"OH, THANK GOD!"

Hange cried out. Her body finally relaxed and she allowed herself to crush back down on the green couch in Erwin's office. Levi and Nathalie had just finished explaining Nathalie's current situation.

"I'm sorry, Commander. I can't be much of help anymore," Nathalie said apologetically. It made Levi's eyebrow twitch in anger. She had nothing to apologise about.

"That's not true, Lieutenant. You're still a talented scientist," Erwin approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder. He gave her a wide smile. "I have faith that you can figure things out without the need of your ancestors' knowledge,"

Levi forced himself between the two, pushing Erwin's hand off his wife's shoulder and he urged her to take a step behind him. Just watching this man touching her, it made his stomach churn. "Nat will not be getting near a lab ever again," Levi said as he glared at his Commander.

Nathalie's eyes widened. "What?!" They hadn't agreed on anything like this. "I was under the impression I can still make my research without using any of my ancestors' memories," She couldn't not be in a lab. The labs were her life. Her research was important, not because of how it was going to help ending this conflict but because she loved her research as a scientist.

"That sounds like a logical way to act right now. However, I will have to agree with Captain Levi," Erwin said as he took a step back and pressed some of his weight on his desk behind him. He crossed his hands against his chest, and he tried his best to catch a glimpse of Nathalie. Levi was very much blocking his view of her and he tried his best to ignore how annoying that was. "In no way can I allow to put your life at risk,"

"Wait! What about the goodies that we found in the Catacombs of the Palace?!" Hange stood up and she passed a hand around her Nathalie's shoulders.

"Goodies?" Nathalie asked, turning at her friend.

"That's right. We found devices that we've never seen before. Microscopes that can almost magnify two and a half thousand times. I'm willing to bet those dead scientists that they pulled out, they must've come from Marley. The enemy nation that you mentioned yesterday," Hange explained.

"It's truly amazing. The technology we found down there," Erwin admitted.

"Imagine, Nat. No longer torches and candles and oil lamps. Imagine using this new thing that we found down there. Electricity," Hange said excitedly.

"Premier Zackly has ordered the brightest minds to figure out how it all works," Moblit added.

"And one of the brightest minds is right here, in this very room," Erwin said and his eyes met Nathalie's. He sighed heavily. He didn't want to do this. He knew Nathalie would still try to borrow her ancestors' knowledge. She was so selfless, she'd give it all for the sake of their plans turning successful. But he couldn't not put her brilliance to use. "Alright. Hange, Moblit, you'll be keeping an eye on Nathalie at all times. The three of you will use those labs in the Catacombs to find answers-"

"My wife will not risk her life for the sake of your plans, Erwin," Levi growled.

"Which is the reason why Moblit and Hange will be with her, to make sure that she doesn't try to borrow any more knowledge that might result to worsening the state of her health," Erwin said sternly and he approached Levi, staring down at his rival with the same glare he was shooting him. "Believe me, Levi, I care about our Nathalie as much as you do,"

"You mean my Nathalie," Levi corrected him, staring up at the man dead in the eye. He shook his head in disapproval. "And no, you don't care. Not even close,"

Erwin knew that whatever he'd say, he could never change this man's mind. Nathalie got between the two men who had been glaring daggers at each other. "That's enough," She scolded them both, and they finally stopped glaring at each other and turned their attention on her.

"Still," Levi started. His hand slipped around her possessively, bringing her close. Showing Erwin just how much his own she was. "My wife and I have lots of work to do with the Queen's plans to recover all the orphans of the Underground," He reminded them. He was going to make sure he delayed her visit to those Catacombs as much as he could.

"Ah yes," Erwin said as he walked over his desk and sat back down on his chair. He had a pile of paperwork to finish. "Which is why I'm giving a two-month break for the Scouts till the mission to Retake Wall Maria. We shall wait for the graduation of the next corps of cadettes, and hopefully, lots of other soldiers will join from the other Regiments,"

"Tsk," Levi clicked his tongue in disapproval. "You're going to lead a bunch of children to their deaths again?"

"Quite the opposite, Captain," Erwin gathered his hands in front of him. A smirk spread across his lips. "I'm planning to come back from this mission with zero casualties,"

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Nathalie sighed for the hundredth time. She could be in a lab right now. She could be figuring out things that she couldn't get off her mind. Not to mention, that she was all too curious to see and touch and use the new tools and machines and utensils that they had found in the basement labs of the Royal Palace. She wanted to go and do her research.

But her husband didn't want that, and she could only do what her husband wanted. Nothing else. He had complete power over her, and it frustrated her because she was letting him. And she was doing it wholeheartedly. At least there was one good thing happening right now. She was on her own horse. That's something. He hadn't tried to force her to ride with him, but she suspected that he only did that because she'd need her own horse if she was to help out.

They were in the Underground and Queen Historia was leading the way. She was in a carriage riding ahead. Of course, Levi and Nathalie were on the front to lead them through the streets of the place that they grew up in. A bunch of MPs were all around, making sure to help and protect their Queen from the scums that lurked around in the Underground. The smell of moisture was all too familiar. Both Nathalie and Levi couldn't help staring all around the place. They hadn't visited that place ever since Erwin came and dragged them out of there.

Too many bad memories. She recognised the streets. Children were lying all around. Abandoned and starving. Despair in their eyes. Their bones almost sticking out from the lack of tissue. Levi raised his hand, signalling the MPs to stop, and Historia stuck her head out of the carriage.

"We're here, your Majesty," Levi informed her. He had to admit, it was weird calling that brat like that, but he got used to it faster than he expected.

"Excellent, Captain, Lieutenant," Historia jumped out of her carriage and the MP officer approached her right away.

"Uh- Ma'am! I suggest that you stay within the carriage. You will be safer that way," He said nervously.

Historia frowned and parted her lips to throw something utterly rude toward the officer's way, but Nathalie unmounted her horse, she approached the two, and she placed a hand on Historia's shoulder. "No need to worry, officer, we'll be keeping an eye on her. Besides, there's no criminal in the Underground that doesn't fear Captain Levi, I assure you,"

Historia smirked. "Exactly. Now quit trying to order around your Queen, and let's get to work," Historia said with an authoritative and stern tone in her voice that could've scared the highest-ranking officers of the military. Nathalie was impressed.

"U- Uh, yes, your Majesty! I- I wasn't trying to- M- My apologies!" The young man stuttered before he set off to get to work right away.

Once the two girls were left alone Nathalie laughed and squeezed Historia in her side-hug. A hand reached for Historia's hair, caressing gently. "I'm so damn proud of you!"

Historia giggled and overly enjoyed the way Nathalie was messing her hair. "Thanks, Nat!" She managed to escape Nathalie's hug and she turned and looked around her. "Let's see what we got here,"

The MP officers, Historia, Levi and Nathalie set off to pick up the children, load them in the empty carts and take them out of that horrible place. The construction of the orphanages was going well, and Historia didn't want to any more postpone saving those kids. She had to save them, and she had to do it fast.

Nathalie knelt in front of a little boy. He must have been around three to four years old. He flinched right away when she approached him, as if he was afraid that she was going to hurt him. That reaction was more than understandable. She was once the same. A scared, bony little child, tossed into a cruel world, wallowing in fear and despair.

"It's alright," Nathalie said and she gave him the sweetest smile she could manage. She knelt down, close to his height and she took off her glasses letting them hung from their rope around her neck. "I'm Nathalie. What is your name?"

He examined her with those huge, innocent, deep brown eyes of his for a moment. "S- Shawn,"

"Well, Shawn, it's very nice to meet you. Are you hungry?" Nathalie asked. The boy was scared, but hearing of food, that fear slowly started to subside. Nathalie always knew that the books she had read on psychology, were going to pay off someday. The boy nodded and Nathalie's hand reached for her pocket beneath her green, Survey Corps coat. She took out a cracker. She opened and handed it to him. "There you go,"

Shawn stared at the cracker. He didn't even bother to take. He lifted both hands up, allowing her to pick him up. Nathalie smiled as she handed him the cracker, and then she lifted him up and settled him in her arms. He was so light, it worried her, but he started munching on the cracker hungrily. He had consumed it before she even knew it. She tried to let him back down on the cart where the rest of the children were and Historia was offering them food, but he did not want to let go of her.

Shawn just buried his face in her neck. His little hands clutched on her clothes and he remained silent in her embrace. Nathalie smiled and she pressed a kiss on his little temple. "It's alright, you're safe now. We've got you," She said reassuringly, but his little fingers only tightened around her shirt. "Alright, I'll hold you just a little bit more," She promised and she turned around only to see Levi with a little girl in his hug.

It melted her heart right away. Just the sight of him holding a little girl in his arms was enough to undo her. The little girl was in a white, dirty, ragged gown. She had blonde, messy long hair. She too had finished eating the cracker that Levi had given her, and she was now sucking on her thumb. She must've been a three-year-old. She was the definition of cute.

"Oi, brat," Levi's one hand reached for the little girl's and he pulled her thumb out of her mouth. "No sucking on your fingers. They're dirty,"

The girl just looked up at him, with those large honey eyes and she tucked her finger back in her mouth. Levi sighed. He should've known better than to try to reason with a three-year-old.

Nathalie's sweet laughter reached his ears and he finally lifted his attention on her. He almost forgot how to breathe. She had a little boy in her arms, and that boy was clutching on her shirt and he was burying his face in her neck. Her hands supported his little body against her chest and the boy had closed his eyes, enjoying every second he spent in her arms. Levi chuckled. He wouldn't blame him.

She was so wonderful, there, holding and talking, and treating that little kid as if it was her own. Levi couldn't get his eyes off of her. He could almost imagine her in one of her white, baggy gowns, and a baby boy in her arms. One that would have the raven colour of his hair, but her eyes. Her beauty. He couldn't believe he had almost had that.

He tried his best to snap out of the beautiful picture that he had in his mind as the two of them finally settled the little ones on the cart, but he couldn't stop himself. A warm arm slipped around her waist, and forced her back to crush against his chest. Dry, soft lips pressed a kiss on her cheek from behind her and his breath brushed against her ear warmly as he spoke.

"I can't wait to have one of our own,"

Nathalie giggled and she let her head rest back on his shoulder. She nuzzled her nose in his neck and she smiled, closing her eyes briefly. "Me neither,"

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"Can I go? Please?" Nathalie asked for the hundredth time. She was trying to be annoying. She knew he'd give in if she irritated him too much. It had worked in the past. Why not work now? "Please, please, please, please, pleaseeeee…"

Levi groaned as his hand reached for his temple and he rubbed away the headache that she was giving him. He had almost forgotten how annoying his beloved wife could be. "Please, darling, shut up,"

No. He wasn't going to let her go to the Capital with Historia and start researching in the labs beneath the Royal Palace. He wasn't going to let her get into a lab ever again. He knew her. He knew so well that he could tell she was still going to risk recalling her ancestors' knowledge in order to carry out her research. He wasn't going to let her get self-destruct. He sighed heavily.

He should have known better than to get married to a scientist. Alas, he loved her.

They had just finished taking the children to one of the orphanages that was finished with its construction. It was afternoon. The streets of Trost had almost stopped being busy, but Historia's carriage and escort were still there, waiting for Nathalie to take her in the Royal Palace with Historia.

"No," Levi repeated. His face expressionless even when she grabbed his shirt and tried to tug him close, he didn't even budge.

"Pleaseeeee-"

"No,"

"Pretty pleaseeeeeeeee-"

"Stop, Nat. You're coming home with me," An arm slipped tightly around her, pressing her body against his own and dragging her with him towards his horse.

Nathalie tried her best to resist, only to be reminded how greatly he overpowered her. "You don't have to worry, Levi, I will not try to-"

"I do not trust you on that part, and you know it,"

"B- But, Hange and Moblit will be there to make sure I don't try it again! If you don't trust me, at least, trust them," Nathalie said and he finally stopped dragging her forcefully and he turned and looked at her.

Levi's hand found her cheek, making sure he had her attention. "I do trust you. But you always tend to get yourself killed. It's my job to keep you safe,"

Her hand reached for his own and she supported it on her face. She turned her head and she planted a kiss on his palm. It made his heart skip a beat. "I know. I know you're worried, but I promised you I'll never try it again. I can still continue my research without endangering my life,"

Levi sighed heavily. There was no way she was going to let this slide. There was no way she was going to stop until he actually let her have it her way. He had almost forgotten how annoying his Nathalie could be if she wanted to.

"Do you think I'll risk losing my life? Losing you?" Nathalie's palms pressed flat on his chest, on top of that white shirt that he was wearing beneath the green Survey Corps cloak. "I want to live. Long enough to be with you and build our family. Do you think I'll risk losing that?"

She looked up at him with those bright blue eyes of hers staring behind the lenses of her glasses, hopefully and pleadingly. He knew she loved science. She loved her books, her research, her labs. She would spend hours in them. He had no right to take from her something that genuinely made her happy.

"Promise me you won't try anything dangerous-"

"I already did-"

"Do it again," Levi insisted and she sighed, but she gave him a smile that somehow soothed him.

"I promise," Nathalie said and she cupped his cheek. Levi sighed at her tender thumb as it brushed warmly across his cheek. He knew he was going to regret saying this but he did anyway.

"Alright-"

"YES-"

"But…" He cut her. Her smile disappeared slightly, seeing as her husband had a condition for her. "…I'll come pick you up tonight,"

"Tomorrow night," Nathalie corrected him and his eyes widened slightly. She had escaped his arms before he even knew it. How could she always know how to do that?! It frustrated him. "I've got lots of work to do!"

Nathalie had disappeared in Historia's carriage, before he even had the chance to part his lips and speak and object at all. Levi groaned, now left alone in an empty street in Trost, with his horse nearby. He was going to ride alone back to HQ, and he had to deal with his brats alone. Without her help. Until tomorrow night. It almost sounded like a nightmare.

He sighed heavily. Levi mounted his horse and rode away. He didn't have her back pressed against his chest. His hands, for once, both occupied with the reins of his horse. He didn't have her waist to grab on, and he couldn't feel the weight of her head on his shoulder. He never thought he needed her so much for those small, small things. Small, but so damn significant.

Nathalie sighed once she got into the carriage. She couldn't believe she had actually convinced him to let her. If she hadn't slipped out of his arms right away, they would still be arguing, and hopefully, now she had almost twenty-four hours of sweet, sweet research. Oh, she couldn't wait to get her hands on those advanced microscopes.

"You know, I might've accidentally overheard a few things that you two said," Historia arched and eyebrow. She was seated across her in the carriage, and Nathalie tensed up right away.

Oh shit. She only hoped she wasn't suspecting something. Nathalie and Levi had agreed to keep it quiet for now. The kids didn't have to know that her life was in danger. They would only get worried and distracted, and Nathalie had enough with dealing with Levi's overprotectiveness already. Not to mention that she just didn't want to worry her kids. But still, if Historia had heard, then that would jeopardise keeping this a secret. Nathalie cringed.

"So, what about lab research can endanger your life?" Historia asked curiously and Nathalie knew she had to come up with a lie.

"Uh- explosions? Something might catch on fire. Especially if Hange is around, that is extremely possible, believe me," Nathalie said as casually as she could manage but she could tell she wasn't convincing her.

Historia crossed her hands against her chest and she raised an eyebrow. "Lying to your Queen, Lieutenant?"

Nathalie sighed. She was screwed. She was a terrible liar. Historia could very easily see through her. "Alright, alright, I'll tell you, but you have to promise me you won't tell the others, and… please take this easy," Nathalie pleaded.

Historia's smirk slightly faded. It sounded like it was something important. Maybe it was best she braced herself. "…okay," Historia nodded, but she was still worried.

Nathalie sighed. "I'm…" No, she should probably explain it first, but she was sure that Historia knew the basics. "…I believe you've been briefed on the mystery of the Burgess Family?"

Historia nodded. "A Family of Scientists created by Carl Fritz using the power of the Founder in order to unlock all the biological secrets of the titans?" Nathalie's eyes widened. That was exactly how she had phrased it in her reports. She was impressed by the girl's memory. "At least that's what your folders said,"

Nathalie raised an eyebrow. "You've read my folders?!"

Historia smirked. "Hey, being a Queen has its perks. I have access to information I hadn't even dreamt of before,"

Nathalie laughed. "Well, I'm glad you're having fun,"

"You didn't finish," Historia reminded her sternly and Nathalie sighed. Her hopeless effort to change the subject had failed as expected.

"Well, the Burgesses have the ability to pass their knowledge down to their children through their memories, this is how I know so many things on titan biology without the need to study anything. Of course, fumbling through my ancestors' knowledge has one unwanted side-effect. If I keep it up, I'll…"

Nathalie didn't know why she couldn't say it. She couldn't let that word roll out her tongue. Maybe she didn't want to see Historia's reaction. She didn't know whether she had succeeded being the mother figure that those kids were lacking, but… Nathalie sighed and she decided, that if she was to continue, she just had to look away from that worried look on Historia's face.

"I'm going to die…" Nathalie confessed and Historia gasped. "…in six years from now,"

"No!" Historia cried out. Eyes wide. Fists clenched.

"Relax, I'll just… have to stop recalling their knowledge, and hopefully I'll live longer than that. At least… that's the theory," Nathalie realised that this was just a theory. That her chances of survival were still not assured.

Nathalie's elbows pressed on her lap and she buried her face in her hands. It was all just a theory that she and Levi had absentmindedly and wholeheartedly chosen to believe. She could still die in six years from now. No- she could die in less than six years. What if she couldn't control this? What if that knowledge just came back to her and she wouldn't be able to stop it?

No… no, no, no, that can't be true. It couldn't be. But she remembered that what she knew had all come to her randomly. Each time, she wasn't expecting any knowledge to come to her, she hadn't really recalled anything at will. She didn't get the time to think about this.

She hadn't realised Historia was sitting beside her until she felt the weight of Historia's hand on her shoulder and she turned and looked at the girl. Historia's blue eyes shined with tears. Nathalie regretted telling her right away.

"I don't want you to die, Nat," Historia choked out and the tears slipped down her cheeks.

Nathalie pulled her into a hug right away. One hand slipped around Historia's shoulders, and the girl buried her face in the crook of Nathalie's neck. Nathalie's thumb reached for Historia's cheek, wiping the tears away whilst Nathalie caressed her golden hair and pressed her own cheek on top of her head.

"You're the only…" Historia wept. "…you're the only person who's-"

"I'm not going to die," Nathalie cut her. She pulled back only to cup the girl's face with both her hands, and wipe her cheeks with her thumbs. She gave Historia a reassuring smile, even though, she too was trying her best to keep her own tears back. "I'm not going anywhere,"

"You don't know that!" Historia cried out. "It's just a theory, right?! Do the others know? Eren? Jean? Connie?"

Nathalie shook her head. "No, I'm not planning to tell them," She tried to give her a smile again, hoping that it would make her feel better. "You kids don't have to worry about me. You have long lives to live ahead of you,"

"I know, I was just…" Historia rested her head on Nathalie's shoulder. She closed her eyes forcing more tears to stream down her cheeks. "…I was just hoping you could be part of our lives,"

Nathalie allowed a tear to slip down her cheek when Historia wasn't looking. She breathed shakily. "I'm so sorry, kiddo,"