Attack On Titan: Goodbyes

Mikasa's POV

"Ereh... Ereh... Ereh... Ereh..."

I whispered his name, over and over, watching the way his face twitched slightly in response. Even in sleep, he looked utterly adorable. I couldn't resist teasing him, my fingers tracing gentle circles against his cheeks. He let out a soft whimper, burying his face in my neck, his breath warm against my skin.

A quiet giggle escaped me as I watched him. Even in exhaustion, his instincts were the same—clinging to me, pulling me closer, as if afraid I'd disappear. My fingers slipped through his hair, now longer than before, sinking deep into its softness. I loved cuddling with Eren more than anything.

It had been two week since I gave birth to Sae and Rin. While I was still recovering, my sweet Eren had taken it upon himself to do everything—cooking, cleaning, hunting, selling, and handling every chore imaginable. No matter how much I insisted on helping, he never let me lift a finger.

"You need to stay in bed for a month. No exceptions." His words echoed in my mind, firm yet filled with so much love.

He was stubborn—for me. And I loved him even more for it.

Smiling, I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his hair. He shifted slightly, murmuring something in his sleep, his grip on me tightening, as I held him.

His arms curled around me, his breath slow and steady.

I sighed softly, feeling the exhaustion in breaths. The past two week had been overwhelming, but not once had Eren complained. He'd taken care of everything—me, the twins, even Erika, who had become attached to him more than ever.

It wasn't just the chores he handled; it was the way he kissed my forehead every morning, the way he carefully tucked me in at night, the way he never let me feel alone even for a second.

I ran my fingers through his hair again, marveling at how much he'd changed. Not just physically—his hair longer, his features sharper—but in the way he carried himself.

And yet, like this, he looked like the same boy I'd always loved.

I let out a breath, closing my eyes.

Then, a tiny cry pierced the quiet.

I felt Eren jolt slightly, his instincts sharper than ever. His eyes cracked open, dazed, but already moving before he was even fully awake.

"I got it…" he mumbled, sitting up groggily.

I reached for his sleeve, shaking my head. "Ereh… sleep. I'll go."

But he was already out of bed, rubbing his face, his feet dragging across the wooden floor as he made his way to the cradle where Sae was stirring, his little fists clenched.

I watched as Eren carefully picked him up, holding him with the gentleness of someone who had done this a thousand times before. He rocked him slightly, whispering soft words, his voice soothing.

Sae settled almost immediately.

Eren exhaled, shifting to hold him closer, his fingers brushing against his tiny head.

I bit my lip, my heart swelling at the sight.

"You're amazing," I murmured.

He turned his head, looking at me with tired eyes and a small smirk. "You say that like I wasn't already."

I laughed quietly, my arms spread wide as I looked him with big, wide eyes "Come."

He smiled, glancing down at Sae placing him back in his cradle.

Eren made his way to the bed, and without a second thought, I took my usual spot—settling onto his lap, my arms wrapping around his neck as we leaned into each other. Kisses and quiet laughter filled the space between us, our foreheads pressing together in a moment of pure warmth.

"Thank you for all the hard work, my dear husband…" I murmured, placing a soft kiss on his forehead.

He simply nodded, his hands playfully tugging at my cheeks before sliding down to rest on my flat-belly. His palm lingered there, warm and firm.

A smile tugged at his lips. "From a cute girl with rock-hard abs… to a beautiful woman with a swollen belly," he teased, his voice laced with affection.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't hide my own smile as I leaned closer, our bodies pressing together.

"Eren?" My voice came out softer than I intended.

He met my gaze, a flicker of curiosity in his green eyes.

I hesitated, feeling a nervous lump form in my throat. The question had been lingering in my mind for a while, but saying it aloud felt… different.

"You've seen different worlds," I finally said, my fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt. "Met different versions of me, right?"

His brow lifted slightly, but he nodded, waiting for me to continue.

"Then…" My heartbeat quickened, warmth creeping up my neck. He noticed immediately, and that damn teasing smirk of his appeared.

I swallowed hard, voice barely above a whisper. "Which version of me do you love the most?"

Eren blinked. "What kind of question is that?" he asked, scratching his head as if I'd just thrown him the biggest mystery of his life.

I looked down, unable to meet his gaze. It was embarrassing to ask, but… I needed to hear it. Because no matter how irrational, some small part of me feared his answer.

Silence stretched between us before I felt his hand on my head, gently ruffling my hair. My heart clenched. He knew how much I loved it when he did that.

His hand traveled down, his fingers tilting my chin up, forcing me to look into those deep green eyes.

"It's hard to answer a question like that," he admitted, his thumb brushing against my cheek. "But if I had to choose… you take the lead over every other Mikasa."

My breath hitched. He wasn't lying. Eren was never one to say things just for the sake of it—he always spoke the truth.

A sharp ache filled my chest, an overwhelming rush of love and relief surging through me. My hands found his cheeks, cradling his face as I whispered, "Why?"

His gaze softened, and his lips curved into something gentle—something that made my entire world slow to a stop.

"Because you're the only special piece I've ever encountered."

For a moment, I thought I misheard him.

"Eh?" I muttered, confused.

Eren smirked in response, his hands catching mine as he pushed me gently onto the mattress. His weight hovered over me, his fingers interlocked with mine, and his sharp green eyes held something raw—something unspoken yet overwhelming.

"Tch… Always shouting 'Ereh this, Ereh that'—spare me," he muttered, his voice carrying a teasing edge. "Shy whenever I touched them… Bursting with joy even if I complimented them… Always acting like I'm their kid…"

It took me a moment to process his words.

"You're my famiy Eren, come home… I want to shoulder your sins with you. This was an infinite loop I was stuck with. Some worlds were good though others sucked ass."

His voice softened, and for the briefest moment, I saw something flicker in his eyes—something distant, like a memory slipping through his fingers.

"And in each of those worlds, I just died with regrets," he murmured.

Eren pulled back slightly, but he was smiling at me. A bittersweet, tired kind of smile.

"The reason you're special is because you're not like them. You broke that endless cycle," he continued. "And I mean, what kind of woman can tie her husband up at night, act like a helpless victim, then pull off those kitten-like faces to convince me into anything?"

His grip on my hands loosened, and before I could react, he collapsed onto me, his body sinking into mine. I held him instantly, my arms wrapping around his back as if they belonged there. As if they were made for this—for him.

"But the reason I love you the most…" His voice was quieter now, laced with something deeper. His breath fanned against my neck as he spoke. "Because you saved me… from taking the lives of so many innocent people. They have someone they love too, right? They have kids, just like Erika, Sae, and Rin..."

I felt a lump rise in my throat.

He exhaled, his grip tightening around me, as though grounding himself in my presence.

"And what makes me love you even more," he continued, "is that, without saying or doing anything, you showed me there's more to life than just killing and dying..."

Slowly, he lifted his head, his eyes finding mine in the dim light. He leaned in, our foreheads touching, his warmth seeping into me like the last embers of a dying fire.

His next words came as a quiet promise, one that felt like it carried the weight of an entire lifetime.

"I promise… No more killing… No more dying… I'll find another way."

I closed my eyes, pressing my forehead deeper against his.

"Um hm…" I breathed, smiling softly.

We stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's warmth, before I suddenly grinned.

"Anyhow!!!"

Eren blinked his eyes open, looking at me with that soft, lazy warmth that made my heart flutter.

"You do remember our deal, don't you, Yeager?" I smirked, shifting so I was now sitting on top of him, pinning his wrists to the bed with my fingers interlocked with his.

"Oh yeah… The guessing game. The one I—"

Before he could finish, I cooed teasingly, cutting him off.

"Yeah, the one you badly lost. One girl, one boy? Spare me, Yeager. What kind of guess was that?"

He blinked at me, clearly registering my smugness, while deep down, I was on the verge of bursting into laughter.

"I told you, didn't I? Two boys was the right choice, but you just wouldn't listen to your cute wife…"

"But I—"

I hushed him with my finger, pressing it against his lips.

"Anyhow, since I'm the winner, I get two wishes, right?"

To my surprise, Eren chuckled instead of complaining. Before I could react, he suddenly sat up, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into a tight hug like I was some kind of teddy bear.

"My beautiful queen," he said, voice deep and affectionate, "ask anything you want, and I'll do it over and over again..."

I bit my finger dramatically, widening my eyes as I played up my act.

"Ereh~chan… C-Can you make ice cream for me?" I stammered, twirling a lock of my hair between my fingers. "T-Today… I mean… Y-You don't have to if you don't want to… I-I just—"

Before I could finish, he kissed me.

"Um hm," he hummed against my lips, his way of saying yes. "That all?"

I grinned, locking eyes with him.

"Oil up."

"...Eh?"

"Let's have another kid, Eren."

"...EH?!"