I'm always having ideas for new fanfictions. Always, I mean it. I had a few these last couple of days, but sadly most of them were used. Except for one, the prized one, and I liked it so much that I decided to transform it into its own story instead of featuring it here. I have about 14k words written so far, though the chapters are rather short. I really wish I had the skill to write long chapters; on Friday I finished reading a fanfic in which one of the chapters had 16k words. That's a lot.

Well, I'll not be publishing it until I have enough things planned and more free time. I should be working on the assignment I have to turn in on the 23rd. Yes, I'm digging my own grave.

Still, tho, I hope you like what we have here

Casual Affair (Office!AU): The Beggining, Devil Of A Boss, Cancelled Plans, Confessions

The Baby: Failed Attempt, Another Try, Silence, Assurances, Truth

Icaurus: Found, Awake

XII: The Baby

V: Another Try

Mikasa stood before the full body mirror, turning this way and that as her hands prodded gently at her still flat stomach. Thankful that she was alone in the shared bathroom and that her pregnancy had not begun to show, she stripped down the last of her clothes and set them aside messily folded and made a mental note to do the laundry as soon as possible. Turning on the knob, she stood under the warm falling water for a handful of seconds, just breathing in and out, trying to settle her nerves down, before lathering her body and hair.

Levi had left on a mission two weeks ago and would not return for another seven days. That gave her enough time to prepare herself and think of something to say, but her mind always came up blank. She was starting to suspect that Armin noticed her strange behavior, but thankfully his glances were never accompanied by concerned questions. It was better this way; if he or anyone else started asking too many things, she would surely panic and snap.

She was certain, however, that if things became too difficult and she could not break the news to him soon, she could confide in Armin. He would give her helpful advice and would aid her; he would most likely drag Hanji into it – she was the closest thing they had to a medic, after all – and maybe the scientist would keep it quiet. Eren would be kept in the dark, preferably, until all the dust settled and everything was resolved. If he were to know, he would start fussing over her and it would be impossible to hide what was going on.

The cool hallways of the headquarters were empty and only dimly lighted. Mikasa ventured though the penumbra with quiet strides, bottom lip caught between her teeth as she began overthinking once again, never being able to give herself some rest from this routine. As she came to a stop where two hallways overlapped and glanced to the left, where the sleeping quarters of the superiors were located, she took in a deep breath to settle herself before going to opposite direction towards her own room. She slipped into her room and closed the door behind her, thankful that Sasha and Historia were filling gaps in another squad and were sent for a short mission, leaving her with the room only to herself.

The sight of a lit candle that was set beside her bed told her that she was not as alone as she had hoped.

He was there, sitting on the mattress, jacket and boots off, first few buttons of his shirt undone and his cravat was nowhere in sight. Whatever tension that had left her body during her shower returned at full force, locking her muscles into place and throwing her heart into a frenzied rhythm. Mikasa tried to act as casual as possible as she carefully paced around the room, set the dirty laundry in a basket by the corner and returned her boots to where they belonged, and finally walked in his direction, giving him a small, confused smile.

"I thought you'd only come back in a week?"

Levi hummed, settling his palms over her hips and pulling her closer. "So did I, but I'm glad I'm back." With a slight smirk, he tugged her to his lap and wrapped an arm around her waist. He always did that whenever a chance presented itself. "Wouldn't want to have you around Kirstein without me around."

She rolled her eyes, lightly tugging on the longer locks behind his head. "As if he'd ever try anything." His nose pressed to the side of her neck and she shivered, fisting a handful of dark hair instead. "Besides, I think he's interested in someone else."

"Oh yeah?" His breath fanned her ear as she spoke, and he chuckled when she scrunched her shoulder up and quivered beneath his hands again.

"Yeah," her pursed lips pressed to his mouth only for a brief moment. "When did you arrive?"

"Just now." He rolled his shoulders to relieve some of the tension, and she shifted away from him in favor of kneeling behind him on the mattress, her fingers working on the tight knots of his muscles. A sigh between a blissful sigh and a groan escaped him, and his spine curved forward as he allowed his body to relax. "Reported to Erwin and all that, found out that your roommates were gone..."

Mikasa hummed, feeling her heart palpitating in her chest. "And you decided to make a surprise visit?"

Levi nodded, and she hoped he would not notice the way her fingers were quivering again. If he decided to go through with his plans, she did not think she would be able to get out of it this time, and while she honestly missed the intimate times they spent together, Mikasa would rather clear things up first. "I was thinking you'd be asleep by now. You weren't, so I guessed we could do something, but then I almost dozed off."

Relief washed over her features. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her chest to his back, reaching from over his shoulder to peck his cheek lightly. "Wouldn't want to have you passing out on top of me during sex."

A short chuckle left his mouth and his fingers grasped her hands softly, rubbing circles on her skin. "I wouldn't, either. You'd call me an old man and dump my ass so you could have your way with Kirstein. Or worse, Springer."

She hummed as if deep in thought, furrowing her brows for an extra pinch of acting, despite the fact that he could not see her face clearly. "You're right," her fingertips drummed arrhythmically on his chest as she drawled the words out. "I should definitely dump you and go for Jean instead."

Soon she was on her back, stifling her laughter, and he hovered over her with a mocking scowl on his face. "What was that about him having eyes in someone? Someone that isn't mine," he stressed that word by nipping the sensitive skin of her neck, "that is?"

Mikasa gazed into his eyes, her unwavering smile still in place, but her head was filled with a roar so loud that it buzzed in her ears. He lowered his head to tug on her bottom lip again, and just as she thought her heart would fail her in that moment, Levi rolled over to lie on his side, pulling her close to his chest and burying his nose in her dark locks. Her fingers loosely grasped the front of his shirt as she allowed her senses to slow down until her ears were clear of any noise and her blood had ceased thrumming so fervently in her veins.

"Sorry," he apologized lamely, face still hidden in her hair. "We rode for hours; I don't think my body can keep up with my mood."

Her lips quirked up. "It's okay," hands snaking around his torso, she squeezed herself closer to him. "I'm kinda tired, too."

A low, tired hum rumbled in his chest and he sighed. "I wish I could stay here like this."

"Me too," she replied sincerely and closed her eyes.

She must have fallen asleep, she figured. Levi was used to sleeping only two, three hours on good nights, and when he was truly exhausted, he could sleep up to five hours. If he had been so tired that they both shared a bed together for something other than sex, his internal clock woke him up long before she or anyone else would awaken, and thus he left her room to return to his. Still, Mikasa opened her eyes to find herself lying comfortably on her mattress, hair sprawled on her pillow and thin sheets up to her chest.