Eren awoke easily the morning of Levi's arrival. And when the sound of soft voices carried up to hallway, he barrelled down the stairs, through the entryway, past Mikasa, and into waiting arms.

"My real papa bear…" Eren sighed into the captain's chest. "I missed you too much."

"I missed you too, pup. Did you and Miss Mikasa have a good time? Was everything okay?"

Eren nodded and basked in Levi's kisses, looping his legs tight around the man's waist as he was lifted up. It was nice to be weightless again, he could feel the euphoria literally pumping through him. Even Levi's mention of a bath couldn't ruin Eren's day.

Once it was out of the way, Eren knelt up on the bed and eyed the captain happily as he dried himself.

"So, did Teddy keep you good company?" Levi said, shaking out his hair before opening the bureau for a set of night clothes.

"Mhmm…"

"Just mhmm?" Levi plucked out a pair of shorts and pulled them on, oblivious to Eren's quickening heart and redding face. "That's a bit strange. Did he already lose his charm-what is he doing in the closet?"

"Daddy, wait-."

Levi did not wait to pull Teddy out from behind the clothes hanging inside. Instead, he held the bear in front of him, appraising the white stains all along his belly, all dry and cracking. The captain turned and climbed into bed, pulling Eren into his lap to look at him straight on.

"Looks like you made a mess for Teddy…" Levi said slowly, "Do you think he liked that?"

"I don't know…"

Eren squirmed on the captain's thighs and made it his business to look anywhere except forward. He hadn't gotten in real trouble in a long time, and now with the way his heart was pounding, he couldn't be sure if he was terrified or excited to be bent over Levi's knee again.

"Baby, you know there's a saying that you should do to others what you'd like others to do to you. Do you agree that that's fair?"

The boy mumbled something unintelligible and crossed his arms tightly across his chest, Levi's small snort only lending to Eren's embarrassment.

"Well, since you agree, I say we make things fair then."

In less than a second were the captain's lips pressed against Eren's, his tongue finding its way insistently through. It was all before the boy could even blink, and he wouldn't have it any other way, with just how badly he missed this man. Sparks were lighting up inside Eren, all along the paths of Levi's fingers. The way the captain grabbed onto him filled him to the brim with heat and need, the fact that he was being squeezed and molested everywhere, his hips, his bottom, all along his legs.

"Shit...missed all of this," Levi huffed into the boy's neck, his fingers digging dimples into soft flesh, "these fucking thighs…"

The captain grunted and slid down to heave Eren's legs up onto his shoulders. The boy squeaked when a set of teeth sank into the soft parts of his inner thighs, hard and hungry. And just as quick did a warm tongue snake along new marks; it sent tremors through Eren's body, ones that he just couldn't understand. All the while, slicked fingers managed to circle his entrance and slip in, albeit with a little difficulty.

"Looks like you left your bottom alone while I was gone…"

Eren couldn't answer, it was all he could do to snatch up his bear and bury his warming face in the fur, all while Levi prodded and sucked at his pucker. Wet noises, hushed moans all filled the room and Eren found that he couldn't take much more of it. Without a word and without any thought for that matter, the boy scooted away to roll onto his hands and knees, face pressed onto his teddy bear.

"Please just do it-" Eren arched his back and spread his knees farther apart, "-I don't want to wait anymore."

Levi didn't need to be told twice. That tight warmth was calling to him, and with one hand on the boy's hip and the other in his hair, he let himself right in between Eren's plump cheeks.

It was a good second before Levi could move his hips at all; the boy's body seemed to suck him right in. But when Eren's shoulders dropped and his insides relaxed, the captain tried a small shift, pressing forward gingerly until a huff told him to get a move on and stop dawdling. Given all the permission he needed, Levi let his hips spring forward, setting up the pace.

Eren wasn't doing much to preserve the man's stamina though, with the way he was mewing into Teddy, his length heavy and untouched and absolutely dripping between his legs. He was absolutely scrumptious at the moment, which justified Levi's need to drive the boy into the damn mattress.

"Daddy-really hard!" Eren squeaked, pressed belly down right into the sheets and reeling from the weight and pressure of Levi on top of him.

" 'S alright baby, you can take it," the captain managed between breaths. Eren wasn't going anywhere with his body pinned as it was, and frankly, it was all that Levi could ask for. That smooth skin beneath him, fat rump bouncing with each shove from the man's hips, it drove him absolutely mad, ready to make it so Eren wouldn't be sitting right any time soon.

Hidden blessing as it was, Eren's arousal found new sweet friction in the sheets as Levi drove him harder into the bed, all grunts and sighs of praise, strokes through his hair and gentle squeezes to the back of the boy's neck.

"So good, Daddy-."

"How good, puppy?" Levi purred, raising his hand before giving Eren a good slap to the bottom.

"Hnn...good!" The boy found strength to raise his backside up for Levi, willing that man's hand to come back down. "I've been bad, so make me good!"

Levi grit his teeth and gave Eren a few more hard spanks. "Fuck-bad little boy...can't ever leave you alone…"

Eren's length twitched and bobbed each time Levi's hand came back down. His bottom had gotten warm under the captain's fingers, and if Eren was honest with himself, it wasn't even enough. He couldn't devote the energy to working out why the pain seeping across his rear made him so needy. Either way, he reckoned a few more hits from Levi would lead him right into making a mess of the sheets.

It was just as well too, if the way Levi moved was a sign of his own release. The man's pace had gotten a little more unforgiving, Eren's whole body jolting forward each time Levi dug deeper into his body. The man's arousal was so thick inside him, stretching him so well and so far.

Eren was so ready to be full, and it was that thought of warm, thick essence inside him that pushed him past his limit. With a broken whine and his face in Teddy's fur, Eren let himself spill his pleasure, making a little puddle on the sheets below him. As tremors and shivers flew through him, he counted down the seconds until Levi would give him what he wanted, that beautiful wet feeling inside him, so full of Levi's essence that he couldn't keep it from dribbling down his thighs. But that never came.

What did come was the captain pulling away from Eren's body, huffing as he stroked himself to completion. When the boy felt something spatter along his skin, he couldn't control a pout from distorting his face.

"Wanted it inside…"

Levi shook his head and dragged his fingers through the mess, along Eren's rump and the cute dimples of his lower back.

"What's fair is fair, now it's time to clean up," Levi said simply, offering his hand.

The boy wasted no time clambering up onto his knees to suck Levi's fingers clean, his lashes drooping when those fingers curled in his mouth.

"Guess 's not so bad…" Eren mumbled around the captain, eventually trailing licks and kisses to his palm, "Sorry I made a mess for Teddy…"

"I think Teddy accepts your apology, pup," Levi sighed in content and guided the boy down to the mattress for some well earned sleep. "Took some convincing...but no harm done."

Fall was thankfully in the air, and the mid-October chill was a nice break from the heat of September. The captain noticed Eren too had taken to the season, digging out sweaters and old military cloaks from Levi's bureau more often than not. He honestly didn't mind it, but they still had to work on his clothes ending up in the hamper rather than on the floor.

Today, Eren was busying himself in the yard, rolling about in fallen leaves while Levi pruned the hydrangea bushes. It didn't bother the boy that he was sticking himself with twigs and dirt, it was all part of the satisfaction of welcoming his favorite season. October had always been lively at the palace, and Eren had intentions to make it just as special here with Levi. After one last throw of leaves into the air, the boy ambled over to Levi's side, waving his long sleeves about to get the man's attention.

"You have a mouth, you know," Levi squatted, put down his clippers, and pinched Eren's lips together to kiss them wetly. "You don't have to flap around like a dying bird."

"Hmph I know, but your sleeves are too long!" Eren retorted.

"That's the price you pay, pup," the captain shrugged. He plucked some leaves out of Eren's hair before smoothing it over and nosing into the boy's now often exposed shoulder. "What's got you so excited and antsy all of a sudden today?"

"Sir, it's fall! And we haven't even done anything special yet! At the palace, we would decorate and cook and carve pumpkins and all kinds of things!"

"Hmm, I don't see a problem with getting into the spirit of All Hallow's..." Levi mused and scratched his chin, "we're close by to a pumpkin patch, I suppose we should start there."

The captain stared down at the little sun before him, all eager nods and toothy smiles. He really had never celebrated the fall season, much less Halloween, and had simply never seen a reason to. But with Eren staring up at him, elated and chattering away about the possibilities, Levi conceded that they had some new traditions to make together.

After an early dinner, with a small cart hitched up and ready, Levi pulled his vibrating Eren tight against his body. The air as they rode was almost too crisp for the captain's liking, but Eren on the other hand seemed to be radiating happy warmth, curled up as he was in his favorite sweater of Levi's. The boy was giggling and looking up at Levi with adoration, as if his life was finally starting now that they were visiting a pumpkin patch together.

"I can't wait to see this place, I never got to go and pick out pumpkins with Mr. Connie, I just got to watch him carve them!" Eren chirped, his grip around the captain's waist tight. "I can't wait, I can't wait!"

"Well, we're almost here, pup. You can pick out any pumpkin you want and Daddy will help you carve it," Levi said, pressing his cheek against the top of the boy's head until it was time to tether his mare and let Eren down.

The boy's eyes had widened and his mouth hung open at the sheer expanse of orange he found before him. He didn't register the buckle of his leash until it was tugged gently, the reminder Eren needed that yes, this was real life. The soft dirt under his hands and knees didn't seem real; he'd never seen so many pumpkins, all sizes and shapes. Tall and pale white, stout and deep orange, bordering on red even-it all made Eren swoon.

"Daddy…"

Levi paused in his trudging through the dirt and drying vines. "Yes, baby."

"I love this, I love you." Eren knelt up and hugged the man's hips. "Thank you so much."

"Anytime, precious. Come on, let's find something you like."

Eren spent the better part of two hours trolling through the field, sniffing about, running his hands all along anything promising while the captain sipped away at some hot cider he'd found from a vendor. The boy inspected thoroughly every contender, appraising the color, the smoothness, the size of each pumpkin he considered. Eventually though, he'd gotten a little tired, Levi swooping in to pick him up and tote him along on his hip. Thankfully, Eren could simply make his judgements from afar.

"Sir, I want this one for me and that one for you," Eren declared finally, pointing to a set of two large pumpkins, bright and proud sitting among their counterparts. "The big one is you and the little one is me."

"They're yours, sweetheart," the captain agreed, calling to a farmworker to bring a wheelbarrow and roll the two pumpkins to the cart.

Eren insisted on crawling along with the wheelbarrow, sighing in content, grinning at his pumpkins and at Levi every few seconds. His journey ended abruptly though, when he noticed a small plot of sunflowers on the way back.

Naturally, Eren had to visit and explore while his pumpkins were taken to the captain's cart. Once the boy had strong armed Levi into picking a few of each, he deemed it appropriate to head back home. Eren couldn't stop himself from nosing sweetly in the captain's neck as they rode home. His senses were going haywire and his happy memories were running away with him. The sweet, earthy smells that had hung in the air, Levi looking down at him so fondly as he had trotted through the sea of orange, the sound of gleeful shrieks and laughter from children everywhere, it all lent to this bubble of mirth growing in Eren's chest. He hugged the captain, he hugged him so tight and strong, and it was just as well that Levi's body could take it. Amidst the steady bounce of the horse, Eren laid grateful kisses anywhere he could reach, though most landed up and down the captain's exposed neck.

When the pair arrived home, it was Eren's turn to get devoured-something about not expecting no retaliation after so many kisses like that. Levi had gotten his fill though, kisses and bites and a few squeezes satisfied him enough to roll the pumpkins out into the back yard and get down to work.

Thankfully for Eren's fingers, Levi took on the role of sawing through the thick flesh. The boy had pouted about it-that was a given-but brightened right up when Levi let him scoop out the goopy insides of each pumpkin.

"Use a spoon, baby, not your hands," Levi groaned, cursing what he knew was coming.

"No thank you," said Eren simply. The boy tilted his head and flashed a wide, wicked smile, staring Levi down as he dove elbow deep into his first pumpkin.

The sounds between the boy's fingers were sickly and wet, but he dug happily into the stringy mess of pulp and slippery seeds. Though the method left a little to be desired in Levi's opinion, Eren managed to corral all of the white seeds into a large mixing bowl that the captain had on hand.

Levi set the bowl down though, to just stare at the boy next to him. The way Eren looked up at him just tore at the man's heart, like the boy couldn't believe his luck, as if Levi gave him the greatest gift. Those giggles and squeals and shouts sent cracks through the captain's bones. He didn't know what to do with himself, faced with such innocent joy. All he could do was growl and bite at Eren's cheeks, kiss him all over.

"Hey, don't bite my face!" Eren protested with a push to the captain's chest.

"God, how dare you," Levi snarled into the boy's skin with no real venom, "making me fall in love with you like this. Pest!"

With the seeds roasted and two jack-o-lanterns glowing on the front steps, the captain sank back into the sofa in the den, the fireplace crackling away as Eren munched on his new favorite snack. Suddenly, the boy sighed, and took Levi's face in his hands. He ignored the confused grunt of the captain's and simply laid a wet kiss on the soft lips in front of him.

"I'm still mad that you ate my face, Daddy…" Eren grumbled, "That was so rude."

Levi smirked and scooted Eren closer on his lap, his hands resting comfortably on the boy's lower back. "So be it, I'm rude."

"Ugh, you should go on another trip so me and Ms. Mikasa can just have fun by ourselves again!"

"Mmm, you never told me what you did together," Levi ignored the tongue that stuck out at him, "I hope you didn't get up to any trouble…"

"No, we did cool stuff! We made pie and listened to scary stories and read and I made you a drawing!"

Before Levi could get a word out, Eren had burst off his lap to fetch his artwork from upstairs, climbing hastily back onto the captain's thighs with it in hand.

"See, Daddy? I drew us-that's me," Eren pointed, "that's you, and that's Miss Mikasa! Do you like it?"

Levi didn't know what was happening in his chest, other than his heart hammering around in it. The three smiling faces on the paper were drawn with crude, harsh lines, with smiles that were lopsided at best. Each was named- Daddy, Me, Ms. Mikasa. The writing above them all though was dainty and elegant, no doubt Mikasa's.

"My happy family…"

Eren nodded and smiled dreamily up at the captain. "I asked Miss Mikasa to write that for me. Just tell me you like it, Daddy, I worked hard on it!"

"I love it, piglet," Levi could barely put the words out, let alone look into those bright shining eyes in front of him, "I love you."

Eren ducked down to hide the new dust of pink over his cheeks, grinning nonetheless at the man's praise. His heart felt so warm and the only thing he could think to do was nestle up close against Levi's chest, where he felt nothing in the world could touch him. Though only until he realized the captain had gone silent. When Eren stared up at Levi quizzically, he was met with the captain regarding him so tenderly, though his eyes seemed to hold some kind of phantom pain.

"Sir? What are you staring at?"

"Precious you came to me one year ago today. Do you know that?"

Eren didn't reply, he only gaped at the man in front of him as memories flushed through his mind. Hurt and pain, indescribable ecstasy, all of those pictures, snapshots of this whirlwind with Levi blazed trails through his heart and left him speechless.

"You're the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me, Eren," Levi said urgently, taking the boy's face in his hands. "I'm a different man now because of you. I love you more than I can bear."

Eren blinked away the watering of his eyes, his movement into the captain's chest automatic. "Love you, Daddy. I never want to belong to anyone else, just you. Forever-only you."

Tonight was one of mischief. Eren could smell it in the air, sense the electric energy all around him. Even Levi seemed to have a glint in his eye, one that promised for an evening spent well.

The day had been busy, preparing their home for the hordes of children that would swoop through the neighborhood tonight. With the captain's help, Eren had strung old sheets with eye holes about the front door, he'd arranged his jack-o-lanterns just right, and had pinned paper cut outs of bats all over any open space he could find. Levi had lined the path up to the mansion with lanterns, dim, eerie, and barely flickering. All was well, and though the decorations couldn't compare to that of the palace, Eren loved them all the same.

Everything looked perfect, though the boy looked down at himself, a little dejected at the realization of how plain he looked in comparison.

"Daddy...I don't look like Halloween…" Eren moped, his lower lip pushed out and drooping.

"None of that," Levi scooped the boy up and back inside, "You're going to look like Halloween if I have something to say about it.

Before Eren could protest, Levi set him down on their bed and slipped on a black, bell sleeved dress that fell to the boy's knees. Topping it off with a wide brimmed pointed hat and a small broomstick from the closet, the captain deemed Eren the sweetest little witch in the land.

The boy blinked and gawked down at himself, his hands hesitant as they smoothed over the silky fabric. "I...look like Halloween...I'm a witch!" Eren rose up on his knees and took Levi's hands in his, "Daddy, I'm a witch for Halloween!"

"That, you are. Now, let's go get us some treats."

With Eren securely sitting against the captain's hip, they set out along the village road. The night was brisk and carried the happy squeals and voices of children high up into the air, and the boy couldn't help but wave wildly about to passersby, clad in white sheets and face paint and crude masks of frightening things.

The first home the pair reached was a cozy cottage, undecorated save for a few carved pumpkins arranged on the doorstep. The pudgy old lady that opened the door had broken out instantly with a smile, charmed as she was by Eren's.

"Trick or treat, ma'am!" Eren hollered, the pillow case he'd brought along flapping around by Levi's head, "Do you have candy for me?"

"I do, honey," she smiled, and dropped a small bag of biscuits into the boy's outstretched palm.

With a chirped "Thank you!", Eren urged Levi onward. Just like that, house after house, the boy managed to charm treats out of just about everyone, even stopping the captain so he could trade sweets with the children passing by. Eren hadn't felt alive as he did on this night of the dead, and under the harvest moon. The lights, the smoky smells, the smile that Levi would try to hide all energized the boy and had him reeling, giddy and bothered in the best way.

The captain was another story, though. With a few extra pounds of candy in hand, Levi was more than ready to head back home, and he made it known.

"Why do we have to go home? I'm not done, Daddy, I want to stay out here forever!" Eren swung his legs about and clasped his arms tighter around the man's neck.

"It's time for us to give out candy, pumpkin. We can't just take, you know. What about the children who come to our house? You don't want them to get treats like you did?" Levi proposed, smirking when he'd sealed the deal.

"You're right! I need to hand out treats-it's only fair! Take me home, Daddy!"

The captain broke out in a small smile and adjusted Eren on his hip before turning to march back along the path home. "If you say so."

"Shit…" Levi melted into the sofa and rubbed a palm over his eyes, "Daddy's old bones are tired…"

"No, no! There's someone at the door-Daddy, get up!" Eren screeched, scrambling to the entryway to face his first patron. The boy was buzzing by the time Levi had trudged over with a bowl of sweets and candies in hand.

Nearly tearing the door off its hinges, Eren met his first trick-or-treater, a young boy with straw blonde hair, and the biggest, happiest blue eyes.

Eren blinked in awe for not more than two seconds before lunging forward, the boys falling together amid tight hugs and laughter.

"Armin, I missed you! I missed you so much-you're a scarecrow-I can't believe you're here, please stay-let's trade candy and-!"

"Precious, calm down," Levi knelt and pulled Eren gently off the poor boy, "let him breathe for a second."

Armin giggled and took Eren's hands hands to squeeze them tight. "I've missed you too, Eren. Papa and I do so many fun things and we see so many amazing places, and I always wish you came along!"

"You're always welcome to, Eren." Erwin stepped forward to ruffle the boy's hair, "We'd love to have you."

Eren sniffed and refused to meet the commander's eyes, though he couldn't ignore an offer like that. "If Daddy lets me…"

"We'll talk about it, baby," Levi said reassuringly, "and we'll all get together soon, I promise."

With that, Eren milked the impromptu visit for all it was worth until Commander Erwin mentioned needing to let the other trick-or-treaters have a turn. The boy latched onto his friend, giving him a few last desperate squeezes before he watched Armin wave his way back onto the busy street. It was bittersweet to see him, but Eren knew the captain was a man of his word.

"I'm going to ask to see Armin every day from now on, Daddy," Eren said threateningly. "Until you make it happen. Okay?"

"That's just fine, pumpkin. But right now, you worry about getting rid of this candy," Levi nodded to the oncoming horde of ghouls and gremlins that raced up the drive, "Otherwise I'll be finishing it and lord knows I don't need it."

By the time nine o'clock rolled around, the night was disturbed by naught but stragglers. And with their evening drawing to a close, Eren let himself settle in more comfortably against the captain while they lounged about on the couch, polishing off the last of their chocolates and candies.

Levi had taken to carressing the legs and thighs that were draped across his lap, his lips moving along Eren's neck with kisses and quiet words of affection. The tickles here and there only made the boy laugh and scratch his fingers soothingly along Levi's undercut. Until the doorbell rang again.

Eren huffed happily and made to scoot off the sofa when a hand on his ankle secured him in place.

"Visiting hours are over, piglet. It's time for Daddy to go trick or treating..." the captain said wolfishly, his hands having roamed up along Eren's thighs to sneak under his dress.

With a bite to his lip, Eren stretched beneath the man's fingers and let himself sigh into the mouth he soon tasted against his own. His hands managed to tangle up into Levi's hair, and his dress tented over his budding arousal. But a quick shake of his head snapped Eren out of the fog Levi was creating in his mind.

"Daddy, wait." Eren brought his palm to the captain's cheek and tried to calm his heart when he watched the sharp eyes in front of him soften. "I want to tell you something."

"Mmm?"

"I want to say, happy Halloween, Daddy. Thank you for making these memories with me," the boy smiled, his cheeks red and warm with contentment.

"No, thank you." Levi swept back Eren's fringe to kiss his forehead, tender and feather light, "Promise me many more, my little witch. Many, many more."