Chapter 39

Preparations and Leaving

It was two months since Historia was crowned Queen and it was a busy couple months. Kara and Levi were pulled into the meeting with the Queen and others to get kids out of the streets and out of the Underworld. Levi and Kara pushed for it and Kara helped push through some stuff for child and domestic abuse tha Historia supported, knowing Kara's past. Jean had been busy helping train the new recruits and Kara helped when she wasn't pulled away. Jean and Kara spent their free time with Jean's mom or out on a date. The two were trying to enjoy their free time, because preperations for Wall Maria were in full force.

It was two days before they were to leave for Wall Maria. Kara and Eren stood with Hange and Levi watching as a soldier led a Titan in one of the traps Eren made.

"That's it. Jam your big head in here." The Soldier said. The Titan stuck it's head in. "Do it now!" Someone cut a rope. A huge wooden tool fell right on the nape of the Titans neck.

"Ooh. That hit right at the nape of it's neck!" Hange said. The wooden tool fell off. "This could be it!" Steam came out of it's neck. Kara smiled. Hange grabbed Kara into a huge hug.

"We did it! That's a 12-meter we crushed. Eren fell to his knees.

"It worked." Eren said.

"We are one step closer to getting rid of all the Titans." Kara said.

"Hell yeah! With this baby, we can kill Titans without putting any soldiers at risk! We'll hack down those bastards all day and night! Say hello to the Executioner from Hell." Hange said. Kara heard coughing and looked to see Eren coughing up blood. Levi was kneeling in front of Eren. Kara knelt next to Eren.

"You alright?" Kara asked.

"I'll be fine." Eren said. Hange turned to say something to see Levi handing Eren a handkerchief. Kara had a hand on Eren's shoulder.

"Eren?" Hange said.

"Looks like he must've overused his Titan abilities. He's been doing hardening experiments for days." Kara said. Levi nodded.

"I'm sorry, Eren." Hange said, looking down.

"No, there's nothing to apologize for. We can't slow down just because we're tired, right?" Eren said. He rubbed his nose. "I'm fine. Let's just make these weapons quickly, and then go to Shiganshina."

Later. Kara knocked on Jean's office door. Him and Kara were in training to be squad leaders. Both wouldn't be fully trained till after Wall Maria was taken back.

"You know you don't have to knock." Jean said as he let her in. He had files of paper on his desk. Jean looked at her as he sat back down in his desk. Kara came up to him. "How did everything work out?"

"It works. It can start killing Titans now." Kara said.

"Good. Maybe we can have a future of no Titans." Jean said. Kara sat in front of him on his desk. He looked up at her and saw her smiling. Kara took his face in her hands.

"We will and we will make the most of it." Kara said. Jean grabbed her gently and pulled her into his lap. Kara wrapped her arms around Jean's neck as he pressed his lips against hers and they kissed.

"Ahem." Kara and Jean pulled apart to see Levi standing in the doorway.

"Dad." Kara said. Jean looked away.

"Dinner is ready." Levi said. He stepped out of the way. Kara pressed her face in Jean's shoulder.

"I swear your father hates me." Jean grumbled.

"I don't think he does. I think he just had the worst timing." Kara said, getting off Jean's lap. Jean stood up. They linked their hands together and head for the dining hall.

Jean and Kara sat with their friends as they ate. Kara was leaning against Jean as they ate. Marlo was sitting with them. He seemed to keep a distance from Jean.

"That's great! We can win!" Marlo shouted. Kara didn't hear the beginning of the conversation. "With weapons like that, killing Titans will be easy as breathing!" Kara knew they were talking about the Thunder Spears. Kara took a drink of her drink.

"You're so damn excitable. You should know better than to be this pumped about joining the Scouts." Jean said.

"That reminds me. Didn't Hitch try to convince you to stay an MP?" Sasha asked.

"Wait, Hitch? How come?" Marlo asked.

"Because she's a thirsty girl, and she thinks you're a tall glass of water." Sasha said with a knowing look.

"Can't say I follow, but Hitch did tell me off before, saying I wasn't cut out to be a real soldier. She told me I should stop acting cool and just coast along in life. I had thought she was better than that. So I told her I was wrong about her." Marlo said.

"Asshole." Jean said.

"And I thought you were bad, Jean." Kara said, biting into her food.

"Are you that dumb, Marlo?" Armin asked.

"No brain under that bowl cut." Sasha said.

"Calm down. He didn't say anything wrong." Eren said.

"Well, anyway, the only people as excited as you are the new recruits with no real battle experience." Jean said. Kara, Conny, and Sasha sniggered a bit.

"Gimme a break." Jean and Kara looked behind them at a red haired boy sitting behind them. The boy had a know it all smirk on his face. "Ya think you're some kinda hardened vetern now?"

"I know I am, compared to you at least." Jean said.

"That's rude." Kara saw a boy and two others standing with him. Jean glared at him. "We were in the 104th, same as you. And besides, we're not the only ones excited. Everyone in the walls is. We're taking Wall Maria back! We're finally winning" Jean was glaring him down. Kara was staring at the guy.

"You think so?" Jean asked. The boy gasps. He saw a look on Jean and all his friends faces. It was like they saw something that the new recruits hadn't seen.

"Well, you guys do seem a little different now." The boy said.

"We seen more shit then you guys have in your life." Kara said. The boy looked at Kara.

"There's something about your faces. What exactly happened?" The man said. Jean looked at him.

"Wanna know?" Jean said with a glare. Kara took a long sip of her drink, looking at the red hair with pure dislike. The boy looked at everyone and saw most were not looking at him except Jean and Kara.

"No. I'll ask some other time." The boy said and he left with the others. Jean wrapped his arm around Kara and pulled her against him. Jean pressed a kiss to her forehead. Conny stood up.

"I'm out. See ya later." Conny said.

"Huh? Now?" Sasha asked.

"Tomorrow's suposed to be a prep day, so I'm planning to head to my village in the morning. There's a chance I might find something new there."

"I'm out to. I promised Dad I help with getting wagons loaded." Kara said, standing up. She kissed Jean on the check and headed for her room. She laid in bed staring at the ceiling.

The next day. Kara was in charge of getting the wagons set up as the Levi Squad went to talk to Commander Shadis. The Thunder Spears were loaded in. Kara walked over to them and looked at them. She couldn't wait to use one on the Armored.

"Everything is almost loaded, Ackerman." A soldier said.

"Thank you." Kara said. Kara had somewhere to be and it was one thing she was not looking forward to. "I'm taking my leave. I have to be somewhere."

"Yes, mam." The soldier said. Kara disappeared out of the courtyard.

Kara stepped down the hall of a lit corador. Prisoners sat in the shadows of their cells. She stopped in front of the cell. Kara looked at the man in the shadows.

"Well. Well. My own daughter comes to visit me the night before the Scouts take back Wall Maria." Marcus said. He had been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife.

"I'm not your daughter anymore, Marcus. You became nothing to me after you murdered my mother. I told you that when you took me, but your chance to kill me failed." Kara said. Marcus got off the ground and came to the bars. He was covered in dirt and his hair was long. Kara looked like her mother, but her eyes were the same as her fahter's.

"Maybe you'll be killed when you get to Wall Maria. Maybe that will rid me of you." Marcus said. Hatred was in his eyes.

"You haven't changed a bit, Marcus. I'm free of you now. You can rot in this hell hole the rest of your life. Goodbye, Father." Kara said. She turned her back on him and walked out.

Kara stepped into the courtyard of the Scouting Headquarters near the place they would be leaving from. Jean was waiting for her. Jean and Levi were the only ones that knew she was going to see her dad.

"How did it go?" Jean asked. Kara threw her arms around Jean's neck and hugged him, burrying her face in his chest. Jean wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him.

"I'm free of him. I don't have to look over my shoulder and I can have a happy life." Kara said. Jean pressed a kiss to her forehead as the two embraced each other. Levi stood watching and knew the meeting with her father went well and Jean had her as the couple stood holding each other.

The next night was the final night before departure. Everyone was in the feast hall for food. Everyone stared at what was sat before them. Meat!

"This may be a special night but we don't need the public knowing our plans. So behave like the disciplined soldiers you are." Harold said. Everyone was staring at the meat in shock. Jean and Kara were in shock. Kara hadn't had meet since she still lived in Wall Sina and her dad brought it home.

"Is this a dream?" Kara whispered.

"What? No way. Is that? It is." Conny said.

"Am I dreaming?" Sasha asked as she grabbed her head. Harold raised a mug.

"All right. Here's to the re-taking of Wall Maria. A toast!" Harold said. All hell broke loose as soldiers started fighting over meat. Sasha dived at the meat and snatched it with a animalistic look on her face as she put it in her mouth.

"Sasha no." Kara said. Conny got Sasha in a headlock as Jean was on his feet. Kara watched her friends as she sat beside Jean.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, potato girl? No way are we gonna let you pull this shit!" Jean said. Conny was trying to knock her out.

"Drop the meat, Sasha. Come on, I really don't want to kill you." Conny said. Jean grabbed the meat and ripped it out of Sasha's mouth. Sasha screamed in agony.

"Jean. I don't think that was a good idea." Kara said.

"You can't eat the whole thing alone, you pig!" Jean said. Sasha moves forward and grabs Jean's hand in her mouth. Kara sighed as Jean screams as Sasha naws at his hand. "You'r eating me! My hand! My hand!" Jean pulled his hand back as Kara, Marlo, Eren, and Mikasa got pieces of meat before Sasha could snatch up the meat. Kara saved Jean and Sasha a plate.

"Sasha! That meat is Jean! We don't eat our friends, okay?" Conny said. Marlo took a bite of the meat.

"What, does the Scout Regiment never get any meat? Really? That's just sad." Marlo said. Sasha suddenly punched Marlo in the nose. Kara gasps as blood pours out of Marlo's nose. Kara grabbed a napkin and handed to Marlo as Conny pulls Sasha back as Sasha swings her fists.

"Conny, would you just knock her out already?" Mikasa asked.

"I'm trying! It's like her mind's shut down, but she's still moving somehow!" Conny yelled. Sasha finally get knocked out and Conny and Eren tied her up. Jean wrapped his arm around Kara and pulled her to his side as he sat down as she leaned against him with her mug in her hand. Eren and Conny came and sat down as Marlo complained he was not on the VanGuard.

"Don't you get it? You've got no experience. That's why you're in the rear guard, rookie." Jean said as he kept an arm around Kara.

"I may be less knowledgeable then the rest of you, but isn't the vanguard the best place to learn how the enemy moves?" Marlo asked.

"What's this? You think that you can lecture a veteran about self-sacrifice?" Kara asked.

"Isn't that what makes us effective? Being willing to put ourselves in harm's way?" Marlo asked. Jean sighed.

"Listen, eveyone starts out as a recruit, okay? If we throw recruits into battle like cannon fodder, then they'll all be to dead to learn. And that's why, for now, it's your job to watch and learn from the rear. So you can make it back in one piece." Jean said. Marlo sighed.

"Trust him, Marlo. He is right." Kara said. Marlo nodded. Jean turned to look at Eren over Armin's head. Kara sighed. Eren was drinking from his mug

"The ones who really suck are the suicidal maniacs who think the only way to fight is to charge in blind. Right?" Jean asked. Eren looked at Jean as he set down his mug.

"Are you talking about somebody in particular?" Eren said. Kara pulled away from Jean, knowing this wasn't going to end well.

"Yeah, I'm looking right at him. Suicidal maniac." Jean said.

"You see, the funny thing is that I recently discovered that I'm actually a pretty normal person. So, hey, if that's how you really see me, then maybe you're just a coward, Jean. Right?" Eren asked. Jean and Eren looked away and Kara watched the two. Armin ducked as Eren and Jean jumped to their feet and grabbed each others shirts.

"Oh for heaven's sake." Kara said.

"You think you're so cool, don't you, you piece of shit?" Jean yelled.

"That's a pretty shaggy-looking mane you're growing there, horse face!" Eren said. The two were starting to struggle. Kara turned on the bench to watch.

"Try not to kill each other." Conny said.

"You jerk!" Jean said, shoving Eren away and goes after him.

"You're gonna rip my shirt!" Eren yelled.

"What the hell are those two doing?" Marlo asked. Kara flinched as Eren punched Jean in the stomach. Jean gasped in pain.

"You bastard!" Jean said, punching Eren in the stomach. Eren groans in pain. The two started punching each other in the stomach. Soldiers were cheering the two on. Eren grabbed Jean by the shirt as Jean was panting.

"But seriously. If you didn't have Titan powers, you'd be dead ten times over. Although, I guess Mikasa would've swooped in every time to save your worthless ass." Jean said. Eren was caught off guard. "You so eager to die?" Jean shoved him away. "Fine, then I'll kill you!" Jean punches him in the stomach. Soldiers were watching. Eren caught his breath.

"Yeah? Okay." Eren said. Eren pucnhes Jean hard in the stomach. "Give it your best shot!" Eren swings his arm back. "You oughta start showing your mom some more respect, Jean-Boy!" Eren punches Jean in the stomach. Jean punches him back.

"Would you forget that?!" Jean said.

"Never." Eren said. The two continued punching each other. Kara turned to grab her drink.

'I'm dating an idiot.' Kara thougth as she turned back as they slowed down. Eren and Jean were panting. Jean looked like he was sick.

"Hey!" Levi said, showing up. Levi kicked Eren in the stomach, causing Eren to grunt in pain. Levi punches Jean in the stomach. Kara stood up as Jean and Eren fell to the ground, groaning in pain. "That's enough celebrating." Levi looked at his daughters boyfriend in a bit of disappointment. "Go to bed." Kara flinched as Jean threw up all the meat. "And clean that up!"

"Yes, sir." Soldiers said. Levi looked at Kara.

"Kara. Come get your boyfriend and get him out of here." Levi said.

"Yes, father." Kara said. Kara helped Jean up. Jean wrapped his arm around Kara and they head out of the mess hall.

"Damn that Suicidal Maniac." Jean growled.

"If you didn't push his buttons, dad wouldn't have stepped in to stop you guys." Kara said as she pushed Jean's room door open. Jean laid on the bed. Kara goes to leave but Jean grabs her arm.

"Stay with me. It's our last night before the battle tomorrow." Jean said. Kara nodded and laid in the bed with Jean. Jean pulled her body against him and burried his face in her hair. Kara wrapped her arms around him. "I'm scared what's to come. I just hope all of us can make it out alive."

"I'm scared to, but we will." Kara said.

"Marry me, Kara." Jean said. Kara looked up at him. Jean looked into her beautiful eyes. "Soon as we can. Let's get married. After we take Wall Maria and end the onslaught of Titans." Kara touched his face.

"Yes, Jean. I'll marry you." Kara said. Jean kissed her hard and Kara returned it. Kara and Jean laid in bed talking of the future and cuddling till they fell asleep.

Sunset. Kara and Sasha were making sure everything was set with the wagons. Jean and Kara had decided not to tell anyone till after they take Wall Maria. Kara stood looking out.

'It's finally time.' Kara thought. A crowd was cheering down on the other side of the wall. They were cheering for their vicotry. Kara came up to stand next to Jean as everyone stood at teh edge of the wall. Jean reached for her hand and their fingers interlocked. Kara looked up at him and smiled. Jean returned the smile.

"You guys come back in one piece, all right?"

"Yeah! But get us back our land, too!"

"Shall we." Conny said.

"Why not." Kara said. Jean and Sasha smiled. Jean kept their hands interlocked as Jean, Sasha, and Kara threw their hands up with Conny.

"Yeah! You can count on us!" The four friends shouted. Levi raised an eyebrow at his daughter. He was surprised that she would join the four, but he was happy to see her happy for once. Kara smiled.

'This is a nice send off.' Kara thought. Erwin shot his good arm up and let's out a yell. The crowd yells and the four friends smiled as Erwin continues yelling and Levi looks at the Commander in shock. Erwin pulls out his sword and points towards Wall Maria.

"The operation to retake Wall Maria begins now!" Erwin yells. Kara grabs Lucky and her and Jean get on one of the lifts to head to the ground. Cheers rang through the Scouts. Kara swung herself up onto her horse as they reach the ground. She was between Jean and Sasha as they waited for orders.

'We're about to make history and take back Wall Maria. We can do this.' Kara thought.

"Scouts, move out!" Erwin yelled. The Scouts took off as they rode along the wall to head to Wall Maria where fate awaited them all.

AN: Got a new chapter out on the day the new episode got released. Haven't seen it yet. Have to wait till Sunday. Till next time.