Annie stood in the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was pale, all the color drained from it. Her hair was down and disheveled, she looked almost crazed. she took deep breaths and yet it seemed impossible for her lungs to fill up with air. She turns on the sink, cupped her hands under the flow of the cold water and splashed it on her face. she grips the sides of the sink tightly closed her eyes, and hung her head. After a few moments there was a knock at the door.

"Annie?" It was Mina, Annie's best friend. "Can I come in?"

Annie tried taking another deep breath. "...Yeah"

Mina slowly turned the knob and opened the door. She walked in and looked at Annie. "How'd it go?"

Annie grabbed a small stick on the sink and held it out to Mina. "It's positive…"

Mina took it and examined it. She looked up with wide eyes at Annie who hasn't moved from her position over the sink. "Annie…"

Annie turns around and leans on the sink and sighs. "...I'm pregnant"

Mina stared at Annie for a few moments, she was shaking. Mina walked over to Annie and grabbed her hand. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine…" Annie said unconvincingly

"What are you gonna do?"

Annie shrugged. "I don't know"

Mina squeezed her hand "I don't agree with the idea, but if you want, you could always have an abor-"

"I'm not aborting the baby." Annie said forcefully.

Mina looked at Annie and smiled. "You're gonna make a great mother."

Annie scoffed "You know good and well I am not mother material."

"Maybe not, but you'll learn and i'll help you the whole way, I had to help my mom with my younger siblings when my dad left. I know how to care for a baby. You'll never be alone, and not only will I help you, but you have Armin too!"

Armin, the father of the baby. The person Annie cares about more than anything. Annie wiggles her hand out of Minas grip and buries her face in her hands.

Mina looks at Annie with a slightly confused look on her face. "What's wrong?"

She rubbed her face "What if he doesn't want the baby?" She goes to the toilet, closed the lid and sits down. "What if he leaves me because if this?"

"Annie." Mina knelt down beside her. "Armin would never do that. He loves you more than anything, and you know that."

"but…" she sighed, pulled her knees up to her chest. "I just can't shake that feeling."

Mina gently touched Annie's arm. "I know you're scared Annie, but everything will be okay. All the guys are on some training expedition 'till tomorrow, you have some time to figure things out."

"One day's not much time." Annie mumbled thru her knees.

"No it's not, but unfortunately that's all the time you have, you're gonna have to tell him when he gets back, he'll know something up the second he sees you."

"Yeah you're probably right."

Mina rubbed Annies back with her hand for a second then stood up "Well I've gotta get going, If you need anything just give me a holler, I'm right across the hall." She hugged Annie tightly. "I'll see you later"

As Annie watched Mina leave her room she stood up, walked to her bed and laid down. There were several things she was worried about- Whether or not to stay in the military and Go to the MP's like she planned, how on earth to take care of the baby, but as she made very obvious, her worse concern is how Armin's gonna take it.

As night fell, Annie could not find sleep no matter how hard she tried, and after half the night passed and she finally dozed off, her sleep was ravished with nightmares.

When she woke up she looked and saw that she slept thru the morning and it was already late afternoon. Instructor Shadis was going to kill her, but right now she couldn't care less, because thru the window in her room she could she the guys returning from their training exhibition, and a lot of the girls going out to greet them. she walked up to the window for a better look and she saw Armin close to the back writing notes down on a clipboard. He was covered in dirt, as they all were. Her heart made a little leap like it usually does when she sees him, but then her stomach dropped, remembering what she had to tell him. "Well might as well get it over with…" She got dressed, pulled her hair back into her usual bun, and bangs hanging down the sides of her face. She placed one hand on her stomach, took a deep breath, and headed out to the courtyard.

When she got there everyone had begun conversations with each other.

"I can't believe they wouldn't let girls come along on the expedition, you guys got to go out in the forests while we had to stay here and practice hand to hand combat all day." Sasha said

"Well maybe we're just better than you." Connie said in response

"We're just as good as you guys! Maybe even better!" Sasha yelled

"You wanna bet potato girl?"

"Oh it's on short stack!"

Annie caught a glimpse of Mina talking to Marco. Mina made eye contact with her and slightly nodded, telling her to go talk to Armin.

Annie looked around for Armin, but was stopped by Bertolt and Reiner. "Hey Annie" Reiner said putting a hand on the top of her head.

"Reiner, I told you not to do that." She said shaking his hand off her head.

He laughed "I can't help myself you're so short."

"I may be short, but you know I can kick your butt to next week."

"And that's why I keep Bertolt here with me. You never hurt me whenever he's around."

Bertolt looked at Annie. His brow was covered in sweat "Hi Annie."

A tired smile slightly formed on Annie's face "Hey Bert." Several meters behind them Annie spotted Armin talking to Mikasa and Eren. "I gotta go guys, I'll talk to you later." She walked away before either had a chance to respond.

She started walking over to the trio, but when she was a couple feet away she stopped. She couldn't do it, for the first time in years, she was terrified.

Annie was about to turn and walk away when Armin spotted her. He smiled brightly and walked up to her. He slowly pushed her bangs behind her ear out of her face. Annie's skin tingled as his fingers slightly brushed against her face "Hi" He said.

She stared at him, trying to memorize the way he's looking at her- with love in his eyes. "I...I need to talk to you." She paused "...alone"

She led him out of the courtyard to her bedroom in the barracks. Once they were both in, she shut the door behind her.

"What's up?" Armin asked

Annie stayed silent, walked over to her bed and sat down.

"Annie...What's wrong?" He sat next to her on the bed, concern filled his eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Something's happened" she says without looking at him

"What happened?"

She stayed silent

"Annie." Armin said taking her face in his hands and forcing her to look at him. "Are you alright? did someone hurt you? Tell me."

Annie stared intently into armins eyes. Her voice came out barely loud enough to hear. "I'm pregnant."

Armin's eyes widened as he let go of her face. "Y-You're...pregnant?"

Annie closed her eyes and nodded.

Armin's pupils slightly dilated "How..." he was at a loss for words.

Annie's voice started to slightly crack. "Armin I'm sorry."

Armin blinked "What?"

"I'm sorry, This is my fault. I never should have pushed you. I didn't think…" She put her head in her hands. "If you go, I understand. This doesn't have to be your problem."

To Annie's surprize she heard Armin laugh. He snaked his hands around her waist and pulled her close to him. "I'm not leaving you. I'd never leave you Annie. And this…" He touched her stomach "Is not a problem. It's a responsibility, one we both have. and we'll get thru this." He kissed her forehead "Together."

Annie looked at him and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

Annie was so happy. With Armin by her side, maybe now for once in her life, things will turn out okay.