{LeviHan} What Hides Beneath...

Chapter 18: Ever Ending

Levi's POV

"Momma! Momma!"

I chuckled softly as I saw little Iris struggling and swimming in the ocean. Eren was busy overlooking her as well, smiling gently. We've adopted him into our family... why? Hanji wanted him to be a part of our family.

"Momma!"

Hanji smiled softly, cradling our newest newborn child. She did tell me she wanted a big family... so she wanted more kids. I'm just glad they were mine. Zane Farlan Zoe-Ackerman began to squirm in his mother's arms as I watched over Iris.

"Momma!" 

"I see you, Iris. No need to shout." Hanji says with a soft smile, chuckling a bit. Her eyes were as graceful as ever. "You're swimming quite beautifully."

Iris quickly swam over to me, flopping into my arms. She giggles so mischievously... it was almost like she was like her mother. This must've been Hanji's clone... but she was a child and was named something else. "D-Daddy! Did you see me? Huh? Huh?!"

I smiled softly, pulling her up on my body and kissing her forehead. "I did you see. You're improving swimming, aren't ya? You know what... maybe we should get Momma into the waters like us two, huh?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Iris then turns to her mother, giving her the biggest, mischievous grin ever- I believe it even surpasses her mother's mischievous grin. Like mother, like daughter. "Momma! Swim with me, please?!"

Hanji chuckles softly, waddling in the cold waters of the lake. "I can't swim with you- Zane can't swim yet, Iris."

"Aww..."

I chuckled, beckoning Hanji to hand over Zane. "Go and have a swim. Remember, you're not the only parent of Zane- I am his father."

We both exchanged smiles as I held Zane in my arms. I gazed down into him, seeing him inheriting most of my traits. My gray eyes, my black hair... perhaps even my attitude. He stopped his squirming, just staring at me. I smiled, holding out my finger towards him... and he gripped it so tightly. 

"You're just adorable, Zane..."

He coos in return.

I turned my attention to Hanji, who was already playing with little Iris. They were having a splash battle- trying to see who would create the bigger waves. Eren stayed curled up on the shore, looking like he was bored. Almost jealous over Hanji and Iris' splashing battle. I gave a chuckle, snapping at Eren.

"If you're bored, come over here."

Eren nods his head, diving into the cold waters and pulling up next to me. He then sat on the same rock as me, looking down at Zane. 

"Even though I was so close to destroying you... you're part of our family. It may not seem like it... but... you are Iris and Zane's older brother. I know you've sacrificed a lot for me but..."

Eren waves his hand, smiling softly. "It's okay. I didn't fit in much either..."

"You're what...? Technically 15 right now? You've only been with us for 3 years already... don't you want to go to a high school? You'll be able to fit in more. Just avoid swimming in pools and stuff like that."

"Well... are you sure that that's okay?"

I nodded my head, cradling my newborn in my arms. "Yes. Again, you are family. We're both chased out of the pod. We can't exactly return to our ocean. So..."

"As long as you're okay with me going to school, I'll go to school."

"Thanks, Eren..."

At that moment, I was able to give Zane over to Eren, and it was just interesting to see his own reaction to holding Zane. When Iris was still that newborn, I didn't want Eren near her until she was a bit older. Now... I nearly regret that. I wish I could've allowed him to hold Iris. But I don't regret it. In order to make up for it, I allowed him to carry Zane.

His face was just pure. That surprise face and that carefully focused face to ensure that he wouldn't let the little boy go. A pure smile crawled on his face as he looked down at Zane. "He's... my little brother."

"That's right."

"He's... adorable..."

"Eren," I started off, staring at Hanji and Iris- slowly getting tired from playing in the lake, "Hanji wants to have more kids... so just know that you can have more moments of playing with the babies. I'm sorry that I didn't let you play with Iris. I was just... afraid..."

"I understand, Levi..." He looks down at Zane, caressing his cheek. "I really do. I was a stranger that could've endangered your mini pod. I completely understand. But holding Zane... this just feels like an honor."

"We're not bringing up that royalty thing again, Eren. My family may be a descent of some royal family, but we're not returning to that pod. I'll ensure that our merpeople's genes stays a secret. I don't want my family to be hunted down again."

Eren nods his head, looking down. "I'll be honored to-"

"Eren, again... don't be honored. Just think of us as family."

"Oh... okay..."

He continues to hold onto Zane- almost like he was mesmerized in the young child. Soon enough, Iris grew tired and clung onto her mother as they walked out of the lake. Hanji gives me a glance, chuckling a bit.

"I'm gonna take her in to give her a bath before tucking her for her nap. You wouldn't mind me being gone for a few minutes?"

"Of course not. Go and handle Iris as much as you want. I think we're having a guys' moment out here on the rocks."

Hanji chuckles softly, walking in with the little mermaid in her arms. I too smiled at that sight, looking over at my life. I may have been a merman from the seas... but I love this life as a human... I've... I've chosen this life with Hanji... my three children... all of this. Too bad I was classified as a Black-Tailed... all this happened because I escaped. Interesting how that happened, huh?