Chapter 10 - Tris

As he attempts to move his hand towards me I become all too aware of the hurt he has caused me over the last couple of years and I take a step back to only hit something behind me.

I am caught off guard as I realise it isn't something behind me it is someone, Uriah. My head drops slightly as this couldn't have been going any worse and now I have to contend with the two of them eyeing each other up. I step a little to the side so they both have a better view of each other, I sense Tobias is unsure as to why Uriah is here so late but he knows we have always been close so hopefully he doesn't question it right now. "You're back" Uriah states to break the silence and Tobias looks at him questionably as this probably wasn't the greeting he would of expected.

"Yep" he replies and gives him a soft smile "it's really good to see you Uri."

Silence consumes us. All of us are at a loss as to how to handle this situation and I can sense Uriah is trying to be subtle as he rubs the small of my back but I can't help but feel he is claiming me but I do appreciate his touch nevertheless.

Tobias clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck as the stifling mood and tension reaches its peak and as Tobias is about to say something he casts his eyes down and I freeze as I am sure he has noticed Uriah's, more than friendly touch.

I immediately tense as Tobias glares at Uriah so I turn towards Uriah and beckon him to look at me at which he does and without saying anything I encourage him to give us some space. He looks unsure as he takes a glance behind me at Tobias but I let him know I will be fine and with a reluctant nod he gestures that he won't be far.

I slowly turn around and I am met with a harsh stare and as I look into his eyes I attempt to read his emotions but he has his Four mask firmly in place. Aggravated is not a strong enough word to describe how I am feeling. "No" I state firmly and this catches him off guard.

"You can't do this...you can't turn up at my front door so late at night after being gone for so long..." I'm trying to hold my tears in and keep my voice steady but I know I'm not fooling him as his glare softens, he tries to interject but I simply put my hand up to let him know I am not finished.

"Almost two years...two years! You can't comeback and...you can't...expect everything to be how you left it. You don't know how hard it was...I am allowed to have moved on because you gave me no other choice and I am not going to apologise for that."

I see his Four persona fall away and his composure starts to break apart as I see him start to let my words sink in. "Tris...I.." his voice breaks and wavers as he continues "you and Uriah?" he questions and I give him a small nod of confirmation as he clenches his jaw and tilts his head back, I assume to stop any tears that may escape. My heart constricts at the sight as the man before me who was always a pillar of strength for me is now crumbling before my eyes. We are both extremely emotional and I want to leave it at that before anymore can be said but he thinks differently as he begins talking again.

"I can't ever apologise enough for leaving and I never...never wanted to hurt you...but...I..didn't have a choice." My mind processes and questions what he means by he didn't have a choice but I don't have long before he continues.

"He threatened you Tris...and I didn't want to, please trust me when I say I didn't want too but he gave me no other option-"

"Who, who gave you no choice?" I interjected firmly

He took a deep breath and his eyes momentarily darkened as he replied "Marcus."

I'm utterly floored by his revelation and I shake my head in disbelief. I thought he was completely out of the picture as the last I knew Tobias had had zero contact with him since he left home at 18. I don't know exactly how I became a part of any of this and I'm struggling to believe him. I always wanted to believe there was something bigger as to the reason he just upped and left but I can't move past the voice in my head telling me it was because he simply didn't want to be with me anymore.

Both my mind and body suddenly decide I can no longer handle what today has thrown at me and without considering what he may think I quickly step back and close the door. I place my forehead on the door and after a few minutes I'm surprised to hear Tobias's retreating steps. I'm emotionally broken and as Uriah approaches I simply tell him I need to be alone. He tries to reason with me and tell me he will sleep on the couch and watch Ruby for me but I snap and tell him I can look after my own daughter and I don't need anyone. He looks hurt but at this point in time I can't find the energy to be concerned so I watch him leave and then get Ruby from her crib and take her with me to bed as I desperately crave the comfort she provides.

Tobias POV

It's the early hours of the morning and I have yet to return back to Zekes after seeing Tris. My mind is in overdrive processing everything that has occurred in the last 24 hours. I hadn't intended on going to see her after she so clearly stated to stay away from her when I confronted her at her car, but I needed to see her and make sure she was alright and for the chance to talk to her. I know my timing could have been better but I was desperate to see her and I couldn't bare it any longer.

I know I hurt her as the pain I had caused was clear to see and she was definitely sure to let me know. When she opened the door and my name, my real name, escaped from her lips I was momentarily overwhelmed with the sensation that ran straight through my body. I had dreamt of hearing her say my name since I left and I'm sure I had a small smile plastered on my face but it also made me incredibly nervous due to the effect she has on me.

I needed to show her how much it hurt me to leave her and I wanted to tell her everything, however as she took a step back from me I noticed movement behind her only to be greeted by a familiar face in Uriah. I was shocked to see him there so late but I knew they had always been close and I was genuinely happy to see him again as I have always thought of him as a little brother.

My thoughts completely changed when I saw him rubbing her lower back, I was beside myself and I almost broke apart in that very moment. I knew it was possible she could move on but to know it was with someone I was so close to, and someone I considered to be family, was extremely hard to swallow.

I was struggling to keep myself together but I needed her to know that I had no choice but to leave her because of Marcus and I received no response other then the door shutting in my face.

I have been aimlessly walking since I left her place trying to calm down and process the revelation of her and Uriah and how Zeke and Shauna have most definitely known about it and intentionally kept from me, and who knows what else.

xxxxx

It has been a couple of days since my late night, or in actuality early morning visit to Tris's and admittedly I have done nothing but mope around the house and receive apologies from Zeke for not telling me about Tris and Uriah. I try not to take my frustrations out on him or Shauna but rather pound my feet into the tarmac as I run until I am physically unable to torture myself with the images my mind conjures up of her and Uriah. I trust Uriah has been good to her and all I ever want is for her to be happy but the pain is unbearable when I think that I am no longer the one she will come to for that.

I decide I can no longer just sit around and feel sorry for myself and the desire to see her again is ever-growing. After borrowing Zeke's car to get a new phone and bank card I make the decision to go to Tris's despite both Zeke and Shauna's not so subtle hints not to unexpectedly go to her house. I don't know what is going on between the pair as they continuously drop into conversations how Tris now hates unexpected visitors. I suppose they are just protecting her but something doesn't seem right but I really need to air things out with her because I don't won't to come back to only lose her all over again, even if it means we are just friends.

My chest tightens and my heart rate increases the closer I get to her house as I am not entirely sure if she will even want to see me, as our last couple of interactions haven't gone exactly the way I had planned. I feel relieved to see her car but the realisation of confronting her again plants seeds of doubt into my mind as to how this may all unfold. I will completely understand if she never wants to see me again, it is probably what I deserve but I need her to know the circumstances which I was forced into and that I by no means ever wanted to leave her.

As I approach the front door I begin to have second thoughts and move away slightly as my mind conjures up the endless possibilities of how terrible this could turn out. Eventually my desire to see her wins out as I take the plunge and knock on the door, for the second time in as many days. I don't have to wait long before a flustered Tris appears before me. I feel as though I may have intruded on a private moment as my eyes skim over her body I realise she is wearing an oversized shirt, definitely male, which doesn't leave much to the imagination. I swallow the lump in my throat as a look of realisation sweeps across her face as she realises it's me stood in front of her and she then casts an eye down to her attire and she flushes an even deeper shade of red which makes my heart flutter and ache simultaneously.

I rub the back of my neck, something I find I have been doing a lot lately, and watch as she gestures behind her before slightly closing the door and running further into the house. I stand awkwardly listening for any indication as to what she is doing or if anyone else, well Uriah, is there with her. She returns moments later with a noticeable change of attire as she is now in a simple pair of leggings and an oversized sweater. She looks up at me and I give her a weak smile and she simply sighs in return. I know she will not make this easy and I don't want her too but it is making me uneasy every time she turns to look behind her back into the house as though she is keeping an eye out for someone. I shift slightly on my feet and quietly ask "can I come in..so we can..talk?."

I purposefully asked if I can come in because I do want to talk but I also want to know if my suspicions of someone else being there with her will be confirmed. I can see the wheels turning in her head as she internally debates my question, she glances down at her watch and takes me by complete surprise when she bites her lip tightly and gives a soft nod gesturing me inside.

I am completely thrown off by her inviting me in that I now stand awkwardly in her front room waiting to be awoken from a dream as this can't possibly be a reality. I scratch my head nervously before I ask "so..how have you been?" and I immediately want to punch myself as that was definitely not the right thing to say as she harshly replies "what, how have I been these past few days..weeks..or months since you walked out on me?"

She is practically glaring daggers at me and I can feel the pain and anger radiating off of her despite being stood at opposite sides of the room.

"Tris..I...I don't want to hurt you. God I never wanted to hurt you, you have to know that" I plead to her hoping she believes me.

"I want you to know that what I said the other night is the complete truth, it doesn't take away what I did.." my voice starts to crack but I continue "but you have to know I had to go in order to keep you safe." I can see her face soften but she remains firmly in place as she beckons me to continue.

"He..Marcus..he umm..threatened to hurt you if I didn't comply with his demands and he knew...he knew you were, are, my weakness and that I would do anything to keep you safe so he used your life to make me work with him." I take a deep breath before I continue.

"I was practically locked up and made to do all his dirty work and I had to comply because I knew the risk to you was too great. It was hell Tris...there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think about you, you managed to keep me going long enough to be rescued and-"

I was interrupted by a loud squeal and cry from down the hall, "mamma" and instantly Tris's demeanour changed and she looked stunned as we made eye contact and my body was paralysed in place as I could have sworn that noise sounded a lot like a small child.

My jaw was slack as she sighed and turned out of the room and the thought of her possibly having a child was something I never considered. I don't know how long she and Uriah have been together but knowing they potentially have a child together crushed me. I never thought I would have children before I met Tris but she changed everything and now that possibility seems impossible.

I gasped as she walked back into the room with a little girl settled on her hip. She was trying to settle her and despite my crippling apprehension I slowly inched forward as I was curious to see the child I was now certain Tris had brought into the world. It was only as I moved closer that the little girl swivelled her head and I was met with piercing blue eyes which are reflected back at me in the mirror everyday. I couldn't help the gasp that escaped me at the realisation that she appeared to be a perfect combination of both Tris and...me.

So that just happened...hope you enjoyed it, I would love to hear your thoughts :)