Author's note~ So sorry this chapter was so late I was at a friends house and I had to go with her to urgent care (she's okay). Anyways hope you enjoy. ^.^ ~ Lawliet TJ

They offered to help set the table, but Eren insisted that they sit down and relax. He told TJ that Thomas called and that if he wanted to call him back he could use one of the house phones. He handed TJ the number before going to finish setting the table. TJ nodded and took the number. The kids had gone to the living room and sat down. TJ decided he would call Thomas back after they ate.

They were too nervous to turn on the tv even though Eren and Levi had told them they had free reign of the house and everything in it. They weren't used to having free reign especially not in one of the front rooms, the only thing they were allowed to do in the front room was homework.

This environment was a lot different than the one they were used to. There weren't as many rules, and they could actually do things they weren't allowed to do before, like watch tv in the front rooms, or talk on the house phone, or even just be who they are.

Eren walked into the room and saw them just sitting on the couch, their body language screamed how awkward they felt. "Food's ready," he said with a warm smile.

They nodded and headed to the dining room where Levi was setting out the food. He looked up at them and smiled. "Hope you guys like it," he said a little nod.

They all sat down at the table and got food on everyone's plates. TJ and Alex hesitated to start eating until they saw Eren and Levi start eating after they saw them begin to eat they picked up their forks and started eating too.

'No mandatory prayers?' Alex thought as she began to eat. She let a smile slip onto her face. 'No person telling us how to live our lives, or telling us that we are ungrateful any chance she gets. No fear of being just a minute late. No fear of the unreasonable punishments she put us through. No more panic hearing the front door open as she comes back from work. No more crazy bitch. I could get used to this,' Alex thought.

TJ, on the other hand, was still a bit conflicted about everything that had happened. 'What she did should be reason enough to hate her,' he thought. 'I hate her, I hate her, I hate her,' he thought to himself over and over again hoping that if he told himself enough, maybe he would finally start believing it... 'eventually, it would work, right? I mean it just has too,' TJ shook his head and looked up tuning back into his surroundings.

Alex had a small smiled and Eren and Levi seemed to be talking across the table with there eyes. He couldn't understand what they were saying to each other it was a silent language all their own. However, he saw Eren's eyes flick over to him and his sister before back over at Levi's and he knew they were talking about them. A few moments after, Levi spoke up and started to make a conversation.

"I hope you guys slept well," he said trying to get them to talk and open up a little.

"I was really tired, so I slept like a log," Alex said with a chipper voice. "How about you TJ?" she asked looking towards her brother who was still sitting there awkwardly.

"I slept well," he said quietly before looking away from all of their eyes. In truth, he may have slept for hours straight but his dreams were plagued with the memories of what happened last night.

"I'm glad to hear," Levi smiled.

"You guys know if you need anything you can always ask," Eren said reminding them.

"Thank guys," Alex said with a smile.

"Yeah thanks," TJ said with a small smile, "I'm really grateful for you guys and everything you've done for us," he said sincerely.

"Of course," Eren smiled, "We care about you guys and we just want you guys to be safe," he said.

TJ nodded, "I know," he said with a smile.

They finished eating and Levi and Eren cleaned up the dishes and put everything away. TJ had gone upstairs to call Thomas and Alex had put on the TV... well, Eren put on the TV and handed her the remote knowing she was too awkward to turn it on herself.

"Hey it's me," TJ said when Thomas answered.

"TJ, what the hell happened? Are you alright?" Thomas asked concern was evident in his voice.

"Yeah I-I'm fine," he mumbled. "Eren and Levi took us in and they are so nice," he said.

"But," Thomas stretched the word out.

"Why do you say but?" TJ said a little confused.

"There sounds like there was a but coming," Thomas said knowing something was up. "So what is it?" He asked.

"I mean what she said to me, I can't get it out of my head," he sighed sliding down the wall and sitting on the floor. "Why can't I hate her," he asked more talking to himself. "I mean if I did everything would be a lot easier right? I mean after all that she's done it should just come naturally, but no my brain is an asshole that won't let me hate her." TJ said before resting his forehead on his knees and letting his hair fall over his eyes.

"I'm sorry hun," Thomas said with a sigh. He didn't know how to help, or what to say all he knew is that he needed to be there for TJ.

"Sorry," TJ sighed, "I just needed to rant, I'm okay now," he said knowing that Thomas didn't know how to help him. He held back the rest of his emotions and decided to forget about that for the moment. "Anyways how was your day today?" TJ changed the subject.

"Um," Thomas hesitated knowing he should probably shift the focus back to TJ, but he didn't know how. "Today was pretty boring, I mean the only people I talk to were gone today," he said and TJ swore he could hear the pout on his face.

"I'm sorry," TJ laughed. "We left you alone with Hanji," he chuckled.

"Yeah, you did," Thomas said dramatically pretending to be upset. "She was hyper," he said before bursting into a laugh. "But seriously, I really did miss you today, and Hanji missed you too," he said and TJ smiled a little.

"Thanks, I'm really glad to hear that we were missed," he said. It made him feel better to know that people actually did notice if he went missing.

"Of course," Thomas said, "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," TJ mumbled with a smile on his face and blush spreading across it.

"You are my sunshine," Thomas started singing horribly, "My only sunshine," he sang before TJ cut him off with laughter.

"You're such a dork," he said unable to get the smile off of his face.

"I know but I'm your dork," Thomas said.

TJ rolled his eyes and smiled "Yes you are," he said.

They talked for a while until Thomas had to go eat dinner, TJ headed down the stairs and Alex patted the couch next to her. Levi and Eren were still the dining room and he was wondering what they were up to, but he didn't want to interrupt anything so he sat next to his sister and unconsciously leaned against her for comfort out of habit. She just smiled and laid her head on his shoulder.

"We need to get them to feel more comfortable here," Eren whispered looking over his shoulder to make sure they weren't behind him.

"I know but how?" Levi asked quietly.

They spent some time brainstorming and coming up with some ideas. The best one they had so far was, just give them time to process everything and settle in.

After a few minutes of silence, Levi spoke up. "Hey Eren," Levi said with a smirk on his face.

"What?" Eren asked raising an eyebrow at Levi's devious grin.

"You know this means whenever we have sex you're going to have to be quiet right?" Levi said and Eren's eyes widened.

"Shit," he mumbled. "That's going to be really hard to do," he said his cheeks were dusted red.

"Oh well, you're gonna have to try," he said before leaving the dining room and heading into the living room where the kids were watching TV.

He sat down on the couch that no one was sitting at and slouched back. He grabbed a book off the coffee table and started reading. Eren came in and sat down next to him leaning his head on his shoulder and just started watching the TV. 

The kids looked over at them and smiled.'This feels more like a real family than they ever did,' Alex had thought before turning back to the TV. TJ was pretty much thinking the same thing, but unlike Alex who was still smiling, his smile had vanished.