A/N

Guest who left me a flame: I spent a lot of time writing this story, and if you don't like it, don't read it and please don't give me a nasty comment. Writing, though fun, takes a lot of work and I would appreciate if you did not just tell me how bad the characters and plot-line of the story is. However, I hope this chapter will explain why Tris is treated as a 'baby.'

Everyone else: please don't do that, although constructive criticism-but not flames-is welcome.


Tris POV:

I don't answer my phone.

I know it's her, and I know it's rude of me to ignore my best friend, and I know that she drunk and didn't mean it and I don't want to be mad at her and her mad at me, but I just can't bring myself to answer the damn phone.

Because every time someone brings up the S-E-X word, I feel guilty for making everyone grow up around me much faster than they should because of Lily.

But still, I feel guilty. This time, I think to myself, I'll pick up the phone.

But every time I just ignore it. And every time, Christina leaves a new voice message, claiming that she was sorry for what happened but now she needs me to tell her which shoes will look best with her top for her date with Will that is tomorrow night, oh, and by the way, which eye shadow looks best.

And each time I roll my eyes.

Then, I call her.

"TRIS! FINALLY!" Christina shouts.

I take the phone away from my ear as I feed Lily blueberries and Cheerios.

Then Christina stops talking.

"Hello?" I say.

She laughs. "Good one, Tris. But I'm still here."

Lily kicks her legs and I feed her more blueberries. "Chrisa!" she screams, using her nickname for Christina.

I laugh. "Hey, can you come over? I think Lily wants you here."

Christina hesitates. "But that means I'm getting ready for my date at your house. See you in twenty."

Lily's eyes light up as I put the phone down. "Chrisa?"

I nod eagerly. "Thank god I forgive her or you would be pretty bummed out."

Lily starts to cry for no apparent reason and continues to until the doorbell rings.

I open it, but Christina's not here yet.

It's Tobias.

"Hi," he whispers, pecking my lips. "I've been meaning to talk to you."

"Uh, sure?" I say, as I close the door.

Lily wobbles to Tobias as I climb up the stairs. "Come on," I say, sighing. "For goodness sakes," I mutter, as I pick up Lily. "Come upstairs," I say, as Tobias kicks off his shoes and takes off his jacket.

"We need to talk," I say, as I lead him and Lily into my room and slam the door.

I put Lily down in her crib and run a hand through my hair. "We can't be together."

Tobias' face crumbles. "But...why?"

"It's not that I don't want to," I say. "It's just that..." I sigh. "Your dad. And my dad. They're great friends, but don't really want us together."

Tobias groans. "What happened to you?" he whispers, while running a hand around my neck, touching my raven tattoos. "You used to be so brave and daring, yet gentle and caring."

I cross my arms, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "I can be brave. And I can be caring. Tobias, we have a child now."

"And it's best for Lily's parents to stick together."

"Just give me some time, please?" I ask. "I was really happy when you came back...but now I'm getting used to the reality."

"Of what?" Tobias asks. He takes his hand away from my neck and starts to play with my hair.

I shove his hand away. "That you left me for two years. The first two years of our daughter's life." I laugh nervously, "You weren't even there for Lily's birth."

"I was scared," Tobias insists.

"And now I'm scared that you'll leave me again," I say. "Go, please."

He gapes. "Are you dumping me?"

I shake my head. "Just give me some time. I'm sure we're meant for each other, but every relationship has its faults."


After Tobias leaves, Lily starts to cry again. I brush her dirty blonde hair and put a clip in it as Christina rushes into my room. She picks up Lily and starts to rock her.

"Tris," she says. "Why did Four call me asking what he did wrong to you?"

I shrug.

"Tris."

I sigh. "I'm just getting used to the fact that because he left for the first two years of our daughter's life, he could leave again."

"So you dumped him?"

I shrug. "I didn't necessarily dump him. I just think we need some time off from each other. You know, if we're really meant to be together, then we'll get back together sometime in the future."

"'We'll get back together'?" Christina asks. She laughs and brushes a hand through her hair. "Tris, you dumped him. How's that for reality?"

I shrug again. "I love him, it's just...I don't know. He's my dream guy but I don't want Lily to get to attached to him if he's just gonna run off again."

Christina groans and sits down on my bed. Lily plays with her fingers as Christina continues to talk. "Tris," she says. "Love is all about taking chances. Do you think I knew Will and I would be together this long? No; I thought we would break up when he went to University of Washington. But because long distance relationships don't work out, he was willing to transfer his classes to online courses. For me."

I look down at the floor.

"You know what this means, right?" Christina asks.

I shake my head.

"You've got to call him," she insists.

"So I've got to get him back before he goes running off to some hooker because I broke up with him?"

Christina laughs. "Boy, you are clueless."

I raise my eyebrows.

"Tris," Christina says. "Four called me asking if I knew what he did wrong. He didn't want you to break up with him. He wants you back. He cares about you and Lily." She sighs. "You don't have to call him now. Give it a day, maybe tomorrow. If you wait too soon, he'll just think you're taking a joke too far or are paranoid. For now, let's put on a movie and paint our toenails."

She pulls out The Little Mermaid and hands it to Lily, who points to Flounder and giggles cutely.

I wish I was still that cute.

Having a baby makes you grow up too fast, especially if you were just a teenager when you had a child.


*Flashback to Two Years Ago*

I ran out of Al's house and to mine in silence. When I got to the front door, my dad was waiting.

His arms were crossed, his eyes narrowed at me. "Why are you here so early? What happened to your date with Albert?" he asked.

"Dad," I said. "I'm eighteen, not twelve. You don't have to treat me like this."

He moved out of the doorway. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"

I rubbed a forming tear out of my eye. "Al and I aren't meant for each other. Now, if you'll excuse me, I feel sick."

I ran up the stairs and into the bathroom just in time for me to puke into the toilet. I flushed it down and brushed my teeth, slumping up against the wall and crying.

"Tobias," I whispered that night. "Where are you when I need you?"

Then the door pushed open.

"Beatrice, was that you throwing up?"

I gulped.

"Beatrice." My dad held the back of his hand up to my forehead. "You don't feel sick. Are you alright?"

I sighed. "Dad, remember when I went to the doctor's office and Doctor Fernando didn't know what was wrong with me? And you know how Tobias suddenly disappeared? Well, I'm...p-pregnant."

My father turned his back to me. "Beatrice," he whispered. "You're only eighteen."

"I know."

"Is the baby Tobias'?"

I nodded.

"That's why he left," my dad continued. He sighed, and cradled my cheek. "Beatrice, get some rest."

I sighed and nervously laughed. "Dad, I'm fine. Besides, I'm eighteen."

"Yeah," he replied. "And pregnant. Get some rest. Until you start making better choices and act like an adult, I won't treat you as an adult."


*Back to Present Day*

I debated picking up the phone.

And I ended up calling him.

But no matter how many times I called him on my crappy flip phone, he wouldn't pick up.

"Tobias," I whisper in a sing-songy voice. "Pick up the damn phone already."

"Hi," his voice mail replies, as I curse under my breath. "You've reached Four's mobile phone. I'm not available so leave a message and your name and phone number and I'll get back to you."

"Tobias," I whisper into it, through a shaky breath of tears. "I don't know what came over me today. I was just...I don't know. The last time I was in a relationship, Al beat me. And before that, you left me. I don't know what came over me and why I was so bitter today. Call me back?"

I end the call, my tears still coming. Then my eyes go big and just as blurry as I realize I had forgotten what today was.

Al's funeral.