Just before you start I realised that I switch between putting Max and 'her dad' a lot… I think it's when it's just Lilah and Max or if they're in an informal situation then Lilah will call him dad but if its more formal, say Leader to Leader, then its Max. I just wanted to clear that up. Enjoy!

Lilah's POV

Lilah played with the ends of her curly hair nervously. It was an hour or so after the final rankings had been posted and Max had messaged her requesting a meeting. She knew what this was about, Alec had told that her dad had left the room for a moment during her fear sims, only to be brought back in by Winnie when her fear landscape was over. The look he had sent her after she had re-joined her friends was clear, they'd be having a chat about her fears.

Rather than holding the meeting in his office, he requested to meet in her old home. Her mother and Livvie were just leaving as Lilah walked up to the door. Her mum shot her a sympathetic smile, rubbing her daughter's back as she past. Livvie was already bouncing down the hallway, skipping around Lilah once before running towards the lift. Lilah had slipped through the door and quietly shut it behind her to see her dad sat in the deep crimson leather chair beside the fire.

Instead of wearing his stiff leather trousers and his leadership jacket, Max was dressed in grey jogging bottoms and a black jumper with a mug in his hands, probably full of expresso, as he stared into the flames. She smiled slightly. This wasn't the faction's stern Leader who held the respect of everyone in Dauntless. This was the man that would sigh as he closed the door after another hard day at work but always had time for his family. The man that would spin her mum in circles in a slow dance as they cooked dinner. The man that would drop everything if his daughters were upset. This was the man that layed by Lilah's side when she was little and feared the dark. He'd lay there until she fell asleep and he knew she wouldn't wake again. This was the man that would parade around the faction with Lilah sat on his shoulders while her mum was working, doing the same now with Livvie. This man was her dad, her hero.

Max looked up then, almost jumping up from his chair. He placed the mug on the small table to the side. "Lilah." He breathed before gesturing to the chair opposite him, one like his own. She took her boots off at the door and walked towards the fire. She slumped in the chair, pulling her feet underneath her and shuffled back. "Lilah, I – You're not a terrible daughter." She looked down as his voice cracked and her cheeks burned with shame. "You're my baby girl, my first born, and I couldn't be prouder. I wasn't there as much as I wanted to be when you were growing up and I know there was much I missed out on a lot, I'm sorry for that." Max sniffed. "I'm sorry if it seemed like I put too much pressure on you growing up, I never wanted that. I'm sorry I was such a terrible dad –" He stopped talking when Lilah shook her head quickly. Her eyes snapped up to his, tears fell from his and that alone had tears gathering in her eyes.

"Stop, just stop saying sorry, please. You never have been a terrible dad, you've always been one of the best. I wouldn't want anyone else." He sent her a wobbly smile, blinking rapidly. "You were always there if I needed you, just like you are for Livvie now. I'd never ask for more. I just – I never thought I would be good enough to uphold the mantle that you've built for this faction." Lilah was still just a baby when Max was promoted to Head Leader. According to her mum, the Leader before her dad held the faction on a tight grip, making them more military than what Dauntless is today. Since then Dauntless has flourished and has become a better faction. There is much that her dad has achieved as Leader in little under eighteen years. Her watched her as her filter disappeared and he picked up his mug and brought it to his mouth. "I can't do the things you've achieved. I wouldn't be able to keep up with the standards that Dauntless expects me to meet because I'm your daughter."

Her dad snorted into his mug before he took a sip. "Fuck 'em." He simply said, cradling the mug to his chest. "Fuck what they think. I only expect you to meet your own standards that you set for yourself, no one else's. None of the other Leaders expect anything else but your best and if your best is working in the kitchens then so be it. Yes, we as Leaders build this faction up so our members are happy, but it is simply impossible to please them all. You know when I was first promoted as Head of Dauntless a lot of the older members disregarded my ideas for this faction, calling them foolish?" Lilah shook her head. "I fought with most of the other Leaders at that time, despite being Head. Some of them left Leadership, most of them did, only returning to train someone to take their place. Some of the Leaders stayed, those being Adrian and Lottie. The younger generations outnumbered those against and so my ideas become concrete plans that were soon put into motion. I didn't achieve the things I have on my own, I did it with my faction. Without them it simply wouldn't be possible." Lilah never knew her dad had struggled to get where he is today but know she understand why he held the respect that he has. He changed the future for many of the members and for that they are thankful. "Now you, my darling daughter, you can do so much more than me if you put your mind to it. Most of the ideas I've suggested to the other Leaders are mainly from the conversations we have about what Dauntless could be. Adrian knows of course whose ideas they really are, he recognises your fire in them." Lilah smiles at that. If both her parents were busy Adrian and his wife were always happy to look after Lilah. She had grown up with them, often calling them grandma and grandpa as her dad's parents are no longer with them and her mum had transferred from Amity, so she never got to know them. "You are very much worthy of Dauntless. Don't let anyone tell you different. There was a moment where your mum and I, as well as a few of the Leaders thought you'd leave the faction for another." Lilah opened her mouth, but Max carried on before she could say anything, his voice quieter though. "You're our daughter Lilah, of course we'd notice, especially after it was manually entered. I should had expected it though; your mother is the same." He paused then, cocking an eyebrow as he waited for her mind to catch up. Her eyes popped open, her jaw dropping slightly. Her dad simply shrugs. "We were gonna tell you about it, but we didn't know how."

"Livvie –" She started.

"– Is too young to know." Max smiles as he stands up and opens his arms out wide.

Lilah rushes into them, her own wrapping around his waist. She was shocked to say the least. This wasn't the reaction the Abnegation lady said she'd received if Lilah told anyone about her true test results… and it that moment, as her dad's arms tightens around her, she loves him even more. "I love you dad." She says, and she feels the rumble in his chest as he chuckles.

"I love you too."

xXx

After an extremely rude awakening on Issy's part and embarrassment on her own part, Lilah was wake and somewhat grumpy. A blush rose upon her cheeks when she remembered how she woke up. Her limbs were tangled with Alec's and her head was tucked into the nook of his neck. She was awake a while before the water came crashing down and once she realised just who she was layed on, Lilah had stiffened. Then the instructors and some others had entered the dorms, so she just kept still, waiting for a good moment to feign waking up. That moment, however, was given to her by the hand of Dec, led by Issy. All of the initiates, now members, groaned and yelped in shock and it wasn't something Lilah had to feign. She was shivering now, the cold water eating her warmth away. Alec, thank the stars, had fallen off the bed in shock making him unaware of the position he – they – had been in.

"Not again!" Alec yelled, throwing a furious glare at Issy and Cody. Lilah rolled her eyes, not surprised that Issy was somehow involved…

Four, somehow still not understanding how much shit Issy can cause, became cautious. "What do you mean 'not again'?"

Alec runs a hand through his wet hair, strands falling over his golden flecked eyes. "It was the morning after Capture and somebody," Alec glared at Cody and Issy. "Decided it would be a great idea to chuck two buckets on me."

"Don't look at us like that!" Cody cried out as the room laughed. "You wouldn't get up."

Lilah chuckled, a fond smile on her face as she gazed at Alec. He and his sister definitely knew how to keep people on their toes. Like everyone in the faction, Lilah and those of her initiation class was intrigued with the Golden Eyes during the first few weeks of initiation, especially during the first stage. Because the first stage kept the transfers and Dauntless borns apart, Lilah and the others only catched glimpses of them, only heard murmurings from the members of their faction. Then they slowly saw more of the transfers and even hung out with them a few times. From all the attention the twins were getting, Lilah was surprised to find out that neither of them had become arrogant because of it… Issy, she noticed, did have her moments but Alec seemed unaffected. Throughout Stage Two though both classes quickly merged together, and Lilah often found herself with Alec. They became good friends and often sought each other out unconsciously, much to the amusement of Flare. Though sometimes even Flare's attention was snatched away by one of the other transfers. With that thought, her dark eyes sought out Flare who, along with the others of their class, were cheering to whatever Eric had said. Lilah shook her head as they quietened down and made herself focus on what the Leader was saying.

"– You'll pick your jobs. You all have at least fifteen minutes to get changed and eat something before you all need to be in the conference room on the same floor as the Leader's offices, one of us will be standing in the doorway. More will be explained then." Eric smirks that them and for a change there's pride gleaming in his eyes as he looks at each of them in turn. Lilah, having known Eric for a while now, knows that within his department he overlooks the training of the new members each year and that he takes great pride in initiation, seeing as he has a hand in shaping the new members of Dauntless. "See you all soon." With that, he and the rest leave with parting nods, leaving the new members to get ready both mentally and physically for the day ahead.

Just thinking about it causes a frown to weave its way across her face, even as Alec turns to her and smiles brightly. She smiles back but it doesn't reach her eyes as she gets up from his bed. Flare climbs out of her own, walking over to Lilah once she was on ground level and slings an arm across Lilah's shoulders.

"So," Her best friend calls loudly, gaining the attention of everyone in the room. "We're gonna go back to our dorms to change quickly. Meet you guys in the cafeteria in ten?" The transfers agree, and she and Lilah lead the Dauntless borns to their own dorms.

Once they had dressed and eaten a quick bite, all of the new members followed Lilah up to the Leaders' floor. Nerves ate at her on the journey and the only thing on her mind was what was she going to pick? Obviously as fourth ranker, there was no way that the option for Leadership was still available, so Lilah had begun to think of other options. A small smile crawled across her face at her dad's suggestion of working in the kitchens, but she knew that was a joke. Somehow they all managed to squeeze themselves into the lift and Lilah found herself pressed against Alec for the second time that morning. Alec grinned down at her, laughing quietly as she blushed, turning her gaze away. She leaned her head on his shoulder and looked around. Everyone was pushed against someone in some way. Bree was chatting quietly to Issy while being tucked into Noah's side. 'They make a cute couple.' She thought while Bree was being her bubbly self and Noah watched her with a loving smile, like the gentle giant he is.

Once the lift doors opened on their floor, it was releasing a breath after being held in for so long. They all stumbled out of it. Like Eric said, one of the instructors were standing in front of the open doorway of the conference room. Four grinned as he spotted the group, nodding to whoever was inside before allowing them to enter the room.

The room, like most of the other conference rooms had one large round table with a hologram projector in the middle of the table. But unlike the other conference rooms, this one had a door leading to her dad's office with a small hallway between the two rooms. This was because most of the Leadership meetings were held in this room, so it made it easier for the Head Leader to get into this room.

As there were so many chairs around the table, the class found themselves scattered around it. Eric stands towards the front of the room with the door leading to her dad's office. Beside him, Four sat in a chair and sunk low into it, making himself comfy. Lilah sat a couple of spaces away from Eric with Flare on her left and Kayden sitting on the other side of Flare. A space away from Kayden was Luke, Hector and Sam, sniggering at something they said. Finally, there was Noah a space down from Sam, followed by Bree, Cody, Alec and Issy with only a few more spaces between her and Four.

Once they were all seated Eric nodded his head. "If you didn't know by now, your ranking effects what jobs will be available to you." Lilah knew this from her dad. Although it also depending on what the others had chosen before as to what was available. She sighs as Eric carries on. "It is unlikely that you'll be able to change your job once it's been chosen, unless you get a promotion, so choose wisely. You'll have the weekend off and new jobs will start on Monday unless you're told otherwise. Your ranking will also affect what sized apartment will be available to you. The higher your rank, the bigger your apartment will be. If you want you can choose to share an apartment with another, the apartments will also be furnished simply, nothing too grand as you'll all probably be changing it anyway. Interviews will be held with Max in his office down the hall and these will be done in the order of rankings." Punctuality, Lilah has noticed, is one of the key virtues that Eric has, especially now as he turns and waits for the clock to strike twelve. Once the longest clock hand moves, he looks to Issy with a small smile. "C'mon first ranker."

Lilah's eyes lower to the table when Issy gets up and follows Eric out of the door leading to her dad's office. Nine times out of ten the first ranker chooses Leadership; the only example is when Four turned it down and left it for Eric. Not that they always become a Leader, sometimes they move into Ambassadorship or within one of the Leaders' departments.

Moments later Eric came back into the room and he too slouched in his chair. That was new too, Lilah noticed. She doesn't think she's seen the youngest Leader ever relax, even a little bit. Around Dec, sure, but until her initiation year Lilah didn't have a reason to hang around with the eldest Vince. Around her dad, she wouldn't exactly call it relaxed as his guard was still up but maybe that's only when Lilah was there. But there was something about this initiation class that Eric was comfortable enough to let his guard down, even if it was only a little bit. She knew most of it was down to Issy, but Lilah knew there was still something about the whole class. She knew this because if anyone else tried to pull him into a conversation they'd get a death glare in return, Dec's little brother or not.

"Hey Eric," Alec started. "How long are these things meant to last?

Eric shrugged. "It depends really. They're quite quick if you know what job you want to take but if you're going in there with absolutely no clue of what you what to do then it can drag."

"Or if Max argues against your choice." Four adds.

"Max can do that?" Noah asks, and Lilah nods her head.

"If he thinks you can do better in another job then yeah." She says, remembering when her dad would come home annoyed that a new member could be wasting their talent after choosing their job. "But at the end of the day, it's still your decision." Both Four and Eric nod along to her words, silently agreeing with her.

They all then break off into different conversations, sometimes Eric and Four answer questions about adjusting to life in Dauntless. Lilah simply listens, glancing around the room and watching her friends. Curiosity is spiked within her when Alec and Hec share a smug look before breaking eye contact. Lilah wasn't really listening, but she knew that neither of them were conversing about anything. Her eyes narrowed at Hector, one of her best friends for years, and he simply shrugged his shoulders. Her dark gaze then settled on Alec, who had already been watching her. He grinned at her, eyes shifting into gold as he winks at her. A frown makes its way onto her face and she turns her attention to Flare and Kayden instead.

Its not that long until Issy makes her way back into the room with a large grin on her face and a shiny key attached to her jeans. Most start cheering, only quietening when she sits back down. She sends a wink in her brother's direction as he and Eric make their way out of the room.

"So, first ranker, why aren't you checking out your flat?" Bree asked.

"I'll wait for everyone else to finish." Issy grins at Bree just as Eric walks back into the room. Lilah wants to ask her what job she chose but she can't bring herself to do so. Instead she joins in with Flare as her best friend describes growing up in Dauntless.

Alec takes even less time than Issy, but he too is also sporting a large grin. Hector and Eric leave just as Alec sits down, sending a quick wink in Lilah's direction before turning towards Cody.

"We sorted bro?" Cody calls out to Alec as Eric slips back into the room.

"Yeah! Just you and me bud!" Alec laughs back, his dark hair flopping over his eyes again.

From the other side of Flare Kayden turns to Cody with mock disgust on his face. Though his mask slips away as his lips twitch into a smile. "Are you really gonna share a flat with that?" Kayden jabs a finger in Alec's direction.

"Oi!" Issy butts in defensively. "Only I'm allowed to talk to him like that!" Issy sneers playfully at Alec. "Disgusting creature."

Alec pouts angrily and picks up a coaster, flinging it in his sister's direction, only to have it hit Four in the face. The whole table bursts out laughing. Even Eric seems to be laughing quietly. Issy laughs into her hands as Alec shrugs indifferently. "Sorry 'bout that number boy." Alec ducks as Four flings it back at him when Hec comes back into the room to witness it.

"What the fuck is happening?" Hector smirks.

With a nod from Eric, Lilah gets up and follows Eric out of the room, bumping her fist with Hec's as she passes him. The door shuts behind them, cutting off Flare's laugh.

"Nervous?" Eric asks, looking over his shoulder at her.

"I guess." She hid her hands under her arms to conceal the shake that had began to take over. "Were you?"

"Nah, not really. I was more anxious to see if the job that I wanted was still available. Thankfully it was, and I didn't have to work somewhere my heart wasn't set on." Eric caught her sad look just as they stopped at Max's door. "Your dad's gonna be proud of you no matter what you choose Lilah." He smiles at her and opened the door, gesturing for her to step in. The door close after she had stepped in and her dad looked up.

"Lilah." He smiled brightly, and she sat down in the chair in front of his desk. It wasn't so many months ago when Lilah had sat in front of his desk before the Choosing Ceremony as her dad told her that he'd still love her, no matter what she chose.

"Hi dad." She smiled weakly back. "So, I've been thinking, and I'd like to choose Ambassadorship…" It's not what she wanted but at least it's still in the same department. Her eyes were downcast, so she didn't see the look of surprise flash across his face and then a knowing smirk settling in its place.

"Ambassadorship…? But you wanted –?"

"I know what I wanted!" She cut across her dad angrily. "But Issy's gonna make a wonderful Leader. She's definitely the right sort for it." Tears welled in her eyes as she looked back up. Though instead of being met with sympathy, his face held a mischievous expression, one that wouldn't look out of place on either of the twins' faces. She became cautious then. Her eyes narrowed at him as he smirked, picking up the papers in front of him and shuffling them.

He played with the papers in front of him for a moment longer and her patience began to thin. Looking up at her, he grinned. "Issy didn't choose Leadership."

She felt winded like she had been punched in the gut. "What?!"

"She chose patrolling instead." He pulled out one of the sheets and laid it down in front of her. Her eyes scanned the first two lines.

Name: Izzy Vince

Chosen Job: Patrolling

So, he wasn't just messing with her. Lilah still held her breath, not even daring to believe what her heart hopes for. "Then Alec –" He cuts her off by placing another sheet in front of her, his grin growing.

Name: Alec Vince

Chosen Job: Weapons Specialist

Before she had even opened her mouth, her dad placed a third sheet in front of her.

Name: Hector Rodriguez

Chosen Job: Patrolling

She inhaled sharply, staring at the three sheets in front of her. None of them had chosen Leadership. It was still available. Ever so slowly her eyes raised to meet her dad's. his grin was impossibly wide as he sat with a pen in hand and her sheet in front of him.

"You still want to do Ambassadorship?"

"But I – I don't understand! Why didn't any of them take it?" Her voice cracked as tears began to fall. It clicked then. The smug look shared between Alec and Hec. The conspiring wink shared between Issy and Alec, and then when Alec winked at Lilah. "Bastards! They planned this!" Her face fell into her hands at the realization. It wasn't exactly a secret between their class that Lilah wanted the Leadership option. She never thought they'd do something like this though… and she loved them for it.

"So," Her dad started, pushing another sheet in front of her. "You still want to share an apartment with Flare?" She gasped as her eyes scanned the paper with tears falling quicker as she ignored the question.

Name: Lilah

Chosen Job: Leadership

She was still reeling over the idea that her friends would give up such a position in Dauntless that she only half processed what apartment her dad had given her, even as she took her key and the piece of paper. Numbly she left the room after her dad had waved her out. When she opened the door leading to the conference room Flare was the first to notice her.

"Lilah!" Flare jumps up from her chair in shock. "Are you alright?"

Anger and disbelief surge through Lilah as her gaze lands on Hector, Alec and Issy. She ignores her best friend as she stalks towards the three top rankers. "You fools! You utter morons!" Lilah angrily brushes away her tears as most of the room looks to her in shock. "Why did you do that? Why would you chuck away that chance?"

"Lilah!" Four calls out, his voice calm and steady even as confusion settles on his face. "Lilah calm down. What happened?"

She stabs a finger in the three top rankers' direction. "These fucktards gave up Leadership, so I could have it!" A wave of shock and surprise and incredulity crashed onto each face, all but Hec, Alec and Issy. Sometime during her rant, Issy had stood up from her chair and began to walk slowly towards Lilah, even as Lilah began to insult them halfheartedly. "You shitting lunatics! Absolute utter fuckers! You –" The words are stuck to her tongue as Issy wraps her arms around her. She breaks then. Lilah sinks into Issy's arms and sobs into her shoulder, clutching tightly at her waist. A door closes and as Lilah breathes in, she catches Alec's scent as his arms come from around her and hugs her from behind. Another set of arms come from around Issy and Lilah opens her teary eyes to find Hec smiling down at her as he hugs Issy from behind.

xXx

Since starting the training for Leadership, Lilah has been overwhelmed by the number of things there are to learn about the faction that are only considered as basic information. Although, these were probably all the things that Max had to look over as the other Leaders mostly kept to their own departments. That didn't mean he didn't receive the reports from the other Leaders, he got a lot of them but with those, he mainly overlooked them and sometimes he'd add his own thoughts before sending it back to be reviewed. Her desk was completely swamped by reports on the faction's population, what careers were lacking staff – what careers had too many staff was also included – and if any members had requested a transfer of careers, which were rather rare. Some of the reports would be sent off to the different departments if it fell under their categories, like if someone wanted to transfer from Weapons Specialist to Faction Patrol then it would be sent to Harrison to overlook and finalize.

There were also the reports from the ambassadors and how to keep good relationships with the other factions she'd have to go over before she'd be placed somewhere for another, more permanent load of training. Though she knew the possibility of her being sent to the Ambassadors of to the office staff was low as Lilah was aware that both Lottie and Adrian were going to be stepping down soon. That left two possible Leader spots available.

She sighed, pushing the report of faction members away. She could feel a headache coming on as she rubbed at her temples. It was only three weeks in since training had started and in the last hours of the nights, Lilah had begun to doubt herself. She knew that her dad had started to notice and so had Flare but she had simply waved them both off, saying she was just tired. Alec, however, didn't believe her in the slightest. He had pinned her with a disbelieving look and crossed his hands over his chest. He remained silent while Lilah had spluttered out excuses, his eyebrow rising higher and his baby blues bleeding into gold. She gave up when his eyes were fully golden, the glowing irises looking at her in amusement until she admitted her doubts. Alec had moved then, closing the distance between them until his chest brushed against her and he lightly grabbed her upper arms. He had stared into eyes, flickering from one to the other like he was reading her soul. Shaking her gently and a firm voice, he told her to believe in herself and then crushed her into him. His warmth enveloped her, and she sank into it, burrowing her head into the crook of his neck.

She smiled shyly at the memory, a blush dusting her cheeks. Lilah pulled out her phone and sent a quick message to Alec, her thoughts now centered around him.

Have you worked out the system yet?

He phone buzzed in her hand as Alec answered back.

No, I just can't seem to make the connection work... This is early for you isn't it?

Lilah was curious to see how his idea would work… They had discussed it many times before, mostly when they met up for lunch.

The other Leaders hadn't given me many reports to do and my dad just said I could have an early break today.

He hadn't actually said it in so many words, but it was only for a few minutes… She chewed at her bottom lip at an idea she'd had a few days ago. She didn't know if it would actually work or not, her expertise wasn't in making stuff but still… It bugged her enough to mention it now.

... What about if you used the technology you and Issy used with those headsets and the block things? Would that work?

There was a long pause and Lilah began to worry. Had she overstepped a line she wasn't aware of? Dark thoughts of self-doubt began to nibble at her when her phone buzzed again.

You are such a WONDERFUL person! You've unblocked my mind! Thank yoouuuu! Honestly, what would I do without you?!

Her blush darkened while she ducked her head, pleased that she could be of help. She could feel the energy of his grin through his text and seeping into her body. With a smile and the will to carry on working, Lilah put her phone away and pulled the report back in front of her and hunched over it with her pen at the ready.

xXx

Lilah sat in front of her dad's desk with her hands folded on her lap. Her basic training had been completed a week ago and so she was just waiting for her placement now. The Leaders had spent this past week deciding amongst themselves of exactly where her placement will be and while they did that, she had a week off. For the whole week she'd been buzzing with nerves though she didn't show it. She kept her head held high and a smirk on her face. Nobody thought any different. The wait was dreadful, but some part of Lilah thought it was another test. To see if she could work under pressure without sinking.

Although her nerves were never with her for long, especially when she was surrounded by her friends. They were a great distraction and she was always with at least of her friends from initiation. She didn't see much of Flare during that week though as she was training and preparing for the up coming initiation in May while also training as a hair dresser. But it was nice to see her other friends. She was introduced to Kylie, Sam's girl, and when neither Sam nor Kylie was available Kayden was always there. She didn't see much of Issy or Hec, purely because their schedule was strange. She saw a lot of Luke as he was sort of in the same department as her. The rest of them she saw during meal times in the cafeteria, those were never boring; that very morning being a fine example of that.

She hadn't been there herself but messages of what had happened exploded in Initiation Goals. It had left her snickering outside of Max's office as he opened the door to let her in. He had sent her a questioning look and Lilah had happily told him what had happened. Max had huffed, rolling his eyes as he walked back into his office with Lilah still chuckling on his heels.

The silence had started to drag when Max had finally looked up from the papers in front of him. He gazed at her and she wonder what he saw. Her back was straight, and her shoulders were back, conveying an air of confidence. But was that what he saw? Before she could continue that thought, he started talking.

"So, as you know the rest of the Leaders and I have been discussing where you shall be placed, and we think it's best if you train with Adrian to take over his department when he steps down." She stops breathing, only for a moment before joy bursts form her heart, and Max smirks at her. "We took in all the skills that you've shown during these past weeks and initiation, but we also took your grades that you achieved during school. Your math scores were particularly high, which fits the department nicely. Adrian will be in his office today and would like you to start straight after lunch. If you don't have any plans until then, the sooner the better, yes?" He winks at her, laughing as a wide smile takes over her face and she nods her head enthusiastically.

There was a knock at the door, and it was pushed open before Max could utter a word. Eric walked in with his head down and a pile of folders tucked under his arm. He looked up as he neared Max's desk and focuses on Lilah, smiling ever so slightly.

"Sorry," he says as he places the files on Max's desk. "There wasn't any meetings planned in your schedule. These are the reports on the activity of the Factionless you wanted."

"Ah! Thank you Eric." Max goes to stand to file them away in one of the draws behind him when the door is thrown open. By a smiling Four no less. Lilah bites her lip to keep in her snicker as Max throws a knowing look her way.

"Hey Max!" He yells happily and from someone who is seen either brooding, frowning or looking bored out of his mind, this nearly sends Lilah over the edge from keeping quiet to laughing out loud. "Sometimes I think you act like a stubborn mother hen than a Dauntless Leader." Four smiles sweetly, completely out of character. Max frowns, completely dumbfounded, as Lilah covers a quiet chuckle by coughing. Four smiles in Lilah's direction before turning to Eric. Lilah holds her breath then, totally unsure of what will happen next. Their rivalry is legendary, even now as they act somewhat civilly with each other.

Four moves towards Eric and Max tenses up, expecting a punch to be throw despite the peace serum. Instead, shocking everyone in the room, Four pulls Eric into a hug. Eric's whole-body stills, his hands curling into fists and his eyes wide and unblinking. Simultaneously, Max and Lilah's jaws drop to the floor. The (very) one-sided hug lasts for a moment, then two, before Four pulls away with a dopey smile on his face. Eric doesn't relax one bit, staring at Four like he's lost his mind.

"Despite what happened in initiation," Four starts, still smiling like an idiot. "You're a good man with good ideas of how we could improve Dauntless. You don't have to prove yourself. Sometimes I feel like I have to prove myself to you 'cause you're such a better Leader than I'd be. People do respect you, but they don't know how to show it. Most of them are jealous that you were made a Leader so quickly, but they know Leadership suits you." Four nods his head, pleased with himself. "You and Issy look good with each other and I hope it works out." Four pats him on the head before heading back to the door. He pauses before he opens it. "I don't hate you Eric." And then he leaves.

The room is drowning with silence. No one is quite sure what to say after that. Max and Lilah stare at Eric, waiting for him to explode. Just like Eric and Four's rivalry, Eric's temper was legendary. Instead, Eric took a step and slumped into the chair next to her.

Max clears his throat, eyes still on Eric. "Well that was, uhhh, um, how much peace serum did you say Issy put in his coffee?"

"A lot." Lilah answers, remembering what had been said on the group chat. "More than a man like Four should have."

The eldest Leader nods his head slowly. "Eric?"

"I – I don't know." Eric frowns as he rubs his temple. Lilah has never seen this side of Eric and honestly, it unsettles her slightly. "No one speaks a word about this," His voice is deathly quiet. "Not to anyone." Max and Lilah nods their heads. Max shoots Lilah a look and she smiles nodding her head again before she gets up and leaves the office. She had someone to look for anyway…

xXx

The wind bites at her as she pushes the door open and steps onto the roof with the door slamming shut behind her. It's the same roof that the initiates jump onto at the start of initiation. She had slipped into the control room earlier and asked Zeke to locate Alec. Lilah looks around until she spots him sitting on the ledge with his legs dangling over the edge. He has his headphones on, so he hasn't heard the door opening and closing. She watches him for a moment. The wind pulls his hair into every direction and Lilah notices he needs a haircut. The grey tips of his hair was growing longer. She controls her expression, ridding her face of her joy as she starts to walk closer, kicking the gravel up so that she doesn't surprise him. When he turns around a smile quickly grows on his face as he slides the headphones down onto his neck.

"Lilah!" He grins, standing from the ledge and meets her halfway. "How'd you find me?"

"Control room." She shrugs and he laughs, shaking his head.

"So, what's up?" Alec slips his hands into his pockets, teetering back and forth on his heels.

She shrugs again, willing herself to stay neutral and not to start grinning until her cheeks hurt. "Nothing much. It's just that –" She pauses deliberately, looking down to hide the smile that forced its way onto her face. She kicks the grave, looking up to see Alec looking around them with a frown on his face. "I'm going to be taking on Adrian's department when he steps down." She couldn't help herself. She was grinning by the end of it and joy seeped into her voice.

Alec's head snapped up, disbelief written clearly on his face. She nods her head, making sure he knows she's not joking and then his eyes shift gold suddenly. He puffs out a small laugh. "Oh my –" Alec runs a hand through his hair, shaking his head again before he surges forward. "Oh my god Lilah!" His hands hold her waist, lifting her up into the air and spins her around. Excitement pours from him as he places her back on her own two feet. He leans forward suddenly, peppering small kisses around her face. On her forehead, her nose and both her cheeks. When Alec finally pulled back, he laughed loudly as Lilah was redder than a tomato.

Sure, they'd been close recently and they both knew that they were more than friends for definite, but they hadn't made a move towards a relationship. Maybe Alec was being chivalrous and waiting for her to prompt it, just as she was waiting for him to do the same. Now, she struggles to down anything but blink and hide her face shyly. Alec hooks a finger underneath her chin and lifts her head up. Lilah's dark eyes meet his eyes which are now flecked with blue. His lips twitch up into a warm smile and Lilah bites her bottom lip in anticipation. His eyes flicker down and slowly he pulls her lip free before leaning down and replacing it with his mouth.

His lips were cold against hers, so god knows how long he's been outside. They move hesitantly like she might push him away. The need for him to be closer, to have no air left in between them pulses through Lilah and she shoves herself closer, pulling his hips towards her and presses her mouth harder against his. Alec responds almost immediately. He laces his fingers into her hair and holds her against him.

They stay like that for a long time, completely oblivious to the world around them and so utterly drunk on each other.