Sorry for the lateness, school had been awful. Here's a long chapter to make up for that! It also seems that most people wanted a longer story that was ALSO more EreMika focused, and if the people ask, I shall deliver. ^^

Please enjoy and sorry for any mistakes, I couldn't get a beta for this in time.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

It was a rare moment in the Yeager household. So rare, that even Karlee was surprised at it. Never in her five short years of living, had she ever seen something like this happen.

Mommy and Daddy had…agreed on something.

It had all started earlier that day at school. Her teacher, Mrs. Ral, announced that there would be no school the coming Friday. All the kids started cheering as she passed out a slip of paper to each one of them.

"Why?" a boy asked.

"Because this Friday," she handed the last piece of paper out, "Is Take Your Kid To Work Day!"

When Eren picked Karlee up from school later that day, she had told him the news and went on and on about how excited she was to see his office. She didn't notice the anxious look on his face until he flat out said, "I don't think that's a good idea…"

She had paused, eyes wide. It was unusual for her father to deny her of something.

"But why?" she asked, voice already shaking.

Eren kept his eyes on the road and sighed, "The people I work with are…special."

"I like special people!" Karlee cried.

"Not the good kind. I mean I love those guys but…Yeah, there's no way they're meeting you," he said resolutely.

Karlee began to whine and complain, and didn't even stop when she was offered ice cream. When they got home, she pouted, looked away from him when he unbuckled her booster seat, and briskly walked up to the front door.

When both walked inside she screamed, "MOOOOMMY!"

Immediately Mikasa came sprinting down the stairs, hair soapy and in a towel.

"What's wrong?!" she asked.

Eren rolled his eyes, "Ignore her, it's nothing. Anyway, what the hell do you think you're doing running around when you're seven months pregnant? Didn't we talk about this the first time around?!"

Mikasa disregarded him and turned towards her daughter, "Why did you yell like that?"

Karlee's eyes began to tear up, "Because this Friday is Bring Your Kid To Work Day and Daddy said that I can't go!"

Mikasa paused for a moment and then sighed in relief, "Good."

The five year old blinked in surprise. Whenever one of her parents, her mother most of the time, said no to her, she would always go to the other one to help convince them.

Mikasa began walking up the stairs, "It's okay Karlee. You don't want to meet the kind of people Daddy works with anyway."

Eren glared at her, "Watch it."

Mikasa was not the least bit intimidated, "And if I don't?"

He scowled at her before turning away and proclaimed, "Now that I think about it…Maybe I will bring her with me."

Immediately Mikasa flinched and looked alarmed, "That's not funny, Eren!"

"Who says I'm joking?" he countered.

He walked over to Karlee, lifted her up, and asked, "If I bring you, do you promise to behave?"

Karlee's eyes shined and she beamed, "Yes! I promise!"

"No!" Mikasa yelled, "You don't!"

Karlee didn't even look at her mother, "I'm so excited Daddy!"

She wrapped her arms around Eren's neck and didn't see the smug look her gave Mikasa. Or the murderous one Mikasa shot back at him.

"It's decided then!" Eren announced, "That is…if Mommy lets us."

Karlee gave her mother her best puppy eyes and cheered when she heard her grumble, "Fine…"

Mikasa rubbed her forehead, "But-"

Eren and Karlee looked over at her and gulped.

"-she stays away from Levi. At all times."

Eren nodded his head as Karlee asked, "Who's that?"

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

That Friday had soon come, and Karlee was thrilled. Mikasa had woken her up, got her ready, and repeatedly told her, "Stay with Daddy at all times. And don't talk to anyone weird…Or anyone at all. Especially if they're short and scary looking."

Soon Eren and his daughter were out the door, hand in hand. They had stopped for donuts, remembering to buy Mikasa some, and spent the entire ride talking about what they would do.

"I'll let you meet everyone," he told her.

Karlee nodded, "Yay! I can't wait to talk to all your work friends, Daddy!"

Eren gave her a look, "I said meet. Not talk to."

Karlee cocked her head to the side, "What's the difference?"

Eren turned his eyes back to the road and said, "I can't describe it, but trust me. There is."

When they pulled up to the office building, Karlee managed to unbuckle herself and sprinted out the door of the car. Eren went after her, yelling, "I thought you said you'd behave!", and to his horror, she ran into the building all alone.

Realizing that one of his many erratic coworkers could be at the door, Eren ran even faster and practically burst through it.

"KARLEE!" he shouted, "WHERE ARE YOU?!"

'Mikasa will kill me,' he thought.

"I'm over here Daddy!" she called.

Eren sighed in relief and turned toward her voice, before freezing at what he saw. Hanji, of all people, was holding his daughter in her arms. They both were speaking animatedly, but suddenly Hanji threw Karlee up over ten feet in the air.

Both Eren and Karlee screamed, but hers was from delight while his was from horror. Hanji easily caught Karlee and threw her up again, even higher.

Eren ran over, screaming, "No! Hanji! No! Stop!"

Hanji caught Karlee again and turned towards him, "Oh it's you Eren! What's wrong?"

Eren came stop and wiped his forehead, "What's wrong…", he paused to catch his breath, "…is that you're…", he lost his breath again, "…tossing my daughter in the air…like a damn ragdoll!"

Hanji gasped and looked at Karlee, "Is this your kid you're always talking about?! The one you won't let us meet? Woah! Now that I look at her, she looks just like you!"

Eren grimaced, "…Thanks."

"What's your name, cutie?" Hanji asked.

The five year old giggled, "It's Karlee."

"That's pretty! Who came up with it?"

Karlee shrugged her shoulders, "…I don't know."

"You don't?!" Hanji exclaimed.

Karlee frowned, "…No. Is that bad?"

Hanji shook her head, "Nah! Not at all! With a pretty face like yours, you can get away with not knowing things for the rest of your life!"

Karlee asked, "Huh?" just as her father cried, "Please don't say things like that to her Hanji!"

Suddenly a voice from behind called, "Hey Yeager! Your client's here! Get to work!"

Eren flinched and went over to get Karlee, but Hanji moved the girl out of his reach.

"You're meeting with a client this morning, Eren," she said, "I'll watch her while you do."

Eren shook his head and reached for Karlee again, "No it's fine. I'll manage."

Hanji shook her head back at him, "Not when your first client is a six foot tall former bodybuilder, who recently lost tens of thousands in his investment with our company."

Eren froze, eyes wide, "…Shit."

Hanji smiled at him, "He's not the kind of person you should keep waiting! Don't worry, I'll keep her with me until you're done!"

He sighed in defeat and hung his head, "Please keep her safe. You don't know what my wife will to do me if anything happens."

Hanji laughed and playfully, yet painfully, smacked him on the back, "You can trust me!"

'Can I?' Eren wondered.

He walked away after waving Karlee goodbye. Hanji walked toward the office, carrying Karlee on her shoulders, when someone called her name. She turned over and smiled at the familiar face.

"What's up, Erwin?"

"...Hanji. Why do you have a child with you?" he asked.

"Because it's Bring Your Kid to Work Day!"

Erwin went on, "You don't have kids."

Hanji glared at him, "You don't know that!"

Erwin was more than used to her theatrics, "Yes I do. You live with Levi and I."

Hanji laughed, "You caught me! This is Eren's kid!"

Erwin frowned, "Eren's? The one he won't let us meet?"

Hanji nodded and Erwin moved up for a closer look.

"Hmm," he said, "I see the resemblance."

"Adorable ain't she? I totally get to have her for the next two hours!" Hanji said.

Erwin shook his head, "No you don't. We both have meeting downtown this morning, remember?"

Hanji gasped and fell to her knees, careful to make sure Karlee didn't fall, before crying, "Nooooooooo! Just when I finally get to meet the kid too!"

Erwin pulled her up and said, "At any rate, you need to return her to him."

Hanji shook her head, "No can do. He's meeting with a pretty threatening customer right now and that's no environment for a little girl."

Erwin frowned at her again, "Then what do you suppose we do?"

Hanji sighed, "We'll have to leave her with him I guess."

"No," Erwin said, "Eren's wife hates him and will kill us if she finds out we left her daughter with him."

Hanji smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder, "That's where you're wrong, Erwin. We're not the ones who'll deal with the fearsome wrath that is Mikasa. The one who will-"

Erwin raised his eyebrows in realization.

"-is Eren."

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Karlee openly gazed at the short, angry looking man that was clicking away on his computer. When Hanji had dropped her off to him, he had complained about watching over 'some damn kid', but ended up relenting. After Hanji left the room, he turned to Karlee and told her, "Don't make a mess", before turning back to his work.

For the first few minutes, Karlee had watched him, unsure of how to deal with someone of his sorts. But even though his face looked scary, there was something about him that told her he was a nice guy, and she decided to talk to him.

"Hi!" she proclaimed loudly.

The man looked over at her, but didn't say anything. The two eyed each other for a few seconds, before he turned back to his computer.

The toddler wasn't the slightest bit deterred and repeated, "Hi!" even louder.

His eyebrows twitched and he turned towards her, "I heard you the first time."

She frowned, "Then why didn't you say anything?"

"…Do you need something?"

"Hmm…Tell me your name!"

"..Levi."

"Levi? That's cool! My name is-"

"I don't care."

Levi couldn't help but smirk slightly at the affronted gasp he heard from the toddler. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her cross her arms and scowl at the floor.

"…You're mean…" she muttered.

"You're not the first person to say that to me."

She looked to the side, a bit unsure of what to say, "Well you don't have to be a meanie!"

"And I don't have to deal with shitty brats like you. But I'm doing it anyway," he responded casually.

"A what like me?" she asked curiously.

Levi flinched and mentally scolded himself for cursing in front of a child, "Nothing. Forget what I said right now, kid."

Karlee grinned, "I will if you say sorry to me!"

A vein popped in his forehead and he turned towards her, "Do you always give your parents this much trouble? I've never met a child as ill-behaved as you."

Immediately the five year old gasped again, and her eyes began to tear up. Levi groaned at the idea of having to deal with a crying child, but his worries were soon dispelled when the toddler, in an amazing show of strength, leapt off her rolling chair and lifted it up in the air.

He was certain that it weighed more than her.

"Take that back!" she yelled, and though Levi was more shocked than frightened, he couldn't help but gape wordlessly at the sight.

Suddenly the door opened and Eren awkwardly shuffled into the room.

"B-boss…" he muttered nervously, prying the chair out of Karlee's hands, like it was an everyday occurrence.

"Is this your kid, Yeager?"

Eren flinched and stood up straight, "Y-yes sir!"

Side by side, Levi could see the obvious resemblance, and from the few memories he had of meeting Eren's wife, he wasn't surprised at how…eccentric their daughter was. It definitely explained the freakish strength.

"You need to teach her how to respect her elders," he said.

Eren sighed and grasped his daughter's hand, "We're working on it."

"Try and harder. Now get out, you're both giving me a headache."

Eren didn't need to be told twice, and he practically sprinted out of the office.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

On the drive home, Eren noticed how uncharacteristically quiet Karlee was being. There was no loud questions, pleading for ice cream, or screaming about why they needed to visit the park before going home. The entire ride she sat quietly in her booster seat with a look of strained concentration on her face.

"Is something wrong, kiddo?" Eren asked.

A few second passed, before she replied, "Am I ill-behaved?"

Eren blinked in surprised and wondered where the hell that came from. Realizing that it was probably something Levi said, he pondered over just how to reply to that. 'What would Mikasa say?' he thought.

"You're a good kid," he started, "but you need to listen to your mother more often."

"But Mommy has so many rules," she whined.

Eren snorted, "I understand how that feels. But she makes so many rules because she loves us and wants us to be alright. Okay?"

Karlee smiled, "Okay…but then how come you always fight with Mommy about the rules?"

Eren pretended not to hear that question and, and spent the entire ride home ignoring when the toddler kept repeating it.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Later that night at dinner, both her parents were surprised when Karlee randomly announced, "I want to go to bed right after I eat!"

Mikasa glanced at the clock and it read 8:30. Immediately her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because Mommy doesn't like chasing me every day before bed."

Mikasa was still apprehensive, "If you know I don't like chasing you, then why do you keep running around each night?"

The five year old puffed her chest out and declared, "Because it's fun."

Mikasa face-palmed and Eren choked on his food laughing.

"At least you promise to stop. Why the change though?" she asked her daughter.

"I met someone at Daddy's work today and he called me ill-behaved."

"Someone said that to you?" Mikasa asked, frowning. She saw Eren gulp nervously.

Karlee nodded, "Yeah. It was some mister that Daddy called boss."

Mikasa scowled, "Was he short and mean looking?"

Karlee gasped, "Yes! How did you know?!"

"I thought I told you not to talk to him," Mikasa sighed, "Never mind it. Of course he'd berate a child. Don't talk to him anymore Karlee. I don't trust that man."

"Oi Mikasa! Don't badmouth my boss in front of her!" Eren growled.

Mikasa barely even glanced at him, "Your boss," she paused for dramatic effect, "is an irksome shorty who's going to get punched one day."

Eren glared at her from across the table and Mikasa did not back down. Suddenly Karlee gasped and said, "Oh! He's the man you told me not to talk to, Mommy!"

Mikasa looked wearily at her.

Karlee gave her mother a confused look, "Why don't you like him? I do!"

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"Shh…It's okay Karlee, don't cry," Armin whispered, stroking her hair.

The five year old nodded, sniffing her nose, as she buried her face into her uncle's shoulder. All around them they both could hear the footsteps and words of various doctors and nurses. Even though he told her not to worry, Karlee could feel the nervous tension within his body.

The day had been an strange one, starting when Armin, of all people, picked her up for school. Karlee had been excited at his unexpected appearance, but during the car ride, she noticed them taking an unfamiliar direction.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

Armin bit his lip, wondering if he should day anything, but relented, "We're going to go see your mother in the hospital…"

"Mommy?" she gasped, "Why?! Is the baby coming?!"

Armin didn't say anything, but Karlee noticed the grim look on his face. She wondered why he looked upset. Weren't people supposed to be happy about having babies? When they were pulling up to the hospital, it hit her.

"Wait!" she cried, "Yesterday Daddy said Mommy was gonna have the baby in 2 months!"

Armin's eyes widened and he looked away, "…That was the plan."

"The plan?!" Karlee cried, "If that's the plan then why is she having it now?!"

Armin stayed silent as he picked her up. The child kept asking him why, near to the point of tears, but he couldn't bring himself to answer. He walked up, signed in with the receptionist, and walked to the waiting room.

By then Karlee knew he wasn't going to answer any of her questions, and solemnly sat on his lap as time went by. With each passing minute, she felt him grow more and more tense.

She hadn't seen her parents at all and had no idea if they were okay. She worried for her mother, her father, her little brother or sister. Loneliness grew inside her and she wondered if she would ever see any of them.

Just when she got the courage to ask her questions again, a familiar person caught her eye.

"Daddy…" she whispered. Immediately, she jumped of Armin's lap and ran to her father, before stopping half way.

Never before had she seen her dad like this. His eyes were wide and panicked, shoulders hunched, and cheeks wet. He looked so utterly distraught that it made Karlee freeze in place, unsure how to process the sight. She heard Armin yell, "Eren!" and watched him run towards her father.

Armin grabbed Eren's shoulders and shook him, "Is Mikasa okay?!"

Eren jumped at Armin's touch, and tried to answer. But his throat was choked tight and all he could do was shrug.

"Is she still in surgery?" Armin asked.

Eren bit his lip and nodded his head. Karlee saw his fists shaking.

"Calm down, Eren," Armin said, "Now's not the time to get worked.

Eren's voice was hoarse and shaken, "I-I know…"

Armin sat him down, "Do you know what they're doing?"

"Emergency C-Section I think…" Eren whispered.

"C-Section? The fall was that bad?"

Eren nodded his head and started shaking all over. Armin slowly began rubbing his back.

"Don't worry. She'll be fine. It's going to take something a lot worse than a fall to get Mikasa," he assured.

Eren buried his face in his hands, "But the baby…"

"Will be fine, Eren," Armin said, "It'll probably need some weeks in the NICU, but it'll survive and grow up healthy. I promise you. Have faith."

Eren took a deep, shuddering breath, "Yeah…"

Armin looked over to Karlee, who was standing to the side, her face frightened. He smiled warmly at her and motioned for her to come over.

"Don't forget about a certain someone, Eren," he said.

Eren looked up and gasped when he saw his daughter. The very next moment, he flew out of his chair and wrapped her up in a tight hug.

"Karlee..." he murmured, squeezing her small body.

The five year old felt tears pooling in her eyes, "Yeah daddy?"

"How did you get here?"

Her voice was tight and words stammered, "U-Uncle Armin b-brought me."

Eren buried he face her hair and breathed in. The familiar scent relaxed his building stress, and at that moment, he was painfully and honestly reminded of just how much he loved his daughter. Loved his wife.

Loved his soon to be born child.

Karlee shifted under his firm hold and asked, "What happened to Mommy?"

"She fell down the stairs," he answered gravely.

Karlee gasped, "The stairs?! When?!"

"When I was on my way to work, after dropping you off, she called me and told me."

Karlee looked into her father's eyes, "And you went and got her right?"

Eren chuckled and kissed her forehead, "Of course I did, sweetie."

He lifted her in his arms, stood up, and turned towards Armin, "Thank for remembering and getting her for me. Sorry I'm so incompetent."

Armin shook his head, "You're not. Anyone in the situation would've been preoccupied with worry."

"Good thing you're on her school emergency contact list," Eren said smiling faintly, "But thanks really. For everything."

Armin shook his head and walked over, "It's nothing."

He pulled Karlee out of Eren arms and looked him in the eye, "I'll watch Karlee. Right now you need to go be with Mikasa okay?"

Eren nodded resolutely and kissed Karlee's head again before jogging off. The five year old watched her father's retreating back and waved a silent goodbye at it. He was gone just as quickly as he had come.

This time though, she noticed a certain spring in his steps.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Over three hours later, Karlee woke up from her nap. She blearily opened her eyes, and saw Armin softly smiling down at her. Unconsciously, she smiled back, reached out and stroked his cheek.

"Hi Uncle Armin…" she mumbled sleepily, "What are you doing in my room?"

Armin laughed, "That must have been one deep sleep, if it made you forget we're in the hospital."

The day's events all suddenly came to Karlee, crashing like rough waves on a calm ocean shore. Instantly her smile dropped, and the dread she had been feeling returned. Armin saw her face drop and patted her head.

"Hey now, no need to be sad. Look around!" he said.

"Huh?" Karlee asked, as she turned her head. They weren't in the waiting room anymore and instead were in a tiny room with TV and a bed. And in that bed was…

"Mommy!" she cried, jerking at the sight.

Mikasa turned and smiled tiredly at her daughter, giving a small wave. Armin walked the child over to the bed and gently placed her beside her mother.

"Try not to touch Mommy too much," he said, "She's still sensitive after her surgery."

Karlee nodded and studied Mikasa's face. Even with weary grey eyes, dry lips, mussed up hair and dark circles, she had never remembered her mother looking more beautiful. Anxiously, she touched her mom's forehead and asked, "Does it hurt?"

Mikasa weakly shook her head, "Don't worry, sweetheart. You're not hurting me."

Karlee shook her head, "No. I mean does it hurt."

Mikasa realized what she meant and smiled softly, "A little bit. But Mommy will be fine soon…Hey now…Don't start crying."

The child sniffed and murmured, "I can't help it, Mommy. I thought you were," her voice broke, "…going to go away…"

Mikasa's eyes watered and she laid her daughter's head on her chest, "Don't worry. I know how it feels for a mommy to suddenly disappear, and I would never put you through that."

All the tears Karlee had fought to keep back, for the sake of her dad and uncle, resurfaced and she soon began to weep.

Several minutes later, she calmed down, and was stroking her mother's hair when she heard a rolling sound. A man in a white coat came in the room, wheeling in what she thought looked like a big clear basket. Eren was right behind, and walked in. He took the incubator from the doctor and wheeled it over to where Mikasa and Karlee were laying. He beamed at the way their eyes widened at the tiny, pink baby inside it, and proudly whispered:

"Say hello to your little brother."