AN: Thank you for the reviews. A lot of progress is made in this chapter, but be warned that our impatient prisoner is about to tear everything apart. See you Thursday!

I can hear my phone ringing but it sounds so far away, I pull the blankets from over my head and poke my arm out from under the covers, feeling around on my bed until I've found my cell phone. I bring it back into my warm little blanket fort on my bed and answer the call. Once I accept the charges for the call, I can hear the usual hum of the prison.

"I tried to hold off on calling, but it's been four days and I've been worried about you," Eric says in a form of greeting.

I barely have any voice at all, but I rasp out, "I miss you."

"I miss you, more than you possibly know. Johanna said you have the flu. Are you taking your medications? Are you getting enough to eat? Are you drinking?" He fires off questions.

"I'm ok. Jo brought several homemade soups and I've been eating those. She refills my large water bottle every time she comes by too, and I'm taking all of my medication. I'm ok," I whisper.

"Miles is doing well, I talked to him earlier. His project presentation was today and he said he aced it, the teacher loved his diorama and the details he was able to provide for each planet," Eric says.

I smile as he tells me about Miles' day. I've already heard all about it during my call with Miles earlier, but hearing Eric talk about it gives me a sense of family that we hadn't had before.

"Pedro is going to bring him tomorrow for family visitation, so I'll get some quality time with both of them. Pedro actually came up yesterday during personal visitation time and we had a great conversation. I'm looking forward to spending more time with him this weekend, its obvious Miles is crazy about him, and vice versa."

"Wow," I whisper, "I had no idea."

"Yeah, Johanna finished the rest of your sessions this week. We've been getting along really well."

This is something I did know, as Johanna comes by every day to check on me, and to also keep me in the loop about her sessions with Eric. I was incredibly nervous in passing his case to her while I've been sick, as he was never receptive to work with anyone but me, but Eric once again surprised us all with his full cooperation. He's been talking to Jo about many of the things he's already shared with me, however he also talks to her about me, which she acknowledges but also protects his confidentiality when discussing his case with me.

"I'd heard that was going well, I'm so proud of you," I rasp.

"I'm trying. I want to come home to my family, that includes Johanna and Pedro, and even Jack," He says and I can't help but smile, "Johanna asked me if I would consider letting Jack bring Miles to Sunday's family session."

I sit up a little in bed, this is news to me, and not something Johanna discussed with me at all, "Eric…"

"Hear me out okay?" He asks and I hum in affirmation, "I'm not going to lie, it makes me uncomfortable. She's been getting me to talk more about how much hearing about Jack helping to raise Miles has bothered me. It's not pretty, and I'm sure you've heard-"

"Eric, wait," I interrupt, "Johanna and I only discuss the topics on our specific outline. Things that pertain specifically to me are off limits, that is the confidentiality between you and her."

"Tris, it's okay, I don't want to hide anything from you. I'm talking to you about it because I want to," He explains and I relax a bit, "I've had a hard time hearing about you and Jack, and also Jack's role in Miles' life. That's not a secret, you and I have talked about it already. Jo thinks if I were to see him with Miles, and we both interact on neutral ground, that maybe I can get a better understanding about the dynamics of their relationship. She's going to come along too, and act as a buffer for anything. She told me if at any point I get uncomfortable she can have Jack leave. He's on board for it, so it's up to me. I actually just spent ten minutes of my personal call time on the phone with him right before I called you."

"Oh my gosh... how did that go?"

"Weird," He chuckles, "It needed to happen though. He's not just your ex, he's my sons stepfather for lack of a better term. He's been there when I can't be, and at the end of the day as long as Miles is happy I'm happy. If I'm coming home to a family, I can't pick and choose which ones to come home to."

"I can't even begin to express how proud I am of you. How do you feel after talking to him?" I ask.

"Apprehensive. I'm a jealous guy, it's something I am working on…"

The one minute warning interrupts us and I can hear Eric shout "Fuck" in the background.

"Eric, I know we're about to be cut off, but I support you in any decision you make. There will be no pressure for anyone, including Jo or me, for you to do anything you're uncomfortable with."

"Tris, sometimes I need to get out of my comfort zone to do what's right for others, especially when it comes to our son. Isn't that what we've been working on this entire time?" He asks, and the gentleness and sincerity of his voice moves me.

"I'm so proud of you," I rasp out.

"I owe it all to you, and to that incredible boy we created." He says, "You have no idea how much I've needed you both in my life. You and Miles have changed me." The call cuts off before I was ready.

I miss him so much, and it's becoming harder every day to deny how much he means to me.

Two days later, I am sitting up on my couch with a cup of hot tea and honey, flipping aimlessly through television channels in an effort to distract me from checking my phone every three seconds for any update from Johanna. Yesterday, Pedro accompanied Miles to his family visit with his father, and it was a great experience. Much to my surprise, Eric agreed to allow Jack to accompany Johanna when bringing Miles today, and I've been on edge ever since. I never expected Johanna to even bring up having Jack and Eric interact, much less find out that Eric had agreed with it. I realize that Jo is pushing Eric past his comfort zone when it comes to me, and I love her for it, but of course I worry about Miles and about Eric.

Eric's not been able to call, he puts all of his personal time into the visits with Miles, so it's understandable that we skip any phone time on the weekends. I miss him, and my mind is heavy with wondering how's he's hanging everything today.

Jo's call brings me out of my thoughts, and I eagerly answer, "How did it go?"

"Hello to you too, my dear. Miles wants to go home with Jack for the rest of the day, is that okay with you?" She asks.

"Of course," I reply and I hear the squeal of my excited nine year old in the background, "Love you my sweet boy."

"Love you momma, feel better," He calls out before I hear him close the car door.

"He'll call you later I'm sure, he's extremely excited today," She says, "The visit went better than any of us expected. Miles clearly set the pace, and it was so natural, Tris. The lines were there without any prompting or discussion, Jack was clearly there as Miles' friend and Miles even introduced him to Eric that way. When Miles introduced Eric to Jack, he clearly said that Eric was his dad. It set the stage for a great visit. Miles even asked Eric's permission to spend the rest of the day with Jack, and Eric agreed without hesitation, with the caveat that he had to ask you as well."

"Jo, how was Miles? Was he uncomfortable at all?" I ask.

"No, he was excited. We all played board games together, he showed Jack and Eric a new level on his Minecraft game, and they coexisted quite well. Eric was a bit uncomfortable, but it's not something that Miles picked up on," She explains.

"Uncomfortable how?" I ask, thinking of some of his earlier outbursts in our first sessions.

"Tris, you know from your own sessions that Eric has a hard time knowing that for the past almost seven years of his son's life, he's had another father figure. Jack is successful, he's a good man and he's provided stability for Miles and for you. These are things Eric feels like he should have been able to do himself."

"He didn't know about Miles…" I trail off.

"He didn't, and I think he's in a better place with understanding your decision to keep that knowledge to yourself," Johanna explains. I know she's unable to elaborate, so I don't ask her to, "The visit went well. Eric wanted Jack to stay, and they had a good visit together. I believe there was progress made in establishing a boundary with co-parenting today. Eric recognizes that Jack wants to be in Miles' life because Jack and Miles love each other, and Eric's growing to appreciate that."

"That's all I can really ask for," I reply before coughing again.

"Are you feeling any better?" Johanna asks.

"Fever free since last night, if I can make it forty eight hours I'll be happy," I sigh, "I miss Miles so much, this house is too quiet without him. I miss Eric too," I admit.

"He misses you as well. He's doing such a good job, Tris. You'd be very proud of him."

"I am," I agree, "I can't believe he met with Jack. That amazes me," I reply.

"He's serious about his recovery, Tris. You did that. You were the catalyst of this breakthrough," She adds.

"No, that was all Miles," I reply with a smile.

"Miles plays a huge role in this, but you are who Eric opened up to. Without you, Eric may have refused cooperation again." Johanna replies.

"Do you think this is going to work, Jo? Is he going to be able to come home to us?" I ask.

"I've never seen a better case for rehabilitation than Eric. He's done a complete one eighty since being incarcerated, and he's showing that he's serious about building a life outside of prison. You know me, I don't like to get our hopes up, but it's impossible not to when it comes to Eric. We've done everything we can do, I feel confident about that." She replies.

"I do too, I'm just scared." I reply.

"You're human, and you care about him, deeply. It's to be expected that you'd be afraid."

Johanna and I finish our call, and I head back to bed, determined to get through this flu so I can see my family again.

It takes me almost two weeks, but after finally being fever free for more than forty eight hours I was able to drop my son off at the bus stop this morning. I'm also on my way to the prison as well, to reconvene my counseling sessions with Eric. I've once again brought the bagel breakfast sandwich he loved, and I'm waiting for him to be brought into the room.

Hector and Eric enter, and the smile on Eric's face is adorable when he sees it's me he's meeting with today.

"It's real good to see you back, Tris. You gave this one here quite a scare," He gestures towards Eric while he removes his cuffs and chains, "I'll be right outside if you need me."

"Thanks Hector, good to see you as well," I reply. Eric takes a seat and then pulls me down to next to him, wrapping his arms around me tight, and I don't fight him once I realize we're in the same room with the missing camera.

We just sit there, for several seconds, breathing each other in. This feels more than right, and it scares me how much I missed this with him.

"Johanna said I've been moved to step down sessions," He says quietly.

"Yes, I have a new case, so Johanna and I will both be spending time with you. We will only be with you twice a week for one hour sessions moving forward. It's not unusual at all, especially when there has been as much positive progress as you've shown."

"We still have our family weekends right?" He asks and I nod my head against him, "Can you come for personal visits too?"

"I'm not sure if I can while I'm still professionally involved with you," I answer carefully, "I heard that Sunday went well," I say to try and change the subject.

"From Jo or from Jack?" He asks, leaning back a bit so he can look at me. I pass him an elastic and he pulls his hair up into his preferred bun.

"Both," I reply honestly. He closes his eyes and sighs, "Now I'd like to hear about it from you."

"It was weird, I think if I could get out of my own head and just stop viewing him as my girlfriend's ex it would help a lot," He begins. I school my features, choosing to not acknowledge the title he used, especially since I have slipped up myself, "it's also hard to look at someone like him, who can give you and Miles the world, and wonder where my place in all of this is."

"Your place is that you are Miles' father, Eric. Jack's presence in his life doesn't diminish that. Miles has never viewed Jack as a replacement for you," I argue.

"What if you had of married him, Tris?" He asks.

"There is no what if, I didn't," I reply.

"What if you had of, or what if Four hadn't of left?" Eric asks.

"Neither of those hypothetical situations have any bearing on your place in Miles' life. You are his father, you are the only one who will ever have that place in his life or in his heart, Eric. All of the Jack Kang's or Tobias Eaton's of the world will never be what you are to us," I argue, "Do you think your place in Miles' life is dependent on your place in my life?"

"The thought has crossed my mind," He admits.

"We need to agree that those are two separate entities, because no matter who you or I are with, we co-parent our son," I explain, "Don't you think I worry about these things too, Eric? What happens if we were to pursue other relationships and a new potential step-parent is introduced into our lives?"

"I hadn't thought of it that way," He answers. We lock eyes, and once again I feel like we're able to have an entire unspoken conversation, "I guess I get tunnel vision sometimes."

"Everything is a possibility. We have to have a strong co-parenting relationship in order to make sure this works for Miles. If you and I are to get together, and it works out, that's obviously a perfect scenario. If we don't get together, we continue to co-parent our son. If we both find someone else, we put Miles' needs up front and we make decisions that include him."

"Our places, first and foremost in each other's life is co-parents to our son," He repeats and I nod, "That's always the top level of everything we do from here out."

"That's it," I agree, "We are a family, in our own chosen way. You and Jack spending time together with Miles was huge, he hasn't stopped talking about it. He loved having you both there, but what he loved the most was showing off his dad to his friend," I explain.

"Johanna has helped me level set a lot of this stuff too," Eric admits, "I'm not the best when it comes to these things, but I am trying,"

"I think you are doing an amazing job," I reach for his hand and give it a squeeze.

"Do you ever think about having another one?" He asks suddenly.

I shake my head, "It was a subject that came up when Jack and I were together, but I wasn't ready then, he was, and that rather large difference of opinion was the beginning of the end of my relationship with him," I reply, "Do you think of having more?"

"I have thought of it, but I don't know that it would be fair to Miles. I don't want him to watch us bring another life into the world that we're both able to be there for, when for almost ten years he only had you," He replies softly.

I know I have to tread lightly, because Eric is speaking of us in definite, and even though I know we're about to be moved into a less vigorous schedule of step-down therapy, I am still part of his team, and we need to continue to be careful, "Eric, I think you should consider more than just what is front of you right now," I say.

His features are once again a mask, but the cooperation that comes with his next words is obviously just for the sake of the recording, "You're right, Tris."

I watch as he then presses the pause button on the digital recorder, something he's never done before, and then removes the rechargeable battery, "It's a shame the battery just died on your recorder. You really should charge that thing more often."

"Eric." My voice has the same warning tone I usually reserve for my overly curious son. This time, it's his overly curious father who is pressing his luck.

"I'm getting really tired of putting on a show for your recordings, Tris." He says.

"I know you are," I reply, "Give me the battery, Eric."

"Are you afraid of committing to someone again?" He asks suddenly.

"Eric, this is not the appropriate time or place for this conversation."

"I've played nice, Tris. I've abided by all of the rules you've imposed. I want to be out of prison so I can be a father to our son, but I also want to come home to you. Tell me what you want, I need to know where your head is. I've been patient enough, and I need you to tell me exactly how you feel."

"Eric, the parole board is giving me a level of leniency when it comes to you that is unprecedented. They've allowed me to treat the father of my child because of our specific set of circumstances, which are that you did not know we had a child, and that we had no relationship outside of the one encounter that resulted in the pregnancy. If you and I are to get involved before our professional relationship is finished it could mean that all of the work we've done for the past four months was for nothing. They'd throw it all out as bias." I explain.

"Tris..."

"Let me finish," I warn, "We also have an almost ten year old son who is watching our every move. If we cross those lines, they can't be uncrossed. We need to know that the foundation we have built is strong enough to weather any potential outcome."

"I need you to stop psychoanalyzing our relationship." He bites.

"I need you to start," I snap back, "I need you to be sure about your place in your sons life." I reply and I can see the hurt flash in his eyes.

"I've already told you that my relationship with my son is completely separate than the relationship I have with you, are you saying that you don't believe me?" He asks angrily.

"I didn't say that at all, I just need you to focus on what's important..."

"You are important to me." He argues, "Our son, our family, that's what is important."

"Eric, this is bigger than just us!" I reply, and I can't hide my exasperation, "You're acting as if we don't have a child who is practically begging for us to be together, or a parole board who watches and scrutinizes every session we have!"

"You think I don't know that? You think I don't think of our son, and every second of his life I've missed because of my own stubborn stupidity since I've fucking been here?" He hisses.

"I sometimes wonder if you're thinking clearly at all, you.."

His lips are on mine before I can even register his movement, and it's exactly like the training room in Dauntless. His kiss is hungry, and I give in, pulling him impossibly closer to me. Every part of him is familiar to me, and every touch feels like fire. Our hands are moving all over each other, and I can feel his hardened length when he presses against me. When he moves from my lips to my neck, I open my eyes and remember where we are.

"Stop," I hiss as I push him away.

"Tris..."

"Are you trying to have your entire case thrown out?" I whisper, while my eyes dart from the door back to Eric.

"It's just Hector out there."

"It doesn't matter who's out there, we've seen what happens when he's been called away before, and that's when we did nothing wrong! We also shouldn't put someone we care about in a position where their job would be in jeopardy if they are asked to lie for us! One slip, Eric, one fucking slip and every bit of our work is thrown out. You'll be here for five more fucking years and you will miss another chunk of your sons life!"

"I can't help it, this thing between us is real..." He begins, but I cut him off.

"You can't help it?" I ask incredulously, "That's what you want to go to the parole board with? Or the appeals court? You want to just tell them you couldn't control yourself for a couple more months until you got the fuck out of here? Do you realize how close you are?"

"No, I can't help the way I feel about you. I've been patient, but I need answers because you send me more mixed signals than I can even wrap my fucking head around. I'm not afraid of expressing how I feel, right here and right now. I love Miles, I want our family, and I love you Tris. I am in love with you. I've been in love with you for longer than I can even comprehend..." he begins and steps towards me, reaching for my hands.

"Don't touch me," I reply. I gather my bag hurriedly.

"Tris..." Eric begins as he puts his hand on my arm.

"I said don't touch me," I hiss, "I've let my guard down entirely too much with you. You're in love with a memory, and you're about to fuck your entire case up over it!"

"I'm in love with you. With the person right here in front of me, how the fuck can you say it's some fucking memory? How can you continuously dismiss me?"

"Leave me alone!" I shout.

"Tell me you don't love me, look me in the eye and tell me that you're not in love with me too." He tries to cage me in with his arms, and I panic. I punch him in his jaw, and when he's distracted I bang on the door and Hector comes in the room.

The confusion is evident on Hector's face as he takes in Eric's rapidly reddening jaw and my agitated state, "Everything okay?" He asks timidly.

"We're done here." I reply harshly as I push past him and out the door.

"Tris, wait!" Eric calls out behind me, "Please come back!"

"Eric, we are done!" I shout as I put more distance between myself and that part of my life.