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I hope everyone is having a Happy Thanksgiving.

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Chapter 4

Happy Thanksgiving

I stare long and hard at the screen, looking at the proof that I so desperately needed two years ago, knowing that it's too late. Tris has moved on, whether it's for better or worse, she has. Though they are clearly not into each other. As Robert is still in love with his so-called ex and Tris… Well I'm not sure what Tris is into these days. It's obviously not him. But it's clear that she wants to move forward with her life, who could blame her? She's definitely not into me.

I power my phone off, setting it back on the night table by my temporary bed. I sit up, wiping the sleep from my eyes. Confused when I suddenly hear the loud screaming coming from down the hall.

"I already told you… I didn't cheat!" Robert's voice echoes through the halls. What the fuck? I look at the time, it's barely seven in the morning. Normally the house isn't beginning to stir until eight in the morning. I hope the screaming doesn't wake up the kids. Either way, I stand behind the door, cracking it open just enough for me to hear the kids if need be. I don't want them to get scared or overhear things that they shouldn't. Katelyn might be too young to understand, but Ryan is definitely not.

I press my lips together tightly as my mind begins to run about. I overheard on the news late last night that the bridge was finally opening, and the storm had lightened up. I thought about leaving this morning, not wanting it to be awkward between Tris and myself after I couldn't keep my nose out of her business and all. But now… given the new circumstances, I'm rethinking the idea. Not wanting to leave my kids in such a terrible circumstance. I don't want to think of Robert calling my kids brats or any other name to their face when I'm not here. Hell, even if I'm here for that matter.

Everyone should be happy and feeling blessed on Thanksgiving Day. I worry about my kids' every minute that I'm not with them.

"Oh really… so you haven't been talking to Alice behind my back… talking about the day you and I will get a divorce. For God's sakes Robert, we haven't even set the date yet and you are already talking about divorce." Tris yells. I shut my eyes closed tightly, thanking God 'I'm not the one on the end of the receiving stick this time. Tris when she gets mad… No one wants to be on that end. She has that stare that can kill if need be.

"I haven't." Robert denies.

"Oh really… So, she didn't send you that picture of you and her in the hot tub?" She points out.

"It was an old picture. Alice has been having issues letting go." Robert continues. "And you have been looking at my phone? How dare you?" He says, trying to get angry.

"It was dated." She spits out. "Along with the other countless sexual pictures and texts…" She continues, "For future reference Robert delete everything you don't want others to see." I can hear something bang against the wall. The overprotective part of me wants to barge in, make sure that whatever that was, he didn't lay a hand on her. But for now, I stay planted, it's none of my business. For now.

"Well, I guess it's easy to know what to look for… seeing that this isn't your first rodeo." Robert pointed out. "I wonder why that is, Tris? What makes us men want to cheat on you? Makes you wonder what you are not able to give us that we have this need to look somewhere else." He spits out. That son of a bitch. As my jaw tightens at his words, I hear the sound of what a slap must be. Robert cries out in pain shortly after. I smirk, loving that my girl knows how to take care of herself. Something that I taught her years ago in high school. Wait, my girl? No. I mean my ex-wife. She isn't mine at all. Something to keep reminding myself of.

"Fuck you, you son of a bitch!" Tris blurts out. "And he never cheated!" She corrects him. Wait. What? How? Did Zeke do something? That asshole.

"It's over, Robert, get out!" Tris demands.

"Tris."

"No. Don't… I don't love you. And you obviously don't love me…You just love my father's business. So, get your family and get the fuck out." She says, forcefully.

The sudden screams of another set of voices take my attention away from Tris and Robert's. I make out the voices as I focus more. They are none other than Andrew and Mr. Black's voices. They seem to be yelling about the merger that Andrew suddenly is denying going through with. Tris must have spoken to her father before lashing out at Robert himself. Smart girl indeed.

As if the timing couldn't get any worse, I can hear the cries coming from the nursery just a door over from where Tris and Robert are. I open my door wider, slipping through the door and down the hall as quietly as I can. I open the kid's door and close it right behind me as I enter their room. Not surprised that all this chaos has woken the kids up early. I grab Katelyn first, bouncing her on my hip while trying to soothe her worries. I sit down on the rocker, helping Ryan climb up on my lap and encircle my neck with his arms. I hold both my babies tightly as I rock back and forth soothing them back down. They both have their heads on my shoulder, startled when we hear the front door slam shut with a force that just about shatter

s the walls. They begin to cry again in fear. I shush them both, continuing to rock us back and forth. I don't stop not even when the door opens slowly. Tris comes in smiling at the picture of her perfect kids before her. She leans against the wall, not wanting to disturb them again, knowing damn well that if I'm in here they probably got scared from all the yelling.

"You were right." She begins. Her head against the wall.

"We don't have to do this now…" I whisper.

"I should get their breakfast started… they must be hungry." She suggests.

"'I'll change them, and we will be right out," I say, smiling. Loving this moment of fatherhood. I finally got up off the rocker. Changing Katelyn's diaper first and changing her out of her pj's and into a random shirt and leggings that I saw first. I changed Ryan out of his pull ups and into a clean set of underwear. Potty training sucks. I help him into a fresh shirt and pants before we head out into the hall and down to the kitchen. Ryan just about runs down, as Katelyn is fussy wanting to crawl her way, but only in the direction that she wants. Kids.

I finally walk into the kitchen, holding the swinging door open for little Miss Slowpoke as she crawls her way through. I guess her stomach finally won out over her need to explore and get into trouble. She steps just inches into the doorway, sitting back she claps happily as her Mommy greets her asking her if she is hungry. Tris walks over, lifting the baby from the floor and places her into the waiting highchair. Natalie smiles, kissing her chubby little cheek as she places a plate of cut up eggs, strawberries and toast on the highchair table. Katelyn digs in almost immediately. I glance at the barstools, seeing Ryan already elbow deep in his own food.

"Coffee, Tobias." Natalie asks me. Tris places a plate of food on the counter next to Ryan, gesturing for me to sit down. I wonder for a moment if it's actually safe to sit down and eat. Perhaps she poisoned it or something. I eye it suspiciously, as I slowly slide into the barstool. I keep glancing up at Tris and then back at my plate.

"It's safe. I promise." Tris smiles. I take her word for it, as I lift my fork and dig into my scrambled eggs and bacon. I nearly moan at the hot delicious breakfast. Something I haven't had in such a long time. Even when the kids sleep over, we often go out to breakfast instead of staying in.

"Here you go, Tobias." Natalie says, planting a large cup of black delicious coffee in front of me. I graciously accept it, thanking her in the process.

"So… shall we get back to business…. The bird is in the oven and the pumpkin and apple pie are already cooling." Natalie announces. My guess is that she has been up for quite some time, cooking in here. I wouldn't be surprised if she overheard both of the fights. I wonder if she could fill me in about the outcome between Andrew and Mr. Black. Or even the ending between Tris and Robert for that matter. Either way, I know the true outcome, seeing they obviously left the house.

"So, I think I should be heading home soon," I announced. After all, I don't belong here anymore, and the bridge is open. The storm has passed. There is no need for me to stay.

"What?" Tris asks, looking hurt.

"Nonsense." Andrew says, coming into the kitchen. Behind him is both Caleb and Susan. I'm surprised that Susan stayed behind after all. Choosing to have Thanksgiving with this family and not her own. Susan has a look of shame written all over her face. "You're staying here, you are family. And families stick together." Andrew says, proudly. I swear almost every mouth in this room drops, except for the kids that are too busy with throwing food at each other to even mind what their grandfather just said.

"You have to stay, Tobias." Tris says, sweetly. Well, how can I say no to that? Guess I'm staying.

"Tobias, what happened to Four?" I ask, my right eyebrow raising on its own, ever so slightly.

"You will always be Tobias to me." She says, turning to begin kneading the dough on the counter.

"I am so so sorry everybody, for what my dad said." Susan begins, I can see the tears begin to form under her eyes. "I had no idea." She says, tears falling down her cheeks. Natalie is the first one to encircle Susan in her arms, soothing her.

"There, there, sweet girl… You will always be welcomed in this family." Natalie reassures her. Andrew is the next one to back up Natalie, telling her that they don't hold her anywhere near responsible for her father's or brother's actions. Tris is the last one to hug her, letting her know there are no hard feelings.

"I have no idea what is happening…" I blurt out, when they all look at me. They all laugh, finally.

"Yeah, Tobias…" Caleb asks, when everyone is busying themselves with either food or thanksgiving preparations.

"Yeah." I say, surprised that he has anything to say to me.

"I just wanted to say. Thank you, I heard you were the one that opened Tris' eyes finally to that jerk. I love Susan but… I always tried to warn her something was up. But she wouldn't listen." He confesses.

"No problem," I answered, awkwardly. I finished drinking my coffee and eating up my breakfast. I stand, taking Ryan's empty plate with me to the sink. I clean the plates along with a few other scattered items that need to be cleaned. I turned, leaning against the counter as Andrew excitedly announced the Macys' Thanksgiving Day parade will start soon. He takes Ryan as Caleb carries Katelyn into the living room to turn on the TV. I get to work, cleaning up after the kids, wiping down the counter and the highchair and sweeping the floor. Damn, did Katleyn get anything in her mouth?

We all worked in unison as the day continued on. Andrew helped out with the kids for the most part. Although he refused to change any diapers, as he is too old for that. But we had plenty of helpers that were eager to do it, of course. We even let Ryan help out in the kitchen with a few things. Like putting the salad together and helping place things on the table. Of course, we did have more food than we should now, and more room to spare. But we made it work. After all, it's their loss and our gain. Before long we all sat down at the table together proud and happy as we should be. I haven't felt this at home and blessed in years. Andrew said grace. We all told him to shut up and let's eat as he seemed to prolong his words on purpose. We passed trays of food around the table, serving each other, ourselves and yes, the kids. Tris and I for the first time in two years were smiling happily at each other. She never looked more beautiful than tonight. Even after all these years, she is still the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen. I am blessed, so blessed that she gave me not one, but two precious kids. They both look just like their gorgeous mother. Ryan has my hair, but the rest is all Tris. Katelyn has my blue eyes, but she looks just like Tris. Something that I have and always will cherish for the rest of my life. They look just like their mother.

"Tobias?" Tris says, from behind me. I turn after placing the last glass into the dishwasher.

"Yeah?" I ask, wiping my hands on a dish rag.

"I just wanted to say… I'm so sorry… for everything." She begins, I can see how hard this truly is for her. Tris has always had a hard time admitting she was wrong. "About Robert and the pictures, and not believing you about the pictures…" She rambles.

"Tris." I stopped her. "It's okay. I'm used to your stubbornness after all these years," I say, teasingly. She laughs, nodding her head knowing exactly what I'm getting at.

"But still... I shouldn't have just jumped to conclusions… It just never made sense." She admits.

"Sense?"

"Why would you ever love me so much? I mean I'm not beautiful, I'm not ugly, but… I'm not a model and I don't have a body…" She continues.

"Tris, you're right, you're not beautiful and you don't have a body like a model. But so what? I loved and still love the way you look. To me… To me, you are everything, Tris. You're everything." I whisper. I lean down, slowly, resting my forehead against hers, breathing in her scent and once again for the first time in years I feel at home.

"I'm so sorry, I just gave up on us." She cries out.

"And I'm so sorry that I didn't fight for us," I confess, taking some of the blame off of her.

"I love you, Tobias. I always have." She admits, letting more tears fall from her eyes. I reach up, wiping her tears with my thumb.

"I love you too, Tris. I never stopped," I admit, honestly.

"Are we? Are we gonna be, okay?" She asks.

"I think we will be." I say, wholeheartedly. I lean down a little more, letting our lips touch tenderly for the first time in two years. It feels like nothing but home. I am home and I can't be any more Thankful.

A/N

I think I speak for both FDFobsessed and I when I say ..."From our families to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all enjoyed our Thanksgiving Story.

We are so excited to announce that we have returned this year with our 25 days of Christmas chapters. A new chapter will be released every day from December 1st till December 25th.

Check back December 1st for our debut of Finding the "Magic of Christmas"

About: Tobias Eaton is sent to look at his father's company's new property and prepare a presentation on what could become of their new rustic lodge. While there, he finds it hard to ignore all the distracting Christmas festivities all around him and the unexpected romance that his heart yearns for.

Yes, this story was inspired by a movie that I'm sure most of you all know and love.

I want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to all that have supported both FDFobsessed and I this year. We appreciate all the follows and the comments that you all have left for us. And I hope that you all continue to support future projects in the new year to come.

Also- I want to give special love and a shout out to FDFobsessed… who is always encouraging me to write and never stop. She also takes time from her busy schedule to reread after rereading and brainstorming ideas over and over and fighting for each and every one of these characters. I know I wouldn't have gotten this far without her. Love you, girlie.

Like always, Happy Reading Everyone, be safe and stay healthy and above all HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

TRINI