Tobias and I follow Purple-Hair and Snake-Tattoo toward the chasm. Two burly patrol officers I've only occasionally seen in passing are guarding the usually hidden entrance to the winding path that leads to the rocks below. Beside them are two maintenance workers who, according to the patch on their coveralls, work for chasm maintenance.
"Four, Tris, this is Shaffer and Eugenia," Snake-Tattoo says. "They were in the chasm this morning doing routine maintenance when they discovered dried blood pools on the rocks and bloody handprints up the wall leading to the maintenance entrance."
"I'm afraid we cleaned some of the blood off the rocks even after we found the handprints," Eugenia says. "But when I remembered the altercation the other morning and the reports of someone being pushed into the chasm, I immediately had Shaffer stop, and we called it in."
"Thank you for reporting what you found," I say. "Tony, please take Shaffer and Eugenia to the conference room and get their full written statements."
"Right away, Tris," Snake-Tattoo says.
"Shaffer, Eugenia, once you're finished with your statements you'll have to move on to your next maintenance task," Tobias says. "The chasm will be off limits until the investigation is complete."
"Okay, Four," they both say at the same time.
"Please follow me," Snake-Tattoo says. I lean against the railing and look toward the rocks below after the trio makes their way along the path toward the Pire.
"Have you inspected what they found, Simon?" I ask Purple-Hair.
"Tony and I did, yes, Tris," he says. "To me, it looks like an injured party escaped the chasm through the maintenance door. At least that's what I infer the blood trail suggests."
"How many people know about the maintenance tunnels?" I ask, although to no one in particular. "I wasn't aware of them for quite some time after getting here, and I figure the only reason I do now is because of my position."
"They aren't exactly secret," Purple-Hair says.
"You know how Dauntless like to explore," Tobias says and I nod . "That's how I was made aware of them. Zeke was out causing trouble one day and stumbled across them. Up until then none of us knew about chasm maintenance."
"None of you?"
"Zeke, Shauna, and me," he says. Hhm. I remember him talking about that now. "Simon, were samples of the blood taken yet?"
"Not yet, Four," he says. "I wanted to make sure that any samples collected were done so properly."
"Have you contacted the infirmary?"
"No, we came to find you first," he says.
"All right. While Tris and I inspect the scene, please go to the infirmary and tell Dr. Parrish what we need," Tobias says. "If he wants to delegate the task, that's fine. I completely trust his judgment. Just make sure that whoever collects the evidence takes multiple samples."
"Okay, Four," he says. "Do you have a flashlight? It's pretty dark down there. It's hard to see the trail without one."
"No, I don't."
"Here. You can use mine," he says as he hands him a small cylindrical object. Tobias turns it on, and I'm surprised by how bright the beam of light is. For being so little, it packs quite a punch.
"Thanks," Tobias says. "I'll make sure to get it back to you as soon as possible. Tris and I have a busy afternoon ahead of us, so more than likely we'll be gone when you get back."
"Don't worry about it. I have another one," he says, patting one of his front jean pockets, "so it's no hurry, Four."
"Okay."
"Please make sure a copy of the incident report is put in my office when it's complete," I say. "I'll make sure it gets filed."
"Yes, Tris," he says then he heads back to the Pit floor and toward the infirmary. Tobias takes my hand and carefully leads me to the bottom of the chasm letting the light guide our way. I'm surprised by how different it looks with the illumination. I glance up to the railing and see that we've drawn a small crowd. It still amazes me how inquisitive our faction is, or maybe people are just nosy in general.
"Watch your step, love," he says. "These rocks are wet." He slides his arm around my waist and guides me further into the chasm, making sure I don't slip or fall. When the powerful beam of light sweeps the wall in front of us, the rusty-looking handprints become visible. Some are perfect replicas while others are elongated from the hand dragging along the rock wall.
"This is creepy," I call out, making myself heard over the sound of the rushing water. "How was this not found before now?" Tobias turns off the flashlight leaving us in total darkness until our eyes adjust to the dim light emanating from above.
"I think this is how," he says. "I'm not excusing whoever did the sweep down here missing this but if they didn't have a flashlight, it's easy to overlook the blood trail."
"You're right," I say. "My eyes finally adjusted and unless you know exactly what you're looking at, the handprints look like imperfections in the wall. Maybe we should have someone take some pictures for the file."
"That's a good idea," he says. He sends a text to either Purple-Hair or Snake-Tattoo or perhaps both then leads me toward the hidden door I knew nothing about for so long. It's the same door Zeke used to show Shauna and Tobias the chasm bottom shortly after their initiation.
"Hey, do we know what Shauna's father's job was when he was an active member?" I ask.
"I've read his file a couple times but I can't recall that detail off the top of my head. Why?"
"That door is practically invisible from this side," I say. "Picture it. It's dark, you're injured. I understand pulling yourself up on the rocks even though the current should drag someone away from them but how do you find that door unless you know it's there? And wouldn't it be easier to climb out of here on the little path? Something's strange about this." He turns the flashlight back on and really takes in the scene before us.
"You're right," he says. "From this vantage point, the path is easily seen. And you're right, unless you know that door is there, it's easy to miss, especially in the dark."
"Is it possible this has nothing to do with the fight?" I ask. "Look at the directionality of this group of handprints. Doesn't it look like it's heading away from the door instead of towards it?"
"You could be right about that, too," he says. "Or what if this is evidence of someone coming down here from the tunnel, entering the chasm by the doorway, and helping whomever fell in get out."
"Why would someone do that?" I ask.
"Terry Samuels was supposed to be dead," he says. "It wouldn't be good to fish him out of the chasm all these years later, alive and well or newly deceased. But it proves to me that someone inside the faction is already helping him."
"Wait a minute," I say before he gets too far ahead of himself. "First of all, we don't if it was Terry Samuels who fell into the chasm, if anyone. This all could be a stupid prank."
"Point taken."
"Second, what's the point of faking your death only to return to your faction years later? Isn't that terribly risky? Why do it?"
"That I can't answer, and I don't want to speculate," he says. "This is a true mystery. But you're right, we're putting the cart before the horse. The first thing we need to find out is who this blood belongs to." He pulls out his phone and sends another round of messages. "I told Simon I want this entire scene documented with photographs and diagrams. I also told him to make sure each blood stain gets its own analysis. I'm confident that there is more than one contributor to the stains. Let's get out of here."
"Shouldn't we follow the blood trail?" I ask.
"It's hard to get that door open from this side. I think we should just go around and pick up the trail there."
"Okay," I say. "That sounds reasonable. I don't really feel like scaling a wall today anyway."
"How are you feeling now, love?" he asks about halfway out of the chasm once we no longer have to shout to be heard.
"There's something I need to tell you while I'm thinking of it."
"What is it?" he asks.
"I screwed up earlier in the bathroom," I say. "Ana, Avery, and Christina know about the twins. I was complaining about the morning sickness, and I accidentally said the babies weren't letting me eat. They immediately picked up on it. I'm sorry but they did promise me not to say anything."
"I was wondering what you made them promise," he says. "And it's all right. I'm surprised I haven't done the same thing with Zeke or the other guys."
"I'm feeling better than I did at lunch but I'm exhausted," I say. "I don't remember being this tired with Teags. Or this nauseated. Or this up and down."
"Or this horny?" he asks with a sly grin.
"No, that I do remember," I say, a fresh blush coloring my cheeks. "And if I'm not mistaken you seemed to reap all the benefits."
"Maybe not all the benefits," he says with a sly grin, "and I have to say, that's one part of you being pregnant I don't mind, not one bit."
"You're such a dirty boy," I say just before we reach the top of the trail. He stops and turns toward me.
"Your dirty boy who remembers his promise from earlier."
"Are you actually saying you want to ditch work for a while and have sex?" I ask, stunned. Getting him away from work is like trying to get the kids to bed when they're on a sugar high.
"Well, we'll finish up with the blood trail then take a detour to my old apartment for an hour before we go to the training room," he says. "I don't know about you but I think it's been entirely too long since I was inside you. I'd like to remedy that."
"It's only been four days but yeah, it's been too long," I say.
"So does that sound like a plan?"
"It sure does." He leans in to kiss me when movement startles us.
"Oh, shit!" I hear a familiar voice say. "I didn't see you two there." Zander who has Purple-Hair and two other men with him nearly runs right into us.
"We were just heading out," Tobias says. "I'm glad we ran into each other. Simon, I want to reiterate the importance of documenting everything."
"We're on it, Four," he says. "I brought a couple men with me to take pictures and measurements. Also, Tony is done with Shaffer and Eugenia so he'll be down in a few. He put their statements on your desk."
"Good," Tobias says. "Zander, can you make sure each stain you find is individually tested for DNA? It looks like some of the handprints are moving into the chasm while others seem to be moving out. We might be looking at two or more contributors."
"Okay. I'll do a pattern analysis of the prints as well to see if your hunch is correct." Then after Purple-Hair and his two men excuse themselves into the depths of the chasm, Zander says, "Isobel told me you were in this morning. Are you feeling better? Has the anti-nausea medication helped at all?"
"Right this minute there's no nausea, which is good," I say, "but my lunch came back up almost immediately. Four and I are going to cook something simple tonight for dinner. I'm hoping it'll stay with me when nothing else has. Something's got to change soon. I'm pretty hungry and Isobel told me I've lost weight since Monday."
"I want you to give the medication time to work. If you keep vomiting, visit me Sunday at the infirmary. I'll be there all day. There are a couple other things we can try before taking drastic measures including admitting you for IV nutrition and fluids," he says. "Any other unusual symptoms?"
"Four and I were just talking about that earlier," I say. "Everything seems to be … heightened this time around. I don't know if that's a good way to explain it or not. I'm exhausted 90% percent of the time. My emotions are all over the place. My sense of smell is on overdrive. I can't keep anything down, and the nausea and dizziness are absurd at times. And, of course, my sex drive feels like it's on steroids. It's just so different from how it was with Teagan."
"You have to remember that every pregnancy is different," he says, "and you're getting a double dose of hormones this time. Just remember the end result, two beautiful babies in your arms. That will make all this worthwhile." I smile thinking about Button and Bean. It is easy to forget about them when I'm not even showing yet.
"Thanks for the perspective," I say. I rest my hand on my lower abdomen and Tobias covers it with his. "They're definitely worth all this trouble and misery."
"That's for sure," Tobias says. "Well, we'll let you get started. Tris and I are going to the maintenance tunnels to see if the blood trail picks back up."
"Text me if you find anything and if I need to take samples from there also," he says.
"I will, Zander. We'll let you get to work."
"See you later," I say. Tobias takes my hand, and I'm surprised when he leads me to the double doors that head to the net. "What are we doing here?"
"This is the quickest route to the maintenance tunnel we're interested in," he says as he unlocks the door. Once we cross the threshold, he makes sure it's secured behind us. I expect him to immediately turn right and head back in the direction of the chasm but instead he leads us further into the tunnel until we're passing through the shadows that terrified me when I first got here. Suddenly, he stops and pushes me up against the cold stone wall.
"What are you doing?" I shriek. I wasn't expecting the sudden aggressive movement, and my heart starts painfully hammering in my chest.
"This," he says, his lips pressed against my ear, making me shudder. He glides his fingertips up my stomach and palms my aching breast. My breath catches in my throat as he gently massages the heavy mound. "I've been dying to do this all day." His lips momentarily graze mine before he moves them to my neck. He places open mouth kisses around my left ear, making me sigh. "Does this feel good?"
"You know it does," I moan. This man plays my body like a musical instrument, making it sing with delight. I gasp when he roughly cups my already throbbing sex with his other hand and aggressively rubs the heel against me. I move in time with his ministrations, craving more of the powerful friction. I grab his face and pull his lips to mine. Our kiss borders on violent as I force his lips open and invade his mouth with my pillaging tongue. He doesn't seem to mind, growling a continuous throaty groan.
"We don't have much time, love," he gruffly says. "Do you want to come like this?"
"No, I want to come with you inside me," I moan against his lips. "Please, baby. I need you inside me." His hands abruptly leave my body, and he turns me so fast that I nearly get whiplash. He quickly lowers my yoga pants and boy shorts, exposing me to the cool, damp air, then grasps my hips. He pulls me closer to him, and I feel him at my moist entrance, hard, hot, and throbbing. I barely have time to get used to the idea of him there when he roughly enters me.
"Oh, God," he cries out at the same time I do. He adjusts his body around mine and moves my legs closer together. He slowly pulls himself back then just as slowly pushes forward, and we both moan. It feels so damn good. "Squeeze your legs together even more, love." I do as he says, and he starts a steady, pounding in-and-out rhythm.
"You're so big, baby," I gasp as he fills me again and again. I swear he's twice as thick with my legs this way. The intense pleasure of our coupling is bordering on painful but I wouldn't change a single moment. He tightly wraps his arms around me as we continue to move against each other. One hand slips between my thighs. He roughly circles my nubbin with his calloused fingertips, helping me move closer to what's sure to be a powerful orgasm. His other hand slides up under my shirt and frees my aching breast from my bra. He twists and tugs on my sensitive nipple until I shatter around him. I cry out his name, which echoes around us, bouncing off the walls as he thrusts one final time and releases himself deep inside me. We slump against the cold stone to catch our breath and let our hearts return to normal.
"You okay?" he asks after a couple minutes of shared panting. He places sweet kisses along my neck and shoulder as he rights my bra.
"I'm completely blissful right now but I could really use a nap." He chuckles a bit as he slowly pulls out of me then slides my panties and yoga pants back up and into place. I hear the rustling of fabric as he tucks himself away. I turn around and his lips find mine for a gentle, loving kiss.
"I didn't exactly mean for that to happen in the middle of some random tunnel but I just couldn't wait one more minute to get my hands on you, love," he says. "And you have no idea how grateful I am that you wanted me inside you just now. I would have kicked myself if you said you wanted to come on my hand."
"Although you know I love your hands very much, Mr. Eaton, there's nothing quite like having you inside me," I say. I reach up and pull his mouth to mine once again. As the kiss intensifies, he pulls his lips from mine.
"You keep doing that, love," he roughly says, "and we're never going to get to the training room."
"Is it bad that I don't care?"
"The sooner work is over the sooner I can get you home," he says as he takes my hand and leads me deeper into the depths of Dauntless.
"Not that I'm complaining but why did you just make love to me in the dark?"
"Look up," he says as we pass into the light. I glance to the single lighting fixture above us.
"Is that a camera?" I ask, mortified at the prospect of being caught on camera again. "When did that get there?"
"I had maintenance install them along this route not too long ago," he says. "This could very well be an unauthorized entry point into the faction. I'm surprised there were no cameras before."
"So, there's more?" I ask.
"Yeah," he says. "But the net room still has no surveillance."
"That's good for us or we'd never get to mark it off our lists," I say as I pull him in for another kiss.
"I love you, Tris," he breathlessly says.
"I love you, too, Tobias."
"I wasn't too rough, was I?" he asks, his hands resting on my hips reminding me that I might have bruises in the morning where he held onto me.
"You were just rough enough," I say. "I loved it. It was perfect. Thank you. I really really needed that. I feel so much better."
"I needed it, too," he says, kissing my forehead. "But we better get back to work."
"Okay."
"Don't sound so excited," he chuckles.
"It's just," I let out a heavy sigh, "I could think of a few thousand things I'd rather do than sit in the training room watching the initiates," I say. "It's one of the reasons I elected not to train them anymore."
"I understand," he says. "But it's part of our duty. Here, this way." Right outside the net room I'm surprised to find hidden access to a hallway that winds off to the right. He leads me through a series of passages and stairwells until we reach a nondescript door. He opens it, and we're looking at the bottom of the chasm.
"This is surreal," I whisper as I look around. One of my favorite places in Dauntless looks completely different from this angle just like it did earlier when it was lit up. Before us Zander, one of the infirmary staff, Purple-Hair, Snake-Tattoo, and two of their men are milling around carrying out Tobias' orders. I didn't even know that many people would fit down there safely.
"I get it," Tobias says. "I felt the same way the first time Zeke brought me here. We better get back to work. Let's see if we can pick up the blood trial."
"Okay," I say looking around. "Hhm. I don't see any blood."
"Neither do I," Tobias says. "Simon, do you know if maintenance has been in this hallway already? We don't see a continuation of the blood trail."
"I don't think so," he shouts.
"Eugenia said they used that hallway to access the chasm this morning," Snake-Tattoo calls out above the roar of the river. "They didn't mention doing maintenance in it though. I'll contact Shaffer and Eugenia and ask them both." He pulls his phone out if his pocket and places a call.
"Can I use the flashlight?" I ask Tobias.
"Sure, here you go," he says as he digs it out of his pocket and hands it to me. I switch it on and shine it around the doorjamb.
"Is that blood?" Tobias kneels down and examines where I have the beam concentrated on the threshold.
"I think it is," he says. "Zander, there looks to be blood droplets in this doorway."
"Okay, Four," he says. "I'll make sure to document and collect samples from there, too. Do you see anymore?"
"No, but we just started looking," Tobias says.
"I couldn't get ahold of Shaffer but Eugenia said they're in charge of this hallway, and it's on the schedule for next week," Snake-Tattoo says.
"Keep trying to contact Shaffer, please, Tony," Tobias says. "I want to confirm that. Also ask him how often it gets cleaned."
"According to Eugenia, once a month," he says.
"So, it was supposedly cleaned three weeks ago," I say. I look around and shake my head.
"What is it, Tris?" Tobias asks.
"There's no way that this was cleaned three weeks ago. Look around," I say. "There's no dust or debris anywhere. The floor is clean, and the walls look freshly scrubbed. I can even smell some sort of cleanser lingering in the air."
"I don't smell anything," Tobias says, frowning as he sniffs the air.
"Believe me. It's faint but it's there," I say. "It's not an offensive odor. It kind of smells like … lemons and oranges, definitely citrusy. We have a cleaner like that at home. It's mixed by maintenance workers and sold in the furniture store."
"I'll take your word for it," Tobias says. "I know you have an exceptionally keen sense of smell these days."
"Hey, Zander, is there a way to know after the fact if blood has been cleaned up?" I ask.
"There is a chemical that reacts to the proteins in dried blood even if it's been cleaned up," he says. "Unfortunately, the only ones who have access to it is a small team of investigators from Erudite. If you suspect a cleanup, I can contact their lead investigator and have them come and examine the hallway."
"Erudite," Tobias murmurs under his breath.
"Are they trustworthy?" I ask, knowing my husband's hesitance.
"Definitely. This team travels all throughout the city investigating crime," Zander says. "It's their specialty. In my opinion, they are the most, for lack of a better term, divergent people in the city. They seem to fit into one of the factions just as smoothly as the next. I can guarantee there won't be a problem with them. If there's something to be found, they'll find it. Contact your brother if you want a second opinion, Tris."
"I might do that," I say as I try to stifle a yawn but it escapes anyway.
"You know we're done here. Why don't you go home for the day," Tobias says. "You're exhausted. You need to get some rest. I'll have Will accompany me to the training room. He'll like spending the afternoon with Christina. Go home, love."
"You know what, Four, for once I'm not going to argue with you," I say. "I'll go home and rest, spend some time with the kids. Thank you, baby … for everything." I wrap my arms around him, surprising him. We're not big into public displays of affection but he returns my hug then kisses the top of my head. "I love you."
"I love you, too," he says. "Do you need help getting back out of here?" I look up and down the unfamiliar hallway."
"It might be easier for me to just climb down into the chasm and head home that way," say.
"No," he says. "Just take a left at the end of this hallway. You'll see the path when you turn the corner."
"That does sound easier," I say. "Why didn't we come this way to begin with?"
"The other way was closer from the Pit."
"Okay," I mutter around yet another wide yawn.
"Please be careful going home. I don't need a phone call telling me you stumbled from the path again."
"You think you're funny but you're not," I say as I playfully punch him in the arm.
"I'm being completely serious, love," he somberly says. "Be careful. You're practically sleep walking as it is. You know what, I'm coming with you."
"Tobias Eaton," I whisper close to his ear, "you don't have to walk me home. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" he worriedly asks.
"Absolutely," I say.
"Call me when you get home then," he says as he gives me a quick kiss.
"Don't worry. Nothing's going to happen. I'll see you at supper. Oh, don't forget to stop by the commissary to pick up the ingredients we need. Would you also pick up some more ginger ale and saltines? We're almost out and that would not be good."
"I most definitely will," he says. "Don't forget to call." I pull him away from the open door and wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his chest.
"What's wrong? Is there something going on that you're not telling me?"
"No, I just want to make sure you're safe," he says. "You're carrying some very precious cargo."
"Is that all?"
"You know I worry, love," he says. "It's in my DNA. You wouldn't recognize me if I didn't."
"That's true."
"Four?" Zander calls out. "Are you still there?" We step back into view and he says, "Oh there you are. I hope I didn't interrupt something."
"I'm just leaving."
"You might want to hear this, Tris," he says. "I called Erudite, and they're sending the investigative team over right now. I honestly didn't think it would be so soon but they said the longer they wait, the more degraded the samples would become. I hope this is okay."
"It's perfectly fine," Tobias says. "I just have to rearrange some things."
"I'll stay," I say but he cuts me off.
"No. You're going home to rest. That's what I need you to do," he commands. "I've already sent Will to the training room. I'll have James meet him, and they can evaluate the Dauntless-born. I'll go up to the Pire and wait for our guests. I might be late depending on their findings. I'll send an order to the commissary and have it delivered while Bridget is still there to put it away. I'll try to be home on time so you don't have to cook but you might have to start it without me though."
"I think I can manage," I say. "But if you need me, call me." He looks at me like I've possibly gone crazy but he finally nods. "I'll see you later. I love you."
"I love you, too." I feel his eyes on me as I head up the hallway. Before I turn to make my way to the path, I glance over my shoulder and give him a little wave, which he returns with a sexy smile. I'm surprised to realize exactly where I am when I get on the path. I'm closer to the Pire than I thought I would be. I must have been climbing and didn't realize it. Even as tired as I am, it doesn't take me long to get home. I unlock and open the door and am met by three smiling but tired faces.
"Hi, Mommy!" Tyler says. "Are you home for good?"
"Yes, I am," I say. "I came home early so I could take a nap before supper."
"Is you still sick?" he poutily asks.
"No, I'm just tired," I say. "Hi, girls."
"Hi, Mama!" they say at the same time.
"Oh, hello, Tris," Bridget says as she comes into the living room. "You're home early."
"I need to rest," I say. "What did you make the kids for lunch? Something smells good."
"We had macaroni and cheese," Tyler excitedly says before Bridget can answer. "You want some, Mommy?"
"I can warm a plate for you, Tris," she says.
"Just a small helping please. Unfortunately, nothing stays with me for long but I'm starving." I follow Bridget into the kitchen and ask, "Have the kids napped?"
"I was just getting ready to put them down." Tyler, Tessa, and Teags all groan at that news. I chuckle to myself because I didn't know they had followed us.
"How about all of you take a nap with Mommy," I say. "I could use someone to cuddle with."
"Okay," Tyler says. "I take a nap with you."
"Me, too," Tessa say.
"'Kay!" Teags says.
"Why don't you play while Mommy eats this then we'll go upstairs?" They file into the sunroom and, surprisingly, sit down and start playing with each other. "Have they been like this all morning?"
"They've been really good all day. There have been no fights or bickering and they've played well together," she says. "I do think they're worried about you though. They've been talking amongst themselves about the babies making you sick. It makes them sad."
"I hate it when they worry," I say gazing in their direction. "They shouldn't have a care in the world." She slides a small bowl of delicious smelling pasta and cheese in front of me and my mouth waters. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Tris," she says. She pours herself a cup of coffee that just finished brewing and sits down across from me. Usually, I find the bitter yet inviting aroma appetizing but not today.
"I'm sorry, Bridget, but the coffee is turning my stomach," I murmur as I fight against the rising nausea.
"I'm sorry, Tris," she says. She gets up and pours the steaming liquid down the drain followed by the remainder of the pot. She washes the lingering scent away with a steam of water and almost instantly I start to feel better.
"I'm so sorry, Bridget. The nausea came on strong but I feel better now. Too bad you had to get rid of the whole pot. I hope this isn't an indication of what's to come. I'm a zombie until I get my morning cup of coffee. I can't imagine not being able to stand the smell for the next seven months."
"I'll remember not to brew a pot when you're here until I know it's not a trigger for you anymore," she says.
"Thank you," I say as I take the last bite of mac and cheese then slide the bowl away from me. "Thanks for that, too." I point at the empty bowl. "It hit the spot."
"You're more than welcome," she says. "Do you need help getting the kids upstairs with you?"
"No," I say. "I can manage." My phone rings and when I see Tobias' picture I realize I forgot to let him know I got home okay. "Hello."
"Are you okay?" he grumbles, worry dripping from his voice.
"Yes, baby. I'm so sorry. The kids greeted me the moment I walked in the door, and I forgot to call. I'm just getting ready to go upstairs and lie down with them right now."
"How did you manage that?" he asks, sounding much more like himself.
"I'm not sure," I say with a chuckle. "I didn't even have to bribe them."
"Are you sure they're our kids?"
"Yep! They look just like us."
"Love, I'm going to be getting home later than I feared. I ordered the groceries, and they'll be delivered around 5 p.m."
"Okay, I'll let Bridget know," I say. "Do you have an estimated time you'll be home?"
"I'm afraid not," he says. "It's possible it will be after the kids go to bed. I hope I'm wrong on that but the head investigator said they're going to test the entire hallway for blood. Apparently, it's a timely procedure."
"I understand," I say. "I love you. Don't work too hard."
"I won't, and I love you, too," he says. "I'll talk to you later. Have a good nap."
"I will, thanks," I say. We say a final goodbye then I put my phone away.
"Four has to work late tonight," I say. "He ordered some groceries that will be delivered around 5 p.m. We were planning on a simple Abnegation meal tonight so I'll cook when I get up from my nap."
"All right, Tris," she says. "Have a nice nap."
"I will," I say. "I'm exhausted." I get up from the table and make my way to the sunroom doorway. "Are you guys ready? Mommy's tired." They look up at me with sleepy smiles. "Come on." Tyler and Tessa get up but Teagan starts crying. "What's wrong?"
"Up," she whines. She lifts her arms up, and I know she wants carried.
"Can you be a big girl and walk for Mommy?" I ask her. Her bottom lip juts out and silent tears stream down her face. I'll take that as a no. "Come here." I pick her up and she rests her head against my shoulder. "Tyler, can you help Tessa up the stairs?"
"Come on, Tess," he says as he reaches for her hand. I expect her to argue or cry, too, but she takes his hand and lets him lead her up the stairs and into my bedroom.
"Do any of you have to potty?" I ask.
"No," Tyler says.
"Yeah," Tessa says.
"Teags, do you need to go potty?" I repeat then I realize she's out like a light. It's a good thing she has a training diaper on. I carefully lay her near the center of the bed then help Tyler up next to her. "Mommy and Tessa will be right back." I pick her up and carry her into the bathroom. I relieve myself while she uses the little potty chair.
"Done, Mama," she says.
"I'll help you in a minute," I say. I flush the toilet then clean her up. "Let's wash our hands." We take turns then we dry them really good.
"Nigh-nigh, Mama," she says around a yawn, holding her arms up to me. "Hold me."
"That's right, little one," I say as I pick her up. "Let's take that nap. We're all really sleepy." She sighs contentedly as she lays her head on my shoulder. "I love you, little one."
"Love you, Mama," she says. By the time I lay her down next to Teagan, she's fast asleep, too. Actually, it looks like I'm the only one still awake. I lie down on the other side of Tyler and close my eyes but sleep eludes me. My body too exhausted but my mind racing from all the new things Tobias and I learned today. I replay everything at least three times before I finally feel exhaustion take over, and I fall into a peaceful sleep.
