Pairing: Eren/Mikasa

Setting: Post Series

Words: 2543

Rating: K

Notes: This is actually an anon request as well! I had a request for a fic where Eren was gone for a while coming home to Mikasa and Nicolas; since I had written two from Mikasa's perspective, I thought it was about time I did it from Eren's too. It ended up being a double prompt because I was having a hard time with the Birthday prompt and then this came to me. Happy Birthday, Eren babu 3

March 30th - Birthday

Eren really didn't mind going back to help the Scouting Legion when he could. He understood they were understaffed for senior officers to lead missions and it was all he could do to help after everything the Scouting Legion had done for him. Besides, he also got to take teams out to explore and map new areas of the world; every time it was a new adventure to take and he loved it. What he didn't miss was when the excitement wore off only leaving him only homesick.

Yeah, the terrain and dictating orders at their base took his mind off of it sometimes but it was always a bit difficult when Mikasa used to be here to help him when they did missions together and the nights, those were the worst. All he heard was the natural sounds of the areas, the soft snores or rustling of his subordinates as he laid on his makeshift bed when normally he'd have his wife with him to keep him company, and more often than not these days his son squeezing in between them during late hours of the night.

The thought always made him smile but it didn't make the dull ache in his chest ever lighten up until their time was up, base was packed up, and it was time to lead the caravan back to the main base of the Scouting Legion. Eventually as their world grew, there were gonna be multiple bases so it wasn't such a long ride back as their scouting brought them farther and farther away from where the walls still stood, but that was still a dream in the Commander's eye; right now Eren still had to make the long trip back to the walls and then another trip back to his home outside the walls.

He would've loved to skip the whole going back to base but he needed to make sure everyone and all the info got back which meant writing reports and having meetings before he could even think about going home to sleep in his own bed with his family. He was beginning to think he'd never actually leave the military. The walls were in sight at least but it would probably be another few days before he could go home; that thought alone made him groan.

"Is something wrong, Captain?"

Eren glanced over to the source of the voice. A younger girl who was in charge of following the map back to base; granted not nearly as young as he was when he joined the military. "The thought of the impending paperwork and meetings isn't quite how I'd like to spend my next few days. I'd much rather be going home."

"I heard you live outside the walls," she said.

That's right; she was probably old enough to have been born inside the walls and in fear. "I do, with my family who would be a much better sight for sore eyes than Levi."

There were a few snickers from some of his team behind him.

"Aren't you scared of him?" Another voice piped up.

"When I was your age, oh yeah. Now? Well, he is my wife's only remaining family and he could still kick me on my ass so, yeah, he's still terrifying."

That one brought quite a bit more laughter.

"How'd you meet your wife?" A female voice behind him somewhere asked.

Eren got it quite often; there weren't that many senior officers who were married and all the newer members were relatively young, not extremely young but too young to be married. Besides they were almost at the gates of Wall Maria. "That's a story for another day. Next time." Which is generally what he said when he was asked.

He nodded to one of the gate guards when they got closer.

"Good afternoon, Captain," the man nodded back, gesturing for the other guards to step aside to let them through the open gates. "Been gone a little while. Get a good haul?"

"As always," Eren said, leading his horse back into what once was Shinganshina. It always gave him a sense of home, despite the fact it looked nothing like the district he once knew; it was a merchant town now, the last town in the walls before people went to move outside. Still, it always smelt like home. He continued up the familiar path to the base with his team following behind him.

He still remembered how it felt to make this walk, filled with nothing more but shame and failure and the glares, the murmurs of disappointment by the people. These days it was always a different reaction. People would rush out to see them, to ask how far they got, what did they see, what kind of plants, animals, all curious and excited questions. It always made Eren grin; the world was a much better place now.

They eventually made it to the main gates of the base, the guards opening it so the caravan could enter the main yard of the base. Eren knew the drill, he had done this countless times; get everyone to the stables in the back so the horses could be taken care of by the stable hands, escort his team inside and into the information intake area where they would drop off all their notes and anything they gathered so it could be researched more. From there Eren's team would give him a salute before taking off to have their after mission time off but Eren had to go find the head of the Research and Mapping Division to give his own report.

Lucky, Eren was pretty fond of the blond.

He didn't bother looking in Armin's office; he was never there. Instead Eren slipped into some of the deeper research rooms looking to see if he could find his old friend. It wasn't Eren's division by a long shot but most everyone there knew who he was and didn't bother to stop him from coming and going where ever he wanted to go, including classified rooms such as these.

There he was. Eren could see Armin leaning over a table, pouring over maps and talking to someone Eren didn't recognize but Eren would know Armin's long hair pulled back in a ponytail and blue eyes behind his glasses anywhere.

"Please tell me you've discovered a place that has hot springs. I've been dying for it since you told me about them."

Armin looked up with that amused smile on his face. "I'm afraid not, but I'll keep my eye out." He said something to the girl who had a magnifying glass to a certain map causing her to nod before Armin walked around the table to meet Eren in a hug. "How was the trip?"

Eren snorted as he followed Armin out door. "That's one way of asking me to file a report with you."

"I'm not asking you for a meeting," Armin laughed. "I'm asking as your friend. You personally, how was your trip."

"It was fine, nothing outta the normal. Found some new stuff which I know my team turned in and I'll go over with you too as soon as you want, cause I just want to go home."

Armin clasped him on the shoulder as they walked out into the main hall. "A little home sick?"

"Yeah, I mean I don't mind working with you guys but it's not easy when I don't think I'll ever get used to being away from Mikasa for such long periods at a time."

"I know." Armin lowered his voice in an attempt to sound more serious. "But Eren, the military greatly appreciates your sacrifices."

"They better damn well appreciate them." Eren gave him a shove but he couldn't bite back a smile; being with Armin was at least a step in the right direction. He realized Armin was leading him through the back entrance towards the onsite housing. "I thought we were going to your office for the report."

Armin shrugged. "It's just you we don't have to be super professional about it. I figured the last thing you wanted to do was sit in my office."

Well, that was true. Besides it was still warm out, Eren didn't mind taking the garden covered walkway to the housing area.

"If it helps I got a letter from Mikasa the other day."

Eren felt himself perk up significantly. "Yeah? How're they?"

"They're fine, relax." Armin chuckled. "She just wanted to know how the mission was going. She said things were pretty much the same as always, that she's happy because the flowers are finally blooming in the garden, and that she misses you and hopes you'll be home soon."

Eren couldn't help but feel much lighter, like it was one step closer to actually being with her. "I'd be able to go home soon if we could skip all these meetings and paperwork."

"Nice try, Eren. I love Mikasa and would love nothing more to send you back to her early but a jobs a job."

It had been worth a try. "Did she say how Nicolas was?"

Armin nodded. "Oh yeah, he's fine; her words were that he's just about as much trouble as you now that he can walk and run without anyone's help. Luckily Mikasa is an expert in taking care of you so I'm pretty sure it's just another day for her."

It was easy to picture, that was enough to make him smile but he felt his stomach sink some. He hadn't been there when his son started walking without needing anyone to catch him. Eren very well knew he was gonna miss things being away and still chose to help the military but that didn't mean it didn't take a toll on him.

Armin nudged Eren with his elbow, probably noticing the dip in his mood. "She said he asks about you all the time. Always wants to know when you're coming home, so Mikasa says she tells Nicolas stories about you and it's his favorite part of the day." Armin held the door to the building Eren stayed in when he had to be here for a few days.

It did make him feel better, but it didn't make the ache in his chest go away.

"I'll try to make this as painless as possible," Armin said, leading Eren up a few flights of stairs to his on base apartment. "Once we're done you'll just have to have a group meeting tomorrow then I'll handle the rest, okay?"

Eren nodded; well, that was an improvement. "Thanks, buddy. I really appreciate it."

Armin waved him off as he pulled Eren's key from his pocket. "Don't worry about it. You know I'd do anything for you guys." Armin pushed open the door and gestured for Eren to head in.

The apartment looked more or less the same as the last time he had stayed here as he dropped his bag he had been lugging around onto the floor. There was one thing different though, it smelt delicious in here. "Hey Armin, did you have food brought here? Cause I may have to kis-" He didn't get to finish his sentence though, not when there was the small but familiar cry of "Da!"

It took Armin's grin from his spot in the doorway and the sound of little feet running towards him for Eren's mind to wrap around what was actually going on; his arms where there to grab Nicolas and hoist him up, the moment he reached Eren. Short arms wrapped around Eren's neck as Nicolas shoved his face against Eren's.

"Hey," Eren said reaching a hand up to the back of Nicolas' head; Eren's other arm holding his son secure against him. He wasn't sure if he was gonna laugh or cry. "I missed you so much. What are you doing here?"

Nicolas probably didn't quite understand what Eren was asking, not that he assumed anything otherwise, but Nicolas still pulled back to look Eren in the eyes. "Hap Bifday, Da!" he exclaimed, eyes bright as his legs kicked.

Eren must have looked confused because Armin started to laugh.

"Please don't tell me you forgot your own birthday?" The voice was amused, Eren could tell even without seeing her.

"Is it March already?" he asked, peering around a wall to see Mikasa in the kitchen, and also seeing the source of all the delicious smell.

"It's nearly April." She had her arms crossed as she looked at him but she was smiling.

He really had no idea. He wasn't in charge of keeping dates while they were on a mission; he normally had a more general idea of time going by but his birthday? "Huh, well, this is almost the best birthday present."

"Almost?"

Eren shifted Nicolas so he was sitting on Eren's side, before he opened another arm towards Mikasa. She had her arms wrapped around him almost instantaneously, her face pressed into his chest. Eren sighed as he put his arm around her, resting his head against hers. Finally, that ache in his chest was filled with nothing but warmth. He pressed a kiss against her head but she quickly tilted her head up, kissing his lips instead. Yeah, this was much better than being stuck in meetings.

He probably could've just sat there and kissed Mikasa for God knows how long with how much he missed her being with him when he was away but Nicolas started to get impatient, tugging on Eren's shirt and whining. "Okay, okay," Eren chuckled, bouncing the arm that was holding him slightly as he pulled away from Mikasa, but not without one more kiss as a promise of much more after small eyes were asleep. "Are you hungry, Nic?"

That got a cheer.

"Yeah, me too. Let's see what Mama cooked up for us."

"Cake!"

Eren arched an eyebrow at Mikasa. "Did you make a cake?"

"Go sit down," she said, pushing him towards the table, but she was smiling. Oh yeah, that meant there was cake.

"I'll see you later, okay, Eren?" Armin waved from the door, moving to shut it behind him.

"Where do you think you're going?" Eren said, turning back to where his old friend was standing. "Get in here and eat with us."

Armin shook his head. "Nah, you spend time with your family. I'll catch up with you guys later."

"Armin, stop, you're family. Sit down." Mikasa had gone back into the kitchen but Eren knew that tone, she wasn't taking no for an answer.

"She's got a knife in her hands, buddy, I'd sit down if I were you."

Armin laughed but he shut the door stepping back into the apartment. "Alright, I value my life enough not to stay and eat Mikasa's food. What a hard life I lead."

Eren clasped Armin on the shoulder while Nicolas was babbling on about something, still pulling at Eren's shirt. Mikasa had already brought out a plate of food for them, and Eren couldn't even remember that he was gone for so long, nearly missing his own damn birthday because this was by far the only way he'd want to spend his birthday; with all his family.