Pairing: Mikasa/Eren

Setting: Post series. Takes place in the same story line asFamily.

Words: 2602

Rating: K

Notes: This really doesn't have much to do with ornaments lol Its a companion piece toChristmas Tree:3 And I got a little carried away shhh I just want them to be happy forever.

Ornaments

Eren looked at the large pine tree laying down halfway on his porch and halfway on the stairs of the porch; it looked bigger than the door itself. It was a scene he had seen countless times: the snow covered tree leaning up to the small cabin door as he looked over it. He just wasn't exactly sure when he had turned into his father.

"Hey, Dad?"

"Yes?" Eren looked down at Nicolas standing in the snow next to him.

"Is the tree gonna fit?"

"Of course it is! It always does." He pressed his hand down on Nicolas' head, causing his hat to fall over his eyes. "Why don't you go get the door so we can get this tree in."

"Okay!" Nicolas maneuvered a way up onto the porch, brushing by the snowy tree to grab onto the handle and push open the door. Eren could smell the sweet smell of cookies baking, just like almost every Christmas since he was a kid. He wanted to leave the tree out here and go inside by the fireplace instead.

"We're back, Mama." Nicolas announced when the door was opened fully.

"Did you and your Dad find a good tree?" Eren could hear Mikasa's voice from somewhere inside the house. Judging by the smell of those cookies, she was probably in the kitchen.

"The biggest one there was!"

He didn't hear a response from her, only a little bit of shuffling, but before too long he could see her figure standing in the open doorway. She had that look on her face, that amused one just before she was about to tease him. She had both her hands holding up Carla on her hip, both their clothes covered in flour and batter. He tried to catch his one year old's eye but Carla seemed far more interested in chewing on the blanket in her hands than what was going on outside.

"Don't even think about saying it, Mikasa." Eren said as he went to grab a hold of the tree.

"I'm just wondering when you're gonna let your hair grow out and grow a mustache."

He snorted. "Never is the answer. Will you help me please?" He saw her laughing which despite her teasing he couldn't help but feel a smile pulling on his lips. Eren never got tired of seeing her happy.

"Nicolas, can you come watch your sister while I help your Dad get the tree inside?"

"Yes." He reached his hands up towards Mikasa who carefully passed Carla down to him. Nicolas wrapped his arms around her waist before shuffling off out of view. Mikasa looked back at Eren, that look on her face very familiar. He had seen his mom give it to his dad on quite a few occasions.

"Ready?" Eren asked his hands on the base of the tree.

"Always." She reached down to grab the tree and started to pull it through the door as Eren pushed at it. Branches bent and snapped as it moved but it was always easier than when he was a kid trying to get the tree through with his dad. It helped to have a wife who was still stronger than him.

"There." Eren just barely managed to shut the door with the tree in the house. "Always just the perfect height."

Mikasa let out a small laugh as she wiped her hands on her apron.

"Hey, hey, it's in the house isn't it?" He stepped forward to put his hands on her waist, tilting his head down to press his lips to hers. He felt her sigh into his mouth, her hands pressing against his chest.

"And it's getting the floor all wet," she mumbled against his lips.

"It'll dry." Eren moved to kiss her again. He never got sick of it, of her, of their life. If there was one thing his life taught him, it was to never take a moment for granted; bringing home a tree every year was more than he thought he'd ever be able to do again let alone all they had.

"Da!"

The small voice was one of the few things in the world that could tear him away from Mikasa. He turned his head to just barely see Carla's brown hair in her pigtails and her dark eyes looking over the tree. Her hands were outstretched to him making grabbing motions.

"Hello to you too, Carla." He moved to reach his arms over the tree and swung the little girl into his arms. He held her against his side before rubbing his cold face into her warm one sending Carla into a fit of squealing laughter.

"Please put your wet clothes by the fireplace before you move any closer to those cookies, Nicolas," Mikasa said with a small grin seeing the boy inching towards the kitchen.

"Okay," he said, his shoulders slumping as he walked back to the living room defeated. He gathered his previously disregarded winter wear to shove it close enough to the fireplace before taking off across the room to grab the closest cookie he could find.

"Come on," Mikasa patted Eren on the back. "Let's get this tree out of the way so we can get some ornaments on it."

Carla was trying to tell Eren something, but between the syllables and gurgles there wasn't much he could understand. She was happy, that's all that mattered.

"How about Nicolas gets you a cookie, while Mama and I put up the tree?"

She nodded in agreement though she might have just heard the word "cookie" and been fine with whatever he had to say. Eren placed a kiss on her forehead before setting her down.

"Here, Carla." Nicolas held out a piece of a cookie he had broken off for her. She took off at the one speed she had at the moment and sat herself down, cookie in hand.

Mikasa placed her hands on the tree once more before Eren helped her heave it over to where the tree stand was. She held it up and steady while Eren made sure the tree wasn't about to fall over at the slightest touch.

"The top of the tree is kinda bent," Nicolas said from his spot in the kitchen, breaking off another piece of cookie for Carla who was making noises at him.

"That's because Daddy doesn't measure a tree before he brings it home."

Eren pulled himself out from underneath the tree to look up at it. "It looks fine," he waved it off. He reached for the nearby box and pulled out four candles.

He had made sure to keep their traditions, both of theirs. Mikasa always made her mom's cake and his mom's cookies while Eren always took Nicolas with him to get the tree like Eren's dad had taken him. Their candles were lit together before anything else went on the tree and the ornaments were a mix of both their trees as kids. As much as he wished his kids had their grandparents to help them continue the holidays, he could at least make sure they had a part.

"Hold it carefully okay, buddy?" Eren said as he lit the candle in Nicolas' hands. He moved to place the candle against the two Mikasa held as well, Carla holding onto to Mikasa's skirt, her eyes wide as she watched the lights.

Mikasa placed both her candles on the tree before hoisting Carla up in her arms so she could see the tree better.

Eren placed his candle with Nicolas' before he reached for a handful more from the box. With his free hand he ruffled Nicolas' hair. "Why don't you drag the ornaments over here and start decorating while I get the lights on."

He didn't need to be told twice. Nicholas grabbed a handful of the glass orbs hooked on his fingers and a few of the paper ones as well, carefully carrying them to the tree.

"Here, Mama. For you and Carla."

"Oh, thank you," Mikasa said as she shifted Carla to one side, reaching her hand out to Nicolas. He hooked a few ornaments onto her fingers before passing a paper one to Carla.

Eren lit the candles on the tree while he watched them, a grin on his face; they were placing the ornaments on the tree, well, Carla was shoving hers at the tree but not really getting anywhere. He chuckled, shaking his head slightly as he placed a candle above his head on the tree.

A familiar knock alerted Eren to the arrival of only one person. They lived pretty far out of the way of people, there was only ever one person who came to visit.

"You don't have to knock you know," Eren called out. "I've told you that countless times."

The door opened and Armin popped his head in. "Trees a little big again, don't you think?"

"You can go back to knocking."

Armin stepped into the house, shutting the door behind him. He dropped the bag he was carrying to take off his jacket and boots.

"We've been decorating the tree!" Nicolas announced, still placing ornaments in all the spots he could reach.

"I see. It looks great so far." Armin waved and made a face at Carla who was watching him, sending the girl into giggles.

"Why don't you help them finish, Armin, so I can finish the cake." Mikasa placed Carla down but instinctively stuck her arm out when Carla wanted to take off for the tree.

Nicolas ran over to hand Armin some ornaments and dragged him back over to the tree. "Thanks, Nic," he chuckled, placing the few ornaments near the top of the tree. "Did your dad pick out the tree again?"

"Yepp."

"No wonder."

"Hey." Eren looked around the tree at them. "Watch it you two."

Nicolas erupted in a laughing fit, and Eren could hear Mikasa's distinct laugh from the kitchen.

"Laugh all you want, this is a good tree." He walked over to the front of the tree to make sure all the candles were even on the branches.

"Whoa." Armin reached down to grab Carla who was ready and set to grab on the tree to pull it down no doubt. "I don't think you want to do that, little girl." He held her against him, poking his fingers into her stomach and causing her to laugh.

Nicolas was on his tip toes trying to reach a little bit higher on the tree. The bottom was completely covered but the top looked a little empty.

"Here ya go, bud," Eren lifted up Nicolas and sat him on Eren's shoulders so Nicolas could lean over to hang up the ornament. "Wanna pass us some, Armin?"

"Only if I can put the tree topper on, oh wait there's no room." Armin walked over to the kitchen to place Carla on the counter where Mikasa could keep an eye on her.

"Don't be a wise ass, and come help me."

"Eren." Mikasa's tone was warning, reminding him he had a little boy who wanted to everything just like his dad did. Old habits die hard.

"Don't be a jerk, get over here."

"I don't blame you, I wouldn't want to get in trouble with her either." Armin patted Eren on the shoulder as he walked by to grab some of the ornaments to hand to Nicolas and to take some himself.

"Hey, Daddy? Can we give Moma her present now?"

"Sure, we can do that. Why don't you go grab it." Eren put Nicolas back on the ground before he took off upstairs.

Mikasa looked over at Eren with a surprised look on her face but he just motioned for her to come over with them as he sat down on the couch. She picked up Carla and followed, sitting down next to him. Carla crawled over into Eren's lap, reaching for her stuffed animal on the other side of him before sitting down, her head rolling back against his chest. Armin sat in the chair nearby, stretching out his arms over his head.

"Okay!" Nicolas ran back into the room before shoving a box at Mikasa. "Here, Mama. It's for you."

"Are you sure you want me to have it now before we all open presents?" She took the small box in her hand, looking it over.

"Yes, Daddy said to give it to you now."

She looked over at Eren, but he just shrugged. "Go ahead."

Mikasa popped open the top and let out a small gasp. She pulled out a little red flower ornament and let it dangle in front of her face. "How did you…?"

"Nicolas helped me pick it out," Eren said, reaching over to brush some of her hair out of her face. "I told him I thought Mama would like a red flower ornament, to remind her of the first Christmas we had together and he picked out which one."

"Do you like it?" Nicolas's eyes were wide, his hands on Mikasa's knees as he waited impatiently for her answer.

She placed the ornament back in the box before reaching down to pull him into her lap. "I love it, thank you," she said as she kissed his cheek. She looked over to Eren. "And thank you too. Thank you for remembering."

Eren brushed his hand down to her chin, tilting her face up towards him. "How could I ever forget." He leaned in to press his lips against hers, his hand against her cheek.

Mikasa leaned her forehead against his. "I'm going to put it on the tree right now." She tapped Nicolas to get him to move before she grabbed the ornament and stood up. Nicholas took her spot on the couch, turning to watch her place the ornament right in the center of the tree.

It stood out against the green, just like Eren remembered the old one doing. While she didn't wear that old scarf as much as she used to, seeing the color always reminded Eren of the hell they had been through, and the hell they would never go through again. Not on his watch.

Carla's hand reached up to touch his face, Eren playfully nipping at her fingers as she did. She laughed a little bit, but her motions were getting a little sluggish, a little sleepy.

"Uncle Armin, please tell us a story!" Nicolas moved off the couch to sit near the fireplace, his eyes glued to Armin in the chair.

Armin leaned forward with a smile. "What do you want to hear?"

"Anything! But not the ones that you made me promise not to tell Mama that you tell me." His face was a wide grin, like he was keeping in a secret he had just with Armin.

Eren had to hold in his laughter when he saw the color drain from Armin's face a little bit. He could almost see Mikasa's gaze on him.

"Nicolas, I believe promising not to tell your mother involves not saying anything about it all together."

"Armin. Just what is it you've been telling him." There was that tone of hers; the one they all knew all too well.

Eren leaned back on the couch. "Oh, it's always a good day when that's not directed at me. No, sorry, buddy, I can't help you with this one."

"I have one, Nic. Why don't I tell you about the time that me and Lance Corporal Levi found your Mom and Dad in the stora-"

Eren didn't hesitate to throw the nearby pillow at Armin's head.