The next day, feeling well rested and refreshed, Tobias got up and got ready for the day before following the aroma of breakfast cooking to the kitchen. He walked in to find his mom in front of the stove making one of his favorite childhood meals: French toast. He smiled a little before walking up to greet her.

"Good morning, son. How did you sleep?"

"I slept well, mom. Thanks."

"That's good. You must've been tired from your day of traveling yesterday."

"Yeah, I guess so. You know I hate flying, which is why I told you I wanted to drive back, mom." Tobias said with a slight eye roll.

"I know, I know. But may I remind you also that you told me you couldn't get here earlier. And the drive back would've been more tiring."

"Okay fine. You're right."

"So do you have any plans today?"

"I thought I'd go visit the Pedrads. I know they'll be there tomorrow but there might not be much time to talk and visit with everyone. I promised Hana that I'd stop by if time permitted."

Tobias always considered Hana like his second mother when he became friends with her sons, Zeke and Uriah. Hana knew what Evelyn and Tobias went through with Marcus and was always a big help and support for Evelyn when Tobias was still too young to understand what was going on between his mother and father. Whenever she could, Evelyn would have Hana come to pick Tobias up so he didn't always have to witness the verbal and/or physical fights between them. She protected Tobias as much as she could and for a long time felt shame whenever she couldn't. Tobias, however, never blamed her for Marcus hurting him. He knew that she was a victim just as he was.

"That sounds like a good idea. I'm sure Hana especially will be happy to see you."

"Do you need help with anything else today?"

"I don't think so. I think everything is set. Do you know what you're going to say tomorrow?"

Evelyn had asked Tobias if he wanted to eulogize his grandfather and Tobias accepted.

"Yeah I have it written down. So I should be prepared when I get up there."

"Good. By the way, you'll also see the Priors tomorrow. You know, Natalie has also been a big help for me ever since you left for New York."

Tobias nodded. "I'm glad. Between her and Hana, you had lots of support in dealing with Marcus."

"Speaking of which, he hasn't tried to contact you or anything, has he?"

Tobias was a little confused by her question.

"No, why? Has he tried contacting you and you haven't told me?"

"No, no. I guess I just thought that because I feel like he's capable of it."

"As strange as it might sound, I think he did take my warning seriously."

Tobias still remembers the day he took Evelyn down to the courthouse to file the divorce papers then returning home to face Marcus.

As Tobias and Evelyn entered the house coming from the courthouse, Marcus was waiting for them.

"So that's it? You're divorcing me just like that?"

"It's the least you deserve, Marcus." Tobias answered before Evelyn could.

"And what else do you think I deserve, boy?"

"After what happened last night, I could easy turn around and go back downtown to file a police report and a restraining order for domestic abuse."

"No one will believe you."

"Oh yeah? When Evelyn and I were just down there everyone who saw us was staring at her black eye and I have more pictures in my phone of proof that you have been abusing both of us. I even have several pictures of my scarred back with the belt imprints."

Marcus flinched a little, the facade of his supposedly tough persona fading.

"Here's what's going to happen Marcus: either you don't fight the divorce, resign your position on the city council and leave Chicago or I will turn you in for abuse and we can possibly take this to trial. Your choice."

In the days following that confrontation, Marcus had done what Tobias had ordered without another complaint.

"You never found out where he went?"

"No and I think it's better for the both of us that way. I thought I heard one of his colleagues mention he might've made it all the way to California and I also heard someone else mention Texas but who knows if either of them were right. I think it's best to leave him in our past where he belongs."

Evelyn and Tobias had stood watching Marcus drive off in the middle of winter with the snow falling around them. And in that moment Tobias had never felt more relieved in his life. It was truly a relief for BOTH of them.

"Yes, you're right."

"Besides, from what I've heard, Andrew Prior is doing well in Marcus' old job position and is well respected with obviously nothing to hide."

"Yes, Natalie often mentions that he's running everything smoothly. She and Beatrice do a lot of volunteer work down at the food bank and homeless shelters and when you were gone sometimes I'd help them out as well."

"The Priors are exactly as they perceive to be, Marcus was not. WE had to pretend to be this perfect family."

"But we are moving forward, Tobias." Evelyn said, gently placing her hands over his that were resting clasped together on the table.

"We are not fully healed, but we are getting there. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if something happened to you or if Marcus kicked me out to cover it up and didn't let me take you with me. I needed to let go of those thoughts and realize that he is gone and that you were brave enough to stand up to him, for the both of us."

"I did what I needed to do and I'm sorry that I didn't stay after Marcus left. I thought I could cope with everything alone but I promise you that I'm not going away again. Now we can start to heal together."

Evelyn smiled a watery smile at her son.

"You grew up to be a good man, Tobias. You are lucky that you do have a father figure in your life and who knows, maybe one day you'll have another."

"I absolutely want you to find happiness, Mom. But there's no rush. Even if you don't, I'm okay if it's just the two of us being a family."

"Your grandparents may not have envisioned Marcus as a husband for me but I don't regret it because Marcus did give me you. And you are my greatest accomplishment. As long as you are happy and safe, that's all that matters to me."

Tobias smiled and squeezed Evelyn's hands gently.

"I won't be at the Pedrads too long. After tomorrow we'll start fresh."

"I'd like that. I love you, son."

PAGE BREAK

After breakfast with Evelyn, Tobias went out to check on his car. He had asked Amar to go and check it out for him before he arrived in Chicago and Amar had told him that there were no obvious signs of damage on the outside from it being transported from New York, but Tobias decided to check it again just in case. When he looked he did not see anything out of the ordinary which was a relief for him.

The Pedrads lived pretty close, only about a 5 minute drive away. When he arrived he walked up and rang the doorbell, waiting eagerly.

As soon as the door opened he heard a small gasp which came from Hana who was standing in the doorway. He smiled big as he saw her eyes start to water.

"My dear boy, Tobias!" Hana exclaimed as she stepped forward and pulled Tobias into a hug.

She grabbed his face gently looking him over in a motherly way just as Evelyn had done the day before. Tobias smiled.

"You look well and it's good to have you back in town of course, I'm so sorry about your grandfather. He was a good man."

"I know and thank you. It is good to be back. I didn't realize how much I missed you all but now that I got a new job, I'm here to stay. And I wanted to stop by today just because tomorrow will be pretty busy."

"Of course! You know that this is your home too. Let me call Zeke and Uriah. I know they'll be happy to know that you're here."

Tobias starts to follow Hana into the house as she calls out "Zeke, Uriah! We have a visitor! Come and say hello!"

Tobias heard shuffling coming from the hallway as he stood in the Pedrad's living room and he's honestly not surprised when he sees Zeke stop as he rounds the corner, Uriah barreling into him in the process and falling onto the floor.

"Zeke! Why'd you stop!" Uriah yelled as he got up. Zeke ignored him and stared wide eyed at Tobias with his mouth slightly open.

"Careful Zeke or you're gonna catch flies." Tobias says with a chuckle.

Uriah finally caught on to what was going on and who was speaking. He scrambled to his feet trying to push past Zeke who had still been rooted in place until he noticed Uriah moving. They both reached Tobias at the same time and almost knocked him over as they clapped him on the back and gave him nuggies.

"Boys, don't hurt him!" Hana scolds with a chuckle.

Once they settled down they all moved to sit on the couch.

"Glad you're back, Four. And now you'll be stuck working with me at Dauntless." Zeke said.

Tobias rolled his eyes playfully. "Oh how will I ever survive having to spend 40 hours a week with you?"

"You know you love me."

"Yeah, yeah sure. So what's been going on with you two? Still trying to get Shauna and Marlene to notice you?"

"Well I don't have to try anymore because Shauna and I are dating now but Uriah is still trying to win Marlene over."

"Shut up, Zeke. Marlene will fall for me eventually."

Zeke laughs out loud while Tobias and Hana try to hold in their own laughter.

"Well I'll pray that Shauna will be able to put up with you."

"Shauna can't resist my charm. Anyway, what about you, Four? Meet any girls in New York?"

"No, I didn't have a lot of time to date anyone."

"Well now that you're back that'll have to change. You need to have a social life."

"Zeke…" Four groaned.

"With me as your friend there's no way you can NOT have a social life. It's required. Besides, sorry to break it to you but the only girl you've ever been interested in but never made the moves on is now dating someone."

"What?"

"Tris is dating that jerk from high school, Peter Hayes. And obviously you'll be seeing her tomorrow."

Tobias didn't know how to respond to that. He mentally kicked himself at that moment. Tris was dating Peter? What would Tobias say when he saw her tomorrow? Zeke was right. Why didn't he make a move when he had the chance?