Authors note: It's been a while, but finally I got it done! I did a few tweaks, and this is still considered an AU though the new squad has been formed long before. I'm so sorry! Also I did change how Connie's name was spelled since when I started writing this I thought it was Conny. Oops.

It had been Ymir that finally convinced him to do it.

Both Reiner and herself were sick of Berthold'ts brooding, and though it wasn't exactly ethical to their mission they had decided to retrieve Sasha. The blonde wondered idly to himself if they were doing the right thing, they might as well snatch Historia and Eren while they were at it-but they couldn't risk going after all three.

This was about his friend's happiness, though they wouldn't be too happy with them back home if Sasha was all they brought.

Reiner knew they were going against their rules, but he didn't care. As long as Bertholdt had her back and was somewhat happy again. She'll only hate me. Of course Reiner was unsure if Sasha had an ounce of hate in her body, even though she fought with Jean a lot she'd never admit to hating anybody .

The warrior let out a breathe as he finally made it back to the headquarters, a new residence for the new squad. A place where he was not welcome unless it was in chains. He knew they were risking everything for one girl, but they couldn't turn back. Not now. "Who does she usually bunk with?" He whispered to Ymir, who was standing on a branch to the left of him.

"She's sleeping with Historia," The brunette muttered, "she used to bunk with the both of us, so that's probably our best bet."

"Not with Mikasa, right?"

They both shuddered at the thought, "No, they were friends but Mikasa prefers to bunk by herself. Usually."

"When did she get that luxury?" Reiner complained quietly, "I thought all of us had to bunk together."

"Why does it matter now? It's not like we're going to join them again."

"Right right, let's just hurry up and get this over with."

"Be careful. Sasha knows how to work a bow."

Reiner groaned, "Now you tell me?"

"I thought you already knew."

"...Yeah, I guess I forgot."

Sasha hadn't been able to sleep, though she had tried to feel better about the situation she couldn't help but feel something was wrong. The brunette let out a breathe, listening to the light snoring of her bunkmate above her.

Everything was changing quickly, somehow Erwin had been called by the higher ups into a meeting never to return. And suddenly Hanji was in charge of the Survey Corps and she was now on Levi's squad with her friends. 'Everything is getting hazy,' she thought to herself and she greedily longed for Bertholdt. Again.

Why couldn't she just forget about him?

The next time she'd see him she'd either be near death, or she wouldn't see him at all because she would be. 'I wish you weren't a traitor, I wish it would have been someone else and I wouldn't have to live with this guilt.'

After a moment of tossing and turning she got out of bed, making sure not to wake up the other occupants in the room she slipped out of the room and went outside.

She could barely hear the whispers of both Armin and Jean as they conversed, both on guard duty for the night. She wondered if she could relieve one of them to go to sleep, at least she wouldn't have to make them stay awake when she could be doing their job. However before she could step up to talk to them she heard a rustling sound.

As she went to react to the noise she felt a pair of arms around her, they were too big to be anybody on her squad. "St-" a hand covered hers, preventing her to call out to her fellow squad members.

"Please go with us quietly," She heard a familiar voice behind her, "we don't want to cause any trouble."

Reiner!

Sasha struggled against the titan shifter's hold, but to no avail. He was so much stronger than she was, but she wasn't about to give up yet. If she could grab Jean's attention then they would have to let her go, they wouldn't risk having Levi and Mikasa gang up on them at once just for her.

Why weren't they going after Eren or Historia though? 'I thought they were the important ones.'

"Hurry up Reiner." She heard another voice call out, though still not loud enough for the other two to notice; "Knock her out or something."

Sasha muffled against Reiner's hand, struggling all the more. "I'm sorry Sash," She heard Reiner say, "I hope you can forgive me."

That was when her whole world went dark.

It hadn't been until they heard a slight rustling in the trees that they had noticed, Jean had called out to their squad leader and took out his rifle but by then they were already gone. At the time he didn't know that Sasha had been taken, they weren't worried that she would be in any sort of trouble.

He thought they had taken Historia, but when the petite blonde stepped out of the building he had been confused. "They ran off," He told Levi, who was irritated at the whole thing; "but they didn't...?"

"Eren and Historia are still present," Armin said, "but they still know where we are, so that can't be good that they can find us so easily."

The squad members were silent for a moment before Mikasa spoke up, "Where's Sasha?"

That was when they realized, Jean could feel his heart drop. They had taken Sasha, it wasn't Eren or Historia they had been after this time. But why would they take her? As far as he knew she wasn't important to their plans, and the only thing that made sense was that Bertholdt simply missed the girl.

Did he really love Sasha then? Was that why she was taken away?

"They took Sasha," Armin confirmed his thoughts, "but I wonder why we didn't hear her call out or anything?"

"Reiner could have silenced her," Mikasa said, "he's much stronger than most of us, it would be understandable that he knocked her out before taking her."

'Why hadn't I heard?' Jean thought miserably to himself, 'I could have saved her.'

"What do you want to do, Corporal?"

Levi let out a sigh, rubbing his temple. It was no good that Sasha was taken, if he could he'd go after them himself. But he couldn't risk anymore lives-not right now, "We have to wait and come up with a plan," He answered solemnly, "we can't rush into things, even now they're stronger than us."

"But Corporal-" Eren started out, but was silenced by Levi's gaze.

"We can't do anything for Sasha, at least not now." He sighed again, "If Bertholdt really did love her, he won't harm her."

The younger recruits were devastated, but listened. After a moment of briefing,few of the squad members headed off to sleep. They would come up with a plan in the morning, and hopefully if the plan allowed they'd have Sasha back soon.

"Jean?"

He hadn't realized he was shaking until someone touched his hand. It had shocked him out of his thoughts, and it shocked even more when he realized it was Eren talking to him. "What d'ya want?" He muttered, wiping away stray tears from his face.

"Sasha is going to be okay, she's strong."

"I should've known..." He muttered again, "I could've stopped them."

Eren knew this, but the other decided to remain silent on that matter. With a pat on his shoulder the titan shifter went inside, leaving him outside with Mikasa. "Go ahead and go to sleep, Jean. You need it."

"No..." He muttered, "I couldn't sleep, not now."

"What were you thinking?!"

"I think I was doing you a favor, that's what!"

Bertholdt couldn't believe it. He had gone to sleep for a while and when he woke up both Reiner and Ymir were above him with Sasha in tow. She had been knocked out, which meant she had struggled. They had hurt her, for his sake? "H-How could you?" He whispered, "She was supposed to be safe, she was supposed to stay with her friends."

"We got sick of you brooding," Ymir muttered, annoyed by his ungratefulness; "and if she'd gone with us willingly we wouldn't have had to knock her out."

"We're not supposed to have her though..."

"Well, she's here now." Reiner said, placing Sasha next to him; "And we can't risk going back just yet."

Bertholdt could only nod. Of course they couldn't take Sasha back now, but that didn't mean he had to be happy that she was there. She wouldn't be happy when she woke up, but for now he could relish in the fact that he could hold her hand now. "She's going to hate me," He muttered, "and all I can do is apologize and hope she doesn't run off."

"She wouldn't run off," Ymir scoffed, "she's in Titan territory now and she's without the proper gear."

"I suppose you're right..."

I just wanted you to be safe, you don't have a future inside the walls. Please forgive me, Sasha. I need you.

She could hear distant voices, in the back of her mind she reminded herself to tell Reiner and Connie to stop messing around so much. But as she came to her sense she realized that she was no longer in the position to do that, and she was not with her squad. Sitting up carefully she groaned, the ache in her back telling her that she had not fallen asleep on a comfy bed last night.

"You're awake."

The familiar voice shocked her, and as she stared at the owner of said voice she remembered. Reiner had come and taken her, for what purpose she was still unsure of. Was this because Bertholdt missed her or was she just fodder for a bigger cause? "Bertholdt..." She whispered, "Why am I here...?"

"I'm sorry," He said quickly, "I told them not to get you, but they did anyways. It wasn't my idea to bring you here."

"But...why?" She gasped, "I can't...be important to what you guys are trying to do...whatever you guys are trying to do..."

"They thought it'd make me happy..."

Sasha blushed slightly, "Does it make you happy that I was forced here against my own will?"

"Of course not!" He snapped slightly, "I wanted you to be safe, I didn't want you to be hurt...I just wanted you to be safe."

She scoffed at the idea, "Sure."

"But I am happy that you're here now," He admitted quietly, "I was uncertain if we'd see each other again...I understand if you hate me though."

Hate? She hated what he did, of course. But still she could never bring herself to hate someone she cared about so much, even though he did betray them. She was such a sickening person, she hated herself. "Bertholdt..."

"I'm sorry, Sasha..." He whispered, "I'm so sorry this had to happen to you."

"I guess I'm not allowed to leave, am I?"

"I'm afraid not..."

She laughed slightly, that was just great. "And I'm never going to see them again, am I?"

"It's still a possibility..."

"Oh please Bert, save me the agony and just tell me the truth." Sasha leaned back against the tree, realizing now that they were on a branch. Just where were they?

"I want you to be my wife."

"Do you think now is the time to be proposing to me?"

"I'm serious."

Bertholdt grabbed her hand, holding it tightly in his own. Sasha felt sick to her stomach, what made him think she'd want to be his wife after everything? "Bert, we can't...I can't..."

"You could live with me in my home village," He said softly, "we could be happy, you know?"

"But..."

"I know, I know..." He sighed, "I just...want to be with you."

"I wish I could say yes..." Sasha muttered, "and that sickens me that I do want to say yes to you, but I can't...I can't..."

Perhaps she didn't even have a choice. She couldn't leave, even if she tried she'd only end up as Titan food. And she didn't have a way to get into contact with the others, maybe marrying Bertholdt wasn't the worst thing that could happen to her. She didn't have to lose him, but what would they do if their mission didn't allow it?

They were on opposite ends of the fight, even now as they held hands and relished to be in each others company again. It would all have to end anyway.

She was supposed to be hating him, with every fiber of her being she knew that was true. But she couldn't.

Maybe she had given up her humanity a long time ago.

Maybe she was just like them.

"Bertholdt?"

"Yeah...?"

"I still love you."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Note: I know the inconsistencies, I don't even think Reiner and Ymir would be able to capture Sasha on their own without at least someone noticing what they were doing. But I had played around in my head how they could and that was the best way. And yes I'm sure it's not really something they would do even if would make Bertholdt happy.[who in canon is in love with Annie anyway]

But god dangit it's my fic and I do what I want *evil laughter* I'm way too old to be doing this...oops.

Anyways I'll try to keep up with this more.