**Characters and some story lines are owned by Veronica Roth**

CHAPTER FOURTEEN - BIRTHDAY SURPRISES

Tris is sitting on a blanket underneath one of the old trees over near the pond while Jojo happily bounces around near her. She watches as he bounces off, never too far from her though, sticks his little head in the air and twitches his nose before turning on his tail and bouncing back. He has practically tripled in size since her and Tobias had saved him and at this size he is far too big for the makeshift pouch so he now just spends his days following her around and laid up at her feet.

She smiles at him when he bounces back after being a little scared of a couple of old ducks that flap and quack at him. Nuzzling his soft wet nose against her cheek like a little roo kiss, he leans into her and lies on his side, his strong legs sticking out to the side and laying his head down next to her knee. Giving him a little pat she turns her attention back to the writing pad that has been sitting in her lap for the last hour. So far she has only written one line to her parents and doesn't know how to continue. She doesn't know how to tell them everything that has happened over the last few months. She especially doesn't know how to tell them about Tobias.

Just like every other time when she starts thinking about him her eyes immediately try to seek him out. Looking around she can't seem to find him, come to think of it she can't seem to find anyone. Shrugging it off her attention turns back to the writing pad with her pen poised trying to focus on what to write but eventually she tosses it aside and groans. This sudden burst of noise startles Jojo and he lifts his head to look at her.

"Sorry Jojo, go back to sleep," she gives him a little pat before lying down on her back looking up to the blue sky and the fluffy white clouds as they drift past. Squinting her eyes she tries to make out images as they float past. Rabbit. Dog, well dogs head with its tongue panting if you adjust your head and squint a little more. That one could pass as a frog mid leap well maybe if she moves her head this way and closes one eye. This is how Tobias finds her a few minutes later, head tilted towards her shoulder, one eye closed and her tongue poking out the opposite corner of her mouth.

"What are you doing?" he asks standing over her with a blue box tucked under one arm, he looks down at her.

Without skipping a beat the puts her tongue back in her mouth and replies "I'm trying to work out if that's a frog or a melted snowman," pointing up to the sky above.

He laughs as he takes a seat on the ground next to her placing the box behind him, before casually lying back on his side resting his head in one hand and crossing his long legs at the ankles. He silently watches her as she keeps adjusting her head slightly to try to decipher the cloud before she gives up and rests her hands behind her head still looking up to the sky.

"What was it?" he asks after a few minutes.

"It was just a cloud," she replies as she tilts her head back a little to look at him with a smile and a wrinkle in her nose. "What?" she asks when she sees him still staring at her.

"I love that about you," he replies as he lifts his free hand brushing his thumb across her forehead before moving it down and laying it across her stomach. Seeing the question in her eyes he continues as his thumb continues to move backwards and forwards against her side, "how you see something and turn it into a picture. It's really quite fascinating to watch, you always stick your tongue out did you know that?"

Slightly taken aback from this confession she shakes her head. He smiles before he continues "stick your tongue," he lifts his hand from her stomach and skims his thumb across her lips, "wrinkle your nose," taps her nose with his pointer finger, "and focus," he runs his thumb across her forehead again before resting it just open palmed underneath her ear against her neck. She watches as his eyes seem to skim her face, they appear to be unfocused, glassy like he's opened a door to his mind and is thinking about something from somewhere deep within him and just as suddenly it shuts as he locks his eyes with hers.

"You've been paying attention Tobias," she whispers, removing one of her hands she raises her finger to his temple and slowly glides it down along the side of his face. Resting her hand open palm across his stubbly cheek and skims her thumb across his lips.

Leaning in a little further to her he replies "I like to pay attention," he brushes his lips against her forehead, the tip of her nose and finally her lips causing her breath to hitch. He leans back again.

"So I have something for you," he continues with a shy smile.

"Really," sparking her interest she rolls over onto her side to face him.

"Well it's not much, I actually ordered this the first week you were here and it arrived a few days ago," he continues a little nervously.

Sitting up and crossing her legs in front of him her face beams with curiosity, "what is it?" she asks as she wraps her arm protectively around Jojo who was woken up by her sudden movements.

He reaches behind him and grabs the blue box he had placed there when he sat down, "I was going to give it to you a couple of days ago but I understand it's your birthday today."

Tris looks down to the box placed in front of her, wrapped in beautiful blue wrapping with a small silver ribbon curling around and tied off in a bow in the centre. She doesn't say anything just continues to look down at the box as Jojo gives is a curious sniff. Finally she looks up to look at Tobias, he was shifting a little nervously waiting for her to say something, anything.

"Tobias, I don't know what to say," she finally confesses.

"Well maybe you could start by opening it, the present is actually inside," he gives a half smile trying to hide his nerves.

She shakes her head of course, reaching down she tugs at the silver bow loosening it from the box and gracefully slides it off. Starting at the ends she peels the tape away from the wrapping finally revealing a white box underneath.

She can't help herself and gives a laugh, "are we playing a game? When I open this is there going to be another smaller box and another and another?"

He laughs and shakes his head, "no, you're almost there though keep going," he pushes himself up so he is now sitting watching her continue to open her gift and casually rubs his hand over Jojos head.

Tris picks up the white box and finds the join to lift the lid, inside is some tissue paper slowly she picks up the edge and lifts it up followed by the other edge. She then stares down into the box feeling a few silent tears that fall from her eyes. Slowly she lays it back on the ground and looks up to Tobias.

"It's beautiful," she whispers. Inside the box lies a new tan coloured suede bush hat, around the crown wrapped a strip of darker brown leather leading to the front where it connected to a solid brass name of 'Tris' that lay in script.

Tobias reaches in and removes it from the box, "this one is your size which means no more bouncing issues when you are riding," he says with a small chuckle as he reaches up and places it on her head fitting snuggly, "I know it's not much but…."

Tris places her finger on his lips to silence him "Tobias, it's prefect. I love it really."

She leans in towards him wanting to give him a kiss for his gift and just as she is almost there the brim collides with his forehead, "ouch" he laughs as he raises his hand to the area that was just bumped into.

"Oh God sorry," she replies, first with concern raising her hand to cover his and then can't help but laugh with him, "maybe I should take it off first," and with once swift motion she removes her new hat and places her smiling lips with his.

"Well there is more," he continues, "I was sent out here as a distraction to make sure you didn't go back into the main house."

"Really? By who?" Tris replies now full of curiosity again.

"Tori and Chris, they should all be done by now so do you want to go take a peek at your other surprise?" he asks.

She knew now what she was going to write home to her parents. Everything, how despite being halfway around the world she has found a new home filled with lots of love, laughter and happiness. Friends who had unexpectedly become another family to her, Jojo, her new found passion for photography and above all Tobias.

"OK," he stands up and helps her to her feet before replacing her new hat on her head. Taking her hand he leads her and Jojo back to the main house.

"Tobias can I ask something?" she questions after a few paces.

"Hmmm," he hums looking down to her.

"Did you really order this for me my first week I was here?"

"Right when we got back from rescuing Jojo," he says as he looks off to the orchard beyond the house.

Tris stops walking making him stop and look back at her "so did you know then?"

He pulls her into an embrace "Tris I knew the minute I saw you standing on the rail your first night here. You were taking my photo as I was walking to my unit," he pushes her hat back off her head resting his hand on her neck, "I saw you on your toes, camera raised…"

He doesn't finish, she slowly slides her hand around behind his neck and pulls him towards her.

"Hey," they hear from behind them, "when you've finished we're ready," pulling away they look over to see Christina standing on the porch.

"Come on, I'm kind of scared of her you know," Tobias says taking her hand again.

"Really why?" Tris asks through a giggle.

"She gave me the 'best friend' talk the other day and threatened me," he replies with a smirk.

"Well who would off thought that Four would ever be scared," she laughs following him up to a smiling Christina.

As they walk up the steps to the door Christina loops her arm through hers "so Tris. I know that coming from Abnegation that you are not really used to celebrating your birthday."

"OK," she replies giving her friend a wary look before turning to Tobias, "what's going on?"

"Well that would ruin the surprise," he says letting go of her hand and starts walking behind the two girls.

"Tris trust me, you're a Dauntless girl now. Time for a little birthday treat," Christina says leading her through the dinner hall toward the back, "No Jojo you need to stay. That's a great hat by the way. Where did you get it?"

"It was a present from Four," she says turning to look at him over her shoulder.

"Really, I like it. This way," she says tugging her down through another hallway, "OK, now you need to close your eyes," she finishes as they stop outside a doorway.

"What?"

"Come on close your eyes, trust me."

"OK," Tris closes her eyes and can feel Tobias place his hands firmly on her hips. Eventually she hears the door being opened before she is gently lead through the doorway.

"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" she hears a chorus of voices call out startling her making her step back bumping into him behind her. Opening her eyes she looks around and can see everyone standing in a room.

"What's going on?" she asks a little embarrassed and presses a little closer to Tobias and looks at Christina whose smile could not get any bigger.

Tori steps forward "well Tris, remember a little while back I said I would talk to Max about turning a room into a studio for you,"

For the first time Tris looks around the room noticing a computer set up in the corner with a printer. The other side of the wall is covered in corkboard and taking a closer look she can see some of her pictures pinned up against it. There is a large desk in the middle that is on a slope with what looked like clips along the top and a big adjustable light hanging over it.

Raising her hand to her mouth she can't help but gasp "no, you're kidding?" she looks back at Tori who is shaking her head.

"No, he was more than happy to finally put this old room to use. Everyone has helped renovate it for you," she continues as she moves forward and gives her a hug.

"I don't know what to say," her voice muffled through Tori's hair, "I mean I really don't deserve this. It's too much."

Tori pulls away smiling down to her "Tris trust me you deserve this. Come on lets show her around."

Christina bouncing up and down with excitement leads her around the room, pointing out everything to her. They had even stocked the printer with photographic paper and provided a separate computer for all her digital work and photoshopping. When they get to a separate door that is closed Cara takes over.

"Tris I remember you saying that you would like to learn your own developing, well I have arrange for this little red light room for you. I have all the steps and I'm sure we can work it out," she opens the door and looks inside. Along one wall is a line for drying the photos once developed and across the other wall are the developing trays with bottle of chemicals underneath, "this is the red light switch, just flick this when you are in here and a red light shows above the door outside. When that's on we know not to come in," she looks to Cara. She really had done her homework.

"Thank you, it's great. I just have to get a camera now so I can use it," she says looking back into the room.

"Well, as a matter of fact," Zeke says as he pulls a box out that he seemed to be hiding behind him.

"We all brought you this," Shauna says as they hand over the large box to her.

Not really believing what her friends have done for her she doesn't move, just looks at the box that they are holding out to her. She looks around at all their faces, smiling at her.

With a slight nudge from Cara she steps forward and takes the package from Zeke, placing it on the desk she starts to open it. Inside are two wooden cases, lifting them both out she opens them. Once contains a newer digital camera complete with an extra-long detachable zoom lens. The other contains an older camera for using with film.

Silently she closes the lids, "I can't accept these. It's too much honestly," she says looking down to the wooden boxes as she runs her hands over the lids.

Shauna moves forward and takes her by the shoulders "Tris you can and you will."

She looks up to her, "Shauna, I don't know what to say," she says with a tear in her eye.

Shauna pulls her into a hug and before she knows it everyone had crowded in with a group hug.

"Thank you all so much," she says in between her tears as they all start pulling away.

"Well that's enough mushy stuff," Uriah says as he claps his hands and rubs them together, "there's birthday cake so let's go."

He leads them out of the room back to the dinner hall as Tris continues to stand there and look around the room. They had all gone to so much trouble for her, well and truly beyond anything that she would of dreamed back home. As she runs her hands over the lids of her presents again she feels him come up behind her. Wrapping his arms around her waist he leans in and kisses her cheek.

"You know if we don't get out there Uriah is going to eat the cake without us," he says softly in her ear.

Laughing she turns and grabs his hand "I don't think so, come on."

As she cuts her cake and hands out the slices to everyone she gives them all a hug and another thank you for their gift.

Later that evening Tris is sitting on the steps outside with Jojo as she reads the instruction manuals to her new cameras when Christina bounces over and flops down next to her with a big dopey grin on her face.

"What's with you?" Tris laughs.

"Will, he kissed me," Christina says through her grin.

"What? When? Where? How?"

"Well we've kind of been talking and hanging out, you know, and we were walking around out the back near the orchard earlier today," Tris looking at her smiles and nods so she continues "he turned around and started walking backwards while talking to me and tripped over a tree root," both Christina and Tris laugh before she continues "I was so busy laughing that I tripped over the same root and ended up on top of him and before I knew it, exhale," she finished with a sigh still grinning.

"Oh Chris, he made you exhale. I'm so happy for you," Tris says leaning in and giving a hug to her friend.

Before they can continue chatting Max approaches Tris "I'm sorry to interrupt Tris but I wanted to ask you something," he says as he steps down onto the ground in front of them. Raising a hand and shaking his head to Christina indicating to her that she didn't need to leave he continues "I'm not sure if you're aware or not but every September the Royal Adelaide Show is on."

Tris and Chris both shake their heads as they listen to Max speak "well normally we just send in our prize cattle or some of the boys compete in the local rodeo. Occasionally Cara has entered something from the orchard or greenhouse or Lyn and Carol have competed in the bake off."

They continue to watch as he slices a piece of the birthday cake on the fork before spearing it and raising it to his mouth. While he is slowly chewing he looks at her "this year I thought that maybe you would consider entering some of your pictures to represent Dauntless in the photography competition," he swallows the cake eyes not moving from Tris. He waves the frosted coated fork in front of him as he continues "only if you were interested of course."

Chris turns to look at Tris, her face is beaming with the biggest smile "you really think they are good enough for a competition Max?"

"I think that they are so good that I'm even going to commission a few to start using in some of our pamphlets but that's another conversation," he looks back down to his cake and slices another piece but before he has a chance to even consider getting it onto his fork to eat he is knocked back in an embrace from Tris. Taken aback as he isn't used to his staff hugging him he adjusts himself before slowly encircling her in his arms giving a laugh.

"I'd love to. Thank you." She can feel him giving a fist pat against her back with the hand that is currently balancing the cake on it.

"You're welcome, I look forward to celebrating your win with you," he says genuinely smiling at her as she pulls back her hands still on his shoulders.

"Oh I'll just be happy to compete, thanks again Max," she says as she removes her hands and sits back down next to Chris who gives her a congratulatory hug.

"Well I'll leave you girls to continue, I didn't mean to interrupt," he says as he stands walks up the stairs past them and looks down fondly before giving a quick nod he leaves to go back to his office.

"Can you believe that Chris?" she asks still beaming to her friend, "Max thinks my pictures are good enough for competition."

"Oh I believe it Tris, you are really good and I think that you are going to win," she replies, slinging her arm through Tris's and giving her another squeeze.

When they pull apart they glance over to where Will is standing. He is watching Christina and wears just as big a dopey grin on his face that Christina had moments before making Tris laugh.

"Go and spend some exhale time with him," Tris says giving her a nudge. Christina spins her head to Tris with an almost silent squeal and quickly jumps up before heading over to Will. "Happy Birthday Tris," she calls over her shoulder as they walk of together towards the units.

She watches as they walk off and smiles for her friend, happy that she had also found someone. Closing her eyes she leans her head against the railing but it is only a matter of minutes before she feels him sit down next to her, taking her hand and interlocking their fingers.

"Tired?" he asks as she adjusts herself into his side and lays her head on his shoulder.

"Yes and no, I was just thinking how lucky I have been since I've come here," she says as he releases her hand and swings his arm across her shoulders, "I mean I have made some wonderful friends," she tucks in a little closer to him, "have a fantastic boyfriend," she wraps her arms around his middle giving him a squeeze, "and I finally feel as though… I don't know how to put it. It's like being content, happy, free, true freedom," she gives a contented sigh as she feels his kiss against the top of her head.

"I know exactly what you mean," he replies laying his head on top of hers.

SNEAK PEAK AT THE NEXT CHAPTER….

"So I'll take Tris with me to check it out," Four says as he takes the map coordinates from Zeke, "It'll give her a chance to take a few pictures." He pats his pockets in search of the truck keys before catching them from Will who tosses them in his direction.

"Will you guys be ok?" Zeke asks

"Yeah it's just a quick job so we should be back by dark," he looks out across the field to the cattle that they are currently herding, "you guys should be right until we get back right?"

"Yeah all good, we'll see you at dinner," Zeke replies as he pats Fours shoulder and turns on his horse.

…..

"TRIS! RUN!," she hears before realising that there is a rumbling sound coming from above.