Hello everyone!

I know its been a long time since the last update, but I swore I'd post this chapter only when it was ready, and sure it took longer than I had hoped, but here we are at the last and final chapter of Homeward Bound. I'll try to keep it not too sappy up here because I know that as much all yall love my many author speeches, they aren't exactly why you visit. I can respect that haha.

Thank you guys so, so much for your patience and not hounding me for a quicker update because I promise, I hated making everyone wait just as much as you may have hated the waiting – that being said, please enjoy the final chapter!

…

…

Petra shivered slightly, gripping the reins tighter as a sort of chill went down her spine and quickly spread through her limbs. The seasons had changed, and it was now well into the dead of winter where traveling for hours at a time felt more like a chore than anything else. They had left not much after sunrise and had been on the road all day; she was tired, her fingers and toes had lost feeling in them hours ago, and they were traveling at a quicker pace in attempts to beat an upcoming snowstorm.

As though able to sense her unspoken words, to her left, Mike spoke up softly, still focused down the path ahead as their horses moved down the long and winding trail, "It's cold today; the wind has a nasty sharp bite to it. Really makes you miss the home fires that much more, huh?"

He paused and gave a slight sniffling sound, "We'll be back at Headquarters soon enough though."

Petra couldn't deny her surprise, considering how infrequently Mike spoke, as well as the fact that in the rare event he did choose to speak, it was only a sentence or two at best – considering he was speaking practically unprompted like this was a rare happening. Relieved by the presented opportunity of conversation – anything to take her mind off the frigid cold at this point – Petra lowered her scarf from off her mouth so she could speak without being muffled by the heavy woolen fabric. She licked her chapped lips and looked toward Mike with a tired smile, "It's been over two months now, since we left HQ. Some days it feels like yesterday, and other times it feels like I've been gone for much longer – I think my sense of time is a little warped."

Mike returned her gaze and gave an understanding nod, and again a silence fell between the pair.

A few minutes had passed with nothing more heard than the sound of the snow crunching beneath their horses, and whether it was the desire to keep the conversation going or just a general need to speak her mind, Petra took a breath and clarified further, "Honestly…this entire year has been a bit of a whirlwind for me, and I'm glad it's going to start slowing down soon. Somewhat, anyway – I mean, that's always the hope. At the very least, I won't have to travel for a while now that winter is finally here, so it'll be good to get settled in now that I've completed my training with the Military Police and the Garrison."

Another pause fell between them, and after a few minutes, Mike actually responded yet again, where perhaps the daunting, exhausting journey was getting the best of him too. "You may be over the halfway mark, but you know full well that Erwin's going to be the toughest one to please. His training won't be nearly as simple and he's not afraid to push you until you break. For your sake, I just hope you're into books."

Petra could only give a fearful smile and nodded fondly, "Oh I remember. He had me up all night reading and that was before I even accepted a formal position. I've got a full month of training left here with the Scouts, and then it'll be the real deal and I'll have a solid work schedule and reports that I'll be held accountable for. You know, once I build them of course. There isn't really a great way of tracking efficiencies for those in researching roles, and it sounds like that's the first task I'll see to once my training is completed. What fun."

Mike remained silent and Petra watched him for a few moments, looking back towards the path and giving another soft smile, "I know it wasn't exactly your choice, but even still, thank you for coming along with me during this whole thing. I know there were concerns that the other factions would try something sneaky or underhanded due to my sheer inexperience, and it was nice not being completely alone out there. You were extremely helpful, and I mean that sincerely. Thank you."

Mike's expression didn't change, but he looked toward her and eventually responded, "Levi puts a lot of stock in you – which, no offense, doesn't exactly mean a whole lot to me since you're married to him – but at this point Erwin and Hanji do as well and that's not as easy to write off. After being around you all summer and now two straight months of working with you directly, I can see why. Even still-" the blonde gave another sniffle and continued in a sigh, "We both know it wasn't Erwin that was pushing for you to have an escort like this."

Petra gave a knowing grin, "Yeah, Levi doesn't pick a lot of battles with Erwin and usually does what the Commander wants without any pushback, but when it comes to the squad or myself specifically, he gets exponentially more direct. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised; his unique brand of friendship tends to lean towards being somewhat overbearing and ignites his less than pleasant natures, but I'm getting used to it because I don't think he'll change much on that front."

Mike made a face and eventually shook his head, as though unsatisfied by her account of the Captain's intervention, "I suppose that's part of it, but it goes a lot deeper than that alone. He's always like that when the MP's are involved. If I had to guess, being on the run from them for some twenty years left some scars. Of course the distrust is obvious, but if you look closer, there's fear, anxiety; all sorts of baggage that he's never taken the time to unpack, where it still clouds his judgement to this day. Makes him a little difficult to work with at times, and I'm sure as hell glad its Erwin who has to uphold the peace between the two sides, because that in and of itself can be an overwhelming commitment."

Petra could only watch Mike in silent observation, noting that while he was much quieter than Erwin, something she had long been aware of, she hadn't been so keen on the fact that in some ways, Mike was actually just as brilliant of a mind, in his own way.

Feeling the need to say something further - because his insight was both perceptive and intriguingly thought provoking - Petra cleared her throat and nodded toward Mike hopefully, "You're kind of surprising me Mike – I didn't know you were so in tune with…well, people as a whole. I hope that's not rude to say, it's just I still don't know you very well even though I've worked with you for a while now. You're so quiet; I never knew how, I don't know, thoughtful or I guess…" Petra tried to find the right description, and when Mike watched her with a quirked eyebrow as though curious of what she was going to say, she shrugged passively, "Observant you are."

Seemingly unoffended by her explanation, Mike gave a few nods and looked toward the path ahead, eventually giving another sniffle as he mumbled softly, "You learn a lot, when you choose to only listen, I guess. Levi's a quiet guy so he's not the easiest to read, but when you've worked with him as long as I have, you pick up on a thing or two." He paused and his soft voice grew softer still, "Never much more than a thing or two though, not with Levi at least. I may know different things than you do, but on the whole you still know him a lot better. Guess that makes sense, seems how he actually opens up to you, in ways that he doesn't for anyone else. He really does put a lot of stock in you, and I suppose my saying earlier that it means nothing isn't entirely all that accurate. You've got to be something pretty special, if it means someone like Levi is letting their guard down. That's actually part of the reason why I agreed to come on this trip. At the start of the year, you were just that girl on the elite squad – the lone female that could actually hold their own and keep up with Levi. Then the marriage came, then the various projects and tasks leadership always had you roped into, then all of the Commanders were sending all those letters and swamping Erwin for months-"

Petra tried not to let the surprise show on her face after hearing yet another insight into the life of someone else Mike kept tabs on, and the blonde continued, his voice pensive as he responded, "There's been so much talk – gossip and whispers on the wind about you, the sort of person you were or weren't, and all the while I'm watching Levi change bit by bit because it was obvious you were gradually becoming so important to him. My role makes me privy to a lot of information that most people wouldn't need to know, and I try hard not to interfere with people's lives and day to day business but I suppose with how you were infiltrating leadership like a storm in July, it was bound to happen sooner or later - for our paths to cross like this I mean. Guess that means you're just one more person of interest that I'll have to watch out for, I suppose. Not like we can afford anything happening to you anymore; not just for the Scouts or the military, but for Levi specifically."

Again Petra tried to school her reaction, somewhat wishing she could somehow take notes on their conversation without Mike noticing her eagerness, and the blonde gave a long, finalized sigh. Hearing his exaggerated breath, Petra had somewhat frowned to herself, certain that Mike was done speaking where she might not hear his intriguing thoughts for another indiscernible amount of time, but eventually Mike's expression actually warmed, ever so slightly, and he looked back at her; his voice almost causing her to jolt when he spoke up again.

"As someone who takes a backseat and therefore sees a lot more of people's lives than they'd expect - I'll admit that seeing Levi go through this season of life has probably been one of the most unexpected things that I've seen in some time. It may be hard for you to imagine, but he was a real fish out of water when Erwin first pulled him out of the Underground and tried to clean him up for the military. He was such a handful back then and more often than not, I was the shoulder tapped on to keep him restrained – literally, in some instances. Can you even imagine?"

Petra found that she actually could, surprisingly enough, picture a furious younger Levi, strapped down and restrained in some chair in a dark abandoned office, shouting profanities that would have outright made her sputter from shock, all while Erwin rubbed his temples and pondered to himself if it was even worth it. As though able to see her own internal imagination, Mike gave a small, amused chuckle.

"Yeah, he started a lot of fights, would only listen to Erwin and was generally unruly, unpredictable, and downright impossible to manage until Erwin eventually became the Commander himself. I wasn't sure if I'd ever see a time like that again, where Levi was so out of sorts and stumbling at every turn, but here we are. Watching him legitimately fall in love – well, that's one for the books, if not the whole damn book in and of itself. In some ways he's lucky it was with you, because any other woman wouldn't have been able to handle his…moodiness and in time, the marriage would have been a source of frustration due to the legal hassles of being married without the benefits that traditionally accompany one. Granted, at this point its obvious that that's not what happened here considering how close the two of you are, but if I were being straight forward, I'd have to say I'm somewhat worried."

Petra blinked in defense, "You're worried? Just because he's in a committed relationship? Well…I guess you're not the first person that's said they've had their concerns, but I'll admit you're the first in a while. Most people think its done him a lot of good, and while I don't feel its my place to weigh in on that matter, I can speak for myself and say that because of Levi, I've grown a lot."

"I think you have the wrong idea." Mike stated factually, "Its not that I think you're a bad person or anything, and its not a stretch to say that there's a lot of good that can be traced back to the two of you getting married. It's just with Levi specifically…I don't know. He's lived through a lot, more than a single person rightfully should, but he's never seen that sort of heartbreak before, because he's never been in love before – at least, not that I'm aware of anyways."

"Well it's not like I'm planning on leaving him or anything. I mean legally speaking, we're stuck with each other, but even more than that – I'm really happy and I know that he is too so-"

"Don't be naïve, Petra. I'm not talking about you leaving him, I'm talking about you dying. It doesn't take a mastermind like Erwin to see that it would really mess him up, if something happened to you now."

Mike's expression took a sudden turn towards the serious, "People know me as the Scout's guard dog, and I guess if the shoe fits then I can't really disagree. I'm not saying this to threaten you or anything, and I hope you know that I'm nothing if not an ally for you and Levi it's just…in some ways you're a danger to him that the Scouts can't ever protect him from, and that makes me wary. If it's the MPs or an enemy that shows up from the past, there are ways we can all work together to protect him should the occasion call for it but for you…well, there's nothing to be done. I just hope you take responsibility for the changes you've brought about in him, because if you die or you break his heart or whatever life may have in store for you, there's nothing anyone could ever do to patch him up again if the worst should happen. He just wouldn't recover – not from you."

Petra tried to take in his words; the depth of what he was saying and the truth that his words carried, and after some time where her mind was still running laps in attempts to sort through all that Mike had said, Petra eventually smiled and shook her head in defeat. A silence fell between them and Petra played with her scarf for a few moments, and she finally looked back toward Mike with a contented smile, "The more I learn about leadership, the more I realize that I know nothing at all; much less than I thought I did, at least. Can we…maybe be friends? I feel childish asking so bluntly but I really wish you had felt free enough to speak like this before. You're really insightful, Mike."

At her unexpected and straightforward request, Mike had blinked in surprise and after a few moments he looked back toward the road and gave a soft smile, "Honestly Petra, my role is best served in a position of observation and minimal interference; I don't make overly cordial bonds with anyone because it distorts the bigger picture. Regardless, watching you up close has allowed me a better glimpse into why the cards have fallen the way that they have, and I suppose some part of me felt like sharing my findings with you. I feel I understand now, just a little better, why Levi is so protective of you, and why he gets jealous so easily when others find their way into your good graces. Upon our return I fully expect him to be glaring at me spitefully for some time, even though he's the one that requested me by name. Frankly, I don't think we'll have much of a reason to run into each other again for quite some time, and that's probably for the best."

Petra rolled her eyes and laughed, "Wait, are you saying you don't want to be my friend? Call me arrogant, but I think that's a first."

Mike gave a shrug and corrected her, "For the record, I'm saying that I don't want Levi as an enemy."

Petra groaned, somewhat dramatically as an attempt to show she understood but thought his reasoning was stupid, and Mike gave another sniffle, his voice lessening to a soft whisper as he spoke again, "Besides, technically speaking I'm already your ally and – at least in my opinion – I'm not sure if there's really much of a difference."

At his simple correction, Petra found a smile coming to her lips and the silence that had previously blanketed them for two months was no longer one of question or uncertainty but rather, one of reassurance.

…

…

When they finally arrived back at headquarters, as much as Petra wanted to immediately walk toward the northern parameters of the campus where a certain Ackerman household was located, unfortunately duty came first, and reporting back in to Erwin took precedence.

Even though the documentation process hadn't taken all that long, perhaps only an hour or two at best, to Petra it had seemed to last a lifetime. She had tried to be pleasant, tried to remain focused and not get frustrated with Erwin's brigade of 'how did it go', 'what were your biggest pain points', and 'did you make sure to write that down?' but eventually Erwin had smirked at her unfocused demeanor and had set his folder down to watch her knowingly.

"Let me just ask – is this just going to be a complete waste of my time until after you've spent some time with a certain Captain Levi?"

Petra had blinked out of her unfocused stupor, not sure when it was that she had checked out, and she looked over toward Erwin directly, admittedly a little embarrassed and feeling the smallest hint of shame considering it was apparently that obvious that she had her Captain at the forefront of her mind. After seeing the knowing sort of gleam in the Commander's eye that confirmed he wasn't actually upset with her about it, Petra had given a miserable smile and nodded.

They had wrapped up the meeting shortly after, making plans to give a more detailed report of her experiences, the type of projects each faction had at the top of their priority wish lists, as well as what her final leg of training would look like within the Scout Regiment before she officially started her new role.

After leaving Erwin's office, Petra had taken the time to walk back to the stable and give her horse a proper brushing, as well as a few treats she had bought along the way, as a show of thanks for a job well done. After that, she started the slow walk back across campus; clutching her coat and scarf even tighter around herself because it was absolutely freezing and like Levi had once pointed out, the residential side of campus was always well out of the way from everything else and she'd be walking in the frigid cold for some time.

As she moved down the path and eventually reached the Compound, Petra couldn't help but note to herself that it was all very strange, to be walking past the Compound instead of inside it, and without even realizing it she had paused in place as she looked the building over and contemplated all that had changed in the past year. That building had more or less been her home since the day she accepted Levi's job offer, and the fact that she was now living with that man, who was no longer her Captain but rather just her husband; the fact that she was technically a Scout, yet she now worked for the military itself rather than a single faction, the fact that her life had taken such a sudden sharp turn that it made her head spin…

Past all odds, somehow things had turned out better than anything she could have ever hoped for. When Levi had proposed to her, a little over one year ago now, neither of them had thought for a moment that it would ever mean anything; that it would ever become something so significant like this.

Her situation had seemed final, but Levi had changed her circumstances completely, for better or worse, and he walked beside her step for step as they both figured out what their new lives would look like, together. They had forged this path day by day and heartache after heartache; through the awkwardness of being married in name only, to the pain points of readjusting their schedules, and eventually their sheer tumultuous missteps as their feelings grew and they slowly fell in love.

It had been a hard year, because almost everything that she had staked as constants in her life - her role in the military, the skills she relied on to advance her career, her position on the elite squad and the position she had with Levi specifically – those core pillars of her life had been shattered and rebuilt completely in ways that didn't at all reflect her previous desires or expectations.

It hadn't been easy to let it go and trust that maybe there really was something better for her life than the pride and security that she felt from being on Levi's squad but…

Maybe there was something special she had found instead, that had made the trade worth it. Yes, being on Levi's squad had filled her with pride, but that was nothing compared to the pride she felt now from being his wife. She had felt her position was secure, but there was a different kind of security in Levi's promise to stay with her, no matter what. In hindsight, for so long she had been stubbornly clutching onto things she thought would be the most valuable parts in her life, but in truth, they had only been stepping stones that would guide her toward what would eventually matter even more.

Taking one last moment to look at the Compound, Petra gave a contented exhale and smiled fondly, moving back down the path as she continued toward home.

No, of course it hadn't been easy but, it was worth it.

…

…

"Hey Levi, uh Captain-" Petra had opened the front door just slightly and stepped inside, not even sure if Levi was there or if she would have the house to herself for a while. Immediately after walking in, Petra almost froze in place right in the doorway, because while she knew Levi better than to assume he would have done nothing for the house in over two months, even still – what had once been a living room full of boxes and odds and ends with no defined place just yet, was now a simple but well-furnished, put together living room.

It looked like an actual home now, with elements and belongings that were hers, as well as other clear traces of her Captain; an intriguing blend of their two lives that made her feel all the more wistful because it was hard to believe they were actually living together now. There was a couch, a chair, a plush floor rug with a gentle pattern – there were a few paintings on the walls and across the room toward the bay window, there was a small coffee table with a green leafy plant sitting on top.

Gods, they apparently had house plants now.

Her mouth had twisted into an amazed smile and she had mechanically walked further into the room and set her bags down onto the couch, noting that it was a little on the stiff side for her liking, but with wear and tear it would likely become more comfortable in time.

She turned toward the kitchen next, shaking her head in even further wonder because it was clear that Levi hadn't just done 'some' work in her absence – no, it was quite clear to her that he had been very busy. The room that had once been entirely empty and only discernable as 'the kitchen' in name alone, now had counters and cabinets, there was a stove and a beautiful hand-crafted table – she walked in the room more fully and her smile brightened when she saw a pair of legs hanging out from the inside of one of the lower cabinets on the floor.

Levi.

Well, it seemed he was presently working even now.

She leaned slightly over one of the counters, beaming because it seemed that due to his placement, he hadn't realized she had walked in just yet. She allowed herself to secretly watch him for a few moments, amused at the low sighs or huffs she heard as he worked on whatever project he was seeing to.

Deciding she couldn't wait any longer, she took in a slight breath and tried to calm her suddenly racing heart. "Captain, I'm back, you know…from training."

She watched as his legs jolted slightly from surprise at her voice, and he seemed to still outright.

Just knowing she was in his presence was already beginning to calm her sudden onslaught of nerves and she gave a soft sigh, resting her head into one of her propped arms as she rubbed her forehead wearily, "Gods, it was such a long trip. I've missed you so much and I hated being away from everyone like this. I tried to write you letters but it wasn't always easy to pass clearance since I wasn't a permanent resident of their campuses. Did everything go okay while I was gone?"

She gave a soft smile to herself and shrugged, "What am I saying - I know you don't need me and that you can keep your business in line without me being around. Even at a glance like this I can see you've been really, really busy. It couldn't have been easy, right? You had to rework the squad's mechanics, go on the Expedition, all while working on the house by yourself like this. You're really amazing, you know? I just want to say that it looks great and coming home and seeing the place all put together – it means so much to me Captain. I was thinking, maybe if you're almost done, do you want to go lay down for a bit or something? I've really missed you, and I know we missed some important dates. Maybe we could-"

She had taken a step forward, planning on moving toward her Captain when his voice reached her and she paused in place.

"Petra? You're early; Erwin said you wouldn't be getting in until tonight."

It was Levi that called out to her and she looked up instantly, shocked because while yes it was her Captain's voice, it had come from the other end of the living room. She looked over toward the sound, not sure if she felt relieved or horrified to see Levi standing there, because if that was Levi, then…then who in the world had she just been talking to?

Her eyes went wide and she looked down at the pair of legs, then back toward her Captain in bewilderment, "Levi I uh – who, well…it's just that I uh thought…see when I said that-"

"Take it easy Princess," there was a slight grunt that came from underneath the counter, "It's just me."

Petra knew that voice, and she looked back down toward the floor in complete shock, "Dad?!"

Her face was already burning red as she put a hand over her gaping mouth, realizing that everything she had intended to say to Levi had rather been said to her father instead, and what was worse, she had been considering moving down toward the ground, crawling up toward him and allowing her hands to trail up his legs when he wasn't expecting it…

Oh gods, she had unknowingly thought about groping her own father!

It seemed Levi had witnessed her sudden horrified reaction and his expression narrowed, "Did you think that was me? What…what did you say to him?"

Petra again was looking back and forth between her Captain and the spot where apparently her father was occupying in the kitchen and she squeaked out in horrified protest, "I didn't know! You never told me Dad was going to be here! And…and on that note, what are you doing here Dad? Will someone tell me what's going on already?"

"Don't be so dramatic baby; it's pretty obvious why I'm here, right?"

Petra wasn't actually sure what her father was getting at – not sure if his visit was a good or bad thing just yet – and after a few shifting and clanking sounds from within the cabinet, her father gave a sigh and continued, "You and the shrimp want to make this place your home, right? Back when you came to visit, Ackerman said he was in the process of building you a house and asked if I wanted to install some of the final pieces, put the kitchen in place, that sort of thing. Take a look around and let me know what you think because it's all for you. Haven't lost my touch yet, have I?"

Petra was surprised by his words, slowly taking a new glance around the kitchen and noticing all at once the familiar craftmanship of her father's work, and she looked back to Levi with wide eyes because he had never mentioned…

Before she could say anything further, again her father's amused voice echoed from within the cabinet, "Honestly though Princess, you've seen my work enough to recognize it, right? Should have tipped you off at a glance that I was around, but then again, it's not like you're paying close attention, seems how you thought that your husband's stubby legs were the same length as mine."

Petra's attention snapped back to her dad and she groaned, "Well how was I to know? Captain never tells me these things! For all I knew, he may have done it all himself!"

There was a snort and her dad chuckled loudly at her words, "That'll be the day - you really think the lad knows how to do this kind of thing? Let me tell you from personal experience, that boy doesn't know a handsaw from a hammer. He's useless."

Regardless her father's snide words, Petra was still trying to mentally sort out all the details because it was a lot to process after just coming home from a rather long journey, and her father called out again, "Hey Ackerman, you figure out which one is the 3/8ths yet? Shoot, maybe now that Petra's here I'll finally have some proper help for once; she knows her tools far better than you do boy, that much is clear."

"Calm your shit down old man," Levi responded in a scoff, moving across the room and walking into the kitchen with a grumble, "It's right here."

Petra watched in bewilderment as Levi leaned down and handed her father the requested tool, and then he crossed his arms as he stood back up, "I don't see what you're bitching about. I paid you to do this whole damn job on your own, but it's like I'm expected to help you out at every turn because you're too lazy to grab your own shit. I've been installing counter tops and measuring everything from top to bottom - I feel like I have built half this damn kitchen myself."

There was a low sort of grumble from within the cabinet, "And yet you wonder why it's taking so long."

"Oi," Levi tapped the cabinet door with his boot, "You got something to say down there?"

"Facts are facts, Ackerman. I can't travel up here every time something goes wrong so you'll need to know how to handle basic repairs on your own; I'm doing you a favor by teaching you all of this – saving you a lot of money too. Of course this is normally the sort of thing your pops would show you, but that's not exactly applicable in your case so I can kinda understand why you're so worthless with repairs and upkeep. Luckily for you, I don't mind slowing down to show you the ropes, but that attitude is just as rotten as ever and it makes my job that much harder."

Levi had opened his mouth to respond with his own waspish retort, but Petra had held up a hand and cut him off, "Okay time out. I understand you two are well over it but this is still news to me and it's kind of a big deal. Captain, you…you really contracted my dad, way back then?"

Levi looked toward her, his expression still slightly soured from his ongoing squabble with her father, but he eventually nodded, "It means something to you, right? Not that he was struggling to find work or anything, but I figured it would be special for you if you knew your Dad had built some of the house. What's more, I knew your Dad would like it if he got to come out and visit, so back then I talked to him about it and we eventually came to an agreement. Granted at the time, I had no idea that you'd be gone for most of his stay so that wasn't exactly ideal, but it couldn't be helped."

Petra gave a slow nod, amazed that once again Levi had planned something special for her that she hadn't even been aware of or had even thought to ask for, and she swallowed thickly, not wanting to start crying only minutes after walking in the door but certainly tempted to because…damn, Levi just didn't give himself enough credit sometimes. Sure he could be distanced and guarded; say some hurtful things without even meaning to more often than not, but it amazed her that he frequently seemed to feel that he wasn't 'doing' enough for her, as though he truly couldn't see that he was already doing so much.

Knowing now wasn't the time or place for that conversation, Petra forcefully cleared her throat, blinking the growing sting out of her eyes as she nodded down toward her father, "Now how long has he been here exactly?"

"Three weeks, baby." Her father responded, and Petra looked back toward Levi in wonder.

"Wait, three weeks? You guys have been…putting up with each other, alone like this, for three weeks?"

Levi only gave a serious, annoyed tilt of his head, "Why do you think I was so pissed off when Erwin said you'd be gone for two straight months? I knew your dad was still coming out, and I wasn't looking forward to giving him the news that you'd be a no show, seems how that was half the appeal of him taking the job anyway. Had I known that you'd be gone, I think I would have hired someone else; this asshole always has something to say and he's not exactly cheap either."

Levi's attention had shifted back toward the ground as he spoke, and it was then that Petra's father emerged from beneath the counter. Instead of a glare or waspish retort, James merely smirked at Levi's words and shrugged as he stood up, "Yeah, well I suppose I could have given you the family discount, but that's when I remembered that you stole my daughter away, so I don't really feel all that guilty for charging you full price."

"Right. And the fact you've been living on the Scout's property for a month now, rent free?"

"Consider that my traveling fee. You really should be grateful I even accepted at all – if it weren't for the fact that my daughter's going to be living here, I would have turned you down on the spot just to make a point. Nothing would have made me happier in fact; you're kinda fun to jerk around."

Levi made a point of rolling his eyes and after watching the pair outright bicker, Petra felt a small smile pulling at her lips and she watched them with a knowing shake of her head, "You know correct me if I'm wrong but…it kind of sounds like the time did you both some good. I think the two of you are actually getting along a little better."

"Fuck makes you say that?"

"Don't get too ahead of yourself there, Princess."

At their simultaneous complaints, Petra couldn't help the laugh that came out of her throat because as much as both men denied it, it was clear that yes, there was still some true dislike between them, but things were noticeably different than they had been before. Back at her dad's house, the tension between them could be felt, but now, with the two of them openly insulting each other and nitpicking the other, it was clear to her that while the relationship between the two wasn't ideal, it was enough, and something told her their future interactions would always be somewhat entertaining.

Her amusement was cut short by a strong chill that ran down her spine – a result of traveling all day in the frigid cold, and Levi's eyes narrowed as Petra pulled her scarf around her even tighter.

"Oi, Petra. Why haven't you taken your coat off yet?"

She looked at herself, noting her mittens, large coat, and wool scarf that was still wrapped around her neck and she gave a soft smile, "I was going to, but I got distracted. To be honest I'm sort of cold and so-"

"You're not cold, you're freezing, aren't you?" Levi moved toward her and sighed, pulling the scarf from off around her and pulling off her mittens next, his eyes narrowing when he felt her fingers that were notably stiff and cold to the touch even now. "A nasty snowstorm is on its way here and you and Mike were riding on its edges the whole way back. That's why you're here early; you busted ass the whole way so you could beat the storm, right?"

Petra gave a single muted nod and Levi motioned toward their room with an unamused, frustrated quirk of his brow as his expression hardened, "Dumbass; you should have said something. I don't want you getting sick, Petra. Go and take a hot shower, now."

She blushed at his intense stare and she nodded in understanding as Levi wound up the scarf in his hands and shook his head in irritation. Even still, when he caught her stare, something about her expression must have caught him off guard because Levi paused and looked to the ground, his voice a soft mumble as he sighed, "Uh, please, I mean."

From the center of the kitchen where Petra's father had seen the simple, but telling exchange, he gave a loud groan, "Oh good grief. Am I even allowed to say hi to my daughter before you two start making those doe eyes at each other, or should I just see myself out now? I'd hate to-"

Petra's lips pulled into a shy grin and she slowly looked to her father and nodded, "You should go, Dad. You can get your jabs in, but Levi's right. I've been out in the cold all day and if I don't warm up soon I may very well make myself sick. Still though, it really does look great in here Dad, and more than that, I'm just really glad you made the time to be out here for this. Tomorrow, okay?"

Her father listened to her words, perhaps a little surprised by her easy dismissal but he eventually gave a smile, looking between her and Levi as he gave a dramatic sigh and shrugged, "Alright baby, I understand." He moved toward her and gave her a quick hug, "It's good seeing you; we'll catch up when I come over in the morning, okay?" His eyes trailed to Levi and he gave a challenging, delighted smirk, "Early morning, Ackerman, so keep that in mind before you decide to stay up late doing gods only know what to-"

"Just go." Levi responded in an exasperated sigh and with a slight chuckle, James moved toward the door, gave one final wave, and left.

Once it was clear her father was actually gone, Petra had opened her mouth, preparing to speak or to sigh, maybe wanting to lean forward and allow her head to fall into Levi's chest because the ability to physically be near him was a luxury she hadn't had in so long now, but the second the door had closed, as focused as ever, Levi immediately walked out of the kitchen and past the living room. After a few moments, the sound of running water could be heard and Petra frowned to herself because perhaps her coming home greeting, while admittedly unexpected, was almost a little too casual where maybe she had wanted to see more of a reaction from her Captain.

She supposed she shouldn't be surprised considering Levi wasn't as outwardly expressive as she was, and before she could dwell on the matter, Levi's voice called out, "Oi Petra, come on. The sooner you get out of those clothes, the better you'll feel."

Hearing his words, she couldn't help the smirk that came to her lips because she knew her husband well enough to know that with his overprotective nature and how he carried himself when he had 'business' to see to – his previous demand wasn't spoken with a double meaning or innuendo, and, at least in the moment, his reasons were strictly professional.

How disappointing.

She walked toward their bedroom, again surprised by all the changes and updates Levi had made in her absence. She took a moment to look the room over, seeing even more updated furniture that was a balanced mix of pieces that had been ordered or contracted through who knows what means, but also as a few pieces from her father that caught her eye. There was a set of nightstands that were no doubt her fathers work, and a rather large wardrobe that also bore the trademark look of her father's craftsmanship.

By the looks of things, her father would have likely been working on this project for some time now, if not the entire time since they had left from their visit, and it shocked her to think that Levi had been keeping up with the details of such a distanced, complex contract for so long now.

There was a low sigh that suddenly came from behind her, and Petra jolted when Levi moved in front of her and started unbuttoning her jacket, "You know I really wish you weren't dragging your feet for this. I'm not trying to fucking coddle you, but Petra, your lips are blue. Please get your ass in the tub and warm up. You can look at the house later."

Levi was pushing the jacket off her shoulders, and while she wasn't trying to make the task anymore difficult, she wasn't helping him either, to such an extent that after Levi set her jacket on the bed and stared at her for a moment, she only continued to stand in place and look around, not even attempting to undress herself, and Levi rolled his eyes as he grabbed the bottom of her sweater next.

She spoke up again, her words almost being drowned out by the woolen fabric being pulled up over her head, "My dad really is quite talented, don't you think? I really wish you had told me you were hiring him; he would have charged you a lot less if it had all gone through me first."

"And that's the reason why I didn't. Not that I lie awake at night wondering what he thinks of me or anything, but the whole getting married behind his back thing sent him the wrong idea about me and because it matters to you, I wanted to send him a more clear message about who I am. I'm not a coward, and I don't need to hide behind you to handle my shit. He knows I could have used you to make things play more in my favor but I didn't – and that's key. Sure he got to charge me an arm and a leg to throw his weight around and prove a point, but it allowed me to prove a point of my own."

Levi set her sweater down next to her coat and then pulled her long sleeve shirt up next, frowning when he noticed there was the fabric of another shirt under that, and what appeared to be one final layer of a woven undershirt as well. He shook his head and instead grabbed all three layers and pulled them upwards, "I'll agree to some extent - I suppose we tolerate each other a little better due to the sheer practicality of working together for a straight three weeks, but not much else has changed. He's almost as stubborn as you are, really enjoys pissing me off, and he doesn't exactly pull any punches because he knows I can't actually do shit to him. He's a lot to deal with, but it's only for another week and a half."

As Levi set even more of her clothes on the bed in a growing pile, the skin of her back and stomach were exposed to the open air and another chill went down her spine. Petra couldn't help but wrap her arms around herself, rubbing her arms and feeling Levi's eyes sweep over her form critically. He shook his head, "Damn, even with all those layers and you're still like this? Your arms are red – either from windburn or just being cold; maybe both. You really should have fucking said something sooner Petra, either the moment you walked in the front door or better yet, you should have just stopped at the shower house on the way here and made it a priority. I know you wanted to hurry back but…"

Levi frowned in concern as he ran a thumb down her side, noting the way her skin had prominent goosebumps and the way her teeth suddenly chattered together. He moved closer so he could reach around her to unhook her bra next, but instead of moving to allow him a better angle, Petra leaned forward into him, wrapping her arms around his back and speaking into the skin of his neck, "I missed you, Levi. I know it was only two months, and that I shouldn't be such a baby or that I'm making it out to be a bigger deal than it was but…"

Levi was somewhat frozen in place, not sure what to respond to first or what he was supposed to prioritize. She was obviously freezing cold and he was determined to get her core temperature regulated again because selfish or not, there was a lot he wanted to do with her now that she had finally returned, and all his plans being thwarted due to her getting sick was less than ideal. But with her wrapped around him like this now, was he supposed to hold her; pull her into his arms and give her whatever reassurance she was seeking from his touch? Maybe he was supposed to respond verbally – ask her why in the hell she found it necessary to put up such a brave face in front of him because if she wanted to see him, or had missed him, or whatever else she was feeling now, he didn't see why she needed to apologize for it or act like it was a source of shame or weakness.

Not sure what he was supposed to do, Levi only gave a long sigh and pulled his head back to look at her seriously, "You know I don't see it that way but…I guess I just…look, do we really have to do this right now?"

Petra's expression went from previously melancholy to sudden confusion and Levi allowed his own expression to turn more serious. He looked at her directly and nodded, "Petra, my wife and the absolute biggest pain in the ass I will ever willingly tolerate: I love you and I missed you, very much. I missed talking to you, and being near you, and sleeping next to you, and just getting to live my life with you. I'd be more than happy to tell you whatever you want to know, or listen to whatever it is you want to say, after you shower. I'm glad you're back and I'm glad you like the house, but in the ten minutes you've been here you're already starting to ignore my orders and I'm not going to stand for it."

"But you're not my commandi-"

"Oh don't you even fucking say it. Just because you've moved up the ranks doesn't mean you get to disregard my orders because let the record show that I still outrank you. Frankly, I'm right more often than not and this time is no exception. You need to warm up, the sooner the better, and just like how you can catch up with your dad in the morning, we can put off whatever conversation until after you've warmed up. I know you feel I'm overprotective of you, but this isn't one of those times. You are that cold, you're visibly shivering, your skin is wind burnt, and allow me to play dirty here, but seems how you always prioritize me above everyone else – let me remind you that if you get sick, you're going to get me sick as well. Is that really what you want?"

He allowed her a few moments to think about his words and Petra eventually gave a somber nod, "Shoot, I hadn't thought of that. Of course I'd hate for you to get sick again, Captain – that puts you, and the whole squad at risk so I can see why you're so concerned."

Right. That's why he was concerned – it was all for himself and the squad and certainly not his amazing, compassionate wife who was still chattering and visibly chilled to the bone. Levi almost snorted at her predictability and she continued, "You're right, of course. Will you…maybe come with me?"

Well.

Levi couldn't deny that he was wholly intrigued by the idea of joining his wife in the shower because Petra hardly ever invited him these days, seems how he 'couldn't keep his hands to himself and just let her shower in peace' – a complaint he didn't really understand because what was the point of showering together in the first place if he couldn't even touch her – and he gave an eventual nod as he considered her request, "I will, but go ahead and get started without me. I want to put on a kettle of tea and…would you prefer tea, or hot chocolate instead? I bought some in town a few days back, seems how I knew you'd be coming back soon."

A slow grin creeped across her face and Petra couldn't help the sort of glee she felt as Levi gave her a proud smirk in return. He knew her well, and what was more, he enjoyed knowing her well. She nodded sheepishly, "Hot chocolate sounds really, really good. Thanks, Captain."

He waved a hand as he moved toward the kitchen, "Just go warm up already; I won't be too long."

…

...

Sometime much later, Petra found herself nestled in bed, wearing a warm and comfy pair of pajamas and huddled underneath practically every blanket they owned. As promised, she was holding a cup of steaming and delicious hot chocolate that Levi had made her and she'd take a sip, give a delighted 'mmm' because it seemed Levi had a talent for making hot drinks as a whole, and as she savored the sweet and rich flavor on her tongue, she'd look over toward him and smile in complete, total adoration.

Similarly, Levi was sitting beside her on the bed but unlike Petra, he was wearing nothing more than a pair of boxers and even that seemed to be a bit much for him. He wasn't huddled underneath any of the blankets, but rather sat on top of the mound as he casually studied a recent report from Erwin while trying (and failing) to ignore Petra's constant, thrilling gaze. He had flushed cheeks and glistening skin because after a long and hot shower, a few not so innocent advances that had Petra reminding him outright 'See, this is why I prefer to shower alone!' and then a few more rounds of some very overdue intimacy with a certain, newly thawed ginger – all while under multiple blankets no less to ensure said ginger didn't get cold all over again - that series of events had only lead to another shower needed to clean up, and while Petra was finally feeling more comfortable, Levi was quite sure he was going to die of heatstroke at any moment.

When they had finally come out of their second shower, Petra began to dry off as she prepared to nestle into bed for the night and Levi had purposefully returned to the kitchen, eager for some cooler air that wasn't weighed down and thick from steam. He wasn't surprised to discover that their tea and hot chocolate had long gone cold and he began the process of heating the drinks back up as he moved toward the sink and poured himself a much needed glass of water.

When he had returned back to the bedroom some fifteen minutes later, Petra had successfully moved into bed and confirmed that, while yes, she was feeling mostly better, she was still the slightest bit chilled but not to worry because given enough time her body heat would regulate itself and she'd be fine. Not wanting to take any chances and somewhat suspicious that Petra might be getting sick regardless, Levi had nodded, wordlessly handed her her hot chocolate, and then moved toward the closet and began laying out the blankets neatly on top of her until there were none left.

Petra had protested, said she didn't like to be babied by him and she was just fine, but she had a blush on her cheeks and a shy smile on her lips that told him that her words were empty and that, if only for the moment, he was doing something right.

Since then, they had enjoyed a comfortable silence as Petra continued to drink her hot chocolate and Levi slowly cooled down after being subjected to an onslaught of heat for well over two straight hours.

From beside him, Petra took another drink and gave a hum, "This really is good Captain, thank you."

Levi only nodded and Petra shifted toward him slightly, her movement somewhat inhibited due to the sheer number of blankets piled on top of her, and she continued, "All of this has been really nice, actually. I know we somewhat talked about it already, but tomorrow I'd really like it if you could show me the house all over again – like a tour you did the first time, except now pointing out everything you've added recently. I know the house was still pretty bare bones and we were just starting to unpack boxes when I left but now everything's been put away and it all looks so nice. Honestly, I don't even know where half of my things are anymore so I may have to ask you for help looking for things at first."

She paused and her expression turned more pensive, "And we'll need to work with Erwin – or I mean, better said I guess I will, regarding if I can get copies of specific records to keep here at the house. I know I wouldn't mind the ability to check things over while I'm here, because there are sometimes where I suddenly have a train of thought I don't want to lose, and if I have to run across campus every time just to check on a few pieces of data, that would become very frustrating, very fast. On that note, how is the office coming along?"

Levi finished reading the section he was reviewing and he eventually set the collection of pages down on the nearby nightstand, allowing himself a slight smirk as he responded, "I'm not normally one to brag, but if I do say so myself I think you're going to be pleased. Your dad was able to translate my ideas into tangible results and at this point, I think you'll have more space than you know what to do with. He created a custom cabinet with so many different slots for storage and pull-out drawers; the thing practically organizes itself. There's a custom desk inside that Erwin ordered for us, seems how the military can get those resources fairly easily, and at this point there's even a chalk board up on one of the walls for jotting down quick ideas on the go."

Petra couldn't deny she was impressed, and the amazement showed on her face, "Wow, that all sounds really useful. Have you gotten into the habit of doing your office work here then?"

At her question, Levi's previous smirk fell and he shook his head softly, "Oh well, no. I have most of my reports still in my office in the Compound."

Petra somewhat sat up, giving him a teasing grin as she laughed, "What, I'll bet just to give you an excuse to not be around my dad so much, right?"

He shrugged, "I guess that's part of it but…I don't know, your dad is here pretty frequently but it's usually when I'm training with the squad so in all actuality, on weekdays we only interact for a few hours at best and then he returns to the guest barracks before nightfall. I don't mind being alone of course, but I built this house with you in mind so it's pretty obvious when you're not here. I kept all my paperwork in the Compound because it's not as…quiet, I guess."

A silence fell between them and Petra's smile slowly turned into something less enthusiastic as she gave a more somber nod, "Yeah, I guess a house like this can go from welcoming to secluding practically overnight, huh? Maybe I shouldn't be asking but your birthday and our anniversary, did that go okay?"

The Captain's expression soured and he crossed his arms defensively, "By who's definition? Because if you mean by mine, the answer is no. If you go by Hanji's or fucking anyone else's, they'd probably tell you it went great."

Petra blinked, "What happened?"

"Erwin called me into the mess hall, said one of his meetings went long so we'd all talk over dinner and when I got there, the entire fucking Scout Regiment was there, every single one of them, singing happy birthday and shit where the whole thing was some public spectacle; apparently Hanji was worried I'd fall into some depression or whatever so they 'went all out' to make the day special – aka not leave me the fuck alone. They even made me eat cake. Chocolate cake. It was dry and fucking awful – can't stand that shit. Too damn sweet."

Petra held up a hand for clarification, "Wait wait, way back in the hotel when we were traveling to my Dad's and I ordered chocolate cake and, sure it took some convincing, but you had a few bites and you said it was good!"

Levi almost laughed at her innocence and watched her smugly, "Pet, listen. Back then I was desperate and doing anything I could to get in your pants without being an asshole about it. A few bites of chocolate cake was a small price to pay – if you recall you were still pretty pissed off about the letter situation and I needed every bit of help I could get."

Petra made a face and looked at him in sheer disbelief, "I'm sorry Captain, but you can't honestly mean to tell me that you think chocolate cake was the key to us actually sleeping together."

Levi only shrugged, "Maybe not, but let the record show, a little over a week after that and I finally had you for the first time. Maybe you haven't noticed, but you've got quite the sweet tooth and I've learned that my chances of sleeping with you drastically increase when there's chocolate somewhere in the mix."

Petra's eyes grew wide and she looked down at the mug in her hands in sudden understanding and clarity, and Levi only gave a smug chuckle at the prominent blush that stained her cheeks, "I'm glad you like your hot chocolate, by the way."

She cleared her throat and tried not to allow Levi's smug grin deter her thoughts as he watched her take another drink, and Petra continued, "Alright, so that explains the birthday thing – what about our anniversary? Surely they didn't drag you to another surprise party, right?"

Levi shook his head, "That one wasn't quite so bad. Hanji and Erwin didn't think I would notice that they intentionally filled my day to the brim with dumb meetings and pointless busy work, but even still, I'll admit it was better than sitting around and doing nothing. Eld actually tried to have one of those soul-searching conversations with me to see how I was doing, but I blew him off because I wasn't up for it."

Petra frowned, "Levi, I wish you wouldn't have – Eld really is your friend and-"

"Well I know that, but that doesn't mean I wanted to share that pain with someone else. It's fucked up, but sometimes its nice to just feel the pain, okay?"

His voice had come out on the sharper side; sharper than he had intended, but instead of backing down or being intimidated by his presented temper, Petra's eyes had narrowed and she watched him expectantly, going so far as to set down her hot chocolate mug on the nightstand closest to her, just so she could turn back around and cross her arms for added effect.

A few moments of thick silence passed by and eventually, Levi shrugged and turned so he was facing her directly, his voice more quiet as he continued, "I'm not a masochist, but if there's pain then…to me that means it's a result of something that's actually there; the pain means it's real."

Petra watched him still, but her expression didn't reflect the light of understanding and Levi almost groaned, because try as he may to explain himself to her, how his mind functioned and the way his sense of logic presented itself, it wasn't always easy to articulate this kind of thing in a way she'd understand.

He took another breath and tried again, "If I experience pain because of you, even inadvertently…it's just one more way to remind myself that I really care about you. I spent the day wrapped up in meetings, running all the worthless errands Four Eyes and Erwin set up for me, all while thinking about you and missing you so damn much that my stomach ached. It may sound strange, but to me, it really wasn't a waste of a day at all."

Levi had raised a hand, allowing his fingers to glide down her hair and he eventually traced her lips with the pad of his thumb, mesmerized by the softness of her skin and the way her lips parted as he touched her, "Please understand - in any of the years past, it would have been just another day on the calendar for me, but now it's a day where I can think about you, and the fact that someone like you chose to spend their life, with someone like me." He smiled at her suddenly flustered, almost pouting expression, and he nodded, "Pet, it was a good fucking day for me, and I hope it was for you too."

She gave a soft, gentle nod as a single tear spilled down her cheek and she eventually whispered in earnest, "It was Captain, it was a very good day. I'm a very lucky girl, you know?"

Levi could only give a warm half smile because Petra was truly emotional to her core and try as she may to hide it, he was well aware she had been holding her tears back for some time now and it just wasn't necessary like this. He doubted he would ever grow tired of her expressing the depths of which she had grown to care for him, and as he wiped her tears away, she had worked her way out of the blankets and had carefully leaned forward to kiss him.

Levi had returned her kiss without hesitation, allowing himself to slightly lean back into the headboard when Petra moved out of the blankets completely and crawled on top of him to get a better angle. As she paused and looked at him in question, Levi noted her long sleeve sleepshirt and flannel pajama bottoms, her frizzy hair that was still stringy from only being half dry, and her glassy eyes that spoke of her emotional nature – damn, in that moment Levi was certain that he had never felt more in love because that single moment was so casual and so wholesome and so fucking perfect, and yet somehow…it was his.

Petra had leaned forward again and Levi put a finger to her lips, causing her to settle her weight back into her hips as she watched him in concern.

"Hey Pet, I just – I know it's a little late but…welcome home."

Those simple words seemed to have a deeper meaning for both of them, and Petra gave a radiant smile, the exact one that he had grown so fond of because it was his alone to see, and Petra laughed at herself as she used her sleeves to wipe a few more tears off her cheeks. It had taken a few moments to gain control of her rampant emotions and she looked back towards Levi and tried to speak through her tears because sometimes, he seemed to know exactly what she needed to hear, even before she did.

She leaned forward and gave him a single light, tender kiss as she slid down beside him, resting her head against his chest as Levi gave a hum and began pulling blankets around them.

"It's good to be home, Levi."

…

Homeward Bound

...

Wow guys.

I know I like to pull surprises on you guys and take some turns that may not have been expected, but Scouts Honor – this is the legitimate end of the story. I hope you guys loved it!

I think I have communicated this, but I do plan to do the most long authors note as one final update and since it's my own personal thoughts, I can tell you that I'll have it up in a couple weeks and then I'll mark the story as complete with that last update. (Ps - send me your questions if you have any! I would love to answer whatever yall might want to know!)

For this note, I really just want to focus on this singular chapter instead of the story as a whole, and so right off the bat, lets just get it out that that I really, really struggled to write this last section up! I think part of it was my own reluctance to close off this large project that I've been working on for so long now, and then the other part was my own mind truly not sure how to give proper closure and highlight the various pieces that I wanted to highlight! How does someone end a story like this one? I was stuck for a long, long time!

Case and point being Mike. When I first started writing this, it fundamentally bothered me that I was 'introducing' a brand-new character into the series, in the very last chapter. It seemed like a rookie mistake or that I was opening up new doors where I should have been closing them instead but…the more I read it and the fact that it truly worked and felt so right for what I was trying to convey – I realized that was the entire point and the rest of the chapter slowly began to write itself as I took that approach with the remainder of the chapter.

I didn't really need any 'new' amazing moments – what I needed more than anything was to show how normal their life was, whether together or separate; highlight how they had found a rhythm that finally, finally worked for them, and more than anything else, show that life was still progressing and moving on for the both of them, but unlike before – their paths had truly merged into one, instead of two different people doing two different things while still trying to be mindful of the other.

All in all, I'm truly pleased with this ending and I hope you all find it fitting with proper closure as well. Again, I will be posting on this piece one last time, just for more things I wanted to point out that I couldn't before, answer questions, things like that, so for those who do notifications, please don't get fooled and think there's an epilogue or anything else.

For those who do not read the next Author's note, let me give a HUGE thank you for reading this story and for all the support this community has showered me with along the way. It was a true pleasure writing for you, and I hope I see some of your usernames again for the pieces I'll be returning with!

Thanks and happy reading,
~Midnight