Chapter Six

Ana was uncertain as to what the cause of her insanity was - the sound of fingers typing away at their keyboards or the seconds that slowly ticked by as they waited for Jeanine and Jack Kang to exit from their meeting. Ana had been surprised when Jeanine had approved of Jonathan's work in Candor and granted them an extension in their deadline. Jeanine had been in a good mood these past couple of days and Elsa was sure it wasn't because of the work they were doing - something else was going on.

"Your brother just called."

Or maybe it was the sound of her obnoxious co-worker - the job-stealing slut bunny (Elsa's words not Ana's, she wanted to clarify). "Is he on line two, I can take it," Ana went to press the phone line but stopped midway.

"He asked me out on a date."

"You're a liar," Ana snapped her head at Nita.

"I guess he finally got over that gold-digger."

"Tris was never a gold-digger," Ana slowly stood up to match Nita's stance. "And you, of all people, have no right to call her that. Besides, I stand by my statement. There is no way my brother would ask you out on a date. You are not his type."

"I'm everyone's type, even yours." She sauntered out of Ana's office; head raised high. Ana rolled her eyes as Elsa appeared in her doorway with a betrayed look on her face.

"I thought you said I could have first crack at your brother when he was done mourning."

"He's not done mourning," Ana waved her hand in the air irritatingly. She was not even sure if you can call it 'mourning'. Although he never said it, she could tell that Tobias was still sad about it. "And I did not give you first crack at him," she argued. "I didn't give anyone first crack at him. I don't even remember saying that. And my brother is not someone who women should get catty about. I told you this before, his first and true love is the game."

"My first and true love is this job, what is your point," Elsa stated. "Besides, you're wrong. You said to wait until he was over Prior."

"Yes, I recommended that you wait, not have 'first crack'," Ana worded again with a shake of her head.

Her workmates could be hilarious sometimes - especially Elsa.

Elsa snapped her fingers and pointed at her. "Uh-huh, I got you to smile." She put her head out the doorway. "I got her to smile, Jane. You owe me drinks."

"You bet on whether or not you could get me to smile?"

"Just drinks," Elsa waved her hand and sat down in the chair opposite of Ana. "I know you're worried about what's happening in that meeting room with Jeanine and Jack, but we did all that we could. We even got the deadline pushed back in our favor. Things are going well. As for Captain Slut bunny..."

"Can you stop calling her that? I thought of that when she walked in."

Elsa laughed. "Well, it's true."

"What if it slips and I say it out loud?"

"Then I'll personally buy you all the drinks you want at the Pit," Elsa added to which she leaned forward. "Nita Carmichael is just trying to get a ruse out of you. She realized that she failed at her game to take away your job, our job. Now she actually has to do work and she's failing to keep up the pace that Jeanine sets for us. And now she wants to mess with something else of yours that she knows she cannot have."

Ana paused and looked at her. "Do you really think Tobias asked her out? I mean, maybe he's doing that to get back at me for dating Eric."

Elsa gave her a look that said: 'get real', before saying exactly that. "Get real, Ana. Your brother is not like that. The two of you like each other enough to not disrespect each other. And it is just like you told her, she is not his type. Sure, he thought she was beautiful. There is no guy - or female - who can deny that. But she is ugly on the inside. Your brother knows that." She paused and then donned a serious, concerned expression on her face. "How is he doing? Really?"

Ana sighed and shook her head. "I tried to ask him about it a couple days ago."

"What made you bring her up?"

"She was at the Pedrad's house for their party," Ana answered. "Uriah insisted that she be there. They were her friends, too. He didn't know that she was there until after. She is married now, thinking of starting a family. Things he already knew. It's been years, I mean," Ana paused again and sighed.

Tris Prior had been Tobias' college sweetheart. She had stayed with him from the very beginning of his career and was not into all the flash and fame that came with it. To her, he was always just 'Tobias', not 'Four' - and definitely not an Eaton. Tobias had told Ana that he wanted to propose. He purchased a ring and picked a date and setting when he wanted to pop the question. And then their father found out. Her brother won the World Series that year - but lost the girl he loved. Ana still wasn't sure what exactly happened, only that she knew Tobias' baseball career came first.

It always did.

A player was always a player.

When her brother heard that Tris had moved on, he decided that he too would try to move on - but he never made a date stick. And she hated that sometimes she would see the regret on his face whenever he looked at his teammates like Zeke - those who were in relationships and yet still had the career to go with it.

"He said he's happy for her, glad that someone is treating her the way she supposed to be treated. She asked if I could help her with a project she is doing. I asked him if it would be okay."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I just knew that he would be weird about it. Me, hanging out with his ex. I think deep down inside he is still hurting. My brother when he falls, he falls hard - he's an Eaton. He never does anything half-assed. That is one thing good about my family, you could say. We always go for win - it's a homerun or nothing."

Ana looked over at Elsa and smiled.

"Why don't you come to the All-Star game as my guest? I know the two of you haven't really met each other before. You could talk and see what happens?"

"See if I turn his frown upside down," Elsa smiled widely and seductively moved her chest.

"Not that," Ana went to reach over and hit Elsa's arm.

They both laughed until Elsa looked at Ana with a serious expression. "How are things between you and Coulter?"

She noticed how Elsa's eyes narrowed slightly. "Can you at least try to be nicer to him? He's my boyfriend. And as such, he's going to be around. I can't have you snarling at him when he comes down the hallways to get me for lunch or after work."

"I didn't snarl."

"Yesterday, when he picked me up after work, did you not bare your teeth at him and threaten to scratch his eyes out after he told you 'Have a good evening'?"

"He was mocking me and being sarcastic."

"Seriously, what do you have against Eric? Why is it that everyone in my life does not trust him?"

"He hurt your brother, Ana. He's going to do the same to you."

"Correction, my brother charged at him because he couldn't deal with the fact that he got struck out," Ana shook her head.

"Coulter is leaving, you know that right?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The Blues sent a trainer down from their team to help Coulter. According to the reporters, he's looking like he's ready to get back out there on the field."

Ana thought for a moment and then took a deep breath. She and Eric hadn't discussed what would happen after he had left - although he had tried. And that conversation had always made her nervous. She was feeling things for Eric that she had never felt before, but she knew that the game, that baseball would always be first place. Regardless of what she was starting to feel, he would leave and that would be the end. Seeing Tris, reminded her that her brother chose baseball. Every player always did when it came to playing the sport that they loved.

"I was the one who contacted the trainer from the Blues."

"You used your connections to help him," Elsa looked taken aback.

"He really wants to get out there, Elsa."

"Dear God, you're in love with him," Elsa replied as Ana shook her head and went to stand. Elsa stopped Ana just as she was about to walk out of her office. "Ana..."

"I'm not in love with him, Elsa," she closed her eyes and tried not to cry. "I care about him, yes. But none of that matters. Not when you're dating a player. Remember that before you get caught in feelings for my brother."

Eric relaxed his stance, got into position and threw the ball once more.

"Strike and an out," the umpire announced as Eric sighed in relief and rotated his shoulder. He looked to the stands where he had hoped to see Ana, but she was not there. He was not sure if it was because of her work or her hatred for the game. Regardless, a part of him really hoped that she would have come out for him.

He watched as the manager came out and the Rocket team members came up to the mound. They let him throw a few innings and he was looking sharp, but they did not want him to exert himself, especially with the George Wu here. It helped that Ana had gotten George Wu to come down from the Blues. He had looked at the arm, gave Eric different exercise routines and even switched Eric to running more reps as he had when he had been with the Blues.

"You did good, son. Rest that arm," the manager said.

A few others, including Ace, clapped him on the back, bumped mitts or gave him nods of encouragement. He could see a couple of them still in awe that he had taken the mound and struck out every player in the last few innings. There was still a lot of baseball left to play, but sometimes it demoralizes another team to know that an injured player came back and struck them all out - fifteen straight outs. He smiled and felt the adrenaline course through him in a way that he had not felt in a long time.

George clapped his hands as he sat down next to him. They went over a few things and he gave Eric a cool heating pad.

After they had won, it was time for the interviews - and of course, the fans. Eric had been called out to the pitcher's mound and to sign baseballs several times - the fans refusing to leave until they got him to sign or post for a picture. And the reporters had been there like he had never seen before. All of them wanting a piece of Slick Rick Coulter and his first time back in the game - even though it was the minors.

By the time he made it back to the clubhouse, he was surprised that there were still people left. A part of him just wanted to take a shower, but he heard the laughing of the crowd that was by his locker. The group was talking about going out to celebrate, but he did not feel much like celebrating. He wanted to get home to Ana.

And that was a new feeling entirely.

He was midway to unbuttoning his jersey, feeling the aches and normal tightness that came with pitching. His shoulder felt solid. And of course, he had to do just as George had instructed him - "Stop fighting with Eaton!" Eric did not know how he was going to do that, especially if Ana would not be there to calm them both down. He had just thrown off his uniform and felt the small pain, as if it were reminding Eric that he had hurt it months ago.

"What are you guys still doing here," Eric called out as the group moved to show Ana sitting down on the bench.

Ana was wearing a white dress and white heels - not your usual game attire. She looked like a fantasy standing there, with her long hair, framing her face and flowing down, falling nicely against her chest. Did the dress have to be a V-neck? Her cleavage was on display for every guy here in the clubhouse.

"We were keeping your girl company while you finished up your interview," Ace patted his arm and went to leave, as did everyone else.

"Hey, Ace," Ana called out.

"The Pit. We'll be there," Ace pointed at her and then gave her a thumbs up.

She turned back to him, and Eric saw the smile that she gave to Ace versus the one she gave to him was different. It made him feel special.

"I'm really happy to see you, Ana. Honestly, I did not think you would show. How was work?"

He did not miss how the smile disappeared. "The meeting wasn't what she wanted. He's stalling and she knows it. I would stall, too, if I were him. He's basically giving up on everything that his father had worked so hard for. He had hoped to pass it down to his son one day. And now, my boss is coming to steal it. Of course, she did her work. Or should I say, we did her work for her. She asked about you," Ana added, glancing at him nervously. "She wants to meet you. I told her that maybe when the project is over."

"You worried she might punch me, too," Eric chuckled as she shook her head, and the smile came back to her face.

"To everyone else - my family, especially - you are Slick Rick. But to me, you're Eric. And I like keeping that side of you."

It was the most honest confession of feelings, perhaps even the deepest admission of love that he would hear from her and a part of that hurt him in ways that the injured shoulder never would. He felt his heart both pick up and stop. He wanted to respond the same way, tell her that she could have both of them anytime that she pleased. But he knew that tonight was not the right time.

"How did you even get in here?"

"Oh, you know," she smiled, her teasing personality coming out, and leaned her body against his, "I'm kind of baseball royalty," she rolled her eyes before pressing a kiss to his chest. "All I had to do was drop my name with security and he let me walk in."

He grabbed onto her waist and pulled her tighter to him. "Well, does the princess of baseball royalty think she can sneak in a shower with the pitcher?"

"Here," she pulled back, sticking out her tongue. "I'm not exposing myself in a clubhouse. No, thank you. I may have come here to support my boyfriend, but in no way am I about to 'get it on' in the clubhouse showers."

It gave him a thrill that she called him her boyfriend. Hell, if he were being honest, it gave him a thrill when the guys recognized that she was his girl. Add that on to the fact that she said that she liked keeping him as hers - damn, he was falling for her, hard.

"If you want me in a shower, we'll do that at my apartment or yours," she glanced around, "but not here."

"Shame, you look amazing tonight," he pulled her back and gave her deep kiss, loving the feel of her in his arms and the fact that despite he did not see her during the game, she had showed up. He groaned, though in pain, as his muscles reminded him that he got a workout today. "Although to be honest, after today's game, I don't even know if I'll be able to do shower sex," he grunted as he moved to release her and went to sit down on the bench.

"Well, maybe you should lay off those curveballs. You struck out the side twice. And then, you decide to throw curveballs?" She shook her head. "I think you made Eastwood shit his pants."

Eric looked up at her and watched as she came to sit down beside him, pulling off the patch and working into his shoulder. He closed his eyes and let her ease the tension in his muscle before reaching out to grab her hand. "Wait, you saw me strike out Eastwood? How long were you here?"

"Long enough to see you get ahead of the count on Summers. You really don't make it easy on those young sluggers," she smiled.

"It seems like every year, I'm getting older, and the batters keep getting younger. Younger, stronger and more arrogant than before," he shook his head.

"Maybe I should see one of those batters for my shower then," she teased. He was about to respond when she mumbled something about getting him to stretch out his arm once more before they went to sleep.

He would have asked how she knew about it, but that would have been a foolish question. Her family was a pitching and hitting legend in the league. It was only then did Eric realize that they had been talking baseball - one of the few times that they did. He knew that she would have some sort of knowledge of the game, but to hear her talking now, helping him break down his first game back, he decided that it was too late for him. Forget 'falling', he had already fallen.

He kissed her hand softly and said if they were not going to shower together, then she had to leave, because a part of him - a very large part of him - was telling him to forget about his shoulder and just take her right there where they were sitting.

"And the last thing we both need is word getting out that I defiled Eaton's sister on a bench in the clubhouse."

She smiled and kissed his cheek. "I think a lot of people know that I've been thoroughly defiled by Slick Rick Coulter. But you are right about the clubhouse part. Besides, I'll wait until you're back in the majors for that sort of thing," she teased as she went to stand, giving him one last kiss. "I'll wait for you outside."

"So, that's how you Eatons operate? I get it now," Ace teased as he took a swig of beer before looking at two of the other players that had joined Eric and Ana at the booth in the Pit.

Ana's cousin and her fiancé were there, and Eric had promised them a favor. Of course, Ana was cashing in on that favor and he did not realize that would involve members of the Rockets.

"It's only for three hours. One hour, if you think about it," she added as the other two guys, Chase and Austin, listened to her. "We're just trying to get the word out there. And people will come for a chance to meet athletes."

"We're part of a minor league team," Austin argued.

Ana leaned forward in her chair and smiled, "yes, you folks are. But I have it on good authority that the Blues are calling up three other players with Eric." Chase spat out his beer as Austin leaned back in his chair. Ace had a knowing look on his face. "Something tells me that you already knew?"

Ace chuckled and looked at Eric. "George Wu had mentioned something, said that I was one of the players he had spoken to the manager about, but I didn't want to presume anything until it was certain."

That was the good thing about Ace. Eric had noticed that despite his talent and skill, Ace did not flaunt it like other players. Most young players coming up in the sport seemed to have this chip on their shoulder, like they had to prove themselves. Ace Foster let his talent speak for itself. And if Eric could hear and see it, then he knew that the Blues would, too. However, something told him that the way Ana spoke about it - it was as if she knew with a certainty that it was happening.

"Peter Hayes, the quarterback of the Marauders, and a couple of his teammates are going to be there during the second hour. He is asking a couple of his friends from the other NFL teams. I think even Kenny might make an appearance," she said as McCormack himself came by to place another round of drinks at their table.

"I don't know if my name will bring in a large crowd, but I think I got a few thousand followers who I could inform about it on twitter," he said before nodding and taking off.

A few thousand, Eric wanted to snort at that.

"I don't understand," Austin leaned forward. "You could get your brother's team to fill out that third hour slot, why do you need us?"

Eric felt the hair on the back of his neck stand at the mention of Eaton. He tried not to show it, but Ana glanced at him quickly before leaning forward to deliver the news.

"The animal shelter is part of a program headed by Tris Prior."

"Why does that name sound familiar," Chase asked.

Ana licked her lips and sat back. "She was Miss USA a few years back."

"That's not it," Chase shook his head and then looked at her again. "Did she date a player or something?"

"Yes, she dated my brother." That caught all of their attention, even Eric's. He glanced at her to see that she had grown slightly nervous before McCormack surprisingly appeared and placed a glass of dull pink, slightly brown liquid in front of Ana. Ana took the glass and drank most of it before turning back to the other players at the table. "It didn't really end on good terms between the two of them. And she is married to Peter Hayes now. He'll be there with some of his team. I think an appearance from her ex would make everyone uncomfortable."

"And yet, you're going to be there?"

Ana had no comment, but to sip the remainder of her drink. It was not something she wanted to speak about so Eric jumped in and added that he would gladly show up to sign a few autographs and take a few pictures. Ace caught on quickly and nodded towards Eric, agreeing that he did not mind putting the word out there that he would be at the animal shelter to show his support to the foundation and to the animals. The others agreed and Chase quickly changed the subject once more to ask if Ana was a worthy competitor in pool.

"Or is the princess too scared," Chase stated as Paul Taylor walked by then and snorted.

"You're about to play against an Eaton. Good luck with that."

Ana stood up and placed a hand on her hip. "As I told my workmate earlier today. We are Eatons. We don't do anything half-assed. It's the homerun or nothing. Loser pays for the drinks."

"Oh, you're on," Chase stood up as did everyone else.

Eric had to admit that as he watched her walk around the pool table, stick in hand, calling her shots and shooting the ball in the designated pocket, that he could see the two of them spending a lifetime together. She had her moments where she lit up the room with just her shy smile. And then the other moments where she had this look of utter confidence on her, that it made Eric want to submit to her every demand. She was feisty and wild, sexy and fun, affectionate and doting. She called for Eric to come help her do a trick shot. Of course, the trick shot involved some touching and ended with her giving him a kiss. He did not miss Ace's teasing wink in his direction.

"You're a goner," Ace said as Eric went to sit back down. "How's Eaton taking it?"

"I haven't spoken to him since he showed up at Ana's apartment."

"He's going to be pissed you're helping out his ex."

Eric chuckled at that. "That's the other reason I agreed to doing it."

They said goodnight to the guys while Ana and Eric took an Uber. Fortunately, the guy was a Blues fan. He did not spend too much time speaking about baseball - mostly asked about Eric's arm and hoped that everything was going good for him in Dauntless. Although, he did glance at Ana and say that his time here obviously is going well. The driver had his rookie card - something Eric did not know they still made - but it was at his house. Eric was about ready to give him the number of the Rockets marketing manager until he remembered the animal shelter and said that they would be there this weekend and to bring the trading card then for Eric to sign.

"That was nice of you - to help out a fan like that," Ana commented when they entered her apartment. She took off her jacket slowly and went to take off her heels, but Eric stopped her.

"Can I see you with only these heels on?"

Ana looked over her shoulder at him. "I thought you said you were in too much pain."

"For the shower," he pulled her close and kissed her deeply. "I wouldn't argue if we take it nice and slow."

"You wouldn't argue, huh," she pulled away, teasing him as she slowly pulled her dress down and walked away from him. All she had on now was a lacy piece of underwear that showed the round cheeks of her ass as she walked away on those heels. Apparently, she had been bra-less today and the thought both irritated and excited him. "You coming," she looked over her shoulder and he caught just the shape of her breast teasing him behind her long brown wavy hair.

"Not yet," he replied with a smirk which made her laugh and continue towards her bedroom.

He was not joking around about being in pain, but right now the only ache he had was in his pants. Eric followed her to her bedroom, stripping slowly as he went.

The event at the animal shelter had been a success. The shelter was on the outskirts of Dauntless - closer to Amity if Ana had to describe it. She had been busy helping Tris and a few of Tris' friends inside with the animals. She had been there when Peter Hayes arrived, kissing Tris adoringly and staring at her lovingly, until Christina had walked in and called him a loser, which would have caused an argument if Tris hadn't stopped it. Peter barely noticed her - then again, Tris didn't introduce her as Four's sister, or her ex's sister, or even as Anastasia Eaton. It was just 'Ana'. And she liked it that way.

"She looks happy," Blossom commented next to her.

"She does," Ana looked away from watching them.

"You can have both you know - the player and the man." Ana stopped and looked up at Blossom. "That's what you're worried about, aren't you?"

"Don't you ever wonder if Kenny gets bored with his life? If maybe..."

"Ana, not all professional athletes are your father. Not all husbands, fiancés, or boyfriends are like your father."

"The game always comes first, Bloss."

"Really," her cousin folded her arms over her shoulder. "Because right now there's a guy out there who convinced his teammates to come and be here for you - on a day that they could have done practice, training or even conditioning," her voice started to raise. "He came here for you, Ana. Not for the game. Don't let what your father and brother did hold you back from being happy."

She continued to help out, placing puppies, kittens, dogs and cats - even a few goats and rats had been adopted out. Yes, you heard that correctly. Rats. To each his own, she assumed. But as she saw the boy walk away and call the rat he had 'Emile' and the look in his eyes as he got a new cage to house his new pet rat, Ana knew that it would be loved. A lot of these animals had sad beginnings and it was nice to see them getting happy endings.

Emile, the rat, had been one of the first animals she helped after returning from her break, checking on Eric, when a woman waiting in the back of the room walked up to her. She noticed the woman a little earlier, but she didn't comment on anything.

"Hi, I'm Ana. Welcome to the Dauntless..."

"I know who you are. It's nice to meet you," she smiled politely and held out her hand. "My name is Myra. My husband is Edward. Edward Ferrars."

"Oh, did he have an appointment scheduled to meet one of the shelter's animals," Ana went to look down at the list.

"You really don't recognize my husband's name," the Myra woman appeared shocked.

"I'm sorry," Ana said slowly as Blossom laughed and came to stand next to her.

"She may be an Eaton. But she does not know who the players are," Blossom said, extending her hand to introduce herself. "My fiancé is Kenny McCormack."

"Well, isn't this just the place to be if you have a significant other who is a player," Myra replied as they both laughed.

"Myra's husband plays for the Blues, Ana. He's their catcher."

"Wow, I'm so sorry. I really don't pay attention..."

"It's alright," Myra waved her off. "I wanted to introduce myself to the woman who has caught the eye of my husband's brother. They're not really brothers, but they've been like it for a long time."

Ana went to apologize again, because she did remember the name now - mostly his stats and his reputation off the field for being one of the few players that had a high IQ score and sometimes tutored student athletes during the off season. He had made a name for himself with her father as well when he had argued that more kids needed to remember that they were 'student-athletes' and that the title of student came first. To her father, nothing was more important than being the best athlete that you could be. And if you failed a test or two, none of that mattered unless you pitched a no-hitter. She knew that from past experience.

Myra continued to say that it was okay that she had forgotten about Edward. She just seemed like an overall nice person. And she was genuine. She didn't appear to be the usual type of 'girlfriend' she saw with most professional athletes. Don't get her wrong, Myra was gorgeous. But she wasn't a cleat-chaser, like the ones Ana had normally seen going after Toby or the others. And before you knew it, Blossom, Myra and Ana appeared to be the best of friends by the time the event was done.

Eric had wrapped his arm around her and pressed a kiss to her forehead, saying that he hoped she didn't mind, but he had invited Edward Ferrars and Sam Kohli. Ana shook their hands, glad to meet them in person as she had heard about not only Edward but also Sam - especially since they were part of Slick Rick Coulter's team. Dinner at her father's house wasn't complete unless they threw in some insults for the other Blues players. For dessert, though. Slick Rick insults were always the main course.

Sam had wanted to meet Kenny because he had plans to open a restaurant after he retires.

"Perhaps after another run at the World Series," Sam said, smiling at Eric who replied that maybe it could be possible.

Sam's wife was beautiful, both inside and out. And if Ana had to picture herself being part of 'Baseball Wives' - if they ever made a show of it - she would love to be friends with Myra Ferrars and Amara Kohli. They were kind and gentle - and their husbands appeared to be so in love with them. It made Ana think about what Blossom said that she could have the man and the player.

They hadn't stayed for dinner. Sam had brought his two daughters with him and one of them had wanted to take home a dog. She said goodbye to them as Tris helped Sam, his wife and his daughters adopt the nice golden retriever.

Toby had texted her throughout the event - just to ask how it had gone. And she sent him pictures of three different families taking home an animal they had found. It had been a success and she wished that she could share it with him but knew that things would have been weird for him.

And if not him, then definitely for Tris.

"If that's Blossom, tell her, that she and Kenny are more than welcome to come over - but only if they bring food," Eric said as he sat down on the couch next to her.

"It's my brother."

Eric tensed slightly before turning to her. "Is he mad that you were helping out his ex?"

Ana sighed and turned to him. "He's not mad. He knows more than anything that I love Tris. Always did and probably always will."

She saw him contemplating something for a moment and decided to let him continuing thinking. He finally turned to her. "I don't know how to approach this topic. I knew you didn't feel comfortable talking about Tris at the Pit the other night. But, I have a feeling that understanding how Tris fit into your family might shed some light."

"On what?"

"Everything," he answered.

And he was right.

"Tris stood up for me when no one else would. She got Tobias to defy our father - the very first time that he did. And he continued to do so. It wasn't because Tris was demanding or controlling. Anyways..."

"Ana," Eric interrupted her as she went to respond to her brother's text. "Tell me."

"Can we get some food first? Maybe pizza. I don't feel like cooking tonight. It's been a long day." Eric nodded and she got up to call the pizza, placing an order in for a large meat lover's and a large vegetarian. Yes, she loved her veggie and meat pizzas. She was weird like that sometimes.

She walked back and told him that it would be a few minutes. He turned on the TV, but it was just noise compared to the thoughts and feelings that was swirling in her mind as she settled against him. He got up to get the pizza and returned as they sat and ate in silence.

Ana had just opened a beer and finished her third slice of pizza when she decided that it was now or never.

"The first time that Tris came over to our house for dinner was also the last," she began. "I, uh," she paused and took another drink from her beer. "I was getting disciplined by Marcus for blowing my game. We had lost so badly, but my arm was sore. I told him that earlier. He said he would show me how an arm in pain felt. He was whipping my arm with his belt. I never got the belt. Tobias always took it - for both of us."

"God, I had no idea. I knew he was an ass, but this... Why didn't you or your brother report him?"

"We were young. Scared. Toby, he," she stopped and tried not to let the memories overwhelm her. "Toby started getting beatings after Evelyn died. And then after he left for university, Marcus had to take it out on someone."

"Ana..."

"It stopped after that night that Tris came over for dinner."

"What?"

"I don't know what she said or if she threatened him, but it stopped. Tris came in with Toby. Marcus told me to keep quiet and went down to meet Tris - started verbally berating Tobias like he usually did, but this time it was because Tobias had gotten a girlfriend during the season. No girls during the season. That was Marcus's rule with us. Even I couldn't date during softball. Nothing came before the game."

She hadn't been able to go to any homecoming, winter formal or prom either. Then again, neither had Tobias. Practice and training were always done before homework. Rain or shine, wind or snow - they had better have been out there practicing and training. Because nothing came before the game.

"Tris knew - the second she looked at me. My father said I had a rough game, but she knew it wasn't the game. Tobias had already warned her what our father was like. She grabbed me and told Marcus that she was taking me away. The next day we went back, though. But I will never forget that she was the only one who pulled me out when I needed someone to, when Tobias needed someone to. My father never laid a hand on us after that, but the threat of it was still there." It's probably why she still flinches whenever she hears her father yell at her.

Eric said nothing but pulled her to him and rubbed his hand up and down her back.

"I also found out that day that Evelyn wasn't my mom."

That had been the harshest news that Marcus could deliver to her. He called her mother all sorts of names that day - said that she was just like her, thinking with heart and not with her head. That was the first time he told her to get her head out of the clouds - something that he and Jeanine would constantly say to her ever since that day. She hated it.

"It's one of the reasons why we went back. I needed to find out if it was true. Marcus confessed that he was having an affair. It's why Tobias and I look so different. It made sense then - why Evelyn had never really liked me. And then Tris, she had encouraged me to find my real mom. She had been with me, when I found Blossom and all these cousins and aunts and uncles that I never knew I had."

She remembered Blossom had been the first one to break away from the group at the airport and hug her, clung to her more like it.

"My mother had passed away by then, but Tobias and I have another brother. My mother thought Marcus would marry her. When she went to tell him that she was pregnant a second time, she found out he was already married. He took me away from her. Our brother's name is Matthew. Matthew Kealoha. My mother was part Hawaiian, did you know that?"

He didn't answer and she didn't expect him to. She felt that if he interrupted her or tried to give her sympathy right now, she'd kick him out. And he must have known it.

"It didn't look good that Marcus had an affair. He had just been named the league's player of the year for the second year in a row. Our grandfather just brought the Abnegation Royals. They had won the Super Bowl. He was talking about buying Dauntless United. And he wanted to take over as commissioner for the league. He did not need that kind of publicity. So, Marcus had Evelyn raise me as their daughter. Aunt Jeanine made sure that her little sister did not say a word about where I came from - Marcus paid millions to ensure no one would ever know. It almost came out a couple years ago when Matthew was drafted."

"Amity Longhorns," Eric mumbled as she sat up to look at him. "Your brother plays for the Longhorns. That's why you have a pen for their team."

Ana laughed then and smiled back at Eric. "The Eaton blood runs strong in our family. Matthew inherited our father's skills and talents. He was rookie of the year. And he always has a good season, even if he hasn't made it to the ship. I've never watched him play - but I've seen a few highlights. And," she paused and sighed, "we played catch once. He grew up with a loving family. One that encouraged him and supported him. I envied him for so many years - after we met. When he got drafted, I got so angry. Told him he could be anything he wanted to be, why did he have to be like our father?"

Ana felt the anger rising and recalled the argument she had with Matthew. She had felt so betrayed by him. Everywhere she turned, someone in her family was being part of this sport.

"What you had to endure, Ana - it's horrible. And a part of me can understand why you have some resentment towards baseball."

"Some resentment? To me, baseball took away my mom. It took away Tris. It took away Matthew. And on days where I had to bear our father's disproval, it took away Tobias. That is a selfish thing for me to say, but I was a child, a teenager - just wanting to live my life and have fun. Marcus made sure we knew what was important - that was his career, then later it was Tobias's career. Nothing came before that."

"Your brother loves you, Ana. Both of them do. I have met Kealoha before. I can tell by the type of person he is that no matter what the circumstances are - you are his sister."

"Toby brought me this apartment - all of the things in it, too. Matthew had pictures. And some of the furniture is the same as those that my mother had in her home," she looked around. "I told Tobias he could take this apartment and shove it up our father's ass but then I realized a couple months later that it wasn't him saying that he was sorry for our father being a jerk, sorry that his mom never loved me, sorry that I spent a lot of time growing up alone or sorry that I didn't get to have a loving family. It was his way of saying 'thank you', thank you for being there with him. Because I knew he needed me just as much as I needed him. Tris was the one to tell me that - just after they broke up. She knew and understood why he did it."

"It is a very nice place, Ana. And to be honest, the first time I walked in here, I felt the hominess of the place. I remember thinking that - it looked more like a home than an apartment in the city." He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. "And now I understand why."

Because it was a part of her mother - a mother she never got to meet. She cried wet and ugly tears then, only to have him pull her closer, moving his hand soothingly and comfortingly up and down her back.

It had been a physically exhausting day, helping the animals at the shelter. And now it was an emotionally tiring one now.

Ana could not put her finger on the exact moment that her and Eric's relationship had changed. They were only supposed to be fake dating. But here they were – cuddled up together with him comforting her after she rehashed condensed versions of her childhood with him.

A sudden pang of anxiety crawled up into her chest. They were dating – actually dating. And she couldn't understand how or when it had happened. And what hurt more was that Elsa and Blossom were right – she was falling for Eric.

And that was not part of the plan.