Petra's POV

It was nice to see Levi smile lately... especially when he handled little Zane. But when I surprised Levi and Zane with a baby girl, Sarina... they were both happy. She took on my looks: ginger hair and a sweet blush. But her eyes... they were gray- just like Levi's. It seemed... Levi never wanted to leave us with his little family blooming ever so brightly.

The way he would tease Zane... the way he would hold Sarina tightly to his heart... and the way he seemed happy though his tough days... 

I would never want him to go.

I was busy making breakfast: eggs and bacon. Zane was busy messing with the fruits on the table and Sarina was in the temporary crib near the kitchen. She propped her self up and gripped on the sides of the crib, cooing as she watched. I smiled softly to her, and began to call Zane.

"Hey Zane, can you do me a favor?"

"Yes, Mommy?" He says cheerfully. I love how he was... 3-year old boy and acting adorable. Innocent. 

"Go and get Daddy. Tell him that breakfast is done."

Zane nods, jumping to the ground and running rapidly to the bedroom. "Daddy! Daddy!" I chuckled softly as I heard him make his way to Levi.

I set 3 plates on the table with their proper utensils. I put the bacon on a small serving plate, and the eggs on a bigger serving plate. Setting out the cups, I still waited for Levi and Zane... but there was nothing yet.

"Zane? Levi?"

"Mommy! D-Daddy isn't waking!"

Gasping, I dropped one of cups- and it shattered all over the ground. But I didn't care... Levi... I ran over to the room. It was a miracle I didn't step on any of the broken glass- but...

"Levi!" I cried out, seeing him still in the bed. Zane was beginning to cry... and tears began to fall onto Levi's pale face. "N-No... not now... please... not now!" Tears began to fill my eyes, burning and blurring my sight. "Zane, go and call 911. Careful, there's glass!"

Behind me, I heard Sarina crying. "M-Mommy..."

"Zane... just do it. Go, now! It's important. Try to calm Sarina down too, okay? Please... for Mommy." I began to plead as I continued to shake Levi awake. Zane nods, jumping off the bed and into the kitchen area. 

Feeling his pulse at his neck, I felt a very faint pulse... even that tiny thing made me hope. I leaned over, kissing his forehead, trying a lot of ways to wake him up. "Levi... not today..." I whispered. Sarina's crying went down and I felt a bit better knowing that one problem was solved. But Levi... could he be dying right now? No...

"Mommy! They're coming!" Zane says as I silently cried. Sarina... Zane... could it be too late?

*   *   *

Levi's POV

My eyes fluttered open, and immediately, I was blinded by the bright white lights. 

"D-Daddy!" Zane's voice sounded faded and rang. His blurry figure came into view, and I saw that sweet smile on his face. "M-Mommy! He's awake!"

"Levi..." Petra's blurry face came, and I saw her beautiful smile. "You're awake."

I closed my eyes and reopened them, blinking away everything. "W-What happened?" I squinted because of the bright lights, but this time, they were no longer blurry. Sarina was sleeping ever so soundly in Petra's arms, and Zane was hopping all over the place.

"You missed breakfast!" Zane blurted, making me chuckle softly. "And you were sleeping too much that we had to take you here!"

"I... I did?" I shifted my attention over to Petra, and she nodded her head to confirm it. "Petra, did the doctor say..." Once more, she nodded. "How long?"

She sighs heavily, and I instantly knew that it wasn't a long time. A week? A day? "Doctors say you had an hour..."

"A-An hour?" My eyes gazed down, seeing how I was so weak already. I never knew I wouldn't have this much time.

"But Levi... I came here about 50 minutes ago. That means..."

"I have 10 minutes." I began to cough, feeling tears burning my eyes. Why was I sleeping for that much time? And 10 minutes? That's... that's not enough time! "Petra... I'm..."

She wiped tears from her golden eyes. "Z-Zane... your father wants to speak to you, okay?"

He nods, climbing closer to me. His gray eyes began to shine brightly as he was eager to hear what I had to say. Seeing that much hope in him... breaks my heart even more. I would never live to see what kind of man he would grow to be. "Yes, Daddy?"

I chuckled softly, kissing his forehead and taking his tiny hands. "You're gonna be a strong man when you grow older... there's no doubt about it." Zane began to giggle, leaning closer to me. "Now... I got a big job for you- and you have to do that job forever, okay? Think you can handle that, Zane?"

"I can do it!" He giggles, making me smile and hopeful once more. I almost forgot the situation I was in. "What's the job, Daddy?"

"Be a good boy to Mommy and Sarina. Always help them... and always be there for them."

He stays silent for awhile, looking down. "B-But Daddy... that's your job. D-Daddy... what's wrong?"

Tears continued to build up in my eyes as I had to confess to him. "Because... Daddy's not always gonna be here. I... I will be in a better place... but I will always watch over you. That's a promise."

"D-Daddy... d-don't leave us! Don't go to the better place! Don't!" He complains, wrapping his arms around my neck and his tears were falling down. "D-Don't leave us! You need to stay!"

With a single blink, my tears slipped down my cheek. "I can't stay... I really want to stay- I really do."

"But why can't you?!"

"Because... sometimes life is just cruel, okay? They rip people apart."

Zane began to raise his voice. "Well... I hate life! I hate it! I hate it! I hate it!"

My arms crept over his back, and I rubbed his back. I nuzzled my nose into his neck, trying to stop myself from crying too much. "I know... I know, but you have your Mommy and Sarina. Promise me that you'll take care of them. Promise me that."

Zane pushed me away, wiping his eyes as he nodded.

"Zane, I need to hear you say it to me. Please..."

"I... I promise to take care of them, Daddy."

I smiled softly, kissing his forehead. "Thank you. I love you, Zane... okay?" No answer. "I need to talk to Mommy now." Zane began to pout and looked away from me. Who can blame him? I had to give him the most important job, and he was now burdened with it. I'm sorry, Zane... but you're the man of the family now. I hope you take good care of them.

Petra walked over with Sarina, who was waking up. "Levi..."

"I know, I know... I went too far with Zane. But... I-I don't know. I'm sorry, Petra-"

"I agree with one thing though. He's gonna be a strong man soon. He'll take over you, that's for sure." Petra chuckles, leaning closer to me. "Wanna hold her for now while I calm Zane down? It's nice to actually get something out to her too, you know." 

Carefully, I took Sarina and held her close. I chuckled softly, nuzzling her softly. "Hey sweetie... I know you're too young to know any of this... but like Mommy said, it's nice to say something to you too. You're young, but I have faith that Zane will take good care of you. You'll grow to be big and beautiful. Want some advice? Stay away from boys..." I chuckled softly, seeing her coo softly. "I would give anything to see you and Zane as adults. I would do anything to see you in a wedding dress, and insulting any boy that comes near you. I would do anything to walk you down the aisle. I'm sorry that I couldn't be there for you. Forgive me..." I cried a bit to her, kissing her forehead. "I love you too..."

She simply cooed to me, reaching for my hair. "Levi..." I looked up to Petra and Zane was wiping his tears.

"D-Daddy..." Zane ran up and sat next to me, looking down at Sarina. "I love you..."

I smile softly, kissing his forehead. "I love you too." My gaze turns to Petra, who was beginning to weep. "Come here, love."

Once she came close, her tears fell onto my chest as she kissed me goodbye. "I never wanted this day to come."

I kissed her back, nuzzling her softly. "Petra, you've been the love of my life... and now, you have 2 kids. Raise them well... and I promise I'll watch over you guys. Oh, and make sure that boys stay away from Sarina and that little Zane isn't a play-boy."

Petra chuckles softly, nodding her head. "I will. I'm sure gonna miss these years with you..."

"Ever since college..." I chuckled softly, kissing her once more.

"I want to do something first." Petra gets up, getting her phone and standing in front of us. "Say, 'cheese'!" Of course, Zane was the only one, and the flash appeared. Soon, she ran out of the room, and quickly coming back with a nurse.

She made her way next to me, smiling brightly as the nurse took a picture.

Flash...

Petra then kissed me... flash...

After a few seconds alone, my eyesight grew blurry, and everything began to merge. The beeping of the monitor echoed in my head... and my eyelids grew heavy. The tingly feeling began to take over... it felt like... sleeping.

Only...

I wasn't sleeping...

I was dying...

Dying... 

Dead...

Beep..........

*   *   *

Everything seemed dark... until I opened my eyes to the bright sunlight. Blinded... why did I feel like I was blinded before? Soon, a girl approached. Her ginger hair and golden-like eyes. Why did she seem familiar?

"Did you want something?" I asked out of the blue.

"N-No... not really... just saw you out of the blue - quite literally - and I wanted to say hi." She seemed... really familiar. "I'm Petra... Petra Ral. What's your name?"

"Levi... Levi Ackerman."