HOPE YOU A JOLLY OLD READ

BECOME SANTA AND DROP A GIFTED VOTE FOR ME PLEASE

Side Note: I know Levi's shown in the wheelchair at the end but I'd like to think on the good days he's able to walk a little distance by himself and only replies on the wheelchair most days of the week and the bad days instead of all the time. 

https://youtu.be/UZbPjlzcqrw

Christmas wasn't something he would celebrate. 

Nor was his birthday. 

His mother had tried to spoil him whenever his birthday came around, wanting him to know he was loved and as special as any other child born into the world. But his mother would only have a few coins left saved up to spend on him.

Once his mother had died, Kenny saw no point in wasting any money on him just because he was another year older. 

After Kenny left, his days grew into a blur and he never really knew what time of the year was current happening above the underground. 

Furlan and Isabel tried to bring back the joy of birthdays and Christmas, 

But than they had died and he didn't really have friends in the scouts. 

But for once in his life, since he's been a young boy, he grew excited for the holiday. 

It was agreed that his birthday would be celebrated on boxing day this year, giving him both a Christmas and Birthday without having to merch them both into one day. 

He'd have a cake, presents and a home cooked meal cooked just for him on boxing day. Spoiled and drowned in positive and loving affection from his wife and daughter. 

On Christmas he'd do most of the cooking, watch fondly as his daughter opens what Santa had left behind for her and admire his wife who makes the day magical for her whole family. 

For now, he decided he'd chop down his family's Christmas tree this year. 

He's heard over other families picking out their very own tree and taking it home. 

It's been a long time since he had a real family and he wanted to create some long lasting memories with them for Christmas. 

More so with his daughter now being five and starting to actual gain a memory over her childhood. She wasn't easily distracted as she was a baby and now held a better understanding over events in her life.

He knew he had to help make Christmas as special as possible each and every year she lived under his rooftop. 

He'll give her the life she deserved, work hard to give her a better childhood than he had. 

"Violet, stay close to the woods path. You'll get lost otherwise" Levi called out to his daughter who had started to run a little too far out into the woods for his liking. He knew the woods were much safer since his wife's childhood but he still didn't want his daughter growing lost. 

"But mummy wonders off the path" Violet whined back as she came rushing back, not wanting to push her luck with his Daddy when she knew he was going to get them a new tree, one she's allowed to pick out. 

"You're mother once grew up in these woods. You're grandparents use to live further into the woods than we do. Daddy wanted to stay close to reaching the town within an hour if needed. So, we built our home much closer to the edge of the woods compared to how deep your grandparents had lived" Levi calmly explained to his daughter, knowing his daughter was a little too young to learn the woods off by heart just yet and to be left to explore by herself. He knew that if she carried on straight than she'd reach the river before crossing to reach the closet town. But if she decided to wonder off in the wrong direction, it was unknown over how long it's take to find her.

His daughter was as curious over mother nature and adored it as much as his wife did. He wished he had better legs to walk longer so he could have chosen a spot further in the woods to built their own cabin at, to be far away from others and have promised privacy. But they needed the woods path to be useable for his wheelchair and that meant choosing the first cleared spot within the woods to build their home in. To have hunters and those after a walk among mother nature to often walk past their cabin along the woods pathway that curved round the edges of their land.  

His wife has never once complained over the location, had been willing to live in a town once more for his shake. Knew he'd live with neighbours close togehter in the underground and use to always having sound outside his window. But he had wanted a space for his family and his family alone, to no longer be under the watchful eyes of others everyday. Their current cabin had been the perfect home for him and his wife in the end. 

"Can I visit nana and grandpapa's cabin?" Violet curiously asked as she came to a slow stop, looking to her daddy for answers as she's never been allowed to visit any of her grandparents before. No graves were held for them unlike other children's grandparents. Levi and Mikasa held a few drawings found or done by them telling an artist over their parents looks by old, fading memory. But nothing personally linked to their parents. 

"It's not there anymore. The cabin was burnt down some time ago. Blood stains wooden floors, apparently. The smell of rotten flesh also sinks deep within wood too" Levi admitted with a disgusted grimace. Still having the itch to bath himself at the mere thought over the late Ackerman's bodies having been left in their home for weeks before they were finally burnt to lay in rest. To have the town decide to just burn down the cabin since it was so foul smelling and stained with blood, unable to be fixed up for a new couple to move in.

 Levi's watched his own mothers body be left unfound but at least Kenny had shown up and burned her body much sooner than it happened for his wife's parents. None one even gave Mikasa a chance to grab any personal belongings from the cabin before burning it. 

"Did nana and grandpapa get a bad wound? Daddy always cleans my wounds up and they never bleed bad enough to stain our home" Violet questioned with a puzzled expression as she's gained grazes and small cuts in the past. Never having any her blood stain their home before and not understanding how someone could get a big wound that'd do such a thing. 

"This is a conversation for when you're older. And Daddy cleans you're wound to stop any ill infection from happening. Daddy doesn't like seeing you sick" Levi sighed as he glanced to the side, knowing his daughter wasn't old enough for such serious conversations just yet. 

"I don't like being sick either. If I don't get sick for a WHOLE week.. can I explore the woods?" Violet asked with a hopeful tone, her young long seeing a mere week as a whole year in her eyes. Thinking she'd be proving she wasn't an easily sick child anymore if she survived a week without germs infecting her. 

"Not alone" Levi answered firmly, knowing it had been an terrible idea to mix his and his wife's dna together to form a human being. 

"Oh" Violet pouted back, wanting to explore the woods and prove she was a big girl now by being trusted to go alone. 

"Hunters enter these woods for food. It's not safe for a child to wonder around alone. You're mum would slaughter the whole town to learn the names of who harmed you by accident and Daddy would have to play peace keeper to stop his wife from going to jail. A job that was much easier when I held the rank of Captain" Levi calmly explained as he kept an eye on his daughter, watching her hop on and off the path for the fun of it and taking care she wouldn't slip and fool on the wet, slippery and cold snow. 

He wasn't sure how well he'd catch his daughter with the axe he was current holding in one hand and the broken strapped backpack in the other. But he wouldn't have cared if he lost a toe or stubbed one to drop one of the two items to reach out for his daughter. He'd prefer getting hurt himself than watch her get hurt and upset.

Daughters really did put honey on men's tongues and made them both softer and tougher. He understood no life was worth the destruction of humanity, he's fought to stop a friend turned madman from destroying the world. But for his daughter, if someone took her innocent and pure life too early for his liking, he'd be killing the gods with the rest of humanity. His wife beside him and their loyal friend's stepping back, knowing they couldn't be stopped. 

"Can I help carry that, Daddy?" Violet innocently asked as she glanced towards the axe, assuming it's light since her parents never seemed to struggle to carry it around when needed.

"Not until you're much older. You're mummy and I hold an agreement. You can start learning to hold a knife safely but nothing else dangerous until you're at least ten. Thirteen to start any physical training if that's what you wish to learn. You're mummy will use this axe against our daddy if she caught you even looking at this axe longingly" Levi mumbled back with a shake of his head, tightening his grip on the axe to make sure his daughter wouldn't gain a chance to touch it. 

They knew they couldn't protect their daughter from how cruel the world could be but neither was going to encourage her to grow up too fast either. They might have stricter rules than most parents around them but they held their reasons. They wanted better for their child than their own childhood. 

"Do you think mummy will have my new dress ready in time for Christmas? She's picked such pretty reds and greens to use for it. She said it's by my holiday dress" Violet excitedly blurted out as she started to skip, a huge smile on her lips at the thought of the dress her mother had been making for her.

"She's almost finished. She went to buy a ribbon to tie into a boy for your hair today. It's why she'd meet us at the seasonal tree gardens" Levi replied with a small but true smile, knowing his daughter was happy over the handmade dress his wife was creating for her. 

He's seen his daughter brightening up whenever she walks into finding her mum in the middle of creating the dress. Been holding the pin sack or passing thread to her mother to help in hopes it'd be completed quicker. She's been telling anyone and everyone over the dress her mother had been making her. 

He kept an eye on his daughter, getting her to hold one of the broken bag straps once they left the woods and crossed the river. He trusted his daughter but he knew how busy the town could be and didn't want to risk losing her. 

Leading her pass the shows and taking the main route in hopes for her to get use to such a route and would be ready to walk it herself once she's a bit older and expects her first task in life. Nodding in greeting to those that still recognized him or were overly friendly towards his family. 

Keeping an closer eye on those who stopped them to greet them and made a fuss over his daughter. Always scared that someone would try to steal her away from him and he'd lose all that he gained in his finally found peace. 

Soon back on track and reaching the small section of land that had been left to grow Christmas trees for all to cut down once the holiday grew close enough. His wife should be meeting them there due to needing to pop out to buy some ribbon for their daughter earlier and having planned to pay Armin a visit as well. 

"Where's mummy?" Violet asked with a worried frown, looking around for his mummy who should have been near the entrance but wasn't. 

"In the middle of that awing crowd" Levi sighed with a displeased frown as he nodded towards a gathered group of awed and flustered families. Men, Women and children all admiring or drooling over someone who had been dragged into helping to cut down a few trees for the families that her been struggling. Before getting caught up by others expecting the same help afterwards. 

"Everyone seems to love mummy" Violet commented as she stared towards the group, looking ready to start a war against them all and rescue her mummy. 

"They do" Levi agreed in a more snarky tone, knowing how well loved his wife was by others. 

"But Daddy and I love her way more than them" Violet announced proudly, giving a stubborn nod as she knew she loved her mummy more than any other child. And she knew her Daddy loved her mummy even more since he was the one to marry her. 

"We do" Levi confesses, knowing his words are true as his wife would never find someone who loved her more than he did. And knowing their love from their child was even stronger. 

Soon enough Levi was off to rescue his wife who truly had gotten caught up in helping all the families around. Having started off innocently enough by helping those that were struggling. But than gaining those a bit more selfish and demanding that didn't want to do the tiresome work themselves or wanted a tree cut by an old hero instead. 

Levi's glare soon had them all hurrying away, more so with the axe in his hand that promised to deal with them if they didn't leave while he was still being nice. His daughter unknowing to how scary her daddy can be just ran up to her mummy instead and was soon held in her arms. 

Levi turned to his smiling and giggly daughter who was being covered in little kisses to the face and held securely in his wife's eyes. Watching as his wife fondly and adoringly spoiled their daughter with affection and acting if they haven't seen each other for days instead of the mere two hours that they've been parted. 

Her smile being turned to him soon enough before leaning down and sharing a sweet kiss. Leaning their foreheads and silently thanking her husband for stepping in, giving a silent apologize over being pulled away when the afternoon was meant for family alone. He kissed her apologizes away, knowing she had merely done good before other's had taken advantage over her kindness. He saw her doing no wrong.  

Violet being let down once again, left holding her mummy's hand before dragging her mother around by hand to look at the left over trees. Levi following close behind, ready to chop down whatever tree was chosen by his daughter. 

Mikasa and Levi came to an agreement, to accept whatever tree was chosen. No matter if it was a bit small, big or looked rubbish. They'd agree to the tree and use it because it'd be something their child had freely chosen. Giving her own chance at speaking her opinion and picking something out that she had liked. They've been teaching her a small amount of independence and personal personality, glad she was having a chance to prove she was learning it. 

Levi knew his wife would be carrying the three home while he focused on making sure their overly excited daughter gets safely home.

"Can I see my ribbon, mummy?" Violet asked as she stopped by one tree, staring at it before shaking her head and pulling her mummy along to the next tree that catches her eye. 

"It's a surprise" Mikasa smiled down at her daughter, giving a light shake of her head. 

"Is it pretty?" Violet asked with sparkling eyes, coming to a full stop to stare up at her mummy. 

"I'd hope so. I picked it with you in mind" Mikasa smiled back softly, tapping the tip of her daughters nose. 

"It'd be really pretty" Violet squealed back. 

"More importantly, do you see our tree?" Mikasa asked her daughter, giving their joint hands a light squeeze as she knew her daughter was growing distracted again. 

Both husband and wife watched amused as their daughter froze on the spot, smile falling as their lips parted and realization over why they were there suddenly hit them again. Soon enough they were watching the five year old sprint off by herself to catch up with lose time over finding the perfect tree to complete their Christmas with. 

"Was you're brother able to wrap her presents for us?" Levi asked his wife, passing over the broken backpack to her before taking her free hand in his now freed hand, lacing their fingers together. 

"He has. He's keeping them tucked under his bed for us to collect on Christmas eve. He's even got an co-worker to sign them as Santa so she won't be able to recognize any of our handwriting as Santa's in the future" Mikasa answered with a small but warm smile, gratitude in her eyes over what Armin had been willing to do for them to help bring Santa alive for their daughters shake. 

"Did you invite him over for Christmas? The day is meant to be spent with family. You've all he's got now, you and our little warrior who's currently staring down another child" Levi mumbled back, smirking as he watched his daughter try and scare a younger boy away from the tree she had liked the look off. 

"Violet stop sending a death glare towards that child. He was by that tree first. Find a different one. We're not bullies" Mikasa scolded her daughter who had grown the perfect copy of her parents death glare and had learnt to use it against other children, something teachers had complained over already. There daughter had only started her schooling five months before now. 

"I won't bully my brother in law if he comes" Levi promised as he knew he wasn't always the most welcoming towards others. 

"He actual wants to spend Christmas alone this year. He feels a little worn out by all the eyes on him lately and just needs a day to himself. Christmas is perfect for it. But I've made sure he knows he can pop up at anytime of the day if he changes his mind" Mikasa replies with a small frown, concern in her eyes over her friend like brother but knowing she can't force him to spend Christmas with them. 

The two's conversation was forced to a stop by their daughter calling out over finding the perfect tree. It was rather on the short side and a few branches had been damaged or left to grown wrongly. It was rather ugly looking and clearly the runt of the litter. 

But Violet stood with stars in her eyes and clearly in love with the deformed and worse Christmas tree around. 

Leaving both parents to know they'd be taking it home with them today.

Mikasa placed a kiss on her husband's cheek before pulling t heir daughter to a safe distance and leaving him to start chopping. 

Levi loves his family.

He's both die and live for them.

But he's never ever starting up a fresh chopped tree chosen by them tradition EVER again. 

It wasn't as fun as he's heard over soldiers talking about in the past, it was hard and difficult and not worth having to bite his tongue from speaking every curse trying to break free from his closed lips. 

But if anyone else asked, his family had decorated the most beautiful and stunning tree in history. 

All had mourned the chosen tree by their daughter for months as they turned it into fire wood once New Years had passed. 

Their daughter's focus now on something new and her hand picked tree was no longer important to her. 

But she'd only hold her first real Christmas memories and know she was dearly loved by her parents and had created a one time tradition with them.