Eric chuckled, snapping a picture on his phone before handing her the device. Issy's breath caught in her throat when she saw the image. On the underside of her cast was almost a replica of Eric's maze tattoo's on his forearms. "Do you like it?" Eric almost sounds hesitant and when Issy looks to him, he's watching her carefully.

"Yeah," She says, staring at the man himself. "Yeah I do."

Later in the evening, Issy was visited by Cody and Kayden. After the usual check on how she is doing, the boys sit back and relax into the chairs.

"– They're all gooey and yuck!" Cody sticks his tongue out in disgust.

"Who are we on about?" Issy wasn't really paying attention.

Kayden smirked. "Bree and Noah."

Issy laughed, sharing a look with Kayden. "One day you're gonna find a guy or a girl or whatever and you're gonna fall head over heels in love with 'em.

"I wouldn't be that bad.."

"People show their love in different ways." Kayden shrugs. "It just depends on the couple really. For instance, Bree and Noah would be more open about their love due to their faction origins. Candors are open as fuck when it comes to everything and Amities are all about showing love and shit. That's why they're gonna be all gooey."

Cody frowns, not quite understanding the point Kayden was trying to make. "But, no offence, you're from amity and it's not the same between you and Flare."

Kayden shrugs again. "Yeah but you have to remember that despite growing up in Amity, I wasn't really the 'loved child'. Callie was the favourite because there isn't anything bad he can do –"

"Even though he transferred out." Issy interrupts.

"– And Adele was dotted on because she was the youngest and the only girl." Cody leans over and rubs Kayden on the shoulder. "I was kinda brought up differently."

Cody thinks it over before nodding. "I guess that makes sense." There's a moment before Cody starts grinning. "So when do ya think they'll start popping out babies?"

Both Kayden and Issy groan half-heartedly, rolling their eyes at Cody's half mocking enthusiasm.

xXx

Her friends and family seemed to be rolling on some kind of well-rehearsed schedule because not long after Cody and Kayden took off, Zeke, Uriah and an older looking women walked in. As the boys smiled, Zeke took the seat on Issy's left while Uri and the woman took the seats to Issy's right.

"Hello Issy, it's nice to finally meet you." The woman said. "I'm Hana and the mother of these hooligans."

Issy's mouth made a small 'o' shape as she noticed the similarities between the three. They had the same dark skin and eye colour but whereas the boys were tall and lanky, the woman was short and plump. Issy fights the smirk off her face as she glances from the boys to Hana. "My condolences."

Hana snorted as the boys took their time to understand what had just been said.

"HEY!" Zeke shouted, offended and his eyes twinkling. "Don't talk about Uriah like that!" This time both Hana and Issy snorted as Uriah finally caught up with the joke and smacked Zeke.

"That's not funny!" Uriah shouted back. "Mama!" Hana simply shrugged her shoulders, laughing.

"Hey Zeke?" Issy started. "Did ya know that Uriah's scared of cats?"

"What?" Zeke chokes a laugh before turning to gaze at his little brother in disbelief. "No!"

Uriah puffed out his chest and tried to look intimidating. Instead, he looked adorable and Issy wanted to lean over and pinch his cheeks. "I'm not afraid! I'm just slightly unnerved…"

Issy laughed before launching into the stories of Uriah and Artemis while staying at the cabin. They laughed at Uriah's expense before Zeke told Issy of the changes that had been made in the garage to accommodate Artemis. Apparently all the metal beams that run along the walls and the ceiling have been wrapped in coarse material so the resident ball of fluff has grip. There's a little cat flap by the garage doors, courtesy of the Weapons Department, that only opens to the encrypted chip that was injected into Artemis herself. The flap was only big enough to fit an average sized cat and not much else. At first most of the other squaddies and soldiers that came and went from the garage were unsure about the new addition but they quickly took the change in stride and began joking that Artemis was their mascot now.

As conversation began to ebb away, Zeke looked at all of the doodles on her cast. His eyes shift from Kayden's artwork, to Josh's, to Tris' and lingers on Eric's. She has no doubt that the maze drawings on her cast are going to be broadcasted throughout the whole group. Then Zeke's eyes find another drawing and he looks at her in confusion.

"Why is there a dick on your cast?"

Issy notices Hana's raised eyebrows and the smug look on Uriah's face like he has the upper hand against Issy. She grins. "That a representation of how big Uriah's dick is. He drew it himself." Uriah squawks, his face turning red, as Zeke and Hana burst out laughing. "You should have seen him; he was so proud."

While Uriah stuttered to come up with a response, Zeke, Hana and Issy laughed until Issy was clutching at her ribs through the gasps.

xXx

Early, the next morning Issy woke up to warmth along her side. Eric had left her originally due to a meeting with the other Leaders and the ambassadors. Though, she had gone to sleep worried that she had somehow upset him when he didn't come back to her room in the infirmary hours after the Pedrad family had left. When her eyes opened sleepily, she turned her head to see Eric curled up in his side around Issy. One arm felt heavy across her hips, the other cushioned her head. His head was almost burrowed into the crook of her neck, his steady breath sending goose-bumps across her skin.

"Go back to sleep." Eric murmured with his eyes still closed. He shifted closer and the tip of his nose brushed lightly against her neck. "It's not yet dawn."

Issy shifted slightly until she was comfortable having her head tilted to the side, angled towards Eric, and she closed her eyes.

xXx

When Issy next woke, something was humming to her left. Her head felt fuzzy and it took her a long moment to realise that the something was actually a someone sitting in the chair to her left. One eye snapped open to see Bree sat with a notebook and pen in hand. Eric wasn't in the room and Issy was sure she had dreamed what happened in the early hours of the morning when Bree spoke up.

"Eric's gone to get some breakfast and maybe try to smuggle you some coffee in."

"Yaaasssss." Issy hissed happily. Her coffee levels had been low to non-existent for ages, it's surprising she's not dead yet. "Whatcha doing?"

"Making plans." Bree grinned causing Issy to do the same.

"For a wedding perhaps?" Bree bit her lip and nodded, making Issy let out a small squeal.

"I actually have to ask you about that." Bree put the notebook and pen down, turning so she gives Issy her full attention. Bree's hand went to one of her back pockets as she began speaking. "I've found my mister," Bree takes something out and begins to unfold what looks like a banner. Somewhere in the back of Issy's mind, she knows what is happening but her mind isn't catching up quite just yet. "And now I need my sister;" Bree held out the banner, which Issy realises is actually a sash. Issy reads the three words over and over again until her mind finally catches up and Bree asks: "Will you be my maid of honour?"

… Issy screams again…

The door slams open and Eric rushes in, the door closing behind him. He comes to a stop when his eyes find the sash with the words Maid of Honour. With a huff he collapses back against the door. Issy stops screaming when Eric shoots her a serious look, pointing at her. "You are going to give me a heart attack." He turns to Bree with an equally serious look. "Stop giving her news that makes her scream, please."

Issy watches Eric with wide innocent eyes and then she catches the carboard cup in his hands. Her gaze begins to flicker between Bree holding the sash and Eric holding a cup of coffee, trying to decide what she wants more. Rolling her eyes with a smirk, Bree gets up and folds the sash up, placing it on the bedside table with the words facing up. Issy does a happy little wiggle before reaching out to Eric and making grabby motions. "Gimme!"

Eric grins as he begins to walk over. He swaps the cup from one hand to the next, further away from Issy, as he sits down on the bed next to her. Eric stretches one leg out while the other hangs from the bed. He grin widens when Issy looks at him with a glare in her eyes and a frown on her mouth. Her aim is to look intimidating, instead she looks adorable. Eric winks at her as he takes a quick sip and Issy growls lowly at him. He breaks out laughing then, passing her the cup. Issy quickly grabs onto it and holds it close, almost moaning as she takes a sip. She relaxes into Eric's side and as he softly presses his lips against her temple, she can feel him smiling.

Issy catches Bree's eyes and she blushes as Bree smiles almost proudly at them.