herself to fall apart now...she wouldn't have any strength to recover from it. And now it was different. She had a daughter, and this little one needed her. Ever since Mikasa was little, she always told herself if she had her own children..she would be a good mother like her own was. And one day, when Carla was old enough, Mikasa would pass down the symbol of her people, just as her mother had. "I'll be okay Hange...and I know he will too" Mikasa assured gently.

Eren arrived back at the cabin, he dismounted Falcon and took the sack of supplies off his saddle. He inhaled, dreading to go inside. But finally he worked up the mental strength and entered the cabin. Armin looked the same...no changes from what Eren could tell. He looked down at his friend, before heading for the kitchen, trying not to think about it.

"Hey Hange..can you come to the kitchen?" Eren called for her...he was fine at shopping but he wasn't the best cook. He knew Hange was a great cook, and Mikasa deserved the best right now.

Hange kept her focus on Carla, studying her features for a moment as she smiled softly, noticing that familiar gleam of innocence lingering within her eyes. It was something that all of them had lost so long ago, leaving them a barely recognizable version of themselves. It had been far too long since Hange was able to enjoy her peace, and see humanity in its most fragile form. There was a beauty to it, and it could draw her to tears if she had pondered too much on it. She parted her lips to respond to Mikasa, finally feeling a sense of peace to fall over her.. before she heard Eren's voice call out to her.

"Eren must be back from town.. You'd think he'd spend his time here learning how to cook.. I guess I thought too highly of him." Hange joked, allowing her usual sassy demeanor to shine through.. hoping to humor Mikasa a bit in hopes to relieve her anxieties.

Mikasa gave a small smile at Hange's words, before turning her attention back to Carla. The baby had started reaching her little hands up, pulling at Mikasa's ponytail gently and playfully. Mikasa cuddled her close, smiling warmly.

"You already got quite the grip my little butterfly" She spoke softly, as Carla babbled cutely. Mikasa's eyes softened, as she tried her best not to think too hard about Armin...but until he recovered, he wouldn't be out of her head. She wanted to go out to see him...just to sit by him. But her body was still extremely weak.

"You really wore mama out sweetie" She said softly, gently caressing the baby's squishy cheek, as Hange exited the bedroom and went out to the kitchen.

"Let me guess.. you got all of these ingredients and can't cook them?" Hange chimed in as she made her way to the kitchen, cocking a brow as she looked towards the produce before her. She seemed to read his mind, shaking her head a bit as she immediately moved to pull her coat from her shoulders, rolling up her sleeves before walking over to the kitchen sink. She began to wash her hands and forearms, looking towards Armin. Eren shrugged sheepishly at Hange's words.

"Mikasa always insisted on doing the cooking...and I've never been that good at it." He admitted, though he felt some regret in never taking more effort to learn. Hange fell silent, as she began chopping the vegetables.

"Eren.. are you sure you've never seen anything like this? Even in your memories?" She suddenly asked, glancing towards Armin. Eren looked towards Armin again, pondering on Hange's question for a minute.

"I can't say...my memories are a jumbled mess...it's become damn near impossible to pick out specifics. But I don't think so...I feel like I would remember it" He replied.

Hange rolled her eye, turning to fixate her focus on the meal. First, she started the task of peeling and cutting the potatoes. The potato had never left Hanges talented hands, as she swiftly threw the potatoes into a pot of water. She then turned towards the cabinets, searching through for specific spices, practically throwing things out of the cabinets in order for her to find them. Finally, she was able to complete her total layout of seasonings, using any forms of natural ingredients as she was able to. Hange remained silent for a few moments, focusing on her cooking.

"I cant even find any information on it in any of my research. You think I'd know plenty about Titans, especially after my work with you." Hange finally chimed in after a few moments of silent, keeping her eyes focused on the stew as she began to prepare a broth. She chuckled softly, thinking back on the memories as she scoffed slightly.

"I worked you to the bone… and you still wanted to keep going." Hange recalled back to a much simpler time, where Eren had been the last hope for humanity.. and his courage had been an inspiring way for the rest of her soldiers to move forward.

"Yeah...honestly you'd think we both would know alot more by now" Eren agreed, thinking back to those much simpler times when Hange would keep him awake all night, just rambling and hypothesizing about the titans and their biology. As they talked, Eren noticed out of the corner of his eye that Mikasa had sat up more in her bed. Carla was set gently on the bed on a pink blanket.

"Mikasa? What's wrong?" Eren quickly hurried over, wanting to be helpful in any way he could.

Mikasa had managed to get her legs off the bed, but they still felt completely numb as she gripped the sheets in case she fell. She saw Erens worry and...she felt strange. A past version of her would have welcomed Eren with open arms...even be overjoyed at him showing care for her well being. But now..it fully sunk in that she wanted Armin. She looked down, trying to find the right words without hurting Eren too badly.

"I should probably shower before dinner...are you able to get Hange to help me..?" She asked quietly.

"Hange's cooking right now...I can help Mikasa." Eren offered but to his surprise, when he went to take a step closer Mikasa's body visibly tensed.

"Mikasa..?" Eren stopped, looking worried.

"I'd...like for Hange to help...if thats alright.." Mikasa struggled to steady her voice. She hated rejecting Eren..but she just..didn't feel comfortable with him right now. At first, she was confused as to why…was it some strange natural reaction her body was experiencing after labor? And mentally knowing Eren's the one who impregnated her and caused that pain? No…that didn't make sense. It felt more complicated than hormones.

Despite still loving him...things were different now. For the last two months, it was Armin who helped her...it's who she had grown used to and even grown to prefer. Eren's eyes darkened as he looked down. He understood...Mikasa didn't need to even say it. He nodded quietly, returning to the kitchen.

"Hey...Mikasa needs your help with showering." He explained simply, leaning against the wall near the fireplace, seeming bothered. "I'll keep an eye on the food" he added.

Hange had been so fixated on the stew, she barely had recognized the conversation between Eren and Mikasa. Her focus wasn't shifted until Eren had caught her attention, causing her head to lift up slightly as she continued to stir the broth. She cocked a brow, at first unable to realize why Eren was unable to help Mikasa…. But, the words had run through her head a few times, before it had finally struck for her. Hange gently nodded, placing a lid over the pot before she walked over towards the bedroom door, handing Eren the spoon.

"Stir it occasionally. Don't let nothing stick to the bottom. Surely you can do that. Burn my stew and I'll burn you." Hange instructed, giving him a cold glare before she made her way off towards the bedroom.

She carefully entered the room, shutting the door behind her. She looked to Mikasa, a soft worried expression falling on her face as she noticed the tension on her shoulders. Slowly, she walked over to her front, gently placing her hands on her shoulders as she attempted to work out the tension constricting them.

"Is everything alright Mikasa? I didn't exactly listen in on you twos conversation." Hange began, gently moving to hold her hand out to her, allowing her to move at her own pace. She gave her a reassuring grin, nodding softly. "Let's go get you cleaned up… I'm sure you need a shower after the night you've had."

Mikasa felt some of the tension relax in her shoulders at Hange's hands, as she exhaled softly.

"I...I'm not sure. I was okay with Eren being close to me last night after Carla was born...but now I just...don't want him near me.." Mikasa spoke in hushed whispers, not wanting Eren to hear as she gripped Hange's hands, pulling herself up and stumbling a bit.

"W..Whoa…god...what did you do to me sweetheart?" Mikasa asked little Carla, who seemed to be falling asleep on her blanket. The new mother held onto her friend for dear life, never feeling this weak before in her legs. It was weird for someone like Mikasa.

Eren approached the stew pot and began to stir it, ensuring it was stirred every 10 seconds, genuinely terrified of facing Hange's wrath if it burned. He glanced over his shoulder, off and on it sounded like Armin might have stopped breathing...but then it would pick up again.

In the bedroom, Hange seemed taken aback by Mikasa's words as she carefully walked Mikasa towards the bathroom. She nodded silently in understanding as she carefully guided her, allowing Mikasa to lean her weight against hers. Although Mikasa was still fairly weak, Hange seemed pleased to see her up and walking, especially after such a hard birth. It had proven to her that the damage done was at least somewhat repairable. She couldn't hold back a relieved sigh, before her expression had turned a bit more serious.

"You've been faced with a lot recently… a lot has changed in these past few months… I think your heart has finally been shifting towards its decision." Hange explained softly, her own voice slightly louder, as if she was trying to silently alert Eren about all of this. She seemed much more eager of this change, almost as if she was waiting for it since her arrival here a few months back. Carefully, she squeezed her hands, looking towards Carla as a small laughter escaped her.

"She's quite the little darling.. but god was she hell… if you ever plan to have more kids… make sure your body can handle the next ones." Hange exclaimed playfully.

Mikasa looked down as she listened to Hange's words and once they made it in the bathroom, she leaned weakly against the shower and sighed.

"I'm...I just...I never thought this day would come where I had to choose between them...but the more time that goes by...the more I want to be with...Armin. Ever since he came here, something just...it feels different. I know Eren loves me...but...I just..." Mikasa exhaled shakily as she gathered her thoughts.

"When I would sleep beside Eren, he would often have his back to me..or more often...he wouldn't sleep. He would just..go out for a ride or sit outside. I know it had to be hard to sleep with those memories but...there were times where I needed him...I cried myself to sleep many nights..." Mikasa confessed somberly.

"But with Armin...he never left my side. I could always wake up in his arms and feel safe..." She added, as she removed her nightgown as the shower began to run. She still had some baby weight but that was expected after how overdue she was.

"Am I...wrong for feeling this way, Hange?" She asked anxiously, as she held onto the bars carefully and stepped in the shower, letting the warm water run down her long black hair, after she took it out of its ponytail.

Hange silently listened to Mikasa, nodding in understanding as she leaned against the outer frame of the shower, ready to jump in if she was needed. She crossed her arms across her chest.

"Mikasa… do you love Eren, or do you love the comfort you have in the chaos between you two?" Hange suddenly asked, blinking a bit when she realized how complex her question had seemed.

Mikasa froze at Hange's question and it seemed to cause some kind of epiphany within her. All she's ever known..was Eren. Protecting Eren...caring for him..loving him..and in that moment Mikasa had another realization as she had a flashback to her last conversation with Eren's mom.

'Promise me no matter what you'll keep him safe from himself'

Carla's frantic voice rang through Mikasa's ears like it was just yesterday. And it made her realize it...of course there was a point where Mikasa loved Eren...that was always true. But...this relationship that clearly wasn't good for her anymore...she held onto it tight and now she understood why. She had made a promise to Carla. But now...things have changed. And Mikasa knew Carla would understand.

"Let me explain… you have spent all your life with both of these boys.. and your heart has been drawn to Eren for as long as you could remember. You loved him so much so, that you neglected to recognize the numerous issues he had. I don't doubt he was a good person… you fell in love with something… but now, you are met with a realization you have to figure out on your own…" Hange paused, as Mikasa finished her shower and got out.

She dried herself off, getting dressed in her nightgown and red cardigan, having worn her favorite pink on during the labor and needing to wash it. As she finished getting dressed, Hange's eyes softened as she suddenly held Mikasa from behind, hugging her gently feeling a new motherly protectiveness over the younger woman. Mikasa blinked, a bit surprised but she relaxed in her friend's arms.

"Mikasa…do you want to break away from the chains where you find comfort, and move onto someone who has changed your perspective on the world?" Hange questioned, her tone firm. Mikasa's eyes widened and she froze at the heavy question.

"You aren't wrong for wanting something more out of someone. I've seen how you look at Armin compared to Eren… and I haven't seen that much life in your eyes.. Ever." Hange added.

Mikasa looked at Hange, as the two women broke apart, and faced each other. Mikasa placed her fist against her chest, where she used to grip her scarf.

"I think...I understand what you're saying Hange." she said, as she gradually came to her resolve.

Hange nodded softly, deciding not to push the matter much further. Despite her own worries.. she knew that Mikasa would listen to her words of concern, and make the choice that had been best for her. Despite everything, Hange was always able to trust her judgment on things, sometimes even better than her own.

"Do what's right for you and little Carla. You and I both know Eren isn't the best for you two. Don't let him manipulate you into anything different." Hange warned as she carefully walked her back towards the bedroom, holding her close against her weight.

Mikasa nodded softly, leaning against Hange as the girls made their way back to the bedroom. Once settled, Mikasa sat down in bed and cradled a now sleeping Carla in her arms, planting a kiss to the baby's forehead and laying back against the pillows.

"What do you think, butterfly?" She asked softly, caressing the baby's cheek. Her eyes softened...looking towards the living room again. Despite how much she believed in Armin, her anxiety was still shining through. What if Armin didn't make it..? Where did that leave Mikasa? She couldn't stay with Eren...it wasn't the best for Carla. So she would be on her own...but still..she would rather be on her own and with Hange's support than put herself in a dangerous situation with Eren.

Out in the living room, Eren stared darkly down at Armin. The girls were still in the bedroom, so he took his chance to say what he needed to say. Things he had been holding back and fighting internally.

"I don't know if you can hear me or not Armin...but there's some things I need to get off my chest. I've accepted you're better for Mikasa...that much is obvious…" Eren paused, before continuing.

"For Mikasa's sake, you better pull through and wake up already. Her and Carla need you. You can't just…walk back into her life, make all these promises and then just drop dead…with that said..." Eren hesitated before continuing. His eyes seemed to darken further, as he clenched his fist, glaring down at his oldest friend.

"For my sake...don't fucking wake up. You swooped in and stole Mikasa..and even my child from me. I'm never going to get them back as long as you're breathing. I've come to peace with that but...there's still a part of me that wants you gone. And I feel insane for wishing that...you're my best friend. But...damn it Armin..you know how much she means to me...and the minute I left her alone…here you come, playing hero…" Eren stopped, shaking his head.

"I guess...it'll boil down to whose sake you care about more…but I think we both know the answer to that already…" He concluded. He sighed, realizing he was speaking to the equivalent of a corpse.

Armin's body remained limp against the couch, steam fuming from his mangled face as his jaw remained hung open. His blonde hair remained messy, hanging in his face as his chest continued to heave softly. As Erens words continued to echo through the dark pit of his mind, Armin felt his body slightly give way to the commands his brain had given them. As if there was some glitch within him though, his body was only able to tense up. After hours of stiffness, his back suddenly arched upwards, and his hands moved to grip onto his worn down shirt. He felt his head tilt backwards slightly, before a low rumble escaped his gaping mouth. Then, his body had given way to gravity, as he melted against the couch once more, his clouded eyes rolling into the back of his head before his lids closed shut. More steam seemed to be radiating off of him now, and a bit of heat had formed around his wounds, mending the flesh together slowly.

A few moments later, Hange made her way out of the bedroom, noticing Eren staring down at Armin before glaring towards him. She clenched her jaw, immediately rushing to the stew, ensuring that Eren hadn't overcooked it. As she gave the stew a final stir, Hange looked towards Eren again, cocking a brow.

"I got Mikasa cleaned up. She's already feeling a lot better. I have a feeling she'll recover pretty well from this. I'd even argue she'll be wanting to have another in just a few short years…" Hange updated him, hoping to shift his focus from Armin, her own eyes looking down at him as she frowned softly.

Eren kept his dark eyes on Armin, but heard Hange's words behind him. Albeit, muddled but he still got the general answer.

"That's good...she's strong. I expected she would recover easily. But you know..." Eren leaned against the wall as a thought suddenly crossed his mind he had completely forgotten to tell anyone about, including Mikasa. Or maybe not so much forgot, but rather he didn't know how to bring it up.

"If I succeed in ridding the world of the power of the titans...if I resume my plans…the Ackerman power will be gone as well. Mikasa would be a normal girl." Eren revealed, more so thinking outloud, this new information coming out rather sudden.

"What do you mean Eren?" Hange questioned, not fully understanding.

"Mikasa's great strength…both physical and mental comes from her Ackerman abilities. I learned much from Zeke…Ackermans are basically humans but with an extent of titan abilities. Like how titans can regenerate and heal rapidly, Ackermans are able to heal from injuries unusually quickly. Mikasa being up and chopping wood only a few days after her ribs were fractured…a normal person would be down for at least six weeks with something like that…and this delivery? A normal woman may not have even survived it…and if she did she certainly wouldn't be up and walking around already…" Eren trailed off, before continuing.

"A normal girl…wouldn't be able to function this well, with all that baggage and trauma. The fact Mikasa can go through day to day life without experiencing genuine breakdowns from losing her parents, my mom, and everything she's been through…that's because of her Ackerman abilities." He continued.

"So what are you saying Eren? That Mikasa's going to just fall apart if the power of the titans leave this world?" Hange asked, her question a bit sarcastic as she didn't fully trust anything this man spewed these days, even on more light hearted days.

"Basically. Her mental state would greatly decline…and when it hits, its going to hit hard…I'm not saying she can't recover from it…all I'm saying is to be prepared…" Eren explained simply.

In the bedroom, Mikasa laid Carla down for some more sleep, the baby yawning and stretching her tiny arms out before going back to sleep.

"You're just exhausted aren't you, sweetheart? It's tiring being born" Mikasa spoke softly and sweetly to her daughter, kissing her forehead and ensuring she was comfortable on the blanket. She gently tucked Carla in, and exhaled.

"Okay..." She encouraged herself a bit, before gripping the nightstand and forcing her body up. She couldn't take laying around anymore. She had to see Armin. Her Ackerman abilities were the only reason she was able to move this quickly as she made her way out of the bedroom, her legs a little shaky but she was more certainly steady.

Hange's glance darkened as she looked to him for a moment, remaining silent in her response as she grabbed a few bowls, filling them with the fresh stew. Its appetizing smell lingered through the entire cabin, as steam danced off of the surface from the bowls. Hange then moved over to set the table, keeping a nonchalant expression on her face as she carefully placed down silverware.

"Regardless…she surely wouldn't be chained to you anymore." Hange blurted out, her tone suddenly cold as she turned her head towards Eren, glaring daggers through him.

The tension between them broke when Hange sensed movement towards her blindside, causing her head to immediately jolt towards its source. She immediately was met with Mikasa in the doorway of the bedroom. She scoffed softly, moving to straighten her posture.

"Mikasa… I would have happily brought your stew in the bedroom. You still need to be resting." Hange suggested, watching her worriedly.

"I'm alright Hange...I need to be walking around…" Mikasa glanced at Eren, but she couldn't find any words to say. So she simply looked away, headed over to the table. Eren didn't say much either, adding to the tense silence.

"Hange's right...you should be resting" He finally decided to try.

"I'm fine." Mikasa replied, her tone cold, looking over at Armin, her eyes softening. This was the first time she saw him properly since it happened.

"Armin..." Her voice was much softer as she approached the couch, placed her fingers on his head and brushing them through his hair. Knowing there wasn't much she could do yet, she let him rest and walked back over to the table.

"Thank you for making dinner Hange." Mikasa said softly as she sat down.

Eren remained silent, remaining leaned against the wall as he looked back down at Armin. Finally, he sighed and walked over to the table, sitting down. It was a good thing the stew was good, because the tension was heavy in the air.

Hange felt the tension, immediately turning her watchful eye towards Eren.. as if expecting him to lose his temper, breaking through the tense atmosphere between them. She carefully sat down at the table, positioning her chair in between the two of them before she moved to take a bite of her stew, narrowing her eye as she continued to try and read Eren's body language. Her head turned to face Mikasa, her glance softening as she watched her eat the stew, eager to see her enjoying a meal after all of her hard work.

Armin heard the conversation between the two of them, as he continued to fight for his body to react to the commands his brain had given him. He continued to fight, crying out into the deep pit of his mind as he tugged at his hair, his protective demeanor shining through as he continued to yell into the shadows. On the surface of his consciousness, Armin had only been able to slightly close his jaw, clashing his growing teeth against each other. His arm had remained dangling off of the side of the couch, while his hands suddenly twitched, his fingers curving inwards slightly as he felt blood flow into his pale skin.

By the following day, the tension remained in the air. Eren spent more time outside, sitting on the porch or standing out by the trees. He was constantly staring up at the sky, like he always did even as a kid. His mind was a jumbled mess as he tried to calm his anxieties and thoughts of frustration. He glanced over at the cabin, seeing Hange was hanging laundry up on the line. It was still cold out, but the air was slightly warmer and the sun was shining down.

Inside, Mikasa was sitting on a chair she pulled up in front of the couch Armin was on. She was holding Carla in one arm, her free hand holding Armin's tightly. The sunlight seemed to shine on through the windows, creating a warm glow that reflected off the coffee table. Mikasa's gaze remained on Armin, her eyes worried as her anxieties started to slowly surface.

"Armin..." She struggled to keep her voice from breaking as she gripped his hand tighter.

"Please wake up..please..." she pleaded weakly, feeling her eyelids fill with tears. She leaned forward slightly, being careful with Carla as she pressed her forehead to Armin's.

"Please Armin...I've finally realized...you're the one I want to be with...you make me smile...and feel safe...you always have…you'd be a wonderful father to Carla...I know you always struggled. With confidence...self hatred...I know it's been hard. And I know you must be tired. But...as selfish as it is...I need you Armin...I love you..." Mikasa confessed, letting her tears fall. She sat up slightly, briefly letting go of his hand to adjust Carla.

But as she did, Carla reached her tiny hand out and gripped Armin's finger. Mikasa watched this, and she couldn't help but swallow back a small sob, her eyes softening.

"That's right Carla...that's your father…you know him already, don't you sweetie?" she spoke softly, as she wiped her eyes as she realized something. It wasn't just Mikasa that needed Armin...it was their daughter as well. These last few months, the other voice Carla had been hearing apart from her mother's and Hange's…was Armin's. Armin was far more recognizable to Carla than Eren would ever be.

After what felt like decades of fighting his way towards the light at this dark maze, the silence had been broken by the soft voice of Mikasa. It echoed through the deepest corners of his consciousness, acting as if an angel had chimed in. With the sound of her voice..Armin's pain seemed to subside, and the dark whispers that slithered across his ears had cowered off into the shadows where they had been born. As Mikasa continued her confession, Armin felt his legs begin to move, staggering forward towards the sound of her voice, feeling an odd cold air running down his bare back as the markings beneath his eyes and cheeks had tugged slightly at his eyelids.

He parted his lips to speak, but no words seemed to escape, as his steps had picked up the pace, breaking into a sprint as her voice continued to echo in the shadows. The closer he had gotten, the wall of shadows behind him had broken its shape, breaking into long snake like objects, which had slithered right to Armins bare feet. They firmly wrapped around his ankles, and suddenly halted, straining against him as they trapped him in his place. Armin immediately turned around, falling onto his back as the serpents began to drag him back towards the darkness.

Armin gritted his teeth, using his fists to break off the serpents heads, freeing him from their grasp before he pushed himself to his feet again. He sprinted off towards her voice again, feeling the hissing breath of the shadows slithering down his back as he shook his mind free, fixating his focus on her words. He sprinted a few more paces, finally hearing her voice grow louder and louder, which had caused his heart to jump eagerly. When it was at its loudest though.. Armin was met with a hard wall that had kept him from moving anymore forward. On the other side of this see through wall, there had been a gentle warm light that had been shining through, and the dark floor had slowly shifted into the wood floor of the cabin. Armin slammed his fist into the wall, gritting his teeth as he glared through the wall to the other end, focusing on the slight warm light on the other side.

As Armin continued to fight the wall… he suddenly felt an overwhelmingly comfortable warmth basking down on his back. His feet sunken in slightly, and his head turned downwards to notice that he was now standing in warm pale sand flooding in between his toes. The gentle crash of waves had echoed from the shadows… causing Armin to turn around, following a trail of sand to a gentle break in the shadows, revealing a massive beach with a bright blue ocean. Its cloudless blue sky remained peacefully calm, as the ocean continued to sway against the beach, crashing against its surface. The sight had drawn Armins full attention to it, as his back immediately turned towards the clear wall. He walked slowly towards it, feeling its warmth fall on his face as a gentle wind gusted against his hair, filling his nose with the smell of the ocean as he smiled peacefully. He felt at peace… hypnotized from the illusion before him as he continued to walk towards the ocean.

That's your father…

The phrase caused Armin to freeze in his tracks, listening as her choked voice echoed around him, causing his eyes to widen as he immediately turned to face the clear wall again. Suddenly, a massive wave had formed in the ocean, crashing down onto the sand before flooding through the crack. The world before him began to quickly flood, as sand was washed away by raging ocean water.

Armin's eyes wandered, and he immediately began racing against the water, breaking into a frantic sprint as he rushed towards the clear wall. The phrase continued to echo in his head, and he ducked his head down as he approached its solid surface. Armin then threw himself into the wall, causing it to shatter into a million pieces as Armin fell from the other side.

Unexpectedly, Armin's finger suddenly curled around Carla's hand, and his eyes gently fluttered open. The blue color had returned to them, and although tired.. all life had seemed to come back into his features. He stared at the ceiling for a moment, attempting to regain his consciousness as a soft groan escaped his parted lips. He turned his head slightly before his eyes were met with the familiar beautiful features he had been yearning for this whole time… he immediately remembered that long black hair, as well as the beautiful tint to her tearful eyes. A small smile peaked at Armins lips, as his hand reached up to caress her cheek. He wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye, before moving to caress her cheek softly.

"I love you too Mikasa…. And I need you as well…" Armin whispered out softly in response, carefully pushing her head down to his as he pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes for a moment as he felt her warmth once more. Mikasa's head quickly shot up at that soft, familiar voice.

"Armin..?!" She cried, ensuring she hadn't been hearing things. She watched as his eyes were opened and she felt an immense wave of relief rush into her. She was unable to stop the tears from streaming down her cheeks as she smiled weakly, cradling Armin's hand in hers and kissing it. She choked back a sob as she held onto him tight.

"You're okay...I'm so glad…" She cried in relief, as Carla watched Armin curiously, reaching her tiny arm out towards him and babbling. Her eyes were identical to Mikasa's, the first thing that Armin noticed.

Mikasa noticed her daughter's reaction and she wiped her eyes, moving close so that the little one could grip his finger again.

"It's okay sweetheart, daddy's awake, he's going to be okay…" She soothed the baby, watching as Carla babbled, gripping Armin's finger tightly. The relief Mikasa felt was almost overwhelming as she gazed back at Armin. She used her free hand to caress his face as not just relief filled her...but her realization of the man she loved.

Armin carefully sat up, allowing the tension to loosen from his muscles as he kept his glance locked firmly on hers. The sight of her tears brought his own to the surface, as a small smile remained locked on his features as his free hand reached out, pulling her close into an embrace. He choked back his sobs, gripping her shirt with his free hand as he nestled his head against hers.

"I made a promise to you... I'm not going anywhere.." Armin reassured, placing a gentle peck on her cheek before he pulled away, feeling something grab onto his finger. He lowered his head, immediately meeting glances with Mikasa's beautiful daughter. Her eyes immediately stood out to him, as well as that familiar gleam in her eye as she babbled.

After silently asking for consent and getting a nod from Mikasa, Armin carefully pulled Carla from her grasp, pulling her close to him as he settled her in his arms. He cradled her safely, gently running his fingers along her soft cheek as overwhelming emotion flooded his chest. His breath hitched in his throat as he attempted to compose himself, feeling the overbearing emotions crash of the reality around him as his chest continued to tighten with emotional pressure.

Armin's eyes panned between Mikasa and his newborn baby girl, whose blood did not run of his kin... but he loved her just as much as if she was. Tears began to roll down his cheek as he attempted to laugh away his emotions, using a free hand to wipe away his tears, but they continued to flow. Carla had smiled at him, which had seemingly broken the bridge for him as he broke into uncontrollable cries. His hand moved to gently caress her soft head, before he moved to grab Mikasa's hand, pulling her closer to him gently.

"Mikasa... I... she's so beautiful... she looks so much like you... You did so good...wow..." Armin rambled through his cries, pecking her cheek between his words as his tears continued to roll uncontrollably down his cheek, falling off of his jaw.

"Hi there little one... I know... Daddy's a crying mess right now... He's a bigger baby than your mother.." Armin cooed to Carla softly between his cries as he reached his finger out for her to grab again, taking a moment to study her eyes in the warmer light. His hand carefully cradled the back of her head as his smile remained plastered against his lips.

Mikasa smiled warmly as she leaned more forward to embrace Armin tightly. She caressed his face, and after a few seconds, she locked eyes with him and kissed him gently on the lips.

"It's okay love...it's okay. I'm not going anywhere either, and neither is Carla" Mikasa assured him, revealing the name of their daughter. Carla babbled a bit more, looking up at Armin with her dark eyes. She gripped his finger tightly, resting her little head against his chest. Mikasa gently caressed their daughter's hair as the little family remained embraced close. Mikasa didn't even care how he healed..she was just grateful that he was okay.

Armin kissed Mikasa back softly, pulling away hesitantly as he turned to look down at Carla once more. He sniffled softly, cradling his daughter close to him as he felt her warmth radiated against his chest. The name had immediately struck his attention, the name striking back numerous memories relating to Eren and Mikasa's belated mother. He smiled down at her as he felt his body melt against the warm embrace, closing his eyes for a moment as he inhaled deeply.

Outside, Eren had gotten a strange feeling in his gut and he looked towards the cabin. He could see in the window that Armin was up, and looked much more healed. His eyes darkened as he looked up at the sky, feeling the wind breeze through.

"I guess that's it then..." He said quietly. There was no more denying it or trying to fight it. On this path, Mikasa's heart belonged to Armin...not him. And there was nothing he could do to stop it. He closed his eyes, making his final decision. He then walked towards the cabin, entering it quietly.

"You're awake." He stated simply, looking at Armin with relieved yet somber eyes.

Armin heard the grading voice of his former best friend, causing his eyes to shoot open, and he immediately turned to face him. A darkness fell over them as his smile frowned, tears still swelling in his swollen eyes as he glared at him for a moment.

Silently, Armin carefully moved Carla into Mikasa's grasp, his eyes never leaving Eren's. He then slowly stood to his feet, walking over to him calmly as he held his tensed hands at his sides. He stopped for a moment, staring Eren directly in the face as he maintained his silence, an anger falling over his features. Swiftly, he then moved to pull his hand into a fist, pulling it back before slamming it directly into Eren's face, ensuring that all of his pent-up anger had released itself from this punch. His knuckles slammed against his cheek, and he watched as Eren lost his balance from the blow, collapsing onto the ground beneath him. Armin then moved to slam his boot down onto his back, pinning him against the ground as anger fumed through his blue eyes.

"Not for your sake...since you were pretty adamant on me not waking up... bastard..." Armin spat out violently, immediately remembering his words prior, having heard Eren's entire speech from earlier.

"Armin..?!" Mikasa was alarmed, but she didn't get between the boys. She blinked at his last statement, looking at Eren with a frown as Carla fussed a little bit at the sudden commotion. Mikasa gently soothed her, holding her close and hiding her face as she watched Eren and Armin. She had no idea what Eren must have said to Armin when he was comatose...but judging by how furious Armin was...it couldn't have been anything good. She also didn't rush over to help. She fought off her Ackerman instincts to protect Eren, but as a result she felt a shooting pain in her head. She flinched, holding her free hand to it, while cuddling Carla close to her chest.

Eren stayed on the floor, gripping his injured face as he gathered his thoughts before answering.

"Oh...so you heard all of that...I was kinda hoping you didn't.." He admitted shamefully, keeping his eyes averted.

He glanced behind Armin, noticing Mikasa remaining seated. He expected some form of reaction out of her, looking for it. But she wasn't rushing over to protect him. She didn't even look all that alarmed. That could only mean one thing. Her heart now belongs to his former friend. In fact, Eren was certain if he tried to fight back, Mikasa would slam him to the floor next. His eyes darkened as he sighed.

"That settles it then." He stood up, not looking Armin in the eye. "I'm sorry Armin. What I said...all I can use to justify it is my head is a damn mess. Mikasa..." Eren looked at her. "I'm sorry...and I'm glad you have Armin." He then looked towards the door. "I have to go...back to Marley" He suddenly announced.

"Yeah.. I know you were... I heard every last word of it... and I'm sick of you justifying this bullshit with your head... We all know you better than that Eren!" Armin spat out bitterly, backing away as Eren stood to his feet, naturally standing between him and Mikasa. He held an arm out to shield her and the baby, narrowing his eyes as he watched him carefully, anger still fuming within his chest.

"Go back to whatever hole it is you crawled out of, Eren. You were no longer welcomed here when you decided to leave Mikasa simply because you were scared about something you could have avoided. You were no longer welcomed here when you beat the shit out of me while your wife remained inside straining heavily in the hardest battle even she was struggling to win against. You were no longer welcomed when you believed that you could just manipulate Mikasa into just crawling back to you." Armin hissed, confessing all of Eren's actions during the time he had been here with them.

A strike of hurt stabbed through his gut as he turned his back to him, moving back over to Mikasa before sitting down beside her. Nothing ever prepared him to lose someone so close to him, let alone with such a bitter conclusion after all of these years. He held his own grievances when it came to Eren, but this moment between them had become all too real, and the pain had been far too material for his liking. He turned his focus towards Mikasa, carefully checking in on her, noticing her pained expression from her headache.

Hange had heard the commotion from outside, immediately feeling her heart sink into her stomach as she moved to rush through the front door. When she slammed it open, she was met with quite a surprising sight. Eren had stood towards the doorway, and Armin was now sitting up from the couch with Mikasa sitting beside him. She blinked a moment, making sure she wasn't in some sort of dream...

"Armin..? What is going on? Mikasa, are you alright? Hange bombarded with questions, carefully rushing to her aid as she knelt beside her, grabbing her arm reassuringly. "Eren didn't hurt any of you... or Carla.. Did he?"

Mikasa watched the two, and she listened to everything Armin said. Every point Armin made...it was true. And hearing them spoken outloud only further cemented her choice. She looked down, holding Carla close. Eren looked at Mikasa as he stood in the doorway, he wasn't sure what he had hoped for. But his feet remained planted to the ground. He knew the best thing for her and for Carla was to just leave...not drag it out. But it was really sinking in for him just how split apart they were.

"I'm alright Hange...no one was hurt.." Mikasa assured once Hange has busted in.

Hange nodded softly, running her thumb along the skin of her arm reassuringly. She could notice her emotional turmoil, frowning softly as she continued to watch her carefully, silently reassuring her. She blinked softly, turning her glare towards Eren before she moved to pull a small pistol from a hidden holster on her leg. She knew it wouldn't do too much against Eren, but she had hoped that the threat alone would draw him to take his exit swiftly.

"Eren.. you aren't welcome here anymore. Don't make us do something we'll regret." Hange had attempted to reason, paying close mind to Carla being in the same room as them, and doing her best to ensure that she hadn't been forced to see harm come to her biological father.

"Mikasa..." Eren started, choosing to ignore Hange. Mikasa glared at him, gritting her teeth through the pain of her headache. "Hange…please take Carla…" She suddenly requested. Hange blinked, but didn't question it, gently taking the newborn into her arms. Mikasa then stood up, and walked over to Eren. Armin watched carefully, ready to jump in at any given point as he stood up.

Mikasa stared up at Eren, her eyes filled with…what could only be described as defeated. She was simply done with him.

"Eren...it's over...I...I can't do this anymore..." She confessed, her voice shaking with heartache as she kept her eye contact with him. The memory of the three of them running up the hill towards that tree...it shifted in her mind, of it being just her and Armin running towards it.

As if he could read her mind, Eren moved slightly forward. "Mikasa please..." He began, causing Mikasa to flinch. "Stop it...please..." Mikasa pleaded, her voice cracked as she turned her face away.

"Mikasa..!" Eren suddenly placed his hand onto Mikasa's shoulder, gripping it slightly hard. Something about the way he did it…sent an instant flash of memories throughout Mikasa's mind. All the times he lost his temper on her, all the times he mistreated her, trying to blame her for them running away together even though it was his idea…and finally what he said to Armin…it was like something snapped within Mikasa, like a chain had finally been broken and with that…her headache seemed to have completely ceased.

"EREN! Get your hands off her!" Armin sprung forward, but before he could even reach the two of them, Mikasa suddenly glared dangerously. She grabbed Eren's shoulder, and swiftly she lifted him up before slamming him right through the cabin door, throwing him to the ground outside. Armin paused, surprised as Hange also stared in shock.

"Get out!" Mikasa's voice came out as a bitter growl, as she stepped a few feet outside to glare down at him. She was shaking furiously.

"You LEFT me…you left our daughter… you expect me to just accept you back?! After everything that's happened? I've had enough…you can go off and play God for all I care…and to wish for Armin's death? Just so I would come crawling back into your arms? I'm not some prize for you to win…you've made your choice Eren. You made it when you left me alone here…I'm not some slave for you to control!" Mikasa's words came out like venom, as her bitter tone seemed to be something she had been holding back for a while now. Eren stared up at her, his eyes completely broken as he could only remain on the ground, in shock.

Armin then rushed to the doorway as he saw Eren laying in the dirt before him, his hardened glare staring down at him as he took a few seconds to catch his breath.

"Stay away from my family Eren.. Go and attempt your suicide mission in Marley. None of us will miss you." Armin snapped bitterly through gritted teeth.

Mikasa exhaled shakily, feeling a sense of relief. Hange came to her side, gently handing Carla to her. Mikasa held her daughter close, who continued to fuss a bit, sensing her mother's stress. She leaned against Armin, using the little energy she had left to gently soothe Carla. Her eyes stayed trained on Eren.

That seemed to be the last convincing he needed. He looked down, fighting back tears as he got to his feet, turning his back on Armin without a word. He mounted up on his horse, but before riding out he glanced down at Armin.

"Whatever happens...this area will be untouched...take care of them, Armin." He then gave his mount a firm kick. The horse reared, neighing and broke into a gallop, as Eren rode away. Inside, Mikasa exhaled shakily as her attention turned back to Carla who had started crying from all the commotion.

"Oh sweetheart, it's okay, you're okay...mama's sorry, she didn't mean to scare you" Mikasa's voice was soft and soothing, as Carla whimpered but slowly calmed down, her tiny fist gripping Mikasa's front.

Hange quickly jumped in, helping soothe Carla as she hushed her softly. She gently leaned her head on top of Mikasas, watching as Eren rode off, who had been particularly persistent.. like a varmint living off of the poison fed into its mouth. She allowed a smirk to peak at the edge of her lips as she moved to embrace Mikasa softly, silently praising her for pushing through not only her heart's desires.. but through the curse that had been placed upon her name.

Armin watched as Eren rode off, narrowing his glare as he watched his silhouette fade into the horizon, and the thundering hooves of his mount had silenced. Eren's last words had hung heavily in his thoughts for a moment, causing Armin to wonder...what had he planned? Why was he speaking in such cryptic phrases? Would he even keep to this promise he held? Armin shook his head, hearing the gentle fussing of his daughter, causing him to sharply turn around. His eyes saddened as he looked towards Mikasa, who had seemed worn out from everything.

Carefully, he walked back over before sitting down on the couch beside her, his hand fell upon her thigh as his thumb caressed its surface. He kept silent for a moment, struggling to find his own words as they remained in the somber silence for a moment, exhaling softly.

"I'm proud of you, Mikasa..." Armin praised softly, leaning his head against hers.

Mikasa looked at Armin, and his words, along with Hange's, made her eyes well up a bit more. She looked down, wiping them as she exhaled weakly. It took all of her mental strength to do that...but she had to. Not just for her own sake, but for her daughter's. She held Carla close, gently rocking her as she stayed between Armin and Hange.

By later that evening, the cabin was quiet, and for the first time in days...there was no tension lingering in the air. Mikasa had fallen asleep early that night, she was absolutely exhausted, both mentally and physically still. She slept on her back, slightly reclined on her soft pillows. Her breathing was soft, her hair sprawled out on the pillow. Before the sun had set, Armin and Hange finished putting together the bassinet, so Carla slept in her own bed tonight, allowing Mikasa to get some proper rest. The baby slept soundly, swaddled in a pink blanket.

At this exact same time, on the beach of the island, Eren dismounted his horse and stood there for a moment, watching the gentle waves crash against the sandy shore.

With a heavy sigh he turned around, giving one last look at the island he had been calling home. This would be the one place he wouldn't crush. This would be the 20% that would remain safe. While the remaining 80%...Eren shook his head, actively choosing not to think about it too hard.

He then suddenly pulled out his pistol and aimed it at his mount.

"Thank you, Falcon..." He spoke grimly, before squeezing the trigger. The gun fired, and the horse whinnied out in pain before collapsing to the ground on his side, blood pooling out from under its head. Eren knew his stubborn horse would be loyal to no one else...and where he was headed...he had no need for the mount anymore. Eren then glared out at the sea, before biting his hand. A lightning strike hit the ground, as he transformed into his Attack Titan.

The titan roared loudly, before sprinting forward into the ocean. He fought against the heavy waves and eventually reached deep enough water to break into an urgent swim, heading back for Marley and Paradis.