Aubrey woke first.

And it was early. Very early. A quick glance out the window revealed that the sun was just beginning to rise.

Aubrey blinked, trying to take in her surroundings. She still wasn't used to waking up in this room. It left her feeling a little confused until she felt the warm body beside her and she remembered where she was.

Levi's arm hung loosely around her waist and his legs were twisted into hers. She'd been sleeping with her head pressed into his chest and her hand resting on his neck.

Aubrey glanced at his face. He had the same peaceful look he'd had a couple of days ago and, once again, she couldn't help but smile. It was amazing how young and he looked when he relaxed the usually hard lines of his features.

Aubrey peeked again at the light trickling in through the window and realized that she could let him sleep for quite a bit longer. She'd make sure he got as much rest as possible. Even if she already missed him.

She reached up, taking just a moment to brush his hair out of his eyes and trace his jaw. She couldn't help herself.

When she was done with that, she wiggled closer and placed a light kiss on his cheek before finally sliding away and off the bed.

Her feet hit the cold floors and she stood, using the bedside table for support. But she soon found that walking wasn't really going to be that hard. Maybe her body was getting used to it.

She moved, a little shakily at first but then with more balance, toward the bathroom. Her eyes landed on the scattered clothing that had been tossed all across their room the night before. She smiled.

Just like every night, Levi had taken her to the bath and washed her, but this time he'd whispered how much he loved her into her ear every few seconds. Aubrey had just run her fingers through his hair and traced his face, listening to every word he said and saving the memory away forever.

Levi had kept her in the bath until the water had gone cold and then he'd found her a clean set of clothes and dressed her before changing the sheets and lying her down on the bed.

He'd started another fire and then joined her, pulling her close and continuing with the whispered "I love you"s. Aubrey had held on to him like he could slip away at any moment.

They'd stayed there like that for a long time. It had only been around 8 o'clock when they'd gotten back and neither of them had been tired enough to fall asleep yet.

Aubrey's mind had wandered, reliving their time together over and over again and cherishing it more each with every round of remembrance. But those memories had leaked into others and soon she wasn't just remembering her time with Levi, but her time with Tika and Jack and even her time with her father. Surprisingly, the thoughts hadn't made her upset… just… thoughtful. There was so much she'd yet to tell Levi, even if he knew the basics. But she wanted him to know more, she wanted him to know all of it. She wanted him to know her.

So she'd told him.

When she'd randomly asked him if he wanted to hear about her family, Levi had been surprised but he'd agreed immediately. Whatever she wanted to tell him, he was ready to hear.

He'd listened carefully as she'd told him the names of her aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents. She'd recounted all of the times they wronged her but also the times that a certain cousin of hers had treated her with the tiniest bits of kindness. Levi strongly doubted he'd ever meet her family but he'd filed away the cousin's name, Finn, as the only person from her past that he should spare.

She'd eventually moved on to her father, explaining more of the ways in which he'd tortured her. Levi had consciously needed to stop himself from breaking something.

She'd gone deeper into her time in the Training Corps, describing how it had been both freeing and terrifying. She'd constantly been in fear of her father finding her. And yet, she'd found her friends and made a new family, forcing herself to be the opposite of what she'd been raised to be.

Then she came to the loss of her friends. She described to Levi, in detail, exactly how they had died, exactly how she'd failed to protect them like she'd promised. A few tears had escaped her at that part but Levi had just kissed them away and held her tighter. He'd recognized the similarity between what had happened to her friends and what had happened to his. He knew her pain and she knew his.

Finally her story had come to an end and Levi hadn't hesitated to kiss her until they were both breathless. Aubrey had wrapped her arms around him and, as soon as they'd caught their breath… she'd asked him about his mother.

Levi had frozen for a moment. Not because he didn't want to tell her but because he'd never told anyone. It was a part of his past that he'd never dared to share. It made him feel… vulnerable.

But Aubrey had sensed his discomfort and just a few strokes of her fingers on his cheek had convinced him to tell her.

After a few deep breaths, he'd begun. He'd told her about the brothel that had been his home as a child. About how, even though they'd had nothing, his mother had always made him feel safe. He'd explained her death and Aubrey had shed a few tears for him when he'd described what it had been like to sit next to his mother's corpse as he neared death himself. He'd moved on to his time with Kenny, telling her more about how he'd trained him, taken care of him, and then abandoned him without warning. He'd told her about how he'd made it on his own before Furlan had shown up and how they'd eventually formed a team. He'd spoken about how they'd met Isabel after she'd tried to return a trapped bird to the surface and gotten caught. Somehow, she'd found her way to Levi's door and he and Furlan had scared away her attackers. And, somehow, she'd convinced them to let her join their group. He continued by telling Aubrey about their time together, going so far as to tell her about specific jobs they'd taken. Finally, he recounted their secret job that had brought them to the surface in the first place and then went on to describe their confrontation with Erwin and his squad. Aubrey had shivered when he'd told her about the way they'd been captured. It had upset her to know just how harsh Erwin had been with them. But Levi had quickly moved on and soon he'd reached the day they'd met.

Aubrey had expected him to stop there but he'd continued. She'd stared at him wide-eyed as he'd explained the sabotage he'd been planning against Erwin. The way he'd been planning to steal the documents, to kill him, and then to flee. Aubrey hadn't known what to say. But she hadn't had to speak. Levi had turned into her and softly told her that she'd tortured him the whole time he'd been plotting. He'd said that he'd fallen for her so much that he hadn't been sure he'd be able to go through with his plan. That's why he'd set their boundaries, why he'd said they should just be friends. He'd told her that even as he'd left Isabel and Furlan to carry out his task and end Erwin's life, he'd known his heart wasn't in, that he'd hoped she would somehow forgive him… that she'd still love him.

Aubrey had cried again, gripping him as tightly as she could and telling him that she'd love him forever, no matter what. She'd known that if he'd killed Erwin… maybe she'd never have been able to forgive him. But she'd always love him.

Eventually, Aubrey's tears had dried and Levi had pulled her in close, whispering more reassurances in her ear. It hadn't taken them long for the day to catch up with them and, soon after, they'd fallen asleep in each other's arms.

It had been another hard night. Levi had woken several times, shaking or sobbing from the thoughts that had crept in during the night. Aubrey had just held him to her, whispering that it was alright, that he would be okay, that she loved him. He'd gotten through it eventually.

But now, he was sleeping again. And peacefully from the looks of it. Aubrey glanced at his face one last time as she walked into the bathroom. He still looked calm. Good. He needed to rest.

Aubrey shook her head as she finally shut the bathroom door behind her, trying to clear her head of the lingering seriousness of their night. Today was their day in town. They were going to have fun, be happy. She was going to make Levi tea, hold his hand, buy him a present. What they'd discussed last night was important but that was the past… now they needed to enjoy the present.

Aubrey looked in the mirror, resolving to make their day the best it could be. And she knew exactly where to start.

She turned on the water, washing her face and brushing her teeth before running a comb through her hair. When she'd finished there, she went to the box of her clothes in the main room, careful to move quietly. She rummaged through it until she found the nicest outfit she owned. It still wasn't much different than her other leisure clothing but the pants were a higher quality and the shirt was a little silkier than the rest of what she had. It wasn't much… but maybe Levi would like it.

She dressed quickly and threw on her boots with a bit of reluctance. She didn't have Levi there to lace them up for her.

Finally, after a few minutes, she got the shoes on and stood, taking one last glance at Levi's sleeping form. She was worried that he'd wake while she was gone or that he'd have another bout of shivering and she wouldn't be there to comfort him. Aubrey paused, trying to find a solution of some sort. After just a few seconds, it came to her.

Aubrey crept into the study, once again feeling overwhelmed by the amount of bookshelves they had to fill. Maybe she'd have to buy a book or two in town. They had to start somewhere.

She moved to the desk, hoping she'd find what she was looking for. She opened the top drawer and smiled when she saw a few blank sheets of paper along with a quill and some ink. She pulled out the materials she needed and started to write.

Levi,

I've just gone down to the kitchen to get a few things. I'll be back soon. Then we can get ready for town.

I love you,

Aubrey

Aubrey put the quill and ink back in the drawer and then returned to the main room. She set the letter on the bed next to Levi. Hopefully he'd see it if he woke up.

There was just one last thing to do. Aubrey scanned the room, finding her stachel on the ground in the corner of the room. It was empty now. Everything in it had already been pulled out and used.

Aubrey quickly picked it up and then headed for the door, giving Levi one last look before she left. Still asleep.

She smiled and quietly stepped out of the room.

She hurried through the halls of the castle, moving at a pace somewhere between a walk and a run. There was no one up yet; it was still just barely past sunrise. Plus, it was Sunday.

She made it to the Mess Hall in no time at all and moved through it to get to the kitchen. When she finally burst through the door she saw the familiar faces of the cooks that prepared breakfast every morning. Just as they always did, they gave her a nod and then went back to their work.

Aubrey started immediately. She gathered some fruit, some spices, and a few vegetables. But what she really wanted would be a little harder to get to. Aubrey crept into the pantry, making sure that no one was looking as she moved to the back and dug the key to the Officer's Pantry out of its hiding spot. Erwin had revealed its place to her once when he'd come down to the kitchen for some kind of alcohol after a long day. She'd just laughed at him when he'd reached for the whiskey and immediately turned back around. But, thanks to that experience, she had access to all of the good food she wanted.

The Officers's Pantry was a second, locked room, at the back of the regular pantry. Luckily, the regular pantry was already hidden enough that no one could see her. She didn't think the cooks would say anything if they saw her in the Officer's Pantry but… better safe than sorry. She kept quiet as she put the key in the lock and carefully swung the door open. She smiled as soon as she was inside.

Aubrey already knew what she was looking for and it didn't take her long to find the ice box. She opened it, grinning even wider when she saw eggs, cheese, and a little bit of bacon. She grabbed them, gently placed them in the satchel, and then moved out of the Officer's Pantry. She locked the door, hid the key, and then moved back out to the kitchen. She just had one last thing to get.

Aubrey moved to a familiar cabinet, opening it and pulling out a whole jar of tea leaves. There were plenty more. Nobody would notice its absence.

Finally, Aubrey took one last glance around. Not a single person was even looking at her.

She smiled again and moved out of the kitchen silently.

She weaved through the Mess Hall and was soon back in the corridors of the castle, again moving at a brisk pace.

Soon, she saw the door to their room come back into sight and she slowed her pace as she gently turned the knob. She didn't want to wake Levi if he was still sleeping.

Aubrey pushed inside, cringing when the hinges squeaked even though she was going slow.

But it didn't really matter. Levi was already sitting up in the bed, the letter in his hands as his eyes raised to look at her.

Aubrey smiled, excited that he was awake. She'd wanted him to sleep but every moment he was unconscious was a moment she had to go without him.

She shut the door behind her.

"Good morning."

Levi looked at her through half-lidded eyes. He was obviously still drowsy.

"You left?"

Levi's voice was rough and low and Aubrey guessed that he must have woken up just minutes before she'd returned.

She smiled and walked into the kitchen, setting all of her ingredients on the counter as she called back to him.

"Yes, I thought we could have breakfast here today."

There was a pause and then Levi finally called back to her.

"Aubrey."

Aubrey halted when she heard the serious tone of his voice. She quickly walked out of the kitchen, her brows furrowed as she studied him. He didn't look distressed or like he was in pain. What had the tone been about?

Levi reached his arms out toward her.

"Come here."

Aubrey laughed as she realized what he wanted. He was upset that he hadn't gotten to hold her yet. Levi wanted to cuddle.

Without hesitation, she bounced over to him, crawling onto the bed and into his arms. She giggled when he immediately pushed her back into the mattress and his head went to her chest, his ear over her heart. His arms wrapped around her and Aubrey heard him take a deep breath as he closed his eyes.

She smiled again and ran her fingers through his hair, trying to hold in another elated giggle. She couldn't believe he'd called her over just to hold her.

"How do you like your eggs?"

Levi's brow furrowed but his eyes didn't open. He mumbled his response into her shirt.

"What?"

Aubrey couldn't contain her laugh this time.

"I got us eggs for breakfast. How do you want me to make them?"

Levi grunted. He didn't really care about eggs right now. Aubrey's shirt was even softer than usual and the heat from her skin was so comforting that he knew he'd fall right back to sleep if he wasn't careful.

"I don't fucking know. However you want."

Aubrey's chest shook and Levi pressed further into her.

"Oi, quit laughing."

Aubrey did her best to keep her breaths steady. He clearly wasn't a fan of lying on an unsteady surface.

"Okay, well, we're having omelets, then."

Levi sighed. He still hardly cared about the eggs. She was too warm.

"Fine."

Aubrey could tell he wasn't all that concerned about their breakfast but she wanted to start getting ready for the day.

She slid her fingers out of his hair but didn't get very far before Levi caught her wrist and brought her hand back to his head.

"Not yet."

Aubrey focused hard on keeping her breathing stable. He hadn't been a fan of her giggling.

She put her fingers back in his hair, combing through the strands and occasionally pausing to massage his scalp. She knew Levi must have liked it because he sighed every few seconds.

But after a few minutes, Aubrey knew they needed to move. Otherwise they'd never leave the bed and their plans to visit town would be ruined.

She brought her hand to Levi's chin, raising his eyes to hers.

"Can I get up now?"

Levi features twisted into a scowl. He wasn't ready to move at all… but he knew it was time to get ready for their trip.

"Fine."

Finally, Aubrey was able to laugh at him again and she leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to his lips. She pulled away quickly, knowing that Levi might hold her there if she let him.

"Get dressed. I'm gonna start on the food."

Aubrey turned and slid off the bed before he could say anything that might convince her to stay.

She went back to the kitchen, lighting a fire in the stove and seeing that there was a kettle already out. Levi must have used it when he made her tea yesterday.

Aubrey smiled as she refilled it with water and left it to warm.

She moved on to looking through the cabinets, relieved to find that they were still stocked with all of the pots, pans, and utensils she could ever need. She pulled out what she needed and set a pan on the stove.

As she continued to work, she heard the sound of running water in the bathroom. She grinned. Levi was getting up.

Aubrey kept working on the food, slicing, chopping, and stirring until she had the bacon done, the fruit on the plate, and the eggs were in the pan. She was just about to prepare the tea leaves when she heard the floorboards creak and felt a pair of arms wrap around her from behind.

She sighed when she felt Levi's lips on her neck.

"Hi."

Levi just hummed into her skin in response.

Aubrey just kept working as Levi stayed at her neck. It was more than a little distracting but she still managed to get things done in a relatively short amount of time. After just a few minutes she had to move out of Levi's grip to go to the stove and she turned to kiss his cheek before she went.

She heard him grunt in annoyance but she just chuckled at him and got back to work.

The kettle started to whistle but before she could grab it herself, she saw Levi reach for it. She stared at him, curious and slightly confused, until she saw him pour the water into a cup and begin adding the herbs for her tea.

Aubrey couldn't help but watch for a moment as he carefully added each ingredient in the exact amounts she'd taught him. It was almost too sweet to watch.

Aubrey tried to hold back the blinding smile on her face but she knew she was failing miserably. So, instead of holding it back, she just turned to the stove again and took the eggs out of the pan.

All she had left was Levi's tea but she already had the leaves prepared and it didn't take her longer than a minute to have everything ready.

She turned to Levi, seeing that he'd finished with her own tea and was now leaning against the counter as he waited for her.

She was still smiling as she handed him his plate and a cup of his tea.

"Here."

Aubrey picked up her own plate and then glared at the tea Levi had made her before grabbing it reluctantly. She turned back to him.

"Let's eat."

Aubrey grabbed his hand and dragged him back out to the main room, heading for the dining table.

She set her plate down and slid into her chair, glancing out the window again. There was enough light for Aubrey to know that the sun had fully risen and she guessed that it was about seven o'clock. They were right on schedule.

Aubrey shifted her attention back to Levi only to see that he was staring at her, his teacup in his hands. Her eyes brightened as she shifted her gaze to his plate.

"Try it. Tell me what you think."

Aubrey nodded eagerly at his plate. It had been a long time since she'd had the time or the opportunity to actually cook. She thought that she'd done a good job but her skills might have been a little rusty.

Levi sighed and set down his tea. He could tell that Aubrey was watching his every move as he took his first bite of his meal.

Aubrey practically bounced in her seat as she waited for his response.

"Well?"

Levi set his fork down and stood from his chair.

Aubrey's eyes flashed between his face and his plate as she felt worry rising in her stomach. Was it really so bad that he was going to leave the table?

Aubrey's eyes widened when Levi leaned toward her, a hand wrapping around her chin as he pulled her lips within an inch of his own.

"It's perfect. Thank you."

Aubrey felt her worry melt away and she giggled as she pressed her mouth to his. He could really be very charming when he bothered to try. It was even better that he only seemed to try for her.

When she pulled away, Aubrey could see a small smile on Levi's lips as he sat back down in his chair. It didn't take him long to pick his fork back up and continue his meal.

Aubrey grinned again and then started on her own plate, happy to find that Levi hadn't been lying. She hadn't lost her touch.

"Oi, where did you get meat?"

Aubrey glanced back up at Levi and a playful expression came over her face.

"I stole it from the Officer's pantry. Don't tell Erwin."

Levi smirked and looked back at his plate.

"Wasn't planning on it."

Aubrey chuckled and took another bite, savoring the taste of something that wasn't oatmeal. But, after a moment, she eyed her tea, glaring as she reached for it.

"Save that for last."

Aubrey halted at the sound of Levi's voice.

Her brows furrowed.

"Why?"

"Just do it."

Aubrey stared at him for a few seconds, completely confused. But, eventually, she decided to just give in and do as he asked. As long as she drank it, it didn't really matter.

Aubrey returned to her food, taking a few more bites before speaking up again.

"So, what do you want to buy today?"

Levi raised an eyebrow.

"I thought we were getting groceries and a shirt?"

Aubrey laughed. Sometimes his thinking was so straight forward.

"Well, yes, but there has to be something you want."

Levi shook his head.

"I don't need anything."

Aubrey rolled her eyes at him. He was too used to saving his money.

"Today isn't about what you need, it's about what you want. Now, come on, tell me."

Levi scowled.

"Tch. I don't know. Maybe some soap that doesn't smell like shit."

Aubrey rolled her eyes, knowing she wasn't going to get a real answer. She'd just have to watch whatever caught his attention. He probably wouldn't buy it for himself, but she wouldn't hesitate to buy it for him.

"Fine. But I'm buying chocolate. Maybe I'll let you have some if you're nice to me."

Aubrey took the last bite of her eggs, finishing off her food.

Levi just huffed and took another sip from his cup.

Aubrey reached for her tea again but this time Levi caught her wrist.

She turned to him, still confused and slightly shocked. Why did he keep stopping her?

"Levi?"

Levi's only answer was standing from his seat and reaching for the tea himself. Aubrey continued to gape at him, completely clueless as to what was going on in his mind.

Levi tugged on her arm, an invitation to stand and she did so wordlessly. She still didn't know what was going on.

Levi led her back to the bed, setting the tea on the bedside table before seating himself on the mattress and pressing his back into the headboard.

Aubrey felt the smile on her lips when he pulled her into his lap and put the tea back in her hands.

"Now drink."

Aubrey giggled and turned her head back to face him, finding his lips with her own. Levi's hand raised to her cheek as his arm tightened around her waist. Aubrey couldn't help but twist around to face him, pressing her free hand into his chest.

"If you wanted to sit with me, you could've just said so."

Levi scoffed.

"Just drink your damn tea."

Aubrey laughed again, completely amused and amazed by his silent thoughtfulness. Every day, he did something that made her realize just how considerate he was, even if he didn't like to show it.

She leaned forward, kissing him one last time before pulling away and taking her first gulp. She shuddered at the taste and Levi held her tighter, putting his lips on her neck. The touch was enough to make Aubrey take another gulp and then another and another until the tea was gone and she was left with the taste of dirt on her tongue.

Levi took the cup from her and set it to the side, kissing her despite his last experience with the taste of the tea.

Aubrey laughed against his lips when he grunted at the flavor. But, he still kept kissing her.

Finally, they broke away and Aubrey pressed their foreheads together as she spoke.

"Maybe we should brush our teeth again. I'd rather not taste dirt every time we kiss today."

Levi huffed and Aubrey squealed as he suddenly scooped her off the bed and carried her to the bathroom. He set her on the sink, pushing her toothbrush into her hands and then finding his own. Aubrey giggled and started brushing.

As soon as they were finished, Levi lifted her off the sink and set her on the floor. Aubrey wrapped her arms around his neck and gazed up at him. Now came the exciting part of their day.

"Ready?"

Aubrey saw Levi's lips twitch as he leaned down to kiss her again. A silent yes. And without any trace of dirt-taste.

Aubrey grinned as soon as he broke away and grabbed his hand.

"Then let's go."

They walked back out to the main room and Aubrey grabbed the once again empty satchel before rummaging through her boxes until she found her stash of money. She never really felt the need to spend much of her pay, so she had plenty. And between herself and Levi… well, they wouldn't be desperate anytime soon.

Aubrey stood, seeing that Levi had managed to locate his envelope of cash and she saw him take a small stack and put the rest away. Even those few bills were far more than what they could possibly need for one day at the market.

He turned to her, putting the pile of money in her hands.

Aubrey furrowed her brows. She still felt uncomfortable taking the money that had been meant for his life with Isabel and Furlan. She just didn't quite feel like she had a right to spend it. Aubrey looked up at him, opening her mouth to speak. But she never got the chance.

"I said it's ours, remember? Take it, Aubrey."

Aubrey shook her head and tried to refuse his offer but he cut her off again.

"Take it, Aubrey."

Her jaw snapped shut. She was starting to really hate that authoritative tone.

But she could see that Levi wasn't going to change his mind. So, reluctantly, she tucked their money away in the bag, hiding it safely in one of the pockets.

As soon as that was done, Aubrey reached for him, pulling him into a hug and tucking her chin into his neck.

Levi held her back, thankful that she'd accepted the money. He had a lot of it and there was no other way he wished to spend it except on her.

After a few moments, Levi moved away, grabbing Aubrey's hand and locking their fingers. They'd lingered long enough. Now it was time to start their day.

"Let's go."

Aubrey nodded and gave him a small smile.

Levi leaned down, pressed his lips to her forehead, and then pulled her toward the door.

The two of them walked through the halls in comfortable silence. Every couple of minutes, Aubrey would kiss his shoulder or squeeze his hand and Levi would always return the gesture.

Finally, they made it out and onto the field. They hadn't seen a single person in the halls. It was still early.

Aubrey's eyes landed on the stables and she turned to Levi, grinning.

"Can we take Lex?"

Levi arched an eyebrow. He had no idea who Lex was.

"Lex?"

Aubrey nodded vigorously, growing more excited by the second.

"Yes, my horse. She's fast, I promise."

Levi huffed at her enthusiasm. He was happy to see her so… lively. Especially after yesterday. He'd been worried that the seriousness of last night would carry over to today and drain her of her usually bright demeanor. But that didn't seem to be the case at all. In fact, she was practically jumping up and down as she eagerly awaited his response.

He couldn't hide his smile as he answered her.

"Whatever you want."

Aubrey's eyes flashed and she pulled him close, her hands going up to hold his face as she stared at him. Levi could only stare back, admiring the look of elation on her features. He hoped that look would stay all day.

"This is going to be fun, okay? Try to have fun."

Levi would never say it aloud but he was already having fun. The expression on her face was enough to entertain him for a lifetime.

So, instead of answering with words, Levi just kissed her, biting playfully at her lip when he broke away.

Aubrey squealed but just laughed when their eyes met again. Levi's smile was still present. Aubrey beamed at him. They were going to have a day all to themselves. And she was determined to make it a good one.

She grabbed his hand again and began hauling him across the field at a light jog. She'd expect Levi to protest or tell her to slow down but, to her surprise, he said nothing and simply allowed her to lead him into the stables and right up to the gate of Lex's stall.

Aubrey pushed it open a little too excitedly and walked right up to her horse, patting her neck and cooing a hello. She moved quickly, throwing on Lex's saddle and attaching the saddlebags. They'd need them to carry back anything they bought. Finally, Aubrey put the bit in Lex's mouth and moved the reins over her neck.

She turned back to Levi, still grinning uncontrollably. Within a second, she had his hand in hers as she led Lex out of her stall, through the stables, and out to the field.

When they were finally out in the open, she put one last pat on Lex's neck and then turned back to Levi. He was watching her every move.

"Do you want the reins?"

Levi raised his eyebrows, surprised by her offer to let him steer.

"Isn't she your horse?"

Aubrey giggled, the sound ringing through the air around them as she yanked him closer.

"Well, yes, but she'll have to get used to you at some point. Might as well start now."

"I don't know the way."

Aubrey tugged on him a little harder.

"I'll tell you. Come on, if I like you, she'll like you."

Levi's lips twitched and Aubrey knew that she'd won.

"Fine."

She stepped back, letting Levi swing up onto Lex's back. He moved with that cat-like grace she could never take her eyes off of and before she could even say anything, he extended his hand down to her.

Aubrey took it eagerly and then pulled herself up behind him.

As soon as she was situated, she pressed a kiss to Levi's shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist as she held on.

Levi turned his head just enough to speak to her.

"Ready?"

Aubrey held him tighter, her lips pressing into his back again before she finally answered.

"Ready."

A/N: Okay, so this chapter was just straight up fluff the whole time. But, like, that's what I promised, sooooooooo… that's what y'all got lol. The next chapter will be fluff, too, and MAYBE the next one, depending on how far I get with the story in the next chapter. I feel like I'm constantly saying that this story is going to be x amount of chapters longer and then I end up going way over that. This story just keeps dragging itself out lol. But, like… they're just so cute. But we really are getting there. I promise. Then Book 2 :)))

As for the question I asked last chapter about whether or not I should make this an OC fic or keep it as an x Reader, it seems like most people are leaning toward keeping it as an x Reader. So, for my first edit, that's how I'll keep it. But, knowing me, I'll probably end up writing it AGAIN as an OC fic and then uploading it both ways lol. I just can't help myself.

Y'all seriously leave the best comments. Like, for real. I cry. You're all so sweet. Keep leaving them pleaseeeeeee. You know I love themmmmmmmmm. Thank youuuuuuuuu :)))) 333333