Chapter 4

(Pre-chapter author's note: do you know what's funny? I'm writing this, and I'm a virgin...)

Everyone woke up bright and early to help Levi clean the baby's room. They lined up after breakfast giving their salute.

"Ladies and gentlemen..." He said "have any of you ever seen an unpolished stone room sparkle?"

They all looked at him in confusion. Some shook their heads, some stood still.

"Well, you will today. I expect there to be not a single speck of dust, dirt, or grime of any type on this floor, ceiling, or any of the walls. I also expect it to remain so until the baby comes. Do I make myself clear?" Levi explained, pacing back and forth in front of the troops

"Yes sir." They all said and got to work. Each soldier either was on a team, or in a pair. For example, Jean, Ymir, and Mikasa were to scrub the walls. Bertholdt and Reiner, the ceiling. Krista and Eren were setting up the crib and furnishings while Armin and Nanaba brought in the gifts and decorations from Petra's family and Sasha and Connie cleaned out the guest rooms and put away the meat and good vegetables sent from the king. Connie, of course, put the food away while Sasha cleaned, oblivious to the fact that there was meat in the vicinity. Levi would come in once in a while to check everybody's work.

"Heichou, how does the crib look?" Krista smiled since she put it all together while Eren was putting together the changing table.

"Hmmm... Did you put any weight on it to test?" Levi asked

"No." Krista said. Levi left the room for a few minutes and came back with some bricks. He dropped them into the crib, and it held up against the force.

"One or two bricks weighs about as much as a baby. Test every piece of

Furniture out with the bricks from now on. I can't have the brat falling." Levi explained, walking out of the room.

"The baby seems to be perfectly healthy, from what I can tell." Hanji said with a grin as she took off her stethoscope.

"Can you tell if it's a boy or girl?" Petra asked

"No. Before the titans, they used to, they could even show you a picture of your baby right now!" Hanji explained and sighed "I wish we could do stuff like that now. It would make things so much easier."

" I just want to know..." Petra sighed

"If it makes you feel better, there are a few old wives tales." Hanji said

"Like what?" Petra couldn't help but get excited at the thought,

"Well, the baby has a faster heartbeat, and you're carrying high. That's supposed to mean it's a-"

"Oi, What's taking so long?" Levi kicked the door open.

"Levi, you just made it in time. I'm making an educated guess on your baby's gender." Hanji said, fixing the latch on the door.

"Well, what is it?" Levi said with a slight sense of anticipation in his voice.

"According to the baby's heart rate and the way Petra's carrying, now don't quote me on this, there's a higher chance that it's a girl." Hanji said with caution.

Those words struck Levi like a bolt of lightning. A girl. What was growing inside of Petra was no longer a formless, genderless creature. It was a baby girl. Not just any baby girl, his and Petra's baby girl. Their baby girl. Their baby girl that had already survived so much, proven herself to be so strong, and hasn't even been born yet. Their baby girl who was the daughter of two of humanity's strongest fighters. Baby girl, baby girl, baby girl... The two words repeated in Levi's head over and over again. the sudden realization of the reality that he was going to be a father to a baby girl made Levi's head spin until he had to sit down.

"I was thinking about names... How about... Anastasia? It means resurrection and rebirth. Sort of like humanity against the titans right now." Petra smiled. Levi walked over, and kissed her on the cheek.

"Anastasia sounds perfect."

"Well, it looks like we've caught someone in a rare mood!" Hanji said

"Shut up, shitty glasses." Levi said with a glare.

"Oh, I almost forgot! The Commander wants to see you both in his office. He told me to tell Petra that after her check-up.

"About what?" Levi asked

"I don't know, but he said it was important." Hanji said. Levi let out a sigh. When Erwin had an important issue, he wasn't fooling around. The last "important issue" was the breach in the Trost district. They walked together through the seemingly endless hallway with fingers intertwined. Petra started to shake. She was equally afraid of being apart from Levi as she was of being kicked out of the scouting legion. She didn't want her baby to be ignorant of the life outside of a small town in wall Rose.

Levi was equally afraid. He preferred to have his wife and child safe inside the walls, but still... He didn't want to be apart from them. He was prepared to do anything to make sure that she stayed. He turned to her.

"No matter what happens, I love you." He said in his usual stoic way.

"I love you too." Petra uttered in a choked up whisper. They finally got to the door. Levi opened the door and held it for Petra. As soon as they entered the room, and saw Erwin's face, their fears were confirmed.

2 months later...

Erwin had not thought things through. When the king had received the letter requesting Jean's uncle to be present at the delivery, it was also picked up by the head of the military police. Corrupt as they were, military laws were upheld for even the smallest infraction. For the scouting legion and garrison, that is. Especially with the scouting legion, their moral opposites. For a superior officer to even flirt with a fellow squad member is strictly prohibited, let alone impregnate one. They both wore their uniforms to court. Petra, however, had to wear a maternity version specially designed for her. They both sat at the defendant's desk and held hands under the table.

" proceeding to the sexual harassment case of the military police versus the scouting legion. Military police, state your case." The judge said calmly.

"As you know, one of the biggest crimes for a soldier to commit is sexual harassment. Private first-class Ral, now Mrs. Rivaille, was an extraordinary soldier who could have one day gotten a promotion to our branch, but then it changed when she was assaulted and that child was conceived. If your honor would grant it, I would like to ask private first class Ral and lance corporal Rivaille a few questions." Said the speaker for the military police.

"Granted" the judge said as the speaker started to basically interrogate Petra.

" would you prefer Private first-class Ral, or Mrs. Rivaille, ma'am?" He asked almost sarcastically.

"Private first-class Rivaille. To my knowledge, my rank hasn't changed since I got married." Petra said.

"I see." He said as he started pacing back and fourth. "Tell us, Private first-class Ral... How old are you?"

"I'm 24." She said, annoyed

"And how old is your husband?"

"34." She said

"You're telling me your husband is ten years older than you?"

"Yes."

"Then tell me," he said with a grin as if to proclaim his victory from there. "How did you two get together? Enlighten us as to how this all started."

Petra blushed and smiled to her self. "My husband saved my life on numerous occasions. We met when i was just a rookie, I was stuck inside a titan's mouth by the legs. People were telling him to leave me to die. He, of course, cut the titan's mouth open, and carried me out."

"Why couldn't you cut yourself out?" The officer asked

"I was out of blades, sir." She said.

"Thank you, Private first-class. Lance Corporal Levi Rivaille, is your wife's story accurate?" He started on Levi now.

"Yes it is." Levi said, staring daggers at the officer.

"So what was your motivation?" He smirked

"None other than saving a comrade." Levi said

" Come on, she's young, she's attractive if you don't mind me saying..." The officer gave Petra a look. She shivered and moved closer to Levi

"I do as a matter of fact." Levi said, interrupting him. Ignoring that, the officer kept going.

"You must have been in it for a reward, right? A little... Favor for a favor?"

"I did it to save a comrade. Nothing more. Now are you going to continue making inappropriate comments about my wife, or can this trial proceed?" Levi looked him dead in the eye. He wouldn't take this harassment. One more crack about sexual assault, and he was going to personally ensure that no one will have to worry about that from the officer. Petra squeezed Levi's hand and looked at him with her sorrowful eyes. In battle, elite warriors can formulate battle plans with only a single glance. The same can be said for off the battle field. She was telling him to calm down. It must be over soon.

"What inappropriate comments? your honor, I-" the officer played innocent.

"I agree with the lance corporal. This is not an interrogation, stand down." The judge said

"Well, who's gonna ask the questions?" The rude officer asked

"I will." A young man in the military police with black hair raised his left hand.

"Proceed then, Marco." The officer said as he walked over to his seat, handing the boy the questioner.

"Marlo, sir." He corrected. He looked over the question sheet, and started asking questions

"0kay... Sergeant Rivaille, I'm sorry to ask this, but could you please describe to the court the time in which the affair started and if you have your consent to his advances or not?" He asked politely.

"It started by the forest on an expedition. We were calming down our horses when about five titans showed up. We split up, and killed them in a matter of minutes. In a rush of adrenaline, we started kissing, and agreed to meet up in his room later that night when neither of us were on duty." Petra blushed

"Was that when your child was conceived, private first-class?" Marlo asked

"No, that was about three months later." Petra said

After a few more questions, the decision was made; Obviously, no sexual harassment was committed. Petra would be given a choice. To be given an honorable discharge and become a housewife with the best medical care for her and her baby, or to return to the scouting legion and act as she would normally but with light duty, a maternity harness, and lighter weight gear. No additional help would be given other than the higher-quality food and milk cow that the king had sent already. Petra, being as bold as she was, chose the latter. She was strong enough to survive missions and childbirth. As long as Levi was by her side, she could do anything.

While they were in the capital, they decided to do something rather rash. They decided to see the female titan. To try and get her out of her crystal prison and maybe even get her to talk. Hanji had figured that with all that had happened, Annie may have some humanity left. If she is talked to by the only survivor of her attacks, then maybe... Just maybe... she'd come out. There would be no telling how they would deal with her, though. They'd need information. Once they had that, she would probably be put on trial for all of those murders, and see if she would be willing to be used like Eren; a titan to seal wall Maria and help kill the titans inside and outside. Very unlikely, but worth a shot.

The passage to where they kept Annie was long and narrow. Just so much that a single human at a time could get through with ease, but not be caught by a titan hand if she broke out. The tunnel went about 10 meters underground. 5 meters shorter than Annie was in titan form. If she were to shift, there would be no way out for her. Finally, they arrived in the brightly lit room. In the center was a giant crystal with Annie Leonhardt inside of it. Levi gently dragged his sword against it.

"Tch... Not a scratch. What the hell is this thing made of?" He said to himself as he turned his attention to the crystal.

"Oi, Leonhardt. Remember me? My wife wants to talk to you. Just remember if you try anything, you're dead. I don't care how hard that crystal is, I'll kick right through it or slice it in half. Your choice." Levi smirked, but backed off as Petra walked up to it with that kind attitude that she'd always had .

"Annie Leonhardt? My name is Petra. You killed my comrades in the forest of giant trees and almost killed me. Do you remember at all?" She asked in a gentle, motherly tone. There was no response from Annie.

"... Can you see me?... Can you hear me?" She asked. No response.

"She knows what's waiting for her when she comes out." Levi said

"Heichou, please don't say that." Petra whispered

"You don't have to call me that anymore." Levi said

"As long as I'm on duty, I will." Petra said.

Annie heard them. She heard everything from her cacoon. She even heard both of their heartbeats... And... What was that tiny third heartbeat coming from? It was faster than theirs, and much more faint. The inside of the crystal started to melt a little as Annie opened her eyes out of curiosity. Levi and Petra went silent. The crystal became almost alive, letting Annie move around in it as she pleased. Curious about where this new heartbeat was coming from? She reached out, staring into Petra's eyes in curiosity. What was this glow she had? It was similar to a warm fire, or the sun after a long, rainy night. Curious of the source of the third heartbeat, Annie reached out, letting her hand escape the living crystal that was just loose enough on the inside to let her move. As she reached for Petra's swollen belly, Levi drew his sword and cut off the exposed arm. Annie quickly drew back, clutching the stub not in physical pain, but emotional. She looked at Petra feeling almost betrayed.

"Heichou... It's alright." Petra said. Hesitantly, she walked up to the crystal and smiled. Annie reached out with her left arm as the other regenerated. She laid her hand on Petra's belly again, and innocently looked up at her as to say 'What's in there?'.

"That's my baby." Petra smiled

"Ba... By?" Annie mouthed out, unable to speak through her cocoon.

"That's right. If you come out, I promise you'll get to see him or her. We think it's a-"

"Girl." Annie said as the crystal slowly shrank away past her face. She fell out onto the ground and the military police guards siezed her.

"Wow!" Levi said in surprise. They secured Annie in a straight jacket and took her away. The entire time, she looked at Petra with her curious gaze. Still wondering what was causing that third heartbeat.

In the following three months, Annie would be discovered to have amnesia that she somehow managed to give herself while in the crystal. No information could be gotten from her other than the fact that she was the female titan. She had reverted to an almost child-like state. She was a shell of her former self. The court granted custody of her to the scouting legion where Reiner and Bertholdt were trying to help her remember. Whatever their plan was would have to wait until Annie regained her memory. A heartbroken Bertholdt would spend his nights crying until then.