Happy Reading! I hope you all enjoy this chapter :) I Hope to answer some questions I saw in the comments :)

Chapter 21

Saturday

Tris P.O.V

I walk through the doors of our room, anticipation of what I might find always linger in the back of my mind. Will he be home? Will he be angry with me? Can I ever make him happy? Will he ever love me? Are the questions that always seem to run through me before I hit the door to our bedroom.

I place the black and white, rectangular I know it's hopeless, he has expressed himself time and time again he doesn't want our baby. But I can't give up on the hope that he might one day. After all, he chooses to continue to live here. That has to mean something, right?

I hated the thought of watching the other expectant mothers, holding hands being cherished by their partners. I want to be selfish, I want to be loved. I was alone, sitting down and waiting for my turn. No one to shares the moment with me, when I first got to see my baby on the screen, to hear it's heart beat, to see if I have a son or a daughter on the way. I was alone. But maybe knowing he will have a son, will please him.

"Beatrice, what the hell is this?" Eric yelled lifting the photos off his desk. He doesn't even waste his time to look at them. He just holds it in the air, not giving it a glance.

"Ultrasound of the baby." I answer, my hopes are showing through the sound of my voice.

"Like I want to look at the bastard child, we created." He says as he toss the photos into the waste basket.

"Eric." I call out, jumping up to retrieve the photos myself. "At least be respectful to me. I want to keep these. Don't you want to see what our son looks like?" I say.

"Great it's a fucking boy, go buy some blue shit! And no I don't." He spit out.

It all happens so fast one minute he was sitting on his computer chair, and the next I am holding the pictures in one hand while being slammed into the wall behind me. I feel something pointy at my stomach and when I look down, Eric had pull out his butterfly knife. The same one I gave him for his eighteenth birthday.

"I told you, I don't want a kid." Eric says, I swear I can feel the head of the blade deepen itself into my flesh.

"Eric, please the baby." I plea with him.

"The baby, shouldn't exist." He says. Than he backs away from me, letting me go. I watch him walk back to his desk getting his wallet, car keys and leaves.

My right hand cradles my baby bump, trembling. I gasp when I feel wet, warm liquid on my hand. When I look down, that's when I see it. Blood. He cut me. He cut me. Not deep enough, but he did it.

"It's ok, Baby Ethan. We're going to be ok." I say to my unborn son while tears fall down my face.

"Tris. Tris, Love. Wake up. Your having a bad dream. Love, wake up. Your safe." Are the words I hear a familiar voice say to me over and over again. I feel a hand rubbing my shoulders, and lips kissing my forehead. I slowly open my eyes, realizing that it was a dream. I'm safe eight years later, wrapped up in the arms of the man the loves me and my son more than anything. "It was just a dream."

"Yea." I say trying to hide my expression. It wasn't just a dream but a part of my past."I'm sorry, I woke you."

"How about we take a dip in the pool?" Tobias asks taking a seat next to me on the couch. I shake my head, no.

"Ok, how about we take Ethan to the park?" He whispers. I shack my head again, no.

"Hey how about Down Town Disney?" He says, trying to put on a brave face. Wow, he really is trying. Again I shake my head, no.

"Tris, come on talk to me. Are you ok?" I can hear the concern in his voice and I see it in his face. I hate that he worry about me, he shouldn't. I'm ok.

"I'm fine, Tobias. I just... I just want to stay right here today." Please drop it, I want to say. He nods and thankful he does drop the subject for now.

"Alright. Just know that you are not alone, Tris. I'm here." Tobias places his hand on my right knees, lightly rubbing circles on it. I smile, appreciation at him.

Tobias and I continue spending the day relaxing with Ethan. Ethan, who was most happy to sit on the floor while playing with his dinosaurs and watching another dinosaur movie. When lunch time rolls around, Tobias orders us pizza and wings. I am grateful for the comfort that the day brings me. Surrounded by the love of my two favorite boys, good food, and relaxation.

My body is beyond sore. My jaw hurts from any movement, and I'm not explaining how much my ribs hurt. I hate the thought of anyone seeing me like this. The thought that anyone would think that Tobias would have been the one to inflict this on me and not Eric would send me into a rage of no return. I need to stay put today. I need to relax and just be us right now.

Tobias and I finally finding a nice comfortable position with Tobias laying back on the couch, his back against the arm rest. As I lay down between his legs, his chest against my back. I have to say how impressed I am of him. He hasn't made a sexual move on me once today. Yet I feel his erection large against my back and it stays there for the entire time. I know he is probably just trying to give me time to heal. Another thing I am so grateful for. He never pushes me into anything I am not comfortable with.

A knock interrupts us, I hate the thought of having to move out of this position. Tobias must feel the same way because he lets out a growl before moving off the couch and away from me. When Tobias finally manages to reach and open the door, it's no surprise to see who was on the other side.

"Hey sorry bro Amar wants to see us." Zeke says. I can tell he would have loved to knock on any other door than ours today. I hate that I am the cause for this.

"What like right now?" Tobias asks.

"Yea. Like now, now. I guess he made his choice rather or not to sign with us." Zeke explains. The idea of Amar not signing with D.A.A because of last nights episodes with Eric, has me beyond words. I know Tobias says Ethan and I come first for him. But still this company is his baby. His and Zeke's baby, I don't want to be the reason for struggles.

Tobias rushes to his room to change into a more appreciate outfit. Just jeans and a clean shirt, nothing too over the top. Although to me, he still manages to looks sexy as hell. I watch him as he gets on one knee next to Ethan and tells him "to be a good boy for Mommie" and that he would be back soon. I admit watching him and Ethan interact is the most heart warming, wonderful, sexist thing I could ever see. Than he gives Ethan a loving kiss on the forehead. He striaghtens back up and comes towards me leaning in and tells me to relax, that he will be back as soon as he can. He follows his words with a loving and lingering kiss. Damn that man.

It's been ten minutes since Tobias and Zeke exited the suit. I stand and make my way into the kitchen. I figure a nice snack and a few drinks to tie Ethan and I over til dinner will do. But than a knock sounds from the door.

"Tobias, did you forget your key card?" I ask as I swing the door open. Shock overwhlemed me as I saw who stands before me. I have now learned my lesson... Always look through the peep hole before opening up the door.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady as possible.

"I just wanted to talk." Lauren says taking a step closer to me.

"I don't have anything to say to you." I counter act.

"Please." She says. I guess it wouldn't hurt to hear what she has to say to me. I step aside, opening the door little wider for her to walk in.

We sit down at the dinning table, a hot mug of coffee also sits before us. Ethan luckily obvious to us, so into watching Jurassic world part two Fallen Kingdom, again. This one time, I am beyond grateful for his obsession with dinosaurs.

"He is gorgeous, Tris. He takes after you the most." Lauren says looking between Ethan and I.

"What is it you want, Lauren?" I ask, this needs to end sooner than later.

"I didn't know." She stares at her mug, like something on it fascinates her beyond anything. "We met at work, I was new and he was showing me around. Things built from there..." She takes a sip of her coffee. "One night he showed up, said his room mate kicked him out. He asked to stay until he could figure things out. I... I didn't ask any questions. I wanted him, I wanted him to be with me. I got pregnant with Kelly, two months later. Than he started getting sloppy, he would come home with lipstick on the collar of the shirt, text from women through out the night. He wanted me to abort the baby. But I just... couldn't." She takes a deep breath. "We agreed to stay together. As long as in the end of the night, he came home to me and Kelly. I would look the other way. In the end I told myself I was coming home to me, that's all that mattered. I swallowed my proud and allowed it."

As Laurent tells me her and Eric's story, I can't help but continue to wonder... If he had stayed with me, would that have been my life? An open, loveless marriage.

"Did he... did he use to hit you?" Lauren whispers again she doesn't look up.

"Yes." I match her tone. Wishing I could have nodded my answer.

"He started just little after Kelly was born. I was paying to much attention to the baby, and not him..." She stops and finally looks up at me. "You got out. You were brave enough to put your foot down and tell him off." A tears falls down her cheek and I instantly pity the woman that sits in front of me.

"Does he hit Kelly?" I ask her. The thought of any child being hurt by their parents raises bile in my throat. She nods slowly, closing her eyes shut.

"Lauren. Our situations are different. I was preganant twice by Eric. My first pregnancy, Eric pushed me down a flight of stairs and I lost that baby. Than with Ethan..." I stop myself, taking a deep breath to steady my emotions. "Lauren, this is your story. Your life. But this is also Kelly's story and you have the control to change her story. This doesn't have to be her story. You can change it and make it a happy one for her. Your her mother, protect her, show her how to be brave." I tell her.

Tobias P.O.V

I hated the thought of leaving Tris and Ethan back in our suite. I feel like I should be there for her and for him. I hated the way she looked last night, especially in front of Eric. She has always been so strong and brave. Eric took that away from her in just the matter of seconds... I could see the vulnerability in her eyes, I know Tris hates to seem anything but brave and strong. She was forced to grow up so fast, she had no choice.

"How's Tris?" Zeke asks as we walk down the halls of the resort.

"She's... She'll be fine." Although I know physically she will be fine. I worry what is really going on with her mentally. I love Tris, hate seeing her like this. I could tell this morning it was more than sore and aches that kept here indoors. She has always been tough as nails, to see her act different.. I just hate it. I would do anything to make her feel safe and loved.

"Shauna and I are both here, if you guys need anything." Zeke pats my shoulder. I glance over at him, wondering what is going on in his head. "Listen, you know I love you like your my brother. I know this … between you and Tris, is the real thing. We're family. Family shows up, when needed and when not that?" He says frowning.

"Zeke, you are starting to creep me out! Since when you the mushy type." I try to make light of things.

He sighs. "Old age, man. Old fucking age."

We sit in Amar's living room of his suite. I see the contracts, along with many files sitting in the center of the table. Zeke tries to appear calm, not letting the anticipation of whats to come, get to him. But let's face it, he doesn't have the same experiences that I do. The mask that I learned to perfect over the years of abuse by the hands of my father. Whoever would have thought something could ever come out from all those years.

"Zeke. Four. Good morning. I see you might my life partner, George." Amar says waving at man that places three cups of coffee on the table.

"We have." Zeke says for us both. I just nod instead of being verbal. It's that I am trying to be a jerk, I just really want this to be over and done with. Wanting nothing more than to be with, Tris and Ethan.

"Four, how's Tris doing?" Amar asks full of concern.

"She'll be fine once we get her home, Amar. Thank you." I appreciate his concern for Tris. I wonder if any part of him feels responsible. After all Eric was his employee... Not that I hold him responsible for any of this. How would he have known?

"If she needs anything, you let me know." He says nodding his head.

"Of course, thank you." I say.

We continue on about the changes that he would like made to the contract, along with the additional clauses he would like to add. On and all meeting went very well, we closed the deal. I couldn't wait to get back to Tris and tell her the good news. We thanked Amar for everything, along with the great retreat. Other than the events with Eric, all and all this trip was beyond the best trip I have ever taken.

Before returning back to Tris, Zeke and I finish the arrangements for tomorrow's return home trip. We agree to be ready by eleven to head to the airport. I can't believe this week is coming to an end. My thoughts continue to wonder about tomorrow... How it will be like to be separated from Tris and Ethan after a week of being with them. I will have to return back to my empty apartment, leaving them in their apartment. The feeling emptiness, and loneliness comes over me at the thought of being separated from Tris and Ethan. For tonight, I will not think about tomorrow. Tonight, I will think about just us.

I walk into our suite expecting Ethan to be playing on the floor watching another dinosaur movie, and Tris laying in the same position that I left her. Instead I find Tris sitting at the dinning room table talking to none other than Eric's wife, Lauren. I look beyond the ladies to find that Ethan is playing on the floor watching his dinosaur movie. Thankfully Ethan seems to be obvious to the discussion that they are having. I can only assume has to do with Eric.