Tobias POV

"Hello," a familiar voice behind me says.

My back straightens in fear.

"Won't even approach your own father, huh? Tsk, tsk, tsk. What has Dauntless done to you Tobias?"

"Go away Marcus."

"At least look at me," he says.

"Go away," I say, firmer this time.

"No," he says, "It's time we talked."

"I don't want to talk."

"We need to."

"Why? So I can lead you to a private space where no one will notice the infamous Marcus Eaton beating his son?! I'm sorry, but no. I won't let you lead me to a trap. Especially not a trap where you beat me with your belt, coward."

Marcus growls. He presses me against the wall and presses his forearm to my neck.

"I'm your father," he says. "You will respect me."

"Never," I gag out. I sneak my arm up to his and pull and twist it, bringing his back to me.

"Let me go. I can report this."

"Never," I hiss. "You think it took me this long to figure out that if I didn't stand my ground, you would find ways to get to me? Think again."

"I'll get to your girl. What's her name? Beatrice?"

I don't say anything. He wants a reaction out of me, but it'll have to wait until I'm really mad.

"You know what I think?" Marcus antagonizes. "I think Beatrice made it all up. I think you and she planned it, and framed Eric. I think-"

"That you're a liar," I finish for him.

"No. I think you really are the one who should be kicked out of Dauntless."

"That's not true and you know it," I say.

Marcus ignores me. By now, his hands are off of my neck and clasped behind his back peacefully. "Did you know that the vote for the trial was three to two?"

"Yeah," I say. "Everyone knows that."

"And did you know that Jack Kang and I are very good friends?"

"So? What are you talking about?"

"As you know," Marcus continues. "I am very persuasive. Jack trusted Beatrice. He believed that what Eric did was terrible."

"And it was terrible! How can you not believe it? Tris was raped!"

'Oh, it would be terrible. But so many people believe her sobbing-sad story. It's bad for the city. Andrew Prior hardly ever comes to work, and he knows that it's his duty to. He's taken all this time off. He can't concentrate. And there's no one to fill in for him."

I throw my hands up in the air. "Fine! I don't care what you think! Don't believe Tris then! But just know you're wrong!"

"Oh, but I'm right. Everyone else believes her, everyone besides Jeanine and me, but that can change. I can easily get Jack to change his vote. Votes are final after three months, but it's only been two. I can bring Eric into the city and leave him in Dauntless for good."

"You wouldn't."

Marcus shrugs.

But before he can say anything, I say, "Why are you here? To threaten me? To torture me? Well, this time, I'm ready. You won't get away with it."

"Or can I? I think it's time I payed Beatrice a little visit."

"B*stard," I mutter.

Marcus wriggles out of my grasp and turns to me. "What was that?"

"B*stard," I repeat, louder this time. "That's what you are."

"Am I? I cared for you when your mother left us."

"What you really mean is you beat me when my mother ran away from us. I know you beated her. I know what you did, monster."

He glares at me. "And what are you going to do about it?"

I stay silent.

"I'll get to Beatrice, Tobias. Don't you doubt it."

"Don't. Touch. Her," I say through gritted teeth.

"You can't stop me," he says, then walks out of the hallway we're in and in the direction of the Pit.

Only one thought comes through my mind: I've got to find Tris.

Tris POV:

There's so many people. And after Susan heads back to Abnegation, I'm here all alone.

People pass me, and the older ones stare at me sadly. I ball my fists together and stare straight ahead. Just ignore the pity, I think to myself, only seven more months and it'll be gone. It's what I've told myself for the past two months, and it's what I continue to tell myself now. Because it's true.

I push through the never-ending crowd and finally get a spot in line at the Cafeteria. I pick up a burger and walk over to the table that my friends and I usually sit at. Fortunately, Marlene and Lynn are already there.

"Hey," I say, sitting down in an empty seat.

"Hey," Lynn grumbles, picking apart her burger.

Marlene tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. "Hey Tris!"

"Where's everyone else?"

"Zeke and Uriah are with their mother, and Christina and Will are off doing God knows what."

"Alright." I take a bite of my burger, and find that I am not hungry. I stand up. "Well, I'll see you to later," I say to them.

"I should go too," Marlene says. She stands up and pushes her chair in. "I've got a shift in a few minutes."

We bid farewell to each other and I dump my tray. It's time for me to the Chasm and think.

I push through the crowds again, dying to get to the rock Tobias and I share secretly and wait for him.

"Excuse me," a woman says to me.

I look behind me and find a middle-aged woman in red and yellow. She looks scared, but confident. I bet she knows this is not where she belongs.

"Can you tell me where I can find Jim?"

"Jim? What's his last name?"

"Everest," the woman says shakily. She clutches her shaking hands onto her red coat. "Everest; it's Everest. My Jim," she mumbles. "Excuse me for saying this, but is Dauntless always like this?"

"Pretty much," I say. "But there's usually less people."

People bump into us, a few muttering their apologizes. The woman in front of me quivers even more.

"You know what? I think I can take you to Jim."

"Oh," she squeaks. "Thank you!"

"You know," I blurt out, when I walk us towards the Infirmary, "Not all Dauntless are hooligans."

"I n-n-never said th-that," the woman behind me says shakily.

"Yeah, but everyone who's not Dauntless thinks it. We aren't all tattoo and adrenaline drunkies," I say, but I think to myself, Tobias certainly thinks I am an adrenaline drunkie. "We just pride ourselves on bravery. Now come on, the Infirmary is this way." I push through the doors that exit the Pit and get a good look at the Amity woman in front of me. She's just a little bit taller than me and is wearing brown pants, a yellow shirt, and a red wool coat. Her honey-blonde hair tumbles gracefully down her shoulders and ends short. She must be scared to be here, as if it's a phenomenon that she actually stepped foot in Dauntless, although she acts prideful of her Faction.

"Is that where Jim works, the Infirmary?"

I nod.

"I always knew he would be a good doctor," she mumbles.

"He is a pretty good one," I respond.

"I'm Mary, by the way. Mary Everest," the woman says. She shoves her hand out to me and I catch it.

I shake it back. "I'm Tris, Tris Prior." I fix my posture and stand up straight. Now, I think, I'm nearly as tall as her.

Mary grins. "Nice to meet you. Thanks for helping me find Jim." Then she frowns. "Aren't you the girl from that trial a few months ago?"

I bite my lip. Do I answer truthfully to the woman who's so peaceful, so innocent in front of me? Or do I say that she has me mistaken for someone else?

"Uh," I say, still unsure of how to answer. "Yes?"

"Oh, honey," she says, pulling me into a hug. She smells like beeswax. "I'm so so sorry for you. I think that what that guy did to you was terrible."

"Yeah. But I'm getting over it. Jim's my doctor, and he's great at it." It still feels funny saying 'Jim' instead of 'Doctor Everest' but Mary seems like the type of person that calls everybody by their first names, no matter the occasion.

"Well," I say. "We should go. To the Infirmary."

Mary releases me. "You're right, you're right. Now, tell me where Jim's office is?"

I push past the doors to the Infirmary, holding one open for Mary. She scurries past me, and thanks me.

"I'm looking for a Jim Everest," Mary says to the secretary.

Marlene smiles at her. "Second door on your left, right up this hall." She points to a hallway that is very familiar to me.

Mary turns to me. "Thanks, Tris. Now, I've got to go see my son." She turns and walks confidently down the hallway I could find blindfolded.

"So, Tris, what was that all about?" Marlene asks.

I turn to her and shrug. "She met me in the hall. I couldn't not help her."

Marlene grins. "Abnegation side showing, huh?"

"Yeah."

"So, how are you?"

"Tired. Can it get any worse than this?"

"Oh, Tris," Marlene says soothingly. "I hate to say it, but you have six months more of this, and from what I've heard, it gets very uncomfortable."

"Then why do people do it?"

"Don't you want children?"

I shrug. "I can barely take care of myself."

"Well," Marlene says. "I know I want children."

"When?"

She shrugs and looks down, blushing. "Uriah and I are trying for a girl. But to be honest, I think he really wants a boy. Either way, he'll be a good father. Do you know what gender your baby is?"

I nod.

"Already?"

"Yeah. My brother got it tested the day of the trial. He's going to take care of it once it's born."

"I thought..." Marlene starts.

"Yeah, we were gonna take it to Abnegation, but once Eric attacked me again, it's clear that it'll have some kind of disability. The only place it's safe is Erudite, and the only person there I trust is Caleb."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Tris. I had no idea."

"Well, we don't want pity, so we tried not to tell anybody. But I thought you all knew."

"We didn't. But now we do, I promise you Tris, you don't have my pity."

I smile. "Thanks."

"Anytime. So, tell me," she presses. "What gender is your baby?"

"A girl."

Marlene squeals. "Congratulations!"

My smile grows wider. "Yeah, I'm a proud mama. Caleb'll love it; when she's fourteen, she'll be a party animal and he'll be over-protective, like he is of me."

Marlene laughs. She hugs me. "We'll still get to visit little Tris though, right?"

"I'll make sure of it."

"Okay, well, I better get back to work." She sits back down and scoots her chair back into her desk. "Bye Tris."

"Bye. Oh, and before I go, well, good luck. Kids are a real joy, even if they're not created in the right circumstances."

She smiles. "I'll remember that. Thanks, Tris."

"You're welcome." I walk out of the Infirmary feeling great. But I groan as soon as I get into the Pit.

I'll have to face the crowds again.

I take a deep breath and push open the doors and walk into the Pit.

"Excuse me," I say, pushing past people. This time I want to make it to our rock and wait for Tobias.

Then someone taps me over the shoulder.

"Hello Beatrice."

I suck in a breath of sharp air. Panic flashes over me, but I straighten my back. I will not be afraid of the man who hurt my husband.

He smirks at me arrogantly.

"What, no hello?"

"Mr. Eaton," I say, addressing him. I tilt my head and fake a smile at him. "What are you doing here?"

"Good question," he says. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to answer it now." He grabs my arm. I struggle. Heads turn towards us, and Marcus' steel expression turns peaceful. "If you struggle dear, you'll only make it worse for yourself."

His grip on my arm leads us towards the doors of the Pit.

I thrash my free arm at Marcus, but it does no use. He snaps two of his fingers and a bulky man comes forward.

"Take Beatrice to-" Marcus starts. But he stops abruptly. He narrows his eyes at the person who just appeared in front of him. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to rescue my wife," Tobias answers, with the deep voice I know and love.

With one swift movement, he has Marcus down on the floor struggling like I was a minute ago.

Marcus' bulky henchman charges at Tobias, but before he knows it, I take him down easily. This man may have huge muscles, but I highly think he's Factionless and has no Dauntless training whatsoever.

"Let me go," Marcus says firmly.

"Never, you monster," Tobias spits out. Then a cracking noise stops us all.

Tobias smirks. Marcus stifles a groan. Tobias lets him stand up. Marcus holds his arm wincing.

"Go," Tobias says. "As long as you promise not to return."

"Okay," Marcus says weakly.

Tobias holds Marcus' other arm, threatening to break that one as well.

"Okay," Marcus says, firmer this time.

Tobias nods and Marcus and his friend leave.

Tobias presses me up against the wall. "I saw what you did to that fellow."

I raise my eyebrows at him.

"Impressive," he murmurs. Then he glances down at my stomach. "But you've got to be careful."

I roll my eyes. "Like you would be if you were in my situation-" I say, but am stopped by a very powerful and charming kiss on my lips.