Elise Year 850 (Current Time)

Life at the tavern was as good as it could be. Clients would come by, some gentlemen would treat the dancers as better than others. Some even courted Elise and the rest of her friends - of course, they never treated them seriously.

Many things had happened these last couple of months, the reconstruction of Stohess district was still undergoing. Although she lived in Ehrmich District in the tavern along with the rest of the tavern dancers, the news traveled fast about a female titan destroying the whole city.

As the years passed by, Elise had gotten recognition; as a high-status tavern dancer and was also recognized in the business of pleasure. Although she was extremely picky when it came to choosing who to sleep with.

"Elise!" Sofia came into her room, calling her name as she peaked her head behind the door. "Someone is looking for you."

"Who is it?"

"I think it's better if you come to look for yourself."

It's been the first time in five years that Elise has seen her father.

Age had gotten to him, a little weight too; she was surprised to see that he still had hair on his head. As usual he was wearing the best type of clothes his money could buy. His strong demeanor and straight posture, although his eyes looked more tired. However, there was no doubt that he was a man who never knew of the struggles of life.

"Mr. Dietrich, what are you doing here?" Elise asks, looking down at her father who sat on one of the tables in the tavern.

"Elise darling, have you forgotten that I am your father?" The old man kept his same stance, a bit disgusted about the place; but of course, he had been in worse situations.

"Ever since I was young you have told me to refer to you as Mr. Dietrich, or have you forgotten?" Elise sat at the table, facing her father and never breaking eye contact. "Please ... just tell me what brought you here."

"Your family and I need you, Elise, the royal families are in great danger. It came to our attention that someone is planning to overthrow the government soon ... and meetings have been held at a different tavern across the walls."

"And?"

"And this is bigger than we can control ... if this person executes their plan they are going to succeed and everyone including me ... will be hanged."

As much as Elise wanted not to care, she did. She didn't know what to do nor what to say.

"I still don't understand how I plan a part in all of this ... I'm a tavern dancer now."

"Yes and you have been one for a while now and you even got some status ... so, I'm sure you know ... what taverns are involved in this."

It was a quiet day at the tavern and out of all the days, Elise hadn't expected to see her father like this. This was the first time he had looked for her, to ask for a favor. He needed her.

"Just tell me which ones are involved and everything is going to be fine."

But of course, she couldn't bend down so easily.

"You think I'm going to betray everyone? My family?"

Suddenly, her father clasps onto her hands. The ones that used to be delicate and strong, now they were more worn out - his skin not as soft. Elise wanted to pull away, but somehow she couldn't move as if her hands wanted to be held by him.

"No, Elise, we're your family," Mr. Dietrich says, his voice softened as he moved closer to her. "You don't fit in here. The only reason why you are here is because of what you tried doing that night."

The beautiful woman was quiet, her short bangs covered her eyes as she only looked at her father's hand covering hers. Not once has he ever held her like this. Not even when she was a child and the more he acted like this, the more she realized that this was all she wanted.

"Don't you think it hurts us too? Selling you to this tavern was the hardest thing your mother and I had to do," he continued, this time caressing his skin with her thumb. "But now you have learned your lesson, you can come back to us now."

Yes, she had done something horrible that night. Or at least she had attempted to. Maybe he was right, these past five years her parents were also suffering from the fact that they had sent her daughter away. Maybe deep down ... they still wanted her?

"You just have to tell me ... which taverns were involved in all of this bullshit," Mr. Dietrich pressured her again, his voice showing vulnerability. "Everything is going to go back to normal, you can come back home Elise."

Everyone talks about the unconditional love parents have for their child. But no one talks about the unconditional love a child has for their parents.

And that's all Elise wanted ... love.

"Don't you want that? Everything you lost, everything you want," he says, this time he placed one of his hands on Elise's face ; making his daughter look up at him. "You can have it ... just tell me, Elise."

True love.

"Do it and you'll have all of our love."

There was silence.

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It was impossible to sleep.

Maria tried to sleep alone in her room after all the candlelight was on. It was tranquil and the moonlight coming from the window made the scenery almost too perfect.

As if she wanted to share this with someone else, it was too peaceful and it would be selfish of her to keep this for herself.

But when she stood up from her bed she realized that she had no one to share it with.

With a heavy sigh, she knew her sleep had dissipated, and maybe walking around the castle would help her catch it.

She found herself on the rooftop of the castle. Somehow, it was warmer outside than inside. Expecting to have the place for herself, Maria was surprised to see blonde hair waving in the wind. The small figure sitting on the cement of the many pillars, quiet and looking at the stars.

It must have been hard for her, Christa, who now goes by the name of Historia.

The brunette walks towards her, although Historia had already felt the presence of someone coming towards her; she didn't mind turning around to check who it was.

"Aren't you hungry?" Maria asks as she takes a seat next to Historia on the next pillar. Her feet hanging above the ground, nothing stopping from jumping if she wanted to.

"You weren't at dinner tonight."

Historia was quiet and Maria didn't take this at heart. After all, she knew that the young girl had been through a lot. From the secrets of her family being revealed to Ymir leaving, her world must be crumbling down.

"You know you can talk to me if you need to, right?" Maria looks at Historia looking so small and fragile. She wanted to console her, it was heartbreaking to see such a cheerful girl turn into someone without any light in her.

"Don't do that," Historia says, avoiding Maria's gaze.

"Do what?"

"Pretend like you know what I am going through."

The brunette let out a heavy sigh, she didn't take her words to heart. Historia was worth, feeling betrayed even and confused that her lover had left even when she had asked not to.

"You're right I don't," Maria says. "But I think I know what Ymir is going through."

This time the young blonde girl looks back to Maria who kept her looking at the stars. This time she was intrigued, craving to know answers. Anything that could subside the pain in her heart.

"Some time ago ... I also had to leave the person I loved ... I didn't want to but I had to."

"Why?"

Maria didn't like remembering that. The pain she had inflicted on Levi when she left him. Even now she didn't know the details about her ex-boyfriend's state when that happened but according to Hange, he didn't do any good. It was also a topic Levi didn't like to discuss.

"To protect him," she said, now looking down to the ground underneath her. An urge to jump suddenly overtook her, a stupid idea and the idea passed away.

"Don't get me wrong, I don't fully know why Ymir decided to leave, but all I can say is that sometimes we make the wrong choices based on love."

"We loved each other, Ymir would never leave me ... Or that's what I thought," Historia's voice broke.

Maria felt guilty for leaving her kids like this. Not only had Historia gone through a lot the last couple of months. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin had lost Hannes; the treason of Berthold and Reiner affected everyone. Not to mention that Mike had also passed away in strange circumstances.

"I think she wanted to live for herself and to do that she had to leave you," Maria tried her best to give her some comfort, desperate to make the short girl feel better. Seeing her cry like this was unbearable, such a pretty face should never be tainted with tears.

"You know, someone once told me that in order to keep living, we all have to be slaves to something," the brunette remembers that man a little too well. His face wasn't kind but it wasn't evil either. A lost man, with no one to follow, nothing to do. Living for the sake of it and not because he wanted to.

"I think those words are true."

She heard quiet cries coming from Historia and although Maria wanted to hug her, she didn't dare to. For a moment, she didn't know if she was listening, but she continued hoping that her words would resonate with her.

"Ymir was a slave to you, to the love she has for you," Maria says this time, looking at the young scout. "How can you truly be free when you are enslaved to other people?"

Was she speaking to Historia? Or was she speaking to herself? Trying to convince herself that her decisions are correct. That the pain that she inflicted on herself and Levi was worth something.

"I guess Ymir just wanted to truly be free and she wanted the same thing for you ... To free you from the love you had for her so you can live your life for yourself."

This time, Maria stretched her arm and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. Softly giving it a squeeze, her tears were uncontrollable but more than the pain it was of relief. Finally having some grasp of Ymir's actions.

"She stays away from you, giving up a happy life with you, so you can be free."

Maria felt her own voice wanting to break, it hurt her to see Historia like this, and also there was unresolved pain in her heart.

"And if you ask me ... I think that's a true act of love."

Historia let herself breakdown, her cries and tears tinted Maria's shirt. Now in her arms, trying to look for some warmth, Maria embraced her; like a mother comforting a child, caressing Historia's beautiful blond hair. Historia cried even more, muttering words she could only understand."

"Ymir ... is so stupid ..."

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After leaving Historia in her room, Maria knew that it was too late to go back to bed. It was around 5 a.m in the morning, the perfect time to train without having anyone looking at her.

Without much thought, she went back to her room. Change to training clothes that consisted of shorts, a shirt, and a jacket. These were the few times in which Maria could wear 'revealing' clothes that showed any skin without having someone ask her 'what happened?' 'why do you have so many scars?'

She just wanted to be comfortable while training without the stares and questionable looks.

Of course, the Survey Corps gym was out of reach, she could take her horse but she decided to just let it rest for now. It could create a commotion and the last thing she wanted was attention.

Instead, Maria ran to the river. A few miles away, not stopping. She had kept training these past two months much to Lance's disliking because according to him Maria was overworking herself.

The brunette took her ODM and a few blades, hoping to practice her techniques since she hasn't used them to train the past few months.

The forest was the perfect place to practice and although Maria was able to cut off some tree branches to better her skills she decided not to but still imply the safe force as if she was going to slay down a titan.

She was a bit proud that when the titans breached Trost district, she was able to take down several titans by herself. Not as many as she would have liked to still she wished Levi would have been there to see her. To prove to him that her training with him for five years was worth it. That she wasn't a waste of time.

Maria moved around the forest as fast as she could, using different movements Levi had taught her, along with techniques she had developed herself.

Her ODM gear had become another extension of her body, it felt so natural to use it now. She remembers the time in which she would end up in the mud with the pigs because she didn't know how to use the gear properly.

She had come a long way, but the better she got, the stronger she felt.

And that was all that mattered to her.

Suddenly, she hears movements coming from the ground. The brunette didn't hesitate, she continued moving closer to whatever was approaching her. Evading trees with a fast speed, her swords in her hands, Maria prepared to attack.

But as she reached the ground, she noticed it was Levi looking up at her. That didn't stop the brunette from continuing to attack, wanting to see a different emotion on Levi's face besides his usual stoic self.

After her feet touched the ground, she ran towards him and he just stood there, not scared of her actions.

Maria made a sudden stop in front of him, her blades almost touching his neck. No reaction from Levi as if he already knew the meaning behind her actions.

"Training this late?" Levi asks, keeping eye contact with Maria. "You should at least inform me if you plan to sneak out at this hour."

Maria kept eye contact with the short man, her swords still on his neck, not pressing against his skin but she wanted to, she could hurt him.

But of course, that won't ever happen.

"My apologies Captain Levi," Maria says as she puts her swords down, her demeanor softened. "But I think you should be more concerned that a subordinate raised her sword against you, her Captain."

"You know very well you are not my subordinate," Levi watches Maria put her sword back in the ODM wear. He couldn't help but notice her bare legs. "You are head of the HR department of the Survey Corps ... You have nothing to do with the rest of the exploration team."

"Well, I will pretty soon, next time I join for the upcoming outside the wall exploration," the brunette began to walk away, a bit frustrated that her training had been interrupted. "After that, we'll officially just be Captain and cadet ... subordinate ... or whatever you like to call it."

"Well, it doesn't matter," Levi says. "You and I ... we didn't hold each other in the same regard in our relationship anyway."

Maria didn't know if she had to take that as an insult but before she could say anything, Levi beat her to it.

"You know you're everything to me," Levi says as Maria immediately stops walking by hearing his words. "You know .... I'll do anything for you."

The brunette still didn't turn around. Her back was facing him and for a moment she could only feel his gaze on her legs. On her scars, the pity he must have for her. Does it hurt him? Does it pain him to see her? Or is he disgusted for ever touching someone like her?

"If I asked you to leave me alone would you do it?"

There was a long silence in which Maria could already picture Levi's face.

"... If that's what you want me to do, I'll do it," Levi was terrified of the thought. And although these last two months have helped him her his feelings under control, he still cared. As much as he says he doesn't love her, he cares for her deeply.

"You know that no matter what happens, I'm a slave to you."

Maria didn't know if she wanted that. A type of relationship in which Levi was dependent on her, emotionally speaking. What did she want? A relationship? No, it was too late for that. A friendship? Maybe, but it was a fact that they could never be more than just friends. It had to be something deeper, a common ground in between the two.

"But even I know ... that you won't ask me to do that because you know how much it's going to hurt me," he says. "And I know that inflicting pain on me is the last thing you want to do."

And Levi was absolutely right.

"Hey, Levi ..."

He felt a shiver run down his spine, she had dropped the 'Captain' title. Her voice was soft and it reminded him of better days. Of the intimate nights, holding hands, sharing secret kisses at night. Hiding behind the house to have alone time, whispers of words of love and resilience.

Oh how he missed all of that.

"I love you," she says.

He felt like breaking down and although he had the calmest of faces at the moment, his insides were screaming. Wanting to hold her and kiss her so passionately till the point that her lips were swollen with his love.

"I know."

"But," she turned around, finally taking a look at his face under the moonlight.

"I'll try to love you a little less if that's ok."

She saw his face frown, his eyes trembled a little. Maria knew that the thought alone pained him, maybe even physically.

"Will you still care for me ... If I were to ever stop loving you?"

"You know that's never going to happen."

Levi walks towards her, his eyes looking into hers. Her hair was in a ponytail but he couldn't help to notice that it was slightly shorter. His mind was already jumping to the conclusion that someone else had cut it for her.

"Even I know that no matter who comes into your life, I'll always be the man you're in love with," he stood in front of her wishing he could end this conversation with a kiss.

"When we were together you made me have no doubts about that."

"Why are you so sure? Don't think so highly of yourself," she said, hating how Levi was right. Even she knew this and she despises that no matter what she couldn't take Levi away from her heart.

"It's just a fact, I know," Levi wasn't only telling this to Maria but to himself. His heart always feels content at the fact that he will always have a place in Maria's heart no matter what.

"And I'm glad because if I am being honest ... I don't know what I would do if I didn't have your love."

"You still haven't answered my question."

He felt the air leave his lungs the moment he dared to hold her hands. How much he missed her warmth, her soft hands that fit perfectly into his. Levi wanted to touch more, to feel more, but even he knew that this was as much as he was going to receive.

"Maria you must know ... you must know that everything I do is for you ... No matter what ... my whole being belongs to you."

Maybe Levi didn't love her anymore.

But Maria was ok with that. Being more than friends but less than lovers ... was there a name for that? Was it even possible? Was this what she wanted?

She just knew that she needed Levi in her life no matter what.

"I hope we can be friends ... or something like that," Maria softly caresses Levi's calloused hands and she notices how her sudden touch sends shivers across Levi's skin. Her sense of smell inhaled the comforting, nostalgic scent of Levi; lemon and tea leaves.

"I'll be whatever you want me to be ... just please ... don't push me away," he begged her, knowing very well that his life belonged to her. To this woman who had learned to completely love every single aspect of him.

"It's you and I, Maria ... forever and always."

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"Maria come on let's go! We need to go have some fun, it'll be a double date! Me, Moblit, you and Lance!"

Three days have passed since Maria's arrival. Lance had already gone back to the hospital but of course, they had the plan to meet soon.

It was a calming time for everyone, especially for the cadets who were enjoying Maria's cooking. Their palates had already suffered enough with Levi's cooking.

Now they were cleaning the floors of the kitchen, using old rags, water, and soap.

"Hange, maybe Maria doesn't feel comfortable," even Moblit was trapped in here. Since Hange had come to talk to Maria, the assistant followed along.

He was washing the windows of the kitchen while Maria and Hange scrubbed the floor.

"It's not that it's just that I feel bad if we leave Levi with all the kids by himself," Maria says, placing her old rag in the bucket of water, standing up so she could work on the next section of the floor.

"He doesn't have a lot of patience."

"Lena is coming to the castle soon," Hange says. "So he is not going to be alone."

"Oh," Maria picks up the bucket of water - it was way easier now to pick them up. "So him and Lena-"

"But what if I want to go?"

Levi stood behind Maria, almost whispering in her ear. The brunette was taken by surprise as she turned around to face him, the bucket of water impacted against Levi.

"I'm sorry! I didn't see you!" Maria was fast to take her hair bandana off and use it as a towel to clean the wet part of Levi's shirt.

"It's fine," Levi says, trying to help Maria in some way.

"No, let me-" Maria never finished her sentence. Levi was wearing a white shirt now that was see-through due to the water being splashed on it.

She was softly touching his well defined abs and immediately she felt heat go up to her cheeks.

"Do you want me to pick up my shirt?"

Levi asks and to that Maria just moves away, handing Levi the piece of clothing so he can continue drying himself.

Meanwhile, Hange and Moblit just shared a look. Not needing words to know what the other one was thinking.

"But it's a couple's date, who are you going to bring?" Hange interrupts the awkward silence, noticing a small smile on Levi's face as he dried his clothes. Maria instead just focused on walking to the other side of the kitchen to try and hide her apparent blush.

"Um, Erwin?" Levi responds, not really thinking about his answer.

"Erwin is having dinner with Leah tonight, it's her birthday," Maria says from afar. "I'm going to visit her today to help her get ready for her date."

"Oh, so that's why Erwin asked me to help him today to find a gift."

Levi turned around and gave Maria a quick look. She was focused on cleaning and didn't dare to look back at him. He could still see that she was rather embarrassed about the earlier accident and somehow that made him slightly content.

"I'll figure it out, just let me know what place you all are going to."

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"No, Levi, I'm sorry but I can't watch over Eren and the rest, that's your job."

Erwin and Levi walked across town. Looking around the shops and places the young ladies frequented. It was strange to see two young men walking around these areas and of course, the two stole enamored sighs of a few ladies.

"And you know that in order to keep custody of Eren, someone from the Survey Corps has to constantly keep watching over him and you signed up for that job."

"It's only going to be a couple of hours," Levi tried to convince Erwin to have his date with Leah at the castle while he goes to a place he hates.

"Just put Eren in the dungeon underneath the castle and have dinner with Leah on the rooftop."

"I made reservations at a nice restaurant already-"

"Please Erwin," the short man stands in front of the blonde one. Looking up at him.

"I'll even go back and decorate the rooftop of the castle, candles, flowers, I'll make the brats make the food ... I just need a couple of hours."

He was desperate and Erwin could tell. This wasn't the first time Levi asked him in favor of Maria. Of course, he wasn't going to say no. After all, he knew that Levi would do the same for him if the places were exchanged.

"Fine, but you better make the castle look nice."

"Thank you."

Levi let out a sigh of relief as they entered a clothing shop. They were both inexperienced on the field. Although Erwin knew more of the things a woman likes, it had been a while since he has had this kind of attention to someone.

And of course, a second opinion is never harmful.

The shop was rather big with different sections according to the style of clothing. Again, the stares of a few ladies landed on the two but they didn't pay attention.

"Not to intrude but why are you so persistent to go to this party?" Erwin interrupted the silence between the two while he looked around the store.

"You hate going to them."

"I do but," Levi says, having no clue as to why Erwin even asked him to come with him. He didn't even know Leah that well, just that she was an annoying woman.

"It's been two months and well I missed her."

Levi picked up a green bonnet, very beautiful with all kinds of ribbons attached. He tried to help somehow by just showing Erwin the things he thought would look good on Maria.

Erwin just moved his head from side to side signaling him a negative answer.

"And I want to spend time with her without it being ... weird," Levi says as he puts the bonnet back where it was, following Erwin around the store.

"Won't it be easier to just ask her to spend time with you?"

Erwin picked up an umbrella this time, a vibrant red with lace decorating the edges. It was clearly expensive, but the Commander wouldn't mind spending extra cash on his lover.

"No, I think if Maria and I were to be alone ... I just wouldn't know how to function."

There was uncertainty in his voice. Erwin took a moment to look down at his friend. He was covering his face with one hand, his ears red.

"Come on, Levi, you're one to babble when things get uncomfortable."

"I am not! But-" Levi took a string of his hair and began to make small circles with it. Playing with his hair as a sign of nervousness.

"It's just that ... after so long ... being alone with her ... and after what I said a few nights ago ..."

"You're embarrassed?" The Commander kept looking at his friend. There were only a few times in which he'd seen him like this and the sight always surprised him.

"You are! Well, I shouldn't be surprised... After five years you still try to write to her, don't you? Also, you should come to my office more often to practice your writing-

"Shut up!"

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Maria didn't know how Hange convinced her to wear a sleeveless dress in front of so many people.

If she was being honest, it was mostly due to the fact that everyone had put a lot of effort into their appearance for tonight.

It was a simple dress, white and it reached her knees. The dress allowed other people to see her collarbones, arms, and a little bit of her chest. Of course, her biggest problem was the scars covering her skin and the stares of other people on her.

"Come on Maria, you look nice! Enjoy tonight, alright?"

Maria appreciated Hange and a lot especially when she encouraged her to do things like these. But at that moment she felt overwhelmed; feeling the eyes of everyone on her. Did she look that disgusting? She should have known better than to wear a dress, pretending to be worthy of wearing something so pretty.

"Maria, I promise you that the reason why people are staring is because you look really pretty," Hange says as she places her arm around the brunette's shoulder. "Besides, who cares about what other people think? I think you look amazing."

"Thank you Hange," Maria says, feeling a little bit more confident. "But tell me, how are the experiments with Eren going?"

"Oh, they're going great! Hange says. "Well, not great in the sense that they are successful experiments but they are great because I am learning so many things! Let me tell you about my hypothesis and-"

Maria actually enjoyed listening to Hange and her experiments. She knew a lot and Maria was uneducated making her crave to learn whatever she could. Also that the last time she listened to her, it saved her life.

Remembering how Hange told her that the gas used in the ODM gear can be flammable in large quantities, she thought that at the time it wasn't the time to think about them.

"Hange! Maria!"

The two ladies who sat at the bar table turned around to look at their dates. Although Maria wouldn't really call it a date for her and Lance, she definitely saw it as a double date for Hange and Moblit.

"Oh! You guys made it!" Hange went to hug Moblit, who immediately blushed at the act. Maria still didn't know if they were officially a thing, but she just knew that they were made for each other.

Meanwhile, Lance was just mesmerized by the place. Looking up and down at the bar. Live music, people dancing and drinking, candle lights everywhere. Some people were passed out on the floor while others were making out in the corner and Lance wondered if he was going to end up with Maria like that ... at least that's what he hoped.

Lance grew up in a wealthy family and had never been in low-quality bars like this. And although a part of him was amused, the other was also terrified.

"Hey, Lance," Maria approached him, a bit shy since they hadn't talked for a few days about Lance's confession.

"Hey, Maria-"

"Oi."

The couple turned around, startled by the short man in front of him and his assistant standing next to them. How they even appeared out of nowhere was a mystery to them.

"Levi, Lena! We're glad you made it in time!" Hange and Moblit came into the picture. As always, Maria loved how Hange knew how to read the atmosphere and came into the conversation when it was needed.

"Yeah, we're glad to be here too."

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to do or say next. Levi kept his eyes on Maria, surprised that today she had dared to wear a dress. Not that it looked bad on her, it was quite the opposite. If anything he missed seeing her wearing one, but a quick memory passed through his mind. If he remembers correctly he had gifted her that dress, it still looked new and the corset that highlighted her curves was driving him insane.

And of course, everyone noticed this, even Lance who decided to place his arm around Maria's shoulders.

"Well, let's start drinking shall we?"

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This was his last shot or at least that's what he thought, but the more he saw them interact, the more he wanted to drink. He wasn't the fondest of drinking either, to an extent he hated the flavor. It was strong and bitter, the taste would not leave his taste buds unless he drank great amounts of water.

And even so, he preferred to drown in alcohol than to see them. It wasn't like he could get drunk that easily anyways.

"Captain Levi ... are you sure you should be drinking that much?"

Levi took a moment to look at his assistant, he was glad that she was here but there were times in which he wanted to be alone. Nonetheless, he couldn't tell her to go away after all he was the one who invited her.

"It's ok, alcohol doesn't have much of an effect on me," he replied, taking a sip of his beer.

Lena hated to see the Captain like this. Acting so miserably when he could be having a better time.

"Do you dance?"

"Not if I can help it."

Using his peripheral vision, Levi noticed Lena's facial expression change. Looking down at the floor, shy, playing with her thumbs, she was nervous.

Levi immediately regretted bringing her here, not because he didn't like her company but because he knew he wasn't a good date.

"Do you dance?" Levi asks, trying to make some conversation instead of paying attention to Lance and Maria on the dance floor.

"Sometimes," Lena replied, still a bit embarrassed about the whole situation. "Did you ever dance with Maria?"

He tried to think of some memories, he remembers the night at the ball when he kissed her for the first time. Maria had asked him to dance with her and little by little she taught Levi how to waltz. Of course, their night was cut off short and now that he thinks about it... that was the last time they tried doing something like that.

"I think we only danced a little before ... but never a whole song," he says, feeling a sting in his heart as he watches the brunette and blond man dance to the vivid live music. Another thing he was never going to experience with her.

"I never ... We never really danced together ..."

"Well, now it's your chance."

Lena gives Levi a small smile, giving him a small pat on his shoulder to encourage the short man. He was nervous but the alcohol in his blood was already starting to take effect just enough to give him the spirit to follow his assistant's words.

Giving her a nod, he finishes his beer from one big gulp. Placing the old wooden mug on the table, he stood up from his seat and walked towards the ex-tavern dancer.

"Hey, Maria,"

His voice trembled and if it wasn't because he had his hands put into fits, they would be shaking. He thought that the alcohol would help him relax and open up. Instead, he found himself struggling to keep eye contact. He felt intimidated, not by the situation, but because of how beautiful Maria looks to him at the moment.

"Oh, hey Levi," Maria greets him as she stops dancing with Lance.

"Do you need something?" Lance interrupted the scene, immediately holding Maria by her waist and pulling her closer to him. "We're busy."

People were dancing around them, having fun. Even Moblit and Hange were moving around the dance floor, drinking and having the time of their life. It was nice to see that at least some people were enjoying the evening.

But as much joy as that scene would bring anyone, Levi wanted nothing but to punch Lance across the bar. Nonetheless, he only tightens his fits, knowing that Maria would never forgive him if he were to do something like that.

"I was wondering if," Levi looks at Maria, taking a deep breath. "You would like to dance with me."

"Sorry, she's reserved for the whole evening with me," Lance says this time, placing his hand on Maria's shoulder, taking a string of her hair and playing with it.

"She's not a fucking restaurant for her to be reserved," Levi says.

"Oh, pardon my wording I forgot I wasn't talking to someone ... cultured," the doctor was testing Levi's patient, liking to tease the short man and see how far he can go before going physical with him.

"I meant that Maria and I have agreed to stay the whole night together."

"Well, I wasn't talking to you, I was asking Maria!"

"Levi, please," Maria tried to calm him down, trying her best to not start any commotion in the bar. And even when Maria knew that Levi must be better from his ankle, she still didn't want him to start a fight that might injure him.

"Lance is right ... I want to spend the night with him but-"

Levi didn't hear anything after that. The only thing he cared about was that Maria had picked Lance over him. Feeling betrayed, a little bit hurt, and ... No, never mind. He was incredibly hurt.

"Well I'm sorry to interrupt you both," Levi says. "I hope you and your future husband have a good rest of the night."

"Wait, what?"

But before Maria could ask for any clarifications, Levi left the bar.

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There was a commotion outside and as much as Maria wanted to believe that it wasn't Levi, Hange made her doubts go away. The scientist interrupted the dancing couple as she told them that Levi was in a dark alleyway next to the bar.

Levi had gotten into a fight and although he was strong, he had received a few punches on his face. The other men were left worse of course and they had gone away already with their tails between their legs.

Nobody knew how to react or what to do while they saw Levi sitting on the ground, looking disconsolate. The air was heavy around the group, Lena, Lance, Hange, and Moblit looked at each other wondering what step they should take next.

With a heavy sigh, Lance took a few steps towards Levi and bent down to look at him at eye level.

"Can I take a look at your wounds?" The doctor asks as he places his right hand on Levi's chin, making him look up at him.

"Don't touch me," Levi says as he slaps Lance's hand away.

Lance only rolls his eyes, it was a pity that such pretty eyes were wasted on someone so stubborn like him. Or at least that's what Lance thought.

"I'm sorry everyone, but ... I want to talk to Levi, alone," Maria says as she keeps eye contact with Levi. Everyone kept quiet preoccupied with Levi and his current state. But knowing that Maria will take good care of him, they knew that it was better to leave them alone so they could talk.

"Alright, if you need something we'll be inside," says Hange as walked away with Moblit. Soon after, Lena and Lance gave their prospective dates one last look before leaving them alone.

After a few seconds of staring at each other's eyes and awkward silence, Maria finally speaks up.

"Look at you ... What were you thinking?" She bent down in front of him.

His face had a little cut on his lips, a drop slipping from it, and a small bruise on his left cheek. It wasn't anything that he couldn't handle and Maria was thankful that things didn't escalate to anything major.

"They were talking bad about you, I couldn't let them bad mouth you," Levi says as he breaks eye contact, looking away to no specific place. This dark alley was nasty as it is and he knew better than to fight strangers but at the moment he didn't care.

"A lot of men talk bad about me, but you don't see me fighting all of them do you?"

With a heavy sigh, Levi stood up from the ground. Shaking his pants a little to get rid of the dirt. He didn't want to see her at least now, but as he was ready to leave, Maria called him from behind.

"Levi, tell me, what's wrong?"

It was dark, the only visible light was coming from the moon and the houses at the end of the valley. She could still hear the commotion from the bar next to them. The live music and the chattering of people but all that didn't matter. The world ceased to exist when she was with Levi.

" ... Why didn't you tell me that you and Lance were engaged?"

"Because we're not," she quickly responded, taking a few steps towards him. "Yes, he did propose but we're nothing! We're not even dating and I don't know how you came up with that false information."

"That bastard lied to me!"

Levi thought as he clutched his hands into fits, still not looking at the brunette.

"But even if we were ... I don't think you're in a position in which you should be angry," what annoyed Maria the most was how Levi was acting because of their current situation. Acting recklessly was something Levi was not known for and he knows that she hates it when he acts like that because of her.

"I'm not angry! I'm just annoyed!" He finally turned around, showing his evident anger. "You are always hanging out with him and talking about him!"

"And what's wrong with that?" she asks.

"Do you love him?"

She stayed silent and Levi didn't want to believe what her silence was telling him.

"Maria answer me, do you love him?" he asked again, this time he raised his voice out of despair.

"That's none of your business Levi!" Maria got closer to him and Levi had a full view of the scars in her arms and chest. "Why are you so angry? Why does it bother you so much?"

And Levi ... didn't care anymore.

"Well, I'm sorry that I am not happy seeing the woman I love fall in love with another man!"

The music from the bar was the only thing that could be heard. The wind softly danced through each other's hair as they stared at each other intensely. Her eyes showed that of confusion, his pink cheeks that should be of embarrassment soon turned into a color of anger.

"No, no you can't do this to me," she took a few steps back, putting her hands in front of him as if she wanted to push him away.

"Maria-"

"No! Levi all of this time I believed you didn't have any feelings for me!" Maria raised her voice, trembling a little as she tried to suppress her cry of rage and despondent position.

"And now that I am finally starting to move on, now that I have finally found someone who I can love ... You come and ruin everything!"

"The only one who is ruining things for us is Lance! We were completely fine before he came into the picture," Levi also had his fair share of anger kept inside of him. Things he couldn't say to avoid this, but it was inevitable.

"But of course, you're so smitten with him that you fail to see what truly he is! ... you only worry about yourself and you disregard my feelings completely!"

It was a good thing that it was late at night and no one was passing by hearing them scream at each other. The hate they've been holding since the moment they broke up.

"Levi, just how selfish can you be?" Maria says almost in disbelief. "But you know what? I'm not going back to you, I'm not going to create false hopes and illusions so later you can break them apart!"

"The only broken illusions in here are mine!"

Levi was never good with communication, goddesses knew that he had tried his best to tell her how he felt but the only emotions he ever felt were in contact with depression, anger, and suffering.

"How is it so easy for you to just move on and find someone else while you left me alone? Pushing me aside and leaving me alone to drown in my misery watching you fall into the arms of another man!"

"You were the one who pushed me away!" Her voice broke again, moving her arms in front of Levi, showing him fully the hideous scars that would be carved into her body forever.

"You were the one who didn't want me anymore because I'm disgusting! Because you hate the way I look!"

"Yes, I fucking hate it! I hate those fucking scars on your body because it reminds me of what those bastards did to you!" To Levi, he found Maria's body to be the most beautiful thing he had the honor to see. With or without scars, but he couldn't deny the fact that someone had vandalized his sacred place. He hated himself more than anything for allowing someone to touch his home and safe place.

And he hated feeling this way.

"Those scars disgust me because every time I look at them I want to cry! I want to scream and kill them because of what they did to you!"

He places his hands on her shoulders, desperate to make her understand his feelings, to let her know that it wasn't her problem but his. But he was stupid ... so, so stupid.

"Even now when I look at you, it fucking hurts and I would do anything to go back and bring the woman I love back to life, back to me!" Levi looks up to her, shaking her body from side to side, trying to make her respond.

"I hate this Maria, I hate these scars, I hate ... I hate-"

"I hate you!"

Maria screams at him. Not caring about his feelings nor how much it hurts him. She wasn't crying although the knot in her throat pained her more than any physical injuries she had received before.

Levi's pain could never be fully described. No words in the world would ever be able to describe the agonizing burn in his heart as it slowly broke into a million pieces.

  "I hate myself," Levi says, this time he was close enough to her and he let himself loose. Letting his head rest on her chest.

"Because I know what I must do ... But I don't think I am strong enough."

She didn't mind the contact, more than anything she craved for it. Maria missed his warmth, the only thing she wanted was to touch him and comfort this vulnerable man in front of her.

"Maria ... say it again," Levi looks up to her, their eyes meeting, already knowing what the other wanted.

"Say that you hate me."

The brunette hesitated for a few seconds before falling into a deep trance in Levi's beautiful dark blue eyes.

"I hate you," she says.

Suddenly, Levi grabs Maria by her shoulders, pulling her down towards his face.

Kissing her.

Their lips touch softly, only for a few seconds.

"Again," Levi says, his eyes almost closed just like Maria's. Looking deeply into her caramel eyes that he was deeply enamored with.

"Say it until you believe it."

"I hate you," she says again, wanting to see if Levi would dare to kiss her again.

And he did, this time he had the courage to taste her lips a little bit longer. His tongue making small circles in her lips, the flavor of vanilla already intoxicating him.

He separates, wanting to see more of her red face before taking her lips again.

"Again."

"I hate you."

Placing his hands on her neck, Levi pressed her lips against his. With more passion, their tongues graze against each other, their saliva coming out of their mouths as they couldn't enough. He wanted to feel more, to touch more.

"Again," he ordered, his hand grabbing the back of her neck.

"I hate y-"

And he didn't care anymore.

Not letting her finish her sentence, Levi pushed Maria against the wall. Crashing his lips with hers, Levi had her all to himself. Finally, he didn't have to be on tippy toes to kiss her. This position was perfect, as he felt his chest being pressed against hers. His hand was behind Maria's back, touching her corset wanting to take it off but he got desperate.

Instead, he used his hand and went under her dress, picking it up slowly to press it against his own. Wanting to touch her not-so-smooth skin, but he loved it nonetheless.

Maria had placed her arms behind Levi's neck, forcing him to kiss her until the point that it hurts. Not leaving room for breathing, only short breaks were made, but Levi didn't let her rest.

Levi couldn't take it anymore as he felt the brunette's hands run through his undercut, caressing and softly pulling strings of his hair.

Maria felt it too, how Levi's bulge was starting to press against her intimacy as Levi began to kiss her neck.

"Levi," Maria moaned quietly, and Levi began to tenderly move back and forth. Touching his crotch area against Maria's underwear, he wished he had taken it off before. A hand made its way to her chest, taking her right breast and squeezing it tightly.

She moaned loudly, as she felt Levi sucking into the skin of her neck. Leaving a red and purple bruise, Levi's love mark.

He took a moment to look at her face, he missed this sight like crazy. Always fantasizing about it ever since they broke up. But as much as Levi wanted it, he knew he couldn't do it.

Because he didn't want meaningless sex, nor shallow kisses.

He wanted to make love to her.

But Levi won't do it unless he knows that he still has Maria's love. Not until he is sure that they both are helplessly in love with each other just like they were before. He needed to know, that this was lovemaking and not sex because his heart knows that he wouldn't be able to handle it. He couldn't stand the thought of Maria just using him to satisfy her carnal desires and although he was a slave to her, his heart would be completely broken. Their relationship had always been more than that ... if they were going to be together ... it better be loving each other completely.

"I really want this Maria ... Believe me I do ...."

Levi stops all of his actions. Loving how he left Maria wanting for more. Their faces were close, gazing at each other's eyes. Levi softly caresses her cheek and puts a string of Maria's hair behind her ear.

"I don't know much you've moved on but if you do accept his marriage request, then just know I'd be happy for you."

Levi barely even registered what he was saying, there was partly some truth to his words; he would be happy for her, even if it pained him that she would move on with Lance - he would just have to accept it.

"Levi ... I ..." Maria breaks eye contact for a second before looking at Levi again.

Levi noticed her hesitancy, his eyes glossed up and he let out a small smile. He continued to caress her cheek with the back of his calloused hand; he finally came to the realisation that she wanted Lance.

"I know sweetheart, and it's okay. I hope he gives you all the happiness and love you deserve."

If Maria paid attention enough, she may have been able to see Levi's face. But she didn't dare to, knowing that tears would probably come out of her eyes if she saw him like this. If she sees him completely and utterly broken, beyond repair ... Would she pick up the pieces?

She knew the answer to that and for that same reason, she didn't want to look at those piercing eyes.

He placed a kiss on her forehead before wrapping his arms around her, not wanting to let go, he wanted to enjoy this small last moment with her.

Maria was surprised at his actions, yet she melted into his embrace.

"Are you happy with him?" He asks, closing his eyes as he keeps listening to the rhythm of her heart. Knowing that he was going to miss listening to this, being this close to her without any reprimands. Being able to embrace while fantasizing that she was still his.

"Yes, I think I am," Maria replies; she still showed signs of hesitancy. She ignored everything else around her, not caring at the moment that this place was not the most proper place to talk about these things. Of all the places they could talk about this, it had to be in a dark alleyway. Where everything was dark and only the moonlight and the music inside the bar told them that they were still alive.

"That's all that matters."

"Are you sad?" she asks as she begins to touch his hair. Feeling Levi's grip tighten, embracing her as if he didn't believe his current situation. He always knew this was going to happen but deep down he hoped it never did.

"You know the answer to that, but I'll be fine.."

She couldn't see Levi's face but Maria clearly heard a small sniff coming from him.

"Why do I feel like ... you don't want me to go?"

"Maria," separating from her, Levi slowly lets her go. His hands moved down from her arms to her hands, caressing the scars in her skin.

"The only thing I want is your happiness."

The time had come, this was always meant to be. The moment where he kept his promises till his death. Being selfish wasn't allowed this time and if anything divine exists, Levi would pray to them to make his pain become true happiness.

Because as much as he didn't want to admit it; he wanted to break down in tears because he was losing her. He had lost her.

"I hope you're happy Maria, I really do." He mustered up a smile and took her hand in his, placing one last kiss on her knuckles before letting go one last time.

"I'll be there with you, no matter what ... I've said it before ... My whole being belongs to you and I cannot find greater happiness than being by your side forever."

He lied. And he hated not being able to feel happy for her. At least not now.

"Forever?" Maria asks, taking one final look at the love of her life.

"Always." Levi whispered. He parted from her and walked away. Leaving Maria with just the remnants of his answer echoing in her mind.

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The night was done and Levi was glad that Lena didn't look for him. He didn't want to be seen in such a state. Maria and Lance had gone their way, Hange and Moblit accompanied Lena to her dorm before leaving for the night as well.

On the other hand, Levi just went back to the castle, knowing that if he didn't show up, Erwin would be angry at him. After all, he must be anxious to spend some alone time with his girlfriend.

"I thought Maria would be coming back with you," Leah says as she and Erwin see Levi on the rooftop of the castle. Drinking, looking at the stars, and disconsolate.

"I'd like to be alone," Levi says as he hears the click and clacks of heels approaching. Leah was getting closer and so was Erwin.

Of course, his request was ignored. Seeing that Erwin took a seat to his right and Leah on his left, he couldn't help but feel a little comforted by the two. Even by Leah who didn't consider her to be a close friend.

"Besides, it's your birthday, just go away and have fun with Erwin. I'm already here and I'll take care of the kids."

"I'll have a lot of other birthdays," Leah says. "Besides at my age, you start not wanting to celebrate them."

She tried to lighten up the mood but seeing that she had no reaction whatsoever from the short man, she decided to not push her presence any further.

"Well, I think it's better if I let you two lost lovers have a small talk," Leah stood up from the cold cement she sat on. Her wording has all the ulterior intentions. She also had the soulmate talk with Erwin and although the thought made the Commander go red, it got to the point of their intimacy that they just accepted as a fact. Leah knows that love can have all meanings and none, at least that's what Erwin had taught her.

And well, Erwin was absolutely and completely in love with her. She knew that and that was all that mattered.

"You can have him for now Levi, but remember Erwin is all mine," Leah says as she walks away, the sound of her heels impacting the cement becoming more subsided.

"I'll see you tonight my love."

After a few seconds, Erwin was finally able to ask the reason behind his current state.

"What happened Levi? It's unlike you to be this way."

"I lost her," Levi immediately opened up, he didn't want to look at Erwin but instead focused his eyes on the ground underneath him. "I lost her and I ... I know I should feel happy for her and that I should keep my promises to him, but-"

He takes a big gulp of his saliva, feeling the knot on his throat getting stronger the more he talks.

"Why do I still feel like I love her?"

The Commander saw it in his face. On the way, his blue eyes would get like crystals about to break. His lips trembled a little, he was trying to bite it to prevent Erwin from seeing any more emotions. Levi didn't like this vulnerability but he trusted Erwin enough to let him see him like this.

"Erwin, I ..." Levi's voice breaks, staring at Erwin's sky blue eyes.

"I love Maria," he says.

"I can't deny it ... I can't pretend that I don't," Levi couldn't believe that it will hurt like this. That love was painful like this. "I love her."

Maria kept appearing in Erwin's mind and seeing how devastated his friend was, he started to feel a little bit of resentment towards the brunette. He knew that no one was at fault, but it was also painful for Erwin to see him like this.

"And even if she's not my soulmate, even if we were never meant to be, I don't care!" Levi raises his voice as if he had a moment of realization. His eyes began to glow, something Erwin had only seen once.

"Because I chose Maria! Over anyone else, over anything else! I don't care what the universe says or what she says, I choose her!"

"Maria is the love of my life," but suddenly that glow in his eyes began to disappear but the look on his face was not as sad as before.

"And I lost her ... Five years ago ... and now ..."

"Do you regret it?" Erwin asks. "Falling in love with her?"

"No ... falling in love with her made me feel alive," humanity's strongest soldier had a small smile on his face as if he was deep in lost memories.

"And even now, I can't feel anything but gratitude towards her."

"I love her ... and I always will," Levi smiles at Erwin, making the blonde man feel content. Finally, Levi had his answer, something knew he wasn't going to regret.

"And I've also made my choice."

"I've decided to love Maria till the day I die, and I know that in this lifetime it wasn't enough," Levi placed a hand on his heart, feeling it beat fast. He was alive and free to love Maria as much as he pleased. Because he knew that as long as Maria was by his side he could do anything.

Even overcoming the pain, he would always love her whether that love was conditional or unconditional; it did not matter anymore.

"So, I promise to look for her in my next life and fall in love with her all over again."

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A/N: I want to give a big thanks to shortysbrat and There_Goes_Alexis for being the most amazing beta readers in the world. In this chapter they actually edited out a scene that was really important and they changed it so Maria and Levi stayed in character. Please give them lots of love because One More Time would not be the same without them.

I am sorry I didn't get to finish the Comic for OLT's anniversary. I promise that for next Sunday, it should be done! Again, the full comic would be posted in Twitter.

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I guess Levi is finally growing? He has stopped being selfish and he now has Maria's best interest in heart. He is stepping aside, knowing that Maria would be much happier being with Lance than with him.

I dont' have much to say about this chapter ... take what you will of it lol. Next chapter we will finally have the resurrection arc. We are in the last chapters of One More Time. Thank you again everyone who has read this story and I hope you are enjoying it.

Did you enjoy this chapter? What would you have done if you were in Maria's position? What do you think about Levi? Lance? Lena?

Remember that OLT is OUR story! I can't wait to read your feed back!

See you all next Sunday!