Bree's POV
Bree scrolled through her phone out of pure boredom. She had offered to help Noah with the cooking for three, thinking that after a morning shift, he wouldn't want to cook any more. But after a nap and a quick shower, he threw himself right back into it with a smile. Noah was quietly singing along with the music pouring out of the speaker that Cody had gotten Noah for his birthday.
"What time did Eric say he'd be here?" Noah asked.
Bree sighed, backing out of the site she had been on and tapping her messages. After Issy and the squadrons had come back from the barracks in the other Factions, Eric still joined Noah and Bree for dinner twice every month or so. "He said he'd try to make it for half six, but he's out with his unit today so he might be a bit late." Noah nodded and fiddle with the cooker. Sometimes Eric's Leadership duties got in the way of their dinners, but he always rescheduled.
Lately, Eric had been caught up in Issy since he found out that Emmett was training under her and even more so since Emmett attacked her. Bree hadn't been remotely bothered that his time now revolved around her sister because the pair had been low key annoying the hell out of Bree and because – fucking finally – they seemed to be together now, but neither of them had said anything to confirm it…
However now Bree wasn't so sure anymore.
After what Issy told them in that office longue when Alec took them all out of the compound for the day a couple of days ago. Since their very one-sided discussion on the phone, Eric hadn't said anything to Bree about Issy and vice versa, Issy hadn't mentioned Eric at all since then. Bree wondered if the topic would come up during dinner, but she didn't know if Eric would be the one to bring it up or Bree would. Noah, as usual, had warned her not to get involved but she just wanted to help.
Though, if Bree pushed all that to the side and ignored it, she honestly missed seeing her duckling. She was aware that Eric was busy with his squadron, trying to find any leads of those missing kids, but when he was in the compound Bree nor their family ever saw him around. She wasn't sure who he was avoiding – if he was avoiding anyone.
Noah settled himself on the sofa next to Bree as their meal simmered slowly on the hob. "What you thinking about?" He knocked his head with hers, lacing their fingers together.
She leaned into him and sighed. "Do you reckon Issy and Eric will go to our wedding together?"
"Bree –"
"I know!" Bree closed her eyes and burrowed her head into his neck. "I just worry about them."
"Not all relationships will be as easy as ours is." Noah stroked her hair back as he shifted, pulling Bree to lay mostly on him. "We knew what we wanted in a relationship and are honest about any problems we have. Issy and Eric are completely different from us and you know it." Noah sighed. "Eric doesn't want her in any danger, so he'll keep it from her, not wanting to worry her –"
"– Absolute idiot thinking Issy can't handle it." Bree mumbled angrily against his neck.
"But he has a point, for that particular reason. Issy will think she'll be able to handle it and then fall head first into it regardless of what he thinks to prove herself to him."
Bree snorted at the claim. "Issy doesn't need to prove herself to Eric, he knows she's a great soldier."
Noah pulls himself away from her. "You call her your sister, but you haven't noticed that's what she does every time that type of scenario pops up?"
She sits up, finger pointing. "Now wait just a –"
"– Yes, she's a great soldier, but Eric has more experience in the current situation that we're
in. We're still young – Issy's still young. From Eric's perspective, it's what she'd do as a soldier, not his partner that worries him."
Bree mulls over his words, beginning to understand what Noah is trying to say. "She's reckless, eager to prove… She's getting better at being level headed…"
Noah nodded. "And her squaddies are helping her with that, but a war is looming, whether we like it or not –"
"– And Eric's worried her eagerness to prove will get her killed." Bree lowered her head as Noah wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm sworn to secrecy when I cook food for the Leaders during meetings but for some reason the rebels want Issy for something… Eric's just trying to protect her from that."
"Well," Bree grumbles, a pout on her lips, making Noah smirk. "Eric's method sucks."
"He's trying." Noah pulled them back down on the sofa.
"It still sucks."
xXx
Eric arrived a little later like he said he would. Their door opened as he stepped in and thudded shut. Bree eyed Eric when he slumped back onto the door and his face held nothing but pain and sadness. A wave of emotion caved inside of Bree and she hugged Eric tightly.
"Bree?" Eric's arms slowly wrapped around her, sounding a little bit confused. "Are you alright?"
"I just –" Bree paused, words vanishing on her tongue. She glanced back at Noah, who was watching them with a soft smile. "Just missed you." She smiled up at him when she let Eric go. "I haven't seen you around in a while."
Eric smiled, squeezing her shoulder. "I've been busy recently."
"Found any leads yet?" Noah asked from the kitchen as Bree and Eric walked further into the apartment.
"Not a goddamn crumb." Bree watched as Eric shook his head, his fists clenching. "The factionless are becoming more and more brutal on the front lines. My units have been going over there to aid the squadrons but it's getting worse."
Bree placed her hand on Eric's arm. She knew that Eric cared deeply for his squadron and the city he helps defend but this uprising is obviously making Eric feels that there's not much he can do about it without any directions or leads to help Dauntless along the way. "We're changing the subject before the mood gets worse. C'mon," Bree motioned to the cabinets. "Help me get the plates and cutlery out."
Eric does as she says without another word. As he gets the plates from one of the higher shelves, Bree pats Noah's hip to get him to move out of the way of the draw.
"Duckling." Noah mumbles and Bree lightly punches his shoulder.
Once Noah had placed portions of lasagne onto each plate, they sat down at the table and silently dug in.
"Oh!" Both Eric's and Noah's head snapped up when Bree stopped eating. She looked to Eric with bright eyes. "Do you have a suit?"
"A what?"
"A suit?" When Eric swivels his fork for her to explain more, Bree sighs and motions between herself and Noah. "Our wedding? You know, the one in four-month time? You're invited!"
"Oh, well I didn't think –" Eric starts but Bree cuts him off, throwing her napkin at him. It hits him rather pathetically, and he raises an eyebrow.
"You didn't think? Eric I-don't-know-your-middle-name Coulter! Of course you're invited you dingbat!" Bree slumps back in her chair. "You're our family too."
"We want you there Eric." Noah says with a small smile. Eric had grown on the couple since their dinners had started and they wanted their duckling at the wedding.
Eric stayed silent for a while before nodding his head. "Okay."
Bree grinned, bouncing up in her seat. "Get a new suit though, don't wear that scruffy one you keep in the back of your wardrobe for Leadership Dinners. I'll go shopping with you if you like?"
"Any other demands?" Eric asked with a smirk.
She bit her lip as a sheepish look overcame her face. "Can I have my napkin back?"
"No." Eric said, even as he threw it back at her, landing on her plate.
"Rude." Bree laughed as she peeled it from her dinner.
xXx
Two days later, Bree and her friends had an appointment at one of the high-end bakeries in Dauntless. It was all thanks to Christina, who was friends with the owner and had managed to get the a near lunch slot to try samples and decide on Bree's menus.
Noah let Bree have free reign on the menu as long as she promised to bring him back a box of samples to try out too. While Bree was out with her friends, Noah had gone out with the lads from their initiation class to try on the suits and make any alterations needed.
While Bree had Flare, Lilah, Tris, Christina, and Shauna, Bree felt a little sad that Issy couldn't make it because of squadron training. Bree tried to ignore the fact that her sister couldn't make it and enjoyed their time trying selections of buffet food that the bakery had to offer.
When Bree had made her final decisions about the main menu, they moved onto desserts. Her eyes flickered out the window for a moment and she gasped. Issy walked into the bakery, dressed in jeans and a hoodie, and caught Bree in a hug when she ran at her. They laughed as Bree squeezed her tightly, thanking whatever odds that Issy could make it.
"I though you said you wouldn't be able to make it?" Bree asked as they parted and she pulled Issy to where the rest of the girls were sat, still munching on sweet treats. Lilah and Flare gasped and rose up to hug Issy too. Neither of them thought Issy would make it either.
"I did." Issy waved at Tris, Christina, and Shauna with a smile before turning back to Bree. "One of the trainees had an allergic reaction to the cat in the garage. I postponed training for the day so he could heal. We didn't have much planned anyway, a few drills and the likes."
"Well, I'm glad you could make it." Bree smiled so wide her cheeks hurts, tugging Issy sleeve until she sat down on one of the classy low leather sofas. "We've got the main menu booked, and now we're deciding on the desserts."
Shauna groaned as she picked up another small square of cake. "I swear, I'm going to pretend I'm getting married so I can just eat this glorious comfort food all day… It's so good."
Christina laughed, winking at Shauna. "You're welcome."
Issy's face scrunched up in confusion and Bree explained. "Christina knows the owner of the shop and got us this slot today. Its immensely popular for events and weddings."
"What about the cake?" Issy asked.
"Noah's friends in the kitchen said they'd make it, along with suppling the chocolate fountain and s'more stand." Bree and Noah had gone down to the kitchen one day to discuss flavours, how many tiers they wanted and the overall appearance. The couple were due to go done again sometime this week to try the flavours they had come up with. "Next week, I have an appointment with that café you like, the one with all the stars, to ask if they can do us a hot chocolate stand."
As more little cakes and brownies and cheesecakes were served to the Christina pulled Bree into a conversation about the dresses, having demanded to make them herself while her friend in retail made and fitted the suits. Bree had pulled out her wedding planner from her bag and went over the details of the dresses with her while Christina also took pictures for later. By an hour later. Bree had another appointment with Christina to go over fabrics and an offer to find flowers too.
Shauna was talking to Tris about the general types of weddings in Dauntless. The simple let's get it do right now because I can't wait or let's get absolutely shitfaced and not remember why. That's why Bree and Noah's wedding plans had been accepted so quickly.
"Hey Bree, who's officiating the marriage?"
"Max said he would." She answered as she boxed up several different types of small cake and desserts for Noah to try. "I asked him about it when Noah and I laid out the plans for what we wanted." The owner came around, hugging Christina and Bree thanked her. "I'll be in touch within the week, thank you."
Christina stayed behind with the owner of the bakery, waving the others off. Flare and Lilah hug Bree before they leave and Shauna and Tris wave as they go. Issy waits quietly for Bree to put her wedding planner away before walking out with her. They're quiet as they leave the shop and then Issy speaks up.
"It feels ages away," She says softly. "The wedding." A smile wobbles on her lips. "Do you think all this shit going on will have stopped by then?"
The exhaustion in Issy's voice makes Bree pause by the side of the bakery. Even though Bree's job has her safety tucked within the compound, Bree can still feel the gentle thrum of war. Issy's exhaustion isn't from constantly fighting, but constantly thinking about how this is all going to end and who's going to die before they get there.
"You know more on that front than I do Issy." Truthfully, Bree knew nothing of war. She didn't know about how Harrison's and Eric's departments are dealing under the constant strain of trying to protect the city. But she did understand the exhaustion that overwhelmed them once they got home and were done for the day – she'd seen it on Eric's face, she's heard it in Issy's voice, she's felt the strain in Uriah's laughter. "I hope so." Bree looked over her shoulder, and down to the ground floor of the Pit. Immediately, she saw Eric walking towards the stairs. "I – I have plans with Eric today to help him pick out a new suit for it, would you like to join us?"
Bree watched as Issy freeze like a deer in headlights and slowly, she shook her head. "I've got a meeting with the rest of the squad about training. Have fun though." Issy smiled at her sister, drawing her in for another hug, before waving and walking towards the stairs down to the ground floor of the Pit.
Bree watched as Eric and Issy almost collide with each other and while Issy froze up again, Eric reaches for her, completely relaxed. His hand cups her cheek and Eric presses his lips to Issy's forehead before his posture tenses up and he steps away from her swiftly. The moment between them seems to disappear as quickly as it arrived as Eric turns and walks away from Issy. with her heart squeezing painfully in her chest, Bree watches Issy stare after him before her golden blue eyes connect with Bree's dark browns. She shakes her head and strides down the stair quickly and Bree turns to stare at Eric.
"What the fuck was that about Eric?" Bree stares him down when he stops in front of her.
He tiredly rubs his face. "I have to stay away. It's for her own protection."
"What the ever-living fuck is that supposed to mean?" Bree hisses at him.
A snarl curls at his lips. "You have no idea what I've seen on raids. What I've had to understand so it has no chance of destroying my home." Eric hisses back, drawing the attention of some people as they walk past. "If you're going to berate me about my treatment of Issy – which is awful, believe me, I know – then I'm leaving, if not, lead on."
Bree stares at him in surprise. She didn't know what Eric saw as went into the city each day. But whatever Eric had seen, had rattled him to the core. Bree lowered her head, feeling awfully guilty. "I'm sorry."
Eric exhales a long breath before nudging his elbow into Bree's side. "Come on." He pushes her forward. "I'd like to get this over and done with please."
Bree smiles up at him when Eric scrunches his nose up. "You were looking forward to it really." She teases.
"Bree. Don't make me chuck you over the railing."
She laughs as Eric glares at her, the twitch of the ends of his mouth giving him away as he tries to fight of the smile.