It is almost comically funny how one thing - one wrong turn, one unplanned meeting - could change everything for a person, overturn all of one's plans. If the Greeks were right and the Fates really do exist, Tris is sure they are all laughing at her now. They must think themselves so clever for stringing up her life with all these surprises. She would give everything just to have the chance to smack them right in their faces, steal her string and change it a bit. Maybe then she would be able to gain back some of her control.

That couldn't be though and she knows it with a bone chilling certainty that shakes her right through her very being. In a way, she asked for this and now it's time to pay penance for all the wrong decisions she made.

Her daughter, the smart girl that she is, pieced things together. Maggie heard her call Tobias by his name and connected him to the stories she told her. The ride home was quiet. Even with Christina giving her concerned glances every five minutes, her friend managed to keep anything she might have wanted to say to herself. Maggie didn't ask questions. Tris is sure her little girl is more than confused right now but she must have been too upset to ask. It was too much for a four-year old to understand and she can't help but feel powerless. She felt even more helpless when she told Maggie that she was going up to her room, felt guiltier as she lied to her and told her that she was just tired when her little girl asked if she was okay, and when Margaret put her small arms around her, when she whispered that she loves her, Tris almost broke down right on the spot. It was all she could do to pull away, kiss her daughter on the cheek, and tell her good night.

It should have been her, that was her role as her mother. She should have been the one doing the consoling and reassuring and not the other way around. She had become useless just like that.

Tris locked herself in her room the rest of the night. Christina and Maggie knocked on her door a couple of times and tried to convince her to eat dinner, tried and failed. It it was probably childish of her to react like this but right now the need to be alone overtakes everything, her logic included.

It is well into the night now and Tris is certain Maggie's sleeping already. She hugs her knees to her chest, head leaning against the wall next to her room's door. Outside she could hear Will and Christina talking as quietly as they can.

"Tris and Maggie both sleeping?" asks her best friend's boyfriend.

"Yeah," came Christina's reply. "I've tucked Maggie in a couple of hours ago. Tris locked herself up in her room almost immediately when we got here. She didn't even eat. They're both tired." Her friend sighs. "I don't know, Will. Today was just too much."

"What happened? Tell me."

Tris hears Christina recount the whole day for Will's benefit. She told him that Tris was fine just this morning and how they planned to go to the mall. Christina didn't even skip Margaret's earlier mini tantrum when her best friend offered to do the grocery for both of them because the child was tired. Then she went right in and narrated everything that went down when they were at the grocery - from the moment they lost Maggie to the time they found her with Tobias - Chris did not leave anything out. It was strange hearing everything from someone else. Her best friend paid attention to some of the things she usually ignores. It's like seeing something from a whole new perspective.

"Do you think Tobias has been looking for Tris? I thought he was in Singapore," Will clarifies. Tris hears something bump against the wall where she's resting her head against. It must be one of her friends sitting down on the floor.

"It doesn't seem that way," Christina answered. "He looks just as shocked as we were. I think he was really there to do groceries."

"Well, he got more than what he came for. He's here, as in living here?" Will asks. Tris doesn't hear Christina respond. She could have nodded because after a while Will asks something else. "So, you really think he figured it out? That Maggie's his?"

"Will, if Maggie got the whole thing what more Tobias?" It's a hypothetical question, one Christina quickly answers. "Guy's an MIT grad, hella smart."

"And it's not like it isn't obvious. Maggie looks just as much as him as she does her mom." Tris hears someone exhale heavily. It feels wrong to continue listening to Will and Christina but she can't bring herself to get up, go to her bed and shut them both out completely. Anyone would have done the same thing if they were in her position, Tris reasons out to herself. Wouldn't you want to find out what people think about you? How they view your situation? "We just have to see both our girls through this, Chris," finishes Will.

"That's exactly what we're doing, right? This is almost like when Tris told me she was pregnant. It's crazy"

Will didn't say anything after that, neither did Christina. Tris thought that that was it, the end of their conversation. She was about to sit up from her place on the floor when Will starts speaking again.

"You know, what I still don't understand about all of this is why Tris had to hide Maggie from Tobias. I may not know him as much as you do but I don't think he's that kind of guy. I don't think he'll willingly abandon his pregnant girlfriend."

"I know. Trust me Will, I know. I've talked to Tris about this before. Uriah did, too. But she was angry at him."

"Angry about what? What did he do?"

"I don't know the whole thing. Tris won't tell me, but from what I've heard, they both have very valid points. They just didn't want to hear each other out." Christina pauses before continuing, "Those two, they're two of the most intense people I know. When things are great between them, well, they're great like nothing wrong could ever happen and they both could conquer the world together. But when they fight, it's difficult for them to find a middle ground, and that's what happened. It's not like it isn't fixable because it is, it can be. They're just both being stubborn and stupid."

"Yeah," her best friend's boyfriend affirms, "that sounds pretty much like them." Tris may not see Will but from the sound of his voice she could tell he's tired from what exactly, she isn't sure. Tris waits for either one of her friends to start talking again but instead she hears Christina ask Will to get the beers and pizza they've asked him to buy. She takes it as her cue to move.

Tris carefully unfolds her legs and gently massages her sleeping muscles before finally hauling herself up from the floor. She feels like a cloud has taken over her mind as she replays Will and Christina's conversation. There's a part of her that wants to go out there and defend herself, set the record straight; give them a tell-all. But she knows she couldn't do it. Five damned years have gone and still she keeps his secrets for him; still remains true to her word. An irony, a stupid, useless act of loyalty when there's no one to be loyal to.

Tris doesn't want to admit it and she could be betraying herself for feeling what she is feeling but a bigger part of her agrees with what both Will and Christina said about her and Tobias. They were similar in a lot of ways, both good and bad. It was their stubbornness that made them deaf to each other's explanations. It was stupidity that made them drift farther apart until they finally broke.

But there were other things as well.

Tris walks toward her bed, the box full of her old knickknacks and photos still on her bedside table. She took it down from the top shelf of her closet for Maggie just like she promised. Tris sits herself at the edge of the mattress, fingers pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. She could imagine another way this day could have ended – her putting Maggie to bed telling her the story behind whatever thing she fishes out from the box. She lets out a loaded sigh letting the thought go. She knows she would still have to explain things to her daughter but now clearly isn't that time.

She has to sort herself out first.

Tris gets the box from the bedside table and balances it on her lap. It's an old shoe box she and Christina decorated when they went through their Martha Stewart phase trying their hand at crafts and cooking. She fingers the fraying scrap of denim she'd use to cover the lid of the box. Tris carefully lifts it off, taking a deep breath before finally looking inside the box. It's been at least a year since the last time she opened it.

The first thing she sees is a photo of her and Tobias with the Navy Pier Ferris wheel in the background – arms around each other, smiles on both of their lips, eyes not looking at the camera – a perfect picture of young love. Tris remembers that night. Tobias had just gotten home from Massachusetts for his summer break. He told her he won't be able to make it to her birthday celebration but the morning of the day itself, she found him in the kitchen helping her mother make breakfast for her. They were both so happy then. Tris bites her lower lip chasing away the longing she still feels whenever he thinks about Tobias. This is the exact reason why she has avoided going through these stuff. It's true what they say, when you lose something the most painful memories are often the happiest ones.

Tris moves the picture aside only to see another, this one taken the week of Tobias' college graduation. They've been together for three years then. Tris takes the photo out from the box, mind going back to that time again. It was a surprise visit, a reprieve and an apology after a month of not seeing each other. Distance – her being in Seattle and him in Cambridge – was very easy to blame, but it wasn't what really kept them apart. They haven't been okay for a while. They'd fight then make up, fight again then make up again. It was a cycle of extremes and plateaus that would continue until Tobias eventually left.

She looks at the photo again, examining it. It is a little off center and there is too much space on the top part. She remembers taking it with her phone. Tobias had one of his arms slung across her shoulders while she leaned against his chest. She focuses on his face. He still looks the same only a bit more mature. He'd grown his hair longer, too. Well, longer than he did back then anyway.

Tris puts the picture back inside the box before slumping against the bed's headboard. Seeing Tobias again threw her off. She wants to yell at him, run down the list of promises he broke – promises he made to her. She wants to tell him what a liar he was, that she'd never, ever forgive him. But she also wants to pull him to her and enclose him in her arms, tell him she missed him so much. Then maybe he'll reassure her that they'll be alright, that they'll fix things. She wants to kiss him so desperately.

Tris shuts her eyes closed. How could he still have that effect on her, she asks herself. How could he?

Tobias had always had a difficult relationship with both of his parents but there aren't many people who know about it. It's really not something he would willingly discuss. Tris actually suspects that other than herself and Zeke, no one else knows about Marcus' abuse and the real reason why Evelyn left. He just didn't trust people enough. Hell! Even if he'd been more open to both of them, Tobias still kept quite a number of things to himself.

It was the root of their fights.

She wasn't asking for much. She wasn't asking for him to lay all of himself bare. What she wanted was for him to share with her his problems, his plans. Tris knows Tobias' relationship with Marcus became even more strained those last few months they were together. She didn't know exactly why but she is almost certain it has something to do with Evelyn.

Evelyn. Somehow, Tobias' mother is a trickier area to navigate, even more so than Marcus. It's easy to hate Marcus. He simply doesn't have anything, any scrap of good in him to redeem himself. Evelyn though, is a different subject.

"You don't know her, Tris," she remembers one of their worst fights. "You don't know my mother so don't you dare say anything bad about her."

"And you think you do? Are you even listening to yourself? This is the woman who abandoned you. She left you with a monster. This is the woman you are calling your mother? What are you going to do? Just run back to her and forgive her like nothing ever happened? God, Tobias!"

"I'm the one who got left behind, not you. And if I decide to forgive her, you had better try to do it, too! Besides, what do you know, Tris? You have a complete and happy family. You don't know how it feels."

Tris ended up getting on a bus back to Boston that night so she could catch the earliest flight to Seattle. Tobias did not even go after her. It took another week before they spoke again but when they finally did, they promised to be more honest with each other and that they will talk things out before doing anything.

Well, looked at how great that worked out. Tris keeps the bitter comment to herself. Truth be told, until now she's still wondering where exactly she and Tobias went wrong. They used to be so good together, so right, but the Tobias who'd been with her those last few months, she didn't know him at all.

She lets her body slide down the bed so now she's lying on her back. Tris stares momentarily at the ceiling. She could just put this day behind her; she doesn't need to talk or see him again. It was nothing but a chance encounter. Even as she thinks those thoughts up though, Tris knows she's only deceiving herself. If it was just her, it would be easy but they have a child together and, as much as she loves Maggie, she complicates things. She'll always be the thread that connects him to her.

Tris doesn't want Maggie to go through what Tobias had with his parents, and now that they know about each other, she can't keep them apart any longer than she already had. Who is she to decide that for them? Who is she to deny her daughter the chance to meet her father?

"I think you know what to do," her mother had told her only a week ago, and she does. What they don't tell you though is that sometimes the right thing is also the hardest choice to make.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tobias watches as the smoke from his cigarette waft through the night air, mixing with it before finally vanishing. He should be packing now but his backpack still lay empty on top of his bed. He will just throw whatever stuff his hands grab first from his closet later before he sleeps, Tobias promises himself. Sleep, that's another thing he should soon do, too, and he tried but it just wouldn't come.

He takes a long, slow swig from the can of beer in his hand, his third for the night. The cold, bitter liquid goes does his throat smoothly. Zeke would probably smack his head if he knew he was drinking alone; either that or he'll join him. His mind wanders back to the events of that afternoon.

Now that he had enough time to think about it, Tobias isn't that surprised to see Tris and Christina. He did know his ex and her best friend are both living in the same city he just moved in to. It also wasn't a surprise that they were together when he saw them. Tobias smirks at that thought. Tris and Christina had been tied at the hip since they were kids, who is he kidding? Of course they'd stick with each other, after all he'd seen how tightly knit that friendship is. Tight enough to hide as big a secret as a kid he fathered apparently, Tobias snickers to himself.

Did she really hate him that much to keep the little girl a secret from him? Tobias begins asking himself. Are you even sure the child's really yours? He thinks about this but quickly answers his own question. The kid is obviously his and Tris' – theirs, he corrects himself.

Maggie. Short for Margaret most probably, he can't think of any other name that could be given that particular shortcut. It fits her perfectly, a pretty name for a pretty girl, he smiles at the thought. It's like someone has selected all of his and Tris' best features and arranged them carefully in the little girl's face – his hair and lips, her nose and high cheekbones, the color of his eyes juxtaposed against the shape of hers. He never imagined it before, didn't even think he'd have something as precious as his own child. It's scary, yes, but he didn't feel any of that while he held and talked to Maggie.

But you didn't know yet then. You didn't know, Tobias tells himself.

He wonders who else knew about the little girl. Zeke? No, he would have told him right away if he knew that's for sure. Tris' parents? Caleb? Tris surely would have told them. Then it hits him. Uriah. He's one of her oldest and closest friends. Tobias remembers having to get information from his best friend's brother about Tris before they got together. She may leave out a few details but she still confides in him.

"Fuck!" Tobias drops the burned out cigarette to the floor and inspects the fingers which held it. The skin's red and throbbing. It may swell later. He steps on the stub. Tobias actually forgot he hasn't finished the damned thing. Just plain stupid, he berates himself as he walks toward the bathroom. He opens the faucet and puts his hand under the cold water for a few minutes, letting it cool the burned skin.

Tired and frustrated, Tobias plops down his bed. Even if he's not yet entirely sure that Uriah knew about Tris and Maggie, he feels betrayed. They may not be related by blood but Tobias had always seen and treated the younger Pedrad like his own brother. He had protected him, looked after him just like Zeke had done.

Tomorrow he will see him, and as much as Tobias doesn't want to ruin his homecoming, he has decided to ask Uriah. He doesn't know what he'll do next, not sure if Uri's answer will help him map his course, but knowing is his first step and that's a good enough start.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

As mornings go, Tobias is pretty sure he must have worse ones but he can't help thinking that if he ranked all of them this particular start will make it to the top ten. His bag is bulky from his careless packing. It didn't help that his head is throbbing from the combination of his lack of sleep and last night's drinking binge.

"You turning into a vampire or something?" Zeke eyes him from the rear view mirror. He has a couple of brown shopping bags sitting on the passenger seat so Tobias had no choice but the backseat. "You look worse than the last time I picked you up from an airport."

"I'm fine, just had trouble sleeping last night," he tells a half-truth. He did have a hard time falling asleep. It's just the "fine" part he is lying about. "I have enough time to crash, right?"

"Yeah," his friend laughs, "you and Uriah. Mom picked him up very early this morning. Kinda wished you two could have flown in at the same time but I guess Uri has no control over that."

"What time is the party anyway?"

"Around seven tonight. You still have hours to sleep." Zeke stops just as the traffic lights change from yellow to red. He turns his body a bit from his seat to look at Tobias. "What's happening, dude? Everything alright?"

"I told you, Zeke. I'm fine." Liar, Tobias tells himself. He isn't fine, that would be the last word he'll use to describe himself right now. He is angry and confused. He's a mess, and even if he trusts Zeke, Tobias doesn't want to burden him with his problems. They are his and his alone. Besides, explaining the whole thing will take time and, honestly, he doesn't have the energy for that. But he must let out at least a bit of what's bothering him. He decides asking a hypothetical question is the best way to accomplish this. "How would you feel…" Tobias pauses organizing the whole question in his head. "How would you feel if you find out you have a kid you didn't know about somewhere?"

Zeke gives him a quizzical look before saying anything. "Where is this coming from, Tobias?"

"Just answer the question."

The light changes from red to green. Zeke turns his attention back to driving, eyes carefully trained on the road but Tobias could see him press his lips together in a tight line from the rear view mirror. It's a classic sign that he is thinking, he'd known him long enough to be able to say that.

"Angry, maybe," Zeke shrugs. "I'm not sure. It depends, I guess."

"Depends on what?"

"I don't really know, dude. It could be how I and the mother parted. You know, whether we are in good terms or not. It could be the way I find out." Zeke stops, his face thoughtful. A few seconds later, he adds, "One thing for sure, I'd want to be part of that kid's life. Support him or her in whatever way I can."

Tobias nods taking everything in. He looks at his watch – 11:46 AM – and starts thinking about what he'll do later, how he's going to ask Uriah about Maggie and Tris. He has gotten as far as convincing himself to hold back and wait until the rest of the guests have gone home when Zeke breaks through his thoughts.

"I've answered your question. Now, will you tell me why you've asked it?" His best friend demands. "You didn't knock up some girl, did you? But if you did, you know you can tell me." Zeke raises an eyebrow then laughs.

Tobias keeps his face composed, putting on his careful mask before answering. "No reason. I was just wondering what you will do," he tells him. He wishes that answer is enough for Zeke. He isn't sure if he could think of any more lies to tell him and he's feeling really guilty now for telling the ones he'd already told.

"I thought you got that Nita girl..." his friend looks hesitant. "How did you guys break up again?"

"I left her while we were on our vacation," he answers.

"Dude," Zeke smirks, "you've got to stop leaving your women," then seeing the guarded expression taking over his face, retracts. "I didn't mean it like that. God, no. I'm sorry that came out wrong," the other guy lets out a nervous laugh.

"It's okay, Zeke. All's good." Tobias tries for a smile but even without seeing himself he knows it's not going to convince anyone. Zeke's right, after all both of his relationships ended when he left. That's all he has ever been good at – walking out, escaping.

Zeke filled out the rest of the drive from the airport to the Pedrad house talking about the party. He quickly commenced with a full-on rant when he got to the part about Hana inviting almost all of their former teachers to the occasion. Needless to say, Tobias is thankful for the change in topic even if he knows his best friend is only trying to make things less awkward for him. It's something Zeke had always been good at, making everyone comfortable. He wonders how he'll feel after tonight. Will he still be able to lighten things for him? Tobias can only hope.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The dinner party went well. The Pedrad's landlord allowed them to use the building's rooftop to accommodate everyone. There were a few of their old teachers, just like Zeke said, but the guests were mostly made up of family and close friends. Well, not all of Uri's close friends. Tris and Christina aren't here, Tobias remarks to himself while he waited out the rest of the night with Shauna, Lauren and Zeke talking and drinking and talking some more in one corner. They could have mingled with the other guests but it was Uriah's night and they didn't want to steal it.

"We have news for you guys," Zeke says with a grin, something that is mirrored in Shauna's lips. He stretches one arm and drapes it over his girlfriend's shoulders. "Me and Shauna have decided to live together. We thought now that my pesky little brother is back we'd be more assured with me leaving the nest."

"Good for you, guys," Lauren then raises her plastic cup half filled with beer. Shauna clinks it with hers.

"We've been talking about it for a long time," Shauna explains, "but we don't want to leave Hana alone especially with her being so worried about Uri."

"She needed someone to fuss over," Zeke added.

"It's about time you two did," he grins at Zeke. His best friend may not always show it but Tobias knows he is pretty much taken by Shauna. They've been together since high school. "Should I get my tux ready? Because I have a feeling that's next." Tobias takes a sip from his drink. He watches as Shauna reaches out for Zeke's hand to hold it in hers. He smiles at her before twining their fingers together. It would have been easy for Tobias to be envious if only he wasn't happy for his friends.

"Don't spoil it, dude!" came Zeke's response.

The whole night had been like that – easy and comfortable – and Tobias is nothing but thankful for it. He knows that he'll be more than just anxious without his friends around him. Even with his lighter mood, though, Tobias can't stop thinking about Uriah and Tris and Maggie.

The guests started trickling out the door around 9:00 PM. By 10, there were only a handful of people. At 11, it was just Zeke and their group, Hana, Uriah and three other relatives from Michigan. He starts cleaning up, gathering paper plates, spoons and forks, and cups. It helps settle his nerves. Shauna and Lauren pick up on what he is doing and starts putting the trash he had gathered into large black garbage bags.

"Thank you for coming, Abby," Hana tells a woman not much older than she is. Tobias recalls her introducing the lady as one of her cousins.

"It's nothing," The woman then turns to Uriah, "I'm glad you're home. Are you planning to go back?" She smiles at him.

"Thank you, Auntie," Uriah answers. "No, I'm done. I think I'm just going to stay here and take care of mom."

"That's good to hear," she smiles at Uriah. "We need to go. Home is still a long way from here but we're glad to see all of you." The woman, Abby hugs Uriah then Zeke. "Your boys are both so good to you, Hana."

"They are," Zeke and Uriah's mother proudly replies, and with that she escorts them down the stairs. Uriah follows them behind.

"We need to head out, too," Lauren tells Zeke after five minutes. "We have a few things to do very early tomorrow at the bakeshop, right Shauna?"

Shauna nods in confirmation as she ties one garbage bag closed.

"You girls need me to drive you home?" Zeke asks.

"No, we're good," Lauren answers. "I'm going to drop off Shauna at their place."

"Alright, let me walk you to your car at least."

Both girls say goodbye to Tobias. Shauna even invites him to see the bakeshop she and Lauren co-owns. He didn't have the opportunity to check it last time that he was in the city. Tobias promises to visit in the morning.

He continues tidying the place up once Zeke, Shauna and Lauren head down. Tobias uses the time to formulate opening lines and segue-ways. He had been a mixture of anger and confusion for most of the last two days and there's nothing more he wants other than to get answers. He just hopes Uriah doesn't go to sleep immediately. They've only exchanged a couple of words before the dinner party like he's been avoiding him intentionally.

"You look so serious, man," a voice interrupts his ruminations. Tobias turns around from where he is standing near a stack of chairs. Uriah, just the person he wanted to talk to.

"Hey," he smiles at his best friend's brother. "I was just cleaning up."

"We haven't talked that much," the younger man sits on top of a table. "You know what, there are still drinks and I'm sure Zeke will go back here. Let's just, um… catch up, I guess." The words slide out from him with an uncertainty.

"Yeah, I guess we could do that," Tobias answers. He follows it with a shrug and a smile playing things coolly. At the back of his mind though, he badly wants to confront Uriah already, ask the younger man straight on the question that has been nagging him since that Saturday afternoon encounter: Why?

"Geez, "Uriah scratches the back of his head, "that sounded awkward." He jumps down from the table and walks toward the cooler retrieving two cold cans of Coors. He walks back to where Tobias is promptly handing him one of the drinks. "How's it going? Are you back for good?"

Tobias pops the can open first before responding. "That's the plan," he states then, after taking a long swig from his drink, adds, "Got offered a good job I can't turn down."

"Great for you," Uriah gives him a close-lipped smile. "Where?"

"Seattle."

Uriah's grip on the can tightened by a fraction. It is a small movement, one that normally would have gone unnoticed by most people. Tobias admits he would have missed it, too, if he weren't observing Uriah, but he is. It's obvious that his best friend's brother is keeping something from him. He decides to get straight onto things, no need for rehearsed lines and planned speeches.

"I actually ran into Tris and Christina yesterday. Tris had her daughter with them," Tobias states flatly. "She looks like her mother but she somehow looks like someone else." He keeps his eyes trained on Uriah watching his reaction. The younger man doesn't say anything, just grips the can on his hand tighter. It's a minor miracle he didn't crush it.

Tobias clenches his free hand into a fist but keeps it steady on his side. He could say more, shake out the truth from the other person. There's no need for any of that, though, Uriah's silence is enough of an admission, or rather, a confirmation of what Tobias already knows – the girl is his daughter. His.

"I hope you two left some of that beer for me. I could really use one right now," Zeke's voice echoes from the stairs leading up to where he and Uriah are. He stops at the door when he sees them, his best friend and his brother, in a staring contest. "Hey, what's up?" His voice shifts into its serious tone. He doesn't get any answer though, or even a single glance to acknowledge his presence.

"Why?" The question slips out of Tobias' mouth a little too roughly.

"She didn't want you to know then. She asked both me and Christina to keep it until she's ready to tell you," Uriah answers, his voice surprisingly steady.

"And you went with it? Did you even think about the child?" Tobias asks through gritted teeth. "I can't believe you. I can't."

"You don't have to if you don't want to," Uriah challenges him. "You were already gone when she found out." He looks down to the glowing phone on his hand. Someone is calling, an unsaved number it seems like. Uriah doesn't answer it.

"I would have come back," is all Tobias could say, and it's true, he would have if Tris – if someone or anyone had told him. It doesn't matter if she wants him to or not. He would have gotten on the first damned plane to be with her.

Uriah looks at him, at first appraising then softening into something that resembles sympathy. "It wasn't my decision to make," his friend's brother says after a while. "I only respected what she wanted at the time. I'm sorry, Tobias."

"What's this about?" Zeke is now standing beside Tobias. He puts a hand on his shoulder making him look. "What are you two talking about?"

Tobias stares out into nothing in particular. There are other people out there, families, and happy ones. He wonders if he'd known earlier, if he didn't leave, would that be his life right now?

"Tris," he says her name with a sigh. Tobias turns to Zeke hoping that's enough of an answer for him. From his periphery, he could see Uriah now talking on the phone.

"What about Tris?"

"Her daughter," Tobias takes a deep breath, "I'm her… I am the father." The word sounds and feels foreign on his tongue. It's the first time he had said it aloud.

"What?" Zeke asks confused, just then Uriah walks toward the two of them again. He hands him the phone, the screen still lit. Tobias stares at him unsure of what he wants him to do."

"It's for you," Uriah puts the phone on his hand. He gives him a small, encouraging smile before turning to his brother and asking him to head down to their apartment.

Tobias watches them walk toward the rooftop's door. His best friend gives him one last look of concern before disappearing into the stairs with Uriah. Finally, he puts the phone to his ear. "Hello," he says into it, his voice sounding more tired than confused. The last two days had been too much.

"Tobias," the person on the other end answers. He'd know that voice wherever he hears it. Her voice had always been lower than other girls'. Soothing, calming – he had always described it, and somehow, it still has that same effect on him.

"Tobias," Tris says again, unsure, "Can we talk?"