Chapter 36: Happily Ever After (T version)
Date: Mid-October +o+ Baby Natty is 9 months old
^^ A Month Later ^^
**Tris POV**
"Mama… mama… ma-mah!" Natty babbles from her high chair, her baby puff snacks bouncing on the tray as she pounds on it with her chubby little palms. I finish swiping the mascara onto the eyelashes of my left eye and pause to turn and smile at her before repeating on my other eyelashes. I had dragged her chair near the doorway to the bathroom before I started to apply my makeup― something once so foreign to me, but which, under Christina's influence, has become routine― so that Natty could see me. Now that she is pulling up on furniture and cruising, I can hardly leave her out of my sight for a moment, and I want to look perfect tonight.
Natty smiles widely at me, showing off the six pearly white teeth at the center of her mouth: four on top, two on the bottom. When Monica's husband smuggled my daughter to Amity a month ago, she had only four teeth. When we were reunited with Natty two weeks ago, that little detail― that I missed the emergence of two new teeth, that I wasn't there when she was undoubtedly up crying with the pain of teething― caused me to burst into tears, mourning the time I had lost with her even while I was overjoyed to have her back.
Really, I know how fortunate I am that I was only separated from her 2 ½ weeks; had Jack Kang not pushed so hard to move Marcus and Evelyn's legal proceedings along quickly, much more time would have passed before we deemed the situation safe. But in those few weeks, Marcus and Evelyn's separate trials were completed and their sentences carried out. Marcus was convicted on forty-two counts of conspiracy to commit murder ― one for each person who died in that bus accident ― and was promptly executed. Four and I chose not to attend the execution; we just wanted to move on with our lives, so instead, that was the day that we traveled to Amity and retrieved Natty from Monica's cousin, Tracy, who had clearly taken excellent care of her in our absence.
Evelyn was sentenced to life in prison for the steps she had taken toward overthrowing the government. That sentence ended up being much shorter than anticipated; only a few days after we brought Natty back to Dauntless, Four received word that his mother had died in the prison dining hall. Four had told me about how his mother cursed her own people on the day they were captured, and I witnessed the way she turned on them in her trial; it seems that in the process, she burned every last bridge she had and made some fierce enemies. I am sure that Four's role in the arrests of his mother and her followers didn't help anything. In the end, it was one of her own former allies that shanked Evelyn to death with a toothbrush that had been sharpened into a shiv.
When I heard the news about Evelyn's sudden death, the first thing I felt was relief. While a violent end like that is something I wouldn't wish even on that vile woman, Natty is always my top priority, and both people who threatened her safety were now dead, and unable to ever put my daughter in danger again. But that relief only lasted a moment. There in front of me stood Evelyn's son, the man I love with all my heart. My heart sank when I realized the emotions that might be playing through Four's mind and heart; Evelyn may have put him through hell, she may have left him at the mercy of a monster, and threatened the life that he had built for himself and people he loved most… but she was still his mother, and I feared how her death would affect him.
Four quickly reassured me that he was okay. "Marcus and Evelyn… they're not my family, Tris," he told me. "I gave up the idea that they could fill that role in my life a long time ago. It doesn't matter what my birth certificate says, it matters who fills my heart. You are my family, Tris― you and Natty. As long as I have you two, I'm alright, Tris. You're all I want and all I need."
I was skeptical at first, waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it never did. Four really had come to terms with his parents' inability to love him the way he needed long before their deaths, and he closed that chapter of his life, focusing instead on the life we are building together here in Dauntless. We are happy, we love each other, and the rest is just static.
He is the man I want to spend forever with. I've hinted at that fact, and I feel like he has, too, but I haven't been able to bring myself to actually ask him what his thoughts are on our future together. What if I'm misreading his feelings and bringing up something like the rest of our lives or marriage is just too soon for Four? Things are so good right now, the last thing I want to do is scare him off. We're young, there's plenty of time for that. I know he loves and is committed to Natty and me, and for now, that's enough.
Natty lets out a high pitched squeal just as I finish applying my makeup. I smile at her and she reaches her arms up to me as I lift her out of the high chair. "Hi, baby girl," I coo. "What do you think? Does Mommy look pretty for her date with Four tonight?" Natty babbles random syllables and pats my face with her chubby little hands before giving me a wet kiss on the chin.
I laugh as I glance at the clock. "Come on, sweetie, let's get you ready to go. You get to hang out with Chris and Will tonight!" Natty smiles happily; she loves Christina. Like most of our friends, Christina is practically family to Natty. Once everything was safe, we even were able to admit to our friends that Natty is both Four and my half-sister. Everyone was shocked. Zeke tried to mask his hurt at Four keeping such big secrets from him even after two years as best friends, though Christina and Uriah were much more open about their displeasure. But in the end, after hearing the full story, everyone understood the choices we made and moved past it pretty seamlessly. It's a relief to have it all out in the open among the important people in our lives.
While Natty loves Christina, she likes Will, too; she just didn't spend much time with him while he and Chris were on the outs. But Will and Natty are getting to know one another better now that he and Christina are giving their relationship another try. He and Four are becoming friends as well now that Four accepted the leadership position, as they now work together. Four talks a lot with me about his work in leadership, and he is glad that he finally accepted the position― it's going well. He's on a faster track than Will is to a full leadership position, considering how many years Max has tried to recruit Four and his role in stopping a factionless rebellion, but I know Will is the coworker he is most comfortable with. Eric has always been a thorn in Four's side, but the comical stories the boys share about working with Eric always have me laughing. He is definitely an interesting character, but Four seems to have the situation well under control. It's pretty well known that Four is Max's "golden boy", and it also helps that Four played such a large role in bringing down a threat that would impact the entire city.
We talk about how my day at work went nearly every night as well. I'm only a few months away from graduating from student to intern and even though I'm mostly just doing grunt work at this point, I find everything in the infirmary fascinating. The classes I am taking make me confident for the time when I will be expected to be more hands on with patients. I know this was the right choice for me; I don't think I'll ever get bored. The Erudite side of my work makes me feel closer to my father and brother, and helping people keeps me connected to my Abnegation roots. I think my parents would be proud of me.
I blow raspberries on Natty's tummy before I pull her little black shirt over her head, and she giggles and squirms. Another glance at the clock tells me that Four will be off work any minute; I'm supposed to meet him by the net in an hour, and Christina my very well insist upon adding to my makeup, though I swear I've done everything she taught me. I pull socks on Natty's feet to keep them warm― she doesn't need shoes yet― and hold her close to me, breathing in her scent. She sighs contentedly and rests her head on my shoulder as I sling the diaper bag over the opposite arm and hurry out the door.
I arrive to the net much more made-up than I was when I left my apartment; just as I feared, Christina insisted that my make-up was too light, my hair was too plain, and my dress too modest. So now, my eye make-up is a touch more drastic but still classic, she only added a gloss on top of the color I had originally chosen, my hair is in a fishtail braid, and I am tugging down one of Christina's dresses, which only comes to mid-thigh. I can't help but wonder what the dress looks like on Christina, who is much taller than I am.
I climb the stairs to the platform next to the net, and a swarm of butterflies takes flight in my stomach as Four comes into view. He looks so handsome in his button-down gray-and-black striped shirt and black jeans― my favorite ones, the ones that hug his butt perfectly― that my stomach does flips and I just want to drag him home and have my way with him.
He lights up when he sees me and looks me up and down. "Wow," Four breathes. "You look amazing, Tris."
"You look pretty handsome yourself," I tease as I rise up onto my toes and kiss him, careful not to ignite a fire that we can't put out. "So, what do you have planned for us tonight?"
"It's a surprise," Four smirks. He picks up a basket I hadn't noticed sitting behind him and takes my hand. But he doesn't lead me down the steps yet; he just looks at the net for a moment, then back at me. "You know, Tris, our reunion here at the net… well, it didn't go like I had imagined it." I laugh lightly; I remember how angry I was with him in that moment. We both understand one another, the feelings we were each struggling with at that time, and we're okay with it all. What happened before is past and forgiven, but still a part of our story and important to each of us.
"I know," I say, smiling reassuringly.
"But it was still the beginning of our journey together― as the people we are now." He begins to lead me down the stairs. "It's taken some time, and we've overcome so much together." We reach the bottom of the stairs and he leads me to a door. We begin to climb, and the flight after flight of stairs. As he continues I realize that we are climbing onto the roof, the place we each first jumped off the train to enter Dauntless for the first time. "While we are different people than we were as sheltered kids in Abnegation, I never want to forget where we started. Somewhere inside Four and Tris, we're still Tobias and Beatrice, too.
"And Tobias and Beatrice… had some of their most important moments on rooftops," he continues as he pushes on a heavy metal door at the top of the eleventh flight of stairs. It opens with a groan; I step over the threshold and he props it open with a segment of pipe someone left near the door.
I gasp as I take in the sight before me. The rooftop has been transformed into the most romantic setting I have ever laid eyes on. All around, candles flicker, each in small lanterns to protect them from the wind. A small table is set in the middle of the rooftop with a bouquet of colorful flowers in a vase― lit of course with another lantern, this one decorative looking― atop a white tablecloth. Next to the table I see a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket of ice.
Four takes my hand again and leads me to the table, setting, the basket down next to the champagne. "Four," I say, unable to hide the astonishment from my voice, "this is amazing. I can't believe you did all this… for me." He just smiles and kisses my hand. But his smile looks a little forced, and I notice his hand shaking in mine. "Are you alright, Four?" I ask, bringing my free hand to his cheek. He leans into my touch and closes his eyes.
Four takes a deep breath in and lets it out slowly. To be honest, he's kind of scaring me; I've never seen him so nervous before. Then he opens his eyes, and I get lost in their deep blue, that dreaming, sleeping, waiting color, and my stomach flips again as I am overwhelmed by the love I see pouring from them.
"Tris," Four says quietly, "I wanted to eat dinner before I say this, but I just can't wait any longer." I bite my lip nervously, and he runs his thumb across to free it.
"The first time I saw you," he begins, "was on a rooftop. I will never forget that first moment you turned around and looked at me. You were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life, and the sadness I saw in your eyes pierced right into my heart. I wanted nothing more than to take that sadness away, hold onto you and keep you safe. Right away, I knew you were different, Tris. I could tell. And I was certain of it when we kissed for the first time. That kiss... " He runs his thumb over the pendant hanging from a chain around my neck― the same necklace that he gave me more than two years ago, the first gift I ever received. "I never forgot about you. I got you this necklace shortly after that, and held onto it in hopes that one day, we would meet again."
"Then some months later, after we were thrown into such an awkward situation by our parents' marriage, after all the time we spent fighting our feelings, we ended up on another rooftop." I smile at the memory― I was so hurt and angry that night. "That night, we finally admitted how we really felt about one another. We knew it would be complicated, but something like what we have… it just cannot be denied, Tris. I had already fallen in love with you then, and knowing that you had feelings for me, too… it was the greatest night of my life, only to finally be topped when you forgave me by the Chasm."
I cup his cheek with my palm and stand on my toes to kiss him. "I love you," I murmur.
"I love you too, Tris… so much," he sighs. Then he reaches into his pocket and the next thing I know, he is sinking down to kneel before me. When it registers, what I'm seeing― when I realize that in front of me is the love of my life, the most gorgeous man I've ever seen, kneeling before me on one knee― when I see the small black velvet box in his hands― I gasp into my hands.
"Tris Prior," Four says, his dark blue eyes piercing into me, "I have loved you for many years, and I love you more every day. I know there is no one else I want to wake up next to, share my secrets with, share my life with. You and Natty are everything to me, Tris, and you always will be. I'm all in." My eyes go blurry with happy tears as he opens the box to reveal a perfectly simple diamond ring. "Tris, will you marry me?"
My hands are still over my mouth covering my smile, I can't catch my breath, I feel like I am floating on a cloud. It's the increasingly nervous look in Four's eyes that brings me back to earth enough to choke out a response. "Yes," I cry out, pulling my hands away and holding the left out to him. "I am all in, too! Yes, yes, of course I will," I exclaim as Four takes the ring out of the box and slides it onto my finger. He doesn't even give me time to examine it closer before pulling me down onto his knee and kissing me passionately.
After dinner, Four leads me right past Christina's place without stopping for Natty. I begin to protest but he picks me up bridal style and continues on to his apartment. "I already cleared it with Will," he explains as he fumbles trying to get the key into his door. "He and Chris will keep the baby overnight. I want you all to myself tonight, future wife."
"Good planning, future husband," I laugh as he carries me over the threshold and kicks the door shut. He carries me straight to his bed and tosses me onto it playfully. I lean back on my elbows, not bothering to right my skirt that is riding up onto my hip, and smirk at him as he looks me up and down hungrily. I know exactly what he has in mind, but I ask anyway. "Now that you have me all to yourself, what are you going to do with me?"
Four smirks back. "I have a few ideas," he admits as he joins me on the bed, covering my body with his.
That hungry, almost predatory look he's been giving me already has a dull ache building low in my stomach, but Four takes his time. He kisses me slowly as his hand trails down my side, sending shivers of anticipation through me. I moan as he kisses down my neck to the ravens on my collarbone and drags his hand behind me until he finds the zipper at my back. I sit up so he can pull the zipper down as I, much less patiently than he is undressing me, unbutton his shirt. We pepper each other's bodies with kisses as the heap of discarded clothing on the floor grows.
Four is in no hurry as he gives loving attention to every inch of my bare skin, building my need for him with every touch. I pull him against me and kiss him hard, and finally we make love, whispering our devotion to each other between whimpers of pure bliss, until we are both finally spent. I cuddle into Four and he pulls the blanket over us before we both drift off to sleep.
Date: Mid-December +o+ Baby Natty is 11 months old
^^ Two Months Later ^^
**Four POV**
"Will, this is ridiculous. You can't be serious," I groan. "Tris and I don't believe in these stupid superstitions."
Will shakes his head. "I don't either― the idea that seeing your bride before the wedding will somehow ruin your marriage is ridiculous. But Christina does, and you know how she is! I can't lie to her! She has those crazy freakish Candor lie detector abilities!" He glances around nervously and blushes when he sees the black-and-white clothed Candor members nearby glare at him. We are in their faction, after all.
I shake my head. "So what you're actually saying is that you're afraid of your girlfriend getting mad at you," I smirk.
"Yes," Will sighs. "Yes, okay? She's gonna freak out. So you can't go in there. I will watch for Tris to come out and go to the elevator while you stay here around the corner, and I'll let you know when she's gone."
I stare Will down. I have no intention of signing Natty's adoption papers without Tris right next to me, just because Christina has some silly superstition. After a moment, I uncross my arms and place one hand on each of Will's shoulders.
"Will," I say, shaking my head slightly, "you're Dauntless. Be brave." Then I let my hands drop from his shoulders and walk purposefully around the corner and down the hall to Jack Kang's office to meet Tris and Natty, ignoring the objections that Will calls out after me.
Tris's back is to me when I open the door to Jack's office, and she immediately turns and smiles at me, her eyes lit up with happiness, as blue as a summer's day.
Natty reaches for me from Tris's arms. "Look, Natty, it's Dada!" Tris says. We started teaching Natty to call me 'Dada' the morning after my proposal; she already knew Tris as Mama. She hasn't quite got it yet.
"Hi, Natty! I missed you," I coo as I take her from Tris's arms, even though I just saw her last night. I kiss the top of her head and bury my nose in her wispy blonde hair, breathing the sweet baby scent that I became fond of the first time I was alone with Natty, after Capture the Flag just six months ago. Some might think Tris and I are moving too fast, but we feel ready. We've been through enough together to know that we can make it through whatever life throws at us, and that we want to face those challenges together.
"Alright, I have the adoption documents ready for you here. Four, you will sign next to the blue flags, and Tris, you sign next to the red ones," Jack instructs us. "Be sure to check every page; we don't want to have to call you back here due to incomplete documents."
I let Natty down and follow her as she toddles around the room until Tris tells me that she's finished; we trade places and I sign next to each blue flag― seven of them in all― and then flip carefully through each page once again to be sure I haven't missed anything.
Jack looks over the paperwork. I couldn't keep the smile off my face if I tried as I watch Tris and Natty. Tris quickly swoops in to right a glass sculpture that Natty nearly knocks over before chasing after her to prevent the next potential catastrophe. Ever since Natty began to walk last month, she's become quite the handful, curious and quick. I could imagine Tris being that way as a toddler, I'm sure she kept Natalie on her toes. I chuckle under my breath before I rescue Tris by scooping up Natty, who giggles at the sudden weightlessness.
"All right," says Jack, and Tris and I gather again in front of his desk. "Everything looks to be in order. Congratulations on the adoption of your daughter, and on your wedding. This is a big day for you three," he says warmly. We've become quite friendly with Jack Kang over the past month, though I hope not to be required in Candor again for a very long time.
^^Wedding reception, later that day^^
Tris and I sway back and forth to some romantic-sounding music, our first dance together as a married couple. Our first public dance together, period, actually― we have practiced it a few times in our apartments, but never in front of other people.
"I know this day is about us and all, but I'm not loving having so many people staring at us," Tris admits.
"I know what you mean―" I'm cut off by Tris laughing. I pull back and raise an eyebrow.
"Christina and Will," she chuckles. I maneuver us, still dancing the whole time, so that I can see in the direction she was looking. Will looks like a puppy with his tail between his legs as Christina wags a finger at him, while Uriah holds Natty with one hand covering her ear with the other pressed into his chest while he edges away from Christina.
"He was supposed to keep us apart today," I admit, chuckling. "He obviously failed." Will is now glaring at me from across the room. I just shrug and smirk.
"I know," Tris laughs. "Chris gave me an earful while she was getting me ready for the ceremony. This must be the first chance she's had to yell at Will for it. She'll get over it, probably in about ten minutes. They'll be fine." Christina and Will ended their "break" a few months ago, and while Christina's dramatics have been brought out by arguments a few times, they seem to be a lot better at working through their disagreements than they had before their "break."
I lift one hand to cup her cheek. "There was no way some stupid superstition of Christina's was keeping me from my wife and daughter today, of all days. This is the happiest day of my life."
After a few more songs, Tris and I sneak away from the dance floor to eat a few bites of dinner and share a glass of champagne. As we finish eating, Uriah and Marlene approach us, Marlene now carrying Natty. She hands her to Tris and Natty waves bye-bye to Mar before nuzzling her face into her mother's neck. "Has she been any trouble?" Tris asks.
"Of course not! My little sweetheart is always an angel," Uriah scoffs.
Marlene just laughs. "No, she's been as sweet as always and liked dancing with us," she adds as Uriah slips his arm around her waist. "Do you guys mind if we slip away to dance without her for a few, though?"
"Of course not," I smile. "We're going to miss her this weekend." We've decided to honeymoon on the outskirts of Amity, and Natty and Monica will stay with Tracy, Monica's cousin, in Amity while we're gone, so at least we won't be too far away from her. Marlene pulls Uriah onto the dance floor and they sway to a slow, romantic song. Whenever I see them together, I wonder how I could have ever been so worried about Uriah and Tris, when Marlene has clearly always been perfect for him.
Shauna and Zeke approach us next. Tris hands Natty over to me before Shauna gives her a hug and congratulates us. Zeke claps his hand on my shoulder. "I can't believe you're really married, Four," he laughs. "I never thought I'd see the day that you actually got serious with a girl, let alone get married a few months later and adopt a baby. I'm happy for you, man."
"Thanks, Zeke," I smile.
"What can I say," he says quietly, and quiet is unusual for Zeke. "You're happier than I've ever seen you, it makes this whole settling down thing look attractive." I smirk. I know how much Zeke adores Shauna, maybe they'll be the next ones at the altar.
"Want us to take Natty so you can get back to the dance floor?" Shauna offers.
"No, thank you," Tris declines, "I would like a few more minutes with her now." Shauna nods with understanding. Those few weeks away from Natty while things were sorted out with Marcus and Evelyn were excruciating for both of us, and while I know we are both looking forward to the honeymoon, I think we are both a little apprehensive at the thought of being away from our daughter for several nights.
We mill around the room, letting Natty steal most of the attention as we thank our guests. We finally come to Amar and George, who both made it back from their missions just a few weeks ago. Had they been back to Dauntless sooner, we may have married even more quickly, but I wanted Amar to officiate the ceremony. He did a fantastic job, just as I knew he would. I just couldn't get married without my mentor present.
"You have a beautiful family here, Four," George says warmly.
"Yes, we're looking forward to getting to know you both better," Amar directs to Tris.
Tris smiles. "Likewise," Tris says. "Four has told me a lot about you both. Thank you for being there for him." Over the past few months, I've told Tris a lot more about my first couple of years at Dauntless, and Amar and George played an essential role in my adjusting to life here and becoming the man I am today.
"Well, there will be plenty of time for that," Amar assures us. "Max doesn't expect us to be sent out on any more extended missions for a while. You're stuck with us."
"Damn," I joke. "And I thought I'd escaped your meddling." George gives me a hearty laugh. He and Amar know how important they are to me, and Amar has expressed his regret that he wasn't here to help me through the turmoil of Tris's first few months in Dauntless. But it doesn't matter now; Tris and I came through it, and it made us stronger than we ever were before.
"This is perfect," Tris sighs, looking around the one-room cabin we will spend the next three nights in.
I nod and glance back to smile at her as I pull the screen back over the fireplace. I sit down on the couch next to her and tug at the blanket she is covered with and pulling it over me as well; the room is just beginning to warm up
Being cuddled up near the fireplace, seeing Tris's golden hair falls in waves around her shoulders reminds me of another time, in what feels like another life. I so clearly remember watching Tris take the pins out of her bun in our Abnegation living room, in front of a fireplace much like this one. I had never been able to ignore how beautiful she was, but seeing her hair down took my breath away. There was something so special and intimate about that moment.
Tris must recognize the way I'm looking at her, because she smirks. "What are you thinking about, Four?"
"How beautiful you are." I run my fingers through her hair, slowly and gently. "How beautiful you've always been. How much I love you, and how easy it was to fall in love with you."
Tris looks almost a little shy as she smiles but still reaches up to wrap her arms around my neck and pulls me down toward her. "I love you, Four," she says against my lips before pressing her lips against mine.
The kiss quickly deepens and I stand by the couch, pulling her up with me. I almost hate to take her full-skirted white dress off her― she has never looked more beautiful than she did in this dress today― but I'm still relieved when my fingers find a zipper. I remember looking in the windows of the bridal shop once and noticing that some of the dresses had countless buttons. I thank my lucky stars she didn't choose a dress like that, I don't think I could have waited that long to get her out of this thing.
"Take me to bed, Mr. Eaton," Tris giggles as the dress pools at her feet.
I scoop her up in my arms and she begins unbuttoning my shirt as I carefully step around the dress and carry her to the bed. "With pleasure, Mrs. Eaton."
I lay Tris gently on the bed and discard my shirt before I hover over her, just barely skimming my palm over her lace bra as I kiss her deeply while her hands slide down my body, continuing to undress me. I want to take this slow tonight. I want to take my time enjoying Tris. We are finally safe, and this is our first time together as husband and wife. It's a moment that I want to savor.
I wrap my fingers around hers and pull her hand away from me. Slowly I begin to kiss every inch of her skin, starting at her ear and jawline, down her neck, then her shoulders and even down her arm, taking an extra moment with the raven on her wrist that represents Natty. I make my way up the other arm before moving on to her collarbone, again pausing at the black ravens that stand out against her creamy white skin. My lips travel all the way down to her feet before I make my way back up. Goosebumps stand out all over Tris's skin and it's hard to continue taking my time as I look up at my gorgeous bride, her chest heaving in anticipation. She pulls me to her in a crushing kiss and I finally give in to what we both desire.
Our lovemaking is slow and tender, filled with kisses and whispered I love yous, until we are both spent and finally collapse in a tangled heap on the bed. Both feeling sated and completely loved, and exhausted by the long day, I wrap my body around Tris and fall asleep with her in my arms― the way I want to fall asleep every night for the rest of my life.
^^Three Days Later^^
I stop Tris just before the pathway to Tracy's home. Though we are both anxious to see Natty, it is still hard to let go of these blissful few days having Tris all to myself. "Ready to get back to real life?" I ask her.
"Ready or not, it's time," she responds, standing on her toes to give me a long, slow kiss. "Come on, let's go get our daughter. We'll come back to the cabin again someday."
Tris and I agreed as we prepared to leave the cabin that we would definitely be returning sometime, maybe even as an anniversary getaway for a night or two each year. Knowing that we would recreate our honeymoon again one day made it less difficult to leave behind.
Tris takes my hand and leads me up the path. As we near the door I nearly forget all about my longing to spend more time alone with Tris, because I know that in a few moments I will see my daughter. Three nights is almost too long to be away from her, even for our honeymoon.
I knock, and can hear children's laughter beyond the door. Tracy soon answers with a bright smile on her face and a little boy― one of the daycare children― peeking around her legs. "Four, Tris! Natty has been a little joy, but she will be so happy to see you. She's in the kitchen with Monica eating her afternoon snack."
"Thank you so much, Tracy― we can't wait to see her," Tris says warmly before we hurry back to the kitchen.
When we come through the door, Monica is just finishing up wiping Natty's hands and face with a damp washcloth. She hears us enter and glances back, then moves out of Natty's way so that she can see us.
Her little face lights up as we both rush toward her. Tris reaches her first. "Mama, Mama!" Natty squeals as Tris lifts her out of the high chair.
Then Natty reaches for me. "Dada!" she exclaims. I feel tears well in my eyes, finally hearing her say that word, and seeing that Tris is holding back tears as well as she places Natty in my arms. I hold Natty against my shoulder and kiss her head, smell that amazing baby scent with my nose buried in her hair.
In that moment, I feel that everything is finally right in the world. We have struggled and we have grown stronger despite every obstacle, every struggle, every deception and every secret. I finally have the family I know a part of me always secretly wished for.
++o+ Story End +o++