"From the first day we met," I spoke, my hands in Levi's, "life seemed to enjoy tearing us apart. We met when we were children, and time and time again, life got in the way, but we are kindred spirits, and we always found a way to return to each other."

I squeezed his hands lightly as his eye - for the other remained milky white, even now -  flashed with recognition, with remembrance of a life together full of strife, of heartbreak, but also of a romance well-earned and well-loved.

"Levi, my love, you are a fighter," I continued. "You're the strongest man I've ever met. With that, you have instilled a fight in me, and you inspire me to be a better person with each and every day we share together. No matter what life decides to throw at us next, I know that we will take it on together, hand-in-hand, with our love to push us forward. I promise to be there for you, to trust you, to cherish you, and to love you, for as long as we both shall live. And that is a promise I will never break."

I glanced down, picking his ring up gently. "Let this ring be a physical reminder of this promise," I said, sliding it on his ring finger. "Of love everlasting, and of love eternal... so long as you wear this ring, I will keep my promise. I love you, Levi."

His eyes softened almost imperceptibly at my words. There was a lightness in his gaze, the slightest hint of a smile on his lips. It would be impossible to catch if you were anyone else, if you weren't so trained to read his expression like I was. But I saw it. And I absolutely loved what I saw.

He picked up the ring meant for my finger and gazed down at it reverently before letting his eyes meet mine.

"(Y/n)," he said, and I knew by his voice alone that he was a bit hesitant, a bit nervous.

He never was one for public speaking, of course. The fact that he would even so much as try meant more to me than he'd ever know. He was never one for public displays of affection anyway, and for him to even attempt something like this, so open and so loving... It warmed my heart to no end.

"Since we met in that orphanage, you've been a pain in my ass."

That had the crowd laughing, and I couldn't keep my own laugh from escaping my lips. I mean, it was true. It wasn't like he was lying. The laughter, thankfully, seemed to help him loosen up. The people here were from my family or were of the Smith's, or were our friends and as such, everyone here knew him and quite a few of them loved him.

Hopefully that would be enough for him to trust that no one would hold this vulnerability against him, that no one would make fun of him for what he said here, that love was something that should be expressed, no matter the audience.

"You say that I inspire you to be a better person," he continued, and it surprised me to no end that he seemed to be thinking of what to say as he went along, "but you've taught me more about life than I'm sure I taught you. You've pushed me to be better, but have never pressured me to be more than I am. Never have you made me feel like I'm anything less than what you want in a partner."

I smiled, my heart overflowing with love for him. They were words so simple, conveying feelings so elaborate.

"And that means more to me than I know how to say," he continued. "You're kind, funny, more loving than anyone I've known, the prettiest damn thing I've ever seen, and... (Y/n), you're perfect. This ring is a promise. I will always be there for you, and I will always love you."

He slid the ring onto my finger, and it took everything I had to keep from kissing him right there. I glanced impatiently at the officiant. Like everything else the officiant had said, I tuned out the words as best I could... until he said those words I'd been waiting to hear.

"Levi, repeat after me."

I didn't listen to the officiant. I didn't need to - or want to - hear him say it. His wasn't the voice I wanted to hear. I focused solely on Levi, on his voice low and cool and smooth, as it always was, as he spoke.

"I, Levi Ackerman, take you (Y/n), to be my wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward. For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, excluding all others, as long as we both shall live. I give you my pledge."

"(Y/n), repeat after me."

And I did.

They were the surest words I'd ever spoken. I spoke confidently, yet softly. I couldn't be sure if our audience could even hear me, but I didn't care. They'd heard the vows, they'd heard Levi speak that piece, they could imagine me saying it.

Just as the only person I wanted to hear say those words was Levi, the only person I wanted to hear me say them was Levi. He was all that mattered. And finally, at long last...

"By the power vested in me," the officiant said, "I pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

I wanted so badly to sweep him off his feet, but I'm sure that after so long standing on his own, that wouldn't be the best idea. He'd never say it nor show it, but I was sure he was wobbly. And so I set one hand on his cheek gently, my new ring reflecting the beautiful lights of the ceremony, and the other hand on his forearm as he set his own hands against my waist.

Slowly, surely, and incredibly gently, our lips met in the sweetest kiss we'd ever shared. A content, almost relieved sigh escaped his lips, only to be captured by my smile as I drew away. But even that minimal amount of distance was too much. I knew it was only meant to be one kiss, but... it wasn't enough. I was far too excited and far too happy to leave it at that.

I guided him back against me, drawing him in for another kiss, and then another, and then another, to the cheering of those in the crowd.

Our first kiss as newlyweds... and our second and our third and then our fourth and fifth, each more perfect than the last.

How one man could make me feel so much...

When I was younger, I wasn't sure if ever I'd know what finding true love would feel like. But I knew it in each kiss we shared that this was it. This was it.

And this would always be it. Never would this feeling go away.

I didn't care what life threw at us. This would always be so.

---

Only minutes later, Levi and I found ourselves in a quiet garden just beyond where the ceremony was. People were starting to file out and head to where the reception was to be held, so for now, Levi and I had a few quiet minutes to ourselves.

Quiet, secluded, peaceful.

Oh, and it was beautiful and incredibly picturesque, too.

Those words were what best described the garden, with stone paths that wound across the grounds between flowerbeds. The walkways were lined with small flowers, or by expertly trimmed bushes, and tall trees that provided shade... or that would, if the sun was out.

No, by this point in the evening, dusk was starting to fall, and the world was starting to grow dark. It was a warm day for the season but it was still chilly, the brisk air seeping under my clothes and bringing goosebumps to my skin. But I could hardly bring myself to care about that when I was in such a beautiful location with my fiancé... no, my husband.

The sunset right now was gorgeous, a beautiful blend of pink and orange and steaked with the golden light of the sun as it said goodnight for the day. With it, our time as nothing more two lovers engaged set as well. As the sun said goodbye, so too did our lives apart.

Yes, we lived together already. Yes, we had spent so much of our lives together. But now, in name... When the sun rose, it would bring our first day as husband and wife, and there was something so incredibly beautiful about that.

I was standing just before this gorgeous row of rosebushes, and somewhere nearby I could smell the wistful scent of lavender drift on the wind. I wasn't sure what I looked like, taking in the sights quietly, basking in the golden glow of the setting sun, but if the way Levi was looking at me meant anything, then I must have looked ethereal.

I made it a point to look around, as though to ensure that there was no one else around. "Easy there, Levi," I said teasingly yet oh so lovingly. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you looked like you were in love with me."

"Maybe it's because I am, jackass," he replied easily, making me laugh.

"Here," I said, stepping behind his chair, using one hand to lift the skirt of my dress while the other prepared to push him along. "Let's see if we can't find a bench so we can sit together for a few minutes."

---

Levi's POV:

What a pain in the ass. Saying that I looked like I was in love with her. Well, no shit. We only just got married.

For the short few moments it took for her to find a small bench shadowed by tree branches above our heads but along a lane of asters, I fought the impulse to turn back and look up at her. In this light, on this day... it was a disservice for her to be hidden from my view.

But I sat still, waiting for her to maneuver the chair so we'd be facing the same way, and seated next to each other. When at last she eased herself to the edge of the bench near me, I turned my head to look at her. She was looking down at her lap, a somewhat bashful smile on her lips as she smoothed out her dress before her.

"What's on your mind?"

"A lot," she admitted, looking sidelong at me.

The golden light of sunset made her skin glow in a way suitable for a bride. The way her hair fell and the way she was dressed made her look like royalty. And the look in her eyes showed much more than words could ever say, that she was happy and in love.

Nothing right now mattered as much as she did.

She was gorgeous.

If only I could stop stalling and tell her.

On a day like this, after I'd done the hard part and recited my vows in front of a crowd of people, why were my words still getting caught in my throat? Not only were we close already, that was a given, but she was my bride now. I should be able to just say the damn thing, right?

Somehow, it hadn't set in yet.

The woman before me was my wife.

"Start with the small things," I told her.

"Ok," she said, sitting up a little straighter. "I'm having a hard time believing that after all this time, it's over. It's done. We're married."

"The ceremony is over," I corrected, trying to coerce my voice into sounding anything other than bored. "We're not done."

"Bad choice of words," she said with a smile. "You know what I mean. And um... what else? Oh, I don't want to eat too much in this dress, because I'll either spill something on it or it'll be uncomfortable if like, I eat too much and bloat a little."

"(Y/n)," I sighed, "it's your wedding. We chose all our favorite foods, and you don't want to eat any of it?"

"I'm just saying," she said defensively, though with a smile, "I really like how I look in this dress. I don't want to, you know..."

"Don't even think about finishing that," I interceded.

Say the words. Say the words. Say the words.

"You look beautiful," I managed to say, though quietly.

"Thank you," she said earnestly, her smile growing. Instead of mischievous, or sly, or coy, it was genuine, and it was about the best damn thing I'd ever seen.

Not that I'd ever say that aloud.

I wasn't sure exactly how long we could be out here without a search party coming to get us. I didn't know how much time we were "allotted" to be alone before we make our grand entrance at the reception. It wasn't far, and our transportation there was secure, but I didn't put it past our meddlesome... friends to come after us if we took too long.

...I didn't put it past her family, either. They'd come as a group with their teasing words and sly smiles.

I wanted to avoid that at all costs.

"How are you feeling, my love?" Her voice lulled me gently out of my thoughts. I didn't answer right away. She would elaborate, and after a moment, she did. "I mean, after standing for the ceremony."

I couldn't contain my smirk even if I tried. I could tell she was trying to hide her excitement. But I wouldn't tease her, not for this. I knew just how surprising it would be for her. Seeing her smile like that, trying to hold her tears back as she saw me standing for the first time on my own in years... it made the soreness in my legs that I was sure to have in the morning worth it. It made potentially setting my own progress back by months worth it.

All of it was worth it for the smile she'd had when she walked down the aisle, and the excitement lacing her voice now.

I'd do it over and over. For her.

For no one else.

For now until... forever? But how long was forever, really? Our forever... when she said our love would be eternal and everlasting, did that end when our lives did? One of us would die before the other. Was that when our love story ended? Or did she mean it when she said... no, that was stupid. If we were dead, we were dead.

That was the logical way of looking at it, anyway.

It didn't mean that I wouldn't try praying to whatever deity that would be stupid enough to listen to me, for how many sins I'd committed, to spare her life for as long as possible.

Probably not the best thing to think about on my wedding day, no?

And yet...

---

"Levi," I said gently. "Levi? Love, are you alright?"

I reached out to gently touch his arm, to pull him from his thoughts. He blinked once, then twice, and finally seemed to snap out of it.

"I'm fine," he said.

"Even after standing?"

"Yeah," he answered. "Yeah." He looked at me then, a sureness in his eyes that I didn't see often. Not like that. Not in a place like this. "I'm good."

"Only good, huh?"

"Shut up," he chuckled. "You know what I mean."

I leaned over, gently resting my cheek against his shoulder. I briefly considered sitting up again, so as not to potentially smudge my makeup, but I decided against it. I didn't care about that right now. How could I? Why would I?

We only had a few precious minutes alone before we had to head to the reception. I wanted to make the most of this. This peaceful, serene moment... it was only us. It'd been a hectic day already, but the hard part was over. All we had left to do was enjoy it, right?

And tomorrow... we'd be on our honeymoon.

I wrapped my arms around his forearm, hugging it. I closed my eyes, giving myself a moment to just breathe.

"Mrs. Ackerman," Levi said quietly.

"I like the sound of it," I murmured.

"So do I." A kiss was pressed to my hair then, and I let out a long, slow breath, relaxing further against him.

"To think, after all this time, I'm finally your wife," I said, trying to keep the smile from my face. It was a fruitless venture, for I smiled anyway. "God, I'm finally your wife!"

"I know we have different rings now," he said, reaching into his pocket, "but I'm keeping this one close." Between two fingers he pinched the chain I had gifted him and dangling from the chain as it always had... was my mother's ring.

"How'd I get so lucky," I said, lifting my head from his shoulder to shake my head fondly at him. He let me take the ring from him, and I gazed over it with the same nostalgic sort of glaze over my eyes as I always had. Nostalgic for what, I didn't know. But something about the ring seemed to just bring me back to the orphanage, to that day when I got it and whenever I was overwhelmed, I would look at it and I'd feel better.

"I think she's watching, you know," I said gently, the pad of my thumb ghosting across the cold metal. "My dad, too. Whoever they are, wherever they are... I don't know. I just feel like they're watching. And you know what?" I looked up at him now, setting the ring in my palm. "I just know they'd love you."

---

Levi POV:

I didn't care that there was no validity to her words.

I didn't care that there was no way for her to truly know if her parents – her birth parents – would love me.

All I did was tuck the ring back into my pocket and use my free hand to draw her in for a kiss. A happy little sound escaped her, maybe a laugh? It didn't matter.

We only had a few more minutes here together before we had to deal with the nonsense of greeting everyone, making the rounds to talk with everyone. All the pomp and circumstance...

Maybe we could skip it and get right to the honeymoon.

No, she'd kill me.

With the way she drew herself closer, as close as we could in the positions we were in, I figured she might not be so averse to the idea after all.

---

The venue we'd picked for our reception was absolutely gorgeous. It was beautiful on its own, but now that it was adorned in flowers, lined with lights, and I could hear one of my favorite songs playing over the speakers, it was spectacular. Oh, and part of it probably had to do with the fact that all my favorite people were here as well.

When we made our grand entrance to the reception, we'd been met with cheering and jeering and whistles and it was in that moment alone that I knew that we didn't have to worry about the stuffy formality of the ceremony, no; everyone here was ready to have fun. Pure, unadulterated fun.

Drinks were already flowing, people were snacking, and there were a few brave couples already making their way to the dance floor. The main dinner course would be served later, but for now, Levi and I made the rounds greeting everyone and snacking when someone offered something off their plate.

The food was all divine, by the way.

With a glass of champagne in one hand, and Levi wheeling himself along just beside me, we made sure to say hello to everyone and thank them for coming. Keeping one hand free meant I was always ready to give a hug, and with so much love in the air, it was hard not to hug everyone I saw.

I certainly tried, though.

"(Y/n), (Y/n), (Y/n)," Hange sang, latching onto my free arm just as I was about to go see a group of aunts of mine all chatting away as they sipped their wine.

"Yes, Hange?"

"When are we going to go dance?"

"We can dance as soon as I'm done saying hello to everyone," I said.

"Ew," they muttered. "Why would you do that?"

"Because they were kind enough to attend my wedding? Do you even know how many people hate weddings? Let's not even mention how many single friends I have that want to kill me right now for making them come to a wedding. They could've bailed or not showed up at all."

"Send them all thank-you cards later," Hange whined, tugging incessantly on my arm. "Come on, all of us are dancing!"

By all of us, Hange meant themself, but also most of my bridesmaids, save for Mikasa who I'd seen with Eren earlier. (And he's absolutely hating being dressed up for so long, by the way.) Meg, Steph, a few of my cousins and some other friends were all dancing in a weird, near-drunk stupor. Oh, boy.

With another tug to my arm, I knew that Hange wasn't going to let me go until I danced for at least a song. I glanced down at Levi, who was watching the interaction closely, with his elbow against the arm of his chair and a bored look on his face. I leaned down closer to him, a sheepish little smile on my face.

"Will you be alright for a few minutes by yourself if I go dance?"

"I'm sure someone will come bother me while you're away," he drawled out, in true Levi fashion.

"I saw Mr. and Mrs. Smith over by the bar," I told him, glancing that way briefly. "And Eld and the others are still at that table." I set a hand on his shoulder and leaned even closer, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "It'll only be a song or two. I'll be back as quick as I can."

He turned his head, letting his lips brush against my temple. "You'd better." Then a kiss was planted to my temple, and I stood up.

"I'll be back soon, my love," I said, patting his shoulder before standing and finally allowing Hange to pull me away.

---

Levi's POV:

I watched her go. I watched as she and Hange expertly weaved through the crowd. Most people parted to make way for the bride, gown and all, and for Hange's stupid ass as they tumbled into nearly everyone along the way. Others patted her on the arm or on the back as (Y/n) walked by, and one of her uncles grabbed her on the upper arm and playfully made to give her a noogie. I watched as she laughed, that jubilant smile reaching her lips as she waved his hands away from her.

She shared a few words with him before following Hange again. When they made it to the dance floor, a strange twinge of... something struck my heart. What the hell was that?

It felt like what I would imagine jealously would feel like. Like I can't do something that another can. When I made my way through the crowd, politely nodding as I tried to find a better vantage point to keep an eye on her, I rolled to a stop coincidentally by the table Eld, Gunther, and Olou were occupying.

"Levi," Gunther said happily. I didn't bother turning to look at them. If they were going to pester me, they were going to do it regardless of whether or not I looked at them. "Not drinking tonight, huh?"

"Maybe he wants to remember his wedding," Eld said, lifting his own drink to his lips. After taking a sip, he added, "I don't understand it, myself."

I found myself glancing back at him. It was a joke, or his sorry attempt at one, but something about the melancholic tone in his voice caught my attention. I wasn't deaf, nor was I blind, nor was I stupid. I knew how he felt about her.

Was it strange that I felt a strange sense of satisfaction from knowing that the ring on our fingers meant she was mine, and only mine?

I returned my eyes to her. She was dancing with Meg, and I wasn't exactly sure who was leading or who was following as they went through a messy waltz. She threw her head back with laughter as Meg tried to lift her... were they trying to do the lift from... what movie was it? Dirty Dancing?

At any rate, it didn't work.

A single thought occurred to me. I could lift her like that. My eyes drifted downwards. No, not anymore.

They tried another lift. Meg wrapped her arms around (Y/n)'s waist, trying to lift her that way, but to no avail. I fought the urge to chuckle. A few feet from them, Petra and Hange were attempting the same lift.

A bunch of idiots, all of them.

I couldn't stop it when my mind started to drift, past doubts bubbling back up to the surface. I couldn't lift her like that anymore. She's told me time and time again that me being alive was all she wanted, and she wouldn't ask for anything more. But she looked like she was having so much fun there, dancing away with her friends, being lifted, being spun.

All I'd done today was stand.

Was that enough?

Would it ever be enough?

Why did I never take advantage of what we could do together? Why did I never ask to dance, why did I never take her out to something like that? Why did I laze about, too nervous to put myself out on a limb? Why the hell was I so reluctant to be anything other than who I was perceived to be?

I'd had so many chances to make everlasting memories like those, that she was making now with her friends. I was now doomed to be in this damned chair, unable to do such things with her.

It was so stupid. It was such a simple thing, dancing. But never had I dared to put my pride aside to ask if she wanted to. I never did any of that romantic shit, because she'd always told me that I was all that she wanted.

Nothing more, and nothing less.

If that was true, then... why the hell did I feel like I'd never be enough for her?

---

I broke away from my friends after a few songs. After calling over my shoulder the promise that I'd be back to dance more later, I started through the crowd to try to find Levi once more. Lots of people were standing and mingling, and lots more were making their way to get some food.

Meaning it was chaotic, and I had no idea where my husband was.

My husband.

Goodness, Levi was my husband!

I bit my lip to contain my smile as I looked around for him. I got distracted by the sight of Eren tugging uselessly at his collar. I made my way towards him, finding Mikasa with him. Actually, quite a few of their friends were here.

Growing up, I'd often had to babysit Eren and Mikasa, and often I'd have to suffer through the sleepovers that would be hosted in my home. I'd find out too late that Eren had invited his friends over, and I'd have to suffer because it'd be too late to just spend the night somewhere else.

But as a result, I'd befriended quite a few of them and had no problem inviting them to the wedding. Anything to keep Eren quiet, anyway. And now, as I came to a stop before him, he looked away embarrassedly when I looked pointedly up towards his hastily made bun. Loose bangs hung around his face, and I wondered briefly why he hadn't tried to make it look even somewhat presentable for my wedding.

"Eren," I gasped dramatically, "what'd you do to your tie? It's a mess!"

"I just wanted to fix it," he mumbled, still looking away.

"Would you like help?"

Jean peeked over his shoulder then, an arrogant smile on his face. "Yeah, Eren," he teased. "Won't you let your sister help you fix your tie?"

"I don't need it fixed," Eren snapped.

"You clearly don't know how to tie one," Jean shot back. But then his eyes softened, and he smiled at me. "Hi, (Y/n). Congrats, and can I say, you look lovely."

"Thank you," I said happily, swatting Eren's hands out of my way so I could redo his tie. Muscle memory led the way as I looked at each of his friends in turn, smiling at them all. "Thank you all for coming. It's nice to see you all."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," said Armin.

Talk about another stroke of luck. Eren and Armin had chanced upon each other a few years back and had reconnected, and it was such a delight to see him again. He'd grown into quite the intelligent young man, and I didn't put it past him to go do incredible things in this world.

Alongside Armin, there was Jean, an ambitious young man with lots of potential, and I could very well see him as a leader, though he was a bit conceited; Connie and Sasha, attached at the hip like conjoined twins, the usual class clown duo who always knew how to lighten the mood; and Historia and Ymir, just about the cutest couple I'd ever met. Ymir seemed to me like she had an old soul, while Historia had a rather troubled past but a beautiful, positive outlook on life despite that.

They were all incredible young adults. So long as Eren kept them close, he'd always have quite the support system about him.

I finished fixing Eren's tie, then stepped away. "Don't go ruining that again," I said. "I don't think I need to go get mom to tell you how to behave at a wedding."

"Whatever," he huffed, looking away. "Aren't you supposed to be with your husband or something?"

I couldn't help it. I had to laugh at the way he spat out the word husband.

"Will you and Levi ever get along?"

"No," Eren answered immediately, and even Mikasa scowled at my words.

"That shorty has crossed the line too many times," she said.

"I don't care what he said in his vows," Eren said. "I don't think he feels anything other than anger."

"His vows sounded genuine," Armin said hesitantly. "Besides, do you think (Y/n) would marry someone who didn't deserve her?"

"I know you two don't like him," I said, "but he's my husband now and I won't hear you talk like this about him. And especially not at my wedding. Understood?"

I hadn't realized how authoritative my voice had become, nor that I had set my hands on my hips, until I was done speaking and the group were all looking at me, wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

"Um," Eren began, "understood. I guess."

"Thank you," I said, smiling before turning on my heel.

Seeing that Levi was just a few feet behind me, well, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"Oh, my god," I said, setting a hand over my heart in an attempt to slow it down. "Levi, don't do that, you scared me!"

All he did in response was smirk and gesture towards the other side of the room. "Come on, love," he said quietly, and I nearly called him out for calling me love, and not a brat. "It's about time for us to cut the cake."

note: spoiler for the new episode but levi being back in the anime has restored years to my life and i've been waiting so long i've missed him so much <33333

and for manga readers (spoiler obvi), I'm sure you've noticed the strange way they're rearranging events because we should've gotten the trip to marley already. it's just after the rumbling starts that mikasa says things could've gone differently and so it flashes back to all of that and it's got me all fucked up ngl. honestly, it'd have been more torture for anime-onlies to see levi walking around and being called a clown and shit while they still didn't know if he was even alive but wtv. it's strange, but I actually love how they handled the rumbling and the sense of dread you feel while watching it and it's incredible so everyone say ty mappa <3

anyway, thank you all for reading, and for the support! love you all lots!

(oh, and final countdown to the end... the final part is the epilogue which is part 67. so. keep that in mind, babes.)