I DO NOT OWN SHINGEKI NO KYOJIN (and the ugly duckling)!

Just as promise, Eren said he'd come visit Alice with his father. She was overjoyed when she heard the news, the long awaited day has finally arrived but the sky was heavily overcast. Thunder roared and crash as if the Gods were having a shouting match. The occasional flash of lightning shone across the sky through the opaque silk curtains and reflected back by the glazed marble floor. The rain drop crashed against the window pane in a rhythmic pitter patter. Alice peered out the window, her head rested on her crossed arms. Her feet tapped the floor impatiently. Why did it have to rain today of all days?

"Alice, dear. Why don't you have some of this strawberry shortcake while you wait?" She asked as an attempt to draw her away from the window. She had already been standing there for the past half an hour. She knew her daughter could not resist, after all it was her favorite. Normally, she would drop everything she had, on the ground (literally) upon hearing the word 'shortcake'.

"I'm not hungry." She groaned.

She was dumbfounded by her reply. This was the first time in her entire life to have ever refused an offer of a shortcake.

"Darling, it can't be helped. For all we know, the boats could have been delayed because of the storm. I'm sure they'll be here the moment the weather clears up."

Just as she said that Alice notices two shadows walking up to the porch. In moments, the doorbell chimed. The two glanced at each other.

"I'll go get the door." Luce declared.

Excitedly, Alice trotted after her. She turned the door knob to find two figure standing before her. The taller one pulled off the hood of his mackintosh.

"Oh, Grisha! You're here. Oh dear, please come in from the rain." She said as she ushered them in before closing the door behind them.

"Please take off your trench coats and boots, you two must be freezing."

They did and handed them to her and she set them aside.

"I'm sorry to trouble you." Grisha apologized.

"Oh, not at all. Come come, I'll make some tea to warm you two up. Alice, you and Eren can go warm up in the lounge."

She nodded and led him through the corridor; her mother gave Eren a towel to dry himself off and served the two kids some hot cocoa. As they sat by the cobalt stone fireplace, Alice suggested reading a book as it was still raining heavily. She held out a large picture book with a lone duckling on the front page. It was titled 'The Ugly Duckling'. They laid on their bellies with the book opened up in front of them. She had to read it since Eren couldn't read as well as she could and he said she had a nice voice.

"Once upon a time." She began.

"Why do all stories start like that?" Eren whined.

"Shh." She hushed him. "A mother duck waited for her eggs to hatch. At last the eggs began to crack and one by one, the eggs hatched, all but the biggest one. Finally, it tumbled out but when she looked at him, she said 'Oh, dear! You're so ugly!'"

"Yeah, it got its looks from you." Eren added.

"I'm reading!" She said firmly. "The next day, the mother duck brought all her ducklings to the barnyard. The ugly duckling was very unhappy. The other ducks made fun of him and pecked him. He had nowhere to hide, so he ran away."

"Why doesn't he fight back? If it was me I'd show him who's boss." Eren said as he made his hand into a fist and shook it.

"Shush Eren. I'm trying to tell a story." She scowled. "He ran and ran until he came across a flock of wild ducks, he rested there. Then, some wild ducks and geese came up to him. 'You're very ugly!' they said and laughed at him. The duckling ran away agai-"

"The duck is weak! Just kick them in the face or something, by the end of it THEY'D be the ugly ones."

"Eren, keep quiet! Let me finish." She screamed. "It began to rain, the duckling was very cold an tired. Luckily, he found a little cottage, he creped inside and rested. An old lady found the duckling in the morning. When she saw it, she cried 'My! Look how ugly you are!' and she chased him out."

"That's why I hate old people." Eren couldn't resist adding.

Alice ignored his comment and continued.

"So, the ugly duckling was alone once again. He walked and walked, all the birds and animals said 'How ugly you are!"

"They should take a look in the mirror." Was what Eren wanted to say but he refrained himself from doing so.

"Winter approached, leaves fell and the ground turned cold. The duckling had nowhere to go." She stopped.

This worried Eren. Did he do something to anger her again? No, he didn't or at least he thought he didn't. He realized a teardrop that fell on the book. Was she crying? He turned to her to find her crying, tears flew from her eyes. Was that the reason why she got so mad when he interrupted? Because he was ruining the flow?

"Hey, are you crying?" Eren asked.

"I can't help it!" She said between sobs. "Even though he was a good duckling everyone kept picking on him just because he was ugly! And now he has nowhere to go, poor ducky! I didn't think the world was such a cruel place." She cried.

"Don't be sad. The story isn't over yet, I'm sure he'll have a happy ending."

"Yeah, you're right." She said as she wiped her tears dry. She cleared her throat and began again. "One day, a flock of white swans flew by. 'I wish I was like that' the duckling said sadly to himself. How he envied them. He travelled on and on, winter grew colder and the duckling couldn't find any food… IT'S GETTING WORST EREN!" She burst into tears. He comforted and reassured her that things would get better. He flipped the page and read it.

"The duckling found a safe hiding place among the reeds and stayed there for the whole of winter. After many weeks, warmth returned. The duckling spreads his wings – they were strong now.
He rose from the ground and flew. He spotted some swans swimming in a lake; he flew down to look at them. The swans took notice of him and apwoat… appwo…"

"Approach." Alice corrected.

"Approach him. He was shocked that the beautiful swans came up to him. When he looked at his reflection, he could not recognize himself. He had become a beautiful swan. The whole flock came to greet him. 'Join us!' they said and he did. THE END! See I told you the ending was a good one." He beamed proudly as he turned to Alice who just started to cry her eyes out.

"Why are you crying?! Didn't you see he flew away with the other birds?" Eren asked.

"No, that's not it. It's just that… it's just that it was so… so… so BEAUTIFUL!" She cried. "The ending was so heartwarming, it touched me."

Does she have to cry about everything?

"Good for you ducky, good for you." Shea said as she dabbed the last of her tears off with her sleeve. "Eren, where do you think the duckling went?"

"I'm sure he flew off somewhere with his friends and lived happily ever after."

"Yeah, I think so too." She smiled.

Simultaneously, the door swung open.

"There you are darlings!" Luce sang as she waltzes in the room. "Good news Alice! Eren and Mr. Grisha will have dinner with us tonight."

"Really?" Alice asked with her eyes full of enthusiasm.

"Yes! And for this special occasion I've asked the chef to prepare a special dish. Roasted duck!"

Eren and Alice exchanged looks.

"Mama."

"Yes dear?"

"Could we not have the duck tonight?"

I was trying to be funny but I guess i'm not TT^TT Next chapter will be better, I promise (or at least I hope so). . I hope you don't think Alice is a little OoC in this chapter. I mean when someone interrupts you, wouldn't you get pissed? XD (not really cuz i'm more similar to Eren than Alice in this chapter. i'm guilty!)

Till next time! :3