So I was originally planning on this being only two chapters (I've already written the last one out, and let me warn you now: you're going to hate me.) but seeing as this has actually gotten some positive remarks I decided to stretch it out a little.

Done in Eren's POV. I tried to make it seem like it came from the eyes of a child, but I'm not quite sure I pulled it off right. As always, heavy criticism is greatly appreciated. It doesn't all have to be good reviews to keep me going. Hint, hint, nudge, nudge, help me improve.

Worn-out sneakers pattered against the concrete, following his usual path home with increased vigor. He was excited - more excited than usual at least – because he had big news for Granny. She would be so happy when he told her.

His lungs were burning, legs aching from sprinting half a mile straight from his school, and his heart thundered in his chest, but his buzz of pure exhilaration drove him onward. Not even tripping on the curb of Rose Way could slow his pace; in fact, it only made him more desperate to make up for lost time. One more block, then he'd be home. He vowed to only slow his pace when he reached her garden.

There it was: Maria Drive. He grabbed at the signpost, using it as leverage to swing around onto his street instead of slowing down. Ignoring a slight dizziness from the sharp turn, he kept running. He could make out her figure four houses down, sitting on her rocking chair with her hands calmly folded in her lap. Better not keep her waiting.

Muscles protested as he used the last reserves of his energy to race towards her; her eyes widened in surprise at his arrival. He slowed down – barely - when he reached the stone walkway of her garden, allowing his momentum to carry him up the porch steps towards warm arms.

A slight heave escaped her lips as he crashed into her, hugging her tightly around her waist. Face pressed into the folds of her shawl, he allowed himself to finally catch his breath.

"E-Eren. You're early," he felt her voice vibrate through her body, "Why were you running so fast? You could have fallen down."

He was too winded to reply, chest wildly heaving and lungs still desperately sucking in oxygen through the fabric.

"Eren? Did something happen?" her voice held sharp tones of alarm, but he was too busy recovering to tell Granny to stop worrying about him so much. Just a few more seconds and he would be able to reply; if only his body would get itself together.

"I made a friend," he barely managed to wheeze out.

"What was that? You're talking into my clothes again."

Willing his head to rise, he met her inky black eyes with an ear-to-ear grin on his face.

"I made a friend!"

Boy, was Granny surprised at that. He could feel her stiffen in shock and watched in glee as her eyes widened even more. Wrinkles shifted as her rare beam lit up her wizened face; he liked it when she smiled like that. It made all that running worth it just to see it.

"That's wonderful, Eren! Tell me all about him!" her eyes twinkled with delight. He knew she'd be happy that he listened to her, for once.

"Her, Granny. Her name's Artemis Ar... Aler… Um- Artl…" he struggled before giving up, "I can't pronounce it. But she's real nice, Granny! And super-duper smart!"

"And how did you meet Artemis?"

"Teacher made us partners for the museum trip. At first I didn't like her because she kept smiling at me funny and trying to talk about the weather, but then she told me all about the dinosaurs there," he continued to babble enthusiastically as she led him into the kitchen for snack time.

He hopped up onto the oaken chair, settling on the two cushions placed there to give him enough height to reach the tabletop properly after he insisted he was a big boy who didn't need to sit on Granny's lap.

"She knows so much 'cause she reads all the time since her dad writes stories and she gets to read them. Plus, her dad has all kinds of stories from traveling all over the world and reading to kids! He picked her up after and guess what?"

"What?" she asked, spreading a thin layer of mayonnaise on a slice of wheat bread.

"He has the dorkiest bowl cut!" he snorted in laughter and beat his fist on the table.

"Eren," the scrape of the knife cut short as she gave him an admonishing look, "It's rude to hit furniture. And what did I tell you about making fun of people? This is why you get into fights."

"Okay, okay, fine," another look was shot his way and he cringed slightly under her glare, "I'm sorry, Granny. But it's funny because he looks just like her, 'cept for the hair.

"Her dad's nice, though. I made sure to introduce myself, just like you and daddy told me, and he said I could call him Mr. Armin since his last name is so hard to say. I really like him. He tells the best stories."

"Armin?" her voice got quiet for some reason as she looked him dead in the eye, "Is your friend's last name Arlert?"

"Yeah! How'd you know that, Granny? Do you know her?"

"No, but I met her father once when he was still in high school several years ago," there was a small curl of a nostalgic smile on her lips as she finished putting his sandwich together, "He was such a sweet boy, even back then. I'm glad to hear he's fulfilled his dream of seeing the world. Even got himself a nice little family."

"Well, I'll say hi to him for you when I go to see Artemis!" he wriggled happily as a turkey sandwich and – ugh - a glass of milk were placed in front of him.

She poured a cup of tea as he greedily bit into his snack, wiping off a smear of mustard from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.

"I'm sure you two will have lots of fun together. I know I did back when I was your age. We had all sorts of adventures," Granny stopped smiling, cup halted halfway to her mouth, as if she had realized something, "So you're going to see her after school tomorrow?"

He paused; the idea had never occurred to him. Visits to Granny's house were a given, so he didn't even consider doing anything else after school. Their time together was too important.

"Of course not, Granny! Artemis has Girl Scouts after school, so I only talk to her before class and at recess. I'm going to her house this weekend to study, but I'll be back in time to help you water the flowers," he dusted crumbs off his hand before extending it across the table, pinky outstretched.

"I'll always be right here to see you every day, pinky promise!"

Her knobby finger wrapped around his - old skin meeting new in a firm pact. He relaxed when her smile came back. He didn't want to admit it, but the thought of leaving Granny all alone, even for an afternoon, made him uneasy. He knew what being home alone all day was like before he met her, and he didn't want either of them to go back to that.

She closed her eyes and let out a soft mix of a hum and a sigh, covering their joined hands with her free one.

"Already making friends. You're growing up so fast," her dark eyes opened slowly as she gave him a gentle smile, "But you'll always be my little Eren, right?"

He huffed at her calling him "little" again, but he held her hand tighter nonetheless.

"Always, Granny."

I'm always reluctant to name character's kids because I've seen way too many fics where they name them something stupid or out of character, but there's something about Armin's bookishness that really makes me think he'd name his daughter after a mythological or historical figure. I was thinking Athena at first, since he'd probably want his kid to be named after a goddess with serious brainpower, but Artemis just sounded like a more natural name. I didn't have any particular character in mind for Artemis's mother; since everyone's reincarnations are spread out, it's doubtful to me that Armin would find another character to marry.

Next chapter is Mikasa's POV again. Get ready for some boogers, a one-inch boy, and soup!