Thank you for everyone who's favorited and is following my story! Means a lot. Love all of you and sorry for it being so long without an update, but it should be more often as I'm getting free time back. Two more things: this is definitely an M rated chapter down towards the end, and I do not own Attack on Titan or any characters save those of he 102nd and 103rd Training Corps.

Training Camp, Wall Rose, Year 846

"KEEP MOVING!" The order cracked through the soft silence of the snow-filled trees like a gunshot. The cadets who were running with their packs happily obliged.

It was early winter, and the cadets were training their asses off, even in the freezing cold. Their runs usually ended in the cadets huddling by the roaring fire in the mess hall, waiting for their sweat to unfreeze, for their body to get warm, aided by coffee and tea. Winter while training was the worst, as snow could pile up over 4 feet.

Lilly was by the middle of the pack, able to be in the front but she's trying to not stand out. She didn't want to be noticed by everyone. She didn't want to be resented for who she was. And she knew some were jealous, since she technically didn't really have to try and be amazing at everything. It was in her genetics.

One thing she excelled at that was a shock to Shadis and the other cadets, due to her size, was hand-to-hand combat. She was lightning fast, and her fighting style was unique. A blend of the rugged, lawless Underground techniques and the fair, pristine techniques of the Surface, as her father had put it many times. The Underground techniques were rougher and more "uncouth". They involved getting your hands dirty, of not exactly fighting fair. She was very good at those... Something Levi was a bit proud of, his roots not forgotten.

And right now, she was eagerly waiting for the break that Uncle Erwin had promised. He said that in the last week of the year, he'd tell Shadis that he'd be taking her, since that was the holiday season and training was all but stopped due to snow and temperatures.

In that week, two very important days rolled along: her father's and her own birthdays. His was December 25, her's December 28. And on his birthday, he was at his happiest. He called Lilly the best birthday present ever, even if she came a little late. Which was usually followed by a flick to the head.

Lilly caught herself from slipping, jolted from her thoughts. This damn ice is going to be the death of me... She internally sighed and kept running, staying with the group until the mess hall was finally in sight. She entered with the pack and took up her place by the roaring fire, Heike plopping down beside her.

"So we survived it again." She grinned, nudging the petite girl.

"You can say that, but I'll be shivering until graduation." She laughed. "Besides, I'll be out of here soon. Uncle Erwin is letting me go to the Scouts for a week... Maybe, if I'm lucky, he'll let me join them on the spring mission." Her brown eyes lit up behind her glasses, which finally defogged. "I've been on a couple missions before, but that was in unfamiliar territory... I know the land around Wall Maria better..."

"You just want to see Shiganshina again." Heike nudged her. "Admit it."

"Wouldn't you?" Lilly gave her friend a look. "Yeah, I miss it. I miss the flower fields right outside the wall. I miss the trees. I miss the smell. I miss it all. It's a life I knew for 13 years... so of course I'm going to miss it. It's not like you and Dauper." She scooted closer to the flames.

"Makes sense." Heike sighed. "Guess I just don't get it... It's odd thinking of losing your town completely... to never be able to see it again... At least your family made it." She nodded. "That's a big plus."

"Heike, considering what regiment their in, and who they are, if my parents didn't make it that'd be a disgrace. Dad would never stand for it. Remember, he's called Humanity's Strongest for a reason." She poked her friend's cheek.

Heike opened her mouth to reply, when a voice called out "Cadet Zoe-Ackerman!".

Said cadet scrambled to her feet, saluting. "Sir!" She glanced at the man, one of Shadis's messengers.

He looked Lilly up and down before replying. "Commander Shadis wants to see you in his office pronto." He then left.

Lilly gave Heike a thumbs up before she left, crossing the snow-filled grounds as quickly as she could. The frigid wind bit into her unexposed flesh, even biting through the winter version of the cadet's jacket. It was longer and thicker, with fur around the hood. She drew it closer around herself, her sturdy boots thankfully kept her from slipping.

She arrived at the main building of the training facility soon, shivering even as she stepped into the solid warmth. She began the trek to Shadis's office, passing by several of the classrooms that the cadets used during their time here.

The door to Shadis's office was thick and heavy oak, a nameplate engraved with "Keith Shadis" nailed into the wood. Lilly hesitated for a moment, before she steeled herself and knocked. The low "Come in" greeted her. She entered the office.

It was a fairly plain room, with a bookcase, a desk, a fireplace, and two chairs. One was currently occupied by the Commander of the Training Corps. Lilly hesitantly sat in the other.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" She tried to quell the shake in her voice. She clenched her hands in her lap. For some reason, being alone, one-on-one, with the Commander was more terrifying than when he shouted in her face, or even when she had to confess to her parents that she broke one of her mother's instruments, thus creating a giant mess.

"I received a letter today from Commander Erwin Smith," Shadis took in the way her eyes lit up and her back straightened, "and he's requesting to keep you with him and the Scouting Regiment for a week and a half." He looked at the girl. "Now tell me something: Why should I let you go and party while the rest of us stay and work?"

Lilly froze at the question, then swallowed. "W-Well, sir... I've already been outside the walls, something you were informed of when I first came. I know how to use 3DMG already. Most things that are being taught I've known for years, from my mother." Lilly's tone was very cautious, trying not to sound snooty or arrogant. She's just stating facts.

Shadis nodded, knowing what she was doing. He knew from the moment he saw her in the training corps on day one that she would have had experience already. It would have been foolish of him to not expect it. "Go on."

"Yes sir. And it is also my birthday, as well as my father's, soon, and I haven't seen him in a long time..." Lilly swallowed. She hadn't seen her parents since her mother's birthday last May. She even missed Uncle Erwin's birthday. "... and I was hoping that that might help...?" She winced the moment the words left her mouth.

Shadis took a long time in answering. "You may go. He said he'll be here in two days if I said you could. Enjoy the break, and I expect you to be twice the soldier you are afterwards." He nodded.

"Yes sir!" Lilly saluted and left, a grin breaking out.

††††††††††††

"Can you smell anything yet?" Hanji was bouncing on the balls of her feet, excited to see her daughter once more. Mike rolled his eyes. This was the fifth time she asked in ten minutes.

"I told you before, Hanji, I'll tell you when I get a whiff of them." The dusty-blond answered. He sniffed the air again, and once again only smelled the stink of dirt and sweat as well as the mass of people-scent that permeated the Trost HQ of the Scouting Legion. That stench was pierced by the scent of fresh snow.

Levi let out a soft "Tch!" as he walked up, hearing his wife intake breath to ask again. "Shitty-Glasses, he'll tell us when he smells something." His voice was as flat as it always has been.

"Well, excuuuuuuuse me for being excited to see her again." Hanji sniffed, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck and jacket closer to her body.

††††††††††††

The wind was howling once more, causing Lilly to shiver while her arms were wrapped around Erwin's waist. She just barely managed to touch her hands together. "U-Uncle-le Erw-win it's t-too fuck-cking cold!" She said through chattering teeth. "I-I thought-t you-ou wer-re bringing a c-c-carriage!"

Erwin Smith looked behind him at the small girl, the daughter of two of his closest friends, and he laughed at her plight. "I warned you that we'd be in the cold! And it's not that bad."

"I-I'm not a f-f-fucking human furn-n-nice like you!" Lilly poked him in the belly, which made him laugh again. He found it amusing how she could be so much like Hanji one minute, then practically the female version of Levi the next. "I h-have n-no defenc-ce agains-st the c-c-cold." She snuggled into his back, into the warmth.

Erwin just smiled again. He was aware that some people, aka his equals in the Military Police and the Garrison, would view his relationship with Lilly as unfitting for a commander. He didn't give a single fuck, though, and he would continue to treat Lilly like he would if she were his own daughter. Hell, Lilly was practically the joint child of him, Levi, Hanji, and Mike, based on the fact that all four of them had some part in raising her.

Erwin would never admit it, but hearing her call him Uncle Erwin made him so incredibly happy, as opposed to "heartless bastard" or "monster", which were his names from everyone else. They believed he enjoyed sending legions and legions of soldiers out to their deaths, when really they haunted him in his sleep. The term of endearment from Lilly made for a nice change.

"Well, maybe you should sit in front, then?" Erwin slows the horse down, them nearly to Wall Rose, and he moved her so she sat in front of him. She instantly snuggled into the warmth. He was also thrice her size, so he made a great windshield.

"M-Much better." She hummed, the chatter fading. "Thank you, u-uncle." She closed her eyes to take a quick nap, her bag of clothing and such she had been given in a saddlebag. The bag also contained two gifts from Shadis: one for Levi and one for her.

"Any time, Lilly." Erwin rode on, nodding to the Garrison guard at the gate, who saluted as he rode past. The Commander was in Trost enough that all veteran Garrison members knew him on sight. They knew better than to stop him.

††††††††††††

"Can you sm-" Hanji began, before a quick, somewhat gentle kick to the shin by Levi shut her up. She pouted, before brightening up as Mike sniffed the air again.

"I smell a mix of horse, lab, cleaning supplies, and Erwin, so I assume that's them." He nodded, and Hanji put her hands around her glasses to try and see. She laughed as she sighted them.

Erwin raised a hand in greeting as he rode up, Lilly still napping, looking like a small child compared to him. "She fell asleep right before we entered Trost." He explained, and Levi shook his head.

"She's always sleeping. Wake her up." His glare dared Erwin to say something. Levi knew damn well enough he wasn't tall enough on the ground to reach higher than Lilly's calf. It was quite demeaning and humiliating.

Hanji bounced up to them and gently shook her daughter's leg. "Liiiiiiiilly~!" She sang softly, like she always would when they lived in Shiganshina.

"Five more minutes... the cold makes me sleepy." Lilly snuggled more into Erwin, trying to find that sweet solace of sleep again.

"But Lilly, you need to get up, otherwise papa's gonna douse you with ice water again." Hanji winked to her husband, who rolled his storm-grey eyes.

"Please no!" Lilly jerked up, eyes open and somewhat alert. She blinked in the weak sunlight that provided no warmth, and then to her mother. She instantly slid off the horse and into her mother's arms. "Mama!" She laughed.

Hanji hugged and spun her daughter around, a grin on her face too. "Hey kiddo. Have a nice ride?" She kissed her forehead.

Lilly made a face at Erwin. "I was freezing cold because Uncle Erwin made me sit behind him."

Erwin raised his hands in defense. "I offered you to sit in front of me at the beginning, but you refused."

Hanji laughed again and Levi just rolled his eyes once more. Lilly broke the embrace with her mother to hug her father, who gave her a strong yet tender hug. She loved them. She always felt so safe in his arms. "Hey papa." She nuzzled him gently.

"Hey brat." Levi pulled away from the hug and gave her an affectionate flick to the head. "You've gotten taller." He commented, now about two inches shorter than her.

"Well that's what happens when kids hit this thing called puberty, hon." Hanji put her arm around Levi's shoulders, who then immediately ducked out from under her arm.

"Ugh, I hate puberty... all I can smell are the hormones." Mike wrinkled his nose, then smiled as Lilly hugged him next.

"Hi Uncle Mike." Her voice was softer on this one. She had a special relationship with Mike, based on the fact he didn't talk much, but often helped her when everyone else was busy. He was the same rank as her mother, but Mike didn't have notes and experiments to do, and he didn't have the amount of paperwork as Levi and Erwin, so he often was stuck caring for her.

Mike hugged back and ruffled her hair. "Staying out of trouble?" He asked.

"Yeah, and I'm top of the class." Lilly grinned. "Everyone seems baffled at how I fight my "Titans". They don't seem to understand how a backhand grip improves speed."

"Y... You use a backhand grip?" Hanji looked at her daughter in wonder. "But you never did whenever we went outside the walls before." She frowned, leading the troupe into the warmth of the HQ.

"Well... I started using it after Shiganshina fell." Lilly said, looking at the four adults. "I mean... That's when I first tried it. It felt instinctual."

"It's because you're built for speed and agility, like I am." Levi nodded to his daughter. "Which makes it natural for you to be comfortable in the way I fight. You've already proved yourself in the hand- to- hand part of training. Shadis sent us a letter telling me of how our daughter was mopping the floor with cadets, using both the taught skills as well as some he'd never seen before." He gave a tiny smile.

"Sometimes I wonder if I gave you anything besides my eyes." Hanji sighed, then smiled. "Well, of course I did. I gave you your heart and soul and curiosity. The fact you show more emotion than a rock proves that." She laughed, Lilly joining.

It's good to be back. Lilly thought with a smile on her face.

††††††††††††

The party for Levi's birthday had to be perfect, as it was also Christmas Day. As a tradition, the Zoe-Ackerman's didn't give each other gifts, rather they just spent time together. This usually included them just sitting in the lab, talking about anything and everything. Levi always seemed to get bored as his wife prattled on and on about the new types of Titans they had seen, but he secretly loved how his daughter soaked everything up, writing all the information down. She even added some sketches as Hanji described the faces.

"So how are the Jaegers? Everything going alright?" Hanji asked, after she decided that was enough Titan talk.

Lilly bit her lip. She never had a chance to tell them about Mrs. Jaeger's death, nor the mysterious disappearance of Dr. Jaeger. She never had had time before. She looked at her hands in her lap. "M... Mrs. Jaeger is dead." She said softly. "D-Devoured..."

Hanji was hugging her a moment later as Lilly's tears started falling again, Levi soon joining in the hug. But Lilly couldn't stop talking there.

"Sh... She got tr-trapped in the wreck-ckage of their house... Er-en and Mik-kasa tried-d to s-save her." Lilly said into her mother's chest. "I-I had ge-ear... and I w-was too sl-slow. I d-didn't make it..." She then starts crying too hard to continue... but then again she can't. She doesn't remember what happened next, really. Everything was tinted in a red haze.

Hanji and Levi just held her gently until she finished, and she wiped her eyes with a shaking hand. "S-sorry..." Lilly murmured.

"Oh don't worry about it." Hanji kissed her head. "You've been through some hard times. You're entitled to a few tears."

Lilly nodded, then she looked to her father, who gave her a rare smile.

"You're brave and strong, Lilly." He hugged her again and she clung to him.

"Thank you papa." She said softly. "I strive to be like you two..." She brushed her hair from her face. "And everyone else holds me up to you as well."

"Good. It means they know how you'll surpass both of us." Hanji laughed and hugged her daughter again. "Now let's get to the party."

The trio walked from their room to the mess hall, where their good friends had a cake and decorations and alcohol, lots of alcohol, waiting for them.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEVI!" The group said together, then the fun began.

Lilly sat and talked with Moblit Berner, her mother's assistant. She always found him funny, since he was often drunk. And when he was drunk he told the best stories about her mother when she couldn't be around them. And naturally, she never touched the alcohol, even when Moblit poured her a glass drunkenly, which he ended up consuming anyway.

"Having fun?" Levi plopped next to her, the redness of his cheeks marking that he had a glass more than he could handle. He put an arm around her shoulder, thoroughly buzzed.

"Papa you've drank too much again." Lilly poked her father's nose, this a usual thing for her on Christmas. She was just glad none of the superiors were angry or violent drunks. They were all just very entertaining to watch.

Levi rolled his eyes. "I did not. I had just the right amount. If you want to see someone who drank too much, look at her." He nodded to his wife, who was absolutely wasted and playing a heated game of strip poker with Erwin… who was losing.

Lilly rolled her eyes right back. "And I'll be the responsible one and make sure everyone gets to bed." She looked back to Moblit, who was now passed out on the table. "And he's our first victim."

"Let's draw on his face!" Hanji laughed, resting her back on her husband, her shirt open and her belt off. Erwin meanwhile was in a similar state, his bolo tie on his head, toned muscles showing, and as wasted as she was.

"Hanji where did my bolo tie go? That shit's expensive." Erwin huffed, taking another swig from the bottle in his hand.

Lilly giggled. "Uncle it's on your head." She rested her chin on the palm of her hand, smiling away. She loved this. This togetherness they shared. Levi drained the last of Shadis's present: a bottle of the best wine from Sina.

"Well I better get off to bed before I do something stupid." He stood and staggered a step before he strode off to his room he shared with his wife, Hanji following, nibbling on his ear.

"Levi..." She whined. "I want you tonight... As a present." She kissed the back of his neck.

Levi just rolled his eyes and kept walking. "Not yet, Shitty-Glasses." He kissed her hand before he entered.

As soon as they had both gone in, Levi closed the door, locked it, and his lips crashed against Hanji's. She gave a soft moan and kissed back, a hand going into his undercut, feeling his fuzz. She always found it very soft. Her tongue traced his bottom lip, and Levi gave a soft growl before he opened his mouth to accept her tongue, the two tangling together deliciously. He could taste the alcohol on her tongue, and that somehow made it better.

He groaned into her mouth, his hands slipping off her shirt. He then began to undo the bandages that acted as Hanji's bra. Levi kissed her again, and Hanji returned the kiss, taking off his belt and taking off that damn cravat and unbuttoning his shirt. She needed him. She could feel the desire burning in her gut.

Finally, after a long, steamy makeout session, their torsos were finally bare, and Levi immediately descends upon her chest, taking a nipple into his mouth, sucking and nipping it as his other hand fondles the other, causing Hanji to moan in bliss. Her eyes fluttered close, and her knees started to grow weak. She clutched Levi's shoulders, trying to stay upright.

"Le-Levi..." Hanji moaned, and she arched her back against the wall, pressing her chest further into Levi's face.

Levi hummed in pleasure and he switched to the other breast, giving that one love, while he pulled her over to the bed. He spun and pinned her down, his nimble hands removing her boots, pants, and panties all in one fluid movement. He began to kiss down her front, soon coming to her entrance, tongue running across the slit. Hanji let out a squeal of the purest pleasure and she gripped the sheets for something to hold on to as Levi's tongue slipped into her and began to pump and wiggle around, all while sucking on her bundle of nerves. She buried her hands into his hair as he delved deeper, screaming in ecstasy as he hummed against her core, the vibrations shooting up her spine.

It wasn't long until Hanji found her end, screaming as she falls over the edge, hard. White was all she saw as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over her. Levi licked up all of her fluids, before he kissed her hard, letting her revel in tasting herself on his tongue. While he kissed her, removed his own clothing, and thrusted into her sharply.

That movement alone made Hanji shriek, which spurred Levi on to go at a fast and furious rhythm, each thrust hitting deeper and deeper until he hit that spot that made his love scream his name in sheer ecstasy. He loved it, and his mouth descended upon her chest once more. He nipped and sucked, while the other hand fondled the other. The sound of their moans and screams mixed with the slap of skin on skin as Levi pounded into Hanji filled the air.

Hanji peered over the edge once more, hypersensitive from the last time. Plus it had been so long that she had forgotten what it was like. All too soon, she fell over the edge, and she instinctively bucked her hips against Levi's, grinding against him, helping him chase down his end. He groaned as he reached his own end, and he thrusted into Hanji a few more times as he rode out his climax, panting and drenched in sweat.

"Oh god..." Hanji moaned, basking in the afterglow. She still felt him, felt his skin slapping against hers... She almost missed it. "It's been far too long..."

Levi pulled out and laid beside her. "We don't get much time for it and when we do have the time we're too tired." He kissed her cheek before he snuggled into her, the exertion mixed with the alcohol making it easy. Hanji just snuggled him and fell asleep as well.

††††††††††††

Lilly sighed. She was left alone to clean up after the party, everyone either passed out on the tables or they staggered off to bed. But she didn't mind. The silence was rather nice. She finally had time to think, and she could only think of her friends, of Eren and Armin, of Heike and Amy and Ari... All of them were so important to her.

But then they shifted to a dark haired girl by the name of Mikasa, and she huffed and scrubbed the tabletop harder. Just what was she doing to Eren? How was she oppressing him now? Lilly shook her head. There's time for that later... She eventually went to bed, happy that she and her father survived another year in the hellhole they called reality.