Levi traveled to Wall Sina to visit Claire's old home not long after her death. He had dressed in his most formal attire due to the high-class area. As the carriage reached her house, a man in a uniform opened the door for him. Levi walked to the door at the front of the massive house before knocking twice on the hard wood. A servant, he had recognized as one close to Claire, greeted him at the door. He took him to Mr. and Mrs. Durant in the office.

"Sir, Ma'am, Levi is here" he announced as they entered before allowing him to pass.

At the sound of Levi's name, the couple stood.

"Levi!" Elizabeth nearly shouted before running over to meet him and embracing him in a hug, "I heard about Claire. I'm so sorry"

"No, I am. It's my fault she's not here now" Levi replied, his face as straight as ever as he let go of the elder woman, "I came here to discuss a note I found among Claire's things that had been addressed to me"

"A note? Do you have it?" she asked, staring curiously at the man.

"I do" he replied before pulling a wrinkled, water blotted piece of paper out of his jacket pocket and handing it to her.

She examined it to see it had been dated to eight years prior. She hesitated a moment before reading it quietly to herself.

"Dear Levi,

It's been so long since I last saw you. Almost two years now. Where have you been? I went down to visit you not long ago, but your house was empty and covered in an inch of dust. I found it unlikely that you had been there anytime recently. There's something I need to tell you. The night of my seventeenth birthday when you woke up in my bed, it happened. We did do it. I got pregnant and have had a child. I've named her Lilliane, or Lilly for short. I haven't ever asked for your last name, so I haven't the slightest idea what it is and until you've met her and are willing to give her your name, she'll go by Durant. I don't know if I'll tell her about you yet, or when I will if I decide to. I want her to grow up a normal life, one apart from feeling abandoned, because that is the exact opposite of what happened. I love you, Levi. I hope to see you again soon.

In anticipation of your valued response, Claire Durant"

"Did she ever get the chance to tell you in person?" Elizabeth asked, handing the note back to him.

He took it from her and put it back into his pocket before responding, "That she loved me, yes. About our daughter, no. I believe she tried to tell me the night before she died, but we ended up getting interrupted and she never got to finish her sentence"

Elizabeth nodded before signaling a servant over and asking them to go get Lilly. She then ushered Levi and James take a seat by the coffee table while they waited. Not long after, a young girl was escorted in by the same servant as before. Levi immediately stood upon seeing her. She reminded him of Claire the way her long wavy brown hair fell upon her shoulders. She had inherited his eye color, but she wore them much more gracefully than he.

"You wished you see me?" she asked, her hands folding timidly in front of her as she saw Levi.

"Yes, dear, this is Lance Corporal Levi of the Scouting Regiment" James told her.

Levi walked closer to the girl, staring intently at her. As he reached in front of her, he kneeled before taking her hand and placing a gentler kiss on the knuckles, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lilly. You look very much like your mother" he told her, admiring the same light brown hair and face shape of Claire. The thought of her brought tears to his eyes.

"I don't look like Mama, she had brown eyes, I only have grey eyes" the girl retorted.

"I think your eyes are very beautiful" he replied, giving her a small, barely noticeable smile.

"Did you know my Mama?" she asked, her voice showing the curiosity that retained inside her.

"Yes, I did. She and I were very good friends long before you were ever born" he answered.

"Lilly, this man is your father" Elizabeth informed the young girl.

Lilly smiled brightly, "Really? Oh! I've wanted to meet you for so long now" she cried, jumping into his arms, "Mama spoke about you often"

"She did?" Levi asked, slightly surprised, as she pulled away.

"Mhmm, she said you were strong and smart and always able to keep a cool head in a tough situation" Lilly explained, giggling lightly at her next words, "She also said you like to clean a lot"

"She's correct. I do like my place tidy, and find clean things to be better than dirty"

Soon after, Levi and Lilly left the elder couple and walked out to the garden. Elizabeth and James could see from the window as Lilly tried to climb a tree and how Levi lifted her higher so she could reach the bottom branch. It was calming to see them become acquainted with each other.

"How often do you think he'll visit?" Elizabeth asked her husband as they watched the two of them play and get along.

"Probably as often as he visited Claire when she was young" he replied, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her close into a side hug.

"Things are different then they were then. Then all he had to do was have enough money to go to the surface. This time he'll have to find time in his busy schedule to come visit"

"He'll make a way, my Dear. He always has" he replied, kissing her forehead.

Levi stayed until evening when the sun was beginning to set. He bid adieu to the Durant's and his new found daughter, promising to visit as soon as he could, before leaving them and heading to the Scouting barracks inside Wall Rose. He said nothing when he got there. Seeing his daughter had reminded him of Claire, causing him to fall into a state of depression. Inside his room, he reached into the pocket of his Scouting jacket, pulling out the broken locket that he had found the day Claire had gotten kidnapped. He had forgotten to give back to her that day. A part of himself wished he had, but another was glad he hadn't. If he had, it would've surely melted by the heat inside the Titan. Levi clutched the necklace in his hand, holding it tight to his chest as if this one movement, this one action could bring Claire back.

"No matter what happens, I will always be with you"

Her sweet words, her voice echoed through his ears,

"I'll love you forever!"

"Brat, you broke your promise" he whispered to no one.

Over the next week the entire legion noticed the major relapse Levi went through. It didn't surprise them either. Levi stayed to himself most of the time and spoke even less than before. He sat alone at meals or skipped them completely. His sleeping habits also altered. He went from six hours a night to only two or three and he began to distance himself from others. It was hard to watch him so hurt, even if he didn't show it directly.

"You should eat" Erwin stated, sitting down next to the short man as he sat holding his tea in his hands. He was staring down and his depression had become very noticeable, despite him trying his hardest to hide it.

"I'm not hungry" he replied coldly, bringing the cup up to his lips, letting it linger for a moment before setting it back down, having not taken a drink, and dropping his head once again.

"I know it's hard, Levi, but you have to get over this. You can't stay like this forever" he tried, glancing over at him.

Levi said nothing. He couldn't. He knew if he opened his mouth to speak, his words would falter, making a fool of himself. He couldn't show that kind of weakness around them. However, despite the pride he held, that weakness was beginning to show.

"I know she was close to you, she had formed a soft spot in all of us" Erwin began, "But, I know she wouldn't want you to despair after her death"

Levi quickly stood at those words. They were going too far. How would he know what she'd want? Levi silently walked out of the room before walking to his own. He sat down on his bed, knowing that what Erwin had said was true. He knew that the bright, bubbly girl he had known would scold him if she were here right now. She'd rebuke him for letting himself get to where he had. She'd tell him to stop this nonsense and get back to work.

It was all true...He knew it too.

Levi didn't sleep at all that night, but instead spent his time grieving over Claire's death. When morning came, he found himself downstairs in the mess hall sitting with his colleagues.

"You seem to be better, Levi" Hanji stated after they had been chatting for nearly half an hour.

Levi took a drink of his tea before responding, "I don't know what you mean by that"

"Levi?"

He turned to look at her. It was then she realized what was happening. He was making an attempt. An attempt to clear his mind through ignorance. She nodded lightly in acknowledgment before turning back to her food.

"Levi" Erwin called, seeing him sitting with people instead of his previous corner.

"What?" he asked, his voice sounding irritated as he turned to him.

"The new Scouts are here" he replied.

"New Scouts? Why wasn't I informed sooner?"

Erwin rubbed his temples. He knew he was trying to forget, but the reason he hadn't told him was because of his condition. "I guess it slipped my mind" he finally answered, making up the last minute excuse.

Levi scoffed before turning back to the table and taking another drink of the tea.

"I'd like you to observe them later on during the practice. You'll have to pick your team sooner or later" Erwin stated before sitting down next to them.

"Yeah, I know. Stop bugging me about it" he replied coldly.

"I suggest looking at those who were ranked highest first. There's second, sixth, eighth, and so on. There are less recruits this year as well. Probably still scared from the attack that took Maria"

"That'd make sense. I heard they had the newbies out clearing villages after the event" Levi replied.

Later that day, Levi did go to look at the scouts, finding four in particular to catch his attention more than the rest. The ceremony, held that evening was boring, and Levi found no interest in it. He sat idly in his chair on stage in between Hanji and some other higher-up he hadn't bothered to learn the name of.

"Those who have joined, we thank you. You are all very brave considering what's happened over these past weeks" Erwin started, "You will all become official members of the Scout Regiment. However, some cadets have been selected to join a team. The choice is up to you whether you take the offer or not. Petra Ral, Oluo Bozado, Eld Jinn and Gunther Schultz, you have been selected to join the Special Operations Squad. Your Captain, Levi will direct you if you choose this path"

The speeches went on and Erwin announced the cadets chosen for others squads as well. After the ceremony, Levi walked back to his room, not wanting to stay out here any longer.

"Captain Levi!" a voice called, causing him to cease. He turned around to see Petra Ral running up to meet him.

"What?" he asked, giving her a cold glare.

If she saw it, she ignored it, "I wanted to thank you for choosing me!" she said in a cheery voice, "It really means a lot, and I plan on joining with you. Together, I think we can take back Wall Maria"

"Look, Cadet Ral, I think it's great, all the determination you have. Really, that's one of the reasons I chose you. But don't keep your hopes up. Life isn't handed to you on a silver platter. Instead, your placed here on shifty sand, and if you don't watch your step, you sink into an abyss of nothingness" he replied harshly.

Petra nodded slowly. She could see that he had no intention of getting close to her and would most likely push her away at any attempts. "I understand, sir"

"Good, now go" he replied before walking into the building.

"I'm sorry, but I can't loose anyone else"

A/N

Well, that was the very last chapter. I might think of doing a short epilogue, let me know what you guys think. Make sure to comment, vote, and follow the story for any other updates that might come through. I'd also like to thank everyone who has read through completely. It means a lot! :)