Hey all! Sorry for the delay. Aria was on vacay and I got caught up with work. Then Aria was feeling lazy so I've hijacked her account to bring you this chapter. Aren't I responsible?

It's short but should tide you over for part two which we'll be posting in a couple days. We love you all dearly and would love to hear your thoughts! ...Yes you can blame me for this plot. =_=

-The Ghousts and Aria

Two days - that's how long Hazel had been missing - an entire 48 hours.

The entire Survey Corps was on high alert, attempting to track the girl or find any trace of her. No one was exactly sure where she had gone or when so they didn't have a precise point of reference as to how long it had been.

Eren was frantic. He kept asking anyone if they had seen where Hazel might have gone to which they all sadly told him they had not. He hadn't slept hardly at all since her disappearance. Every moment without his daughter was agony, every minute he feared more for her well being, every hour his despair grew.

Levi meanwhile had taken up an active role in trying to locate their child. He would disappear during the day only to return at night with bloodstains on his boots and uniform. His long buried habits from the Underground were showing themselves again as he led interrogations all day, searching for any word on where his daughter was.

Cayden was scared. He felt anxious without having his twin nearby, her absence weighed heavily on his mind. He could only watch as his Daddy cried for hours, getting little to no sleep each night. Then his Papa would vanish each day, only to be returned in the morning. He was confused and worried, as even his aunts and uncles were being affected.

With every hour that passed, another piece of him broke with anxiety and rising despair. The only conclusion Eren could come to was that she had been kidnapped. Hazel was never one to stray far from headquarters; and even if she had, she had a strong sense of direction and usually found her way back if ever she got lost.

The small conclusion only further deteriorated him. His family was his everything, the mere thought of them being harmed or in harm's way was one that could've been considered torturous.

Finally a note appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. It was an unnamed sector of the Military Police; they had taken Hazel hostage and proposed a trade - Hazel for Eren.

"I'm doing the trade."

Immediately Levi was glaring at him, "The fuck you are!"

Eren put up his hand, "No, Levi! I have to do this. Do you have any idea what they might do to Hazel the longer they have their filthy hands on her?!"

"Of course I do, but imagine all the shit they would do to you if they got their hands on you," he all but shouted back.

"It's different with me," the younger cried.

"How's that?" The raven challenged.

The situation was really pushing him to his limit; Eren was tired, stressed, worried sick and overall exhausted. "Because at least we know they want me alive," he pointed out, "we can't say the same for Hazel!"

Hanji reluctantly stepped in then, "Levi as much as I hate to admit it, Eren is right. They want to experiment on and study him, they don't want to kill him."

"No," Levi argued, "they want to torture and dissect him and in turn would end up killing him. If it wasn't from the torture, it would be malnourishment or sheer exhaustion." His gray eyes were sharp in the dim lighting, "I'm no fool, I know Hazel is in a risky position but I am not letting you go to the fucking Military Police. We'll figure out another way to retrieve her."

Eren shook his head frantically, "By the time we come up with something they might have already killed her, Levi! I don't want her to be any part of this, she doesn't even understand any of it! She's innocent, I just want her out of the situation."

"And we'll get her out of the situation, just not like this."

With a glare, the titan shifter straightened his posture. "No, this is not your choice to make, it's mine," he said definitively, "and I'm going to make the trade."

"Eren…" his superior hissed in warning.

"WHY CAN'T YOU TRUST ME WITH THIS!?" Eren finally roared as his frustration crested. He stopped himself and took a few deep breaths, "I'm doing what's best for Hazel. Everything they may do to me, they would be just as likely to do to her and I'm not going to stand for that. I can handle it, she would never make it."

Silence encased the small room like a thick and uncomfortable fog. Hanji and Moblit looked anxiously between the lovers.

"Besides," he continued with a small smile, "I know I wouldn't be with them long - you'd come get me, right?"

Levi let out a low growl as he yanked his spouse down for a searing kiss. When they finally parted, their breathing had picked up. He pulled away a bit and looked into those colorful eyes straight on. "Come back to me in one piece," he ordered, "and no matter what hell they put you through, fight those sons of bitches like no other."

Eren nodded with glassy eyes, "I promise."

They lingered in each other's hold, neither wanting to let go. To separate meant that they would go through with the plan. Which meant they'd have to be torn apart for an indefinite amount of time.

"..I'm scared…." The younger breathed.

His raven haired husband let out a weary sigh, "I know." Mentally, he cursed the fact that Erwin wasn't on base, else they might've been able to use his title to their advantage.

"So what choice have we made?" Came a shout from outside; the Military Police awaited them just on the other side of the door.

Eren shuddered but finally detached himself from the other.

Levi's face reflected distaste as they moved towards the door.

"Levi…"

The man turned expectantly.

His brunette lover looked to him pleadingly, "Take care of them while I'm gone, our babies. Don't… don't overlook them in trying to get me back." He reached and clasped his own hand around the one in his hold, "Look after them, keep them happy. And know… that I love you."

His silver eyes softened a bit, "You know I will, brat. I love you too."

Their hands dropped as they exited the room. Eren hardened himself in preparation, knowing his future days would be anything but easy.

The officer that had roped them into the whole situation stood smugly with a terrified Hazel in his grasp. She might've cried out to them if not for the knife at her throat.

He smirked in a knowing manner, "So, what will it be?"

"Give me my daughter and then you can have me," Eren called, sounding more confident than he felt. His legs felt weak, it was positively horrifying to see his precious girl in their clutches. It made him feel physically sick.

He laughed and pulled the blade from Hazel's throat, pushing her forward harshly.

The titan shifter surged towards her, arms open. "Hazel," he cried.

She got up from the ground and ran into his embrace, crying frantically. "D-Daddy! Daddy I'm scared!"

"It's okay baby," he soothed, eyes watching the steadily approaching military police. He pulled her away and held her by the shoulders, "Baby, I need you to go to Papa."

Her face betrayed the insecurity and fear she was feeling, "W-Wha-"

"Please," Eren begged her, tears brimming in his own eyes, "go to Papa and Aunt Hanji. Run." He pushed her lightly in their direction, feeling satisfied when she complied and sprinted into Levi's waiting arms.

The Military Police members swarmed him, instantly locking him in shackles.

The blade that had previously been at his daughter's throat was now conveniently placed firmly against his. He smiled brokenly to his spouse and child as they secured him.

Levi's eyes were tormented as they looked back at him. I'll come for you, those gray orbs seemed to say.

I know you will, his said in return.

And then they forced him into a carriage and started off.

The raven haired Corporal could only watch as they left with his lover. Though everything in his screamed to do something, he restrained himself, unwilling to put Eren at risk. He was in their clutches now, and they might do anything in order to thwart Levi from attacking.

He held their daughter closer, running a hand down her back soothingly.

"W-Why are they taking Daddy!? GIVE HIM BACK," Hazel screamed, fighting her father's hold.

"Hazel," Levi said, "calm down.. Daddy will be fine."

She looked to him tearfully, "But-"

He hugged her closer, "Trust me, baby." His voice was firm and yet consoling, "Daddy will be fine."

Vaguely, Hanji noted his use of Eren's nickname for the kids. He hardly called them by anything but their names. Her heart clenched painfully in her chest.

"We'll get him back, Levi," she murmured to him in a comforting manner.

He scoffed and turned to head back inside, "There's nothing that will stop me from doing so."

Whoops. See ya in a few days lovelies! Sorry for any typos we may have missed.