Chapter 3

~Tris~

After the drama that was lunch, the meeting was quickly concluded, with Max having to refuse Marcus' request once again. Well, the meeting wasn't finished yet. Max just told the Council that he was done repeating himself. Then he turned back us and yelled out that he was done with this meeting and for us to get our asses in the fucking truck.

In the few months that I have known Max, I have never seen him this pissed off. He is always cool, calm, and happy, and I have never seen him not make a joke out of a stressful situation to lighten the moon. As of right now, though, max is a ticking time bomb and I am sure that he will explode if he has to see Andrew again anytime soon.

We've been on the road back to Dauntless for less than a minute when Max suddenly slams on the brakes then turns the truck around in the middle of the road. "What the fuck are you doing, Max?!" Eric yells as he holds me to his side so that my body doesn't go crashing into the door.

"Tris!" Max yells out over Eric and Harrison's bitching.

"Yeah Max." I call out and shake my head as I lean forward, causing Eric to move with me. Apparently, he's not willing to let go of me, on the off chance that Max has another abrupt U-turn planned.

"When we get to the Abnegation housing sector, I'm gonna need you to show me where your mother lives." He tells me and I just give him a crazy look. "That's an order, young lady!" The fuck? Why the hell is he screaming at me? "I'm sorry for yelling at you, sweetheart. Just please, show me the way to her house."

I only nod because I'm still fucking stunned that Max just yell at me like that. I mean shit, what the hell crawled up his ass?

I turn to Eric as I set back in my seat and…oh damn. Eric is trying to glare a hole in the back of Max's head for yelling at me like that.

I take Eric clinched fist and rub it until he relaxes it, then I squeeze it to get his attention. "It's alright. Baby, Just please calm down. I'm fine, I promise." Eric takes a very deep breath then nods as he brings my hand up and kisses it.

"Fine, but if he yells at you like that ever again…I'm kicking his old ass." My mean, scary, but very sexy boyfriend grumbles.

When we get to the Abnegation housing sector I lean up in between the the two front seat again. "Take the third left. It's the second house on the right." I point to my old house. "What are you doing, Max?" I look at him pleadingly.

Max ignores me as he parks the truck outside my old home and opens his door. "Get in the driver seat, Harrison." Max huffs then turns back to me and smiles. "I'm getting your mother, Tris. Now, sit your ass down and do not get out of this truck for any reason." Max jumps out and slams the door.

I turn to Harrison before he can get out and follow Max's orders. "What the fuck is wrong with him?" I yell then allow Eric to pull me back into my seat when Harrison ignore my outburst. "I'm so fucking confused." I sigh and I lay my head on Eric's chest. "God, I'm am done with this hellatious day." Eric presses a kiss to my temple and continues to rub my sides while we all quietly wait for Max, and apparently my mother.

Twenty minutes later Max walks out of the house carrying two bags with my mother following right behind him. Max tosses the bags in the bed of the truck before he opens the back door and helps my mother in the seat next to me. Max finally jumps into the front passenger seat and as soon as the door is slammed shut he looks at Harrison and begins yelling again. "Get our asses back to Dauntless, Now!"

I ignore the asshole in the front seat as I set up and pull my mother to me, hugging her tightly. "Are you okay, mom?" I whisper as I comfort her.

"I'm better now, sweetheart." She smiles at me then pats my knee as she leans over me. "Hello again, Eric. I hear that you are my daughters boyfriend now." She hold her hand out to him, and Eric actually shakes it. I'm so proud of him.

"Hello again, Mrs. Prior." Eric nods to her with a mega watt smile. "And yes ma'am; Tris and I are together."

My mom laughs and points to Max. "No dear. Apparently, I am still Mrs. James."

Say what?

"Nat, I told you when you left that I wasn't gonna sign those damn papers." Max grumbles. "You shouldn't have fucking left Dauntless in the first place, woman."

Again…say what?

"And I told you, that if I would've stayed in Dauntless, I would have been hunted down and we all would have been killed for my divergence…and I was already with Andrew, and we had just adopted Caleb when the law was finally passed and divergent's were legally safe. So I couldn't come back to you, Maxwell." My mother sasses right back.

"I could have protected you and Tris, Natalie!" Max yells causing me to snap.

"What the hell is going on?!" I shout and point my finger in my mother's face. "I'm gonna need an explanation, NOW!"

"Can this please wait until we get home, Sweetheart?" Max turns around in his seat and pleads with me. I stare him down for a beat before I finally nod and wrap myself around Eric, burring my face into his chest as he rubs my back soothingly.

Throughout the ride back to Dauntless, my anger continues to build and as soon as the truck is parked in the compounds garage, I dig into my bag, pulling out Max's file and memory chip and toss them to Max before I reach around Eric and open the door to get out quickly , because I really don't want to be around anyone right now.

I try to jump over Eric, but his hold on my waist tightens as I move. I look up at him pleadingly just as he grabs my bag and steps out of the truck with me still in his arms. He quickly leads me into the building and away from the people that have been lying to me my entire life.

"Beatrice please, sweetheart!" My mother calls out to me but I turn and shake my head.

"I need a minute, mother! I'll meet you at Max's apartment later!" I turn and let Eric lead me anywhere but here.

As soon as Eric and I are in his apartment I make my way to the kitchen to grab a glass, then quickly make my way to Eric's room where I left my scotch. By the time Eric makes his way to his bedroom, I have already had two glasses.

"Eric, do you think Max is my dad? I think Max is my dad...Aw hell, I know that he is my dad." I take another drink just as Eric sits on the bed next to me and wraps his arm around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder and his soft warm lips against the side of my neck. "Why would they keep something like that from me? Why would my mother let me believe that I was the daughter of a fucking monster?" I knock back the rest of my third drink just as I feel a tear roll down my cheek. "Eric, have you lied to me about anything? Anything at all? No matter how big or small it is?" I turn to face him.

"I would never lie to you, Tris." Eric takes my empty glass from my hand and sets it on his nightstand before he lifts me up and into his lap so that I'm straddling him.

"I know." I smile. "We have only been together for barely a day, but I just don't want to start what you and I have out on lies." I mumble causing Eric to grin at me as he wipes my tears away.

"It's seems like we've been together for years, Tris. I can't believe that it's only been a day." Eric chuckles as he leans in and presses his soft lips to mine, but quickly pulls back and grins at me. "I guess that's just how it feels when you've been in love with someone for as long as you've known them, huh?"

I nod my head distractedly as I mess with the buttons on his shirt. After a few seconds I suddenly realize what he just said, and my head snaps up so fast that I get a little dizzy. "What?"

"Took you long enough to realize what I just said." Eric chuckles as he cups my cheeks and give me a heart stopping kiss then pulls away with a sexy grin.

"You…You're in love with me?" I can feel my hands shaking as they grip his shirt.

"I am, and I have been since the moment I met you. You said no lies, Tris. That also means no secrets." Eric smiles at me as he situates us so that we're now laying down on his soft bed, cuddled together with my ear presses to his chest over his pounding heart and our leg tangled together.

"Eric, I'm not 100% sure if it's love right now…maybe it is, I don't know. I do know for a fact that I don't want to be with anyone else but you, for as long as I live." I lean up and press my lips to his then giggle. "Since we are being honest with each other, I have a secret to tell you, that might make you laugh…or completely piss you off." I tell him as he runs his fingers through my hair.

"Tell me this secret and lets see what response you get out of me, you silly woman." He chuckles with his lips against my forehead. "Oh and I'm happy that you don't ever want to be with anyone other than me, because I don't ever intend to let you go." Eric leans down again and give me a big smacking and very playful kiss. "Now lets hear this big secret, baby."

"Last night before I came over here, Chris and I were drinking shots of Tequila and playing Truth or Dare. After only a few rounds, she dared me to go and seduce my crush." I turn and look at him to gage his reaction, but he is not giving anything away. I seriously can't tell if he is pissed or not, so I begin to ramble. "I don't regret it one bit, Eric, because if she hadn't dared me while I was drinking, I probably wouldn't have had the guts to approach you. I promise that I wasn't drunk when I came over last night. The Tequila just made my proverbial balls a bit bigger." I continue to ramble because Eric still hasn't moved or said a word.

I'm about to ask him to please say something, but as soon as I attempt to open my mouth, Eric lifts my body so that we're now face to face, then cups my cheek with one hand and wraps the other around my waist. He pulls me tight against is chest and crashes his mouth to mine, kissing me so hard and frantically that my body feels like its burning from the inside.

When breathing become a necessity, I pull away slightly and gasp for air that I wish I didn't need so that I can continue to kiss him like that forever.

"Baby, I'm gonna need you to remind me to get that crazy candor friend of yours a very, very nice gift." Eric grins as he grip my thighs and spreads my legs so that I'm now straddling him. I prop my arm across his chest, and then prop my chin on my arm. While I get comfy on his sexy chest, Eric grins down at me and shakes his head as he tucks his right hand behind his head and rubs my back, down to my ass with his left hand. "Tris, baby I don't care about what made you come to my door last night. I'm just extremely happy that you did, because you really did turn a recurring fantasy of mine into one hell of a reality. I wasn't exaggerating about that, baby."

I grin as I bite my bottom lip and fiddle with the buttons on his vest, checking his pockets for something to mess with while I try my damnedest not to blush at his sweet words, but it's not working so I jump to the subject of my parents, or whatever Max is to me. Apparently he was married to my mother before she transferred to Abnegation. How the hell is that possible? I didn't think dependents could get married. And how the hell did she marry Andrew if she was already married to Max? I'm so damn confused by this entire fucked up situation.

"Eric, what should I do about my mom and Max? How do you think that they were able to get married while they were still dependent's? How did my mom marry Andrew while still married to Max? Do you think I look like Max? I've noticed that he and I have the same eye color." You see, once the first question is out of my mouth, the rest just follows at rabid fire.

"Slow down and breathe, baby." Eric chuckles as he cups my cheek. "Now, for your first question. I think you should talk to them about it and give them a chance to explain everything. As for your second question. All the factions (minus Erudite) will allow a couple to marry before they go through their choosing ceremony, but only if the woman gets pregnant, and I don't really know how your mother was married to both men. Oh, and yes baby, you do have Max's eyes, nose, chin…and temper." Eric chuckles when I slap his chest.

"You love those things about me, especially my temper." I smile as I reach up and drag my fingertip down his scruffy cheek then press my lips to his, in a sweet quick kiss.

"I love everything about you, sweetheart." Eric leans forward to kiss me but stops just as his lips touch mine because in that moment we're interrupted by the sound of my phone ringing.

"Ugh!" I groan as I set up and then grin when I realize that I just inadvertently rubbed myself against Eric's erection, hard. I chuckle at the look he gives me as I reach over and gab my bag. When I finally find my phone I groan again. "It's Max..." I grumble. "…Should I answer it? I really don't want to, Eric."

"You'll need to talk to them eventually, Tris." Eric grabs my phone and answers it for me, then presses to my ear.

The asshole just winks at me as he lays back and tucks both his hand behind his head and stretches out beneath me.

"Hello Max." I glare at my boyfriend and grind my hips against his really hard several times, causing him to hiss loudly, then glare at me as he grabs my hips to stop me.

"Tris sweetheart, I'm just calling to check on you. Your mother is worried sick." Max tells me in a calm tone.

I just roll my eyes. "I already know what you are to me, but I want to here you say it, Max." I hiss at him. "Tell me, please."

I hear Max sigh into the phone. "You are my daughter Tris, but I…"

"Three months!" I tense up and scream. "I have been in this fucking faction for three goddamn months! Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you tell me, Max? Why didn't she tell me?!" Eric sets up and hugs me to him tightly, because I'm screaming and crying now.

"I don't know…I guess I was scared that you wouldn't except me. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you. Please forgive me, baby girl? I love you and your mother with all my heart, and I am so sorry that I didn't say anything…" Oh shit, Max is crying. "I want you know that the worst day of my life was when your mother left Dauntless to protect you. But sweetheart…I also want you to know that the best day of my life was when you came back to me. I missed eighteen years of your life because of a war that would have killed you and your mother if she had stayed here." I begin to sob hard into Eric shoulder as he rubs my back. "Sweetheart, put Eric on the phone. Okay?"

I hand Eric the phone as I continue to cry. Why the fuck couldn't they have told me sooner?

"Max…" Eric is quiet for a few seconds. "I don't think I should…" He sighs then nods. "Alright, Max. We'll be there." I'm brought out of my pity party by Eric as he tosses my phone on his nightstand and hug me tighter. He threads his finger through my hair and lifts my head up so that I'm looking at him. "Baby, just relax and calm down." He presses his lips to mine as he wipes my tears away.

"What…what did he say to you?" I stutter out as I try my damnedest not to tear up again.

"He wants us to come to dinner at his place tonight to discuss why they did what they did. I tried to tell him that this was a family matter, and that I shouldn't be there, but he wouldn't hear of it…"

"And neither will I…" I set up and point my finger in his face. "…If I have to go, then you have to go. I need you there, Eric. Please?"

"Then I'll be there right next to you the whole time." He smiles at me then presses his lips to mine briefly. "I'll do anything for you, Tris."

"Promise?" I try to smile at him, but it's so hard with the way I'm feeling at the moment.

"I promise." Eric smile back then kisses me sweetly. "Now, lets take a nap because it has been one stressful fucking day."

After a few hours of napping and cuddling, Eric and I find ourselves standing at Max's apartment door. Every time he raises his hand to knock I grab it and shake my head, telling him that I'm not quite ready yet.

We've repeated this cycle five times already…

"Tris, we can't just stand out here all night. You'll have to confront them sooner or later." Eric places his hands on my shoulders then leans down to get eye with me. "Where's my warrior at, Tris? Come on baby, let her out and lets face this…together. I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere…ever." Eric grins as he straightens up to his full height, then leans into me and takes my bottom lip between his teeth, tugging on it playfully while growling at me.

I smile as we pull apart and stare into his beautiful eyes, then I take a deep breath and nod. "Okay." I take another deep breath. "Let do this." I nod again just as Eric knocks on the door before I can change my mind...again.

I grip his hand in mine really hard as the door opens to reveal Max. "I was wonder if you were gonna knock on the door or just continue to stand out here all night." Max Chuckles, trying to lighten the moon like he always does as he looks down at me and smiles lovingly, then steps aside to let us in.

Eric and I take a seat on the sofa while Max just stands there and smiles at me, like this one smile could make up for eighteen years of not knowing. The awkwardness in the room is so thick that you could cut it with a knife.

"I'm so happy that you came, Beatrice." I turn my head and my jaw immediately hits the floor.

Is that my mother? She looks so…not her. Her hair is shorter than mine and jet black. I can see her tattoos on her arms and shoulders that she got years ago, but her nose is pierced now.

"Uh…hi?" I turn to Eric and he looks just as shocked as me. "What happened to you, mom?"

"I'm in hiding dear, and I'm Dauntless again, so..." My mother shrugs as she sets on the love seat along with Max. "I know you are upset with me and you have every right to be, but Beatrice, I never wanted to lie to you. I had to though, because I was so scared of what Andrew, or anyone else for that matter, would have done to us if I had told you. I know that Andrew would have sent you to Jeanine if you ever found out that he wasn't your father. Before that god awful woman was prosecuted, I found out that he worked for her. And after she was executed, he threatened your life. So I kept it all a secret from you." My mom sighs and takes Max's hand. "Sweetie, I left your father to protect the three of us. I didn't plan to get involve with anyone but once I transferred, they told me that all Abnegation have to get married." My mother wipes the tears from her eyes just as Max pulls her into his side and holds her tightly. "I was sick for months when Andrew chose me to be his wife, and I had no choice in the matter. I never loved Andrew. I was forced to marry that man."

"How were you married to both men, mother?" I shake my head to clear it.

"Once I was officially Abnegation, I was a new person all together. Everything was wiped clean. It didn't matter that Max never signed the papers, or that I was pregnant with his child..." My mom gives Max a sad look. "I wasn't Dauntless anymore. Therefore , I wasn't married anymore."

"I don't care." Max cups my mother's cheeks. "You're back now and I'm never letting you or our daughter out of my sight ever again, woman."

I look closely at Max and see that he's now crying with my mother as he holds her as tight as he can without hurting her. I look at Eric then back at my parents before I get up and run over to them, wrapping my arms around them both. The three of us crying for the loss of eighteen years…eighteen years of happiness as a family.

"I'm so sorry for hurting you, Max." I mother looks up at him. "I never stopped loving you."

"I know, baby, and I never stopped loving you, or our daughter. When I saw her on the roof…the day she came home to me, I knew right then that one day I would have my family back." Max cups both our cheeks and smiles. "I got both my girls back, and I'm not letting go of either of you ever again." Max kisses my cheek before I get up and smile down at my parents as they kiss sweetly.

I'm with both my parents now. Max is my father and I find that I'm actually thrilled that I'm his daughter, not Andrew's. This thought brings me to my brother.

"What about Caleb, mom?"

My mother sighs loudly as she turns back to look at me. "Andrew and I adopted him a couple of days after you were born. You see, Andrew can't have children and he wanted a boy, not a girl. So he told me that I could keep you but only if we adopted a boy. Caleb is from Erudite and he is the son of Jeanine Mathews."

"What?!" I yell causing my mother to damn near jump out of her seat.

"You heard me, Beatrice." My mom sighs. "Caleb was two weeks old when Jeanine was convicted and put to death for her crimes. I think that Andrew and Jeanine were working together back then, and now he and Caleb are working on something huge." My mom turns to Max. "It's not on record but a lot of factionless are going missing every week. I think they are taking them to Erudite and using them for something. I don't know…" My mom shakes her head.

"You don't know how right you are, Nat." Max smiles at my mom then looks at me. "I went over those files and found a lot of evidence, and that memory stick is a video of what they are actually doing."

"What are they doing?" Eric asks as he pulls me to set next to him.

"We'll go over it all after dinner." Max kisses my mother on the cheek. "I want to have our first family dinner without all that fucked up shit running through our minds."

"Alright." Eric leans down and kisses my cheek. "Baby, I'm gonna let you spend time with your family?" Eric moves to get up from the couch, but I grab his hand to stop him just as Max shakes his head and points his finger at Eric.

"If you feel the way that I think you feel about my daughter, then you are now apart of this family, son." Max grins and winks at me. "Now you kids go wash up for dinner."

"Yes sir." Eric chuckles at Max as he helps me up and leads me towards the kitchen. "I told you it would work out." Eric leans down and kisses my nose then my lips as we wash our hands together.

"Stop kissing my daughter in front of me, Coulter." Max smiles at us playfully just as he and mom walk into the kitchen.

"Yeah yeah, old man." Eric chuckles as he drys his hands then wraps his arm around me from behind, pulling into a massive hug. "I can't help it Max; I'm in love with your beautiful daughter. It's a real good thing that she got her looks from her mother and not you, old man."

For once in my life, I feel loved and happy. I have both my mom and my very awesome dad, and they love me unconditionally. I also have my very sexy, sweet, and utterly perfect boyfriend by my side.

Having these wonderful people in my life feels so right, and I could not ask for more than that.

Life is finally perfect, but I feel that it's just the calm before the storm that is headed our way.

Stay tuned…

Sleepy1177 and Libra18j, I have missed you all as well and I promise to TRY not to disappear for that long again…

Tlcoop7 was the only one that had the right idea about Max being Tris' father. Lets see if you can guess what Andrew, the Council, and Erudite is really up to…

Thank you all for your awesome reviews, and sorry to all of you Eris fans. I just got stuck on a Twilight kick for a while, but I'm still here and I'm trying to write new chapters for my earlier Divergent stories.

With all that said…

…Let me know all your crazy thoughts on this chapter.

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