"Nat?"

"Do you two know each other?" Tris asks, confused.

I release my wife and throw my arms around my savior, who is apparently also my mother-in-law. She responds in kind, wrapping her arms around my torso and hugging me fiercely. We clasp hands as we pull apart, laughing.

"Um," Tris interrupts, looking shocked and confused, "I think I'm missing something."

I let go of one of Nat's hands and wrap that arm around Tris.

"Your mother saved my life," I say, looking down at my wife as I squeeze my mother-in-law's hand. "But I didn't know she was your mother."

"Eric," Nat chides, ever selfless. "You saved all of us. You're the hero."

I shake my head. "Without you I was enslaved by Jeanine. You made it possible for me to break free. You made it possible to take her down."

"Mom?" says Tris, clearly shocked and still trying to put the pieces together. "You helped Eric catch Jeanine?"

Nat nods, a small, dismissive, Abnegation gesture.

"Tris, your mom is Nat." I say emphatically. "She's the one I've told you about. The one who gave me hope and got me connected with the group going after Jeanine. She provided me with the hidden camera, and gathered everyone at Candor. She was in Erudite with Max after the arrests."

"Nat?" she asks, still stunned.

"Eric," says Nat, calmly, "perhaps we should meet properly. My name is Natalie Prior. I'm Tris' mother."

I laugh and hug her again, briefly. "It's nice to officially meet you, Mrs. Prior," I say.

She chuckles at my sudden formality. "Please, call me Natalie."

I need to sit after that shock, so I lead the ladies toward one of the Pit's rock ledges. As I drop onto the stone surface worn smooth by generations of Dauntless, I pull Tris onto my lap. I expect her to protest this display of affection in front of her mother, but instead she curls up and lays her head on my chest. She faces Nat, or Natalie, who has taken a seat beside me.

"So," says Natalie, seemingly unsure of how to remain Abnegation neutral while asking what's on her mind, "you two…"

"Eric and I are married, Mom," Tris supplies.

The moment is awkward, but I can't help the proud grin that splits my face.

"Two weeks today," I say, smiling down at my wife, who returns my grin.

Just then I hear Max's booming voice through the crowd. "Eric!" he calls. "You're back! Didn't think the two of you would set foot out of your apartment once you were reunited," he teases.

Tris' cheeks flush deep crimson, and I grit my teeth. "Max," I say in a warning tone, "I believe you've met Tris' mom, Natalie."

"Natty!" says Max, pulling his childhood friend to her feet and straight into a boisterous hug. "I didn't see you there! How are you?"

"I'm well, Max, thank you. The kids were just telling me that they're married now. What a pleasant surprise," she says.

She waits, and I find myself frustrated by the Abnegation custom. Ask your questions, already! Gather some information. Satisfy your curiosity. No one here will scold you for being selfish.

Tris understands, and calmly offers her mother our love story. "We met during initiation, of course. Eric is the leader who oversees training. I hated him back then,"

Max laughs, and Tris looks at me shyly. I squeeze her a little closer as I interrupt. "I couldn't afford to be nice. I had initiates to toughen up, and I couldn't make friends and risk Jeanine using them as leverage against me."

Tris nods in understanding and continues the story. "Anyway, when I graduated I started leadership training under Eric. He had successfully taken Jeanine down, and we became friends. When I finished training-"

"-faster than anyone in faction history, and with the highest test score ever," I interrupt, knowing that Tris would never brag, and that proud mothers appreciate that kind of information.

"Yes, well," Tris stammers as she blushes adorably. "When I finished training, we started dating."

"You should have seen them flirting and making eyes at each other," Max interjects. "I thought he was never going to ask her out. Ah, young love. Reminded me of Carissa and I. You and Andrew were the same, back in Upper Levels, flirting over homework. To be young again…"

I jump in again, trying to recover the conversation and save my blushing mother-in-law. "I planned to propose on choosing day, the second anniversary of the day we met, but then Amity was attacked, and I found out I was being deployed. So I proposed that morning, and we decided to elope before I left."

"And you're just coming home today?" Natalie asks.

Tris and I both nod.

"Oh my," says Natalie, "I'm interrupting your reunion. I should go so the two of you can catch up."

Tris and I try to convince her to stay longer. After all, we will have each other every day, but visiting day is just once a year. But Natalie won't be dissuaded.

As we say our farewells, Natalie and Max share a quick hug, and I hear her whisper to him, "Take care of my kids, Maxie."

My kids. My heart swells with love and gratitude that she included me in that. From everything Tris has told me, her parents were great, and loving in their Abnegation way. To hear Natalie include me in her sentiment makes me feel loved and accepted, and that's no small feat considering that I eloped with her daughter without so much as introducing myself to her parents.

After another round of hugs, Natalie leaves the compound. Max tells me that Tris and I have the rest of the day off, but that I am to report to his office in the morning before I join Four and Tris at initiate training.

Tris and I walk arm-in-arm across the pit, looking for the duffle bag I dropped in my haste to be reunited with my wife. We're greeted by friends and well-wishers along the way, but eventually make it back to our apartment, where we lock ourselves in for the rest of the day and night.

.

The End