Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Divergent. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and Veronica Roth.
Writer's note: Thank you Munzke, Goddess, Navywife, and Roxhall for your reviews! One more chapter left! I'm excited for Eric and Bella and the rest of Seattle. Thank you so much for your following and support! We have Not the Good Guy up Next, which will debut soon! Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday! Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!
Caius was released and the plan in place. Four readied the Factionless, while Jasper lead the Dauntless. It was decided that Eric would stay behind in Candor and be the ace in the hole in case things did go sideways at all. Jack Kang gave his own support, splitting his guard to go with Four and Jasper.
Bella didn't like being left behind, but Eric was adamant that she stayed behind too.
"I can't just sit around and let everyone else get hurt."
"You can and you will." Eric said, his arms crossed. "There is too much at stake. By now, Caius should be at Erudite, which means, Jeanine is going to be even more outraged than she is already. She'll be distracted enough for Four and Jasper to infiltrate. This is already over."
Bella sighed and looked away. He was right, they had plenty of forces to take Jeanine down. She was just extra cautious and extra worried.
"Bella…" Eric walked over to her, and then put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. "It's okay. I'm going to be here with you."
Bella nodded. She missed Eric this entire time. Now that he was here with her, she didn't want to ever be without him again. "I just don't like sitting still long. You know me."
"I know, but right now, you have more to worry about than what's going on out there. You're carrying our child. That is a miracle, I want to protect you and will protect you. We can't be risky with you right, especially now." Eric said, his voice calm. His steel eyes always seem to capture hers and read into her very soul.
"I love you." Bella murmured and leaned in, her lips brushing his softly.
Eric kissed her back, his arms coming around her and holding her to him. His heart pounded in his chest at every thought of being a family with her. If they survived all of this, then that's what will happen. They will be a family, it's all he longed for now.
Four was leading his group in from the rear entrance, while Jasper did the same with his group from the front. Distraction was key. Jeanine would see Jasper's group coming in the front and would utilize all her forces there. Eric gave them a layout of Erudite and where Four could infiltrate easier. He waited five minutes, which would be enough time for Jasper to take on Erudite's forces full on, as well as the Dauntless followers. Utilizing the Factionless wasn't his first choice because of who was leading them, but he knew that it was necessary, at least for now. They moved in the back way, silently, not drawing attention to themselves. They came across a couple of Erudite guards, that Four didn't hesitate to take down.
When they got to the command central where Jeanine was, there was a Divergent attempting to open the box. Both Caleb Prior and Edward Cullen were in the room with Jeanine.
"Jeanine Matthews. Under the authority of Candor, you are under arrest. Please leave all weapons on the ground." Four's voice rang out.
Jeanine turned, a wild look in her eyes. "Guards!" She screamed as the guards came forward, but they stopped short when they were faced with more guns pointed towards them. "What are you waiting for! They can't do this!" She bellowed.
Four looked at Caleb Prior. "Caleb Prior lay down the tablet. Walk forward."
Caleb swallowed and set the tablet down. He walked forward unsteadily but was silent.
Jeanine shook her head. "No. Caleb, you take orders from me."
Four aimed his weapon at Jeanine. "Give me a reason to put a bullet through your eyes." He said, his tone clipped. He was serious, he would end her right now.
Jeanine stared back at Four, it was clear that Four would do something drastic. "So, this is how it's going to be? You kill Eric and now you'll kill me? For doing what's right?"
"You're deranged." Four said, then nodded to one of the factionless guys that was a Lieutenant of sorts with them. "Cuff them." The man moved, he was shorter than Four with a few tattoos and he was far skinnier. He cuffed Jeanine first since she was unpredictable and then Caleb.
Edward held his hands out in front of him, accepting his restraints without a word. He knew it would come to this eventually.
Four pulled his radio from his hip. "Jasper… Jeanine has been arrested, everything good with you?" He said and waited a moment.
"Yeah, Caius is arrested again, as is Maria. The Erudite guard has surrendered and so has the Dauntless sympathizers. They'll be extradited back to Candor and undergo trials." Jasper said over the radio.
Four nodded. "Good, we're heading back now. Did you find Peter?"
"Yeah, he's groveling. He's coming back with us now, cuffed of course." Jasper said and the radio crackled. "Oh yeah and his nose is broke. I may or may not have accidentally tripped with my fist in his nose."
Four smiled. "Alright, we'll meet you there." He said and then he looked back at Edward, studying him. He hadn't said a word. "Go ahead and get these two loaded up. Edward comes with me." He commanded.
Bella paced back and forth, waiting to hear back from Four or Jasper. She was worried about something going around.
"Baby, please calm down." Eric said, watching her pace. "It's an easy in and out. I gave Four and Jasper the way in and out. Jeanine doesn't have the manpower to take on Candor, Factionless and what's left of the Dauntless refugees."
Bella blew out a breath. "Yeah, but what if… what if it's not?"
Jack Kang walked in, a tablet in hand. "Four is on his way back, Jeanine is in custody." He said and looked to Bella in slight amusement. "You can stop wearing a hole in the floor from your pacing."
Bella stopped pacing to look at Jack. "Really? They got her?"
"Yes, she'll be brought here for her trial. As will anyone who wishes to continue to follow her." Jack said with a nod.
Bella felt relief wash over her. "That's it then?"
"Well, it'll be a long process, but yes. The box was also secured."
Eric nodded. "Bury it. We don't want to lead a witch hunt to try and open the damn thing. It kills people."
Jack nodded. "I agree. Whatever is in that box is not worth the major loss of lives."
Bella was sure that they were right and agreed. "So many people have already died to this thing."
"I also have a room ready for you both. Until the trials are over and we figure out what's happening next. If that's okay." Jack offered.
"We appreciate it. If you show us the way, I'll take Bella up so she can get some rest."
"Of course. We also have a medical staff here. We have equipment that can check out the status of the baby." Jack said with a nod.
Bella smiled a little. "Thank you, Jack."
Eric looked over at Jack. "We'd love that. Thank you."
Jack gave them a nod, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a key card which he handed it to Eric. "When you're ready, the clinic is on the 4th floor." He said and then left, going back out to go to his office.
Eric looked at Bella. "So, let's get you to the new room. Shower and some rest. You need it." He said and went to her, his hands going to her waist. "Don't fight me."
Bella smiled and looked up at him. "I could use a nice shower and a comfortable bed to lay in."
"Good." Eric said and then laced his fingers with her, guiding her towards the elevator. He looked at the card. One of the best things about Candor, was that the apartments were numbered. When the elevator opened, they stepped on and Eric hit the button for the 8th floor.
"I can't believe this is over." Bella murmured. "I feel like Jeanine fought for so long to take power."
"Well… when faced with certain doom, it was likely that she wouldn't be able to fight much longer." Eric said as the elevator rose to the 8th floor.
Bella leaned against Eric. She was glad that everything was coming to an end. She didn't know if she wanted to rest immediately or go back down to the clinic to check on the baby. She hadn't seen it and was starting to focus on the life inside her now. She put a hand over her belly, as she thought.
Eric smiled. "Thinking about the baby?"
"Yeah." She smiled. "I think reality is catching up to me."
Eric leaned over kissing her softly, before the doors opened and they got off the elevator. When they got to the room, he used the card and they walked inside. There was a kitchen to the right as soon as you walked in out of the small hall, and a room with a sofa in front of a massive window. There were a couple doors off the room, one leading to a large bathroom, and the other to a bedroom.
"Oh, well this is nice." Bella said, looking around.
"It is." Eric said with a smile and then came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck. "Come on. Let's check out the shower." He said and led her into the bathroom. It was a nice, large, tiled shower, with two shower heads. They undressed, climbing into the shower and letting the hot water wash over them. It was a welcomed relief for Bella. Amity had a different showering system, so it was definitely relieving to have the hot water press against her muscles.
"This feels amazing." She murmured, closing her eyes and she leaned against Eric, as the water rained down.
Eric smiled, his hands moving over her skin and she sighed pleasantly. "You feel amazing."
"Hmm. You do too." Bella murmured and turned in his arms to look up at him. "I want you to take me…"
Eric cut her off as he leaned in and kissed her, his tongue lacing with hers as he hoisted her up and moved her against the wall, the cool tiles kissed against her skin, but he did as she asked. His cock pushed inside her and he was careful, knowing that she needed this, but it also needed to be gentle.
Bella moaned as she felt him fill her completely. "Eric!" She gasped as pleasure rippled through her fast. It was surprising how sensitive she was, like her pleasure receptors were alive like fire.
Eric smiled as his mouth captured hers again, drinking in her moans, until he was pushing over his limit, and he spilled out inside her. He came to a stop, kissing her a few more times before he slid out of her and let her down to her feet.
"I needed that." Bella said after a moment. She smiled and tipped her face up to kiss him. "Let's get dressed and go to the clinic. I can rest later."
Eric chuckled a little. "I knew you wouldn't want to rest." He said kissing her again, before he turned the shower off. They got out of the shower and dried off, before redressing. The Candor clothing fit weird to Bella, but she didn't argue. Seeing Eric wearing something other than black was certainly strange. But he still looked handsome to her. They laced their fingers together and left their new room and took the elevator down to the clinic.
When they got to the clinic, Eric talked to the nurse and she nodded in understanding and then led them to a room with equipment.
"This is a lot nicer than what Dauntless has." Bella said as she sat on the table.
Eric smiled. "Well, each faction has its own way of doing things. Candor is like Erudite in a lot of ways for the way they like their tech." He said with a smile.
A moment later there was a knock and a woman walked in. She smiled at Bella and Eric. "Hi, I'm Amy. I'll do an ultrasound and then take some blood to see if you need some supplements." She explained. "Go ahead, lay back and pull up your shirt."
Bella laid back on the table, and lifted her shirt as instructed. Eric held her hand in his while they both focused on the screen. Amy rolled the wand over Bella's stomach and they could see instantly the fluttering of the baby's heart on the screen. Eric seemed to be in awe of the small flashing heart.
"Everything is healthy?" Eric asked, his eyes not leaving the screen.
"Looks that way." Amy said with a smile. "9 weeks."
"So far?" Eric asked, surprised.
Amy nodded. "Mhm. Well, the first few weeks are pre-conception. We date from cycle to cycle. So, the fetal age would be 6 weeks."
Bella didn't understand the science of it all, but she nodded. "So, when is the due date?"
"I'd say around September." Amy said, and then printed the images for Eric and Bella. "You still want to keep up exercise, but don't go overboard. Also, a prenatal supplement."
Eric nodded. "Good. Thank you, Amy."
"Of course. I'll go ahead and get some blood then you two can be on your way." Amy said with a pleasant smile, before she got up, and retrieved the vials she needed to take Bella's blood.
By the time Bella and Eric got back to their room, she was tired. She laid down on the bed and instantly felt better. The bed was a lot nicer than anything she's ever slept in before.
Eric sat on the side of the bed and reached over and brushed her hair out of her face. "I love you."
"I love you too." Bella murmured, smiling up at him.
"We're going to be a family." Eric said as he leaned down and kissed her softly.
"We are." She said and then thought about everything. "Things will settle, right?"
Eric nodded. "It will, you just have to be patient. The trials will begin tomorrow. I don't want you getting stressed out."
"I'll try not to." Bella promised, and she felt her eyes grow heavy. Her eyes fluttered closed and then she let sleep take her.
Eric smiled at her, watching as she fell asleep. He was still worried, but he knew that it came with the territory of loving Bella.