A/N: Hiiii, everyone! Happy New Year to all of you! :) After a period of writer's block, this story is BACK! :D Truth is, the newest manga chapter gave me some major inspiration (including major inspiration to shout abuse at that jerk Floch, who SERIOUSLY needs a punch on his smug face) and, by the way, I NEED someone to talk about this chapter, so feel free to PM me ;)

ResistingFate: Oh, very interesting connection you've made with the Curse of Ymir! I didn't think about it, the number 13 was due to the series, but in-universe it could be an excellent reference, nice thinking there! And I believe that your assumptions on who Jean could protect will be answered before the end of the story! ;)

Labloom: Awwww, thank you soo much, it makes me so happy you like this fanfiction that much! :D I really hope you will enjoy reading this chapter too.

Guest 1: Thank you so much for the lovely review! :D I hope the eleventh letter will live up to your expectations! ;)

Guest 2: Glad you liked Mikasa's letter and the general idea! :) Hope you will like the next chapter too!

This story contains SPOILERS for the Attack on Titan manga and especially the Marley arc and the final arc (which finally has its own name, War for Paradis, totally fitting to the mess that's happening). It also contains major FEELS, so be warned!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Attack on Titan universe or the 13 Reasons Why TV series, which inspired this fic.

"He did what?"

"Shut up, someone's gonna hear you!"

"He did what?"

"Can it!"

"He. Did. What?"

"No matter how many times you ask, facts won't change, so will you stop acting all hysterical?"

"Oh, yeah, of course, I should be freaking happy that a major part of our plan just got destroyed before it even started."

"As entertaining as it is to watch Yelena lose it," a third voice interrupts the quarreling between the two soldiers, "will you both stop it? Someone will hear us otherwise."

"Oh, you haven't seen me losing it yet, Forster!"

Silence falls into the small, yet occupied room, broken only by angry puffs, desperate sighs and awkward coughing, the four people working together occasionally throwing accusatory glances towards each other. Yelena, who has lost her usually composed stance, is walking up and down, fuming, her face marked by an expression Floch dares to interpret as paranoid and furious.

Said auburn-haired Scout, on the other hand, is leaning against the locked wooden door, with his arms crossed in front of his chest as if he wants to protect himself from Yelena's anger, and looking extremely bored, but the worried way with which he looks from Yelena to the door and vice versa betrays his fear that they will get caught talking without being able to explain their intentions.

At the same time, Nicolo, who's the only one who hasn't said a word for a while, is occupying the spot in front of the window, eyes stubbornly locked on the scenery outside, the training fields, now covered in darkness, and one of the narrow paths that leads to the ocean shore; his coughs and sighs show how uncomfortable and guilty he feels for being here and betraying those who accepted him in their group…and, by extension, even Sasha herself.

Meanwhile, Lukas sits on one of the two beds in the room, eyes travelling from one Scout to the other, his face marked with a frustrated expression that shows his disdain not only at the current situation, but also at the other people currently present. To think that, from an influential member of the Garrisons, he's ended up working together with this bunch of reckless rebels…that a nineteen-year-old had the audacity to treat him like a worthless subordinate and imply he's not in the position to judge said nineteen-year-old's former friendship with their traitorous Titan Shifter prisoner…

"Hey, try to relax, Lukas, you're ready to murder someone." Floch comments with a snicker, ignoring the furious glare Yelena throws at both men, the woman from Marley clearly tired with their childish bickering. "I know you must be feeling sour right now, but the world doesn't evolve around you, so why don't you—"

"Leave it, Floch!"

"You just got outsmarted by Kirstein, Lukas, so you don't have any right to speak!" The only woman of the four intervenes, placing her hands on her hips and staring at every one of them with that dangerous and even crazy spark in her eyes that gives Nicolo the impression that she's reading their deepest and darkest thoughts. "You idiots just cut off all access to Reiner…because don't think for a second that Jean's gonna ignore what happened! You good-for-nothing imbeciles!"

"Hey, will you stop with the insults, already? Lukas just revealed himself, why are we at fault?" Nicolo speaks up for the first time since the conversation started, pointing at himself and then at Floch, Yelena's bossy attitude now really getting on his nerves. "Besides, you said that Reiner will also go to Sina with the others for the trials, so maybe you'll get your chance there."

"Unless they'll be even more careful when we arrive in Sina now that they known Reiner's our target." Floch makes another point, not without a snarl towards Lukas, whom he still considers the one responsible for the extra problem that's threatening their cause at the moment.

"Well, there's nothing we can do, right? Or do you wanna cause more suspicions?"

"And what else could you do?" Lukas adds to Nicolo's question, his gaze fixed with disdain on the other Scout. "Kill all the guards and sneak Reiner and Eren out of here? Or find a way to send Kirstein away?"

"Don't give me any ideas, Altenbach, because that starts to seem like the best solution! Maybe send him for some extra dangerous mission in Marley…or maybe even something more effective, I don't know, make everyone think he wasn't in his right mind after Sasha's death, that he lost it and harmed himself…"

"I'm gonna stop you right there, Floch, 'cause I know you didn't just say what I thought you just said." Yelena interrupts the boy's whispered rambling, staring at him with something that reminds the others of horror; and to see the usually determined Yelena so horrified says a lot about their current conversation.

Lukas challenges Floch to do what he has in mind, mentioning that no one will believe his cover story, since he is their greatest suspect behind everything that's going on in the Headquarters and even the regions inside the walls. Floch is fuming, everyone present can see that, but noticing that his dark plans aren't met with approval, he quickly abandons all comments about silencing Jean one way or another and returns back to his previous, angry outbursts about how the Commanding Officer is getting on his nerves and how he's ruined everything by visiting Reiner tonight.

"Give the guy a break, will you? He's in freaking mourning!" Nicolo tries to maintain some sort of balance amongst these three crazies, even though he knows that he'll be at the receiving end of everyone's despise because of that. "And after Marley, it's normal for everyone to be on standby."

"He's not sad, you idiot!" Yelena now turns her accusations and insults towards him, her expression marking how exhausted she is due to the cook's good-natured demeanor. "Walking around? Asking about Sasha? Visiting Reiner, a man whose cousin killed the girl he loved? He's not in mourning, he's seeking revenge!"

"Revenge against who, you suspicious madwoman? Marley? The two brats? Or Floch and anyone else he believes is hiding some secret? Because if that's the case, then Floch and Lukas here need to get the hell away from HQ!"

"And how about you, Nicolo? Will you stay here, pretending to be his friend and watching his actions? Or do you simply want to stay away from the restaurant and out of the plan? I only wonder how Grior will react at the news that you've…softened."

Ah, and here comes the blackmail; why am I not surprised? The Marleyan mentally scoffs, his own bitterness being reflected into his thoughts and his lack of any empathy towards those he's working with startling even himself. Once again, he is genuinely surprised by how easy it is for the other three in the room to stoop down to so dark levels, talking about a deceased girl like they care nothing about her, conspiring to achieve their mysterious plan and leaving him in the dark, throwing only breadcrumbs at him concerning what he needs to know and mostly in regards to the restaurant and how Grior is coming along with the aforementioned plan.

Nicolo wonders, maybe for the hundredth time since he got entrapped in this vicious circle, whether he's being used as a pawn specifically because of the restaurants he's opened, one near the Headquarters and one in Trost. He knows there's something else going on, something bigger and way darker than Yelena implies; after all, these persistent questions about the craters of wine bottles being transferred between the districts and if they're being served to the 'appropriate people' can't be coincidental.

Something is at work here…something he's participating in without his full knowledge or even consent about the role the others imposed on him regarding their plan. Something crucial, which is probably why Yelena and Floch are trying to break his nerves by talking so indifferently about Sasha or threatening to expose his hesitation and cautiousness to Grior, who's way more devoted to whatever cause the restaurant is serving.

How would Sasha react if she were here? If she knew? Would she understand or would she hate me?

And this is a question that's probably hurting the cook even more than the uncertainty of what he's gotten himself into and if he's a pawn. He can't prevent himself from suspecting that Sasha, despite the kindness and compassion of hers that drew him to her, would be extremely disappointed in him due to everything he's doing behind the Scouts' backs. Hell, Nicolo can't prevent himself from feeling that right now, with things going their way in the restaurant and with the current conversation he's having, he's betraying the trust Sasha showed him immediately despite his hailing from the enemy nation.

And a part of him wishes he could send Yelena, Floch and Lukas to hell and go talk to someone about everything he knows—to Commander Hanji, maybe, or Jean and Connie…especially given the interest the other three show towards Jean's actions these days, as if the Commanding Officer has become a serious threat for them. But he doesn't have that courage. He's a coward. He knows he's too weak to ever come clean with everything and so he simply sighs as a sign that he'll go on with his part of the plan.

"At least I'm not the one who suggested freaking murder a few minutes ago!" Is his only comment, directed at Floch, and he smirks at the sign of the Scout losing his previous smug expression. "And how would your precious Eren react if he knew that you're planning to use Sasha's death to turn the people of Paradis against the Recon Corps? Something tells me he wouldn't like that very much…a death of a dear friend and taking action behind his back?"

"It's for the sake of the plan. There's no room for sentiment, Nicolo, remember that." Lukas interferes whle rolling his eyes, wanting to stop another quarrel from taking place. "Besides, I think you should be the one to leave for the walls, since Kirstein suspects the rest of us but not you."

"For once I agree with Altenbach; if we leave, we'll be confirming whatever Jean thinks he knows." Yelena nods approvingly. "So, Nicolo, this is up to you. Be a friend to him. Tell him how sorry you are that you have to go inspect your restaurant instead of helping everyone with Sasha's loss. And in two days you're leaving for Trost."

"So, starting with the basics. Lukas Altenbach, thirty-two years old. Born in Krolva District to Ernst and Dorothea Altenbach, joined the Trainee Corps at age twelve and very quickly excelled as a cadet, especially in everything concerning hand-to-hand combat and tasks demanding high intelligence. On the other hand, he always had trouble in teamwork. His assessment by the Commandant describes him as someone with a tendency to impose his own opinion and quite unwilling to listen to what his teammates suggested."

"Should be a perfectly clear sign for what he'd become in the future." Levi states as he listens to Hanji narrowing down the known facts about the newest member in the conspiracy brewing in the Recon Corps Headquarters at the moment. "Not the ideal Squad Leader material, if you ask me…then again, compared to the useless idiots of the Garrisons, he might have even given the impression of being some kind of great leader."

"That's exactly what happened. Despite graduating as the second-best in his Cadet Corps and having the potential of a very promising career in the Military Police, Lukas chose to enlist to the Garrison Squad, surprising a great number of superiors and comrades alike." The female Commander confirms her friend's statement, a faint, amused smile creeping up her face at his last comment before disappearing again. "His prowess in combat and strategic planning only increased in the Garrisons and he was appointed Squad Leader at age eighteen, the first one in his year of graduates and one of the youngest in the Garrisons' history…explaining his arrogance towards our young recruits and his contempt at those who are younger and yet higher-ranking than he is."

"Yes, but that didn't improve his teamwork." Levi sighs while inspecting another scroll, this one containing various reports about Lukas's activity in his previous regiment. "He treated his squad members with a demanding attitude and didn't accept their opinions, believing he was always in the right and wanting respect and absolute obedience from them…some even describe him as 'a Squad Leader that leads with an iron fist'. Rumor had it that his greatest ambition was to one day succeed Pixis as Commander of the Garrisons…wouldn't put it past this traitor, he seems to go wherever he'll gain more benefit."

"I can't disagree with you on that. After all, why else would he leave the Garrison and his squad and transfer to the Scouts at a period of time when the Scouts were in the middle of all political and strategic developments? He clearly saw where the wind blew and chose to join us for more influence…while using his contacts in the Garrison against us for the sake of the plan set in motion."

"Hanji, we should send word to Pixis and warn him about Lukas's suspicious actions here." Levi suggests calmly and only his knuckles turning white as he clasps his hands together betray the tension he is experiencing at the moment; and he can tell that his old friend is not faring any better. "He should keep an eye on him if he makes another journey in the walls these days and thanks to Jean and Connie's observations, we are now aware of dark deeds that are at work."

"Will do; if Lukas is using his contacts in Wall Rose, then we should start having informants of our own; and I will alert Hitch Dreyse in Wall Sina as well." Hanji sighs and briefly takes off her glasses to tiredly rub her healthy eye. "Do you think Jean's suspicions are right? That, among everything else, they are using Sasha's death and the Warriors' imprisonment to turn everyone against the Recon Corps?"

"The order wouldn't come from the brat, no. Despite his suicidal stupidity, he wouldn't disrespect a deceased friend like that. Can't say the same for the others, though…they weren't as close with Sasha and, if it helped their purpose, it wouldn't surprise me if they proceeded with this." The Captain replies with a scowl, recalling the witty and gluttonous young woman who was his subordinate, the fate she met, the trust she placed in him through her letter and all the issues that are open at the moment. "But we agreed that, this time, things aren't in our hands. We made the choice we would regret less and we decided not to take this choice back."

He spends several moments in silence, contemplating about everything that has happened, both during the month following Sasha's demise and what during these four years, ever since the Survey Corps took Eren under their protection and supervision. Levi remembers this trial as if it were yesterday; Eren's determined look, how he lost his cool when the Military Police and the Order of the Walls threatened Mikasa, and how he himself had to beat the Titan Shifter to a pulp. A reckless brat, but willing to free humanity and stand beside his friends.

Now, though…

"At least, the order wouldn't come from the old brat." The Captain corrects himself afterwards, in his trademark, blank voice that betrays no emotion to an outsider, but to someone who knows him well, like Hanji, the disappointment in his tone is more than evident, just like it is in the way he avoids her gaze. "Who can tell with the new one, though? The new one wouldn't hesitate to obliterate the entire population beyond the ocean, including million innocent bystanders, if it meant to free Eldia. And with fanatic supporters like Foster by his side…"

He doesn't say it out loud, but years of building trust and friendship between him and the current Commander of the Recon Corps allow them to understand the unspoken words and thoughts that hang in the air, unnecessary to be discussed. They are both thinking about Erwin right now; their lost Commander and friend who gave up his dream and died with the rest of the recruits in Shiganshina…the demon, as many called him and sometimes still do…the master of gambling who led everything and everyone to the famous coup d'état that is still mentioned in various circles.

These conditions right now, with the imprisoned Marley Warriors, with thirteen letters, with a plan among Eren's supporters that will most likely divide the entire island and with the outcome of said letters depending on one man alone, would provide Erwin with the ideal circumstances to make another one of his huge gambles, risking everything to blow up and yet not leaving anything to pure luck. Both Hanji and Levi know that it is senseless to think about alternative scenarios, but it is overwhelming how their friend's absence hangs between them now that each step forward could easily be a step that will bring utter destruction.

"Alright, let's hear it." Levi breaks the silence once more, after watching Hanji fidgeting in her seat and picking up various parchments from her desks without reading through them. "What else are you nervous about?"

"I'm receiving the weekly report about Kaya from the orphanage tomorrow."

Kaya. Another thorn that only adds to the sorrow Sasha's loss brought to everyone in the regiment. The little girl the young Scout saved from a Titan only four years ago with no 3D Maneuver Gear, only with the help of a sharp mind, a bow and some arrows. The girl Historia had welcomed with open arms in the orphanage she established after becoming Queen. The girl who is now fourteen years old and who never stopped talking with respect and admiration about Sasha, whom she considered an older sister.

The girl who broke down when she learned the news about how her big sister got killed after the end of the battle.

"It's been very difficult for her. The caretakers at the orphanage tell me that she has isolated herself from the other children, only talking to one or two of them." Hanji elaborates and now it's her who is avoiding Levi's gaze. "And the last report stated that she was found crying on her own several times, refusing to talk to anyone about her emotions and even becoming aggressive when they tried to comfort her.

"I was thinking of even asking them to bring her here for a while, to be with people who knew and loved Sasha and could help her through everything. Maybe sharing memories with the rest of the 104th would bring her some comfort. But now…"

The female Commander doesn't have to complete her sentence for Levi to get the message. The way things are at Headquarters right now not only provide an unhealthy environment for Kaya in her state, but her presence here would also give Eren's supporters another addition that would be used against them and against Kaya herself. An emotionally devastated teenager would be extremely easy to fall victim to whatever manipulation she would go through by Yelena, Floch, Lukas and anyone else. They would play with her tender age, with her fragile mind, with her own emotions, and would subdue her to brainwashing that would rival the one of the Eldian children in the Marley military. They would turn an innocent and mourning girl into another weapon, using her grief to fuel her wish for revenge.

And no matter how much out of their hands this mess is, they will do anything in their power to stop this from happening.

"Speaking of grieving and distraught ones…" Hanji leaves a sigh that seems to come from the depths of her soul, a sigh betraying her confusion, her qualms and her tiredness, "I hope you are not planning to go to sleep, Captain. For I believe that tonight we will be needed."

Dusk is falling slowly over the training barracks, yet faster than Jean would have wanted. Unless it is the dread of what is to come that makes time flow more swiftly than usual? To someone who doesn't know well, he might appear as perfectly composed, indifferent even, with an air of certainty in his steps as he approaches Sasha, Connie, Armin and Annie, who are leaning against a wall. And yet those who do know him well can easily see the slight trembling of his hands, his chest that rapidly moves up and down in an attempt to control his breathing, the frantic movement of his eyelids.

He passes various familiar faces as he makes way through the crowd of the fearful and nervous recruits who wait for the order to assemble, the order that will mark the start of the choosing ceremony. Reiner, Ymir, Bertholdt and Krista are amongst them, the latter two crouching on the ground and the blond girl even hugging herself, both of them appearing younger than their age, scared and insecure about what's going to happen. Reiner and Ymir on the other hand, who are the ones of the group standing, seem to be towering protectively over them, with Reiner having crossed his arms and Ymir looking around in exasperation as if she is wondering when the hell they will begin.

And yet the courtyard seems so empty compared to how it was once filled with the hundreds young soldiers that consisted the 104th. So many of them are missing, so many absences, marking the losses they have suffered during the battle in Trost. Marco's passing isn't the only one plaguing Jean's mind at the moment, although it's clearly the most intense one, the memory of how he discovered his best friend's body still haunting him and not allowing him to rest at night. But there are so many others…there's Mylius, Thomas, Nac and Mina…there's Hannah and Franz….there's the soldiers who died while Jean led them to the HQ…and all the other fighters who died in battle at the hands of the giant beasts that will likely be the cause for Jean's own demise considering his regiment of choice.

"Jean…" Armin exclaims as he nears the small group, his voice alerting the other three about his presence. "You're really joining the Recon Corps?"

"Yeah." Jean replies with no hesitation, the tone of his voice sharp and clear; dread or not, he took this decision and he's not planning to go back on it.

"Why the sudden choice?" Sasha wants to know, looking at him with a gaze that combines fear and confusion, as if it genuinely is in her interest to find out more about his way of thinking. "I mean…aren't you scared?" She concludes more softly, like she believes it's not proper to ask something like that…or like her own fear doesn't allow her to make a solid choice about which military branch to enlist to.

"Huh? Of course I don't want to join the Recon Corps."

In all honesty, Jean doesn't mean to snap at the Potato Girl like that; gone are the days when he used to call her all sorts of names and yell at her for no particular reason. Their relationship has improved remarkably after their cooking competition, their arguments and the hurting insults having slowly being replaced by jokes and teasing bickering. Today, though, of all days, tensions run high in the Trainee Corps and everyone can feel it: no one can control their terror and their nerves, and, judging from Sasha's subtle nod towards him, Jean understands that she's not offended by his raised voice.

"Th—Then why…"

"It's not that the Titans don't scare me anymore either." Jean completes Connie's question without the need for the other boy to finish it. He tries his best to return his voice to its previous calm and steady tone, knowing that his friends need a valid explanation from his side instead of him snapping and losing his temper, since this will do none of them good. "And I won't spout nonsense like, 'The best belong in the Recon Corps'."

Jean may never understand why the others trust his opinion like that, and he sure as hell doesn't want to drive them towards one decision or other. But then Marco's voice echoes in his head once more, the same voice that guided him the night they burnt the bodies of the fallen…the same comment he received after he led everyone to safety.

You aren't a strong person, Jean. So you can relate to the feelings of the weak. What's more, you excel at sizing up any situation. Isn't that why you already know what needs to be done?

"I'm not as eager to die as some are," he continues and everyone can detect the blunt honesty that always marked his words; Jean doesn't sugarcoat, doesn't encourage with mighty pep talks, and that is something his friends would even call it refreshing and powerful compared to their superiors' big words and false hopes.

"You mean Eren? He's already joined the Recon Corps."

"Trainees! Line up! Line up in front of the stage!" One of the Squad Leaders announces, startling all the recruits, who then start doing as they are told, even though the group of four lingers behind, wanting to complete their conversation before the greatest decision of their lives.

"I'm not risking my life because someone convinced me. This is a job you can't do unless you decide for yourself." Jean concludes and turns to hide, but a shriek coming from Sasha makes him turn towards them again. "What more, Potato Girl?"

Sasha doesn't answer him at once, spending several seconds thinking her words carefully; something totally new for the usually spontaneous and loud-mouthed Sasha everyone knows. Connie and Armin are staring at her, eager to hear what she has to say after Jean's advice; and even though Annie keeps her face neutral, the way she has straightened her shoulders is a sign for her own peaked curiosity. Jean, on the other hand, can't help but appreciate how the girl is for once filtering her words instead of babbling some nonsense; she looks more mature than she has ever looked right now.

But when she speaks, her steady voice can easily rival his.

"You're much braver than you think, Jean, you know that?"

"Huh? What the hell are you talking about? Where's the bravery in being scared out of your mind?"

At Jean's exasperated questions, Sasha actually has the nerve to leave a gentle chuckle, as if she expected this reaction, before quickly controlling herself again. Her gaze is quite unusual as it's directed towards him: it's soft, yet there's a gleam of pride in her hazel eyes, and something else, something even more unusual, something that petrifies Jean…it's a wild and desperate determination, as if she has finally reached a conclusion she has been battling with for a long time…as if she has found her purpose.

Surely she's not thinking about joining too? Jean thinks with horror; horror for her life and horror that it's him who influenced her to make that choice. She doesn't have to give her life up too, she deserves the safety of the MPs, she would have a good life there!

But he can't stop her if that's what she decided. Not when he just said that joining the Scouts is something everyone needs to decide for themselves. He's not a damn hypocrite, Sasha has every right to join the Recon Corps if that's her personal choice, but that doesn't mean he's ready to see more friends risk their lives alongside him.

"Because you know you're scared out of your mind," she elaborates. "You admit you're scared out of your mind. And despite this fear—or because of it, I don't know—you still chose the Scouts with no words that are fake to you."

And with a small smile, without even waiting for an answer, she pats Connie on the shoulder and turns to make her way towards the stage, where most recruits have already gathered.

"Sasha!" Jean calls for her without even thinking, without even knowing what to tell her. There's a seriousness in his voice, and a gratitude, but whatever he has in mind to tell her is stuck in his throat and he finds himself unable to speak or even breathe properly.

"Come on, guys. No time to delay the inevitable. Let's go line up."

Is that what affected her?

At that final moment before the choosing ceremony, is that what gave her the boost she needed to fully decide to disobey Marley's orders and enlist to the Scouts instead of the MPs?

She had so much faith that I am not the coward I believe to be…then why am I so hesitant to continue?

Something about his talk with Reiner and reading Mikasa's letter changed the dynamics. The scolding Jean received from the holder of the Armored Titan about why he would give value to Eren's words can't stop repeating itself in his head, since the comment about not being as noble as Sasha claimed, together with Hanji's suggestion he go to her and Levi when the time for his letter comes, has made him question what is said in his own letter. Reiner may be the enemy, but Jean can't forget that he's also a former comrade; not to mention that his attitude wasn't that hostile after the assurance that Gabi and Falco are not being tortured in the Military Police Headquarters.

And now there are only three letters left.

The top three letters, the three receivers most important to Sasha and her plan.

Him being one of them.

With a sigh that almost sounds resigned, Jean opens the envelope with the number 11 on it, which seems somehow thicker than the previous ones. And once he drops its contents on his desk, he fully understands why. Because this understanding creates complications that don't leave him much room for misinterpretation.

Because the eleventh envelope doesn't only contain the necessary letter, but also a small brass key.

Its end is not as complicated designed as the one Eren possessed; it's only a circle and reminds Jean of the keys they have to their rooms and their offices. But this key seems so much heavier to him because of the implications and ghosts of past warnings start flooding his mind.

You need to understand…

You are the key to everything…

Before he even realizes what he is doing, he puts the letter and the key back in the envelope, locks the box with the other letters in a drawer and rushes out of his room.

When Hanji opens the door, frightened by the panicked knocking, and sees Jean in front of her, frazzled, barely breathing, with knots of sweat forming on his forehead, she understands immediately that her instinctive prediction was correct. She shares a look with Levi, who nods at her in silent agreement, before turning back towards the nineteen-year-old Commanding Officer, her expression full of the compassion she knows he will need tonight.

Jean knows he doesn't have to say anything, but he says it nonetheless to try and accept it himself.

"I've reached my letter!"

A/N: DUN DUN DUUUUUN! Here we go, guys, we reached the peak of the letters and I am soooo sorry for the cliffhanger! Hope you liked this chapter and the next one should be up this weekend! :)