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A blessing in disguise- A Thanksgiving story

There can be a Happily Ever After

Tris' POV

It amazes me just how much time has passed and how quickly my life has changed since Tobias has walked back into my life. For such a long time I thought I lost Tobias forever, to never see him again. I never had the hope that one day I would in fact see him again right in front of my eyes. Even my parents who had searched for him for all those years never gave up hope, but to be honest they were just as surprised as I was that Tobias was the one that found us. Of course they welcomed him with open arms and with an open heart, just as I did. It didn't matter what Tobias had to do to survive on the streets, what mattered to us was that he had found his way back to us, that he was finally home where he belonged.

Even with Tobias and I being separated for four long years, it couldn't break the special bond that we had all those years ago. Neither one of us could ever find love with another, not when our hearts were already claimed by each other so long ago. I've come to the realization that nothing, or no one, not even God himself can tear us apart. He is mine and I am his and it was that way all along.

This past year since we have found each other again, not only has it been the best year of my life, but it has also been a year of growth for the both of us. We have come such a long way in just the one year that we have been back together. Sure we fight every now and then and have our rough patches like every other couple. What relationship doesn't. But what's important is that we both learn from it and then we move past it.

The death of Tobias' father, Marcus, was one of those situations that we had really grown from. For a while I had waited for the other shoe to drop… for Tobias to have some kind of show of emotions from his father's death, but strangely it never came. We both had to return back to our hometown, although we both refused to stay in Marcus' house while we dealt with the usual things that a death of a family member entails, such as the funeral details and the settling of Marcus' estate. Tobias said he would rather walk down the main strip butt naked, than to step one foot into that house of horrors again. Zeke and Uriah both offered to come with us for moral support, but Tobias refused them. He told them he didn't see the point or the need, it was a support that he simply didn't want or need, but they were very sweet to offer their support to him. There was no wake, no reception following the burial, there wasn't even a funeral, there was just an open grave with a wooden box. Tobias and I both stood there and watched as Marcus' casket was lowered into the grave. The minute the casket hit the ground Tobias turned around and took my hand and guided me out of the cemetery without so much as a second look back. He said that was all that his bastard of a father deserved. To be honest, I couldn't agree more with him. I see the awful marks of that hideous monster of a father, that he left behind on my Tobias' back everyday. The emotional and the physical scars that he will carry with him for the rest of his life… I still sometimes wonder if Tobias did more than what his horrific father even deserved. But Marcus was a "so-called man" and Tobias is a better man than Marcus would ever be, so of course he went to the burial.

As soon as Tobias and I returned from settling Marcus' estate, Tobias wasted no time at all, because as Marcus' next of kin he actually inherited close to two million dollars. He immediately began donating half of a million dollars towards helping women with children that were being abused. The rest of the first million, he decided to donate to my parents center. My parents couldn't have been more proud of him, as they were able to help out so many more people in need because of Tobias' kind and extremely, generous gesture. I think with every check that he wrote, Tobias grew a little stronger. The cold hearted, scared man that I knew was slowly coming to terms with the fact that he no longer had to worry about his monster of a father ever again. Although before Marcus' death, my father really did try to reassure Tobias that he would never touch him or us ever again. I think on some level though, Tobias never truly believed that. I could hear the huge sigh of relief that Tobias let out the moment he got the phone call telling him that his father had died from a stroke.

For a while, Zeke and Tobias tried to track down any information that they could find on the friends that they had met while they lived on the streets in the past. But when you have no identity, it sure is hard to narrow down just which person could be the one that you are actually looking for. They even ended up visiting a few gravestones and leaving flowers at each one, in hopes that that person was the right one that they were looking for. I knew it was really important for them to find their old friends from their past on the streets and pay their respects. Tobias told me how hard it was for him at first, he said that if it wasn't for his friends and the father-like figures in the group, he doesn't even know where he would have ended up. They played a large part in teaching him how to survive on the streets. They taught him how to focus on living for the day and not just physically but also mentally. He had to learn things that most people didn't even know existed. They not only taught him the ropes, but they also taught him how to do it while still being respectful of themselves and the others around them. Tobias explained to me how George and Amar did it in a way that made it okay for them. To be able to not have a shred of guilt and be able to look at themselves in the mirror... the next time they had a chance to. "When Amar passed and then George sometime after… many of them had turned to drugs, stealing and even prostitution," Tobias had told me. But Zeke and Tobias continued to push through it all, while dragging Uriah with them along the way. He said to me, "they had no other choice. They didn't want to let each other or their friends down or disappoint those that fought so hard for them." He was also worried that I would find that the life he had lived on the streets was disgusting, or that I would even go as far as to leave him, because of what he had done in the four years that we were apart when I found out what he had to do to survive. The truth is it only made me prouder of him. I couldn't believe how strong and brave he had become over the years.

I know with everything in my being that Tobias is a good, kind man and he's everything that I want him to be in this life. That is why I have decided to do this special something tonight. Something that I know he would never expect me to do.

Tobias' POV

I have been waiting for tonight for months. I just knew that deep down inside that Thanksgiving would always hold a special place in our hearts forever. Although it is a special day for every person that celebrates it, I know that Thanksgiving will always hold a special place in Tris' and my heart. After all, this time last year Tris and I were convinced that we would never see each other ever again, that we were and forever would be lost to each other. It wasn't until I showed up at her office that day with my friends, with whom she invited to stay and help out at the center, that I got the surprise of my life. I couldn't have asked for a bigger blessing on a holiday than I did on Thanksgiving, no less. That day not only did I get my life back, but I got the one person that I love most in this world back as well. It's a no brainer for me that Thanksgiving would be the day that I ask Tris to become my wife.

I just about dragged Zeke kicking and screaming to the jewelry store with me a few weeks ago to pick out the perfect engagement ring for Tris. It didn't take long at all for me to pick it out though, as the perfect one for my Tris just kind of popped out right in front of me. It is small and simple, but still it's absolutely perfect for Tris. She really hates wearing anything too flashy, she barely wears any jewelry or makeup at all. Even as we were growing up, Tris had always been the one with the motto, "less is more." So I knew that the simpler and more delicate the ring was, the better it would be for Tris. The ring is in a white gold setting with a small, but beautiful and elegant oval shaped diamond set in it. Although I now have enough money to buy the largest ring in the store… I knew better than to do that. She would have hated it, after all, simple is always better when it comes to Tris.

This morning it was hard to get out of the apartment without Tris suspecting something was up. Since today is Thanksgiving, we are expected bright and early at the center to help Andrew and Natalie with the cooking, cleaning and the set up. At the center every one that lives or works there are considered to be family for life, therefore everyone is expected to be present and lend a helping hand today. Even those that have moved out of the center, they always seem to find their way back one way or another to help on this special day. Tris kept lingering more than most mornings in the bathroom and then again in our bedroom. It almost made it impossible for me to grab the small velvet ring box and sneak it into my pocket. I honestly don't know what has gotten into her this morning. It makes me suspect that she has plans for our own after party… or something I would never expect. I wonder what our night will be like when she finally agrees to be my wife. All these weeks I've imagined this ring on her finger in its rightful place where it truly belongs. When I think of Tris becoming my wife something between animalistic and desire always threatens to take over me. I admit when it comes to our sex life, I feel like I'm a kid in the candy shop. I just can't get enough while lost in the desire for more, it takes everything in me to finally get the will to stop eating the candy and to walk out of the store.

My stomach rumbles as we all finally take our seats at the long wooden table, like last year we allow for Andrew to say the blessings before we eat our Thanksgiving meal. But what most of the people in this room don't know is that there will be another speech after his. When I say most, I mean everyone but Andrew and Natalie, as I met with them last week at a private lunch meeting to let them know about my plans and to ask Andrew for his blessing to ask Tris to become my wife. Andrew and Natalie were both absolutely thrilled to hear about my surprise plan to propose to their only daughter. In fact it felt like Andrew had already accepted me in Tris' life the moment that we were all reunited again. Natalie on the other hand said that she always knew that Tris and I were destined to be together since we were little kids. Even after all those years that Tris and I were apart, she knew our story wasn't over yet, that it was just on pause for a bit. Natalie was proven right on last Thanksgiving day when I showed up on her doorstep.

I take a look around, unable to help but notice the journey that we all have taken over the years to get to where we are today. Everyone is right where they are supposed to be in their life. Uriah has found love and a new life with Marlene. Zeke and Shauna are happy together and are expecting their first child in six months. Shauna's sister Lynn and her little brother Hector have moved out of Shauna and Zeke's house and into their own place. Tris' best friend Christina and Will are even as happy as they can be… everyone is right where they belong, home.

As Andrew's Thanksgiving blessing comes to a close, I clear my throat ready to face the people that Tris and I love most in this world. I know that they will want to share in this joyous event with us, as soon as I ask Tris to become my wife.

"Are you alright?" Tris asks, nearly above a whisper. I squeeze her hand gently, as I smile at her. Standing up from my chair, I push it back some to give myself the space that I need to kneel. But I don't let her hand go, wanting to stay connected to her and to stay grounded by her touch.

"Tris, it's no secret that I have been in love with you for most of my life. You are the one person that has always been there for me, you have loved and cared for me for as long as I can remember. Even when we were apart for those four years, I never gave up the hope that one day I would find you. But it's funny how luck would have it…" I point to Uriah, smiling, " that this goofball right here just accidentally found you…and brought me right to you. I couldn't have dreamt of a better reunion than what I had with you. I love you with all of my heart and soul," I say, I see a tear fall down from Tris' cheek. I quickly, but gently wipe it away and I then take a deep breath before I get down on my right knee. She suddenly gasps, registering just what I am about to do. We hear a mixture of gasps, cheers and "Oh My God" coming from those that are closest to us. " Beatrice Prior, the love of my life… would you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?" I ask while my eyes water, as I say the words that I have been dying to ask her for months. I expect more tears of joy, but instead I'm met with a fuming Tris. Her face turns bright red, as her facial expression goes from being in complete awe to being absolutely furious. What did I do?

"You just had to go ahead and do that, didn't you? She says, snatching her hand away from mine. She stands up quickly, throwing her napkin on her plate. Oh shit! What did I do wrong?

I hear what I can only guess is Christina saying, "well that was unexpected."

"Tris?" I begin to ask, but she stops me dead cold while holding up one finger. Everything inside of me turns, as I begin to think that maybe she doesn't love me after all. Maybe Marcus was right, I am a complete fuck up and unlovable. But then I see a spark in her beautiful blue-grey eyes that tells me that there is more to this story. She slightly turns her body, reaching for her purse that hangs over her chair. It feels like hours have past, as I watch her slowly open up her purse and dig out a small velvet jewelry box of her own that matches mine exactly. I pull out my own black velvet box that was meant for her from my pocket to make sure that I do indeed have it. What the hell is going on? She starts to laugh as she opens up her own box, holding it up to me with tears in her eyes. "I was going to ask you to marry me," she finally gets out, between her laughter and tears. I've never felt more joy than I do at this very moment, as I pull her into my arms while lifting her up from the floor.

"I love you so much, Tris," I say, thankful in my heart that she indeed wants me forever like I want her. As I place Tris back down on her feet and place the engagement ring on her finger and she places a simple, white gold ring on mine, we get many pats on our backs and congratulations from our loved ones. I couldn't ask for a better Thanksgiving than to be with the ones that I love most in this world and now with my bride to be, because to me Thanksgiving has always been a true blessing in disguise.

A/N

From our families to yours we wish you all a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Please be safe and like always happy reading,

Take care

Trini and FDFobsessed