The small shop they own has limited space for wheelchair movements, so Petra takes the orders and serves, while Levi prepares the tea.
"It's more appealing for the shop to have a waitress who looks like a goddess, than an old disabled creep," he frequently comments. She always shuts him down, sometimes closing his mouth with her own.
"Don't ever talk like that about my husband," she orders menacingly.
"Or what?" his lips form a coy smile. "Will you punish me?"
Living in Marley was a decision they both happily agreed to, but not before Levi made sure that Petra had no problem being away from her family.
"Levi, you are my family now!" she giggled. "I'm used to living far from my parents. Why don't we just leave this stupid island behind and start a new life elsewhere? That's what we dreamed about. A life beyond the walls. Remember?"
The five of them are sitting around the fire.
Commander Erwin insists they train away from their base from time to time. Besides, the woods are the perfect place to train on ODM gear.
Camping never was Petra's favorite activity, but a few days away from any kind of civilization will be good for a change.
She has the privacy of her own tent, while the boys share. Eld with Gunther, and Oluo with Levi. Oluo of course never stops grumbling about how cramped their space is, and how it is unfair that Petra is always treated better because of her gender.
An arrangement that would please everyone would be Levi leaving Oluo alone, and sleeping in Petra's tent, but she keeps that idea to herself. Either way, the captain will probably stay up all night, the insomniac he is.
The full moonlight and the forest sounds in the night create a most romantic atmosphere and Petra wishes she could enjoy it alone with her loved one.
It's funny how she finds him staring at her, usually with his mouth open. Or how he tries to touch her fingers when she is serving hot soup for dinner.
And of course, he chooses to sit next to her when they are all gathered around the fire.
"So… anyone wants to play a game?" Gunther suggests. "Charades sounds good?"
"Sorry, I have no energy to stand up," Eld shakes his head. Today's training was intense.
"It's not that I don't have the energy. I just don't enjoy silly games," none other than Oluo says.
"And what do you propose, moron?" Gunther throws him an agitated look.
Petra speaks up to calm the atmosphere. "We can just enjoy each other's company and talk."
"I'm certainly not enjoying someone's company!" Gunther murmurs, and a few seconds later a pine cone magically hits him on the face.
"Petra is right, guys," Eld tries to separate his comrades and prevent any punches. "Why don't we use this time as an opportunity to get to know each other better?"
"We've been in the same squad and lived together for three years!" Oluo says. "What more do you want to know about me?"
"Hmm… You could tell us about your ex-girlfriends," Gunther proposes. "But I don't believe you had any."
"Hey, listen here, you—"
"I can talk about my girlfriend!" Eld cuts them off.
"No!" three voices sound in unison.
Gunther and Oluo always make disgusted faces at the display of romantic feelings. And as much Petra loves to hear about love affairs, even she admits that Eld's constant babbling about Melanie can be tiring.
It's sweet though. Petra really wants to meet in person the girl that has captured her comrade's heart.
"Fine!" Eld shrugs. "Then someone else can find what to talk about."
"I have a very interesting topic!" Oluo brags. "What are you going to do after everything?"
"After we return to our base?" Petra asks.
"No. After the war. When the titans are gone," he explains.
Levi makes an almost inaudible 'tch' sound.
Eld jumps at the opportunity to speak. "Melanie and I are going to get married! We will start a family and—"
"We know! We get the idea!" Gunther shouts. "Personally, I want to see the world. I'll travel everywhere that I can't go now because of the titans."
"I'll probably be too busy with the many fangirls that will worship me for my heroic service in the military…" Oluo says, "but I can see myself as a gymnast or a personal trainer. My physical condition is excellent!"
"If all the titans are gone… I think I'll have to find a different career then," Petra says. "And that would be difficult, because I really enjoy being in the Survey Corps. But I'm sure something will come up."
Oluo turns to Levi. "What about you, captain?"
Levi startles, surprised that he is included in the conversation.
"Do you think you could settle down with someone? Like Eld? Start a family?"
"I hope you won't punish your children with latrine duty!" Eld jokes.
Gunther laughs. "He'll name them after tea blends! 'Oolong! Come here!'"
"Nuh, the captain is too energetic to settle for a domestic life," Oluo comments. "He'll probably switch to Military Police. They'll be dying to recruit him!"
"But sir, you should consider passing on your powerful genes," Eld says. "You can marry someone and have kids."
Petra's eyes fall worryingly on Levi. They've been together only for a couple weeks, so a discussion about the future never occurred between them.
"Captain, you don't have to answer," she tries to take him out of the uncomfortable state. "Oluo is too curious for his own good."
Levi's silence beckons that this conversation is over.
They collect their bowls and wash them. Petra wishes they could boil water and have some tea.
When everyone is ready to withdraw to their tents, Levi speaks up:
"Petra. Come and help me pick up wood."
The demanding tone sounds a bit too much, but she won't make a scene. She's too excited to have some time alone with him. "Yes, sir!" she brings her fist to her heart, fantasizing about how in a while he might too bring his hand to her chest.
"Captain, are you picking up wood or are you picking up Petra?" Oluo bursts out laughing.
"Bozado. Latrine duty. Now."
"But, sir… We're camping in the nature!" he complains.
"I mean keep the shithole that is your mouth clean. Got it?"
"Yes, sir."
"Hey Pet! You should rest," Eld stands up. "I'll go with the captain."
Levi snaps back at him. "Excuse me?"
His second-in-command takes a few steps back and raises his hands in defense, looking like a scared puppy. "I… Eh, I thought Petra might be tired, captain! Y-You always tell us to act like gentlemen to Petra!"
"Save the courtesy for your girlfriend," Levi snorts. "Petra is fine. I bet if I ordered you two to fight, she'd kick your stupid ass. So shut the fuck up."
"Thanks, Eld," Petra blushes. "I'm not tired at all. I can help the captain. You are very sweet though!"
If things were different, she'd gladly accept Eld's kind offer. But right now, she longs for some private time with her boyfriend more than ever.
She follows him into the woods with a content smile on her face, knowing full well that they already have enough wood for the fire.
When they are away from the camping site, Petra tugs on his sleeve and pulls him for a quick kiss on the cheek.
"You know, you don't have to be so rude to Eld."
"Tch…" an annoyed grimace appears on his face. "That shithead should mind his own business."
Petra laughs and decides they shouldn't talk about Eld anymore. Now it's just her and Levi, alone among trees and fireflies. She stands on her toes and presses her lips to his.
"Oi! What are you doing?" he gently pushes her back and looks around for any spectators.
"Em… I'm kissing my boyfriend?" she crosses her arms.
"Here? Someone might see us."
"Who? The owls?" Petra pouts. "Come on, Levi! Isn't that the reason why you dragged me away from everyone else?"
"No," he says sternly.
"Well, we both know we have enough wood. So, what's the deal?" she presses her index finger to his chest.
He lets out a sigh. "I want to tell you something. Something serious."
His voice is flat and he doesn't resemble the tender partner that Petra has seen in their secluded moments. His expression leaves her no choice but to fear for the worst.
She knew it!
Of course, it happened. He wants to end things. He realized there are many problems. He is her commanding officer. And he's much older. They can't possibly have a future together. Now that the initial enthusiasm wears off, he changes his mind about their relationship.
Petra holds back her tears and mentally prepares to prove him wrong. They can do it! No one said it will be easy, but they must fight for their happiness!
Levi lets out a deep breath. "Petra, I—"
"We can make it!" she interrupts him, her face red with agony. "Trust me, Levi! I know we haven't been together for long, but it was the best period of my life and I won't let you destroy what we have!"
He raises an eyebrow in confusion.
"I mean… What do you want to tell me?" Petra awkwardly scratches her head.
"It's about Bozado's question".
"Oh… About the future," she looks down, focusing on her sweaty hands.
"I want to answer the question. But not in front of everyone. Just in front of you."
"You can tell me," she nods encouragingly.
Levi steps closer and puts his hand on her shoulder. "Petra. I don't know what the future holds. I can't make promises."
"I know. I'm not asking you to," she squeezes the hand that's on her shoulder. "We don't even know if the war will ever be over. Or if we'll survive long enough to witness it. Captain, you don't have to feel awkward about that conversation."
"Captain?" he sounds offended. "I thought we were past that."
"Sorry! It's a habit," she quickly covers her mouth and that earns her a chuckle from him.
"Are you happy with what I'm offering you right now?" he asks.
His neutral expression is a mask. She can see the nervousness hiding in his grey eyes. And she's about to end it with a concise reply.
"Levi… I'm incredibly happy with you."
The decisiveness in her voice leaves no room for doubt, and satisfaction appears on his precious face in the form of a half-smile.
"So… Should we pick up some wood?" Petra suggests. "The boys will find it suspicious if we return empty-handed."
"Hold on, you brat!" he pulls her close, before she manages to step back. "I said I need to tell you something. My answer to Bozado's question."
"Oh… But, I… I thought that was your answer. That you can't make promises."
Levi exhales and rolls his eyes. "Can you be patient?"
"Sorry!" she plays with her hair. "Go on."
"Listen… I don't want to take tomorrow for granted. But I'm a human. I think about the future. And every version of it involves you."
"Levi…" she whispers breathlessly and cups his face.
"I want a life beyond the walls. But no matter what the future looks like, I want to spend it by your side," he continues. "In any way you want."
The gleam in his eyes makes her heart weep. What she has found in him is beyond any dream she ever had. The moon above them is full and so is her soul.
"Well…" she clears her throat. "In the future, I want you by my side. But in the present… I want you on top of me."
She takes off her green cape and spreads it on the ground.
The future they were talking about…
It's finally here.
Petra reminisces those moments from her past and she can't help the smile on her face, nor the tears that escape her amber eyes.
They've come a long way. Not everything turned out perfect. There were many sad moments. And there were times when she had completely abandoned the idea of a future together with Levi. But somehow, they got lucky.
Petra wonders if it's possible to die from happiness, as she sits on her husband's lap in the wheelchair.
"I have something important to tell you!"
She tries to contain her excitement, and then she feels… his excitement underneath her.
"How about we don't talk for a while?" he steals a kiss from her.
"Someone's thirsty!" she giggles. "But that will have to wait. I have big news!"
"What happened?"
"I won't have any snickerdoodles for about nine months!" she whispers in his ear.
He looks at her confused. "What was that?"
"Don't tell me you forgot our secret code!" She wants to get angry at him, but finds it impossible right now. "I mean… I won't have my period for the next nine months."
"Why? Are you sick? Do you—"
His eyes suddenly widen.
"No way."
"It's true!" Petra beams at him.
"Really?" he asks, still shocked. "You are… We're having a…"
"I am pregnant. We're having a baby," she reassures him, and before she realizes it, she is pulled into his warm embrace.
"Thank you, Petra." His voice trembles and she hugs him harder than before. "I'm so damn happy!"
They stay like that for a while, peaceful in each other's arms.
It's like nothing bad ever happened. The walls, the titans, the war, the rumbling… It was all a dream.
The world may still be a mess. But with their baby on the way, it's going to get infinitely more beautiful.
"I can't wait to meet our little shitty brat," Levi breaks the silence.
"Hey!" she punches him on the shoulder. "Levi, you are not calling our child a shitty brat!"
"You liked it when I called you that," he buries his face in the crook of her neck.
She laughs. But then her expression turns shifts to a melancholic look. "Sometimes… I still think about the one we lost."
Levi's thumb caresses her chin. "I'll make it up to you. With this baby. And another. And ten more if you want."
Petra's sad expression softens and she can only grin when Levi lays his hand on her belly.
A loud noise from the front side of their house wakes her up in the middle of the night.
Instinctively, one of her hands goes to her belly and the other one reaches out to the right, where Levi should be sleeping (but isn't).
Is it a burglar? Stealing from a shop like theirs that goes well financially is possible. A terrorist maybe? Many Marleyans still treat Eldians like trash. They've already changed their windows twice because some maniac threw stones at them.
The soldier inside Petra screams at her to get up and defend her home, but the fear for her baby holds her back.
"Don't get anxious, you're going to hurt the baby," she whispers to herself while breathing heavily, just like they taught her on the labor lessons. "Stress is bad for the baby, stress is bad for the baby... I can't let this happen again."
Salty tears run down her cheek as her panting continues. The complete silence makes her worry even more.
"Papa's got it. He's so strong, he can take care of the thief. He's not going to let him come to our room, baby," she says to her unborn child, hoping they can feel her gentle caresses.
The longer the silence continues, the more she worries about Levi.
What if something bad happened to him? He'd do anything to protect them, but he's not the soldier he once was.
Petra decides to get up from the bed and look for him. She'll let the thieves take all the money they have.
"Just let Levi be alright," she prays to anyone who can hear her.
She can't find her slippers in the dark. She will make less noise barefoot, anyway.
As soon as she steps out of their room, the wooden floor creaks and Petra flinches. She opens her mouth to whisper her husband's name, but the shock makes her unable to talk.
A kick inside her belly reminds her what's at stake.
Not now, little one. Don't kick. Let your mother concentrate.
She walks down the hallway with caution and opens the first door on the right. It used to be a storage, but it was recently rearranged for the baby. Levi spends most of his sleepless nights there. Mopping and dusting, 'to make sure the brat lives in a sanitary environment'.
But tonight, the room is empty.
Petra goes to the bathroom, hoping to find him there, with a smile on his face and preferably no clothes, telling her she shouldn't worry about that noise she heard. It was just him taking a shit.
But the bathroom is empty too.
Levi… Where are you?
She hears that noise again. Like someone fell on the floor. It's coming from the kitchen.
She rushes there and finds her husband collapsed, his face one with the wooden floor.
"Levi! Are you okay?" She runs to him more worried than ever and sits down next to him, as carefully as she can.
She quickly looks around and is relieved to see that they are alone in the room. And everything is in order. No broken windows, no sign of intrusion.
He leans on his elbows and tries to sit up, a few groans escaping his mouth. "What are you doing here? Go back to sleep, you need to rest."
"Did they hit you?" She searches his face for bruises or blood, but he seems fine.
"They?" he asks confused.
"I heard a noise! What happened?"
Levi lets out a sigh and averts his gaze. "Petra, just go to bed. I'll be coming in a while."
Before she can utter more questions, she notices Levi's cane on the floor, next to him. "Baby… Where is your wheelchair?" she asks concerned.
It takes him a long time to answer, and when he does, he speaks hastily. "I wanted to practice without it."
"And you fell. That's the noise I heard," she states, her voice cold like snow.
"Sorry. Didn't want to wake you up."
He tries to get up, but Petra instead guides his head to rest on her thighs.
"That's not the issue, Levi! Why are you doing this?" she almost shouts at him. "The doctors said that you should use the cane only in emergencies and only if there's someone around to help you!"
"Tch. Doctors don't know shit," he growls. "I can do this. I just need a little practice."
"Why? You are fine with the wheelchair."
"Our shop is too small to move around in this shit."
"That's why you've got me!" her face burns with anger.
"You shouldn't be running around in your state," Levi says bitingly. "You should take some time off from work".
Petra's mad at him, but his thoughtfulness always manages to move her. "I don't run. It's alright. Whenever I get tired, I sit down."
"And what happens in a few months, eh? When the kid comes?"
"I suppose... we can hire a temporary assistant. We are doing well financially, so it's affordable." Her breathing calms down and she runs her fingers through his messy hair. "See? You don't have to exhaust yourself when there are other solutions."
Levi closes his eyes. "It's not just about the shop."
"What do you mean?"
He finds the strength to sit up. With their faces on the same level, he grabs her shoulder. "I've got a kid coming up. I need to be more than a crippled bastard who can't get on his feet to take his child for a walk!"
She gasps. "Levi, how can you say that?"
"Grandfathers are on wheelchairs. Not fathers."
"Our baby's going to adore you! You are already a wonderful father. The way you talk to them when you kiss my belly in bed... Levi, my heart melts every time! And don't get me started on all those toys you've already bought. Baby, our child won't be able to read for the next five or six years and you've already bought them books! Hell, you even sing to them!"
"I've got a shitty voice," he retorts.
"Yes, you do. But it's adorable! Why does it matter that you can't walk?"
"You don't get it," he shakes his head. "You are the perfect mother any child could ask for."
She chuckles in disbelief. "I'm the perfect mother? Levi, I got so disconnected from my family that they didn't even know I got married! If I'm not a good daughter, how can I be a good mother?"
It's true. In the past, family wasn't the most important priority in her life. And she doesn't regret that. She gave her life to a cause greater than anything. But now that everything is done, she knows to whom she'll dedicate herself.
She collects her thoughts and continues. "We must accept that we have weaknesses. We won't be the perfect parents. No one is. But our baby will be loved and provided for."
The couple unites in an affectionate hug, prepared to face the future together.
"I can't wait to hold them," Levi whispers in Petra's hair.
"Don't you ever try reckless things like that, okay? You shouldn't cause me stress! It's bad for the baby!"
"Okay."
One night after a busy day in their tea shop, Petra approaches him with excitement.
"We should think about names!"
"Tch. I'm not going through that again," Levi says bitterly. "Pick whatever you want."
Choosing a name for their shop was no easy task. Eventually, after many hours of arguing, they picked "Magnolia Flower Tea", referring to their specialty and also Isabel's last name.
"Whatever I want? Really?" Petra tilts her head playfully.
"Well, I'm not naming my kid Octavius or Gertrude, but you can choose anything as long as it sounds fucking normal!"
She laughs with her husband's irritated tone, and then soon calms down to share her thoughts.
"I was thinking… If it's a boy, we could name him Erwin. He was your friend and a very important person. And if it's a girl, we can name her Zoe. You know, in Hange's memory. Or Kuchel, if you prefer it. It would be a nice way to honor your mother."
To her disappointment, he doesn't seem touched by her suggestions. "Really, Petra? How about we don't name our kid after dead people?"
She blinks. "Eh?"
"It's too macabre."
That's a point of view she didn't consider before. "But you liked it when I thought the name of our shop. You didn't have a problem with dead people then."
"Yes, because it's a fucking shop, not a person," Levi explains.
"Okay, honey, I see. So, you're saying we should name them after my parents?"
"Hell no!" he protests. "Don't get me wrong, but 'Ursula' sucks."
"I know, right? It's terrible."
"Look…" he breathes in. "I think we should find a new name. This baby is a symbol of our new beginning. We can't look back." He smoothly caresses her baby bump. "This brat is going to be a person of their own. They need a unique name. They won't be replacing anyone."
"I wasn't suggesting that."
"I know. I mean… We want a name with a special meaning to us, right? Well, a random name may sound indifferent now. But our baby's name will become special to us."
"You know…" Petra's lips begin to form a smile. "There is a name I really like."
And how could he ever refuse her?
Their future together seems brighter with every passing day.
And it all started with a knock on his door. To ask him to transfer squads so she could be away from him. But fate had other plans. They will never be apart again.
And it won't be just the two of them anymore.
Welcome to the world, Alice Ackerman.