Pairing: Eren/Mikasa
Setting: The first Christmas they have together after Mikasa comes to live with them.
Rating: K
Words: 2746
Notes: I wanted to make this super cute and them all so happy to have Mikasa there with them and wanting to take her Christmas traditions and show her theirs and they all be happy together and then I made myself sad ;-; But yeah, its fluffy. I looked into both German and Japanese Christmas traditions to help me write it too ^^
Christmas Tree
Mikasa watched Grisha and Eren try and get their Christmas tree through the front door; "try" being the key word. She clasped a flour covered hand over her mouth from her spot kneeling on a chair at the kitchen counter, but even that couldn't hide her laughter.
"I told you not to bring home a huge tree again," Carla tutted as she stirred the batter she and Mikasa had been working on. "It didn't fit any other year and it won't fit now." Carla was trying to hide her smile, but Mikasa could see right through it; she had gotten used to the way Mrs. Jaeger liked to hide when she was amused by whatever Mr. Jaeger or Eren were doing. It never worked.
"Nonsense," Grisha spoke up though. Mikasa couldn't even see him behind the big evergreen that was only halfway in the door. "We always get it in the house, don't we, Eren?"
"Yeah, after getting covered in pine needles and cuts," Eren muttered, trying to get his small hands around the top of the tree.
"Now that's your own fault. I told you to wear gloves. Try pulling again."
Eren huffed, but did what his dad asked him to do.
Carla chuckled as she looked back to the batter she was mixing in the bowl. "Some boys we've got there, hmm, Mikasa?"
Mikasa felt a jolt go through her body. It was silly to feel embarrassed over such a simple phrase, but she still looked down before Carla could see the heat on her cheeks.
"C'mon, Dad, push the tree a little harder will you!"
"Maybe if you wore gloves you'd be able to pull the tree better."
Eren groaned but continued to tug at the large tree. It was moving a little bit at least Mikasa noticed.
"Ah!" Carla exclaimed looking down at the shapes of cookies in front of Mikasa. "Those look lovely, dear. How about we get them on the tray and stick them in the oven." She put the mixing bowl down and reached for a nearby tray she had ready for cooking. "Just pick them up real carefully like this and slid them right on."
Mikasa followed suit and placed her cookie right next to the other one on the tray. It looked a little lopsided and squished but Carla seemed to be happy about it.
"This was my mom's cookie recipe that she got from her mom, and so on," Carla explained while she helped Mikasa get them all on. "I know that…" Carla seemed to hesitate for a moment causing Mikasa to pause moving the cookies and look up at her. Carla's face dropped for a moment but when she saw Mikasa watching her she seemed to perk up again, putting on a smile. "I know it's not an ideal situation," she said softly. "But I'm happy you're here with us. I always wanted a daughter to help me make cookies like I used to help my mom. Eren was never that interested."
"I just like to eat them!" he piped up. "Dad, you aren't pushing hard eno-whoa!" The tree jerked suddenly causing Eren to get tossed forward onto the ground.
"There," Grisha said, stepping forward into the house while wiping his hands. "It's in the house just like I promised."
"And you better get it set up and clean all the pine needles and dirt off the ground before the night is over too." Carla turned around to put the tray of cookies into the oven.
"Of course." Grisha leaned into to place a kiss on his wife's cheek when she stood back up.
Eren plopped down in the chair across from Mikasa and made a gagging face at her; she couldn't hold in her giggle.
"Alright, Eren, time to get the tree up and trimmed. It's already halfway through Christmas Eve." Grisha moved back to the tree, looking over the vast thing laying there in their living room.
"Awwwe, Dad, can't we get a break?" Eren was already reaching for the bowl of cookie dough when his mom swatted his hand away. "Really?" he groaned.
"Really. No dough for non-helpers," Carla said, but there was a smile on her face. "Go on, your dad can't get that unnecessarily large tree up by himself."
He sighed and moved to get off the chair.
"Eren," Mikasa said, his name rolling off her tongue.
He turned back around and she held out a rather large piece of dough for him to take. Eren grinned back at her. "Thanks, Mikasa." He took a bite and headed over to help with the tree.
Carla shook her head as she picked up the mixing bowl once more. "You spoil him." She nudged Mikasa with her elbow, a smile on her lips.
Mikasa's eyes were back down on the table, feeling that heat on her cheeks once more. Carla always gave Mikasa that look, that knowing look; the one that always made her feel like her face was on fire.
"I guess it evens out, because I think he spoils you too."
Mikasa glanced up as she felt little butterflies in her stomach. She wanted to ask what Mrs. Jaeger meant but Carla was looking down at the batter.
"Here," she said as she dipped a spoon in. "Tell me how I did."
Mikasa reached out for the spoon, the thick white batter dripping onto the counter. It looked like it did when her mom made it on Christmas every year; she stuck the spoon in her mouth and tasted the ever familiar batter she had so many times. It was a little different; spices weren't the same and it was a thicker than she was used to but that was okay. Carla had wanted to make sure Mikasa had what she was used to on Christmas with them, and just the thought alone was enough to make Mikasa feel at home.
"I know it's probably not as good as when your mom made it, but I hope it will do for you."
Mikasa pulled the spoon out of her mouth, looking up at Carla's kind eyes. "It's perfect, thank you, Mrs. Jaeger."
"Oh, don't thank me, sweetheart," she waved it off, but Mikasa could see how bright her face looked. "I just want you to feel at home, especially around the holidays, that's all."
"I always feel at home here." She didn't even need to second guess it. She had lost her home so suddenly, so quickly and just like that she was taken into to warm arms and given a new life to live. Her life should've been over, everything coming crashing down, leaving her cold and alone, but she could never be cold here. Her eyes drifted over to Eren trying to push the tree up, her fingers fiddling with the ends of her scarf.
Carla placed a hand on Mikasa's head, brushing some hair out of her face. "I'm glad, because our home is much fuller with you here. Don't ever forget that."
"Eren!" Grisha didn't sound too pleased as Mikasa looked over to find him hunched under the tree, trying to keep it steady in the tree base. "Will you hold the tree straight, please!"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Let me hold onto this tree that's about 10 feet taller than me and not have it tip over."
"Watch your tone. Ah! Got it!"
Grisha stepped back from the tree as Eren let go of it. It didn't even wobble let alone crash and fall. It took up a good majority of the room and only left a little bit of space at the top of the tree, but it was so green and made the whole room smell like pine. It was the prettiest tree Mikasa had ever seen.
"Yees of little faith," Grisha pointed around the room. "Except Mikasa, I'm sure she knew we could do it."
"I highly doubt even you thought you could do it this time," Carla chuckled as she poured the batter into a cake pan.
"How about we get some trimmings on the tree, hmm?" Grisha clasped his hands together completely ignoring Carla. "Come on, ladies."
Mikasa looked to Carla, not wanting to leave if they were still in the middle of working on the deserts.
"Go on, Mikasa," Carla said, nodding her head towards the tree. "I'll join you guys for the first candle then finish up here."
Mikasa wiped off the flour and sugar that had gotten on her dress and her scarf before jumping off the chair. She walked up to the massive tree; it was even bigger now that she was standing in front of it.
"Here you go." Eren handed her one of the candles from the box on the nearby couch. "We always light the first ones on together, and then we light the rest of them from these candles." His fingers brushed against hers as she took the candle from him.
Grisha lit the match, holding it up to his candle. Eren quickly moved over to hold his own candle up to his dad's causing the flame to transfer.
"Eager are we?" Grisha asked, his eyebrow arched slightly but Eren didn't respond. He merely moved back to Mikasa and placed his candle against hers.
"There," he said with a smile before looking around her to his parents. "Ready?"
"Ready." Carla moved forward holding her lit candle in front of her.
Mikasa watched them all place their candles near the center of the tree. Eren nudged her with his arm, using his head to gesture towards the tree as well. She reached up and placed her candle next to Eren's. She stepped back to where he was standing, his eyes gazing upon the four candles that illuminated just a small part of the tree.
"I think four looks much better than three," Eren said thoughtfully.
"Couldn't agree with you more, son," Grisha said as he went for the box of more candles.
Mikasa felt Carla's hand on her shoulder. Mikasa felt her nose prickling, her eyes watering. Her parents weren't with her anymore, but she still had a place where she was welcomed, where she was wanted. A home.
She felt Eren's fingers brush roughly against her face, wiping away the tears she hadn't realized were falling.
"There's no reason to cry, okay?" he said, taking one hand and grabbing onto hers. "C'mon, we can get the ornaments since Dad won't let us put up the rest of the candles."
"That's because you almost knocked over the tree and set the whole house on fire, Eren."
He waved his dad's comment away still dragging Mikasa over to the other large box on the floor. "Just pick 'em up and put 'em on anywhere you can reach. Mom and Dad will get up higher, but we can get a good majority. They're all glass so be careful." He lowered his voice as he leaned into her. "Dad's broken more than me but he doesn't tell Mom that."
Mikasa smiled at him, a small laugh leaving her lips. She stuck her hand into the box and pulled out a blue glass orb. It was stunningly beautiful. Mikasa had never seen anything like it. She held it in both hands as she gently hooked it onto the tree. Eren followed behind her, except he had three in his hands. She covered her mouth with her hand trying to hold back her laughter. She was pretty sure she understood how so many had gotten broken.
Grisha worked on the candles while Eren and Mikasa filled the tree with ornaments as high as they could reach. The cabin began to smell like the warm scents of burning candles, the strong pine of the tree, and the sweet aroma of baking cookies and cooking cakes.
"Mikasa," Carla called over. "Come taste the frosting for me. I followed the recipe you told me, so hopefully it goes well with the cake."
She scurried over to the counter, with Eren following close behind, and took the spoon Carla held out of her. She took a bite from the front of the frosting and passed the rest over to Eren, knowing that's what he wanted.
"Mmmm," she sighed. "It's really good."
Eren tried to speak his agreement with the spoon still in his mouth, getting every drop he could.
"I also have a surprise. They were hard to find but…" Carla pulled out a bowl of freshly washed strawberries.
"Strawberries!" Mikasa gasped, reaching out to touch the still wet fruits. Her mom always had a hard time finding them in the winter too. They didn't grow naturally so she had to hunt down the right people who could get her some.
"Yes," Carla grinned. "To go right on top of the cake when it's done. I remember Dad telling me about seeing the cake when he went over around Christmas. He said the red strawberries on top astounded him, so how could I not get them for you? Eren, touch another one of those cookies and you'll be the one chopping firewood tomorrow morning."
Mikasa looked over to Eren whose mouth was full, crumbs falling down the front of his shirt. She suddenly couldn't stop laughing.
"Okay, kids, time for the final touches."
Mikasa looked over to see the tree in all its glory. All the candles were glowing brightly and making the glass ornaments sparkle like they were made of snow themselves. She was in awe.
"Eren?" Grisha prompted. "Don't you have something you'd like to give her?"
"I know, Dad," Eren said. Mikasa could see his cheeks turn a little red at his dad's comment before Eren walked over to a little box that was sitting on the nearby table.
"Here," he said, handing the box to Mikasa. "This is for you."
Mikasa blinked at Eren but she took the box gently in her hands. It was a simple looking box with a little bow on the lid. She opened the lid and pulled out a brightly colored paper ornament, a deep red flower; one that matched the color of her scarf. She let it dangle on her finger as she stared at it.
"Dad said that you always had paper ornaments on your tree when he was there, so we went down to the market and picked one out for you." Eren glanced away from her as he spoke.
"Eren specifically picked it out for you," Carla said from the kitchen.
Eren shot her a glare, his face getting red again before looking back in Mikasa's general direction. "Go ahead and put it on the tree."
She couldn't stop smiling as she carefully put the flower in an area that didn't have candles on it. She stepped back and couldn't help but admire the little ornament. It was perfect. She turned her head back to Eren. "Thank you so much."
Eren waved her thanks off as he looked away, his hand scratching the back of his neck.
"Only one more thing left." Grisha was holding the silver star that Mikasa assumed was the tree topper. He leaned over to her and held out the star. "Would you do us the honor, Mikasa?"
She took a hold of the star carefully before looking up at the tree. "I don't think I can reach it."
Grisha laughed and held out both his hands to her. "I can help with that." He gave her a kind smile. While he and Carla didn't look anything like her parents, they still had that warm presence behind them; the one that made her feel loved and safe, just like her parents had always made her feel.
Mikasa nodded, holding the star in both her hands. Grisha reached forward, grabbing her by the waist and hosting her onto his shoulder. He held her scarf with his hand so it wouldn't get caught in a candle as he leaned her forward over the tree. Mikasa reached up and placed the star right on top.
"Look at that," Carla said, wiping her hands on her apron as she walked forward. Grisha placed Mikasa back on the floor as Carla came up being him, putting her hands on his shoulders. "It looks perfect."
Mikasa looked over at them, to the sparkling tree, and over to Eren who was standing next to her. She felt his hand brush against hers though his eyes don't move from the tree.
"Perfect," she agreed.