AN: This has been stewing around in my mind for quite a while now. I hope you all like it! Thank you to the sweetest sugar for telling me Tris' mother's name! :D I've changed it from Carol to Natalie.

This takes one year after Divergent. Erudite didn't make the Dauntless attack Abnegation, and Caleb didn't find anything when he researched the serum, so he completed his initiation and is now Erudite. However, Erudite and Abnegation are still at odds with each other. Will is still alive, since Abnegation was not attacked and Beatrice didn't have to shoot him.

Chapter One

"So, we're here," Tori says, gesturing to the school.

We're standing in front of the school. We are part of the volunteers that came to give the sixteen year olds their Aptitude Test. I blink as I stare at the school that I went to just a year ago. One year ago, I took my aptitude test in this building. As my blue eyes dart from the school to my black clothing, I remember that I am not only Dauntless. I am also Abnegation. And a part of me, a part that I deny, is Erudite.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. I don't think that I'm ready for this.

As if she's read my thoughts, Tori places a hand on my shoulder. "You can still go back, you know." Then her lips twitch. "I'm sure Four will be more than willing to help take your mind off things."

My cheeks burn. "Oh, shut up," I nudge her playfully.

A grin spreads across her face as she nudges back. "Come on, Tris! You honestly think we all don't know what to two of you do behind closed doors?"

I try to make my expression dignified, but I probably just look annoyed. "Nothing more than we do around the rest of you," I say indignantly.

Tori laughs. "Oh, so you do that outside now? I didn't know you had it in you!"

Instead of trying to argue, I just smile. "Well, I'm Dauntless, aren't I?"

"That you are, Tris," she swings an arm around my shoulders as we walk towards the elevator. "That you are."

As we stroll into one of the classrooms, I scan the room for my mother. Surely she's among the volunteers. She does this every year.

There she is, with the other volunteers from Abnegation. All together, there are ten volunteers. Seven are Abnegation. Tori and I are both Dauntless. Another woman, one I do not recognize, is from Amity.

My eyes stay on my mother, willing her to look up at me. It seems like it's been simply ages since I last saw her during Visiting Day last year. When I realized that she was Dauntless. What could possibly make her transfer to Abnegation? I wish I could ask, but I know she will not answer me. She'll just smile and say that there shouldn't be any more questions about her. As she stands there in her plain grey clothes, I pick at a thread on my short black dress that Christina gave me a few weeks ago.

She looks in my direction and a smile lights up her face. The woman she is talking to, Jane Swanson sees, her looking at me, and, like the selfless woman she is, immediately tells my mother she should go see me. My mother thanks her and comes over where Tori and I are standing.

Suddenly, I feel like I want to cry. I haven't seen her is so long it feels like decades have gone by. And if I'm being truthful, I haven't realized how much I've missed her until I saw her.

She presses a kiss to my cheek. "Beatrice, it's so good to see you!"

I nod slowly, trying to choke my tears down. "You too, mum," Then, on impulse, I throw my arms around her. She wraps her arms around me and strokes my newly cut hair. A few weeks ago, Christina managed to persuade me to chop my long blonde hair to spunky layers. I wonder how my mother feels about them. Maybe she had them when she was Dauntless.

"I'll be going now," Tori says. "Natalie it's nice to see you again."

Releasing me, my mother nods at Tori. "You too, Tori."

Tori smiles at us before walking over to the woman from Amity. They shake hands and begin talking.

"So, Beatrice, how's everything in Dauntless?" my mother asks.

"It's okay," I reply, my cheeks colouring again when I remember what Tori said earlier. I grin easily. "Better than okay, actually. It's great. How's dad? And how are you?"

"Your father and I are both fine. How is Four? The one from Visiting Day?"

I'm sure my cheeks must be bright red by now. Why did Tori have to say that earlier?

"Four is… Well, I think he's good. He hasn't told me otherwise."

There's so much I want to tell her, but we have to leave soon. In two minutes, we will be leaving to go into the rooms to give the students their tests.

My mother smiles. "Your new hair suits you, darling. When I was… Well, before. I had the same hairstyle."

"Like mother like daughter," I say, trying to sound light hearted, but I know I must sound like I have a terrible cold as I try to keep my voice level.

"I'm so proud of you, Beatrice," she kisses my forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too," I whisper.

Then a bell rings. It is time to go.

"It was wonderful seeing you again," my mother smiles again.

"Tell dad I love him," I say, before leaving with Tori.

We're quiet as we walk. Tori has gotten room 6 again. Abnegation. I have room 7. Candor. For a fleeting moment, I wonder if there will be any Divergent students today.

I turn to Tori. "Do you think…," I trail off, knowing she'll understand.

Tori looks grave. "I hope not."

So do I. I do not wish being Divergent on anyone. The terror that I will be found out, and thrown out of Dauntless, even killed, springs up in my mind when I least expect it. It clutches and clings to my mind, and is not easy to shake.

"See you soon," Tori calls. I wave to her, before pushing the door to room 5 open.

As I toy with the vials of the clear liquid, I can't help but wish that I hadn't come today. But then I remember the short but precious time I just spent with my mother, and I smile.

I wouldn't change my mind about coming today. Not for the world.

The first teenager that walks in is a girl called Candice Baker. She's very pretty, with long glossy black hair and startling green eyes.

"I like your dress!" Candice says, plopping down on the chair.

I grin. "Thanks!" I fumble with the wires and electrodes. "I'm Tris."

She tips her head to the side. "I'm Candice."

As I place the electrodes on our foreheads, I pray silently that she's not Divergent. Then I hand her the vial. "Here, drink this."

Without hesitation, she tips it back and drinks it. Then she slumps back against the chair.

I watch in my mind as she selects the knife, and even tests out the point on the basket. Amity is out. The dog appears. She panics at first, before attacking it. She's not Erudite. On the bus, she lies. I chuckle to myself. So, Candor is out of the question. When he says she can save him, she continues to lie, saying that she hasn't seen that person before in her life.

There's no question. This girl is Dauntless.

Her eyes crack open. "Woah!" she exclaims, sitting up straight. "That was intense!"

"Well, Candice." I say, pulling the electrodes off of us. "Your results say that you're suited to Dauntless."

She freezes. "What?"

"You're suited to Dauntless."

She must be terrified. I was, when I pictured leaving my family. But I could not stay. I was not good enough. At least, I did not think I was good enough.

"But I can't be Dauntless! I'm… I'm Candor!" she bites her lip. "What do I do?"

Only she can answer that question.

"You'll have to figure that out for yourself," I pat her back. "You obviously have a lot to think about. But remember, this does not have to change your choice."

She nods before opening the door and walking out.

The next few children are all suited to Candor. There is one more Dauntless, two Erudite and one Abnegation.

Then Violet Anderson comes in.

"Hi!" she grins cheerfully and makes herself comfortable on the chair.

"Hi, Violet, I'm Tris," I say. "Are you nervous?"

She considers this. "A little bit." She admits, twirling a lock of long brown hair around her finger.

I fix an electrode to her forehead and pass her the vial. Her brown eyes widen.

"Don't worry, it won't hurt." I say with a smile.

She nods and drinks it.

I watch her. Her eyes flick between the knife and the cheese. She selects the knife after first reaching for the cheese. Not Amity. The dog appears. She tenses, then calms down and lowers herself to a kneeling position. Erudite. She's Erudite. No doubt about it.

Then it happens.

The dog jumps towards the girl. Immediately, Violet jumps up and plunges the knife into the animal's neck.

Abnegation. Abnegation and Dauntless. Abnegation and Dauntless and Erudite.

She lies to the man on the bus, but this does nothing to help her.

Once she's awake, she must know something is wrong when she sees my expression.

"What?" she asks, looking nervous.

I force a terse smile. "Give me a minute," I tap into the machine and change her results to Erudite. "You are not suited to just one faction."

Her eyes go wide. "I'm… Am I factionless?"

"No. But you are suited to three factions instead of just one." I pause for a moment. "You could do well in Abnegation, Dauntless and Erudite. We call people that are suited to more than one faction Divergent."

She blinks repeatedly and her jaw goes slack. "So you're saying… That I could go to Abnegation, Dauntless or Erudite."

"Not exactly. You could still choose Amity or Candor if you wish." My voice lowers. "Violet. Listen to me. You must never tell never anyone your test results. Ever. If you value your life, you will never say the word Divergent ever again."

If she looked scared when she thought she was factionless, she looks positively terrified now. "What? But how do you know all this?"

"I can't explain it. Never tell anyone. Not your mother, your father or your siblings. Nobody at all. If you must tell anybody, tell them that you got Erudite."

She just stares at me.

"Do you understand?" I ask urgently. "There are people that will try to kill you if they know what I know about you."

The staring continues.

"Do you understand?" I repeat.

She gives me a jerky nod. "Okay," she manages to get out before pushing the door open. Then she pauses.

"One question. Is Dauntless… Is it fun?"

I manage a small smile.

"I love it there." I say honestly. "But I have to tell you, it's not for everyone!"

She nods again, gives me a fleeting, scared look and walks out.

Though all the rest of the tests, I try not to think about Violet. I shut her out of my mind and focus on the task at hand. The results are mostly Candor, with two more Abnegation, one Amity and another Erudite and a final Dauntless.

"What a day!" Tori exclaims later, stretching her arms up in the air. "I thought it would never end. Did you get any Dauntless?"

"Yes, three," I say tersely. "Technically four," I whisper the last part.

She goes rigid for a moment. "You mean…"

"Yup," I sigh. "One."

She smiles ruefully. "Better than me!" her voice lowers. "I got two."

Two. Two plus Violet makes it three. There are at least three Divergent this year.

Maybe I should change the subject. "Any potential Dauntless? Besides those three, I mean."

This brightens her. Her eyes blaze and she grins. "Yup! One Dauntless. Maybe she'll be like you and Four, huh?"

"God knows the world could use more people like me!" I strike a pose.

With the mood officially lightened, we link arms and walk back to the train, chatting about potential Dauntless.

The moment Tori and I jump off the train, I am ambushed by Christina.

"Tris! Any potential Dauntless?" she demands, hands on her hips. Tori chuckles and slips away as Christina waits for my answer. "Well?"

"Yup. Three, and Tori got one." I answer. "I got Candor, so maybe you'll recognize them. If they join Dauntless, that is."

"They should! Obviously. Dauntless is awesome!"

Of course, she's right. Dauntless is amazing.

"Anyway," Christina continues, "Uriah told me to ask you if you'd be interested in helping to train the initiates this year."

Me? Train the initiates? I grin. I would love to do that.

"Count me in!" I exclaim. "I want to see their faces before they jump off the cliff."

"Honey, don't we all?" Christina slips her arm into mine. "So, are you going to the control room now?"

The control room is where I work. Tobias, or as everyone else calls him, Four, works there as well. This may have been why I chose to work there. Maybe. But it only swayed my decision a little, honest. The people there are pretty fun. Actually, people in Dauntless are just fun in general.

"Yup, I think so."

She analyses my face. "You're worried about something." It's not a question.

"Yes." I admit.

"You wanna talk about it?"

"Not really. Not right now." I need time. I can't just lie to her on the spot. She'll know. If I'm going to lie to her, I need to think it through and make it realistic. Maybe practice in front of the mirror. Or on Tobias. But hopefully she'll forget.

"Zip line? It'll make ya feel better!" she does jazz hands.

I grin. "I'm always up for that!"

As we walk towards the zip line, I can't help but think about tomorrow. About the Choosing Ceremony and the new initiates.

I wonder if I'll see Violet here in Dauntless tomorrow.

AN: That's a wrap for this chapter! Drop a review and tell me what you think? :) Pretty please?