Elise (Year 847)

    It's been two years since she last saw him, and it's been one year since Elise became a tavern dancer.

    There were many times she found herself writing letters to Levi. Mostly because she had no one else to write to. Of course, she never sent them. She kept them in a box under her bed.

    Elise would send them if it wasn't because she was terribly embarrassed by him knowing what she had become. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the other tavern dancers and the things they have done for her, but still being part of this culture was something Elise was not proud of.

    She wrote to Leone once, but there wasn't an answer.

"Hey Elise, we're going to town. Do you want to join us?" Sofia, Mila, and Giselle were all dolled up. Heavy, pretty dresses, feather and flower decorations in their hair. White gloves to protect their hands.

"Are you guys going to see an opera, maybe a dance ball or something?" she asked as she cleaned one of the tavern's tables with an old rag.

    Today is Monday, and in the morning there wasn't much to do. Most of the action would happen at night or during the weekend - clients would sleep on the floor the following day. 

All dancers had cleaning duties and today it was Elise's turn to clean around.

"No, just going shopping."

"Aren't you three overdressed then?"

"You can never be overdressed, besides this way we can bring more clients to the tavern," Sofia says and the blonde woman could never understand why they were so open to embrace their job.

"Sorry, I still haven't finished cleaning and-"

"Come on Elise, you don't even go out. It wouldn't hurt you to talk to some boys and get you some extra money," Giselle says. "Or do you not want to come because you are embarrassed by us?"

"It's been two years since I became a tavern dancer, I think I'm over being embarrassed about my job," she lied. Deep down she still felt uneasy about her current state. "I just really need to clean."

"Well, are you joining us this weekend for Sofia's birthday party?" Mila asks. "Her best friend should be there."

"Yes, of course, I'll be there and with a very nice present!" The beautiful woman takes a moment to wipe the sweat off her forehead. She had just finished scrubbing the floors and was cleaning the table. "Now you three go have fun."

"Alright then we will bring you some fruits, you are in charge while we're away."

    The blonde woman waved her friends goodbye, as they leave the tavern and for a second she thought she was going to get some peace until-

"Big sis Elise!"

    Alice was one of the tavern's apprentices. She was sold by her parents at only 12 years old and had some sort of admiration for Elise.

    Meanwhile, Elise didn't care too much about the young brunette girl. It annoyed her that she would follow her and tried to start conversations with her whenever she could.

"Please let me help you clean!"

    But sometimes she could be helpful.

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"Mother's going crazy and is going to beat all of us if the one who stole her money does not confess," Sofia had gathered everyone into the changing room.

    Seven tavern dancers, 3 apprentices, and 5 prostitutes made up the entire family of The Kings Key's Tavern.

    Of course, the ones who had the highest status were the tavern dancers, where only few compared to other establishments.

"Whoever it was, you better confess and save us all the trouble."

"Nobody is going to confess, you remember what happened to that woman who stole from Mother?" Giselle looked down at the three students already suspecting that it was one of them. After all, being young made you stupid.

    "She was sold to a tavern in the underground and became a prostitute, she died down there."

"Alright, if no one's going to confess then I'll do this the hard way. You all stay here, and I'll check in everyone's room," Sofia left the changing room, leaving the rest of the girls confused and angry.

    After she closed the door, the fighting started.

"Fuck whoever did it just confess already, if we are lucky Mother will allow us to still have the party for Sofia."

"Party? I doubt it. Not only that but if they don't find the money, Mother is going to take money from all of us." "She's going to punish us all one way or another."

"Well, I wouldn't be surprised if the money is found under Hanna's bed," said Mila as she walked in front of her rival. "After all, a prostitute can't live simply by getting her holes filled."

    But of course, the lady wasn't going to let Mila step all over her.

    "At least I charge for putting things in my mouth, unlike others who do it for free and reduce themselves to lick balls behind the restroom stall."

"You both calm down, it doesn't matter anymore, what's done is done," Giselle was the second in charge after Sofia and as always she had to calm the young women down. "We just have to hope that Mother will show us some mercy."

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    After an hour or so, Elise, Mila, and Alice were called into Mother's office.

    It had been a few times that Elise had been here and none of those times were pleasant. Her office was filled with so many candle lights that she thought she was at a church and instead of incense the smell of cigarettes filled the room.

"We found Money in Mila's and Alice's belongings so the one who stole the money is framing the other," Mother put out the cigarette's butt on a silver plate. Before Elise wouldn't have thought about it as she was used to eating on those fancy plates. But now she even wanted to stop Mother from her actions because it was ruining such an expensive artifact.

"Elise you were here today," Mother says. "Did you see Mila or Alice entering the office?"

    Although Elise knew the answer to her question she found herself in a dire situation.

    Mila looked at her with pleading eyes, telling her not to say anything. Whilst Alice was scared to death even when she knew she had done nothing wrong. As much remorse this will bring, she knew she couldn't betray her friend.

"Yes ... Alice," Elise said quietly and everyone sighed for different reasons. Mila out of relief, Sofia out of disappointment, and Mother due to anger.

"Guards!"

    Quickly three big men entered the room, standing behind the young girl.

    "Take her to confinement, I'll punish her properly tomorrow."

"Please, big sis Elise! You know it wasn't me!" Alice tried to break free, but the strength of the men was greater. The young girl began to cry, terrified of what may happen to her. "Please! I swear, I didn't do anything!"

But Elise didn't dare look at her.

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    "I think you're a good person."

"Is that the only way you see me? As a good person?"

"How else do you want me to see you?"

    It was nice to be laying in his arms. The bed was a mess as the bedsheets were covered with sweat and fluids. The whole room was completely filled with the aroma of their bodies and echoes from their moans of pleasure.

"As your lover maybe? It's already been a while and well ... What about making it official?" Elise asked as she softly tapped Levi's chest.

"You know I don't do relationships," Levi softly played with the blonde's hair. Even he had to admit that he enjoyed moments like this. "You're great but ... I'm just not ready."

"Can you at least say you love me?" Elise picked up her head a little as she made eye contact with Levi.

"I don't know ... I don't like saying things like that so lightly."

"Please," she said again as she gave him a chaste kiss. "I love you, Levi."

"Would that make you happy?" he asked, as he looked down at her, he saw Elise nod. At this point in the 'relationship', Levi didn't care about his feelings and whether or not he felt them. After all, whenever he had sex with women he never truly felt anything. But for Elise ... He will try.

Besides, how hard can it be for him to fall in love?

"You're a great woman, you're beautiful, smart, strong, kind and you ... make my life better," Levi says as he plants a kiss on her forehead.

"I love you, Elise."

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"But you never did, did you?"

    It was pretty late when she woke up. The sounds of bedsheets beating - to get rid of the dust - was outside her room and it was something she was accustomed to. She immediately knew who it was and decided to get up from her bed and see if she needed help.

    It's not like she was going to get any more sleep.

    Elise immediately knew that Sofia wasn't in the best of moods. The way she was using the wooden stick to get rid of the dust was saying it all.

"A little stronger and you are going to pierce through the bedsheets," Elise says as she approaches her friend who immediately turned around to look at her. "We don't need anyone else to get punished."

" ... Elise, are you sure you saw Alice going to Mother's office?"

"Why are you asking?"

"Well, I have nothing against Mila but she is definitely the most ambitious out of everyone in here," Sofia says. "And Alice is just twelve so ..."

    With that in mind, Elise decided to come out clean. Not because she was willing to tell the truth, but because Sofia was concerned with the situation. The last thing she wanted to do was to cause her friend any more type of struggle because of her.

"The morning before you left to shop," Elise looked away, somehow it was difficult to tell the truth. "I woke up early to start cleaning and I saw Mila going into Mother's office."

"So ... she stole the money?"

"Yes."

    Elise didn't know what hurt most, the disappointed face Sofia made at her or the fact that she looked extremely hurt.

"Elise, why did you lie?"

"Because ...," the blonde one looked around her surroundings, not wanting to be heard by anyone. It was starting to get cold this time of the year and she wished she had brought a sweater with her. At least that way she could feel some warmth instead of the cold eyes Sofia was giving her.

    A part of her didn't want to admit that she grew to like her stay at the tavern. She wanted the approval of everyone around her. To be accepted and loved ... especially with Sofia's friends.

"Because I don't want to stop being friends with Mila."

"Really? Elise, Mila stole from Mother and she should face the consequences of her actions!" Sofia screamed at her as she tried to control her voice as best as she could so no one else could hear.

    "What you did was wrong! You shouldn't lie just to be on the good side of people!'

"Why are you mad at me? I'm not the one who stole!"

    Elise couldn't understand why Sofia was so angry at her. She was the one who told her that tavern dancers should support each other regardless of anything ... Wasn't she doing just that?

"Don't you understand? Alice was sold to a tavern in the underground! Do you even know the kind of things that happen to tavern dancers down there?"

    There was silence and the wind was the only thing that could be heard between the two. At that moment Sofia knew she shouldn't have expected so much. From what Elise had told her, she used to be someone with 'money' to which extent, she didn't know. Of course, Elise wouldn't be able to understand the problems of the poor, or at least that's what she thought.

"They get tortured every day! Prostitution is very different down there too! There's no supervision! The client is allowed to do anything to them!" Sofia was filled with indignation and disgust at the mere thought of a child being put in those situations.

    She was put in that situation too at the tavern, the only difference was that she was well taken care of.

    "They aren't even allowed out of the tavern, for fuck's sake Alice is 12 years old!"

"And what was I supposed to do? Let Mila go down there too?" Elise raises her voice as she tries to say anything to make Sofia feel anger towards her.

"Mila is one of the popular tavern dancers, Mother knows that selling her to the underground would just make her lose money," Sofia throws the wooden stick to the ground out of frustration.

    "She would be severely punished and may be sold to another tavern but at least she wouldn't be sent underground."

    Sofia's voice broke and Elise felt something inside of her shatter. A small part of her heart, a big part of it cracked the moment she saw Sofia shed a tear.

"I am sorry ..." Elise says.

"You shouldn't apologize to me, Alice was already sent to the underground this morning," Sofia wiped away her tears as she began to walk away from Elise. "And I think it's a little too late to apologize."

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    After Maria left, Hange and Moblit had to go back to HQ to keep an eye on Eren. Although right now he was being looked over by Nifa and her squad, there were some experiments she wanted to start with the titan shifter.

    Erwin, Levi, Lisa, and little Arthur stayed a little bit longer in Leah's home. Apparently, there was something Erwin wanted to ask from Lena and he wanted Levi to be there.

    Lisa's boy was colouring with Levi on the floor. Although he didn't like the idea of sitting on the floor, he liked to colour with Arthur since lately, he hasn't had the time to spend time with the boy.

"You're a great artist," Levi complimented the blonde boy as he drew stick figures with bright colours. "Maybe one day you'll be a painter."

"No, I want to be a soldier," Arthur replied as he kept his eyes on the paper. "I want to protect mom."

"Really? Then you want to be a strong soldier?" The small thought that maybe the little brat wants to be like him crossed his mind. He couldn't deny the fact that it made him feel a little proud. "Maybe you want to become like me?"

"No, I want to be a pretty soldier like Aunt Maria or big sis Mikasa!" Arthur says. "My mom says pretty boys have an easy life."

"Are you saying I'm not pretty?"

    The small boy stopped drawing and suddenly placed his small hands-on Levi's face inspecting his facial features. Levi felt his small chubby fingers poking him and for a moment Levi realized why Maria wanted to have a child at some point.

"No," Arthur simply replied without knowing that he hurt Levi's pride. "You were prettier when you used to hold hands with aunt Maria."

    The young boy went back to drawing and noticed some figures on Levi's white paper.

"What is that?" Arthur asked, pointing with his index finger.

"It's you on top of a horse," Levi replied.

"It looks like a bird on top of a potato-"

"Hey Levi, the tea is ready."

    The short man looked up to see Erwin, Lisa, and Leah at the dining table. A soft smile on the face of the three as if they were watching two boys play around instead of one.

    He immediately stood up and sat at the table, he is always in a good mood to treat Arthur, anything else not too much.

"I hope the tea is good this time," Levi says as he sits next to Erwin facing Leah and Lisa.

"If you don't like it you can always make it yourself," Leah replied as she took a small sip of the black tea she made.

    She wasn't used to having people over unless it was Erwin and the reason why she let Levi in was only because the Commander had asked her to.

    Levi gave Leah a dirty look. They've always had their conflicts since they met. At least that was something that was never going to change.

    "Yeah, this is terrible," he said as he took a sip of his tea.

"Terrible? I think you just don't have taste," Leah replied as she put a strand of her brown hair behind her ear. No matter how much time has passed, Levi never learned to be a gentleman. Leah wasn't going to let him have it.  How hard could it be for him to just say the tea was good even if it wasn't?

     "What's a military man gonna know about good tea?"

"And an indecent woman is supposed to know more?"

    Erwin and Lisa shared a look knowing that it was better to not get involved in the regular fights of the two.

"Oh? So just because I'm a tavern dancer I'm indecent?" her voice raised a little as she placed her teacup on the small plate. "I wonder what Maria will feel hearing this."

"It's not about being a tavern dancer, it's that unlike you, Maria acts like a lady," Levi of course tried to be civil. But he was just angry at her whenever he looked at her. Maybe it was the fact that the woman was 6 feet tall and he was a little jealous of that.

"Maria acting like a lady?" Leah laughed and she placed her hand on her mouth as if she was embarrassed. "You surely don't know anything about her ... Well, she changed in the last couple of years, but she didn't used to be like that."

    Leah began to remember a young Maria, around her early twenties. A time where she embraced her job fully and was even proud of it. Sexy dresses and seductive smiles, she definitely was something to be held.

"Yeah, now that I remember Maria used to be ... kinda aggressive."

    This time Lisa jumped into the conversation as she also got some memories of the young brunette. From manipulating men to talking like one of them. "She would say things like 'hey pig shit pass me another beer!"

"Oh, and her famous "that's all the money you got? I bet your dick is small."

    The two friends laughed as Levi tried his best to imagine Maria saying those kinds of things. The most vulgar thing he's heard her say was 'shit' and 'fuck' and many of those times were whilst making love.

"Really? I can't imagine Maria being like that," Erwin says as he takes a sip of his warm drink, it was actually really good. For Leah's standards because she was a terrible cook.

"Life at the tavern is difficult, you have to be strong if you want to stand out," Lisa says as she takes a quick glance at her child who was still very concentrated on drawing. "She even used to smoke and party all night with the customers."

"Yes, she had a very promising future ... and then Nicholas Flaherty happened, the death of her brother also changed her a lot," Leah rolled her eyes, reminiscing the old times of the problems the redhead caused. "Remember the whole mess we had to cover up after the rumour of Maria giving her virginity to Nicholas?"

    Levi almost spilled on his tea. He didn't like having the words Maria, Nicholas, and sex in the same sentence. Even after his death, Nicholas Flaherty still had an impact on his life.

"Ugh, don't even talk about it! Mother was pissed and the beating Maria got after that, I mean it was true but," Leah's face had a frown and twisted lips. She still remembers the blood and the deep bruises. Maria was in a coma for a whole day.

    "We were lucky we sold Maria's virginity on time."

"Wait, what did you do to Maria?"

    This time Levi puts his teacup down, almost breaking the small plate with the impact. He didn't know what to find more infuriating. Sometimes he would forget that not too long ago Maria was considered property and that things such as 'selling virginity' were something normal for them.

    What pissed him off the most was someone dared to touch and hurt his woman-

Well, Maria.

"We sold her virginity, most tavern dancers are sold to the tavern at a young age," Lisa says as she rubbed one of her eyes - she was sleepy - yesterday she worked late at the bar. 

    "We train young girls until they are good enough dancers and as years pass and they become more famous they can sell their virginity to the highest bidder."

"... Who bought it?" Levi quickly asked

"Nicholas, of course ... Goodness knows what that man must have done to get such an amount of money," although Leah still had her questions, she didn't want to think about it too much. After all, that was all left in the past. But of course, she wouldn't miss her chance to bother the short man.

    "Even in that, Nicholas was a better man than you."

"Tsk," Levi crossed his arms in front of his chest clearly showing his annoyance. "I don't know how Erwin ever put his eyes on someone like you."

"And I don't know how Maria ever put her mouth on such a small dick."

"Leah!" Everyone screamed her name again caring more about the young boy who was still in the same room. Arthur looked unbothered, but he definitely had his questions that he is going to ask his mom later.

"What? She told me Nicholas' was bigger."

"Please, let's stop the fighting, we are not here to discuss past issues," Erwin stops them from fighting even when they were both throwing daggers with their eyes.  "We are here because I want to discuss my plan and ask you, Lisa and Leah for a favor."

"Well, what is it?"

"Leah, I assume you are a very influential person, do you know every tavern owner, merchants, and business owners?" Erwin asked this time in a more serious tone.

"Most of them."

"Do you happen to know if any of them are ... unsatisfied with the current government?"

    It took a few seconds for Leah to understand what Erwin was asking her. She was smart and it didn't take a genius to know what Erwin had in mind. Either that or she was just good at reading him.

    "I think I know where this is going ... But yes, Erwin, a lot of them actually."

"Do you think you can convince them to hold a meeting at one of the taverns?"

    Levi was as intrigued as Lisa who stayed quiet just like him. This was another one of Erwin's crazy plans, he saw it in his eyes.

"You plan to overthrow the government again?"

    Levi and Lisa shared a look, the word 'again' threw them off.

"Last time it didn't work and it won't work again," Leah tried to keep calm but the thought of Erwin getting himself in danger made her anxious to no end.

    "And if we get caught it won't only be you, it will be me and whoever works at the tavern where you plan to hold meetings."

"That's why it won't only be one tavern, it will be different ones and in bars too," this time Erwin directed his attention to Lisa who felt a bit intimidated by the man.  "That's where you come in Lisa ... From what I know you come from a wealthy family, don't you?"

"Well yes, but my family and I aren't on good terms," she said as she took another look at her pretty boy. "Although my parents do love Arthur."

"Do you think you can convince them to participate?" Erwin asks. "From my information, your family owns a few bars?"

    Lisa was a bit creeped out at how much information Erwin knew about her because from what she knew, Leah nor Maria never mentioned her past.

    "Yes, but how do you know that-"

"Then please, I am asking this as a favor," the Commander interrupts her as she looks at Lisa and Leah. "It's for the greater good."

    There was a heavy sigh coming from the current tavern dancer, still not convinced fully at her 'lovers' sole dedication to risky plans without considering any other options.

"Would you personally go to the meetings?" Leah asked as she tried to calm herself by drinking a little more tea. Alright, even she had to admit it wasn't that good.

"No, it will be you hosting and directing the meetings on my behalf."

"Have you lost your mind?" This time Leah stood from her seat giving a small turn out of indignation at Erwin's request. Well, more like order.

"Are you telling me that you can't?" He asks as he looks at her. "I know you, Leah. Your ability to persuade men is a talent. You're beautiful, strong, and smart."

    She knew very well that just like her, Erwin had a talent to persuade people. He could talk his way through just like now, he was complimenting her.

"Do you really think all of those men will listen to me?" she looks down at him, her arms crossed in front of her chest. Letting him know that his tactics don't work on her.

"If there's anyone, that's you."

"Well, yeah you're right," she walked slowly behind him. Placing her hands on Erwin's shoulders, she liked to shamelessly tease the Commander just to let him know who was in charge.

    " After all, if I am able to make a man like you cry and whimper, I think I can do anything else."

    Levi looked at them with disgust, trying his best from trying not to picture Erwin in that state. Meanwhile, Lisa was just looking at them embarrassed but proud. Leah was never going to change and the Commander seems to like that.

"But you know the military police will find out eventually. There's always a snitch, rich men can't be trusted," Leah went back to her seat, not wanting to put a show in front of her guests.

"That's exactly what I want ... It has to look credible, it's risky but, I am going to get myself captured," Erwin says. "Just do what I say and trust my judgment."

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    It had started to rain.

Dark skies, grey clouds and water pouring down from the sky. The road had become impossible to travel. Maria and Lance had to get down from the carriage to unstick the wheels in the mud.

    The horses also could no longer go and after a few hours of walking on the dirty soil and being irritated by the fact that their clothes were never going back to white, they found a small cottage hostel where they could stay.

    The old cottage was owned by an old couple who offered Lance the only room available. He accepted, of course, knowing that it was better for Maria and him. Also, the horses were in the stable and safe during the storm.

    They both took their time bathing, separately of course. Wearing baggy clothes like pajamas and wet hair, they now both sat in front of the fireplace in their room.

"Since you paid for the room, you should sleep on the bed," Maria took a moment to look at the back of the room. As it was expected of cottages, there was only one bed. "Either that or you can allow me to pay half."

"No, Maria it's alright, you can take the bed," Lance replied as he tried his hardest to dry his blond hair with the towel.

"Well, then let me pay half-"

"Maria, I have so much money I don't even know what to do with it," he says. "It's literally nothing."

"What a way to brag about your money," the brunette saw Lance struggling and missing all the proper spots in his hair and aggressively drying it. "So rich that you don't even know how to dry your hair!"

    The brunette sat in front of Lance, this time her hands touched his hands. This indicated to him to let go of the towel and let Maria continue whatever she planned on doing.

    She was being delicate with her movements, carefully pressing the towel against his skull.

"It's hair, not dirty clothes you wash in the river," she said as she took small sections of Lance's blond hair and dried it off to the best of her abilities. "You have to make soft movements, top to bottom, and on small sections."

"Does it matter?"

"If you want to have hair by the time you reach fifty, then yes."

    He just let her have her way with his hair after that. Well, it was more the fact that he was enjoying the act too much. It was comforting to have her fingers run through his hair and her body being so close to his brought him warmth.

"Your hair is pretty long now ... Do you want me to cut it for you?" Maria asks as she puts the towel around Lance's neck, already preparing for the doctor to answer with a 'yes.'

"I don't want to bother-"

"Please allow me," Maria interrupted him, taking a glimpse of his green eyes.  "I am not going to feel comfortable if you keep doing all of these things for me without me paying you back somehow."

    Lance wanted to say no but the moment he saw her brown eyes looking directly at him, he just knew he couldn't deny her offer.

"Fine."

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"So, is my father dying?"

"The dementia symptoms are very advanced ... I don't think he will live for long."

    After Maria had cut his hair, they just laid on the carpet floor in front of the fireplace.

    He knew that it was just a simple hair cut,  but he wouldn't mind doing it again. She had taken her time grooming his hair into a style that fits him. And the small comment: "See, you look handsome!" after she finished made his heart flutter a little.

"What about my mother?"

"Your father has pneumonia and passed it to your mother ... she could treat it but from what I saw ... I don't think she wants to."

    There was a silence between the two as only the burning of wood was heard. Lance wanted to know everything about her, but it was scary. Because somehow or another, whenever he learned something new he fell in love with her more.

    "What are you going to do when you see them?"

"Scream at them."

    The doctor wasn't aware of the type of relationship Maria had with her parents. He could only conclude that they weren't good on good terms. It was a surprise to her to find out that it was him the one she was supposed to marry but she accepted it quickly enough.

"I was too young to know before but, my parents only ever saw me as merchandise," Maria says as she looks at the dusty ceiling.

    "They just wanted to sell me to whoever gave them money."

She began to have small images cross her mind. Some of her mother, brushing her hair, telling her she couldn't play outside, because her dress would get dirty and boys don't like dirty girls.                     

    Her father screaming at Maria for convincing Flagon to teach her how to read, telling her that "Girls don't need to learn how to read, just to be good housewives."

"After my brother died, they just blamed me for his death and they told me ... That they wished it was me instead of him."

    That was probably the hardest year for Maria. It was a constant year of crying and depression after her brother died. She used to be really different back then, but after her brother's death she changed.

    "I think after I tell them everything I need to ... I'll feel better."

"Do you really think that's the answer?" Lance asks as he turns his head to look at the brunette, the glow in her eyes long gone. "Would that make you happy?"

    She didn't know that, she just knew she had a lot of things she wanted to say. It's been more than six years since she last saw them. Maria wondered how much they had changed. After all,  they had lost everything after Wall Maria was breached, and moving into a new village must not have been easy for them.

"I hope so."

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"Are you sure about doing this? You don't even have a second plan in case this one fails."

"Yes, we can't expect to win if we don't risk it all."

    The bar was rather silent this time of the day when the sun was out. Too much day-drinking was unacceptable and to others, it didn't matter much. Whilst Levi found it disgusting to have to deal with the symptoms of intoxication while still having to work, Erwin found it refreshing to have a few shots to re-energize.

"Fine, I'll trust your judgment," Levi says. "But I swear one of these days I'll break your legs for everything you make me go through."

"The way you show concern for me is heart-touching," the Commander takes a quick sip of his whisky, the flavour was too strong for his liking but he enjoyed it nonetheless. 

    "Do I have to say I love you so you can stay calm?"

Erwin felt his arm being hit by the short man who was very strong regardless of his size. Through the years they had become accustomed to each other. Their friendship had grown to be one of blind trust in the other, knowing exactly what the other felt.

"You are so annoying sometimes, do you know that?"

    Erwin laughed a little, knowing exactly why Maria had taken a liking to tease humanity's strongest soldier.

    "For now let's enjoy this short time of rest we have."

But of course, by looking at Levi's face, Erwin knew that he was too far gone to enjoy anything.

"Levi, it's only been a day."

"And?"

"And you miss her already."

"Well, what do you expect?" Levi takes his shot of vodka. He didn't understand how people enjoyed drinking this, it tasted like shit.        

    "She's been with me for five years, we dated for two and a half years. She's been with me in my good and bad days and vice versa and fuck I miss her."

"Does it still hurt when you look at her?"

"Yes," Levi answered as he watched the bartender pour him another drink. "I hope that maybe ... If I find them, if I can kill them ... the pain will go away."

"That's not going to happen, it's been five years and nobody ever found the bodies," Erwin tried to be realistic. The mystery of the Ackermans and Nicholas disappearing without leaving a trace was truly an enigma. He had his theories but they were crazy themselves.

    "Levi, I don't think that's the problem. I think the problem is you can't forgive yourself ... You feel guilty about what happened, you feel responsible ... But none of it was your fault."

"Then, whose fault is it?" Levi grabs his glass so strong that Erwin was worried for a moment of it shattering. "Elise? I haven't heard from her since that day and have no doubt that when I find her I-"

"Levi ...just let it go," Erwin says. "If you really want the pain to go away, let it go."

"It's not easy ... I can't ... Don't you remember?" Levi turns to look at Erwin he thought that if anyone, he would be able to understand him better. Erwin was there when everything happened, what was he seeing that he couldn't?

    "She was almost dying in my arms. She was so skinny I could feel her broken bones, some of her wounds were still open, bleeding. She was saying goodbye to me ... She really was going to die, she was going to die I-"

    He stops as images of the past began to flood his mind, he was lost again for a brief second. Erwin saw it and Levi just felt it.

    "I can't forgive that ... I won't."

Maybe he was right ... some things were unforgivable.

"Well, then I think it's good that you let her go," Erwin says, trying to bring some type of comfort to his friend, but even he knew he wasn't the best at it.

    "With the hate that you have inside of you ... You will just end up hurting her."

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    Their parents lived in a small cottage on the outskirts of a small village. According to Lance, he had a small clinic in the village where he would come from time to time to help the people who couldn't go to the city to get medical service. There, he met Maria's parents again, who had to reestablish in Jinae village after losing their home in Wall Maria.

    Their home was on top of a cliff where a beautiful view of the village was right in front of them. Maria had no idea as to why her parents decided to live in a house so far away or if it was because it was the only vacant home.

    The sunset was lovely and the sound of the grass impacting against the boots of the two was comforting. The tweeting of birds and the soft neighs of the two horses pulling the prairie schooner made Maria believe that maybe having a simple life wasn't bad at all.

    'Home' was getting closer as Lance finally made a stop. Tying down the horses to the nearest tree and giving them some apples.

    Lance took a quick glance to look at Maria who although pretended to be strong and careless, could see through her. She was nervous and he wished nothing but to take that away. Maybe Maria's intentions weren't the best but Lance wanted to support her regardless.

    Taking a few steps closer, he stood next to her. Watching the cottage that looks too cosy to be real. He wanted to hold her hand, but was embarrassed to do so, not knowing if she wanted to have some type of comfort coming from him.

    But as if she could read his mind, Maria softly interviewed her pinky finger with his. Lance felt like throwing up not because he disliked it but probably because this was the most intimate a woman had been to him.

"Are you ready?" He stuttered and he felt like a complete idiot. "If you need more time-"

"No, I'm ready," Maria says as she takes a deep breath. "Let's do this."

    With one final nod, Lance and Maria walk straight to\wards the door. Softly knocking three times as they heard steps coming closer to them.

    Finally, the door was open.

It was an older lady with long brown hair, carefully braided. A white long sleeve shirt with a long black skirt. Beautifully sewn into different patterns and folds. Even some magnificent lace that Lance dared to say could put his mom's dresses into shame.

    Lance didn't know much about fashion but he could definitely recognize high-class couture when he saw it.

"Oh, Doctor Kayser please come inside," she smiled at him. Her blue eyes had a shine to them even when the smile was melancholic. She coughs as she covers her mouth with a small clothed napkin. It was obvious that pneumonia had gotten the best of her.

"Please, you know you can just call me Lance," the doctor says, still not knowing how to introduce Maria. "But, thank you for letting me into your home Mrs. Turret."

    Amelia Turret kept the door open to let Lance come and she found it strange that the young man wasn't still accepting her invitation to come inside her home.

"There's someone who I would like you to see," Lance squeezes Maria's hand, signaling her to show up in front of him.

"Hello, mother," Maria says as she lets go of Lance's hand.

    The young man expected to see some type of reaction coming from Mrs. Turret. But to his surprise, the old woman was unbothered, her pose straight. Her hands delicately posing in front of her, there was no doubt that this woman was elegant itself.

"What are you doing here?" Mrs.Turret asked.

"I came to see my father," Maria said and for a moment Lance could see all the similarities between the two. Mrs. Turret had taught her daughter well, maintaining posture no matter what, was key.

"Your father does not want anything to do with you," Amelia says, hoping to subside her need to cough in front of her daughter.

"Well, too bad because I have many things I want to say to him."

    Maria walks past her mother, walking around the cottage and towards the only room that she thought her father would be.

    Lance was trained to handle emergencies and difficult situations but no one taught him how to stay calm in situations like this.

"Father!"

    Maria slammed open the door leading to her parent's bedroom.

Her father, Harris Turret, laid in his bed. There was very little light in the room except for the one coming in from the window.

    The old man had some remnants of blonde hair, brown eyes that assimilated Maria's very much. He looks weak as if breathing was difficult but it probably was due to his sickness.

"Maria?" the old man softly rubbed his eyes as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.  "Oh, my goodness, Maria, my little girl is finally back."

    Maria just stood there waiting for some other type of reaction.

"Amelia, come! Come! Our daughter is back!"

"I've been waiting for you for so long! How has Lance been treating you?" Harris asks as he watches his older daughter slowly walk towards him.  "Your mother told me you were too busy being married, I was really worried about you."

    Lance and Mrs. Turret were by the door, watching the two interact. Waiting for Maria to say something.

"You two should stay here a couple of days, we just need to wait for Flagon to come back," the old man reached out his hand trembling, hoping for his daughter to hold it. "Come ... Tell me, when are you giving me grandchildren? I am not getting any younger."

    Maria took a quick look at her father's face, he had wrinkles on his forehead. Heavy eye-bags under his eyes and a weak smile on his face.

    This wasn't her father. This wasn't the man who told her that her goals were meaningless and that she shouldn't strive to be more than a housewife. This wasn't the man who called her a whore and wished for her to be dead.

    She pushes his hand away, almost hurting him in the act.

"I never got married to Lance," she says. "I ran away from home at fifteen and I became a tavern dancer."

"What are you saying, Maria?" Harris is confused at the sudden change in her daughter's actions. "Your husband is right there."

    As Lance sees them from afar, he couldn't help but wonder just how different things would have been if Maria had never ran away from home.

    The brunette kept her sight on the floor,  her hair bangs covering her eyes and although Lance couldn't see her expression, he just knew that she was in pain.

"I sold off my body for other men to see and ... I was raped."

"Maria, don't say that!" Harris says, his soft mannerisms all gone now. "Lance won't want you, if you say indecent things like that!"

    And of course, that's all that mattered to him. Of the things she said, her father only cared about what the others would say. She couldn't say things like that because men won't like her. Because if men don't like her, she is unworthy of love and happiness.

    All of her problems started here.

"I was tortured for a month in the underground!" she screams at him, picking up the end of her black long skirt. "Look at my fucking scars!"

    Maria lets go of her skirt and this time she places her hands on her father's shoulders, moving him back, desperate to get answers. To know the truth behind why her parents never truly loved her.

"Isn't a parent supposed to protect their child?"

"Stop talking already!" he wanted to slap her but his weak bones would only do so much. Of course, Maria stopped him, holding his fragile wrist in her hand.

"Where were you when that happened?" the brunette asked as she unconsciously began to tighten her grip on her father's wrist.

"Where were you when I was at the tavern and all of those men harassed me? Touched me?!" she began to have flashbacks of her past, of things she wanted to forget, of the resentment that slowly began to grow against her parents each passing day.

"I said to stop talking!" he begged her, almost on the verge of crying. Terrified of the woman in front of him, of the one he thought was his daughter.  "Stop talking!"

    Lance's heart began to break, never seeing Maria like this. Completely gone, desperate, full of pain. He wanted to take that away because this wasn't the Maria he knew.

    No, this was her. Her worst side and he just had to accept that.

"Where were you when I sent you letters begging you to let me come back home?" her voice breaks, tears in her eyes but her pride didn't let her shed any. "Where were you when I had to sell my body for other men to see?

    Harris began to cough uncontrollably, he couldn't breathe. His heart feels heavy against his chest and although the pain was visible in his face, Maria didn't care. She kept shaking him, waiting for answers, for explanations. Anything.

"Where were you dad?" she stared into his eyes. Eyes that share the same shade as hers. Desperation, confusion, distress, everything but the love he once had for her.

"Get out of here," Mrs.Turret pushes Maria away, trying to reach her husband.  "You're not my daughter ... The one I had would have never talked to an old man like that."

    Maria stood behind her, unable to move as if for a moment her legs didn't work.

    As much as Lance wanted to comfort Maria at the moment, he knew that his job right now was to treat Mr. Turret as his current condition wasn't the most favorable.

    He walked past her, and touched Mrs. Turret on the shoulder, signaling her to move away from a little. And without much thinking, Lance opened his medical bag and looked for his stethoscope.

    Maria watched from afar, Lance working while her mother just glared back at her. As always, straight posture and impeccable manners even in moments like this.

    And without looking at her, Amelia could only mutter a few words to her daughter.

"Get out of my house, you whore."

    And at that, Maria knew that coming here was a total waste of time.

    She only turned around and walked away, whispering a few words to herself not caring if her mother and father heard her or not.    

"I hope you both die."

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    It's been an hour and Maria hasn't been able to open the book Nicholas gave to her. Although she had passed the pages a few times and read a few words from it, a part of her always told her that it wasn't the time to read.

    She didn't have much to think about at the moment. Her heart was still filled with unanswered questions and emptiness. She thought that maybe coming here could help her resolve a few problems in her life. But she felt the same, meaningless, abandoned Nothing changed. Absolutely nothing.

    Her parents weren't the problem. It was her.

Soft steps approached her and she immediately knew who it was. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Lance must have been looking for her.

"I'm sorry you had to see me like that," she says as she keeps her sight on the horizon. Her legs hanging off from the cliff, the book Nicholas gave her on her lap.

"It's alright, I know parents can be difficult," Lance says, sitting next to her while keeping a close distance. It was windy and Lance regretted leaving his jacket back at Mrs.Turret's home.

    He knew that he needed to be delicate with what he was about to say but now he felt better because at least he could comfort Maria if she needed to.

"Your father passed away," Lance says. "I'm sorry."

"Good! I'm happy that the bastard finally died."

"Don't say things like that when you don't feel that way," Lance took a moment to look at her, he knew she was lying. "I know you're sad."

    Finally, Maria dares to look at him. Her face, full of indignation and anger. And even like this, she looked beautiful to him.

    "And how do you know that?"

"Because you love your parents," Lance got closer to her, wanting to wrap his arms around her but knew he couldn't. His statement seemed to baffle her because she didn't believe that.

     "You know, everyone talks about the unconditional love parents have for their children. But no one ever talks about a child's unconditional love for their parents."

    Maria had shown vulnerability in front of him and Lance deeply appreciated that. He may not be best fitted to tell her how to deal with her trauma but he hoped that his experience would resonate with her.

"After my brother was hanged in front of everyone, my parents fell into depression and pushed me away as if I didn't exist, " Lance says this time breaking eye contact and looking at Jinae village right in front of him, in the distance.

    "When they died ... I thought I wouldn't care, I hated them ... But even so, I found myself at their graves crying, wanting for them to come back."

    He made a pause, taking a quick look at Maria. She was listening, her eyes like glass about to break. Her nose was pink and she sniffed while trying her best to contain the tears.

    "It's weird because the moment a child does not grow up to be what the parent expects ... All the love the parent has for the child turns into resentment."

    His words hit her hard, and she wished for Lance to stop talking, but she didn't dare to ask him, at least not now knowing that her voice would break the moment she speaks.

"Parents can make us live through hell and someway or another ... A child always seeks for validation from them ... some type of love coming from the parents."

    Lance remembers the sleepless nights, studying hard every day to make his parents proud. He tried his best, but nothing was ever enough.

    He asked them once just to know exactly what they wanted from him. And their answer was,

    "Just get married and give us a grandchild."

But of course, that never happened.

"I think the child always has the hope that their parent's actions are justified because those actions have ulterior motives," he says as he looks at Maria again. "That being ... love."

"So my mom calling me a whore right now was out of love?" her voice was soft but Lance heard her clearly, Maria was trying her best not to cry.

"Probably not, but I think deep down you hope so," Lance says. "Deep down you know Maria."

    Finally, he got the courage to hold her hand. It was trembling but little by little the shaking stopped as he began to caress it softly. The act was embarrassing to him since he has never been so bold with a lady before.

"You are not angry at your parents for rejecting you and pushing you aside," his voice stuttered a little, still trying to control his feelings. His round glasses started to slide down his nose as he began to sweat a little.

    "You're angry at yourself because there was a point in which you knew for sure your parents loved you ... And because of your actions, you feel like you killed all the love they had for you?"

"So it's my fault?" Maria asked, unaware of Lance's inner struggle. Somehow, the moment her brown met his green ones, his insecurities went away.

    There was no more shaking and now he felt like his hand has always belonged in hers.

"No, a parent should love their child unconditionally, not the other way around," Lance says. "You didn't ask to be born, you don't own them anything  ... And even after what they made you go through ... you still love them ..."

"Why?" Maria wanted answers, reasons as to why her heart feels the way it does. Why no matter what, she couldn't stop having these feelings for her family and this passionate love towards Levi-

"I don't know," Lance kept holding her hand, this time he took a moment to look at their intertwined fingers.  "Maybe that's what good people do ... feel love."

"You think I'm a good person?" Maria asks as this time she focused on the village in front of her. It looked so peaceful as the sun was finally setting in more and more, Maria found herself wanting just that.

     "Even after what I told a dying old man?"

"Yes, I think you are ... and I don't think you failed your parents. After all, you're still a good person even after their shortcomings," Lance didn't know he could feel like this towards a person. But looking at Maria right now, she felt so human to him. So real and at her flaws Lance could understand why even a man like Levi was so attracted to her.

    "They may never know it but ... as long as you know, I think that's all that matters."

    There was silence again in which now it was Maria's turn to talk. The doctor just waited patiently for whatever words would come out of her lips.

    But she was just as lost and at the moment it was Lance the only one who could provide her some type of enlightenment.

"So, should I forgive them?" Maria asks. "Because I don't think I can and even if I wanted to ... I think it's too late for that."

"That's something you only can decide," Lance caresses her hand again, liking the feel of his fingertips touching her knuckles. "Some people don't deserve forgiveness, but others do deserve to heal."

"Do what you think you're going to regret the least."

    It was deja vu because she remembers a short man telling her the same words. As much as she didn't want to admit it, a part of Levi would always be with her. At that realisation, she didn't know whether she should feel relieved or content.

    She could only hope that wherever he goes, Levi would always have a part of her too.

Maria's mind was a mess and she still wasn't sure that what she had in her mind was the correct choice.

But it was definitely the one she'll regret the least.

"... How long does my mother have left?"

"Around two months maybe less ... her lungs are in a really bad state, I can't do anything for her anymore."

    With a big sigh, she looks up to the sky. There wasn't much to think about at the moment.

    The only thing in her mind was that today was very peaceful and that was something Maria could get used to.

    "Lance?"

"Yes?" Lance asks, looking up at the sky just like the brunette he has grown to appreciate.

"Would you mind staying here with me for two months?"

    He looks back at her and with a soft smile and no hesitations he says,

    "It would be my pleasure."

    It was comforting to have Lance next to her, and after having made a choice she felt like she could take another big step.

    Maria took her hand away from Lance and he immediately missed her touch. However, his eyes immediately landed on the book Maria had been holding since the beginning of their trip.

"Can you read this for me? Someone dear to me gave it to me years ago before he passed away," Maria looks at the book one last time before handing it to Lance. "

    But I haven't been able to read it, but I think it's a fantasy story."

    The young doctor accepts her request and he delicately holds the book as if it was his own treasure.

    He opened it, surprised to see that it wasn't a print copy but written by hand. Lance could only wonder about the struggle of the man having to write every single detail into perfection to give this a book.

And then, Lance began to read out loud with that sweet voice of his.

"To Maria ... I hope we meet again one more time."

    At the end of the day, there wasn't much Maria could do. Maybe it wasn't a matter of strength, maybe it was. Maybe she was the one in the wrong, all of this her fault.

"Far away beyond the walls. Where the sand meets water, a distant land ... There was a young girl called Ymir."

    Or maybe ... it wasn't. Maybe she just has to accept that there are things she can't control. And the only thing she could do was to move forward and keep believing that one day life will be as peaceful as this moment was right now.

For now, her search continues, hoping to one day find meaning and answers to the feelings in her heart.

"A slave who wanted love but was not free to do so. And for 2,000 years she waited for the right person to come along ..."

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Thank you again for reading, almost a year since One Last Time ... time sure does fly.

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A/n: Like always I want to thank my beautiful and incredible beta readers: There_Goes_Alexis and shortysbrat for taking their time to read and beta read this so everyone has the best quality of writing. shortysbrat publish a one shot story called 'Before Midnight' please check it out if you haven't! They really have a talent for writing. There_Goes_Alexis ... We will patiently wait for that Levi Coffee Shop AU!

I don't have much to say about this chapter. I enjoyed writing Maria and Lance's relationship. I wonder how far their friendship will go after they spend two months together. Maria has taken an important decision and nice to see her grow. In the next chapter we are going to see more of Levi and how he also will grow more into the loving character that he is today.

As for Elise's story, don't worry, everything will come around and connect. Her story and how it's going to end was a hard decision to make but I think it's the best for story arc. I'll let the reader to make your own conclusions about her.

I always try to be realistic with what I write as to the best of my abilities. I don't think that trauma can just be cured with love. Tragically, I don't think it's something that can fully go away. It's just something you learn to live with and you try to live your life as best as you can. You don't have to forgive people, but I do think you can forgive yourself to heal.

Anyways, I do hope you enjoy this chapter, not a lot of romance but growth I think. I do hope you are looking forward to the comic! I'll try my best to get it done in time.

You are always welcome to use my fan-art for whatever purpose, as I've said before, One Last Time is not just my story but yours too!

Thank you again for reading, and see you next Sunday! <3