Six months had passed since Rubi left for medical school. Carly was a little over six months old, and growing so fast. She was almost completely weened off breastfeeding, eating baby food and growing like crazy.
She was a very happy baby, always babbling and smiling although she hadn't formed any real words yet.
It was also winter, snow covering the ground. Mikasa was resting on the sofa, Carly was fast asleep in her baby swing.
It had taken Mikasa four hours to get Carly to sleep. While Carly was a happy baby, and luckily didn't have colic..she fought sleep. Like she was afraid she'd miss something exciting.
So by the time Mikasa got Carly asleep, she was exhausted herself. Eren had just started going back to work at Levi's teashop.
Since he designed cover arts for video games, his work at Levi's was only part time but did help money wise.
Since having the baby, Mikasa had no time to visit the orphanage anymore, so instead she wrote them letters monthly.
Although she planned on visiting again once Carly was a little older.
Mikasa sighed softly, and tiredly as she lay down on the sofa. She pulled the blanket over herself, her arm hanging off the sofa limply as Carly slept.
The fireplace was lit, the TV off. Just then, Mikasa heard the sound of keys. Eren was on the porch, unlocking the front door, having just got home from work.
However the keys sounded loud, so Mikasa's heart sunk, watching her baby. Please don't wake..please don't wake...was all she could think.
Eren nosily opened the front door then.
"I'm home..! Oh..crap..", Eren realized he messed up, because the second he said this, Carly grimaced her little face and began whimpering, wide awake.
"I'm on the couch tonight, aren't I?", Eren guessed, as he got his coat off.
Mikasa groaned, tiredly. "Eren..I just got her down...", she said, frustrated. "Sorry, Mika...I'll tend to her sweetie. You take a nap", Eren assured his wife, as he gently lifted Carly up.
Mikasa gave a small nod. "Thank you...sorry Eren, she fights sleep so much...", she admitted tiredly. "Don't apologize, hon. You need a break...", Eren said softly, as he walked Carly.
"Do you have work tomorrow, Eren?", asked Mikasa as she sat up, deciding she was going to take a nap upstairs.
"No, but I do have a meeting with Naughty Dog...they want to see my sketches for The Last of Us Part 3", Eren replied.
"Eren...I'm not a gaming nerd like you, but I do know enough where...its amazing you went from drawing for Telltale to Naughty Dog in just eight months. Your drawings are beautiful", Mikasa smiled.
Eren blushed, smiling as she continued walking Carly. "Thanks babe...so, I won't be home until dinner time tomorrow. You want me to bring takeout home?", Eren asked.
"Hmmm...actually no, Eren. I think we need a home cooked meal. I'll take Carly out and go shopping tomorrow while you're gone", Mikasa replied.
By the next day, Eren had left early. Mikasa had got her coat and of course her red scarf on, and made sure Carly was warm enough.
Aside from her light pink long sleeved onesie, and socks, Carly had on her adorable, warm pink coat with a hood and little pink mittens.
"Okay baby girl, momma and you are going shopping today..would you like that sweetheart?", Mikasa cooed softly, as she got Carly in her car seat in the back.
Carly smiled, babbling cutely looking very excited about going out for a car ride. Mikasa smiled warmly, as she gently handed Carly her plush Orca.
"I wonder when you're gonna start talking for mommy...", she admitted. Carly cuddled her plush Orca, smiling cutely.
Mikasa smiled, she closed the car door, and got in the driver's seat. The last Mikasa heard from Rubi was about two weeks ago, and so far Rubi was doing great.
Armin heard from her about two weeks ago too. She was really busy after all.
Naturally Mikasa sent Rubi photos and videos of Carly every week.
Once they arrived at the store, Mikasa got Carly in the basket, strapping her in, and they went to the food section.
"Let's see...your daddy really doesn't eat healthy unless I cook. If it were up to him, he'd live off pizza and chocolate", Mikasa said softly.
Carly babbled cutely in return, gazing at all the things on the shelves. "We haven't had a traditional Japanese dinner in ages...and its winter, so..Oden is perfect", Mikasa stated.
Mikasa began buying the ingredients as she pushed the shopping basket. "Let's see...all we need left is...", Mikasa looked at her list.
Carly babbled cutely. "Potatoes...that's right sweetie", Mikasa said sweetly. Carly giggled, always loving it when her mother talked to her.
After getting all the ingredients she needed, Mikasa went to the checkout. She then blinked. "Sasha?!", she said, seeing her cashier was Sasha.
Sasha beamed. "Mikasa! Hey! Long time, no see!", she smiled. "You're right...it has been a while..how are you and Connie?", asked Mikasa.
"Married! Connie works at a gas station...Oh my god! Is she...?!", Sasha began to ask, grinning. Mikasa smiled.
"Yes...this is my daughter, Carly", Mikasa introduced. "Oh Mikasa, she's adorable! How old is she?", asked Sasha.
"Six months", replied Mikasa. "Whoa...damn girl, you look good after being pregnant!", Sasha admitted. Mikasa chuckled, blushing.
Six months after having Carly, Mikasa actually remained a good figure. She was only about 138 pounds. She did work out gently, but most of it came from her eating healthy.
Of course Eren and Mikasa kept in some touch with their old classmates, they hadn't heard from them since Mikasa's third month due to everyone being busy.
"When did you start working here, Sasha?", asked Mikasa as Sasha rung up her ingredients. "About a month ago, I got fired from Subway", Sasha admitted.
"Of course...", Mikasa muttered, not surprised. "Hey, its hell! Seeing all those sandwiches..not to mention that slushy machine..!", Sasha drooled.
Mikasa chuckled. "Okay...I can relate to you on the Slushies", admitted Mikasa. She became addicted to them since being pregnant with Carly.
And it was a pregnancy craving that didn't seem to go away even after Carly was born.
After returning home, Carly had fallen asleep since being at the store was pretty exciting. Mikasa had took Carly up to her bassinet.
Mikasa had the baby monitor right by her, as she began making dinner.
It was around 5:30 PM, and Mikasa heard Eren's car pull in the driveway. She smiled, as she wore her red scarf still.
Eren quietly entered. "Mika..? I'm home..", he spoke quiet this time. "In here Eren!", Mikasa called from the kitchen.
Eren took off his coat and scarf, coming in. He blushed then, as he saw his wife standing over the counter, wearing her pink apron, which had cat paw prints decorated on the front.
He came up and hugged her from behind. Mikasa blushed.
"Hey you...is Carly asleep?", Eren asked. "Yes...the store trip wore her out. She had a lot of fun though", Mikasa replied, as she leaned into her husband's arms a bit.
"How did the meeting go, Eren?", asked Mikasa curiously then. "It went great...they were very impressed by my sketches and asked me to design Ellie's daughter, and even some backgrounds", Eren admitted.
"That's great, Eren!", Mikasa beamed. "To be honest, I may have some inspiration from Carly when I draw her...", Eren admitted.
Mikasa smiled softly, as Eren kissed her scar.
After the couple had dinner, and did the dishes together Eren went to get a shower, while Mikasa had went up to feed Carly, since she heard her wake on the baby monitor.
Mikasa gently sat in the rocking chair, holding Carly close. "Tomorrow's baby food sweetheart, momma will soon be out of milk..besides, your first tooth will be appearing any day now", she cooed sweetly.
It was a blessing that Carly wasn't fussing too much over weening. She ate her baby food during the day with no fussing.
So now, Mikasa was only breastfeeding her at night. And within just a few days to a week Carly would just be on baby food.
Mikasa couldn't get over how fast her baby was growing. As Mikasa nursed Carly, she relaxed in the rocking chair.
She could hear the shower running from the bathroom. After Carly finished nursing, Mikasa gently went to walk her, to get her back to sleep.
"I hope you're not up for another all nighter angel, momma's pretty tired tonight", she cooed softly, rubbing Carly's back.
Carly nuzzled against the crook of Mikasa's neck, yawning sleepily. Mikasa nuzzled her baby close, smiling softly...when suddenly Carly uttered a small word.
"Momma...", she whispered. Mikasa froze, as her heart skipped a beat her eyes widening. She gazed down at her baby, who looked sleepy.
"Carly...honey, what did you just say?", she asked, beaming, tears welling up in her eyes. Carly heard the happiness in her mom's voice, and giggled.
"Momma!", she repeated, enjoying the attention. "Oh my god...! Eren!", Mikasa called then, tearfully, beaming.
"I'll be out in a minute!", Eren called from the shower. "Eren, hurry!", Mikasa yelled, as Carly giggled.
Eren blinked, hearing the urgency in his wife's voice. "Shit..", thinking something was wrong, Eren got out of the shower, only wrapping a towel around him, hurrying in.
"Mikasa! What's wrong? Is Carly okay..?!", he asked worriedly. "She's fine! Eren..Carly spoke! She just said her first word!", Mikasa replied, beaming.
She blushed a little at the fact her husband was only in a towel, but was too happy to really care. Eren exhaled in relief.
"Jesus Mikasa, you scared me to death...what did she say?", Eren asked, excited. "Go on sweetie, tell daddy", Mikasa cooed softly.
Carly seemed both surprised and happy with all the sudden extra attention she was getting, so she blurted it out again.
"Momma!", she said. Eren clasped his hand to his mouth. "Oh my god...! Mikasa...", he said, overwhelmed, grinning.
Mikasa blinked tears of happiness from her eyes. "Oh Eren...this is wonderful. She's growing so fast...", she cried.
Eren smiled...their daughter really was.
As the months went on, Carly began saying more words. Her second word was "Daddy" and she went on to start saying "Hi" and "Bye" along with "Sleepy" and "Hungry"
Now, Carly was 10 months old. It was afternoon, and Mikasa and Eren already started making plans for Carly's 1st birthday.
At close to one year old, Carly's TV was of course limited, however she loved watching two things when she would be in her play pen.
Sesame Street, and My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. Carly especially loved the bright colors from My little pony.
Mikasa even bought her a plush Rainbow Dash, and a set of toddler pajamas that had Twilight Sparkle decorated on them.
So Eren and Mikasa decided on a My Little Pony themed birthday, complete with a cake and everything.
Carly was in the living room sitting on the blanket, as she watched My Little Pony Season 2 on the TV.
Eren was with her, on his laptop looking up My Little Pony themed party supplies, while Mikasa was in the kitchen looking through different cake options on her laptop.
Eren got up then, to show his wife what he found as Carly continued watching the TV happily.
"Hey Mikasa...which is better? They have sets of cups, plates and napkins that just have Twilight Sparkle, but then they got a set with all six of these ponies", Eren showed his wife.
"Hmmm well she's still to young to have a favorite character, so we'll go with all six", Mikasa replied.
"Oh, Eren...what do you think? Pink streamers, and I found My Little Pony balloons", Mikasa showed him.
"Those are perfect, baby", Eren grinned. While they went over this in the kitchen, Carly was watching the TV intently.
She then slowly shifted, and tried standing up. Her legs were pretty wobbly, but she managed to take a few steps.
Eren came back in, and he stopped dead in his tracks...seeing. He grinned widely, seeing Carly take it slow, but she was standing.
"Mikasa..! Mikasa, get in here!", Eren whispered urgently. "What's wrong, Eren?", Mikasa blinked as she got up.
She entered the living room. "Look", Eren said. Mikasa saw, and she gasped softly, beaming. "Oh my goodness..! She's..walking..!", she cried happily.
Carly took a few more shaky steps, before finally reaching the TV. She placed her little hands on the on screen ponies, giggling.
"Oh..look at you sweetie!", Mikasa cried, as she knelt down. Carly blinked, hearing her mother's voice, and turned to look at her.
"Momma, look at me...!", she said cutely. "I see you, angel!", Mikasa smiled, overwhelmed.
"Hey princess, can you walk over to us?", Eren asked, kneeling down as well. Carly had an adorable confused look on her face, like she was figuring out what her dad just asked.
She then smiled. "Yea daddy!", she started to walk towards them, still quite wobbly. "That's it, baby...that's it", Mikasa said softly, excited.
Carly moved slowly, and finally she reached her mother's arms. "Oh sweetie! You did it! Mommy and daddy are so proud!", Mikasa cried happily, as she hugged her toddler, lifting her up.
"That was amazing, princess!", Eren grinned, as he cuddled both his wife and daughter. Carly beamed, quite proud of herself as she nuzzled into Mikasa, and gently took her father's finger with her small hand.
By the next day Mikasa was on Skype with Rubi. Eren had gone out with Carly to do some shopping.
"So we decided on a My Little Pony themed birthday for Carly...", Mikasa had just got done telling Rubi about it all.
"Yeah...", Rubi gave a small nod. She seemed distracted. Mikasa could see on the screen Rubi was sitting in her apartment.
"Sis? Everything okay?", asked Mikasa softly.
"Well...Miki, listen...Carly's 1st birthday...July 15th...I can't be on skype that day", Rubi revealed then, nervously.
Mikasa blinked. "Well..that's fine sis, we can have it on the 16th", she offered. "No, Miki...I'll be slammed for those full two weeks of July...I won't be able to even call Armin", Rubi insisted.
Mikasa bit her lip, going quiet. She even looked down.
For the first time...Mikasa actually felt irritated with Rubi. And...she didn't understand why. "Rubi, come on sis...it's her 1st birthday! You gotta be on, even just for five minutes...", Mikasa said then.
"Mikasa, I can't! I want too, please don't make this harder than it has to be!", Rubi pleaded, both girls feeling tension build between them.
Rubi and Mikasa never had a huge fight before...but the distance between them was expected to put some strain on their friendship.
"I'm not trying to, Rubi! But you promised you'd be able to be on!", Mikasa shot back. "Mikasa, I'm in a bloody medical school! I don't get to just take time off! I don't have it easy like you!", Rubi snapped.
"What's that supposed to mean?", Mikasa asked, glaring.
"Unlike you I have a bloody career I'm trying to get! I don't get to be carefree with my time!", Rubi growled.
"So being a mother isn't a career to you?", Mikasa asked then, feeling a bit hurt by what Rubi just said. Rubi fell quiet for a moment.
"You know I didn't mean it like...", she began to say. Mikasa looked away, glaring. She then shut the laptop, shaking furiously.
She looked down...she...couldn't help but feel angry. Rubi was her sister...Carly's godmother, and yet she couldn't even show her face for Carly's very first birthday?
Mikasa also wondered...now that Rubi was back in her home country...if she even cared about Mikasa, Carly, or any of them anymore.
Being thousands of miles away...working to become a doctor...what if Rubi ended up moving on with her life?
What if her life here was just...Rubi passing through. Mikasa looked down softly...it was stupid to think like this. But...she couldn't help it.
Rubi had been gone for nearly a year, and Mikasa missed her so much. She couldn't even imagine how Armin felt.
In England, Rubi sighed frustrated in her apartment. "What the bloody hell Miki...! You think I want to miss her birthday?", she ranted, pacing in her room.
She hated the fact she couldn't make it on Skype for Carly's first birthday. And now it just felt like Mikasa was guilt tripping her.
Rubi sighed, she then decided to call Armin. Armin saw his fiancee's number, and answered. "Rubi? Hey sweetie", Armin smiled.
"Hey Armin...", Rubi said softly. Armin blinked, noticing her grim tone. "What's wrong, honey?", he asked worriedly.
"Miki...and I just had a fight...", Rubi began to explain it all.
Back at the Jaegers, Mikasa was sitting in the living room, biting her lip deep in thought. She heard the front door open, Eren returning home with Carly.
"We're home!", Eren said. "Momma!", Carly wiggled anxiously in her father's arms, reaching out to Mikasa.
Mikasa gave a small smile, as she came over, taking Carly. "Hey angel, did you have fun with daddy?", Mikasa asked softly.
Eren blinked worriedly, seeing the sad look in his wife's eyes. "Daddy took me to store, mommy!", Carly replied cutely, smiling.
"I see...I'm glad you had fun baby", Mikasa cuddled Carly close, kissing her forehead. "Hey...Mika, what's up babe? You look upset", Eren noticed.
He gently rubbed her shoulder. "It's...nothing Eren. Just...Rubi and I had a fight...", admitted Mikasa grimly.
"Whoa...really? You two never fight...", Eren paused then. He just noticed tears sparkle in Mikasa's eyes.
"Momma..?", Carly noticed too, gently placing her small hand to her mother's cheek. Mikasa sniffled softly, she gently set Carly in her little play pen.
"Mommy's okay honey", she assured Carly, as she handed her some of her toys. Seeing Mikasa didn't want to break down in front of her baby, Eren quickly put a My Little Pony DVD in for Carly so she was distracted.
Carly became focused on the TV, sitting in her play pen. "Okay..come here Mika", Eren took his wife's hand as they went into the kitchen, the baby monitor by them.
"What happened, sweetheart? Talk to me", Eren gently cupped her face, stroking her hair. Mikasa looked down, tears filling her eyes.
"I'm such an idiot Eren...I got angry at Rubi...for something that isn't even her fault", she cried. Eren helped his wife sit down.
"What happened?", he repeated softly. Mikasa explained it all to Eren, tearfully. "I thought something was off...Armin mentioned Rubi called him upset...", Eren admitted.
"I..don't know why I got so angry, Eren...it's not Sis's fault...", Mikasa said tearfully, leaning into him.
"Hey, shhhh...baby, its hard on you two. Being separated like this for so long...listen, you're not perfect love. No one is perfect...everyone makes mistakes. Just call Rubi when you've both calmed down...I know she'll understand", Eren assured his wife, rubbing her back.
Mikasa gave a small nod. "Thank you Eren...", she said. Eren rubbed her shoulder. "It's okay angel...I never like to see my beautiful girl upset, and I know you and Rubi really love each other. Neither Armin or I wanna see you fight", Eren said.
That evening, after getting Carly to bed and getting a shower, Mikasa got on her laptop. Eren was in the shower.
She took a shaky breath, and called Rubi on Skype. After about four rings, Rubi answered. Mikasa bit her lip.
"Hey sis...", she said, her voice small. "Hey...", Rubi said, her voice just as small. They were quiet for a moment.
"Rubi...I'm so sorry. I was being selfish...I just...you've already been gone for nearly a year. I guess I just...was starting to worry maybe...you don't think about us anymore sis...I know that's stupid...", Mikasa said then.
Rubi's eyes softened. "Miki...I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said what I said...we both got angry and said things we regret...I'm...so sorry Miki. I wish I could be on for Carly's birthday...I...I would never forget any of you...no matter how far I am", Rubi choked back a sob then.
Mikasa felt tears fill her own eyes.
"Rubi, no...sis, don't apologize. I was the one being selfish...you're doing an amazing thing sweetie. And I should have been more understanding...", she said.
Rubi sniffled. "I love you Miki...", she said shakily. Now Mikasa was the one choking back a sob. She gently placed her hand on the laptop screen, where Rubi's hand was.
"I love you too Rubi...I...miss you. So much sis...", she confessed, tearfully.
"Oh Miki...I miss you too sis...I'll be back...three more years to go..", Rubi assured Mikasa.
"You'll...film Carly's birthday for me, right sis?", Rubi asked then after a few minutes. "Of course sis! I'll film it all for you", Mikasa smiled tearfully.
Rubi smiled, wiping her eyes. "Miki, you're a wonderful mommy...you know that right? And a wonderful sister", she said. Mikasa smiled.
"Thank you sis...you're a wonderful godmother, and you're going to be a wonderful doctor. The best in the whole world", Mikasa wiped her own eyes.
In the end, Mikasa filmed Carly's first birthday for Rubi and the girls grew even closer since this first argument.