Rolling over and waking up to a three year old poking my forehead on a lazy Sunday was a mild surprise,but when I looked at the clock, I realized that it was after one.
“Daddy, I wanna play,” Poppy whined.
“Did you eat yet today?” I asked, concerned that nobody would have thought to feed her.
“Yeah, Aunt Kas-kas gave me a donut,” she responded promptly.
“Well, you can’t only be eating donuts. They’re not healthy for you,” I reprimanded. “Aunt Kas-kas knows better than that. Let’s get you some real food,” I groaned, rolling out of bed and lifting my daughter into my arms, carrying her downstairs into the kitchen and opening the refrigerator. There was leftover salad from the night before that looked pretty good, still, so I dished her up a few spoonfuls of that onto a plate and stepping into the tiny pantry for some bread. I spread peanut butter onto one slice of it and strawberry jelly onto the other slice and putting them together, taking Poppy’s peanut butter and jelly to her. I set it on her plate and passed her a fork, ruffling her hair.
She grinned, looking up at me and asked, “Daddy, do I have to eat the tomatoes?” she asked, pointing at the cherry red offenders peeking out of her salad.
“No, Sweetie, you don’t have to eat the tomatoes. I know you don’t like them.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” Poppy nodded, taking a small bite of her sandwich.
“No problem, Love. Where’s Aunt Kas-kas?” I asked.
“In here,” She called from the living room.
“I’ll be right back. Be careful in that high chair. You could fall out and hurt yourself,” I warned, shaking my finger at the three year old who only nodded obediently, her mouth full of her sandwich. I shuffled towards the sound of my sister’s voice and sat down next to her on the couch.
“What’s up?”
“Not much, Topless,” she snickered, gesturing to my bare chest. I faked offence at her eye roll.
“Well, you don’t have to rub it in. Not my fault he got into Harvard,” I giggled. Mikasa’s eyes grew wide as she tried to choke down the laughter.
“Well, then,” she grunted, cocking an eyebrow. “Not sure I needed to know that. And for the record, I thought Levi was taking it.”
“How?! You’ve seen how he is.”
“You never know about somebody’s sexual habits. I was guessing he was probably the power bottom of the century”
“Okay can we not talk about this?” I asked, embarrassed by the entire interaction.
“Potentially. Where’s Mom? Wasn’t she off today?”
“Yeah, I think so.” I paused, not wanting to get up. “Mom!” I called, loud enough that anybody in any part of the house would be able to hear me.
“In the office!” She yelled back. “What do you need?”
“Nothing! Love you!”
“Love you too!” She called back. I slouched further into the couch and Mikasa began mindlessly scrolling through her phone again. Almost as if the universe wanted to wait until we were both entirely comfortable, the doorbell rang.
“It’s probably Sasha,” Mikasa muttered, bringing herself to her feet with a sigh.. “I’ll get it.”
“Doesn’t she usually just walk in, though?” I asked as as Mikasa left the living room and stepped into the front room. I swiveled around in the couch cushions to see who was at the door.
“Um, hi,” an unsteady voice said. Because Mikasa didn’t let the stranger into the house, I couldn’t see who it was, nor did I recognize the voice. “Is Carla Green home?”
“Carla Jaeger, you mean?” Mikasa asked skeptically.
“I guess. Sorry, yeah.”
“Yeah. I can get her. Mom!”
“What?!” she called from the office. “I’m kinda really busy right now. Spreadsheets suck!”
“Somebody’s asking for you! Are you dating again?! He seems kinda young for you!”
“What?” My mother exclaimed. “Hold on. I’ll be right there.”
Right on time, I heard Poppy from the kitchen, “Daddy! I’m all done! Let me down please!” I got up and walked back that way, catching a glimpse at the man at the door. He was tall and lean, with blonde hair and a scruffy beard. I shot him a glare for interrupting my Sunday, and then internally kicked myself for taking that trait from my fiancee. I lifted Poppy from her high chair and led her to the front room curious to see what the stranger wanted with my mother.
“Um, Mrs. Jaeger?” The strange man said. My mother looked troubled as she stared into the man’s fair green eyes. I was concerned that she was concerned, but little did we know, his next words would be the ones to shatter our pretty nuclear family forever. “My name is Zeke Green," he said quietly, scratching his beard and pushing his glasses further up his nose. "I’m, uh, I’m your son.”
YOU ARE READING
Forever and Always
FanfictionSEQUEL. Takes place six months after the end of Just Five Days. Levi and Eren are going strong, but Levi is harboring a secret that could change everything.
