Our future signed in letter

Chapter 16

London:
Autumn has started and it is the beginning of October. According to the regulation, they had to spend the next days and weeks alone in the tea shop. From the 2nd week on, Mikasa only has gone to the market briefly to buy groceries. With the prescribed face mask, of course. This is checked at regular intervals by the police and anyone who does not comply will have to pay heavy fines. This would not happen to her with Levi as a life partner. Before she leaves the store, he always reminds her to wear a clean, freshly bleached mask. He never wants her to get the same terrible fever as it‘s done to him. Fortunately for him, he survived, others didn't. Many have died within a few days or even hours.
At the market, Mikasa always briefly meets Gabi or Onyankopon (Falco always stays at home and does the housework during the time). All three are doing well, thank God, and Gabi’s pregnancy is gradually getting better than the beginning. Mikasa always admires her big belly. "It'll get even bigger," laughs Gabi, "and Falco loves it about me."
“And how far are you?” She asks, raising her hand. Mikasa blushes, if not as bad as it did in the beginning. She already knows that it is serious between her and Levi, not only that she has caught them kissing and hugging.
Gabi also has noticed the ring on Mikasa's finger and has been so happy for them both.
“I knew from the beginning that he would ask you when you had to leave us 6 years ago and then you wrote the first letter to him.
Oh, he had suffered so much and when you stood in front of us a few months ago, I knew that he would never let you go again. When do you want to get married? ”Asks Gabi with shining eyes.
Mikasa looks embarrassed: “We haven't been to the registry office yet because of the contact restrictions. We only want to get married on a small scale, we agree on that. But you three are cordially invited when the time comes. "

Gabi looks at her understandingly and also sadly, “I see. We also had to reschedule our wedding because of this epidemic. It is so sad. I'm afraid that our baby will go on the road before our wedding and then be considered a bastard. "
Gabi is about to cry again and Mikasa is so sorry not to be allowed to hug her.
She tries to cheer Gabi up, “wait until the end of the month. There are only 2 weeks left and then you can get married. Until then, the baby will not be there. How long is it until the birth? "
Gabi wipes away her tears and her eyes start to shine again, “my midwife says it's still a good 3 months. I'm in the middle of the 6th month. "
Mikasa is reassured that Gabi and Falco are doing so well financially that they can afford a midwife even before the birth.
She thinks of herself and Levi on this subject. Every night they take time for each other several times and even once in the morning before getting up to get through the long day. Mikasa gets very warm at the thought. In Gabi's gaze she notices that she is thinking of Levi and their hot nights together.
A knowing smile forms around Gabi's mouth.
“Take care of yourself in the near future. The signs are there quickly. I felt uncomfortable and my breasts began to tighten as if they were getting a growth spurt. Well, that's how it was ... ", she circles Mikasa's belly with her index finger," maybe there is already something in you. "
Inevitably, Mikasa is reminded of the little girl and she hears her happy laugh again. Her look becomes nostalgic.
"What are you thinking about?" Asks Gabi curiously.
Mikasa feels caught, “I had to think about our future child. I saw her twice in my dreams, ”says Mikasa thoughtfully.
"You will soon carry it in your belly", Gabi says with conviction and has to say goodbye with these words. Mikasa waves her goodbye again thoughtfully and so she goes back to the shop.

Arrived at the store, Levi awaits her with a hot cup of tea "White Beauty". He is sitting in his wheelchair and reading the daily newspaper.
Mikasa smiles at that. Levi is not the kind of man who makes expressions of love every day. But she always notices it here and there in a subtle way and this tea, which he created just for her, is a loving gesture of it.
She immediately goes into the bathroom to put her cloth mask in chlorinated water and first disinfect her hands with pure alcohol and then wash them with soap and water. In order to be able to be with Levi again immediately afterwards.
"I met Gabi at the market ..." she says to him. He nods in confirmation and points to the newspaper. Mikasa gets a bad feeling because the newspaper is never a bearer of good news, as it has had to find out more often in the past.
There is an article in the newspaper that says that Rainer and Piek are still in custody and that Paradis is being prevented from executing them both. Hizuru, Great Britain and other states communicated very clearly with Paradis. Should Paradis fail to keep the agreements and execute both of them anyway, the allied states will declare war on Paradis.
Mikasa cannot believe what has become of her former home. She would never have thought what her decision would bring with it 6 years ago and secretly blames herself for everything.
Worst of all, she hasn't heard from Annie and Jonathans until now. Are they still alive, are they okay? Annie and Armin's baby should be born or be on its way soon. But as Levi told her, as long as she hasn't heard anything negative, Annie will be alive with her children.