Petra wished that the work day would never end. She wished she could find an excuse to stay later as the sun began to dip below the horizon, turning the commander's office a brilliant red. Erwin stood over his desk, examining the plans once again. Petra worried her lip as she stood beside him, but paid close attention when he pointed to the formations he'd drawn. Honestly, considering his left hand wasn't dominant, his drawings were still fairly clear. One time Levi had tried drawing a man and…it hadn't looked very good.

"We'll have a section to protect the horses," Erwin said, his brow furrowed in thought as he pointed to the wall separating Shiganshina from the rest of Wall Maria. "We have to assume the enemy might close ranks around us when we enter the city. If they get the horses, we won't be able to escape."

"The plan's good, sir."

"Thank you, Petra." He smiled a little at her praise. Poor man looked exhausted; she wondered if he'd had any sleep last night.

"Will Le—will Captain Ackerman be on Eren's team?"

"Concerned, are you?" he said, lightly teasing. She blushed.

"I just notice you haven't assigned him a spot yet."

"Levi is the most dynamic soldier we have. I have to keep his options open to use him any way I need." Erwin looked at the wall, his eyes distant. "I'm thinking of giving him a very specific, very useful assignment."

Petra frowned. "What, sir?"

Erwin shook his head as if to clear it. "I'm still deciding."

"Well." She didn't know if it was her place, but she spoke up anyway. "Maybe the captain should be with the horses."

Erwin gave her a gentle look. "I know it seems the safest place—"

That made her indignant. She wasn't some doe-eyed wife trying to keep her beloved out of the line of fire.

"What I mean is what you said yourself. If the horses are killed, it doesn't matter if you win or not. The Survey Corps will never make it back alive. None of you will. You said you wanted to put the rookies over there so they'd have an easier job."

"Yes." Now he understood what she was saying. He looked rather impressed. "Having a strong deterrent like Levi in play there might scare a direct attack off. We can't know where the attack might head, but… Hmm. I'll make a note of that." He nodded. "Good point, Petra."

"Thank you, sir." She brightened a bit. If she was going to be stuck here waiting for them, she wanted to know she'd helped put them on the best path possible. She flinched as the bells began tolling the hour, striking six.

"Well, why don't we call that for the day? You and Levi have that, er, engagement, don't you?" Erwin asked as Petra rolled up the plans and shelved them. Her stomach lurched. Dinner with her family had never horrified her like this.

"Yes." She glanced at him, almost cringing. "Um, sir? Did the captain mention his 'plan' to you?"

Erwin nodded, lips quirking in amusement. "He did indeed. I should be around at nine o clock on the dot."

Petra gave a sigh of relief. For Levi, meeting a bunch of new people for dinner was a slow form of torture. Under these particular circumstances, it was going to be sheer agony. Petra wanted an escape for him, and also a way to ease her own strain. Erwin would show at nine, telling the captain they had 'an urgent matter' to deal with. Then Levi could get the hell out of there, and Petra could try making her excuses soon after.

"Thank you so much, sir. You've saved a life."

"Lives, probably, if what you've told me about your brother is true." Erwin smiled, and she laughed.

"Yes. Willem's…a lot to deal with. Thank you, sir. Really."

"Petra." He cleared his throat as he carefully put away his desk papers. "You're my aide now. If you'd like the position of squad leader, it's yours." Petra could have fallen down. That would make her the youngest squad leader in the Corps's history. "What I mean to say is, you've achieved a level of seniority. You're allowed to call me Erwin. In fact, I'd prefer you did." He sounded so serious, almost shy.

"Oh! Well, of course, sir. I mean, Erwin!" That was such an odd thing for her to say, the commander's first name. It was almost as strange as when she'd stopped addressing Levi as her captain. She smiled. "It may take some getting used to."

"Thank you. I just feel awkward having Levi's, well, fiancée address me so formally."

"I understand. Anything for the man who's going to save Levi tonight." She finished putting away the plans and stared out the window. She wanted to go to this dinner as much as she wanted to get a tooth pulled. Papa was all right, but everyone else… She wanted to stay here, but she had to get washed and dressed, and she'd have to gently coax Levi outside like a small, angry cat about to be bathed. You just have to do this once. Then you can get married and only see them all again once the baby's born.

It was sort of embarrassing, actually, to think of her whole family sitting at the table staring judgmentally at Petra for getting pregnant before marriage. Honestly, it was pretty stupid. If Willem got someone pregnant, they'd order him to get married, but they wouldn't force him to sit down with the girl and explain himself over dinner.

As far as Petra saw it, people should be treated the same whether they were men or women. Especially when it came to embarrassing situations.

"Are you sure you don't need me to do anything else?" she asked, almost desperately.

"Don't worry. It's one hour, and then it's over," Erwin said. "Go on. And tell Levi if he causes any trouble, he'll have to deal with me."

Petra shook her head. The commander—Erwin—was so kind. She'd heard a lot of talk amongst other soldiers that he was the slipperiest, most clever, most manipulative person in the military. When she'd been assigned as his aide, she'd been terrified that he'd run rings around her, sneer at her ordinary thoughts. But he'd only ever been generous and understanding. Polite. A gentleman.

It was like the people who said Levi was a monster and a thug, wasn't it? When people were jealous of someone, they found a way to drag that person through the mud any way they could.

"Thank you, Erwin."

She laughed a little to see him startle at his name. He looked pleased as she left. Petra hurried back to her room, her stomach writhing in a way that had nothing to do with being pregnant.

She was soaping under her arms and her breasts when Levi came home. He was so wrapped up in his own surly thoughts he scarcely noticed she was half naked. Even when he did, he barely mustered a smile.

"Aren't you changing?" she asked as she toweled off. Petra took out a long blue skirt and a white blouse; if she was going to do this, she was going to look pretty and proud of herself. Levi took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and washed a bit. But as soon as he was done, he put his military jacket back on.

"I want them to remember who I am," he said. He fluffed his cravat. "When I'm in civvies, I look like some sour midget you found in the street."

"That isn't true!" She was horrified, but he shrugged. Petra had learned over the months they'd been together that Levi truly disliked himself. The best part of him, he'd once said, was her. Her and his job. Petra wrangled her arms around his neck and kissed him. "You are the most incredible catch," she whispered.

"Tch." But his ears were burning red again. "Oi. Bring a shawl or something in case it gets cold. We're gonna be late."

They walked through the summer streets, the last pinks of sunset bright in the sky above. Petra smiled; she loved this time of day best in the summer. Twilight hours were warm now, and soft.

"I talked to Erwin," she said. Levi's concerned look spurred her. "He'll be there at nine."

Levi lifted a thin eyebrow. "You're calling him Erwin now?"

"He asked me to. That's all right, isn't it?"

"His name, not mine." Levi snuck his arm around he waist as they turned onto the Kopfhaven avenue. "You look really pretty," he murmured.

"They're going to love you." She hoped. "Remember: my father is Pieter, my mother is Ingrid, my brother's Willem, my sister's Brigitta, and she just married Edvard. He's working as an associate for the Reeves Company now."

"I'm going to forget all this, but sure."

Petra rolled her eyes and snuck a kiss on his cheek. Levi grumbled and made a show of wiping it off, but she felt him squeeze her closer.

"I wouldn't do this for anyone but you, brat."

She believed him. They stopped at 197 Kopfhaven, her sister's new address. Petra gaped in shock; the house was tall, three stories, with a brick front and ivy climbing around the windows.

"Guess ol' Edvard's doing well for himself," Levi grunted. Even he seemed taken aback.

Yes. Brigitta had always been the beauty of the family. It wasn't a shock she'd married well. Petra went up to the white door with the brass lion's head knocker. She rapped twice, then sought Levi's hand as the door opened.

Brigitta stood there in a summery white dress, her light brown hair curled. Her sister's blue eyes seemed to shine, and she smiled.

"There you are! Mama! Papa! Pet's here." Brigitta called over her shoulder, then leaned over and hugged Petra. Her sister smelled like tea roses, her favorite scent. Petra squeezed her back, tight. "I'm so glad you came."

"Well, Papa sort of insisted," Petra whispered. They broke their hug, and Brigitta rolled her eyes.

"Mama told him what to write. He'd never be that cold on his own." True. Pieter Ral was a fuzzy toy bear of a man. He never had a cross word to say to anyone. Finally, Brigitta's gaze landed on Levi. Her mouth formed an O of surprise. "Hello! Oh, you're Captain Ackerman, aren't you?"

"Uh. Yes. Hello." Levi's voice was gravelly, and his words hitched. It was always the small tell that he was nervous. He shook Brigitta's hand fast, then dropped it. "Nice house."

"Well, you haven't seen inside yet! Come in." She stepped back and let Petra and Levi into the front hall. Yes, Petra's sister now had a front hallway. The two of them had grown up in a comfortable little shack. Now Brigitta had polished wood floors, a staircase, and papered walls. Petra could have fainted at the sight as Brigitta shut the door behind them. "Everyone's in the dining room."

Still smiling, Brigitta led them. Levi was staring at her like he'd seen a ghost. Well, the two sisters did look a little alike, in their height, wide eyes, the shape of their nose. Brigitta was just more daintily put together. Honestly, Petra had a hard time believing her sister was only nineteen and already acting like a perfect hostess. Brigitta had always had a social prettiness Petra lacked. But it didn't bother her. In fact, she was feeling quite good.

Until she saw her mother's face, that is.

Petra held her breath when Brigitta led them into a large dining room with candles flickering on the polished table. Petra's whole family was there, but the first person she noticed was her mother. Ingrid stared at her daughter with a look that could best be described as 'disbelieving.' When Petra slipped her hand into Levi's for solidarity, Ingrid's mouth thinned in disapproval.

"So. It's true," she said. Oh, great.

"There's my Pet!"

Petra's awkwardness melted when her father lunged in to give her a hug. Petra couldn't help wrapping her arms around his waist like she had as a child, when she'd tried to see which of them could hug hardest. He always won, of course.

"Hi, Papa." She gestured Levi forward. "This is Captain Ackerman."

"Hi," Levi grunted. He looked like a stiff breeze would knock him straight to the floor. Even shopping for the cradle hadn't been this bad. At least Levi had the presence of mind to extend his hand to shake. "Nice to meet you."

"Hello." Her father smiled at Levi, but it was a stiff smile. In fact, everyone in the room, from her mother to Willem, who was seated and scowling at the table, to Edvard and Brigitta in the corner all looked at him like he was somewhere between a stranger and a creep. Petra decided to get ahead of this.

"First things first." She clutched Levi's arm for support. "The rumors you heard were true. We're going to have a baby."

Willem made a noise.

"We want you all to know that we didn't get, well, together while Levi was my superior officer." Technically they had, but now was not the time for full honesty. "And we wanted to tell you all in person that we were already planning to get married even before we got your letter." She glanced at her mother, who didn't react. Not surprising.

"So…you are getting married, Pet?" Her father sounded hopeful but wary.

"Yes." Petra leaned her cheek against Levi's shoulder; his body was like a plank of petrified wood at this point. "The captain…Levi's part of the family now."

Silence. Utter silence. Petra wondered if maybe this had been a mistake, but then her father beamed and opened his arms.

"That's all I wanted to hear! Captain." Then her father flung his arms around Levi. Petra could not see her lover's face, but she imagined he was frozen in horror.

"Uh. Thank you," he croaked.

"Call me Papa from now on. That's what Edvard does." Papa shook Levi's hand hard enough to wrench it off. Levi's complexion was totally ashen. "All right?"

"Um. Yes." Petra knew he would not.

"My future son-in-law's Humanity's Strongest!" Her father scooped Petra back into an enormous hug. "And the first grandchild's on the way!"

"The circumstances could have been better," Ingrid said sniffily.

"Mama." Brigitta's voice carried a warning.

"I must be the luckiest man behind the walls." Pieter beamed, then clapped Levi hard on the back. The smaller man didn't even react; he was lost in shock. "Sit down, everyone!"

Petra and Levi were seated next to each other. Edvard sat across from Petra, Willem from Levi. Given the filthy looks her older brother was shooting the captain, Petra wished she could swap seats. But too late now. And anyway, they were finally off to a good start. Everyone knew that Levi was going to do his duty now. Petra smiled as Brigitta poured glasses of wine for everyone. Levi wet his lips quickly, then took the wine when it was offered. He nearly swallowed it in a single gulp.

"To family!" Papa beamed as everyone toasted.

"Family," they said. Brigitta smiled at her; Edvard nervously grinned; Papa beamed; Mama's expression was pure ice, and Willem kept staring daggers at Levi. If her lover hadn't been so dumbfounded by the circumstances, he probably would have turned the table over by now.

But it didn't matter. It was all going to be okay. And Petra was certain that Levi was already beginning to enjoy himself a bit.

This was a living nightmare.

Levi snuck a glance at a clock on the wall. He had hoped that it was quarter to nine by now.

The clock read four past eight. Fuck.

While Petra and her sister chatted happily about the parks in Trost or something, Levi took stock of everyone at the table.

Pieter Ral. Nice guy. Way too nice. Levi tried to imagine calling him Papa, and he absolutely could not even picture it. The man was burly, with thinning hair, but he had Petra's coloring exactly. Or rather Petra had his.

Brigitta. She looked like a doll version of Petra, with the same big eyes and petite chin, but also a plumper mouth and perfectly curled hair. Nice kid, and most people would probably consider her the prettier of the two sisters, but Levi didn't like things that were too dainty.

Edvard. Probably a few years older than Petra. A tall, almost lanky guy with an earnest, almost goofy grin. Probably grew up in the merchant trade. He had that soft, overly nice look about him. But the guy smiled and laughed and nodded at what anyone said, which made him easy to get along with, and he also managed the household products line for Reeves, which included cleaning supplies. Levi appreciated that.

Those three were on his side. Levi could tell. If it'd just been them, he maybe would've loosened up. But then there was the other end of the table.

Willem, Petra's older brother, glared at Levi across his plate. Willem had Pieter's height and burly physique, but Brigitta's pale, delicate coloring. Levi didn't feel like bowing his head or looking away from this guy, so he returned Willem empty stare for empty stare. Maybe this guy wanted to avenge the honor of his sister or some other bullshit like that. He gave Levi that impression: the sort of man who thought any woman who had sex had been duped into it like a trusting little lamb. The sort of man who also thought any woman who had sex had 'cheapened' herself.

But Levi had to be good tonight, for Petra's sake.

Then, right next to him and at the head of the table, sat Ingrid. Petra had once mentioned that her mother had been a tailor's daughter. That was a little more prestigious than Pieter, who sold vegetables, and Ingrid apparently had never gotten over the idea that her family deserved better than they had. Now that her youngest daughter had a fancy house, Levi wondered if that'd soften the severe lines bracketing the woman's mouth. But he doubted it.

Ingrid regarded him with eyes so pale blue Levi thought they looked like the glassy eyes of a dead fish. For Petra's sake, he decided not to mention that, but it was tempting.

Neither Willem nor Ingrid seemed to have the slightest damn interest in asking him a question or doing anything other than glaring. Levi looked to Petra, but she was laughing at something Brigitta had said. The two sisters seemed so happy to be together. Levi didn't want to interrupt that, and he also didn't want to pick over his chicken stew and wait for Erwin to get here. Fuck it. He went on the offensive.

"Petra says you're a stall keeper, too. Like your old man," he said to Willem.

"Yep."

Okay, apparently that was all he'd get out of the shaved ape over here.

"So. You like vegetables?"

"Yes." Willem now sounded like he was humoring Levi. Yeah, it was getting a little warm in here. Levi was trying to be good for Petra, but he wasn't so good he'd restrain himself from knocking her bitch of a brother down if—

"How long have you been in the service, Captain?" Ingrid asked. Thank fuck.

"Six and a half years. Nearly."

"Mmm." She daintily ate a piece of chicken. She had the precise moves of some clockwork creature. Fucking creepy. "If you don't mind my asking, what age are you now?"

"Thirty four." He knew where this was going. "I know I'm a little older than Petra—"

"Thirteen years." Willem finally chimed in. Good, he could count.

"But she knows a lot more than I do. She's very experienced." Ingrid and Willem both dropped their forks. Two pale pink dots appeared on Ingrid's cheeks. Oh fuck. "I don't mean like sex," Levi said. Where the fuck is Erwin?

"I'm delighted to hear it." Ingrid dabbed the corners of her mouth. Petra was now laughing with her father. At some point one of the happier people here would notice Levi was roasting in hell and come rescue his ass. "I asked your age because you would have joined at twenty…eight?"

Good, she could count, too. "Yeah."

"That's very late to join the military, isn't it? Particularly the Survey Corps."

He already knew where this was going, but there was no way out. "Yep."

"What was your profession before joining?" Ingrid smiled, ice cold.

Well, Mom, I used to steal shit and break people's bones. Pass the salt.

"I ran my own business," Levi said blandly. He was getting pissed now. These two, one soft and doughy, the other hard as a spike, were glaring at him like he was so beneath them. Levi tried to imagine someone like Willem growing up hungry more often than not, getting the shit kicked out of him, squatting in filth until he wanted to burst into tears. He wondered how ol' Will would've survived.

"Your own business?" Willem drawled. "Like a shopkeeper?"

Levi smirked. When he got pissed, he got loose. He didn't care what these fuckers thought now, and helped himself to more wine.

"I had my own moving company." Levi drank. If you counted Furlan and Isabel as a company, and if by "moving" you meant "moving stuff you stole", then it was true.

"In Trost?" Ingrid took a sip of water.

"No. Up in the capital." Not a lie. None of it was a lie so far. Thank fuck, Petra had finally noticed that her mother and brother were very interested in Levi.

"We're so lucky Levi joined the Corps." She squeezed his hand under the table. "He's the reason so many of us are still alive. He saved me twice."

She beamed at him. This was the reason he was doing this stupid song and dance. The reason he was having a kid he didn't want. The reason for him to draw fucking breath. He squeezed her fingers.

"Did he?" Pieter flushed a bit. He dabbed at his forehead with a napkin. "I'm sorry, but just thinking about you with those titans, those things almost getting you…" He couldn't finish.

"Your daughter's one of the best soldiers I've ever seen." Levi was confident now. He could talk about her good qualities for hours. He looked straight at her as he spoke. Petra was glowing now, her amber eyes so luminous. Levi wished they were alone. "I hand picked her for my squad."

"Now we know why," Willem said to his stew.

"What'd you say?" Levi's good mood vanished at once. Petra squeezed him harder.

"Willem. That's not funny." She smiled when she said it, but she sounded strained.

"Yeah. Good joke," Levi growled. "Of course, if I were you, I wouldn't make jokes about my sister like that."

Petra's hand shook from gripping his so hard.

"Do you have any sisters?" Willem asked.

"Only child."

"That's too bad. Didn't your mother want more?"

Oh, this fucking guy.

"Willem." Brigitta hissed his name.

"My mother died when I was four. My uncle raised me after that." Levi turned away from the weak-chinned wonder and kept talking to Pieter. "Like I was saying. Petra's got the most incredible agility I've ever seen. On the ODM gear, she gives even me a run for—"

"Your father dead, too?" Willem the Fucking Worm asked.

"I don't know."

"Willem. Stop," Petra snapped.

"Will. Hey," Pieter said, as scary as a dollop of whipped cream.

"You don't know? Did he leave early?"

Well, you know what? This guy wanted a show, he was getting one. Levi looked him right in the eye.

"Sorry, guess I need to clear this up. My mother was a prostitute. I don't know who my father is, because he was one of her clients. We guess he was short, considering how I turned out. My uncle, Kenny, was a serial killer in the capital until he joined the Military Police. That's a weird story. I grew up in the underground because my family, the Ackermans, had some bad blood with the crown a hundred or so years ago, and they hunted us down like dogs until a few years back. So my mother, who was the greatest woman in the world, by the way, had to live in the slums any way she could after the police hounded her almost to death. You know, because little teenage girls are such a threat. She died of a disease she got from some filthy John, and my uncle taught me how to kill any people who got in my way. So I spent the first twenty-eight years of my life killing, stealing, and otherwise fucking up shit in the capital's black market. Then Commander Smith from the Survey Corps recruited me, and I started killing fifty foot monsters for a living and otherwise trying to save humanity's ass. Want to know anything else, Will? My favorite color's blue. I like black tea. I cut my own hair. I love your sister, and she's going to have my child, so if there's anything else you need to know about the family bloodline before the next generation shows up, you go ahead and ask. Otherwise, why don't you talk about vegetables for a while?"

For him, it was a gargantuan speech.

Ingrid was so pale he wondered if she'd died while he was talking. Willem was in some kind of trance. Petra's hand was slack in his. On the other side of the table, Pieter looked like he was about to throw up, while Brigitta had her hands to her mouth.

Edvard, the tall, goofy looking guy, finally leapt in.

"So. My boss, Flegel, says you're a big fan of our beeswax polish?"

"Only thing I'll use. I like keeping everything clean."

"Well, that's great! Would you ever consider being a spokesperson for—"

"Believe it or not, you aren't the first to ask."

Then, giggling. Brigitta bent over, her skin turning pink as she howled into her hands. Petra began to shiver; she was laughing, too. The sisters shrieked in delight.

"What exactly—?" Ingrid began.

"Your face. Mama, your face is so…" Brigitta's word got lost in her laughter. Even Edvard started cracking up. Levi didn't warm to people easily, but he got the feeling he'd like this guy.

Petra smiled at him. He had not embarrassed her. In that case, he had nothing to fear.

"But, Captain," Pieter said when the hysterics had died down. He frowned. "I want you to know that we don't judge where you came from." Pieter even glared at his son, and for Pieter Ral to glare meant a line had been crossed. "In fact, I think it's very admirable that someone whose background is as…rough as yours became such an upright man."

"Exactly." Petra squeezed his arm. "Levi's really the best man in the world."

Well, shit. Now he was getting embarrassed. He also adored Petra and wanted to get her out of this room so they could have hot, sweaty sex. It was a strange combination of emotions.

But overall, he felt much better.

"Well. I'm not sure anyone who seduces a young girl and gets her pregnant out of wedlock is that upright," Ingrid said to her wine. So the passive aggressive bullshit hadn't worked, and she was switching tactics, going for the jugular. Levi could respect that.

"Ingrid. Stop." Pieter sounded firm now. Well, hot shit.

"I seduced Levi, actually." Petra grinned to see Levi flush. Ah, fuck. "I had to chase him around to get him to confess he liked me."

"Is that something you want to admit?" Ingrid sounded appalled.

"Yep. Because he makes me so happy I sometimes think it'll make my heart stop." Petra was now glaring at her mother. Levi went between feeling proud and wanting to walk out of the room until they were done embarrassing him.

"That's all anyone should want for you, Pet," Brigitta said.

Maybe when the kid was born, they could have family get togethers with Brigitta, Edvard, and have Pieter come down. Maybe they could also stick Ingrid and Willem in a fucking sack and throw them in the river, though that seemed less likely.

Pieter cleared his throat as he picked at his stew. "So. You two set a date for the wedding yet?"

Right. The wedding.

"We haven't." Petra looked at him, smiling. "Did you have any thoughts?"

"You should do it next month." Brigitta grinned, almost bouncing in her seat. "August weddings are so pretty. We could do it in Calaneth! We could ride out to that lake we used to visit as kids and have the ceremony on the shore."

"You don't marry by a lake, Brigitta. You marry in a church," Ingrid said, though her hyper-bitchery had gone down a notch now that everyone'd put her in her place.

"Levi, what do you think?" Brigitta asked.

"Uh. Sure," Levi said. "Whatever Petra wants."

Apparently that was the thing to say to make women like you, because Brigitta looked at him with starry eyes. She clasped her hands to her breast and cooed at her husband.

Petra cleared her throat. "Well, I was thinking of doing it next week."

"What's the rush?" Pieter asked. He chortled and winked at Levi. "I mean, there's a ticking clock, but it's not that far along, is it?"

"Levi and the Survey Corps have a…" Petra stopped talking when Levi gripped her thigh. The mission to Shiganshina was a secret. They didn't want to get the people's hopes up. "The monthly expedition," she said. Good. "Levi will be fine, since it's just routine. But we'd like to make it official before he goes."

Just in case I die. That way the kid won't be a bastard.

"Well, that's prudent." Pieter smiled. "Maybe Mama and I could stick around for—"

"We can't be away from your stall an entire week," Ingrid said primly. Willem sniffed.

"Same here."

No one invited you, fuckhead.

"Oh. Well." Pieter's face fell. Levi liked this guy so much and so unexpectedly that he grumbled.

"I mean. We could do another ceremony for your family up in Calaneth when I get back, if you want."

For him to offer to make a semi-public exhibition of himself was a huge sacrifice, and Petra knew it. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. Levi's face burned.

"You are so sweet, Captain!" Brigitta said. He saw her mouth 'I love him' to her husband. Nice to be loved.

"Let's toast to that." Pieter filled another glass of wine—this might've been his third. He held it up and the rest of the table lifted, minus Willem and Ingrid. Of fucking course. "To my baby girl and my future son in law." They toasted. Levi drank in one large gulp. He didn't get drunk, but it was something to do. "Now then. Do you both have baby names picked out yet?"

"We were thinking Erwin if it's a boy," Petra said. She squeezed Levi's thigh under the table. It was a squeeze that said thank you and I love you and hopefully I am going to do anything you want later tonight when we get home. "We don't know what we'll call it if it's a girl."

"Erwin?" Willem sounded shocked. "What about Papa's name? Or even your uncle's? He at least was family," Willem said to Levi.

"Since my uncle was an abusive murderer, not so sure the world needs another Kenny Ackerman running around anytime soon." Levi had complex feelings for Kenny, though a lot of his anger had dissipated after the man's death. Still, there was forgiveness and then there was forgetting shit. Levi didn't do the latter.

"Erwin's for the commander," Petra said. "He's the reason Levi and I met, if you think about it."

"Who wouldn't want to commemorate that?" Ingrid muttered.

"What was your mother's name, Levi?" Pieter asked.

He hadn't even considered it. His mother, forever young and lovely and sad in his memories, holding him and crying with joy that he even existed.

"Kuchel," he said quietly. Yeah. Maybe if it was a girl…

"That'd be lovely." He smiled. Damn, Levi liked this guy way too much.

"But yeah. Erwin for a boy," Levi agreed. "He's the best man I know."

They ate quietly for a bit. Thank fuck. The clock ticked on, and Levi now saw with gratitude that it was more than half past. Getting closer…

Erwin, if you show up early I'll name it after you even if it's a girl.

"So you're getting married next week, before Levi goes," Brigitta said. She smiled. "I know this'll sound bad, Pet, but I'm so glad you're pregnant because now you won't have to go…out there."

Hey, Levi understood the feeling. Petra nodded.

"I wish I could go. I won't lie. But I know it helps Levi focus when he doesn't have to worry about me."

"That's right," he said, studying the girl's profile. She was so pretty in candlelight. Or in sunlight. Or when it was pitch dark. "She'll be off expeditions for at least a year, maybe more. I'm happy."

"Well, knowing she was with you always set my mind at ease," Pieter said.

"Levi's saved so many of us over the years," Petra said. Her gaze softened. "One time, about a year ago, he cut Oruo out of a titan's hand. Oruo was so relieved. He said—"

"Too bad he wasn't there for Oruo in May," Willem said.

Pieter dropped his fork. Brigitta put her elbows on the table and laid her head in her hands. Petra's color vanished; her lips were pale.

"What. Did you. Say?" she whispered. Her amber eyes, fresh as sunlight, now burned like fire. Levi gripped her thigh, tried to communicate to calm down. But she was trembling under his touch.

"I'm not an idiot, Petra. Oruo died, the same as your whole squad." Willem glared at Levi. "The captain couldn't save them."

He had passed over them after the Female Titan rampaged through the forest. He'd passed Gunther; his heart had fractured. He'd seen Eld, bitten in half on the grass; his vision had blurred. He'd found Nifa shattered against that tree, and Oruo lying not far from her, every bone in his body crushed from where that titan bitch had struck him.

If Levi had been a normal man, he would have sobbed. He'd always liked Nifa, but the guys had been on his team for years. He wasn't a proper squad leader—Levi tended to keep a distance from his subordinates, pop in and out of other units. It was the reason he'd retained the title of captain, never squad leader. But while Petra had consumed his desire, he had loved those guys. Gunther's quiet and good sense and maturity had been much needed after the youthful shouting of the other three. Eld had been Levi's right hand, the one to whom Levi taught all his best moves, since only that young man had the right combination of strength and savvy. And Oruo…Levi had been competitive with the kid, jealous that Petra was so natural with Oruo, but he had admired the guy's sheer nerve.

Levi had not realized, until he'd seen his kids broken at his feet, how much he'd loved them, too.

The world around him started to turn hot white with rage.

"How dare you." Petra started to rise. "How fucking dare you."

"Petra. Watch your tongue," Ingrid said. Petra looked about ready to scream at her mother.

"It's all right," Levi whispered. "Baby. I've got this."

She sat down hard, tears welling in her eyes. Brigitta was crying, too, but Levi got the feeling it was because the girl was mourning the sad loss of a childhood friend. Petra was ready to kill her brother.

"I know you don't like me," Levi said to Willem. He was so cool now. Cold, even. He had nothing left to care about with this fucker. "I didn't want to say this for your sister's sake, but I don't like you much, either. And I know some guy who sits comfortable at home and lets other young men go out and kill themselves for freedom won't understand what it's like outside the walls. But take it from me. Oruo and the others were the bravest men I've ever fucking known." His voice was cold acid. "I couldn't save them. I had to be somewhere else when they died. And there isn't a goddamn night that passes that I don't wish I could've made it in time, but if I sit there and stew in regrets I'm going to mess up the next time I go outside the walls. More people will die if I do that. I wish to hell that Oruo could be here tonight. I knew him; he'd have punched your fucking nose in twenty minutes ago. He was a good guy." Levi narrowed his eyes. "And if you ever, ever try to get at me by using his death or disrespecting his memory again, I'll do what he would've done if he were here. So shut the hell up."

"If Petra had been there, she would've died, too," Willem said. He smirked. "You couldn't have saved her, either."

"You fucking—" Petra barked. Levi cut in.

"Then isn't it real fucking good that I got her pregnant?"

Pieter pushed back his chair. He was shaking now; his eyes were teary like Petra's.

"Get out of here," he said. To Willem. The young man's face fell.

"Papa!"

"Pieter!" Ingrid cried.

"How could you say something like that tonight? How?"

"Are we just going to sit here and pretend that we didn't all want Petra and Oruo to get married and stay in Calaneth?" Willem was indignant. Ingrid murmured her assent. Fuck her, too. Willem nodded at Levi. "You know what happened? She saw you when she was fifteen, and she got all these fancy ideas into her head. Then she went off and joined the army and dragged Oruo with her, and he's dead now because of that! Because of you!"

Levi wanted to kick the shit out of this man. But Petra beat him to it.

As Levi watched, amazed, she got onto her chair, then stepped onto the table, then literally tackled her older brother. Willem shrieked as his chair pitched back; Levi heard him howl as he collapsed to the floor. The walls shook. Brigitta screamed. Somewhere, a dish fell and cracked. Levi got to his feet, gaping in amazement.

Petra was out of her mind.

She was so fucking sexy.

She stomped at her brother as he crawled across the floor. Ingrid shrieked and screamed while Brigitta just sat down and laid her head on the table. Pieter made a bunch of nonsense noises that he probably hoped would be words.

And Petra let Willem have it.

"You nasty…little…bastard!" She chased him as he got up and bolted towards his father, probably for safety. Petra grabbed him by the back of his collar and brought him to the floor again. The guy landed with a thud and an oof and a curse. "Oruo was worth twenty of you! How dare you? I ought to break your ass open!"

Yep, she'd learned from Levi. Pretty decent profanity.

"Mama! Papa!" Willem howled as Petra whacked him hard across the ears. Levi knew that move. It hurt.

"You're just a jealous, nasty little slug! You…stupid…" Petra whacked and whacked.

"Stop, you're pregnant!" Brigitta screamed. Yep, this was Levi's cue. He stepped behind her and lifted his spirited girl off her brother. Petra struggled against him, but his arms were iron around her.

"Think about the kid. Think about Brigitta and your dad," he murmured. Petra cooled down, though she still snarled at Willem when he got off the floor.

"This is what happens when you join the military," Ingrid sobbed. "It makes you coarse. She was never like this as a child!"

"Yes she was, Mama." Brigitta rolled her eyes. "You just didn't want to notice."

Willem huddled behind his father while Pieter continued to stare at his family, all of whom had gone from happy to murderous in thirty seconds. Willem pointed at Petra.

"You're just crazy because you're pregnant."

Well, rest in peace, Willem.

"You're just jealous because I had sex!" Petra shouted. Levi closed his eyes. Oh, he would kill for a titan attack about now. "Because Levi and I have lots and lots of great sex! Amazing sex!"

Levi caught Pieter's eye. He shrugged; Pieter looked away.

"Petra. Calm down, maybe," Levi whispered.

"We have better sex than anyone else in this room!"

Edvard chortled. "Wellll, I don't mean to be indelicate, but Brigitta and I don't just play tiddlywinks in the evening." Then, he blushed. "Oh. Sorry, too much information."

Brigitta got up and left. Maybe she was going to the kitchen. Hopefully she was moving to another city and changing her name.

A knock came at the front door.

"I'll get it." Levi set Petra down and walked out of the room.

"It's not his house," he heard Ingrid say.

Brigitta had beaten Levi to the front door, so he stood behind her when she opened and found Erwin Smith standing on the doorstep. It was just nine, and the summer dark was absolute. The cicadas were singing; the streets of town were still active. All nice on its own, but with Erwin here to get Levi the fuck out of this madhouse, it was the best, sweetest evening in the world.

"Hello! Can I help you?" Brigitta asked.

"Erwin. Thank fuck. Let's go," Levi said.

"Oh! Erwin Smith." Brigitta smiled; she looked understandably relieved Levi was going. "It's really, really good that you're here."

"I'll get my coat," Levi said.

"Levi." Erwin wore a strained look. His mouth turned down. "I'm sorry."

"Huh? What're you talking about?"

"Leeeeeviiiii!"

Hange catapulted into the house, grabbing Levi by the arm and dragging him for the door. She'd come out of nowhere from behind Erwin, like a demon.

"What the fuck? Let go!"

"I'm sorry," Erwin said again. "I mentioned to her where I was going."

"It's time," Hange said, throwing up one arm with flourish.

"For what? For me to finally fucking kill you?" She laughed like what he'd said was in any way a joke.

"It's your bachelor party!" She grinned, her eyes glinting with madness. "Erwin told me you two were getting married! Why didn't you tell me?" Hange pouted.

Levi looked at Erwin with deadly rage. Brigitta glanced back and forth between them, as if trying to work out what had just happened.

"I'm not naming a girl after you now," Levi growled.

"I understand," Erwin said. Then, "Wait, what?"