Author's note~ Hey guys sorry about the last chapter I know it was a little glitchy, and it shows me that it was updated twice. I have decided to leave both of them up because I'm afraid if I delete one then it will glitch out again. Anyway's hope you enjoy this chapter. ^.^ ~Lawliet TJ 

They all got their plates and sat down. Levi and Eren sat at the ends of the table across from each other. Ash and Thomas sat at one side of the table and across from them were Alex and TJ. They had all slipped into a conversation. At first, they talked about just some of the day's events and somehow or another they had started talking about Eren having a sister.

The conversation had eventually split up with Levi, Eren, and Ash talking about one topic and TJ, Alex, and Thomas talking about another. Dinner had gone by peacefully and eventually, Levi had slipped away to wash the dishes while everyone was still talking.

Ash had noticed and offered to help but he declined saying that she was their guest. She nodded and Eren brought her back into the conversation at hand. After washing the dishes Levi came back and sat down at the table. The kids had snuck off a little after dinner heading back up to the bedroom to talk in a more private place. Eventually, Ash had noticed it was a little after 9 pm and she didn't want to overstay her welcome. She thanked them for having her and Thomas and called up to him to let him know it was time to go.

Thomas heard Ash calling to him and looked at TJ and Alex and gave them both a hug. He pulled TJ in for a quick kiss making him blush a little before walking down the stairs. The twins followed him and they walked him and Ash out.

Thomas thanked Eren and Levi for letting him come over. They waved goodbye and got in the car. They began to drive away and they all walked into the house.

"I think I'm going to go to bed," TJ said, his hair was covering his face so it was too hard for Eren to read his expression. "It's been a long day," he sighed.

"Okay," Eren said giving him a smile.

"Goodnight," both Eren and Levi said.

"I'm going to go with him," Alex said with a yawn.

"Alright," they said, "sleep well."

The kids walked up the stairs and into the room. Alex sat on the bed and looked at TJ who was still lingering in the doorway. "Sit," she said patting the side of the bed next to her.

"I thought you were tired," he asked.

"Nope," Alex said with a smile, "I faked that yawn. We need to talk," she said before repeating herself, "sit."

TJ closed the door and hesitantly walked over and sat down next to his sister sitting a little farther away than usual. "What do you want to talk about?" TJ asked crossing his arms.

"Well," Alex said raising her eyebrow, "we can start with how your body language is very closed off," she said pointing at his slouched back, crossed arms, and hair protectively covering his face.

TJ cleared his throat and sat up a little uncrossing his arms but he left his hair in front of his face. "I don't know what you mean," he shrugged.

"Sure," she sighed scooting a little closer to him, "anyways, I wanted to see how you were doing. After what happened earlier today I thought I should check in with you and see how you were. I mean you've been really quiet all day," she said a little worried.

"I'm always quiet," TJ said a little more sarcastic than necessary.

"You know what I mean," Alex sighed, "remember that advice you gave Eren," she asked.

"What advice?" TJ asked raising an eyebrow.

"To not push down your emotions. If something is bothering you let it out," she said looking at him and when she was met with silence she sighed again. "You know you should really take your own advice," she said raising her eyebrow.

"I will, but right now I don't know what I feel, that is if I feel anything," TJ said before standing up. "Now is that all?" He asked crossing his arms wanting to stop her interrogation before she got him talking. He made his decision already.

"Yeah," she sighed, "just please let me know if you need to talk," she said standing up hugging her brother and dropping the topic, for the time being, she would try and check in with him tomorrow.

"Sure," he sighed before grabbing some clothes from the suitcase in the closet since he hadn't seemed to unpack his yet. "I'm going to get ready for bed. I'm going to change in the bathroom if you want to change in here," he said before heading to the bathroom with his clothes.

He changed, brushed his teeth, and got ready for bed before coming back to the room. He knocked before entering and Alex gave him the all-clear before he opened the door. She had gotten dressed and when he came in she left to go and brush her teeth.

When she came back in TJ was already laying in the bed with the blankets pulled up over his face. And all but her light out. She sighed and climbed in the other side of the bed and laid down next to him quietly. She turned off the bedside light on her side that TJ had left on for her before laying her head down facing towards her brother who had his back to her.

She laid there quiet and still as she listened to the sound of TJ breathing. She could tell he was still awake because his breathing hadn't slowed down just yet. Several minutes went by and she knew by now TJ thought she had fallen asleep.

She felt a little movement on his side of the bed as he tucked his legs closer to him and she heard as his breathing changed. He was quiet, but she could tell he was crying.

He was trying to breathe normally, but every once in a while his breath would hitch and she heard every once in a while as the blankets moved where his hand had moved up to wipe his eyes. He occasionally would let a sniffle out and his breathing had deepened as he tried to stabilize it, only for it to be met with another hitch or a shakier breath.

She felt as tears pricked at her own eye. She didn't want him to cry. All she wanted was for him to talk to her, but if he wasn't ready she wouldn't force him. It took everything she had to keep herself quiet and to stop herself from reaching out for him. Her brain kept telling her to hug him, to rub his back, to comfort him, but she knew all he needed, for the time being, was a moment to himself. He promised to talk to her if he needed help so she shouldn't worry all that much right?

She closed her eyes and listened as his crying eventually stopped, and his breathing had slowed finally. He was asleep. She sighed and rolled over and told herself it was best to do the same.

"Do you think TJ's okay?" Eren asked looking up from his sketchbook, the page he was on practically blank. They both sat in the living room. Eren was on the couch and Levi in the chair.

"He's a tough kid," Levi responded lowering his book, but he didn't sound so sure in his answer.

"I mean you heard what happened today," Eren said standing up throwing his sketchbook on the coffee table with a huff. "His mother is a- is a monster," Eren said stuttering over his own words trying to calm the anger that was burning inside. "I mean who tells their child that," he said as he started to pace around the room.

"I know it's horrible," Levi mumbled wishing he let Hanji slap her like she wanted to.

Eren took a few deep breaths before he threw himself into a panic attack with how much was going on inside his head. "Levi," Eren said after calming himself down for a minute, "I'm worried about him," he whispered. "After my dad would say things to me they would stick in my head for hours, and I hated my dad," Eren said with a groan, "but TJ he loved his mom," Eren paused, "that phrase will haunt him for the rest of his life," Eren said with no exaggeration to the topic. "Shit like that scars you," he said before plopping down on the couch and putting his head in his hands. "I'm worried," Eren whispered.

Levi stood up from the chair and sat down on the couch next to Eren wrapping his arms around him. "I know, I am too," Levi said leaning his head on Eren's shoulder.

 After a little while of sitting in the silence to try and calm their minds, they took a breath and Levi broke the silence. "You never did tell me how it went today with your dad," Levi said suggesting the new topic, "Do you mind telling me about it?" He asked not wanting Eren to feel like he has to talk about it.