Looks like FFN is acting up and some folks aren't getting the updates about new chapters. I'm still updating on Fridays (I sped us up with dropping extra chapters to get you to where Tobias and Tris got back together)

Thanks for all the reviews. I'm so excited because I've never gotten this many on a story before! Just trust me with the turn of events in this chapter. I've been playing with this idea for a while and decided to roll with it. :-)

I heart four tris- Thanks for your observation! I really got tired of how we always make Nita such a bad person and wanted to do something different with her character. I'm trying to figure out a space to play with a Tris/Nita relationship in a future story somehow, just not sure where yet.

Love Ya'll!

Tris looks at her watch, she and Tobias had made plans to secretly meet that afternoon. They decided they wanted to keep things quiet from their friends and family for a few days while they worked through things. It had made things a little more complicated since Lauren and Natalie were making plans for her but she made it work. They spent the night cuddled in Tris's bed just like they would in high school with Tobias going back through the window first thing in the morning.

Tris walks down the street a few houses to where Tobias is waiting for her. She hops into his Range Rover quickly even though it was just after lunch and the street was quiet.

"Hey" he smiles and leans over to give her a kiss.

"Hey" she grins. She lights up when she sees that he drives them to the same place they had gone the day after prom when they decided to be together.

"Feeling nostalgic?" She teases as they hop out of the car.

"Kind of" He grabs her hand and they walk slowly toward the picnic tables by the lake.

"I feel like an idiot for everything" Tobias admits.

"Don't, I'm not trying to make you feel that way. If we are going to do this I just need to be clear that I need you to be all in. I'm trying to understand why you didn't trust me enough to believe that I wasn't turning my back on you in college"

Tobias nods. He decides to be brave and be honest. He was terrified that she would pull away from him but the thought of losing Tris again because he wasn't being open was even more terrifying.

"Tris, what my Dad did, it just screwed me up. I couldn't wrap my head around all the lies and how I was supposed to trust anyone if my own father could do that to me. My dad had been my idol, I hung on everything he tried to teach me. It took me a long time to try and figure out what that meant for me, To be honest, I think I'm still trying to figure it out."

Tris listens as they walk slowly along the path next to the lake hand in hand. She had no idea the depth of Marcus's lies and deception. The fact that Tobias now had 5 siblings was mind-boggling. All the time she spent with the Eaton's she never would have known Marcus had an entirely separate family in Charlotte. She didn't think he had really opened up to Caleb and Uriah about his issues with his father.

Tobias had talked with his therapist about his father some but had never been fully transparent. For the first time in five years, he lets it all out with Tris. He tells her about his father's visit after his knee surgery, his relationship with Hector and Fernando. She wipes a tear when he shares all the things he was feeling when he broke up with her.

"I feel like I quit on you" Tris replies honestly. It shook her to finally understand everything he was feeling. She wished she would have tried harder now to make him see how she loved him then.

"No, that's not on you Tris. If anything I quit on you. I chose not to let you in, that's on me. I'm kind of ashamed that I was so scared, and confused that I ran away from you"

"I had those moments too. I just realized I didn't fit with anyone else like I did with you, the connection I have with you is just..."

"Special" He finishes for her as he lifts their clasped hands to his lips and places a kiss on her knuckles.

They walk to the picnic tables and sit down next to each other. Tris decides that she needs to push on a few things that she needed answers to.

"T. I need to know...Did you sleep with that girl, the one from the party?" It has always messed with her head but she knew she needed to know the answer.

"No, I didn't, I swear Tris. I don't even fucking know why I did it. I was hurt and confused and I guess I wanted you to feel the same way. I promise on everything I will never do that again"

Tris nods her head as much as she wanted them to be together again, she needed to know he was willing to work through any issues without shutting her out again.

"I didn't realize what I was asking of you that day I came to see my mom Tris. I'm sorry. I know I've been spoiled and usually just did what I wanted. When Zeke and I cleared the air, that was the first time I really got it"

"Thanks for admitting that. I went through a lot going back and forth feeling guilty because I chose basketball over going with you" Tris sees him wince. She didn't say to hurt him, it was the truth and she wanted to be honest about it.

"I have a lot to make up for with you Tris. I hope you'll let me"

Tris smiles seeing the sincerity in his eyes. She grabs his hand and laces their fingers together. Tobias squeezes it hoping she knew how truly sorry he was.

"Honestly, I think I needed to be with Zeke, and Nita, it helped me see and understand how much I loved you despite everything" Tris puts out there. Sure she and Tobias had a special connection but she knew herself better now, she felt like she was in a better place to handle a complex relationship.

Tobias nods, as much as he didn't like thinking about her with anyone else, which he knows is hypocritical, he understood it and his failed relationship with Nicole was evidence of that.

"Can we make this work, you and me? I want to try Tris, I can honestly say I'm not the same person I was that night I broke up with you. I know I have more work and growing to do but I want to do it with you not alone. I want you to trust me again"

"It's going to be hard, long-distance but I wouldn't have come to you if I didn't want to make this work T. I just need to know you aren't going to bail on me again if things get tough"

"Never again Tris. You have my word. Whatever life throws at us we face it together" Tobias vows.

Tobias sees the tears forming in her eyes. Clearing the air had been emotional for both of them but he felt as if a weight had been lifted off of him. He leans over and kisses her.

"I love you, Tobias Eaton"

"I love you too. Thank you for not giving up on me, on us"

Tris smiles and leans in to kiss him again. Everything was going to be okay, they still had so much to figure out but it seemed small now. They had each other and that was enough.

Two days later, Tris and Tobias are packing up his things from his Condo with Nicole. It was rented and Tobias was going to move back in with Evelyn until he figured some things out. The movers were coming the next week to put the furniture in storage so all he and Tris had to do was pack up his clothes and personal things. Tris had 4 days left before she had to head to Chicago. The past two days she and Tobias had snuck off as much as they could, having some more hard conversations about their break up, their time apart, and where they wanted to go individually and as a couple. There had been some tears and frustration but plenty of kisses and hugs. Both of them stuck through it, listening to the other person. They still weren't ready to let on that they were back together and were trying to figure out when the right time would be but it was a little crazy with trying to get Tobias moved. Tobias feels happier than he has in years already. It had been just like their first summer together where any and everything seemed possible.

"I think the Hornets are going to let me go, I wasn't playing well before I got hurt and this was the last year of my contract. Jack's not advocating for me at all, I have really fucked up my NBA career" That was part of the reason he was moving back in with his mother. He didn't feel as though he was going to be in Charlotte much longer.

"Do you want to play again? Or are you done?" Tris asks as she picks up a stack of shirts and places them in a moving box.

"Honestly, before we got back together I thought I was done, that I didn't want to play ball because that's what my Pop did. But now I feel so different, after just being with you these past few days, I feel like you were missing from me playing ball. Like I wasn't excited to play anymore because I wasn't happy in my personal life"

Tris smiles and she walks over to him giving him a kiss which he happily returns.

"Well then prove everybody wrong. T. You didn't love basketball just because of your father. If you want to play, play because you love it. And if you want to try something else that's fine too." Tris says simply as she goes back to finish packing his shirts.

Tobias nods with a grin. This is what he missed about Tris. The pressure he had from Nicole was to be relevant, get a fat contract so he could take care of her, and be in the spotlight. Tris wanted him to do what he wanted for him, to chase his dreams without all the hurt from the past weighing him down. He understands what his mother meant, Tris pushed him to be better.

"Maybe if you work hard enough, there is a team that might want to pick you up for their bench, it might be a low market team though," Tris says with a grin as she goes to tape up her box. "Free agency can work in your favor"

"I don't know, I do need to put in some work though, I've got an uphill battle I'm looking at. Maybe I can get picked up in the Euroleague. It'd be nice if I could end up in Italy too, I probably have a better chance of that than getting picked up by an NBA team right now," Tobias has a far-off look as she tosses the contents of one of his drawers into a suitcase.

"Spend the entire off-season with me in Chicago instead of just a few weeks. Work out for the summer in Chicago until NBA training camp starts or I leave for Rome" Tris suggests on an impulse. She didn't just want time with Tobias, she wanted to see him succeed and support him through it.

"You sure?"

They hadn't talked much about what would happen next or how things would work since Tris lived six months in Chicago and six months in Rome and as of right now Tobias is still in Charlotte. Tobias was planning on going to Chicago a week after her so Tris could get settled and start the season but he had figured it would only be for a few weeks, not the entire 5 1/2 months.

"Yeah I'm sure, come with me on Monday instead of waiting. I know Uriah will train with you, I could use some extra conditioning too. Christina is starting her new job with Tori's brother at Wu's Sports Performance, I'm sure they would take you on as a client. It would be good for your knee and help you refine your skills"

"I know some folks that have worked with George. That actually does sound like a good idea. Will said he was thinking of spending some weeks in Chicago over the summer with his mom and sister." Tobias replies as he moves to sit on the bed. Working out with a high-profile coach would give him a better chance to showcase his talent.

"And we can finally have some real alone time for even longer," Tris says before wiggling her eyebrows causing Tobias to laugh. Tris thought the sexual tension the past few days was going to kill her slowly.

"Alone time...hmmm that makes it an even better offer," Tobias pulls Tris to sit on his lap. "I can't wait to make love to you again."

He runs his thumb over her lips and moves his hand to skim her breasts.

"T., you are killing me" Tris groans as he continues to run his hands across her breasts slowly.

They had been sneaking around like they were 18 again with both of them staying at their parents' homes and Nicole still living in the condo even though Tris wasn't into the idea of her and Tobias getting it on in the same bed that he had shared with Nicole. The late nights of them sneaking through their windows or waiting until either house was empty had been fun full of gentle touches, and roaming hands, but both of them were ready to have some real privacy. He wanted them to go away for a few days before Tris left but it had been a little chaotic with him breaking off his engagement, needing to pack up his things, and them trying to figure out when to tell everyone. They were just going to have to wait until they were together in Chicago.

"Only a few more days until we head to Chicago, Baby. I want all of you, I don't want to have to worry about our parents hearing us or having only a few hours. I want to be able to take my time" he whispers in her ear and then lightly pulls on her earlobe with his teeth.

Tris moans as she runs her hands over his shoulders. She thinks she's about to explode as his hand continues to move further down her body. Tris's phone rings and they both groan. Tris reluctantly gets up to grab her phone from the dresser as Tobias takes a deep breath through his nose to calm down.

"Hey Lauren, what's up. Yeah, I'm kind of busy right now... Oh, nothing just Ummm nothing important. Yes I'll see you for dinner"

Tobias gives her a smile as she talks to her sister. He knew it was hard sneaking around. They would have to come clean soon especially since he was going with her to Chicago now.

Tris sighs when she hangs up the phone with her sister. It wasn't like her to keep things from Lauren or Caleb but she didn't think sending a group text to let everyone know they were back together was the right move.

"What's this box?" Tris asks as she opens the top on one box that Tobias pulled out of the back of the closet and set on the bed.

"That's actually your stuff," Tobias grins as he watches Tris dig through the box.

"Oh my God, I can't believe you kept all this!" Tris pulls the framed picture of them from freshman year at Dauntless, some socks, gym shorts, one of her Dauntless hoodies, a book she had been reading. All the things that she left in his room, a hairbrush, a necklace.

"Yeah, I could never throw it away so I just put it in the back of the closet" Tobias comes up and wraps his arms around her stomach while she continues to pull things out of the box.

"Tobias Amari Eaton, you really kept these, you pervert!" Tris eeks out as she holds up a thin black lace thong that she immediately knew was hers from Allstar weekend in Atlanta.

"I told you I was going to keep them" He teases as he nips her earlobe. Tris giggles as she turns around and smacks him playfully on the arm now laughing as she remembered how he smirked across the club arrogantly at her after their bathroom encounter knowing she wasn't wearing any panties. Tobias is still laughing as he makes a half-hearted attempt to get away.

"You know if you would have asked I would have gone back to your room with you" she admits.

"Damn, I don't know why I didn't try it, it's not like I could ever get enough of you. I guess I figured you would have shut me down" He laughs as he shakes his head.

"I definitely wasn't thinking with my head that night, but I wasn't complaining"

"I was on some fuck boy shit that night Tris, I know you want to say it" He sighs and runs his hands up her arms.

"Just a little bit, but I was a willing participant"

They both laugh, after the past three days it felt good they could laugh about the past now. There were some things that were still painful but they had both agreed the night before that they were moving forward and neither one of them was going to hold anything that happened in the past against the other. This was a fresh start for them, a chance to not hold on the who they were in the past but to evolve. It had only been 3 days since he and Tris professed their love for each other again but Tobias feels lighter and complete. He wasn't who he was in college, but neither was Tris. They had both changed but that fire and connection between them were stronger than ever.

Tobias stops laughing when he hears the front door open and he lets out a frustrated groan. As soon as Tobias admitted that he still loved Tris it was as if a light switch had been flipped and every annoying trait Nicole had seemed to be amplified. Even her voice was irritating to Tobias now.

"What are you doing here?" Nicole scoffs as she walks into the bedroom.

"What does it look like?" Tobias says with an eye roll.

"You could have said you were stopping by"

"Well seeing as I pay the rent and I have a key I don't really have to. You haven't even moved any of your stuff out. The movers are coming next week and I'm not paying for the month to month Nicole"

Nicole scowls at Tobias but then suddenly realizes that they aren't alone, she smirks realizing it was going to make this moment even better. She'd definitely picked the right time to drop the news of her pregnancy on Tobias. She had purposely waited a few days to let him think he was in the free and clear.

Tris raises an amused eyebrow. She and Nicole had only had that brief interaction in the mall but clearly, her true colors were showing now. Her outfit left nothing to the imagination much like when Tris had seen her before. Her jeans looked like they were painted on and her breasts looked like there about to spill out of her tank top.

"So this bitch is why you called off our engagement," She says smugly, looking Tris up and down emphasizing the word this. She was kicking herself for underestimating Tris Prior but she was about the gut punch the both of them.

"Yes, I don't know what he saw in your trashy gold digging ass in the first place," Tris replies with just as much attitude that Nicole was giving off before going back to packing Tobias's things.

"Tris" Tobias warns, he didn't have any intention of rubbing Tris in Nicole's face but Nicole wasn't helping matters right now.

Tris throws her hands up in surrender and picks up another box to pile some more clothes in. She had to be careful about things like this but she wasn't about to let Nicole think she was scared.

"We need to talk Tobias, privately" she adds with disgust as Tris rolls her eyes.

Tobias goes out into the living room and sits on the couch while Nicole stands in front of him.

"What is it Nicole?, You already gave me the ring back, I told you that you can keep all the bags and clothes. I'm not changing my mind about the lease on your Mercedes, it goes back at the end of next month"

Tobias thought he had been generous, even though he and Nicole had been together just over a year, he'd spent a fortune on designer bags and clothes and leased her a Mercedes SUV. His time with Tris this week had made him realize what everyone had been saying about Nicole. The only work she had done in the last year were a few photoshoots, she was always on Instagram endorsing things and making sure Tobias paid for all her new clothes, hair appointments, and party girl activities. All she wanted was his money.

"Looks like you and I aren't really over, I'm pregnant Tobias," Nicole says with a smirk as she taps her Loubiton pump on the hardwood floor.

"Yeah okay" Tobias scoffs, she was really pulling out all the stops.

Nicole reaches into her Fendi purse and hands Tobias an ultrasound picture. Tobias takes a look at it and there was Nicole's information on top and today's date and a due date of December 3rd. Tobias feels numb as all the color leaves his face. He and Tris had been so careful, she had too much to lose with not being able to play if she got pregnant. She never allowed him to be careless and made sure she got on birth control as soon as they started having sex in high school. His mother fussed at him constantly since he was old enough to be interested in girls about getting caught up and here he was a fucking cliche.

"I'm not going to be stuck taking care of your kid Tobias," Nicole says after a few minutes of silence, emphasizing the word your.

"I didn't ask you to Nicole, Jesus give me a minute to process this since you just sprung it on me. You were supposed to be on the pill, what the fuck happened?"

"Maybe I missed a few pills," Nicole says with a smirk that lets Tobias know her true intentions.

"Missed a few, you did this shit on purpose Nicole, what the fuck, you knew I wasn't ready for kids, we weren't ready!"

"It shouldn't have been a big deal. We were getting married but then you decided to fuck that bitch behind my back and screw up everything we had planned for the future"

"Watch your mouth, Nicole. Stop acting like all these grand plans you had were ours when they were actually yours. And Leave Tris out of this and I already told you I didn't cheat on you. And don't act all innocent like I got down on one knee and asked you to marry me. You pushed and I just didn't stop you. Why didn't you tell me this before if you've known for weeks you were pregnant? You had plenty of time to say something. "

"Well, it would have been different before you decided to walk out on me. I wanted proof before I told you because I knew you wouldn't believe me so I went to the doctor's office this morning to confirm"

Tobias wiped his hand across his face in frustration. She played the game well and he fucking fell for it.

"I'm not going to walk away from my responsibilities to my kid but you and I still are done," Tobias says clenching his jaw.

"Oh I know you won't, my lawyer will make sure of that. Hope your new girlfriend is looking forward to us being one big happy family," Nicole says with a smirk as she walks out the door.

Tobias puts his head in his hands as his elbows rest on his knees. He doesn't know how long he zones out before he feels Tris pulls his hands away from his face.

"Just when I think I couldn't possibly screw up any more than I already have...," he says quietly. He had finally worked through so many of the things that had been holding him back, he finally had Tris back. He felt like he was breathing fresh air for the first time so long and now this.

She puts his arms around her waist and moves to stand in between his legs. He places his forehead against her stomach and she strokes his curly hair. She wanted to be upset and scream but she knows that wasn't going to help matters right now. Pushing Tobias to call off his engagement meant that she had to accept this. He and Nicole had been in a relationship that she pulled him out of and she needed to be strong for him right now.

"I understand if you don't want to be with me now..." Tobias whispers, his voice laced with defeat.

"Tobias, stop," Tris says, pushing on his shoulders so he would have to look up at her. "I only need to know one thing, Do you still want us to be together?"

"Yes, more than anything" He replies without any hesitation as he looks up to her. The past few days with Tris had made him feel alive again. He couldn't lose her again.

"Then that's all that matters. We will deal with it together. We have come too far this week to go backward. You and me" She kisses her index finger and places it across his lips like she used to do when they were younger.

Tobias pulls her down to straddle his lap so he can kiss her properly.

"I'm sorry Tris, all this, is my fault if I had just…"

"We are moving forward, no more worrying about what happened in the past. I don't care if it was 5 years ago or even last week" She kissed him softly again. When she tried to pull away he held her close.

"I screwed up so much, I was so determined to not become my father and now I'm just like him," He says with a sigh leaning back on the couch with Tris still in his lap.

Tris could see how Tobias was already beating himself up. She wished she would have confessed her feelings sooner, made Tobias talk after the All-Star game in Atlanta, but they were here now. She would do everything she could to stand by his side now.

"You are nothing like your father, you didn't cheat on your wife and try to hide your kids. I know you are going to take responsibility for your child. You can do this and I will be there to support you"

"I love you," Tobias says, feeling choked up. Tris being here right now made him feel strong. He knows he did the right thing regarding his relationship. He needed Tris, they were supposed to be together.

"I know this is completely crazy considering a week ago we weren't even together but I am all in with you Tobias, no looking back and I don't plan on losing you again"

"Me either" He laces his fingers with her. He always felt like he could do anything when he and Tris were together and here she was declaring her love for him and vowing to stand beside him in the middle of the mess he created. He knew what he wanted and he was going to make sure she knew it.

He looks up at her hazel eyes and slides off the couch onto one knee and grabs her left hand "I'm going to marry you Beatrice Michelle Prior, just so you know how serious I am. I plan on spending the rest of my life with you. As soon as I figure all this out, I'm going to make you my wife."

He rubs her rings finger and places a kiss on it to signify his promise.

Tris thinks about it for a moment as she looks at Tobias and smiles as she feels overcome with emotion, tears forming in her eyes. She sees the love and sincerity in his eyes. She wanted him too, for the rest of her life. There was no going back for her.

"Then let's do this for real, let's get married now," Tris says boldly without any hesitation.

"You're serious?" He searches her eyes wanting to see if she was pulling his leg and stands up.

"Very serious, unless you weren't about marrying me"

"I know what I want Tris...I just thought maybe we should take things slow, work out our issues, go to therapy that kind of stuff and now I have to deal with having a kid on top of all of that"

"None of that is going to change my mind about you Tobias. I know you are it for me. I told you, I wouldn't have come to you if I didn't want to do this for real. Let's get married at the courthouse this week and go to Chicago as husband and wife and make it work. We have so much about to come at us, I just, I know it's crazy how everything has happened the past few days but I feel like we are solid. Why jump through hoops when we know what we both want. Time doesn't matter to me. I spent 5 years without you, and I don't need any more time to know I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you. I'm trusting my instincts here T. This feels right."

Tobias looks at her as he brings his hand to her cheek. She was so alive right now and here she was pledging herself to him for the rest of her life. It felt right to him too.

"Don't you want me to plan some big fancy proposal? Don't you want to go dress shopping and have a wedding with all our friends and family there? Have Chris and Lauren and Marlene in those different colored dresses" Tobias with a confused look as he tries to describe what he was talking about.

"You mean bridesmaids dresses" Tris chuckles as drapes her arms over his shoulders. "No, I don't care about all that, I just need you"

"We're really going to do this?" Tobias asks as he smiles feeling a surge of confidence about everything now. He pulls Tris as close to him as possible.

"We're really going to do this" She confirms as she wraps her arms around his neck and plants a kiss on his lips.

"Everyone is going to think we're insane," Tobias says studying her face.

"Probably but I don't care, the only thing that matters is us"

Tobias grins, there was nothing he wanted more. Tobias decides he will deal with Nicole later, he wasn't sure he fully believed her story but he decides to focus on Tris.

After a few more sweet kisses, Tris gets back to packing his things and Tobias starts to make a few calls. It was Wednesday. With only 4 days left before leaving for Chicago and two business days to accomplish their mission, they needed to make every moment count. After discussing it, they decided to keep their wedding a secret. They wanted this to be about them, not how everyone else would think their reunion should go based on their history. Nothing was going to stop him from marrying the love of his life.