Disclaimer: I own nothing besides my OC's and plot

Chapter 2

The night before the choosing ceremony and I am back in my secret spot. In the Erudite sector a bio-dome was built within the dense forest of the outskirts of the sector. Complete with flora, a tall waterfall and lush greenery, it was created for the exotic flowers and fish that Erudite love to have on hand. It is almost rainforest temperature year round. Which makes it perfect for the Pacific Northwest weather and to escape from it and everything else. I found this spot years ago and it quickly became my spot to get away from my mother. I almost feel like I am in another world here and can let the shit from my real world go for a little while.

Right now I am laying on my blanket on my stomach, my head on my crossed arms and thinking. Tomorrow Eric will be choosing and I had known from the second I saw him taking on three boys his own size if not bigger where he would be going. Dauntless.

I took a risk in getting close to him and while I don't regret it exactly I am not pleased with the feeling I have right now. The feeling of impending hurt and loss. I had done so well to distance myself from all of that when my mother, Jeanine Matthews and several other leaders of Erudite as well as one from Abnegation and Candor each, had been found guilty of horrible things.

I had never had love for her and she had no qualms about doing those things to me. Just having her name made it difficult to get away from her sins. It also didn't help I had known I wouldn't be staying here either.

I hear movement in the foliage and see the outline of Eric in the moonlight, it was shining in from the clear temperature controlled glass dome. He makes his way quickly over to me and drops a bag and then lays himself down and gathers me to him. We don't speak as he takes my mouth in a fierce kiss that is desperate and full of what his heart must be feeling too, heartbreak.

It was a shock to us both how much we came to care for each other and how fast. We were both outcasts by design and by force in our faction. At the same time we were both brilliant and hid that, also by design. We knew we would be going to the home of our fathers', before they had transferred to Erudite, long before we were ten. We have also both been training for that since shortly after that age.

We had so many similarities but just enough differences to challenge each other and piss each other off too. We didn't back down from sparring with each other in words or physically but had yet to become so angry we lost it with each other. What we found in each other deepened hard and fast and we both sort of hated it while holding onto it desperately. He had meant it about seeing me everyday before choosing and it was hard to think that was going away.

He pulls away from the kiss but doesn't go far. I am on my back with my arms wrapped around his neck while he hovers over me. He is looking down on me with his steel grey/blue eyes that are more blue now. I have learned this means he is thinking deeply, sad, or happy.

He moves a hand to tangle in my curly auburn hair and he sighs. "Was this a mistake Thena? Getting involved like this? Because I have to be honest...the thought of leaving you is killing me and that pisses me off." He says through a clenched jaw.

I smile sadly knowing exactly how he is feeling. "I didn't exactly plan it either Eric, but I don't regret it. That all of my firsts weren't with just some random punk….."

He shuts me up by kissing me and growling. Letting me know he didn't want to hear about me with someone else. I couldn't blame him. The thought of him with those girls in Dauntless had been driving me crazy.

Later as our bodies are spent and tangled together he pulls the blanket over us. We plan to spend the night together here in the place where we spent our first night together. His last night before he leaves for his new home. His arm is wrapped around my waist and his short fingernails run up and down my back, in slow and delicate strokes.

"It's only a year Thena. We can make it a year. I will try and visit after initiation. Even if I have to sneak in your window once a week." Eric promises softly.

I nod and swallow, not allowing myself to even think about crying. I don't respond though because if I do I will break and cry. I don't cry and that I feel like I am going to pisses me off.

"Athena…" his voice breaks slightly and I look at him. "I have never said this or wanted to say it to anyone. But I love you. I want to keep my promise Thena."

My eyes fill despite my desire for them not to and my voice is a bare whisper "I love you too Eric. I want you to keep it too, but…" I stop saying that somehow I know he won't.

He nods in understanding with a frown and I can tell he is feeling self-loathing for his nature. It isn't that he doesn't and he won't care, he does. I believe he loves me. Eric is also driven and focused and one track minded and becoming a leader in Dauntless is all he has worked for. He wants to make sure what was attempted four years ago can never happen again. He has goals and he can't have distractions to make them happen. I am a distraction and he will fight the urge to see me with all he has.

"Did you bring the sketches with you Athena?" His voice is deep, telling me he is fighting himself about something.

I sigh and nod. "Eric we don't have to do this."

He growls and pulls me closer "I may be an asshole and a huge dick Athena. I know I am going to change when I get there and that I will have to. But I will never not want this or you. You are mine Athena and you better fucking remember that. I want you to know I will remember it too, that I am yours."

In an answer I pull him to me for a kiss. We deepen it until we pull back panting.

"Ok Eric. You just better fucking remember that you are mine too." I growl and he smirks at me before he nods and sits up then grabs the bag he dropped and my bag beside me.

Recently a new tattoo printer was made by Erudite and Eric had worked on the project as one of the many he was doing in his last year for transfer preparation. Because of that he was able to get one for his own use, but he hadn't wanted to...until now. The 'printer' is a teched out gel pad with millions of tiny needles with programming that transmits the image wirelessly from a scanner or tablet app to it and it prints the image to the flesh. It is perfect for our uses because it has different sizes and can wrap around for a seamless design.

For now though we are doing simple tribal art design type thin bands in white around the normal ring finger for a married couple. Eric was determined that we be as man and wife even if he would be going away. After he loaded the images into the printer, his thicker in design than mine, he placed the pad around my finger then had me do the same for him. He set the machine to do the tattoo and claimed my mouth in a kiss as it began to seal what he said is an actual marriage by Dauntless standards. It takes a total of five minutes to complete. When it does he breaks the kiss, removes the pad from us both and applies the healing cream he got to use.

I can feel he is hard for me again as I had been sitting in his lap while we got the tattoos. Our eyes holding each others I slide over him and we rock together. Clutching onto one another until we come undone calling each others names. There by the waterfall and under the light of the full moon I married Eric Coulter in mind and body, but in Dauntless style.

The next morning we shared small kisses before he left to get ready for his day. He had left me a bag but told me not to open it before he left. I laid in what was now our secret spot for some time before I then grabbed my bags and made my way home.

I lived on my own after the death of my father by my mother and then her own arrest and execution. My Aunt was less than pleased but she was also cold and reminded me too much of my mother so I had gotten emancipated. It was a top floor apartment with a rooftop garden in a five story building. The floor below me was taken by another Erudite orphan by the name of Zander. He and I hardly spoke but he was in my same year and I often saw him running around and training at the school approved competitions or physical fitness classes. Despite our similar situations I had never thought to try and make friends with him. I had been content to be on my own. I passed him on the way up to my apartment and he looked at me strangely as I passed.

"Are you ok Athena?" He asked in a soft but deep voice. I stopped in surprise because I don't think I had ever heard him speak before.

I smile and nod. "Yes, just a long night. Have a good day Zander."

He quirked an eyebrow in a way that let me know he didn't believe me. "Are you going to the ceremony today?"

I sigh and think if I could handle it, seeing him walk away. But I am not a coward and not doing it would piss us both off and hurt him. "Yes, I probably should."

Zander nods and then with a wave to me goes about his day.

I shower and eat numbly, then dress appropriately. I will be heading out for The Hub and to see Eric for what I am sure will be the last time, until I go to Dauntless, as he crosses the stage.

The bag he left has the tattoo printing machine, some books we both found we loved, pictures of us together, a few of his shirts for me to wear and two things at the bottom of the bag that take me by surprise. One is a box containing a ring of a thin silver band with a square cut emerald and two small diamonds on either side, and the other is a 9mm with two mags of ammunition.

He left a note with it as well.

The books are to read before you sleep and dream that I am there with you. The pictures so you do not forget how we are together. The shirts are to help you feel I am there wrapping you in my arms. The ring is to wear to let everyone else know you are mine. The gun is to make sure you make it home to me safely.

You are mine Athena. I will come for you and if not when you come to me I will make sure to remind you of it again.

Slipping the ring on, I pushed the gun under my mattress and then left for the ceremony. I loathe the button up blouse, skirt and heels I have to wear, and my hair in it's bun. I look around and feel revulsion in those around me and their willingness to conform so easily. A year seems too long to remain here and it will be colder without him.

His eyes went immediately to find me as I walked in. I saw his eyes fill with relief at me being there and then longing. His eyes then immediately went to my hand and he smirked when he saw the ring. When he crossed the stage and cut his hand he again locked those intense steel grey eyes with me as he squeezed his hand and let the blood hit the coals. A slow wicked grin crossed both of our faces as he made his way to his section. He mouthed the word 'mine' before I nodded and mouthed 'yours' and he was swept into the sea of black.

I swallowed and watched the rest of the ceremony without really caring about any of it. Then sat a bit longer than necessary as everyone filed out. That night I slept with his shirt on with his pictures framed and on my dresser.