[And that’s just the damn thing with family, isn’t it. By any definition. Love ’em, hate ’em… they’re still there. In some way.]

[Finally, with a long breath out, Aubrey succumbs to defeat. His father’s long gone now, and Eren is here and crying and painfully human as he ever has been. She pulls at his face, gently, inviting him to drop his head on her.]

[He doesn’t have to say anything.

[He shouldn’t have to carry it alone.]