Everything was back. All of my memories with Armin had returned and thankfully, even my feelings were back. Armin released the powerful, passionate kiss. He looked at me, eager for a response. Tears built up in the corners of my eyes as I dropped to my knees. I felt devastated. How could I have forgotten about my love for him? How could I have treated him the way I did? How could I have whored myself around so easily? I hadn't been myself for so many months now and I had no clue. 

"Y/N! Was it really that bad? I'm so sorry I'll never do it again. I-I shouldn't have done that, I'm really sorry," Armin apologized. I sat there in a ball, crying in my palms. An endless river escaped my eyes. He bent down and rubbed my back. He could tell it couldn't just be the kiss. It wasn't my first kiss or anything, after all. He asked me what was wrong. 

"I-I remember... I remember everything Armin!" I yelled with heartbreak literally resonating through my tone of voice. Armin felt like his heart stopped, his world spiraled. He couldn't tell if what I just said was reality or a good dream. He'd been waiting so patiently for almost a year now. Could a kiss really be what I needed to be his, yet again? "W-What...?" he stammered, in confusion. "Armin, I remember us. I remember everything we had and how it was all so special. I remember how much I loved you and how much I still love you. I-I can't believe I treated you the way I did. I'm so sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me," I cried. Tears rolled down Armin's cheeks as he began to hyperventilate. His body trembled, he didn't know how to feel.

"Y-You..."

He hugged me and sobbed into my shoulder. "I'm s-so happy..." he managed to squeak out between a hiccup in his cry. "Armin, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for all of the terrible things I said and did to you. And the fact that I was trying to sleep around with everyone. I don't even know who I was. That wasn't me but it was. It was inexcusable and I'm so sorry I completely broke all loyalty I was supposed to have to you. I still don't know how the hell you've continued to love me through all of this. I'm not worthy of being with you, Armin," I wept. 

"It's fine Y/N, it doesn't matter now."

"Yes, it absolutely does! I was terrible to you, I don't deserve to have you! I've honestly never deserved the relationship I've had with you, especially now more than ever. I know we never put a name on it but we were dating. We were committed to each other. I was supposed to be loyal to you as you were loyal to me, but I wasn't. I betrayed you in every sense. You should honestly just break up with me!" I yelled out in pain. It hurt me to admit it, but it was true. I never did deserve him, he was always out of my league. He was too good for me. 

"Y/N, don't say that."

Both of us sat crying uncontrollably in the midst of the sunset. We could barely see each other's faces. He placed a soft hand on my cheek and caressed it with his thumb. I could feel my heart aching. I missed him so much, I wanted to be with him badly, but I knew he'd be better off without me. "I don't care about what happened. You weren't you. I'll love you no matter what. Okay?" he assured me. "Armin..." I cried, unable to utter another word. He pulled me in close and buried my head in his chest. He was so warm. How I missed his touch. "Do you still love me, Y/N? Can things please go back to the way they were? Y/N, I forgive you for everything that's happened within the past several months. I'd already forgiven you as it all happened. I know you feel like you don't deserve to be with me but you don't understand how much it'd kill me inside if we broke up. I would much rather try to fix things with than just give up here and now. What we had was special and I don't think we'll ever find something like that anywhere else out there. I want to salvage what we had because I think it's worth it. Let's start where we left off, okay?" Armin pleaded. He was so forgiving and I felt so unworthy of him, but all I needed, all I wanted was his love. 

"Y-Yes, I want that and I still love you. I always have deep inside. I just couldn't recognize who that love was towards. Armin, it was always you, I just didn't know it. I love you so much."

These words pierced both his brain and heart. Armin couldn't believe it. He was so happy he felt like he was going to explode. He released me from his grasp and wiped away both his and my tears. He got up and pulled me up with him. "Let's go back. Okay?" he said, still trying to hold back tears. I grabbed his hand.

"Yeah, that sounds good."

We traveled back down through the tunnel and to our horse. It took about half an hour to get back to the trainee camp. Once we got back to the stables, I lay down in the hay while Armin untacked. I asked him, "Armin, are you sleeping with me tonight?" "Can I?" he questioned with excitement, smiling. "Yes, if you want. I miss having you as my cabin buddy," I told him. 

"Yes please, I'd love too! I've missed sleeping beside you..."

I got up and exited the stables with him. The sky was navy and I could hear everyone getting ready for bed, up the hill. It was quiet between Armin and I. There wasn't much to talk about. Well, it was more so that there was too much to talk about. I just listened to the distant murmurs of the girls and boys in their cabins. Around the time we reached the outside of my cabin, I stopped. "A-Armin, tell me honestly, and please don't tell me what you want me to think," I began. "What is it?" he asked. 

"Were you still having night terrors all this time? I know it's a sensitive topic but when we were last together, you hadn't had one in a couple of months."

He didn't respond right away. I listened to him breathe, avoiding the question, or maybe finding the right answer. 

"Yes," he mumbled. I could feel a knot in my throat. That was my fault and my fault alone. If anything, my neglectful behavior probably promoted them. 

"How often?"

"Maybe two or three times a night, I'm not sure. But Y/N, please don't worry about it. I'm here now, I got through it."

I felt tears welling up in my eyes again. "I'm so sorry Armin. It's all my fault," I cried, my voice hitching at the end of my sentence. The day was such an emotional roller coaster. So much crying, it was exhausting. 

"Don't be sorry. It's my fault for having them in the first place."

"You didn't make those horrible memories Armin, your parents did. It's their fault."

I knew by saying that, I stepped a bit too far over the line. I felt bad. "I'm sorry for snapping at you Armin," I apologized. He told me it was fine. I suggested we go inside my cabin and he agreed. We walked up the stairs and I opened the door. Armin went inside and I walked in after him. "Are you sure it's okay if I sleep in your bed?" he double-checked.

"Yes, of course. I want you to feel comfortable here."

With my approval in mind, he lay down near the wall, on my bed. I went over and lay down beside him, pulling the covers up to our chins. Armin closed his eyes. "I'm glad you're back Y/N," he whispered. I wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Me too."