The Newest Addition

A Few Months In

*October 3rd, 11:30 a.m.*

It's been about 8 months since Mathilda had come into their lives. Since then, Eren had been moved to a room for him to stay in with the girl, and it wasn't long until Eren coerced Armin to stay with them. They had been on a few missions since then, and she usually stayed with a soldier or two.

For an 11-month-old, she was very active, but very quiet. She giggled and made sounds, but she didn't talk. As much as they tried, she would always acknowledge it. But, she never copied it.

They knew that she, at the very least, understood them. But they thought that maybe she just wasn't ready. After all, everyone hits milestones at a different age. So instead of saying things, she let them know with little signs that they had started to teach her.

As of now, the girl waddled up to Eren, pulling at his pant leg. He looked down and smiled when he saw her, ruffling her hair. She giggled and crossed her middle and index fingers, holding it up for him to see.

"Did you go potty?" He asked, making sure she was using the right sign. She nodded and he took her up to the room to change her. He made sure to talk with her every chance he got, knowing she'd eventually catch on to his words. But, after this particular time, once he helped her sit up from the floor, she crawled over and stood up in front of him, giving him a hug.

He hugged her back, a smile on his face and planting a kiss on her hair.

"I love you, babygirl." He whispered to her. He told her every morning, every night, and everytime she was upset, sleepy, or hurt just so she'd always know she was safe with him.

"Dada." She stated, pulling back to look at him. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened.

"...Huh?"

She giggled, putting her little hands on his face.

"Dada!" She said louder. He giggled and picked her up before falling carefully onto his back, making her giggle.

"Yes! You said your first word, you did it! Oh good job, you did it!" He exclaimed, holding her up in the air. She giggled and repeated it over and over like a mantra.

Eren would never admit it out loud, but he almost cried.

Almost.

He held her on his hip and took her down to the common room, setting her on the ground to explore.

"Hey, do you guys know where Armin or Mikasa are? I have news." He said with a big smile. Jean looked at him weird, but still pointed in the direction of the mess hall.

"Armin's in there, but Mikasa's outside training." He told him. Eren nodded and walked towards the door, but turned around soon after.

"Mathilda, do you wanna go with me or stay here?" He asked her. She looked at him and smiled, running over to him.

"Go dada! Dada!" She shouted and wobbled over to him. Sasha and Connie gasped while Eren looked down at her with big eyes, smile still plastered in his face.

"For someone who hasn't spoke a word until now, you sure are quite talkative today. That's two words now." He smiled, and picked her up when she held onto his pants and tried to jump up.

"Wait, really? Oh my gosh, I didn't know she was talking yet!" Sasha cheered. Connie hugged her, making Eren chuckle before he opened the door.

"Me either, she just said her first word a few minutes ago." He chuckled. Once Connie let her go, the two went on another mini journey to find Armin.

When they finally saw the blonde, they walked over. The girl squirmed in his arms after seeing him, so he set her down, letting her toddle-run over to the blonde. She climbed halfway onto the bench before Armin noticed her.