The sound of a lock clicking into place filled the silence of their room as Levi closed the door behind them. Their walk back from Erwin's office had seemed a thousand times longer than it ever had before. Aubrey was still crying, silent tears sliding down her cheeks, and Levi had spent the entire time wiping them from her skin and whispering that everything was alright. She didn't have to go anywhere. She wasn't going to go anywhere. Things were going to stay the same way they'd been for the last six months. It was going to be just him and her, happy.

Levi walked over to the bed and set Aubrey down before kneeling at her feet. His hand went to her face, wiping away even more tears. She was staring down at her lap blankly, her mouth slightly parted as she drew in shaky breaths.

Levi pulled her forehead to his and spoke just loud enough for her to hear.

"Stop crying, Aubrey. Nothing's going to change. We're going to be okay."

At first, Aubrey didn't respond. But then, after a few seconds of tortuous silence, Levi saw her arms lift weakly as she reached for him.

"Levi…"

Levi didn't hesitate to give her exactly what she was asking for. He pulled her into his chest and moved them further onto the bed before lowering their bodies to the mattress. Levi held her tightly, his lips going to her ear as he continued to whisper to her.

"It's alright, Aubrey. He's not going to send you anywhere."

He pulled her even closer, his arms pressing into her back as he tried to calm her in any way he could.

"Levi…"

Aubrey seemed incapable of saying anything but his name. But Levi didn't care. He didn't need her to respond. He'd just hold her until she could.

Levi moved his mouth to her jaw, kissing along her skin until he reached her chin and then moving down to her neck. He kept going, not knowing when or if Aubrey would ever speak. Perhaps she'd just fall asleep in his arms. That would probably be for the best.

But then she spoke again.

"Levi…"

Levi just kept his lips on her neck, expecting that she would stop after saying his name, just as she'd done before.

But this time she said more.

"I… I have to."

Levi froze for a second and then pulled away from her neck, his hand going to her cheek as he looked her in the eyes. Tears were still spilling over and her skin was red and blotchy. Her voice had been shaky, pained, and her lips were quivering even as she stared back at him.

"Have to what?"

Levi's brows were furrowed as he looked at her. He didn't understand what she was saying.

Levi kept watching her expression as her lips continued to tremble. Her jaw opened and closed as she tried to speak but he could see that she was having a hard time forming the words. He leaned into her, his face coming within just a few inches of her own.

"What do you need, Aubrey?"

Somehow, despite the pain and torture she knew her next words would cause the both of them, Aubrey found her voice.

"I need to do this. I have to go."

Aubrey felt Levi's fingers press a little harder into her cheek as his body went completely still. His face went completely white and Aubrey saw his eyes flash as they widened.

Levi could barely process what she'd just said. Not even for a second had he considered the idea that Aubrey might actually accept Erwin's offer. How could she? It went against everything they wanted, everything they needed. They needed each other. If she left, Levi was sure he'd fall apart. He couldn't lose another person. Especially not the most important person.

Levi couldn't move, couldn't breathe. He felt like he was being torn apart, pieces of him being scattered in all directions. He could barely remember where he was, what was happening. All he knew was the agony.

Only when he heard Aubrey begin to sob did he return to his body. His eyes focused back in on her face just as she reached for him, her arms wrapping around his neck and her head going into the curve of his neck as she cried, speaking in between sobs.

"I'm sorry, Levi. I have to. I have to. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

For another moment, Levi couldn't speak. He was still overwhelmed by the pain. But then the pain was joined by a fire in his chest. A fire that only grew until it overtook everything else and Levi exploded.

He pulled out of Aubrey's grip, sitting up instantly. Before he knew it, his head twisted to look back at her, his lips pulling back from his teeth as he snapped.

"No. Absolutely fucking not. You're not going anywhere, Aubrey. I'm not going to let you go anywhere."

Aubrey looked up at him, her eyes widening in shock even as she continued to sob. They'd fought before and Levi had gotten angry… but she'd never seen him this furious. His muscles were tensed like he was ready to pounce, his teeth were exposed as he snarled at her, and his eyes... were on fire.

Aubrey sobbed again, even louder this time as the anguish became too difficult to hold back. She scrambled around on the mattress, her hands reaching for Levi as she desperately tried to get some kind of contact. She'd lost his touch when he'd sat up and she needed him.

But just as her arms were about to wrap around his neck, he disappeared.

Aubrey fell onto the bed. She'd been expecting Levi's body to hold her up but he wasn't there and her hands barely caught her in time to prevent her face from falling straight into the mattress.

Her eyes searched for him, finding that he'd moved off the bed and was standing a few feet away, his fists clenched so tightly that the skin was stretched white over his knuckles.

Aubrey didn't try to go after him; she didn't have the strength. Instead, she slumped completely onto the bed, curling into a ball, crying as she attempted to speak.

"Levi… I have to do this. If there's even the smallest chance that I can make a difference… I have to do it."

Levi couldn't believe what he was hearing. When he answered her, he was practically screaming.

"I don't give a shit what kind of difference you think you can make, Aubrey! You're not leaving and that's the end of it!"

Aubrey sobbed harder when she heard him shouting at her. She couldn't even answer him. Every word had cut deeper than the next and she was already feeling like she'd been cut to pieces. All she could do was lay there and cry as the seconds ticked by.

"Say something, Aubrey!"

Levi shouted again and Aubrey suddenly felt something shift within her. Levi's anger and impatience were making her resentful. Now she wasn't just hurt, she was mad, too. Why couldn't he just comfort her?

She shot up, getting herself back into a seated position. She looked right at him and she was sure that her own rage now matched his.

"This is not the end of it! Think about everyone we've lost! Tika and Jack, Isabel and Furlan, even Saru and Chris! They're all gone and I don't even know why! What did they die for, Levi?! For humanity, for us?! What does that even mean?! Because I don't fucking know! If we can't progress, if we can't move forward, then their deaths meant nothing! And that's not something that I can live with!"

Levi felt a twang in his gut. Their friends' deaths were still with them. Their losses were no longer haunting, looming, but every so often something would come up that would remind them of just how horrible it had been to have those close to them ripped away for a cause they couldn't even name.

But the anger was still all-consuming and it quickly overcame all feelings of remorse.

"Well, I can't live without you! Our friends are dead, Aubrey! Dead! But you are not! And as long as you're alive, I'm not letting you go anywhere! I don't care what kind of reason you're looking for! I need you! Here!"

Aubrey could barely even see him. The tears in her eyes had made the whole room blurry and she raised her hands to her eyes as she tried to wipe them away.

"Don't you know I need you, too?! You are everything to me, Levi! But that's why I have to go!"

Levi shook his head, still seething.

"How the fuck is leaving me part of how you love me, Aubrey?!"

Aubrey stared at him, trying to think how she could express what she meant. For a moment, she couldn't think of a solution… but then it came to her and she wondered how she'd ever forgotten it in the first place. Her feelings had clouded her judgement. When words failed them, touch always seemed to work.

Aubrey didn't waste any time. She crawled off the bed and walked over to Levi, grabbing his face before he could even think about moving away.

She was still angry but she could feel her demeanor softening with every second she stared into his eyes. He was in so much pain. Pain just barely concealed by his anger.

Aubrey stared up at him and she could feel the sobs threatening to return. She pushed them down even though her eyes were already shedding silent tears again. She had to speak.

"Levi…"

Levi was surprised when her voice came out sounding soft and sad. Almost all traces of the fury she'd been showing just moments ago had disappeared. The contrast was enough to shock him into staying still as she spoke her next words.

"Do you remember that night at the pond when we talked about what we would do if all of this ever ended?"

Levi's eyes widened. Why was she bringing that up now?

Aubrey waited for a nod or a confirmation of any kind but it never came. It seemed like Levi was frozen, unable to respond. She sighed. She would just have to go on and hope that he was listening.

"Do you remember when you said that you would marry me one day? That you'd take me away and buy me all of the chocolate I wanted? That if the titans ever disappeared, we would open a shop in town? That, just maybe, we could have a child and start a family?"

Levi was still frozen. But he remembered. He remembered perfectly. How could he ever forget?

This time, Aubrey didn't wait for any kind of reaction. She just kept going.

She pulled him closer, pressing their bodies together until they were touching in nearly every way. Her hand caressed his cheek as she felt even more tears slide over her skin. The sobs were threatening to escape and she knew that when she spoke, her voice would be shaky and rough. But she had to do it.

"Do you know how much I want that? Do you know how much I think of that? Do you know how many times my dreams have been filled with flashes of what our lives could be if all of this was over?"

Aubrey had been right about her voice shaking. But she wasn't done yet.

"I want it so bad, Levi. I want you, just you, so bad. I want just you and I in a world where all of this shit doesn't exist, where there isn't any meaningless death, where there isn't a titan left alive."

Aubrey felt Levi's hand on her waist and she started to see the anger leave his features, revealing the torture underneath.

"And if this, if going away gives us even the tiniest chance at that… then I have to do it. I know it's farfetched. I know it probably won't make a difference. But if I don't do this… I'll spend the rest of my life wondering what would be different if I had."

Levi's other hand found her waist and she saw him staring down at her. The anger was gone, leaving only agony in its place. She hadn't seen him so pained since Isabel and Furlan's deaths. She pulled his forehead to hers as the sobs started to take over.

"So… please, Levi… Let me do this. For us."

Aubrey wrapped her arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder. It wasn't long before she felt her legs being lifted from the ground and then felt the mattress sink beneath her as Levi lowered her onto the bed and wrapped his arms around her.

She stayed there for a moment, her tears soaking Levi's shirt as she cried into him. But then she realized that she wasn't the only one shaking. She pulled her head back only to find that… Levi was crying, too. The sight broke her in half.

She wrapped a hand around his neck and brought his lips to hers. The taste of salt hit her tongue as their tears mixed together. Levi's fingers found her cheek and then slid into her hair, holding her even more tightly against him.

Levi couldn't even handle the pain anymore. He'd just given in to it. It slid over him in waves that never ended and only seemed to grow stronger each time. And there was nothing he could do to stop them.

He broke away from their kiss but he kept Aubrey's lips close enough that their mouths brushed as he spoke.

"I can't lose you."

Aubrey squeezed her eyes shut as more tears fell. His voice was barely audible and he sounded… broken.

Aubrey clutched him to her, grabbing at him so furiously that she thought they might fuse into one.

"You never will, Levi. No matter what happens, you'll always have me. Whether I'm here or in the north, I'll always be yours. Forever."

Aubrey knew that wasn't quite what he'd meant, but she needed him to hear it nonetheless. Levi would always be hers and she would always be his. That would never change. Not for anything.

Aubrey could feel him shaking in her arms and she could only think of one thing to say. For the thousandth time, she wanted to tell him just how much she loved him.

"I love you, Levi. I love you so much it hurts. I love you so much that sometimes I don't think it can be real. Sometimes I think that the world messed up and gave me something I don't deserve." Aubrey had to pause as her throat closed. She took a deep breath before she continued. "I love you so much that no matter how many times I try, I'll never be able to tell you just how much you mean to me. But I can tell you that you are the best thing that's ever happened to me. There is nothing better than you."

Aubrey took another breath as she tried to gather the strength to finish her speech.

"So, when I'm in the north, when I haven't seen you in months… just remember that I will always love you. That, I'll never love you less, only more. And that you are the best thing I've ever done."

Aubrey stopped, breathless from the emotion she'd put into her words. She'd meant every one of them.

Levi was still crying, his eyes glassy as he stared at her. She knew he wouldn't be able to answer her. He still struggled to tell her how he felt. He was better at showing.

So she kissed him. Aubrey kissed him until they were both completely out of air, and even then she just moved to his jaw, his neck, his collarbone, as he ran his fingers through her hair.

They kept holding each other until they ran out of skin to kiss and they pulled back to look at each other.

Levi barely waited a second before he spoke.

"You don't have to go."

Aubrey had to choke down a sob. His voice was quiet, soft, sad. This time, he wasn't refusing to let her go, he was just saying he didn't want her to.

Aubrey just pushed her head into his chest and squeezed him.

"I do, Levi. I do."

There was silence after that. The two of them just gripped at one another so tightly that, had they not been so desperate for contact, it probably would have hurt.

Hours passed by with more tears being shed than Aubrey knew she could ever count. She wasn't sure if Levi had truly accepted her decision or not, but they were both too exhausted to keep fighting about it now. Their argument had used up everything they had.

Eventually, the sunlight disappeared completely from their room and not long after that, Aubrey realized that Levi had stopped shaking. She pulled away from him to look at his face, only to find that he'd fallen asleep. Aubrey could understand why. Her body had been screaming at her to close her eyes the second their fight had ended. Not only had she been weakened by their quarrel, but she'd also been hurt by it. Her mind had just wanted her to sleep, to escape the pain that lingered every second she was awake.

But she hadn't. In fact, she'd been waiting for Levi to give in first. There was something she needed to do, something that he would no doubt spark another fight the second he found out. But she still had to do it. She'd already made her decision.

Ever so slowly, Aubrey crept out of Levi's arms and out of the bed, noticing that his face didn't hold the usually peaceful expression she'd come to admire. His brows were furrowed and a small frown graced his lips. Aubrey nearly sobbed at the sight. Even his sleep wasn't helping him escape from the torture she'd put him through.

But, despite her horror, Aubrey forced herself to turn away and head for the door. She didn't bother to look in the mirror or straighten herself before she left. She didn't care.

After one last glance at a still sleeping Levi, Aubrey put her hand on the knob and slid silently into the hallway.

What felt like a quick pace to her was probably ten times slower than anyone else's casual walk. She was drained, beaten, and every step was a struggle. But, eventually, even with her sluggish movements, Aubrey made it to her destination.

She didn't think Erwin would be in his office anymore. It was late and she had a feeling he wasn't in a place to be doing any more paperwork today. So… she'd come to his room. It wasn't the first time she'd come to his private quarters. Just after Jack and Tika had died, she'd been here countless times. Erwin had always let her in, staying up with her as late as she wanted as she tried to avoid the nightmares that plagued her sleep.

But she wasn't here because of nightmares.

Aubrey raised her hand and knocked on the door. She waited patiently, staring at the wood in front of her blankly until it finally swung away and Erwin's form took its place.

He was still in his uniform and his eyes still held the pained look they had earlier. Aubrey wasn't surprised. She knew Erwin wasn't cruel. He didn't want to hurt her. But he had a goal and he would do anything to get there. Aubrey had known that from the day she'd pledged her life to him. It was who he was. And, despite that, she still loved him. She always would.

"Aubrey."

Erwin stared down at her, a little shocked that she'd appeared. He hadn't thought he'd see her again tonight or maybe even tomorrow. He'd figured that her and Levi would be… occupied.

But, from what he could see, maybe that occupation had already finished. Aubrey's cheeks were stained with dried tears, her hair was messy, her uniform was crumpled, and her eyes were red, puffy, and… blank. She looked like the life had left her body.

Erwin pulled the door open a little further and stepped to the side.

"Would you like to come in?"

Aubrey just nodded as she walked past him. She was still exhausted, horrified, in complete and total agony. And yet, she had to do this.

Aubrey immediately walked to the chair in the middle of the room. She sat down and Erwin took a seat across from her. His room was big enough to hold a small seating area but the rest of it looked fairly similar to many of the other rooms in the castle.

There was silence for a few long moments as Aubrey tried to find her voice. She felt like her throat was too sore to speak and her lungs were too weak to breathe. But, somehow, she pulled herself together and looked Erwin in the eyes.

She steeled herself as she felt the pain throbbing even more powerfully throughout her body. After she did this, there would be no going back. But she was sure.

Finally, Aubrey took a deep breath and her words filled the quiet room.

"I'll go."

Erwin sighed and hung his head. It was both the answer he wanted and the answer he hated to hear.

After a second he met her eyes again. He couldn't leave it at that. There was much more to discuss.

"And Levi?"

Erwin saw a single tear slide down Aubrey's cheek.

"He's… upset. He's sleeping right now. He… doesn't know I'm here."

Erwin's brows furrowed. Maybe their fight wasn't over.

"He doesn't agree with your decision." Erwin's words were more of a statement than a question.

Aubrey shook her head as she held back an overwhelming urge to sob.

"Of course he doesn't. Can you blame him? But… I think… I think he understands why I need to go. Even if he doesn't agree with my logic. It might take a few more days, but… I think I can make him… well, not agree, but maybe… acquiesce."

Erwin's gaze fell to the floor. This whole situation was almost unbearable.

"I see."

There was quiet for a short while and then Erwin heard Aubrey suck in a breath.

"When do you want me to leave?"

Erwin's head snapped up. He hadn't been expecting her to be so ready to discuss the details. But if she wanted to work out the kinks now rather than later, then that's what they would do.

"Whenever you're ready, Aubrey. I won't rush you."

Aubrey nodded and Erwin could only see how distant she looked. She thought for a moment and then her mouth opened again.

"Give me a week."

Erwin's eyes widened.

"So soon?"

Aubrey nodded again and he saw her bite her lip.

"Waiting will only make it harder."

Erwin stared at her for a moment and then sighed.

"I understand."

He expected another round of silence to overtake them but Aubrey spoke again after just a second.

"Give me a couple weeks after I leave to get things organized. Start by sending me a group of no more than five. Maybe a couple of the new recruits. That boy, Eld, he looks good. Send him if you want."

For a moment, Erwin was speechless. She'd already thought so far ahead. Even through her fight with Levi, her mind must have been working.

Finally, Erwin found his voice and answered her.

"Of course. Whatever you need."

"And, Erwin?"

She continued so quickly that Erwin had to take a second before he could answer.

"Yes?"

Aubrey's blank expression suddenly shifted to pure pain and Erwin nearly choked at the sight. It was so intense, so deep that he almost couldn't look at her.

Aubrey took a shuddering breath and she felt more tears fall down her face as she struggled to hold back a scream.

"I… we can't be apart for…" Aubrey could hardly even say the next word. "years. We need to see each other, even if it's only for a little while every few months. I… I can't live without him."

Erwin had to close his eyes. The sorrow in her voice and on her features was too much. But he needed to answer her now. He needed to soothe her worries in whatever way he could. Even if it was just a small promise.

"I have no intention of separating you forever, Aubrey. I'll extend the leave time that both of you receive. Feel free to come back home for yours. Whatever soldiers you have in the north can use your time away as their own leave. And Levi can go to you for his own time. The members of his squad can just train with the others while he's gone."

Aubrey nodded and bit the inside of her cheek as she contained her pain. It was all so much. Hearing Erwin say those words out loud made it all seem so… real.

But she still found her voice.

"Thank you, Erwin."

Erwin shook his head.

"You don't need to thank me, Aubrey. I'm the one who should be thanking you. Extending your leave is the least I can do."

Aubrey just nodded again. She just had one last thing to say.

"When I'm gone, Erwin, please… love him."

Erwin's eyes widened even further as she spoke. And even though she saw his reaction, she just continued on.

"I know that might be a strange thing to ask, but… I need you to love him, please. Make him your friend, make him your family, and make sure he knows just how valuable he is. He's too good for this world. He doesn't like to show it, but… he cares more than almost anyone. And he deserves all of that care back and more. So take care of him, protect him. Please… love him. For me."

Erwin could only stare at her for a moment. Her request wasn't something he was sure he could promise. Levi would probably hate him for sending away the one person he had left. But if this was Aubrey's last wish, then he would do his best to make it come true.

"I'll try, Aubrey. I promise."

Aubrey lifted her hand to her face, wiping away the tears that never seemed to end. She paused for a moment and then, finally, she stood. She moved to Erwin, putting her hand on his cheek as he gazed at her. For some reason, she just couldn't bring herself to hate him, or even to be mad at him. He was sending her away, separating her from the one person who had ever made her feel complete. He was shattering her. But he was giving her the opportunity to make a difference. Whatever that even meant. And, maybe, if she was lucky, that difference would mean a life for her and Levi that they never thought they'd get to see.

Aubrey looked in his eyes, noticing for the millionth time how they always seemed to pierce straight through her, seemed to see straight to her soul. She took a deep breath but her lungs audibly shuddered and she could feel her sobs starting to overcome her. She'd have to finish this quickly.

"I love you, Erwin. If you ask for my heart, know that you will always have it. No matter what."

Erwin found himself unable to move. He couldn't count the times he'd asked his soldiers to give him their hearts. And Aubrey... she had never failed to give hers. All of it. Even now.

Aubrey knew she had to act before he could respond. If she heard his reply, she would break. So, just before he opened his mouth, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. And then, without so much as a second glance, she turned on her heel and left, shutting the door gently behind her.

Aubrey made her way back to Levi, crying softly the whole way. It was late and there was no one else in the halls, which left her with only the echoes of her own sobs to keep her company. When she reached the door of their room, she quieted herself. She was still crying, only silently. She stepped inside, seeing that Levi was still asleep with that same tortured look on his face. The sight almost made her scream but she held it in. She couldn't wake him right now. If she did, she'd have to tell him about what she'd just done, and she didn't have the willpower to endure another fight right now. She would fall apart.

Instead, she carefully crawled onto the bed, sliding in next to him and wrapping his sleeping body around her own. She stayed there, shaking and sobbing silently as she held him until the pain became too much and her mind forced into a sleep of deep, dark, nothingness.

A/N: Omg, the angst. So much crying. So much sad. I cannot. Somebody remind me why I did this lol.

BUT, I am so happy to hear that y'all don't think this is a cheesy/bad ending. The consensus seems to be that it's a-okay. So… yay :) And I'm glad that my re-explanation of Book 2 helped some people out. I know it can get a little confusing when it's a series and there's a time jump and all of that stuff.

There's going to be a lot more sad in the last chapter of this book. In fact, I think there's only going to be sad. So, prepare yourselves lol.

Anyway, I CANNOT believe the end of this book is so close. I am floored. It is the ultimate bittersweet feeling. I am still planning to eat a whole cake lol.

But the COMMENTS on the last chapter. I seriously cried like 10 times over while reading them. Y'all are literally the sweetest people ever. You make me feel SO HAPPY. Every time someone says that they think they're being annoying by leaving so many comments I cry a little die a little bit because you could leave a comment every two seconds and I would read ALL of them. Okay, I'll shut about the comments now. But, still… leave one, please. I seriously love y'all. :) 3