Once in a Lifetime

Chapter seven

"Where's Jean?" Connie sounded frantic.

"Ending this," Armin says, running up to the ship that was waiting for the rest of the scouts to return.

Everyone looked around. All the Colossal Titans had stopped and fallen wherever they stood. That was their sign of this nightmare end.

"Where's Sasha?"

Reiner and Connie looked at each other. "She's gone." Mumbled Connie, holding back his tears.

Mikasa and Armin froze for a second before being interrupted by Zeke running up behind them. "I took care of what I could. Is everyone here?"

"Waiting on Jean. The rest of the ships have evacuated. It's only us, Porco, Pieck, Annie, and Jean on this ship. We had to wait for Jean but everyone else needed to be evacuated." Levi elaborated. "Where's Hange?" he asks.

Zeke hesitates for a moment before taking a deep breath. "She gave her life to save a civilian family."

Everyone turned to look at Levi,

"We'll have a gathering for all lives lost when we reach wherever we are going." Declared Levi.

Porco and Pieck both came back up to the ship's upper deck. "Come with me, Levi. I'll help you find a nice spot to rest below deck." Pieck kindly says.

For a moment Levi looked offended but accepted Piecks offer and her help going back below deck.

"Hey guys," Porco poked Reiner, "what's that coming towards us?"

Reiners's eyes narrowed, then widened. "It's Jean!"

"Jean!" The group shouted in unison as they all jumped off the ship running towards their friend.

Jean de-transformed from his Titan when he noticed everyone running at him. If he wasn't so tired he would've run to meet them but he could only walk.

Connie, Mikasa, and Armin all jumped at Jean forcing him into a group hug.

"Okay okay! I'm alive but I'm sore, ease up on your grips. Especially you, Ms. Ackerman." Jean teased his friends.

"Sorry sorry." Armin apologized. "We're just happy you're okay. Levi is resting right now but he's gonna be glad you're okay."

Jean looked around, he didn't see Hange or Sasha. He decided not to say anything about it, he knew what most likely happened. Then he looked up at Reiner and Zeke. "All right you awkward people get in here." Jean rolled his eyes.

Zeke and Reiner looked at each other before smiling and joining the group hug.

"We should get back to the ship. Now that we have everyone we can get out of here." Armin points out as the group hug breaks and everyone walks back to the ship.

The rest of the team loaded up on the ship. Zeke gives the signal to head out. Most of them decided to head below deck and rest there while they waited to arrive at their destination, but Jean decided to stay above. He walked slowly to the top of the ship leaning over the rail looking down at the water. Everything was quiet, nothing but the wind. At this feeling, Jean took a deep breath.

Don't turn around.

Jean stood up a bit, closing his eyes.

Don't turn around.

Good thing for Jean, he always hated the voice in his head.

As Jean looked back at the Island slowly disappearing from sight. He knew that he, and Eren almost made it, there just wasn't enough time. Most importantly he hated the fact that he didn't hate Eren at all. He hated the fact, he still loved him.

Though he didn't die literally. He felt something inside him perish, something that made him wish he had died on the blimp.

—

"And with that, they became not friends, not lovers, just strangers with memories. That's the story, kids. I led a press conference and from there we got our own piece of land, and there has been nothing but peace among the Eldians and the rest of the world for a year now." I smiled at the kids in the circle.

"That's it?!"

"Who rules now? Jean, Zeke, or Mrs. Historia?"

"I have so many questions."

"That can't be the end!"

"Mr. Arlert excuse my rudeness but that was a very dark story that I wish you had not told."

I laughed. "But it's part of our history." I stood up. "You're right, there is more to the story. But the sun is setting now and your families will be expecting you."

"Bye Mr. Arlert." The kids waved their goodbyes.

I waved goodbye to the kids and hurried out of the building, through the market, and to the great hall where the others were waiting for me.

"Hi Armin!" Falco greeted me as I entered the hall. He was sitting with Levi and Gabi. The two kids had taken a liking to our Captain quickly. I waved as the others entered the room through the big doors.

"Hey babe!" Annie greeted me by putting a kiss on my cheek.

"Glad you're here, you can help us get ready for the masked ball and Mikasa's arrival tomorrow." Historia smiled.

Everyone was in charge of something. Connie and I were in charge of cleaning. Reiner, Zeke, and Poroc were in charge of putting banners, lights, and making sure everything was going to work tomorrow. Historia, and Pieck helped each other make everything look perfect and tied together. Levi was busy telling Gabi and Falco how to properly use a sponge.

Everyone was busy at tomorrow marked a momentous occasion of a year of peace. But, as I looked around I noticed a very important shifter was missing from the mix.

"Where's Jean, Zeke?" I had asked the blonde after he put down a box.

"Broskis on the balcony. No one wanted to bother him, especially after practice yesterday." Zeke cleaned his glasses.

I thanked Zeke and headed over to the balcony. I opened the door leading to it and there Jean was looking out onto the water. He seemed zoned out.

"Hey, buddy." I greeted him resting on the railing as he is.

"Oh." Jean seemed to exit his thoughts. "Hey Armin." He gave a forced smile.

"How are you doing? After practice yesterday and all. I'm sure getting control of the Founding Titan is hard."

He seemed confused for a moment.

"Oh yeah! Yeah. I had been so used to just using the WarHammer I didn't know what I was exactly supposed to do when using the Founding, and Zeke's constant telling me what to do was really helpful." He sarcastically said.

I looked him up and down. "Thinking about him?"

Jeans demeanor changed. "I suppose." He looked down.

"You were so important to him. I like to think that he stayed okay for longer than he would've because he had you. You completed him, and he completed you. Some people just lose their way. That doesn't mean that the love you shared with him was all a lie. I saw the way he looked at you from the beginning. Why he did what he did, will never truly be known. Everyone knows one thing though. You were his once in a lifetime."

"But not his happily ever after."

He looked back out to the horizon, I could tell that in the end Jean realized no matter how much history they shared, there was never going to be a future for him and Eren. It's like what is said about shooting stars, time stops when you see them but then they're gone in a flash. In a split second you catch their gaze, and your dreams are happening right in front of your eyes. It was like that. It was how it was for Jean to love Eren. Their story was perfect, but sadly, they ran out of ink and couldn't write their happy ending.

After all, it was only meant to be once; Once in a Lifetime.

Right?