Chapter 20: Marriage

My eyes fluttered open at the feel of Eric's lips nibbling on my shoulder. "Mm," I moaned lightly before nudging him back with my leg.

"I have to go work," he said as his arm moved further up my shirt.

"I know," I whispered, letting a soft sigh leave my mouth as Eric's hands ran gently over my side.

"Can I have a proper goodbye," Eric bit harder on my neck before sucking it lightly.

"Your niece is in our bed," I reminded him as he growled before pulling away.

It had been two months since the incident of Marcus breaking into Eric's apartment. And boy have a lot of things happened since then.

We went back to Eric's apartment a couple times with the police in tow because they demanded to know why Eric was disturbing the peace. It was only when I called Hec - who in turn phoned his brother in law, Zeke - that they would back off. Eric and I had only gone back to pack up our things that were there and move them into Eric's father's house. It was not an easy move for Eric. He had worked hard to buy that apartment - I know that he did. Edward and Will had come over to help clean up the place before Eric sold it. And when I say 'clean up', I mean get rid of whatever blood, bullet holes or other criminal presence there was in the place.

Eric stood in the front of the apartment when it was empty and just looked at it. The drive to the house was equally as quiet. He had sold the apartment a week after the attack. I knew that he was thinking of getting another apartment but for now the house was okay for him. In fact, it seemed as though things had taken a serious turn with us.

I realized that what Marcus said was true - I had not been going back to my apartment. So did that define my living situation to be with Eric? I didn't want to think that Eric and I were living together and with that in mind, we got into a small disagreement regarding our living arrangements. The only thing that was definite was that Eric would not be spending the night without me - unless he was out of town for business. And I had pointed that out. I still had my old apartment.

Around the same time, Hec informed me that he was going to be moving out of his mother's and wanted to know if I would go half in on a new apartment. He understood that Eric would come along with me and Eric knew that this was me still hanging on to a part of my freedom. We argued about it once. And I was thankful that it was only once.

"Does this have anything to do with Hec being there," I asked as things had settled and Eric and I sat on his newly furnished home.

Eric shook his head. "No," he sighed, "I trust you. And I know that majority of the time that you're there, I'll be the one sleeping next to you so," he paused and smirked.

My hand reached out to playfully slap him before he grabbed it and pulled me onto his lap.

"I understand if you feel like I'm rushing you to move in with me and make this a permanent thing," he said after giving me a kiss, "so we won't rush." He pulled back and a serious expression fell on his face, "but I don't want to wait too long, Ana."

I surrendered my deposit from my old apartment and moved into the second bedroom at Hec's apartment.

On the few occasions that I did stay at my new apartment, Eric was there. But most nights, I stayed with him at his father's house. He allowed me to decorate a few rooms to my liking. The house had nine bedrooms, three large rooms that could be for entertainment, recreation or dining. Not that he needed another dining room, there already was one connected to the main kitchen. In a way it reminded me too much of Cain's parent's home with all the sophisticated, Victorian design of things. I had to get rid of that. Eric and Jess didn't mind that I tore off the wallpaper and had the house repainted. After all, Jess liked to point out that one day it would all be mine.

"If it isn't already," Jess teased causing me to blush.

Eric wanted a few rooms and one of the larger rooms near his office and gym area to have that modern look and that was what I tried to aim for. We christened every room after redecorating it. And to my shame and embarrassment, some rooms were more than once. It was like as if turning the house into our own little place had awaken something in me that wasn't there before. Most of the time it wasn't because I felt insecure and was trying to convince him otherwise, no. It was like I was this whole new person. Eric told me that I should never be ashamed of my cravings.

"It just tells me," he kissed my shoulder as I tried to put my clothes back on, "that you're a passionate person."

"I never was before," I whispered and then turned in his arms to smile at him. "Then again, I think I always was."

"I remember telling you," Eric ran his free hand down my cheek, "I was going to change your preconceptions of men, relationships, sex and especially yourself."

"You did," I smiled and leaned into him, "thank you, Eric."

"No Ana," he shook his head and moved our bodies so that I could look up at him, "it is I who should be thanking you. You gave me that chance and I took it. I told you that I was attracted to what I saw that day when I first met you, I just needed you to see it for yourself. And in return you gave me something to fight for, something to live for. Life was boring until you came along."

I smiled and moved my arms from his waist to wrap around his neck. "He was wrong."

"He was," Eric said with a soft smile.

"I wasn't boring," I added before pulling Eric's face so that our lips could meet.

It was Spring break now, two weeks before my brother's wedding. Eric's trips to Erudite had changed to every other week and the way that he talked about the project and the new warehouse made me believe that he was going to get the promotion. We had not approached the subject of whether or not I was moving with him to Erudite just yet. I know it was wrong of me but sometimes I'd wish that he wouldn't get promoted.

"That's pretty selfish of you," Hec told me one night as we were having a Expendables movie marathon after I quit working at the Chasm. Did I ever tell you that? Eric thought that I shouldn't work there anymore since I was taking classes with a heavier work load and because Marcus was somehow still allowed to go there.

"I know it is."

"You're practically living with him anyways," Hec added which made me roll my eyes. "Let me guess, you don't consider it 'living with one another'."

"I do, I just don't want to admit that out loud."

Hec turned to me on the couch. "Take the plunge, Ana."

"I can't do that."

"Yes, you can," he chuckled.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

This time, I turned to face him. "You needed help with this apartment, didn't you? How else are you going to..."

"Ana," he shook his head and put Jason Statham on pause. "You do realize that I only asked you if you wanted to move in with me because of what happened at your old apartment? I can handle the rent myself, honestly I can. I just wouldn't have felt comfortable if you were still in that place," he shook his head, "or if you were alone when Eric is at work or at Erudite. Anything could happen and I rather you have someone to watch you when it does."

"Wait, you only asked me to move with you because..."

"Ana, you're my friend, my best friend," Hec emphasized. "I don't know what I'd do if I found out that something happened to you and I could have prevented it." His hand reached out and touched my cheek gently. "I technically didn't need you to move here with me but I'm glad you did. And if you decide to move in with Eric, then you're not in any way putting me out of much needed funds," he chuckled. "In all honesty, I would be thrilled if you decided to move with Eric. It means that you've accepted that part of your relationship and yourself. Let me ask you something, if he does get that promotion and they ask him to move to Erudite..."

"I want to move with him, don't get me wrong," I shook my head. "I want to be with him. I want this relationship. I want it to work."

"Then go and be with him."

"And what if..."

"What," Hec questioned with a slight tilt of his head. "What if what, Ana? The only one holding you back is you. Eric has been accommodating and patient since the beginning. To be honest, I don't know what guy would be unless he truly cared about and loved you."

Hec was right and when I had worked up enough courage to talk to Eric about the promotion, I received a reminder of why I was so worried.

The day after Hec and I talked was the day that Eric was leaving for Erudite on business.

On that day, I received a manila envelope.

It was at my station when I came back from lunch.

Myra had the day off so I couldn't ask her who had left it there.

And when I asked Brandon if we could look at the security camera, he played it back for me on his computer at his desk and we couldn't find anything about the messenger.

"They knew where the cameras were," Brandon shook his head. "I'll get this over to Owen and he can look at it further."

"You can do that," I questioned as he turned to me. "I mean this is property of the Bank."

"They won't even know."

"I don't know about this. I mean what if..."

"Ana," Brandon turned in his chair, "you're dating Eric Coutler. Get over it. We won't get caught for breaking one little rule."

The person who dropped off the envelope wore a pair of jeans, a grey hoodie and a baseball cap. They took off the hoodie but kept the cap on with their face down. We couldn't get a clear picture of who it was and neither did Kimber or Elena recognize the man.

I opened the envelope when I got home.

In the envelope were pictures of Eric with other women. My mouth went dry and my hands shakily went from one picture to the next. They were time stamped with the dates that corresponded to Eric's business trips. I started to breath heavily until I reached one picture of him here at Dauntless with Elsa - my ex-supervisor from the Bank. That made my knees buckle and I dropped to the floor.

"It's not real," I shook my head and pushed the pictures away from me.

My arms wrapped around my legs, pulling my knees to my chest.

"Eric wouldn't cheat. Eric wouldn't cheat," I repeated in my head.

My eyes began to water and I begin to imagine him desperately wanting to get away from me and my stupid, boring self to meet up with all these girls in Erudite.

"No," I closed my eyes and tried to calm down.

Hec had found me on the floor a couple hours later when he come from working at the Chasm. He picked me up and put me in my bed. He had called Lauren who came over and stayed with me, assuring me that something was wrong with the pictures. Yes, the date on the pictures were dates that he had been away from me and in Erudite. But things like that could have been falsified.

There was a day where I just stayed in my room. Stupidly, I went over the pictures again and again, closing my eyes and crying every time I looked at them. Eric kept texting me, saying that he was sorry he didn't call but he was in a whole lot of meetings. I replied that I understood and was thankful that he was at least checking in. A small part of my brain kept wondering if the reason why he didn't call was because he was with someone else.

"Is that why you've been going every other week," I picked up a picture and ran my fingers over Eric's face.

I looked at the girl with her corset lingerie and turned to throw up in my trash can.

Hec tried to get me to eat the next morning but I refused to leave my bed. And when I did decide to eat, I couldn't keep anything down. I always got a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as I thought about the pictures. And it only escalated whenever I got a text or missed call from Eric. I fainted twice on the day before Eric was to come back from his trip. Once was during work hours and Brandon called Owen - my pretend brother to come in and pick me up. Myra showed up at my apartment with Edward that night and she was shocked at the pictures.

"It's not him," she threw the pictures in the trash.

"Hey," I hurried to get them out.

"Why are you keeping them," she shouted at me. "Why are you holding onto it?"

"I don't know. As proof," I shrugged.

"Proof of what," Myra shook her head, "proof that someone is out to destroy you and Eric, that's what this is!"

"Myra," Edward reached for her.

"No," she snapped at him before grabbing me by the shoulders and giving me a little shake. "I refuse to believe these pictures, Ana! Did you even talk to Eric about it? I bet you didn't! And if you did, he would have come straight home to help you figure out what's going on because I guarantee you that this is not what's happening," she gestured to the pictures. "And honey, you need to get rid of them. You holding on to it, looking at it," she shook her head again, "it's not helping you any."

When Eric came back, he was frustrated that I did not call him right away. He sported that huge grin on his face when he saw me and broke down in tears. After he got me to confess what had happened, he pulled away from me and turned with his back facing me. He was quiet for the longest time, staring out the window.

For that small moment, I wondered if he was going to admit that he had been cheating on me. Instead when he did talk, I could hear the anger in his voice.

"I hate that you went through this," he bit out.

His head hung down and from the way his body moved, I could tell that he was taking deep breaths to calm himself.

"What I hate more is that you didn't tell me," he added. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I..."

He whirled around, his eyes glaring at me. "Is it because you thought it was true?"

"Eric, I..."

"Fuck that, Ana! Fuck," he ran his hands through his hair and marched out of the room.

I slowly got up from the couch and went to follow him, only to see that he went down stairs into that gym and stayed there. Every now and then, I'd hear popping and loud bangs coming from underneath the house. I knew he was working out his frustration and anger. I didn't believe him, I didn't trust him, I thought he had been unfaithful and I know that it was hurting him.

After a few hours, I decided to woman up and head down there. I put the code in and walked across the stone floor to hear him grunting and the hitting of a punching bag. Sure enough, when I walked past the targets, I saw that several of them were demolished. When I finally reached Eric, he continued to punch the bag. He paused after a while and slumped over the bag, leaning his forehead against it as his chest continued to heave.

Ten minutes later, he moved his hand and gestured for me to come to him. I ran my fingers tentatively up his arm until he turned his body and pulled me into him.

"Ana, I wouldn't do that to you," Eric whispered as his breath fell on my shoulder.

He squeezed me to him and continued to do so as though I were to disappear if he didn't.

"I'm sorry, Eric," I replied. "I'm sorry I thought that you did, that you were."

We stayed there, locked in our embrace, for I don't know how long. But it allowed me to feel just how upset, sad and hurt Eric was that I had believed the pictures. We made our way back up to the main part of the house and settled down inside his office to figure out the pictures. He snorted and scoffed at every single one of them. He didn't deny that they were him. But he defended himself against the date and time.

"Ana, it's been almost two years since the last person I slept with," he shook his head. "And you and I have been together for months now."

I bit my bottom lip and looked away.

"I don't know how much more I can prove to you that this wasn't me other than you taking my word for it, Ana."

"I don't think that it was you. I mean," I moved my fingers over one of the pictures, "it is you but..."

I began to sob and Eric pulled me into his arms. He held me that night on the couch in his office, as we fell off to sleep. The next day he went through his phone and pulled out the call history to show that on three of those pictures he was talking to me on the phone, not with some other woman. He then had Brandon and Owen go through them and found out that two of the other pictures were from parties that were held at the Center - over three years ago.

"I know you wouldn't," I whispered as I began crying a few nights later.

"But it didn't help that you saw all those pictures, am I right," his hand tangled in my hair before his other hand pulled my waist so that my body moved higher on top of his. "I am in love with you Ana. I don't ever want you to doubt that."

"I love you too, Eric," my voice was soft, but Eric heard it. He titled my head and leaned down to press a kiss against it.

That had been a week ago and so far things were becoming normal once again. He wouldn't be leaving this weekend. Since I had no school and Eve wanted to come over for a visit, we decided to stay in my new apartment that I got with Hec.

Eve had the puppy doll clutched in her hand and her nose was scrunched up like it usually was before she woke up. Eric said Jess would do the same thing.

"I was smelling the air to see if Eric was the one who made breakfast that morning," Jess teased, slapping her brother's arm playfully. "Has he made you breakfast, Ana?"

"Yes and it wasn't that bad," I said causing her eyes to widen.

"It was oatmeal and fruits," Eric rolled his eyes.

That made me and Jess break out in laughter. "Can't really mess that one up, now can you brother?"

She was enjoying a weekend to herself in Candor with a couple of her friends. Hec was there also - since it was Spring Break - and said that one of his friends had attempted to hit on Jess. When Hec recognized her, he couldn't help but call me right away to inform me of it. Of course, I ended up informing Eric about the whole situation. Jess called and said she danced with the boy - and yes, she said boy - but...

"Nothing happened! My God, Eric. It was just a dance!"

I had to laugh at his sister scolding him for being overprotective.

"Hey," I sat by Eric that day as Eve went down for her nap, "has your sister ever thought of dating again?"

Eric looked over at me before chuckling. "She tried twice but one of them was ruined before it could go anywhere," he answered, "her ex made sure of that."

"Did he do something to the guy?"

"To the guy's car, his phone, his house, his bank account," he huffed. "Apparently just before that, Jess said that she was done with him and when he found out the reason why was because she was dating again, he tracked down the guy and just made his life hell."

"What an ass," I said quietly as Eric chuckled and nodded. "What about the second attempt?"

"He was decent at first, seemed like a real stand-up guy. We found out he loved kids, too."

"That's good," I smiled.

"He loved kids a little bit too much if you know what I mean," his eyes turned dark as mine widened. I looked down the hall towards my room where Eve was. "Nothing happened, thank God for that."

"How did Jess find out?"

Eric's expression turned serious. "The same way that her ex taunted the guy she was dating, the same way Owen and Brandon were able to put a track on your phone, the same way I'm able to put security features on everything," he answered. "My Aunt has the resources available to make sure such things get done. Eve had mentioned that he liked to hug and kiss her a lot. I didn't want to be suspicious but having this sort of life, it made me that way. So I told Jess and she gave me permission to check him out."

"He had a previous record?"

"A few complaints that didn't amount to anything but enough for me to warrant a red flag. I found that his M-O is to go after single moms, making them feel like a woman again, spoil their children, lay on the charm," Eric explained. "Then when the mother feels like he's the perfect guy who accepts them, once he has total and complete trust, then he turns on the children."

"The complaints," I questioned.

"Some were disturbing. The most recent one was in Abnegation. The girl's father - who was a sheriff deputy - had him arrested after he found out that he would take showers with his daughter. He and his ex wife wanted to prosecute him but the daughter said that he asked if he could touch her in certain parts but she said no and so the guy didn't."

"This happened in Abnegation? That's such a quiet State. They're more quiet than Amity. I can't hardly think of anyone committing such a crime there."

"I guess that's how he was able to continue the act for so long and mislead so many unsuspecting women. But messing with the daughter of a sheriff deputy must have made him realize he couldn't do it there anymore, without facing consequences and the rumors. He fled that State and ended up in Erudite where he met my sister."

"Where is the guy now?"

"Do you really want to know," he stared at me.

I thought for a moment before snuggling closer to Eric. "I'm guessing the world has one less pedophile to worry about."

"It does," he answered and for some reason, I did not feel afraid or apprehensive towards Eric and his past.

The first two days Eve was with us, Eric had taken off to spend time with the two of us. We had did so much activities that I felt like I could get used to it - the idea of it being just me and Eric.

This morning he was going back to work and as much as we both dreaded it, he had to go. He was in the shower while I stayed laying down in bed with Eve curled up next to me. She mumbled half awake that she was hungry and I had to smile. I leaned down and kissed her forehead, causing her head to shoot up.

"Uncle Eric goes back to work today," she said in a bright voice.

"He does," I smiled and sat up next to her.

"We need to make him breakfast," Eve replied, pushing back the blankets and carrying her puppy doll towards the kitchen.

"If only she'd wake up like that every morning," I mumbled knowing that in a couple years, she'd be asking for five more minutes.

Eve cheerfully made some toast and then put butter and jam on them when they popped out of toaster - all the while still holding her puppy doll in hand. I smiled at her and continued to make the omelets for Eric along with the bacon my mother sent from Amity. They were thick and always came out with just the right amount of crisp that Eric would moan in delight whenever he ate them.

I had just made Eve's omelet - with extra cheese, please - when I felt Eric's arms wrap around my waist.

He buried his head in the crook of my neck and begin to bite lightly and suck on my skin.

"Eric," I tried to scold him but he just groaned irritatingly that he was not going to stop.

"Uncle Eric! Auntie Ana is making my breakfast!" I thought it was so cute how she was saying 'Aunty' now. She emphasized her vowels, a lot.

Eric's lips formed into a smile against me before his head lifted to look at his niece with her hands on her hips, looking up at her Uncle with a tight mouth and narrowed eyes.

"I didn't get my good morning kiss from Auntie Ana," Eric pouted, repeating her accent and kissed my hair before moving away, "and neither did I get one from you," he lunged after her causing her to shriek in delight as she ran from the kitchen and towards the dining table that I had told her to help me set up.

I smiled at seeing Eric interact with his niece. A momentary flashback entered my mind of Cain and my younger brothers - they irritated him, especially Jimmy and Josh. He always apologized and excused his behavior as being in love with me - because only someone that much in love wouldn't want to share you with anyone else, even family. And though I knew it to be true that if two people were romantically involved, then at some point there would have to be a balance as to how many time is spent with whom - I realized now how he desperately tried to cut me off from my family, even when we first had started dating.

"What do you think, Ana," Eric asked, causing me to turn to him. He smiled softly. "Eve was saying that we should meet up for lunch."

"Can we," Eve stuck out her bottom lip and made her eyes wide and I couldn't help but hold back my laugh at how well she had perfected that pout.

"Sure," I answered.

"Yes," her little fist pumped the air before she jumped off her chair and took her plate into the kitchen.

"Just place it in the sink, Eve," I called out, "and I'll take care of it. You should get dressed and brush your hair!"

Eve's little head appeared in the doorway and she smiled. "Can you braid it, again?"

"Of course, I will," I nodded, "go on," my head jerked in the direction of my room and she hurried there, giggling with her doll in hand. I turned back to Eric who leaned over and gave me a kiss on my cheek. "Where are we meeting you for lunch?"

Eric chuckled. "I knew you weren't paying attention," he stood up, taking his plate and mine to the sink. "But you did say yes to Eve," he reminded me.

"Okay," I folded my arms across my chest, "and what exactly did I say yes to?"

Eric smiled and walked away, back to the room to get his things before he left for work.

"Welcome to Child's Play," the woman at the front desk smiled as I paid for Eve's fees. Eve was holding onto my hand but leaning towards the slides. There was also a huge ball-pit and a smaller ball-pit, I'm assuming for younger children. "Will it just be you and your daughter?"

I nervously smiled back at the woman. "Um no," I answered uncertainly, looking around again until I saw Eric walking towards us. "I'm waiting for my boyfriend and this is our niece."

"Sorry," she gave me an apologetic smile before asking me Eve's age.

"She's five," Eric came to stand by us then, wrapping an arm around my waist and pressing a kiss to my forehead, "or were we talking about this one," he gestured to me, getting a playful slap from me on his chest.

"Uncle Eric," Eve cried out, holding out her hands for him.

"Hey there, bunny," he smiled picking her up.

"Can I go there," she pointed at a spot I couldn't see past Eric.

"That is our obstacle course," the woman handed me a flyer, "it's usually designed for children who are eight years of age or older." She bit her lip and looked at Eve, assuming that Eve might throw a tantrum at not being allowed to go inside. But instead Eve's head just hung low and turned back to Eric who kissed her forehead and rubbed her back. "The older children can get a bit rough."

"Eve is a tough kid but," Eric sighed and turned back to me, "I don't want to scare some child if they hurt my niece."

"Of course, sir," the woman replied before handing me another flyer. "Until she's ready for the obstacle course, there are still other areas she can play."

"Look at this one, Eve," I gestured to the flyer and then pointed at it from where we were standing. "Isn't that neat? The slide looks like a caterpillar and those steps to climb up look like a lady bug," I reached out and tickled her tummy which made her squeal in delight. "Do you want to go there?"

She nodded her head enthusiastically before Eric handed Eve to me so that he could pay. I objected at first but he said that he would catch this one and the next time Eve visits, I can pay for whatever adventure we take her on then.

I ran around with Eve for a while until she made a friend with another girl who was there. The girl was a year older and a bit discouraged that she couldn't play on the older side as well, but was happy to play with Eve. The girl was here with her father and I could only assume was his new wife - younger and provocatively dressed. Eric was making small talk with the girl's father when I walked back towards him.

"Hello," the man smiled at me as I walked there, "I was just telling your husband that your daughter seemed to brighten up my daughter's day."

"Oh, thank you but she's..."

"She's usually a handful. We're just as surprised that she isn't giving us a hard time either," Eric interrupted before holding out his hand for me to stand by him. "Love, this is Jeffrey Carver and that's his daughter, Penny."

I held out my hand which he shook. He glanced at Eric and I again before looking over his shoulder at the woman there - before frowning. Mr. Carver turned back around with a smile on his face.

"Your daughter is a delight," I smiled, "I believe she and Eve bonded over their youth at not being allowed to play on the opposite end," I gestured there before placing my hand back in Eric's.

We chatted more until I reminded Eric that he was here on lunch and that we had paid for two hours of play time - so he best eat now because Eve would want a few minutes to play with him also. Mr. Carver and his wife joined us - only I found out that she wasn't his wife. He introduced her as his girlfriend, Gina. She smiled politely at me and I didn't particularly enjoy the way her eyes lingered on Eric. I found out from conversation with her that she worked part-time at a jewelry store.

"That's how I met my Jeff," she rubbed his arm, "he was shopping for," Gina paused and then smiled again, "well it doesn't matter who he was shopping for."

My body tensed at the implication. It wasn't made, but I understood enough to know it was there. She had stolen someone else's husband and now she was with him. I glanced at Mr. Carver before looking over his shoulder at Eve and Penny climbing on the rope bridge. Quickly, I looked back at Eric who pulled me tighter to him, placing a kiss in my hair and then redirecting the conversation back to the girls. Gina did not look too pleased but Mr. Carver was ecstatic to speak about his daughter.

Eric had finished and decided to play with Eve for a bit. He took off his ties, rolled up his sleeves and took off his shoes - a requirement to not have any in the playground area - before running after a joyful Eve. I watched the two of them and smiled at the scene. Mr. Carver had gone to do the same with his daughter and so I was left to sit with Gina.

"You two must not be married long," she commented.

"What makes you say that," I asked.

She turned to me without a smile and then back at Eric. "There's happiness and bliss in the first few years of marriage. Most couples are fortunate to make it past the three year mark. It's also said that seventy percent of divorces occur for couples in their twenties," she looked at me with a small smile, "and you're twenty four, maybe twenty five."

I didn't feel the need to tell her that I was twenty-three.

"Which means you and your husband had Eve very young," Gina added. "Let me guess, he was the older college guy and you were still in high school when you met," she smiled and I only smiled in return. "Most girls like that guys are a bit older, I know I do. They already have their careers laid out for them and most of the time, you don't need to struggle with all those first-time issues." Gina waved her hand around dismissively.

"First-time issues?"

"You must know," she turned to me, "first promotion, first company events where you need to kiss up to the boss and his wife, first mortgage, first car, first bank account, first kid," she snorted. She then paused and looked at me, "But kudos to you for sticking around for all of that."

I smiled and turned back to Eric and Eve. "Well, as my Dad and Mom once told me, a dream doesn't become a reality through magic. It takes sweat, determination and hard work. The life of my dreams with a man who loves me won't come to me simply if I wish it, I have to work at it, Eric has to work at it. And we do, we work together. It almost makes me pity the woman who tries to steal him away from me," I paused and then titled my head towards her to see her eyes narrow at me, "I mean she didn't go through all that work. She took the lazy route, cut the corners. And besides, Eric wouldn't want someone who is there with him only after he's done all the work. Excuse me," I stood and walked towards Eric.

Eric saw me coming and smiled warmly before holding his hand out for me to take. "You okay," he asked pulling me into him.

"Yeah," I whispered before leaning up to give him a kiss. "You ready to go?"

"I think so," he kissed me again before turning to Eve, "Eve, I have to head back to work and... oomph," he grunted as Eve crashed into him.

"Can I get a ice cream now," she smiled widely, "pretty please?"

Eric took out his phone and sighed. "I guess a few more minutes won't hurt."

"Are you sure, Eric? You took a two hour lunch to be with us as is," I pointed out.

"I'm going to be pulling an all-nighter because I'm staying in Dauntless this weekend," he said, "I need to get some last minute things done. But," he turned to Eve, "you two are welcomed to stop by for dinner. It'll give me a break from all those numbers."

We went for ice cream as promised and Eve took a picture with the tip of her nose covered in whip cream. She pressed her ice cream cone on Eric's nose also. "Boop," she said and let out a giggle when he growled at her.

"Why don't I take picture of that," I suggested.

"Don't you dare," Eric began but Eve leaned up, kissed her Uncle's cheek and I snapped the picture.

"It's adorable, Eric," I showed it to him on my phone as he smiled and reached out to do the same to me.

The three of us took a picture on Eric's phone with our whip-creamed noses. I wiped it off after and did the same with Eve before Eric gave me a deep and long kiss. I pulled back and looked to see him smiling softly at me. He leaned in for one more kiss. "I love you, Ana Summers."

We were heading to our car when I saw Mr. Carver, Gina and Penny were leaving as well. I began to wave and so did Eve when another woman came by them and picked up Penny in her arms. A teenage girl was following the woman and when Mr. Carver went to hug her she turned away. He looked happy to see the woman and the girl and when I realized that Gina did in fact steal someone's husband, I hurried Eve into the car.

On the way home, I remembered a conversation I had with her the last time about siblings and how her mom and dad weren't together anymore. She was a smart kid but I didn't know how to address what we had just seen.

"Penny lives with her mom," Eve said playing with her puppy doll, "just like I do. But she has a nice dad," Eve looked out the window and frowned.

I cleared my throat. "You know Eve, some girls have wonderful dads, some girls have awful dads and there are some who have none at all."

"I want a nice dad," she said softly.

"You know Eve, I can't help you on that front," I replied. "But I do know a man who loves you and your mother unconditionally. He is supportive of both of you and is always looking out for what is best. And while you don't have a dad, know that your Uncle Eric is always there for the two of you."

"He is," Eve's lips twitched into a small smile, "and you're going to be there for me too, aren't you Auntie Ana?"

"Yes I am, Eve."

As Eve was taking her nap, I followed my mother's instructions to make her tasty garlic mashed potatoes and my grandmother's pot roast recipe with vegetables. I had packed up the dinner and decided that we would stop at the store for dessert. Eve and I didn't head over to Eric's office until after seven o'clock. Dillon was still there along with Jane - who would go as one of the team-members if Eric got the promotion.

Eve was playing a game with Jane and Dillon using the office chairs when Eric asked me about earlier today. I explained to him about the conversation I had with Gina and the meeting we saw with Mr. Carver and his ex wife. Eric informed me that Mr. Carver had spoken to him about how he missed his wife, how he had made a one-time mistake and that she had never forgave him.

"It was just one night with Gina that cost him everything and he regrets it to the full," Eric added. He smiled and reached out to touch my cheek. "He said that I shouldn't make the same mistake. I told him I had no intention of doing so but he was insistent on letting me know that he saw a happy couple today," Eric pulled my chair so that we were closer, "saw something that he once saw many years ago with him and his wife. He was foolish and hoped that," he cleared his throat, "I hope you don't make a stupid mistake as I did, young man," he imitated Mr. Carver and I had to laugh.

"I think you could see it in his eyes when he was there with Gina and then when I saw his wife," I shook my head.

We both turned to hear Eve call to us, she was waving her hand as she and Jane rolled across the office past Dillon's chair. "Not too fast, young lady," Eric called back to which she only went faster. Eric shook his head before taking my hands in his. "I have one last trip to Erudite before we go to Amity," he said. My face must have paled because he added, "Dillon and Jane will be coming along. Dillon is insisting we cut the trip to only two days instead of the four because of your brother's wedding."

"So he's going?"

"Yes," Eric answered, "and bringing his girlfriend - which he said frustrates him because his mother..."

I started to laugh. "My Aunt is not going to make it easy on Lauren."

"She's overprotective?"

"Quite the opposite in fact," I shook my head. "I remember whenever she came to Amity with Dillon, she always asked my brothers if they knew any girls who wouldn't mind taking her nerdy son off her hands," we both started to laugh. "She is going to ask how many bridesmaids Lauren wants, what flavor cake, how many children..."

"Oh," Eric put out his hand, "she's that type of mother."

We both laughed as Dillon came to stand by us. "What you two talking about?"

"You," I replied as Dillon groaned.

"Come on Ana, you know my mom. She's going to bombard Lauren with all these questions and then she's going to practically shove her ring onto Lauren's finger! When is the wedding? What is the song you're dancing to? Why can't I sing a song," he shot off questions that I knew his mother would ask, "and best of all, where are my grandkids?"

Both Eric and I continued to laugh at him. Eve and I stayed for half an hour before we decided to leave and let them get back to work. Eric didn't return until almost midnight. Eve left us the following night. Jessica told us that as much fun as she had, the whole dancing, going out and drinking scene was not her thing anymore. Hec arrived an hour after her and they both told us about Noah's flirtatious ways.

"Noah, as in Noah Pedrad," Eric questioned as Hec turned to him with a frightened expression.

"Who is that," I questioned.

"You remember Tobias's police friend, Zeke? Their mother is Hanna - works at the Chasm," Eric explained as my mouth made an 'oh' and nodded. "You could have danced with any other little shit there but him," he pointed to Jess.

"Well, he was a cute little shit," Jess kissed Eric's cheek and went to my room to sleep with Eve - who was already there. "Goodnight you all."

"I mean it, Jess," he called out.

The couch that Hec and I have, was a futon couch. Eric and I slept on there for the night as Jess took my room. The next day we took them to the airport and I was surprised to see that three silver SUVs were parked on the curb where we were dropping Eve and Jess off at. Eric told me to stay by Jess and he walked there to discuss something with a man who had on a black hoodie and a dark jeans. The man looked at Jess and narrowed his eyes at her. Eve turned away and hid behind Jess's legs before the man went back into the SUV and left.

After we dropped them off, Eric and I were driving home when he mentioned that that loser I saw was Eve's father, wondering why Jess had abandoned their daughter for five days without notifying him.

When Eric finally went to Erudite for work, I was not happy to let him go. He had even said that he had worked it out that he, Dillon and Jane were able to stay with Jess and Eve. It was as if he was trying to provide me with enough proof that those pictures were fake, that he hadn't done such a thing like since before he met me and that he never would cheat on me.

Jess had been the one to call me whenever Eric made it back to her house - tired and exhausted. She'd take a picture of him sleeping, past out more like it, on her couch. I wasn't sure if that was also his way of proving that he wasn't with someone else while he was gone or if Jess was just being an annoying sister and taking pictures of her brother while he slept - God knows I would take pictures of my brothers and send it to their girlfriends, I smiled and shook my head.

"O-M," she snorted, "he has a little drool coming out."

"No he does not," I laughed. "Believe me I've slept with your brother enough times to know that he does not drool."

"T-M-I, I did not need to know how often you and my brother are getting it on, okay," Jess teased causing me to laugh. She sighed after we calmed down and told me something that shocked me. "I always wanted this."

"What," I questioned, confused.

"A sister relationship," she answered. Jess sighed again and I could tell that she was sitting down, either in her room or she decided to stay in front of the couch by her brother. "I think my Dad wouldn't have minded so much if they had one or two more children. My mother may have wanted one more kid. Three is a good number, I remember her saying."

I snorted. "Three is better than seven."

"Hey," she laughed, "it just means that your parents have a lot of love in their hearts. They have love for one another and love for their children. Perhaps this will be the last brother you receive from them."

"Perhaps," I shrugged.

"Well, your oldest brother is getting married. So maybe he and his wife will start popping them out."

I laughed. "I love how you are blunt with me about things like this. And he's not my oldest brother."

"It's not being blunt, it's called being a friend," she finished which made me smile. "And I swear Eric said it was your oldest brother who was getting married."

"No, Jack is the second eldest. Jonathan is the oldest. I think he's," I paused and counted in my head before deciding to mess with her, "he's old like you actually."

"Wow," Jess replied in a odd tone, "just wow, Ana. I thought we were friends and then you had to go and talk about my age." We both started to laugh. "That's fine, that's fine," she added which just made us laugh more.

We talked a bit more about my family and I told her that it would be awesome if she and Eve could come with Eric and I to visit my parents. I knew my mom would love having more females in the house. She sounded so excited about taking a trip to Amity and meeting my family, having huge dinners and backyard barbecues. It was then that I realized she probably had not done any of that since their dad passed away.

The next day, as I was taking my lunch break, I called my brother and asked if there was a way I could invite just two more people. Jack sounded a bit skeptical about adding more people but I begged in my little sister voice and even had gotten permission from Dad and Mom that they could stay in the house. Eventually Jack agreed and said that a few people had cancelled on them so that would be fine.

I had gotten home from work early to prepare the house for Eric's arrival, though I did not need to clean much since it wasn't a mess. I had just heard the alarm beep, informing me that someone was at the front gate. After pressing the camera button, it showed that Eric's car was pulling in. Quickly, I tidied up anything else that was out of place before hurrying towards the door.

"Ana," Eric called out.

"I'm coming," I responded.

"Where are you? I'll come to you," he said.

"I'm by your office," I shouted as I ran down the hallways regardless of his informing me that he was coming.

Just as I rounded the corner, my eyes landed on Eric. I smiled widely at the sight of him. True, he was only gone for two days but I was super glad that he was back home. Home, I thought as he smiled back at me.

"Hey," I ran up to him as he set down his bags and caught me in his arms. "I've missed you," I pulled back and looked up to see him deep in thought. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he shook his head and leaned down to kiss me.

It was soft and at the same time, almost painful - not physically but emotionally. I could feel the distress that he was in as he slowly touched me, taking off my shirt before he knelt to place kisses on my skin. He was using this as a distraction and as much as I didn't want either of us to do that, I gave in. Eric picked me up, carried me to our room and made love to me three times that night. I knew that something was wrong. If it wasn't, then he wouldn't have been acting so quiet, so soft and gentle. Eric treated me as though I were delicate, as though I would break at any moment. It was tender and caring but I just had this feeling, this gut feeling that something was off.

I was resting against his chest, my fingers running over his tattoo that was close to his shoulder when he kissed my forehead and told me what was up with his mood.

"Marry me, Ana," he said softly causing me to jerk my hand back. Slowly I sat up and looked down at him. Eric pushed himself up on his arms and pulled me back to him. "They told me this morning that I got the promotion in Erudite," he smiled. "They want me to become a COO there," his smiled widened, "it's a bigger promotion than I thought it would be. I mean I went there thinking that I was just going to manage the plant but they saw what I could do and," he paused and shook his head. "I want it, Ana. I want you to come with me. I want you there by my side, as my wife, my other half - my better half," he clarified. "I want this, me and you, together," he cupped my face and pulled me in for a kiss. "I want this forever."