Levi's POV

Once I woke up in the morning, my hand gently rubbed over her stomach, thinking about that baby inside of her. I leaned down, kissing her stomach as my forehead gently touched the tiny bump. How was it that we never knew she was pregnant? I never noticed the bump until after she brought it up. Strange.

I have to leave today, but I have to have a good reason to convince everyone that I can't come back home. If anything, I want to be here for the rest of the month. If she's at least 3-4 months along, didn't someone mention that it's around 9 months? I have at least 5-6 more months until that brat comes along... is that okay?

Hanji sharply breathed in as she was brought back to life from her slumber, turning her body to face me. "L-Levi...?" She gave a small smile, "Tell me that I'm dreaming and you're not leaving today..."

"I'm sorry, but I have to." We exchanged kisses as I was cautious around her stomach. "But the boat doesn't leave until 8. I can spare an hour. An hour is all I need." We continued kissing before Hanji reached over to her glasses. "What's wrong?"

"What time is it?"

"If your clock's right, it's 6:42 am."

"Oh... as much as I would want to spend an hour with you right before you leave, I have to go. We're finalizing a few cadets for a titan."

"Which titan?"

"Armored." Just hearing that makes me worried. How old are these children that are inheriting these titans? "Just be glad it's not me, Levi." Her hands run over her stomach, "I'm not sure what would've happened if I got his titan with this little one. And we haven't decided what to do-."

"I'll figure it out."

"Yeah, you'll figure it out when you're across an entire ocean until next month or whatever. I don't know when you'll be back. You're not the one dealing with a literal child growing inside of you. You're not the one that could be killed for lying to Marley!"

There was a fire of hatred in her eyes, but slowly died down when she realized she had raised her voice. She falls back into bed and I see a small teardrop falling down her cheek. I wiped it away as she sniffs.

"I-I'm sorry, I don't know what to do... Levi, I'm torn apart..."

I kissed her lips, resting my forehead on hers. "Don't worry, Hanji... I'll help figure it out. For now, we need to part ways. I'll do my best to come back as soon as possible."

"And what about for now? For all I know, my pregnancy might hit the top ranks of Marley. It's a possibility... they always know something. What do you think I should say? No comment? Say it's a Marleyan's child?"

"As much as I don't like the idea of you claiming my child as someone else's, you should go with that one. But try to keep it to a minimum... I don't want anything bad to happen to you or the baby, okay?"

We shared another kiss when Hanji gave another weak smile. "You keep surprising me, Levi... you're a dad kind of guy?"

"Let's just say I don't know, but I'll do what I can."

We kissed goodbye about half an hour later, and all that was on my mind was to figure out if I can stay here for just a little longer. I couldn't leave the area, feeling some sort of guilt for just leaving her. But I am sure that I will do whatever I can in my power to stay here. Even if that means confessing to Armin I got her pregnant.

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Hanji's POV

Standing near the stands to peek into the field, I saw a large group of candidates lining up. I saw Gabi in the crowd, not talking to anyone. There are 20 children here, and only the top 5 would be chosen. Even in my position, I don't know whether to be happy for the winning cadets for being in the top 5 or if I should be saddened by the fact a child has their life ruined by the titan they are bound to receive.

I gently rubbed my stomach, whispering to it, "I'll make sure you won't end up like them... not you or your children if you choose to have some. I hope this will end soon..."

"What will end soon?" I jumped, seeing Zeke walking down the stairs and taking his place next to me. "Sorry for butting into your magnificent mind, but I couldn't help but hear your words. What will end soon? And who are you talking to? Who will you make sure that won't end up like those cadets down there?"

"Buzz off, Zeke."

He chuckles softly, shaking his head. "What are you going to do with your baby?"

"H-How-."

"So you are pregnant." He turns around, leaning his back on the rail as he pushes his glasses up on his nose. "You just confirmed it."

"I hate you, you know."

"I know. That's how we're friends." I shook my head, giving in to a small smile. "Who's the dad?"

"One question at a time, Zeke. And I have a few on hand that is much more important than that. How did you find out? I found out yesterday, and I'm sure my doctor wouldn't tell you about my results for that test, Zeke. Either you've been stalking me or you're a psychic."

"For the stalking part, that's what friends are. We stalk each other to ensure that they are safe. But on a more serious note, I did not stalk you and I'm not a psychic. Commander Magath came up to me and asked me about your pregnancy. You said you didn't share the news with anyone but the doctor? I'm sure they told Marley. You need a good story."

My eyes rolled as I spoke to him, "And you're the perfect candidate to come up with a story to deceive Marley? All of this out of the kindness of your heart?"

"As much kindness as an old friend can give. You can tell me the truth, Hanji. There are not many people as smart as you and I. I wouldn't want to lose the only other person that knows me best." I sighed, and before I could speak, Zeke leaned close to me and whispered into my ears. "I know you're lying about your lost time, Hanji. Stop playing dumb with me. It's someone from within the walls. The father, I mean."

"He is..." I confessed, wanting to tear up. "Zeke, I can't say anything before I'm executed and-."

"Calm down, Hanji, like I said, I'll help you. Claim it's mine to Marley."

"What? Listen, we're friends, I know that, but that's way too far-."

"But it's more convincing than someone from Marley sleeping with you. You'll be protected, and so is that baby inside of you. Admit it, it's a better plan than you claiming it's some random Marleyan. They're going to check records for Marleyans entering in and out of Liberio. I'm sure the numbers are so low that they're going to check every Marleyan. And knowing them, they will deny it. You'll be killed, along with that baby. Just claim it's mine. That's it. I'll take the fall for it."

"And all of this so I don't die and you won't be lonely? There's something else, isn't there? There's always a catch, Zeke. Just stop being a coward and tell me the catch." My voice hardened as I wanted to know what he wanted. But I know it might not be good. He might also betray Marley, by the looks of it.

He sighs, rummaging through his pockets. He doesn't take anything out, probably forgetting his cigarettes at home. He turns back to me, looking down at my stomach. Instinctively, I covered my bump and stared him directly into his eyes.

"Knowing you, Hanji, you would never sleep with someone willy-nilly. You trust this person. You love this person from the bottom of your heart, right? Because you do, you want to protect this person... and how are we going to help protect them from Marley? Join me and our forces to fight against Marley. Protect your baby."

"That's it? Join you? What's the cause?"

"To stop Marley from growing in power."

"Nothing else?"

"Nothing."

Something doesn't feel right. Like Zeke is also hiding something from me. I gather my courage and asked a question, "Zeke, I don't believe you. You're hiding something. The point you gave to me is nothing but the tip of the iceberg. What else? Don't hide anything from me."

"I want to stop Eldians having children." He confesses, and I knew that was the truth. He wasn't hiding anything from me. "It sounds wrong-."

"It sounds wrong, Zeke? Of course, it's wrong! W-Why are you going to ask me, a pregnant woman, to join your cause to stop Eldians from having children? I'm not going to join your cause for that reason. I want Marley taken down, but I don't want that as a result."

"But don't you think it'll be nice to not be born?"

"What? No! If I wasn't born, who knows what would've happened. I rather let my child have a chance to experience life, rather than never being able to know what it means to live, Zeke. I will not support that."

"But I mean what I said when I offered to pretend your baby's father. I'll pretend for you."

I walked away from Zeke to the opposite side of the stadium, feeling the tears run down my face. I'll take up on his offer to use him as my child's father, but I will raise my child to know that Levi is their real father. No matter what, that child must never believe Zeke is their father. They must ignore every lie that is told to them about Zeke.

But still... Zeke supports the idea that Eldians will never have children... which is the cruelest thought to free Eldians from Marley's grasp...