You never knew his absence would have a much bigger impact than you would have expected, that it would make you lonelier than before, or maybe it was just what Hange calls hormones? Levi's absence before didn't affect you to an extent that you almost cried when you were eating dinner alone as you remembered that last night he was eating across from you and now you're all alone.

You might have actually teared up a bit as you sniff before heaving out a sigh and putting the spoon down in the half-empty bowl of soup.

"Come on, Y/n, it's just two weeks at most," you told yourself. "He'll be gone for two weeks at most and then he'll be back."

He will be back, you repeated in your head. But what if something happens during the Expedition? No one can predict the unexpected, not even your brother Erwin can tell how much loss the Scout will incur from this Expedition. The only thing you can do is hope that the worst case would never happen.

You sighed again, decided that you've had enough thinking about the worst case as much as you've had enough with the soup for dinner as you stood up and headed to your room.

The bed felt bigger than before, with more room to toss and turn when you were having a hard time finding a comfortable spot. And you had a more hard time tonight, since there are no arms that would wrap around you securely, no shoulder you can lean on or chest you can bury your face when you woke up from a bad dream. It's just you and the pillows and duvet as company all throughout the seemingly long night, the longest night you've probably had since coming back here.

You wonder if Levi, too, felt the same.

Levi didn't get a wink of sleep that night. He's used to sleepless nights so this one wasn't out of the ordinary, it would be out of the ordinary if he actually had an eight-hour sleep. The moment he got back to HQ, Levi didn't waste time to idle around and started to catch up with the rest of the Squad Leaders.

He was done catching up to the most recent paperworks when the first rays of sunshine shone from his window and Levi looked up from the papers.

He wrapped things up and put the stack of papers neatly on the side before standing up and leaving the room for breakfast where most of the soldiers started flooding the Hall.

"Levi! It's been awhile!"

Levi knew who that voice belonged to so much that he let out a heavy sigh before the person caught up to him.

Hange put an arm on Levi's shoulder before the latter shook it off as the two continued to walk.

"Hey, how's Y/n?"

"Still Y/n," Levi said simply.

"I read that pregnant women usually get emotional easily. And mind you they get really lonely and miss their partners if they're gone for long periods of time."

"Are you talking about humans?" Levi asked, because he swore he heard that one before, but it occurs to animals with serious attachments.

"But what's the difference, really?"

Levi shook his head, deciding he's had enough of entertaining Hange for today and continued his trek down the corridor until they got to the Hall where breakfast is being served. Levi and Hange headed to the table reserved for the Squad Leaders.

This time, there is a vacant seat across Levi, where you usually sit. He looked at it for a few seconds, but that sort moment was enough for Hange to nudge Levi and nod to the spot where you usually sit.

"If you miss your wife, send her a letter."

"Why don't you shove that bread up your ass and shut the hell up," Levi said before he stopped and looked at Hange. "Oh right, I meant your mouth. But what's the difference, really?"

Hange is too used to Levi's vocabulary by now that she smiled at him and started to eat. The Hall started to get filled with noises from the soldiers that they drowned Levi's thoughts almost instantly as he finished breakfast.

For the whole day he tried to keep his mind on the preparation for the Expedition. He brought his Squad around the field, practicing horseback-riding until the sun started to set.

"See you tomorrow, Captain!" one of his Squad members said as they saluted before leaving and Levi walked his stallion back to the stable, he put it to its stall before rubbing its mane as it neighed approvingly before Levi left.

He watched as the sky turned orange with a hint of purple and blue. Before long it will be nightfall. The second night you'll be sleeping on your own.

Levi suddenly remembered what Hange said during breakfast. If you miss your wife, send her a letter. Not to mention, he also remembered Hange saying that you might be feeling lonelier than before, as it's natural for pregnant women to feel like that.

Levi decided to, for probably the first time, do what Hange suggested and write you a letter. On his way back to HQ he passed by a soldier Levi recognized was a member of your Squad.

"Moses Braun," he called the soldier who stopped abruptly after hearing the familiar voice of Levi.

"Captain Levi!" he saluted.

"See me at my study in an hour. I need you to deliver a letter for me in The Interior."

"Yes, Captain!" he said, his voice as firm as his stance and Levi commended your judgment in choosing your Squad.

Once he returned to his study, Levi took a parchment and started to write a letter. Frankly he didn't know how to start, but when he finally did start, his hand just kept writing. By the end of his letter Levi wrote a simple statement.

I'll return alive, take care until then.

He folded his letter and put it in an envelope and exactly an hour after he met your Squad member, the soldier knocked on Levi's door.

"Captain Levi!" he said with a salute.

"Here," Levi said, handing him the envelope. "Bring this to my residence in The Interior, my wife will receive it."

The soldier seemed to hesitate before Levi looked at him, urging him to say whatever it is he wanted to say. "Your wife, sir, Squad Leader Y/n Smith?"

"Who else do you think my wife is?" Levi asked back and the soldier regretted asking almost instantly but Levi nodded, a small upturn of his lips in a very rare little smile. "Your Squad Leader is my wife. So I expect you to take extra care of that letter."

"I will take care of it with my life, Captain!"

"Your life's more important than that letter though," Levi said, putting a hand on the soldier's shoulder. "Just don't let it get splattered with water or horse shit."

"Yes, Captain!"

Levi nodded and put his hand down to his side as the soldier left. After that, Levi went back to his study, deciding to get some sleep this time, knowing that by tomorrow you'll read his letter. And hopefully, send one to him as well, at least before the Expedition that will commence in five days.

But five days later, just a few hours before the Expedition, Levi did finally receive a letter from The Interior. But it wasn't the letter he expected.

That morning he was on his way outside when Erwin called Levi. The two were inside Erwin's office discussing the final strategic positions of the Squads when a soldier suddenly burst in Erwin's door.

"Is Captain Levi here?!" the soldier, whom Levi recognized as Moses Braun, asked hastily and Erwin straightened up while Levi walked up to the soldier who finally noticed him. "Captain,"

"What is it?" Levi asked before he noticed the parchment clutched in the soldier's hands.

"It's urgent, Captain. From The Interior. Squad Leader Y/n–"

Levi snatched the parchment and read it quickly. A few seconds later, his eyes started to get unfocused as his hand started to tremble and after a few moments he put his hands down and let out an almost shaky breath and it's clear he was trying to calm himself.

"Thank you, Braun. You can go now," he said, though his voice sounded a bit lower as the soldier saluted and left.

And then Levi turned to Erwin who was looking at him, waiting for him to explain things. But Levi did not explain anything, he simply states, "I'm going back to The Interior, Erwin."

Levi put the parchment that is a bit crumpled from Levi's hold before he left. Erwin watched the door closed before he looked down and took the parchment and started to read it.

Captain Levi of the Scout Regiment,

This is Ms. Florence, a midwife from The Interior. I am writing to you on an urgent note to inform you that your wife, Squad Leader Y/n Smith, has had early contractions that could lead to premature labor.

Erwin frowned, unfolding the end of the parchment that Levi clearly hadn't read yet since he left quite quickly.

She has asked me to tell you not to worry about anything else but the Expedition and that she was hoping you will return safely.