Protection

Disclaimer: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin

Summary: "I'll be with you no matter what." [Rivetra Week Day 8]

Levi handed over the cash. "Keep the change."

The florist smiled, thanking him.

He sniffed the bouquet and walked down the street with a skip in his step. Levi was in a great mood. Work had been great, it was a balmy evening, and he was planning to surprise his girlfriend with dinner from a new restaurant that had opened around the corner from their place.

"Hey." Levi leaned in to kiss her cheek. "I didn't know you'd be home now." He handed her the bouquet. "Yellow tulips, the florist told me they meant 'sunshine in your smile.' Cheesy, I know, but I'm in the mood."

Petra took the bouquet without a word.

He wrapped his arms around her waist. "I was planning to order out from that new Greek place and have it all set up before you came home, but we can go out to dinner now."

Petra hummed distractedly as she stroked the soft yellow petal.

His brow creased in worry. "What's wrong?"

"I'm home now because I got sick at work."

The smile was immediately replaced by a look of concern. He pulled her to the couch, one arm still wrapped around her waist, the other hand on her forehead. "Are you sick?" Worry gnawed at his stomach. His mind immediately jumped to cancer.

Petra bit her lip, removing his hand and taking it between hers. "Um, yeah. Look, there's something I have to tell you."

"Okay," he said, heart racing in fear.

"I missed my period."

"W-What?" His eyes widened, unable to fully comprehend.

"I thought it was just late, it's happened before so I ignored it. But it's been weeks and I haven't been feeling well and I got sick today and—" She stopped suddenly.

The relief Levi felt was immense. If something happened to her… He didn't even want to think about it. And then it hit him. "Are you pregnant?"

"I don't know." Petra exhaled. "I haven't taken the test yet." She nodded to the white plastic bag on the table. He picked it up and pulled out the white and blue box. "I was too scared to do it alone."

"Okay." He nodded. "Okay." Levi held it out to her. "I'm right here." Unplanned pregnancy he could deal with. He had fantasized about having a family with her eventually. They were doing well, they were pretty stable, financially and emotionally. The responsibility weighed heavily, but if she wanted it, he could do it, they could do it.

Petra accepted the box and stood.

"I'll be right here," Levi encouraged.

They waited nervously.

"It'll be okay." Levi squeezed her hand. "We'll be fine."

"What if I'm pregnant?" Petra asked in worry.

"We'll figure it out," he assured her. "I'll be with you no matter what."

"I don't know if I'm ready to have a baby. I mean eventually, sure, but right now? How did this happen? We were so careful. We've always used protection. I don't get it!" She said in frustration.

"Condoms break, it happens." Levi rubbed her shoulder.

Petra buried her face in his neck. "I really didn't want to be pregnant like this."

"How did you want it?" He asked curiously.

"We'd be married, have a house, and a dog. Children are expensive and I don't want ours to be deprived of anything."

Levi kissed her hair. "Yeah, that's a great picture."

Petra pulled away and looked up at him with her wide amber eyes, full of anxiety. "What if I'm pregnant? What if I don't want it?"

He took her face into his hands, an understanding expression on his face. "If you want to keep it, I'd love to raise a baby with you. If you don't, I'm still with you."

"That doesn't really help me make a decision."

"You might not even be pregnant."

Petra sighed. "I hope not."

"We'll figure it out if you are. Now c'mon, it should be done by now."

"Just give me one more minute." She held him tightly.

They returned to the bathroom where the small stick lay innocuously on the countertop. Two bars.

Positive.

"Good morning." Levi sat by her bedside. Petra groaned under the covers. "C'mon." He pulled her up into a sitting position. "The doctor's appointment is in an hour."

Petra shoved off the sheets. "I don't wanna."

"We gotta know for sure."

She buried her face into her hands, rubbing it and running her fingers through her hair. "I don't want to deal with this."

"We're dealing with it, you're not alone."

Petra smiled, leaning forward and kissing him. "I love you."

"Love you, too, morning breath." She shoved him. "Let's go." With a smile, he took her hands, helping her to her feet.

An hour later, they sat in the waiting room. A nurse called out Petra's name. Levi gave her a reassuring look as she left. He tapped his foot impatiently while he waited. His mind raced. If Petra was pregnant and they were keeping the baby, there were so many things he had to think of and do.

"We'll know for sure in two days," Petra said when she returned.

Three days later, they found themselves sitting in the living room, a white envelope on the table.

Levi spoke first. "We will—"

"I haven't been able to focus in days." Petra snatched it up and tore it open.

He leaned in and they read the results together.

"Not pregnant!" Petra said in relief. She threw her arms around his neck in excitement.

Levi hugged her tightly. He chuckled when she gave him a kiss. "I hope you're more excited when we are having a baby."

"I will be! But not now! Because I'm not pregnant!" Petra sighed and snuggled into him.

"It was a false positive."

"Yeah, the report says nothing's wrong so we must have left the test sitting too long," she said. Likely stress and overworking had caused her to skip her period and made her ill. She mentally vowed to lessen her hours. Although as scary as the experience had been, she was happy Levi had handled it so well, much better than her.

"This made me realize something," Levi began.

"What?"

"I think we're ready for the next step in our relationship."

Petra looked up at him curiously.

"Now about that dog you mentioned."

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