She still goes by her Dauntless name.
It's simple things like that which are the best things about Tris. Her round face, which she says isn't pretty. I say different. Her mouth, which is quick to quirk itself into a smile. Her arms, which are the right length to envelop me into their embrace.
And then there's Natalie. What I did without her, I don't know. Her chubby cheeks that stretch whenever she giggles. Her small hands, that I can wrap into mine to warm them up. The way jelly is smeared across her face after she eats breakfast. Its's the simple things, really, that make a family. I don't know what I would do without them.
I can feel the matress dip as Tris sits up and swings her legs out. Hear her open the closet and rummage through the hangers. Feel the soft touch of her lips against my ear as she whispers, "Good morning."
I roll onto my side and catch her hand. "What time do you have to be at work?"
"Nine. And it's seven now. Also, before you ask, the babysitter comes at eight thirty."
Groaning, I push my legs off the bed and sit for a minute or two. Finally, as I hear the door to our bedroom creak open, I get up and walk to the bathroom to take a shower.
I shut off the water and climb out of the shower. The mirror is fogged up when I peek at my reflection, and it seems as though I am just a blurry form in a world of gray.
Grabbing a towel and wrapping it around my waist, I head to the closet and grab my simplistic outfit: a black shirt with gray pants. I don't regret abolishing the factions, but somewhere inside me there will always be two small parts. One for Abnegation. One for Dauntless. Thus, the black and gray.
I slip on boots and head out of the room and into the neighboring one. This one is Natalie's, and it houses a jungle animal wallpaper, a small twin bed, a dresser, and a yellow bookcase. Natalie is standing on her bed when I walk in, twirling around with one of her stuffed animals.
"Well good morning, Natalie Mc Matalie," I say, and she giggles at the nickname.
"Daddy!" she exclaims. "Mommy got my clothes. Yesterday, I think. I need help."
I smile and grab the hanger from the doorknob. Today it's a pink romper with white leggings. I help her get dressed then let her run as fast as she can down the stairs to the kitchen. Tris is flipping eggs onto large white plates, and waves when she sees Natalie come in.
"'Morning, Natalie!" she chirps sunnily.
"Good morning, Mommy!" Natalie squals and jumps onto her chair.
Tris slides Natalie's plate in front of her and hands mine to me. Our fingers brush as she does so, and my heart leaps into my throat.
Simple things make a family.