The Ereri Project!

Bloom

Their first spring in their new house, Levi decides he wants to plant a garden in their back yard.

Eren concedes, but mostly because he thinks Levi's planning face is cute. The Sunday Levi decides he's going to do it he calls over Erwin for help.

Eren has the radio playing while he tries to figure out how to work the outdoor grill for their lunch a little later and a two year old Petra is sitting on the patio concrete playing with superhero action figures.

"Why isn't your husband helping you instead of me?" Erwin asks, digging another hole.

"Because Eren doesn't know shit about gardening and you do."

Erwin sighs, not for the last time that day and wipes his forehead. "Did you have to pick the hottest day this year so far?"

Levi glares at him. "Yes, in fact it's been my intention all along to cause the heat stroke that kills you leaving me to deal with that godforsaken hotel all by my damn self."

Eren laughs from his place on the patio. "I told you when I called you you should've worn shorts Erwin," he says.

Erwin just sighs again and continues working.

By noon, half of Levi's plan is complete and Eren hasn't burned their cheeseburgers. However, when they sit down to eat, Petra is much more interested in getting a closer look at the azaleas and daffodils planted near the fence. "Sweetheart, come eat," Eren says.

"Papa, what this?"

"What's what?"

Petra reaches in past the flowers to pick something up. Levi and Eren glance at each other while she shields whatever it is in her hands while she runs back over. She pulls herself into Erwin's lap and drops a caterpillar onto the table. "What this?"

"Oh," Eren drawls, relieved it's not a spider or similarly dangerous bug. "That's a caterpillar."

"It's crawly," she says.

"They turn into butterflies when they grow up," Erwin says.

Petra gasps. "No way."

Levi snorts. "You'll see in a few weeks," he says. "There'll be butterflies out here."

"I never seen a butterfly," she says excitedly.

"And when the butterflies come out, the flowers way back there will bloom too," Erwin says.

Petra look back at the yard. "Wow."

"Now eat your cheeseburger before it gets too cold," Eren tells her, nudging her plate over beside Erwin's.

She plays with the caterpillar for the rest of the afternoon.