Chapter 25

Home

The gates open as the Warriors stood as they head to Liberio. Families were waiting for them. Pieck and Galliard were greeted by their families as Reiner and Gabi walked. Reiner was looking for Evelyn.

"There they are! Mom! Dad!" Gabi yelled, waving. Gabi ran to hug her parents. Reiner was about to think Evelyn missed the train when a body collided with his and he reconized the brown hair. Evelyn wrapped her arms around Reiner and hugged him. He returned the hug.

"I'm glad your home." Evelyn said. Reiner pressed a kiss to her head.

"It's good to be home. I missed you." Reiner said.

"I missed you too." Evelyn said. Reiner burried his face in her hair enjoying having her in his arms after being gone 2 months.

"Reiner." Karina said. Reiner looked up and Evelyn looked towards her mother in law and smiled. "You must be exhausted. Let's get you home so you can rest." Reiner smiled.

"Hey, Mom. A little rest sounds good." Reiner said, wrapping an arm around Evelyn. They walk with their family towards Reiner and Evelyn's home. Soldiers that were badly hurt lined by a wall. A man with long brown hair with a missing leg and eye wrapped caught Evelyn's eye.

'Eren? What are you doing?' Evelyn thought. She decided to figure it out some other time. Reiner had pulled her away to move faster. She did miss Eren giving Reiner a glare as the two walk with Reiner's family.

At Reiner and Evelyn's house. Evelyn and Gabi got the food out on the table. Karina had agreed to do a welcome home dinner at Reiner's house. Cagney was sleeping in Reiner's lap as they got the food out.

"This food smells good, Evelyn." Gabi's mother said.

"Thank you. Karina helped me." Evelyn said as she sat down next to Reiner. They got the food on the plates and started to eat as Gabi told the story of how she blew up the train to save people. Evelyn hated talks of this at dinner, but Gabi was so happy. Reiner grabbed her hand under the table and squeezed it. She looked at him and smiled. He returned it.

"Kaboom!" Gabi yelled, pulling Reiner and Evelyn back to present as everyone laughed. "The grenades landed exactly where I'd aimed them and blew the train right off it's tracks. I'd actually pulled it off. But as I was running back to the trenches, the enemy shot a machine gun at me, and just as I was about to eat lead, uh.. Mr. Galliard jumped in out of nowhere and protected me with his Jaw Titan."

"That's amazing, Gabi!" Gabi's mom said.

"It sounds like a whole bunch of soldiers owe their lives to your bravery! Our little girl has grown into an Eldian hero." Gabi's father said. Gabi laughed.

"We couldn't be prouder of you, dear." Gabi's mom said.

"Reiner." Karina said. Reiner looked at his mother. "Do you think Gabi will become a Warrior like you?" Evelyn looked at Reiner.

"Yeah. After what she pulled off at Fort Slava, she's all but guaranteed to inherit my Armor." Reiner said. Gabi looked surprise. Evelyn stood up and started gathering the plates.

"That's wonderful to hear. To think that our family will be blessed with two Warriors. It's such a rare honor. I just hope you'll find a way to rid the world of those island devils." Karina said, her voice changing to anger. A shattering of plate comes as Evelyn drops a plate.

"Sorry. I'll just.. clean it up." Evelyn said. Reiner saw the hurt on her face at his mother's words. She had been born and raised there and the last four years she had been trying her hardes to prove that all Island Devils aren't bad. She had earned it. Evelyn quickly picked up the pieces.

"Sorry, Evelyn. I didn't mean you." Karina said. Evelyn stood up.

"I might have been born on Paradis. But I lived among you as a regular Eldian. I don't appreciate hearing insult of my friends and family that are still there. Excuse me. I'm gonna retire." Evelyn said. She came up to Reiner and pressed a kiss to his check. "I'm sorry."

"I'll be up soon." Reiner said. Evelyn picked up Cagney and left the room. Reiner turned to his mother. "I thought we were past this. Hasn't Evelyn earned your trust now?"

"I'm sorry. I forget she is now one of us and forget where she comes from." Karina said. Reiner stood up and cleared off the table. He didn't say anything and the others soon left. Karina waited a minute. "Let Evelyn know I am sorry. She has become like family now."

"I know, mom, but she does miss home. She considers Liberio her home, but she would like to go home when the time is right. Magath has okayed for her to go home when I transfer my Armored. I want you to go with her if you want." Reiner said. Karina looked surprise. "She won't make you if you don't want to."

"I'll think about it. I might consider it if you give me a grandchild." Karina said. Reiner chuckled.

"We'll see." Reiner said. Karina left.

Evelyn was standing by the window looking out on the streets. She wondered where Eren was and wondered if she spotted him among the injured soldiers. She'll find out tomorrow.

Evelyn didn't hear Reiner come up and into the room. She jumped when he wrapped his arms around her.

"My mother says sorry. She considers you family still and just forgets you came from there." Reiner said, pressing a kiss to her check.

"I just wanted to leave before I said something I would regret." Evelyn said. Reiner turned her around and pulled her against his chest. Evelyn wrapped her arms around him and burried her face in his chest. "I'm just glad your home."

"So am I." Reiner said. He kissed her.

Late at night. Reiner woke to a nightmare of Evelyn and Mikasa attacking him with the Thunder Spears. He grabbed his head and looked over. Evelyn had her back to him. Cagney was curled around her head. Reiner sighed. It was just a dream. Reiner reached for his wife and pulled her to him. She rolled in her sleep and burried her face in his chest. Reiner burried his face in her neck. Reiner hoped he wouldn't have to leave for war anytime soon, but he didn't know that Eren was here in Marley and was planning something.

AN: Some peace for now for them. Till next time.