When I finally calmed down it took a few more minutes to get the strength to pick myself up. I used the door frame and walked in the house closing and locking the door behind me before coming in the room and sitting down for a minute to catch my breath a recharge both physical and mental strength.

When I was ready I took a deep breath and stood up. I decided it would be best to start packing up all the painful memories first since those would be the hardest. I stopped at my dad's door knocking before letting out a sigh. It was a habit to always knock before entering. I bit my bottom lip to try and stop it from quivering as I felt tears start to burn my eyes again I swallowed down all the feelings and head into the dark room.

I walked over to the windows and pulled the curtains letting the light fall in. "Morning dad," I said hoping that talking to him would help. "Sorry for intruding, but I thought I should finish grabbing a few things. I hope that's okay."

I didn't expect an answer, but I felt almost as if I got one. A feeling washed over me that stopped me dead in my tracks. I almost swore I felt a reassuring pat on my shoulder. It was dad's signature move when he thought we were upset. He'd always sit us down listen to what we were upset about pat us on the shoulder and do what he could to help.

I fell to my knees and tried to stop myself from shaking. "I miss you so much, dad. I know Mikasa's almost an adult, but I still have no idea how to take care of her. Everything's changing again, and you know how much I hate change. Dad, I need you. I don't know how to do this without you." I sat there crying my eyes out to the point my whole body was trembling.

I took a few deep breaths to stop myself from trembling anymore. The room was cold when I walked in, hell it's always cold the air conditioning was strongest in this room, but there was a sense of warmth around me. I know this all could be just my imagination, but imagination or not I choose to believe this is my dad.

"Thanks, dad," I mumbled before taking another calming breath. "I don't think I'm ready to face all of this without your guidance, but I know that you raised us both to be strong. So even though you're gone I think we're going to be okay because you taught us how to be."

I gave a little nod before closing my eyes and just imagining him hugging me and telling me it was okay. I know I said I was imagining it, but that so-called imagination came through my other senses. Rather than my thoughts, it came through my sense of hearing and touch.

I took a few more deep breaths and when I calmed down I stood up the warm feeling never left me. I knew the room was cold just as it always was since everything I picked up felt like I was holding ice, but the air around me stayed the same.

I started picking up everything and gently placing it in the boxes. There was about two boxes worth of stuff in his room that I was planning on keeping. It was all stuff like pictures and other things that held memories.

After I finished the emotional rollercoaster of packing these two boxes and talking to dad the whole time I was, I decided I should make a call. I called Jean telling him where I was at since I had promised to tell him whenever I came back here. Besides, I had finished the most emotional parts, or at least I hoped I did.

I picked up the boxes and carried them out to my car. I put them in the front seat so I wouldn't mistake them with any other boxes. When I finished putting those in the car I headed back in the house locking the door behind me before picking up my phone and sitting down for a moment.

"Hello?" Jean had answered. I knew today was his day off and I was just hoping I wasn't interrupting anything.

"Hey, sorry are you busy right now?" I asked seeming as he seemed a little out of it when he answered.

"No, I just woke up," he said clearing his throat.

I checked my watch and saw it was almost 1 pm. "You just woke up?" I asked making sure that's what I heard.

"Okay Eren, not everyone wakes up before noon you know," he groaned.

"You're right," I laughed.

"Anyway did you need something?" He asked.

"I just wanted to give you a heads up that I'm at dad's house."

"Alone," it sounded like he went from half awake to fully awake in a matter of seconds. I knew he'd worry.

"Yes, alone. I'm fine, I just needed to pick up the last few boxes."

"Still you should have called me sooner. I'll be right over." Before I could say anything more he hung up.

Damn, I should have just told him when I got home. I don't want to bother him with my issues. I mean he has a life he shouldn't have to worry about mine. God, why am I like this? He's going out of his way to make sure I'm safe and I'm just being a dick about it. I took a breath deciding that sitting around thinking about things is just a waste of time.

I started packing up all the random items we would be throwing out or donating. There seemed to be a little more than I expected and I needed more than two boxes. I'm glad we left some extra here I'd need at least two of the spare boxes. I went out to put the two boxes I finished packing in my car.

I stacked them and started walking feeling immediate regret as My back, already sore from last night's activities, yelled at me. I couldn't even see where I was going. Why did I think this was a good idea? I felt with my foot where the two porch steps were. When I was off the porch I slowly made my way to the car to put the boxes in. Of course, my car was locked and My keys were in my pocket.

"Why does the world hate me," I said as I set the boxes down feeling immediate relief, but knowing it wouldn't last since I still have to lift them into my car. I grabbed my keys and right as I unlocked the car I heard my phone start to ring I pulled my phone out and at first I thought it might be Jean or even Levi. The contacts name read Jackass and I rolled my eyes and silenced the ringing.

Why the hell is he calling, he thinks this is the wrong number anyway. I put my phone back in my pocket and continued stacking the boxes into my car. I heard someone's car door open and close. Jean got here awfully fast. I finished putting the box in and close my door before turning around to greet Jean.

"Hey I'm almost fin-," I froze and just stared at the person who was now inches from my face. "Josh," I said quietly.

"You're such a fucking liar. I knew you'd never change your number. So which whore of a friend did you ask to answer the phone? I bet it was Jean right?" He said grabbing my wrists with a death grip that started cutting off circulation. He pinned me back against my car as he kept talking.

"Eren Eren Eren, I knew you were stupid, but come on. Lying to me and then moving out. I thought it was impossible for you to get even more stupid, but then you go and prove me wrong." He sighed and shook his head. I was still frozen here in fear. "When you said you needed time I waited and then you try and pull this shit."

"I didn't say I needed time I said I never wanted to fucking see you again." I finally found the courage to speak up.

"Same shit. You were just being pissy because you didn't want to accept the facts, you didn't like me telling you that I'm the only one ever going to want you." He said forcing his lips up against mine and biting my lip so hard that blood trickled down my face.

I tried to push him off but I forgot how strong he was I was unable to move pinned between him and my car. My arms and head were stuck there unable to fight back. My legs! My legs are free. With as hard as I could I kicked my leg at his. I was at an awkward angle and only skimmed his leg, but I know it must have hurt at least a little since he pulled back with a death glare.

"How dare you. I accept you back and this is how you treat me." He backed up one of his hands let go of my wrist and before I could do anything I felt it wrapped around my throat. I looked at him with such fear in my eyes. I knew he was a shitty person but never had he laid his hands on me before. I was there forced to look him in the eyes and I could see that in these few years something has changed. The look in his eyes is different. Something in him must have snapped.

I gasped as my free hand tried to push him away. He let go just as my vision started fading and I took a deep breath choking on the air I was breathing. My throat hurt, it hurt to breathe.

"Come on, let's go home Eren. We can finish talking about this later now I hope you finally got it through your thick skull that I'm the only one who will love you." He dragged me by my wrists that he was gripping so hard I couldn't feel any blood circulation and my fingers were starting to go cold.

I took a deep breath and hoarsely choked out an answer. "You're a liar. I don't love you, and you don't care about me. I have a new boyfriend who actually gives a shit about me."

That didn't seem to be the right thing to say because all I saw was his hand raise before I shut my eyes as a loud crack sounded and a pain stung across my face.

"Hey!" I heard a familiar voice yell. "Get the fuck away from him," Jean yelled.

"This doesn't concern you," Josh spat.

While he was distracted I thought could slide my arms out of his grip, but I couldn't he noticed and immediately tightened his grip again this time tighter than before.

"That's my best friend, of course it concerns me. Especially when he called me specifically so I can protect him from you." He marched right up to Josh getting in his face. "Now I'll give you one chance to let him got." Jean threatened.

Josh just smirked and threw a punch hitting Jean in the face. Jean backed up and blinked for a moment and I knew Josh had fucked up. Jean used to get in fights all the time, he knows where to hit to inflict the most pain and the most damage. Not to mention he's also a physical trainer, he's pretty ripped since he goes to the gym in his free time.

"You done got me fucked up," Jean mumbled before throwing a quick punch to Josh's sternum knocking the wind out of him. His grip loosened and I went to tug my arms out of his grip. When he felt me do this he tightened his hands and dug his nails into my arms. I just kept pulling. I got my arms away from him, but it resulted in long scratches down my arms where little drops of blood had already started to appear. I backed away from him.

"Call the cops," Jean told me and I didn't bother arguing.

It was over as soon as it started Jean pinned Josh to the floor his arms pinned behind his back Jean holding them there with his knee pressed against his lower back where his spine was.

It didn't take long for the cops to show up. Jean got off him as I explained what happened. It was pretty easy since I could just show them the mark on my neck where he tried to strangle me, the blood that was still dripping from my lip, the huge red mark in the shape of a handprint on my face, and the bruises and scratch marks along my wrists and arms. They spoke to Jean as they handcuffed Josh and Jean showed them the black and blue mark in his face telling them his side of the story and what he saw.

A neighbor of mine, Mrs. Rosaline, a sweet old woman who lived next to us said she saw everything from the window and backed up my story. When the cops drove away Jean just looked at me with a look that said I told you so.

"You still think coming here alone was a good idea." His question was as sarcastic as the look on his face.

"I know I know, I'm stupid."

"Only sometimes," he laughed before pulling me into a hug and whispering in my ear asking me if I was actually okay.

"I'm fine Jean. I'm just glad that the jackass is locked up now." I cleared my still sore throat and sighed. "Now explaining this all to Levi and Mikasa will be fun. They are going to give me the same I told you so look." I groaned.

Jean helped me finished the last few boxes before we headed back to my house. No one was home yet, but I decided to text Levi to tell him what happened since calling him and having to explain it was not ideal. I was almost hoping that he wouldn't get the message right away, but of course he did and he told me he'd be right over.

I just sighed and handed Jean an Ice pack before placing one on myself. Jean only had one place to put the ice pack. I was alternating mine between my face and lip to my neck before Jean finally said. "Why didn't you grab two."

I just laughed before getting up to grab a second one. I don't know why I didn't think of that. I sat down on the couch next to Jean with both ice packs on my face. My hands were cold and I didn't want to hold them.

You need to lay down. Jean said and I didn't even bother trying to argue. My head was pounding and I was dizzy just thinking about everything that happened. I laid my head in Jean's lap laying the ice packs on my face and neck and kicked my feet up over the armrest. My adrenaline was starting to wear off and I was exhausted. I could tell Jean was tired too. He had his head leaned back and his arms over the back of the couch and his eyes closed.

I sent Levi a text telling him where the spare key was hidden before letting my eyes close too. I draped my arms which were burning where he scratched me, over the ice pack on my face and felt instant relief. I felt my mind start to drift off. I'll have to introduce Levi and Jean when I wake up, but for now, I just need to rest.