This is my second One-shot. All rights to Veronica Roth.
"We leave in 20 minutes" the General says. I hug Tobias tighter, my cheeks wet with tears.
"Tris, I need to go..." he tries to say "I am going to miss you so much" I sob again. He lets go of me and takes our four years old son in his arms, Chris.
"I will miss you daddy" It breaks my heart to hear this. He is four years old, he needs a father. Tobias will leave for one year or more, we don't even know. Everything could happen. I cry again and Tobias gathers me in his arms again. My hands clutch his military uniform.
"Tris, I love you" I crash my lips to his. He puts his hands on my growing stomach. I am 5 months pregnant and he still needs to leave. Life is unfair.
"I love you. Please come back" I whisper so Chris doesn't hear.
"I promise. I love you all." He takes Chris in his arms and we hug together.
"10 minutes" The General says. Tobias drops Chris and kisses his head.
"You are going to be good with mommy and help her with your sister." Tobias says with a smile. Chris nods and tries to hold back tears. Tobias kisses my stomach then my lips.
"I am sorry for leaving you, but you know that I love you and I will come back." He eventually lets his tears go which make me cry even more. I kiss him. He hugs us one last time then picks his bag and leave with the other soldiers. Chris stands next to me, his head high without crying. He is so brave, I'm so proud of him. My left hand rests on my stomach while I wipe my tears with my right hand. Tobias is out of sigh and Chris finally cries and hugs my leg. I pick him and we cry together.
"Daddy is gone" he hiccups
"He will come back, I promise" I manage to confort him. Suddenly, I feel a hand on my shoulder and I lift my head. I see an old lady with a small smile. She rubs my shoulder.
"Don't worry, he will be back" I shake my head but the tears spill again. She hugs me as she can with Chris in my arms and my belly. "My grandson left too, but I know he will come back, so will your husband"
"It's all I wish, for him" I say looking at Chris then at my stomach "and for her" She rubs my back and smile.
"He will"
"Thank you" Someone call her and she leaves. Chris lifts his head from my neck.
"When daddy come back ?" I try not to cry.
"I don't know. A year" his eyes fill with tears and he buries his head in my chest again. I realize now that there is only us here. Everybody left. We leave too and head toward home.
I am awaken by a baby cry. It's my little girl, Jena. She is 5 months old. Tobias left 9 months ago. He tried to send letters but I only got 2, the others didn't arrive. I get up, trying not to wake Chris. He often sleeps with me since he has nightmares, all of them about Tobias never coming back. I miss him so much. I enter our daughter's room. She cries more and more.
"Hey baby girl. Mommy is here" I take her in my arms, she immediately stops crying. I turn around and see Chris in the doorway rubbing his eyes. I sit on the little couch and he sits next to me.
"Baby woke me" he says.
"I am sorry, but she is hungry." I grap a bottle and give it to her. She eats quickly and Chris stays beside me, watching her. "Do you want to hold her ?" he nods and smiles. I make him sit properly and place her gently in his arms. I teach him how to hold her. He kisses her forehead which cause me to tear up. He looks so much like Tobias. She yawns and Chris smiles.
"Baby is tired" I chuckle and take her to place her in her crib. I turn to Chris.
"What do you want to do today ?"
"Park ?" I smile.
"Okay, go get dressed" he runs to his bedroom. I go outside to the mailbox. I look through the letters. Taxes, a postcard from Shauna and Zeke from England, more taxes and a blue letter.. Once I am inside, I place the letters on the counter except the blue one. I open it and my breath catches in my throat, it's from Tobias.
"Mommy, I'm ready" Chris yells.
"Can you wait in your bedroom ?"
"Okay" he runs back in it. I breath heavily and manage to open the letter. I take a deep breath and begin to read.
January, 20th
Dear Tris,
I am happy to finally have the time to write to you.
God Tris, I miss you so much. I love you and each seconds is a new battle for me.
I talked to the General and he said I can leave in 6 months. I am couting each minute before I can be back next to you.
I think you want to know how I am doing, well I am good. I found high school friends, it's weird . When I told them we are married, they all yelled ' I knew it'. We were meant to be. Not my words.
I can't wait to see you again, I miss Chris so much and I can't wait to meet our little girl. I feel like an horrible father, I don't even know her name. I know you can't send me the news but it kills me not knowing how your doing. I love you so much Tris.
I don't have time to write more.. I am sorry.
I promise we will soon be together again.
I love you with all my heart
Tobias.
P-S: Tell them I love them and I can't wait to see them.
At the end, I am fully crying and sobbing. He wrote that letter two months ago. He will be back in four months but everything can happen. I hear footsteps and I see Chris in the corner of my eye.
"Baby cried, but sleeps now" then he sees me crying. His bottom lips quivers as I open my arms for him and he runs to me. I sit him on my lap and hold out the letter.
"Daddy wrote a letter" he looks at me, his eyes water.
"He goes home ?" he asks hopeful.
"Not now, he will be here in four months. He said that he loves you and he is looking forward to see you." he snuggles in my chest.
"Why don't me stay home today and you draw something for him for when he will come back ? We can go to the park tomorrow. If I remember, it's someone's birthday." He smiles brightly at me when I mention his birthday.
He sits on the floor with his pencils next to the couch. I sit on it with Jena in my arms. I love to watch him draw, he is always so focused. I feel my phone buzzing. It's Christina.
'Hey Tris, what did you plan for tomorrow ?'
'I promised Chris to go to the park. We wanted to go today, but I had a letter from Tobias and I couldn't go out.'
'Oh my god. How is he ? Did he say when he will come back ?'
'He is fine, he comes back in four months... if nothing happen'
'Don't worry, it will be alright'
'So, you want to join us tomorrow ?'
'Of course I will, and I planned a surprise for him with Will'
'Thank you, he needs it. He really misses his father'
'Don't worry Tris'
'Got to '
'See you tomorrow'
"Mommy, look !" I look up and watch my son's drawing. It represents the park we always go. There is a little girl and a little boy, Jena and Chris I suppose, with a man and a woman, Tobias and I. I smile at him and ruffle his hair.
"It's beautiful, honey. He will love it. I texted Christina, she wants to come with us tomorrow"
"Yes !" he sits back down and begin another drawing. I watch him the entire afternoon and he did a lot of presents for Tobias. I look at the clock and it's dinner time.
"Hey, what do you want to eat ? Pizza ?" he nods and goes back to his drawing. I put Jena in her crib and leave to prepare the pizza. Twenty minutes later and it's ready.
"Chris, come on, it's ready" he sits at the table. I watch him eat while I feed Jena.
"Can I take my drawings to show to Christina ?"
"Of course" he finishes and leave again. I clean while I eat the last piece of pizza. I put Jena in bed and join Chris who is watching a movie. "Chris, time to sleep" he pouts
"No, please !"
"Sorry honey, but it's time" I hold him and walk to his bedroom.
"Can you read a story ?" I lay him in his bed and sit on it.
"Which one ?"
"The one daddy always read" I take the book from the shelf and begin to read. Chris quickly falls asleep. I brush his hair off his face and kiss his I go in my bedroom, I lay on my bed and roll on my side.
"I miss you Tobias. Please come back" I close my eyes while the tears slide on my pillow.
The next morning, I get up early and prepare Chris' favorite breakfast. It's always Tobias who do that but I don't want to deprive him of it. I hear footsteps while I put the last pancake on a plate. I turn around and see Chris smiling brightly.
"Happy birthday, honey" I hug and kiss him. "Are you hungry ? I made pancakes" his eyes light up and I laugh. He sits in front of his plate and stares at it.
"It's always daddy who do them" I sit next to him.
"I know, I'm sorry he isn't here for your birthday" he begins to eat and I clean the pan with a single tear on my cheek. My phone rings and I pick it up.
" Hello ?"
"It's Christina, when are we leaving ?"
"You can meet us there in twenty minutes"
"Okay, be there" I turn to Chris.
"Are you done ?" he nods "Alright, time to go" I help him get dressed and we leave 15 minutes later. As soon as the car stops, he runs out to Christina.
"Hey Chris. Happy Birthday"
"Thank you" I put Jena in the stroller and join Christina.
"So, I have a present for you but you'll have it later. Okay ?" Chris smiles, really happy.
"Okay. Can we go mommy ?"
"Go with Christina, I'll stay with Jena" I sit on the blanket I put on the floor and hold Jena while watching Chris playing. He grows so fast. He is already five. I watch around me and see a soldier with a cast on his left arm sitting on a bench. He is wearing his military uniform and a military cap. I immediately think of Tobias.
Chris and Christina come back.
"Mommy, I want to play with you" I look at my bestfriend
"Go, I'll watch Jena" I thank her and run with my son to the swing. I play with my son. I love to spend time with him. I check on Jena and see Christina making faces to her.
"Mommy, I want to go to the slides"
"Alright lets go" He runs there while I walk. There isn't any place to sit but the bench with the soldier. I stand behind him.
"Excuse me, can I sit here ?" he doesn't look at me.
"There is always a place for you babe" I stop. He turns around and I cry. I run in his arms and hugs him. I kiss him everywhere on the face.
"Tobias...I missed you so much. I love you" He holds me close to him, without hurting himself.
"I love you so much Tris." I kiss him again but we are interrupt by Chris.
"Mommy ?" I look past Tobias' shoulder. Our son is confused. I smile at him.
"I think I found out Christina's present" Tobias turns around and Chris screams happily. He runs in his fathers' arms and cries.
"I missed you so much Chris" Tobias cries. I join them in their hug. I can't believe he is here. I look at Christina and she is smiling widely. I soon realize that Tobias never met his daughter. I wave Christina over and she comes. I run to her and take Jena.
"Thank you" I whisper to her and she winks.
As soon as Tobias sees our little girl, he cries more.
"Oh my god, she is beautiful, she is so tall " He takes her and holds her and kisses her. I wipe his tears and he kisses me. He stares at her and play with her hair. We sit back on the bench, Jena on his lap, Chris on mine.
"How did you come back ?" I ask, he looks up then looks at Chris. It's not a thing to talk with him.
"The General sent me home because of my arm. I came back two days ago and I ask Christina to help me for his birthday." I kiss him. God, I missed his kisses. Chris keeps looking at Tobias then he stands and runs to Christina. Soon, he is back with papers in his hands, his drawings. I take Jena from Tobias. Chris sits on Tobias and shows his work.
" I did them yesterday, mommy said you would like them" Tobias smiles at his son as he shows all of them.
"She was wrong, I love them. You did them for me ?" Our son nods and my husband kisses his head. Christina comes to us.
"Do you want me to watch them ? So you can have some time alone"
"Yes thank you" Tobias responds. Chris pouts when he understands he needs to leave but finally agrees. When we are alone, Tobias kisses me again, hard. I break it and stare in his eyes.
"What's the story ?"
"I got shot in the elbow two days after I wrote a letter, with blue paper, I don't know if you received it.."
"Yes, yesterday."
"Okay, well I got shot and they sent me in an hospital. I spent the two last months there, trying to learn to use my arm again. They sent me home two days ago. I have an appointment at the hospital next week so they can remove the cast, it doesn't hurt anymore. The General said I will never leave again because the injury unables me to completely move my elbow."
"Tobias, I am so happy. You'll stay with us." I hug him and he kisses my cheek.
" I told you I would be back" he whispers. "I love you"
"Let's go home" I say. We get up and join Christina and the kids.
"We are going home" Tobias says.
"Thank you Christina, for what you did. It was amazing" she hugs me then leaves.
We hop in the car. I drive and Tobias puts his hand on mine. I look at Chris and Jena and see they are both asleep. When we reach our house, Tobias carries Chris to his bedroom while I take Jena. I put her in the crib and join my boys in my son's bedroom. I see Tobias reading a story but Chris begins to drifft off to sleep. Tobias stops and kisses his forehead.
"Good night buddy, I missed you" I tear up. He gets up and sees me crying but I smile at him. He takes me in his arms and holds me close.
"I love you Tris"
"I love you Tobias" He closes the door and throws me over his shoulder. I laugh and try to escape but his grip is too tight. "Tobias put me down"
"Nope." he lays me on the bed and hovers me, kissing my collarbone. I waited so long just for his touch. He lays next to me and I put my head on his chest while he puts his arms around me. We stay like this, without words. He runs his hand down my back and I draw circles on his chest. I look up at him and kiss him.
"I can't believe you're here"
"I am happy to be home. It drove me crazy not seing you and the kids"
"I understand" He kisses me again but this time it's more heated. I end up straddling his lap and soon enough we get lost in each other. Like those past months never happened. Like he was always by my side.