Chapter 9

Tobias POV

I wake up and glance at the clock, 4:10am. I look down at Tris, curled up in a ball, with her head on my chest. I shift and she rolls over on her back. I look at the 'V' at the top of my t-shirt she's wearing. I solemnly trace her birds, kissing each one. I love her so much. I wish she would realize that. But I'm scared. Scared to death. I don't want to be like my father I really don't. She brings the good out in me, she's always so….happy, and pure. I've thrown knives at her and even nicked her with one but she still loves me. I spent weeks sending her mixed signals, but she still loves me. I took her through my fear simulation, not even preparing her for it. But her love remains. I can't wrap my head around how she still loves me. It seems crazy, insane even. I just don't understand. But my love for her will remain.

My hand shifts to her stomach. It has been two weeks since we found out. she is already getting a little bump, the doctor says it's mainly from her body trying to catch up. She's never eaten like she's supposed to. I inwardly sigh. Today is the day. The day we ruin two more people's futures. It isn't right, but that's just how it is. I wish it was different. I would change it if I could. For us. For our child. Our family. But I can't, and the thought makes me sick.

I rise and walk over to the closet, another reason I don't deserve her. She always makes sure the apartment is spotless, my clothes are always laid out when I have to wear a uniform, and my razor is always plugged in, my toothbrush and deodorant waiting on the sink for me. I slowly dress and start the coffee maker. I make my way into the bathroom and brush my teeth and put on deodorant before I start shaving. I know the sound will wake her.

I've put it off as long as I can and quickly shave, shutting the door in attempt to let her sleep, but it is to no avail. I hear her quiet, delicate footsteps before she opens the door and crosses the bathroom to sit on the side of the bathtub. I finish up shaving and put the toilet lid down so I can sit and look at her.

"Tris, how do you feel this morning?"

"Well enough. A little nauseous. I thought I'd sit in here just in case."

I inwardly chuckle. For the past few days she has had trouble making it to the bathroom in the mornings, I've tried to clean up the vomit, but I've only been able to once. She always stops me. Insisting on doing it herself and not letting me help.

"Do you want me to grab your clothes out of the closet for you?"

"If you don't mind…"

"Okay." I get up and go to the closet, grabbing the hanger she has her clothes hanging from, picking up her shoes and grabbing a pair of socks and some clean under ware out of the drawer for her. I take them into the bathroom and hang them on the shower curtain.

"Tobias, you can go on to breakfast and make the announcement without me if you want."

"No, I am going to sit in this apartment until you are ready…"

Tris smiles to herself and takes her clothes, somehow dressing herself from a sitting position, and then it comes, she falls to the floor and violently lurches into the toilet. It hurts me so deeply to see her this way. All I can do is hold her hair back and rub small circles into her spine. It somehow always helps. After a few minutes she sits upright and I wipe her face with a washrag, then get another one to place on the back of her neck. I pull her toothbrush out of the drawer and put some toothpaste on it. I scoop her up in one arm and sit her on the edge of the sink, handing her the toothbrush. She brushes her teeth and spits in the sink. I sip on my cup of coffee and when she's done she leads me to the bedroom, sitting on the edge of the bed and bending down to put her shoes on. I cross the room and sit cross-legged behind her.

"Pony rail or leaving it down?"

"Leaving it down."

I nod and begin to brush she sleep out of her hair. When I'm done she rises and looks down at me.

"Guess we'd better go…"

"Yeah…"

I stand and hold her hand, walking out the door.


Tris POV

Tobias opens the door for me and I walk up to the raised table at the front of the room. Everyone falls to order and I address the crowd.

"You guys know the drill by now, I call out the rankings, and then the last two names I call must be gone by the time we lock up tonight." I hold the paper out in front of me and read,

"Maynard

Soma

Zailia

Zane

Maia

Ash

Reggie

Kelsi

Valarie

Adilah

Satori

Mordred

Conrad

Leelna

Tyr

Zakon.

Tyr and Zakon. I'm sorry."

Everyone gets back to what they were doing and I cross the room to sit at our table. Cristina is gone to Candor for the day and Zeke is off with Shauna so it's just me and Uriah while Tobias gets our plate.

"So, Tris, hows the morning thing going?"

"We're getting control of it."

"Have you told your parents yet?"

"No…not yet. We're waiting until the wedding day to tell them."

"That's coming up isn't it? How long until then? A week?"

"Yeah."

"Man, time sure does fly by doesn't it?"

"It sure does…."

Tobias returns with my food and I take it gratefully.


One Week Later

I wake up to an empty bed, feeling for Tobias, but he's nowhere. Instead I feel a leg about the size of mine and open my eyes,

"Cristina! How did you get in?"

"Tobias let me in. Now get up! We have to get you ready."

"Ugh…" I roll over and get into a technically upright position, thankful I'm not sick on my wedding day. I lean back against the bedpost and take the washcloth from her hands, rubbing sleep from my eyes. Cristina sits in front of me and dries my face. She's going to do my makeup in bed, then I'll eat, then she will do my hair and put me in my dress.

Just as I am finishing up my big chocolate chip muffin after my makeup is don't my father come barreling into the apartment.

"Your pregnant?!"

"Tobias told you already?"

"Just got done telling me."

"Oh…well…um."

"Beatrice, I am not going to argue with you on your wedding day, so we can talk about it some other time."

"Okay…"

My father stalks out of the room without another word.


When Tobias and I get back to the apartment after the reception the air has changed, for the worse. I feel him tense beside me and I scan the room, he pulls his ever-present gun out of its holster and points it into the darkness.

"Come out now."

Nothing. Tobias turns the light on and I put some sleep pants and one of his shirts on. Something sill feels odd. I scan the room again, seeing nothing and walk towards the kitchen to turn the light on before we go to bed, when I step around the corner I am grabbed from the side. I manage to bang on the wall and Tobias comes running. He pulls the trigger on my mysterious attacker just as my head is slams into the wall and I black out.


I'm really sorry about the cliffhanger guys! Don't forget to review! :)

~Love,

Leigh XOXO