After a pause, Fox muttered, "what are we going to do?" Her hands absently pulled up Eric's jeans and a fresh flare of desire shot through him as her fingers brushed him.

Eric sighed, before he might have lied, or made some joke, but he and Fox were past that now, you couldn't experience that level of intimacy with someone, share that much passion in a night without changing the dynamic between the two of you. "I don't know...if I'm ready yet, without the project backing us. Honestly, I hadn't thought that far ahead, all I wanted was to get close to you."

Fox snorted softly and, tilting her chin up, rubbed her nose gently back and forth against Eric's. He grinned and tightened his arms around her, crushing Fox to his chest. She squirmed and pushed away.

"I'm serious Eric, what if I'm already pregnant?"

Eric sighed again. "If you are, you are; we'll find out in a week and deal with it then." Catching the flash of disappointment in Fox's eyes he pulled her close again and grabbed her chin gently with his large fingers. "Don't worry, I've waited years for you, I'm not backing out now." He lowered his head and pressed a kiss to Fox's lips. She moaned lightly against him and Eric groaned in response, deepening the kiss and slicking his tongue along her bottom lip. Fox opened her mouth and Eric swallowed her cry as his tongue plunged deep into her mouth, tasting her. His jeans tightened painfully and Eric reached down to grab Fox's ass, pulling her hard against him. He groaned low in his chest as Fox ground against him. He pulled at Fox's button fly and she suddenly stiffened, pulling away. Eric panted, frowning, his pulse thundering in his ears; he tried to pull Fox back against him, and growled when she grabbed his questing hands and tangled them with her own.

"Wait," Fox murmured.

"No." Eric's voice was guttural. He tried again but Fox was expecting that and pressed their hands back against his chest. He growled and Fox pecked at his lips to appease him.

"We have to be careful, either no sex or we need to use protection."

"Or just do oral," Eric grinned suggestively.

Fox rolled her eyes, "I'm serious Coulter, until we know what's going on, we have to be smart."

Eric groaned and dropped his head into the crook of Fox's neck. "Well there's no way I'm not fucking you now, guess we'll use condoms." Eric secretly hated condoms, he preferred bareback whenever he could, sex didn't feel half so good with a condom in the way. His lips found Fox's pulse point and he nibbled delicately at her skin, grinning when she squeaked and tried to pull away. "We gotta hurry, I'm dying to bend you over the couch and fuck you senseless."

Fox giggled. "Lead the way, warrior."

Eric had barely slammed the door behind him before he pushed Fox over the arm of the couch and began pulling at his jeans. He'd been rock-hard the entire walk back to his apartment, and Fox rubbing her hand against his hardened length with a devilish grin on her face all the way there had not helped. Yanking his jeans apart Eric began pulling at Fox's. She squirmed under him and managed to dance away. A growl built in Eric's chest, he was rapidly becoming violent with lust, Fox had no idea what she was teasing, what was about to be unleashed. Fox finally seemed to realize how thin Eric's control was right now and she soberly slightly, backing away.

"We need a condom Eric, remember?"

Eric's only response was another growl and Fox grinned widely, deciding to poke the bear. Whirling away, she shrieked and dashed into the bedroom, Eric right behind her. He tackled her and threw her onto the bed just as Fox managed to grab a foil package. Eric tore roughly at Fox's clothes and she laughed around the foil in her teeth, yanking just as eagerly at Eric's pants. Eric was beyond reason, beyond waiting, driven mad by lust and Fox just managed to roll the condom down his cock before he kneed her legs roughly apart and slammed into her, filling her in one relentless thrust. Fox snapped her head back into the pillow, her cry mixing with Eric's roar. Eric held Fox's hands above her head as he snapped his hips against hers, his head dropped into the crook of her neck and his teeth dug at her throat, marking Fox for all to see. Fox whimpered and writhed underneath his body, her heart pounding, loving every fucking second of this as she gazed at Eric's face, his teeth were gritted, his jaw clenched, almost insane with hunger.

Gripping her hip, Eric thrust violently, panting with lust and his loss of control, his animal hunger drove Fox over the edge. Tightening her legs around Eric's waist Fox arched backwards, surrendering to the overwhelming sensations, a scream tearing from her throat. Eric roared as he came, slamming into Fox as his body shuddered, then collapsed on her with a groan, small aftershocks racing through him, making the muscles in this legs jump.

"Fuck," he gasped, breathing heavily.

Fox grinned at him, trailing her nails across his shoulders. "I knew you couldn't handle me, Coulter."

Eric nipped her throat, tightening his arms around her. "I know I can't, I'll settle for just surviving you."

His fingers trailed teasingly up her spine until he cupped the back of her head, pulling her against his mouth for another soul-stealing kiss, Fox whimpering softly as Eric's tongue swept hers, pulling apart reluctantly, he rested his forehead to hers and just breathed for a few minutes, sharing each other's air and space. Fox lay curled securely in his arms, content, inhaling Eric's masculine spice and exertion sweat smell. A low growl formed deep in Eric's chest when his phone began to buzz on the nightstand. Fox reached out for it but Eric yanked her back against him, capturing her mouth again. Fox arched into him, curling her legs around his hips, sighing breathily as they explored each other's mouths, probing deep inside, sweeping across each other's tongues. Eric's phone buzzed again and Eric swore against Fox's mouth, pulling away with a barely restrained snarl. He snatched the phone and rolled onto his back at the same time, pulling Fox along with him to lay across his chest, his hand resuming it's stroking of her spine as he read his phone's screen.

Fox traced along his nipple piercings, earning a ticklish hiss and twitch as Eric frowned at his phone, he flicked his gaze to Fox and quirked his mouth, returning his eyes to the screen. Finally, with a groan, he held it out for Fox to read.

"You're probably getting the same message," he grumbled as Fox took the phone, frowning as she read the screen.

"Emergency meeting of all factions to discuss Erudite Progeny Experiment standing, location: Main Erudite complex." Fox lifted her head to look at Eric. "Do you think they've decided already?"

Eric shook his head, "no, Noses love to talk and discuss shit to death, it's probably just a rehash of what Max has already told us."

"Think we can skip?" Fox grinned, her fingers now trailing along Eric's collarbones. He groaned and dropped his head back to the pillow.

"I wish baby, but no. We gotta be there soon, we have to get up."

Fox fake-pouted for a moment before grinning up at Eric, "we can save time by showering together."

Eric's face broke into a wide grin, something Fox had never gotten to see before and he barked a laugh, "lead the way baby."


Just over an hour later Eric and Fox leapt hand in hand from the train, landing gracefully on their feet and marching directly to the main complex. Max was already there, having taken a truck, but Eric wanted some more alone time with Fox and had whispered in her ear to take the train; they'd arrived in barely enough time to make the meeting, but it had been worth it. Alone in the train car they'd make good use of their time, Fox straddling Eric's lap as he'd sat against the car wall, lips locked together and hands curling under their uniforms, trailing heat along bare skin. Fox had rocked her hips against Eric's growing bulge until he'd groaned and begged for mercy; but Erudite was fast approaching and they'd been forced to pull apart, Eric rocking a major set of blue balls. It didn't bode well for anyone in the meeting that aggravated him and he made a mental note to keep his hand busy under the table and visit some of this frustration back onto Fox; Noses were so goddamn conceited and snooty they probably wouldn't even notice if Eric made Fox come at the table, as long as she wasn't louder than their fucking yapping.

Tension crept up Eric's spine as they pulled the main doors open and strode inside. Eric had left Erudite for a reason, beyond the obvious fact that he was the personification of Dauntless, he'd never felt comfortable there, had always known that he was different, known that they knew too. Now, a Dauntless leader and with Fox at his side, their hands clasped together, Eric easily shrugged off the discomfort, he could take on the whole fucking faction, as long as Fox was with him.

"Eric." Came a clipped, surprised voice.

Eric groaned internally and turned to face the owner. Tall and distinguished, the neatly trimmed greying beard did not hide the fact the Eric and this man shared jaw-lines, that their steel-grey eyes were identical.

"Father." Eric replied impassively, his hand tightening on Fox's when he saw the older man's gaze land on her. Rage boiled in his veins as he watched him eye Fox appreciatively from head to toe, his gaze lingering on her breasts. Biting back a growl, Eric tugged on Fox's hand, pulling her behind him. He squared his shoulders and fixed his father with a withering glare, daring him to say anything.

"You are here for the Progeny Experiment?" His father asked.

Eric's shoulders tightened and Fox squeezed his hand, her free one stroking gently at his back to calm him.

"Yes."

The older man nodded approvingly, "the mate you've been paired with is exceptional, unless you are somehow deficient, she will produce quality offspring."

Fox grabbed Eric's wrist as a warning, giving an almost inaudible hiss in his ear, stopping him from leaping at the man. What the fuck did he just say?

Eric took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. This last statement confirmed what Eric had already known about his father, he was Erudite to the core; Fox was nothing more than a test subject, a piece of an experiment to him, and his own son had become nothing but that too.

Eric nodded once in dismissal then turned, marching away, Fox at his side.

"Hey babe?" Fox asked quietly as they neared the meeting room.

Eric grunted.

"Can you go easy on my hand please?" Fox quirked a grin at him and Eric felt a rush of heat in his cheeks. He was literally crushing Fox's hand in his, still seething over the short and tense interaction with his father.

"Sorry baby," he murmured, loosening his grip, beginning to stroke his thumb in slow circles. "I apologize for my father, he is..."

"A true Nose," Fox remarked quietly, understanding exactly what Eric felt, what he was trying to say. But Faction before blood, the opinion of a Nose meant nothing to them, only highlighted their differences. To Eric, to Dauntless, Fox was his love, his mate, his heart; to Erudite, she was part of an experiment, a means to an end, a receptacle for Eric's sperm, useful only for furthering their research and knowledge.

Eric nodded, biting his lip.


The meeting was more entertaining than most held in Erudite, Margaret having obviously called it before the rest of the bigwigs could weigh in with their long-winded opinions, but she handled their protests gracefully, diverting the attention back to the matter at hand. Fox and Eric had been separated immediately upon entering the meeting room, pulled apart by other leaders for brief conversations and gossip before Margaret called order. Eric had given the stink eye to a Candor leader, Preston Givens, who'd cornered Eric first thing to complain about the 'dog he'd been paired with for this ridiculous affair' and to compliment Eric on 'the hot piece of ass he'd got', who was trying to take Eric's chair beside Fox; Preston had the good sense to slink away and Fox smirked up at Eric, mouthing 'down boy'. He scowled and settled back in his chair, spreading his legs wide in that territorial masculine way, claiming his space and Fox. He reached over and took Fox's hand, resting them against his thigh, caring less for maintaining a respectable appearance for Dauntless than making sure every swinging dick in the meeting knew unequivocally that Fox was his.

Margaret's eyes swept the attendees as she spoke, lingering on Eric and Fox, a small smile pulling at her lips.

"We have not yet determined if the embryo death was an intentional act of sabotage or not. Rest assured we are working tirelessly to find out. I will call another meeting in six days, we will have the final verdict then and will also have decided whether or not the Progeny Experiment will even continue. My predecessor, I must admit, forced many hands to bring this to fruition, but I am more inclined to listen to the opinions of my fellow Faction leaders. So far, the position is leaning towards terminating it, taking the embryo misfortune as a sign this in not meant to be. If the project is indeed shut down and any participants have already successfully conceived, private compensation will be discussed. Are there any questions?"

Eric squeezed Fox's hand as several voices began to speak at once, frankly, Eric had no questions, none that needed answers right now, he wanted the fucking meeting adjourned so he could impale Fox on his throbbing cock again. Finally, finally everyone shut the fuck up and they could leave. Rejecting Max's offer of a ride back, Eric all but dragged Fox back to the train tracks, pulling her tightly into his arms as they leapt into the car.

Walking backwards, he pushed Fox against the car wall, crushing his lips to hers. Fox responded eagerly, biting at Eric's bottom lip and making his dick twitch in his jeans. Leaning back, Eric turned Fox to face away from him, pushed her against the wall, one hand dropping to grab her hip and pull her ass against him while the other curled up softly around her throat, cupping her jaw and turning her head to meet his lips again. He rolled his hips against her, his hand snaking around to pull at her zipper, Fox's hands dropped to cover his.

"Eric...no, we don't-" Her protest was lost as Eric lowered his head and bit gently at her pulse point. Fox arched against him and hissed, a shiver running through her.

"Don't have what?" Eric teased lightly, trailing his tongue down the sensitive cord of her neck. Pulling his hand free of hers, he pushed it down the front of her jeans, curling his palm over her core. Fox gasped, goosebumps breaking out on her skin. Eric yanked her jeans down, hooked a finger in her underwear and pulled those down too, his hand caressing back up her thigh.

"Eric," she pleaded, hips pushing back against him. Eric hummed into her throat, his pulse racing as he began to stroke his fingers along her folds. Fox mewled, grinding against his palm and Eric's breath caught in his chest. Fuck. He couldn't wait any longer, he had to be inside her. Fox whimpered in protest as he pulled his hand free, staggering slightly when he pulled away from her just enough to yank at his jeans, push them down his hips. Fox gave him one last desperate glance, begging him and Eric grinned back, holding up the small foil packet he'd swiped from the nightstand before they'd left his apartment earlier. As long as he still got to fuck Fox, he didn't care how. Tearing the packet between his teeth, he quickly rolled it down his cock as he pulled Fox back against him, kneeing her legs farther apart, lips finding her pulse point again, teeth biting down just as he pushed hard inside her. A deep groan rumbled in his chest as his body took over, thrusting deep inside Fox, his hand gripping her hip hard enough to bruise. Fox cried out, dropping her head back on Eric's shoulder.

Digging his hand underneath her shirt, Eric cupped Fox's breast, pinching the hardened nipple and nipping her throat at the same time, drawing another sharp gasp from her.

"Eric...fuck, I-" Fox whimpered.

"Fox-" Eric breathed, his spine arching sharply as he thrust up into her, pressing her against the car wall. Fox slammed her hand against the wall by her head, cursing low in her throat. Eric covered her hand with his own, twining their fingers together, he was rapidly losing control, Fox's walls beginning to pulse around him, his abdomen clenching and jolts shooting through his limbs. Why? Why did it feel so fucking good being inside this woman? Dropping her head back to Eric's shoulder again, Fox screamed his name, walls clenching around him as she orgasmed and Eric lost control, plunging headlong into his own release, roaring Fox's name, slamming her against the car wall, his hips snapping against her ass once more, his muscles trembling with exertion and bliss. His vision greyed at the edges and his heart slammed in his chest. Panting, he collapsed against her, pressing them both against the train wall, eyes closing as he nuzzled his face into her hair. A single thought pulsed through Eric's mind, fuck, I want this woman for the rest of my life, forever. I'll never get enough.


Six days later Fox glanced down the tracks, ready to jump onto the oncoming train. Much to her irritation, Fox was alone, Max had sent Eric ahead on a series of errands before he was to meet with Fox at Erudite for the meeting announcing the future of the Progeny Experiment. First, Fox needed to report to the lab to have some blood drawn for an early pregnancy test, the results would be available after the meeting concluded, and Fox was still torn on what result she wanted. She and Eric had barely left each other's sides in the last week, barely slept in fact, for all the sex they were having and Fox was loving every minute of it, a baby would put a crimp in that, but to share that with Eric, to carry his child was also an idea that warmed Fox's heart. Whatever happens today happens, Fox decided.

The train rumbled past and Fox leapt nimbly inside, wincing at the pain between her legs; she and Eric had gotten a little wild last night...and this morning; fuck if she wasn't pregnant already, and if they weren't using condoms, she would definitely have caught sometime this week. Leaning against the wall she relaxed, waiting for the main Erudite complex and as the city passed her thoughts drifted to the night before.

Eric panted heavily in the crook of Fox's neck, groaning raggedly as his body shuddered in release, muscles trembling, his arms wrapped around her, their lower bodies tangled together. Fox was still quaking with her third climax before Eric surrendered, groaning her name as his body finally succumbed, pulsing deep inside her. Relaxing against her, Eric nuzzled into her hair, purring like a massive feline, their sweat-slicked skin sticking together. Rolling to the side, he pulled Fox over with him, curling her against his chest and pressing a breathless kiss to her forehead.

Fox sighed against his skin and lifted her head. Tomorrow was the day, they couldn't avoid talking about it anymore.

"What happens tomorrow?"

"With what?" Eric's voice rumbled deep in his chest.

"With the meeting, with my pregnancy test?"

Eric sighed, lifting Fox easily to lay on top of him, curling his fingers against the back of her head and pushing it gently to rest against his collarbones. His other hand stroked idly up and down her arm. "I don't think the experiment is going to continue. Margaret didn't make it sound very likely, and...if you're pregnant...you just are." He took a deep breath before continuing, his hand reaching down to twine with hers. He hesitated, then said lowly, "I never wanted to be a father, never wanted to be responsible for another life like that...until I met you. And then, after you transferred here, I started thinking about it...all the time. Even when all we did was fight and argue I'd fantasize about starting a family with you, making babies with you...it nearly drove me crazy, the way you made me think about it, and then the way we'd fight...I'd curse your name even as I was jerking off and groaning it. Without the project, I'd like to wait a bit longer, just have you to myself for awhile first, but, if that's not how it's going to be, that's fine too. I'm not going anywhere...and I want to marry you."

Fox lifted her head in surprise, meeting Eric's eyes, saw he was dead serious. Her heart began to race as Eric lifted his hand to gently cup her cheek, his gaze warm. If you'd asked Fox even a week ago if she'd be here right now, hearing what she'd just heard, she would have laughed in your face. But...it just seemed right.

"I wanted to ask you properly, and get you a ring...but I just had to say it."

"So you're asking me, right now?"

Eric nodded, the smallest flash of uncertainty in his eyes. His hand tensed against her face, waiting for her answer.

Fox lowered her head, pressing her lips to Eric's. He inhaled sharply, his hand curling into her hair, lips pressing urgently back. Fox pulled away just enough to whisper 'yes', her lips brushing his.

Fox startled out of her thoughts, seeing the Erudite complex approaching fast. Her heart had begun to race as she'd remembered last night, remembered the way Eric had nearly squeezed the breath right out of her after she'd accepted his hand, the way he'd laughed in pure, unrestrained joy into her neck. Leaping from the train she jogged to the main building; throwing open the door she marched inside, shoulders back, the personification of Dauntless, her eyes scanning for Eric. Hands covered her eyes from behind and Fox grinned, leaning back against the familiar rock-hard chest.

"Hey baby," Eric breathed in her ear, his tongue brushing the shell. Fox shivered and turned her head to press a kiss to his lips. The Eric Fox had come to know in the last week was vastly different from the Eric Fox had known before, from the Eric he presented to the rest of the faction, to the city. She never would have guessed he loved to cuddle the way he did, was even capable of the affection and love he now showered on her constantly. Even in public he wasn't able to hold back anymore; the ice-cold Dauntless leader of before couldn't stop himself from at least touching her, and he'd often steal kisses and hold her hand, step possessively in beside her whenever she was near other men, his posture straightening even more, intimidation oozing from every pore.

"Ready?" He murmured, raising a brow.

"Mmmm-hmm."

Eric's hand clasped hers and he turned, pulling her towards the stairs.


The nurse had been quick and professional, drawing the blood needed for the early pregnancy test without any unnecessary Erudite commenting and sending them on their way. Margaret must have threatened mayhem, because the Erudite committee members that had been so opinionated in the first meeting were sullenly silent. The meeting was quick and to the point, the project was terminated, the experiment was over. Seven matched couples, including Eric and Fox, were waiting for early pregnancy test results and it had been decided that a small compensation, unique to each faction would be offered if there were any successful conceptions. Just as the meeting adjourned a nurse entered the room, holding sealed envelopes and silently began passing them out. Fox accepted hers wordlessly, reading the impassive script at the top ' LaRue, Fox A.'. Eric took her hand and shook his head, not here. Fox nodded and stood, Eric rising beside her. Not until they'd jumped aboard the train did Fox finally pull the envelope from her jacket and look over at Eric. He moved instantly to her side, leaning back against the train wall and pulling Fox against his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around her and resting his head on the crook of her neck, ready to read the results over her shoulder.

Her hands shook only slightly as she ripped the seal and pulled the single sheet of paper out. Her eyes scanned it quickly and a strange rush of emotions shot through her. Eric's arms tightened around her and his lips pressed to her throat.

-Name: Fox Arianna LaRue

Sex: Female

Faction: Dauntless

Age: 22

Name: Eric Kingston Coulter

Sex: Male

Faction: Dauntless

Age: 24

Result of Chemical Erythrocyte Early Beta Subunit Human Chorionic Gonadotropin - hCG - (Pregnancy) Test:

Nongravid (Not Pregnant)

Accuracy of Results: 99.9%

"Baby, are you okay?" Eric whispered. His lips brushed her throat.

Fox felt a strange sense of...disappointment, she realized with a jolt that a part of her had wanted to be pregnant, had wanted to be carrying Eric's child already. Suddenly overwhelmed, she turned in Eric's arms; burrowing her face into his chest; her fingers curled into his vest and she began to cry.

Eric moaned low in his chest in distress, tightened his arms. "Baby, please don't cry," he murmured, pressing his lips to her hair. Fox only wept harder, her tears beginning to soak through his shirt. Eric lifted his head, resting his chin gently on her hair; his eyes held a thousand yard stare and, as the city passed in a blur, a single tear trailed down his cheek.


Fox looked up as the front door opened, her face splitting in a wide grin as Eric stepped inside the apartment.

"Hey Handsome," she called softly.

"Hey yourself," Eric threw back, pulling off his jacket. Rolling his shoulders he disappeared into the bathroom, reappearing a few minutes later, his face freshly scrubbed and water droplets still clinging to his skin and hair. Fox watched him approach her, a heat building in her chest.

They'd been married for a year and a half, eighteen months of pure bliss. Fox would never have thought that of all the men in Dauntless, Eric fuckin' Coulter would be the man she'd end up paired with, the man she'd end up loving more than anything. The experiment had been a mistake, a last ditch effort by a power-hungry madwoman who, according to what Fox had last heard, had trouble even remembering her own name now; but it had brought them together, and in a twisted way, Fox owed Jeanine big for that. As Max had said, they were the perfect pairing, the personification of Dauntless, the faction's two most dominant leaders now it's most dominant and strong couple.

After Fox's crying had slowed and finally stopped on the train, Eric had tipped her head back gently and pressed his lips to her forehead.

"I still want to marry you...and have babies someday...do you?"His eyes had been uncertain, his touch bordering on desperate.

Fox had closed her eyes, one final tear falling before nodding and opening her eyes again to meet Eric's gaze. "Yes."

Upon returning to Dauntless, they'd fallen back into work, back into their lives; but connected now. Neither Eric nor Fox had wanted a big pompous ceremony, so Max had quietly wed them a few weeks later, with only a small group of close friends presiding. The party afterwards in the Pit had been epic, with Eric sweeping his new bride up in his arms to carry back to their apartment; to make love to his new bride as the party music thumped through the floor.

Fox had resumed her birth control shots, thankful that she had the choice still. It took her awhile but Fox had come to realize that becoming pregnant that soon would have been the wrong path, would have hindered her relationship with Eric rather than helped it. She'd been diligent in maintaining her scheduled shots since...but she'd purposefully missed her appointment last month. Although neither she nor Eric had ever articulated it, something had begun to change between them, the air between them after they'd made love charged with something new. Without speaking, without saying a word to each other, they had communicated nonetheless. They were ready to try for a baby, ready to expand their family. Fox discovered this with a jolt one night, stroking Eric's back as his head lay on her breast, both still breathless from making love, it was almost as if his thoughts had seeped directly into her mind.

I'm ready baby, we're ready.

Eric's eyebrow quirked as he approached Fox, she was still standing there, in the kitchen, a small private smile on her face. His hands found her hips and pulled her to him. Silently, Fox held up the item clutched in her hand and Eric's pulse began to race. Fierce love swelled in his chest and he crushed his lips to Fox's, pulling apart breathless to rest his forehead to hers and gasp, "Yes?"

Fox smiled, tears shining in her eyes. She glanced down again at the bright pink '+' on the test strip in her hand. Raising her eyes, she met Eric's and nodded.

"Yes."

THE END

A/N: Thank you everyone for the reads and reviews! I have more Eric and Fox stories if you want to read them! Let me know!