Ngh I AM SO SORRY for keeping you waiting. I've been ill the last week so there was no chance that I would be writing on any stories.
Big hugs, kisses and cookies to Kittens Hellfire, EmmaAnna, AAAAAAH, Guest, ariadnne123, SpeechlessStripes, Peque Saltamontes, Shizuka, Black Tofu, JustACityKid, PinkMango, Arethahiwatari, Lightmaycry, ProdigyMeetsStrongestShorty and featherelly. You make my day.
Eren, Armin, Sasha, Connie, Jean and Christa had gathered in Mikasa's small cabin on their free day off. The group had decided to throw Mikasa something like a baby shower, even if she had fought against it, saying "there were more important issues to be taken care off". It wasn't until Eren made his puppy face accompanied by a whiny pleeeeaseee that she had agreed on a small gathering. The group was sitting in the small living room, chattering about everything from heaven to earth. It was nice to meet like this, Mikasa thought. For a second their life seemed normal.
"Are you ready for the presents Mikasa?" Christa asked, eyes shining with excitement.
Mikasa looked at her with a frown. Gifts? The group looked sheepishly on the ground; they may have forgotten to mention that detail to her, knowing that Mikasa hated being in the center of attention and receiving things for free. Mikasa, who was tired and had a horrible pain in her back, decided not get angry on the group, not now. She was lucky enough to have friends that were so caring.
"Oh, yeah, sure!" Mikasa lied, trying to look excited.
"Great!" Christa smiled, and pointed her small finger on Eren who was sitting in the other side of the room. "Eren! Since you're the uncle, you have to start."
"I know it's not much, but it's kinda hard to get baby stuff here" Eren mumbled with a blush as he gave Mikasa a brown stuffed animal.
Mikasa smiled and took the soft toy in her hands. It was a bear with a pink nose and big, blue eyes made of glass. It had a pink ribbon tied around its neck, and even Mikasa had to agree that it might have been the cutest thing that she had ever seen.
"Thank you Eren" she smiled. "I'm sure the kid will love it." Eren smiled back at her, and Mikasa found herself astonished of how exited Eren was for the babies inside Mikasa. His eyes were filled with happiness, and his gaze wandered to her stomach once in a while. The smile on his face revealed everything that he felt for the babies that weren't even in the world yet.
"My turn!" Sasha shrieked and jumped up, giving Mikasa a big hug. "Okay! So because I love you Mikasa, and because you are the best in the whole wide world, I am offering my services to you whenever you need them!" Sasha's eyes were glistering with excitement. "Just call my name, and I will babysit your babies, massage your feet, make you dinner-"
Jean laughed the idea of Sasha managing to make dinner to anyone but herself seemed impossible. Sasha gave him a quick glare before continuing.
"Aaand if you ever need some romantic ideas to surprise Heichou, I'm here for your help." she winked and Mikasa laughed. Jean groaned and threw a pillow at Sasha; the last thing he wanted to think about was Mikasa and Rivaille doing it.
"Sasha, you're gross!" Armin laughed before giving Mikasa a big book. It felt heavy and it smelled old, and Mikasa opened it with a frown. Her eyes widened as she saw what book it was. It was the book that they and so often looked in when they were young. Images of salty water and frozen fire played before her eyes, and she felt them tear up.
"Armin, oh my god, this is too much..." she mumbled as tears began to cover her sight. "Thank you." she whispered, voice hoarse. "Thank you so much."
Armin smiled and patted the old book with such care, as if it was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. Then again, knowing Armin, it probably was.
"I want your kids to see this." he mumbled, starry eyed and dreamy. "They could swim in the salty water, and okay with the icy sand."
"Get it over with already, it's my turn!" Jean groaned as he pushed Armin lighly aside. The usual blush was starting to creep over Jean's face as he gave her a soft, pale-green blanket. It was like nothing Mikasa had seen in the market place, and she realized that he must have made it himself. She decided not to point that out and save him from the embarrassment, and settled for a smile. He smiled back, knowing that she knew it was handmade.
The rest of the noon went well; Mikasa got some weird herbs from Christa and some even weirder oils from Connie. The yound soldiers had a blast, but the meeting was cut short as hanji came and reminded Mikasa of her doctors appointment. She had said goodbye to her friends, who were going to Sina for a meeting. That meant that she wasn't going to see them in a week or two. It saddened her, but she had Levi to spend time with, so it wasn't that bad.
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Mikasa sighed and leaned back on the bed. It was time for another check-up, and this time Hanji had managed to ask a doctor from Sina to come and help. The doctor was an old man, and he seemed to be brutally honest and harsh. Usually Mikasa appreciated those traits, but today she was in a bad mood and wanted only Hanji to examine her. Under the last weeks Mikasa had grown to like the weird and flimsy woman, so when the old doctor from Sina started to criticize Hanji, Mikasa felt her blood start to boil. Before she had time to defend Hanji, the doctor turned to her and gave her a good look.
"I suppose that you're the one I am called her to look at." He said and sat down on the chair next to Mikasa's bed. "I am Dr. Reindmund and that is what you are going to call me." His voice was monotone and cold, and Mikasa knew that he was the sort of man who had authority as soon as he entered a room. Mikasa didn't like him one bit, but decided not to say anything; she knew how much trouble Hanji had gone through to make him come here, outside of the pleasurable life inside Wall Sina.
"My oh my, you certainly are big." a mutter was heard from his beard as he started to feel Mikasa's stomach from different angles. It didn't exactly feel painful, but it certainly wasn't comfortable. A chill went down her spine as Reindmund pressed down the cold metal of the stethoscope on her stomach. He continued to mumble for himself as he wrote down notes with his free hand. Mikasa tried to see what he was writing, but his writing was worse than Eren's, so she didn't understand a word.
"I don't know if I should congratulate you or console you" Dr. Reindmund said as he put down his stethoscope. Mikasa looked at him questioningly. "You're having twins, miss Ackerman." he clarified with something that was supposed to resemble a smile.
Mikasa's world started spinning. She felt a hard pain in her chest, and she needed to throw up. Too bad that she did. She puked all over Dr. Reindmunds lap. The old man didn't back away like a certain captain would have, he settled for a silent groan followed by a sigh and a glare. Mikasa felt her cheeks turning red, but before she had any time to apologize, her world turned black as she passed out.
