Your POV
I practically skipped my way to the stables, it was about time Peter and Grace got together. I was more than happy to help him out by babysitting, plus I miss Jack and Ellie quite a bit.
After saddling my horse I made my way to Peter's house, enjoying the silent ride and early evening. Peter and Grace were meant to be together, it took them long enough to figure that out. They had both been in long-term relationships, but those didn't work out in the long run.
Peter and his ex-wife, Ellen, only married because Ellen became pregnant after a one-night stand, and Peter wanted to do the right thing. But their marriage ended when Ellie was only 3. And by then Grace was already married.
But she and her husband didn't last either, and after they divorced Grace reconnected with Peter. However, at the time he and I were in a 'relationship'. I told him if he wanted to pursue her, I didn't mind. He refused though, said it wouldn't be right for him to start a relationship with her given the circumstances.
I felt really bad about that, I felt like I was holding him back from true happiness. But now he is free to finally be with her, and that makes me so happy for him.
I arrived about 15 minutes later and tied my horse to the post outside. I knocked on the door and waited for a response.
A pretty woman with shoulder-length blonde hair and green eyes answered the door. She squealed when she saw me, "(y/n)! Oh my god, I was starting to think you would never come back!"
I laugh as the woman lifts me up into a tight hug, "Hey Ellen, I know I'm sorry, I've been busy." She sets me down and examines me more closely, "They aren't working you too hard, are they?" I can hear the concern in her voice as she stares at the cut on my forehead.
I shake my head, "No, I've been doing well thank you for your concern though." She moved aside to let me into the house
"So, how is my ex-husband treating you, love?" Ellen asks as I remove my boots by the door. "He's been great," I answered cheerfully, "Actually we officially ended our, well whatever it was, um relationship today."
Ellen smiles at me, "Congratulations on your official above-ground citizenship, how does it feel?"
I pause for a moment. I feel the same as always, but I feel slightly better at the thought of never having to go back to Laurie. Even if the scouts doesn't work out, I can live my life peacefully above ground.
"It feels good," I admit, "now where are the kids?"
"Upstairs. I never would have guessed that you would be the one to relieve me of my babysitting duties. All Peter said was he would get someone to babysit for after I brought them home."
I nod and make my way past her to head upstairs. Jack is 11 and Ellie is 9, Jack is a pretty quiet kid, but funny when he does speak. Ellie is very friendly and almost never stops talking. Jack has his mother's straight blond hair and his father's hazel eyes. And Ellie has her father's black curly hair and her mother's green eyes.
I knock on their bedroom door, "Come in!" I hear Ellie call from behind the door. I opened the door and was immediately tackled by both Ellie and Jack.
"You're here! We missed you so much!" Ellie cried happily. "I have only been gone for a couple of months." I laugh as I pat her on the head.
"Still, that's too long." Jack sighed quietly, hanging onto my right hand. "Well I'm here now," I reassured him, "come on, let's go downstairs and say goodbye to your mom, she has to go soon."
I walk with them down the stairs and notice Ellen in the kitchen, "Alright," I say with a clap of my hands, "say goodbye."
"Pfft I'm not going anywhere," Ellen giggled, "Peter didn't say you were going to be the babysitter, and now that I know it's you, we have some catching up to do!"
"No momma!" Ellie whined from my left, "Whenever you and (y/n) are together all you do is talk. We want to play with her!" Ellen put her hands on her hips and pouted playfully at Ellie, "Well whenever she's here and I come and visit, you're always playing with her and I want to talk to her."
Ellie stuck her tongue out at her mom and stamped her foot. "Just let me talk to your mom for a little bit, then we'll kick her out so we can play," I say to her, kneeling down to give her a hug.
"Sure, come on Ellie." Jack steered his sister back up to their room, leaving Ellen and I in the kitchen together.
"I made tea," Ellen said, offering me a seat at the table, "Sit, we may be here awhile."
"Thank you." I nodded as Ellen handed me a cup of tea. "So," I started awkwardly, "How is Paul?"
"Oh no pet, we are starting with you. How is life with the scouts? Meet any handsome young men? Has Peter been bothering you -" Ellen couldn't stop herself, it's been at least a few months since I had seen her. At the time she was getting re-married to a man named Paul, so I didn't get much of a chance to chat with her.
"Whoa, one question at a time, please." I chuckle uncomfortably.
"Fine," Ellen sighs, "Handsome men, go!"
"I mean of course there are," I shrugged while taking a sip of my tea, "I live with a lot of muscular men, they are everywhere." When I said that, immediately Erwin and Levi came to mind...
"Why do you say it like that?" She nagged, "I'm divorced and a newlywed, but I would be lying if I said I wouldn't love to be pressed up against a wall by any of them."
I roll my eyes at her, "I just don't think like that I guess..."
"Maybe you should," Ellen pressed gently when I didn't continue. "I mean, you're 23! You're too young and too beautiful to give up on love now!"
I sat silently, not really knowing what to say. "I've already had that love everyone searches for, it would be selfish of me to want it again." I finally said, trying to push away the image of Malcolm from my thoughts.
Ellen looked like she was going to start crying, "You deserve happiness, (y/n)," she placed her hand over mine, "just don't close yourself off okay? Promise me that if you start feeling something for someone, you won't feel guilty and just let yourself feel it."
Erwin's POV:
I couldn't sleep, so I just ended up wandering around HQ. I learned a lot more about (y/n) today, and I don't really know how to process the information.
She's a widow? I never would have guessed something like that. She does seem like she holds a lot back; doesn't like to let people in. I can relate to that sort of mindset. Though it is a bit strange and intriguing, most women I meet can't stop talking about themselves.
Before I knew it, I walked as far as the stables. Since I'm here I may as well check on the horses. I see light coming from within the stables... Odd, no one should be out here, it's quite late. Unless someone left a candle aflame, which is much worse.
I open the door to the stable to reveal a jumpy (y/n), who is startled by my sudden arrival.
"Commander! Sorry, you scared me." She laughed as she finished unsaddling her horse. "Sorry, I assume babysitting went later than expected?" I inquire, leaning on one of the stall doors.
"Yes, well Peter's ex-wife, Ellen, was there too. She was staying with the kids until I got there, she decided to stick around and chat." She turned to look at the confused look on my face and laughed. "Yeah, it's a pretty weird dynamic."
I watch her as she finishes unsaddling her horse, and puts him in his stall. "What brings you out so late at night, sir?" She asks me as we walk back to HQ together.
"You can call me Erwin when we're alone." I look down at her as she looks up at me in surprise. Did I see some red in her cheeks?
"Okay, what brings you out so late at night, Erwin?" I can't help but like the way, her melodic voice says my name. "I just couldn't sleep," I admitted, "so I thought I would take a late-night stroll, hoping that would help."
"I get that," she smiled sadly, "That happens to me as well. Unfortunately, I don't really have any advice on how to fix that."
"Usually I'll just read until I fall asleep, but it's a beautiful night, so I thought I would try walking instead," I said
"I think that's the only thing I miss about the capital. Some patrons would allow me access to their personal book collections. I read so many amazing things, especially ones on history outside the walls." She said thoughtfully.
I was intrigued immediately. I wonder what sort of books she got her hands on. No doubt there are some interesting ones in the capital.
"That's the main reason I wanted to join the scouts," she continued, snapping me out of my train of thought, "There is a whole world out there, Erwin, and I'll do whatever it takes to see it."
I shivered as she said my name again. I look down at her and smile, "It's nice to see someone so motivated. It seems we have something in common, I also want to solve the mysteries of the walls and the world beyond." I can see her blush a bit, how adorable.
Before we knew it, we reached the doors to the castle, "Well thank you for walking with me," (y/n) thanks me as I open the door for her, "I don't think we have really had just a normal conversation with each other. It was nice." I nod in agreement, "We should do it again sometime."
She smiled and nodded at me, "Goodnight (y/n)." And with that we turned and walked in opposite directions, her to her room and me to mine. Though I would be lying if I said I didn't want to go with her...