Secrets, you are well aware that everyone has at least one. Something that they are willing to either live for, or die for. It's nothing unusual that your brother has secrets of his own, and it was nothing unusual for him to talk about it, not his secret though, just secrets.

"The further they are inside the walls, the deeper they can hide secrets," you muttered, remembering Erwin's words a few weeks ago when you had the chance to talk to him about your supposed transfer to the Military Police.

But you haven't had the chance to talk to him about that particular topic again, since he's been busier for the past few days. Not only him, but Levi too. Running around like horses chasing carrots. They were busy and you knew it was because of the Expedition that you were excluded from.

"This is stifling," you said with a sigh, standing up.

You don't know how long you've been sitting, perhaps not that long but your bum is already aching. You've been trained to become a soldier, so sitting and doing paperworks aren't exactly your thing. You ought to be out there, gliding through the air with your maneuver gear, your hands itch to hold your equipment, to slice up some titans, the heat of their blood as it smudge on your face, and the wind that would blow the cape that bears the wings of freedom on your back.

As you stood near the window you saw the wide meadow. There were some soldiers riding their horses in the distance, those horses were bred to withstand absolutely anything and they can travel for long periods of time, stronger than average stallions.

Looking at the soldiers more closely, you realized they were yours. Or at least, they used to be part of your squad. "How long have I been with them?" you muttered to yourself, remembering the time when you were given a squad of your own.

You found yourself going outside when you saw them about to go back and when you arrived out of the HQ, you saw them walking their stallions.

"It's Squad Leader Y/n," one of them said and they slowed down until they stopped in front of you.

"Good morning," you greeted.

"Good morning Squad Leader!" They greeted you back in chorus with a firm salute.

"Squad Leader," you muttered. "This might be the last time I'll be hearing you guys address me like that."

Their expressions changed into confusion, furrowed brows as they stared at you, waiting for you to continue, to explain. Though before you did, one of them spoke.

"So it's true," the woman said, a bit low as you looked at her. "That you're getting transferred to the Military Police, Captain."

"I'm afraid so."

"But why?"

At that simple question, you noticed them looking at your stomach and they realized just why. They must have thought that you were going back as Squad Leader sooner or later, but things are changing and there are changes that must be accepted, changes that cannot be undone.

"Is it that noticeable?" you asked, hand going up to your stomach. "And here I thought I'm doing well hiding this bump."

"No, we wouldn't have noticed. How many months are you along, Captain?" one of them asked.

"Six," you answered. Has it really been half a year since? You felt like days just happened to blur by.

"Captain, do you want a girl or a boy?"

"How about Captain Levi, what does he want?"

"How many kids do you two want?"

You couldn't help but chuckle, you were a bit surprised and taken aback, but for some reason you were happy. "Alright, alright, one question at a time, I'll answer them."

In the distance, Levi stood, back against a tree and arms folded across his chest. You didn't notice him, but Levi's eyes were on you. He can hear the questions just now and he felt the upturn of the side of his lips. He guess he just has to ask you your answers later, Levi thought to himself.

That later came that night, after dinner, you and Levi walked to his quarter. You suddenly wanted to drink some tea and Levi brewed the best tea because that was all he ever drank. He doesn't drink coffee, you asked him once and he said coffee was too expensive, he doesn't even put sugar or cream in his tea so it was always bitter, but now he can afford it, yet Levi had grown accustomed to drinking plain tea.

As you sat there, Levi handed you the mug and you held it, letting the warmth sip under your palm before you took a sip of the tea, savoring its taste. He added cream, you thought.

"So how many?" Levi suddenly asked, leaning back on the desk with a cup of tea in hand. "How many kids do you want?"

You coughed a bit after hearing Levi's sudden question, clearing your throat as you lowered the mug. "What?"

Levi gave you a knowing look, eyebrow raise in question as he took a sip of his tea.

"Wait, you were listening to us earlier?"

"Not necessarily listening, I just happen to be resting nearby, and they weren't exactly the most quiet when they were bombarding you with questions."

"Then you should have heard my answer," you said before pushing yourself up and standing in front of Levi as you put the mug on the table behind. "You should be the one answering that question now. How many kids do you want?"

"My answer hardly matters," Levi said, brushing a strand of hair away from your face and behind your ear. "It's your body, not mine. I'm not the one carrying it for nine months and giving birth."

"Still, I want to know your answer."

Levi didn't answer for a few seconds. He stayed quiet, his eyes traveling down before he averted his gaze back at you to look you in the eye.

"Two," he finally answered.

"Two," you muttered.

"I don't want the kid to grow up alone."

Because Levi grew up on his own, when his mother died, he was left all by himself in that slum, starving, thirsty, on the brink of fading away, he was hardly skin and bones when that man found him. Levi doesn't want that to happen to his kid, because he knows that you and him will not always be there.

"I want that kid to grow up with a sibling, so they can have each other when..." he trailed off before he continued. "But then again, as I've said, it's your body, not mine. You decide."

"Oh but you just said you want this kid to have a sibling, how am I supposed to say no?"

You put your arms on his shoulders, leaning closer and Levi's hand went to the side of your waist and then at the back.

"They also asked me another question. Do you want a boy or a girl?"

"It doesn't matter," Levi answered, and you were kind of expecting that kind of answer from him so you couldn't help but chuckle.

"Oh but I think it'll be a boy."

"How do you know?"

"Just a hunch."

"Hunch," Levi muttered as you leaned back. "Well, as Erwin's sister, your hunch should be as sharp as his."

"It's a motherly hunch."

After finishing the tea, you decided to stay for the night in Levi's quarter. You thought as always Levi would be buried in his paper works, staying up all night again as he always does. But surprisingly he joined you on the bed.

"Am I really going back to the Interior tomorrow?" you muttered, back against Levi's chest.

"I'm going with you. I'll be staying for a week before I come back here."

And then after that, in two weeks, the expedition outside the walls will commence. "Right, I haven't had the chance to say goodbye to them."

"To who?"

"To my squad," you said, your hand found his arm and you held it. "It's the expedition outside the walls, and we were told to always expect the worst case when we're outside. Who knows how things will turn out there."

Unconsciously your hand tightened around his arm. But you didn't say anything after that, because you believe in Levi, in his strength, and that he will always come back home. Especially now that Levi has more reasons to come back home alive.

The very next day you were able to sneak in some time to talk to your squad. Some of them were emotional, and you were trying to hold back tears. You don't really like crying in front of people, it was a habit of yours.

So when you got in the carriage, that was when the tears flowed. But even then, you wiped them quickly and no tears followed.