Her little baby bump started to show after a couple weeks. Not only the size of the baby showed how much the child's been growing, but Hanji grew a huge appetite. Usually, she eats only a bowl of food for everything she eats. Now... she's been eating 3 bowls. Her excuse? 'I'm starving.' But still... I finally had the guts to actually propose to her. Not like it was a surprise to her, but nevertheless, she was so excited when I did. I can't believe now... seemed like yesterday when we first met and we're in the same situation...
"Levi!" I turned to see Erwin walking in. He laughs a bit before he gives me a handshake. "Congrats again for your baby and you getting married today."
"Yeah, thanks."
"Man... I can't believe it. You guys met together at my wedding and we're attending yours. Funny how that happens."
I shake my head as I felt his hand patting on my back. "It's only for her and the baby."
"Speaking of the baby, girl or boy?"
"It's still too early, according to Hanji. She's hoping it's a boy."
"A boy? I would've thought that she would want a girl... do you want a baby girl?"
"Maybe."
"If you're lucky, you can get twins. Then again, twins are disastrous." He sighs then looks back at me. "Good luck and don't worry about everything. You'll be fine. Or, you can do what I did... just zone out."
"Thanks for the helpful advice, Erwin."
"Anything for my best friend, Levi. See you out there, but you do have 3 minutes before it starts. Don't be late."
"Alright, I won't." I say as he leaves the room. I gotta do this, no way to bail outta this one. My friends and Hanji's and her family were there... what if I mess up? No... I can't mess up. Not with everyone there.
* * *
The wedding march started to play as I was told it was time. I turned around to see a flower girl tossing petals onto the floor, white flower petals were falling down angelically as I see Hanji's bridesmaids coming after her. Soon, I saw Hanji with a white veil over her face and she held a banquet of white flowers in her hand. She had a medium long train following her. Even though I couldn't see her face, I was still stunned by her beauty.
She walks up next to me and pulled her veil out of her face. She was smiling and I wanted to speak, but I couldn't. "We are gathered here today..." His voice trailed away as I kept looking at Hanji. It's going to be our day... our marriage today and our new life together. Raising a child... our little one... "Levi Ackerman, do you take Hanji Zoe as your wife?"
I was at a loss for words... I couldn't mess this up... what was I supposed to say? Something so easy... "I-I do..." I say.
"Hanji Zoe, do you take Levi Ackerman as your husband?"
"I do." She says confidently. Doesn't surprise me... she must've memorized the whole thing after I proposed to her.
"Do you promise to take care of each other until death do us part?"
"I do." We both say.
"Then I pronounce you husband and wife." The priest says as he closed his book.
We both turn around and I watched her give her banquet of flowers to her bridesmaid. I take her hands once her hands were free. I come close to her ear and whispered, "You ready?"
She nods, "Always." She whispers back.
I took a deep breath as I wanted to do something that we'll both remember on this day. I gently kicked her leg, having her fall down. I felt her grip on my back as I know she didn't know what I was going to do. But I had her safely in my hands; I even heard the crowd gasp. But I kissed her passionately and the gasps turned into cheers as I pulled her back up.
"Look at that... Hanji... we're actually married..." I say.
"Heh... I love you too..."
* * *
"Hanji! Hanji!" The crowd cheers as Hanji got down onto the dance floor. She turns around and I watched her. This reminds me when we met... when Hanji caught the floors and bumped into me... and we started to date...
"Here I go!" She yells as she tosses the flowers back. I see a light blond woman catching it and bumping into Miche. I see she apologizes and Miche shakes his head. Something similar to what happened to me... I hope Miche gets a girlfriend soon... maybe today's the day.
I avert my gaze to Hanji, who was making her way towards me. "Hey..." I said as I walked close to her. "You doing okay?"
"A little out of breath... but I'm doing fine..." She smiles as she looks down. I look down as well and I see her hand rubbing her belly. "This little monster is taking all my energy away."
"Well..." I start off, putting my hand on her stomach. "It's our little monster..." I kiss her.
"More like your little monster."
"Ugh... don't bring that up."
"It's true..."
I smiled, why did I suddenly get the urge to hold my baby in my arms now? The child's not due for months... but I do want to see my child now...
"Alright everyone!" Erwin's voice came onto the speakers and we all turned to the front. Sure enough, Erwin was there with the microphone in his hand. "I know we're all too busy celebrating our friends' wedding but I have to interrupt your great moves and music for lunch. We're starting now. Come join us in the dining hall now for lunch. Thank you."
"We better head down before someone gets cranky." Hanji says.
"You think?" I asked.
A face I haven't seen for a long time, Jasmine walks up. "Hanji..." She says as she wraps her arms around Hanji and I see her starting to cry. "I'm so sorry..."
"Sorry? About what?"
"Me being wrong about him... I'm sorry... but congrats on your baby. Hope it's going to be a great addition to your family."
"Will you be expecting a baby soon?"
"Not that soon. Erwin probably doesn't want one this soon."
"Well, thanks for coming..."
"You're my friend, Hanji. Do you forgive me?"
"Jasmine, are you serious? Of course I forgive you... there's no way I'm gonna keep you away. Besides, who else am I going to ask to baby-sit my kid?"
"Forgiving me so I can baby-sit? You know how to get things your way."
"Thanks. Anyways, shall we get some lunch?"
"Of course."
"Thanks for leaving me out." I say as I take Hanji towards the dining hall.
"Hey, we didn't leave you out..."
Going into the dining hall, we take our seats for lunch. Jasmine sits next to Hanji and Erwin sits next to her. But as soon as everyone was sitting down, Erwin made his way with a microphone in his hand.
"Levi, want to make an announcement?"
"You do know that I hate talking in public."
"Rather have Hanji do it for you?"
"No, I'll do it."
"Just, make a speech up, that's it. Just, say how you feel."
"I don't-"
"Levi, just do it."
"Ugh..." I stood up, turning the microphone on. What should I say? "Hello?" I say awkwardly. I waited for silence. "Thank you for coming. Hanji and I are grateful for people like you guys. To be completely honest... I don't know what to say, but thanks again for coming. Hope you had a wonderful day today and... yeah..." I turned the microphone off and I quickly take my seat as everyone clapped.
"That wasn't that bad, Levi." Hanji says.
"Thanks... I guess."
* * *
The after-wedding party died down as people began to leave after 4 full hours. Erwin and Jasmine stayed and helped us clean up. As much as they kept telling me to leave with Hanji, I couldn't just leave them with something that I created. But then, they did clean it up before I could have done something.
They left us alone, as much as they hated to. I saw Hanji outside, just looking over the the beautiful view. I sneaked behind her and wrapped my arms around her, "Gotcha!" I say, my hands went down to her stomach as I felt the baby.
"Levi, you startled me..." She laughs as I felt her hands on mine.
"It's our day, Hanji... our day to be together... and our day that we're really together..."
"I can't believe it... actually married... heh... our little one would be so proud that we're here together."
"I know... but still... we're finally here together... and all the credit goes to Erwin and Jasmine... after all... they're the reason why we met up in the first place."
"Yeah... thank goodness." She sighs, "We're the weird ones, right?"
"What makes you say that?"
"We're completely opposite..."
"But we have one thing in common... our love..."
"Not forgetting our baby, right?"
"Yeah..." I sighed... we'll forever be together... and nothing to stop us.