The sky started to get humid when Armin finally found his suit and hat. He quickly went out, jogging and running on the empty streets that he usually passes whenever he visits the Kirstein's. There's no way he'll going to miss his godchild's first birthday, he smiled as he thought about their little sunshine.

He was halfway to his destination when it started drizzling. Shoot. His suit will get wet, nevertheless, he didn't stop running. He sometimes wonders if he can still use his omni-directional mobility (ODM) gear because it has been a long time since he last operated his. The higher-ups already prohibited the military to show their ODMs in public when it's not needed. Besides, he's still the Survey Corps Commander so he should be the first to follow the rules.

Oh, how he missed the old days. He admits that the memory of losing his friends still haunts him, but they were trying their best to live.

Every passing day, he was reminded about his remaining years. If the myth was correct, he only has seven years to live. The fact both made him equally happy and sad. Finally, he'll leave the dark memories and the world with its injustices, consequently along the rest of his family: Mikasa, Jean, Historia and the others. He didn't even experience building his own home, with her.

The thought caused a tingling sensation in his stomach, unnoticing the drizzles that already turned into rain, just in time as he reached the doorstep of Jean and Mikasa's house.

He opened the door without knocking out of adrenalin for he was too afraid to get soaked in the heavy rain, though he was still wet all the same.

He was welcomed by the delightful scene of his extended family. Gabi and Falco were already playing with their little sunshine while Pieck and Annie were preparing at the kitchen, and Jean was fixing the table.

As if she was prepared the night before, Mikasa welcomed him with a clean towel before he can even nuzzle the baby.

"Just in time." She greeted.

"Ah, thank you." He chuckled as he removed his hat and suit and dried his hair.

"Do you need some...help?" He asked with a dropping tone as he carried and kissed the baby.

"Mm, I already got Pieck and Annie."

"And me!" He can hear Jean cry at the background. Either way, he still followed at the kitchen to greet the others, with the baby on his arms.

"Hi." Pieck pinched his cheeks when she saw him.

"Hello, Pieck. Hello, Annie." He greeted back before he went at the dining area to talk to Jean.

When he was already occupied, Mikasa positioned beside Annie to ask her about her feelings towards Armin,

"If the myth is true, you only have four years left." She started as she turned to her shoulder to check her giggling baby on Armin's arms, giving Annie the time to figure out what she meant by that.

"So?" Annie, however, seem to try to avoid the matter.

"Stop pretending that you didn't know, Annie. Armin likes you, and you've developed the same feeling towards him."

Annie remained quiet as she delved in her own thoughts. She never imagined being on a relationship nor having children. Her crimes were too enormous for her to even dream of having a family. Furthermore, Mikasa's right. She only has few years before being fed to whoever inherits the female titan, thinking that she will never have the chance to dwell on the joy of living with him. She bit her lip at the thought.

She wanted it, she wanted him. She can't deny that she also longed for him-- for Armin to ask her out and be with her.

"I can't." She answered.

"Then I will ask him out." She didn't notice that Pieck was also waiting for her answer, and much to her surprise, Pieck did what she said,

"Hey, Armin! Let's hang out sometimes, what do you think?" Pieck asked, leaving all the people inside the house, dumbfounded.

"Eh?!" Falco and Gabi gasped as they turned all their attention to the adults.

"Ahh," Armin chuckled as he freed one of his hand and shyly scratched the back of his head, "Fine by me." He blushed.

What? Did he really mean it? Annie tried to deny it, but she was admittedly upset, or rather alarmed.

Pieck on the other hand bit her lip as she tried to contain her laughter from Annie's futile attempt to hide her flustered face. "If I'll make out with him tonight, we can have two or three babies at least. Twins not counted. Right, Annie?" She teased.

"Hey, watch your words. There are kids in here, in case you forgot!" Jean reminded as he supported his baby who almost slipped out from Armin's grasp. The three ladies lowered their voice in response.

"Whatever, just don't drag me into this." Annie snorted.

"I'm serious." Pieck's face relaxed as she gently pulled a convincing smile, "I'll make my move if you don't. Though I can see he likes you very much. That will give me a hard time."

Mikasa covertly gazed at Pieck, implying 'job well done'. Pieck smiled in response, sending 'thanks' to Mikasa and at the same time, a declaration of war for Annie.

...

"Like I said before, I can't call myself a good person." Armin said out of nowhere as he folded his sleeves up, getting ready for his task to wash the dishes.

"You're always the rhetoric type. I'm convinced that Pieck is serious." Annie was already starting to block the conversation.

Ah, but at least she gets what I'm pointing at. Armin smiled to himself.

"At this point, we'll never suffer enough. Our remaining years are not enough to pay our crimes. I'm suggesting, why don't we accept that we can be happy while living in retribution?" He slightly moved closer to reach the faucet.

"Can you?" Annie asked with minimal interest in her tone.

"We can. We'll try."

There was a growing comfortable silence between them, which they mastered from there regular encounter at the Kirstein's. Armin treasured every moment, in silence or not, he didn't care as long as she's close.

"So, to let them suffer the same retribution we had." She concluded along the finishing touches on the last plate that she had to scrub.

Armin caught her hand under the running water, dragging it down in the basin when he felt Mikasa's eyes darting at them.

"To let them experience the life we never had," He corrected, "Two years ago, we fought for humanity, just to die without continuing it. That's what I mean."

Annie pulled her hand on his grip to rinse them on the running water, "That's a gamble, and you know, of all the people, what it takes to lose a gamble." Annie dried her hands with the towel before throwing it to his face. Ah, he's too in love to not accept the consistent rejections.

...

It was raining cats and dogs and their guests were becoming irritated, much to their boredom, the baby was already asleep. Falco and Gabi were also drowsy, and they made up their mind to stay at Kirstein's for the night. That leaves the adults in a staring contest as they sip on their cup of hot coffee.

"They will be needing me at the office tomorrow." Armin broke the silence.

"You got our only umbrella, remember?" Mikasa stood, making Armin gulp. She went upstairs to look for something that they may use as an alternative, returning briefly with two green hooded cloaks on her hand, that for significant reasons brought nostalgia.

The cloaks seemed to be kept with care because the color and the insignia, the wings of freedom, was still good as new.

"Those are the last. You fail to return it in good condition means you fail to live." Jean joked, also admitting that he himself was afraid to mess with the things that Mikasa held dear.

Armin nervously nodded before he put Jean's cloak on. Those were their treasured possessions after all.

That leaves.

"I'll go--" Pieck promptly shot up as Annie's hand clung onto her wrist to hold her down when Mikasa looked at their direction,

"I'll go, feed the horses." Annie said as she got up, overpowering Pieck's authority.

"Y-You sure?"

Annie didn't need to answer. She put on Mikasa's cloak and went ahead as she faced the heavy rain the moment she opened the door.

"Good night." Knowing that Annie wouldn't back out now, Pieck waved as she wished them a good night.

"Let's go, Arlert."

-----------------------------------------------

End note:

To be continued...