Author's Note: I apologize in advance for this chapter's cliffhanger...I am so sorry. Chapter 12, the finale chapter will be up soon!
It was a misty, humid day in the cemetery. The clouds made the sky very gray, spring weather had caused it to rain a bit. The tombstones appeared darker in color from the wetness.
One large square tombstone, had engraved the names "Herrick Ackerman" and "Akane Ackerman" And a smaller tombstone right next to it, had engraved the name "Petra Ackerman"
Mikasa gently set fresh flowers in front of her parents grave, while Levi left fresh flowers in front of Petra's.
"You still think about them...after all this time?", asked Levi in a quiet voice. Mikasa's eyes softened, looking down. "Every day of my life", she answered.
Levi nodded...feeling the same way. "You really feel ready to tell them?", he asked his niece then, worriedly. Mikasa gave a nod.
"Yes...it's about time I did. Carly...she's going to be 16 this summer", she replied. Levi nodded, understanding. He stood up, and walked back to his car. It was parked next to Eren and Mikasa's.
Eren was waiting by it with Carly, Makoto, Akane and Kayo. Levi gave Eren a silent nod, and Eren understood.
"Kids, your mother wants to talk to you", Eren told them softly. "This is about our grandparents, isn't it dad?", asked Carly worriedly.
"Grandma and Grandpa Ackerman?", asked Akane. "Mom's...going to tell us how they died?", asked Makoto, holding Kayo's hand.
"Yes...this isn't going to be easy on your mother at all. So...please be patient with her", Eren told them. Mikasa had told him she wanted to do this alone with them..so Eren kept his distance.
The kids nodded, understanding. Carly held her little sister's hand, while Makoto and Kayo held hands, walking up to Mikasa.
"Mom...", Carly, being the oldest and most mature, gently rubbed her mom's shoulder. "Sit down kids..", Mikasa told them softly, not taking her eyes off the tombstone.
The ground was a little damp, but they were dressed warm. Carly sat by Mikasa, while Akane sat on the other side with Makoto and Kayo.
Mikasa took a deep breath, feeling a lump in her throat but she choked it back. "I know...I should have told you all this a long time ago...it was just...too painful. But now, you all have a right to know", she started.
Carly gently squeezed her mother's hand, and Mikasa squeezed her hand back as the younger ones listened patiently.
"When...I was 9 years old, my parents, your grandparents, and I moved to this country. From Japan...and I met your father. We grew close rather fast, and he even taught me English...and I became friends with Uncle Armin", Mikasa recalled.
Makoto and Kayo both smiled...that reminding them a little bit of themselves. "Like us", Kayo commented. Mikasa smiled.
"Yes...exactly. Not long after...it was obvious we had a crush on each other...", she went on. Makoto blushed, glancing at Kayo, who blushed as well.
"What about Auntie Rubi?", asked Akane curiously then. "Oh, we didn't meet Auntie Rubi until High school. But we became like sisters quite quickly", Mikasa replied.
Her eyes went from happy...to grim then. "It...was Valentines day", she began, looking up at the sky.
"It was...just like any other day. Eren, Uncle Armin and myself went to school... Eren and I exchanged Valentines presents...I got him chocolate, and he got me a plush Sailor Saturn...", she continued.
Kayo's eyes turned concerned then...seeing Mikasa's grim expression. "It...was a normal night. Mom was making dinner, and dad and I were deciding on a movie to watch...when there was a knock at the door. We thought it was just a neighbor, or the mailman being late...like any other normal person would expect...", she went on.
Carly's eyes widened a bit...the way her mother talked about it...it was so obvious that night was still fresh in Mikasa's mind. The memory may be very old, but it remained fresh to her.
"But...it wasn't a neighbor. Three bad men...criminals...shot and killed my father. Your grandfather...", Mikasa said then.
Carly's heart sunk, while Makoto and Kayo also looked horrified. "Like...with an actual gun, mommy? Like on cartoons?", asked Akane innocently...but even at her young age, she understood this was nothing like a cartoon.
"Yes sis, but unlike in cartoons where Bugs Bunny just turns to smoke and is okay, people who get shot in real life are either badly hurt and need to go to the hospital, or...they die and move on to a better place...and don't come back", Carly explained gently.
Mikasa looked at her daughter, impressed. Carly truly was Mikasa's daughter..she'd grow to be a wonderful mother herself one day.
Akane nodded, understanding. "I heard the gunshots so...I looked into the kitchen and saw...my mother trying to protect me. She was begging for me to run..I...I was too frozen in fear. And...then I saw her shot...and killed. Even in her...final moments she was reaching out for me...begging me to run...", Mikasa froze, tears appearing in her eyes.
Carly rubbed her back, worriedly. Kayo gently scooted closer, and took Mikasa's hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.
"Why...would they do something like that? To our grandparents?", asked Akane. Makoto looked down grimly. "Because the world is a cruel place...but it is also beautiful", he answered, sounding just like his mother.
"So...they were murdered. I...had a feeling", confessed Carly as Mikasa wiped her eyes. "I figured you did sweetie...but..yes. That's how they died...", she said.
"That...must have been the worst night of your life...", Akane said softly, looking down. Mikasa gave a tearful smile then.
"It's...very strange. Even though it was the worst night of my life..it was also the best night of my life", she revealed then.
The kids looked confused at first. "Because that same night...your dad saved my life. He saved my from being kidnapped, and wrapped this scarf around my neck...", she placed a hand over her old red scarf.
"Daddy did?", asked Akane, her eyes lighting up. "Yes...and he and your grandma Jaeger offered me a home at their house...and your father, and grandparents from his side...were with me through every second of my recovery. And so were Uncle Armin, and Auntie Rubi", Mikasa explained.
Mikasa glanced over at Eren, and gestured for him to come over. Eren hurried over, and wrapped a comforting arm around his wife's shoulders.
"If it wasn't for your daddy...I would have never recovered", Mikasa said. Eren smiled softly, as he stroked her hair, kissing the top of her head.
"That's amazing...", Makoto mused. "Daddy is mommy's hero!", Akane said cutely, making both Eren and Mikasa chuckle and blush. Mikasa looked into Eren's eyes seriously then. "He really is...", she said, cupping his cheek.
Eren smiled at her gently, and kissed her old scar. The kids already knew about what happened with the truck...and Mikasa's scar. Not to mention her miscarriage.
"And who's Petra, mommy?", asked Akane curiously. Mikasa gently stroked her daughter's hair. "Petra was my Auntie...Levi's wife. She passed away after giving birth to Farlen...", Mikasa went on to explain.
By the end of the day, after the kids were settled upstairs, and Eren and Mikasa got a moment alone, Eren gently hugged his wife close as she clung to him.
"I'm so proud of you, angel...I know that wasn't easy", he soothed her gently, stroking her hair. "It wasn't...but they had a right to know...oh Eren...I love you so much...", Mikasa sobbed softly, as Eren gently rocked her back and fourth.
By the following afternoon, after a long day of school, Carly and Arashi were walking home together with Akane. Makoto and Kayo were staying an extra hour for the anime club they joined.
Arashi and Carly were taking their sweet time though, kissing deeply outside the school. Akane waited impatiently, tapping her foot, sighing.
"Come on sis! I need to feed Gizmo!", she complained. Carly sighed, rolling her eyes. "Akane, just give us five minutes", she pleaded, as Arashi gently cupped her cheek, the two continuing to kiss.
Akane rolled her eyes, unimpressed as she paced. She blinked then, seeing a very cute plush cat across the street.
It looked so fluffy and cuddly, Akane ran across the street to it. Luckily there was no traffic. She glanced back across, to see Carly's back was turned, as she and Arashi were pretty much making out, not noticing Akane had ran across the street.
Akane then bent down, picking up the plush cat, cuddling it...when suddenly she felt someone grab her, and before she could thrash or scream, she felt the person's hand cover her mouth and nose with a cloth that reeked of some kind of strong alcohol.
Like the rubbing alcohol Mikasa would use to clean any cuts or scrapes Akane would get when she fell...but she never saw it being used to cover someone's mouth or nose. Before she could fight this stranger off...she suddenly felt sleepiness overwhelm her as she inhaled the scent from the cloth...her mind went black...and she fell unconscious.
After Arashi and Carly finished kissing, they both caught their breath. Carly's top was slightly unbuttoned, and Arashi's hair was a bit messy.
"We don't get near enough alone time together...", Carly blushed, gazing into his eyes as she buttoned her top. "Agreed...we better get home", Arashi nodded.
"Akane, let's...", Carly paused then, seeing her little sister wasn't in sight. "Akane...?", she looked around the corner...nothing.
"Oh god...where did she...?", Carly began to panic, as Arashi helped her look. They ran across the street. "Akane!", Arashi called, while Carly felt her heart began to beat fast.
She froze then, seeing something on the side of the road. She hurried over...it was Akane's Scooby Doo backpack, zippered shut.
"Shit, shit, shit...where is she!? Mom trusted me to watch her...Akane!", Carly called, fearfully, clutching the small backpack.
"She couldn't have gone far, Carla...we'll find her. Maybe she went to the Ice cream stand...", Arashi said, gripping her hand.
They hurried to the ice cream stand, the park, and even the library, despite that being several blocks away.
No sign of her anywhere. "AKANE!", Carly called one last time after looking for a good 20 minutes. "We need to tell your parents...I'll call my dad", Arashi said urgently then...since his father was a cop.
"This is all my fault...mom trusted me...I should have been watching her!", cried Carly. She had no idea where her little sister was...she just vanished.
And it was all her fault...if she would have just been paying attention...now Akane could be anywhere, lost, scared, hurt...
"Carla, it's not your fault baby...deep breaths. We'll find her, I promise", Arashi assured his girlfriend, gently holding her close.
"It is my fault, Arashi! If I would have just...", she winced then, getting a stress migraine. "C'mon, we need to tell your parents", Arashi took her hand, as they hurried home.
"Mom!", Carly ran inside, Arashi behind her. "Carly? Sweetie, what's wrong?", Mikasa paled, seeing the horrified look on her daughter's face.
She looked...seeing Akane wasn't with them. "Where's your sister?", asked Mikasa urgently.
"She...I only turned my back for a minute...its all my fault...I'm sorry mom...I'm so sorry...she..she's gone!", Carly answered, out of breath, tears appearing in her eyes.
Mikasa froze...her heart felt like it stopped, and her eyes widened. "Gone? What do you mean gone?", she cried.
"We looked all over for her, Mrs. Jaeger! She just...vanished!", Arashi explained as Carly shook badly, gripping Akane's backpack.
"We found this across the street...", she added. Mikasa seemed to go into complete shock...she knew Akane would never leave that backpack behind.
She also realized...Carly was nearly a half an hour late coming home from school, so they searched for a long time.
A 6 year old couldn't get that far so quickly...unless...
"EREN!", Mikasa called upstairs for him.
After Eren and Mikasa drove around looking...they called the police. There was no sign of her...like she had vanished into thin air.
"What was she last wearing?", asked Arashi's dad, taking notes. Police with K9s were searching the entire town, and an Amber alert was planned to be put out.
"Her school uniform...its dark blue, with a red tie, and skirt, and her red scarf...", Eren replied.
Mikasa was pacing back and fourth, having a severe stress migraine. Her head felt like it would split in two, but she didn't care.
She just cared about getting her daughter back. "Has she ever run away before?", asked Arashi's father. "Of course not! She's 6 years old!", Mikasa snapped then, growing impatient.
Rubi quickly hurried over, squeezing her best friend's hand. "Easy Miki, easy...they need to ask those questions", she tried to soothe her.
Armin and Rubi had come over after hearing what happened, and even helped search. "It obviously isn't a run away...any idea who might want to kidnap her?", asked Arashi's father.
Eren and Mikasa both froze then. "We have...an idea but...", Eren looked down, glaring...no..they couldn't have...after all these years?
Mikasa swallowed hard, biting her lip as Rubi rubbed her back. "We've had...a few incidents in the past with a group of people we went to high school with. Bertolt, Reiner and Annie...", she began.
"Reiner...he nearly ran my wife over many years ago, and caused her to have a miscarriage...and then they burned down my parents house", Eren explained, clenching his fists.
"You think this is a personal crime? And they're the same people?", asked Arashi's dad. "It has to be them...it makes too much sense", Armin spoke up.
"All right, we'll get a report out on those three right away. In the meantime, please keep the phone open, and we'll call you as soon as we hear anything, or find her. We promise we'll do everything in our power to find her", Arashi's dad said.
"That's it?! That's all you can do?!", Eren demanded, frustrated...and terrified. His daughter could be laying in a ditch dead somewhere right now...the very thought made him physically ill.
"I'm sorry Eren, I truly am. I promise you we're making this our top priority", Arashi's father assured him, with a look of sympathy.
After he and Arashi left to search further, Carly leaned against the wall, trembling. "This is all my fault..if only I had been watching her...", she began, tears appearing in her eyes.
Mikasa's heart sunk, she then approached her daughter, and pulled her close in a hug. "Stop that. Carly, enough...this is NOT your fault sweetie", she assured her daughter gently but firmly.
Carly gave a shaky nod, hugging her mother back. "This isn't your fault sweetheart...we WILL find her. I promise", Eren added, stroking her hair.
"How dad?", asked Makoto, Kayo looking worried. "I don't know yet son, we just will...I will. I promise", Eren replied.
Mikasa gripped Akane's backpack close, she was trembling badly. And she didn't want to break down in front of Makoto and Kayo, since they were much younger than Carly.
She went upstairs without saying a word. "Mommy..?", asked Kayo worriedly, but Rubi gently stopped her. "She needs some time alone, sweetie", Rubi explained gently.
Makoto gently squeezed Kayo's hand, nodding.
Mikasa entered Akane's bedroom. She was hugging the backpack close to her chest, shaking badly. She walked over to the bed, and sat down on it.
She rocked herself back and fourth slowly, her head feeling as if it may split open, as she choked back a sob.
She let her tears fall, fully breaking down as she hugged the backpack tightly...how could this happen? Why was this happening?
Akane...was just a child. What would Annie and those two want with her? Mikasa felt regret with the remorse...she should have never let Akane out of her sight...she felt like a failure as a mother.
She already lost one baby from miscarriage...and now...she might have lost another. Mikasa slowly opened her tearful eyes, as she gazed down at Akane's backpack.
She only felt her chest grow heavier, as she choked back another sob, looking at the silly cartoon Great Dane on the backpack.
"She loves this dog...so much...", Mikasa sobbed, hugging it tightly again. In her moment of grief...she unzipped the backpack, just to...look at Akane's things.
Her Scooby doo notebook, her pink rabbit eraser, her pencils...as Mikasa looked through, she saw a small folded up note.
It caught her eye...it didn't look like any sort of slip from school. Mikasa reached in, pulling the note out and unfolding it.
Her heart suddenly dropped to her gut then, as she gasped. On the note it read:
"If you ever want to see your daughter alive again, drive up Levine Street until you reach the woods...turn onto the Cabin Rentals road five miles up. Cabin #5...come alone"
Mikasa starred at the note...in complete shock. And in that moment...she understand fully. They didn't want Akane...they wanted her.
Akane was simply bait. It was an obvious trap...but a trap Mikasa would kindly fall into if it meant saving her daughter.
Come alone...Mikasa could tell if she brought anyone, even Eren...they would most likely kill Akane. She glared, and hurried into her own room. She grabbed a sharp knife she kept hidden for emergencies, and hurried downstairs. Everyone was in the living room, their backs turned.
Mikasa silently went into the kitchen, and out through the back door so they didn't see. She hurried out front, getting into her car...and driving off.
She gripped the stirring wheel, her heart pounding violently in her chest...she didn't know or care what Annie wanted with her...she just had to save her daughter.
Back at home, Eren went upstairs to check on his wife. "Mikasa...?", he gently pushed Akane's bedroom door open...to see she wasn't there.
Eren blinked, seeing the opened backpack...and the note. He hurried over, and opened it. "Oh..SHIT!", he yelled, realizing what's happened...Mikasa went alone.
"MIKASA!", he suddenly ran down the stairs. "Eren?! What's wrong?!", cried Rubi, as Eren opened the front door...sure enough, her car was gone.
"She went alone...FUCK!", Eren panicked. Makoto adorably covered Kayo's ears at the swearing, even though he was the same age as her.
"Eren! What happened?!", demanded Armin. Eren showed them the note then. "Oh my god...Eren, we need to go after her. Miki's going to get herself killed!", cried Rubi, fearfully.
"Where's mom?!", cried Carly. "She went to rescue Akane...we need to hurry", Eren grabbed his car keys.
"Wait, you two need a plan! If Annie's working with Bertolt and Reiner, you're going to need some fire power to help until the cops get there!", Armin pointed out then.
"I don't understand, why wouldn't mom just show this address to the cops?", asked Makoto then. "She's afraid if they see the police lights, they'll kill your sister...", Eren realized.
"Agreed, we need to make sure Akane's safe before calling the cops...what fire power do you mean, Armin?", asked Rubi urgently.
"I think I know just who to call", Armin replied, getting his phone out.
Mikasa drove up to Cabin #5. It was pouring outside at this point, the sky very gray and the rain falling hard.
She got out of her car slowly, gripping the knife firmly in her hand. She approached the cabin carefully...she held her breath, her heart continuing to pound in her chest.
She couldn't stop her shaking either, no matter how hard she tried to. She approached the door, and slowly turned the knob.
It turned, and the door slowly opened with a loud creak. As light filled the pitch dark cabin, and Mikasa looked in, staying on her guard, she heard soft crying.
Her heart sunk. "Akane!", she cried, seeing her daughter tied up in the corner. "M-Mommy..!", Akane whimpered, a bruise on her cheek.
Mikasa broke into a sprint, running over to her daughter when she suddenly felt someone hit her hard over the head.
"MOMMY!", Akane screamed, fearfully, as Mikasa hit the floor hard, dropping the knife. She didn't fall unconscious, but her head hurt badly now.
"A-Akane..", she reached her daughter, as Akane whimpered. "Well isn't this sweet...you actually came", a voice sneered.
Mikasa glared dangerously then, looking to see Annie standing over them. Reiner and Bertolt were keeping watch at the door.
"Annie...", Mikasa growled. "If you want me so bad...fine. But let my daughter go..she's not involved", she said.
"Where's the fun in that?", Annie questioned, lifting a gun up then, aiming it at Mikasa. Akane clung to her mother tightly, shaking, as Mikasa shielded her.
"What did I ever do to you, Annie? You and those two...have tried to ruin our life for years...and for what?! The fire, my miscarriage...what the hell did I ever do...", Mikasa asked, glaring.
"What did you do?", Annie asked back, getting a smile on her face. She then, suddenly broke into mad laughter.
"What did you DO?!", she laughed like it was some joke. Mikasa glared, holding her daughter closer. Annie then glared dangerously.
"WHAT DIDN'T YOU DO?!", she yelled angrily then, looking at Mikasa with pure rage and hate. "You took him away from me...the moment I first saw him...in high school...I've loved him...I've always loved him...and you...you just stuck to him like a LEECH", Annie snarled.
Mikasa starred at her. "This is about Eren?! Are you kidding me?!", she asked, glaring. "You latched onto him like some tick, sucking the life right out of him...always crying about your scarf, or being separated from him. You never saw his pain, you only saw your own...", Annie growled.
"You're insane...I didn't force Eren to marry me, or have children with me! That was HIS choice, Annie!", Mikasa yelled.
"SHUT UP! I've been waiting far too long for this...", Annie growled putting her finger on the trigger. "What makes you think Eren would ever love you after seeing me dead, you crazy bitch? What are you hoping to gain from this?", Mikasa challenged then.
"Simple, I'll pin the blame on my bodyguards here, and be there to comfort Eren when he needs it most...", Annie replied.
Mikasa looked at Reiner and Bertolt. "You two are actually going to go to prison for her?! What did she do for either of you?", she demanded, but they both remained silent.
"Enough of this...", Annie then aimed the gun at Mikasa. Akane whimpered, clinging tightly to her mother, as Mikasa shielded her.
Annie pulled the trigger suddenly, and a loud gunshot was heard, as blood splattered the walls.