Major thanks to BK2U for your help with this chapter! Thank you for your mad editing skills and for your collaboration with this story.

And thanks to everyone for their patience. I know it seems like I updated everything else in the world BUT this story, but it I swear it wasn't to make you wait any longer :)

There is a small note at the end of this chapter so as to avoid spoiling anything before you read it.

Don't forget to go read Landon's POV in The Training Outtakes, posted on April 25th. You can find that story under my ClubLulu333 author name.

Enjoy!


"Eric," I gasp, unable to tear my eyes off of him, "What the fuck did you do?"

"My job."

His words snap through the air the same way Landon's neck had snapped to the side. Eric is looking at me indignantly, and I can't move. I'm frozen in place with my eyes wide and my stare glued to him. Mere seconds ago, I watched him kill Landon right in front of me. I had known that eventually all of Landon's shadiness would catch up with him, I just never imagined it would be at the hands of my husband.

Eric makes some sort of huffing sound and I can feel the anger coming off of him in waves.

I can tell he's still fuming over what Landon said to him; his jaw muscles flex tightly and his eyes are narrowed at me. He stares unrelentingly, and in this moment, I understand exactly why the members of Dauntless are so afraid of him.

He looks dangerous, terrifyingly furious as he stands there, raw power and brute force fully on display.

I don't believe his anger is really directed at me. He's riled up from Landon's maliciously chosen words. If Landon had wanted to get under Eric's skin, there was no better way to do it than to announce I'd spent a night beside him. Eric's possessiveness hasn't waned at all during our marriage; he has ensured that my life essentially revolves around him and his plans, and he's been able to manipulate situations so that he maintains nearly absolute control over our life together. But with one well-aimed comment, it seems that Landon effectively tore Eric's control to shreds.

"Eric... you killed him," I manage to sputter, and my voice sounds distant to my own ears. The wind is still howling as the train surges on, rapidly rushing away from Amity. "We should have questioned him back in Dauntless."

"He had it coming. He'd been warned before." Eric's words are haughty, full of the self-assurance he's always had. He suddenly looks me over carefully, as though he's never seen me before, and his expression changes to something more vicious. "Is there something wrong?"

I can't answer him.

I swallow, peering up at him, an unfamiliar nervousness working its way through me. I haven't ever felt apprehensive in his presence, not like this. "He... you didn't…" I don't get to finish my sentence. Eric stalks towards me, his eyes blazing. He widens his stance and looks down at me, his face serious and drawn.

"I'm looking out for the city. You've been trained to do the same, without hesitation." He almost barks these words, but he stops and holds my stare for a long time. There is nothing but the sound of the wind and the occasional creak coming from the train car.

"I've told you before I won't let anyone hurt you." He says these words in a calmer, more measured tone.

"I know. It's not that…" I shake my head at him, unable to say anything more. There is an unfamiliar panic rising up as my mind is flooded with questions. Will he have to report this? Could he be in trouble for taking Landon's life? Did anyone see what just happened?

"I did what needed to be done." He takes a step back from me and crosses his arms. His words hang in the air, heavy with authoritativeness.

I know that Eric is correct — I would have been expected to do the same, to act without hesitation. Had Landon been able to really attack me, I'd have definitely fought him off, just as I did with Colton. But would I have felt entitled to end Landon's life if he wasn't threatening mine? To make the snap decision that he was guilty of actions punishable by death?

The only thing for certain is that Eric does not look very pleased right now, and I have no idea what to do.


"I could come by later in the week. I know the storm threw everyone off. Maybe Friday would work better for you both?"

Daniel's words echo in my ear as I stare at Eric. He's seated on the couch, his spine rigid and his gaze locked on his tablet. I watch him type away agitatedly, completely ignoring me.

He hasn't really spoken since we returned to Dauntless a few hours ago. The remainder of our ride home had been silent. Eric didn't even look at me, despite our close proximity on the train. He'd kept his jaw clenched shut and he didn't say a single word until right before we leapt from the train. He'd held onto me, his grip firm on my arm, and he'd all but growled the word "jump" at me.

And that was it.

He'd stormed in ahead of me, marching as though he was on some mission. The guards patrolling the walkway had looked both curious and terrified at our return. I managed to smile hello at them, greeting them as I walked past, but I hurried through before they could ask what had Eric so riled up.

"Everly, would that be a better day? I can rearrange some things?" Daniel's voice jerks me back to reality. He's offering up a very considerate solution, but I don't want to put him out.

"Um..." I pause, trying to force some cheerfulness into my voice. I feel terrible calling him to reschedule a dinner that had been my own idea. I'm so happy at the progress he and Eric have made, but Eric's current mood is atrocious. I'm almost scared to have Daniel sit through a dinner with him, but I try to remind myself that Daniel has probably seen this before. "No, tomorrow is fine. Eric and I can meet you at five?"

Eric tilts his head in my direction ever so slightly.

"Sure," Daniel answers. He pauses briefly, and his tone shifts, filling with concern. "Everly, is everything alright? You sound a bit stressed."

I want to blurt out 'no'. I want to tell him that I watched his son kill my ex-boyfriend on our way home and I can't stop thinking about it. Instead, I bite my lip, grateful that Eric isn't looking at me. I'm sure my face would give away everything I'm feeling right now. "No, it's really good to be home. And we can't wait to see you," I tell him brightly, mentally slapping myself. I didn't actually answer his question, but Daniel must understand. He doesn't push the subject any further.

"Alright, dear. You and Eric have a good night, and I'll see you both tomorrow."

"Bye, Daniel." I end the call and look at the back of my husband's head. Despite the fact that he clearly heard me talking to his father, he continues to ignore me. I stand still behind him, waiting for him to turn around and acknowledge that I just made dinner plans for us, but he doesn't.

I just want him to say something — anything — to let me know that he recognizes the enormity of what he's done. Instead, he sits there stonily, huffing in annoyance and angrily typing on his tablet.

Everything about Eric, from his posture to his expression to his silence, screams 'leave me alone'.

And so I do.


I should have known he wouldn't want to talk about what happened.

He's remained quiet all night. He keeps to himself, lazily scrolling through something on his tablet while occasionally turning to catch my stare. I smile every time, hoping he'll smile back and tell me to come sit by him. I find one of my favorite books to read and sit down a few feet away from him. It's intentional; I know he wants space, but I still want to be near him.

He doesn't seem to catch on.

There's more to wanting to talk to him than just needing to know what was behind his decision to kill Landon. I'm concerned about protocol: will there be questions asked when Landon doesn't return, will there be any kind of formal inquiry into his disappearance and death, and could Eric be held accountable for having killed him? Or will they chalk it up to Landon's fate having been sealed once he stepped onto the train with Eric?

But I don't ask him anything because he doesn't give me the chance.

He frowns at his tablet several times, and continues with whatever he's working on until he starts yawning. He goes to bed before me, muttering something about a meeting in the morning. By the time I join him in bed he's fast asleep, and I'm no closer to talking to him than I was before.


Thursday comes far faster than I'd like.

I spent a lot of the night wide awake, memorizing the ceiling and the sound of Eric's heartbeat. He had fallen asleep without a problem despite the unease that lingers between us. It's unfair; every time I started to drift off, I'd picture Eric standing with his hands wrapped around Landon's throat. My eyes would fly open, leaving me stuck in a terrible limbo for hours.

Eric had barely begun to stir — and I could swear I had just closed my eyes — when I hear his alarm go off. It seems much earlier than he needs to be up, but he slides out from beneath me and I blearily shut my eyes. I can hear him in the shower and drowsily try to tune out the noise of him getting ready. Normally there's a comfort to the familiar sound of him in the morning, but today it only reminds me that he's up early because he's avoiding me. I try to keep my eyes closed, at least until I hear him stomp across the room to my side of the bed. He comes to a stop, and when I open my eyes, he's peering down at me.

"Everly." He says my name roughly, his fingers skimming my bare shoulder.

I blink up at him, still half asleep.

Eric's face is tense, his lips pressed into a tight line as he leans in to kiss me goodbye. His lips brush against mine so lightly that I could just be imagining it.

"I'll see you for dinner," he says, looking somewhere past me instead of at me.

I nod at him, my heart sinking as he walks away. The front door shuts with a loud bang, and I sigh into my pillow.


I spend the first few hours of my morning trying not to think about Landon.

It's not that I hold onto any fondness for him; he'd done nothing but spend our time together trying to make me into someone I wasn't. He'd quieted me down so many times in our relationship, even going so far as to doubt I'd survive in Dauntless. That one had hurt the worst. I might not have been Eric's ideal trainee, but at least he never gave up on me. He never once told me it would be fine if I failed, and he never gave me the option to do anything less than what would make me the best.

But it's not Landon that's bothering me, it's Eric himself.

I know Eric's position in Dauntless, and I know that Landon is not the first man to take his last breath at Eric's hand. I know, too, that Eric did what he thought was best; still, his actions were so quick that I was blindsided. One second Landon was struggling, his hands clawing at his throat, and the next second his body was tossed from the train. It has served as a stark reminder of what Eric is capable of, how powerful he is.

And then there's the fact — the terrible, rotten fact — that Landon had tried to make it seem like I'd spent all of my time in Amity in bed with him. He couldn't have chosen anything worse to say; his words had only served to infuriate Eric, resulting in Landon's ultimate demise. Thinking about it gives me a dull headache, and I slump in my chair.

"Great," I say aloud to myself. The apartment is empty except for me. We aren't expected back in Dauntless yet, and while I could go and join Four and the initiates, I've decided to stay home and rejoin them tomorrow. Eric's abrupt departure this morning wasn't unexpected; it would be foolish to think he would wake me up and want to talk about what happened. But the silence stings — it's like an ironically loud reminder of the sudden tension between us.

I spend the next few hours at our dining room table, working on a few things I've been neglecting. I have loads of training paperwork to do, plus a very intense leadership binder from Eric that needs to be finished. I've been splitting my time between training the initiate class and completing Eric's Leadership Apprentice Program, and the schedule has been grueling. I'm relieved that initiation will be wrapping up soon; focusing solely on my leadership program will allow me to make up the time I've missed.

In some ways, I'm lucky my husband is the man to whom I report. Eric has had me focus on what he deems most important, and everything else has fallen to the wayside. He's very practical and efficient when it comes to his work, and I have found it easy to follow everything he's wanted me to do.

It's just that he finds a lot of things important.

I sign off on a few pages, making sure to mark the page I'm on. I decide to get out of the apartment for a little bit and find the one person who's always willing to meet me for lunch, no matter the circumstances.


Christina is all smiles when I find her.

We walk into the cafeteria arm in arm, and I know she's absolutely dying to hear about my time in Amity. Her excitement reminds me of the time she dragged me to breakfast only to accidentally announce to everyone in line that I was minutes away from sleeping away with Eric.

Today is no different.

"Well, are you pregnant yet?" The words are out of her mouth before we even hit the lunch line. A few heads turn, and their looks are filled with curiosity. I smile at them, waiting until they return their attention to their lunches. Christina doesn't know that I talked with Eric, but I'm sure she has imagined we used our time in Amity wisely.

I smile at her, shrugging as we find the end of the line. I try to catch a glimpse of what's for lunch, and to my delight it looks mostly edible. "We talked about it. He said he wants to have a family," I tell her, and I can't help but feel some unease. I don't want this mess with Landon to affect our plans. Eventually we will have to deal with Eric killing him, but for now, I am focused solely on today and trying to feel more normal.

"Of course he does." Christina nudges me with her elbow and we take a step forward. "I can't imagine Eric finds anyone else worthy of bearing his offspring."

"Chris." I can't help but giggle at her words.

"When we heard you guys were stuck in Amity we took bets on whether you'd come back knocked up. What a romantic getaway. And you have been married forever now," she announces enthusiastically. The guy in front of us turns to look over his shoulder, and his eyes widen in recognition when they land on me. He immediately turns his head back, and I can see him trying to look like he's not listening.

"We've only been married a little over a year," I point out, and Christina shrugs. "But we definitely didn't…" I trail off, waiting until the guy in front of us steps up to select his lunch. Christina is waiting impatiently, looking like she might explode if I don't continue soon. "We didn't not try."

Christina smiles widely, and hands me a plate. "You can tell me the details while we eat. All of them."

A half hour later, Christina nearly chokes on her fruit salad when I tell her that Eric's been thinking about us being a family for longer than I'd been aware. "There were a few times when I thought he seemed awfully open to it happening. I wonder if he thought about it with anyone else?"

Christina makes a face, one that tells me she finds my statement ridiculous. "I can't imagine him thinking anything like that. When I was in his class, he hated everyone in Dauntless. I can't imagine he ever looked at any of us and thought, 'yes, I'd love to secretly marry this person and have a baby with them'."

I snicker as I stab at the salad on my plate. "He hated you? He doesn't seem to hate you now."

Christina rolls her eyes. "The short answer is 'yes'. But I survived." She pauses with her fork in the air and looks at me carefully. "He hated everyone. I don't think I was anyone special. He especially disliked anyone who dared question him. Tris was the only one in my class who stood up to him. I'm surprised he didn't lose his mind when you started hanging out with her."

I shrug at her. "He doesn't seem to mind her now. I did stand up to him once. I asked him why I couldn't have any cake," I tell her with an embarrassed grin. I'd been so tired and so ready to kill for something sugary that I'd dared to mention Four's name in front of him. "He didn't seem all that angry that I challenged him."

Christina snorts and sets her fork down. "Everly, you are the only person in Dauntless who could have ever gotten away with that unscathed." She reaches for her drink and grimaces when Peter suddenly slides into the seat beside her. "Can I help you?"

Peter smiles at her, and it's full of fake cheerfulness. "Nice to see you, too. I just thought I'd come and see how you two ladies are doing. Just making my rounds. Keeping Dauntless safe."

Christina narrows her eyes at him and motions for him to get lost. "We're great. Shouldn't you be working?"

Peter focuses his stare on me. I don't really know him or much about him, other than that he spent a good deal of time trying to convince Eric to listen to him. "Everly, so... uh... are you enjoying training the initiates? I see that you aren't with them today."

Christina sits up a little bit straighter and she looks ready to clock him. Before she can say a word, I kick her under the table. "I am. I'm not supposed to be back yet, but I'm sure Four is doing just fine. Wasn't he your instructor?" I ask him.

He nods while I take a bite of my lunch. "Then you probably know he'll be fine without me for a day."

Peter puts his palms up and smiles innocently. "I just wanted to see if you needed any help. I am always willing to do my part to support the Dauntless faction in any way I can."

"Great. Bye," Christina interrupts, and she waves him off.

"Great talking with you," Peter retorts, and he stands and leaves without another word.

"What a weirdo," I announce, watching him walk away. He awkwardly high-fives one of the lunch ladies, who gives him a dirty look when he finally saunters past her.

"He's definitely strange," Christina responds before she kicks me under the table. "Are you free after lunch? I have a few places I need to go and it's been a while since we've been shopping."

She grins, and Peter is long forgotten.


"It looks hideous." Tris's words echo in the small room.

She and I are perched on a bench together, watching Christina try on a dress for her date tonight. She and Rylan are celebrating a very small amount of time together, but she is overly excited, and so is the dress she's trying on.

"Maybe something less… bright." I try to think of the least offensive word I can, but there is nothing kinder that can describe the neon dress she's thrown on. "Maybe something darker?"

Christina turns in a circle, and eyes herself in the mirror critically. "You really don't like it?" she asks, not sounding totally convinced. "It's kind of fun."

"No," Tris announces firmly, "It's a mess. It looks like Amity and Candor threw up all over each other." She pauses and looks over at me guiltily. "Sorry, Everly. I know you like pink."

"No offense taken. I like pink, but not... uh… that bright of a shade of pink," I tell her.

"Alright, fine, I'll try something else." Christina sulks back into the fitting room, and Tris glances at her watch.

"Are you and Eric joining them tonight?" she asks.

I shake my head no, and wonder if she and Four would want to go with Christina and Rylan. I don't know if Four and Rylan socialize with each other, but the more I think about it, the more I bet they don't. Rylan and Eric seem like they are pretty close. I'd imagine there is a loyalty to Eric that Rylan wouldn't dare go against. "No, we're having dinner with Eric's dad tonight."

Tris grins. "That sounds fun. He seems like he's really nice."

"He's very nice," I agree, swinging my feet back and forth. "I like him. And I know Eric is happy he's here, even if he'll never tell him that."

Tris nods and looks at me out of the corner of her eye. "Eric isn't the best at communicating, is he?"

I bite the side of my cheek. I'm tempted to spill everything right now, to open my mouth and tell her what happened, but I don't. I turn my stare back to the door of the fitting room, and I try to think of a way to change the subject.

I'm saved when Christina appears from the fitting room, grinning at me. This dress is shorter and tighter than before, and she looks delighted with it.

"He'll love it," she announces, twirling around for us.

Beside me, Tris grimaces. "I'm sure he will. It's just very…short." She trails off and glances at her watch again. "Sorry, guys. I've gotta head to work. Maybe we can have dinner soon?" She sounds hopeful, and Christina and I both nod. I'm relieved; I don't want to spoil the happy moment by bringing up Eric's sullen mood, and I don't want to focus on Christina's sudden lack of fashion sense.

"Bye, Tris," I tell her. "We can have dinner on your next day off if you want."

She glances back at me and smiles brightly. "I'm glad you're home, Everly," she says. She lingers for a moment, as though she wants to say something more. She looks worried, but I smile up at her.

I try to look like everything's fine, but I know she can tell something's bothering me.

"Thanks, Tris," I tell her. "Me, too."


I put my bags on the counter.

I managed to find a few things for myself after Christina finally settled on a dress that would allow her to sit down without any help. It felt good to pick out some new clothes, all dark-colored with just a few lighter-colored things. Choosing Dauntless clothing feels second nature now, but I always try to find the softest, prettiest things I can.

And thanks to Eric's card, I am able to buy them without really thinking about it.

He's never said a word about anything I've ever bought. After we married, he had given me a card of my own that had his name on it. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure how I acquire points lately. I'm sure I am given some for training the initiates, but beyond that I don't know. I decide I'll ask him if he ever gets around to speaking to me again.

I glance at the binder on the table, still sitting just where I left it.

I should try to read the last few pages, but it seems impossible right now. I really just want to lie down before dinner.

I make up my mind and I walk to the bedroom, kicking off my shoes. A minute later, I flop down onto the bed and press my palms against my eyes.

I still have a few hours until our dinner with Eric's father, and I have no idea how Eric will act.


Clyde's is as noisy as ever.

Only a few people turn to stare as I thread my way through the crowd. I smile at them, recognizing a few of them as friends of Karl, and I glance around quickly. I spot Daniel fairly easily; he's dressed as though he's come straight from work, and his blue jacket stands out just as much as it always does. He waves when he sees me, and I watch his eyes land on Eric, following just behind me.

Daniel looks happy, as usual, but he watches me slide into the booth with a very intense stare. He's probably concerned since our last conversation was all over the place. I grin at him, trying to calm down the worry that's flooding through me as Eric shoves himself in beside me. He makes sure his arm touches mine, closing the space between us, and I relax slightly.

"Did the storm cause you to lose power in Erudite?" Eric's voice sounds normal, but I can tell by the way his shoulders are tensed that he's on edge. I wonder if he's concerned that I might bring up Landon in front of his father; my blurting out that Eric had disposed of my ex-boyfriend on our way home from Amity might fracture everything he's accomplished with Daniel.

"It did. Luckily, I didn't have anything too pressing scheduled. I did push back a few appointments, but nothing major." Daniel greets the same server that we've had the past few times we've been here. She's grown familiar with his ever-professional Erudite appearance, and he's grown comfortable with her ever-outlandish Dauntless appearance. She sets down the same drinks we've ordered every time, and I'm pleased that we've become familiar customers to her. It feels good to be known around Dauntless, and even better to be here with both Eric and Daniel.

"What if there had been a major emergency?" I ask him. A silence has quickly settled over the table, and while not unpleasant, today it seems noticeable. "It seemed like it snowed forever. I didn't know it could shut down the city. What would you have done if you had needed to perform surgery?"

"We have our ways. Had there been a true emergency, we would have made it work," Daniel answers.

Eric smirks and takes a long sip of his drink. "Every faction has backup generators for emergencies so they're never truly shut down, but the snow did make it impossible for the trains to run. Therefore, we had the pleasure of staying in Amity." He relaxes for a moment, slinging one arm behind me to rest against the back of the booth. He leans back as he sets his drink down. "And of course that's where we'd end up getting stuck."

"I take it you were there for longer than you wanted to be," Daniel muses, and he grins. "I'm sure you two made the most of your time away from here. You know, I went to Amity once, years ago. I accompanied Blythe out there to see a woman who was convinced her livestock were talking to her. She told us they could communicate with her and that they told her they wanted to live inside her home."

Eric looks askance at me out of the corner of his eye, and I glare back at him as sweetly as possible.

"Um… I have no idea who that would be," I inform them, feeling a rush of secondhand embarrassment. How lovely that the only time my father-in-law set foot in my old faction it would be to deal with a lunatic and her talking goats.

Daniel snickers into his drink. "I think her name was Mary. And there was nothing wrong with her, she was just very enlightened thanks to a supplement she was taking. It caused her to hallucinate."

Of course.

I shake my head and the table falls silent again. I wish Eric would say something, or that Daniel would offer something up, but they both seem lost in their own thoughts. I swirl my drink around, grateful when the girl appears to take our order.

"So, how's everything at home?" I ask once she leaves.

Daniel's smile falters a bit. He pauses with his drink in midair before he steels his face back into a pleasant expression. "Everything's fine, dear. Work is busy. But busy is good..." he trails off and shrugs his shoulders.

I nod at him, at a loss for words. I don't have anything insightful to offer, nor do I even have a response to what he said. I know he's purposely left out anything to do with Blythe, and I don't really want to bring her up, either.

Eric isn't quite as considerate. He clears his throat and his fingers brush against the top of my shoulder. "Does Blythe know you've been coming here?"

Daniel fidgets with his drink before he shakes his head. "No, she doesn't. But it's easier this way. I think you know why."

Eric shrugs. "Has she caught on that you aren't at work?"

Daniel glances at me, and I suddenly wonder how she hasn't figured out where he's been going. Traveling between the factions isn't entirely forbidden, and Daniel does have a medical clearance that grants him access to any medical facility. But I would certainly notice if Eric was suddenly spending more time at work, and Blythe seems pretty sharp.

Daniel grins. "I told her I had some research to do. I'm giving a presentation in a few weeks, so she thinks I'm focusing on that. But she's been rather busy herself. She doesn't mind the quiet time."

Eric makes a sort of unimpressed noise, and I elbow him. It speaks volumes that Daniel chooses to come here, that he's willing to risk Blythe eventually finding out. I can't imagine the fallout would be pretty.

"I'm glad you could make it," I tell him, and I'm relieved when our food arrives much faster than expected. We are all quiet while we eat; the distraction is much needed. There are so many things I want to tell Daniel; my talk with Eric, our time in Amity, the bag my mother handed me filled with some oils that he should be terrified to open. But I can't. He'll probably ask a few simple questions and I'll wind up telling him all about Eric and Landon. So instead, we make small talk: I mention finishing up my training class, and Eric offers up a few words about Evelyn. I listen carefully, noting that he's added a few more patrols to look for her around Dauntless, but nothing else beyond that.

By the time we are done eating, everyone looks more relaxed. The server clears our plates and Eric hands her his points card to cover our meal.

"I have something for you upstairs. From my mother," I tell Daniel while we wait for the server to return. I'd thought about not giving it to him simply because it could be embarrassing. My mother has great intentions, but I seriously doubt that the Head Neurosurgeon of Erudite has any need for essential oils.

But Daniel smiles widely. "I can't wait."

He stands, thanking Eric for dinner, and waits for us to follow suit. I walk ahead of Eric, and I almost jump out of my skin when his hand settles on my lower back. He guides me out of Clyde's and into the hallway without a word.

It's only then that he takes my hand, sliding his fingers between mine.


The walk back is mostly quiet. Daniel makes an offhand comment that he should be free sometime in the next few weeks, and Eric seems to be biting back something. I listen to them talk, and I wonder if I should have brought the bag with me. I didn't really want to be seen carrying the very Amity-looking bag through Dauntless. It's obvious it isn't from here, and it smells strongly of some sort of oil.

We stop while Eric unlocks the door, and I reluctantly let go of Eric's hand.

"This is awfully nice of your mother," Daniel announces. He's shoved his hands in his pockets and he looks at ease. I still remember the first time he walked to the apartment with me. I'd been afraid Blythe would pop out of nowhere, and I had been so thrown off by his presence that I'd been unable to do anything but make terrible small talk and lamely attempt to make him dinner.

I shake my head. "I don't think it's any big deal. She enjoys making this sort of stuff. You don't have to use it. I'm not really sure what she was thinking or why she felt the need to give you this."

Daniel doesn't look fazed. "I'm sure it's fine. And it's a very kind thought."

We follow Eric through the door, and both men pause near the counter. I head to the bedroom to retrieve the bag, and when I come back, I notice Daniel and Eric are talking quietly. Eric is pointing to something on his tablet and he looks unhappy. His eyebrows have knit inwards and he's frowning. Daniel shakes his head, glancing up suddenly when he realizes I'm walking towards them.

I watch his stare fall to the bag in my hands. The bottles clink as I walk, and I wonder how he'll sneak this home past Blythe.

"Here you go. I wouldn't suggest drinking any of it, even if it says you can," I advise him as I hand the gold bag to him, and he raises an eyebrow in mock surprise.

"I wouldn't dream of drinking it until I've figured out what it is," he responds. It takes everything in me not to yank the bag back from him.

My stare falls to the tablet beside him. I can see the page darkening as it times out, and I only catch sight of Evelyn's name before the screen darkens completely. Eric shoves the tablet aside, and neither of them move until Eric finally clears his throat.

"We'll see you in a few weeks. Maybe we can join you for lunch," Eric announces. He's not really looking at Daniel, but I am. Daniel's face brightens, and he nods.

"That sounds fantastic. Call me and we can pick a day," he replies.

I should be thrilled; Eric has just made an effort with his father, not only offering to meet for lunch but actually coming up with the idea himself. But all I can think about is Evelyn's name on the tablet, and just what Eric was showing his father.


Eric walks Daniel out, or as far out of Dauntless as he feels like going. It gives me a minute to open up the bag my mother made for Eric and me. I can feel the mortification rush over me as I pull out the first item.

Virility Cream.

Next, an essential oils kit for our home, including several different types of oils that I'd watched her make in her kitchen, and some sort of weird reed diffuser.

A jar of something murky that is intended for ingestion.

A small bag of herbs, freshly cut up and neatly packaged.

And some sort of calendar.

I have no idea why my mother chose to include these items. I know she probably had the best of intentions, but I can't even pretend I'd want to approach Eric while waving a tube of virility cream at him. With a heavy sigh, I shove it all under the bed, hoping Eric never has the urge to spring clean our bedroom.


Eric doesn't say much, and I try my best to let him be.

Tonight I slide into bed beside him, pushing aside the dark covers until I'm pressed up against him. He sighs, something heavy with sleep, and pulls me close until I'm tangled around him, his eyes closed the entire time.

He may not be speaking to me, but his actions tell me everything I need to know.


I stare at the date on my phone as I brush my teeth.

It's been a few days since Eric killed Landon.

I haven't exactly come to terms with Eric's actions. If I think about it hard enough, I know that part of the issue is that it caught me so off guard. I'd been told a few times about Eric's life before me. About his ruthlessness, his rough violence towards others, his aggressive nature. I'd heard quiet whispers, even from my own friends, about his time as their trainer — his disciplinary methods with them far scarier than anything I had ever experienced.

But I'd never seen any evidence of it myself.

Sure, I'd watched him scare people off; I'd watched him snap and snarl at those who dared come too close to him or me, and I'd watched him threaten those people in a spectacular fashion. I definitely knew that he carried out dark orders for Jeanine well before I ever decided to come to Dauntless. But it had all stopped when we became something more than just initiate and trainer. I'd watched him silently struggle with the decision to continue on his violent path. It had seemingly caused a rift with Jeanine, and I knew ignoring orders from her couldn't have been an easy decision.

But not everyone knows that about Eric.

Or would necessarily believe it.

So, I've kept my mouth shut since we returned to Dauntless. Eric had gotten so worked up, so emotionally agitated, that had I dared to suggest he should have handled Landon differently he would have no doubt lost it. I know his feelings on the topic of Landon; hearing about Landon's direct involvement in the very event that had cruelly torn us apart certainly doesn't make things any better. His hearing Landon brag that I'd been in his bed, in whatever context, only makes the situation desperately worse.

I'm not going to keep quiet forever, though. I've spent hours trying to come up with a way to talk with him. I simply need to find the right time to carefully bring it up with him, a moment when he isn't on edge or anticipating the conversation. But I have to do it. Just a few days ago I asked him to be the father of our child, to start a family with me, and this situation is something that can't just be ignored.

I have no reason to believe Eric would ever hurt me, and he certainly wouldn't hurt our child. I want him to know that Landon was never a threat in my mind. Eric has won out in every respect: he has me, he has his position in Dauntless, and he has a burgeoning relationship with his father. I don't want him to think there's even an ounce of truth in Landon's words.

I listen to the front door shut as Eric heads out to work, then trudge into our bedroom, staring at the mess of dark sheets.

I know Eric well now, and our relationship is stronger than this. He knows he could talk to me, and he knows he should talk to me. Instead, Eric has stayed away; he's busied himself with work, returning for a quiet dinner or asking me enough questions that I've been unable to bring up Landon. At night he silently pulls me close to him, and I fall asleep beside him before I can utter anything more than 'goodnight'.

I halfheartedly make the bed, and kick at a stray pair of boots I'd left on the floor. I need to talk to Eric, and soon. I need him to reassure me that killing Landon was more than just a knee-jerk reaction to Landon's taunting words, more than just jealous fury unleashed.

I decide I'll talk to him as soon as he's home from work.


It goes terribly.

Eric's whole face contorts into a mask of rage, his handsome features settling into a familiar snarl.

"Are you joking me?" He says the words icily, so sharply that I can almost feel them slice through the air. "What did you want me to do with him, Everly? Bring him back here to hang around Dauntless until he could be put on trial?"

I shake my head at him. I didn't given him much time to decompress after work, but I'm anxious to settle this now. I hugged him tightly the moment he walked through the door. I told him I needed to talk to him, and I didn't even give him a chance to agree before I told him I'd never seen that side of him. And while I'd expected him to be annoyed, his reaction is far beyond that. He's pounced on the idea that something, anything, might have happened with Landon, and that I'm just mad because Eric killed him.

"No, I didn't want him hanging around Dauntless. I just didn't imagine you'd kill him." I try to keep my words very even. "I'm a little surprised, that's all. I think your reaction was a little extreme."

"A little extreme?" he repeats, and I watch him clench his jaw. "Finding out my wife was in bed with her ex-lover while I thought she was dead might make me feel a little extreme." He glares at me, holding me in place with an intense stare; his expression soon turns stone cold. "Is there something you want to tell me? Something I should be aware of?"

I try to bite down the hurt that spreads through me. I know he's angry, and he's coming from a place that I don't understand, but his words still sting.

"I wasn't in bed with Landon like that. I wasn't even aware of where I was. He took me there without me knowing," I protest, keeping my stare locked on him.

Eric doesn't look impressed. "And yet you never thought to bring it up to me?"

I try to ignore the accusation lurking in his words. "I didn't even really remember it. I had no idea why I was with him, and I left immediately. All I wanted was you." I pause, making sure his eyes are fixed on mine. "I didn't even remember you, and yet all I did was think about how to get back to you."

It's true. All I'd heard was his name, but it was enough for me to know I didn't belong in Amity. It had prompted all kinds of feelings that I couldn't explain.

"You still could have told me," he answers irritably, but he looks marginally less murderous.

"But Eric, you can't just kill anyone who so much as takes a step towards me," I answer him, trying to keep my voice calming and neutral. "Landon wouldn't have done anything."

"Bullshit," he snaps.

I straighten myself up to my full height. "Eric…"

"I need to get out of here." He scowls at me and holds up his palms. "We're done discussing this."

"Eric, no!" I protest, realizing I've lost all control over the situation. "I just… that's not the way you should have handled it."

Eric stares at me incredulously. After an uncomfortable silence, he speaks, and I know he's not about to back down. "This isn't Amity," he pauses, making sure I can hear the disdain in his voice. "This is how Dauntless deals with people like him."

I shake my head. "That's not true. That might have been how you would have handled him, but…"

I don't get the chance to finish. Eric glowers at me and his voice rises with his words. "You're wrong. If you think for one second that I'd let him anywhere near Dauntless, anywhere near you after he threatened you, then you have lost your mind. He was an asshole who tried to hurt you, and if you keep telling me he wasn't, then we're gonna have a problem. I should have killed him the first time he opened his damned mouth."

With that Eric shoves himself past me, ignoring my protests. Our apartment door shuts with a fantastic slam, and I stand there, staring after him.

Crap.


It takes me all of two minutes to realize he isn't going to come back anytime soon. Even if he did, he certainly isn't going to talk to me. I contemplate following after him. I'm sure I could catch up to him, yank him aside and try to force him to finish our conversation, but I highly doubt that he would cooperate. In fact, it would likely make him even angrier, so I elect to leave him alone for now.

I decide to go let off some of my own frustration instead. I change into the first thing I can find, a tank top and a pair of leggings, and throw my hair up into a messy ponytail. I leave our apartment without looking back and head down to the training room, knowing it should be practically deserted at this time of day. It feels a little strange to walk in here alone — I've always met up with Eric or Four, but there's something to be said for coming here by myself. I plan to work out for a while in hopes of getting out of my head. It feels too Amity to sit around and internalize every single thing that's happened, and it's much more satisfying when my fist hits the bag.

I quickly lose track of time.

It's easy to get into the same rhythm Eric and I used when I was training. I can almost imagine him behind me, goading me into punching harder while keeping proper form, and sneering when I did well enough to meet his exacting standards.

I focus on one spot on the bag, imagining it's Landon's face, or sometimes Evelyn's face, and pummel it repeatedly.

I don't realize how angry I am until I hear voices behind me and stop; Karl and his friends have wandered into the training room. They are all dressed as though they are ready to work out. I must not be the only one with this idea.

"What are you doing in here?" Karl grins a hello as he and his friends walk up next to me. They each take to the bags after offering me an equally friendly hello. They look happy and relaxed, and I vaguely recognize a few of them from his training class.

"Just practicing," I tell him, brushing my bangs out of my eyes. "I haven't really had time to work out lately, and I thought this would be a good time. I didn't think anyone would be here."

Karl shakes his head and takes the bag right next to mine. "Nah, there usually isn't. We come down here every so often. We might spar later if you want to join us."

I perk up immediately.

His offer is appealing in more ways than one.

I accept it before he can say anything else.


Karl's head hits the mat and he groans, but it's good-natured.

I am pleasantly surprised to find that I still remember everything Eric taught me. It hadn't served me so well when Colton kidnapped me, but that entire situation had been grossly unfair. But Karl is built roughly like Eric, and it's easy to fight with him, almost as though it were second nature.

"Fuck, dude. You're good." Karl shoves himself to his feet and stretches out his neck. "Eric trained you really well."

I frown at the mention of his name, but only for a moment. He hasn't come looking for me, and I'd almost forgotten why. I shake the feeling away, and focus back on our fight. Karl circles around me, and he grins when I step towards him.

"You should have gotten to fight with us. Did you ever fight anyone other than James?" he asks as he dodges my punch. I scowl, taking a step back, and prepare to hit him again. Fighting with Karl is easy; there's a friendly competition to it, even though he could probably beat me to the ground if he really tried.

"Derek. And after that, just Eric," I tell him. I'm pleased when my fist hits his ribs, and he swats me away.

"Can you take him down?" Karl asks, but it sounds slightly strained and he grimaces when I hit his side again.

"Easily," I tell Karl, raising my eyebrows at him. He looks surprised, but he nods in approval. My words are mostly true. I know how to get Eric to the ground, it just doesn't involve a whole lot of actual fighting. "But he's terrifying to fight. I'd be scared if he ever really came after me."

Karl lands a punch to my arm, and I immediately respond.

"Would you want to fight him?" I ask, trying to slow my heart rate. Sparring against someone other than Eric is fun, and the blood pumping through my veins makes me feel alive. For the first time since returning home, I feel like everything is right again.

"Maybe." Karl looks thoughtful and then he breaks out into a wide grin. "He did come after me once. I learned the hard and painful way that he can punch just as hard as I expected."

"My bet's on Everly." A voice breaks through our conversation, and I see Karl's friends have gathered around us. They are all watching carefully, and one of the taller ones shifts his weight to the side before he gives me a thumbs up. "You got this."

"Shut up, Wallace," Karl tells him, but it's cheerful. "I'm not afraid of Everly."

He eats his words a minute later when I punch him in the jaw, and he stumbles back a bit. His friends react instantly, some cheering and shrieking, others lobbing a few boos in my direction. Karl staggers and clutches his jaw, and his eyes widen. "Everly!" He says my name in surprise, and I shrug sheepishly.

"I didn't punch you that hard," I protest and Karl shakes his head. A minute later I'm knocked off my feet, my own head hitting the mat, and I groan. I wasn't expecting that, but I do deserve it.

"You suck," I tell him, laughing, and he extends his hands out to me.

"Thanks, Everly." He pulls me up and resumes his stance.

By the time we are done I've lost track of who actually won the fight, but it doesn't matter one bit.


I take a shower at home.

My shampoo sits beside Eric's. He's accidentally used it a few times, and it left his hair smelling far sweeter than one would ever imagine Eric could smell.

He hated it, of course.

Today it reminds me of him; I try hard not to focus on the sad feeling that's twisting and rising up in my chest. It makes me feel like I'm close to crying, but not quite. I don't want to be in this stupid argument with him anymore. I want us to finish this fight, to end it once and for all. I want him to realize that nothing happened with Landon — to understand that with Landon's death, a weird relief has come, as that chapter of my life closes forever.

I wish he would come home, so I pretend he'll be here by the time I'm done showering.

But he isn't.

So, I stall. I dry my hair for a long time and I try to push down the hopeless feeling that's brewing. I have no qualms about Eric wanting to keep me safe, and I have no problem with Landon being out of my life, but I want to make sure Eric isn't going to walk around ready to snap the neck of anyone who dares look in my direction.

There is a beeping sound coming from my phone, and I glance at it out of the corner of my eye. For a hopeful moment, I think it must be Eric sending me a message to tell me he'll be back soon. I frown when I realize it's Christina. I'm not exactly in the mood to listen to her gush about Rylan, nor can I imagine trying to explain my predicament to her and Tris. They'd both be horrified, and I'd have to explain why Eric and I are at odds.

I briefly wonder if I should call Daniel; I could ask him if has some sort of advice about his son. Could he maybe offer some insight into Eric's mind? I immediately decide no. Eric might feel betrayed if I ask his dad anything of the sort. Calling Daniel would sabotage any sort of progress he and Eric have made.

Besides me, there aren't a lot of people who know Eric well and understand how he thinks and acts. I'm the only one who knows the reasons why he'd kill Landon, but even so, his actions were shocking to me and I'm worried about the potential consequences. There is only one other person I can think of who is well acquainted with this side of Eric, and I don't know if he'd really want to help me figure out this little problem. Or maybe he would.

After all, he does know an awful lot about Eric's violent outbursts.


I knock on the door a few times.

Four is the very first person I met when I arrived in Dauntless. I can still remember the way he pulled me aside, worry plastered across his face as he told me I couldn't train with his class. I can also remember the look of remorse he had when he realized I was being taken to Eric. He's also the first person, other than my sulky husband, to make sure I was alright in Dauntless. He didn't question my decision to transfer here, and he didn't bat an eye when I insisted I could do it.

He opens the door after a minute and he blinks in surprise when he sees it's me. His hair is wet and flat, as though he's just taken a shower, and I hope I haven't caught him just as he's about to leave to go somewhere.

"Everly? Is everything alright?"

I nod at him, and I can feel myself chewing on my lip. "Are you going somewhere? Do you have a minute to talk?"

Four glances behind me. When he realizes there's no one with me, he ushers me inside. "I've got some time. Come on in."

I step through his doorway and glance around quickly. I've never been to Four's apartment before, and I only know how to get here because Tris had talked about it. She'd been describing how it was sort of hidden away, then openly spilled the rest of the details.

Four's apartment is quiet and sunny, and very different than Eric's. There are large windows with square window panes that line an entire wall. The opposite wall is plain white, decorated only by the words Fear God Alone. The floor plan is less traditional than Eric's: there's a small kitchen to the side and a separate bathroom, and his bed is shoved along the wall in the middle of the open living space. The bed has a blue quilt on it that looks warm, like something my mother would have made in her free time.

"Your apartment is nice," I tell him, glancing around. The apartment has a warmth to it that Eric's lacked at first. It's only now, after living with him for over a year, that our apartment feels like a home. I try to imagine what would have happened if I hadn't lived with Eric. I wonder if I would have ended up sharing an apartment with someone I barely knew, or if I would have managed to wind up by myself. I know Four lives here alone by choice, which is unusual — most members share an apartment with their friends.

Four shrugs and motions for me to follow him. We come to a stop by his desk, and I notice he's got training plans sprawled all over it. He leans back against it, gesturing for me to take a seat on his couch, and crosses his arms over his chest.

"What can I help you with?" he asks me. He's looking right at me, with the same level of seriousness he displays during training.

"Well..." I start, and he nods his head slightly. "It's Eric." I pause, trying to think of what to say. It had sounded simple in my brain, but I'm finding it much harder to actually voice the words. "We're in this… disagreement."

Four nods again and immediately looks concerned.

"When we were stuck in Amity during the storm, we talked with Johanna and a few of my friends there. I found out that my former boyfriend, Landon, was heavily involved with the factionless. He was the one Evelyn had take me out of factionless, and he brought me back to Amity instead of bringing me here."

Four's mouth tightens. "You don't remember him bringing you there?"

I shake my head no. "I remember waking up there, but Landon being in Amity wouldn't have been anything out of the ordinary. I definitely didn't know he had orders to bring me there."

Four stays quiet, but he gestures for me to go on.

"Eric didn't take the news too well. He wanted Landon held accountable for his involvement," I tell him.

"He arrested him?" he asks.

"Eric intended to bring him back to Dauntless. He thought we should talk to him here. Find out what he knew about Evelyn's plans, how he was involved. But when we got him on the train, Landon started saying all this stupid stuff. He knew he would piss Eric off, and he did." I stop for a moment, remembering Landon's obnoxious words and his pointed attempt to make Eric feel like he'd been betrayed. "And... well... Eric lost it."

Four takes a moment to mull over what I'm saying. He glances down at the ground for a moment before he looks back up at me. "Let me guess, he dealt with Landon in a very Eric way."

I stare back at Four morosely, nodding and trying very hard to keep my voice steady. "I'd only heard stories about him acting like that. I've never actually seen him…"

Four finishes my thought for me. "Do something violent?"

I sigh, and Four's gaze drifts off somewhere over my shoulder. He looks thoughtful as he processes everything I've told him so far.

Four turns his gaze back to me and takes in a slow breath. "You have to know that part of Eric's job as a leader of Dauntless is to make decisions that best protect the city and its inhabitants. So did Landon give him any reason to think he might be a threat?" he asks carefully.

"Yeah. He'd been doing a lot of stuff to help Evelyn. He was more involved than I ever thought. But it wasn't until we were on the train that he came after me. Eric got between us and he had had enough of Landon."

Four looks surprised. "Landon came after you? Did he hurt you?"

I shrug. "He shoved me. I don't think he would have really hurt me, but Eric disagrees."

"What makes you think Landon wouldn't have tried to kill you? People do crazy things when they're in distress. He might have lost it the same way Eric did," Four points out.

I stop and flash back to the moment on the train when Landon turned his attention to me. Landon's lack of remorse or regret, the way he'd stared me down, his eyes cold as he'd lunged for me despite Eric being right beside me — his actions had all been a surprise to me. I guess in Landon's mind, he didn't have a whole lot left to lose. He had to have known Eric would go after him.

Four's right: there really was nothing to stop Landon from hurting me... really hurting me. It very well could have been my body that got tossed from the train.

"I never imagined he'd ever want to kill me," I tell him, feeling a sudden rush of anger. I'd never done anything to Landon that warranted his outrage, but he had obviously thought differently.

"So, Eric attacked him. I assume Landon is dead?" Four prods, and I realize I've been lost in my own thoughts for a good minute. I close my eyes for a moment and nod my head at him, not really wanting to voice the end result.

"Does he have to tell someone?" I ask tentatively.

Four shakes his head. "No. He's a Dauntless leader, and he has the authority to dispose of threats as he deems necessary. Landon was a threat to the city and to you. Eric won't be investigated for eliminating him."

"I was so shocked when he killed Landon, and he's mad that I questioned how he handled it," I admit, staring to the side of Four. "He said the same would have been expected of me, but I just don't know..."

I look over to see a serious expression on Four's face. "Everly, you two were alone with him, and Landon attacked you with the intent to harm you. Eric acted instinctively, the way any Dauntless would, including me."

While I'm relieved to hear that Eric won't be in any trouble for killing Landon, I'm still concerned. Four's support of Eric should be reassuring to me, but I haven't told him everything yet. If I do, maybe he can help me figure out if what Eric did would still be considered justified. I can't shake the feeling that Eric killed Landon for reasons that were less than professional. I look into Four's kind, patient face and know that I can safely confide in him.

"There's something else, Four. Before he came after me, Landon told Eric I was in his bed with him in Amity. But it wasn't like that. Not at all. He said it because he wanted to get under Eric's skin."

Four seems uncomfortable as he absorbs what I've said."Honestly, I think anyone would be pissed to hear their wife was in bed with another man, Everly. And I'm sure Eric would have wanted to hurt him for that comment alone. But you said Landon didn't touch you until after he said that to Eric, right?" I nod at him.

"And Eric didn't attack Landon until after Landon shoved you?"

"Yeah. Eric was livid when Landon said that. I was upset and yelling at Landon, and then Landon shoved me. That's when Eric grabbed him by the throat."

Four nods and visibly relaxes. "It seems to me that Eric did his best not to let Landon provoke him, but his going after you was the tipping point. Look at his track record: Landon helped Evelyn, he deliberately kept you from your husband, and he had the nerve to attack you right in front of Eric. Landon was certainly no innocent victim. He didn't care who he hurt, and I think Eric had good reason to terminate him when he came after you."

Relief floods through me as I realize that Four is absolutely right. Eric may have despised Landon, and he may have taken personal satisfaction in killing him, but he had refrained from engaging with him physically until Landon stepped over the line and attacked me right in front of him.

Four jerks his head to the side at the sound of his phone beeping.

"Give me a minute," he tells me as he reaches for the phone on his desk. I watch him squint at the message before he smiles and quickly taps out a response. After a minute, he looks up at me and grins. "Sorry, I told Tris I'd meet her after her shift."

"No, no, I'm sorry. I showed up unannounced. Am I keeping you?" I ask him, feeling slightly rude. I know Tris's schedule has been all over the place lately. She's been filling in on some shifts she doesn't normally work, and it means I haven't seen her all that much lately due to the odd hours.

Four shakes his head no. "You're fine. I'm not due to leave for a little while yet. Tris said she'll be heading home first after work." He pauses, and then flashes a grin at me. "Besides, I've been meaning to thank you for your help. I know you talked with her."

"I did. I just really wanted to help. You're both my friends," I tell him, perking up slightly. I'd been more than willing to talk with Tris. Before this Landon fiasco, Eric and I had been in just one fight, and I knew how crappy it felt to be at odds with someone you cared about.

"There's something I should tell you," Four announces, the tips of his ears blushing red. He clears his throat and leans back against the desk. "I did a lot of thinking after you and I talked. And… I... uh... well, I proposed to Tris yesterday. And she said yes." He's looking at me, a stupidly happy grin crossing his face. I stand up and step towards him without thinking.

"Four!" I exclaim, and throw my arms around him impulsively. "That's wonderful!"

"Thanks, Everly." Four hugs me back awkwardly, more out of forced politeness than anything else. I let go of him quickly, remembering that Four is a former Abnegation and uncomfortable with being touched. But I can't help it. I'm so excited for my friends. I immediately start wondering how they'll celebrate. Knowing Tris, she'll want something small, and knowing Four, he'll want something quiet. I can only hope Eric won't stomp all over my excitement about their engagement.

Four's smile fades as his phone rings, this time loudly and repeatedly, until he answers it. I hear the person on the other end yelling angrily for a few minutes without giving Four a chance to get a word in edgewise.

"You need to click out of it, then. It could freeze if you've opened too many windows. What section are you looking at?" Four speaks calmly, ignoring the frantic tone of the caller. I listen to him talk as he walks past me, and I decide to sit back down on the couch while I wait for him to finish his call. I pull my feet up to the side of me and lean back against the pillow.

Now that I'm relaxed, it seems that my workout has finally caught up with me. I feel suddenly drained and exhausted, and I let my eyes close for a second. Four seems to be rummaging for something in a drawer, but it sounds far away.

I can barely hear Four talking now. His couch is comfortable, unlike Eric's. I still swear no one ever sat on it before I came along. I promise myself I'll get up as soon as Four comes back. I shouldn't take up any more of his time; he's helped me the best he can, and everything he's told me has only shown me that Eric knows what he's doing.

My thoughts start drifting off, and the next thing I know I'm jerking awake.

I open my eyes, blinking a few times before I realize that Eric is standing in front of the couch, looming over me. His eyes are fixed down on me and his arms are crossed over his chest. It takes me a moment to recognize that I'm still in Four's apartment, and that up until a second ago, I was fast asleep on his couch. I glance up at Eric again, hoping he's just a figment of my leftover dream.

No such luck.

"Are you about done here, Amity?" Eric asks darkly.

He looks unamused; his eyes are narrowed and he's scowling.

"Hi, Eric," I mumble, trying to force myself to wake up. I scramble up from the couch as fast as possible, and smile up at him like this situation is nothing unusual. "I... uh… fell asleep."

"I see that," he answers, his eyes not leaving mine. I brush my hair out my eyes, trying to collect myself. Eric is dressed as sharply as ever, and he looks like he's come straight from a day at the office. "The Stiff called and said you were here." He doesn't look pleased about that, either, and I find myself chewing my lip.

"Oh." I glance back around the apartment, looking for Four. He appears out of nowhere with a look of concern on his face. He watches Eric carefully, and I can tell he's making sure Eric isn't too furious. It reminds me of my time during training: every time I saw Four, he seemed to be checking for evidence that something terrible was happening to me.

"I tried, but you didn't seem to want to wake up. I figured you'd want to go home," Four says apologetically, scratching the back of his neck and looking uncomfortable. I imagine that having Eric in his apartment must be incredibly weird for him. Eric looks out of place here — too large and too angry to be standing in Four's placid living room. Neither of them looks at the other; instead, they both look at me. After a moment of awkward silence, Eric finally speaks.

"Come on, Amity. Dinner's waiting." He reaches for my hand, and I slide my fingers between his. He's clearly still irritated, and Four's phone call can't have helped. I can't pinpoint what he's most annoyed about, though: our disagreement over Landon, Landon's taunting words, or the fact that I went to see Four and fell asleep.

I wonder exactly what Four told him. I look over at Four, who's standing to the side with a sense of unease about him. He probably wants us out of his personal space as fast as possible.

"Sorry, Four," I tell him, remembering where he's supposed to be going. I give him a knowing grin. "Tell Tris I'll see her soon. I hope you guys have a fun night."

Four smiles a little before glancing quickly over at Eric. But Eric isn't paying any attention to him; he's watching me and impatiently waiting for me to follow him to the door.

"Thanks, Everly." Four trails behind us, pausing when Eric comes to a halt in the doorway. Eric turns and looks towards Four reluctantly, like he's about to force himself to do something he doesn't really want to do.

"Thanks," Eric says shortly. It takes me a moment to realize he's speaking to Four. I blink up at Eric, then turn my head to observe Four's reaction. Four looks surprised, but gives a brief nod of acknowledgement back to Eric.

I would bet everything I own that this is the first time Eric has ever thanked Four for anything.

I give a quick wave goodbye to Four as Eric and I exit wordlessly, the heavy door slamming loudly as Eric closes it behind us. I glance up at Eric and catch sight of his expression. He looks frustrated, and I squeeze his hand.

"Four, of all people," he gripes after a moment. "Why on Earth would you go to see Four?"

I take a step closer to him and squeeze his hand again. "He's my friend, Eric. Just like Tris and Christina," I tell him firmly. This week is starting to wear on me, but I refuse to back down on this. Four is one of the only people in Dauntless that I would trust almost as much as Eric.

Eric glances at me at out of the corner of his eye. He looks unimpressed with my taste in friends, but I suspect he's just unhappy that I wasn't at home with him. He seems to be mulling something over, because he's quiet until we reach the elevator.

"Okay." He shrugs, his voice indifferent. I look up at him in surprise.

"Okay?" I repeat and he nods.

"But no more sleepovers, Amity," he declares, and I nod my head in reply. I feel like I've won some very small battle here; he doesn't have to love Four, but maybe he can tolerate him slightly more than normal.

"Eric…" I start, but he shakes his head.

"Later," he answers, his tone flat. He's smart; he knows I'm about to try to get him to talk, and he's deflecting it as long as possible. "Dinner's ready."


A/N:

I know there will be different opinions on what everyone thinks Everly and Eric's reactions should be. This chapter deals with their individual responses in the manner I believe is the truest to their characters.

Eric would not believe he's done anything that anyone would possibly think to be wrong, and Everly would be thrown off since she's only heard of Eric acting like this. She'd also be very smart to give him some space knowing he'd be very reluctant to talk with her since he's just heard some very incendiary information.

Thanks again for reading! :)