AN: Here's cute adorable Christmas continued. I hope you all love it thank you so much for the reviews!
L&E
"Daddy!" Levi took every single ounce of self-control he had and did not scream at the children bouncing on his bed, his back, and his husband. Eren picked up Leo who was making a solid attempt at leaving permanent marks with his toenails and hustled everyone else towards the tree. Stupid morning person, Levi rolled his eyes. He's tempted in the quiet, dark of the room to roll over and fall back asleep. But he'd hate himself forever if he missed even one Christmas, so instead he got up and changed out of his normal clothes from last night and into his Santa pants and reindeer shirt that Anna had given him last Christmas. He pulled on his green scarf from Eren and made the walk with cold feet on wood floor to the living room where a fire was already blazing and Marvin was doing his best at keeping Leo and Damian out of the flames. Anna was seated, hands folded on the loveseat that Eren and Levi had a habit of sharing on such occasions.
"Where's your father?" Levi's voice was hoarse.
"Kitchen," Damian and Leo yelled together and ran into the room, somehow the eight-year-olds never really outgrew their terrible twos. Thankfully Marvin and Anna though only a few months apart being an early ten and a late nine were reasonably well behaved already. Amara was sweet, very clingy, maybe a bit too much so actually, she was having a hard time making it through the school day without seeking out one of her siblings. Jessie was still a little young to go to school, they could send him if they wanted to but they didn't, not yet, it was still nice having little hands help with lunches and dinner, having someone to swing in between them as they went to the store. He'd have to go soon, with Pamela at home she'd need most of their attention.
"I'm going to get your sister, stay here, don't open anything." Damian groaned from in the kitchen and Amara quickly replaced a piece of tape she had been working on. Levi padded his way back down the hall and heard fusing on the other side of the door. He pushed it open gently and was met by tiny arms reaching out for him. He smiled and bent down, taking her into his arms and kissing her forehead lightly.
Together with a green blanket with the wings of hope and strength on it, they went back into the living room. Marvin, Anna, Amara, and Jessie were instantly around him. He leaned onto his knee to give them a better view of their newest family member.
"Hey babe," Eren walked in with Leo and Damian holding milk and cookies. "On the table boys," he nudged them with his hip. The other children reluctantly went and each took a cookie before settling near the tree. Levi sat with Pamela on the loveseat.
"Make room," Eren stood waiting, Levi moved over so he was right against the arm and Eren sat. "Trade me," he held a cup out to Levi, with some fine maneuvering skills and some tactical precision that reminded Levi of titan hunting they switched baby for cup.
"Oh, I remember why I married you," Levi took a long swing of his hot chocolate. He ate a marshmallow and then kissed Eren leaving a small froth mustache on his lover.
The kids opened their presents, Marvin received his first 3DMG, he was ecstatic. Anna got some jewelry that Eren had noticed her eyeing when they were in town, it was engraved with Yeager-Ackerman. Leo got his first jacket with the freedom wings on the back, Damian had received a similar jacket with the freedom wings on both sleeves. All four older children were given a week at an under ten boot-camp. The boot-camp would be run by Erwin and both Levi and Eren felt comfortable sending them with Captain Erwin in charge. Amara got the new cuddle me cutie doll which was essentially a doll that you sang to sleep, rocked, took care of, and kept with you almost constantly. Levi personally didn't understand it but Amara nearly cried when she opened the present. Jessie got some paint sets and canvases, he was quite the artist and did some oddly accurate battle sequences against titans. Eren was constantly concerned about what he might have seen and how he had any concept of titans but Levi tried to quell the fears as much as he could. Pamela had a set of drawers that Levi had spent hours in the garage fussing over and carving every imperfection out of. She'd appreciate it later. Levi kissed the top of her head as he continued to nurse his hot chocolate.
The children played around the house while Eren and Levi stayed on the loveseat snuggled up, Levi drifting in and out of sleep. A sharp knock had Eren up quickly and Levi grumbled at the loss of warmth.
"Mikasa," Levi could hear Eren at the door. "Merry Christmas," he imagined the two siblings embraced. Eren made his way inside and shut the cold behind Mikasa. "Your present is over here," Eren led her over.
"Eren you didn't have to," Mikasa said because she knows with seven kids things can be tight sometimes but Levi shoots her a look and she shuts up. "At least wait until dinner with everyone else."
"Oh ya," Eren laughs, because every year he and Levi head out into the wilderness to go bounty. They usually bring back a minimum of five titan heads, each going for about 1,000 which keeps them comfortable for Christmas. Other times of the year they have odd jobs around town but both left the military with Captain status and received a decent payment for their troubles every month.
Eren insists on hosting Christmas dinner every year. Jean and Marco and their four children, that Jean has said Levi is not allowed to complain about because they have almost twice as many, all come. Mikasa and her on again off again boyfriend Bard make an appearance usually, they're on for the holidays because Levi can imagine it'd be lonely without someone. Erwin and Hanji come much to Levi's delight and usually at some point the three of them end up plastered over a bottle of eggnog that Eren forbids Hanji from bringing every year. Annie comes and stares wistfully at Eren and Levi is convinced that were he and Eren not blissfully married Annie would definitely have made a move by now. Armin comes with the little time he can spare but half the time he leaves early or comes late and Levi hates the crushed look on Eren's face when Armin ducks out to whatever meeting it is he's off to but he's an important part of the government now and is essential to all of the funding and new recruits the scouts get.
But for now, they would have to get dressed and go visit Bard and watch his stupid Christmas play for the fourth year in a row. But the kids had fun so as far as things went it wasn't that horrible. Mikasa was already scolding Eren for not being ready so Levi stood and ushered the children to their bedrooms to put on their festive clothes. Apparently, pajamas that take fifteen stab wounds and twelve hours each to make don't count as play attire. Eren joins him a few minutes later and wraps his arms around his hips pulling him close.
"What is it?" Levi asked entranced by the dying embers in their private fireplace.
"Just love you," Eren's finger sneaks under the elastic of his pants and pulls it from its desperate clinging spot on his body. The air is colder than Levi prefers to be undressed in but there's no helping it really. For a second he thinks they might get in a quickie but Eren is pulling away and leaves Levi's pants around his ankles for Levi to kick off.
"Mikasa is worried that Bard might try to propose," Eren says and Levi is genuinely surprised by this.
"Worried?" Levi arches an eyebrow. "So she'll say no? He better not ruin Christmas dinner."
"She doesn't feel that sure about him. I mean I don't know what that's like but I can sympathize. It's just they always break up after February. Maybe if they had a few more stable months after that she'd feel better about it." Eren shrugged. Levi pulled his Santa shirt off but set it neatly on the bed, he'd wear it later when the family read Christmas books before heading off to their rooms.
"I guess," Levi shook his head. He'd have to say something to the actor before dinner came around. Eren handed him his green dress shirt and nice black slacks.
"Eren," he rolled his eyes and faced his husband with some difficulty.
"How do you think I feel?" He saw a big shit eating grin on his husband's face as he was basically wearing capris and Levi felt like he was drowning in the long pants.
"Give me my pants back giant." They swapped and Levi nearly ripped them back off when Eren surprised him by coming up behind him and carefully pulling up the zipper and fastening the button.
"Brush your teeth I'm going to get the kids."
"So I have to be minty fresh but you can walk around with cavities?"
"Look I love Mikasa but Bard's plays are awful, my mouth will get dirty later so why bother," he shrugged and Levi was pissed his pants were far too tight and Eren would wait until at least fifteen minutes in to whisk him off to some half clean bathroom stall.
Levi brushed his teeth and made his way into Pamela's room to see her already out of her crib. He joined the rest of his overly active family in the living room and saw them playing with dulled ninja stars Mikasa had been suckered into giving up early. "Don't break anything," he patted Damian's head and altered his course a bit. "And don't hit Marvin." Damian broke into a psychotic laugh that had to come from Eren, Levi refused to be held responsible for whatever noise just came out of their kid, and bolted after his older brother.
"Ready?" Eren came out of the kitchen wiping his mouth on his red dress shirt and Mikasa was scolding him instantly while he assured her it would dry.
"Come on," Levi took his hand. "Kids we're going now," the kids left their toys in the basket by the door that had been a compromise between leaving them everywhere and putting them away. Marvin walked ahead with Amara who took after Eren in her love of Christmas and could never wait to get to the plaza that was always a huge buzz with decorations and activities. Leo and Damian had their arms intertwined and were looking out for straggling bugs in the dead of winter that they could harass. Jessie was struggling with his tiny legs in the foot and a half of snow, Levi was already holding Pamela and couldn't offer much assistance but Eren pulled him out and tossed him on his shoulders. Levi cast his eyes upwards to see Jessie putting small braids into Eren's hair. Anna walked silently next to Mikasa who was behind Eren and Levi. Levi caught Eren checking behind them periodically to make sure both girls were still doing ok.
They made it to 'Winter Wonderland' and Levi had to grab the back of Leo's shirt to keep the boys from running straight off. "Stay close," he reminded and released the collar. They still wandered a bit but made sure to stay in sight.
"The theater is this way," Mikasa led them unnecessarily to the spot they'd spent their last few Christmas mornings. The snow made it more difficult than usual as it was an outside theater but it was cute and homey, even Levi was fond of the place he just hated the plays. They were given two large comforters and seven smaller blankets. Levi entrusted Marvin with the task of holding Pamela as he and Eren tossed the thick comforters onto the snow near the front of the stage, but not so close that the actors would be able to hear Levi's snide remarks. The children clambered onto the blanket, Marvin patient angel he was waited for Levi and Eren to get situated before he handed Pamela down. Mikasa sat with them since her date was in the play. Mikasa and Anna shared a blanket as did Eren and Levi. Amara took one to herself but snuggled close to Marvin who also had his own. Jessie had his own and was as close as possible to the stage. Damian and Leo insisted on sharing as they sat close to Levi to hear his remarks and laugh. The last blanket sat on Eren's lap waiting for Annie.
"Marvin," Eren called and opened his other arm for their oldest son to get closer for much-desired warmth.
"Why I have to dress up to sit on the ground I'll never understand," Levi rolled his eyes and Mikasa punched his arm.
"Dad's starting early this year," Leo and Damian giggle.
Levi was surveying their position and frowned. At this angle, it would be impossible for Eren and him to escape to the bathroom half a block away at Mama Connie's which turned into Mama Claus this time of year. Levi might not make it through this play without a private intermission with Eren.
The play was relatively painless though, Levi suspected it has a lot to do with his husband's uncharacteristic purchase of a nice apple ale that the brewery brought out for the holiday season. When Eren snuck off Levi handed Pamela to Mikasa and snuck after Eren to push him into the less than ideal brewery bathroom.
After they had finished and grabbed drinks Levi was much more placated. He was even almost able to restrain himself from scolding Eren for not inviting him at the beginning. But the play was over and the kids were exploring the winter carnival. They made their own snowballs and started a fight with some other kids. Levi watched anxiously as Amara played as well, she didn't seem to feel picked on even with her one hand disadvantage. It helped Levi's relationship with Annie when she took up arms against his daughter's tormentors and the two rushed the fleeing brats.
Before heading home the family grabbed some snow cones and sat at a picnic table joined by Jean and Marco's family, Mikasa and Bard, and Hanji who said Erwin had some paperwork but was headed towards the house when he was done. Together the group made their way through the narrow streets and towards the pleasant little nook Eren and Levi called home.
They settled in, needed a kids table for all the little ones that came, their seven, Jean and Marco's four, Ymir and Crista's more sensible one. Then they had their table full of friends and food. Half of it baked in wine or beer, the other half bartered from Sasha for at least one course of meat and then a dish from every house for comfort. It was nice. Eren and Levi sat at the head of the table, holding hands and giving samples of different dishes. Mikasa sat beside Eren the other direction and Armin had kicked Bard out of the next seat. Levi's friends sat beside him, Hanji further down since she'd yell anyways. Jean and Marco took up the other end of the table and Annie sat next to Hanji. Everything was happy, Erwin even made it before the food was gone, brought the eggnog and Levi, he and Hanji ended up plastered in the corner.
Eren kissed Levi's head a few hours later and his husband yawned from his pile of drool on the table.
"Where did everyone go?" Levi slurred and started wiping the spit off his face, some of it crusted.
"I managed to get your friends into the guest rooms since they were unconscious. Everyone else went home."
"You carried them to bed and you woke me up?" Levi's clearly annoyed.
"Of course I woke you up," Eren growled in his ear. Levi's worried that he's angered his husband, after all, he did get pass out drunk in front of his kids, ya that wasn't smart. He shouldn't have done that. "Our quickie in the bathroom wasn't enough for me, are you trying to tell me it was enough for you?"
"I'm suddenly very awake," Levi was pushing himself off of the table, he noticed all the dishes were done, the table was put away, and the leftovers were stashed away in the fridge. He's guilty, but Eren was taking his hand and taking him to the privacy of their room and soon he can't remember what guilt feels like.
L&E
AN: We're heading towards the end my friends. We only have two more chapters to go T.T
