Blossom Heart (E. Smith)

Chapter Six

After braiding Ionia's hair, Sadies had explained that Grisha would not be coming alone to check on her. That he would be bringing people to meet her. His family. His wife and son. Ionia would be lying if she said that it didn't break her heart, just a little. Knowing that he left her behind to come here, to find someone that is not her mother to start a family with. A new family. A do-over. A second chance whilst she got a cell and experimented on. She is not just upset, but she feels angry. She feels so angry. Sadies touches her head as he crouches at her side. Ionia sits in a high-backed armchair, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. He gives her a small smile.

"I won't be far" He offers her. "I'll still be here, in the barracks, if you need me" He assures her. "Just ask one of the soldiers outside..." She nods a little, tears already gathering in her eyes as she thinks about him not being here for this. He is a stabilising element. Someone she knows she can rely on. This is not the first time he is leaving her alone in the house. Most days he sees her for breakfast and then he will leave, not coming back until dinner, though will come by for lunch for an hour. It is not about her being alone in the house. It is about her being alone in the house with Grisha and his family. Because she doesn't know what is going to happen. She doesn't know his family. She doesn't trust them. She doesn't trust Grisha.

.......

Grisha comes into the house alone at first. His wife and son left waiting outside. Eren is more than happy to watch the scouts training in the yard, feeding his desire to join them. Ionia is still in the same chair that Sadies had left her in. He pulls a wooden chair across to sit in front of her. His eyes take her in as she is now. A week later. She looks so much better than she did a week ago. More skin on her bones. More colour in her cheeks. The dirt and grime cleaned from her. She looks like the eighteen year old that she is. The beautiful teenage girl that she is. Her mother's green eyes shining with life.

"How are you feeling?" He asks her, she stares at him a moment before she looks away.

"I am fine" She settles on, because that is what she is. She is just fine. Physically she feels better than she did when they found her. She's fed and warm and filled with energy. She's even talking. She's exploring the house. She doesn't need him worrying about her. Not now she knows. She doesn't need him to worry about her now when he clearly didn't before. He abandoned her. He gave her to people that would cause her significant physical and genetic harm. People who changed her. She is starting to feel comfortable here. With Sadies. With someone that actually seems to care about her wellbeing. Who takes care of her. Sadies cares about her. She is sure of it. He wouldn't be as gentle and compassionate with her if he didn't. He is more of a father to her than Grisha has been.

"Did Sadies explain...?"

"Yes" She answers. "You have a wife" She repeats. "A son" He nods in agreement.

"Yes" He agrees with her and leans in closer. His wrists resting on the arm of the chair. He lets out a breath. "Ionia" She looks at him. "They can't know that there is....an outside. No one can know" She frowns and turns to look at him. He seems confused by the expression on her face. As if she doesn't understand what he is telling her.

"Outside of what?" She asks him. He leans back from her, searching her eyes. As if testing her knowledge. But she spent all these years inside of a cell with little to no contact with the outside world, she wasn't taught anything, she wasn't shown anything. She doesn't know anything. She woke up on a beach and has no real knowledge of the shape of the world. To her, this is the only place that exists. Her early year memories are so faded and worn that there is nothing to tell her otherwise. This place is the place she thinks she was raised and kept. That is all she needs to know to keep the peace of this place. A sketchy memory. Grisha lets out a breath and then stands, heading to the front door which he opens. It doesn't take long for two people to walk in. A woman and a young boy. Carla and Eren. Ionia stares at them both, eyes taking them in. Carla is a beautiful woman, there is no denying that. And Eren, well, Eren looks like a brunette Zeke. Ionia sees her brother in his face and it breaks her heart all over again. Grisha closes the door and moves to stand at his wife's side.

"My wife.." Grisha offers warmly. "Carla...." Carla smiles at Ionia, trying to come across as warm and welcoming and friendly. She holds nothing against her for being born before she was married to Grisha. She is a young woman now, but Carla would like for her to be a part of this family. She would like to welcome her into their home if Ionia allowed it. "Eren, this is Ionia..." Grisha offers and gives Eren a small look. They had discussed this a few days ago. Grisha had admitted to having another child, neglecting to inform them of the wife and son he also had. Right now, this truth can't be ignored. Ionia is here now. Eren was expecting a smaller child. His age. Maybe a few years older. He was not expecting an adult.

"Where's she been all this time?" Eren asks Grisha, staring up at his father for an answer here. An explanation as to why his sister was kept away from them. This eight year old boy wants to know why he doesn't know someone that should be important to him. Grisha glances at Ionia, trying to work out an answer that will satisfy Eren without giving away the truth.

"I don't know" Grisha settles on. "And she doesn't remember" Eren turns to look at Ionia. "She went missing when she was a child" Ionia frowns at that lie. She did not go missing, he gave her away. "We" Grisha clears his throat a little. "She was found a week ago...wandering the district" Eren kneels next to Ionia, eyes searching her face before he pats her arm softly. Ionia keeps her eyes on the potted plant across the room because she doesn't want this. She doesn't want to be friendly with these people. Family or not. She is too angry to deal with this. Eren curls his hand around her arm and a tear slides down her cheek. She knows, deep down, she knows it is not his fault. Eren is a child. About the same age she was when she was handed over. Eren shoulders no blame for anything that happened. But he is a reminder of Zeke. Of what Grisha did to her. What he has done since. But it is not his fault. Ionia swallows and lifts her hand to set it over Eren's on her arm.