49

"Honey, if you don't hurry we'll be late" Tobias shouts.

"I'll be right down" I shout back. I check everything. I've got my keys, my new phone and my warm winter jacket. I put it on and hurry downstairs. I can't believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve.

After my kidnapping and Tobias's proposal our life seemed to get back on track. On Monday right after I got back I returned to work, more determined than ever to do a good job. Tori is a great addition to our leader team. I'm so glad Tobias suggested her. After she and Dwayne came out publicly everyone was so happy for both. They are good friends and they both deserve to be happy. She actually moved in on the same floor with Tobias and me, across the hall. After a long talk with Dwayne he decided to move in with her and now Tobias can be even calmer when it comes to my protection. My own personal bodyguard lives across the hall from us. We invited Dwayne and Tori over a couple of times. Tori told me a few stories about Tobias when he was an initiate making sure to avoid any kind of information about his true identity.

When the girls found out on Sunday after my kidnapping that Tobias and I are engaged they literally freaked out. The guys weren't any better. All of our friends congratulated us and wished us the best. They actually started planning, one idea more crazy then the other and they even argued a little too wildly about it until Tobias shouted out loud to make them stop. I had to promise the girls that we would do all the wedding stuff together, like picking out my wedding gown and the flowers and all that other stuff. I have to say I'm a little jealous of Tobias. The guys only made him promise to go out with them for a drink before the wedding to celebrate his last bachelor days and that he wouldn't stop hanging out with his friends once he got hitched.

The women fight club happened. Many Dauntless women signed up, mostly to get back in shape but also to be able to protect themselves from potential attackers. It's not the same like initiation, but it helps them stay fit and focused. Even a few men signed up to learn a few moves. Tobias agreed to teach the initiates a few of these moves since they are not hard to learn and easy to master. At least that's what he thinks because so far he hasn't tried them out yet. A few times people in the training room wanted us to fight, but Tobias refused on the grounds that I might call of the wedding if it turns out he is a better fighter than I am. It was a good laugh for those present, but I know why he's refusing it. He is afraid he might accidentally hurt me. I stopped pressuring him. I know him well by now to know that it would be futile to even try. Uriah however had no problems with that. Tobias gave him a dirty look, but I gave Tobias one in return, when he tried to convince me not to fight Uriah. I told him that I can't properly learn how to defend myself if I don't fight a man every once in a while. Men and women move differently during fights and if he wants me to be safe and be able to protect myself I need to practice. He finally gave in and I had my fight with Uriah. He stepped into the ring very confident and most men cheered for him, while the women, including my friends, cheered for me. Tobias just stood next to the mat watching carefully. The fight ended sooner than most thought. I pinned down Uriah in no time. Zeke then stepped in for his brother even though Tobias protested. Before he faced me however he whispered something in Tobias's ear that made him let out a breath. I can only assume that Zeke told him that he would hold back, because that's what he did. When I yelled at him and called him a pansycake and afraid of hitting a girl he seemed to react, but still restrained himself. Then Shauna, knowing what I'm capable of, told him that if he doesn't fight like a man she will tell their baby that it's father is a pansycake. Upon hearing that he changed his attitude and fought me for real. I could hear Tobias growl in frustration, but then I kicked Zeke's butt so hard that he needed Dwayne to help him back up. I even challenged Dwayne, but he refused categorically. Wouldn't have thought it otherwise. He is loyal to Tobias till the end. He would never do something to upset him and especially not hurt me. I can't blame him though. Tobias is okay now with the fighting. He saw firsthand what I'm capable of and trusts me. However, he made it a point to always be present during training. While I spar with one of the girls he is at the punching bag punching the crap out of it. I don't mind. I love seeing him work out. And I love washing the sweat off of him later. Or even add some, if you know what I mean.

There's still no news on my attack or the attacker. No one in the factions recognized him so Tobias talked to Evelyn. She claimed she didn't know him either but she would ask around. So far, no luck. She came to visit us a few more times and I have to say that I started enjoying her company. We avoid talking about the past as much as possible. I know it's painful for Tobias and I could see it's no joyride for her either. She was very supportive when Tobias told her that we are engaged, like she expected it. I made it a habit to be honest with her and say what's on my mind and she does the same. I asked her if she is truly okay with me and Tobias getting married. She told me she saw how much he suffered when I was gone and that her heart broke for him every time she saw him like that. Even though she had a completely different opinion about me in the beginning, after she got to know me she started liking me. And as long as her son loves me she won't do anything to hurt me. However, she made it a point to warn me that if I ever hurt him she would hurt me. I nodded in understanding and thought of my own parents issuing that same threat toward Tobias. She does love him, even if it's in a weird way.

Marcus kept amazingly quiet this whole time. When Candor officials asked him if he had anything to do with my kidnapping he said no and even offered to go under truth serum. He didn't. It wasn't necessary. Until further evidence surfaces the case is put cold and we are still nowhere near the truth than the day I was kidnapped.

The best thing about Christmas are the decorations. When Tobias came home two weeks ago with our Christmas tree I immediately wanted to decorate it, but since we had no decorations I grabbed his hand and dragged him to the Pit where we bought everything we needed to make one hell of a good looking Christmas tree. We ate our supper and then spend the next two hours decorating it. When everything was done Tobias dimmed down the lights in the room and turned on the colorful lights of our first Christmas tree. I think I spend another hour just looking at it. It completely mesmerized me. I scheduled an appointment with Tori tonight to get a new tattoo. It's a Christmas gift for Tobias, but I need to be careful. I don't want him to see it before tomorrow night. He already knows I'm going to meet Tori later, but he thinks I'm helping her get a Christmas present for Dwayne.

I hurry downstairs because Tobias is waiting for me to go to my parents. They invited us for lunch and we seize the opportunity to bring them their Christmas gifts. I know that Abnegation rules forbid gift giving, but I don't think this would be such a bad thing. We got my dad a new phone with more storage capacity so that he can store phone numbers and have a detailed schedule right in his pocket. For mom we got a cooking book. Since Caleb and I left she started cooking a lot. I convinced the council to refurbish an old diner near the factionless sector. Abnegation volunteers work there twice a week. Mom and two other women cook while four other volunteers serve the food and clean up. Unlike before the factionless can actually eat a warm home cooked meal. The idea was received at first with raised eyebrows, especially when it came to the financial part of it. I talked to Evelyn and asked her if some of the factionless would help us out, volunteer to refurbish the place. Each faction donates goods and food anyways. Why not have a place where these poor people can actually enjoy a calm, warm home cooked meal. Some of the factionless volunteered and together with the Abnegation they did a great job. Since the diner is exclusively for the factionless mom decided to cook dishes from several factions. This is why Caleb told me he would get mom a cooking book with specific Erudite dishes, while I decided on a Dauntless one. Cara's best friend came from Amity and Cara got mom an Amity cook book, while I got another one, thanks to Jack, from Candor. I also baked mom and dad a Dauntless cake, since I know by now that everyone in my family loves my cake.

"Ready?" Tobias asks smiling.

"Yeah. Where are the presents? And the cake?" I ask looking around.

"Already in the car. You'll have to hold the cake though to avoid it falling off the backseat" he says and I nod. We leave the apartment and head downstairs to the car. I get in and hold the cake in my lap and Tobias drives off.

"Isn't it a bit too late?" Tobias asks all of a sudden.

"Huh? What?"

"Isn't it too late?" he asks again.

"For what?"

"Tori getting Dwayne a Christmas present."

"Oh, that. She thought of a few things, but she can't decide and wanted a second opinion. I told her she should get him what she things he would like the most, since she knows him best, but I guess she still wants my opinion" I answer. I expected him to ask me that so I figured to have an answer ready for when it happens.

"Alright. Let's see if we have presents for all of our friends" he says and I nod. "We've got a brand new leather jacket for Zeke, silver earrings with one small red ruby each for Shauna, a silver necklace with a dark Dauntless-flame pendant for Marlene, new combat boots for Lynn, a coupon for 10 free Dauntless cakes at the confectionery store for Uriah, a new premium pencil set for Tori, who loves to draw, a multi-usage combat knife for Dwayne, a cocktail dress for Christina, a new watch for Will, a silver brooch with black crystals for Cara and a history book on factions for Caleb. Did I forget anyone?" he asks and I have to think for a moment.

"Evelyn. You forgot her" I say.

"I didn't forget her. I mean I forgot to mention her, but I have a present. Remember that picture you took with your new phone the first time she came over after we got engaged?" he asks and I nod. "I printed it and framed it for her. It's our first picture together" he says smiling. He really loves his mom, even if he hasn't said anything, to me or her.

"That's great. That means I still need to find something for her" I say.

"Why?" he asks glancing my way.

"Because the picture is your gift. It's personal and special. I'm going to get her something too. Something that says I haven't forgotten you, I just don't think you are so special" I say and Tobias laughs.

"Oh cut it out. I've seen you two. You get along really well. And I have to say, I think she's honest about how she feels about you. I really think she likes you" he says watching the snow covered road.

"Well, she's not the worst person in the world, I have to admit. And it seems to me too that she really tries to build an honest relationship, not just with you, but with me as well. And I'm happy about it. I know you never said it out loud but I know you well enough by now to know that you love her and want her close to you" I say and he looks at me smiling.

"You do know me" he says laughing lightly.

"Any idea what I should get her?" I ask really not knowing what I should get my future mother in law. I don't know her that well. Then again, neither does Tobias.

"How about a book?" he suggests.

"About?" I ask raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know. A novel. A romance maybe."

"Somehow she doesn't seem the type" I say.

"How about some jewelry. A necklace or a bracelet?"

"Maybe" I say staring out my window. I think for a while of what I could get her. She doesn't belong to any faction so it doesn't have to be themed. Then again, maybe this would make it easier to find a proper gift. I could get her a book, but I don't know what she likes. Same goes for music, assuming she has a stereo of some sort. Maybe a necklace would be the right gift. Something simple, something that says she is important enough to think of her, but not something that might say I forgot all the shit you did and how you abandoned the love of my life when he needed you the most. I think I'll stop by the jewelry store when we get back to Dauntless.

We soon pull up in front of my parents house in Abnegation and Tobias gets out, running around and opens my car door. He takes the cake off of me allowing me to get out. He hands the cake back and gets the Christmas gifts from the backseat before he locks our car. We walk together side by side, Tobias putting his left hand on the small of my back, and we knock on the front door. Almost immediately the door swings open revealing my dad smiling at us.

"Hi dad" I say and he bends down and kisses my cheek.

"Hello sweetheart. Come in" he says. "Hello, son" he says to Tobias and they both hug briefly before Tobias follows me inside.

"Hey, sis" Caleb says from the couch. He gets up to get the cake and I thank him.

"Hey Caleb" I say and give him a peck on the cheek.

"Hello Caleb" Tobias says.

"Hello, brother" Caleb says. Ever since the initial shock regarding my engagement wore off Caleb called and treated Tobias like a brother. They both smile at the nickname and my dad gathers our coats to put them away.

"Where's mom?" I ask.

"In the kitchen with Cara" my dad answers.

"I'll go help them. I'll leave you guys talk about men stuff" I say and get the cake from Caleb. I walk into the kitchen and both mom and Cara turn around and smile when they see me.

"Hi mom, hi Cara" I say.

"Hello sweetheart" mom says, coming over to hug me.

"Hi Tris. Please tell me that's a Dauntless cake" she says. Yup, everyone loves my cake. I grin widely and put it in the fridge. "You know, I've tried to bake one myself, but it never is as good as yours. What's your secret?" she inquires.

"Can't tell you" I say putting on an apron.

"Why not?" she asks confused.

"Otherwise it wouldn't be a secret. If it helps, not even Four knows it and he knows everything. We have no secrets. Except for this one" I say and the three of us laugh.

I help mom finish cooking while Cara serves the men some coffee. I take advantage of her absence because I want to ask mom something.

"Mom, I need your advice" I say and she looks at me curiously. "I need to get Evelyn a Christmas present. We are having her over on Saturday for lunch and I need to get her something."

"I don't know how I can help you, honey. I barely knew her when she was living here. And now I only know what Tobias and you tell me. How is she acting around you anyway?" mom asks a little concerned.

"Both Tobias and I think she is honest about trying to build a relationship with her son. She is also nice to me. If she's pretending than I have to say she is a very good actress. But I think it's genuine. We decided from the beginning to be honest. I tell what I like or dislike about her and she does the same. I do believe that there are things she is withholding from us, but unless I have some proof I can't go and accuse her of anything. She is actually pleased by what we did for the factionless, the diner I mean" I say and mom nods. "I think she understands that I really want to help them, but I can't if she would stay in the way. They respect and follow her and I don't want to lose her support."

"Spoken like a true politician" my mom says smirking.

"Yeah, I guess all those meetings with the council and the Dauntless staff really made me one. But bottom line is I want to help. Not just my faction, but all of them. I'm so glad that the council accepted my petition to loosen the rules regarding the visitation between factions."

"I think that's one of the best decisions the council could have made. So many people choose to change factions and I truly find it unfair and unreasonable to deny parents to see their children. Just because you and Caleb chose different factions doesn't mean I will stop loving you or forget I ever had you. Am I sad? A little. But as long as you two are happy me and your father are happy as well" she says and I suddenly feel the urge to hug her. I do so and Cara walks in and looks at us surprised.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt" she says apologetically.

"It's okay, sweetheart" my mom says and opens her arms to welcome Cara as well. Now all three of us stand in the middle of the kitchen hugging each other and forgetting the rest of the world. I hear a click and then another one and turn to look from where the sound came from. In the door way are Caleb and Tobias, both with their phones in hand and smirking.

"Jealous?" I ask them.

"Not at all" Caleb says.

"Speak for yourself" Tobias says and I open my arms for him, but he goes and hugs mom.

"Hey" I say pouting. He turns around laughing and picks me, kissing me softly on the lips before putting me back down.

"Lunch is ready" mom says.

"Let me help you" Tobias offers and mom accepts smiling. Between the four of us the dining table soon is filled with delicious food and we all sit down and dad says grace. We eat and leisurely talk about the upcoming festivities and how nice it is to have a family meal.

"Have you picked out a dress?" Cara asks me.

"For what?" I ask her in return, confused by what she means.

"Your wedding" she answers laughing lightly.

"Uhm, no. Not yet" I answer. "I had a lot of work these past weeks. But I had to promise the girls to look for one as soon as possible."

"How about wedding bands?" she inquires further.

"Not yet. Actually" I say when I see her open her mouth again "before you ask anything else. We haven't gotten anything for the wedding, yet."

"But we're going to after New Year's" Tobias says.

"Are you planning on having the wedding inside the Dauntless compound or outside" Caleb asks.

"What exactly wasn't clear when I said that we haven't done anything regarding the wedding?" I ask sarcastically.

"Just asking" Caleb says defensive.

"We don't know yet. Why? Do you have a location in mind?" Tobias asks taking a sip from his second cup of coffee.

"I've heard the council is planning on renovating the park near the Navy Pier" Caleb says and looks toward dad.

"We have been discussing it" dad answers vaguely.

"Really? When?" I ask.

"The day you had a dentist's appointment" my dad says. I nod. Only thing is I had an OBGYN appointment to get my shot.

"Right. So, is this going to happen?" I ask.

"We don't know yet. Samantha made some valid points as to why we should consider it" my dad says.

"Like?" I inquire further.

"For too long the inhabitants of our city let nature take over this city."

"Does this mean we hate nature now?" I ask confused.

"No. What she meant was that there are some areas that are easier to get renovated than others. We can't just let everything decay and I agree. We need to step out of the shadows we once welcomed" my dad says and I raise an eyebrow.

"I have two questions" I start but get interrupted by Caleb.

"Who are you and what have you done to my father?" he asks and mom, dad and Tobias chuckle.

"Do you mind?" I address my brother before returning my gaze to dad. "Question number one. Have you smocked something? And question number two. Seriously now, have you smocked something? How come whenever I suggest something like that I hear Tris we don't have the resources or Tris don't be childish, that's not a priority or my favorite have you lost your mind?"

"First of all, no, I haven't smocked anything. And second, you should be proud of yourself. You made the council reconsider very old and very outdated rules. You made them think larger and more complex. Or do you care that Samantha gets the credit?"

"Of course not. I like Sam. I'm just surprised that I beg for moths for some small attention and the one time I'm not there you guys start changing the city. What the hell?"

"Language" my mother says.

"Sorry, mom. But seriously now."

"I think it's a wonderful thing that you inspire people. Besides didn't you tell me that you had bigger plans for the city. Look at what you have accomplished so far. You inspire not only the council members but also random people in the city to work for society, regardless of their faction. You accomplished something no one thought possible. Thanks to you people are allowed to visit other factions without it being labeled a crime. You see problems and solve them and don't waste your time in debating about them. I honestly have to say you are a true leader. I've seen it and felt it. Whenever you lead a conversation you inspire people to get out of their shell and do some good" my dad praises

"You really think that?" I ask shyly.

"Of course I do. I'm very proud of you. I don't know where it comes from, but I'm glad you are part of the council" he says. I get up and walk over to where he is sitting at the table and hug him tightly. He eventually gets up and hugs me just as fiercely back.

Mom gets up and walks into the kitchen. When she returns she sets the cake in the middle of the table and asks dad to cut it. We each eat a slice and everyone tells me how wonderful it tastes.

"We need to get going" Tobias says after a while. I look at my watch and realize that it is getting late. I still have the appointment with Tori and I really need to go to the jewelry store. Mom never got to tell me what I should get Evelyn. Ah, well, I'll think of something on my way there. We say goodbye to my parents and drive back home. We offered to drive Caleb and Cara to their home, but they declined.

"Honey, would you mind coming with me to the jewelry store?" I ask.

"Not at all. Do you want something specific?" he asks glancing my way every now and then.

"Yeah."

"You mind telling me what?" he asks a little amused.

"A gift for your mom" I answer.

We arrive at the compound and Tobias parks the car. We get out and he locks it before grabbing my hand and leading me down to the Pit. We pass several Dauntless who wish us Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas and we return the same wishes. We reach the jewelry store and I look around to see if I can find something that says "Evelyn". I look over bracelets but none seems right. A ring would be stupid. Also earrings. I've never once seen her wear any. I look over the variety of necklaces and decide on a medium long and simple one. The only thing I still need is a pendant. There are a few with the Dauntless flame, but that would be ridiculous. She's factionless. And then it hits me.

"Do you have a circle for a pendant without anything in the middle?" I ask the jeweler. He tells us he needs to check in the back and comes back a minute later with exactly what I was looking for. A simple circle symbolizing no faction. I think she'll like it. At first I thought she was pissed for living factionless, but ever since she comes to visit us on a regular basis and I got to know her a little bit better I realized she embraces her status. The jeweler wraps it up for us and I hand it to Tobias. We climb the stairs to our apartment and I turn to the door on the right side of the hall and knock. Dwayne immediately opens it and smiles upon seeing me.

"Hello Tris" he says. "Hello Four."

"Hi Dwayne. Is Tori ready? We were supposed to meet" I say and Tori steps out.

"I'm ready. Hi Tris, hi Four. Bye Four, bye, babe" she says grabbing my hand and dragging me back to the stairs, leaving behind two puzzled men. I hear Dwayne ask Tobias if he would want to hang out and Tobias agrees.