As I cross the threshold into the training room after a quick trip to my office to lock the important file Zander gave Tobias and me away, I stop short. The smell of sweat, dust, metal, and sulfur assaults my nostrils, making me sick to my stomach but not because of the ever-present morning sickness. No, this will always be one of my least favorite places in the compound. The simple task of entering this room takes me back to a day I'd rather forget every single time. I shake off the unwelcome feeling and make my way across the expansive room to where my husband is standing with Uriah and Christina.

"Hey guys."

"There you are," Tobias says. He's standing with his toned arms crossing his broad chest, his steely eyes on the practice fight in front of us. The Dauntless-born encompassing the mat are calling out words of encouragement to their friends and razzing their foes. Everyone looks like they're having a good time except for Christina. Her face is wearing a scowl and her right foot is tapping impatiently. I know Will doesn't want me to talk to her but she looks like she's about to explode.

"The kids caught me in my office," I say. "Bridget and Fiona are taking them to the park so they can have a picnic with Liam. They're really excited."

"I'm sure they are," he says.

"So how are the fights going?" I ask. "They look like they've improved significantly."

"They have," Uriah says, pride unmistakable in is tone. "I feel like we could skip to phase two already."

"We'll see how well they do when we start long gun practice next week," Christina mumbles under her breath. Tobias turns and gazes at her with concern while Uriah looks on questioningly.

"You okay?" I quietly ask, saddling up beside her.

"Mm-hm," she mutters.

"If you want to talk, you know I'm here for you," I say before turning my attention away from her surliness. I don't want it to rub off on me.

The next hour or so passes quickly as we watch Dauntless-born after Dauntless-born show off unprecedented skill. They definitely have to be the most impressive class I've ever seen. If it weren't for fatigue I don't think the practice fights would ever end.

"Go ahead and go to lunch," Uriah says after the last fight finishes. "Remember to be back by 1:30."

"You want to eat in the cafeteria or at home?" Tobias asks once the final initiate leaves.

"Home," I say. "I don't want to walk all the way to the Pit."

"All right. We'll see you guys after lunch," he says to Uriah and Christina but instead of acknowledging us, she stalks toward the door.

"Do you have any idea what's up with her?" Uriah asks as we watch her retreating form.

"It's personal," I say not wanting to reveal too much.

"Has she been like this a lot lately?" Tobias asks.

"She's been somewhat distracted since initiation started but nothing like today," he says. "She's grumpier than usual."

"Let me know if it becomes a problem," Tobias says.

"I'm sure she'll be fine," I say, feeling the need to stand up for my best friend knowing exactly why she's acting uncharacteristically.

"I'm sure she will," Tobias agrees, "but just in case, I want to be kept apprised of her mood. Our initiates are our future, and they need our best instructors. Obviously, she's not at her best right now."

"Maybe we should talk about this later," I say, my eyes darting to Uriah then back.

"You're right," Tobias says.

"I'll keep you updated," Uriah says, "and I'll keep this conversation between the three of us."

"We'd appreciate that," Tobias says.

"I better get going if I want to make it back here on time," Uriah says.

"Us, too," Tobias says. "We'll see you later."

"Bye, Uri," I say then turn my attention to my husband. "So, what are you going to feed me when we get home, gorgeous? I'm starving."

"What makes you think I'll be fixing lunch?" he asks with a chuckle.

"You got me pregnant, therefore you cook. It's the least you can do."

"Is that right?" he asks, sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me against his side.

"You know I'm always right," I tease.

"Okay. I'll fix you lunch today but you might not be so lucky next time," he says. His lips graze my temple, and I can't help but smile.

"You know you can't tell me no."

"Try me, beautiful," he says. "I've been practicing." Hhm.

"How about a quickie after we eat?" I ask in my most seductive voice, wanting to tease him a little. I look up at him through lowered lashes, and I swear I see his eyes dilate.

"No," he says.

"Are you sure?" I ask as we stop in front of our door. He releases me and digs out his keys. I step behind him, press my body to his, and slowly run my hands up and down his chiseled chest. A low growl rumbles through him when I start pressing kisses to his tattoo. "I'll make it good for you, Tobias, really really good."

"No, Tris," he says, not sounding like he means it one bit. I let go of him as he pushes the door open and we step inside. I purposely brush against the bulge in his jeans and he closes his eyes and swallows hard.

I go up on my tiptoes and flirtatiously whisper in his ear, "I can help you with this," as I lightly trail my fingers over his erection.

"No, no, no, no, no!" I burst out laughing and the erotic haze between us evaporates in an instant.

"You sound like Teagan," I pant once I can breathe again. "Or should I say she sounds just like you?"

"Well she is my daughter," he says with a huge smile on his face.

"I'm sorry I teased."

"I do kind of hate you right now," he says as he rearranges himself, obviously looking for some comfort from the restrictive jeans he's wearing.

"I can help you with that," I say.

"No, love," he says as he glides his knuckles across my jawline. "I'll be fine. Why don't you sit down and rest while I make us some lunch?"

"I'm not tired. I'll help you."

"If you insist," he says.

"I do," I say. I expect him to lead me into the kitchen to start lunch but he stands rooted in place, looking down at me with a soft look of love shining in his eyes.

"After all this time those words … on your lips … still take my breath away," he murmurs. I can't hide my confusion. "I do."

"You're just a big softie, aren't ya?" I murmur against his mouth. "Kiss me, baby." He fists his hand in my hair and tilts my chin up. His mouth meets mine first with love and adoration then passion and urgency. He pulls me close and I run my hands up and down his back.

"Damn," he pants.

"I'm sorry," I murmur. "I didn't mean to get us both worked up again."

"Weren't you just trying to work me up?"

"I was just playing," I whisper. My eyes well up with tears and my throat burns with thick emotion, thinking he's mad at me.

"Hey. We were playing," he says. "Please don't cry, love."

"Damn hormones," I mumble with a chuckle, rubbing my eyes.

"Maybe we should start lunch," Tobias says.

"I think your right." While I get out the fixings for some cold sandwiches, Tobias warms up the chicken and dumpling soup we had a couple nights before. "That smells really good," I say. I inhale the savory scent causing my stomach to grumble loudly.

"Sit down and start on your sandwich," he says. "The soup needs a couple more minutes."

"I'd like to argue with you but I'm starving," I say. I carry our sandwiches to the table, sit down, and dig in.

"Here you go," Tobias says as he sets a soup bowl beside each of our plates. "What do you want to drink? Ginger ale?"

"Do we have any apple juice?" I ask.

"We have a bottle of sparkling cider," he says as he looks in the refrigerator.

"That sounds good." He gets the bottle, opener, and two glasses then joins me. About half way through our meal I ask, "Can we talk about Christina?"

"What about her?"

"Why do you want Uriah keeping an eye on her?" I ask.

"I realize she's hurting right now but if her head is somewhere else on a daily basis I think it's best to give her a break and let someone else take her place with the Dauntless-born temporarily."

"You're not wrong but I think taking her job away right now could be detrimental," I say. "She and I are a lot alike and when something is bothering me, work is a big part of my salvation. It helps to take my mind off my problems."

"I know but I've never seen you as agitated at work as Christina was today," he says.

"I feel so bad for her," I sigh. "I know how crazy I was wanting another baby and that was for only a short time. She's been dealing with this for well over a year. I can't even imagine."

"Neither can I," he says. "And poor Will. Wanting another child and having to put up with Christina."

"Hey!"

"Uh, that didn't come out quite right," he says, color warming his cheeks. "You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I do," I say. "How long before we have to go?"

"15-20 minutes," he says. "Why don't you lie down while I clean this mess up? You're starting to look rundown."

"You're right," I say around a yawn. "Maybe I ate too much because suddenly I'm tired."

"A quick nap will do you good, love," he says.

"Thank you, baby." I kiss his cheek then lie down on the couch. I just doze off when loud, incessant knocking brings me up off the couch like a shot. "Just a minute," I call out.

"Who is it?" Tobias asks as I open the door. My best friend stands there looking shell-shocked.

"Christina?" I guide her into my apartment and sit her down in the club chair she likes so much. I sit on the ottoman in front of her and take her hands in mine. "What is it?"

"He left me," she whispers, staring out the window. What the?

"I'll leave you two alone," Tobias says. "Don't worry about work. Take as much time as you need."

"Thanks," I say, meeting his gaze. I mouth I love you and watch him walk out the door.

"I don't know what I'm going to do without him, Tris," she says.

"Tell me what happened," I say. "What do you mean he left you?" I know Will was struggling this morning but I can't believe he would actually leave her. He loves her too much.

"When I was getting ready for work this morning, he told me about Cara," she says. She turns her attention from the window and focuses on me. "I wanted to be happy for her – I really did – but I just couldn't. I can't believe another person I know is having a baby. I got angry and said some things I won't repeat. It wasn't my finest moment. He tried to calm me down but I just kept getting madder and madder. I stormed out without a goodbye. Then I stewed about it all morning. I'm sure everyone could tell something was up." She's not wrong there.

"I decided to apologize to Will for my behavior but before I could go and find him, he messaged me and asked me to come home. The minute I walked through the door I could tell something was wrong. There was a bag packed by the door." Oh shit! "He told me he was leaving, that we need some time apart. He told me he doesn't want any more kids if it was going to make me crazy. He called me crazy, Tris! Crazy! Can you believe that? He told me I need help, that all I do is pick fights with him. He told me that we never make love anymore, that all we do is go through the motions. I don't know why this is happening. I'm losing everything I've worked so hard for, and all I wanted was to give Liam a little brother or sister. It's not fair."

"I'm not going to pretend and say I understand what you're going through but there is one thing I do know, Christina, Will loves you. He won't be able to stay away for long."

"Then why did he leave?"

"He's hurting, too and he's confused," I say.

"How do you know?" she asks.

"I spoke to him earlier."

"You did?" She narrows her eyes at me.

"Yes. I ran into him in the cafeteria. He wasn't himself."

"You did this?" Christina screeches, wrenching her hands from mine. The betrayal in her eyes twist my heart. "How could you? You're supposed to be my best friend."

"Don't be absurd," I spit.

"Absurd!"

"Calm down, Christina!" I say, exasperated. "Of course, I didn't tell him to leave. I'd never betray you like that. Or him for that matter."

"I know," she says, hanging her head. "I didn't mean that."

"Have you thought about talking to someone?" I ask.

"Like who?"

"A psychologist, psychiatrist, or maybe a marriage counselor," I say. "I agree with Will on that very important point, you need help dealing with the infertility."

"What good would talking about it do?" she mutters. "It's not like it would give me what I want"

"Christina, hon, listen to yourself," I gently say. "This isn't you. You are stronger than this." She springs to her feet and as she starts pacing the floor, a single tear slides down her cheek followed by too many to count.

"Don't tell me how to feel, Tris," she hisses.

"I'm not," I say, holding up my hands hoping to placate her. "I'm not trying to tell you what to do or how to feel. You are entitled to your feelings."

"Damn straight I am," she mutters like a petulant child.

"But there's something you need to remember, Will is entitled to his feelings too," I say, stopping her in her tracks.

"I hate that you make sense," she says after a somber moment. "I just wished it didn't hurt so damn much." I wrap my arms around her and hug her tightly as she sobs on my shoulder. Once she settles down, I lead her into the kitchen and make us each a cup of coffee.

"Where did Will go?" I ask.

"I'm not really sure," she says, sniffling. "He took his bag, told me to kiss Liam, and left. I don't know what to do, Tris."

"What have I always told you?"

"Talk to him," she says. "But that's easier said than done."

"Why?" I ask.

"We don't talk anymore," she says. "We fight … about everything."

"Do you know what starts the fights?" I ask.

"Yeah," she says looking so sad. "Me. Every conversation, no matter how it starts, ends up being about not being able to get pregnant. I get angry, he gets defensive then we argue … a lot."

"That's exactly what Will said this morning," I say. "Well not verbatim. You know, if you don't want to talk to a counselor what about talking to Isobel or Zander? Maybe there's something medical going on that's keeping you from conceiving."

"I never thought about that," she says.

"You also have another option," I gently say not knowing how she'll take it.

"What's that?" she asks, looking genuinely confused.

"Adoption," I say and when I see her start to object I quickly continue. "And before you say that an adopted child wouldn't be your own flesh and blood, your heart won't know the difference. I can attest to that first hand."

"We haven't talked about adoption," she confesses. "I'm not opposed to it but I want to feel another life growing inside me. I want it so bad."

"Even at the expense of your marriage?" She gasps. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."

"No, Tris," she says with a sigh. "It really wasn't. I don't want to lose him, I love him so much, but I'm afraid I already have. And it's all my fault."

"Maybe a little time apart will help you," I say.

"How?"

"You're both stressed right now. That's definitely not good on your body. You said that Will complained about sex becoming routine. Forget about making a baby for right now and seduce your husband. Go out on dates. Fall in love all over again. Make love because you want to show him just how much you love him not because you want to get pregnant."

"I could do that," she says. "No, I will do that."

"That's the Christina I know and love," I say and we both laugh then tears fill her eyes once again as a melancholy air blankets the room.

"I can't believe I've let things fall apart so much," she says.

"It wasn't just you."

"But it was, Tris. It's my fault. He's been trying to get me to talk about my feelings for months now and I just bottled them up. I've been horrible. I'm so jealous of Cara, Ciara, and especially you. I know I've been smiling to your face but I haven't been kind behind your back. I'm so sorry. I love you and I'm so happy that you're happy about the twins." I reach over and cover her trembling and with my own.

"You don't have to apologize," I say. "We're best friends. We're going to fight from time to time."

"Oh, God! What am I going to tell Liam about where his Daddy is?"

"Do you think you can convince him to come home even if he sleeps in a spare room?" I ask, not having any advice on what to tell their son.

"I'm not sure I should do that," she says. "He said he needed some space. How much space can I give him in the same apartment? I just don't know what to tell poor Liam."

"I don't know either," I say. "Four and I always try to tell our kids the truth but I'm not sure if that's the way to go or not."

"Maybe I should ask him to come home," she says.

"I don't want to come home just for Liam," Will says. Christina and I both startle at the sound of his voice. He and Tobias are standing in the living room. I didn't even hear the front door open.

"Will!" Christina jumps up and runs into his open arms.

"I'm so sorry, Christy," he says into her hair, holding on to her tightly as they both sob. "Can you ever forgive me?"

"Tris and I will get out of your way," Tobias says, reaching a hand out to me.

"No, don't go," Will says, releasing Christina from his embrace but keeping his arm around her. "Christina, I love you. I'm sorry I walked away. I know now – thanks to Four – that walking away will never solve our problems."

"I'm sorry, too, Will," she says. "I shouldn't have been shutting you out all these months. Tris gave me some things to think about. I still want a baby but I think we need to get our relationship back on track before we start trying again."

"Don't ever think that I don't want more children with you but I'm glad to hear you say that," he says.

"Let's go home and talk," Christina says to Will then looks at Tobias and me. "Tris, thanks for the talk and Four, thanks for bringing Will home. I don't know how I'll ever repay you."

"Take this weekend off," Tobias says. "Find a sitter for Liam and get away, just the two of you. I've reserved a room for you at a bed and breakfast in Amity. You both deserve some much-needed R&R."

"Thanks, Four," Will says, extending is hand. "We'll take you up on your offer."

"Thanks, Four," Christina says giving him a big hug.

"Come on, Christy," Will says. "Let's go home." Tobias and I watch our friends leave then I look up at him.

"I didn't know you were going after him."

"I figured he was just as big a mess as she was," he says. "And I was right. I found him at the bar drowning his sorrows in a pint. I told him getting drunk wasn't helping to solve his problems. He didn't want to talk so I made him listen. Something I said got through."

"I'm so glad you did," I say. "She was going to fight for him but I'm glad he came to his senses. What made you give them the weekend off?"

"They have a long road in front of them," he says. "I thought I'd give them a head start."

"You really are a big softy," I say. I loop my arms around his neck and pull his mouth to mine.

"I love you very much, Beatrice Grace," he murmurs against my neck between soft kisses.

"We better get back to the training room before I drag you up to bed."