The Alpha and his Omega

A Day with the Ackermans [Parenthood 8]

"Twick or tweet, Aunnie Mika!"

Eren mouthed 'later' to Mikasa who raised an eyebrow at the strange demand. It was springtime and definitely not Halloween. Even then, Farlan was dressed up in a brown hoodie with bear ears on top, almost as if he were dressed up for trick or treating. Although they had dressed their son up for trick or treating as an adorable pumpkin half a year ago, the youngest Ackerman was barely able to stand up back then, let alone remember any of it. Earlier that week, Isabel had asked why every day couldn't be Halloween, mentioning all the free candy given out during the special day. Naturally, his son took it in stride and began asking everyone he knew to give him candy.

"Thanks for agreeing to come with us, 'Kas. Sorry about the last minute notice. Isabel was insisting on inviting you and Levi's busy wrangling them as we speak." It had been difficult to get them to agree to stay in the car, but both he and Levi knew that if they let them out, it would be a much longer wait before they got to the aquarium. His daughters had been adamant that Mikasa come with them, since she was more fun than their daddy and mommy. Isabel was especially interested in all the fun stories of her aunt's fencing adventures. But that was the way with kids. They always loved their relatives more since there were less rules and regulations in place.

"It's fine, Eren. It'll be fun. I haven't seen them in forever. How are you doing?"

"I'm doing fine. A bit busy. Stop moving Farlan." He admonished the struggling toddler who kept reaching out to his aunt. Mikasa sent them a lopsided grin before taking on the energetic bundle. Farlan happily hugged his aunt as Eren handed him over, grabbing her strands of black hair and nuzzling them. Shaking his head apologetically, the omega sighed. His son didn't seem to care much about the hassle he made and beamed up at his aunt.

"Twick or tweet, Aunnie!"

"Farlan, what did daddy and mommy say? It's not Halloween, so Auntie Mika doesn't have candy."

"No!" Farlan struggled in his aunt's arms; those grey eyes glared defiantly at Eren for a moment before beaming back up at his aunt. "Twick or tweet, Aunnie Mika!"

"It's okay, Eren." Mikasa slipped a hand into her pocket and pulled out a lollipop. "Here you go, honey. One of the kids I train gave this to me earlier."

"Candy!" The toddler grabbed onto it and smiled happily at his aunt. With the Ackerman jet black hair and grey eyes, Mikasa and Farlan could probably pass as mother and son.

"What do you say, Farlan?"

"Fank you, Aunnie Mika!"

Eren saw the soft smile on his cousin-in-law's face as she unwrapped and handed her nephew the lollipop. Although Farlan had Levi's coloring, Mikasa had a soft spot for all their children. Like with Levi, it didn't always show on her face, but whenever there was time in her training schedule, she would try and take time to spend with the kids. She turned back to him now that Farlan was placated and happily licking his sugary treat.

"So how are you, Mikasa?"

"Busy, but you know how it is with training. What about you?"

"I'm fine. Things are a little less crazy now that Levi and I have talked things over." His cousin-in-law had known about the stress he was going through, but unable to help since she was running a bootcamp a few states north of them. It was probably for the best, since he had needed to work things out with Levi.

"Tch, that midget cousin of mine better not be making you do all the work." She looked up at him, grey eyes flickering back to the driveway. "He is coming right?"

"Don't worry, we're fine, 'Kas." It had been a contentious few weeks a couple of months back, but things had calmed down now. Levi had managed to work something with his schedule and they had decided to drop some of Carla and Isabel's afterschool activities. It wasn't all that easy, but they made do with their hectic lives. Eren was glad his husband never asked him to quit his job. Levi knew just how rewarding he found it and was very supportive of him throughout. "And yes, Levi's coming. He's watching over Carla and Isabel right now."