I was not anticipating the amount of reviews I received last chapter! I see that lots of you are nervous about what Evelyn's return means, so let's get into this one. Thank you so much for all the support.

Disclaimer: I don't own Divergent.

Tobias feels his heartbeat in his ears, feels the sweat beading up on his palms. He's close to being overwhelmed by his anxiety again, but this time, Tris is nowhere near to help him.

"Hi Tobias," his mother breathes, opening her arms for a hug.

Tobias doesn't move or respond, he just continues staring at Evelyn in pure shock. It's been… what, 5 years? And the last time they encountered one another he made it very clear that he didn't want to see her. Still, there was the 6 year old boy in him who'd hoped that she would try harder with him, try to win his forgiveness and be there for him… But no, she'd merely given up. That was a good enough answer for Tobias. He realized that she only tracked him down to assuage her guilt, not because she actually gave a fuck about him. It's probably the same today.

He tries to make his voice as cold as possible, "What are you doing here?"

She steps back and drops her arms, obviously not expecting this iciness from her son. She's so oblivious, and ignorant, Tobias thinks darkly to himself. He has half a mind to slam the door straight in her face. He was enjoying the first good Christmas he's ever had with the girl of his dreams, and then she has to show up and ruin everything.

"I was in town," she states, pressing her lips together.

"You were in town," Tobias echoes back to her, folding his arms over his chest.

"Well, if you must know, my fiance Richard and I-"

"Fiance?" Tobias demands, in pure shock, his face whitening.

Evelyn sighs, "We have a lot to discuss, Tobias. Why don't you invite me in?"

Tobias thinks about it, he thinks really hard about sending his mother away and never speaking to her again. But the needier side of him wins out. He wants to know what brought her here to his doorstep today, who she is now engaged to, and if she really cares about him. As much as he hates her, she's here right now. He feels weak for it all, but he doesn't want it to be their last chance. He'd never admit that, though.

And then there's Tris inside, sleeping peacefully. What would she think of all this? She'd probably want to leave when she woke up, and Tobias knows that she should leave, he needs to hash things out with his mother in private. But he doesn't want to be alone. Tris gives him strength when he needs it the most. They've only just begun their romantic relationship, but it feels like they've been close for a lifetime. He hopes that meeting his mother this soon isn't an overstep for her. They're under unusual circumstances anyway, he supposes.

"Alright… come on in."

He steps out of the way for her, and watches her closely as her eyes scan the apartment, soaking in every detail.

"This is a nice place," Evelyn says, "Does Marcus uphold your rent?"

Hearing his father's name exit his mother's mouth causes Tobias to flinch, and he shakes his head. "No, he uh, actually doesn't approve of me living here. I have 2 roommates, they're out for today though. With their families."

Clearly Evelyn caught onto Tobias's hard emphasis of the last word, because her eyes flash in regret. Good, Tobias thinks to himself.

Evelyn takes off her coat and boots and sets them up near the doorway where everyone else's are. She turns to Tobias with her arms folded, looking him up and down. She really is beautiful, Tobias thinks to himself. He knows that he's regrettably a spitting image of his father. They both have the same dark blue eyes, hair color, and facial structure. Except for his nose. No, his hooked nose is all Evelyn's, same with his deep olive skin. Marcus was always a pale man, his lineage coming from Britain and Ireland. Evelyn's heritage however, takes her back to an array of Mediterranean countries; Turkey, Lebanon, and Greece to name a few. Greece is where Tobias's maternal grandmother immigrated from. His biggest let down in life is that he never got to meet her. She passed just before he was born.

"I see. And how is, uh, your father?"

"I wouldn't know, we haven't really been speaking lately."

"Well, I saw you on the news." Tobias freezes up at her words. "I was incredibly impressed. Even more so when I heard you're planning on leaving Eaton Enterprises for a career in art?"

"That's the plan," Tobias responds levelly, "So is a question and answer the only reason you stopped by?"

"Well after I'd heard about your plans for the future, I realized that Marcus couldn't be too happy with you. I wanted to check in, see how you're being supported."

"Check in?" Tobias laughs mirthlessly.

His mother's mouth is set in a firm line. "Look, Tobias, I know our last encounter wasn't pleasant, and trust me, I've been beating myself up for how I left you for the past 14 years. Last time we met and you told me you wanted nothing to do with me, I gave up on you. But as a mother I shouldn't be doing that."

"I'm glad to see you've come to that realization now."

Evelyn sighs, "Watching you on the news made me realize what a strong and capable young man that you've grown into… I-I've missed so much. I know now, you're financially stable, and you probably don't need a mother in your life. But I won't abandon you. Even if you want me gone, I am still going to be here for you in whatever way that I can."

Tobias tries not to let her words affect him in the way that she probably hopes they will. This is just another ruse from Evelyn, to make her look like the good guy. Still, there is something genuine about the way she speaks to him, he doesn't know if it's his mommy issues that want to hear it so badly, or if it's real. He's torn, and the one person who can help him sort out his thoughts is just a room over.

Tobias stares into his mother's deep brown eyes, swallowing slightly. He nods once, mostly to himself, trying to gather his thoughts, "Why don't you take a seat?" He gestures to the stool in his kitchen, "I'll be right back."

Tris is in the same spot that he left her, though now she has grabbed the part of the blanket that was covering him and hugged it to her chest. The sight hits him straight in the heart and he wants nothing more than to curl up next to her on the couch and fall into an oblivious slumber. Damn it, Evelyn.

He leans down next to Tris and taps her shoulder gently, "Hey."

"Mmm," she groans groggily, her eyes fluttering open. When she makes eye contact with Tobias her perfect mouth spreads out into a small smile, her cheeks growing pink. "Sorry… I must have fallen asleep."

Tobias presses a soft kiss to her forehead. "Don't be sorry. It's been a long Christmas… and it just got a whole lot longer."

"Oh?" Tris asks, sitting up on the couch and stretching.

"Yeah um… I don't really know how to say this, so I'm just going to say it… my mom is here."

Tris freezes mid stretch and stares at him wide eyed, "Are you serious?"

"Yep."

"What… is she here for? Does she want something? Or…"

"I think- I think she wants to make things right? That's what she's saying at least, that she regrets giving up on me and she doesn't want to abandon me again…" It's weird for Tobias to be saying all of this, Evelyn has been a stranger to him for years upon years.

"Whoa…" She runs a hand through her hair and adjusts her sweater, "That's amazing Tobias."

"Uh, yeah."

A crease forms between her brows, "Why do you not seem like… overjoyed?"

Tobias raises his eyebrows. How doesn't Tris understand? His mother abandoned him, and she's been through something incredibly similar with her own father. "Um, it's a little bit more complicated than a happy reunion Tris."

Tris blinks, her entire face twisting up. "If my dad showed up on Christmas for me, I would feel really happy."

"It would be that easy to forget about all the pain, all the betrayal?" Tobias asks her, genuinely wanting an answer. He's torn between wanting to forget about the anguish his mother inflicted on him or building his walls up even higher to avoid getting hurt.

"It's not so much as forgetting about it than wanting to work through it… you know, being grateful that they came back for you."

"Hmm…" Tobias says, chewing his lip.

"Obviously, it's your choice Tobias, and you deserve a parent who would have never abandoned you… but if you don't open your heart a little, how will you know?"

Tobias lets her words resonate with him for a moment. She's right, she always is. He pulls her in for a deep hug and holds her against his chest. "Thank you," he whispers, "Now, come on…"

He tugs her off the couch and she looks at him nervously, "I should probably leave, right? Give you and your mom some space?"

Tobias looks down, "I mean uh, if you want… but just know that I want you here… if it's not too much for you. I trust you, and you give me strength." Hell, just a 2 minute conversation with her after the chaos of his mom showing up unannounced has grounded him immensely.

Tris bites her lip, "If you really want me to stay, I will. I just don't want to intrude on anything."

"You won't be. Now, let's go." He laces his fingers through hers and pulls her into the kitchen. When Evelyn sees his companion her eyebrows shoot up and recognition crosses her face.

"Uh, mom, this is Tris. She's been spending Christmas with me."

Evelyn stands up and Tris breaks her hand apart from Tobias's to shake hers. "Evelyn, Tobias's mother."

"It's great to meet you," Tris says genuinely.

"You look so much like your father, Beatrice," Evelyn comments.

Tobias forgets that his mother probably knew Tris's parents as well. After all, Andrew and Marcus partnered around the time that Marcus married Evelyn. Tris blinks in surprise at the comment, but smiles. Tobias can't tell if it's real or fake. "Um, thank you."

There's no way Evelyn can know about Andrew's absence, she's been AWOL for too long. She clearly didn't mean to wound.

"I'll confess, I saw you two together on the news a few days ago and thought what an amazing twist of fate it was that you were working together like your fathers. I just never realized you guys were… so close," she says the end with some obvious distaste which makes Tobias angry. She does not get to have opinions about his love life, especially incredibly wrong opinions.

"We definitely got closer over the course of working on the project together. It was a big learning experience for me at least," Tris says politely, fidgeting a bit.

They all get reseated in the kitchen as Evelyn asks, "And what do Marcus and Andrew think about the two of you being so close?"

Tris's face whitens, and Tobias closes his eyes briefly. "Like I said, I don't talk to Marcus often enough to know what he thinks." Tobias is slowly losing his patience with his mother.

"Um, and as for my dad, he's not really around anymore. Hasn't been for two years," Tris pipes up.

"Oh, I'm sorry dear. I honestly had no idea. Give your mother my warmest regards, then."

"Will do… did you know her well?"

"Somewhat, I guess. That woman is an enigma, as you no doubt know… but our husbands were close, so naturally we got to know each other as well. Though, it's been far too long since Natalie and I have spoken, it would be nice to get back in touch."

"Um, yeah, I'm sure she would like that as well, I'll give her the message! Uh, does this mean you're back in Chicago for a while?"

"Well," Evelyn casts a furtive glance at Tobias, "My fiance, Richard, is buying a property over here, but we still permanently reside in Peoria."

"I see," Tris comments, "It's good you're in town then, and on Christmas no less. It is a day for family."

Tobias notices the appreciative glance that Evelyn shoots Tris. He knows that Tris is being this amicable for his benefit too, so he tries to start conversation. "When did you, um, get engaged?"

"2 weeks ago. We'd been together for about 6 months when he finally popped the question," she shows off the ring. It's nothing like her old engagement ring that Marcus gave her, a shiny 3.33 carat diamond that was flashy and extravagant. This diamond is much smaller, on a simple silver band. This Richard fellow probably isn't from their world. Good for her, Tobias thinks seriously. He knows this world caused his mother nothing but trouble.

Evelyn grew up poor. She was first gen born in America, her mother being a Greek immigrant and her father coming from Lebanon. Her parents met in university and fell in love fast. His grandmother got pregnant with Evelyn only 3 months after they got together.

Tobias knows that his maternal grandparents fought a lot, but they loved each other so much that they stayed together. Though whenever Marcus referred to them he frequently used the words "good for nothings" and "lazy immigrants". Of course he looked down on them, the Eaton family had built up their empire in America for decades upon decades. They were old money rich.

When Evelyn was 21, her father died from lung cancer. Shortly after, she met Marcus Eaton. He was handsome, charming, and wealthy. He was also a complete womanizer, which she did not realize until it was too late and he had gotten her knocked up.

The Eatons tried and tried to have Evelyn get rid of the baby, but she refused, insisting that she was going to give birth, with the support of her mother. Since no amount of money could sway Evelyn, the Eatons wanted to keep her close. The only thing worse than an unexpected Eaton baby was an unexpected Eaton baby that was not raised by an Eaton. They forced Marcus to present Evelyn with a marriage proposal to avoid a complete scandal.

Evelyn knew how wealthy the Eatons were, she knew that they would give her son a comfortable and luxurious living, and she never imagined Marcus could be cruel to his own son. Besides, when she accepted the proposal, Marcus had not started being violent with her yet. No, that wouldn't begin until after they were married and there were closed doors to keep secrets.

What Tobias never understood was why Evelyn, who was so determined to give birth to him and love him, up and abandoned him after only 6 years. He always chalked it up to being unlovable, worthless, the piece of shit that his father always told him he was, a disappointment of a son… he believed it all too, until Tris Prior entered his life and made him feel like he was someone worth caring about.

"Wow, that's a very beautiful ring," Tris comments.

"Probably nothing that you're used to, darling. Is that Philippe?" Evelyn asks, gesturing to Tris's new dazzling watch.

"Um, yes. Christmas gift," Tris's cheeks pinken a little bit.

"Ah, I see. Well, you can no doubt tell that Richard is no Marcus Eaton, based on the ring alone."

"I'll imagine that's why you're marrying him," Tobias answers. His mother getting married, his mother getting married. She abandoned him for 14 years and now she's getting remarried. Tobias has no clue how to feel.

Evelyn casts a nervous glance at Tris, not responding to Tobias.

"You can say whatever you want to say in front of Tris. I trust her. And besides, she knows everything."

"Everything?" Evelyn echoes in disbelief.

"More or less."

"I see," Evelyn nods a few times to herself, processing this information. "Well, Richard works as a bank teller. He has 3 daughters-"

"Daughters?" Tobias interrupts.

"Yes. Lydia, Felicity, and Juliette."

"How… old are they?" Tobias asks, still processing the fact that he's going to have step siblings who he's never even met.

"Lydia is the oldest, she's 10. Felicity is 7, and Juliette is 5."

Tobias blinks at his mother and he feels Tris grasp his hand from underneath the table. "So, you've been off being a mom to these kids? Back when I was their age I was being physically abused by my father and wondering why my mother hated me so much that she left me," he spits out, not knowing where the sudden burst of anger came from.

Evelyn flinches, and uncomfortable silence falls amongst the three for a few moments. Tobias trains his eyes to the kitchen table, not wanting to see the expression on his mother's or Tris's face.

"Tobias," his mother begins. "I had no idea… that when I left, Marcus would begin taking his anger out on you."

"So you've told me 5 years ago."

"I knew he was cruel, but I never thought him capable of hurting his own son that way. When you had told me… that day I found you when you were 15, I was heartbroken."

"Well imagine how I felt, enduring it for 10 years."

"I thought it would be better for both of you if I left. Marcus hated me, was forced to marry me and he always romanticized what his life could have been if I had never gotten pregnant, or if I had just gotten rid of the baby. If I was gone you wouldn't have to grow up in a house of violence… I knew Marcus was far from a warm and loving father, but I just… I-I thought that you were better off, growing up with his money and connections. I was so, so wrong."

Tobias swallows thickly, lifting his gaze up back to his mother. Tears are clouding her eyes, and when she blinks, they fall down her cheeks. Tobias tries not to let the sight break him. She left him. "Did you not… miss me? Why did it take you so long t-to come back and find me?"

His mother shakes her head, the tears coming down faster. "It wasn't… safe for me to come back. Marcus is very powerful. Even getting him to sign the divorce papers 5 years after I left was a huge hassle in which I had to use… certain things I knew for leverage. It all left me scared about how he could easily come to hurt me. Even now, being back in Chicago I am taking a big risk. And, I know it doesn't make up for anything, but I missed you everyday I was gone. Leaving you was the hardest decision I ever had to make."

Tobias is still dumbfounded at how blind his mother was. She knew how cruel his father was and still decided he was better off being raised by him, a man who didn't even want him to be born. "The money, the connections, growing up in this world… it hasn't done shit for me," he states as clear as he possibly can. "I would have much rather preferred… being with you. Even if it wasn't the most glamorous life- or if we were poor or without a house… I would have rather grown up surrounded by love. It would have shown that you really wanted to be with me."

"I did want to be with you," his mother breathes out. "You know I cannot change the past, Tobias. I did what I thought was best for you because I thought that taking you with me on whatever cruel journey lay ahead of me was selfish… I thought I was putting your needs first, and I was a fool for leaving you with him. Now, here I am. I know there's nothing I can do to make things right, but just know that I love you, and I'm going to be here to support you. Damn Marcus, damn the consequences. If you want to push me away and ignore me, that's okay. But I won't give up on you."

Tobias stares at his mother. The woman whose absence has caused him more grief and anguish than he could have ever thought possible. She's saying all the right things, truly showing that she wants to make up for the past 14 years, and it doesn't feel like a hoax. He knows it's not going to be fixed overnight, but he wants a mother, a family… love. A feeling he hasn't felt in… forever. At least, not until Tris Prior stumbled into a tattoo shop one night and completely changed his world. He can't admit those feelings to her yet, he'd scare her away, but now he thinks back on the advice she gave him earlier. If you don't open your heart a little, how will you know?

"Okay," he tells Evelyn after a few long moments. Her whole body wracks with a sob at his words. Reaching out for Tobias's hand, she links their fingers together. Flashes of various memories stab at him from the contact. His mother coming by to tuck him in before bed, a black eye or bruise present on her cheek. She would tell him not to worry about her, run her fingers through his hair with one hand, and grab his hand with her other free one, singing softly to him until he fell asleep. The image of their hands intertwined starts to become blurry to Tobias, and then he realizes that he's crying.

He looks over to Tris, embarrassed that she has to see him like this, until he sees the tears that have splashed onto her cheeks as well.

"What should I wear?" Tobias asks Tris, popping his head out of the bathroom.

"What are the options?" She asks from the living room. He can see her folding up the blankets they were using on the couch.

Tobias holds up the two sweaters he's considering, and she tells him to pick the navy one, insisting that it will bring out his eyes. Once he's dressed, he sneaks up behind Tris as she fluffs up his couch cushions, enveloping her in a bear hug.

She starts and Tobias laughs, kissing her cheek gently.

"Tobias, I'm trying to fix up your apartment!"

"Mmm… why bother?"

"Because I'm a guest?"

"You're more than that, and you know it."

"Well…" She fidgets a little, spinning around to face him.

He tucks a stray piece of hair behind her ear, "As far as I'm concerned this place is as much yours as it is mine."

Tris laughs, "Speaking of… are you going to be able to sustain rent on this place after leaving Eaton Enterprises?"

Tobias lifts a shoulder, not wanting to think about it. "I have a lot saved… trust me. Marcus doesn't even pay for this place out of his pocket, it's my own money from working at Eaton Enterprises."

"Oh, I see… have you spoken to one another today?"

"Uh, no. I haven't talked to him on a Christmas day since I moved in with Zeke and Shauna. And we haven't… spoken since our phone call a few days ago."

"Are you going to tell him about the gallery?"

"Eventually… he doesn't need to know yet."

"What are you hiding from me?" Tris asks with narrowed eyes.

"He doesn't think I'm doing it at all. It's better this way for the time being."

"Wha-? How are you going to keep this from him?"

"It's going to be difficult, but I think I can do it."

"What happened to standing up to him and being honest?"

"Look, Tris… I know. Obviously that's going to happen in the near future, but I need you to trust me on this. Especially with my mom being back now, I don't need a target on my back. It's better to just… keep my head down for a while."

Tris looks like she wants to say more, but still, she just nods. "Okay."

The truth is, Tobias is still trying to figure out the most graceful way to leave Eaton Enterprises that won't result in his father fucking up his entire life. Maybe Evelyn can help him in that area… after all, she blackmailed Marcus into divorcing her. When Tobias announced he wanted to leave on the news, he was impulsive and rash, he wanted the feeling of freedom so badly and in his naivety he convinced himself that his father might let him go peacefully. Luckily he was able to assure Marcus that he was just being an idiot and he has no plans of leaving the company. If he wants this all to go off without a hitch… he'll need to keep his upcoming gallery a secret. It's going to be hard, but he thinks he can manage.

"Thanks for coming with me to this, by the way."

"No problem, you nervous?"

"Slightly, yeah."

Tris squeezes his hand, the contact sending jolts of electricity through his skin. "Don't be. I'm… really proud of how far you've come today with your mom."

"I wouldn't have been able to do it without you."

Tris wraps his arms around his middle, hugging him tightly. He allows his hand to skim over her hair, relishing this privacy before they'll have to go and meet Evelyn's new fiance and his children. She invited them to a breakfast for dinner thing at IHOP, since it's one of the only places open for dining on Christmas. IHOP… not exactly the cuisine that he or Tris is used to… so it'll probably be a nice change.

Before she left, he and Evelyn caught up a bit more, with Tris listening quietly. Evelyn told him that Richard knows her ex husband was abusive and that she has a 20 year old son, but she doesn't know her ex husband is a powerful businessman. Tobias understands why she hasn't told him- she's probably scared for his safety and his daughters', but he still thinks full honesty is the best way to approach a marriage, and she should tell him eventually. After Evelyn invited them for dinner, Tobias and Tris spent some more time together, chatting about what a crazy Christmas this has been. Tobias set up the clock that Tris got him in his room… and she was right; his room did need some decoration. He's still in awe of how she got him the perfect gift, and he hopes that the nail set he got her measured up. She seemed to be happy with it… he wanted to gift her something that she could use and that she wouldn't normally get for Christmas in their wealthy world.

Tobias pulls back a little from Tris, cupping her cheek with his hand and looking straight into her beautiful eyes before kissing her. The kiss lasts a while, with him memorizing everything about the moment. Her lemony scent, the way her lips feel moving against his, their bodies pressed together.

Tris is the first one to pull back, biting her lip slightly, "We should probably head out now."

And so they head out. They go back to the parking garage and get back into Tobias's car. He cranks up the radio and turns on the Christmas music station. Tris sings along softly to 'Rockin Around The Christmas Tree', and Tobias can't help but join in when 'Let it Snow' comes on. By the time they get there, they're both belting out the lyrics to 'Last Christmas' which Tris mentions is her favorite Christmas song.

The IHOP is more crowded than Tobias would expect for a Christmas, and he spies his mother in a booth in the corner. He begins to grow more nervous as they approach, so he tries to focus on the array of Christmas decorations in the diner. There's tinsel and lights and a huge tree right next to Evelyn's booth. Tris links her hand in his and gushes over how pretty the place looks. Already, Tobias feels slightly calmer.

When Evelyn sees him she hops out of the booth. "Tobias! Beatrice!" She seems to think about it for a second before opening her arms for a hug. When Tobias just stares at her, Tris nudges his foot slightly, so he goes to embrace her. Her wiry muscles engulf him tightly, and he tries not to get choked up at their first hug in 14 years. Evelyn then moves to hug Tris, and Tobias is glad that she seems to have warmed up to her.

"This is Richard," she announces. A handsome man who looks to be in his 40s slides out from the booth. His hair is light brown with several grey strands and he's dressed down in an ordinary collared shirt. His smile is amicable, and he pushes his glasses up his nose before holding his hand out for Tobias. Tobias can already tell that he is very much the opposite of Marcus Eaton.

"Tobias!" Richard exclaims, shaking his hand firmly. "I've heard so much about you. I'm glad we finally get to meet."

"Likewise, sir… and this is uh, Tris," Tobias gestures to his companion.

"It's lovely to meet you," Tris says warmly, shaking Richard's hand.

"Of course. You too. We're all so glad you're here."

Richard then introduces them to his daughters… who are, Tobias can admit, very adorable girls. They all have the same mousey brown hair and are bundled up in pink winter sweaters. When Tobias sits down in the booth next to Evelyn, he hears Lydia, the oldest, whisper, "That's our brother," to Felicity. He can't help but smile.

Tris sits opposite him, next to the girls, and he watches as she makes polite conversation with them. The girls have seemed to already take a liking to her, pulling at her clothes and playing with her hair and showing her the kids Christmas menus they're coloring.

After they've ordered their food and caught up on small talk, Richard asks Tobias about his line of work. Evelyn gives him a clear look that says, 'Don't mention Eaton Enterprises' so Tobias just tells him that he's looking to open a gallery soon.

"My sister in law actually has a gallery open down in Peoria," Richard tells him.

"Really?" Tobias asks, his interest piqued.

"Yes. She's been doing it for 20-something years so… I can get you in contact with her. She knows the market pretty well, though I suspect it may be a little bit different over here, you know, Chicago being a huge metropolitan city and whatnot."

"Yeah."

"But… still, she has lots of connections in the midwest art world, could probably give you some good advice about the market and the climate."

"That would be… great," Tobias states, laughing a little.

"I'll get you her contact info."

"Thank you."

Richard waves a hand, "Don't mention it, son."

Tobias sees Evelyn smiling slightly, and he can't help but return it. Across from him, he watches as Lydia shows Tris her fidget toy. She tells Tris that doctors have told her she has trouble focusing and so her daddy bought this for her to help her. Tris seems fascinated by it too, pressing the buttons over and over again and twisting it in her hands. "This is so cool," she states. Lydia smiles proudly, happy to show off to her new friend.

Tobias's attention is diverted from their interaction when a paper is slid in front of him. He looks up to see Richard's youngest daughter, Juliette, smiling shyly at him. The paper has a drawing of 7 stick figures. He can instantly spot Richard, with his greyish hair, and he thinks it's his mom standing next to him, holding his hand. Next to them are 3 girls, varying in height with bright pink sweaters. The next figure he guesses is himself, much taller than the rest of the group, and then there's a tiny blonde stick figure. Tris. Tobias smiles fondly. There is a Christmas tree scribbled next to them and a reindeer flying through the sky. "This is great," Tobias tells her, sliding it back to her.

She stops him. "It's for you," she says, smiling wide to reveal two front teeth missing.

Tobias laughs, feeling so many foreign emotions welling up inside him, "Thank you, then. I love it."

"We've always wanted a big brother," Felicity pipes up and the other girls nod along in agreement. Tobias swallows. There's so much to still be resolved between him and his mother, so much uncertainty in the future between his career… and Tris… but he lets himself enjoy this moment now. It is Christmas, after all, and this has been the most memorable one he's ever had.

"Well, now you have one."

Evelyn squeezes his shoulder gently. Tobias finds himself glad that he kissed Tris today, glad that he gave his mother a chance, and glad to be sitting amongst a new family that wants him. No, the past can't be changed, but if he takes enough chances maybe he can forge a better future for himself.

The girls start telling him about what Santa got them for Christmas and how all the cookies and carrots they laid out were gone this morning. Felicity swears she heard reindeer feet on their roof last night but Lydia seems a bit more skeptical. Their pancakes arrived in their Christmas tree shapes and they all laugh at how much syrup and whipped cream Juliette stacks on hers.

During all of this fun and festivities, he looks over to Tris, who is already staring back at him with a certain glimmer in her eyes. Everything he has today, all the good feelings, comfort, and warmth is because of her. The Twelve Days of Christmas plays softly over the IHOP speakers, and Tobias muses over the first Christmas he's ever enjoyed. Hopefully there are more to come.

Hope you enjoyed the final part of the Christmas chapters! Sorry it took so long to get up, I hope you all have a happy holiday season and a Merry Christmas if you celebrate.

-Kiki