The morning sun's warm rays crept through the glass windows, as they gently caressed Eren's face, casting a golden glow on his peaceful features. Nestled between Grisha and Carla, he was enveloped in a cocoon of their warmth and love.
Their gentle snores harmonized in a soothing melody, filling the quiet morning with a sense of serenity. The soft rise and fall of their chests, the gentle rustle of their breathing, and the warmth of their bodies created a haven of comfort around him.
Yet, despite the tranquil atmosphere, Eren's night was a restless one. Grisha's thunderous snores had pierced the silence, making it impossible for him to sleep soundly. The coziness of his parent's hands on his chest was a comforting reassurance, but their tight cuddle made the thermal surge even more oppressive. Eren felt like a small boat, tossed about by the waves of summer's heat, unable to escape the tidal wave of radiance.
As he lay there, surrounded by the people he loved, Eren's thoughts drifted back to the emotional reunion with Grisha the night before. The weight of their regrets, the intensity of their emotions and the complexity of their relationships swirled around him like a maelstrom, making his mind spin. The irony of his situation brought a wry smile to his lips; he had hoped for a peaceful night's sleep, but fate had other plans.
As the sun's rays danced across his face, Eren felt the gentle stirrings of a new day, full of possibilities and promise. He knew that this day would bring its own set of challenges, its own share of joys and sorrows. But for now, in this moment, he was content to bask in the warmth of his family's love, to let their presence soothe his soul, and to let the gentle rhythm of their breathing lull him into a peaceful reverie but the scorching sun said otherwise.
"Eren? Son, why aren't you sleeping?" Grisha asked, confusion etched on his face, as Carla partially rose up to gaze at Eren with concern. "Sweetie, you haven't caught a fever, have you? The sun is indeed cruel these days," Carla said, glancing outside the window.
Eren's eyes remained wide open, a vein visible on his face as he forced a smile, despite his parents' silly innocence. "Don't worry, Mom, Dad, it's nothing serious," he said, trying to reassure them.
Grisha and Carla nodded as they lay back, snuggling even tighter squeezing the life out of the little kid who lay in between them waiting for death itself, their breath fell upon Eren's ears as sweat dripped down his face. "Sweetie, you're lying; there's something wrong," Carla said, sitting up and rubbing her hands against Eren's sweaty cheeks. Grisha sat up too, saying, "Maybe you've caught a fever; I should check. Hey, Carla, bring the medicine box; I'll examine him right away."
Eren thought to himself, "Wow, such a qualified doctor you are Grisha." Just as Carla was about to fetch the medicine box, Eren interrupted, "Hey, Mom... on second thought... I'm not okay; I'm just hungry." Carla chuckled, "Oh my... I'm such an idiot... of course, it's because you're hungry... honey, don't worry, I'll bring food right away."
It seemed Carla's sense of reason abandoned her whenever Eren presented a vague reason to avoid telling her something.
"I'll make something right away, sweetie," Carla smiled, leaving the room and Eren alone with Grisha. Grisha placed his hand on Eren's forehead, "Well, it's nothing, Eren, just the hot weather." Eren nodded in agreement, standing up as sweat poured down his face. "Maybe I'll take a shower..." he thought, peeking out the window.
"Hey, Dad, so I was wondering..." Eren said, turning back to the bed, only to find it empty. "Son... I'll be right back. we'll talk later after my shower," Grisha called out from the restroom, already indulging in his notoriously long shower sessions.
A small tear rolled down Eren's face as he made a weird face, thinking, "My family already takes me as a joke." Meanwhile, Grisha was savoring the cold shower, oblivious to Eren's frustration.
The sizzling sounds from the kitchen indicated that Carla was busy preparing breakfast. Eren stayed in the room, waiting for Grisha, and decided to do some exercises to stay in shape - push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and crunches to maintain his abs and biceps. The silence was punctuated only by his heavy breathing and the sound of his parents' daily routine.
After an hour of exercise, Eren heard Carla's voice, "Eren, breakfast is ready!" Coincidentally, Grisha emerged from the restroom at the same time. Eren shot him a miserable glance, but said nothing, and they both headed downstairs.
Carla had prepared a feast: her special stew, freshly baked bread, a delicious-looking omelette and some leftover cookies. Eren, as always, devoured his food instantly, only to find himself outpaced by Grisha. "Damn, I never thought Dad was this fast," Eren said, staring at Grisha, who was swallowing the stew, Grisha looked at Eren with a sly grin and teased "Pfft, amateurs,"
Eren shot back an evil smile, "Well, then, Doctor Grisha, bring it on!" The two engaged in a fierce eating contest, with Carla forced to cook more food as neither would give in. Finally, Grisha conceded defeat and both sat motionless, stuffed. Eren's eyes shone with excitement, triumphant in his victory unable to move.
Grisha rose from his seat, worried, "Oh man, look at me, I'm covered in oil and sweat. Guess I'll take another shower." Before Eren could respond, Grisha headed to the showers, leaving Eren to wait another hour for his dad to finish. Eren's words fell on deaf ears, "Wait, Dad, I..."
Eren thought to himself, "Yep...I'm a joke." After another long and merciless hour, Grisha finally emerged, but before Eren could celebrate, exhausted Carla headed to take a shower. Eren's raised hands fell to his sides as he slumped onto the wooden floor, "Why is the world so cruel?"
Carla's loud humming echoed from the restroom to the living room, where Eren sat sweaty on the couch, his tongue hanging out of his mouth as if he'd lost all hope. Time itself seemed to stand still. Finally, Carla emerged, and Eren knew he had no time to celebrate. He rushed towards the restroom, grabbing a rough pair of clothes and slamming the door shut behind him.
Eren savored every droplet of cold water on his sore muscles, thinking, "Man, I wonder what Levi and the others are up to right now." He rubbed soap around his body and shampoo onto his silky hair, enjoying the heavenly shower. Afterward, he changed into fresh clothes and headed downstairs, where his parents wore neat attire, making him look like a complete beggar in his green t-shirt and black shorts.
Eren settled into the couch, looking up at the ceiling, "Hey, Mom, Dad, are you guys invited somewhere or something?" Carla who was helping Grisha with his coat and hat responded, "Sweetie, didn't I mention yesterday that we're meeting your Aunt Karol today ?" Eren's expression turned weird, his eyes widening in realization, "You didn't forget, did you, Eren?" Grisha asked as their gazes met. Eren nodded sheepishly, "So you forgot," Grisha teased, trying to act like a spy.
Carla reminded Eren, "Sweetie, go get ready, we'll be waiting." Eren headed to his room and returned wearing a casual light blue shirt, dark blue pants, and sandals. Before departing, Eren stopped his parents, "Hey, Mom, Dad I wanted to talk about this earlier this morning but I guess we won't get sufficient time so.."
Both Carla and Grisha were a bit confused,
" I really want you to take the money, please." They smiled, pride evident on their faces as they refused Grisha replied as he placed his hands on Eren's shoulders, "Son, we can't take it. This job that I have is because of you; we're doing well." Eren smiled giving up, "Okay... But what will I do with so much money?"
His parents were confused even more, "Well, if it's alright, let's donate it to those who really need it." Carla and Grisha felt proud of Eren's decision. Eren continued realising "And, Mom told me Aunt Karol's family is struggling, dependent on Uncle Jacob's hunting and Aunt Karol growing vegetables, but there are things only money can buy... So let's take about a million."
Carla reassured, "Honey, don't worry, we support them through Grisha's income." Grisha added, "It's Eren's decision, and don't worry, I'll keep sending them money even after this."
Eren hastily filled a bag with handfuls of gold coins, taking about a million, and left the rest hidden behind a locker. The three of them set off towards Wall Maria, taking in the sights of the bustling streets. They watched as merchants delivered exotic spices to various shops, priests taught gathered commoners, and chefs cooked up a storm, enticing locals with savory aromas.
As they walked, the sounds of the city filled the air - merchants calling out their wares, the clanging of pots and pans, and the murmur of the crowd. The smell of freshly baked bread and roasting meats wafted through the air, making Eren's stomach growl with hunger even after the eating contest. Despite the chaos, the three of them moved through the crowd with ease.
As they journeyed on, the sky began to transform, dark clouds gathering on the horizon. The air grew thick with anticipation, and the wind picked up, carrying the scent of impending rain. Eren gazed up at the clouds, his eyes narrowing slightly as he quickened his pace.
"Looks like a storm is brewing," Grisha observed, his voice low and thoughtful.
Carla nodded, her eyes scanning the sky. "We should hurry, then. We don't want to get caught in the downpour."
The three of them hastened their steps, their footsteps echoing off the buildings as they navigated the winding streets. The clouds grew darker, and the wind began to whip through the city, sending merchants scrambling to secure their wares and pedestrians seeking shelter.
As they approached the gate leading out of Wall Maria, the first droplets began to fall, pattering against the stone pavement like a thousand tiny drummers. Eren smiled, feeling a thrill of excitement as the storm unleashed its full fury.
As they exited Shig, luckily they found a cart waiting by the gate, its horses' coats glistening in the rain - one white with black patches, the other black with white patches. Grisha paid the fare and gestured for Carla and Eren to climb aboard, seeking shelter under the cart's canopy. The driver, a gruff but kind-eyed man, nodded in greeting.
As they rode, the rain filled the air with its sweet scent, and Eren felt a sense of adventure wash over him. After fifteen minutes, the cart halted before a dense forest, Grisha's cautious nature ensuring they left no trail for unwanted followers.
As they disembarked, the downpour softened to a gentle drizzle, the dark clouds lingering above like sentinels. Grisha paid the driver, and they agreed to continue on foot, the silence between them comfortable.
The three walking through the dense forest while Eren teased Carla, "I bet you're really happy, Ma. Is your heart beating fast?" His tone was playful, and Carla smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Maybe just a little, dear," Carla replied, her voice conveying happiness. "But I'm actually happy that Karol will get to meet you, Eren." Eren looked puzzled, "Eh? Why me? I don't even know her..." He gazed up at the sky, soft rain droplets bouncing off his red cheeks.
Carla chuckled, "Honey, she breastfed you when you were little." Eren's expression turned even more bewildered, "What's that?" Carla's laughter grew, "Well, you'll know it once you have children of your own."
Eren didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the dense forest as they ventured deeper. Finally, they emerged, and their eyes fell upon a charming wooden house atop a hill. The rain intensified, and Eren shouted, "First to the house wins!" He took off, followed by Carla and Grisha, their laughter and cheers filling the air as they hurried towards the house.
The wooden house stood warmly, its honey-brown walls glowing with a soft, inviting light. The roof, a deep brown that seemed to absorb the rain, was adorned with curved tiles that shimmered like dark, wet leaves. Smoke drifted lazily from the chimney, carrying the scent of baking bread and simmering stew.
The windows, framed by lush greenery, sparkled like bright eyes, their shutters painted a cheerful yellow that seemed to smile at the approaching family. A winding path, overgrown with wildflowers, led to the front door, which was adorned with a beautiful iron knocker in the shape of a snarling lion's head. The entire scene exuded a sense of warmth, comfort, and welcoming tranquility, like a gentle hug on a cold, rainy day.
Finally they reached the front door panting and giggling. Grisha ruffled Eren's wet hair, "Looks like you won, kiddo!" Carla smiled, her eyes shining with warmth. Here's
As they stood before the cozy abode, the three shared a moment of unbridled joy, their hearts overflowing with love and contentment. Eren's beaming smile illuminated the rain-soaked surroundings, infectious and pure. Grisha's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled back, his hand rising to grasp the lion's head knocker. With a deep breath, he rapped twice on the door, the sound echoing through the stillness like a promise of new beginnings.
And so, as the rain drummed a soothing melody around them, the Yeager family stood poised on the threshold of a new chapter in their lives, ready to embrace the warmth and love that awaited them within. The door, adorned with the fierce yet gentle lion's head, seemed to hold its breath, ready to swing open.
"Coming." A faint voice came from inside.