Morning everyone!

Ahhh, to have wifi again is simply glorious. Makes these things sooo much easier! Hope everyone had an awesome week – mine wasn't bad, which is good because man oh man I've been needing to catch a break haha. You know the drill, it's gameday, so say a prayer for mah boys, for Mahomes, and pray the kingdom prevails.

Thanks guys! Enjoy the read!

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Levi was sitting at the kitchen table, his eyebrows drawn together as he read the pages over one by one in a focused, serious manner because Erwin wasn't around, and so he didn't want to miss a single word or interpret even the smallest of details wrong as the penalties of taking even a single misstep could be catastrophic for them.

Gods, if he somehow messed this up, Erwin would kill him.

At first when they had moved back into the house and locked the door for good measure, Petra had slumped to the table, seemingly retreating into her mind as she thought the matter over as though deciding how she felt about it. After a few moments of tense, uncertain silence, she had suddenly sat up straight as a board, something that had made the Captain quirk an eyebrow in curiosity, and Petra took a sharp breath and bit out in a sudden scowl, "You know – and I'm not trying to be over dramatic or play the victim here – but I just think it's funny that-"

That had been twenty minutes ago, and the ginger had yet to finish that same sentence, because it had turned into a long, passionate rant that was still ongoing even now.

From the side of the kitchen, Petra was somewhat working on wearing the tile down bit by bit with the way she was pacing back and forth in a furious line, because she had undeniably worked herself up into an enraged frenzy to where she was pointing and motioning with her hands while she spoke, occasionally slamming her fist down onto the table or kitchen counter when she felt she made a particularly strong point. While the theatrics were admittedly distracting, it didn't overtly bother him, and Levi had to admit that it was perhaps impressive how long she had been ranting about her feelings on the matter, at least in some ways.

"Gods, I just can't believe how stupid I was! I mean, just how insane was this whole thing though? Dad knew, Timmy knew, and he's been working on this document the whole damn time. No wonder he's been so smug and arrogant about it all; he thought he had that one last trick to play. Dammit, I really should have told you about Timmy before we even got here, I just…I didn't think it would matter! But as it turns out, he really was the one behind the scenes that did everything, just…just like you said. When he's been around, he always played it off like he was here for Dad, or that Dad had invited him over so it was just convenient, and then today after you leave he tries to swoop in-"

She suddenly paused and gave a dramatic huff, "I am a married woman, Captain, married! Sure he tried to play it up in the end and act like it mattered to him that we do it right or whatever, but he didn't seem all that bothered by it when he grabbed my ass or pressed me up against the house so he could kiss me by force. It's sick, people have no respect these days!"

Petra scowled at the memory and all but growled, "And was he always that terrible of a kisser? Honestly Levi, I know this sort of thing hardly matters, but let the record show that he's got nothing on you because that was just awful. He was awkward and demanding and there was just this horrible lip pulling and, ugh, so bad."

Though Levi had heard her words, and normally would have smirked proudly at her assessment, he was too busy focusing on the unexpected document that Timmy had prepared for them, and Petra continued just the same, "And after all this time, he just tries to swoop in and change it all 'back to how it used to be', as if he hasn't caused enough problems. I'll bet he's lying. It's probably just some scheme or whatever, and if he thinks that I'm just going to sit back and wait for him to jerk me around all over again, let him force you into a bad position like he did before, then he's got another thing coming to him!"

Again she was pacing, speaking irritably to herself as her mind continued to race with righteous fury, "The sheer arrogance! The lack of consideration, the fact he used my Dad as just a mere pawn in his selfish schemes and got his hopes up, only to break his heart in the end, I can't believe he would do that! Honestly Captain, we should just set the folder on fire because he can't be trusted and-"

Levi set the paper down and rubbed his eyes, shaking his head as he gave the document one final sweep, "Petra, listen. I think…I think it's genuine."

She paused at once and almost choked on her own breath, "Wh-what, Captain?"

Levi was still skimming over the words for what seemed like the hundredth time, and he merely sighed, "Granted I'm not Erwin or your stupid boy toy by any means, but I've read through my fair share of contracts over the years and from what I can tell, this is the real deal. At the very least, I can agree that it would render our marriage license null and void – that's for sure – and reading all the subclauses and effective dates, it doesn't appear that it would overrule your new military contract either as it's listed as a separate contract with its own binding terms and conditions that would still be upheld in the court of law."

Petra felt the need to sit down, and she carefully made her way toward the table, but decided against sitting because her nerves were much too frazzled and she still felt the need to do something. Instead, she merely moved behind Levi and tried to read over his shoulder, a hesitance to her voice as she spoke in clear uncertainty, "So…we don't have to be married anymore? If I sign it, I can stay in the military and we can be legally separated?"

Levi gave a slow nod, turning through the pages and shaking his head in still deep concentration, "Yeah, that's exactly what it looks like, but it wouldn't be a separation or a divorce – it would be an annulment, as if the marriage had never existed in the first place, at least from a legal perspective anyway."

Petra's mouth fell open and she found the words coming to her in a mix of disbelief, liberation, and a surprising amount of…disappointment, the latter of which only caused her further unease because she wasn't sure what she was so disappointed for – this was a good thing, right?

"We don't have to be married anymore…" she repeated in a whisper, and a long sigh came from her Captain.

"No, we don't."

A sort of pause filled the room, a heavy silence as Petra's mind raced and Levi continued scanning the document, looking for a specific paragraph to show her while she was hovering over his shoulder, "Take a look here for a sec; it's the document's effective by date – meaning that if this isn't signed and returned to the Court's on or before this date, this document itself is also null and void. It's time sensitive."

Petra's eyebrows pulled together and she looked the paper over, "It says the 23rd - that's a little over two weeks, right?"

"Yeah. Doesn't exactly leave us a lot of time to make a decision. I'd feel better if Erwin were to look it over, but even if we were to leave for the base right now in attempts to get Erwin's take on it all, unless we were to ride overnight, I think we'd be cutting it close because it still has to get through the mail."

Petra clicked her tongue, "Well isn't that a red flag? At the start of it all, Timmy put us in a similar bind where we only had three days to work with, right? What if he's doing that again – making it so there's some hidden fine print but due to the time crunch, he's just banking on us overlooking it? If we do miss something and send it off for filing, by then it's too late. I don't know Captain, I'm still really skeptical."

Levi nodded, "I think it's wise to be suspicious, but I've read over every word numerous times now, and if there is anything shady that he's still planning; it's not tied to the terms of this document. And besides, I think in terms of the time crunch, it's actually a legitimate fluke this time around. Documents like this take time, where he would have had no way of knowing who would approve what at what time, and honestly, Timmy and your dad would have had no guarantee you were ever coming back out here in the first place, let alone being able to accurately predict when. I imagine Timmy originally planned on traveling to the base in person and begging you to sign it then and there, but since you're already here it just isn't necessary."

Petra stood up more fully, and rolled her eyes bitterly, "Right. Because he's just so helpful – as though signing the document will actually fix or change anything, like the past six months just never even happened. I mean, I get what he's after but if he really thinks that all his problems will just go away if I were single again then he's a bigger fool than I thought. Besides, when it comes to being married to you I just-"

"Petra, I think you should sign it."

Levi's simple words had caused her to fall silent outright, and the breath almost left Petra at once because it was like someone had just punched into her gut.

"Captain…what?"

She hated how weak her voice had sounded.

"The document," Levi stated simply, still flipping through a few pages as he spoke, "You should sign it while there's still time. We can get it mailed out tomorrow, and once we get back to the base we can have Erwin do some checking to see the status and ensure that everything went through okay."

Petra was still standing behind the Captain, grateful he couldn't see her because her mouth had dropped open in sheer surprise at just how…casually he was speaking.

At how quickly he had come to that decision.

"You…you really want me to sign it?" Petra asked in a soft voice, and the back of her mind told her it was a dangerous question, because Levi had already clarified what he wanted, and yet some part of her couldn't resist asking again because it just…it hurt. She actually found that she perhaps, maybe….didn't want to sign the document at all, where if the opportunity presented itself, she wanted to tell him her thoughts that maybe, perhaps she really didn't mind being married to him.

Maybe…

Maybe she wanted to stay married to him instead.

Her heart sank at his confident words, because if Levi wasn't on the same page as her, if Levi wanted her to sign it, then it didn't matter in the first place because she had already lost him just the same.

His response was an amused sort of hum, "Of course. Why wouldn't I want you to sign it? This is how it should be; how it always should have been from the start. I don't like Timmy, but I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Let's get this signed and, well, make it right."

Petra was all but frozen in place, and she gave a quiet, defeated nod that he wouldn't see.

Gods, it hurt.

It hurt so damn much to know that after all this time, it seemed that nothing really had changed.

She had known from the start that Levi hadn't wanted a relationship, he had been respectful in that he told her his intentions from the very beginning, and yet, they had both grown so much together in the past six months where they were trying to make the most of the situation after being thrown into a marriage together with little warning. They had grown closer, had learned so much about each other, and while she knew it wasn't a lie – she knew his care for her was genuine and that married or not, he would still hold a special place for her in his heart - the fact that at the first presented opportunity, he hadn't so much as given it even a moment of pause, that legitimately made her heart and mind ache with a cold, numbing sort of disbelief.

He wanted out.

He wanted his freedom, he wanted things to be 'right' between them and apparently in his mind, that meant they were both single again, walking who knows what kind of line, because without the marriage license protecting them, such a relationship between them was forbidden outright.

Surely he didn't want that, right? If he wanted to be in any sort of relationship with her, which her gut told her very strongly that yes, he did, then the easiest solution would just be for them to stay married. Maybe…maybe he hadn't thought about it as much as she presumed, because his words just weren't making sense. Maybe he was being blinded by the timeframe and wasn't actually seeing the logistics of what he was asking, and perhaps…perhaps that left her with a little bit of wiggle room to broaden his perspective.

Petra took a deep breath, mustering up her courage as she took a step toward him. She leaned down toward where he was seated in the kitchen chair, lightly rubbing his shoulders for only a moment and she kissed the skin of his neck with a light caress of her lips, "You know Captain, you're a little tense. Did you train harder than usual today?"

A low, soft exhale left his lips, and Levi allowed the papers to fall out of his hands and back onto the table. He nodded and lengthened his neck, "Yeah, I missed yesterday and I was maybe hoping to miss…a few more days while your Dad's gone? This afternoon was pretty long, and it reminded me of how things will be back at the base and I wanted to take advantage of the time we have left before your dad gets back. We've got a solid day or two, right?"

Petra smirked, and her hands ran down to his chest, already working on the buttons of his shirt as she pulled his cravat until it unraveled, "I'm not sure; just depends on how quickly he travels, I suppose. And you want to spend that entire time with me at the house? I do recall telling you that I'd try and jump you the second you got back. I wouldn't mind it, if you wanted to stay here with me. If that's what you really wanted, that is."

As her fingertips ran down the plains of his exposed skin, her palms massaging down his chest in a mix between light touches and actual therapeutic, purposeful circles because he really was quite tense, Levi took a breath and moved into her touch with a slight hiss, "Fuck, hold right there, if you don't mind. It hurts but it feels good."

Petra gave a sad smile and pressed her fingers more purposefully into his side, "You really did train to your max, huh? Just so we can take advantage of the empty house no less? Tell me Captain, if just one afternoon was hard, what will you do when the document is signed? You realize that if we're not married, well, we'd be breaking the rules outright because you are still my direct Commanding Officer."

Levi nodded, "Yeah. When we're back at the base and the marriage is annulled, I know things will have to alter again but-"

Petra tried to keep the edge out of her voice, but her tone reflected her irritation and she all but scoffed, "Seems to me like it would be easier to just stay married then, Captain."

She flinched at her tone, because subtlety was not her strength when she was frustrated like this, and at her quipped words, Levi looked over his shoulder, looking at her directly as he spoke almost suspiciously, "Petra…don't you want to sign it? Wasn't that what all this was about from the start? You having a choice? This is it. This is what you wanted."

The girl merely pressed her lips together as the Captain's blue eyes fell onto her, and she pulled her hands away from him with a huff, "Right. What I wanted, because getting the marriage annulled is obviously what I've been secretly hoping for since day one and the stars finally fucking aligned after all this time." Petra paused and put her hands on her hips, her mouth tightening into a scowl as she gave him an irritated glare, "You know, at what point in this conversation were you going to ask what I wanted before just assuming? And in terms of a choice, you already made it for me because it's quite clear that you have no interest in staying married, so what does it even matter what I want?"

Levi's eyes narrowed in confusion and surprise, and Petra looked across the room with a calming exhale, "Look. I can respect that Captain, and I'll sign it. Just...leave me alone for a while, okay? I need time to process everything. Apparently we're going to be going back to how things were before and I need time to mentally come to terms with it all."

As she took a step, Levi was already standing up from his chair with a low and irritated exhale, "Wait, Petra – where are you, ugh, why are you running away from the conversation? Are you mad or something?"

She was still moving just the same toward the hall and she scoffed, "I'm not! I'm running away from you, there's a difference. And for the record, I'm not mad, I just…I'm just really surprised and-" she shook her head bitterly, "Honestly, I really can't do this right now. All you need to know is that I'll sign it, exactly like you want. It's fine, Levi. We'll put it in the mail tomorrow and that will be that."

She hadn't gotten all that far, and Levi grabbed her shoulder with an irritated expression, "Alright sure, but it's clearly not fine, and you're going to have to get a lot less cryptic because I can't read your mind. Whatever you want to say, just fucking say it because I can't speak to what I don't know."

Petra felt an exhausted, broken exhale leave her and she paused in step, her voice quiet because even so much as just saying the words hurt, "Levi, what do you want me to say? You want me to sign it, right? Does it even matter now?"

She slowly turned around, finding that was the best she could do because she couldn't bring herself to look him in the eye, "I know that when we got married, we were just doing what we had to. I know you were trying to support me; I mean, even back then we were friends, and it means the world to me that you were willing to intervene in the way you did because you know full well that it goes much further than the military alone. We didn't want a relationship, neither one of us, and yet as life just kind of thrusted us together and we had to hit the ground running because there wasn't time to fuss or squabble about what we were feeling…gods Levi, who would have ever thought, right?"

Her voice had a slight tremble that caused her words to muddy, and she was fighting off tears as she continued to speak in the quietest whisper, "Captain, I don't know how else to say it anymore. I just…shoot, I think you're great, and even if this document makes it so we can go our separate ways, why would you ever think that that's what I wanted? I know we don't need a piece of paper to be together, but with us being in the military and on the same damn squad… we kind of do. I just don't get why you want to put it all to an end like this, without warning, because that's exactly what would happen if I signed it right now and apparently you're completely okay with that, like these six months have meant absolutely nothing to you. What's more, you pretending that you're surprised to hear that I want to stay with you, when I've fucking told you that numerous times at this point – it hurts a lot and you know it."

Levi's mouth fell open just slightly, and Petra began chewing her bottom lip because his stare was as intense as ever. She gave a small shrug and began digging her foot into the tile nervously, "I've told you that I want to be your wife because honestly, even if it's just an empty title to you or everyone else, it does mean something to me. When I told you that I wanted to be your wife, I wasn't just saying that because I had no choice in the matter; I was saying it because I meant it. You, Captain, you are my first choice. Frankly, I don't want to sign it. I'd be perfectly happy just forgetting about it completely, but…"

She gave a pained, heartbroken smile and looked into the ground in defeat, "That's not how you seem to feel. I get it, you want out, right? I mean, of course I want you to be honest because if you truly don't want to be married I won't ever force something like that on you, it's just…"

Petra couldn't help it when she leaned against him with a defeated exhale, and she wrapped her arms around his back tightly as she continued to fight past her tears in attempts to keep the strength in her voice, even though at this point she could hardly even whisper, "You understand how much it hurts me, to hear that you want it to end, right? You're breaking my heart Captain, because I thought you wanted this too, but now that this document has come about, it's like you have no problem just putting it all in the past like it never happened in the first place. But…it happened. All of it. How am I supposed to just go back to how it was? How am I supposed to train with you, and eat with you, and laugh with the squad like we used to, when I know what we could be, but just aren't?"

When she felt his arms wrap around her as he wordlessly held her tightly against him, the complete juxtaposition that was his words and actions, her defenses broke and a quiet, tearful breath left her because she just didn't understand and she was so, so frustrated. Her mind was racing with hurt and desperation and sheer, outraged confusion and even if Levi was the source of her pain, she found she simply didn't know how to keep it from him, "You told me just yesterday that I mattered to you, and that I make you happy. Is this just your way of sabotaging yourself or something? I don't understand, Captain. Why…why don't you want to be married to me anymore? You came back with me to my Dad's house, you've endured all the taunting and jeers and backhanded comments, you said yesterday meant something to you, you're taking time off from training just so we can keep being together like that, hell. you just assaulted Timmy for crossing that line…and now you're trying to tell me it's over, not even an hour later? What the hell, Levi? What are you expecting me to say right now?"

There was a long sigh, "Petra…"

She gave an irritated huff and pulled back from him, mustering up all of her courage to give him a dirty, furious scowl, "No. Just listen to me, okay? Pride be damned but I don't want to let you walk away because I'm happy. Please don't leave me, Levi. Please. I just…if I sign that document, it makes things so much more complicated for us and the distance would break me. You've always said that I'm far too selfless, right? This is me doing something for myself then. I want this, and I want you, and I want to stay married."

There was a heaviness to the air as Petra stared at him in obvious exasperation, and Levi stared at her for the longest time, absolutely tongue tied because how was he supposed to respond to that? He swallowed thickly, trying to sort his racing thoughts and he cleared his throat as he tried to bring strength back into his voice, "Petra…fuck, you really talk too much, you know that?"

When he received an absolutely livid, furious stare of warning, Levi almost flinched and he shook his head in explanation, "I wasn't trying to…I'm not trying to push you away, and I don't want you to think that I'm looking for a way out. I told you that you're special to me, and that I'm happy with you, so you don't have to worry about that. This document from Timmy; it doesn't change anything. I'm not going anywhere, okay?"

Her lips pressed together into a thin line, her eyes wide with irritation and offense, "So why then? Why are you wanting me to sign the damned thing? If you're happy, and I'm happy, then who gives a damn?"

Levi wasn't looking at her, his expression conflicted as he gave a slow shake of his head, "I should have explained myself better, because I know it will make things complicated but…this is a chance we can make it right."

Petra almost groaned at his cryptic words, "Dammit Captain! Make what right?"

There was a long pause, and Levi gave a small, hesitant shrug, his head suddenly tilting down to the floor in subdued reflection, "All those things that Timmy said, you know, just a bit ago and then earlier this week – about how I don't do anything for you, or how you never got the wedding you wanted, about how we came together and how you've had to sacrifice all those things; I figured that if you signed the document…"

Petra blinked as Levi's reasonings slowly became apparent, and the Captain paused, looking at her with sudden resolve and he continued, "If you signed it, we could do all of it, from scratch, and do it right this time. I could get you a new ring-"

"I like my ring." She defended with a sudden bout of possessiveness, pulling her hand back away from him with a suspicious huff, but Levi's expression grew more serious and he continued just the same.

He allowed his hands to fall to her hips, and he spoke softly in thought, "It's more than that. I could marry you, Petra, for real this time. Before, well, it was all in the past where there's nothing that could ever be done about it, but now we actually have a chance to redo it, so after everything, the shit I've done and the mistakes I've made, I can't be so selfish as to take it all from you a second time."

He paused and looked up toward her with a crooked grin, "We can do it all, woman, exactly like you want. The venue, the big ass dress, your father walking you down the aisle and whispering in your ear that there's still time to run away, and then, what – chocolate cake, I imagine?"

Petra had blinked at Levi's summary, the nature of her growing surprise changing as she watched him in complete amazement, "Wait, wait Levi…would you really do all of that, for me?"

He gave her a slow nod and he carefully brought his hand up, caressing the side of her face with the back of his hand as he spoke in a whisper, "You once asked me what you meant to me, and at the time I couldn't answer. When you found out about the letters, you asked again, and I still didn't have the right words." His expression turned serious and he gave her a single nod, "I don't know if I'll ever be able to say the right words or find a way to completely explain myself – so let me answer you with this; let me show you how I feel instead. Sign it, give me three months, and we'll do it all over again."

Petra pursed her lips together in contemplation, thinking his words over for a few moments, and she shook her head in sudden discontentment, "I don't know…three months puts it too close to end of year rankings. I'll have my hands full enough with the different factions fussing about my future position so it needs to happen before that. Two months."

Levi actually chuckled at her counter offer, and he found his tone dropping lower and he pulled his – at least for the moment – wife against him as he traced his hands down her hips, allowing his thumb to crest below the seams of her pants, somewhat searching for the light feel of her panties but not quite able to with his current angle. "Getting greedy, are we?"

Petra leaned forward, kissing his chest from where she had previously opened a few buttons of his shirt, and she shook her head back and forth, the warmth of her breath causing a sort of tickle to run down his spine as she spoke against his skin, "That's not even the half of it, Captain. I don't want to get you in trouble, so if we're not married, you should know that you can't be touching me like this."

As she spoke, she had smacked his hand that had given up on her hips, and was instead starting to move up her sides, somewhat pulling her shirt higher until she had smacked him with a teasing flick of her wrist. Regardless her words, Petra continued pressing herself against him suggestively, nipping at his skin and teasing him with her touch.

Levi groaned, feeling a mix of frustration resulting from both her words and her actions, "Wait wait, so if we do this, I'm not allowed to sleep with you anymore? Fucking…shit, why the hell not?"

Petra chuckled at the expression on his face and she shrugged, "Calm down; it would only be when the annulment is in effect. We need to be responsible and not assume that we're the exception to the rule, because unless we're married, you'd just be another Commanding Officer sneaking around with their subordinate, and considering that's not who either of us are, I refuse to be that woman."

The Captain grumbled at her valid explanation, and he took a sharp inhale when Petra licked at his skin, sucking on the exposed skin of his chest for a long moment and ensuring that a mark would be left with the ferocity of her actions. Apparently satisfied with her work, she released him with a pop of her lips and she gave the tender skin a gentle, soft kiss, causing Levi to sigh at the contrasting sensations. Petra looked up toward him and shrugged, "Besides, it wouldn't be forever. It would just be two months and-"

"One month." He amended breathlessly, knowing that there was no way in hell he'd last a full two months of temporary abstinence, not after already having waited so long just to be with her in the first place, and Petra almost laughed at their quickly dwindling timeline.

"Alright, so be it Captain. If you're serious about this, then we'll redo it all give or take, in one month. And after that-"

"After that," Levi cut her off with a serious stare, and he grabbed her chin carefully so she was looking up at him directly, and he nodded, "I marry you, not to keep you on my squad, but to be your husband because that would make me so damn happy. We'll do the honeymoon, all that shit, and then you'll have the rest of your life to regret it."

Petra felt a smile pull across her face, and she had to look away from him because she was already blushing.

"You know Captain, that all sounds great, but I feel the need to tell you that you're looking at a serious time crunch. That's a lot for one month; there's the invitations and RSVPs, so working with a printing company or writing them all up by hand, plus finding a venue and musicians, creating an alternate plan for weather and seating arrangements, making a guest list and finding lodging for those traveling from out of town, convincing Erwin to give us even more time off while still seeing to our normal responsibilities – that's quite a lot you know."

Levi tried not to groan, because fuck that sounded like such a damn hassle. He nodded begrudgingly and tried to not let the sudden onslaught of details overwhelm him, "Alright. We've still got a little over a week here, right? How about we spend our time doing that? Frankly, you'll have to take the reins for most of it as I have no damn clue how to plan a wedding but-"

Petra almost laughed, "Wait, so I'm planning the wedding, right now? Captain, if this is the route you're really wanting to go, I feel the need to point out that its not very practical. I don't have any of the right resources out here, and legally speaking, we are still married. We can make it work, but even still we're going to have to take this one step at a time and start with the annulment, then go from there because going about it any other way is just going to make this whole thing that much more convoluted." Petra gave him a warm, sympathetic smile and almost chuckled at his crestfallen expression, "All due respect Levi, but I can tell you haven't thought this through. You're trying to put the cart before the horse, and there's only so much we can do out here in a town like this. I don't know how, but if you want this then…we'll figure it out, okay?"

Levi gave a deflated smirk at her rather logical explanation, because it was that obvious he was out of his element, yet he could only shrug as he responded to her concerns with a light, pensive nod, "Fine. Even still, there's got to be some things we can do out here, right? I mean, we can't get the place or the invitations but…"

He fell silent for an extended moment of contemplation, and without another word, Levi took a half step back from her, and Petra's mouth fell open outright when Levi got down on one knee, looking up toward her with a gravely serious expression, "Oi, give me the ring for a sec."

Petra made a face of confusion, looking around dramatically and shaking her head as a deep, deep blush came to her face. Her voice came out in a timid, alarmed squeak, "Wait, wait – what are you – Captain what are you doing?!"

Levi almost scowled at her and rolled his eyes, "The fuck does it look like I'm doing? I'm trying to propose to you woman, so give me the damned ring back so I can say my shit and give it back to you when you say yes."

Petra's mouth fell open and Levi almost chuckled at her stupefied silence, "Oi, what's with that face? You said we're on a real time crunch, right?" Levi could feel his lips pull into a smile, because her earnest surprise caused a warmth to flood through his chest in persistent, thrumming waves, and he allowed himself the smallest laugh at his smug words, "Besides, let the record show that I've already proposed to you once already – successfully no less - so this time should be a damn cakewalk."

Petra couldn't help the stubborn and flustered expression that refused to leave her face for even a moment, and she gave a shy nod, pulling the ring off her hand and handing it to her Captain a moment later, still struggling to find her words as she watched him in sheer wonder.

Levi took a breath, the smile on his face falling to something more serious as he tried to pick the right words. After a few moments of silence, various thoughts and memories flooding his mind, Levi almost sighed in defeat and shook his head because there really were no words to summarize or convey what the past six months had been like for him.

"Petra, you're just…fucking amazing. Six months ago…" he cleared his throat and sighed, not presenting the ring back to her, but rather resting his arms lightly against his propped leg, and he gave a humbled shake of his head, "Well, I told myself from the start that it didn't matter if we were married or not because it was just a damn piece of paper. And now, fuck, all I want is really, just to do it all over again with you, because it ended up being so much more than that and I have you to thank for all of it. I want to be married to you, Petra. Make no mistake - you, like you said, you're my first choice now, and I know I mess up a lot, but this is all new for me and I'm learning as I go. So…if you give me the chance, I'll spend whatever time I've got left proving it instead, where I can choose you in the same way that you chose me, over and over again."

Levi looked at Petra directly, that same smile pulling at his lips all the more as he saw Petra beaming at him, tears welling in her eyes as she struggled to hold his stare. Fuck, she was stunning – so stunning and so damn perfect, and he had no fucking clue how he had ever gotten so lucky because he sure as hell hadn't done anything in this lifetime to deserve it. Levi presented the ring back to her with a nod, "This ring belongs to you, Petra - you're the only woman I could ever give something like this to, and I hope that from here on, you can wear it as more than just a sign of a contract, but as a sign that…well, you're my wife. This time, there's no deadlines, no ultimatums; just an honest question because like it always should have been, the path that your future will take is yours alone and I hope that, well, you choose to spend it with me. Petra, will you marry me?"

The ginger had laughed – somewhat at least, because the sound was muffled and muted by a stifled cry. Levi's smile only widened all the more, and Petra couldn't help but note that he looked so painfully handsome when he smiled like that. She took a stabilizing breath, wiping her unfallen tears away with a swipe of her arm and she returned her Captain's glance with a beaming and tearful smile.

Instead of answering outright, she could only laugh at the sheer absurdity of the situation, "Oh my god, Levi, you just proposed!" She had to cover her face with her hands, embarrassed by the continued intensity of her blush, and she heard the Captain chuckle at her obvious elation because it was admittedly endearing. In her defense, he supposed it wasn't something he had ever imagined himself doing, so perhaps her reaction was warranted, because who could have ever thought he'd find himself in a position like this one.

Petra still had her hands over her face, grinning ear to ear as she thought his words over, because the more she thought about it – the more the pieces began to fall into place. They really could, and would redo it all, because it seemed Levi wanted to give all those experiences back to her that he had once written off the table so completely. She had understood his reasonings at the time and had agreed with them for Maria's sake - how could they have ever known that things would change so much, where they would ever go from friends, to eventually something more, where they had a true connection and a bond that now went much deeper than their marriage contract would ever account for?

But this document – Levi was right, it gave them the options that they never had before. They could start over from scratch, and Petra could live out her dreams with the man who hadn't at all fit her childhood expectations, but rather someone so much better than what her childlike heart could have ever longed for. Levi's complicated past had shaped him into a man of action, resolve, and compassion. He had such a strong sense of moral obligation, and knew that it took sacrifice to achieve an end. He wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty, and wasn't afraid to admit when he was wrong.

She could marry him, she could finally choose to marry him.

She could already see herself wearing the dress, the hair, the shoes, and Levi, her amazing and inspiring Captain, would be at the end of the aisle waiting for her. She wasn't sure what expression he'd make when he caught sight of her, but she knew at once she'd probably start crying and blush a bright crimson as her nerves ate away at her, and her dad would sigh and hand her a tissue because she wouldn't want to ruin her makeup, and he'd grumble under his breath that the man wasn't worthy of her tears in the first place.

Erwin would prepare an even better ceremony, and she'd say her 'I do's' with such contentment because yes, even back then, saying I Do to Levi Ackerman had come so easily, and she could only imagine the joy it would bring her to say yes to him all over again.

As she thought it over, the deadlines and the excitement and the sparks of a legitimate wedding with him, Petra felt her smile grow all the more and she took a moment to collect herself. She slowly brought her hands away from her face and looked down toward her Captain with an amazed shake of her head, "Levi, it means so much to me to hear you say these things. Learning you and being with you…I would love to do it all over with you again."

Levi smirked and reached for her hand, but Petra paused and shook her head, back and forth as she merely reached forward and held his hand in place. Thinking back on it all, on all the memories and fights and pain and beauty, her expression fell to something warm and relaxed, and she caught his blue orbs, feeling sudden resolve and clarity as she watched him.

"…Sorry Captain, but the answer is no."

The expression on Levi's face fell at her words, clear confusion causing his brows to pull together, and Petra took the opportunity to also kneel down to the ground, lightly grabbing the ring out of the Captain's fingers and placing it back on her left hand with a fond, tender smile. Levi's expression grew all the more conflicted, and Petra grabbed both his hands in hers with a tearful cough, because her emotions were starting to get the best of her, "Listen, I'm sorry to do this, but I'm not marrying you, because…" she sighed and shook her head at the truth of the matter. She gave a single, defeated shrug, "You said it's my choice and…I'm not signing it."

"But Petra-"

"Captain, you're such an idiot sometimes. Being with you in the here and now – that's already enough for me. I don't want the wedding, I don't want the guests and the hassle, I don't want the no sex and I don't want the drama. I told you that you make me so damn ridiculously happy, and I don't need you to try to sweeten the deal or to make up for the way it all began because it's been the struggle and the fights and the little moments that have made it all so special. There's nothing to redo, because it's happened exactly how it needed to, and I hope you know that you have nothing to fix or apologize for. I don't need the wedding, because I already have you. Levi, that's enough. You're more than enough, okay?"

Her words had barely even left her mouth, and Levi leaned forward on sudden impulse, shifting his weight forward and kissing her with brutal force, his hands framing her face, then down around her back to pull her even closer. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised, but he was just the same, because Petra could be so unpredictable and even when he thought he had her pretty well figured out, moments like this took his breath away.

How could they not? He had seen her expression; seen the crestfallen look across her face when Timmy had brought up how they had gotten married. He had seen the way she watched him, almost nervously as though she were expecting him to panic, but to some extent he hadn't been all that surprised to hear she had once wanted to settle down and start a family. It wasn't a shock for him to be told that their shot gun wedding had been an all-around bust when compared to what she wanted in her youth. He supposed it was only logical that Petra would have wanted more than what their twelve-hour engagement had provided, in comparison to a more ideal, traditional setting. There were things that any normal woman would have wanted; experiences of being publicly doted on and recognized by her peers and society as a married, adult woman - but their unexpected and contractual wedding had essentially robbed her of them all.

Hearing Timmy's chiding words had admittedly made him feel guilty because looking back, perhaps he should have tried harder. The time crunch had been considerable, but they could have found a hill at sunset, gotten her a dress, done something to make it more special for her, but at the time he simply hadn't even thought about it because he had no damn clue that he'd end up coming to regret his indifference.

When he had read over the annulment, he knew he'd have to give it a shot, knew he'd never get another chance to do right by the woman who had bent over backwards for him time and time again – yet even still…

Petra had rejected it all because they had found happiness on their own terms, and that was, no, he was enough for her.

"Say, Levi…" Petra stated quietly, her simple words almost being cut off because he couldn't stop kissing her. His hands were tracing up her frame, and he leaned over her until she eventually laid out across the floor. Levi smirked, because he supposed he could stop long enough to move her back to the bed, somewhere that wasn't the kitchen floor, and yet…

"After this," Petra whispered, and Levi smirked against her lips, because that sounded like permission to him, and Petra sighed as he began pulling her shirt up over her head, already burying his head into her cleavage as she gave a light hum and continued, "Can we please tear that folder up? Or set it on fire, or something? I'm so tired of his interfering, and I'd feel a lot better if I knew the whole thing was destroyed so it can't come to bite us in the ass another eight years down the road."

Levi chuckled at the malice in her tone, and he nodded against her soft skin, "Whatever you say, Mrs. Ackerman."

…

End of Chapter

...

Yall, I don't even know what to say. Naturally, I love this chapter. Truth be told, for those who enjoy my random musings, this chapter really, really, REALLY had me at a fork in the road, and it actually made it so I couldn't write a flipping thing for over a month as I decided how I wanted things to play out. Truthfully, I (even now) can see Petra and Levi choosing to go through with the annulment to make the public announcement that they are married for real. Of course, it's not exactly Levi's style, but it matters to Petra and so he'd do it, and Petra would be so thrilled that she'd let him.

I have really fiddled with the idea of doing a mini alt universe of my own story (is that too arrogant?) where they go through the wedding that, in this version of the story, isn't happening. At this point, I plan to write it out – the true, legit wedding that never happened – but that will be coming after this story is completed.

As for why this version is the canon instead of the other – it mainly comes down to the plot. I've still got a few things I'm in the process of wrapping things up, and to throw a wedding plus the wedding planning into the thick of it all would have made this story so much longer, and in a strange way, the wedding – like Petra said – really wouldn't have done much for them. The fact they could have gotten out and chose to stay – that's the real moment for both of them, where a wedding just becomes annoying hassle for both of them.

My romantic heart wants to see this wedding dang it, so if only for me, I think I'll write out a 'had they gone this direction, here's what it would have looked like' but really, that's a bit off of course, and this story comes first. Either way, thanks for the support everyone and I'll see you next week :)

~Midnight