CHAPTER ELEVEN

THANK YOU: Thank you all for your reviews, follows, favs and PMs, they really mean a lot to me and I'm so glad a lot of people seem to like this story! Thank you!

WARNINGS: *Divergent AU modern days* *A bit of a slow burn* *Characters may be OOC* and a lot of dialogs

DISCLAIMER: I don't own "The Divergent Trilogy"

Really long chapter, enjoy

As the doorbell rang and her last lesson of the morning finished Tris collected her book and notes and joined Cassandra in the hall of the building where both of them had spent the past five years studying, getting a degree and multiple masters. It was kind of late but they were used to it since their Tuesday lessons - even if they were not in the same class - had always finished around 1.30 in the afternoon so it wasn't really a big deal and they had a weekly thing that consisted in late lunch together and some of their mutual friends if they hadn't had lunch before. That day Chris could make it since she had had an extremely busy morning trying to organize a fashion event, call and invite press photographers, minor models and all so she hadn't even had time for her lunch break and immediately texted 'I'm in' at Tris' proposal on their friends group chat. Marlene and Taeyeon - Lynn's Korean-American girlfriend who had easily and quickly become part of their group almost two years before when the two of them had started dating - managed to join them as well and their friends lunch turned into a girls one, not that they complained… especially not Christina!

"We could try a vegetarian cheap restaurant, Paul's been there with some colleagues and said it's amazing" Cassandra suggested explaining where that place was and they all agreed, just a 5 minutes walk from their meeting point and none of them regretted their choice entering the restaurant and reading the menù as every single thing sounded - an then looked and tasted - delicious, it was a veggie Indian place and every single thing they ordered and shared was absolutely divine and colorful, some of then spicy some others sweet and sour, a couple of them fired but everything was amazing and tasty so they took their time and enjoyed a long chat filled lunch without worrying about work or afternoon lessons.

"Any juicy news?" Chris asked as soon as the waiter left their table now cover with many dishes and full glasses. She had always been the one to break the ice, the most outgoing and gossips lover and, as predictable, that day it made no exception. At her friends' silence she rolled her eyes and added "Okay I'll start, Will is taking me to a weekend out of town in a few days, I'm extremely stressed because of the upcoming big fashion event on Friday and I've been working no stop and crazy hours for the past two weeks but this weekend I won't be available for anyone, he told me it'll be just the two of us, no distractions, no constrictions. I can't wait! I hope he'll take me to a five stars hotel or something because I want to spend two whole days in a spa, I swear" she said and we all ended up laughing at a past memories.

"I know you could easily do that, you know like that time when you literally fell asleep while getting a massage in the Turkish bath room" Marlene said between laughter as the five of them didn't manage to stop until their stomachs hurt and a couple of tears had rolled down their cheeks that hurt as well.

"What can I say, it was heaven" Chris said lifting her shoulders and taking a bite of food "What about you? C'mon"

Taeyeon asked them help in order to organize a party for Lynn's birthday that was in three weeks and this kept them busy for at least twenty minutes as they discussed possible gifts, locations and party stuff without really coming to a defined conclusion but with a couple of great ideas to work on and than Marlene changed the subject into something girly-er as she shyly said she had met a guy in a club the previous weekend and that he had asked her number and they had been texting back and forth for the past three days.

At this news Chris' squeals were irrepressible as this kind of girly and boyfriends-related things had always been her favourite, her shining eyes and her jump on the chair two good indicators along with her screeches "And? What were you waiting for? Spill spill spill Mar. Has something happened? What does he look like? Hot? Softie? Teddy bear? Bad boy? C'mon girl" Thankfully apart from the five of them the room was empty because of the late hour, otherwise they would have thought they were completely crazy and out of their minds. Red as a tomato Marlene nibbled at her lower lip slightly before taking a deep breath and starting, her eyes dreamy "We...kissed, just once" she whispers and look down but joy and happiness are written all over her face, her cheeks lightly tinted at the thought as Cassandra and Taeyeon 'awwwed' at her words getting more and more girly as she gave further explanations about this guy - Uriah - who she had met in a club while dancing because he had approached her during a country song and dragged her in a crazy and wild dance, his outgoingness, exuberance and cockly goofiness winning her over, the result being them dancing, talking and acting silly all night long until three or four in the morning when, eventually exhausted, they exchanged numbers and he planted a solid kiss on her lips before parting ways and taking cabs home. By now in full girly and inquisitive mood Chris didn't leave the poor Mar alone until she revealed every single detail and didn't know what else to say because she had already revealed everything about that Uriah - or the 'sexy goofball' as Chris had re-baptised him - and turned her attention to the most silent and quiet one just about to continue her torture with a different victim who, thanks to some divine and destiny forces, planets alignments or something mystical, was saved by her phone ringing in the exact moment Chris had opened her mouth ready to start.

It was her alarm going off, somehow they had spent the past hour and a half laughing, talking and enjoying all those delicious courses and it was already three in the afternoon: time to pay the check, go and pick Emily and James up at school.

"Saved by the kids" Chris mumbled under her breath making Cassandra laugh and Tris dramatically fake - but not really really fake- a huge relief earning even more chuckles from the other two.

"I had fun, thank you all. I'll see you soon I guess" Tris said once out of the restaurant, wrapping her red scarf around her neck and wearing her matched hat in order not to freeze during her twenty-minutes long walk to the school.

"I bet you had, you're off the hook but it's not over Trissy, it's not over" her best-friend replayed throwing a playful death-glare at Tris who just rolled her eyes and prayed that time would never come.

"I'm in for the interrogatory and yes, we need to organize Lynn's party and presents so I guess we'll meet again soon"

"Cassandra I thought you were on my side!!" Tris said incredulous looking at her friend who had just ganged up against her before turning around haughtily and walking away, erupting in laughter at her own act after a couple of steps and turning back around to wave at her girl friends before leaving - this time for real- and hurrying towards her destination glancing at her watch every now and then, picking up her pace not to arrive late at the bell ring.

Arrived just in time she was welcomed by a joyful Emily - cheerful as usual - and a pale, miserable and sickly looking James with listless and lifeless eyes.

"James, what's up? Are you not feeling well?" concern was evident in the nanny's voice as she kneeled down in front of him to be at the same level and cradled his face, smiling sweetly and motherly at the poor boy who just shook his head.

"What do you feel? Does your head hurt? Your tummy? You're tired?" she asked worried as even Emily on her side calmed down and looked at her brother with questioning eyes, realizing he was not okay, way quieter than usual.

"My head hurts and I feel like it's freezing" he whispered and Tris actually noticed he was slightly shivering and immediately asked him why he hadn't called Lauren to be picked up earlier, his answer being just a weak shrug.

"Aww come here, let me see" Tris said leaning in and pressing her lips to his forehead softly in order to feel his body temperature just to confirm what she had thought "I think you may have a fever titch. No soccer practise for you today, I'm sorry. We're going to head home to check on you with the thermometer and then put you in bed okay?"

So tired and cold he just nodded weakly, not even complaining about the no-practise part but Tris knew he was a really smart boy so she was sure he knew he had to get and feel better if he wanted to take part and play the match he was looking forward to on Saturday. Holding both the kids' hands, after having wrapped her huge scarf around the shivering sick boy to warm him up, she thought that he had probably got a cold or something on Sunday night when Tobias had taken both him and Emily out to the cinema to watch the newest kids cartoon, the surprise he had told them about on the phone back that Monday on their first day of school after the Halloween break. They had gone crazy when he had finally revealed them what his it consisted in and they had already told Tris the plot at least a couple of times, enthusiastic about that story about flying animals, speaking palms and silly humans. They had come back from the cinema quite late that night and it was extremely cold outside - it would have been a freezing winter because despite it being just Novemberthe temperatures where extremely low - so James may had gotten a fever that night or maybe because of some virus at school, Tris knew they were quite frequent especially in primary school but they were usually nothing too bad or dangerous, a two-three day long convalescence but nothing more and that was probably James' case as she measured his temperature once home just to find out she had been right: he had a fever and ended up falling asleep on the couch at light-speed while Tris was in the kitchen rummaging throughout the medicine box looking for some pills, she didn't have the heart to wake him up now that he looked finally more relaxed and warm under a couple of soft cozy blankets so she just set them on the coffee table by the couch along with a glass of water and, after a kiss on his cheek, joined Emily in the dining room where she had already started to empty her school bag ready to get started with her homework and assignments.

"What do you have to do today? Need to study for your History test?" Tris whispered gesturing for her to be quiet as well not to wake her brother up so she just nodded and gave her thumbs up making Tris chuckle ruffling her hair, leaving for a few seconds just to come back with two glasses of orange juice and take a sit next to the six-year old baby girl grabbing her phone.

"I'm calling your mom now, need to tell her something?" at the head shake she composed Lauren's number and brought the phone to her ear.

"Hi"

"Hi Lauren, it's Tris. Just wanted to tell you James has a temperature and is now asleep, I told him he won't go to practise"

"Oh is he in pain? High fever? Why didn't he call me from school?"

"Not too high, I'm giving him a pill to make him feel better as soon as he wakes up, is it okay? No allergies right?"

"No, he doesn't really like taking medicines but he'll have to. The red and green paper box with slightly pale pills is for fever and headaches and kids can take it as well, give him one and a half pill."

"Okay, perfect. I'm sure a nap and those pills will make him feel better" Tris said keeping her voice quite low and looking towards the living room close door.

"Hope so. I'll try and come home earlier if I manage to. I have a meeting but it should be over around five and then I'll drive back home"

"Okay, no worries"

"Okay, thank you Tris"

"No problem, bye!" As she ended the phone call Tris turned her full attention back to Emily and started studying with her and helping her with some researches. History, Maths and Art: three subjects and 50 minutes later they were finally done and for some fortuitous coincidence they heard James stir and stretch form the other room as they where tidying up and cleaning the table.

Tris was by his side in a matter of seconds caressing his hair and sitting down next to his head, leaning towards him to sweetly allow him to open his eyes after an hour long nap "Hey titch" her voice just above a whisper as she kept on massaging his scalp "How are you feeling?" his nod followed by a mumbled "better" brought relief to Tris who stretched her arm to take the glass of water and pills she had prepared as he sat up and rubbed his eyes to wash sumber away.

"Take these, you'll feel even better then. You need anything? Are you hungry?"

"No, thanks. Just tired" he said looking down at the pills with a disgusted face before looking away and throwing them down his throat soon followed by water and an even more disgusted expression as he tasted the bitter medicine "Bleah, it's... bleah"

"I know, I hate pills and syrups but they help a lot. Want a sip of orange juice or milk?"

"Not feeling like eating or drinking right now" he mumbled and waved at his sister with a small smile as she joined them and jumped on the couch startling Tris and making James laugh.

"What now Tris? What now?" Emily's cheerful and high pitched tone made James wrinkle his nose as his head was probably hurting a little bit, at the nanny's silence and lack of quick answer she got even more excited and pleadingly asked her "Can we watch a DVD? Please? Pretty please? Pwetty pwetty please?"

"You know we don't watch TV in the afternoon, you already watch cartoons form 7.30 to 8.30 after dinner and watching TV and displays for too long isn't good for your health and eyes" Tris replied remembering her parents telling her the same things when she was a child.

"Pleeease, just for today since James is sick" Emily's pleading and batting eyes this time managed to won Tris over as she finally agreed, the soft smile taking shape on her lips giving away her answer without her actually saying anything and earning a few squeals from Emily and a content smile from James as well.

"Okay okay. Pick up the DVD while I try to figure out how this contraption works" she agreed standing up to walk to the DVD reader and recorder with absolute no idea how to make that function, her relationship with devices and technology in general had never been idyllic using a euphemism and in fact just turning it on took her a few minutes but after that Emily - rolling her eyes and shaking her head - grabbed the TV remote control and in a matter of seconds the cartoon introduction soundtrack began playing in the background leaving a stunned Tris a few inches from the screen, surprised and taken aback but happy to find out they had chosen to watch 'One Hundred And One Dalmatians', one of her favourite kid animation movies as well. James patted on the couch for her to join them which she contently did taking a seat between the two of them, Emily on her left with her head on Tris ' shoulder and her brother on the other side of the nanny, their arms pressed together until, tired and a little dizzy, he preferred lying down resting his head on Tris' lap and almost drifted off a couple of times during the cartoon but always readily re-awakened by Emily's cheerful voice when she excitedly and proudly announced she was able to play a certain track of the musical score with her piano and insisted for them to let her show her abilities the first time and then when the doorbell rang and his little sister jumped up to look out of the window and then go and unlock the door to let Uncle Toby in.

"Hey, hi" he greeted his niece softly before lifting her up in his arms heading towards the living room, the only room where the lights were on just to find Tris smiling up at him, her hands lost in James' hair as he was still lying on her.

"Hey what's up?" he whispered smiling at Tris before kneeling down and looking right into his nephew's eyes.

"Temperature" he mumbled curling up under the soft fluffy cover.

"He has a fever, when I picked him up he wasn't feeling well and fell asleep the second we arrived, I gave him a pill almost an hour ago and we were just watching a cartoon. It's an exception as we don't usually watch TV or this kind of things. Lauren knows, I called her once home and she should be here in a little bit, off work a little earlier" in the meantime he had sat down next to her with Emily on his lap, his body close to Tris' and their hands touching slightly as he started caressing James' scalp as well, tingles running up both their arms as the last minutes of the 'One Hundred And One Dalmatians' played on the screen a few steps from them for a few more minutes before ending at what Emily sprinted upstairs, piano melodies and notes spreading throughout the house. "Come come. Listen to me"

"Emily be quiet, don't scream. We're coming" Tobias said standing up and taking James in his arms before setting him on his feet and helping Tris up as well. Emily really was able to play the cartoon soundtrack and she showed them a couple of times because she had just finished playing it the first time when Lauren arrived so she started all over again as her mom greeted them and hugged her son asking him how he was feeling and if he had taken his medicines, feeling slightly better but tired as ever he ended up in bed in less than half an hour and Tris kissed him 'goodnight' - even if it was more like 'good evening' - for the first time before leaving to head home around five thirty escorted by Tobias who drove her to her door leaving her right in front of her house steps waving at her through his car window one last time before driving away.

--

The following morning Tris showed up at Lauren's around 8.30 to watch and look after James in the morning as well, luckily her Psychology lecturer had told them he wouldn't have been there on the 12th of November because of a convention in Seattle he had to attend so she didn't even skipped her lesson and was more than willing to take care of the poor feverish boy for the whole day. At her arrival Emily hadn't finished getting dressed yet and they needed to hurry up unless they wanted to arrive to school late so she greeted them quickly before they hopped in the car and drove away, the baby's hair put into a messy last-minute ponytail and Lauren's coat just half buttoned up. James was still in his pjs sleepily sat on his chair by the kitchen table, his milk bowl and cereal box in front of him as he lazily kept on moving his floating corn flakes with his spoon, making no actual effort to lift and bring it to his mouth just observing their circular motions and milky little vortexes.

"Good morning James, how are you feeling?"

"My head hurts and I'm still tired" he mumbled but smiled at her as she took the seat next to his.

"Not feeling like eating?" Tris asked nodding at his still full cup, his beverage not warm anymore.

"Not really..."

"C'mon just five sips and two spoons of cereals, you need to eat something to get better. I assure you it'll help and then, while you go up and wash your face, I'll clean the table and then we can do whatever you want" she said but soon added "Well not really whatever you want but..." once noticed the glister in his shrewd eyes earning a "uff" from him.

"Can I stay in my pajamas?"

"Of course you can kiddo but now eat you breakfast" his smile was priceless as she guessed Lauren wasn't used to letting them wear pjs all day long and that it probably was an exception, well not a big deal since he was sick and would have probably ended up snoozing most of the day... And as predictable she was right in fact, eaten his cereals, drunk his milk, taken his pill and washed his little sleepy face he drifted off on the couch as she read him a story, at the second chapter he was already in his dreams world at what Tris covered him with a blanket and, despite feeling tired and slightly cold as well, she started tidying the kids' rooms, picking up their toys and dolls, folding their clothes and starting the washing machine. Despite she had put on her cardigan she still felt kind of cold but the windows were all closed so she didn't really thought much of it until she started feeling slightly dizzy and weak at the point that she missed a step and barely managed not to fall, a bad presentiment getting the best of her as she grabbed the thermometer on the coffee table and took her temperature, an annoyed snort leaving her lips as the numbers revealed her she had indeed caught the virus as well and had now a fever, it being the cause of her headache, cold shivers and sudden weakness. She checked on James just to find his peacefully asleep in the same position she had left him in and, sitting down on the couch next to his feet with her book in hands, she just managed to read a couple of pages before falling into slumber as well, the previous scene played again leaving the two of them both laying there, their bodys buried under a pile of blankets surrounded by silence and peace, the chaotic and loud world outside not bothering them one bit.

A good three hours had flown away when James stretched his leg in his sleep hitting Tris a couple of times, disturbing her long nap as she began stirring and her eyes fluttered open in a few seconds, a yawn announcing her awakening along with some more sleepy noises and her hands rubbing her eyes in order to wash numbness and tiredness away.

--

Tobias' phone ringing around one in the afternoon startled him a little bit as it echoed through the room and caught him off guard, his attention absorbed by the computer screen in front of him, tons of mails and documents flashing in front of his eyes, that high pitched sound making him jump slightly on his seat, his concentration disturbed as he pick the call up not even glancing at the smaller screen of his phone.

"Hi" he said waiting to figure out who was he talking to, not something work related that was for sure since it was his personal cell-phone, his business telephone quiet on the edge of his work desk.

"Hi Tobias, it's Tris" her soft sweet voice managed to wipe his pissed off expression in a millisecond replacing it with a smile, his heart picking up his pace a little bit.

"Oh, hi Tris, how are you? Couldn't wait to see me tonight?" he asked jokingly and a little taken aback by her unexpected call, he had no idea she was home with James.

"Uh yeah, your prize... Uh we actually need to postpone it, pick another day or something...again" she trailed off, fumbling for words for a few seconds giving him time to replace his smile with a saddened face, he was looking forward that night, he was claiming his second prize then and had already kind of organised it all so seeing his plans cancelled once again was not really pleasant and he started to think Tris was probably having second-thoughts about their challenge because she had already once called off because of a family urgency four days before and she was now asking him to change plans once again.

"Uh..." not knowing what to say, that doubt eating him alive, just a miserable 'uh' left his mouth.

"Yeah I'm really sorry, I uh I wasn't actually even calling for this reason. I uh, I'm at home with James and I got a high fever as well, I think I caught his virus yesterday or earlier this morning, I've just woken up when I actually don't even remember falling asleep but it's kind of pretty bad..."

All of as sudden his prize was not in his thoughts anymore, her health and well-being worrying him much more than his selfish doubts and he actually felt a dick for assuming such a thing "Oh my God I'm so sorry..." once again tho he didn't really know what to say.

"Don't be silly, it's not your fault. It just happens you know, it's not that big of a deal. Yeah right now it's not really idyllic but I'll be just fine in a couple of day, James is feeling better already, his forehead doesn't burn like yesterday, the pills worked just fine"

"I still feel sorry, what are you feeling? Your head hurts? Are you feeling cold?" she hummed in response but reassured him once again before changing the subject.

"I, uh, I called to ask if you possibly could go pick Emily up yourself... James still needs to stay home and recover and I..." she trailed off and he was already about to answer her but she cut him off "I mean I didn't want to disturb you, impose or make you feel like you have to... It's my task I know, my job, they pay me for picking her up from school and I bet you have a lot of work to get done. I'm sorry just forget I even aske-"

"Hey hey hey, stop right there baby" he stopped panicking for a millisecond, he had let that 'baby' slip out of his mouth but soon kept going trying to act like nothing had happened and praying that in her dumb feverish state it hadn't caught her attention "Of course I'll go pick my niece up, it's not a problem really. You're not feeling well, I don't see any problem. I would have stopped by anyway, it just means I need to leave a little earlier but I don't have too much to do" he lied glancing at his agenda: a meeting at 2.30 and an important appointment at four... well he would have pushed them back, not a big deal "You stay at home and rest, okay? Does Lauren knows you're sick?"

"No, not really. I was quite fine when I arrived this morning..."

"Okay, not a problem. Rest and make yourself at home. Do not worry, I've got it" he said in a convincing yet soft tone, nothing like his professional cold business voice but that was Tris!

"Th-Thank you Tobias, I really don't know how to repay..."

"You don't be silly. We're okay, we're perfectly fine. Just rest and relax" he said smiling at himself "I'll see you later okay?" his tone was even softer this time and the word 'baby' threatened to leave his mouth once again. Smitten, he was totally smitten he realized shaking his head weakly one ended the call, phone still in hands.

A couple of hours later he was leaving, laptop in one hand and a small plastic bag with the pills box he had bought for Tris in the pharmacy just down the street in the other one, his afternoon now free after the almost ten phone calls her secretary had made to postpone his meeting and business appointment and all the documents he needed to sign or fill in still in a pile on his desk, they could have waited another day and just like that he drove to Emily's school picking her up at 3.30 p.m. , a gear surprise for his niece who ran and thrown herself at him the second she spotted her Uncle Toby in the parents crowd. On their way home she couldn't stop talking, asking why Tris was not there in first place and then just telling him about her exciting day, her friends and the upcoming school trip her teacher had told them about.

"A school trip? It's amazing princess, you'll have so much fun" he answered undoing her seat belt and picking her up in his arms, locking his car with the remote control before pulling his phone out of his pocket, uselessly trying to contact Tris, her phone ringing out.

"They're probably sleeping, we have to wake them up" Tobias said to himself scratching the back of his head, not really feeling like disturbing the two of them, sick and probably asleep.

"We can use the spare key" Emily stated matter of factly.

"We could if I had a spare key..." he cleverly remarked, at what the small baby girl just chuckled and kneeled down in front of the bushes and plants by the doorsteps, her small plutty hands rummaging through the leaves and terrain before turning back around towards a confused looking Tobias wearing a winning expression and showing the key in her palm.

"W-what?"

"The hidden spawe key, didn't you know about about it?" at his kind of shocked head shake she just chuckle and handed him it for him to open the front door and let them in.

James and Tris were indeed asleep really close on the couch, under the same pile of blankets, the nanny's arm wrapped around the little boy shoulders. This sight welcomed Emily and her uncle once in, the baby girl tiptoed upstairs ready to start doing her homework and Tobias assumed when he didn't see her for the following good half an hour nor heard any sound coming from her room as he prepared some hot broth since he couldn't have found dirty or recently-washed plates and had so assumed they had skipped lunch, Emily re-emerged when the light soup was ready and helped Tobias softly waking Tris and James up, she turned the light on as he bent down on the couch and kissed James and Tris' foreheads repeatedly, even daring to place a sweet peck on the sleepy-beauty's cheek, his lips tingling at the contact, his heart racing in his chest but she didn't remain impassible either as she softly hummed something before slowly opening her eyes just to come face to face with a caring and sweet Tobias, kneeled down in front of her.

"Good morning sleepy beauty, good morning titch" he whispered smiling at the two sleepy head in front of him.

"Hiiii" Emily whisper-shouted hugging James ad Tris' legs before running to the kitchen and coming back with a boiling soup plate and placing it on the coffee table before going back and then back again with the second soup portion.

"You haven't eaten yet right?"

"We fell asleep… kind of missed lunch…" Tris said nibbling at her lower lip thanking Tobias profusely for his thoughtful gesture as he and Emily sat down in front of them, Emily not too close to the feverish ones in order to avoid getting the virus as well as they chatted - and yawned - all afternoon long, the familiar and domestic atmosphere feeling special but not banal or boring as every single touch, eye contact, hands brush or smile felt like a step in the right directions, a game with two players who enjoyed taking things slow already knowing what would come eventually, the chemistry and attraction just growing and growing with every move.

Thank you a lot for reading, hope you enjoyed it! Reviews, comments and PMs are always much appreciated.

~OceanicGirl