Author's Note: Sorry for late updates, guys!
It was early evening, Mikasa had fallen asleep early. She slept soundly in Eren's bed, her hand resting on her swollen belly.
She was five months pregnant now, and getting quite big already, much to Eren's worry. Eren gently tucked her in.
He stroked her hair softly, and quietly left the room to take a shower.
Mikasa's peaceful sleep was suddenly interrupted by vivid images in her mind. She groaned slightly in her sleep, tensing.
The nightmare was just as vivid as the rest. She was back in the blood stained basement. She was chained to the wall again, Isla's skeleton chained beside her.
Mikasa had so many nightmares like this, as long as nothing new happened in them, she was able to stay calm. She was able to tell it was a nightmare.
Since so many of them remained the same.
But...this time would be different. As she hung from the chains, she slowly closed her eyes. If she could just wake up, she could escape again.
When suddenly, she heard commotion from up the basement stairs. Mikasa looked up weakly, to see Eren and her kidnapper both falling down the stairs.
They struggled, Eren had the crowbar, while the kidnapper had a knife. Eren glared, about to strike the man, when suddenly he stabbed Eren right in the stomach.
Mikasa's heart sunk, and her eyes grew wide. "E-E-Eren...!", she stammered, in disbelief. Blood spilled out of Eren's stomach, as he looked at her, white.
"M-Mikasa...", he managed to get out, and then collapsed on the floor.
"No...no...EREN!", Mikasa screamed, fearfully. Her scream was so loud, it woke her up. Mikasa's eyes opened, as she sat up in bed, panting fastly, drenched in sweat.
"E-Eren..!", she cried urgently, but he wasn't in the bedroom. Mikasa's heart sunk, where was he? He was always here when she woke up.
Panicked, Mikasa quickly swung her legs over the bed. She winced, they weren't all the way healed yet.
She then gripped the nightstand, and gritted her teeth, as she started to stand up, leaning on any piece of furniture that was close.
She cried out, the pressure hurting her legs. But she had to find Eren. She glanced weakly, seeing the bathroom door, which was connected to the bedroom, was mostly closed.
She saw the light on in it, and steam coming from outside of it. Mikasa felt slight relief, but she remembered the images in her mind.
"Eren..!", she called, fearfully. Her heart was pounding against her chest. She heard the water turn off.
"Mikasa..?! Sweetie, I'll be right out!", Eren called then, worriedly. Mikasa couldn't wait, she had to make sure he was okay.
She gripped the dresser next, as she limped towards the bathroom door. Each step hurt bad, but she didn't care.
She gritted her teeth, as she leaned onto the wall next, just inches from the door.
The door opened then, Eren had got dressed. "Mikasa!", his eyes filled with instant panicking, seeing her on her feet.
"Eren..!", Mikasa used her last amount of energy, and threw herself into his arms, sobbing.
"Mikasa! Baby, it's okay, I'm here...! Mika...you can't be trying to walk yet! You'll never heal!", Eren said, fearfully, as he held her close helping her back to the bed.
Mikasa continued to cry softly, clinging tightly to his arm.
"Shhh, it's okay, beautiful. You're safe...", Eren assured her, as he helped her back into bed. He got in with her, as Mikasa clung to him still.
"Easy...shhhh", Eren soothed her, he gently rubbed her swollen belly. The baby hadn't started kicking yet.
"I-I'm s-s-sorry E-Eren...I...", Mikasa choked back a sob, trembling. "Shhh...a nightmare, right?", guessed Eren, already knowing.
"I woke up...and y-you we-weren't here...I got scared...", Mikasa explained, trembling. "I was just in the bathroom, baby. It's okay...I'm never leaving you again", Eren soothed her.
He gently kissed her forehead, and continued rubbing her tummy.
Mikasa often had episodes like this. If she didn't know where I was, she panicked. But this was the first time ever where she tried to walk again.
I was honestly both worried and amazed she managed to make it as far as across the room.
The nightmares were slowly dying down, but she still had them every so often. It pained me...to see how much damage that bastard did to her.
Not just physically, but emotionally.
After a while, Mikasa calmed back down and fell asleep. Eren stayed with her this time, not leaving her.
Eventually, Carla came up. "I started dinner, Eren. You want me to bring it up for you two?", she asked softly.
"Yeah, thanks mom", Eren replied, as he held Mikasa close. "Is she still having nightmares...?", asked Carla, worriedly.
"Yeah...I was in the shower, and she panicked. She...actually stood, and tried to walk", Eren replied.
"Oh god...", cried Carla, fearfully.
Soon Carla brought Curry up for dinner. Eren gently padded Mikasa awake. "Baby...come on, dinner's ready", he said softly.
Mikasa opened her eyes tiredly, she was exhausted from lack of sleep because of her nightmares. "What...?", she asked sleepily.
"Dinner, sweetie. Both of you got to be starving", Eren replied. Mikasa nodded, as she sat up tiredly.
As the two ate, Mikasa gently placed her hand on her belly. "What's wrong?", asked Eren, worriedly.
"I'm just...worried. She hasn't kicked yet at all...", Mikasa explained, softly. "Oh...well, my dad said her heartbeat is strong, I'm sure she'll start moving soon", Eren assured her.
"I hope so...", said Mikasa, worriedly. Her eyes matched an anxious mother's eyes.
"Don't worry, love. She will...", Eren soothed her. He rubbed her shoulder reassuringly.
By the following day, Mikasa was going to visit her mother again.
"Her condition still hasn't changed, right?", asked Rubi, as she and Eren helped Mikasa into her wheelchair.
"No, it hasn't...guys, wait", Mikasa said then. Eren and Rubi blinked. "What is it, honey?", asked Rubi. Mikasa gripped onto the dresser then.
"Baby, don't...your legs aren't ready yet...", said Eren fearfully, seeing she was trying to walk.
"Eren, I can't take this...", Mikasa admitted. She hated being so useless and helpless.
She took a few steps, as she leaned onto the dresser. Rubi and Eren exchanged worried looks, and hovered over her, in case she fell.
"Easy...take it slow, love", Eren helped her. "I can't take it anymore Eren. I hate being this useless...", Mikasa said.
"You're not useless, beautiful", Eren soothed her.
Mikasa took a few more steps. "It...it doesn't hurt too bad", she admitted. It was true. The pain wasn't as bad.
It was still there, but it was just bearable to walk. "Are you sure, Mika?", asked Eren worriedly. Mikasa nodded.
"Yeah...I'm okay...", replied Mikasa. "You should at least use crutches, Mikasa. Grisha said you shouldn't start walking for another month...", Rubi said, worriedly.
"I know...but to be honest, its my ribs that hurt more...I'm okay", Mikasa assured them, she had to walk slow, but she was able to walk.
"If you're sure, baby. But lean onto me, okay? If it gets to be too much, tell me", Eren said. A part of him was worried, but another part was relieved and glad.
Mikasa hated being so helpless, it wasn't her thing. So the fact she was able to walk again, was great for her.
After getting down the stairs, Carla saw them. She gasped.
"Mikasa! Sweetie, what are you doing?! You can't be walking yet!", she cried, fussing.
"I'm okay, Carla. It hurts, but its bearable. I can't stand this anymore...my legs feel so stiff..", Mikasa explained softly.
"Its best she does try walking, mom. Its okay, I got her. If it bugs her too much, I'll make her use her wheelchair again", assured Eren, as Mikasa held his hand.
Carla looked worried still. "Are you sure it doesn't hurt too much, honey?", she asked.
"Yes...my ribs are worse, really", assured Mikasa. "Don't worry Mrs. Jaeger, we'll make sure she's okay", added Rubi.
When they arrived at the hospital, Mikasa brought flowers for her mom. They met Armin there. "Hey guys...Mikasa! Are you okay to be walking?", asked Armin, worriedly.
"I'm fine", assured Mikasa, determined to walk and keep walking. She didn't want to be back in the wheelchair again.
She rested her hand on her swollen belly softly, as they entered the hospital.
They entered Akane's room, to see Herrick was there. Akane remained in her coma, her hair had grown out longer.
Herrick blinked, seeing Mikasa was standing. "Mikasa! Sweetie, are your legs feeling better?", he asked hopefully, hurrying over to her.
"Yeah dad, I can't take being in a wheelchair anymore", replied Mikasa. "Are you sure?", asked Herrick, worried.
Mikasa nodded. "Yeah, besides, its good for me to be moving around", Mikasa said, as she gently rubbed her swollen belly.
Herrick starred at his daughter then. "Whoa...", he mused. Mikasa blinked. "What is it?", asked Eren.
"You...look so much like your mother, Mikasa. When she was expecting you...", Herrick explained.
Mikasa smiled softly, understanding how her father was feeling. But at the same time, she remembered something she wanted to ask him.
"Dad...how far along was mom...when I started kicking?", she asked, curiously. "Oh...well, you started kicking your little feet real early. At only 4 months. You were always strong, princess", Herrick replied.
"I see...", Mikasa looked down worriedly. "Hey its okay baby, she'll move soon", Eren soothed her. "The baby hasn't moved yet..?", asked Herrick, concerned.
"No..but Grisha said everything's fine. But...I'm worried", Mikasa explained, anxiously.
"Grisha's a great doctor, sweetie. Don't worry, some babies move a bit late sometimes", Herrick assured her.
Mikasa walked over to her mom's bedside then, worried. Eren helped her. Mikasa sat at the bedside, and gently held her mom's limp hand.
Rubi set the flowers on the nightstand. "Her hair's gotten so long...", Mikasa mused sadly, as she stroked her mother's hair.
"It has...", Herrick agreed. Mikasa looked down sadly. "Dad...is there any chance she'll wake before the baby comes..?", she asked then, her hand on her belly.
"Its hard to say, princess. No one really knows when someone in a coma will wake up. Sometimes they wake after only weeks or months, some don't wake for years...some a decade...and some...never", Herrick replied, grimly.
Mikasa looked down, fearfully. Eren sat beside her. "Mikasa...no matter when your mom wakes up, I'll be here for you. Me, Rubi, Armin, your dad, my parents...you're not alone, beautiful", he assured her.
He gently took her hand.
"I know Eren...", Mikasa said softly.
It was extremely painful. After all Mikasa was through...and she comes home to this. She hasn't even truly reunited with her mother yet.
I knew Mikasa craved her mother's affections, it was only natural. It killed me. All I could do was give her hope and soothe her.
I just wanted her mom to open her eyes, for Mikasa's sake.
And yet...despite the fact Mikasa has been visiting every day, Akane remained asleep.
By night, to help bring Mikasa's spirits up, Carla and Rubi went over plans for the baby shower, and the gift list.
"So...are we sure its going to be a girl?", asked Rubi. "Yes, Grisha confirmed it a week ago", replied Mikasa. The girls sat in the living room, Mikasa on the couch.
"So, we want the theme color to be pink", smiled Carla, excited. Mikasa was like her daughter, and one day soon, her daughter in law.
"Now, there's all kinds of shades", Rubi showed Mikasa. "I like the normal pink", Mikasa admitted, liking the color.
"Okay, regular pink it is. So, let's discuss the gift list", said Rubi. "Well, we need a bassinet, a changing table, a highchair, a carseat, a baby swing...", Mikasa went over the list.
"And we also need to figure the guest list", said Carla. "Well, obviously there will be us three, Eren, Armin, Grisha, dad...and maybe mom...", Mikasa said.
"Is Jean a good idea to invite...?", asked Rubi. "Yeah, only if he wants to come. You can also put down Krista, Ymir, Connie, Marco, Sasha...", Mikasa said.
"Sasha? She'll eat all the food!", chuckled Rubi. Mikasa smiled, and even chuckled softly.
"We'll order extra food", she said.
"Rubi, your parents are invited too of course. And Armin's grandfather", Mikasa added. Rubi smiled softly.
"Okay, let's discuss the food next...", said Carla.
"I want lots of sweets", Mikasa admitted, blushing a bit. "I bet, mommy. So...what kinds?", asked Rubi.
"Hmmm, cupcakes, brownies, ice cream, choco cornets, cookies...", Mikasa said. "We also need to make a cake too!", added Carla, excited.
By later that night, Eren and Mikasa rested in bed, cuddled. "You looked real happy", Eren said softly, as he cuddled her close. As close as her belly would allow.
"I'm still not completely myself...but everything we talk about the baby, I feel so excited...", admitted Mikasa, as she smiled, placing her hand on her belly.
"I think having a baby is helping you, emotionally", Eren said. "That...and you", said Mikasa, looking at him. Eren smiled softly, and stroked her hair.
"I bet our baby will look just like her mommy", Eren mused, as he rubbed Mikasa's swollen belly gently.
"Maybe she'll be stubborn, like her daddy", Mikasa wondered. Eren grinned. "We'll spoil her like crazy", Eren added.
"But not too spoiled, we don't want her to become a spoiled brat", Mikasa pointed out. "True...I bet she'll be respectful like her mommy", Eren said.
"You think she'll be a tomboy...or more of a lady?", wondered Mikasa. "It's hard to say", replied Eren.
The two soon drifted to sleep in each other's arms around 11 PM.
Mikasa's sleep was almost instantly filled with vivid images again. Once again...she experienced another nightmare, of being back in the basement.
The dreams became more vivid and more real each time. Like she constantly had to escape that hell hole again and again.
In her dream, Mikasa pulled weakly at the chains embedded in her wrists. She cried out, feeling pain pulse through her wrists, ribs and legs.
The dream...this time, was so vivid, she didn't realize it was a dream.
She felt panic rise in her chest, as her heart sunk. "E-EREN!", she screamed fearfully, pulling at the chains even harder.
"N-No...I was...out...!", she cried, terrified. Suddenly, as if he were a ghost, her kidnapper appeared in front of her, out of thin air.
"How many times must I tell you? Its all an illusion. Every time you black out here, your mind escapes to an illusion...", he sneered.
"N-No...its not true! It's NOT! Eren rescued me...!", Mikasa cried, fearfully.
"Eren's dead...", the man suddenly growled. Mikasa's eyes grew wide in horror, as she gasped. "N-No...", she stammered.
"And your baby is NEXT!", suddenly the man slashed Mikasa's swollen stomach with a knife. Mikasa cried out in pain and fear, to see blood spilling from her stomach.
She turned white, as her eyes filled with horror, seeing more blood spill out of her stomach, and then her dead baby.
"MIKASA! MIKASA, WAKE UP!", Eren was shaking Mikasa like crazy, it was the first time he had such a hard time waking her from one of her nightmares.
Mikasa's eyes suddenly shot open. She gasped, and bolted right up, drenched in sweat. "Mikasa..! It's okay...!", Eren assured, worriedly.
Mikasa panted, looking around at her surroundings. She was back in Eren's bedroom, safe.
She then gasped, and placed her hand on her belly. Eren's heart sunk, having a good idea what the nightmare was about.
Mikasa kept her hands on her swollen belly, her heart pounding in her chest. "E-Eren...", she cried, trembling.
"I'm right here, Mikasa. You and the baby are safe", Eren soothed her. Mikasa burst into tears then, as Eren hugged her close.
"E-Eren...! Please tell me you're real!", she pleaded. "W-What...? Baby, of course I'm real...", Eren assured her.
What on earth was she dreaming about, he wondered. "You are...? This isn't an illusion is it...?", asked Mikasa.
"Mikasa, it's okay! I'm real, this is real. God...what on earth goes on in your dreams...?", asked Eren, worriedly.
He hugged her closer, and kissed the top of her head. Her hair smelled like sweet lavender.
Mikasa sniffled, as she slowly calmed down. "Eren...", she cried, relieved. "Shhhhh, it's okay, love. You're safe. Both you and the baby are safe...", Eren assured her.
As Mikasa gripped onto him, she suddenly felt something. Mikasa blinked, sitting up out of Eren's arms. She felt something...nudge against her belly from the inside.
"Mikasa...? Sweetie, what's wrong?", asked Eren, worriedly. Mikasa was quiet at first, as she placed both hands on her stomach.
She then felt another nudge, this time, it was much stronger. It was a kick.
Mikasa gasped, as tears of relief filled her eyes. "Mikasa..?! What is it?!", demanded Eren, panicked now.
"Eren...the baby's kicking!", cried Mikasa, relieved, her face lit up. Eren relaxed, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Really...?", he asked, smiling. "Y-Yeah...she's so strong...", Mikasa gently took Eren's hand, and guided it.
"Right...here. Feel?", asked Mikasa, as she guided his hand. Eren felt a strong kick against his hand.
"Whoa...I do...Mikasa, this is great. I told you she was okay", Eren smiled.
"You were right...I'm so glad", cried Mikasa happily, as she gently rubbed her belly.
The baby kicking...it made Mikasa forget the horrible nightmare she had.
It also made her realize, the real illusion was her nightmares. Because this feeling, of her baby kicking, was so real.
"Eren...I'm so glad...", she cried. Eren smiled, he gently held Mikasa close, and then surprised her a little as he kissed her belly.
Mikasa blushed, but then smiled. "Eren...", she said. "I'm more than glad...that both of you are safe", he said, as he cuddled her close. Mikasa smiled, and for the first time, she had a deep, dreamless sleep.