Band- It College Years

Growing strong

The baby was crying, she hadn't stopped in hours, at least that's what it felt like. The kettle was hissing, the TV was blurring, even his alarm was going off. Armin wanted to scream from all the noise. He tried to get the kettle but was holding the wailing infant. Eren wasn't answering his phone, he and Levi went somewhere. Armin, tears rolling down his face, plopped down in the middle of his kitchen floor.

He was a failure as a parent. Only three weeks in and he couldn't do anything right. The door opened. "Armin?" a voice called out.

"Hey, I knocked but..." Erwin walked into the room. "Uh, you're not ok." He muttered. Erwin shut the kettle off, pulled the baby's bottle out and made up some formula. He tested it on his wrist to make sure it wasn't to hot for the little girl.

"Look, days like this are hard, it's OK to lose it now and again." Erwin stated. "You're only human." He smirked. He handed the blond teen the bottle. The baby quieted as she drank. Her little hiccups as she sniffled made Armin feel even worse.

Erwin poured the hot water from the kettle into two cups. He added tea and honey. He went and shut the TV off. Then knelt down beside the boy. "OK, what's up?" he asked.

"She keeps crying. Won't sleep all night." Armin muttered. Erwin ran a finger inside the girls mouth.

"Well, she's teething. We can get her some teething rings."

"Isn't she too young to have teeth?" Armin asked. Erwin stood.

"Nope, babies can be born with them. It's an easy fix, love." Armin blinked up at Erwin. The tall detective had been around a lot lately.

"Look, I came to bring you something. Um, well, they had the police auction yesterday. Some of the guys they donated money, even went to other precincts to get donations. I tapped into some of my savings and we were able to get you an old police car. It's not pretty, and has a lot of miles on it, but it's in good shape. It'll last a while longer." Erwin offered. Armin tried to stand up with the baby in his arms.

Erwin moved in to help. "Thanks. You've done so much for me." He told the man.

"Well, I, uh like you." Erwin smirked a little. He turned away. "You've done so much for Eren and you help everyone, and uh..." Armin touched his arm, turning him to face him.

"And Eren told you I was bi?" he asked. Armin smiled. "I like you too. YOU'VE done a lot for all of us as well." He pointed out. Erwin smiled.

"She's asleep." Maria was gently cooing now. Armin took her to her room. When he came back out he sat with Erwin at the table.

"I'm a long way from having all my shit in order..." He began.

"I don't think anyone is perfect in that area." Erwin smirked. "Uh, would you like to have coffee and talk sometime?" he asked.

"How about now? Maria's asleep." Armin smirked. Erwin grinned.

"Yeah, sure." He blushed a little. It had been some time since he found an interest in dating. Armin was such a great person... They were still talking when Eren walked in, some three hours later.

"Hey, got your texts." He called. Levi came in behind him. Maria was laying on a play mat on the floor. The two blonds looking over her. Eren gave Armin the bag of teething rings and toys he had gotten, also some baby orajel.

"You look cozy, one little happy family?" Levi snorted.

"Actually, Erwin and I were discussing something like that." Armin glanced over. Eren placed his large size ten shoe on Erwin's chest.

"You treat my babies right!" He warned. Erwin smiled.

"Always." He promised. Eren smirked, bending he scooped up the baby. He started to sing to her.