Happy Reading Everyone! Again, it's so odd writing holiday chapters in the month of March.
Please leave me a comment, I love hearing them!
ATTENTION- IMPORTANT MESSAGE! PLEASE READ:
Please see the author's note at the end of this chapter for further information on future updates on all my projects.
Ch 45
Tobias P.O.V
I gotta say this past month has been more than what I could ever hope for. I don't know exactly why but lately every minute, no every second I spend with Tris I find myself soaking in all the moments. I find that the normal day to day moments mean just as much to me as the special moments that we share together. I'm just finding myself cherishing every moment that I spend with her, no matter how small they seem to be. I never want to take anything for granted again, not with Tris. Maybe it was seeing what was inside of the trunk, reading the journal and it's contents of a life filled with an undying love, a horrific tragedy, and then so much grief. A life that we perhaps once lived in the past, but never got around to completing. Or maybe, just maybe, it has to do with the way that I care about Tris. The love that I feel for her is so strong and intense, I have never experienced that with anyone else nor do I ever want to. All I do know is that I want to experience everything with her.
It was on Halloween when I realized just how far I wanted those experiences to be. I knew I wanted Tris forever, to one day place a beautiful ring on her finger and ask her to be my wife. But when I stood there in a Sheriff Woody costume with Tris by my side dressed in a Jessie costume, while answering the door to the adorable children dressed up and handed them out candy was when I really saw what our future could be like. It was that moment, when I watched Tris bend over placing a handful of candy into a toddler's bucket, that I understood just how deep my desires are to experience everything with her. I never really spent much time thinking about having children, but at that moment I wanted nothing more than to have a house filled with a bunch of kids running around with blonde hair and grayish blue eyes, just like Tris, their mother. When she caught me ogling her with the younger children, I couldn't help myself from saying, "I can't wait to have babies with you." At first I thought I had scared her off, but she quickly recovered by wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me in for the sweetest and most gentle kiss that we had ever shared. When we pulled away from each other, she told me just how much she wanted that too.
I wake up before the alarm is set to go off, my runaway nerves keep me from a restful sleep. I reach over carefully not wanting to wake Tris, as I switch the unnecessary alarm off. I pull my hand back, running it through my tousled hair, a habit that I do when I'm feeling slightly nervous. I can't help but sigh, as I think of what the day might actually bring for us. Although Tris and I have been living together for quite some time now, I have yet to meet her family. Since her parents sold their house and constantly tour around the country in their portable soup kitchen, they have not been in a close enough distance for us to meet yet..That is until today, as they have decided to come into town to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with Tris. I was even more surprised when Tris told me that her brother, Caleb, even made it down so he could join the family with his girlfriend. I believe Tris told me her name is Karen, but I might be wrong.
It's really nerve racking meeting my future in-laws for the first time. I know how important family is to Tris, it's one of the things I love about her. I can't help but worry that something might go wrong or I might not make a good first impression. I think about the one day when I will be in Andrew Prior's shoes… I have no doubt if Tris and I ever have a daughter in the future, she will be the most beautiful girl. Well, that is after her mother, of course. The thought of my future little girl, one day bringing home her boyfriend for me to meet, just the thought of it makes me crazy. Damn, I might need to purchase a rifle after all. I know myself enough to know that I would lock up my daughter in a room for the rest of her life just to protect her from all the men in this world. Especially if she brought home a boy that she had been living with for a few months already, without me ever meeting him. I wonder if this is how Tris' father is feeling, right now.
"Tris, baby, wake up. We need to get going soon," I say gently into Tris' ear, as I kiss her hair. I breath in her scent deeply, letting it calm my runaway nerves. Her familiar scent of strawberry and lemongrass mixture, the smell always feels like home to me. She begins to stir after a moment, fluttering her eyes open looking at me and then looking around the room. I can't help but smile down at the angelic women in my arms. Her eyes finally focus on mine, returning my smile. She stretches up giving me a tender kiss. But we are careful not to deepen it, due to morning breath and time restraints. We definitely don't have time for more than that… not to mention I need to be able to look her father in the eye. "Mmm, Happy Thanksgiving," I say, knowing that what I am most grateful for right now is her.
Flashback
"So I was thinking…" Tris begins, I look up raising my eyebrows encouraging her to continue. She holds her hot cup of coffee between her hands, warming them with the delicious drink. "How would you feel about spending Thanksgiving in both places?" Tris finally asks. I furrow my eyebrows together, trying to understand what she is asking.
"What do you mean both places?" I ask. What the hell is she talking about?
"Well, my parents are coming into town that day and Caleb even said he might fly home to join us…you'd be surprised how satisfying and fulfilling it can really be." She finishes. Okay, now I'm even more confused.
"What do you normally do on the Thanksgiving holiday?" I ask. Am I missing something?
"Well we start off by cooking the traditional Thanksgiving meal." She begins. Oh god, please don't let me be in charge of the turkey, I think to myself. "Then we serve it to those that don't have a family, or don't have the financial means to make their own Thanksgiving meal or need a place to go for the holiday." She finishes.
"Like a soup kitchen?" It's not that I have a problem with doing that, I'm just needing to make sure I understand what she is saying.
"Well, yeah. Mom and Dad raised us to cherish what we have and to count our blessings… but to always remember what others don't have too." She answers, nodding her head shyly. "It was always a nice way to spend the Thanksgiving holiday."
"Ok then, let's do it." I say, smiling down at her.
"Really? You would want to?" Tris asks, surprised by my willingness.
" Of course, I think it would be great to see a little of each other's holiday traditions… we'll do half the day with your family and the other half with mine." I suggest. I watch as her smile widens with excitement.
"I think that's a perfect idea." Tris says with a wide grin on her beautiful face, as she reaches up to pull me down by the neck so our lips can tenderly meet against each other… Mmm, definitely no regrets here.
Flash back Ends
"I think I burned it." I mutter under my breath. Somehow just like I had feared, I was placed in charge of the turkeys. Five fucking turkeys to be exact, five turkeys that I'm pretty damn sure I just burned. I placed all five turkeys on the counter, the top of the turkeys are dark almost black. Fuck. I knew I shouldn't have been in charge of the turkeys.
Andrew and Natalie rented a culinary kitchen for the day for us to use to prepare the meal in. Once the meal is made, we will load up all the food into their food truck and hit up the locations in the city where most of the people are in need of our help. There is at least enough food here to feed a few hundred people, easily. Caleb went out to pick up the water bottles that were donated and some warm blankets for those that are in need of them, while Andrew is in charge of getting disposable paper plates and the utensils.
"No, don't worry, there fine, perfect even," Natalie says, glancing over her shoulder. She has been busy peeling over sixty or more pounds of potatoes for the last hour. While Tris has been working on the traditional stuffing, cutting all sorts of vegetables that are needed. Natalie wipes her hands on a kitchen towel making her way over to me. She pulls out a meat thermometer, slowly inserting it into the first turkey making sure not to hit the bone in the thigh of one of the bird's. "165 degrees, it's just perfect. Don't worry too much about the skin…most people love it crispy, they actually say it better that way." She says, placing her hand on my arm.
The moment I met Natalie, it didn't take me long to understand why Tris has grown into the incredible woman that she is today … so loving, passionate, and beyond the most selfless person I have ever met. I see the same spirit and traits in her mother, no matter who you are, she always strives to comfort you, she is beyond selfless, just like her gorgeous daughter.
Andrew on the other hand, raised his eyebrows at me and immediately put his defenses up… no doubt wanting to make it known, even if unspoken, that he loves Tris no matter what, and does whatever it takes to make sure that she isn't harmed and will always be happy. Even if it meant taking my manhood away from me, by acting that way. But I understand and wouldn't have it any other way, as I too have been contemplating what it must be like for him in this situation.
Caleb on the other hand, played the overprotective big brother. I swear his questions felt more like an interrogation. His questions were such as, what do I do for a living, my living environment, what I wanted from Tris in this relationship, and of course my age. It was as if he was on a mission to find something wrong with me. He ended up fixated on the big two year age difference between us. Yup, that whooping two year age gap is really insurmountable for us. Jeez, it's only two years, it's just a number, buddy.
I didn't fully understand until today what Tris meant when she told me how volunteering and helping out others can make you feel. But by the end of our time together with her family helping out the needy, I truly felt fulfilled and above all grateful for everything that I have. Growing up the way I did, never having to worry about where my next meal would come from, where I would be sleeping, not to mention never having to worry about tomorrow, because of this I felt a lot of compassion for these people. By the end of our time helping them, I really felt like we made a big difference even if it was just for a few hundred people. I felt a dent and the big difference that we made in their lives, even if it was for just one day. To see all their smiles and the way they were so happy and grateful for their meal today, was just so heartwarming to me. I can see why Tris' parents raised her this way, a way that I wouldn't mind raising our kids in the future. To learn to never take anything for granted, and to instill in them that, "it's always better to give than to receive." By the end of our time with them today, Tris and I were actually sad that we had to leave. We really enjoyed ourselves, once her father and brother lightened up a little.
We arrived at Zeke's mother's house an hour late. You would think that it being a holiday that the traffic would be light, but that wasn't the case at all. Ever since Zeke and I became partners at the station, it has been a yearly tradition that we get both sets of our families together for Thanksgiving. We usually trade off years at whose house it would be at … as we tend to go all out for the holiday. Although the last few years, Zeke has always hoped that Christina wouldn't wind up coming for one reason or another. Most of the time I got a kick out of watching his "Oh no face," appear when he saw that Christina was indeed present. This year luckily for him Tris is coming with me instead, and everyone already happens to love her so it works out perfectly. But still I'm a little disappointed that I won't be making Zeke have that annoyed and frustrated, with a fake happy look on his face, because I'm not bringing Christina with me any longer. The sad thing about that is that was the best part of Christina going with me, making Zeke feel uncomfortable. Now, I can't even imagine Tris not being by my side today. What a difference a year makes.
Tris and I arrive just in time as the group is gathered in the backyard getting ready for our traditional touch football game, as Shauna stands on the sidelines, getting ready to call it as she sees it. Since she is very well, pregnant, she is being forced to watch and call the plays vs being out there this year and busting her ass trying to prove to Zeke that she can beat him in the game. Shauna quickly wraps her arms around Tris, greeting her with tears in her eyes. At first I wonder why she has tears in her eyes. Is something wrong? Is she hurt? But then I hear the words that she speaks and everything seems to come to light, as I realize it's the hormones talking again.
"I missed you so much, Tris!" Shauna says between sobs. Didn't they just see each other yesterday? I wonder to myself. Shauna looks up at me with the same look she just had for Tris before she tackled her…I quickly make a B-line for the guys, needing to join the rest of the testosterone.
"Hey man, what's up?" I say, greeting Zeke and Uriah… I notice even Marlene is hiding behind the guys. No doubt, just wanting to make sure she doesn't get tackled by a hormonal Shauna too. I look across the backyard, waving towards Zeke's and my folks. They wave back, returning the smile. I glance back at Tris, who now has a desperate look on her face, as she is still getting squished by Shauna. I can't help the laugh that escapes me, as I refuse to rescue my girl from the Monster's grip. She'll survive, one way or another.
"Alright, listen up, so we are doing guys vs girls..." Zeke yells out, as Tris, Marlene and Lynn (Shauna's sister), approach us.
"Unless you're too scared of breaking a nail," Uriah teases the girls with a wide grin on his face.
"You should be the one scared, you jerk, wouldn't want you hitting that pretty little face of yours." Lynn says, smacking Uriah on his shoulder. He yelps loudly like a little girl, as he says ouch. Seriously Uriah? Man up. Marlene tries her best to hide her giggles, but fails miserably. Tris just smiles at me, amused at their childish banter.
"Fine loser does the dishes." Tris says, shrugging her shoulders.
"You're on," I say, pointing at her.
"Um, Four, speak for yourself. That's a lot of freaking dishes." Zeke whines.
"What afraid of a little bet there, Zekey." Tris says, teasing.
"No, and don't call me that, Trissyboo." Zeke says, cocking his head to the side. I swear if looks could kill, Zeke would be a dead man right now by the way Tris is glaring at him.
The game starts as Zeke takes off with the football trying to avoid Lynn's powerful chase. I catch Tris' glance as she is preparing to intersect Zeke's path with her own body. I run towards her, wrapping my left arm around her waist from behind, lifting her off the ground. I roar loudly, as Tris squeals and laughs as she begins to kick her legs playfully.
"Uh Four, planning on playing the game?" Uriah calls out, as I purposely let my legs give out causing Tris and I to fall to the ground. Tris scrambles out of my arms, taking the moment that we are all distracted to run after Zeke and snatching the ball right from his hands and running towards the touchdown line.
An hour has passed, I have certainly worked up an appetite from all this running around. Uriah continues to whine, as the ladies continue to sneak their way into stealing the football right from under us. As Marlene smiles teasingly, pulling up her shirt just enough for Uriah to freeze and admire all that she has to offer, giving Lynn the chance to steal the ball right from his hands. I begin to run after her, that is until I feel Tris' all too familiar hand grazing my instant semi hard dick. Holy Shit. Come on, that's not fair.
"You ladies aren't playing fair" I say, pointing at her, while trying to keep the amused look off my face.
"You boys made the rules… you should have mentioned not to sexually distract you." Marlene says, as she grabs her right breast, giving it a little squeeze for Uriah. Zeke snatches the ball from Lynn, as he yells out, "Bring it on, pansycakes." He begins to run towards the touchdown line, just as Shauna yells out, grabbing her stomach. We all turn towards her, worried that something might be indeed wrong with her or the baby. Before I even notice what is really happening,Tris runs and snatches the ball back and scores a touchdown for her team. Shauna, lets go of her stomach, throwing her head back laughing at the three of us guys, who are all looking at her with nothing but worry on our faces. Fuck, what the hell was that! Damn they're good.
"Dinner!" Hana calls out. I notice my folks are no longer in the yard watching us play. "Nahah. Go wash your hands or no dinner, Now!" Hana yells out at us. One by one we all suck our teeth and whine slightly at the delay in our Thanksgiving meal. Shit, I guess we guys are stuck doing all the dishes after all. Ugh!
I sit down with Tris on my right, and my mother on my left, I look around at every person that has made an impact one way or another in my life. I couldn't be more pleased at the love and adoration that surrounds me at this table.
Last year, I felt as though something was missing in my life, that something was not right … I never thought in a million years that Tris would be that one person to fill the void, to make me feel complete. I can't help but wonder how I got so lucky.
"So Four, how was it meeting Andrew and Natalie?" Zeke asks, smiling widely at me.
"It wasn't so bad…once they lightened up a little, especially Andrew and Caleb." I answer.
"What?" He asks, looking at me up and down to see if I'm in indeed in one piece, before he continues. I don't see any bullet holes in you." He blurts out. The whole table goes suddenly quiet. Did he seriously just say that shit in front of everyone? Well, what is Thanksgiving without a little drama at every turn. I glance over checking in on Tris, wondering if she is alright with what Zeke just said, considering Eric was shot. To my surprise and relief, she seems to not be bothered by Zeke's stupidity. Ever since Peter Hayes' trial and his sentencing… Tris has been more at peace with Eric's death. Although I know she will always love him and he will hold a special place in her heart, I know she also loves me on a completely different level. We are each other's person and that will never change, especially since we went through the journal and came to our conclusions. I'll admit the contents of the journal helped matters even more with us, as everything that was meant to be is right where it should be. We are together and very much in love, with so many possibilities in front of us for the future… How can I ask for anything more than that? I have so much to be grateful for on this Thanksgiving holiday and I can't imagine how much better things are going to get with Tris in my life.
A/N
ATTENTION- PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE!
Due to extreme and unforeseen circumstances out of my control, it is with great displeasure that I will no longer be providing deadlines on my future updates. From here on out, updates for all my projects will continue, but at a slower pace. I hope sometime soon we will go back to our weekly updates, but for now just be patient with me please. I will however alternate between updatingTo love again and A love like no other.
I am absolutely not abandoning my work, I'm just unable to keep up with the deadlines with the new norm that is my life right now.
At this time, there is no E.T.A. on when I will be updating A love like no other, but I am hopeful it will be within a week or so.
Brainstormed with: FDFobsessed
Like always, happy reading everyone!
Trini
