I am sooooo sorry for how long this has taken me to update, I hate how long it has taken and I only have uni to blame but your reviews have kept me going! There's only a few chapters left now…

Chapter 36 – Tobias

"It's a secret remember, you can't tell anyone"

"Mummy?"

"Especially not mummy" I tell Ruby as I take her out of her car booster seat. I probably shouldn't tell a two year old to keep a secret as it's virtually impossible for them to do, but hopefully she won't say anything before I am ready.

I place her softly on the ground and take her hand in mine as we walk towards the front door and as her hand clutches tightly onto mine I have a hard time believing how lucky I am. Ruby turned two a couple of weeks ago now and as I've quit my job I am spending all my time with her, and it's simply the greatest thing ever. I get to see her grow day by day and see her face light up in amazement as she learns something new and take on more and more characteristics of the woman I love. She really is a mini Tris as she chews up her bottom lip when she's a little apprehensive, is fiery like her and won't let anyone tell her what to do. It makes me laugh and my heart burst simultaneously, and I dread to think of never knowing her if Amar hadn't saved me.

"Dada" Ruby calls out and I realise her hand is no longer in my grasp but pointing impatiently at the door handle waiting to go inside. I'm surprised I didn't notice but I rush to the door and open it before we freeze in what is a cold and blistering day.

"Mama, mama" Ruby yells with no volume control as she races through the house trailing mud and water as she goes.

I shout out her name, trying to reign in her before she completely messes up the house or tries to tell Tris what we were doing. I really shouldn't have included her as part of the secret, but I wanted her to be there so she could be a part of it.

I take of my boots and hang up my jacked when I hear the giggles of both of my girls, instantly bringing a smile to my face. I quietly follow the noise and arrive at the doorway of Tris and I…Tris's room, and see Tris trying to chase Ruby around the room as she playfully scolds her for messing up the house. I stand and watch what, to me, is an all too familiar occurrence within this house, and that's Ruby getting away with anything as she has got both of under her thumb. It's almost like a movie that I never want to end but as Tris falls over and Ruby pounces on top of her I can't help but stare at the way Tris's face lights up in joy and how she's so carefree as our daughter attempts to tickle her. I'm admiring all too much as I find myself staring at a small area of exposed skin just above her waistline, my face almost certainly flushes a deep shade of red at the thoughts and feelings running through my body.

I'm trying to compose myself when I hear someone clearing their throat and as I cast my eyes towards the noise I make eye contact with Tris and realise she has caught me. I expect her to move her eyes away from mine in embarrassment as she realised where my thoughts were heading but she surprises me as she maintains eye contact, and if I'm not mistaken I swear her eyes glaze over with something akin to…lust? If I couldn't control myself before, I almost certainly can't now and I have to regretfully drag my eyes away from her before I am tempted to take action, which Ruby definitely should not bear witness to.

We still haven't gone any further than making out with a little fooling around and each time it's getting harder and harder to stop. She has an effect on me that no one else ever has, or will, and I don't know how much longer I can wait to feel her…

"Tobias"

"Huh" I return as I try and get my flustered thoughts into order.

"You're a little warm, are you alright?" she asks after her soft hand comes into contact with my forehead, I sense a hint of suggestion as she knows the exact cause of my rise in temperature.

"Mmmmhmmm" I mumble out as I look down at her beautiful, yet cheeky expression and without thought I lean down to place my lips on hers and just as I feel hers brush against mine she backs away and winks at me as she moves to take advantage of Ruby's lack of concentration. I give her my best possible pout as she carries a giggling Ruby out the room, "you're going to have to pout better than that Eaton."

"Just you wait Prior" I call out after her, both us knowing that's an empty threat as I don't think I could ever withhold affection from her, not matter how hard I tired.

….

I've just put Ruby down for the night and thankfully she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, exhausted from our day of activities and secrets. I could have easily joined her as she has well and truly worn me out today, I really don't know where or how she stores all her energy, just when you think she's done for the day she comes back for round two. As the morning was spent with just Ruby and I whilst Tris was at work it was a perfect opportunity to have some father/daughter bonding time, and then we were able to have family time when we got home. It's what I call a perfect day. Years ago my perfect day would have been escaping the wrath of Marcus, or simply having moments of without the thought of what is the point and my purpose. In some ways those moments feel like only yesterday, but now my thoughts can't be further from them.

"Ouch" I exclaim as I feel something hard hit my head, breaking me out of any thoughts I was having.

"Sorry!" I hear her before I see her, laughing at my expense.

As she walks into the room I give her my best scowl and throw, what I see now is one of Ruby's teddy's, straight back at her. It hits her square in the face and now it's my turn to laugh as she clearly wasn't expecting it.

"Hey!" she says with a small pout, bringing out a small grin on my face.

"You're going to have to pout better than that Prior" I say teasingly, repeating her words from earlier.

She cracks a small smile before walking towards me, "has some of Ruby's cheekiness rubbed off on you?" she questions as she crawls on the bed beside me.

"Quite possibly" I reply softly as I turn towards her, more consumed by how close she is to me than anything else. My breaths become more uneven as her scent flows past me, I inhale deeply wanting to absorb everything that is Tris. I don't seem to have control of my body as my hands act on their own accord, stroking through her hair as I pull her even closer to me.

"I missed you this morning" she whispers softly, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand at attention as she gently rests the palm of her hand on my right cheek.

"We missed you too" I tell her with a deep voice, our proximity causing desire to stir within me.

"What did you get up to?" she asks as she glides her fingers through my hair, making it incredibly hard to even conjure up an answer.

"Just fun stuff…" I trail off as I slide my fingers over her soft lips, imagining what they would be like placed on mine.

She peppers my fingers with soft kisses and she manages to shuffle even closer to me where our bodies are firmly pressed together, leaving me with no place to hide my attraction for her.

I'm taken aback when she doesn't make mention of my obvious sign of desire but says, "Tobias…kiss me," with no hint of uncertainty.

I don't want to assume that she wants to go any further than kissing but I desperately hope she does as I want to show her how much she means to me, but I won't pressure her either way.

Without another moment of hesitation I plant my lips on hers, pouring everything I feel for her into it. She moans into my mouth, allowing my hands to roam freely over her as she pulls me towards her deepening the kiss as she does. We pull apart slowly to take in air, our foreheads never leaving one another's. "I…I want you" she says quietly, but I can still hear how nervous she is and I don't want her to think she has to do anything she doesn't want to. "Tris…we don't…it's okay" I manage to say, still feeling the effects of the electric kiss we just shared.

I see her take in my words, chewing on her bottom lip as she does, surprising me suddenly when she pushes me onto my back and straddles me with a renewed look of confidence. I'm blinded by her beauty as her blonde hair cascades down shoulder as she flips it to the side, causing my breaths to become short and ragged with each passing second. I can't take my eyes off her, roaming over every part of her as I reacquaint myself with every inch of her body before she grabs a hold of my face causing my eyes to lock directly into hers.

"I'm scared…" I make a movement to interrupt but she shakes her head at me, "but I want this…I just I-"

This time I can't help myself, I have to interrupt her scattered thoughts, "you don't want to get hurt." I say it with certainty as I know how much this means to her and she confirms my suspicion by nodding shyly, she doesn't sleep with just anybody and I need her to know I'm in this forever.

It hurts to know I've made her feel this way as I never wanted her to feel an ounce of pain, but knowing I was the one who inflicted unimaginable pain upon her is something I will never forget, but something I will try every day to make up for.

"I'm not going to hurt you ever again Tris, I promise you every day I will do nothing but show you just how much you are loved and cherished. You're the one for me…you always have been and I will stop at nothing to protect you. We don't have to do this now, I will wait…I'll always wait for you because you are more than worth it."

My hands are placed firmly on her hips as she places her hand over my heart, no doubt feeling its rapid pace. She slowly glides her hands down my chest until they rest on the hem of my t-shirt, teasingly sliding her fingers across my bare skin sending jolts of electricity through my entire body.

"I love you Tris" I say with a voice thick with emotion. She lowers her head towards me and gently places her lips on mine, it's a soft slow kiss which holds all our feelings for each other. As her lips move away from mine I cradle her face in my hands and kiss her again, already missing the way they feel against mine.

"I love you too Tobias…now just show me how much you do." It brings an instant goofy smile to spread across my face, challenge accepted.

I surrender myself to her touch and pour my love and over two years' worth of yearning and desire for her into a night we will not forget.

I am hers, and she is mine. Always has been and always will be.

I hope you enjoyed this! Again I am sorry for such a long wait, definitely didn't expect to go this long without updating but there's probably only two chapters left. Hopefully will be back with the next update quicker than this one, let me know your thoughts :)