(A/N-Thanks to Lynn for beta reading this. Also thanks to all who read, review, follow, fav this. Appreciate it so much.)
Tris ran out of the lodge to the deck where she could think. They had been so happy moments ago, and now Nita was expecting Four's baby. Tris knew in her head that Four had been forced by Nita, but it still hurt her heart so much to think about Nita having his baby. She stood there watching the stillness of the forest around them with her hands on her shoulders.
"Tris," Four said as he came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, hating how she flinched underneath his touch. "Tris, this doesn't change anything between us, I love you, I'm in love with you."
"She's having your baby, she's going to have a part of you with her all of our lives," Tris said as he turned her around to look at him.
"I don't know one hundred percent sure that she is pregnant, and we don't even know if it's my baby, but Tris, even if it is, I'm committed to you, to our family. If it is my child, then I will love it and try my best to get custody of it," Four said. He had let the thoughts enter his brain as he had ran after the direction Tris had fled.
"She's not supposed to have your baby, I am," Tris said in a whisper.
Four put his hands on the sides of her face. "You know I willingly did not sleep with her. You and I will have our own children one day, do not doubt that. But Tris, I have to know if it is mine, are we going to be okay?"
"Yes. I know you didn't cheat on me or anything close to that. She took advantage of you, she did this to you, to us," Tris said as Four took her into his arms.
"I am so sorry my sweetheart, I can only imagine the pain this is making you relive," Four said as he put his hand on the back of her head, keeping her close to him. "But be safe in the knowledge that you are the one who holds my heart, you are the one I want to spend my life with and have children with. And I intend to do everything in my power to make them all come true." They continued to stand there, hugging one another, knowing that the other was there for each other.
The sound of footsteps came at them fast, causing Four and Tris to pull apart.
"Now there is the proud papa, don't you want to feel my swollen belly?" Nita asked as she walked up to Four.
"You're not going to get away with this, Nita," Four said as he stood in front of Tris as if to shield her. "If this is my child, and I say IF, then you will be in jail for raping me. And I'll make sure you don't get this child back."
"You would take our sweet little baby from me?" Nita asked.
"In a heartbeat," Four answered. "You're so jealous of Tris having my love you can't see straight."
"Come now, Four," The smirk widened to a malicious grin on Nita's face as she moved about, tossing her mane of hair, not a trace of contrition as she faced Tris. "Tris had to find out about us sooner or later. I'm sure given time she'll come to understand. The ruse is over, Four's been messing around with me for months."
"That's a lie!" Four roared. "I never could stand you, I never wanted anything to do with you, Nita. Tris is the woman I'm in love with. Tris is the woman I'm going to spend my life with, she's the only woman I dream about when I close my eyes."
"You don't have to keep lying to her, Four. She's stable enough to know the truth, you set up the little love shack at the hotel, you had her walk in our room, which I found a little on the kinky side of you, to find us just finishing making love to one another. Why I bet that is where our precious little baby was conceived. Not the most ideal but still."
"You drugged me! You took advantage of me for whatever you sick plan was. I promise you, that come tomorrow morning I'll have you on charges of drugging someone and raping them," Four said.
"Nita you have done enough! Get out of here!" Natalie said as she walked up to the woman.
Nita started to walk away, but as she did she fired off one more shot. "Just so you know, if you're lucky enough to be pregnant with Four's baby too right now, then our babies will grow up as half siblings, won't that be fun?"
Natalie got Nita away leaving Tris and Four alone again. Tris walked away to stand by herself.
"Tris," Four walked up to Tris, and placed his hands on her shoulders, hating that she flinched when he touches her. "I love you, please don't doubt that. You know I never wanted anything with Nita, she always disgusted me with the way she tried to get me. I should have been more on alert with her, if I had then maybe she wouldn't be-" Four stopped talking as he hated to even say the words he knew would hurt the woman he loved.
"Maybe she wouldn't be carrying your child right now," Tris finished for him.
Four let out a soft sigh as he thought of the everything that had happened to them, to try to keep them apart, and now this. He would love his flesh and blood, it was not the child's fault who the mother was. And he knew that if Tris and him moved forward and were married, then this child, if his, could not ask for a better mother than Tris. But that was only if she stayed in his life. He knew this was a lot to take in for anyone.
He took her shoulders and pulled her around to face him, he took his hands and placed them on each side of her face. "You'll have my child one day, Tris. But I want to ask you now, are we going to be okay?"
"It just hurts so much, Four," Tris said as tears came out of her eyes, the tears she had kept at bay for so long until now. "I wanted your children to be mine, and mine alone. If that is selfish then so be, but my head realizes that that child did nothing to cause all this."
"So?" Four asked.
"So, we're going to be okay," Tris said as he breathed a sigh of relief.
"So you're still going to marry me?" he asked.
"Yes, I still plan on marrying you," she said as he pulled her into his arms. So thankful for this woman.
The evening ended as the guests were left with no choice to but to leave, Four and Tris' party which had started off so perfect was now destroyed. Four left after reassuring Tris of his love once again.
Tris went to bed that night, well she laid in the bed, she cried her eyes out until she couldn't anymore. She knew Four wasn't to blame for this, she put the blame where it needed to be, on Nita. Nita was going to pay for this one day, and Tris was determined to make sure she did.
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Over the next few days, Four spoke with his lawyers and they all stated he had a strong case against Nita. He had his doctor's statement which included his drug screen which showed that Four had something in his system that day, but Nita was adamant that she had done nothing to him, well nothing he didn't want her to do.
Four's lawyers' demanded a paternity tests and all they could do right now was wait for the results. Meanwhile, Four could sense Tris pulling away from him. He felt so helpless right now, this should have been a happy time in their lives, her picking out a wedding dress, a venue, them picking out a wedding cake , where they would go on their honeymoon, everything! But for the last few days, she has been very withdrawn from him.
"Tris, I know something is wrong," Four said as he pulled into her driveway and shut off the car.
"Besides the fact that some other woman going to have your baby? No, everything is perfect," Tris said as she covered her mouth as she started to cry. He pulled her into his arms as she cried.
"Tris, I told you. I promise you'll have my baby one day," Four said as he took her chin in his hand. "Come away with me, and I'll get to work on that very promise to you."
"I need to go in and check on my mother," Tris pulled away from him and got out of the car and headed inside. Four knew it was wise right now, not to follow her.
"Damnit!" he shouted as he hit the steering wheel with both of his hands. The only woman he had ever loved was pulling so far from him, he didn't know how he was ever going to get her back. He had no choice but to leave right now, but he was not going to give up on her, on them.
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It was the longest two minutes of her life. Sitting in the bathroom, staring at a piece of paper. She was strangely calm as she awaited her fate, and the pink cross slowly appearing was not even a surprise, more a confirmation of what she already knew.
"We'll be all right," Tris said as instinctively her hand moved to her stomach, massaging the tiny scrap of life that so clearly was meant to be. Catching sight of herself in the mirror, she wondered how she could still look the same when so much had changed. She was going to be a mother and Four was going to be a father, again.
Tris was having Four's baby as well.
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Oh, what was she going to do now?
"Tris?" Natalie said as she walked into the bathroom. Tris was still in a state of shock from finding out she was pregnant, that she didn't move and that was when her mother see the white stick in her hand. "Tris, is that-?
"Yes, it is," Tris said as she placed it down on the counter.
"Oh, darling, this is wonderful!" Natalie said as she started to hug her daughter but stopped upon seeing the tears on Tris' cheeks. "Darling, what's wrong?" Then it dawned on her what was wrong. "Tris, this baby is a blessing, keep your faith in Four. This mess with Nita will work itself out, trust me."
"It all started off so perfect, now it's being destroyed," Tris said as she placed a hand on her stomach.
"Tris, you're not thinking of getting rid of the baby are you?" Natalie asked.
"No! No, I would never do that," Tris said.
"When will you tell him?" Natalie asked as she led Tris into her room to a lay down on the bed.
"I'm not going to," Tris said thickly. "How can I, Mom?" she asked. "After going through all this right now with Nita, the last thing he needs right now is for me to say 'Guess who else is pregnant?'. Can you imagine the horror on his face at the news?"
"Tris, you're not thinking clearly. This news would mean so much to Four, he loves you more than anything," Natalie said.
"I'm just so confused right now," Tris said.
"So," Natalie murmured. "What will you do?"
"I don't know yet," Tris made an effort to control herself, pulling herself up into a sitting position and wrapping her arms around her bent knees. "I just can't think yet, I want to tell him, but he doesn't need this news right now."
"Tris, you're getting married, having a baby is normal process," Natalie said.
"Not with this situation," Tris said.
"Tris, you have to tell Four, he deserves to know about the baby," Natalie said gently.
"If Nita's baby is Four's, do you honestly think he's going to be thrilled to hear about my baby?" Tris asked. Her baby would be nothing, not after his first.
"Tris, you're doing him a disservice. He'll be thrilled beyond measures," Natalie said. "I know Four, he is going to treasure this baby, for so many reasons. For starters, it's his baby but more importantly it's because this baby is yours, Tris."
"I think I need to get away for a few days, just to have time to think things through," Tris said.
"But what are you going to tell him?" Natalie asked.
"I'll tell him that I need some time to think," Tris said vaguely.
"Tris, please reconsider this," Natalie said. "That man is so in love with you, don't rob him of this special time with you, with your child, Tris." When her daughter said nothing, Natalie knew she had to continue to talk with Tris about Four and their baby.
"Tris, do you love him?" Natalie asked as Tris nodded. "And do you doubt that he's in love with you?"
"No," Tris answered. She knew he loved her, but this, this was something else.
"Then don't let anything hold you back," Natalie said as she hugged her daughter. There was a knock on Tris' door. Natalie went to go see who it was and came back to tell her Four was here.
"What are you going to do, Tris?" Natalie asked as Tris stood up from the bed.
"I'm going to do what I do best, wing it," Tris said as she collected herself then headed downstairs to face Four.
"Oh, Tris, please tell him," Natalie as she feared her daughter might just do the opposite and not tell Four about the baby.
Tris walked down the stairs, a bundle of nerves and it felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. She stopped in the hallway as she neared the living room, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she imagined her life, her life with Four and their sweet little baby. She could see their futures, him holding their baby's arms and hands as he practiced walking with their baby towards her. Four holding their baby, coming home from work and their little one running to the door to greet him home. She smiled at all the images that was going through her mind.
She opened her eyes and was about to walk in to speak with him, when she saw he was on the phone with someone, his back was to her, so he didn't know she was there yet.
"Yes, make sure all that is wrapped up," Four was saying on the phone. "because as soon as the paternity test establishes I'm not the father, Tris and I are going to start our lives together, alone. Yes, I'm very much looking forward to spending some alone time with her, we haven't had that much time alone and I don't intend anyone coming in between us."
"Why yes, one day Tris and I will have our own family, but not right now. In a few years yes, but not now," Four said as he continued his conversation.
Tris backed out of the room quietly, she placed a hand over her mouth as she took in everything she had just heard. Four didn't want their baby, not now anyways. He wanted to wait before they started a family. It was like living a nightmare, all her dreams were just crushed. But to be fair, he had no idea that she had been listening. But no matter what, her baby came before anyone, and always would. She had only found out about the baby, but already she was very protective of it.
If Four wasn't ready for to be a father to their child, then she had to let him go. But how was she going to be able to do that? How could she just turn away the love of her life? But this was her baby that she had to consider first. She had to put him or her for that matter, first. With that last thought, she knew what she had to do. She steeled herself as she walked back in, Four turned upon hearing her come in.
"Tris," Four said as he walked up to her. He stopped as he saw the look on her face, something was bothering her, very badly from the looks of it. "What's wrong?"
"I think we need to talk," Tris said as she motioned for him to have a seat. Four looked at her body language, and his senses were telling him that whatever was about to be said would not be good.
"Tris, whatever you're about to say, please remember how much I love you, more than anything," Four said.
"Four, after everything that has happened, I think it would be best if we took some time apart," Tris said.
"Tris, why? What has brought this on?" Four asked. "Is it about Nita? Tris, we can get through this, as long as we are together." He couldn't believe her words, he knew something had been bothering her, knew she was beginning to pull away from him, but he didn't see this coming like this.
"Four, I can't do this anymore. I've tried to hold it together, but I just don't think we are needed in each other's lives right now," Tris said as she tried to hold it together. She couldn't believe how she had to let Four go again, doing it before had hurt her so much, but this was so much worse since now she was robing Four of knowing about the baby now.
"But Tris, I do need you in my life. Now and for the rest of my life, I can't imagine my life without you in it," Four said. He was desperate now, she was just going to try to walk right out of his life for good.
"Four," Tris began, and she pulled on every inch of strength she had to finish this sentence. "While you may need me in your life right now, I don't want you in my life now." She barely got out, she pulled her engagement ring off her finger and took his hand and placed it in his open palm.
"Tris, please don't do this. If you need me to stay away for awhile, then I'll do it, but please don't push me away now," Four said as he took her hands in his, he hoped she would reconsider her decision. He couldn't loose her, how could he live without her in his life? It would be a half life at best. If that.
"Four, we're just in very different places right now," Tris said. "You have this whole situation with Nita's baby and I just want to focus back on my life. My mother is just now having a good run with her health and I want to be here as much as possible and not have things distract me."
"Things? As in me? As in us?" Four asked.
"There's no us anymore," Tris said with a huge lump in her throat. It hurt but it had to be done.
"Tris, I'm in love with you. And I know you're in love with me," Four said as he felt his world stop turning. "Why are you doing this, really doing this?"
"I want my life back. I want to decide on my future," Tris said as she had chosen to pick her baby, their baby over Four.
"What are you talking about? I've never tried to take any decision from you, it was your decision on us becoming close, it was you who chose for us to make love to one another, it was you who chose to fall in love and agree to marry me, Tris," Four reminded her.
"And I'm choosing to end this between us," Tris said as tears were in her eyes, there was no holding them at bay now.
"Tris, please don't rush into this," Four said. "I'm begging you to not destroy our chance of happiness."
"Don't you see? Now that I'm out of your life, you can enjoy your future with your child," Tris said.
"Nita's baby? Tris, we don't know if it's mine to begin with, but if it is then I'm going to be in it's life," Four said. "You swore to me that you would stand with me no matter what, no matter if the baby was mine."
"I spoke too soon, there has been too much damage to us to ever fix us again," Tris said, trying to say what she could to make him angry enough to end this.
"Tris, I know it feels like we have been stuck in reverse for some time, but if I loose you, I know I'll never be able to replace the hole in my heart that you'll leave," Four said. "Tris, let me try to fix you, fix us."
"We can't be fixed, so don't even try anymore," Tris said as she stood up to leave, Four stood up as well and grabbed her by the arms and kissed her fast and hard. He poured every emotion in his body into this kiss, in one last attempt to save their relationship. She was breathless as it ended, he pressed his forehead into hers as he looked down into her eyes.
"I love you, Tris. And I'm not giving up on us, nothing that life or fate can throw at us, will ever make me give up on you," Four said as he saw her turn her head from him, her eyes were full of tears. "I'm going to go now, for your sake. But know that there is nothing that will make me stop being in love with you. Nothing." And with that he left her house, he got into his car and drove off, but she knew he would be back.
Tris' knees gave out on her and she fell to the floor, her cries started out lite but intensified to a degree so much, that Natalie came in and pulled Tris into her arms. She knew then what her daughter had done, she had sent Four away. She hadn't told him about their baby.
"Oh, Tris, why?" Natalie asked as she tried to sooth her emotional daughter.
"He doesn't want children, not now Mother," Tris said in between sobs.
"Tris, that man wants a family with you, why are you hurting him and yourself so much?" Natalie asked, as she took her daughter's face in the palms of her hands.
"I heard him, Mother, he's not ready for kids now and my baby has to come before him, before us," Tris said as she moved to stand in front of the window.
"Tris, he's not going to just give up. You might be able to keep him at bay for awhile, but when you start showing, he's going to know," Natalie said. She watched her daughter turn around with a determined look on her face.
"He'll never know, Mother," Tris said. "Four can never know about the baby, I'm going to make sure of that."