#savingprimrose

“Thank you guys again for coming.”

Petra waved to the kids one last time, losing count on her attempts to close the door behind her, to go back to her grumpy husband. Connie ran up the stairs of the small house to give Petra another kiss on the cheek while their former squad cheered him. Jean came to collect a fairly inebriated Connie from her, and Petra thanked him before giving them all a smile. Petra gave herself a moment to watch her family fade away in the snowstorm outside before making her way back to the house.

It had been five years since she and Levi said goodbye to the life they knew and decided to use their second chance at life in a new place. Seeing Mikasa and Jean walk away hand in hand helped with the guilt and grief that haunted Petra ever since Eren betrayed them. She felt shivers run down her spine every time she remembered the sacrifices she and Levi made for keeping Eren alive, only for it to end in nightmares that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. Petra was happy for the girl, for moving on from Eren`s memory after all those years. She could say she was even glad for Armin and Annie for finding happiness. Petra and her husband were learning to forget. But she knew Levi would never forgive Annie for the pain she put her through. Eld, Gunther, Oluo, I hope this is what you would have wanted. Sometimes, Petra swore she could feel the pain running down her spine when she stared into her blue eyes.

Petra smiled when she made her way back inside to a quiet house to find her husband asleep in his wheelchair. Despite having just celebrated his 45th birthday, Levi was still blessed with a youthful appearance. But Petra could notice the faint wrinkles around his mouth and eyes every time he gave her one of the smiles that he reserved just for “the only person around him who didn`t make shitty tea”. When she closed her eyes, she could still picture Levi in his youth with his wings on his back, a young god in all his glory. Sometimes, Petra found it hard to believe how much a quiet life could change a restless soul. After everything they had been through, she knew Levi had never been happier. Petra ran her hand through his hair, more grey than black nowadays, and she could see the slight smirk forming on Levi`s face.

“Sneaking up on an old man, Ral?”

Petra got down on the floor in front of the wheelchair, with her head in his lap. She hummed and closed her eyes when she felt her husband playing with her hair locks- “You haven`t called me that in a while.”

Levi gave her forehead a small kiss before wrapping his arms around his wife- “Maybe I just miss being your captain.”

He was more than happy with the life they built together. But sometimes, Levi`s thoughts drifted to the memory of the wind on his face as he flew from tree to tree, of the adrenaline he felt running through his blood every time he made a perfect cut in titan flesh, and he could feel his heart ache with regret. After his injury, it was hard for Levi to accept his movement would be limited for the remaining time he had left. But Petra never gave up on him, as she stood by his side through every failure, through every harsh word he threw at her in his frustration. Levi was not a religious person, but he felt like Petra was sent to him by whatever deity there was out there to make up for the shitty life he had before he met her.

Petra looked up at him, and Levi couldn`t help the smile forming on his face at the sight of the love in his wife`s eyes- “You will always be my captain, Levi.”

Levi just nodded and wrapped his arms tighter around her. Spending his birthday with his wife in his arms was all that he wanted from life. Levi pulled her up in his lap, and she clung around him as her life depended on it. He kissed her nose only to see Petra wrinkle it, a gesture that he always found adorable. Petra captured his lips in a kiss, and Levi opened his mouth to let her deepen it. She smiled when she could taste the tea on his tongue, and he kissed her until she ran out of breath. Levi gave her nose another kiss before laying her head on his chest to feel his heart beating just for her.

Levi couldn`t help but cringe at the sight of the mess his guests left in the kitchen, and Petra gave a big laugh the moment she caught it - “I knew I shouldn`t have given those brats alcohol.”

“Levi, they`re not brats anymore. Some even have their own family.”

Levi cupped her face and gave her another kiss to shut her up- “A brat will always be a brat, Petra.”

Petra just laughed at her husband`s antics and made her way to the kitchen table. She picked up the box in her hands and was surprised to recognize Mikasa`s handiwork on the decoration. Mikasa and Levi had a difficult relationship from the start, but since Eren died, Petra tried to make the girl feel a part of their small family.

“They got you a present. Isn’t it sweet?”

Levi made his way to the table, and Petra could feel his hands on her hips, drawing her into his lap again. She put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes as Levi laid small kisses on her neck. She felt him whispering against her soft skin- “I would rather see your present.”

Petra smiled, feeling her husband`s excitement at the prospect of her gift through his pants- “How about a bath first?”

“I love you.”

Petra giggled, knowing her husband would love the prospect of getting clean more than making love to her. After she got the water ready for him, she helped him up in the tub, ignoring the hurt painted on his face every time she had to make an effort to help him with anything.

Levi kissed her again, trying to pull her into the bathtub with him, but Petra whispered against his lips- “Lay back.”

He obeyed her, and he closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of Petra`s fingertips on his skin. Levi moaned when he felt her hands through his hair, and Petra gave his forehead a small kiss. He opened his eyes to see the sad look on her face, and he knew the words on the tip of her tongue before she voiced them out- “Do you think we deserve this? To be happy?”

Levi knew his wife struggled with guilt ever since the moment she was the only survivor of her squad. He found her more dead than alive, whispering the guys` names over and over again. Asking him why she was allowed to live when they weren`t. Her guilt only got worse the moment Eren chose to betray them, Petra taking the responsibility for his actions on her back. Levi tried to convince her they couldn`t have known what Eren`s true intentions were, but he knew the guilt would always be there. So many years passed, and he still held her and kissed her tears away every time a nightmare plagued her sleep.

“We haven`t done anything bad, Petra.”

Levi could see the faint tears in her eyes and pulled her closer to him, ready to kiss them away. Petra got down on the floor next to the tub, and she barely whispered- “But we haven`t done anything good either.”

Levi kissed her hard, and he could feel Petra whimper and wrap her arms around him. He kissed her until the water got cold, and she pulled away from him, with a smile on her face- "My clothes are a wet mess now.”

Levi kissed her one more time before whispering against her lips- “You can always get out of those clothes.” Petra giggled but got started on cleaning his back instead. She didn`t want her husband to get a cold.

Levi took her calloused hand in his and brought it to his lips to kiss it- “You work too hard.”

Petra smiled, feeling like it was the perfect moment to break the news to him- “ It`s going to get harder with three mouths to feed.” She couldn`t help the smile that got bigger and bigger on her face at the realization hitting Levi.

“Pet, you`re…?”

She felt tears run down her cheeks, and she couldn`t help but smile at the surprise etched on his face. They had never talked about trying to have children, but they hadn’t done anything to prevent it either. After five years, she was sure it wasn`t on her husband`s mind anymore. Petra just nodded to him, unable to form a word, and Levi pulled her into the tub with him. He kissed her until she ran out of breath while one of his hands rubbed her still flat tummy.

“Do you like your present?”