Deceptions & Secrets
by DivergentPanda46 & FourTrisHEA

When tragedy strikes, Beatrice Prior's life is turned upside down, her plans for the future are jeopardized, and life becomes a lot more complicated. The one silver lining to the path set before her comes in the form of a certain blue-eyed boy in gray.

Unique/Differences to this version:
** Choosing Ceremony occurs when someone is 18, no longer 16
** Ages at story start: Tobias is 17, Twins Beatrice and Caleb are 16.
** There is a little over a year age difference between Tobias and the twins.
- Tobias's Birthday is May 18th
- Tris & Caleb's Birthday is July 8th
** There will no war in this story
** Initiation lasts two months rather than 2-3 weeks

Disclaimers:
**The Divergent Series and its characters are property of the original author, Veronica Roth. Quotes from the original book series may be integrated into the story on occasion- if you recognize it from Divergent, we didn't write it.**

This story contains implications and references to adult-intimate-situations, minor foul language, domestic/child abuse, and mild violence.

M-Rated Scenes: This story is rated T. Some chapters, however, will have alternative M-rated versions for those who wish to read them; we are publishing a shell for that now, so that you can go ahead and follow it if you would like to receive alerts when we do post those chapters. It can be found through my (divergentpanda46) author's profile page.

Cowriter's Note:

This story is being co-written by two authors, myself (DivergentPanda46) and my wonderful and talented friend, FourTris_HEA. This is both of our first experience with co-writing a story, though we have been discussing plot points, proofreading, and helping with revisions on each other's individual stories for several months now. You may notice that the writing style varies from one chapter to the next.

We have been planning and beginning the writing on this story for a couple of months now and are really excited to share it with you all! Currently, our plan is to post one chapter a week (Mondays).

As one last note- we are both committed to completing any work we publish, so don't worry, we won't stop updating the stories we are each individually working on (currently, "Roommates" for me, DivergentPanda46 and "mended vs. settLed" for FourTrisHEA.) Thanks for reading!

PROLOGUE

Beatrice POV - Early December

Every Wednesday, the council, which is the governing body of our city, meets to discuss current issues. On those days, my father comes home tired, stressed, and usually late. Tonight was my turn to make dinner, and I started it a half hour later than usual. I don't want my father to have to eat a cold meal after a long day. I finished cooking the chicken just before he came in the door tonight, and my twin brother, Caleb, and I had the food on the table before Father finished washing his hands.

Caleb and I sit down at the table and wait. First Mother joins us. Father skims his hand over my blond hair as he makes his way to his chair. The Abnegation rarely show physical affection- the most I have ever seen my parents touch is occasional hand-holding at the dinner table- so the gesture fills me with warmth.

We say grace and begin to eat. The corners of my father's lips turn downward in a slight frown, and the crease between his eyes is prominent. It must have been a difficult day.

I hold my breath waiting to see if my father's expression will give away the severity of this latest issue. I am still on edge after the serious tensions our society dealt with three years ago. There was a severe unrest with how things were governed and it appeared that the Erudite wanted to challenge us for the right to be the governing faction. From overhearing my parents' discussions I know that, for a short time, war was a possibility. It was also then that I learned about the term Divergent; it is something that is still feared today. Divergents are people in our society that do not fit into one of the five factions. It is frowned upon, something that was never spoken of. Erudite had accused Abnegation of hiding Divergents in the Factionless sector or even in our own faction. War would have been ridiculous as the faction to win would be which ever Dauntless sides with, as they have the weapons and combat training.

Thankfully the leaders of the five factions were able to meet and negotiate a truce. One of the outcomes of that truce was to change the age at which a person has their Choosing Day. It used to be sixteen, but they all agreed that allowing the choice to happen at eighteen would allow for the youth of our future to make a more mature decision. I was never able to hear how the Divergent issue was resolved, nor was it something I was willing to ask my mother about. She would have known I had overheard my parents' private discussion.

I shudder remembering what a stressful time that was for our family. I wait quietly to hear if my parents will discuss the concerns of today in front of us.

"Tell me, Andrew," my mother says gently to my father. Caleb and I do not speak at dinner unless directly asked a question; our listening ears are our gift to our parents. It will be our turn to speak when we gather by the fire in the sitting room after dinner. "Tell me what is bothering you. The meeting didn't go well?"

Father sighs. "The meeting was fine. I'm concerned about Marcus. He seemed distracted today. I wonder if he is well?" Our faction, Abnegation, is the governing faction of our city. The responsibility falls to us because we value selflessness; power is best left to those who do not desire it. My father is the second most influential official on our council, and Marcus Eaton is the first. Marcus is a widower; his wife passed away years ago, leaving Marcus to raise their son on his own. I have never met Marcus's son.

My father is telling my mother more about today's council meeting, but my mind wanders. Abnegation are not supposed to gossip, but sometimes they do- we are human, after all. Yesterday I heard our next door neighbor, Mrs. Black, talking with Mrs. Jones from across the street about Marcus Eaton. Mrs. Black was pointing out to Mrs. Jones how odd it was that Marcus still has not remarried nearly a decade after his wife's death. Most Abnegation marry again very quickly when widowed, especially if they have children to raise. As the women's conversation continued, they commented how different things are for a man versus a women in this instance. Marcus was easily able to support himself and his child. However, a woman left without her husband would be destitute and need to remarry as soon as possible. Still, I wonder why Marcus never did? As far as I know, just like my own family, the Eatons don't have extended family nearby to help out.

I wonder what it was like for Marcus's son, growing up without his mother. I can't imagine losing one of my parents. My mother is so kind and selfless, and patient and gentle. My father is much more opinionated than is typical of the Abnegation, but he tries his best, and I admire him. I am close with my brother as well- we don't always get along, but he is still my best friend.

After dinner we enjoy our family time by the fire. Mother and I knit blankets for the factionless while Caleb tells us about what he learned in science class today. The routine of each day is reliable and comforting. It's often difficult for me to remember not to talk too much about myself and things that interest me- speaking too much about myself would be selfish, and would earn me a disapproving glare from Caleb- so I usually listen more than I speak.

Soon Caleb goes to do his homework in his bedroom. I completed mine earlier; he is probably doing something extra. I go to my favorite place to think: the roof. There is a fire escape outside my bedroom window, and if I balance one foot on the railing, I can reach the top of the flat roof of our gray, concrete house and pull myself up.

The roof is covered in snow, but my coat is long and keeps me dry, and the night is clear. It's a perfect night to think and watch the stars, though I will have to be sure I don't stay out in the cold too long.

All around me are rooftops identical to the one I sit on. Everything in Abnegation is uniform in this way. We live in identical houses, we wear our hair in identical styles, we wear the same drab, baggy clothing. We strive to forget ourselves, and to make ourselves blend in as much as possible. Today I saw the pine trees in the city center. People were buying them and carrying them home. Caleb told me that they call them Christmas trees, and people put pretty lights and decorations on them, then they put the Christmas gifts under the tree.

I've never received a gift before, and we don't celebrate Christmas in Abnegation, though we do spend that day helping the factionless. Birthdays are acknowledged with a day free from chores, though it always feels to me a bit like a test: if I am truly selfless, I won't accept the day off. I always do anyway. Caleb and I turned sixteen in July, just a few weeks after the Choosing Day.

I love my family and hate the idea of ever leaving them, but selflessness just does not come naturally to me. Not like it does for my parents and for Caleb. Can I be happy here, always blending in, never thinking of myself, for the rest of my life? In two and a half years, on June 15 when we are eighteen years old, Caleb and I will choose the factions we will spend the rest of our lives in. Can I be selfless enough to choose to stay for my family? Maybe I can. I'm not sure. I am fascinated with Dauntless, the brave faction, but a lot can change in two and a half years, and I am not sure I could ever leave- not when it means leaving my family behind. Maybe by then I will want to stay in Abnegation gray, but if I were to choose today, I think I would want to be in Dauntless black.

When I can no longer control my shivering, I climb off the snow-covered roof and back through my bedroom window.

The next morning, my late night out on the roof catches up with me. Mother touches my forehead with the back of her hand as I slouch at the breakfast table, the corners of her lips turning down in a frown. I cough and rest my head on the table, using my arm as a pillow. "You have a bit of a fever," my mother tells me. "I think you had better stay home today."

I sigh. Today my father has a meeting at the Hub and is riding the bus with Caleb and me. I was looking forward to the extra time with him. But Mother is right; I don't feel well at all. I must have caught a cold.

I say goodbye to Father and Caleb as Mother boils water to make me some tea before she leaves for work. "Goodbye, Natalie," I hear my father say. "Have a good day. I love you."

Father stops next to me, giving me a kiss on the forehead. "Get lots of rest, Beatrice," he says gently. "I hope to find you feeling better when I return home tonight. I love you."

"Bye, Beatrice," Caleb calls, his hand already on the door handle.

I lift my head off the table and wave at them both. "Goodbye, Dad, goodbye, Caleb. I love you both. See you tonight."

Then my mother gives me my tea and leaves for her job coordinating volunteers, and I am alone.