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Levi still couldn’t believe he was father.
From the moment he heard his son’s first cries everything felt like a dream. Their midwife, Natalie, passing the screaming newborn into Eren's waiting arms.
Eren immediately snatched the baby and cradled it to his chest. Give the baby a few pats and rubs on the back. “Shhhh it’s ok. I’m here.”
He looked up at him with tears streaming down his face. Levi kissed Eren’s temple. “You did so well.” He carefully rubbed his son's back alongside Eren. The world could have ended at that moment and Levi would have been perfectly fine with it. He could have stayed here forever. Their son had Quieted down just whimpering.
The midwife helped Eren flip the baby so he was on his back and passed him a pair of scissors saying that he needed to cut the cord. His hands shook. He laughed at himself he’s killed hundreds and his hands never shook but here he is shaking like a leaf.
“It won’t hurt him right?” Eren’s weak voice rang out.
Natalie shook her head, “He won’t feel a thing. Like cutting your hair or nails.”
He steeled himself and cut the cord. his son didn’t even flinch. Eren smiled, “Strong like his papa.”
“Mm more like his dad.”
Natalie smiled. “Here give him to me. I need to check him out.”
Eren clutched the baby tighter. “It’s ok. I’ll give him right back. He needs to be cleaned and so do you.”
Eren’s lip wobbled. Levi’s heart broke. “It’s ok. I’ll go with him. You rest.”
Eren looked at the baby before passing him to Natalie. “There we go. Won’t be 10 minutes.”
Levi followed right behind, watching her every move. His son was obviously upset he was screaming again. He was given a clean bill of health wrapped snugly in a blanket and passed to him. “Perfectly healthy. 7lbs 9oz 19 inches strong lungs and heart.”
Levi wasn’t really listening to her, he was amazed by the bundle in his arms. He'd never held something so fragile, his son looked better now that he was clean. He had a full head of brown hair chubby cheeks and a perfect little nose which he couldn’t resist kissing. He noticed that the second his son was in his arms he quieted down. He shushed and rocked him. Levi went and carefully sat down on their bed. Natalie’s assistant was helping Eren walk back. Once he was back in bed he immediately reached for their son.
He carefully gave him to Eren. “Perfectly healthy.”
Eren sighed. “Good.”
Natalie passed him a bottle, “Here he’s probably hungry. I’ll let you 3 get settled. I’ll be back in the morning to make sure everyone is still ok.”
Levi nodded. “Thank you for everything.”
“It was my pleasure. I’ll leave the birth certificate on the table. Fill it out before tomorrow.”
Levi was so glad Eren convinced him for a home birth because now they could all just rest and not deal with hospitals. “You look, exhausted love. Try to sleep.”
“What so you can hold him again? Fat chance. Besides I can’t sleep till he as a name.”
He chuckled. “So much for naming him after your mom. Doesn’t look much like a Carla hm?
What about Carl?”
Eren wrinkled his nose.“Very funny. That's a terrible name!”
Levi kissed Eren’s cheek. “It was your idea to not find out the gender.”
“You are no help! Where is your list of baby names?”
Levi groaned. “You mean my list of girl names? You were convinced it was going to be a girl.”
Eren hummed. “This is getting us nowhere. We can’t exactly just call him boy and you won’t let me name him after you.”
Levi sighed they both agreed- no naming the baby after themselves. He racked his brain for boy names. “Alec? Louis? Oliver? Wyatt?”
“Hmm I like Oliver. What about Charles or Nicolas?”
“Nicolas is nice. We could call him Nicky or Nico.”
Eren gasped, “Nico I like it.” He brought the sleeping baby up to his face and kissed both cheeks. “What do you think? Do you wanna be Nico.”
Levi also kissed his son's cheeks, “I’m not hearing any complaints.”
“Nicolas Kuhel Ackerman. It is then.”
Levi swallows. “Are..are you sure?”
“Yes. Just because we can’t name him after my mom doesn’t mean we can’t honor your mom.”
“Mmm sounds good to me.” He looked down at Nico. His son. He had everything he ever needed right here.
Before Levi knew it 3 months had passed. He loved being a father more and more every day. Sure some days were more difficult than others but Nico made everything worth it.
Levi was sitting in the living room feeding Nico who was looking up at him with his big silver eyes. “Hungry boy aren’t ya?”
Once his bottle was finished he burped him and tried rocking him to sleep. But was unsuccessful Nico just looked up at him lazily. He kissed his forehead. “Aren’t you tired? You have a clean diaper and a full belly. I promise I won’t put you down. I’ll hold you as long as you’ll let me.”
He was just met with Nico blinking up at him. “Fine but you are risking the wrath of daddy for missing your nap.”
He slowly rocked Nico back and forth patting his bottom and leaned back. Maybe he could just close his eyes for 5 minutes…
“Boss?” Levi sighed and looked at Gunther standing in front of them.
“What? You are interrupting my time with Nico.”
“I’m sorry to bother you but there is a problem at the office that needs your attention.”
“It must be fuc... I mean it better be important. Why can’t Erwin deal with it?”
Levi really didn’t want to leave. He had already tried to get back to a normal work schedule a couple of weeks ago but not even an hour back at the office he received a text from Eren saying that Nico missed him and was refusing to nap, he never drove home so fast.
“Erwin was the one who sent me. He said that this is something you should deal with.”
Fucking Erwin. He stood up. “Fine.”
Eren was already walking into the room. Looking around nervously. “Is everything ok? Petra told me you are needed at the office.”
“Don’t worry I’m sure it’s nothing. I will take care of whatever problem Erwin doesn’t want to deal with, then I’ll be home before dinner.”
He passed Nico off to Eren. “I’m going to change.”
Eren followed him upstairs. “I see you are trying to get out of nap time.”
Naptime was more like screaming and crying time. Nico screamed bloody murder whenever he was put down. But he couldn’t sleep in their arms forever so they had decided that during nap time Nico would have to stay in his crib and hopefully cry himself to sleep. Eren hated every second of it, he cried alongside Nico the whole time. “Ha, you know better than anyone there is no napping in nap time. Trust me I don’t want to go any more than you but I have been neglecting my business.”
“For good reason! You have a newborn!”
“Business didn’t just stop when Nico was born my love. I tried to make sure everything was taken care of so I can stay home more but I should have been going and checking in. They are my family too.”
Eren frowned. “I guess it’s just you and me today Nico. Papa has to leave.”
“Mmm if someone would nap papa would be back by the time you wake up.”
He kissed Eren and Nico. “I’ll be back soon. try to stay out of trouble.”
Arriving at the office Levi was upset to see it was still standing. He told Erwin not to call him in unless the building was crumbling. “Ah Levi, how is fatherhood?”
“Great Erwin. Now, what the fuck? This shit better be important.”
Erwin chuckled “Seems fatherhood hasn’t changed you. I’m sorry but I think you’ll want to hear this.”
Erwin led him to his office and inside sitting on the couch was Nile Dok. “Ah, Ackerman. I believe congratulations are in order. I heard about your bouncing baby boy.”
“Cut the shit Dok what the fuck do you want?”
Dok actually had the balls to wave Erwin away. “Smith, you are dismissed. This conversation is just for Ackerman and me.”
“You don’t tell my people what to do. Erwin, you can stay.”
Levi went and sat down behind his desk. Dok sighed. “Listen, boss, I'm coming to you because I am loyal to the Ackerman clan.”
Levi scoffed. Dok was loyal to whoever made him the most money. “People have been whispering about you and your leadership. They aren’t happy. they think you don’t care about the business anymore.”
Levi rolled his eyes, “That’s rich. I have been leading the Ackerman clan for 15 years now. We have never been stronger. Do you remember how this shit was ran before me? Without me, we would all fall apart.”
Erwin spoke up. “I must say Dok these claims are interesting. Everyone seems to be very happy not to mention business is at an all-time high. So tell me who is making these accusations?”
Dok smirked “You got me. Other clans have noticed that you seem weaker, Ackerman. You made the mistake of having a family. You know better than anyone- Having a family in this business is dangerous. You make easy pickings. All someone has to do is kidnap your precious wife and son and bam The Ackerman clan is over.”
Levi stood up. “Am I hearing you right? Did you just threaten my son and wife?”
Dok stood up as well. “Not a threat but a promise. Someone from the Grice family offered me a lot of money to kidnap Eren and your son. I declined obviously but others might not do the same.”
Panic gripped him. “Let me make things clear Dok.. you are saying the Grice family wants to take over the Ackermans by kidnapping my family?”
Dok nodded. “Yup and look how easy it is. All someone has to do is get you out of the house. Who’s watching them right at this moment? Better be someone you trust.”
Levi suddenly felt like the biggest idiot. He pulled out his gun and shot Dok in the leg. “Erwin keep Dok company lock him up somewhere nice.”
Then he was out of the office and running towards his car. Dok had the perfect plan. Dok Knew he would leave his house if Erwin sent up the emergency signal leaving Eren and Nico home alone. Not alone, he told himself. The second he found out that Eren was pregnant he upped security as much as physically possible. But there was always a possibility of someone getting inside on false pretenses and if they threaten Nico… Eren would do anything. No, he couldn’t think like that. He was speeding off desperately calling Eren but every time it went to voicemail. Damn it! He called again and again Eren always answered his phone. Why wasn’t he answering? Bile rose in his throat.
It took too long to get home. He left the car running and ran inside. “Eren? Nico?” He sounded hysterical. It was quiet too quiet. Running up to their bedroom he kicked open the door expecting the worst. Instead, Nico and Eren were both laying in bed. Nico gave a piercing cry and Eren shot up. “What the fuck? Levi?”
Eren picked up Nico and shushed him. “Shhh it’s ok baby it’s just papa.”
“Why weren’t you answering your phone?”
Eren gave him a death glare. “What? I’m gonna kill you! I had just gotten him to fall asleep!”
Levi tried to calm his racing heart. They were both fine. “I’m sorry. You didn’t answer your phone.”
“So you come bursting in here because I didn’t answer one phone call? My phone was muted!”
He went and sat down in bed. “Oh, I can’t believe you got him to sleep.”
“Don’t be like that! What’s really going on? You look terrified.”
He shook his head “It’s nothing.”
Eren looked at his phone “Jesus! You called me like 15 times! That’s not nothing. Tell me now. Why did Erwin call you in?”
He sighed. “Some threats were made to you and Nico. I’m looking into it.”
“What? Threats!? Are we in danger?”
Nico must have not liked the tone of this conversation because he started crying again. “No, no I don’t want you to stress. I have my best men on this. Nothing will happen to you.”
Eren looked unsure but passed Nico to him. “Ok. I trust you. Here you can deal with your son. I’m going to start dinner.”
That night Levi had a nightmare that instead of finding Eren and Nico sleeping peacefully he found their dead bodies with a distorted voice calling out ‘your family makes you weak, now you are strong again.’ He woke up panting. It was just a dream. Eren was sleeping peacefully next to him. He got up and went to Nico’s bassinet next to their bed. He was also sleeping making soft suckling noises around his pacifier. Levi carefully picked him up just wanting to hold his son close. “ ‘M not gonna let anything happen to you.” He knew he had a decision to make. Was he strong enough?
Eren cried the whole way to the airport. “I don’t understand! Why can’t you come with us?”
Levi sighed. “I can’t. I need to make sure you two are safe. It’s only for 2 weeks.”
Eren sniffled. “I don’t like it! We need you!”
Levi pinched the bridge of his nose. He and Eren had argued back and forth on this. Since he found out about the threats made to Eren and Nico he decided the best thing was to send them away. Nobody could get to them if they didn’t know where they were.
“Listen I don’t like this but it won’t be forever. The second I find out who made these threats end them and know it’s safe you can come home. Everyone knows you two are my weakness. I need to prove that I’m still strong.”
Levi hated this. He wasn’t sure he could live without seeing Eren or Nico every day. They were his whole life.
Grisha was waiting by their private jet. “Dad!” Eren got out of the car and hugged his father. “What are you doing here?”
Grisha chuckled. “Someone made a threat to my son and grandson. Levi asked me to watch over you two while he deals with this mess.”
Levi still didn’t fully trust Grisha but Eren loved his father and felt safe with him.
“The jet is ready for takeoff.” Petra started.
He nodded and looked down at Nico safely tucked in his arms. “Be good. I’m counting on you to take care of daddy for me.” He kissed his forehead one last time and passed Nico off to Grisha who nodded and walked inside the jet.
Eren was crying again. Levi tried shushing him, “Don’t cry. You have to be strong for Nico.”
“I know.”
Levi pulled Eren into a hug. “I love you. Forever and always.”
Eren nodded against his chest. “I love you too. Don’t do anything too dangerous Nico needs you.”
He kissed Eren. “Nico will grow up with the two of us. That I can promise.”
Letting Eren go to get on the jet was the hardest thing he ever did. Nobody could protect his family as he could.
Erwin who was standing next to him said, “You are making the right decision. They will be safe. Nobody can touch them.”
Levi just nodded. It was taking everything to not break down. He didn’t know how long he stood there even after the jet took off.
“Levi?” He felt Hange put a hand on his shoulder. “Are you ready to leave?”
Levi put a hand over his heart. Though he was pretty sure his heart was on that private jet.
“Let’s go. I have work to do.”