Isanna knew that their new main headquarters was going to be the one inside the main southern city in Wall Rose, but she didn't have the time to head to the inner walls since her presence was required to oversee evacuation in the eastern villages in Wall Maria; that, and, she doubted there were soldiers in the main headquarters in Wall Rose at a time like this. Knowing this, she had stopped by the Garrison's barracks situated in Karanes and ordered a female soldier to look after the child for a short while.

Obviously, the Garrison soldier had been perplexed at the sudden task that was thrown at her, but after identifying that the woman who had given the order was none other than the Scouts' well-known War Goddess, she had been wise enough to accept the task diligently.

"I'll be back for the kid in a few days," had been Isanna's parting words to the soldier before she rode away on her horse.

Fast forward to exactly two weeks after the fall of Wall Maria, Isanna was currently distributing goods along with other soldiers to the multitude of refugees that were swarming the southern capital of Wall Rose; the streets were completely crowded, filled with frustrated civilians who were pushing against one another in hopes of getting their hands on the measly rations.

At this rate, a riot will break out, Isanna furrowed her brows worriedly at the prospect as she observed several soldiers breaking out what was the umpteenth fight that had erupted between civilians that afternoon.

For obvious reasons, the citizens of Wall Rose were not quite welcoming of the evacuees because that meant they had to share their dwindling space and resources. Even as of the moment, streets all across the cities in Wall Rose were filled to the brim with homeless refugees. News had been spreading that funds by the government were given to industrial groups to allot the building of safe houses for them, but that was beginning to look like mere false assurances, because two weeks after, it was still only the remaining soldiers of the Scouts and Garrison who were doing everything they could to sustain and manage the crowd of both Wall Rose citizens and Wall Maria refugees.

And to think, Isanna hadn't eaten for five whole days nor had a proper sleep in two weeks. Had it not been the rigid training during her time in the Training Corps, she would have fainted after a day of not eating.

Bringing a hand to her temple, she slowly massaged her head while closing her eyes as she felt yet another migraine growing. The last thing she needed was to faint in the middle of the street in broad daylight; that would be embarrassing.

I also need to head to Karanes for the kid..

Two weeks had already passed since she had left the infant, way past her agreed date to pick it back from the Garrison soldier.

After a mental debate, Isanna eventually decided to leave her post in the city and headed off to ride directly to eastern Karanes district.

•

While Erwin's new office was evidently more spacious than his squad leader quarters back in the Scouts' previous headquarters, it was noticeably lacking from his personal belongings; but that was the least of his worries.

The blond had been busier in the last two weeks than all of the years combined back when he was still a squad leader, and that was saying something. In the days following the tragic fall of Wall Maria, he had to make countless rides to and fro in a meeting with the other authorities and discuss about the losses they had yielded as well as plan appropriate countermeasures.

He also had to take into account the report Isanna had given him about a week ago about what she saw below the breached gate of Shiganshina as well as at the top of the wall. Confusion had flooded his thoughts when she told him she saw children's footprints, and if it had been anyone other than Isanna who gave the report, he wouldn't have believed them; the girl's sharp senses, particularly her vision and memory, was topnotch even for him. 

He decided to stash the information at the back of his head and work on it when he had more time. For now, he should focus on the matter at hand. 

Erwin was not blind. Commander Pixis and General Zackly seemed to be the only ones who were showing sincere intentions for the sake of humanity's survival, while the rest of the council members were just trying to save themselves; it was a shame that such selfish figures were appointed to rule humanity.

Although, he himself wasn't any better.

Erwin released a mute sigh as he returned the paper in his hand to a stack of documents piling on his desk and buried his face in his palms, allowing the exhaustion and stress to show through. It wasn't like there was anybody in the office who could see him, anyway.

While he was indeed mournful of the deaths and loss of human territory, Erwin was more distressed at the thought that he was taking one step further from his dream - as if it was not distant enough in the first place.

It was a selfish thought. 

When the door to his office was pushed open in a creak, Erwin raised his head from his palms and straightened his composure, stoning his face back into Commander mode as he turned his attention to the person stepping inside the room.

When his eyes registered that it was just Isanna, there was a subconscious relief that flooded into his system, and he allowed his shoulders to slacken ever-so-slightly; he realized it had been over a week since he had seen the girl, what with all the errands they were busy with because of the recent crisis.

That was, until his gaze landed on the wrapped figure in her arms.

Isanna wore a sheepish grin as she strode over towards the desk of her Commander in careful steps, like she was approaching a dangerous fragile bomb. She wearily studied Erwin's face as the blond eyed the small form that she was carrying, and she could practically see the gears in his mind working and clicking into place.

"Okay, before you freak out," Isanna started, stopping just in front of his mahogany desk, "this is not my child. I found her - yes, it's a girl - in the middle of a street when I was assisting in the evacuation two weeks ago."

She didn't give him a chance to cut in as she continued, the words flowing out of her tongue in a rushed explanation just as how she had mentally rehearsed it, " I know I should have given it to an orphanage or something, but I was just thinking that maybe - well.."

Fuck, this sounded better in my head, she thought.

"I was thinking that maybe I could look after her," Isanna finished, deciding to go straight to the point.

When seconds passed by without a response from Erwin, Isanna silently gulped back a lump in her throat, feeling the embarrassment seeping in. She continued to stare at him while his gaze was still fixed on the infant.

The blond eventually broke the silence. "You want to raise a child in our headquarters?"

Isanna bit the inside of her cheek; when he worded it like that, she suddenly felt so stupid. Maybe she should have waited a few more weeks - maybe when the aftermath of this crisis died down - before she brought this child here. She was sure Erwin had a lot more issues to deal with especially now that he was Commander.

But.. she couldn't bring herself to turn her back on a child, on an infant, no less.

"I couldn't leave her," Isanna muttered loud enough for Erwin to hear as she returned her gaze back on the baby in her arms with a small smile while the baby let out a coo, "I don't.. want her to go through what I did."

Erwin was silent as he watched Isanna regard the baby with so much fondness in her eyes, as if she was her biological mother.

"So I thought that maybe you'd let me take care of her," Isanna continued, looking back at the blond, "if that's okay with you."

Returning his gaze on the baby, Erwin began to think about the possibilities and effects it could give; no doubt the child was going to be an unavoidable distraction not only for Isanna but also for the other soldiers, and he couldn't ignore the effort and time they had to allot for the baby should they take her in. Not to mention they were currently in the middle of a crisis.

The most reasonable answer to Isanna's request was obvious.

But there was something that was stopping Erwin.

He stood up from his seat and circled around the desk, stopping beside Isanna as he eyed the baby.

"May I hold her?"

Isanna had to do a double take, blinking at the blond for a few times as she processed his request. Nevertheless, she nodded and handed the wrapped figure of the infant into Erwin's hands, noting how careful the blond was as he took her in his hold.

She watched with interest as Erwin gingerly cradled the baby in his arms; it was.. a wholesome sight to see, in short. Isanna already knew how gentle the blond was when needed, but this was the first time she had ever seen him handle a baby - and to be honest, he could pass as a dad.

Isanna swore she felt her chest filling up with glee as she silently observed the way Erwin's eyes softened up while he stared at the baby, the tips of his lips lifting up subtly in a tender smile.

I refuse to believe this man is real.

The baby let out a coo, stretching a hand towards Erwin's face and lightly touched his lips with her dainty hand. He chuckled.

"I'm guessing that's a yes?" asked Isanna, referring to her earlier request as Erwin looked back at her.

"You have my permission."

Before another word could be said, the door bursted open, causing both Erwin and Isanna to turn their heads to whoever had entered the room.

"Erwin! Have you seen Isa - "

Hanji cut herself from finishing when she noticed her Commander cradling an infant, while Isanna stood in front of him. Beside her figure on the doorway was Levi, who was also taken aback at the scene.

For a few seconds, nobody broke the silence.

Then, Hanji looked at Levi with a frown. "How long has it been since Wall Maria fell, again?"

Levi had not taken his eyes off from the scene in front of him. "Two weeks."

"I knew it," Hanji mumbled, nodding to herself with a mulling expression and a hand on her chin, "no matter how much I look at it, that's not long enough for them to make a baby together."

As if her words were the trigger for Isanna to snap out of it, she erupted into a blushing mess while sending Hanji a flabbergasted look. "Hanji!"

Levi and Hanji stepped inside the office, the latter inquiring about how their Commander and Sergeant Major suddenly got themselves a child in a span of two weeks, right in the middle of a crisis, at that. Hanji was about to comment on their 'admirable dedication to each other in the face of adversity' when Isanna cut her off and explained everything with an exasperated blush.

She wiped the sweat on her neck with the back of her hand after explaining. Was it just her or did the office get hotter?

"So does this mean I'm finally going to be an aunt?!" Hanji practically leaped up from the couch with clasped hands and sparkle in her eyes.

Levi was unbothered and kept an indifferent look the whole time when he asked what the baby's name was.

"Yeah, that's the funny part," Isanna awkwardly chuckled and scratched the back of her neck, "she doesn't have a name, yet." Maybe the baby had had a name, but Isanna didn't know what it was.

Hanji began suggesting names for the kid a bit too enthusiastically. But the names she suggested were far too eccentric; who in their right minds would name their child Sawney? Or worse, Bean? The second one didn't even suit the child.

Isanna asked Levi for a suggestion and immediately regretted it after hearing him say they should name her Windex or Bleach.

This is why Mike was the one who named Mhile, the raven woman thought to herself.

"Commander, it's your call." Isanna turned to Erwin as a last resort, who was still carrying the baby in his arms the whole time.

The blond looked at the baby, his lips automatically curling upwards as he saw her smile at him with her blue doe eyes.

"I've always been fond of the name Lauren," he mused, shifting his eyes to look at Isanna.

As the name sank in, the raven woman soon found herself returning Erwin's smile. Lauren. She liked the sound of that.

"Lauren?" Hanji perked up, giving Erwin a look of suspicion. "Is that the name of your secret lover or something?"

"No," the blond replied, turning to the brunette, "actually, it was the name of my pet goldfish that died when I was a child."

After his all-too shocking revelation, the other three stared at him incredulously. They didn't know where they should be more shocked at; the fact that he had owned a pet goldfish and named it Lauren, or the fact that he wanted to name a baby after his dead pet.

Isanna frowned and pointed out how she didn't recall him ever having a pet goldfish, with Erwin answering that it had died before he had met her.

She slowly blinked at the blond, taking in all the information. "Okay, so, um.. Lauren it is, then." At least he didn't say Marie.

Minutes after Lauren's name was established, Mike had entered the room carrying a file of documents from General Zackly, and he had the same reaction as Hanji and Levi. After hearing Isanna's explanation (this was the third time and she was getting tired of explaining), there was a silent gleam twinkling in his eyes at the prospect of becoming an uncle.

"Can I hold her?" asked Mike after placing the documents on Erwin's desk, and after receiving a nod from the Commander, he carefully took Lauren from him with a smile.

As Isanna watched Mike stare at the baby with what looked like to her as the 'uncle smile', she couldn't help but shake her head with crossed arms; she never knew having a baby in their headquarters would evoke such a reaction from two blond hunks.

But it was cute.

Isanna lifted a hand and wiped her forehead, mentally frowning when she took note of her sweaty skin.

All the while, Lauren had been cooing and giggling as Mike made playful faces at her, clearly enjoying the view.

After a while, Hanji, Levi and Mike decided to go back outside to fulfill their soldier duties. Isanna was also about to take Lauren and go out, thinking about ordering a Scout to look after her in the meantime when Erwin told her to stay behind. In the end, Mike was the one who carried Lauren out of the office, leaving only Erwin and Isanna inside.

"Why?" The raven tilted her head, her confusion only deepening when Erwin stepped closer to her. She lightly leaned back and blinked in surprise when he placed a hand over her forehead.

Erwin furrowed his brows together. "You're running a fever."

Isanna was not actually that surprised. Fever? That explained the funny feeling and hotter-than-usual temperature she had felt since earlier that morning. She thought it was simply because she was hungry, so she had grabbed some bread in Karanes district when she picked Lauren up.

"When was the last time you had a proper meal?" Erwin's question brought her out of her thoughts as he pulled his hand back to his side.

"Some time five days ago," she meekly replied.

At her answer, Erwin's frown deepened. "Get some rest for now. I'll call someone over to send you a meal." He guessed this was because of her hectic schedule following the fall of Wall Maria.

Isanna shook her head, about to decline when the sudden movement caused her sight to blur in a brief headache, her legs bending slightly in a wobble. Luckily for her, Erwin was quick to support her back with an arm, concern lacing his expression as he steadied the girl.

"Sorry -" she scrunched her brows and pressed a hand over her forehead - "just got a bit dizzy."

Isanna tried to stand back up but Erwin stopped her before she could. "Just lean on me."

"I'm fi - hey - Erwin!"

The blond had bent down and hooked an arm behind her knee, lifting the girl up in a bridal carry rather effortlessly and ignoring her protests as he made his way to his room that was connected to his office.

Isanna didn't know if the blood rushing to her cheeks was because of her fever or because he was carrying her.

She pressed her lips firmly together as Erwin gently lowered her into his bed, the mattress sinking down at her weight and a small creak sounding from the bed at the movement. "You're overreacting."

"Rest," said Erwin, cutting Isanna off when she parted her lips to say something, "that's an order."

Realizing there was no way out of this, Isanna held back a sigh, mentally grumbling how Erwin had used his Commander title against her and briefly glanced the place. She noticed his room was larger than the one back at Wall Maria when he was still a squad leader.

When she felt the blond standing up, she quickly shot up a hand and grabbed his wrist, causing Erwin to stop and peer back at her.

"Thanks by the way," she said, "for letting me take care of Lauren."

Erwin stared at Isanna for a short while, his expression softening up, before he took her hand from his wrist and gently placed it down, seating himself on the bed beside her.

Wordlessly, the blond lowered himself and kissed her forehead, his lips lingering on the spot longer than usual.

Isanna could feel her face heating up yet again at the contact, her focused gaze gluing on Erwin's eyes after he pulled back.

"You're welcome," he finally said after what seemed like an eternity, "I'll get you something to eat, so rest."

Once he upped and left the room, she couldn't help but release a loud sigh while palming her face with both hands.

She was surprised she still had not gone crazy because of him.