A/N: I almost didn't get this out in time!

When Armin entered the cafeteria the next morning, he was shocked to see so little people in there. Where was everyone? Was he late? But … not even the kitchen staff were here …

"Yo, Armin," Eren came in, raising a hand as a greeting.

"Quiet morning, isn't it?" Mikasa remarked.

Armin was confused. "Where is everyone?"

"It's Christmas break," a hoarse voice answered. Armin looked back to see Jean clear his throat and stretch. Following behind him was Historia who shyly waved.

"Not going home to Mummy?" Eren lightly teased.

Right. Armin internally slapped himself. Christmas break was on the 21-25th December. How could he have forgotten?

Jean laughed, watching realisation dawn on Armin's face. "You totally forgot."

"Hey, don't ignore me!" Eren said a little crankily.

The five made their way to the kitchens to make themselves breakfast. As they entered, they were shocked to see that Erwin was in there frying eggs over a stove.

"Sir!" The five of them saluted.

Erwin raised an eyebrow at them before turning back to his eggs. He flipped them over expertly on the frying pan. "It's Christmas break, no need to be so tense."

Then he emptied out the fried eggs onto a plate. Turning towards them, he lifted up the plate. "Want some?"

Eating with Commander Erwin, Armin decided, was the most awkward thing he's ever done in his life. Not to mention, the very eggs they were eating now were made by their superior. That fact made them a little bit harder to swallow.

Not that they weren't good of course. They actually tasted really delicious.

Still …

"How is it?" Erwin said, breaking the uncomfortable silence that he was seemingly oblivious to.

Everyone nodded enthusiastically and they praised the food with much vigour and passion.

Erwin laughed a little, spearing some fried eggs with a fork. "You guys don't have to be so stiff around me during the break. Training's off anyway so we're eating at this table as friends."

Then, footsteps sounded behind them, alerting everyone to the presence of more people. Pulling out the bench, Hange slid in next to Erwin and Levi took his other side.

The soldiers stood up to salute them but Hange snorted, waving at them to sit down.

"Oi, Erwin. You started breakfast without us," Levi said, barely stifling a yawn.

"It's not my fault you all went Titan hunting first thing in the morning," Erwin shrugged.

Hange stretched. "Ah! You should have been there. You would have enjoyed it. The cold was slowing down the Titans and it was so satisfying to -"

"Eggs?" Erwin offered her a plate.

The rest of the soldiers looked at each other nervously. Things just got even more awkward. Especially since no one was talking but Erwin, Levi and Hange. Armin, wedged between Eren and Jean could feel their discomfort too. He nibbled on his egg, trying to look busy.

"Oh!" Erwin glanced up suddenly. He nodded towards Armin. "Good work on the charity performance. It also seems like the Christmas party you proposed is going -"

"Alright, that's enough." Levi rolled his eyes. "You'll spoil them brats."

Hange mimicked Levi's tone of voice dramatically. "Don't be such a wet blanket! Give credit where credit is due!"

Armin tensed up. What should he say? Should he even say anything? Stressed about coming up with a response, he stuttered, "I, I - thank you … b, but -"

Jean put a hand on his back, as did Eren, simultaneously. Armin straightened up a little more. "T-thank you, sir!" Armin said loudly, and then he lowered his head. "I'll work harder!"

Hange laughed, clutching at her stomach. "Oh my! You're adorable. Isn't Arlert just adorable?" She looked over to Erwin to Levi and then at Jean.

Jean turned back to his eggs. It must have been a mistake.

"Anyway!" Hange raised a hand for silence though no one was talking but her. "As a reward for your efforts, we'll tell you about the Christmas ghost of this castle!"

Levi made a sound of disapproval as Hange elbowed Erwin.

"Oh right!" Erwin set down his fork after cleaning his plate. "The ghost of Betty Berkins."

Everyone exchanged confused glances. Ghost?

"Legend says," Erwin started, "Betty Berkins was a girl who was thrown out of home, her parents having too many mouths to feed. Her family told her not to come back until she's found happiness and can bring that home. Little Betty grew up and became a soldier. Upon arriving at this castle, she read a book in the library about Christmas. Betty Berkins believed the Christmas spirit would bring happiness to her family.

However, the next day, the soldiers went on a mission which Betty died on. And till today, she's haunting the four walls of this very castle, searching for the Christmas spirit that would bring happiness to her family."

There was silence when Erwin finished. Then, Levi yawned loudly, taking up his plate as he stood. "Well, my ears have had enough of that nonsense." He walked off to the kitchen without a backward glance.

"I'll get going too," Erwin excused himself.

"Have fun today, kids!" Hange too, went off with her plate.

Armin was processing everything. The story of Betty Berkins … that's probably just a rumour, superstition even. It didn't make complete sense and there were so many loopholes in the story. He looked around to see his friends' reactions.

Eren was looking pale. "I never knew …"

Mikasa touched his shoulder. "It's okay. If she comes for you, I'll protect you."

"Well, we've plenty of Christmas spirit here to keep her happy!" Historia also attempted to comfort Eren.

Armin sighed, none of them were really helping.

"Come on," Jean sniggered. "Eren, you don't actually believe that ridiculous story right?"

"I can choose to believe in whatever I want," Eren snarled.

Jean smirked. "Like kids' tales? No wonder you still act like a -"

Eren shook a fist at Jean. "I dare you to finish that sentence!"

"Alright, STOP!" Armin said, standing up swiftly. "This is getting out of hand. Leave each other and each other's opinions alone." Then, he too, took his empty plate to the kitchen.

Armin shook his head as he dried the plate. Were they born hot-headed or was it just that Eren and Jean could never get along? He put the plate back in the kitchen cupboards and headed upstairs to the library. This morning had certainly been an awkward and disconcerting one. To feel normal again, Armin decided to do a little bit of reading.

Well, at the very least, the Christmas decorations look as beautiful as ever. Armin smiled thinking about yesterday's efforts. Everyone had been so enthusiastic and brilliant!

Then, his mind drifted to the time when they were sawing the tree and bringing it back in. That was fun too. Armin felt that it was especially heartwarming to see the soldiers, and even their superiors come in to hang more decorations on the tree. It was representative of the Survey Corps and their Christmas spirit.

Inevitably, Armin also recalled how Jean had revealed to him he had found the star and after dropping it in his hands, carried him up so that he could put it on the tree. There was a rush of exhilaration coursing through his body. He remembered the embarrassment afterwards too and now, Armin could feel himself turning red once again. Was he very heavy? Armin sat down on a couch and drew his knees up to his chest. Was he embarrassed because he was just sensitive to touch?

Recently, however, he's been feeling this way more often. More embarrassed, shy, and … thrilled. It was always when Jean was close by. Armin bit his lip. Why?

Deciding not to dwell on it further, he took up a book, crossed his legs and forced himself to start reading. Perhaps, books will calm him down a little and bring back a sense of normalcy in his life right now …

Ice-skating? Armin looked up from his book. He was so engrossed in it, he didn't even realise what they were fully saying until they told him to look up at the ice-skates they were holding.

Standing in front of him were Eren, Mikasa, Historia and Jean, holding up a pair of ice-skates each. Save for Eren who was holding up two pairs, presumably one for him.

"Wh - why …?" Armin was a little confused and … nervous.

"Because, we were bored! Let's do something fun!" Eren held out a pair of skates to Armin. "Besides the lake near the forest has completely frozen over."

Armin clutched at his book. "Umm …"

"It'd be a waste of these skates too. They were all stored away in a closet on the third floor." Eren added.

Historia smiled gently. "There's not much sunlight left too, we should go before it turns dark."

Jean felt uncomfortable. He questioned why he was even standing here with Eren, Mikasa and Historia convincing Armin to skate with them. It's not like he were close to the Golden Trio or Historia in the first place …

Mikasa suddenly nudged Jean. "Go on, help us convince him."

Jean tried to avoid eye contact with Armin. "Won't you … come with us?"

Eren rolled his eyes and then grabbed Armin's hand who squeaked as he dropped the book. Pulling him up from the couch, he started to drag him out of the door.

"Come on! It's time you got over your fear!"

Fear? Now Jean was confused and looked at Historia who was similarly perplexed. What fear?

"Armin never learned to ice-skate because he had a fear of going on the ice," explained Mikasa as the three caught up with Eren and Armin at the frozen lake, near the edge of the forest where they usually trained in.

Armin shakily put on the ice-skates. It fit him okay though not perfectly.

Taking Eren's hand, he stood unsteadily. A knot was forming in his stomach. He already felt sick and lightheaded.

"Eren …" Armin grabbed his arm tightly as his best friend slowly led him to the edge of the lake. "I don't know if this is a good idea …"

"You'll be fine once you get the hang of it!" Eren said cheerfully. "Follow my lead."

He stepped onto the ice, egging Armin to come on too. Mikasa went over too and tried to coax him into going on the ice.

Deciding he didn't belong in this scene, Jean stepped on the ice and skated easily to the other end of the lake. Historia too, followed him swiftly.

Armin watched the both of them. How were they doing that so effortlessly? He grit his teeth. Subconsciously, he wanted to join Jean … and all his friends too of course. He was tired of sitting out.

Clutching Eren's arm for his life, Armin finally put one foot down on the ice. Images of him falling down, cracking the ice and drowning to his icy death filled his mind.

Without warning, Mikasa gave him a gentle push which would have caused him to scream in fear if he hadn't already lost his voice.

Now that he had two feet on the ice, Eren started skating forward, towing Armin from behind. "See? It's not so bad, is it?"

I'm going to die, I'm going to die. More terrifying thoughts filled his mind.

After skating in small circles, Eren pried Armin's fingers from his arm.

"What are you doing?" Armin asked quickly, not even bothering to conceal his distress.

"Letting you be independent," his best friend answered lightly.

Before Armin could react, Eren pushed Armin away from them.

Panicking, Armin slid across the ice, arms flailing about. "Eren!" He screamed in unadulterated fear, his life flashing before his eyes.

Feeling awkward, Jean skated in circles on the other end of the lake with Historia. They were both feeling a little self-conscious.

"Heh," Jean was the first to break the silence. "I didn't know Armin couldn't skate."

"Me neither," Historia replied with a smile as she looked over at Armin clinging onto Eren's arm, Mikasa tailing them. "Looks like they're having fun …"

Jean nodded quickly. "Armin puts up a pretty damn good snowball fight though."

"Really?" Historia skated a little closer to Jean. "And you?"

"And me?"

Historia tilted her head to the side, looking at him with genuine interest. "What do you like to do in winter?"

Before Jean could answer however, a scream distracted the both of them. When they whipped their heads around to look, they saw a petrified Armin sliding across the ice, uncontrollably towards them.

Reacting quickly, Jean skated to the boy in a flash. And just in time too. Armin's ankles had given way and was about to fall. Jean grabbed him by the elbows firmly.

"Are you okay?" Historia came over to, her eyes filled with concern.

Jean glared at Eren. What happened to teaching Armin to get over his fear? Were they going to leave him on ice alone?

"I'm fine, I'm just dying," Armin replied in a constricted voice.

From the other end of the lake, Eren yelled. "Oh let him be, Jean! The only way he can get over his fear is if we let him face it!"

Jean looked at Eren as if he were insane. Sure, that method was effective. But on ice? Armin could slip and easily injure himself! Not even bothering to reply, Jean shifted his weight so that he could better support Armin.

"Okay," his voice was kind. "Do you want to get off the ice?"

Armin bowed his head and shook it. If he doesn't learn how to skate now, then when?

"Then …" Jean slowly let go of an elbow. "Hold my arm."

Armin's grip was vice-like and Jean was sure it was going to cut off some circulation. He told Armin to relax a little.

"Skate in a V-shape. Your feet should be going diagonally outwards. Got it?"

Armin nodded, not daring to look up from the ground.

"Okay, now, follow me."

Ah. This feeling again …

Historia stood frozen on the ice, unsure of what to do. She stared at Jean helping and teaching Armin to skate. A pit of loneliness and jealousy opened up in her, and at the moment, Historia sincerely hated herself for feeling this way.

She looked at her own feet. What would Ymir do? What would she have done in such a situation?

Feeling lost, she forced her legs to move, eventually establishing a rhythm as she skated around by herself. Ever since Ymir had gone … Historia had been trying her best to live normally and not give off the impression that anything was amiss.

But deep down, she knew that something was wrong.

And that something was the fact that Ymir wasn't with her …

And that she missed her.

Historia missed her so much that it hurt. It didn't matter what she said or what Ymir had said … there was no way someone as weak as she was could go on living normally without relying on someone else's kindness.

And for a while, she supposed, in admittance to herself too, that someone was Jean.

Historia clutched at her jacket as she skated to a stop. This … this really can't go on. She needs to find her own person again, find her own strength and will to live on confidently.

She knows that this will never work if she kept doing this. It's unfair to both her and Jean who was completely oblivious.

She grit her teeth. But she has to try … She's been selfish enough and pitied herself enough. If she wasn't going to stand on her own two feet now, then … when?

Just then, a pair of skates stopped in front of her, snapping Historia out of her thoughts.

"Mikasa?"

The dark-haired girl put a hand on her shoulder. "You okay? Eren noticed you had been standing still for a while."

Historia looked over to Eren who was awkwardly standing away. She gave both him and Mikasa a smile. "I'm fine … I'm just -"

Deciding to be honest, she took a deep breath and finished her sentence. "- I'm just feeling a little down … was thinking about Ymir."

Mikasa steered her towards Eren gently. "Join us. I think you could use some company."

Feeling a little braver, Historia nodded. She could do this. She'll make Ymir proud.

Jean looked at Armin to signal he was about to start moving. Then, started to skate forwards slowly, the other boy copying his movements. Armin was feeling a little less scared now that he was holding someone's arms. He tried to push all thoughts of dying an icy death out of his mind and concentrated on forming a V with his feet.

After a while of doing that in slow but steady circles, Armin was feeling a little better. Not completely though.

"You can hold on for as long as you like," Jean told him comfortingly.

His gentle and low voice soothed Armin's nerves. He was glad he had someone to hold on to. He was glad it was Jean.

Right after that thought, a hot feeling spread across his body. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins.

"I want to go faster," Armin said in a rush without thinking.

Taken aback, Jean obliged and started skating faster. Armin tried to keep up with the pace. He could feel the wind in his hair. He could hear the scraping of skates on ice, Eren and Mikasa's laughter as they were having fun. The smell of Jean's laundry ...

He became distracted. His feet wobbled and he couldn't stop himself in time. Armin lost his balance and fell, pulling Jean down with him. The other boy let out a cry of surprise as they both crashed onto the ice.

"Are you okay?" Jean sat up first, pulling Armin to a sitting position.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!"

Jean laughed. "Falling is a rite of passage."

Armin could feel the blood rushing to his cheeks and ears. "I - I want to try again!"

Skating with Jean, Armin thought, was a strange and peculiar feeling. Even though he was still afraid of falling every few seconds, he felt safe with Jean beside him. As they skated bigger rounds across the ice, Armin eventually found himself to be having fun.

They passed Mikasa, Eren and Historia. Armin raised a hand to wave at them, laughing. He couldn't stop himself. Fear and thrill had taken over.

Feeling bold, Armin suddenly let go of Jean and pushed off. He skated in front of him, stretching out his arms.

What was this curious feeling? Armin felt so light and free.

"Sunset!" Historia suddenly exclaimed loudly, interrupting everyone as they all stopped to look at the direction she was pointing at.

Armin barely crashed head-first onto the ground as he tried to stop himself. Luckily, he caught his own fall with his hands. Straightening up, he bore witness to what may possibly be the most beautiful sunset he's seen in his life.

High atop the trees of the forest, the orange sun was going down at an unhurried pace; almost as if it were lazily taking its time. The clouds turned pink and purple as golden hues filled the grounds. It was bright and majestic. Armin couldn't tear his eyes away. Having all his friends here watching such a beautiful event happening was such a wonderful feeling.

At last, the last golden rays of the sun disappeared from sight. Twilight was over and the grounds instantly became a lot darker. It was finally evening-time.

Eren, Mikasa and Historia got off the ice wanting to get dinner however Armin wanted to skate for a while longer. He was just having so much fun! Armin felt like he had reached a milestone in his life today.

No longer afraid, he continued to skate across the ice with joy. Jean smiled at him. It was hard not to. Armin just looks so happy.

Jean took off after him too. He might as well enjoy it while it lasts. After all, no one knows when they'll get to experience such liberty again.

As Armin whizzed past him, he called out. "Jean! Why don't you join them?"

Jean replied without thinking. "I feel like spending more time with you on ice." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wished he could taking them back. How can he play it off? He had to. It sounded so weird. No one says that unless they're …

Unless they're what?

Armin caught up to Jean catching his jacket to stop himself. The momentum pulled them both forward.

Armin's heart raced. He faced Jean. "Do you mean it?"

Jean swallowed and nodded.

"Then race me!" Armin laughed uncontainably and pushed Jean away sharply. "You're it!"

He skated off as fast as he could while Jean chased him. Armin felt a rush of excitement and happiness that he couldn't explain. All he knew were that he felt like the top of the world around Jean.

And that, was something he really, really loved.

"Are you sure this will work?" Connie frowned under the mask.

"With that ugly sweater and all the stuff I've put on you, yes." Sasha adjusted a twig on him.

The two were planning to surprise the soldiers with a scare. They had left for home earlier in the morning but decided to return because they actually really missed being at Headquarters. There wasn't much to do other than pay homage to gravestones … and that was a really depressing way to spend Christmas. It didn't really feel like they had a home anymore with everyone - well, gone. However, with all the decorations put up at Headquarters, and their friends being there, the castle was starting to feel like a second home instead - somewhere warm that they could return to.

Connie and Sasha peered around the trees. They had just arrived back on the grounds. The plan was to sneak into Headquarters and scare everyone with the mud-coloured sweater Connie had found at the bottom of his trunk. Putting on a mask and sticking on several twigs and leaves on his body, Connie looked like he was some monster from the forest.

Or so they thought, at least.

The two snuck around the trees, hoping no one would spot them. Then, they heard laughter in the distance.

Curious, they followed it and arrived at a lake. To their surprise, Armin and Jean were skating on it. They were both smiling and seemed to be playing a game of tag.

"Oh my god, I totally knew -"

"Shhh!" Connie shushed. "Let's scare these two first," he said in a low whisper.

"Okay," Sasha giggled softly. "Good luck."

Connie started to advance towards them, lifting his arms.

However, the two still hadn't noticed him, even as he was ten feet away from the ice. He roared loudly.

Armin and Jean turned around quickly. They thought they heard a noise?

Looking into the distance, both of them saw a fuzzy black outline of … something. In the darkness, they couldn't really make out what it was but it was roaring loudly and coming towards them.

A bear? Armin frowned. It didn't really resemble one though …

Then, it started running toward them.

"Oh my god …" Jean sounded fearful. "Is that … Betty Berkins?"

Without warning, he grabbed Armin's hand, skated to the edge of the ice, took their shoes and ran as fast as they could to the forest. There, they discarded their skates and threw on their shoes.

Who - no, what on earth was chasing them?

"That's not Betty Berkins!" Armin hissed as they waited behind the trees. "Betty Berkins does not exist!"

"RRAARRRRGGGHHHH!"

Jean and Armin ran out from behind the trees. Whatever that was chasing them was still on their trail.

"What if it were true?" Jean ran around the lake, still holding Armin's hand.

"I thought you didn't believe in that story!"

Then, Connie stumbled and fell. He must have tripped over a rock. The snow stuck to him as did more twigs and leaves but he didn't bother to brush them off. Instead, he decided to take off after the two, roaring even more loudly. He could barely contain himself from laughing outright and giving himself away.

"Wait, Connie …" Sasha watched from the distance as he stumbled and fell yet again.

This time, some snow got into his eye.

"YYEOOUUWWWWWWW" Connie shrieked in pain, blindly running.

Jean and Armin were now across the ice. They watched as a white, furry (?) being stumble out from the trees.

"It's her ghost!" Jean clutched Armin's hand even tighter.

Armin looked at him as if he were mentally ill. "What? No? Does that look like a girl to you?"

Now, the … uhh, thing had stepped on the ice and was making its way straight to them.

"It looks like it can't see …" Armin frowned. "Hold on, there's something weird about it …"

Then, the being slipped on the ice and fell forward, face first. It didn't get up. Armin approached it cautiously.

"Armin!" Jean came forward too. "Be careful!"

Armin touched it. Snow? He turned it over and felt its face. Snow, twigs and leaves fell off it. Brushing the rest of it away, he saw a mask. Armin already had a feeling who this was. Rolling his eyes, he pulled it off, revealing Connie.

Sasha dashed over. "Connie! Are you okay?"

Connie stirred and groaned. He raised a thumbs up before dropping his arm back onto the ice.

Jean was flabbergasted. Both at their stupidity and his own dumb fear. He watched as Sasha and Armin lifted Connie up and into the castle.

This was the last time, he decided, that he'll ever believe in ridiculous ghost stories again.

A/N: I had a good laugh while writing this though HAHA