Morning everyone, and happy Sunday! Sorry for the afternoon upload - internal servers were down where I couldn't actually log in to upload. Luckily, its all up and running now :)

I hope this week has treated you well, I hope that your summer was glorious because it's officially Fall! This not so coincidentally happens to be my favorite season, and while the weather out here has still been a little on the hot side, there has been a few PERFECT days and I have been living it up!

As usual, getting more written down has been a little eh, challenging? I'm trying, really, but my oh my that writers block and life itself has been really getting in my way lately. I'm trying to figure it out, but you know, it's not always easy. Either way yall, thanks so much :)

…

…

It had been two days.

Two glorious days.

They hadn't left the house, hadn't gone into town; hell, Levi was quite sure they hadn't even gotten properly dressed because with their shared mutual interest in well, each other, their clothes had quickly become a mere hassle and the getting dressed and redressed time and time again was just a meaningless formality. At times Petra had thrown on a light shirt, usually when she was hungry or just waking up from a nap, and she'd meander her way into the kitchen for some quick snack. Even still, as she'd walk around the house with nothing else on except a baggy undershirt – his undershirt, to be more exact - that hung so low on her chest, the material thin and sheer and falling just past her hips in a way that left so little to the imagination, it wouldn't take long for Levi to lose his composure and he'd pull her against him, removing even that small article from off her, because it seemed the fun of undressing her hadn't lost its intrigue.

Their time had been passionate, desperate, and mostly undisturbed, save for a few minor and irritating interruptions from a certain long lost 'friend'. Timmy had come knocking more than once, speaking through the front door and confirming in desperation that he knew they were in there, and that he just needed a chance to talk to Petra and better explain himself, to apologize for everything and explain it all – and even though Levi would have sooner died than allowed that man to step even a single foot inside the house, he never even had the opportunity to so much as sneer, because Petra would turn red, grumble that she could still remember how it felt when the man's 'cold dead lips' pressed against hers and how he grabbed her ass, and in the same breath, she'd furiously press herself against Levi and demand that he give her something else to think about because she couldn't tolerate thinking about that man for even a single moment longer.

Of course, he happily obliged every time, and perhaps some part of him almost began looking forward to Timmy's sporadic visits.

It was during one of their sessions, Petra's heated moans and gasps filling the small space of her room, Levi's own panting increasing because he had been toying with her for some time now, and watching her, seeing her body still left him so breathless. At once, a sort of thump grabbed their attention outright from across the house. Levi cocked his head at the sound, and Petra somewhat sat up from the bed feverishly, blinking a few times as the blood rushed to her head from the sudden movement.

"What was that?" she asked in a slur of words, and her eyes narrowed, "Is't Timmy? Gods, if we didn't answer the door the past fifty times, why the hell does he think we'd answer it this time? Damn, he's persistent."

Levi smirked at the already present irritation in her tone, and he leaned closer toward her, nibbling on the skin of her neck but still keeping a sharp awareness for any further sounds that would pinpoint their underlying cause. There were a few more light thuds, the gentlest of vibrations that thrummed through the walls of the room, and Levi found that his smirk only widened all the more in sudden realization.

"Pet," he ran his hand up her side, loving the feel of her smooth skin glide underneath his fingertips and he almost chuckled at the tenseness he could feel in her body because after numerous days spent at his side, she was undeniably sore, "It's just the damn chickens. I think they're pecking at the house or something."

"Again?" Petra groaned, and though Levi had been trying to calm her nerves, trying to sedate her and pull her back down towards the bed so he could keep tracing her skin, perhaps be more gentle and soft with his touch this time around in efforts to help relax her muscles and sooth her aching limbs, it seemed he said the wrong thing because she shot up from the bed and huffed matter of factly.

"See, what did I tell you? All flocks have such strong personalities, and apparently these guys are all mischievous, naughty little shits. They've been quiet and well behaved all week, but the second dad leaves, it's like they're out to destroy the house or something! This is what, the third time today that they've been pecking at the walls? Maybe another storm is coming or something and it's made them anxious. I think I'm going to get up and put them away real quick so-"

"No." Levi said, a little too quickly, and he had a suddenly tight grip on her arm as he tried to thwart her sudden resolve.

Petra rolled her eyes and gave him a half smile, "Really, Levi? Do you want me that bad that you can't even wait five minutes for me to go put the chickens away? If I do say so myself, I feel that you've been quite spoiled these last few days and you're getting a little greedy."

Levi smirked passively at her words and merely ran a single finger up her back with a pleased hum, "You think so? Perhaps, but you know as well as I that those stupid birds won't actually do that much damage, maybe just a few scrapes here and there against the siding – nothing that can't be corrected with some sanding and a few coats of paint. Stay."

Petra gave him a reproving shake of her head, then leaned toward him and gave him a single peck on the lips, "It'll be five measly minutes, Captain, then I'm all yours for the rest of the day, okay?"

Levi's expression narrowed, and he leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers with such ferocity that Petra gave a surprised sort of squeak. His voice was low, "Petra, have you forgotten what I can do with five minutes? Perhaps a demonstration is in order."

She gasped at his sudden advance, somewhat putting up a fight as Levi moved to pull her back onto the bed, twisting and shifting against him for a few moments but finding herself quickly pinned down and immobilized, resting beneath him as he watched her with an infuriating, smug stare. She pressed her lips together in a clear pout, because that certainly hadn't lasted long.

Regardless her pouting, regardless the minor struggle and the miffed glare she was watching him with, it had been a mock fight if anything, because Levi knew full well that she enjoyed his ferocity, and she purposefully baited him and pushed his patience, just to watch him push back and feel herself give in to him time and time again.

While he was gentle with her, careful and intentional with what he treasured, Petra undeniably liked it rough, and there were times that he anticipated leading her down that fine line that was pain and pleasure, curious and thrilled as he watched Petra cry out and shudder from the conflicting sensations he would bring her. He had smirked into her skin, tracing her neck with his lips as he touched her and pulled gasps and whimpers from her throat, all the while listening for more sounds that could just barely be heard – not the pecks and scratches of chickens like he had claimed, but rather, footsteps that were reverberating from the entryway of the house.

Her father was back.

Perhaps underhanded, perhaps more than a little distasteful or unorthodox to do such a thing while Petra was so unaware of her father's presence, but Levi wasn't exactly known for being traditional, and he had a point to make while in such a unique setting like this. Petra had been trying the entire week to make amends with her father, but the man was just too stubborn to listen to her. Perhaps, in a moment like this, a moment between the pair where her father was an obvious outcast, perhaps the man would finally listen.

"Petra." Levi ran his hands down her body, rubbing her thighs and kissing her neck as he spoke, "Tell me something."

She wound her body into his touch and sighed with a shaky exhale, her brows knit together in a growing desperation as he made a point of quickly teasing her body and drawing loud moans from her throat. They had already been at this for some time now and he knew Petra's patience wouldn't last for much longer - surely that would grab her old man's attention, right? But would he stop them? Barge in? It had been a previously empty house, so they hadn't bothered locking the door, where nothing would technically stop the man from storming right in and making a scene if he so chose.

That certainly wasn't what Levi was hoping for and he almost decided against it, in fear of exploiting Petra, but as the footsteps almost grew lighter in response to the sounds they were making, Levi had smirked, because if her father was being more careful, his footsteps softer as though trying to hide his presence from them, it seemed the stage was set.

"Anything, Captain."

Levi relaxed against her, giving a sort of sigh as Petra pressed her chest into him, her fingernails grazing down his ribs and drawing circles across his hips. He shivered and tried to not be distracted by her light, teasing fingertips, "When your contract is up with the military – assuming you don't actually sign a new contract after that – what will you do?"

He had kept his voice light, trying to be somewhat casual about the matter, but it seemed Petra wasn't fooled because her expression sobered and she sat up from the bed with a confused shake of her head, "What are you talking about, Levi? That's over three years away still."

"Indulge me, Petra." He kissed her once, twice, three times, and she whimpered as he kissed her back onto the bed in submissive defeat. His hands had found their way to the rise of her chest, and Petra mewled as he splayed his hands over her sensitive, flushed skin.

"I don't know, I uh…mmhn, Levi damn, gods yes. I guess, I dunno, I haven't thought much about it."

"Bullshit. You've thought about it plenty, and I'm curious as to what you want when it's all said and done. Your dad is pretty set on you coming back here, right? I'm sure that would make him happy. Free room and board, that's a plus – no threat of Titans either. Honestly, it's not a bad idea."

He had leaned over her, nipping at her purposefully and allowing his breath to waft over her until he saw goosebumps crest over her skin. From the hallway, there was a slight creek that sounded very near to the doorway, and Levi couldn't deny his momentary surprise, because her father certainly was coming closer than he had expected. It seemed he too was curious as to what Petra's answer might be.

Levi pulled back ever so slightly, his steele blue eyes locking onto her half-lidded orbs, and he continued, "I'll come to visit, as often as I can. It's a bit of a journey, but I'm sure I can do a weekend or so every couple of months - and its not like Erwin would ban you from the premises just because you retired. Granted, I'm not exactly that great of a pen pal, but I'd write you. We can make it work."

Levi continued exploring even lower down her body, trailing open mouthed kisses down her stomach, over her sides, and he placed a hand on the inside of her thigh, rubbing the smooth skin back and forth as Petra gave a weak cry at his progressive and purposed touch.

"Ngh – no. No, Levi, that will not work. That's not…that's not what I want."

Levi had almost smiled at her words, the Captain in him pleased to hear her speak so certainly and so boldly about her future, and he brought his hand up toward the core of her body, running his thumb languidly over her folds and watching as Petra drug her head back and bit her lower lip sensually, clearly growing frustrated by his delayed and languid pace after having already been toyed with her for so long before.

"What do you want?" he asked her breathlessly, and some part of him wasn't sure if he meant right now in this moment, of how she wanted to be touched or teased, or if he meant in the long run. Maybe both.

"You."

It seemed her answer was equally ambiguous, and her eyes fluttered closed as she wound her hips into his fingers impatiently, a frustrated groan leaving her throat when he didn't immediately move to appease her, "Just you, Captain. Dad is great, but what…what woman wants to spend her life with her father? Levi, you're…you're my husband. I'm supposed to be with you. And I want to be with you, for all of it."

Even though it was her father that needed to hear these words, Levi couldn't deny he was admittedly touched by her gentle confession, and he leaned forward, stretching out over his wife and kissing her lips softly.

"Petra, I'll be in the Scouts, the whole time. You know how dangerous it is out there, and one of these days, I might not come back."

"Don't care."

"I'm just saying it would be easier if you were here. It makes the most sense in so many ways and-"

Petra's expression darkened, and she reached her arm up around his back, her fingers tracing into his scalp until she twisted her digits into his hair and gave him a hard yank, pulling his head back and exposing his throat as she sat up and bit into his shoulder with a ferocity that made him tense and almost wince from her sudden ferocity.

Damn, he loved it when she did that.

"I already said no, Levi, and I meant it. Why do you keep asking; it's like you don't want me around or something."

He swallowed, the angle of his head being pulled back almost painful as Petra continued pressing her lips against his skin; a thrilling contrast to the sharp stinging in his shoulder and scalp. "It's not that Pet, but what if I can't offer you everything that you might want?" he swallowed again as her grip remained ever tight, giving a hiss as the nails of her opposite hand ran down his back with a carnal sweep that both thrilled and ached, "At least with your Dad, you won't be so alone. You could have the best of both worlds; you'd still see me, your father would be happy, you'd be free to travel or have a place to unwind, and I really would make time for you, I swear. Isn't that enough?"

"No!" Petra hissed, pulling her fingers out of his hair and pulling his chin towards her so he was looking at her directly, "I don't know how many damn times I have to say it for you to get it through your head. I just want you. Nothing else. I don't want to live here, I don't want 'the best of both worlds' – what I want, is to just be with you, and stand by your side. That's it, Captain."

She gave him an irritated look and continued, "What I want, is for you to shut up and take me, right now – like you do. I want you to be nice and gentle and sweet, and I want you to kiss me. Like you mean it, and like you actually want me around because you're making me question you and I don't have the patience for it right now. Damn you Levi, being so chatty all of the sudden when all I want is you inside me. Gods, don't make be beg you for it; it's just not fair."

Petra's words again shook his resolve, and Levi struggled to not give in and just hope that her father could take the hint and make himself scarce for just a little while longer, but he tried to keep his composure, and he merely nodded once, allowing his fingers to trace past the swell of her hips as he pressed his fingers against her heated skin with a gentle caress of his palm.

Petra whimpered and almost fell back into the bed as he began stroking her so carefully, laxly, and he followed her lower toward the bed as an amazing, soft and contented moan left her throat, "As you wish, Pet. I'll give you what you want, but I just need to know what you're thinking. What about after this? You just want…me?"

He pressed a single finger inside her, and the girl gave a warm sigh, nodding her head with a beautiful smile, "Yes, Levi."

His mouth fell open at the serene expression across her face, and he continued, struggling to keep his thoughts in line because every instinct in his body was telling him to give it up and finally give in to the beautiful woman in his arms who was winding her hips to meet him, her skin flushed and body presented so purposefully for him, "When our vacation is up, you won't wish it had gone the other way? You won't wish you had signed the annulment instead?"

"Never."

He was moving quicker, just slightly, and he couldn't help the low grunt that left his throat as Petra writhed against the bed at his growing pace because shit he loved watching her get off, "And you'll come back to the military with me; you'll fall back into my command and focus on your training?"

"Yes, Captain."

"And when you're out of the military, when you could go anywhere or do anything, you'll still stick around and live with me? Even though it would be easier and more practical for you to live here, you'll still choose me?" He was building his rhythm and pace all the more, bringing her closer to the edge where her breathing was coming in short and desperate, needy pants – pants that were quickly matching his own because it was becoming impossible to focus on anything except her and her delicious, amazing cries.

"Gods, yes." She whimpered out in a breathless gasp, arching up into his hand, and Levi knew that he'd be a lost cause soon, because fuck he wanted her, and he could feel at his very fingertips just how badly she wanted him in return. And yet, he found himself taking a deep breath and forcing control over his mind and body, because this was it, this was exactly what her father needed to hear. He needed to understand what it was about; what it had always been about, from the very beginning, and Levi couldn't allow his discipline to snap, no, not until her father understood one resounding and clear, important fact:

Petra had made her choice.

She had made her choice, and there was nothing that either of them could do to ever sway her from it. Even if Levi had legitimately wanted her to stay elsewhere, even though her father clearly wanted her out of the military, Petra had come to her decisions all on her own and there would be no convincing her otherwise; nothing that either of them could do to intervene or change her mind that would ever make her default to something else instead.

She was far too stubborn with what she wanted, and - who was he kidding - Petra always got her way in the end.

That was what her father needed to understand, and Levi found that as much as he wanted her, as much as he wanted to twist his fingers and make her gasps turn into sharp and loud cries that would eventually end in both of them being more than satisfied, he still needed to push her mind just a little bit more – to make her confirm with her own mouth that the reason things had turned out the way they had, was simply because that's how she had wanted them to be.

It had nothing to do with him, nothing to do with her father; didn't mean that her old man had been forgotten about or disrespected – it was simply that Petra had a strong will and a sharp mind, and that yes, the once young and spritely girl had grown into a woman with her own ideals and morals, as well as the mental picture of what she wanted her life to look like going forward.

"Tell me why, Petra." He spoke softly, just enough so he knew he would just barely be heard by her eavesdropping father, "Tell me why you want such a thing, when there are so many easier paths you could take. Why me?"

She would say it then, her final words to confirm it once and for all - something like, 'because that's just what I want' or 'Because that's the choice I've made' and he could imagine that she'd get frustrated by his continued banter, try to flip him onto his back and she'd climb on top of him with a shove, because it turned out Petra was not above using his body as a personal toy, and fuck did he love it when she got pissed off enough to do it, where she'd fuck him out of pure irritation and use him as a way to spoil herself, instead of the other way around.

He had been waiting for her to irritably exclaim that she had already told him what she wanted, that he was just being redundant or that she just wanted him to move on already, so when her expression softened, when she got a large smile on her face and sat up, away from his hand so she could move up to her knees and look at him directly, Levi was admittedly at a loss.

"Why? Because Captain…" she whispered , her hands coming up to frame the sides of his face, and she bit her lower lip nervously as she continued softly, "Gods Levi, haven't you figured it out yet? I love you, you idiot. That's why."

Levi felt the breath press out of his lungs, a painful sort of compression that tightened his chest and made his expression knit together in confusion because…because that was – that was not what he had expected to hear her say. At all.

"I know it's been a rough road Captain, but somewhere along the way I guess I just couldn't stop myself. I fell in love with you, and so all I want now is just to be with you, not because of the military or out of convenience or because a piece of paper says so, but because I legitimately want to be. You're amazing and you mean everything to me. I just want to stand by your side through it all, through whatever comes our way."

She leaned toward him, pressing her lips against his softly, and though Levi mentally kicked himself for it as she pulled away, he realized that he had been so stunned that he hadn't even had the awareness to kiss her back. She looked into the mattress, a blush rising to her cheeks as she spoke, "Sorry, I'm not sure if this is how I was supposed to tell you this sort of thing or not, but that's the answer to your question – to all of them. That's why I can't stay here at Dad's, that's why I can't let Timmy try to date me or whatever, and why I'm just so damn happy when you're with me. Levi, it's because I've fallen in love with you. No more, and no less."

She gave a sigh and wound her hands around his back, "Now please, for the love of Maria, can you just fuck me already? You made a big deal about not letting me leave the room, and now all of the sudden you won't put out and are asking me all these stupid questions, and I'm about ready to take matters into my own hands because you're not normally such a cocktease like this. Please, Captain, I'm desperate."

Levi was still struggling to find his voice, his mind running numerous laps as he tried to come to terms with Petra's confession, as well as her underlying threat because he supposed he had been playing dirty to some extent. And yet…

She loved him.

Some part of him had already known it, and yet, fuck, it was like he couldn't breathe because Petra…she really did. She had actually said it, that she was in love with him, in a true rash and sudden manner that, like always, seemed to leave him speechless and reeling because as predictable as she was, even still she seemed to specialize in catching him off guard just the same.

The ginger pressed her bare body against his, kissing the tender spot on his shoulder that he knew full well would swell and bruise from her previous force, and he shuddered at the pleasurable sensation as her body rubbed suggestively against his, "Please."

Before Levi could try to make his mind format a response, any response, there was a single knock at the door, and Petra jolted in obvious surprise at the sound of her father's exhausted voice that came through the door in the next moment, "Alright Ackerman - you made your point and I get it. I'm going back outside to feed Pammy. You've got twenty minutes to finish up in here, and then you and I are going out to have a nice and long chat – man to man. If you're even a second late, I'm coming back inside and taking the door off its hinges. And Baby, next time I hear you talk like that, I'm putting a whole bar of lye soap down your throat, you understand?"

There was a long pause, then a sigh, "Twenty minutes, and I'll see you outside, Ackerman."

As the sound of her father's footsteps retreated down the hallway, Petra's mouth dropped open as her face burned bright red, and she looked toward the door, then around toward Levi with her mouth agape, "Captain, you…you knew! You could have stopped me before I said such-" she gave a loud groan and put her head into her hands, "Oh my god, Dad heard all of that? Captain, you fucking ass! You did that all on purpose!"

Regardless her quipped tone and her obvious change of mood, Levi's breaths were still coming in uneven pants and he looked up toward Petra with a mystified shake of his head, "Yeah. But I didn't…" he pushed her bangs to one side, his fingers only lightly grazing her skin, and he watched her seriously, "Sorry, I know you're mad but…for the record, that's what I want too, okay? I don't want you to live here. I don't want to write endless letters, and I don't want to make weekend trips just to see you because fuck that. Whether you're in the military or not, I want you to stay with me. You're my wife, and I want you by my side, okay? We'll make it work, where you can stay with me for as long as you want, I promise."

The anger in Petra's expression melted into something more nervous and unkempt, and she gave a nod, "Thank you for saying that, Levi. It means a lot to me. Uh, with Dad and all - are we still…you know?"

She motioned between them and Levi almost snorted, "After what you just said? Granted I'm no expert at this kind of thing, but I think it would be a waste if we didn't. He said twenty minutes, right? I think I can work with that."

He pulled her closer toward him yet again, and as he leaned in closer to kiss her – still overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of what Petra had confessed to him - Petra paused and turned to one side ever so slightly, whispering in his ear as her hot breath tickled his skin, "Actually Captain, I have maybe…a favor to ask you?"

Petra continued whispering into his ear, and Levi blinked in surprise at her request, pulling away from her so he could gauge her expression to see if she was actually being serious or not, "Petra, really? Is that what you want?"

When she merely nodded meekly, the blush on her cheeks only deepening a few more shades of red at the pleased look in his eye, Levi smirked with anticipation, and he was already laying her back out onto the bed, "Well, I'll see what I can do."

…

…

It wasn't exactly nervousness that Levi was feeling as he walked out of the door and moved toward the back end of the house, because he wasn't afraid of her father and certainly wasn't embarrassed or ashamed of himself, but admittedly his stomach was swirling with a little bit of something akin to anxiety, and Levi found he just wanted to get this part of the night over with because the not knowing was eating away at his nerves.

When he neared the stables, her father looked over his shoulder and gave the Ackerman a long appraising stare, "Alright Ackerman, that was not the welcome home I had expected, but perhaps the one that was needed, because while Petra and I have had some time to work things out between us, you know just as well as I that we've got some ground that needs to be covered and I can't really turn a blind eye to it all. It's time you and I talked."

Levi said nothing, and the older man took a breath, "First and foremost, I acknowledge that I've been treating you rather coldly. At first it was because I was irritated at Petra and frustrated by the situation, so I suppose that I was taking it out on you to some extent. However, now that I've talked with you, seen you over the past week or so – now that I know the sort of man you are…well, now I treat you coldly because I legitimately dislike you as a person."

At the man's soured and direct clarification, Levi quirked an eyebrow, watching the man in defensive irritation and refusing to acknowledge his statement with an actual response, and her father merely shrugged and continued, "Even still, while I feel my dislike is more than justified, it seems we've got a bit of a problem because Petra, well…she doesn't exactly feel the same way about you, and I'm well aware that it's causing unnecessary problems for all of us."

Her father sighed and watched him with a miffed, irritated stare, "Look, I don't want to hear the details boy, but she sounded pretty frustrated by your little stunt back there, so you better have taken responsibility and not left her high and dry. For the record, it was for her sake that I walked away, not yours. Tell me you're at least man enough to actually finish what you started, right?"

Levi wasn't sure if he wanted to smirk proudly by way of response to the man's waspish glare, or if he wanted to cross his arms defensively because he was not the type to kiss and tell, especially when it was regarding someone like Petra. He paused in thought, picking his words carefully, and he clicked his tongue in a bite of a response, "She's fine now."

Her father nodded stiffly, and a long and tense silence fell between the two men, "…I'll take your word for it."

James cleared his throat and watched Levi with a long, appraising stare, "Frankly lad, I don't much like talking to you and can't really stand to be around you, but I'm willing to set that aside for the time being because this is important. How about we go out and grab a few drinks, loosen up a bit and maybe that will help make this conversation a little bit more bearable. You okay with that?"

Levi thought it over and eventually nodded, "That's fine. I told Petra we'd probably be out for a while, so she shouldn't be too worried if we head out into town."

He walked toward the stable and began to untie his horse, certain that this would be an interesting night after all.

…

End of Chapter

…

This chapter, gosh it's a weird one – but one that I love immensely. Maybe it's a running gag that's a bit self-serving for yours truly, but I love Levi's 'solutions' to problems he faces. From the very beginning, if it gets left to Levi alone, his solutions are just…bizarre. Don't want to leave the military? Just say you're a boy. No good? Fine. Let's get married. Grabbed your chest by mistake? Let's settle the score and you can return the favor; that will fix it for sure. Dad won't listen to you, no matter how hard you try? No problem, pretty sure he'll listen to this.

Ah, in that sense, writing a pragmatic Levi who has the correct ideals but his methodologies are significantly different than your average joe - ahhh, that has been such a joy to write. Add that with Petra, being finally comfortable enough to tell Levi of her emotions and her feelings (even though he already knew) is such a satisfying combination. I feel bad for James I guess…but hep, not all that bad. He can't say Petra didn't try, and wasn't patient, and so the fact that Levi intervened in his classic Levi ways…hahaha you brought that one on yourself.

Alright yall, I think that will do for me. See yall next week!