A/N: Thank you all so very much for sticking with me and all of the feedback! I am always striving to write the best chapters that can add to the story and with all of you in mind. Your feedback or just seeing that there are people reading my crazy ramblings truly drives me.
Sleep1177, you already know I couldn't have pushed through this last few weeks without you and your encouragement. Thanks for helping to keep my Eric moments to a minimum. I have only played Prodigy while spinning my knife a handful of times in the last two weeks...so that is progress. ;)
Damn You Kylie...seriously thanks for the chats in the wee hours of my night and morning. Gotta love that time difference thing!
As always thanks for all the views, reviews, follows and favorites. I hope you all enjoy the chapter and hopefully there will be more to follow soon.
Chapter 11
When all of the initiates were down they were called to attention by Amar.
"Listen up everyone! We are going to be heading out in a few minutes to take a tour of the compound, show you to your dorm and get you equipped. For the Dauntless born you don't need the tour so if you would go to your homes and grab your approved gear that you should have already packed and return to the dorms. Once we have finished the tour we will be all meeting in the dorm that was prepared where the transfers will then get changed and we will head out to the lunch celebration. If you haven't figured it out already, you will be training together. We don't have a large group of transfers and it would be a waste to have separate classes. We are going to expect more from you because you will not be shown any slack. That goes for my Dauntless born too. As of right now you aren't Dauntless born and transfer. You are all initiates. When we get to The Pit, go ahead and head to your homes grab your gear and head to the dorms that are set up for all of our initiates."
Lilah and Eric exchanged looks at this. Relieved but also worried about how this was going to work in the dorm. Each both knew what they wanted, what they wanted more than anything but they weren't sure that was what the other wanted. Or if they did what would the others say about it?
As the thoughts were flooding them they both saw them as they passed through their eyes and felt relief.
Lilah bit her lip in thought as they held hands and walked. "Maybe beds beside each other to start?" She asked this blushing but they both knew that it would just be for show.
Eric smiled and nodded with his own ears going red. "Yeah, that sounds good."
He squeezed her hand just before she parted with Tobi and the others. "See you soon Eric." She said reassuringly, but whether to reassure herself or him wasn't clear.
It was probably a bit of both. He nodded to her before Shauna linked her arm with Lilah's. It surprised him when Tobi nodded to him, as if to reassure him she would be ok. He gave a nod back and then followed along with the tour.
"Are you nervous?" Savannah asked as she walked beside Eric.
He cast eyes to her and ran a hand through his hair. "I guess I would be lying if I said no."
Savannah nodded and shrugged. "She would tell him about you even when she was still pregnant. She made up this whole bed time tale about you. She said she was going to tell him it every night until you could be there to tell him one yourself."
She wasn't sure why she was telling him that other than she had seen his face when how the other men in Dauntless had bonded with Gunnar. It wasn't his fault that he had to be kept away and had to keep away. She could accept that.
Everything else she would take as time went on and see how he was with Lilah and Gunnar.
Lilah practically ran to the apartment along with Tobi. Not only to hurry to get back to the dorm but because she needed to see Gunnar. To tell him his daddy was finally home.
Tobi was cursing as she blurred past corridors, running along the edges sometimes so close that one misstep and she would have gone right over.
She burst through the door, smile spread across her face as she took in the room. Finding Gunnar on the floor with his toys spread around him and gumming on a teething biscuit she laughed and rushed over to him.
"Daddy's home baby!" She laughed out as she scooped her son up and he squealed in delight.
Angel watched from her spot on the couch and smiled happily for her daughter and grandson. Tobi shook his head with a laugh and went to go grab his bag from his old room but then also Lilah's.
He came back into the living room with a smirk but also internally frowning.
"You put Gunnar's crib in my old room?" Tobi asked as he plopped down beside Lilah then smiled wide when his nephew launched himself from her arms to him.
Lilah looked to Angel and frowned in question but Angel just shrugged with a smile.
"There is still the playpen in your room but we are turning that into Gunnar's room for now. We though you might want a little privacy when….." she stopped and started laughing at the redness that was blooming over Lilah's face.
She might be red but she was also happy that not only were her adopted parents trying to give her the space she needed with Eric but that they accepted him even.
"So does this mean that he can…." she trailed off and Angel nodded.
"Harrison approached Max and asked if Eric could be allowed the same rights with Gunnar as you have. He can be with him as soon as training ends until lights out and then on off days he can spend here if he would like." Angel fought back the tears when she saw Lilah doing the same.
She knew how much this meant to Lilah. Not just having Eric with her and Gunnar but more than anything it was and is the love and support that she is getting from her family.
"Thank you Mom." Lilah whispered after she had moved to her mother and let herself be wrapped in her arms.
"There is nothing to thank us for Lilah. This is what family, but more importantly, parents do." She pulled back and looked into her daughter's eyes, smiling. Then she laughed at a thought. "Although your father hadn't meant for him to be sleeping in the same room with you. It took some coaxing on my part and only then did he agree after grumbling something about cleaning his guns."
Lilah and Tobi joined in the laughter but Tobi was turning as red as Lilah. He shook his head and looked at the time with a sigh.
"We need to hurry down to the dorm Lilah." He stood and grabbed both their bags.
With a nod Lilah kissed her son and chuckled when he grinned showing his two front teeth. "Mommy will see you soon at lunch and then you can finally meet daddy in person baby."
"I am going to be heading down there soon. Your father and Max are walking me there personally." She said while rolling her eyes with a smile.
With last goodbyes the two siblings set out, Lilah going breakneck speeds again but slowed down when two senior members that knew her and Gunnar got pissed when she almost tipped over.
Then she had her own little personal escort to the dorms. They left her with scowls and muttering under their breath about telling Amar.
Lilah's eyes had gone wide but couldn't even object before they went in search of the tough instructor.
"Well someone is going to have extra laps or something tomorrow." Zeke laughed as he plopped a bag on a bed then collapsed onto it.
"Shut it Zeke or I will find a way to make sure you join me." Lilah threatened then looked over the beds nervously.
He was trying to be ok with this, but she was his sister and Tobi just did not want to look over to see her sleeping with a guy. No matter that logically he knew it had already happened to have produced his nephew. He was just going to have to find a way to get over it though because it was going to happen whether he liked it or not.
Part of his problem was solved when Shauna called over to Lilah softly. "Hey Lilah there are two beds over here in the corner. They are kind of private I guess. As private as you can get in here." She shrugged with a smirk at her friends blush.
Lilah nodded and smile. "Thanks, we can take those."
"Just keep the noises to a minimum would you!" Jack, a Dauntless born called with a laugh and a wink to Lilah.
Tobi sighed at the joke but also the fact that he saw a potential problem there with Jack. He had almost forgotten about the guy in all the fuss and worry over the last few days.
Jack had a major crush on his sister and he just hoped he could keep his comments, eyes and hands to himself. Not just Eric would take issues with it if he didn't.
The tour was just getting to the Chasm when two senior members stalked up to Amar with scowls on their faces. One began to gesture as he was telling Amar something.
None of the transfers could hear what they were saying but whatever it was had Amar's face transforming into something that instantly inspired fear.
"She did what?" Amar growled out loud enough for it to drift to Savannah and Eric who were at the front of the tour.
Instantly the two of them went tense. They was good fucking chance they knew exactly who had caused that reaction in the Instructor. They men got through telling whatever story they were relaying to Amar.
He could only growl internally and shake his head. He imagined that she was excited and he knew she would never be like that with Gunnar with her. The way they explained things though she had been seconds from her death.
That may or may not have been exaggerated and he would need to wait to ask Tobi. He would tell him the truth at least.
He thanked and dismissed Willis and Hank then turned back to the group. He saw Eric's face and could only sigh. At least they were done with the damn tour. Without another word he led the group straight to the dorms.
As soon as he entered his eyes zeroed in on Lilah and sure enough she was looking guilty. "We will be talking after lunch Lilah Johnson." He barked out then moved further in the room.
"These are your dorms for your time during initiation. Unless you have prior permission or authorization from leadership or myself you will sleep here and only here. Today after the lunch celebration you the day off. Lights out on off days is 2400 which is midnight for those not familiar with military time. You will want to learn that and quickly because we go by military time here. There are watches sold in the commissary that are calibrated and read military time on a digital display. I would highly suggest you pick one of those up. You will notice clothes on this table. These are your starter clothes and you can pick up more tonight with the points you are assigned for purchases you want or need to make throughout the compound. Use those points wisely, they will be all you are getting until you get your job assignments and make full membership. Pick out one of each kind of outfit on your sizes. Change quickly then take your old faction clothes with you to burn in the bin we passed on the way in. After that make your way to the dining hall. Remember training will start at 0800 tomorrow morning and I expect everyone to be on time. I show no slack when it comes to Dauntless born or transfers about being on time."
With that he moved across the room to Tobi while Lilah motioned with her head to Eric indicating where she had put them to sleep.
He nodded with his lips thinned slightly, still wondering what the hell she had done in the short time she had been out of his sight. He moved quickly to pick out as close to the sizes as he could get and then over to the beds she had picked out.
"You want to tell me what exactly you did that caused two pissed off Dauntless to hunt down our instructor?" Eric got out in a low tone as he dropped the clothes on the bed and pulled her closer to him.
Lilah rolled her eyes with a sigh. "It wasn't like I was trying to kill myself. I just got excited and ran too close to the edge of a pathway on the way to the dorms."
Eric's mind was casting to why that was a big deal but as he remembered how all of the pathways were set up his scowl deepened. "Well no more of that shit Lilah. You won't get anywhere if you are dead dammit."
Lilah moved closer and wrapped her arms around his waist. "It was stupid and I know it. Believe me I will be feeling the pain for it tomorrow. Amar will not let me get away with that even if I wasn't doing it on purpose."
Eric's arms went around Lilah and he sighed as he smirked a little. She hadn't changed a bit in some respects and he was glad about it but also it worried him. He hadn't been lying when he once said her middle name was trouble. They both had something more to put ahead of themselves and that need for the rush some of those daring acts brought on though.
"Just promise me to keep the adrenaline stunts to a minimum and not when I am not there either, please Lil's." He tone was soft as he pushed her back to hold her eyes.
Her dimples appeared with her smile and she nodded. "I will be honest I am rather boring now. Although Dad and Mom have forced me to go out occasionally I prefer to spend time with our son."
Eric shrugged with a smirk. "I highly doubt you could ever be considered boring at any time baby. I can't say I am much better though. If I wasn't training or doing…..other things related to coming here I stayed to myself. I would have much preferred to be right there with you both though."
"Well now you can be." Lilah said softly and with the smile still place. "You need to get changed though so we can finally introduce you to him."
Eric kissed her briefly before he pulled away with a nod. Lilah wasn't sure at first if she should stay or let him change but that was solved when she was called over by Amar to where Tobi was standing with a smile on his lips.
"Well, time to go face the music." She muttered then walked off leaving Eric to change and trying not to be disappointed she didn't get to see it.
When she got over to Amar he quirked an eyebrow at her and shook his head. "You got lucky your brother was able to convince me Willis and Hank were exaggerating a bit on how close you came to going over the fucking edge Lilah. So I will limit your punishment to twenty extra laps and you will be one of the demonstrators during the sparring for the second half of the day when we get to the physical portion."
Lilah groaned at the laps part but then pushed that down at Amar's look to her. She nodded respectfully and accepted her punishment. It was rather lenient considering this was Amar. She wondered who she would be going against though. It would most likely be one of the Dauntless born.
Apparently Eric had changed quickly and had made his way over. She felt his arms go around her waist and she looked over her shoulder at him. She couldn't help the smile that came over her face when she saw him in black. He winked at her and smiled back.
"I will need to pick up some more clothes. These are a bit….tighter than I am used to." He said a bit uncomfortably as he adjusted the pants a little.
Amar chuckled and shook his head. "That is about how they are supposed to fit. You get used to it eventually I am told. It isn't a bad idea to pick up more clothes regardless. We will be working your asses hard and that can make it unpleasant to keep wearing the same clothes over again."
Eric nodded respectfully. "I am sure I can make it to one of the stores sometime tonight or tomorrow maybe."
Lilah was going to respond that they could go after lunch when she spied Max and Harrison coming into the dorm. It had been emptying out so really only her friends were there along with Amar and Tobi.
"Max, Harrison. What brings you guys to the dorms?" Amar asked with a worried look on his face.
"We wanted to have a word with Lilah and Eric if we could Amar. Everyone else can go ahead and head to the dining hall." Max said this as an order not a request really.
Tobi gave Lilah a worried look as did Savannah but they along with the rest of the group made their way out of the dorm. This left only Amar, Harrison and Max with them now.
Harrison smiled at Lilah reassuringly now that the room was clear. "It isn't anything bad. I know your mother told you about what we worked out for you both but we wanted to let Eric know in person but also we needed to let Amar know as he is the lead trainer for the transfers."
Lilah nodded happily and she felt Eric relax a little. Max looked between the two and smiled. "Harrison approached me in your stead Eric to request the same rights that Lilah has in regards to being able to spend time and care for your son. I felt it only fair. So the same arrangement will stand for you as her if you want. You can spend off days with him, with the permission of Angel and Harrison. After training you can spend with him until lights out then you will need to be back in the dorms within the hour after lights out at the latest."
Eric got quiet and speechless. He left Lilah squeeze his arms in comfort knowing he was fighting being to affected or emotional about this. He finally cleared his throat and nodded. "Thank you…" He stopped and took a deep breath. "Thank you both for that….and just everything."
He managed to get out. Harrison nodded and clapped a hand on his shoulder then motioned with his head for the young man to step aside with him. Now Lilah was tensing when the two of them moved a distance away.
Max chuckled with a smirk as he looked over at the two and then back to Lilah. "He is just giving Eric some words of wisdom." He said knowingly. He knew he was really giving Eric a not so subtle message that he expected that if they were giving him this chance he use it for the purpose it was meant for and not to be running around.
Neither man really thought that Eric would but this was Harrison's daughter in every respect that mattered and Max was rather fond of her as well. He was and felt like an Uncle to the two former Eaton's as well as Gunnar.
Lilah bit her lip and looked over to see Eric blushing a little but looking serious as he was saying something to her father.
"I completely understand, Sir. You want only what is best for Lilah and Gunnar and words can't express how much I appreciate that and everything you, Max and everyone else here has done for my family. I want you to know that…" Eric paused and tilted his head in thought of how to phrase this. "It was never just going to be a passing phase or some kind of young romance with Lilah and I. Even had Gunnar not come along as he did I would still be standing here feeling the same way. They are my family in every way that matters to me. I already look at Lilah as my partner. I am just…" Eric trailed off and shrug.
Harrison smiled and nodded. "You aren't sure if she wants that and so soon?"
Eric nodded worriedly as his eyes moved over to Lilah talking with Max and Amar. "I know we both want that eventually, or we did before everything happened. I don't know if the events have changed things for her but they have for me. Not in that I don't want them, I do. I just don't want to wait for them. Maybe I never did really want to wait."
Why he felt he could be this open with her adoptive father he couldn't say. But he needed to be because this was a big decision for them both.
Harrison nodded in thought. "I can't speak for her but I am sure you will find that you are more in line of thought than you think. There is no rush though. You just got here, so take the time to spend together. You are welcome to stay at the apartment." He Harrison got embarrassed and grumbled a little. "You will be sharing the room with Lilah per her mother's insistence."
Eric started blushing and tried to repress the pleasure that he felt in the presence of Harrison at the thought of having real alone time with Lilah. He nodded through his blush and kept his face serious as he assured the man he hoped to one day call his father-in-law.
"I promise you that nothing has ever or will ever happen that she doesn't want and I would always be respectful of your house and rules. And not just because Lilah couldn't kick my ass in a heartbeat if I didn't do all of that." He added with a little smirk to lighten the mood.
Harrison let out a little laugh and nodded. "You got that right. Well, it is time to get to the lunch but first….." He motioned for Lilah to join them again and then looked to the dorm door. "Angel, come on in."
Lilah's eyes instantly went to where her mother was walking in with her son. Eric grasped her hand instantly as he caught the first sight of his son. His eyes went wide and he was fighting like hell with the tears that were starting to burn his eyes.
"We thought you two could have a few private moments for this, rather than in front the entire Dauntless population." Harrison said but moved towards the door with Max and Amar.
"We still expect you there in a few minutes and you will be sitting at our table." Max called over his shoulder. Damn if he wasn't going to get at least some time with his nephew.
Angel handed Gunnar over to Lilah with a smile and tears in her own eyes. She kissed Lilah's cheek and smiled at Eric before she moved away quickly.
Gunnar was squealing out his gurgled. "Mama," as his hands went to the hair that was draped over her shoulder.
Eric lost the ability to breath for a moment. He could only stare at his son in wonder and joy. He was even more beautiful and perfect than any pictures could do justice to.
Lilah looked to Eric with the question in her eyes of if he wanted to hold him. Eric nodded through the tears that were now pooling in his eyes. He wiped his hands on the rough material of his pants after they had suddenly become sweaty, then he reached out to take his son in his arms for the first time.
He was heavier than he thought, solid even. He could only chuckle internally at the thought and the smile that graced his chubby little face. Blue eyes, so like his mothers with the exception of a ring of grey that circled the azure.
"Eric, this is your son. Gunnar Michael Coulter." She said reverently and as if she had practiced this phrase many times over. Which she had every night since she found out she was pregnant she had dreamed of this.
Eric laughed few tears spilled over. "He has my middle and last name? Gods you are beautiful baby boy." Gunnar had reached up a hand to put in Eric's mouth as if he was just as fascinated with the man holding him as the man was with him.
Lilah was crying quietly as she nodded and moved closer to take one of Gunnar's hands in her own. "I needed and wanted to make sure he knew who he came from and that he was wanted, by both of us. You couldn't be here with us physically Eric but I always made sure you were with us in any way I could."
Eric finally drug his eyes away from his son to focus on Lilah and he reached out one arm to pull her closer by the waist. "I love you Lilah. I have loved you from the moment we met and it has killed me to be apart from you. From you both. Nothing will keep me from either of you again though baby. I promise you that, promise you both this."
Lilah nodded as the tears streamed down her face. "I love you to Eric, from the moment we met."
He didn't have to lean far to claim a kiss from her. They broke away laughing through tears when Gunnar made a noise before he pressed his slobbery face against Eric's chin as if he was trying to gnaw on it.
When he pulled away he moved a hand from Lilah's waist to go behind his son's head and cradle it as he pressed kisses to the tiny forehead. He inhaled the scent of his son and smiled against the soft skin and head full of soft brown curls.
The young family stood there like that for long minutes while Eric talked to his son in soft voice and laughing as Gunnar gurgled things back. He was able to make out 'uh oh', 'mama' and when Lilah mentioned they needed to head to lunch Gunnar squeaked out "Nummy!" and clapped his chubby hands together.
Lilah laughed and shook her head as she looked at Eric's amused but confused expression. "That is his indication he wants food. Nummy refers to eating for him. I have been teaching him sign language since he was old enough to learn it so he uses the simple gestures for specifics."
Eric's beamed at his son as he looked at him. "Can you do milk for Daddy Gunnar?"
At the word milk Gunnar's eyes perked up and his hands moved automatically to that sign. Eric's smile couldn't get any wider in pride. He was radiating it. He was also a little sad but he pushed that away. He couldn't help what he had missed but he could make sure he didn't miss anymore.
"Good job buddy." Eric exclaimed softly. "Let's go get you that milk and nummies then." He turned as Lilah linked her arm through the one that was making sure Eric had a secure hold on the wriggling boy.
Lilah couldn't help how full and complete her heart felt. The two walked slowly because Eric was being more careful than he would if it were just him. He also knew there was no way he was going to let someone take his son from his arms at least for a little while. He didn't care what rank they had. Lilah was laughing as she saw this pass over in his eyes. They walked into the dining hall in this manner. With Gunnar in Eric's arms, Lilah laughing and Eric smirking with pride at his son who was showing him all of the signs he knew. Milk and nummies being the most frequent one being signed and word being shouted.
