An: Damn guys I'm sorry I haven't updated in two weeks. Been busy. Had writers block. Depression. Stress. I'm here now though. ~ to be honest...I'm not sure what I wrote. This isn't gonna be the chapter that stands out.

Chapter 3

Levi sat at the table with his cup of tea. Thinking. It had been a long night. His foster son is a psychopath. One of his close friends is his son's therapist. What else didn't he know?

He heard footsteps getting closer to the dining room. Didn't he tell Eren to go to bed? "What do you need?" Levi asked before the boy even made it inside.

Eren flinched. He stood in front of Levi toying with his shirt and focusing his gaze on Levi's chin. "I can't sleep."

Levi sighed and walked to the refrigerator. He pulled the jug of milk and poured some into a glass that he then threw into the microwave. Levi handed Eren the warm drink and said "This should help."

Eren took a seat next to Levi and took a drink. He bit his lip. "U-uh?" Levi acknowledged Eren with his eyes. Looking down he continued, "Can I sleep with you tonight? Just this once?"

With a sigh Levi stood up. He was too tired to do the few dishes there. Levi tossed his cup into the sink with a grimace and said, "Finish that and c'mon."

Eren nodded and finished his drink in a gulp and followed Levi. Levi's bedroom was spotless. There wasn't a single wrinkle in the blankets on Levi's bed, making Eren hesitant to wriggle in. He did notice one thing out of place though. A picture frame turned down on the night stand.

"I'll fix it for you." Eren reached out to pick up the frame. Just as he did he received a quick swat on the hand.

"Don't," was all Levi said.

Eren was too stunned for tears or to even yelp when he was smacked. He was almost too afraid to ask what he had done. He lay next to Levi in bed; the man was turned away from him. "Why don't you want it to stand up?" Asked Eren.

"You shouldn't touch other people's things, brat." There was something different about Levi's voice, it was almost shaky.

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing all of the time dammit."

Eren flinched. Now what had he done? When someone does something wrong aren't they supposed to apologize?

"Just go to sleep."

He couldn't obey. There was still one question he had to ask before the night was over and he could actually sleep "D-dad?"

"What now?"

It was eating away at him. He had to ask or he wouldn't find peace in that house. Eren took a deep breath. "Do…do you hate me?"

Levi was silent. Eren's eyes filled with tears. Of course Levi hated him. He'd spend a long time in that orphanage and no one adopted him or his friends. Why would he think he would ever be loved, or at the very least liked, by anyone from the outside?

"No," The man's voice finally came.

That was what Eren needed to hear, even if the response was delayed. His body trembled. He was smiling as he cried now.

He took care getting out of bed, not wanting to wake the boy. Levi lifted the picture frame he desperately didn't want the boy to see. "I don't know what I'm going to do, Petra. I don't have any experience. I don't have a clue what I'm doing." Picking up the frame he wondered what would you do?

She would love Eren and try to help him, Levi concluded. The thought of abandoning him wouldn't have crossed his mind for a second. She wouldn't have hesitated for a second to answer Eren's question, the answer would have been no in a heartbeat. In fact she would have quickly added how silly a question that was.

Levi set the frame back down and made his way back into bed. Starting now he would he more involved in Eren. He had to trust that Eren wasn't a danger and trust that Hanji was helping the boy sort himself out. If he expected them to hold up their end of the deal he'd have to play his part as father.