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It was well past midnight when Erwin woke to find the bed beside him empty.
It wasn’t the first time it had happened over the past couple of months, so he already knew where his beloved had gone.
The nursery door stood slightly ajar, soft light spilling into the dark hallway. Erwin paused in the doorway without announcing himself, taking a moment to admire his husband.
Levi had grown noticeably softer as he neared the end of his pregnancy. There was a certain glow radiating from him that made Erwin’s heart swell with even more love than he had thought possible. Watching Levi carry their child was one of the most beautiful things he had ever witnessed.
Levi was seated in the rocking chair, refolding the tiny rompers they had bought a week ago. He had clearly been there for quite some time, judging from the neat pile of baby clothes beside him.
A parenting book lay open on the changing table, its pages creased at a chapter titled ‘The First Weeks’. Beside it rested a notebook filled with notes, nearly every line crossed out and rewritten.
It was clear he wasn’t simply organizing the nursery anymore. He was overthinking every little detail, his nesting instincts keeping him awake long after he should have been asleep.
“I can’t sleep,” Levi said before Erwin had the chance to ask why he was awake at that hour of the night.
Erwin hummed softly in response before crossing the room and kneeling down in front of him, ignoring the quiet protest Levi made about his knees. His own discomfort was nothing compared to Levi’s. He rested his hands on Levi’s hips, gently rubbing soothing circles over them.
Erwin looked up at Levi, carefully lifting his shirt to reveal the curve of his belly before pressing a kiss to his skin.
“What’s wrong, darling?” he asked, because he knew this wasn’t simply about not being able to sleep. After years of being together, he could see right through Levi, and he knew there was something weighing on his husband’s shoulders that he wasn’t willing to admit.
It was silent for a moment, Erwin’s eyes following Levi’s line of sight towards the tiny romper in his hands that he anxiously fidgeted with.
“What if something goes wrong during labor?” Levi asked so quietly that he nearly missed it.
He didn’t answer right away, giving Levi the time he needed to get everything off his chest before saying anything.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing at this stage,” Levi admitted with a small sniffle. “Everyone keeps telling me it’ll come naturally, but what if it doesn’t? What if they cry and I can’t figure out what’s wrong?”
“What if I don’t know what they need? What if they hate me?” Levi asked, his voice beginning to tremble as he spiraled. “What if I’m too much like—“
His words caught in his throat, unable to bring himself to finish the sentence. His knuckles turned white from how tightly he held the piece of fabric.
“I’ve never had anyone show me what a good parent looks like,” he whispered. “How am I supposed to be one when I’ve never had one myself?”
Erwin frowned, gently taking the romper from Levi’s hands and placing it on the pile of baby clothes beside him. He brought Levi’s hands to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to them before giving them three gentle squeezes—their silent way of saying ‘I love you’.
“Do you know how I know you’re going to be a wonderful parent?” Erwin asked, smiling softly.
Levi looked at him with uncertainty, almost like he couldn’t quite believe Erwin had any answer at all.
“Do you remember when we bought these clothes?” Erwin asked, glancing at the pile of baby clothes beside them. “You spent twenty minutes deciding between two identical rompers because you couldn’t stand the thought of our child being uncomfortable.”
“And every time they kick,” Erwin continued, his hand resting on Levi’s bump, “you apologize because you think you startled them. You don’t even realize that you do it.”
“You’ve read every parenting book you could get your hands on. You’ve reorganized the nursery more times than I can count on two hands.” Erwin couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face. “You’re already thinking about our child’s needs, and they haven’t even been born yet. That tells me you’ll spend every day trying to be the best parent you can be.”
“Do you really think so?” Levi asked with a small sniffle, fighting back his tears.
“I do, because you already take care of a big baby like me,” he joked, and when he saw Levi start to relax, he knew he had succeeded in lifting some of the weight off his shoulders.
Levi let out a small huff of laughter despite the tears threatening to drop, shaking his head as he looked down at their hands. “You’re an idiot.”
“Your idiot,” Erwin corrected him, brushing his thumb over the back of Levi’s hand. “And I always will be.”
Levi shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips despite the tears clinging to his eyelashes. He leaned forward until his head rested against Erwin’s shoulder, letting out a small sigh.
“…Thank you,” he whispered.
Erwin wrapped his arms around him without hesitation, one hand cradling the back of his head while the other rubbed his back. “You never have to thank me for loving you.”
They stayed like that for a little while, simply holding one another. The nursery fell quiet, save for the ticking of the clock and the soft rustle of fabric whenever Levi shifted on the rocking chair.
He wiped away Levi’s tears once they began to fall before rising to his feet. It was time to go back to bed, or else he’d only feel worse in the morning. He reached for Levi’s hands, helping him up from the rocking chair that was always difficult to get out of.
“Come back to bed with me, darling,” he hummed softly, guiding him down the hallway with one hand supporting his lower back while the other held his hand. “I’m sure our little one needs the rest just as much as you do.”
Erwin guided him to the edge of the bed before helping him sit down. He crouched down in front of him and slipped off his slippers, his brows furrowing when he noticed the faint swelling around his feet and ankles. He lifted one of Levi’s feet into his lap, pressing a kiss to the top of it before beginning to massage the arch with his thumbs.
Levi groaned in satisfaction, pleased by the unexpected massage even if he didn’t think it was necessary. He never liked asking for help, but Erwin always seemed to know what he needed before he had to ask.
“You should’ve told me your feet were bothering you,” Erwin murmured, his thumbs continuing their slow movements against the arch of Levi’s foot.
Levi merely hummed at the reprimand, simply accepting it instead of arguing like he normally would. He knew his husband’s concern came from nothing but love.
After a few minutes, Erwin helped him settle into bed, rearranging what had become an impressive collection of pregnancy pillows until Levi finally looked comfortable. Unfortunately, it had become quite difficult these last couple of weeks to snuggle with him, though he supposed he could forgive their little one for taking up all the space.
Levi puffed his cheeks when Erwin settled beside him, far enough away that he could barely feel his warmth. “Come closer,” he whined impatiently.
Erwin sat up, staring at the heap of pillows between them before fighting his way through to lie beside his husband as comfortably as he could. He wrapped one arm around him, letting Levi use his bicep as a pillow while the other arm rested beneath his bump.
He kissed the back of his neck, smiling when he saw the slight flush that followed. He nuzzled against him, feeling Levi begin to drift off until he felt a sudden kick against his hand from the baby.
Erwin smiled softly at the sudden movement, rubbing Levi’s bump. It seemed to soothe both of them, and he only felt more giddy when Levi pressed closer against him.
“You know I love you, right?” he whispered against Levi’s ear, pressing a gentle kiss to it before tucking a stray strand of hair back into place.
“You’re such a sap,” Levi huffed sleepily in amusement, turning his head to meet Erwin’s gaze. They nuzzled their noses together before Levi closed the remaining distance, capturing his husband’s lips in a slow kiss. “I love you too.”
Erwin rested his forehead against Levi’s, overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude. He never dared to imagine he could love someone as deeply as he loved Levi, but every day that passed by seemed to prove him wrong. Somehow, he only fell harder for him.
Levi shifted until he was tucked against Erwin’s chest, his eyes already beginning to droop. Erwin adjusted the blankets and pillows around them before gently brushing his fingers through Levi’s hair, careful not to disturb him.
It didn’t take long for Levi’s breathing to even out, his body finally going slack against his own.
He stayed awake just a little longer, listening to Levi’s soft breaths and occasionally feeling a small flutter beneath his hand. Everything could wait until morning, because nothing was as important as his husband in his arms, who was carrying their little ball of sunshine.
He pressed one last kiss to Levi’s temple before allowing himself his own rest, holding his little family close as sleep claimed him too.