HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Please see the dedication in the A/N at the end of this chapter
Chapter 11/ Epilogue
Tris' POV
Six years later
I can't believe how fast time has flown by. It feels like only yesterday that I landed in a ditch on the side of the road in the small town of Dauntless. Who knew it would absolutely change my life forever. It has been six years and I still feel butterflies in my stomach everytime I look at Tobias. I still feel that electrical zing that shoots throughout my whole body each time we touch. I still get nervous and excited when experiencing something new with him. To so many people here in Dauntless it had seemed as though we were moving at lightning speed at first, as we didn't waste any time moving in together the moment I came back into town. Within a matter of days, we had the closest thing that I have to a friend in New York help supervise the hired movers and pack up my belongings in my old apartment that I shared with Peter. I didn't feel the need to ever go back there again. Instead after many hours on the phone, I was able to arrange for the movers to go into my apartment and pack up all of my belongings for me. I didn't want any of the furniture really, Peter could keep it for all I cared. It was all of my personal items that I didn't get a chance to pack with me the night that I left that I wanted the most. Things like my old photo albums and my prized possessions was what I wanted the most from NewYork. I was very pleased that Peter didn't even try to stop me either. He knew it was over between us and that there was no going back after I caught him cheating on me.
I also did a little digging into my past heritage of my family in Dauntless. Everyday that I settled in more I wanted to know more about them. Who were they? Did I look anything like them? Where did they live? I was pleased when Christina offered to come along with me to the City Hall, it took us almost a full week of reading and digging through old log books to find exactly what I was looking for. Her name was Edith Parks, the mother of Natalie Parks, my mother. She was married to a man named David. I continued to find out that David was not her first husband, as her first husband, Natalie's biological father, died in a house fire a few months before my mother was born. After a few more hours of digging in the log books, we got even more answers. The house that burned down and was rebuilt was none other than our town's inn, Christina and Will's B & B. They were both a little worried about this brand new information, since my mother was cut off because of marrying my father, she was never notified of her mother's passing or the estate's auction for that matter. As for the property, none of us were ever notified that it was turned over to the city and sold off. I could easily take Will and Christina to court and file a claim on the house and property, but I reassured them that that's not what I want. After all, that's their home, I already had a home with Tobias. Just the knowledge that this special place now holds a place in so many hearts in this town… Is more than enough for me. Each time I walk through the main doors of the B & B I feel a slight connection to my past relatives. That's really all I wanted. Given this new news, Christina and Will both decided to make a special dedication to the house, along with a beautiful plague that was placed in the garden for my Grandmother… It's made of grey slate stone with an Angel sculptor within it with my Grandmother's name, Edith Parks written on the stone plaque. I was so honored and touched by the sweet gesture that they made, even my mother came out to see the dedication. She too hugged and thanked them for being so kind. All my mother asked in return was that she get to stay in the room that was once her own. She shared fond memories of her childhood in the home and within the town. It also gave her a chance to catch up with her long lost friend… Hana.
Not long after that I was lucky enough to find a law firm in town that would hire me. Although since it's a really small town, I was only offered a part time position of course, until one of the lawyers either moved away or retired. That didn't take very long at all though, seeing as one of the lawyers we had in town was already set to retire. Within six months I was a full time employee at the law firm doing exactly what I always set out to do, which was working more with families and having a more personal role, versus it being all about winning and the money, like corporate law was. I always thought it was more important to help those in need vs it being about money.
By April I took Tobias home to meet my family. I wasn't surprised that my mother fell in love with Tobias just as fast as I did. My father on the other hand was suspicious and overprotective like most fathers I imagine would be. But that only lasted about two days and by Saturday dad and Tobias both went off on their own to do some errands and then had a few beers at the bar. Of course I was taken by complete surprise when I was tricked into opening up a plastic Easter egg by Tobias, to only discover the most gorgeous diamond engagement ring inside of it. For the first time in my life, I was really thankful that I was already sitting down, as I'm sure I would have fallen over. When I finally got my bearings and looked up, I saw Tobias smiling shyly at me and bent down on one knee. One of his hands was on my knee and the other was gently on the wrist that was holding the Easter egg that still nestled my gorgeous ring tightly. I can't imagine how I looked as I sat there completely dumbfounded with my mouth hung wide open and my eyes were bugged out of my head and looking all out of it. I can still recall the words that came out of his mouth as he proposed to me. "Tris, I gave up on the thought of love for what felt like a million years ago. Never in my life would I have thought that I would have met a woman like you… A woman that is as strong, intelligent, brave, selfless, honest, and as kind as you are. I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life loving you, making a life with you and having a family with you. So Beatrice Prior, will you marry me?" Who was I to say no to that? Later I found out that he had all the intentions of asking me on our trip. Only he didn't think he would ask me in front of so many people during an Easter egg hunt. He did however ask for my father's blessing the day before when they went out for a few beers. Words can't express how relieved I was to hear that. Although I am a grown woman and my parents can't stop me from being with him…It makes life a hell of a lot easier if they all respected and liked each other.
Word travels fast when you live in a small town. By the time we got home from our trip, Christina and Shauna had more than half of our wedding already planned out, along with thousands of options for Tobias and I to choose from. By September we had the most perfect wedding we could ever hope for. It was a gorgeous sunny day out by the Chasm in the back of Tobias' house. We kept it small with just our close family and friends. We said our wedding vows, keeping it short and simple along with giving each other rings. We decided to stay home for our honeymoon, asking all of the townsfolk for our privacy of course, for a few days. Other than spending most of our time in bed and other places in the house… Tobias and I also enjoyed our time on the beautiful grounds. We picnicked by the Chasm and walked along it with Girl most days. It was calming and relaxing and filled with so much love. It was absolutely perfect for the both of us.
Our town was more than pleased to welcome the new life of a baby boy that came that October, as Shauna and Zeke both had their first born. Jonathan Michael Pedred was born on October 5th, weighing in at a whopping 8.5 pounds. Hana was so happy to welcome her new grandbaby and was even more touched to find out that he was named after her husband and Uriah and Zeke's father, who passed away a long time ago. Of course all of the big changes didn't stop there. When Tobias and I got married and Zeke and Shauna welcomed their first born… Marlene's impatience with Uriah grew. Not before long she began to hassle our dear Uriah for a proposal, something that said that they were moving forward in their life together. Little did she know that that was something he was already going to do. By Thanksgiving as we all sat around the table ready to give our thanks, Uriah pleaded to go first, drawing out his long speech about his appreciation for car parts and of course, Dauntless cake. He then caught all of us by complete surprise when he got down on one knee and asked for Marlene's hand in marriage. She didn't take long at all to scream out the answer yes and then she yanked the ring out of Uriah's hands and eagerly slid it on her own finger. The couple got plenty of "it's about damn time" and "finally's," from the crowd.
Our first Christmas as a married couple we wound up going to Chicago to visit my parents. Of course, it took a few minutes for Tobias to realize what his actual Christmas present was. As he opened the jewelry box, he couldn't understand what the long white stick that was inside of it was for. My mother was the first one to scream out her excitement, as my father looked like he was ready to punch my husband out cold. When he finally came to understand just what it was… He took me into his arms excitedly and spun me around in the air. We were both so excited that I was pregnant with our first child together.
I wish I could sit here and say that the pregnancy was a breeze, that I never got sick, that I never felt exhausted and never even got a stretch mark, but I can't. Although I can say without a doubt that in the end it was all worth it when our son, Adian Thomas Eaton was born into our lives. He weighed in at nearly nine pounds and twenty and a half inches long. He has brown hair and ocean, blue eyes just like his father and I wouldn't want it any other way. He was a very big baby, which explained all of my struggles with labor and delivery. Tobias was great with it all, even though he spent most of my pregnancy dealing with his fears of becoming like his father. I never worried most people Tobias or should I say Four, is intimidating and scary, but to me he is gentle and tender… He couldnt hurt me even if he tried to. I just knew he would be even more overprotective and tender with our children. I was absolutely right of course… Throughout my pregnancy Tobias made sure that I was safe at every minute of every day. Even if it meant that he would drive me to and from work in the snow. I still haven't lived down that whole crashing into the ditch in the snow to avoid that damn deer thing. Tobias also waited on me hand and foot, making sure that I didn't strain myself more than I had to. When Adian arrived, I swear I saw a tear fall from his gorgeous ocean, blue eyes. It was then when the nurse placed our son carefully into his arms that I saw the complete determination in his eyes. Determination to always love and protect that beautiful little boy. It's not a big shocker that the whole town of Dauntless fell in love with him instantly, nor is it a shock that Adian and Jonathon became best friends since their very first play date. Girl on the other hand needed a little more time to warm up to our little bundle of joy, as every sound he made had her on high alert. But when she finally got used to the new baby being there, she always stayed nearby him and was overprotective of our little Adian. Those that she only approved of would be allowed near him from then on.
The front door swings open, as I hear the rambling of our five year old and the laughter of my husband, drawing my attention towards them. I rush up to my two loves in my life, as I help Adian out of his snow boots, mittens and winter jacket. Tobias smiles, as he walks by me to stand up the newly cut down Christmas tree against the wall. Once he is sure the thing won't slide or tip over, he then removes his own gloves, boots and jacket and hangs them right next to Aidan's. It's become a son and father tradition, that every year they both go out and cut down our Christmas tree. My heart always melts when I see how close they are together, it's just so adorable. Tobias always worried and made it a top priority of his that Adian had everything that he never had while growing up, including a solid relationship with his father. Tobias kisses the top of my head, once again dragging my attention away from the past. I glance at Girl as she shakes her fur free from the snow flurries and makes her way to the fireplace to warm up. Adian giggles as runs to go snuggle up to her side. I laugh, watching both of them cuddle up like they always have. I feel warm arms snake behind me, resting on my swollen stomach.
"Just think this time next year there will be four of us. I can't wait for my baby girl to be born," Tobias says, kissing the side of my neck. I can't help the smile that creeps up on my face. When we decided that it was time to add to our family, all Tobias could talk about was the hopes that he could have a little one just like me. It was only two weeks ago that we found out that his wish had been granted and that we are indeed expecting a little princess very soon.
"And just to think you said you never wanted to celebrate Christmas again…" I joke, making light of our first Christmas together.
"I have three reasons to celebrate now…" He says, rubbing his hand over the spot that the baby just kicked. He chuckles as he speaks, "well Four now."
I glance around the house with the ornaments taking up every inch of our table waiting to be hung on their branches of the Christmas tree. I can't help my eyes that land on every first ornament that we have ever celebrated. "Our engagement, our wedding, our first son, baby's first Christmas, my pregnancy belly…" I think about all of the firsts that we still have ahead of us together and the many Christmas left for us to share.
I think back to the life that I used to have, my life with Peter. One thing is for sure, I never imagined the back road that I took to get home would be the Road to a Christmas miracle that I didn't know I needed.
A/N
I would like to take a moment and dedicate this Christmas story to my mother, Blanca. She lost her fight against heart failure on Christmas morning. She was a loving and wonderful woman. She was an incredible mother, the best grandmother, a loving wife and my very best friend. She always encouraged me to write my fanfics and loved hearing all of your reviews.
Christmas was her favorite holiday and she always went out of her way to make sure we had the best Christmas' year after year. She was the rock of our family, and I don't know how we will ever make it through with out her. It only felt right that this special Christmas story be dedicated to her.
She will be forever missed, but never will she be forgotten.
Brainstormed with: FDFobsessed
Special thank you to FDFobsessed who has not only been there every step of the way while writing this special story... but also has been there for every step of the way while I have been dealing with my mom's illness.
Like always happy reading, be safe and stay healthy
Trini