A Single Father {LeviHan}

Chapter 18: Fear

Hanji's POV

Wherever I looked, everything was a blur. The steady beeping rang in my ears as I tried to see what was going on. Pain was everywhere. Slowly, my hands then went to my stomach- and I felt that I no longer had a baby bump. My throat was dry and burned whenever I swallowed. Not minding the pain, I had the strength to whisper just a few words: "W-Where's my baby...?"

A sudden tug on my arm nearly made me jump, and I just saw a blur of someone in black. But I noticed that noticeable cravat, and I smiled gently. Levi... 

"L-Levi..."

"Shh..." He says gently, clasping my hand in his tightly. "Don't speak, you're exhausted."

Exhausted? From what?

I didn't let that control me. I didn't let him put me down like that. So, I asked again: "W-Where's my baby...?"

In a flash, Levi carefully put my glasses on, and I saw Eren hunched over in the corner of the room. My heart nearly broke into million of pieces when I pieced it all together. Something bad must've happened to me. What did I remember? I remember we were at home... and I remember a sharp pain. I passed out sometime then. Next second, I remember screaming my head off. Explains my sore throat. Did someone hurt me?

To confirm my little theory, I tried to raise my arms to see any marks. My whole body felt numb- like that feeling in your foot when you lose feeling in it. 

But Levi, again, gently pushed my arms down. "No, don't. You're exhausted and tired."

"W-What happened...?"

He chuckles softly, kissing my cheek. "Did you really forget what happened?" I nodded gently, continuing to look at Eren. I couldn't imagine the pain he was in... to see me in such a bad shape. If everything was about pain... why was Levi smiling and chuckling? Did he fix the problem?

"T-Tell... m-me..."

"I can't believe you forgot your daughter's birth." Levi says, holding my hand tightly. "Well... you were passing out..."

"Is she... is she safe...?"

Levi, once more, chuckles softly. "She is... if I can pry her away from Eren. I feel like he's more of the parent then the both of us combined." With that new take, I look over to Eren and I do see a piece of a pale blue cloth. Eren was, in fact, hunched over something, but with a closer look, he was smiling gently and staring down at a baby.

The feeling of worry and fear disappeared when I realized what I remembered. I remembered the pain of my water breaking and the pain of giving birth. Like Levi said, I can't believe that I forgot my daughter's birth. How could I? I feel idiotic missing it. But she's safe- and that's all that matters. If I had the chance to go back in time and force myself to stay awake and conscious during the birth... I wouldn't. According to multiple research, changing one action in the past may impact the future. If staying conscious damaged my daughter or something else... I wouldn't do such a thing.

"Eren, come here- carefully." Levi says in such a commanding voice that only demonstrated that he was caring when it came to the things that he loved. That's one aspect that I truly love about him. My heart sank into joy when Eren did what he was told- carefully bringing first-borne daughter. "Thanks buddy."

Eren giggles softly, giving me a kiss on the nose. "H-Hi Mommy... you were asleep... I-I took care of Sister for you..."

"Thank you, Eren." I say, seeing Levi with the small child in his arms. He handled her with care, knowing exactly what to do with such a frail child. "Thank you so much- you are such a great older brother to her. "

He giggles softly, sitting on the bed with me. His emerald eyes eyed the little baby, nervous and excited to see her. Levi gently cradled her, looking towards me to see if I was ready. My head nodded gently, yet my hands were shaking badly. "I got you." He says, gently moving my hands in the correct position. He then placed her in my arms- proving support when I needed it.

From the frail child, I heard a soft coo. A coo that melted my heart and soul. Little tufts of her raven hair peeked under from her pale pink hat that was knitted. Her eyes slowly fluttered open with those long eyelashes of hers. She truly was Levi's daughter. After all, she had her father's raven hair and her father's silver-like eyes. 

"You know... Hanji..." I looked up from our child to Levi, seeing him look away. "You were passing out when you were giving birth. Blacking out. What scared me was that... the same happened with Eren's birth mother... she was passing out... and she... lost her life..." Eren didn't move from his spot, so when he heard what happened, he could only sit and lean his heavy head on his father's shoulder. "So when it happened to you, I got scared. You were pale to the bone. I didn't want to lose you..."

"I-I don't want to lose Mommy either, Dad..."

I chuckled softly, pulling my daughter close to my chest. "I would've disliked it very much... because I love you Eren... I love your sister, and I most certainly love your father. You all mean so much to me."

Eren giggles, continuing to watch the girl. "I-I love you too..."

*   *   *

The child remained nameless for a little while. But we were busy trying to think of a name for her. In the end, we finally named her. Levi was pretty persistent when I suggested the name closest to my heart. Lovingly, we named her Iris Isabella Zoe-Ackerman. A little after the victorious naming ceremony, my stomach growled and clawed for food. Explains why they suddenly went on a quest for lunch. And doughnuts. I needed doughnuts.

Iris cooed even more, and I nuzzled her gently. "It'll be alright... I'll protect you..."

The sound of the hospital overtook everything. Steady beeps of the monitors and the quick paces of the nurses and doctors outside was just a normal day in the hospital. I didn't even recognize the man walking in with a bouquet of flowers. He spoke, which startled me. The fear for my baby took over.

"Hanji... congrats..."