I check my watch. 11:05. Christina's supposed to meet me at the café at 11:30, so I have time to take a quick detour. Matthew smiles at me when I get to the pet shop and pick up one of the kittens. I used to be a regular.

"Nice to see you again, Tris."

Time flies quickly saying hi to all of the puppies and hamsters and parakeets. (Sometimes I think I like animals more than I like people.) I dash to the coffee shop, bumping into someone as I run. His deep-set blue eyes glare at me as I apologize. I know those eyes, but I can't place where from.

The café is just a little ways down, and I greet Christina when I see her sitting down on the gray metal chairs. The tablecloth is black, which is a strange color choice, but then I look at the name of the café. The Dauntless Café and Tattoo Parlour. Oh.

"Tris!" Christina shrieks, having caught sight of me. "I haven't seen you in years!"

I grin. "Just a year and a half."

"Just? A year and a half is a long time."

She is right. It has been a long time since I've been in my old neighborhood. Dauntless, we called it. (It was really Faction 5, but everyone there was so crazily courageous that the mocking nickname stuck.) I had moved there from Abnegation and gone to High School with Christina, Al, Will, Uriah, Marlene, Lynn, Shauna, Zeke, and he-who-must-not-be-named.

No, not Voldemort.

Four. Will's second cousin, Zeke's best buddy, and an all around pain in the a-

Anyway, it had been a long time since I had been here and thought about that.

High School was…strange.

Christina, Will, Al and I were all in our little group, but Christina and I were best friends, Al had an embarrassing crush on me, and Christina and Will were-

Oh, boy. That was a drama within a drama within a drama.

For a while, Will and Chris teased each other constantly. You wanted a day without them arguing? You wish. It was always something. Maybe Chris was a walking lie detector, or extremely tactless. Maybe Will was a walking textbook, or ohsoboring. Whatever the daily disagreement, all they did was provoke and annoy each other, and Al and I learned to deal with it. If they weren't being friendly and they got offended, I would get an earful of why are you friends with her?or why are you friends with him? But mostly it was just stupid teasing and everything was fine.

Chris, of course, then had to pull a huge prank on Will in retaliation for his calling her an idiot (she was only touchy about it when he called her that, for some reason) in retaliation for her-

Whatever. The list went on and on and on.

So Will wouldn't talk to her and was really mad. And I was caught in the middle. Again. Then, Will gained some exceptionally bad dirt on Christina, but didn't tell anyone (Al and I puzzled over that for months), and Christina could've hacked into all of his social media stuff but didn't, and it was all so confusing.

Then Al confessed his feelings for me but Four-the-incredibly-stupid kissed me out in the middle of nowhere (I had to tutor the creep and we were yelling and then wham) and it all went downhill fast.

To be honest, it wasn't the greatest High School experience one could have.

Christina and Marlene and I had often referred to it as "Cry School" or "Chaos in a Building".

We were right.

So after school ended I hightailed it to London for college. It was quaint and fun and Four-free, but I had missed home more than I cared to admit. I went back for birthdays and Will and Christina's wedding and Shauna's baby shower and stuff like that, but I wanted to go back and live there again. Dauntless (Faction 5, whatever) was my home.

So for the past six months, I've lived in my old apartment. Everything's been grand and such, but I still feel like there's something missing.

A vision pops into my head-one of swirling, dark blue eyes-and annoyingly will not go away.

"Sooo…" Christina starts slowly, ending the small talk. We both like to cut directly to the chase, Christina and I. I suppose that's why we're such just great friends.

"Yes?" I ask.

"You know how things change? A lot?"

"Where are you going with this?" My mind races off. Who died? Who got divorced? Who was exiled to Antarctica?

Hey, don't laugh. If anyone could do it, Zeke could. Or Uriah.

Christina pats my hand awkwardly, as if trying to bring me back to earth. "Well…" she breaks into a large grin. "I'm pregnant!"

For a second I am stunned into silence. Then a noise comes out of my throat at a pitch that I never want to hear again and I throw my arms around her.

"This is amazing!"

She lets out a breath. "Really?"

"Of course," I say. Christina and Will are going to have a kid.

We grab our drinks, which have just arrived. I take a sip of my coffee while Chris gulps down her apple cider, and I check out her stomach, which is in fact stating to show. How couldn't I have noticed?

"Oh, right!" Chris snaps her fingers, as if remembering something. She slaps a hand to her forehead. "I almost forgot. You're the Godmother!"

My jaw drops open. This is spectacular and such an honor but Christina seems to have forgotten that kids don't actually like me.

I mean, I get it, even I don't like me, but little kids avoid me like the plague. Apparently I do not appeal to kids under seven.

I squeeze Christina hard anyway. "Thank you so much." I hope no one can hear the uncertainty in my voice.

She continues. "Now I know you're complete and utter crap with kids-"

Nice observational skills.

"But you just need the practice. Besides, you'll have help."

I look up with interest "There'll be a godfather? Who?"

Her brown chestnut eyes look at me guiltily. My own eyes widen. Not-

"Four."

Well, this is abso-freaking-lutely wonderful.

"Before you start to rant," she cuts in, noticing my expression, "he's great with kids-"

I try to imagine Four holding a screaming toddler. Uh, no.

"and honestly, out of Zeke, Uriah, and Four, who would you pick to watch over your infant child in the unfortunate event that you passed away?"

She's got me there. I'm still confused, though.

"Since when were you that close to Four? Last I checked he was just Will's older, aggravating, distant cousin."

She stares at me. "You really have missed a lot while you were away, Tris."

That nags at me, but I push it aside. "So, what have I missed?"

As she fills me in on Aléjandro (Zeke and Shauna's pride and joy/toddler), the whole Uriah/Marlene/Lynn thing, and years worth of gossip, I can almost forget that I have to work with Four the idiot. Almost.

I mean, who just kisses somebody they obviously hate and who obviously hates them back and just leaves?

"Oh, and by the way," Christina adds, "We might ask you two to babysit."

No. "You are a despicable human being," I moan.

She shrugs. "I know." We share a smile. It's been a long time since I've really talked with Christina, and I've missed it.

"Why isn't Will here?" I ask.

She smirks. "He's telling Four. I think he's doing it now because he was scared of your reaction, though."

I snigger.

We pay and exit, chatting as we walk to meet up with the gang. And everything is all right.

My good mood instantly evaporates when I see a brooding Four slouching behind all of my friends. A part of me comments on how handsome he looks even with a scowl on his face. I tell that part of me to shut up. Immediately.

But he really is cute-

Shut up, me, I think.

Marlene squeals when she sees me. "Tris! I haven't seen you in so long." Her smile is large and genuine. I offer one back.

Uriah high fives me, Zeke gives me a pat-hug-shoulder thing, Shauna actually hugs me, Marlene nearly strangles me, and Will gives me an easy grin. Lynn messes up my hair with a "Tris."

Four won't meet my eyes, and when Uriah announces a catch-up at his brother's place, I sigh. Cooperating with him is going to be so much fun.

We all decide to camp out at the Pedrad's. We are assigned tents, but we all eventually make it outside to stare at the stars. Aléjandro somehow makes his way over to me.

"Who are you?" His brown eyes stare at me suspiciously. I realize I haven't seen him since he was born, and my heart swells. Aléjandro hasn't had time to hate me yet. Maybe this will be different.

"Are you my mommy's friend? My daddy's friend?"

I nod.

He seems skeptical. I'm about to tell him my name, but then he sees Four and practically sprints to get over to him, trampling over my legs in the process.

"Four! Four! Four!"

For once Four actually smiles. "Sup, Alé?" He scuffles Aléjandro's hair and gives him a fist bump.

"Who's that, Uncle Four?" Aléjandro says, pointing a small finger at me. It's obvious from the admiring way he looks at Four to the way he hides behind him shyly that the two share a bond.

"Tris," I say loudly enough to answer Alé's question. Alé furrows his brow. He asks Four what my name is again.

Four nods at Aléjandro deeply as if he is about to spew out a great philosophical quandary about the most wonderful being on the earth, namely myself. But no, he merely cocks his head and focuses on Alé. There is a mischievous look in his blue-black eyes, and it makes me bite my lip. What is he planning?

"That," he begins, "is Mrs. Afro Girl."

Now, if I was a kid, I probably would've doubted the logic behind this remark, but apparently for Aléjandro, Four's word is law.

I reach out to hug him, whispering in his ear, "It's actually Tris."

He squirms away. There is still a seed of hope in my mind that he will not fall prey to Four's scheme. He won't, will he?

"Mrs. Afro Girl," he says, and I flop onto my sleeping bag. Why was Four born? To irritate the crap out of me, I suppose.

I tap Alé on the shoulder, hoping to save him from the eternal clutches of the demon (Four).

He screeches, "Mrs. Afro Girl is being a meanie!"

And I was on such a good streak there. Another day, another crying kid to add to my conscience.

Everyone looks at Alé, who is pointing an accusatory finger in my direction. Uriah is the first to comment.

"Mrs. What now?"

"Afro Girl, Uri," explains Alé in the most condescending voice a two-year old has. Four sniggers.

"What is it, Uncle Four?"

"Nothing."

Christina butts in. "What he means to say is-" I shoot her a grateful look.

"Mrs. Afro Girl of the planet Zanzibar."

I take said gratefulness and warm feelings away.

Marlene giggles. "Nah, it's Mrs. Afro Girl, Queen of the planet Zanzibar."

"Who only eats loompahs," Lynn adds.

Uriah grins. "And loves hot pink."

"All she wants for Christmas is her two front teeth," Shauna interjects.

Will catches on. "Every day she brushes her teeth with a Tootsie Roll."

"And she absolutely adores make-up and Hello Kitty." Zeke finishes.

"You are all childish," I groan. Aléjandro merely seems confused.

"I'm just gonna call you Aunty Tris."

"As in the aunt to his uncle?" I immediately ask, pointing over my shoulder at a now frozen Four.

But Alé seems to be asleep. Shauna winks at me and carries her little monster to bed.

"Who's ready for some Never Have I Ever?" crows Marlene.

Twenty minutes into the game, I still have six fingers up. Four-ironically-has three.

It is my turn. "Never have I ever…had sex." It's true.

Christina points to her semi-swollen stomach. "You all know my answer." She, Will, Shauna, Zeke, Uriah and Marlene all put a finger down.

So, the great Four is in a group with Lynn and I? Interesting. I sneak a look at his face. He is making a point to not so much as glance at anyone, though his eyes do connect with me for one brief instant.

The game ends after a few more rounds ("Never have I ever watched My Little Pony…and hated it.") and we decide to hit the hay, laughing at the day's antics as we do so.

Finally, I feel complete.

Maybe moving back was a good choice.

This is a plot bunny that simply would not go away. Hopefully this is pretty nice! I'll probably continue it after I finish up and of course they were listening, my other multi-chap story, but only if I can get 10 reviews. To clear things up: Tris is 26. (You can probably figure out everyone else now.) She stayed in London for a bit after college, but is going to stay back in Chicago now. This is a Modern AU, and there will be Fourtris. Don't worry. There are so many high school and college fics; I decided to do something different.

Important Questions:

Uriah/Marlene or Lynn/Marlene? I honestly can't decide (which is why there weren't really any cute moments in this chapter). I love them both! Also, I need a name for Christina's baby. Thoughts?

Thanks a bunch! 10 reviews and I will update (after aoctwl is finished). If you have any questions, just PM me or ask it in a review.