This is a stand-alone one shot and does not follow the timeline after "The Dance."
If you wish for me to continue that little drabble please let me know and I will be happy to.
XO- Ashlynn :)
Tris quickly sat up when Jeanine's voice filtered in through the glass wall separating the office and hallway. She watched as the Erudite leader stood on the other side of the door speaking with an older man. The conversation continued for a while as they looked through a folder Jeanine held out for them both to see.
Tris let her eyes trace over every inch of Jeanine and a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. Her thoughts started to wander and she suddenly had the idea to write them all down. She pulled a notebook and pen from her backpack and started scribbling down her thoughts as she looked back and forth between Jeanine and the quickly filling page.
Sometimes I like to just stand back and watch.
I see you surrounded by a flurry of assistants all clamoring for your attention. They offer you bits of information and hammer you with a relentless line of questions. To anyone else it would be overwhelming. But to you, to you it is exciting. You love the thrill of pushing yourself to work harder, faster, to do more all at once. You always work so hard to be the best you can be for everyone else.
When your day is already busy and the stress begins to weigh down on you, that's when I see you shine the brightest. Ten, twenty things, somehow you manage to think of it all at once and come up with appropriate answers right on the spot.
So sometimes I just like to stand back and watch you work. My mind tends to flash back and forth between the moments when you have total control and when you finally let it all go.
The moment when you come home from a long day and collapse into me - that's my favorite time of day. Or when your head falls back, your eyes fall closed, and your back snaps tight in the throes of passion. I love so much that I get to see and experience all aspects of you.
I especially love those moments when we silently collide into a moment of suspended bliss. When you're speaking to someone and our eyes meet across the room. I watch as words suddenly seem to fail you. I often wonder what you're thinking in those couple of seconds before your mind seems to realize that you've stopped speaking and quickly catches back up.
Sometimes I wonder if you feel it too… That sudden surge in your chest? That explosion that seems to happen, and for that one moment, you're blindingly happy? That's the way I feel when you look at me.
I wish I could reach out and touch you in those moments, but I know I can't. It isn't the time, or the place, but I always want to all the same. You're so beautiful Jeanine. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes.
I know you worry, and I know some nights you don't sleep. But darling everything is going to be alright. This faction, these people, they're going to be okay. I know you, I know you'd do anything to protect them, and I would do anything to to protect you.
I've realized that's the deal you know. You take care of them, and I take care of you. I know you'd argue with me over it, but I really do have the better end of that deal.
I can still vividly remember trying to come up with excuses to see you after the choosing ceremony. I didn't have an actual reason behind my excuses other than to spend time with you. And looking back now, I'm sure you saw right through them. But I was so enamored by you even then, I just couldn't help myself. And you never turned me away, so I suppose the feeling was at least somewhat mutual.
I apologize for the rabbit trials this letter is taking you on. You know my mind is far less organized than yours!
But what I am really writing to say is - thank you.
Thank you for accepting my excuses for time to spend with you. Thank you for allowing me into your life even though it wasn't the easiest thing to do.
I know you shielded me from much of the public backlash, and I thank you for that. But you should know that no matter what they said it would not have changed the way I felt about you.
Thank you for letting me fall madly in love with you. I know, you didn't have a big choice in the matter, but thank you anyway. You opened your heart, your mind, and your life to me. You integrated me into your decision making process. You shared your secrets and your dreams with me, and I am honored to be the person you choose to share your life with.
I don't know when you'll read this, but when you do I hope it makes you smile. I hope you are reminded of how much you are loved and appreciated. I am so happy to know and love your beautiful mind, your beautiful heart, and your beautiful soul.
You are the love of my life Jeanine Matthews and I am excited for our future together.
So thank you for yesterday, today and all of the tomorrows yet to come.
All my love,
Tris
Tris looked up and noticed the two professionals shaking hands. She quickly tore the page from her notebook, folded it, and slipped it into Jeanine's coat pocket.
"Are you ready for lunch," the Erudite leader asked walking into her office still looking through the folder full of papers she had in her hands.
"Whenever you are," Tris said dropping her notebook back into her bag.
"Just one more thing," Jeanine replied stepping behind her desk and dropping the file folder with a huff. "So what would you like for lunch," she asked quickly typing an email.
Tris picked up her backpack and slung it over her shoulder, "Actually, I brought lunch for us today."
Jeanine's crystal eyes flicked up to meet Tris' chocolate orbs in pleasant surprise. "Oh really?"
Tris nodded her head and shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah, thought we could have a picnic."
Jeanine finished the email and took a deep breath closing her eyes and letting some of the stress drain from her shoulders. Slowly, she stood and walked around her desk to where Tris was patiently waiting. "That sounds perfect darling," she leaned in and placed a soft kiss to Tris' cheek. She laced their fingers together and gave Tris' hand a tight squeeze. "Thank you," she whispered placing another kiss to Tris' forehead. "You always seem to know exactly what I need, even when I don't."
Tris smiled brightly and was just about to respond when her stomach growled loudly causing both women to laugh. Jeanine squeezed Tris' hand and turned for the door, "Come on, it sounds like you're starving!"
