Rating: M (Swearing, smut, suggested violence and abuse)

Family isn't always defined by blood and the strongest of ties can come from the most unexpected places. But could you risk losing that family when the love changes? What do you do when you find your soulmate at the age of sixteen? What if that soulmate is only nine? Sometimes all you can do…is take your time. Eric/OC AU No War, No Divergents

*Anything in italic is either a flashback or internal thought/conversation

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Lacey

Once again, but several years later, Lacey found herself huddled in a corner of her darkened room. Sobs wracked her thirteen year old body until her face was puffy, her eyes were almost swollen shut and her voice was all but gone from crying so hard.

She heard the front door open and closing in the distance and knew before she heard the steps who it would be. It wasn't just because she knew Henley and Deacon had been rushed away with Wade.

No, she knew because she always knew it was him. She could tell you the exact moment he came near without being close to her or in the same room. She didn't understand how she knew or why. She just always did.

He seemed to have the same sense because he didn't even need to flick on a light to know she was in her room and against the wall, her back pressed against the corner. He moved silently and softly to her side. He just as gently lifted her in his arms at the same time he slid down in the position she was just in, cradling her in his lap.

Neither spoke, he just held her.

Finally she broke the silence and her tears broke free again. "What if loose him, Eric? What if they can't make him better?"

His arms circled around her tighter and he shook his head in the dark against the top of her head. "That isn't going to happen, Lacey. I told you I will always protect you both and I will. Don't think like that, sweetheart. You know I came from Erudite, so I know what they are capable of. I promise you I am making sure he gets the best possible treatment and medicine. Whatever it takes."

She nodded but it didn't stop the tears or her shaking.

It had all happened so fast.

Wade had come home from school and wasn't his normal energetic self. But he was going through another growth spell and Lacey had been through those before with him. He had felt only a little hot so she gave him some fever reducer and water then made sure he was tucked into bed to rest.

Henley was at work and not due to get home for another hour or so and Deacon usually followed soon after. She started on dinner and an hour later went to check on him.

She had found him a tangled mess in sheets but having fallen off the bed and drenched with sweat. His fever raged and she immediately knew something wasn't right. She didn't have a phone and did the only thing she could think of doing, she ran to her sister and the clinic. She ran faster than she ever thought possible, shoving people out of the way if needed.

One look and Henley knew something was wrong. Lacey had gasped out what she knew and the staff jumped on it. But they made Lacey stay back, even having someone hold her when she screamed and fought her way to try and go with her sister and the others.

It seemed to take hours for Wade to be rushed in and they still didn't let her go to him. There was a flurry of activity before, once again, there was rushing. Only this time it was Wade being taken from Dauntless completely.

Henley had time to barely tell her that he needed surgery to remove his appendix. Lacey had to stay behind until someone could bring her to the Med Center. She was told to wait in the clinic but as the hour went by she just couldn't anymore.

She didn't feel safe. Felt too exposed and guilty for not being able to do anything for her brother. Along with questions of what if she had taken him to Henley right away bombarding her.

It was when the thought of losing Wade hit her that she went running. She wanted to go to where she always felt safe and protected. The place that had become her sanctuary. It was impossible though so she went to the only other place she could get that feeling now.

Lacey wasn't sure how long she sat there in the dark of her room. It had to have been a few hours at least. She wondered if Eric had come straight from the clinic where she was supposed to wait or here to find her?

"I called the clinic staff while I was en route back from Erudite and the meeting. I left as soon as I got the word and knew I had to get to you. They told me you had run away. At first, I was sure you would be at my apartment but then I remembered you don't have a key. I knew you would be here if you couldn't go there." Eric replied in a soft whisper against her hair.

She hadn't meant to speak her thoughts aloud. She could swear she didn't. He had a way of knowing her that stunned her sometimes.

His words and his presence, along with the way he moved his strong hands up and down her back in soothing motions, sent warmth through her. She took in a deep breath and inhaled his scent. It was one she had come to associate with strength and security now. Mint and sandalwood. The beat of his heart under her cheek calmed the tears that had started to ebb.

Then Lacey felt the first stirrings of the change. She noticed that the warmth she felt being in his arms was different. It was a buzzing, fluttering kind of warmth that was making her stomach do weird things. The feel of his lips pressing to the top of her head or at her temple had her eyes fluttering closed and a longing for something else. For those lips somewhere else. The scent of his cologne and the underlying scent of Eric started to make her feel lightheaded and almost dizzy.

Lacey let out a small sound of distress and Eric tightened his arms around her, bringing her even closer where the sheer size of him engulfed her.

"I've got you, Lace. I'm not letting go." She couldn't see his face but she heard the tone. Deep and full of emotion. She also thought there might be a tinge of confusion.

She didn't respond but just nodded into his chest. He held her for long minutes. Then the worry for Wade and need to see him started to push away all the new found confusion and feelings.

Eric stood them up and then took her to Erudite. He kept his promise too, he didn't let go of her hand once. Not until Henley came rushing out and found them to tell her Wade was going to be ok.

Her sister pulled her in her arms and hugged her tightly. A nurse came out and announced that the family could see him now. And then without thought, all of them made their way in.

It was then that the first pangs and shackles of guilt would find their way to Lacey. Becoming the first of links that would prevent her from ever seeking to explore the feelings she was beginning to have for Eric.

Eric was her family. Her brother. He may not share the same blood with her and her two siblings but if she had learned anything over the last few years it was that blood didn't always make for family.

Shame tinged her thoughts. The shame of a young teenage girl for having a crush on someone she could never have.

It was also the first time she felt her heartbreaking because of Eric. It wouldn't be the last.

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It was a weekend; just days before Lacey's fifteenth birthday that would happen during the middle of the week. She had denied wanting anything big for the day. She was never much for parties. Even though other dependents her age and her Dauntless member friends went to many themselves, she rarely went.

She preferred to spend her time with her family, or the friends that shared the same reservation about being in the too loud and insane crowds.

Most weekends now that she was a full fledged teenage girl, she spent in her room. Chatting with friends or giggling about various boys. Listening to music or writing. The writing was always kept secret though.

The days and weekends she went to Eric's had started to dwindle and that had been on purpose on her part. At first it was to keep herself from feeling things she knew she had no business feeling as far as her crush.

Then it had been almost out of spite and jealousy after a dinner at his house where the girl he was dating turned up and joined them. Lacey had done nothing to betray the seething jealousy and anger she felt inside. She was glad that Eric for once wasn't picking up on those hidden things inside of her that he seemed to see right through.

It had hurt that he would bring someone else besides family to their special time. They saw far less of each other than they once did and these dinners at his apartment were even more precious to her.

It hurt also to get a visual of what she always knew but was able to live in denial about. She knew Eric dated. That he saw women and those were his lovers. To know it logically was one thing, but to see it and have to have a complete visual of just how ridiculous her crush is, was another.

Even if the fact that it was completely wrong to long for him because of their family connection wasn't a factor, it would never happen.

She was a little girl. A nothing compared to the women he could and did have with the snap of his fingers. It had hurt something awful and gave her the first bout of self-consciousness she would experience many times over her teenage life.

So when Eric would make plans for dinners she would always beg off that she had other plans. Her guilt only deepened when she saw the real hurt behind his casual reply of acceptance.

Last night Eric had come to her family's apartment for dinner. As she was helping to clean up, something he was doing beside her, he had turned to her and stiffly informed her that they would be having dinner at his place tomorrow. That she and Wade would also be staying the weekend in celebration of her birthday.

While feeling a bit of a tingle of pleasure at the thought, she also felt the normal tangle of feelings as well. It had her shaking her head and trying to beg off again.

Eric had tossed down his dish towel angrily and turned to her, crossing his arms over his chest. "The plans are already made, Lacey. You either show up after school on Friday on your own or I go find you and drag you there. Your choice but you won't like it if you make me take the second option." His voice was cold and hard, letting her know he was also hurting.

She had sighed internally but something caused her to lash out at him, remembering her own hurt at the dinner she had been forced to share with his flavor of the month.

"Are you sure Tara or whoever else you are seeing, won't mind having to give up time with you to some little kids?" She asked in a snide and bitter tone.

Eric's head tilted and his eyes narrowed. "Is that what this has all been about? You always coming up with excuses why you never want to come over anymore? Did she say something to you?" He asked stepping forward, his face becoming tight with the anger he was so obviously feeling at the thought of it.

Lacey swallowed the guilt and the lie she wanted to say. To say the woman had indeed said something. She hadn't but the looks were enough. She had cast glares in Lacey's direction that the young teen couldn't understand.

But she couldn't do that and so she shook her head. "No she didn't say anything."

Eric didn't seem to believe it though and he continued to study her. Then his expression changed and something passed over his eyes before he stepped forward and took her chin between his fingers firmly.

"No one will ever be as important to me as you are, Lacey. You all are." He added the last part quickly and then frowned a little. "That will never change and if she or anyone else doesn't like it then they aren't worth my time. You will always come first."

Her heart flip flopped over wildly at his words and it had her mouth going dry. For a moment a bit of hope shined through and she found herself smiling.

Eric smiled back and stroked her cheek with one finger. "You're my family, Lace. I could never put anyone else above my family."

Her smile had faltered just a tiny bit but she fought it back into place and nodded to him. The now familiar guilt and pain slammed into place but she couldn't let it cause her to ruin the moment.

Eric happy was something she could never be the cause of ruining.

Despite all of that she found herself smiling widely as she let herself and Wade into his apartment that Friday afternoon when they got out of school. She had her own key and had from the night they had sat waiting at Erudite Med Center together while Wade was in surgery.

Eric had said that he never wanted her to be locked out when she needed him and handed her the key on it's own little keychain.

Once given to her, Eric had fully expected her to use it and she had. Until the dinner and the thought of possibly walking in on something she shouldn't, started to make her stop.

Today would be the first time in a few months that she was going to the apartment without Eric already there or Henley and Deacon with her.

Wade went straight for the refrigerator, kicking off his shoes, throwing his jacket and dropping his backpack; like a trail of breadcrumbs along the way. With a shake of her head Lacey laughed and picked up after him.

Once she put everything away and saw he was settled, she made herself comfortable. She grabbed a can of her favorite soda and saw that Eric had went and stocked up on all her favorite candies and snacks. She grabbed a bag of chips and made her way over to the couch, grabbing a book from his shelf along the way.

Wade had already fired up the gaming system Eric had bought for them to play together and was focused on the racing game. It was an old comfortable feeling that Lacey realized she had been missing so much lately.

She sunk into the couch with a smile and lost herself in that and the book.

Eric usually made his way home an hour or two after they got out of school and they were still waiting when there was a knock on the door. With a frown Lacey got up to answer and was greeted with the sneering glare of Tara.

"Oh, it's you. Eric here yet?" She demanded and shoved her way in without even being told it was ok or asking.

Lacey's temper flared but she fought it back. "Nope." She replied simply then let the door slam into place.

"Of course." Tara sighed and popped her gum annoyingly.

Lacey gritted her teeth and moved back to plop sullenly on the couch. She picked up her book but the enjoyment of it was gone. She just needed something to distract her from the foul presence of the woman prowling around Eric's apartment.

Tara went to his bedroom and Lacey wanted to tell her that she should get out of there but then she remembered she had probably been in there lots of times. That was only reinforced when she heard Tara exclaiming something loudly.

"Oh there are my favorite earrings. I knew they had to have fallen out in bed." She was smirking as she fiddled with an earring at her ear and was looking rather pleased with herself.

Keys rattled in the door. She suddenly straightened and put on what Lacey could only describe as some kind of seductive air. She even adjusted her top to reveal more cleavage.

"Ugh." Lacey said outloud without meaning to while rolling her eyes.

Tara shot her a dirty look that just happened to be caught by Eric as he entered the door.

She wiped it away quickly but not quick enough and it had him narrowing his eyes at her for a second before he seemed to dismiss her completely. He looked to Wade who smiled and waved at him. Then his eyes moved to Lacey and looked at her searchingly.

Lacey gave him a smile that caused one of his own back before he sighed as if in relief.

Eric slammed the door behind him and looked to Tara again, who was scowling as she looked between Eric and her.

"What are you doing here, Tara?" He snapped at her coldly.

Tara simpered and moved forward. "It's the weekend, Eric. I thought we could get together and" she shrugged suggestively "do something fun."

Eric shook his head and moved to the kitchen area where he started putting up everything he had from work. "I already told you when you called this afternoon that I have plans."

Tara pouted and went to put a hand on his arm. "Oh I am sure I can make it worth your while to cancel."

He shrugged her off and lifted an eyebrow. "I very seriously doubt you could. In fact I know you wouldn't. I have plans already."

Tara's demeanor was changing and Lacey couldn't say what her expression or tone contained. Jealousy maybe? But why? Could she be so petty as to begrudge him spending any time with his family?

"You can't be serious, Eric? You would rather spend the weekend babysitting or with some little girl?" She screeched out angrily.

Lacey smirked and covered it with the book as soon as she saw Eric's face. She could tell his patience was already gone with Tara the minute he opened the door. The woman might have just put the nail in their relationships coffin.

Eric's eyes went cold and hard, menacing even. "I will spend my time with who I want and how I want. You can count yourself out of that equation from now on though." He moved over to the door and opened it without another word.

Tara stood there with her mouth hanging open and looking between Eric to where Lacey sat, who was very purposely not looking back at her.

"Ugh. Fine!" She said after Eric motioned with his hand in a 'get going' manner. "Don't even think of trying to get me back after this."

Eric smirked and shrugged. "Fine by me." Then slammed the door in her face without another word.

He turned from the door and caught Lacey looking at him. He gave her a wink and moved to his room to get changed out of his work clothes.

Lacey blushed and bit her lip as she tried not to feel pleased about the development. She shouldn't feel good about it considering she had a feeling she was the cause of Tara's behavior and the breakup.

She shouldn't feel good but she did. Eric had said no one would be as important than her and he had just proved it.

It hadn't just been for her though. That did make her mood deflate slightly. She had to remind herself of this.

She made a vow that she would remind herself of that everyday so she never forgot. She couldn't let her taboo feelings come between her family anymore.