Ratings: T
Warnings: Medical

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in this story: living (or passed) human beings or fictional characters. These events never happened, according to history or as the original author intended them. This is a work of fiction and is not intended to offend. For entertainment purposes only. Thanks.

Author's Notes: Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all my readers! Thank you for all of those that favourited/liked/shared/saved/followed this story or left a review; I am eternally grateful to my readers. And as always when it comes to Christmas, a very happy birthday to Levi as well!

Chapter 6: DECEMBER 25th

Levi woke to the sound of the coffee pot brewing. He chuckled softly to himself, then sat up. Beside him, Erwin was still sound asleep. Levi decided to poke his head out of the bedroom and found that it was Furlan who was awake and brewing the coffee.

"Could you put a kettle on?" He greeted him.

Furlan grinned. "Of course," He replied. "I just finished using the bathroom, so I figured I'd get started on breakfast."

Levi nodded. "I'll wake Erwin and get him ready with me. We can wake Bella last. She should get all the rest she can."

Furlan nodded, agreeing with Levi.

It was a slow morning to start Christmas. Unlike the busy holiday rush that usually was accompanied by tearing wrapping paper and passionate kisses, this Christmas started with a warm clean up and a hearty breakfast. None of them seemed to be rushing or overcompensating for anything, and they all enjoyed to take their time to eat, drink, and simply be merry with their close friends. Levi and Erwin video called Mike to wish him and his family a merry Christmas and waved to his sons, Eren and Jean, who they had spent Christmas with last year. After, they called Hanji to wish her a merry Christmas as well.

As they all settled in to enjoy the Christmas tree and each other's company over a pot of tea, Isabella pointed at the small pile of presents that sat under the tree.

"I see one down there with Levi's name on it," she teased him.

Levi blushed, but he began to search through the boxes for the one she wanted him to find. "This red one here, from you?" He asked.

She nodded eagerly. "Go on, tear into it!" She encouraged him.

"Bella, you didn't have to." Levi replied, but he opened it all the same, tearing the paper off to appease his younger sister's eagerness. He began to laugh as he pulled out a knitted, midnight blue set of winter gear: mittens, a scarf, and a beanie, as well as his favourite pack of black tea.

"Thank you, Bella," he laughed. "This was too kind of you."

"I figured that in a town named after the man himself, you'd need those." She teased.

"Well, in a town named after the man himself, you'd find some pretty festive things." Levi replied, handing her a gift box of her own to open. Isabella's eyes lit up and she smiled as she opened the box. Inside was a handcrafted tea set from the town of Santa Claus with several festive teas.

"Oh, Levi!" She gasped, "and Erwin! It's hilarious!" She exclaimed, finding the tea set amusing.

"I managed to get you something too," Furlan handed Levi a small box. "I know you aren't a journalist anymore, but I thought you'd like it."

Levi chuckled softly and opened the box without another word. Inside was a leather-bound journal and a set of fountain pens.

"I just thought that you would always be a writer." Furlan murmured, showing his sentimental side.

Levi's eyes sparkled with happiness as he looked up to his meet his friend's gaze. "Thank you," he replied, "I appreciate it, Furlan."

"And we got something for you too," Erwin informed Furlan, motioning to the only box under the tree that had Furlan's name on it.

Levi took the box and passed it to Furlan. "We know you only get to open one gift, but we all pooled together for this," he informed him.

Furlan bit his lower lip. He wanted to shake the box but he resisted. "Alright," He replied, then opened it up. He stared into the box for a moment, completely taken by shock.

"Do you like it?" Isabella asked, breaking the silence.

"I love it!" Furlan replied, pulling the sleek new tablet out of its box. His mouth opened and closed several times, before he gave up trying to talk and just smiled.

"We figured that you could use it for your articles," Levi explained, "And you can video call us on it when we're back home in Indiana."

Furlan chuckled softly, finding it amusing that Levi would have gotten a gift to stay in touch. "I will, I promise." He replied, "I have no excuse not to now." He teased.

The group of friends laughed and Levi took the opportunity to pull a gift that was hidden behind the tree out. It was wrapped in a classic red stocking with white trim, but Levi had added the name 'Erwin' to it with red glitter.

"I know that you like handmade things," he began, handing Erwin the stocking. "And I didn't have that much time to make anything for you this year, with everything else going on."

"Levi," Erwin breathed, blushing softly. "You really didn't have to."

"It's Christmas," Levi replied, "I wanted to. So," he motioned for Erwin to pull out the contents of the stocking.

In the year that he had spent with Erwin, Levi couldn't find just one memory to single out, so he had decided to single out all of them. He had photos on his phone printed out of all of their selfies and photos taken together throughout the year and put them together in a small scrapbook. He left the last page blank, so that Erwin could include one more memory into the book. And for just a touch of home, Levi had added a small bag of homebaked cookies.

"I used Mike's family's recipe." Levi confessed. "Because I know you never went a Christmas without them."

Erwin opened his arms and motioned for Levi to close the distance between them. He carefully pulled Levi into his arms, cuddling him close. He kissed his neck and cheeks, then captured his lips in a passionate kiss.

"Thank you, Levi." He whispered, then kissed him again. "Marry me."

Levi pulled away from Erwin, his eyes wide and his mouth dropped open in surprise. "W-what?" he replied.

"Marry me, Levi." Erwin repeated, as if this was the most natural thing he could say. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a slim, silver ring with a diamond inlaid in its surface.

Isabella squeaked and pat Furlan's knee, who threw an arm around her shoulders and smiled.

Levi nodded, then held his left hand out to Erwin. "Yes, Erwin! Yes!"

Erwin slipped the ring into place on his third finger, grinning at Levi. He admired the ring - his ring - on Levi's third finger, then kissed the top of his left hand. "I love you," he stated proudly, hugging Levi close to himself.

"I love you too, Erwin," Levi replied, wrapping his arms around his neck. He leaned in and kissed Erwin, pressing their lips together in another passionate kiss.

Isabella turned to face Furlan, smiling in amusement. "Aren't they adorable?" She asked him, gushing over her brother's romance.

"They are," Furlan agreed, then leaned in to close the distance between himself and Isabella. "And you are too," he whispered, before pressing his lips to her's.

Isabella made a soft sound of surprise, then she moaned into the kiss before pulling away. "Took you long enough," she teased, before pressing her lips back to Furlan's before he had time to say another word.

Levi pulled out of the kiss just in time to see Furlan and Isabella kiss. He turned back to face Erwin and caressed his cheek with his left hand, letting his fiancé feel the ring on his finger. "That's the one thing we forgot to bring from Indiana, and the one thing I want at our wedding."

"What's that?" Erwin asked, leaning in to kiss Levi once more.

"Mistletoe." Levi replied.

- The End -