Levi rushed towards the room that the doctor had pointed him to in the Hospital of Trost, but Hange got in the way before he had the chance to enter. She pulled his hand away from the doorknob and she shut the door again. Levi couldn't care less about why Hange wasn't letting him in. He didn't give a shit about what she was about to say. Nathalie was in there. She was in there, and he needed to see her.

"Wait! You need to give her some time-" Hange tried to say, but he cut her.

"She's alive, isn't she?! Get out of my way!" Levi growled grabbing Hange by the shirt.

"Please, Levi," Hange said. Both hands found his shoulders. She sighed. She hadn't told him. Nathalie wouldn't want her to tell him. "She doesn't want to see you right now,"

The words felt like daggers stabbing right through his heart. Why?! Why wouldn't she want to see me? Hange hadn't given any details. She hadn't said anything. She just reassured him that Nathalie was alive, but she didn't seem happy about that. She just said they had taken her in a hospital in Trost, and that she was recovering. But there was something more to it, and he wanted to find out. Something serious had happened to Nathalie and it drove him insane not knowing what that was.

He didn't care whether she wanted to see him or not. He only cared about making sure that she was okay. Levi pushed Hange out of the way, and he barged in the room anyway.

"No! Wait-" Hange tried to say but Levi snapped the door closed. Hange tried to get in and pull him out, but Moblit stopped her. Moblit's hand found its way around her waist, urging her back to crush against his chest and Hange groaned smacking his hand. "Let me go, Moblit!"

"They need to talk," Moblit said and she turned and looked at him. "He has a right to know,"

Hange sighed heavily. A hand reached for her goggles, pushing them on her forehead and she rubbed her tired eyes beneath. Moblit was right. She had to admit. That was a problem that Levi and Nathalie could only talk through with each other.

"I know…" Hange admitted. "…I just wanna be there for her as a friend,"

Moblit's hand slipped around her shoulders. He gave her a smile and he opened his mouth to speak, but Hange spoke first when she turned around and looked at the kids.

"Wait! Where are you kids going?" She asked as she watched Jean, Mikasa, Armin, Connie and Sasha leaving.

They stopped halfway the hall. "We're going at Jean's to make an omelette," Connie answered and Hange raised an eyebrow.

"Five people to make an omelette?" Hange asked, crossing her hands against her chest.

"It's gonna be one hell of an omelette," Jean smirked.

"Nathalie's been taking care of us when were bedridden," Mikasa explained. She shrugged. "It's time we do the same,"

Hange and Moblit did not try to fight their smiles back. "Alright, kids. Moblit and I will go find where Eren and Historia are. Once we find out, we depart immediately. Let your Captain know when he comes out,"

The kids saluted her. "Yes, ma'am!"

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Levi found himself hesitant. He smelled blood. She had lost blood. She was probably still haemorrhaging. Her body, folded. Fingers had been clutching on her lower belly. He could tell she was crying and weeping. It broke his heart watching her. He had never seen her cry so much. He had never seen her in pain like this. Nathalie was always the strongest-looking one. She was always the one to pull him in a hug and comfort him, and speak to him logically and make him feel better. But now, the vulnerable one was her.

He knew they had tortured her, and the marks in her hands were pretty much visible the closer he got. But she didn't care to cover them beneath the bedsheets. She only cared about clutching and trying to stop the excruciating pain in her abdomen. She buried her face in her pillow. Her whole body, tense as she squirmed and winced and wept in pain. He hated the sight of her like this. His heart, beating alarmingly fast.

He hurried and he sat beside her on the bed. She needed him now. She needed him more than ever. He wanted to hold her. He wanted to do anything to make her feel better. But she turned her head away from him when she saw him. "N- No! L- Leave me alone, Levi, please… not now…"

His hand found her face. He cupped her cheek and she sighed slightly leaning against his fingers. No matter what she was saying, she didn't want him to leave. But she didn't want to face him either. "You're in pain… I'll call for the doctor, hang on," Levi set off to leave right away but she stopped him. She caught his hand.

"No, the… doctor just left," Nathalie choked out.

Levi lied beside her, on top of the bedsheets and he cupped her cheek. He looked down at her. An expression of pain twisted across the muscles of her face. He hated it. But he couldn't understand. If the doctor had just treated her, why was she in pain? What the fuck's going on?! What the fuck did they do to her?! He felt anger raging through him, but he forgot all about it when Nathalie's hands reached for his shirt. Trembling fingers tightened around the soft fabric and she tugged him closer.

He tried to comply to her wish by slipping beneath the bedsheets, but she stopped him again. "No! J- Just hold me,"

What was she trying to hide? Levi could not remember being so worried about something in his entire life. He lifted the bedsheets only to reveal the bloodstained, ruined towels that had been laid beneath her body. Her white gown too was covered in red around the area that she had been clutching onto. His eyes widened.

"Nat… you're bleeding," He said alarmingly.

Nathalie just buried her face in his neck. "I know. This is how… it's supposed to be… let it be," She clutched onto him and she wept in his neck. The morphine was doing fucking nothing. She winced against his skin. Eyes shut tightly. Voice trembled, as tears gathered in her eyes. She had handled the most painful injuries, but this… this was something else. "…God… it hurts so much…"

Levi couldn't take it anymore. He was terrified. He had never seen her like this. He had no idea what to do to help. He trapped her chin between two fingers and he urged her to look up at him. He wished he hadn't. He hated so much to watch her cry. He hated so much to watch her drenched cheeks. He'd do anything to stop her from crying. To stop the pain, the bleeding. Anything. He'd find whoever had done this to her and he was going to rip them apart. Rage boiled beneath his chest. He was going to make them wish they'd never been born. But he needed to know.

"What happened? What did they do to you? Nat, please, tell me," Please. She was the only person he would ever beg. He just needed to know. He pressed his forehead against her own. His hand reached for a strand of her hair, tucking it behind her ear. The tip of his nose met her own. His fingers clenched in her hair and he shut his eyes. "Please, tell me,"

Nathalie just buried her face back in his neck. She couldn't look at him. She didn't want to see the look of disgust and disapproval on his face. She didn't want to push him away, because telling him this, it would probably push him away. Yet again, she didn't know. She had no idea how he was going to react. She was scared. She was terrified of the man who brought her such relief when his arms slipped around her. He held her tight, and she knew she did not deserve this. She did not deserve him. It was all her fault.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"

A calloused thumb found her cheek, wiping her tears away. He buried his face in her hair and he shut his eyes. "Stop crying, Nat, just please-"

"I lost it,"

His eyes shot open. He couldn't even begin to think of what she meant with that. Suddenly it all started making sense. The bleeding. Her hands clutching painfully on her belly. The crying. The mess that she was right now. His hand stopped caressing her back and he found himself staring blankly at a random spot in the room. He didn't know what to say. Part of him hoped she meant something else. Part of him hoped that she meant anything but this. But then she repeated it.

"O- Our…" she wept in his neck. "…I didn't even know I was… I didn't know, I swear!"

He believed her. If she knew, she'd tell him. She'd let him know. They never kept secrets from each other, especially if they were as important as this. She wouldn't risk her life like this if she knew. Still, he looked shocked at his hands, and then down at her trembling body. He was going to become a father. He was going to have a child of his own with her, the woman that he loved. His hand found her belly. He touched gently, afraid of hurting her but trying to believe that for a moment there was life inside. And that life they had both created it. She had lost it, but he'd never blame her. It wasn't her fault. He only had himself to blame for letting her go that night.

But he had never thought of this before. He had never thought he'd have someone. He never thought he could love somebody so much to have a child with them. He wanted this. He wanted it more than he had realised. A wife and children and family and peace. All these required a peaceful world. He was already too overwhelmed with trying to protect Nathalie and his squad. He couldn't have a son or a daughter now. Not yet. But he wanted to.

But he was still shocked about this. "I was… I was going to become a father…" He never thought he wanted this so much. He was actually sad that they had lost that chance.

"I'm so sorry…"

Nathalie was suffering and she was in pain because of him. The guilt weighed heavy on his chest. He cupped her face and urged her to look at him. He could tell she was scared. She was frightened. She was trembling. He didn't want that. He hated watching her like this.

He leaned in and pressed kisses on her cheeks, her nose, her chin, her forehead, around her lips. Nathalie sighed in relief. The trembling slightly stopped. He caught her eyes with his own and he cupped her face making sure he had her attention.

"After we retake Wall Maria, I'm going to make you my wife, and we'll have another one,"

Her eyes widened. She wasn't expecting him to say this. She was expecting him to say anything but this. It brought her relief. Even though the pain was still intense in her belly, her muscles relaxed. Her hand reached for his face cupping his cheek.

"Levi… I- I…"

"This is probably the worst time to ask this, but…" Levi took her hand in his and he kissed her knuckles. "…Nathalie Burgess, will you marry me?"

She couldn't believe this was happening. She couldn't believe he was proposing to her. After hurting him like that. After she had broken her promise and she had taken the life of his child because of her selflessness. How could he still want her after all this?

"Yes," The response just flew out of her lips before she even realised it. Even in pain, she was smiling. Her eyes, brightened. He got to see that smile on her lips.

He dove in, and trapped those perfect lips in his own. His tongue penetrated her mouth and crushed against her own, showing her just how much he had missed her. His hands tightened around her. He brought her closer. She let out a small wince at the sudden movement and he broke the kiss just to make sure she was okay. She was still bleeding. It made his heart ache, but he had her. He was holding her. She was safe now. She was going to be okay. He was going to make her his wife. Provided we survive this, he reminded himself. No. He was going to make sure that she would.

"I thought I had lost you," Levi said admittedly. The tip of his nose brushed against her own. His breath brushed warm against her wet lips. His fingers clutched around her clothes.

She gave him that smile. The smile that made everybody melt. "You know you can't get rid of me that easy,"

He smirked. "I can't," He leaned and caught her lips again, but he kept it brief. "We're going to find the bastards who killed our child, and we're not just going to kill them," He promised her and she chuckled.

She couldn't believe he had made her chuckle while being in pain like this. "No worries… I killed them instantly,"

He smirked. Even being in pain like this, she had taken out the lives of two well-trained men. She was marvellous. "Of course, you did," He leaned to kiss her again, but something interrupted them.

It was the door snapping open and Jean landing on top of Sasha's body. Connie stumbled on top of Jean, and the tray that Jean had in his hands, went flying in the air. Armin dove right in to save it, only to be knocked down by Sasha's hand that blocked his feet.

"NO!" Jean cried out.

"Somebody, save the omelette!" Connie cried out alarmingly.

Thankfully, Mikasa was fast enough to grab it, with moves that Nathalie had only seen on someone else before. Levi. She raised an eyebrow. Damn. All the kids let out sighs of relief. They finally stood up from the pile of bodies that they had created. Levi sighed.

"What were you five doing outside the door?" Levi asked, even though he knew the answer.

"We weren't eavesdropping!" Sasha cried out and everybody groaned.

"Oh c'mon!" Jean groaned in irritation.

"Sasha, you blew it!" Connie frowned.

"What?! I said we weren't!" Sasha said to her defence.

Mikasa handed the dish to Jean and she helped Armin back up on his feet. Levi frowned deeply. The kids had probably heard everything. "Two weeks of house cleaning once we get Eren and Historia back," He said and the kids groaned in irritation.

"Oh c'mon!"

"Jeez, Captain, we didn't hear anything!"

"I told you, we weren't eavesdropping!"

"It's alright, kids, he didn't mean it," Nathalie said reassuringly as she placed a hand on Levi's shoulder and he just frowned a little bit more.

"Four weeks," Levi added only to receive a smack on his shoulder by Nathalie.

"OH GOD NO!"

"Please, CAPTAIN!"

"We weren't trying to-"

Mikasa cleared her throat, interrupting their whining and reminding them why exactly they were here. Jean looked down at the omelette in his hands and he let out an exclamation.

"Oh right," Jean turned at Sasha and Connie who had finished picking up the tray and the knife and fork that had landed on the floor after their incurable clumsiness. They settled the dish and the fork and knife back on the tray before Jean placed the tray on Nathalie's lap.

Nathalie couldn't believe it. Had they actually made an omelette for her to eat? She remembered Sasha talking about how the omelettes were the only tragic thing in Jean's life, and now Nathalie really wanted to hear the story behind that.

"Thought I'd make you my special dish," Jean smirked.

"He means the only dish he knows how to cook," Sasha commented and Jean turned and shot her a glare.

"The only thing you know how to cook is MEAT!" Jean threw back.

Sasha shrugged. "Duh. If you know how to cook meat, you don't need to know how to cook anything else,"

Jean groaned. Armin raised a hand, catching their attention. "Actually, we all contributed on making that omelette,"

"Hell yeah, we did. Jean's idea, but we made it happen," Connie pointed his thumb at himself proudly.

Nathalie tried her best not to cry. Just seeing that they tried to look after her, it made her forget the pain in her belly and whatever else had taken place the last two days. Those kids were worth all the pain. No, they were worth the entire world. She lifted her hands forward for a hug.

"Come over here!" And they did. Connie and Sasha settled around her on her bed, pushing Levi away. Levi frowned visibly. She passed her hands around Sasha's and Connie's shoulders, right after she made sure she gave Jean a tight hug. "Thank you so much!" She squeezed them both and they buried their faces in her shoulders.

"C'mon, try it!" Jean said impatiently, as he sat beside Connie on her bed.

"Alright, alright," Nathalie stopped hugging the other two and she searched for her knife and fork, only to look up and see Levi rubbing them clean with his handkerchief. They had fallen over the floor, there was no way he'd let her use them if he didn't make sure they were clean enough.

"Here," Levi finally handed them to her and she gave him a wide smile.

"Thanks, Levi!"

"Tsk," He watched her as she consumed the omelette hungrily and she kept praising the kids about how good it was. He realised, he had no idea how to make an omelette. No, he didn't know shit about cooking. It was always her the one who would cook, so he never really had to learn.

"We're here!" Hange announced as she and Moblit walked in. "We know where the kids are, and…" she pulled out from her bag a syringe. She tapped it with her finger and readied it for injection. "…I brought you what you asked for, Nat. It worked wonders on the Commander," she took out another box. "New glasses too,"

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Hange was right. The serum did work wonders. Although, it was risky. Merging titan spinal fluid with Eren's titan spinal fluid, in theory, it was supposed to heal, but help the body keep its human form. The theory was proven on Erwin first. He had offered and Hange had injected him earlier that day. Erwin was gathering the entirety of the Scout Regiment from the Capital to help them in the rescue mission.

Levi, of course, had declined taking Nathalie to that rescue mission. But after seeing how that serum closed all wounds on her body and stopped the bleeding as if it had never happened, it changed his mind. He couldn't believe she had actually figured this out. Hange and Moblit had greatly helped too. The three of them made a good team.

Still, the scars did not disappear from her body, but Nathalie made sure she'd cover them with a long-sleeved white shirt. She wore black pants and black boots. She had put on her ODM and she was ready to fight. It was remarkable to think of the possibilities of that serum. If they produced enough of that, then they could arrange Expeditions and return with almost no casualties at all. It was ground-breaking.

But they had more urgent matters at hand. They were on their way to the Reiss's Chapel in Wall Rose, nearby Orvud District. The kids were ready to fight. Hange, Levi, Moblit and Nathalie had come up with a plan. Hange's Squad was with them as well. Fighting Kenny and his own team armed in anti-personnel ODM gear, was going to be a pain. Thankfully, Levi and Nathalie knew Kenny and therefore they knew how to act.

Levi, Nathalie, Hange, Mikasa and Moblit had settled on a cart. Night had arrived. The kids were riding on their horses all around with torches in their hands to light their way.

"You should understand," Levi started. "This is Kenny the Ripper. If he's there, he's our biggest obstacle. In terms of his threat level, it's like you'll be fighting me. Or wait… with those weapons of his, he'll be stronger,"

"Then he's unbeatable!" Sasha said.

"Maybe we should wait to meet other soldiers," Connie said.

"No chance in hell," Mikasa frowned. They had waited long enough.

"Right! Of course, not," Connie said. "If we wait for reinforcements, Eren might get eaten," He reminded himself.

"You know, based on what the Captain just told us, the odds won't be entirely in Kenny's favour," Armin said, turning to look at the other four that were sitting on the cart that he was driving.

"You really think so?" Jean asked.

"Yeah," Armin nodded turning at Jean. "His squad is well trained, but we have way more combat experience,"

"That's true," Nathalie added. "As Scouts, we fight titans. Fighting humans should be a piece of cake,"

"I have to ask," Hange turned at Nathalie and Levi. "How is it you two were raised by Kenny and you know next to nothing about him? Did you guys never talk?"

"He wasn't the perfect father, I'll tell you that," Nathalie frowned.

Levi frowned as well and he crossed his hands against his chest. "He wasn't. I only just learned his last name. I don't know if you've heard but it's Ackerman,"

Nathalie raised an eyebrow. "Ackerman?! But that's-"

"Exactly," Levi turned at Mikasa who was sitting between Moblit and Hange. "Might be a relative of yours,"

"I remember my parents saying that… my dad's side, the Ackermans were persecuted when they lived in the Cities," Mikasa started "My mom said her ancestors were Eastern. Her family's appearance made it difficult for them to fit in. Both of the groups were chased deep in the mountains near the edge of the walls. That's how my parents met. But my father never told me why the Ackermans were persecuted. He looked the same as all of you, so I don't think he was of a different race,"

"They're not," Nathalie said. Her hand found her forehead as an intense headache came to her. She winced and Levi's hand found her shoulder right away. It was all coming back to her. Memories that weren't her own. Her eyes widened.

"What's wrong?" Levi asked worriedly.

Nathalie gave him a reassuring smile before she turned at Mikasa. "Mikasa, have you ever felt a… power awaken inside you?" she asked.

Mikasa gasped. A realisation struck her. "I have…"

"This has happened for Kenny Ackerman as well," Levi said. "Suddenly, out of nowhere, he felt an absurd amount of energy surging through him, and in that moment, he knew just what he needed to do. And it's happened to me too. Makes me wonder…"

"You're related," Nathalie said and they all stared at her confusedly.

People screaming, tied in their restraints, begging for help. Human experimentation. Memories came to her all at once. Scientists in white robes, with notebooks in their hands. Something told her she knew those people. No. She was related to those people. She was watching their memories.

"The Ackerman Clan… is a product of titan and human experimentation. Its members possess… unnatural strength, implanted knowledge of a specific style of combat. Fast recovering tissue unlike no other… they can choose their master and serve them with unwavering loyalty," Nathalie had no idea she knew all this. It felt like back in the lab all over again. Knowledge just showed up in her mind out of nowhere. Maybe she could indeed recall the knowledge and watch the memories of her forefathers.

"How do you know?" Mikasa asked confusedly.

Nathalie pulled her hand away from her forehead and she looked up at Mikasa. "It is because… under direct orders from the King… the Burgess Family created them,"