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This time?

Chapter 12: Epilogue

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Hange sat on the balcony of their beach house, watching the sunset paint the sky in vibrant hues of orange and pink. She sighed contentedly as she stared at the pretty ring on her finger. Her thoughts wandering to the whirlwind that her life had become. As she rubbed her baby bump, a familiar twinge of jealousy gnawed at her, and she frowned slightly, remembering the earlier encounter.

Petra had stopped by to visit Levi, and Hange couldn't help but notice how effortlessly pretty she looked. The old insecurities she thought she had buried resurfaced, nagging at her.  She knew it was ridiculous, probably just the pregnancy hormones making her feel heavier and less like herself. Petra and Levi had always shared a close bond, and while Hange trusted Levi with all her heart, the thought still bothered her.

But her worries were soon put to rest when Levi, grumpy as ever, walked into the room and caught her staring off into space. "Oi, what's that look for?" he asked, arching an eyebrow as he approached her.

"Nothing," Hange muttered, looking away, but the slight pout on her lips gave her away.

Levi wasn't fooled. He sighed and sat down beside her, taking her hand in his. "If you're thinking about Petra, you can stop. She's engaged to Oluo, remember? That loudmouth finally got around to proposing." He could practically read her mind. He noticed her discomfort and mood change after the encounter.

Hange blinked, surprised, then broke into a grin. "Really? When did that happen?"

"Last week," Levi grunted, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "She came by to tell me. Wanted to make sure I knew before you did, I guess."

Hange chuckled, the jealousy melting away. "Well, that's a relief. And here I was thinking—"

"Don't think stupid things," Levi interrupted, his voice softening as he leaned in and kissed her forehead. "There's no one else for me but you, Hange."

Her heart fluttered at his words, and she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. She always loved how extra attentive and romantic Levi got whenever she was pregnant. "You're right. I'm just being silly."

"Damn right you are," Levi muttered, but there was a gentleness in his tone that made her smile. He was still as grumpy as ever, but with her, he was always the sweetest.

As they sat together, their three children came running out onto the balcony, their laughter filling the air. The eldest, a boy with Hange's wild hair and Levi's intense eyes, climbed onto Levi's lap, demanding his attention.

"Dad! Can we go to the park tomorrow?" he asked excitedly.

Levi looked down at his son, his stern expression softening. "We'll see," he replied, his hand ruffling the boy's hair.

The younger two, twin girls with a perfect blend of their parents' features, tugged at Hange's sleeve, chattering about their day. Hange listened with a smile, her heart swelling with love and pride.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Moblit entered the balcony, carrying a tray of snacks. "I thought you all might be hungry," he said with a warm smile, setting the tray down on the table.

The kids cheered, and Hange shot Moblit a grateful look. "Thanks, Moblit. You're always spoiling them."

Moblit chuckled, shaking his head. "Someone has to be the fun uncle, right?"

Hange laughed, feeling a deep sense of contentment. Moblit had regained his memories a few years ago when he had instinctively tried to save her from a lab disaster, just as he had in their past life. Since then, he had become an integral part of their family, always there to lend a hand or share a laugh.

Erwin, too, was a constant presence in their lives. He was Levi's best man at their wedding. They also frequently met up with their children so they were practically family friends. Erwin was especially fond of their twins calling them his little trouble makers and spoiling them however he could. As for their oldest son, he looked up to him and Hange couldn't have asked for better role model for her kids even though Levi tends to get jealous of that fact.

Her thoughts drifted to the past, to the moment she had won the Nobel Prize for her groundbreaking cell regeneration research. The award had brought her international fame, and her work had saved countless lives. The only downside was that the treatment was still extremely expensive, due to the rare Titan DNA she replicated from her past life work. 

It was strange how her research from their time in the Survey Corps had merged with the present, leading to such incredible discoveries. But even with all the accolades and recognition, Hange knew that her greatest achievement was right here, in this moment, with her family.

Levi's hand tightened around hers, bringing her back to the present. She looked at him, and he gave her a rare, soft smile. "You're thinking too much again," he teased gently.

Hange grinned, leaning in to kiss him on the lips. "Just thinking about how lucky I am," she murmured against his lips.

Before Levi could respond, they were interrupted by one of the servants announcing Erwin's visit.

———-

"Erwin! What are you doing here?" Hange asked,

Giving her a knowing smile, Erwin replied. "Just wanted to check in on the family."

As he stepped into the living room, the kids rushed to greet him, asking him where his kids were and if he brought them along to play. He greeted them with a warm laugh and promises to bring them next time he visited. Hange watched the scene with a smile, her heart full.

———

As the evening wore on and the children finally went to bed, Hange and Levi found themselves alone with Erwin, sipping tea and reminiscing about the past.

"You know," Hange began, her tone thoughtful, "I've been wondering... How did we end up here? How did everything fall into place so perfectly?"

Erwin's eyes twinkled with mischief as he looked at her. "Do you really want to know?"

Hange exchanged a glance with Levi, who raised an eyebrow. "You've been keeping something from us eyebrows?" Levi asked, his voice half-amused, half-serious.

Erwin chuckled, setting his cup down. "Let's just say... I might have had a hand in setting things in motion."

Hange's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

Erwin leaned back in his chair, his smile widening. "Do you remember the research project you were invited to? The one where you and Levi first met?"

Hange nodded slowly, her mind racing. "Yes... What about it?"

"It wasn't a coincidence," Erwin revealed. "I orchestrated the whole thing. I had a feeling that if you two were brought together under the right circumstances, you'd remember everything. So I made sure you were invited, and I... influenced Levi to fund the project behind the scenes. He didn't even know it was me."

Levi stared at him, stunned. "You mean... all this time..."

Erwin nodded, his expression calm. "I figured it was the best way to bring you two together. And I was right, wasn't I?"

Hange couldn't help but laugh, the realization hitting her like a ton of bricks. "You sneaky bastard," she teased, but there was no malice in her voice, only gratitude.

Levi shook his head, a small smirk on his lips. "I should have known you were behind this."

Erwin shrugged, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "What can I say? I wanted to make sure you both found happiness."

As they sat together, the weight of the past finally lifted, replaced by the warmth of friendship and the joy of the present. Hange and Levi had found their way back to each other, with a little help from Erwin, and now they had a future full of love, laughter, and a family that would always be there for each other.

And as they looked out at the city skyline, Hange knew that, despite all the challenges and heartache they had faced, they had finally found their happily ever after.

Notes:

I know this chapter was rushed but I got tired of writing so yeah. Also let me know what you think! Your comments are important to me