After moving from the rendezvous house back to the Trost barracks the next morning, the next few days were probably when I had some of the best sleep of my life. There was no immediate threat to the Walls, the government had been overthrown and replaced by one free of corruption, and my Special Operations team was back together again. As the Doc finally got some well earned rest and looked after Linda, the rest of us got busy cleaning out the place. Since Pastor Nick had been killed back when we had him in custody in the Trost barracks, the MP had went ham on the place. There was debris every where and layers of dust had collected on top of everything since the Corps had been captured. Linda had the time to write an update letter to Erwin, since Steve and I had lost track of the days before we realised the Commander was in the dark about our rescue trip. However, we mainly rested ourselves and after all we had been through, I wanted the team to do nothing more.

2 weeks had passed before the Doc finally gave Linda the okay to move. She had strict orders to not put any pressure on it but it had healed enough that her muscles wouldn't tear if it got bumped around a bit. Taking that as a cue, I declared we would leave the next day. So now here we were, riding back into Wall Rose towards our old Survey Corps HeadQuarters. Steve and I rode back on our own horses, while the rest of the team were gathered in the following horse and cart.

"Penny for your thoughts, Leader?"

I blinked out of my daydream and glanced over at Steve as he rode beside me. He waited as I slowly gathered my thoughts, absentmindedly running a hand through Streak's mane.

"Just trying to figure out what to do once we get back."

"As in?"

I sighed as my train of thought flooded out.

"Well, Linda will still be healing for a while longer. I'm going to force the rest of the team to ease back into normal civilisation for a few days before anything drastic is done. Then there's that event that Erwin invited me to attend-"

"-are you going?"

I chuckled and shook my head.

"Hell no."

"You can't go against the Commander, Hazura."

"Nothing is set yet. He extended the invitation to me, rather than order me to go, so currently it stands that I have a choice in this. Besides, every one knows I'm not the best nor very keen on swimming in political affairs."

"Your stunt in the MPs might make you more desirable to be present."

"if you won't remind him, I won't either."

"Squad leader."

I averted my eyes from Steve and focused on the road ahead. "Look, from what the Commander wrote in his letter, it just looks like a fancy social event for Historia to be acquainted to the richer families in Sina and for the higher-up militaries to get to know the players. Knowing Historia, it'll be more like forcing the rich to acknowledge her royal bloodline, whether they like it or not."

"That's a good thing?"

"Definitely. The Scouting Legions have the full support of the Queen – which is more than we've ever received from the previous monarch."

"Finally!"

Steve and I looked up at Brian's exclamation to see the glorious Survey Corps headquarters loom up in the distance.

"Oh thank God." I muttered in relief as the rest of the team began cheering. Home sweet home.

As we grew closer, we passed the usual training forest ground and I could hear the familiar whizz of 3DMG among the trees. My mind wandered to how the 104th squad was doing. After all, for such young officers they had been to hell and back.

"Go, Hazura."

I blinked out of my daze again and moved my gaze to Soph. She waved a hand dismissively.

"I can tell just by your face that you want to ensure the 104th cadets are okay. Go take a quick check in the forest and we'll meet you in the barracks later. I'm sure Commander Erwin can wait an extra few minutes."

I chuckled and saluted briefly, nudging Streak towards the forest.

"You know me too well, Soph. If the Commander asks, I'll be right in!"

Taking the new course, Streak and I trotted through the trees and shrubs. As expected, it was now late afternoon but the squads were still training as hard as ever. Many friendly faces grinned at me as I passed through, waving wildly if they personally knew me. However, there were many fresh faces. Looked like Erwin had been busy recruiting while I was gone.

"Squad leader Hazura!"

"Eren!" I called out, waving to the Titan-shifter up in the trees. "Glad to see you're safe and sound!"

"You too! Where's the rest of your squad?"

"They've gone to rest first. Thought I'd catch you 104th in here and make sure you're all okay."

"Thank you for your concern, Squadron Leader." A quiet voice interjected.

"Armin! Mikasa! Good to see you both too! Still cleaning through the rest of the team, Mikasa?"

She nodded silently in response, a tinge of a smile on her face. I laughed.

"As expected."

"Oi brats – get back to training or it's five more laps around the dirt track for you." Interrupted a familiar voice. My eyes widened at the tone.

"Yes sir!" with three quick waves, the cadets zoomed off back into the forest.

"Always one for a dramatic entrance, aren't you Levi?" I moved my gaze across to the next tree over, immediately spotting the Captain casually leaning against the trunk. He remained silent at the joke, just staring at me leisurely. I locked eyes with the man and as cheesy as it sounds, felt my heart relax at the sight of him. All the tension and stress from the last few weeks melted away to the back of my brain. He crossed his arms and tilted his head.

"Welcome back."

I smiled gently at the greeting.

"I'm home."