The woman in question arrived to the McKenzie estate the next day. She was taller than Flora and was dressed in a standard survey corps uniform, sporting dark brown hair pulled back into a smart ponytail with glasses framing her golden brown eyes. She shook Flora's hand vigorously. Enough raw energy poured into Flora through their connection that her entire body felt electrified without even a conscious attempt at accessing her power. "The name's Zoe Hange. I can already tell we are going to be friends! Flora McKenzie huh? A secretive family, yours is, but highly respected. Your service in the military hospital has been invaluable to many a fallen comrade. What a beautiful estate you have here, a big change to the barracks huh? If I were you, I don't think I could ever leave. So, what's first on the agenda? As a guard I suppose I should patrol the perimeter, get a lay of the land, get a sense of the best anchors for my ODM gear."

Hange released Flora's hand. Levi regarded her with narrow eyes. "Yeah. You should definitely patrol the perimeter and leave us alone. If Flora's mother asks, I am most definitely guarding the perimeter as well."

"I feel like we need a code phrase if we run into trouble. What about 'the violets are awfully lovely this time of year'?"

"Sure. Whatever. Get out of here."

With childlike giddiness Hange bid Flora and Levi farewell. "Is she always...?"

"She's a loon. But she's surprisingly good with ODM gear, and even more shockingly intelligent."

Flora's mother was, by the grace of the walls, too involved in banquet preparations, only a day away now, to care too much about Flora's exact whereabouts. Flora smiled and grabbed Levi by the hand. "Come on."

The pair avoided servants, her siblings, caterers, even her nieces and nephews. She led Levi deep into the estate's underground vaults. His eyes boggled at the impressive stockpile of grains, wines, and other preserves. "I've never seen this much food in one place. You could hole up here forever and be just fine."

"Yeah. Our stockpile is small compared to some of the other estate vaults I've seen. We take a reasonable portion monthly to the underground so at least we have a rotating fresh supply. Others just let their food rot."

While the place was built like a maze, Flora knew it like the back of her hand. Glowing ore built into the walls provided enough ambient light to forgo a torch.

Flora ushered him into a private wine tasting room and closed the wooden door behind them. She listened for several minutes before finally relaxing and throwing down a pillow she stole from her room. "I think we are far enough away from any interruptions. We've been so busy it's been hard to catch up fully."

The two talked at great length about their respective lives, Flora more so than Levi. It felt good to talk freely. Whenever Levi spoke, Flora's protective instincts were stirred—he had a generally sad and depressing life.

"I can't believe you were contracted to kill Erwin. He's a good guy."

"I can tell he is. I can also tell he loves you."

Flora shrugged. "I know he does. I love him too, but it's a strange type of love I never thought could exist until now. I honestly feel like the only thing he really cares about is the survey corps. He's so driven, so passionate, but not about me. I've always been strangely ok with that."

"I would have thought with a dick that big you'd be dying to be his wife."

Flora laughed and propped herself off her back and onto onto her side. Levi laid on his back next to her with his head on her pillow. "Some things are almost too big. Have you seen that thing? I mean it's fine in small doses, but I couldn't imagine wrestling that anaconda every night. I'm not that much of a glutton for punishment." Flora put a hand on Levi's chest. "I can't help but feel you were made for me."

The conversation switched from reminiscent and friendly to slightly hotter. Levi rolled onto his side to face her. "Are you saying I have a small pecker?"

Flora's eyes flared in humor. "Of course not. Now the rest of you..."

He threw his head back in laughter. "Sorry. It's called malnutrition and lack of sunlight."

"It's a shame the world will never see the stud Levi Ackerman was truly meant to be."

The pair erupted into laughter again. It felt good being with him; natural. It was nice seeing him lighten up. The past week had chipped away any ice between them, and now, on the floor of the tasting room, things between them felt anything but icy. His fingers trailed along her dress seam at the waist. "Sometimes I forget I have the capacity for happiness. You always bring it back. I wanted to do this the proper way, with your mother's blessing, but I can't seem to stop myself. I'm utterly ensnared by everything about you. Your beauty, your soul, your creepy McKenzie powers."

"Creepy McKenzie powers?"

"I thought I was the only freak in this world. Something awakens in me when I fight, something my heritage possesses, back when we used to serve the King. It's hard to explain—it's like my strength increased tenfold. Something similar must run in your bloodline too, but the opposite. The compulsion to heal. We're opposites—but maybe that's why we are so drawn to one another." Levi's hand wandered to her lower back. "My only concern is my work. I need to be with Erwin and the survey corps, which means I'll be gone for stretches at a time in dangerous situations."

Flora crossed their remaining distance to kiss him on the mouth. The hand on her waist tightened and drew her in, the two gradually converting to a sitting position with Flora straddling Levi's hips. Flora raised herself out of his reach for a moment. "I've waited years for you. Whatever happens, I think we will be fine. Besides; it'll give me plenty of time to still focus on my work, which I still value, and—"

Levi's hands plunged into her hair and brought her lower into another kiss. "Then marry me," he said, voice husky.

Flora gasped in surprise. "Are you serious?"

He held up a gold banded ring with a classic diamond in the center. "I found this diamond in the caves one day. I should have sold it and saved myself some grief, but I knew immediately I wanted it for you."

Flora's body felt numb in shock. Was she going to do this?

"Yes," she breathed.

Their mouths met again, this time with even more intensity, the ring almost forgotten about until Levi slipped it onto her finger. Flora removed Levi's jacked and was dismayed by the harness. "Damn these contraptions."

Levi was almost as skilled as Erwin when it came to slipping out of the harness and made quick work with the rest of the clothing until they were utterly bare together. Flora savored every inch of him as they grew reacquainted.

"I love you," she half whispered, half moaned into his ear, finding rhythm with her hips. His head tipped back, lips parted, while his own hips thrust in unison underneath her, matching her. She showered his exposed neck with slow kisses.

"You are my soulmate," he growled. "My sunlight. My life. Take me."

It didn't take long for them to reach their respective climaxes. His body went slack with relaxation while Flora came to a rest in the crook of his arm. His fingers coiled her curls while they laid there in silence. "I guess we should tell everyone the news," she said eventually.

"Or we could run away to Shiganshina. Wall Sina may look nice, but I've been on edge ever since coming here. I am worried about that Lord Kessler though. I'm still debating paying him a visit."

Flora yawned. "I wouldn't worry about it. Besides, I'm an engaged woman now, to the rough and rugged Levi, and also surrounded by family. No one would dare try anything. And who knows, maybe it really was a robbery."

He grunted in response. They lay in silence for a while longer. Levi breathed in her smell and drank in her aura while Flora processed what a wild week it turned out to be, from reuniting with her lost love, being robbed, stabbing a man, healing another, and now engaged. The pair was too busy basking in the other's glow to notice the sounds of footsteps until it was too late. The tasting room's door flew open. Flora shrieked and hid behind Levi, who immediately bolted upright.

"There you two are!" Hange smiled, unashamed. "I was patrolling the estate when I wondered gee, I wonder if there could be bandits in the wine cellar, when what do you know, I find a suspiciously closed door!"

"Out!" Levi snarled.

"Alright, sorry, my mistake, no bandits here, sheesh. By the way, your mother is looking for you Flora, and your grandmother and father have both returned from the city and are dying to know if you're alright. I can tell them you are plenty alright if you want—"

"Out!"

"Fine, fine." Hange shut the door.

Flora starred at the door in horror, muscles still frozen from shock. "What. The fuck."

Levi grumbled to himself and handed Flora her dress. "I'm going to kill her. Then I'm going to kill Erwin."

"Does Erwin know?" Flora asked while thumbing the ring.

"He knew my intentions but perhaps not the timeline. But I can't be away from you a moment longer."

Flora's gut eased in relief. Now for the biggest hurdle of them all.

After making themselves look presentable, the two headed back to the main part of the house and pretended to have finished a comprehensive tour of the house. Her mother, father, grandmother, two brothers, two sisters in laws, and Flora's assorted nieces and nephews were all sitting down to lunch. There was no way she could tell them about the engagement at a time like this.

Flora hung in the doorway for a minute. "Mother, father, a word please?"

From her position across the table, Flora's grandmother stood up and walked over. "Flora, dear, that ring on your finger is beautiful! Let me be the first to congratulate you on your engagement!"

Everyone stopped eating in unison. Flora's mouth was suddenly drier than cotton. Flora hugged her grandmother warmly and was surprised when the old woman even embraced Levi before smacking him sharply on the ass. "I'm sure you'll grow on me, pup."

"How astounding!" Nina, Seamus's raven-haired beauty of a wife proclaimed, walking over as well. "This is such exciting news, my blessings to the both of you."

Corra, Liam's mousy blond wife, was close behind with her own blessings. Seamus and Liam hugged Flora and then offered Levi a stiff handshake and a wink. Had they talked about it ahead of time, she wondered?

Nina gestured to her pregnant belly. "Maybe you won't be far behind us!"

Glass shattering drew everyone's attention back to the table where Caoimhe's cup exploded in her hand. To Flora's assessment she wasn't injured, but she was furious.

"Children," she said tautly, "will you give us a moment, please?"

Flora's hackles raised at the sickly-sweet tone. She already knew her mother was preparing for a fight. Flora's nieces and nephews excused themselves, but not before wishing their own congratulations. Nina and Corra practically fled to the garden.

Her mother's tone was still terse when she stood. "I didn't recall giving such a blessing for this union. In fact, last I recall, I did the exact opposite."

Flora's father was a man of few words, but when he did spoke, everyone listened. He cleared his throat and stood as well. "I gave my blessing."

"As did I," Liam advocated.

"And I," Seamus seconded.

Grandma Niamh faced Caoimhe. "And myself. Really my dear, how I raised such a rotten woman is beyond me."

"Will everyone please excuse us? I think Flora and I need to have this conversation alone."

Flora couldn't stop sweat from breaking out on her forehead. She held many a conversation alone with her mother and none of them went well—the last one being not long after June's death. Her brothers tried to protest, but Flora cut them off. "It's fine. I think it's time we did. I'll come find you when we are finished."

It was clear Levi didn't want to go. She faced him directly. "We've been overdue for a heart to heart for a while now. It would be best if it happened without onlookers. I'll be fine."

"I'll be in the foyer," he said curtly.

Everyone left besides Flora's father. She knew it was going to be a bad fight when he stayed behind to mediate.

Every word her mother uttered dripped with disappointment. She tried to maintain a light and cheerful tone, but it came of as false, like a coating of frosting over a liver cake. "I've tried, and I've tried. I let you study under your grandmother. I looked the other way when you wanted to devote yourself to the survey corps medical division instead of taking a position in court. I stood here while you traipsed around playing nurse and ignoring my letters. But the sheer disrespect, the insolence, the selfishness of you Flora—it knows no bounds. I thought you were ready to change, to grow up, but I was wrong."

"I am growing up. I'm getting married—"

"To underground street trash?" Her mother shrieked, causing Flora to flinch. "You throw away your heritage, your future, this family. And you," she turned to her husband, "You gave your blessing? My sons too?"

"You know I love you dearly, but you need to see beyond your own prejudice. You need to stop trying to control our daughter and appreciate her for who she is. Besides, the man is one of the—if not only—remaining member of the Ackerman clan. He comes from noble blood."

Flora's mother gripped the back of a dining chair for support. "You've turned this family against me. After the life we've given you, after everything I've done for you. You spoiled, selfish brat!"

Flora tried to calm her rising temper and hurt. "I won't tolerate being spoken to in this way anymore. You may be able to get your way with Liam, or Seamus, or even dad, but I'm too strong to bend; and I think you've always known that. That's why you tried so damn hard. I want a good relationship with you but you make it impossible when you refuse to consider my happiness. I've been in love with Levi since a child, and today would have been a day of great joy had it not been for your selfishness. You take every action I do, twist it, and throw it back in my face, claiming I am the selfish one. I'm sad you have that much distain in your heart for me. When I was younger, I thought if I was pretty enough, polite enough, charitable enough, perhaps you would appreciate me. Show me affection. But it never was—so what's the point? You're past changing, and at this point I am past caring."

"You could have married a tall, handsome, respectable man and had everything you wanted in life. Gone to court. Wore your name with prestige."

Flora blinked back tears. "Mother, you want me to have June's life. I will never be her and never replace her. I don't want any of that. My heart is with the people, not in some aloof court."

"It's your grandmother. I knew it was a mistake to awaken your gifts; never could I imagine how strong they would become. So strong they would compel you to abandon reason for madness." For a moment Flora hoped they were making some sort of progress, but then her mother hung her head and sighed. "I bet you're pregnant. You got knocked up by one of your injured soldiers, and now you come back home and marry a street rat, someone no one would blink twice at. You've always had a soft spot for the pathetic."

Flora gasped and stepped back, fists shaking. "How could you say that?"

"Caoimhe!" Her father snapped. "You go too far."

"Perhaps not far enough!"

Flora was not fast enough to avoid a slap across the face. "I should have locked you away until you learned some respect."

Flora wanted to cry. To sob. Instead, she stood taller and smoothed her skirts. "You have indeed gone too far. Remember this moment well, because that is the last time you will lay hands on me. It is clear you do not value me as your daughter or even as a person. Before I pack my belongings, I will leave you with three promises. My first promise is that you will never meet my future children as long as I am alive. For my second, I will never utter another word to you again. And for my third, I promise my future children that I will never be a sick, cruel mother such as yourself. This is goodbye."

Her mother grabbed Flora by the arm as she turned to leave. "You can't do this," she hissed, digging her nails into her forearm.

Deep down, Flora snapped. Without saying a word Flora's power flared and drained a significant portion of Caoimhe 's energy like a leech—without entirely intending to, Flora knew she absorbed years from her life. Caoimhe collapsed to the ground. Inhuman, guttural, incoherent screaming followed Flora as she opened the doors into the foyer. Her brothers and Levi stood suspiciously close to the doors. Flora's tears finally released themselves when she saw her brothers. She hugged them both deeply. "I'm sorry. I guess this is goodbye."

"You'll always be a part of our family, Florie," Liam hugged. "No matter what our mother says."

"She's never liked you, but after June died, I think something changed in her. She's not right in the head. But that still doesn't give her the right to speak to you like that. I'm glad you finally stood up for yourself."

Flora eyed them both fondly. "Rock the banquet for me, will you? It seems I've suddenly fallen ill and won't be able to attend."

"You're not off the hook that easy," Seamus grinned. "How about we see you at the after party at the barracks? I'm sure they'll be in need of some lively tunes."

"That sounds fun." Caoimhe's wailings suddenly grew closer. "I'm going to pack my stuff. I love you guys. I'll see you next week."

Flora and Levi raced to her room. "Did she hit you?"

"She always does. I think I did something worse though—I took years off her life on accident."

"Good. The old bitch deserves it. Just remind me to never piss you off."

To Flora's horror, Hange was already in her room, having pulled out drawers, laid out clothes, and opened jewelry boxes. "I hope you don't mind I took the liberty of packing. Look Levi, I found drawings of you!"

"Uh, thanks I guess. Hange, will you stand at the top of the stairs and make sure my mother doesn't get through? This shouldn't take too long."

While Flora owned several suitcases from her years of traveling, she only needed three of them. One for clothes and jewelry, one for medical supplies, and one for everything else. Flora was grateful she saved a sizable amount of money over the years ranging from allowances, direct payments, and wages from her medical work. Outside, Flora heard a small scuffle.

"Ow, you crazy bitch!" Hange shouted. "Let go of me!" Levi took hold of two suitcases while Flora took the other, able to slip down the stairs thanks to Liam and Seamus wrestling their mother off Hange. Hange's glasses were knocked askew and her hair was half undone. "Your mother is like a rabid mongoose, hurry!"

Halfway through the door Flora paused and glanced back. Her mother attempted to surge down the stairs after her shouting obscenities. Flora dropped her suitcase for just a moment to quickly hug her father, and then her grandmother. "I love you both. I'll keep in touch, I promise."

Flora kept true to her promise and never spoke to her mother again.