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A Runaway Family

Chapter 6

The tropical life

Tobias' POV

I have never thought of myself as someone who likes a warm climate, as I have always preferred the cold compared to hot and humid weather. Other than that short time on the beach with Tris and Ethan a few years back… I have really never spent much time at the beach at all.

Although the small time that we did spend on the beach was beyond enjoyable and very erotic, as Tris and I had a lot of trouble keeping our hands to ourselves. I had to remind myself that there were other people at the beach and in the water with us to keep myself in check, as I wanted nothing more than to explore her gorgeous body. Of course those were the more innocent days of our relationship before we got married and became more intimate with each other. I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I could keep myself in check with her now. I just can't seem to keep my hands to myself when I'm around that woman. I swear she has me hard all day and night long.

Of course we have spent a few days at the beach since we got here. Tris and I were careful to keep our distance of course, since we had the kids with us. Ever since this all began, it's like the already burning fire that we have for each other has burned out of control. I don't think there is enough water or man power to extinguish this fire that has started. It may be the need to feel safe and loved, or it might just be the fact that we are on the run together that has ignited our need for each other. But one thing is for sure, we can't seem to get enough of each other. The kids really love being outside playing in the sand. Maddy enjoyed trying to bury her brother in the sand and laughed when he would roar his way out from under it. She laughed really loud, while clapping her hands together. Although she seems to hate the ocean, as she got very scared when Tris tried to take her into the water with her. Ethan wouldn't go near the ocean water either. Which is understandable, Tris explained to me that salt water and eczema don't mix well at all. It stings like needles all over his body. If I was him, I wouldn't want to go near the water either. That didn't stop him from enjoying his time outside though. As he built sand castles, played with his sister and just relaxed in the sun with the rest of us.

What surprised me even more was that Uriah and Marlene offered to babysit with the kids so Tris and I could have a night out on the town together. Uriah and Marlene both took the night off together to go out the night before. They even recommended a few places for us to go for both dinner and afterwards to have a good time. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to have a little adult time with my wife. It doesn't happen too often.

Of course getting Tris to agree to go out with me and leave the kids was a whole other challenge in itself. The fact about leaving the kids in a strange place, in a strange city with god knows who lurking outside of the windows… But we have to get out every now and then and have a little time for ourselves.

"Come on, Tris, I have a plan for this evening. I promise everything will be fine," I nearly begged her. I can see the battle going on in her head, as she thought about my offer. When I told her about us going out tonight, her first instinct was to say no. We had been going back and forth about it for the past ten minutes. I could see her battling the idea of us going out in her head and I think I was beginning to win.

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, well I realized that we've had nearly no time to have any alone time together…" I begin, she easily interrupts me.

"Chaos… Destruction… Kids… They do tend to take away a person's "adult time,"she says teasingly. "You know you're not very nice," she said while grinning. I knew at that moment that I won the fight.

"You're one to talk," I threw back at her.

"Hey, I could be nice if I really tried," she says, continuing our banter.

"Hmm," I tapped my chin, trying to come up with something interesting to say to her. "Say something nice then," I said. I swore if she complimented my dick… I would go down on her right now.

"You're very good-looking," she said. That works too.

"I like this "being nice" thing," I said, leaning down kissing her delicious lips.

That night Tris and I made sure that Uriah and Marlene had everything that they needed to care for the kids properly, before we left for the night. We were only gone for a few hours before we returned home, eager for some naughty time together in bed. Tris had been happily toying with me all night long. As she slowly snaked her foot up my pant leg and up to my thigh, rubbing my package with her toes while we were eating our dinner. That was the least of what she was doing to me. The moment we closed the door to our little home away from home, Tris began toying with me, from her sexual kisses, to her finger lowering itself down my chest towards the bulge in my pants, to her unzippering my zipper. Let's just say the night was both blissful and complete torture, but it was absolutely perfect for the both of us.

I honestly didn't know what to expect to find when we got back home, but it sure was not what we walked into. All of the lights were still on as we walked into the house. Toys covered all of the exposed flooring in the living room. Uriah was stretched out on the small couch in the front entrance. The expression on his face was filled with both exhaustion and pain. The words he continued to mumble sounded like "no more kids..."

Tris came to the worst possible conclusion, as she ran through the house to the kids' bedroom. I could hear the instant sound of relief from her when she saw that they were both safe and fast asleep in their beds. Marlene had just come out of the bathroom, looking just as bad as Uriah.

"Hey guys, welcome back," she said, trying to hide her exhaustion from us. I couldn't help but wonder what the hell did my kids do to her and Uriah? Both Marlene and Uriah are in the military, I would guess that they were trained to be stronger than this. I guess it took my two kids to bring them down.

"Is everything okay?" Tris asked, trying to beat around the bush. Marlene went on to explain that although things were great with the kids, they were just a little more work than they had expected. The whole experience has definitely had them both thinking about putting off on having kids a little while longer. She continued on giving us a heads up about Ethan's untimely meltdown earlier at dinner. Apparently Marlene gave him the chicken nuggets the same way Lauren used to, sending Ethan into a meltdown from missing both Lauren and Kelly. Tris and I both hated hearing that, after all we wish we could shield him from all of this, but in the end we just couldn't. He isn't one to take change easily, Tris and I both wondered when this would catch up to him. We just wish we were here for him, to help him through it. I guess this is one of those times as a parent… That you wish you could divide yourself into two.

"So I'm going to take the kids to that park down the street," Tris says, as she finishes up washing the last dish. I nod, finishing up my coffee.

"Okay, I'll give Zeke a call then to check in with him," I say. Once a week I try to call Zeke to check in on him and all that is going on with him and Shauna and of course D.A.A. I may be on the run, but I still need to know he didn't sink our lives work into the ground.

"Okay. Uriah wanted to come out with me and the kids," Tris tells me. I smile, loving how close her and Uriah have seemed to become since we have been on the run together. I'm not worried though, not in the slightest. Tris looks up to him like he is a brother. It doesn't feel like friends traveling with us, it feels like family.

"Alright. Just be careful please," I say, as I lean in kissing her forehead. I turn to walk back to our bedroom to grab our burner phone and make my phone call. Ever since this all started, I have gotten into the habit of telling my wife and kids to be extra careful. I hate the thought of being too far away from them, but I have to also expect that they can't always be with me every minute of the day.

I sit on my bed, dialing the number that I know a little too well. I place the phone butt to my ear, hearing the line begin to ring. Zeke finally picks up on the third ring, as I was starting to lose hope that he may not answer.

"Is everything alright?" Zeke asks, I can hear the concern and nervousness in his voice. I'm sure it's been that way ever since we left Chicago.

Zeke hated the thought of Tris and I leaving with the kids to who knows where with Marcus and Eric on our tails. It's one of the reasons that he encouraged us to agree to having Marlene and Uriah come along with us…

Flashback

I can feel the adrenaline rushing into my veins, as my heart races threatening to jump out of my chest. I can't seem to calm down my heavy panting, as my lungs continue to call out for air. I need to think fast, I need to keep my family safe. I secure Tris and the kids in the back room of the house on the first floor, having her lock the door behind her and not to come out until I tell her it's safe. I don't know what Eric or Marcus have planned for us. For all I know they could be back tracking back here to the house to break in… I think fast, needing to block the large broken window. Without thinking, I knocked off the things that we have on top of a tall shelf and roughly moved it towards the window. I continue to move other heavy furniture in front of the shelf, securing it for now.

I rush to the bathroom getting our first aid kit for Tris. As I walk down the hallway back to the room where my family is being held in, I pull my phone out of my pocket calling the one person that I know I can trust, Zeke.

"Zeke, listen to me…" I hear nothing but his heavy breathing, which tells me that he is giving me what I need right now the most, his silence. I tell him what has happened and that we are leaving. I continue to explain what I need for him to do for me. I need the back up money that we keep in our safe in the office. I don't have time to fool around, I need that money and I need it now. Tris and I need to get our kids out of here before anything else happens. I can hear the fear in my voice threatening to undo me, but I can't let my fear win me over, I take a deep breath before knocking on the door that Tris and the kids are in, letting her know it's just me. I know I have to keep my shit together for my family.

It doesn't take long for Tris to unlock the door and let me in. Maddy is in her arms, while Ethan is holding on to her side tightly. Her arms are wrapped around both of them, keeping them close and safe. I kneel down on the floor checking Maddy and then Ethan once again for any injuries. When I'm sure it's just Tris that was injured I finish talking to Zeke.

"Alright calm down, pack your shit and be ready… But Four," he says, before disconnecting the call "don't leave till I get there, okay. I have a plan," he says, as the line goes dead.

I turn back to my injured wife, as I begin to examine her arm. Luckily there is no glass in the large wound. I clean and dress it the best that I can for now.

I'm just cleaning up the mess when I hear the front door bursting open. I jump to my feet, looking out at the hallway. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see it's none other than my idiot best friend. All the color has been drained from his face and he's completely out of breath. I can see the shock all across his face as he surveys the house from the inside and out. Did he think I was lying when I told him someone tore through our front yard and threw a large rock through our front bay window. He turns towards me after looking around, giving me a hug. He pats my back as we break apart and looks around for Tris and the kids who are right behind me. He goes to Tris, hugging her tightly, along with the kids.

I can't help but stand back for a moment, thinking about everything and everyone that we are about to leave behind. All my life I thought that love was a way to hurt those that you cared most about. A reason to hurt them, but Tris and Zeke showed me a different way. They showed me that loving someone could be so much more. They showed me family can in fact mean everything. Zeke and Uriah have always been like brothers to me, they were always there for me when I needed them the most and even when I tried to fight them off. Words can't express what that meant to me.

"Four!" Shauna yells out, I can hear her approaching the door to the house and the frantic tone in her voice. I didn't expect her to be here, but I guess Zeke must have called her. I open the door for her, as she rushes right into the house. She wraps her arms around me first and then breaks away quickly looking for Tris and the kids. She rushes to their side, pushing Zeke aside and taking all three of them into her arms instead. I clear my throat, hating the thought of interrupting them, but knowing that at any minute that Marcus and Eric could come back here and do god knows what to us. We have to get out of here, sooner rather than later. I tell Tris that we need to pack, keeping in mind our small trunk space now that my car is totaled. She nodes, as Shauna offers to sit with the kids and keep them entertained and calm while we get our things together.

Tris and I both worked in our room first, as she grabbed and threw everything from clothes, to toiletries, to precious photos of the kids on the bed. I ran out to the garage and grabbed all of our luggage from the shelf that we store them on. I can feel the adrenaline in my body racing through every vain, every cell. I can't stop looking around, making sure that Marcus or Eric haven't come back to finish what they started. I glance through the non existent glass window and see Zeke pacing back and forth while talking on the phone with someone. He is frantic and looking up and down the street, probably keeping a look out for us. I made it back upstairs and into our room in no time at all. I dropped one piece of luggage in each of the kid's rooms, as I took the other two into our bedroom. I throw the luggage on the bed and almost violently open it and begin to load them with the things that are piled on the bed. My hands shake from all of the adrenaline, as Tris paces back and forth thinking about what is and isn't needed. Once our bags are filled to the max, we push them down and zip them up as best as we can. My wife sure does think of everything, as she already grabbed a few blankets and pillows for the road. We leave the already packed luggage at the foot of the stairs as we continue packing in the kid's room. We tackle Ethan's room first, packing another large suitcase and then his pack back. Tris slams and opens drawers, as she piles things on the bed for me to pack. We do the same in Maddy's room. Both Tris and I are heartbroken as we struggle with what to take for the kids and what isn't really needed. But we have no other choice. Once everything is all packed, I carried the luggage downstairs to the front door, as Tris hurried off to pack some food and other necessities such as medical supplies...

Zeke asks to speak to me outside where little ears can't hear us. Although they witnessed all that happened this morning, we don't want to scare them more than they already are. For the first time since this all happened, I survey the outside of what used to be my front yard. The neighbors are all in shock, as they stare at what used to be my green, well trimmed lawn and our rose bushes. Did I mention the mailbox is no longer there either?

"Dude, I get why you have to go, I really do, but leaving with just the two of you is insane. There are two kids going with you… One of which is really like having three kids in one," Zeke persists. I know he doesn't mean to be rude or what not and he is just worried about us. "Think about it, you will be on the road with two kids…Not to mention who knows who is on your ass. You need reinforcement, you need more hands with you," Zeke says, making some sense. But we don't have time for that, we need to go now. "You need to also have someone that can help you stay in contact with the Detective on the case…"

"Zeke," I begin, but he doesn't give me the chance to rebuttal, as he holds his right hand up, stopping me from continuing.

"Just wait. Five more minutes won't make much of a difference," he says. Meanwhile Tris struggles down the hallway with her hands filled with bags and a playpen. I leave my best friend's side, to hurry over and help Tris, contemplating on what he is saying.

"Is everything okay?" Tris asks, no doubt wondering what the hell Zeke and I are talking about. I nod, not wanting her to stress out more than she already is.

"Everything is fine, Love," I assure her.

"I'm going to change the kids and then we can go," she says, hurrying back down the hall. I walk back to my best friend's side, handing him everything that is in my right hand, as my left is filled with more items such as a playpen, a stroller and some bags.

"Five minutes, whether he is here or not I'm gone," I say, finally giving in. Although I hate the thought of dragging yet another person into this… I also have to admit that Zeke is right. If I want to protect Tris and our kids to the fullest extent, I can't do this all alone.

"He'll be here, don't worry" Zeke assures me.

To his word, Zeke was right. I was just about to give up on Uriah showing up, when he did finally arrive, surprising us all with a Chevrolet cargo van. It's a really large vehicle for all of us, plus our belongings to fit in comfortably. I was really grateful that he actually thought about all of this for us. Although I was kinda surprised when Marlene popped out of the van, it did make sense though… She and Uriah always worked best with each other. They make a great team together. She always did best when it came to surveillance, while Uriah evened out the team when it came to the more physical aspect of their work. With no more words or time to waste, we began to pack the van with all of our bags and possessions that we could carry.

Flashback ends

"Everything is fine, I'm just checking in," I say, finally answering Zeke.

"I told you not to worry about anything while you are gone other than you, Tris and the kids," he says.

"Well I can't help but think that you may be sinking our life's work into the ground," I tease him.

"What, you don't trust me?" He asks. "Or is it that you miss me and can't think about going one day without me in your life?" He asks, teasing me. I chuckle at his banter… Okay maybe I do miss him, but he doesn't need to know that.

"Uriah, Tris and the kids went to the park…I thought I'd call and say hi and check in," I say, getting us back on track.

"Well it's a good thing you called…Where the fuck is the file for the Collar's account?" He asks, getting right down to business. I wouldn't expect anything else from him.

"I think Tris had it last on her desk," I answered. How I wish we could go back home.

Tris' POV

I take a deep breath of the ocean air, as I sit on a bench soaking up the warm sun. I sit back smiling at Uriah who is playing with the kids. I know after last week's episode with the kids, he said he didn't want to have kids for a while with Marlene, but deep down I know that he would make a wonderful father. He slides down the metal slide laughing with Maddy on his lap and Ethan right behind him. They really do love their Uncle Uriah.

I didn't realize how much I could miss something so small, until now. Living in Florida, especially near the shore, you get accustomed to smelling so many things. Small things like the smell of the ocean water in the air, or the continuous breeze that you feel living so close to the shore. Along with the fresh smell of seafood and the enjoyment of all the sunny beach days…. Living in Chicago is nothing like this.

This past week that we have been living in Key West, Florida has been an interesting experience to say the least, along with a lot of laughs shared with not only my husband and the kids, but also with our extended family, Uriah and Marlene. Words can't express how grateful I am to have them both with us, to not only keep us all safe, but to help keep our sanity intact.

Our first morning here is a perfect example of exactly what I mean. The hot sun peeking through the shutters outside of the windows woke me. I rolled out of bed, feeling both sore and refreshed at the same time. Obviously the night before left me fulfilled and satisfied, along with some soreness. I walked nearly tripping over my own two feet out of my room and down the hallway in search of some people who were awake. I could hear the loud TV, no doubt Maddy was watching the movie Frozen again for the umpteenth time.

I recall when Ethan was obsessed with watching the Jurassic World movies as if it was on continuous repeat. I think both Tobias and I were grateful when he finally began to find other interests. Not that he moved on from his love of dinosaurs, but at least we could enjoy watching TV again.

I turned the corner barely two feet out of the hallway when I froze standing still. Maddy was on the floor of the living room playing with her Olaf and watching Frozen again like I suspected. Ethan was sitting on the couch lost in his tablet games again, but what left me frozen in place was the scene that was playing out in front of me in the kitchen. Tobias stood at the stove, stirring something that I guessed was eggs at the time, while Uriah appeared to be whisking what I assumed was pancake batter. The music of the piano coming from the TV tells me that Maddy's favorite song is playing. I watch as Uriah and Tobias are both silently moving their lips to the lyrics of Elsa. I quickly cover my mouth with my hand, muffling the laughter that threatens to escape my lips as I continue watching Uriah and Tobias both singing to the song.

I almost lose my demeanor when I watch both of the men point their index fingers in the air, as if they are scolding someone as they continue to sing the words with the music. "Don't let them in. Don't let them see. Be the good girl you always have to be." I continue to watch and hear them, as they try to match their vocals along with the song. I swear the windows might crack from their out of tune singing and the loud volume of their voices.

Tobias and Uriah pull their fists close to their faces, as they continue singing the song. "Conceal, don't feel. Don't let them know." I watch as Tobias' right arm extends out with his palm turned upwards, as his left hand that is holding the spoon lifts it up to his mouth as if it's a microphone. Uriah on the other hand, has both of his arms extended out, he doesn't notice that he has splattered pancake mix all over the cupboards as he does it. I hope he knows that he is cleaning that shit up. "Let it go. Let it go. Can't hold it back anymore. Let it go, Let it go. Turn away and slam that door." They both act as if they are slamming the door, they both turn to now find themselves face to face with each other, both stunned from each other's presence.

I feel a hand land on my shoulder suddenly, I turn to find Marlene next to me. She is holding her mouth shut with her other hand like me, bending over in laughter watching the same scene that I am. Shit, when did she get here?

I turn back to the guys, wondering if they will continue or turn their attention back on camera. I laugh even louder when I see them now continue the song as a duo, both of them getting really into it as they continue to sing. Both unaware of Marlene's and my presence. Tobias takes Uriah's hand, spinning him in the small kitchen as they continue to sing.

"It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small. And the fears that once controlled me. Can't get to me at all."

Tobias holds out both hands, half bent over as if to stop anything from approaching him. Uriah takes over the singing as he continues on.

"It's time to see what I can do. To test my limits and break through." He throws the whisk in the air, catching it in all its messy form."no right, no wrong, no rules for me."

I swear Marlene and I are both about to fall over from laughing if it wasn't for each other holding up the other as they both join in together "Im free. Let it go. Let it go." Finally they notice the fallen limbs on the floor, uncontrollably laughing. They are both stunned as the blush on their cheeks appear on their faces. They are embarrassed that we caught them both. Needless to say, Marlene and I have tons of stuff to tease both of the men about for days.

"He really has grown a lot since the last time I saw him." I turn the instant I hear the all too familiar voice right beside me. I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't realize that someone sat down beside me. I feel both rage and fear run through my veins, as every inch of my body stiffens at the thought of him being here. "Time has definitely done you justice, Tris. You don't look so much like a child anymore," he chuckles as he runs his index finger up my thigh. Disgust runs through me at the thought of him touching me.

"Don't touch me," I say, my voice sounding colder than I have ever heard it before. I slide just the smallest inch away from him. I keep my arms placed across my chest, with my hands tightly balled up into fists. I risk glancing up towards Uriah and the kids. I see Uriah standing up straight with tension in his body as he notices that Eric is right next to me.

"Oh come on, don't be like that. You never forget your first…" Eric says, joking. If only I could forget my first. I continue to stare off towards Uriah and the kids, refusing to look towards Eric.

"You know you might want to make this easier on everyone, Tris. Just give up and come with me now…And we will leave that number guy and those two kids alone," he continues. I remain quiet, as I know Eric… Anything I have to say to him he wouldn't like, therefore it would only set him off. That would be the last thing I would want right now. "Just think about it… If you don't come with me you will force our hand. You wouldn't want that, now would you? I mean…Something like that could drive a person nuts. Just thinking about whether or not the lug nuts on your cargo van are tight, or if the house is going to explode at any moment from a gas leak. Or will I somehow get my hands on Ethan or that adorable little girl…."

"Don't you dare touch them!" I say coldly, as I finally turn towards him. I can see the smile on his face, as he is satisfied to finally get a reaction out of me.

"Dare? Well I'm that boy's father… My blood flows through his veins. Not like that number guy... Who couldn't take a few beatings from his daddy," Eric says.

"No you're not," I say, firmly. He has never been a father to that boy. There has only been one man that is a father to Ethan and that's not him.

"Yes, I am. It was me that put him in you…Not that ape. A piece of paper doesn't mean shit to me. I'll always be that boy's father." I can see the anger begin to rise in his voice. I take a deep breath, turning back to Uriah and the kids. I notice that Uriah has never taken his eyes off of me this whole time, he leans down towards Ethan demanding something of him. My guess is to stay with his baby sister and no matter what, stay put. Ethan looks up at his Uncle confused, but does not argue with him, as he grabs a hold of his sister's left hand. Uriah begins to march towards the bench that Eric and I are sitting at. "Well, I guess it's my time to go. I wouldn't want to create a scene after all. I'll be seeing you soon, Tris… One way or another you will be mine," Eric says, as he stands up and walks away, leaving me with my racing thoughts.

"Was that him? What the hell did he want?" Uriah says, almost a little too loudly, as he gestures in the direction that Eric just left in. I nod, not able to find my voice just yet. "Are you alright? Did he touch you?" Uriah asks, concern filling his voice.

"We need to leave," I say, urgently.

"Alright, let's get the kids. We will go back to the house…" Uriah begins.

"No, I mean we need to leave Key West right now. It's not safe here anymore," I say.

We got back to the house in no time, holding the kids tightly and close to us at all times. While Uriah and I explained what happened at the park, the kids busied themselves with another repeat of Frozen.

"What do you mean, he said he wanted you to go with him?" Tobias asks furiously. Since the moment Uriah and I told him and Marlene that we had a run in at the park with Eric, Tobias hasn't stopped pacing. I swear we are wasting precious time going over it again and again….

"Tobias please, we have to leave. They know where we are. They threatened you and the kids. After giving them great detail of what could happen," I explain to them that I'm on the verge of losing all of my sanity at the thought of what Eric said to me. I explain every threat that Eric said to me at the park. Uriah's eyes nearly pop out of his head, as he realizes how serious this all is. He walks straight out of the house and towards the van.

"What is he doing?" I ask.

"He is probably checking the van to see if it's been tampered with. He has a degree in engineering," Marlene says, looking out the window. "You should start packing. We will meet at the van in five minutes," she says, as she turns away from the window and down the hall towards her room.

"Why don't I pack while you stay here with the kids," Tobias says. I'm not sure if he is offering to pack so he can have some space to cool down or to help me. Either way I nod my head, giving him the space that he needs.

The moment we are back on the road, Uriah takes out the last burner phone we have, dialing a number that I'm not quite sure of. But I get that answer almost as soon as I ask, as he breaks the news that we were discovered by Eric. The person on the other end of the phone then begins rattling off directions for us. Uriah places him on speaker phone, so he can write down the instructions we are given. It's then that I finally realize that Uriah has been speaking with Will all of this time. Tobias continues to glance between the road and the directions that Uriah writes down… Probably curious to see where we are headed to next.

"You'll be staying at the Factionless shelter. When you get there ask for the director's assistant, Theresa. She'll take you in and introduce you to the leader. Drive safe. Call me when you arrive," Will says, as the line goes dead.

A/N

Up next, Factionless. What do you think will happen next? What are your thoughts on this chapter?

Stay tuned for next Tuesday to find out!

Revised with: FDFobsessed

Like always happy reading, stay safe and healthy

Trini