So sorry for the delay! I had to rewrite the chapter fully because I didn't like it at first. I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 3
"Wait, are you serious? Why are you telling me this only now?"
Eren groaned and rubbed his eyes. Beside him, Historia shifted impatiently and after a moment her whole weight was put on his chest. Eren stopped rubbing his eyes and looked up at the Queen sitting on top of him with a piercing gaze burying into his.
It was an early morning, and the sun has already started to rise, colouring the Queen's chamber in a warm yellow tint. Eren was lucky to finally spend the night in Mithras, and even luckier to spend it in Historia's room. They couldn't spend much time together because of their duties and the secrecy of their relationship, let alone sleeping with each other. After their first time, they only did it no more than 6 times. And that late October day they had this chance once again. They spent a wonderful and passionate night, and it felt so good to wake up in each other's embrace that morning. They still were in the bed when Eren told her this news.
Despite Historia's angry expression, Eren couldn't really take it seriously, because she was sitting on top of him completely naked. He only smiled and reached out to pull her to him. Historia resisted.
"Eren, stop that! You just told me Levi knows about us! Do you have any idea how shocking it is to me? Why did you keep silent for almost nine months now?"
Eren sighed. "All right, I forgot. I am sorry. At first, I didn't want you to to be worried about it because Levi heard our first time, and it could have embarrassed you. And then I simply forgot. We don't see each other often, you know."
"What made you think I won't be embarrassed to know it now?!" Historia was becoming furious.
Sensing it, Eren put more force to pull her to him, and this time she complied. She lay down on his chest and listened to the whole story.
"What took you so long, Eren?"
Honestly, Eren didn't know what to answer. It was too unexpected, and he didn't even have time to make up a lie. So there he stood, silently watching Levi get up from the armchair (how could he forget that captain usually slept for 3-4 hours and was able to wake up at even the slightest movement?) and headed straight to him.
The height difference between the two has increased in recent years. At the same time, Levi was as intimidating as before.
Eren gulped. "I..."
"Shut up, Yeager, don't you try to lie to me." Captain whispered dangerously. "I've heard you. Thank God you did it quietly, and those dorks didn't wake up. But they are no me."
Eren kept silent, not knowing what to say. Levi closely examined his lost facial expression and sighed.
"Listen, Eren. Once again, I am no one to dictate you concerning your love life. I swear that I won't tell anyone. It's not because I am kind, but because it's Queen's safety we are talking about, do you understand that?"
"Yes, captain. I understand." Eren hung his head, ashamed to get caught.
"Good. Don't make anything stupid."
Historia lifted herself a bit to look into Eren's eyes when he finished telling her about his talk with Levi.
"Are you sure we can trust him?" She asked.
Eren tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "We don't have a choice. But I think we can. He still hasn't told anyone and shown no interest in it. Never asked me about it, too. I still think he cares both about you and me."
Historia sighed and lowered to place a short, but tender kiss on Eren's lips. "I don't want you to go yet, Eren."
Eren stroked her cheek and smiled. "Me too, but you know I have to. Otherwise, someone will see us together."
"Yes." She smiled. "Anyway, I don't feel all that good today..."
"What is it?" Eren asked worriedly.
"I don't know, I felt it only when I woke up. But I think it's no big. Maybe I ate something wrong."
"Stay in bed today, Historia."
Eren had some spare time that day, so he left the palace and went to the nearest city park, where he sat down under a tree and, just like in childhood, began to watch the clouds.
This time, however, his thoughts were not like those in childhood.
About a year has passed since Hizuru announced an ill-fated plan, and Historia agreed to take on a heavy burden. If they would not find another way, then she would have to become a titan. Moreover, in 13 years that she would have left, she would have to give birth to as many children as possible who will share the same fate as she.
It was a truly disgusting plan. However, only Eren was totally against it. The rest ... accepted it, although not willingly. Time was running out. Zeke had about one and a half years left, and not so long ago it became clear that there would be no new plan.
People whom Eren trusted, simply nodded and continued to enjoy life. They drank wine, ate overseas food, celebrated the opening of the railway. They all did not care that the life of the Queen and her children would be broken. They were happy to exchange her fate for another 50 years of "Paradise". And even his friends were only happy to live like cattle in a cage. "We need more time", "we need to negotiate", "we cannot act now" - that's what they said. They did not understand that they did not have this time! Historia had no time, Eren had no time, and Zeke too!
No, he had to act.
Eren noticed that his hand squeezed the grass under so tight that his knuckles turned white. He opened it with difficulty and stared at his palm, now coloured in green grass juice a bit. "Frieda... why didn't you tell me how I can protect her?" He shut his eyes, made a fist and hit the ground with all force.
Several days passed, but Eren was able to see Historia only once. She held a meeting with the Military Police and the Scouting Legion. They were discussing possible plans to find new allies. The Mid-Eastern War was seemingly ending, and they needed to decide what strategy they would choose.
During the meeting, Eren tried to catch Historia's gaze, but surprisingly enough she didn't look at him even once. She looked pale and somewhat tired, was she still sick since that time?
He wanted to talk to her after the meeting, but she very quickly left, accompanied by the Military Police. Wait, was she avoiding him? This worried Eren. Maybe she was still offended that he told her that Levi knew about them too late? Several times he tried to talk to her but managed only once, briefly.
"Historia..." he knocked at her door in the evening. "Please, let me in. I want to talk to you."
At first, there was no reaction, but then he heard her weak voice. "Eren, I feel really sick. I want to get some rest. And I don't want you to get sick too. Leave me for now, please. We will talk later."
It was all she said, and Eren had no choice, but leave her be.
The next day he was met with surprising news.
"What do you mean she left to handle things at the orphanage? Why now?" Eren couldn't believe it. Usually, she would tell him about her plans, but this time she practically ran away. Not only from him but from the duties. It seriously disturbed him.
Only the higher-ups were told about this, including Hanji, who spilled the news to the Scouting Legion.
"Well, I think she realizes she will have to become the titan shifter. I think it is obvious she wants some time alone." Hanji said sadly. "We have to respect her privacy at the moment."
Eren made fists and looked at his comrades. All of them were staring sadly at the floor, except for Mikasa, who was eyeing him. She smiled when she caught his gaze, but Eren looked away fast. He didn't like what was happening. Historia was seemingly depressed, and he needed to do something. At least be near her.
That evening he approached Levi. He saluted and tried to keep calm expression, but Levi was no fool. "Captain, can I ask for a favor from you?"
"What is it Eren?" Levi sensed great nervousness in the boy in front of him. It was a serious matter, and the captain prepared to listen carefully.
"Can I ask for a few days off, sir?" Eren still held his salute and was very tense.
Levi raised his brows. "I will give you days off, as far as I can see you have a serious reason to ask for this. Never have you done this before." He paused, studying Eren's face. "It is about Historia, isn't it?"
Eren hung his head down. "It is. I need to be with her now. Something is off, and even I am not aware what exactly. I need to go to the orphanage."
Captain put his hand on Eren's shoulder and the boy met his gaze. Levi also was worried, he noticed the strange behaviour of the Queen, but he thought it was nothing serious. But if Eren was that much concerned... "Go to your lover, Eren. I give you three days. Settle everything you can and come back. But don't get recognized there. I will tell everyone I sent you to a mission to retrieve something from Trost. But please go no earlier than tomorrow."
For the first time in several days, Eren smiled.
"Thank you, captain!"
Historia didn't know what to do. The moment she realized what was the matter with her body, she seriously freaked out. At first, her taste preferences changed, followed by the morning sickness, and then it struck her that her period didn't start this month.
She didn't want to believe it, but the signs were clear. Eren's child was now growing inside her.
The moment it became clear, something clicked in her brain, and she no longer could properly look at Eren, let alone talk to him. She couldn't even think about political issues, and most of the time sat at the meetings silently. All her thoughts were only about one thing: the baby. What will happen to it when it is born? What are the higher ups going to do to it? Will it also become a titan and eat her afterward? This is why she decided to leave to the countryside and have some time for herself to think.
She loved this child already, but the fate it was going to face was too cruel. What could she do?
She worked hard in the orphanage, she didn't even sit for a moment. It also didn't help to look at the children. Every time she would remember about her condition. So she tried to distract herself as much as she could. Until...
"Historia..."
She shrieked and almost dropped the sheet she was going to hang to dry. That voice behind her back... it was so familiar. She froze and felt two strong hands embrace her about the waist.
The Queen slowly turned around to see all too familiar green orbs of the man she loved, hidden under the hood. That's when she started crying. She dropped the sheet and leaned into his embrace, while he caressed her.
They stood like this, completely covered from the other's eyes by the hanging sheets, and she allowed herself to even kiss him desperately and lovingly. She was truly happy that he came. How could she avoid him all these days? How could she leave without him? It felt so good to be with him: she felt protected, she felt loved.
And when he asked her about this, she couldn't come up with the answer. Instead, she told him to go and wait in her room. There she decided to tell him everything.
Her hands trembled when she entered the room. Eren was sitting on her bed and reading some book. He turned to face her and smiled.
"That's where we spent our first night together." He bluntly said, and she blushed at his comment.
"Eren, don't start with your inappropriate comments. I need to talk with you seriously." She avoided his eyes and sighed.
He stood up and approached her. "Are you all right? You seem concerned about something. And you said you were sick the day before yesterday."
Historia looked at the floor, and Eren took her hands in his, trying to make her feel better.
"I... I am not sick, Eren. Nor am I angry at you. But yes, I am worried about the future. Which no longer belongs to me only." She finally looked up at him to meet his confused eyes.
"What do you mean by that?"
Historia sighed and without saying anything pressed one of his hands to her belly.
At first, he just looked into her eyes without any clue. Then the realization hit him and he inhaled sharply. "Are you sure?" He asked her carefully, still unable to believe it.
"Yes." She smiled, but there were tears in her eyes.
For some moments Eren held her gaze without any emotion besides shock, and then all of a sudden lifted her bridal style and spun around, laughing.
"Ah, Eren! What are you doing?! Put me down!"
He stopped spinning but didn't put her down. Instead, he kissed her on the lips, trying to give all his love for her into this kiss.
They parted and he put her on the ground. He was still smiling while doing it.
"You look really happy, Eren," Historia said sheepishly.
"I am. But not only because I will be a dad, but also because this child will save you! You won't have to become a titan before giving birth, it gives me time to finish everything in time, Historia! That's the time I needed, and I was given it now! You will be free! We will be free!"
He kissed her once again, and for the first time in these years, he finally knew what he must do. He must protect his family, and this opportunity was granted to him.
I wanted to make it a three-shot, but I decided to make a small bonus chapter, which comes out in a few days. Stay tuned!
