Thanks so much for the review, you guys! I love hearing feedback. Let me know if you guys have any questions about the story so far or have any ideas that you'd like me to incorporate! Wanna make this a FF for you guys to enjoy! Here' ch 7!

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6 YEARS LATER

I roll onto my back and smile when I hear soft footsteps mulling around my kitchen. I knew she would be up before I was. She's never been able to sleep well when special occasions come up, like today. Our first Christmas consisted of me waiting for Bee to fall asleep at three in the morning and then waking up at six by a persistent hand and a hard-to-say-no-to adorable pout to get me up and watch her open up the presents. The December sun this morning is already bright in my bedroom, so I quickly throw on a sweat shirt and head into the living room.

Bee sits on the couch, a mug full of black coffee rests between her hands and her thick framed glasses lay steady on her long nose. She looks up at me with a lame expression of casualness and nods in my direction. "There's extra coffee for you."

"Thanks Bee. What are you doing up so early?" I make my way and turn my back to her while pouring myself a cup and biting my lips.

"Oh you know that old saying; 'The early worm gets the bird' or whatever it is." She runs her index finger around the rim, looking down.

I pour sugar in my coffee. "Must have gotten too much sleep. You know since you slept in till noon yesterday." I make my way to the fridge. Just because I'm evil, I add: "Hey what's today's date?"

She replies instantly. "December sixth."

I smile wider as I lean deeper into the fridge. "It Is? Well I have an interview tomorrow, I should look into that."

Bee sighs loudly and flips onto her stomach, her head pressed deeply into the couch. I grab the plate from the fridge and set it down in front of her with a thud. Her head lifts slowly and looks at me, then sees what I put down next to her: A blueberry bagel in the shape of a 16 and a container of strawberry yogurt. She looks back at me for a second and then throws her arms around me. I laugh soundly as I return her hug, my lips against her hair. "Happy Birthday, Bee."

"Thanks dad." She pulls away and kisses my cheek. Folding her legs underneath her, she looks down at her birthday breakfast again. "So where's the cream cheese?"

XXX

Shauna found the recipe. I'm not quite sure who she talked to and how they got a hold of it in the first place, but Shauna was able to make Dauntless cake. I almost forgot that it wasn't my birthday, that it's Bee's.

It's strange to think more than six years ago, I never expected to be throwing my daughter a 16th birthday party in my tiny apartment I pictured for just myself. I never thought having a family or raising a child was an option because Tris was my only family. I never thought there could be anyone else. It seems that I was blessed and changed by not only one Beatrice in my life, but two. Shauna sets the cake in front of bee, the candle light flickering on her face. She's matured a lot in the last couple of years, and I can already see the makings of a young woman appearing in her features and gestures.

Christina begins singing "Happy Birthday" and we all join in,Bee's smile forming into a full blown grin. She made her wish and the candles' fire was replaced with a small trail of smoke. I take her hand gently and give it a squeeze. We all indulge and have a piece of the infamous dauntless cake and casually talk amongst everyone. Christina talks about her kids growing up too quickly, Shauna talks about painting the kitchen a new color.

Bee stares at me for a moment, sitting in her chair while the others continue to talk. I sit closer to her, asking what she is thinking about. She looks at me, hesitant to speak, then decides to go for it: "I wish Tris could've been here. I wish I knew her."

I calm my breathing and try to respond without my voice shaking. "I wish she could've been here to meet you. She would've loved you." I kiss her temple and hold her for a moment. I sigh, remembering that I may not be able to hold her very much longer. She'll become an adult and leave me as a lonely old man once again. I'm just thankful there are no more factions and choosing day so I can be with her for a year or two more. I'm disturbed from my thoughts when Zeke suddenly darts out of the room, a phone glued to his ear. "Amar, Amar, slow down. Where's George?"

My ears perk at the words and I follow Zeke into my bedroom when his eyes make contact with me and tell me I'm allowed to listen in. "Where at," he speaks to Amar. "George was shot?" I tense immediately. This is not good news and is painful coming from Amar. Zeke pauses then pales. He looks pointedly at me: "Turn on the TV."

We both rush back into the living room and I grab the remote quickly, the news appears instantly, a reporter being filmed in an old Erudite building. He speaks calmly though the situation is nothing but calm. "An act of terrorism has been inflicted on the city's political building." I gasp as I see the building I work in up in flames. "Police reports say there are reportedly 20 victims who are not severely hurt, three casualties, and 15 in critical condition, one being Sergeant George Wu, one of the few ahead of the Chicago Police Department." I pull Zeke with me towards the door as I grab my coat and we head out the door. Before it shuts, I hear Bee call out to me, and I return to glare at her sternly. "Do not leave this apartment, do you understand me?" I don't wait for her answer, knowing she'll obey begrudgingly.

Zeke luckily has his police car parked outside and we are able to drive to the building quickly, his police lights flashing brightly and his siren piercing my ears.

There's something strangely beautiful about snow and ash mixing. They look similar as the slowly drift down in the sky, until they reach your skin; the ash is warm while the snow is cold. Ash is an effect of destruction but the snow, so pure and white, gives the ash a redeeming chance to pretend to be snow. And those who fear pain and loss can look out and pretend it is all snow.
I even allow myself to while I try to slow my heart beat. Then I see the red flames, wrapping around the white columns holding up the building that controls our city. Zeke and I head to those who are in uniform, hungry for details.

"Officer Daniel. What's going on?"

He nods his hello before diving in. "Faction Enthusiasts."

Zeke whistles through his teeth. "Damn. I miss certain things about Dauntless, sure, but not enough to burn down buildings."

Officer Daniel nods. "I know. They seem to be a large group, though no one has actually spotted a single member. They're efficient in their retreat. We have no leads whatsoever."

"Who's been killed?" I ask, unable to bit my tongue any longer.

"A guard, a female secretary, and a pedestrian who went inside to get some of the victims out. He at least saved six of them." I hang my head, knowing my secretary Rebecca must be the one he's talking about. But my mind returns back to the pedestrian that risked his life so selflessly and, of course, my thoughts drift towards Tris. I shake my head. "Where's Amar?"

Officer Daniel's eyes turn a bit sad. "He's at the hospital with George. George suffered two gunshot wounds and multiple areas of severe burning. He'll be out for a while."

Zeke nods and continues asking questions. I listen for a while, but then I wander away from Zeke once they start using police lingo that I don't understand. Looking down at my feet as they scuff the side walk, something catches my eye. My mouth dries as I read the words. Written in bright red spray paint is pure evidence that a Faction Enthusiast Group did this, changing the original saying to a more chilling version:

"Factions or Blood. Your Choice, Chicago."

XXX

scary stuff is happening in Chicago once more. Review and tell me what you think!