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"I'll propose to my nurse when you finally gain a romantic partner yourself" Yan scoffed back from where he sat in his preferred chair by the fire, his tea long since cold since he and Levi got into their heated discussion over relationships. 

"Is that all it'd take for you to find your own happiness?" Levi asked with a carefully raised eyebrow, a little surprised over how simply his friend's terms seem. 

"I won't accept any more happiness than being able to walk again until I've learnt over you finally gaining the happiness you deserve" Yan announced stubbornly, giving a stern nod as he was ready to keep his word over such a matter. He was blessed to just be able to walk with his legs and he didn't need to ask god for anything more, not when he didn't deserve it in his own eyes. 

"As you wish" Levi sighed as he pinched the tip of his nose. 

"I also want to meet this special lady you've got in your life. She's the only person I've ever seen bring a real and honest smile to your face. Just the mention of her makes your mood better, she's a keeper" Yan grinned back cheekily, shuffling in his seat to get more comfortable and he was dying to meet the lady that has both been a blessing and a curse to his friend. He's never seen his friend smile to truthfully as he does when he speaks over the lady. 

"She's the moon while I stand as the sun" Levi mumbled back the old saying, a chuckle escaping his lips as he wouldn't have described either of them in such a way. She was the moon to his stars, neither able to shine without the other's beauty and strength supporting them and standing with them through the darkness. Because without the other, they wouldn't be able to shine through the darkness and be swallowed up whole. 

"Is that a confession I hear?" Yan smirked back, a daring eyebrow raised as he knew Levi wouldn't kill him. He'd already written up all the embarrassing stories into letter's and hidden them away. Allowing them to be sent out in his death just to mess with Levi in a friendly revenge for killing him. 

"I'll be back with Mikasa in a mere hour. Make a fresh pot of tea for when we arrive" Levi warned as he pushed himself to stand and grabbed hold of his jacket that he left folded over the back of the chair. 

"I'll believe that once she's truly standing before me" Yan scoffed back with a playfully eye roll as he's been promised before to meet the lady and it's never happened. 

And that's how Levi had stormed out of the small but homey cottage near the edge of the small town. It was just outside one of the main town's, a ten minute walk away and it was the perfect place for Yan to live in. After leaving the hospital, the man still had to train his legs and he was still trapped with walking with a walking stick. On bad days, he was stuck in a wheelchair and only walking a few steps by himself without support but he was at least able to use his legs for the rest of his life. 

The small town was small enough for him to healthily walk around and enjoy his freedom without pushing himself and risking himself to collapse again like he did often enough in the hospital. And with the town being small, the market was only a couple minutes walk from his cottage anyway and he didn't have to push himself overly hard with daily tasks. 

It took Levi a good thirty minutes to reach the grave yard he needed to be in and slowed his steps in. Buying a single sunflower and heading towards the one grave that held the old man in. Joe had died three years ago. 

It had hit Mikasa hard. 

He wasn't family to the pair of them but an old friend that had seen her at her worse and saw her grow into the young lady she stood as now. 

Joe cheered them both on and supported them both long before anyone else did. He acted like a guardian angel and he became important to the both of them in his own way. 

So, when his death came so suddenly, it was hard.

But was made worse when neither gained the letter over his death until a whole month later. Seemed he was found dead by Charlotte two days after he actually took his last breath in bed. Seemed a heart attach had gotten him or so the doctor had guessed. Evelyn did mentioned that Joe had been getting a little bit sicker like Ava, her grandmother had a year before but Ava peacefully died in her sleep unlike Joe who Charlotte found on the kitchen floor. Evelyn wrote them both a letter, it was the day before their expedition and as always, all letter's that arrive within the camp were placed in a locked room to be given out after everyone returned from the expedition.

It was a silent rule to keep everyone heads clear and their hearts full of hope. You'd be surprise with how many soldier's got dumped or were told bad news the night before they left the walls and that could mess with a soldier head when facing titans. Some .. depending on how bad the news were actually did allow themselves to be eaten by a titan just to end their suffering. So, to stop soldiers from getting themselves or other's killed, no letter's were given until after they arrived. 

But Mikasa letter had gotten lost. It had fallen from the pile and dropped under one of the tables that the letters were placed upon. Normally the letter's belonging to the dead after the expedition ended were collected and sent back to the families, allowing the letter to be returned to whoever might have sent it. And to stop any guilt from ex's or family members who might blame their letter on getting a person killed. 

That's how Mikasa missed Joe's funeral. It was even planned on the day after the expedition since Charlotte knew she'd be given the day off and knew she was important to their grandpa. When Mikasa didn't turn up, both twins assumed that maybe the death had hit Mikasa hard and she wasn't coping well over it. Both didn't know over Mikasa past but they knew that she had survived nightmares and their grandpa warned them both to give her space if he did die. 

So, Evelyn sent a single letter exactly one month after his body was found. Checking in on mikasa and letting her know she could still visit her and her sister whenever she could. That the blacksmiths would always be open to her and they looked forward to spending a lunch together whenever they could still. How Levi was always welcome as well and how she hoped they'd at least stay as letter pals. 

Both Mikasa and Levi was left in confusion over the letter and had took a detour during a "mission" in town and asked Evelyn over it. That's when they were told over Joe's death and everything fell in place. 

Now one of them or both of them would try visiting Joe grave and catch him on the bit's he might have missed out on. Telling how his granddaughters were doing and how everyone was still alive and healthy. 

And that's how Levi found Mikasa. 

Still tucked by the wooden grave and talking as if the old man really was alive and passing on his wide and encouraging words. A sunflower placed before the grave, left by her and Levi silently placed his beside her own before hovering behind her. 

"I want you to meet Yan" Levi quietly as he stared down to her growing hair and noticing it shine in the sunlight that peaks through the dark and mucky looking clouds above. 

"Are you sure?" Mikasa softly asked as she turned her head, glancing up to him as she knew how important this was to him. She also knew how much he worried and feared over her meeting Yan. Meeting someone who knew him from a time before Erwin found him, who knew his whole story and the type of man he use to stand as. He didn't want his past staining their future or how she looked at him. 

"It's time for you both to finally meet. I've been selfish hiding you away and I want to show you off to him. It's time that both he and myself move on from our past and learn to forgive ourselves" Levi admitted as he met her gaze, feeling himself drowning in her kind but deathly stare and knowing he'd never be able to breath again if he carried on letting her swallow him whole like this. 

Mikasa looked away, silently thinking if she was ready to meet Yan even if she's been begging to meet him for years now. Giving a silent nod before giving Joe grave one friendly pat and pushing herself to stand. 

Levi staying silent as he thought up a prey in his head, sending it towards Joe and hoping their guardian angel could still look after them from above. Mikasa patting any dirt from her skirt before slipping her arm with his and allowing him to lead the way. 

Both about to jump into the unknown once more and both fearing over what outcome might come from it this time around. 

Neither feeling brave enough to speak and trying to brave themselves for the coming events they were sending their way. 

The walk seeming both long and yet, way too short for their hearts own good. Slipping inside and taking their shoes off along with their jackets. Levi calling out as he lead her towards the living space and placed his jacket on the back of the matching corner chair, nodding for Mikasa to place her own over his and she did. 

Yan looked up surprised, truly not expecting Levi to keep his word over this and gulping a little. Rubbing at his eyes to prove this wasn't some strange dream before taking a shaky breath as he realized that Levi was finally introducing them to each other. No longer hiding the other from each other. 

This was a big step for all three of them. 

"Mikasa, this is my oldest and trusted friends, Yan. He's the one I've been wanting to introduce you to" Levi calmly introduced Yan towards Mikasa, stepping a few inches beside her as he held a hand towards Yan who stayed sitting in shock. 

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Yan. Levi has told me so much about you and yet, so little at the same time. I'm looking forward to the stories you'll be sharing over his younger self" Mikasa replied politely, giving a small but friendly greeting nod. And unlike most, Yan heard the sweetness in her voice even as her face seemed unreadable. He's learnt to read a lot of emotional people thanks to being close with Levi. 

"Yan, please meet Mikasa, my beloved "romantic" partner" Levi shyly introduced Mikasa to his friend with a small but true smile on his lips. His hand taking hold of Mikasa's as he was finally to let one person know the truth and allow him to show off his beloved partner to the world like she deserved to be. 

"Mikasa, a lovely name and it's lovely to finally meet you in perso- Huh?" Yan kindly smiled as he looked towards Mikasa before hitching as Levi words finally sunk in and his eyes grew wide while his voice broke a little. 

"She's my girlfriend and one day, I hope she'd stand before you as my wife" Levi explained with a bit of pride and warmth filling his eyes as he turned back towards Mikasa. Smirking as he noticed her cheeks turn rosy over his words. 

"Levi!" Mikasa yelp back, smacking his arm out of reflex as they've been having to act rather carefully around everyone and he was pushing their luck again. 

"Your what ... sorry, I think my hearing is finally going. I must have misheard because I thought you said-" Yan muttered back in surprise and confusion as he itched his cheek and glanced between the couple trying to work out if he heard them correctly. 

"I did. I've been meaning to confess my love for Mikasa and how she's the one I've chosen to give my heart too for some time not. But since I stand as Captain and know how annoying my fellow ranked members are .. we've been keeping our relationship hidden for the last couple of weeks. We've planned to tell everyone at the same time by gathering them up in a single room. But I've realized by protecting my own love, I've been holding you back from grabbing your own" Levi explained gently as he turned his gaze back to his friend and a flash of guilt entered his eyes as he realized hiding his possessive and fearful side to keep what he loves safe have only hurt those around him instead. 

"This wasn't how I expect our first meeting to go but please, help us hide our relationship. We planned to tell everyone once I've gained my rank as squad leader in a couple months otherwise everyone would assume that Levi's given me the promotion due to dating him. It seems marriages are fine but one can not announce their love beforehand or risk trouble finding them" Mikasa shyly spoke up as she turned towards Yan with concern. She knew he was a good man but she also knew how much of a shock this was and the bragging right's that came over knowing humanity strongest and a soldier worth a hundred soldiers were dating was high. 

"I'll keep your secret safe until you're both ready to pass on such heavenly news. This day is truly a blessing. I finally get to see my friend find his happiness and I get to meet the beautiful Mikasa he's often talked to me about" Yan smiled like a father back, pushing himself to stand and tearing up with pure joy over the news as he's wished for this day to come true and it finally has. 

"I've found my happiness and I'm keen to keep it, Yan. Mikasa love's me as much as I love her and while we might not be the most romantic couple, we're blessed as we are. It's time you learn to forgive yourself and find your own happiness like I have" Levi admitted as he releases Mikasa hand only to slip his arm around her waist and hold her close, feeling her wrap her arms around his neck in return, snuggling closer into the embrace. 

Yan and Levi shared a smile, giving a small content and knowing nod to the other and both holding high hopes for their own futures. Finally accepting forgiveness and no longer allowing the past to hold them back from gaining happiness. 

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Very Important!!!

Please Read!!

I must give my deepest apologizes to all my most wonderful and lovely readers who's been enjoying this book.

I never met for the book to go on for this long without romance being shown and their "relationship" hitting the next stay. I've always planned towards it but so much have been written up instead and I've dragged this on for so long that I struggled slipping them both into the "dating" stage.

I planned for them to slowly fall in love over the years and finally confess as they knew they wanted nothing more than each other in their life. That they only wanted to see their future not their past.

But as always, I suck at writing and couldn't do it as I wanted.

I think.. I need to take another break from this book and plan it out.

To form a more direct storyline that I can stick with. To plan out the future chapter's better and try to keep to a more .. glued storyline for the pair. I have ideas and plans for this book but I think I just need to plan it all out better before I force this book to become overly long and boring for you all.

I don't know how long the break will be and I apologize deeply for taking another break so soon after the last one.

But this story, as much as I love it, I've clearly made it way too long and I'm still no where near my planned ending for this book. I need to sort myself out better and try to better this book with planned chapters and write my ideas down to form a story staging system. (If that makes sense)

Thank you to each and everyone one of you for reading this far and being as patient as you have been.

You've all supported me through your reads, votes or comments and I'm so thankful to you all for them.

I've always had low confidence and I'm still facing some demons in my head, so you've all been the reason I've stayed writing for as long as I have. And I'm grateful for that.

As always, If I'm gone for overly too long than please nag me/remind me s in the comments. I have awful memory and truly do need people to remind me over these things because I'll just blink and forget how much time has actually passed and what I was meant to be doing.