A/N: Happy Holidays! Thanks for all your reviews on the previous chapter and a special thank you to Lex In The City for the inspiration for this chapter!
Tobias keeps his word and visits Marcus the next afternoon. When Tobias sits with him in the living just like the day before, Marcus confides in his son that he's been seeing a therapist named Johanna for about three months and Marcus really feels that she's helped him make positive steps toward his relationship son. Tobias agrees that he can see the difference in his father over the past two months. Tobias agrees to see Johanna with Marcus the following day. The session is emotional as Johanna helps with Tobias getting off his chest all of his feelings of abandonment from Marcus. Marcus and Tobias both end up in tears by the end of the session. Marcus apologizes for all of his actions including the part he played in keeping the truth from Tobias about his grandfather's estate and his mother's other children. Tobias agrees to forgive Marcus and both agree to utilize the tools Johanna has given them to continue communicating and working on their relationship. Marcus knows he still has work to do to win his son's trust but he feels like finally, they are on the right track.
Tris comes with Tobias on the last day he visits after Marcus requests that she come along too. He wanted to get to know his soon to be daughter-in-law too. Tris feels that there has been a weight lifted off both Marcus and Tobias as she sees them more comfortable together as she listens to their conversation and watches them interact with each other. Tris is encouraged that this is really a fresh start for Marcus and Tobias.
Tris gives an update on how Abnegation was using the monies from the fundraiser and Tris is surprised when Marcus says he is planning to discuss making another large donation with Tris's father and a visit to the group home to see the work the Prior's have been doing"
"Thank you so much, they've been able to do so much already, this will be such a blessing to those young people"
"I want to do more. Your mother and father are doing amazing work Tris, it's done my heart good to hear about how I could make such a difference. I'm planning to visit you two in Charleston as soon as the doctors say I am well enough to travel '' Marcus informs the couple. "If that's is alright with the two of you"
Tobias reaches for Tris's hand and she squeezes tight in return. When Tobias had come back to the condo after his meeting with Johanna and Marcus he had been emotionally exhausted. Tris made him go take a hot shower and she ordered in some take out. She could tell Tobias really needed the session to let out everything he had held in most of his life. She vowed that she would be supportive of whatever steps and pace he wanted to take with letting Marcus into his life.
"We would like that very much" Tobias responds with a soft smile. Tobias had been worried about his father's intentions but over this trip, he feels confident Marcus is being sincere and they were on the path to rebuilding their relationship.
The rest of the summer flies by after the trip to Chicago. Therese and Edward form a closer bond with all their siblings. Therese and Edward fly out to California with Susan to spend time with Robert before Therese starts the Fall semester.
Hana and Max's small wedding is a happy affair but there is a sad undertone with Uriah not present. Since this was the second marriage for both Max and Hana they made it a small affair at the campus chapel followed by a reception that Christina catered for their family and friends. Lauren and Eric attend to support their father. Eric seems a little less annoying than he was at Thanksgiving which eases the mood just a bit. Natalie and Andrew also fly in for the wedding and it turns out to be a happy day. Tobias is surprised when Marcus sends a card and a gift to Hana on the congratulations of her nuptials. Hana hadn't spoken to Marcus since Tobias graduated with his Ph.D. but as long as he did right by Tobias, that was all she truly cared about.
The day after the wedding that same weekend Tris and Tobias plan to take their engagement photos on Kiawah Island. Tobias had called Caleb the week before to ask him to come down so they could take family photos with Tris, Andrew, and Natalie as a surprise. Tris almost starts to cry when her brother and Cara show up on their doorstep. She didn't think that Caleb would have done that for her. Natalie and Andrew are so happy at their soon to be son in law's thoughtfulness. Cara seemed more comfortable around with the Priors this time around. Caleb even lets Tris know that he and Cara had already put in for their leave to attend the wedding in Jamaica. Natalie and Andrew hold hands as they walk back to the car and their hearts are full that Tris has found such a wonderful man that is devoted to her and her happiness and that Caleb has found someone who has shown him there's more to life than his research.
It was the next week before he was able to video chat with Christina during a maintenance dock. Uriah had made her promise to stay off CNN while he was gone. There could be much speculation about what was happening with the troops and he didn't want her to worry. The Navy would contact them directly if anything were to happen to him. Christina made sure to do her hair and makeup. Uriah beamed at just the sight of seeing his fiancé.
He passes on his love to everyone and Christina tries to conceal how sad she has been with him gone. She quickly filled him in on the progress for the restaurant which she wanted to open in the New Year thanks to Tris and Tobias. Christina had been so thankful for Tris and Tobias investing in her dream but also that the project was filling up her spare time between catering jobs which helped with Uriah not being there. Uriah couldn't disclose much but he focused his time on Christina telling him about all the happenings in Charleston.
"I love you, Chris," Uriah says as he looks at his watch knowing he had limited time. Christina was what kept him going during this deployment and all he wanted was to come home to her.
"I miss you so much, I love you Uri" Christina sighs biting her lip as she looks at the screen, wishing she could put her arms around Uriah.
"Don't worry baby, I'll be home soon and I hope you have a whole chocolate cake waiting for me"
"Oh I'll have two waiting, I promise and extra icing" she teases waggling her eyebrows.
"That's my girl" Uriah laughs.
When they hang up, Christina wipes a tear away from her eye. Tris, Shauna, and Tori had been trying to get her to think about wedding plans. When she was with Will, she had dreamed of this huge wedding with hundreds of people but with Uriah, all she needed was him. If she could just have him home, that was all she needed.
When classes started in August, Rose and Therese moved into their dorm room together even though they still spend the majority of the first few weeks at Tobias and Tris's place. Edward and Rose had gotten quite close over the summer and there was an emotional goodbye
When September rolls around, Tris, Therese, Tori, Hana, Shauna, and Christina all make a quick trip over Labor Day weekend to New York for their dressing fitting for alterations. Tris is so excited when she sees everyone in their dresses, her gown looks like everything she could have imagined. Natalie and Hana cry when Tris models the dress for them. Tris felt confident about the alternations to her dress and her slim-fitting gown. At her OBGYN appointment the week before she had talked to her doctor about her and Tobias trying for a baby. The doctor was confident that it would take at least another six weeks for her body to get out the last remnants of the shot and if she did get pregnant right away she wouldn't be showing until after the wedding. The doctor gave her the option to take pills for a few months if she wanted to wait on trying to conceive but she decides, whatever happens, will happen. She and Tobias agree that they aren't going to aggressively start trying with tracking her ovulation days until after the wedding.
Tobias has to stay in Charleston during Labor Day weekend instead of going to Chicago like he had planned and Tris suspects with how secretive Tobias is being its Alpha related the reason. The next week Christina, Shauna, Tris, and Zeke are all giggles as they see Tobias running around like a chicken with his head off, taking calls outside in the courtyard, and having mysterious places to be every evening after work in the last weeks of August. It's clear the time has come for his intake process into Alpha Phi Alpha to start. Tris remembers all too well how she, Christina, Marlene, and Uriah were all stressed out at the same time so she tries to be as helpful as possible. She had been helping Tobias study since last Fall so she was confident that he knew his information. She couldn't help him with the secret parts of the initiation but she made sure she stayed out the way, had meals ready for him, and took care of everything she could around the house and with the estate. Tris knows he just has to make it three more weeks and she has every faith that he will.
"Baby, Can I have one of your Maxi Pads?" Tobias calls from upstairs one afternoon when Tris is on the phone with Christina. They both fall into a fit of laughter knowing that the big brothers were really going all out this week.
Tobias is dead on his feet by the second weekend, Thankfully his TA Drew agreed to grade his papers for him over the next two weeks. He had no idea how his brothers and Tris managed to do this while they were in school and taking classes, he was barely keeping his head afloat. He also had to spend every weekend away from Tris, which was hard because not only was he crammed in a hotel room with 5 other guys but he missed the feel of Tris cuddled up to him at night.
On the last Sunday in September, Tris has all of the gifts she had made or bought Tobias in honor of him being initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha. Shauna and Chris had both told her that she went a little overboard but Tris didn't care. She was so proud of her fiancé. She had been explaining Black Greek Life to Therese over the summer and Therese was excited to feel out if sorority membership was right for her. She helps Tris make a few of the handmade items Tris has planned out.
Tobias definitely has the largest cheering section with Max, Hana, Christina, Rose, Zeke, Shauna, Therese, Tori, and Tris. Shauna has a big gold number 4 balloon in their section outside of the Dauntless University Alpha Plot. Tobias is introduced as the number 4 on the line and given the line name of Philosopher.
Tobias is so tired by the time he and Tris make it home even though he's been on an adrenaline high for the past 24 hours. He was proud not only of himself but his line brothers, Reggie, Bobby, and Jeff. The four of them had been through some tough mind tricks the past couple of months but they worked together as a team to accomplish all their tasks.
"Babe, you did all this?" Tobias smiles as he sees all the gifts from Tris laid out in the house when he walks in during the wee hours of the morning on Sunday. He had a few things he brought in from the rest of his family but he was impressed by what Tris had done for him. He had several t-shirts, an Alpha sweater vest and polo, several black and gold ties with matching pocket squares, Alpha lapel pins, Alpha cufflinks, a hand-painted paddle, and a jacket.
"Therese helped make the paddle," Tris says sweetly. "I'm just really proud of you"
"Thank you, Baby" Tobias wants nothing but to make love to her since they had been apart for the last three nights but he's way too tired. He settles for wrapping his arms around her and falling into a deep sleep with a smile on his face.
By the time October rolls around, Tris is knee-deep in finalizing all the Homecoming activities. Marcus comes for a visit in mid-October for four days. Tris and Tobias invite him to stay at the house. Marcus is very impressed with the house and how Tobias had seen it as a great investment. Even though Tobias had chosen not to go into business, he was seeing more and more how his son did have a keen business sense and paid attention to the finance and investment lessons he had given to his son.
Therese makes herself scarce those four days. None of her siblings were talking to Evelyn or Thomas except for Susan. She usually spent her weekends with Tris and Tobias unless there was a party on campus since Rose spent her weekends at Christina's to keep her company. Even though she didn't need a job, Therese had started working part-time for Christina alongside Rose. Tris and Tobias both thought it was good to give her some real-world job experience. Even though Tobias had explained Marcus was trying to make amends and doing much better but Therese wasn't so sure about meeting her mother's husband yet even though everyone assumed they would be filing for divorce soon since the judge had dismissed Evelyn's lawsuit.
Marcus visits Dauntless and sits in on one of his classes. It was the first time Marcus had ever seen his son do anything related to his career. Marcus was floored at how Tobias commanded his classroom and how alive he was discussing the Tulsa Black Wall Street Race Massacre of 1921. Afterward, Marcus visits Tobias's office and a tour of the campus and they stop by Tris's office to say hello. During dinner that evening, Tris and Tobias tell them about how Divergent could offer internships to Dauntless students as another means of community outreach. Marcus is thrilled with the idea and applauds his son.
"Tobias, I'm really proud of how you have thought about how to grow Divergent, even though I never supported your pursuit of academia. Your lecture was amazing today. I'm glad that you didn't listen to me and chased your own dreams," Marcus admits over dinner.
"It means a lot to hear you say that," Tobias says with a smile.
"Tobias and I have been talking and we wanted to know if you could come to our wedding on New Years' Eve" Tris adds feeling this was the right moment to extend the invitation.
Marcus smiles and nods his head in response. He never expected Tobias and Tris to invite him to the wedding considering they were still working on their relationship.
"I would be honored"
"Thank you Dad"
Tobias and Tris have a house full again come Homecoming. Natalie and Andrew were visiting together this year as well as Marlene and Lynn. Due to the fundraiser and the additional donations that Tris and Tobias made they were able to hire two additional full-time staff for the group home to assist Susan which allowed Natalie and Andrew the ability to take more time off. The renovations for the boys' home were almost complete and everything was on track for it to open in January.
Everyone is surprised when Lynn announces that she's planning on moving to Atlanta in the coming year to be closer to Marlene. Shauna is happy that her sister is serious about Marlene and that she'll be closer to visit.
Even though Homecoming is one of the busiest weeks of the year for Tris, Hana and Natalie throw Tris a bridal shower luncheon on the Friday before the homecoming game. Tris was completely shocked as Shauna, Tori, Chris, Hana, and Natalie had gone to great lengths to keep it a secret, only telling Tris that they were going to a short lunch that afternoon.
"How did ya'll pull this off" Tris exclaims when she walks into the private room at the place they were having lunch.
"You've been so busy worrying about Homecoming, It was that hard to squeeze in a few hours of quiet time." Chris teases.
Tris cries when she sees Lauren and Marlene and a few other AKAs she was very close with from their graduate chapter.
"We figured even though it's Homecoming, it was a great time to see everyone who was in town and celebrate you" Shauna explains.
Over lunch, Tris opens gifts even though she complains about everyone spending their money on her. Lynn and Marlene gifted her with a silk pink robe with bride in cursive embroidered in green on the back. She opens a few sexy lingerie pieces from Christina, Lauren, Tori, and Shauna. Tris squeals and her eyes go wide when she opens each piece of lingerie. It wasn't like her mother didn't know she and Tobias had sex, but she was mortified at having to open all the gifts in front of her. Christina's gift, a baby blue garter set to wear underneath her wedding dress for her something blue for the wedding day makes her blush. Christina had about fallen over when Tris confessed that she had never worn a garter set for Tobias. Of course, she would pick this opportunity to make good on her promise to help Tris find the perfect thing to make Tobias go crazy.
She gasps when she opens Natalie's gift of her something old, a classic birdcage hat with a small veil that she knows belonged to her grandmother.
"Oh Mommy, I remember when Nana used to wear this to church on Sunday's" Tris breathes feeling the tears well up in her eyes remember how she would always ask if she could wear it when she got older.
"Yes she did, this was one of her favorites. Before she died she made me promise to give it to you one day. I thought it would go perfect with your wedding dress and the old Hollywood theme," Natalie says, wiping a tear as she smiles at her daughter.
"One last gift, Your something borrowed," Hana says smiling brightly, bringing out a medium-sized box with a pink bow on it. Tris looks at it curiously as she unties the ribbon and pulls the top of the box. When she moves this tissue paper, her heart clenches. Shauna smiles and wipes a tear knowing what the gift was, as she had opened it at her own bridal shower.
"Ms. Hana, it's beautiful," Tris says quietly. The medium-sized broom that was decorated with white ribbons wrapped around the straw and tied in a beautiful bow.
"This is a loaner, this was the broom my first husband and I used to jump the broom at our wedding. Zeke and Shauna used it at their wedding, and now I want you and Tobias to use it as well. I may not have given birth to Tobias but he is every bit my son just like Zeke and Uriah."
"Thank you, Ms. Hana, this is so perfect. We are so honored you would loan us this. And I can pass it right on to Chris and Uri" Tris replies as she throws Christina a wink causing Christina to blush and smile.
Tris and Tobias are surprised when Rose and Therese decide to spend their Thanksgiving break in London. Therese wasn't familiar with Thanksgiving since it was an American Holiday and she didn't feel compelled to experience it. Everyone suspects that the real reason for the trip is that Rose and Edward can't wait until the trip to Jamaica for Tris and Tobias's wedding to see each other.
With Therese gone Tris, and Tobias head to Chicago for Thanksgiving. With everyone planning for the trip to Jamaica, Zeke and Shauna also join them to spend time with Shauna's family. The Priors have a quiet Thanksgiving with Tris and Tobias at the condo. Since the Summer, Marcus and his relationship with his son has been steadily improving and Marcus invites him to join them as well.
It's a nice quiet holiday. Tris and Natalie create a delicious meal and everyone volunteers at a local soup kitchen with the girls from the group home that morning. Marcus even tags along to the volunteer with them as well. He even offers all of the girls at the group home an opportunity to intern at Divergent if they want to go into technology or business. Tris and Tobias are thankful for all of the blessings that they have been provided this year, through all the ups and downs they had each other and they had their family and that was all they needed.
A/N: Let me know what you think of this chapter!
Probate show: Coming out after your final initiation ceremony is done with a show put on by the new initiates. It's a big thing for family and friends to bring gifts and support. Tobias's gifts are inspired by what I did for my husband when he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha.
Plot: At HBCUs the plot is an area where each Greek Letter Organization has dedicated space. Many have painted areas with their organizational colors, some have benches. Check out the pics on my Pinterest page. rdixon417
Jumping the Broom: An African American wedding tradition. During slavery, when slaves weren't permitted to marry, they jumped the broom to symbolize thier unions. Many weddings still take part in this tradition after the wedding ceremony. My husband and I jumped the broom at our wedding.
