Forever and Always

Chapter 64 - The Truth

Levi made sure to "fix" my hair before he allowed me to walk down the stairs, but that didn't keep Mikasa from flicking an eyebrow up at me while we made our way back towards the living room.

"Did you guys just," she trailed off as we filed past her behind the sofa towards the only other chair.

"Bitch, we might have," he smirked, reaching down to ruffle my sister's hair while he made his way by her. Levi stood against the wall, gesturing to me and then the chair before folding his arms and allowing the color to drain from his face while his eyes focused on the huddle of Jaegers on the couch. Mikasa's small frame was sprawled to the best of her ability across the left side of the couch while Zeke Green took up the right half and my mother sat in the middle. "Where's Poppy?" Levi asked abruptly.

"She's in the kitchen with Petra, if you wanted to join them," Mikasa responded, raising an eyebrow at Levi while she awaited his response.

"I'm alright right here," Levi said in an exhale while he settled into the wall, but there was an odd malice that bit the stretches of his syllables. I was confused as to its origins; Levi was usually perfectly polite and cordial around my family, so I wondered where the ice in his voice was coming from.

"Hi, Mom," I murmured, knowing I would have to apologize before any more time passed.

"Hi, Sweetie," my mother said gently, sniffing and wiping the last tears from her eyes.

"Look, I shouldn't have said that," I said quietly. "I'm sorry. It's just all a lot. I'm really sorry, Mom," I mumbled, looking up into her troubled eyes to see a small smile forming on her lips.

"I know you didn't mean it, Eren, but you really kicked me while I'm down, buddy. I love you so much, and I'm sorry for not telling you about your brother. I hope we can move past this, Eren. I hate to see you hurting," she said very quietly, so that her voice was almost inaudible. She sounded weak. I felt Levi's hand pat my shoulder, squeezing it once before he returned his hand to his folded arms.

"Mom, weren't we gonna kinda get to know each other a little better?" Mikasa asked after a moment, eager to change the subject from something so painful.

"Yeah, that's right. Okay, Eren do you wanna go first?" My mother asked, looking up at me.

"Sure," I nodded, willing to do anything to placate her at that moment. "Well, I'm seventeen years old, and I'm a senior in high school. I got out of a rehabilitation facility about a year ago, which is where I met Levi. We've basically been dating ever since. He proposed in June. And Poppy is my future stepdaughter. We have her while Levi's in school until we get married and he can get off campus housing."

"That's cool," Zeke smiled, his eyes glittering while he scratched his blonde beard. "Congratulations, guys."

"Thanks!" I nodded, looking up at Levi, who was wearing an aggressive scowl while he stood behind me.

"Alright, Kas, do you wanna go?" My mother asked, squeezing my sister's hand.

"Sure, um, well, I was born in Tokyo, Japan, and was in and out of foster care until I was almost four years old, when I was adopted by the Jaegers. Eren was almost a year old at the time, and I immediately fell in love with my new family and my little brother. I love my mom and Eren to pieces, and am so glad that they took me in. Anyway, I met Sasha in middle school, and when I came out during freshman year, we started dating, and we have been ever since. But Eren is still my number one," she finished with a grin on her face, her wide grey eyes looking at me, twinkling with adoration. I smiled back, still a little flushed, but happy that we were mostly resolved and moving forward.

"Aww, thanks, Kas," I grinned back at my sister. "I love you."

"Love you too, ya nasty," she giggled, leaning further into our mom, who absently played with her hair.