A/N: Welcome to my new story! This story is a remix of one of my favorite movies Return to Me. There are things lifted from the movie but there are also many changes. In my style, I've made the characters into people of color and will reference social and cultural organizations specific to African American culture. I will reference what those are at the end of each chapter. This is a Four/Tris romance so have no fear, it will happen! This story also has a vibe, like Love Jones so from time to time I'll reference songs that helped me feel out each chapter. I don't own the rights to the movie Return to Me or Divergent.
Tobias checks the clock on the wall in his office. It was pouring outside but it didn't matter he would have to brave the torrential downpour in his tuxedo if it didn't stop. He and his wife Lauren were due to be at a fundraiser gala in 2 hours for the Abnegation Community Center where his wife was a board member. He had been waiting for the rain to slack up but now he was going to have to make a run for it to avoid being late. Tobias finishes up the last sketch on his drafting board for the new project he was working on, shuts down his computer, and grabs his raincoat from the back of his office door. Tobias was a partner in the only Black architecture firm, Divergent Building, and Design in Chicago, and loved what he did. Tobias had shown an early interest in drawing and design from an early age with his mother encouraging his interest in art and engineering. Even though his father pushed him towards medicine, Tobias stuck to his love of drawing and design.
"I'm heading out, Lauren will kill me if I'm late. Will I see you at the fundraiser Amar?" Tobias asks as he heads out of his office and walks past his partner's door.
"George and I wouldn't miss it" Amar smiles from his desk.
Amar and his partner George had become extended family to Tobias and Lauren. When Tobias moved back to Chicago after his undergraduate program he spent a year interning at the firm Amar worked at. He saw the struggles that Amar went through as the on Black architect in the firm with trying to have opinions heard from the other architects, and potential clients assuming he did not have the same knowledge base or he was just an assistant. He took Tobias under his wing and helped him understand how to deal with navigating through the world as a black man and how to fine-tune his natural talent with design and business. When Amar decided that he wanted to step out and start his own firm, he asked Tobias to follow him. Tobias and Amar had worked closely together, with Tobias giving his all along with his mentor to make the firm a successful business. Amar was so impressed that he offered Tobias to be his partner. Over the past six years, the firm now employed one additional full-time design engineer and two project managers.
Tobias turns the key to his brownstone townhouse in Lincoln Park. He and Lauren's Rottweiler, Pharaoh, greets him wagging his tail as soon as Tobias steps into the foyer. Tobias loved the feel of their three-story home the minute he and Lauren set foot in it three years ago when they toured it with the realtor. Lauren and Tobias both grew up in an affluent Black neighborhood in the Northside of Chicago a few streets from each other. Tobias and Lauren met when they were 12 at a Jack and Jill event with their mothers after Tobias's family moved to Chicago from Atlanta when Tobias's father Marcus accepted a position as chief surgeon at Northwestern's Memorial Hospital. Their families would see each other often at fundraisers and social events for Jack and Jill, The Links which both their mothers were a part of. Tobias and Lauren got to know each other over the years and when it was time for The Links Cotillion when they were seniors in high school, Lauren asked Tobias to escort her. The two had been inseparable ever being best friends since there were 12. They saw each other through many relationship ups and downs but they didn't start officially dating until their senior year of college.
For college, Lauren went to Spelman College in Atlanta and Tobias chose to go to Morehouse right next door to Spellman on the Atlanta University Center. After college, Tobias moved back to Chicago for his internship and Lauren went to Notre Dame for Law School. Tobias went to South Bend almost every weekend to see her. He proposed at her graduation from law school. She was his best friend, he was always most comfortable around her.
"Hey Baby, I'm sorry I'm late, traffic was terrible with all this rain" Lauren calls up the stairs as she enters the front door. "Hi, Baby Boy" she croons as Pharaoh eagerly wags his tail as she scratches behind his ear.
"Hey, I already took him out," Tobias responds from their bathroom as he works to tie his bowtie in the mirror. "Tell Pharaoh to eat," he yells back. Pharaoh was 3 years old and Tobias could not figure out for the life of him why he would only eat if Lauren told him to. They went through this ritual daily.
"Pharaoh, eat!" Lauren commands as Pharaoh scurries back down the stairs to his bowl.
Tobias eyes his wife with a smile through the mirror as she slides on her dress, even after 5 years of being married he was still captivated by her and how she was still so stunning. Her mocha skin was flawless, and she had a smile that lit up any room. Lauren had never been shy about her money, even though they weren't extremely well off, she and Tobias were very comfortable much like they had been growing up. Lauren liked to indulge in her high-end shopping, always keeping her hair and nails done. For the event tonight she had chosen a white gel polish that made her fingernails and toenails pop with the contrast against her warm skin tone. Her sleek Prada dress was gold sequins, strapless, and hugged her hips just right and was paired with a simple pair of Louboutins. She normally kept her natural hair straight or in a protective style and this week it was in a sew-in that was a lighter shade of brown that complimented her brown eyes. God she was gorgeous, she still took his breath away.
"Stop staring at me, you creeper and zip me up" she chides as she walks into the bathroom and turns around with her back to him. Tobias chuckles in response.
"I can't help it, my wife is so fucking sexy" he teases in a husky tone as he places a soft kiss between her shoulder blades and then another on her neck. He smiles against her skin when she shivers and lets out a small moan. He had mastered her body over the years and loved the reaction he could get from her with the softest touch.
"You better stop that, we don't have time" she laughs out but then looks at the clock on their nightstand contemplating if they could make time for a quickie as Tobias continues to softly kiss her exposed shoulder. She turns around and bites her lip as she runs her hands up his chest feeling all his muscles. She grins when Tobias slides the dress off leaving her in only her black lace thong.
"You are so lucky you are cute and I can't resist you," she laughs out as he lifts her up and carries her to their bed.
Tobias has no idea how he and Lauren manage to make it to the gala on time. He didn't get to spend enough time worshiping her body like he wanted to but he fully planned on doing so when they returned home that evening. The committee had done well with the event space, the soft sounds of the jazz band playing filled the ballroom, and guests in their finest milled through the tables.
Tonight was another of the many fundraisers they attended throughout the year. This one was for the community center on the Northside where Lauren sat on the board. For the past two years, Lauren had been working to raise funds to add an expansion to the aging community center on the northside of Chicago that was near where the Cabrini-Green housing project once stood. Lauren saw the space as a center of hope for the Northside community. The Abnegation Community Center had been serving the African American community in Chicago since the Great Migration of the early 1900s when African Americans were fleeing the south in large numbers to escape Jim Crow laws and better economic opportunity.
Tobias and Amar had agreed to complete the design and construction project through his company at cost as part of the giving back to the community from the Divergent Building and Design firm. The board of the community center had agreed to host the fundraising gala in collaboration with several other organizations to raise the additional funds needed for Lauren's project.
"I can't believe this many people came out with this bad weather," Lauren gushes as she smoothes her dress before she goes to the front of the room toward the stage to welcome everyone.
"Stop fidgeting, you look amazing and you brought all these people together for a worthy cause," Tobias says to boost her up a bit.
She smiles at him with a look of total love and adoration and leans in to give him a soft kiss. She was always nervous before she had to appear in court or speak, once she focused in, she was always a force to be reckoned with in front of any audience.
As expected, Lauren nails her welcome and her speech following. They spend the next hour greeting guests and smiling with the guests who came to support the community center, many of them there because of Lauren. Lauren's family was well known in Chicago. Her grandfather had been editor of the Chicago Defender for many years and her father James had been a well-respected civil rights lawyer often getting attention for the cases he defended across the country highlighting the injustices of Black people across the country before he died several years ago. Lauren's family always drew out the affluent Black Chicago crowd who would open their checkbooks for a worthy cause.
Tobias wasn't surprised when Lauren decided that she wanted to follow in her father's footsteps and become a lawyer. She was ambitious and goal-driven, becoming the youngest person to ever make partner at the Dauntless Law Firm where her father was also a partner before he passed away.
Tobias's parents are also in attendance, Evelyn and Marcus Eaton didn't have the best marriage but they sure knew how to put on a show for an audience. They made sure to attend all the events that would garner them attention. Tobias and Lauren had no secrets and they worked really hard to not have the superficial marriage his parents had.
He watches his wife speaking to one of the city councilmen as he takes a sip of his drink, she was so captivating, so confident and sure of herself, he wasn't sure how anyone was going to say no to her this evening.
"Hey T. What's up" his best friend Will calls as he approaches with a woman on his arm that Tobias hadn't met before. It wasn't a secret Will dated around, but lately, Tobias couldn't keep up with the revolving door of women.
"Hey, glad you could make it!" Tobias responds as they lean in concealing their hands performing their clandestine fraternity grip.
"Lauren would have my head if I missed this and you know it" Will chuckles.
Will was a junior partner at the Dauntless Law Firm with Lauren. He and Tobias had met at the firm's holiday party when Lauren had first joined and hit it off. They were both members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Will had been inactive and Tobias convinced him to join his graduate chapter and the two spent a good bit of their free time hanging out with each other even if it wasn't a chapter related event. If it hadn't been for the fundraiser Tobias and Will would probably be out for beers at a Bulls game this very evening.
"Tobias, let me introduce you to Molly'' Will grins as Tobias shakes his head. Molly was tall, statuesque with rich dark umber skin and tightly coiled black hair with blond highlights. Her black dress was skin tight and Tobias expected his best friend wouldn't be here long this evening.
"Tobias!" a familiar voice sing songs from a few feet away causing Tobias to grimace. It was his sister Marlene. She and Will had dated for two years off and on and about a year ago had broken things off for good. Even though Lauren and Tobias had advised both of them not to get involved with each other, they had jumped in hot and heavy with each other. He didn't want to be in the middle of things when their relationship went south, which just as he and Lauren had predicted it would. They usually remained civil now but Tobias wasn't sure how Marlene would react to the way Molly was practically groping Will.
"Hey Sis," Tobias says as he greets his sister with a kiss on the check. His sister really was his favorite person in the world. He was 2 years older than her and would do anything for her and she for him. She had followed in their father's footsteps and a resident doctor at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in the Emergency Department.
"William," Marlene says with a fake smile and curt tone as she takes in her ex and his date. He can tell Will takes a deep breath and replies with an eye roll. "Marlene"
Will then promises to talk to Tobias later as he escorts his date back to their table to avoid any unnecessary drama. Tobias thanks his lucky stars, that they were both civil to each other this evening. Just then Tobias notices that a woman is quietly standing next to Marlene.
"Tobias I'd like to introduce you to Lynn '' Marlene says sweetly as she links elbows with her and Tobias raises a playful eyebrow at his sister. This wouldn't have been the first woman she had dated but she generally didn't bring dates, no matter what gender they identify with, around their parents who were also here this evening. Marlene had to be really serious about this girl to bring her tonight.
"Nice to meet you finally, Lene talks about you all the time," Lynn says with a soft smile. She complimented his sister well as she was extremely beautiful. She wore a smile radiating off her mocha skin and she also exuded a confidence and vibe that reminded him of his wife.
They chat for a few more minutes before Marlene decides to bite the bullet and introduce Lynn to Marcus and Evelyn. Tobias offers to go with her but she seems confident that this will go fine especially since they are in public. Tobias takes the opportunity to find Lauren. He spots her having a conversation near the dance floor with a couple. Before goes over to her, he stops to ask the lead singer of the band for a special request. He makes his way over to her and slides his arms around her waist.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," he says with a smile placing a kiss on her cheek.
"Honey this is Dr. Jeanine Matthews and her husband David," Lauren says as Tobias shakes their hands. "I was just telling them how we have been trying to plan a vacation but I've been so busy".
"Yes, my family has a place in Jamaica we spend a few weeks there every summer at our private house, you must come for a visit" Jeanine boasts and Tobias tries not to roll his eyes and paints on a fake smile. That was what he hated most about attending society events. The need for everyone to boast and showboat.
"Yes, I've been promising my wife I would take her to Grenada, she's always wanted to go and we haven't made it there yet". Tobias responds.
"I promise you, once we get this renovation to the community center started you and I will take our vacation to Grenada," Lauren says sincerely as she turns to look her husband in the eye.
"And I promise to finish the renovations for the community center even if I have to raise it myself" Tobias promises.
"Deal," Lauren says sweetly biting her bottom lip with a grin, overcome with emotion at how much her husband bought into her cause.
"If you will excuse us, I promised my wife that we would dance tonight," he says to Jeanine and David. They nod and smile as they turn to speak to another couple they see nearby.
Tobias pulls Lauren into his arms as they sway to the sounds of the jazz band
"I love you, Lauren, more than anything" he whispers into her ear.
"I love you too, Tobias" she whispers back, pulling him a little tighter.
"Sir, What's her name? Is she allergic to anything?" The doctor asks Tobias as he rushes alongside the gurney with his wife unconscious and bleeding. Tobias couldn't wrap his head about what was happening. One minute they were laughing on the way home from the gala and now he was looking down at his wife bloodied with a neck brace on and cuts and bruises all over her face.
"Sir, her name?" The doctor asks again as they reach two doors leading to the trauma emergency room.
"Umm, Lauren, Lauren Eaton" he replies pulling himself out of the trance he was in looking down at her battered body.
"Sir you have to wait out here, we can't let you past this point," a nurse says stopping him at the door.
"But my wife," Tobias says looking at the doctors as they continue to quickly wheel Lauren down the hall.
"You need to let us do our job now, Please someone will be out to let you know what's going on," the woman says and disappears behind the swinging door leaving Tobias standing there. He feels the walls closing in on him.
A car ran a red light t-boning them in the middle of an intersection on the way home from the fundraiser. Tobias looked down at his bloody white shirt and ripped jacket. The impact was on Lauren's side of the car. He had lost consciousness but when he woke up there were paramedics pulling him from the car. They had brought them to Chicago Medical since it was the closest to the scene of the accident.
He wanders down the hall until he reaches the waiting room and sits in a chair where he drops his head to his hands as his elbows rest on his knees. How was this happening right now? Just an hour ago, he had been holding his wife close to him breathing in her scent as they danced and laughed with each other. He closed his eyes and tried to remember the feel of her in his arms.
His head jerks up when he hears his name being frantically called at the nurses' station.
"His name is Tobias Eaton, the paramedic said he was here, Please somebody tell me anything"
"Lene" Tobias calls weakly to his sister who hurriedly rushes over to him. She, like him, was still wearing her outfit from the fundraiser.
"Oh my God, Tobias, the paramedics found your phone and called the emergency contact and told me to get here, where's Lauren," Marlene says looking her brother up and down, her eyes filled with worry.
"They took her into surgery" is all he can get out finally starting to break down as his voice cracks.
"Hey, she's going to be okay, God look at your head, why has no one taken care of this? You need stitches and it needs to be cleaned out," she says gently touching his forehead and noticing the gash that was still open.
"I told them to take care of Lauren, not me," Tobias says, moving to sit down again but wincing at the pain in his wrist now when puts his head in his hands.
Marlene nods her head and makes her way to the nurse's station explaining the situation and telling them about her training and that her brother needed to have his injuries taken care of immediately. One nurse rushes to find the attending on duty and another nurse gets Tobias to an exam room to stitch up the wound on his forehead and an x-ray of his wrist. While he's in there Evelyn and Marcus come rushing into the waiting room. The weather had made the commute longer from their Lincoln Park estate.
Evelyn and Marcus were no longer in their evening attire from the fundraiser and their eyes are full of panic still. They jumped into the car when their daughter called saying that Tobias and Lauren were in an accident only 30 minutes after they had left the event themselves.
Evelyn tried not to fuss over her son seeing how he was barely keeping it together but she couldn't help herself. Her son's normal warm tawny complexion was dull, his brown eyes couldn't focus as he continued to stare at his hands. Marlene busied herself getting coffee for everyone and calling Lauren's mother for Tobias to update her on the situation.
When the doctor returns over an hour later Tobias feels his stomach drop when he sees his stoic expression.
"Mr. Eaton, I'm very sorry but we weren't able to save your wife."
Tobias feels his knees go weak and every emotion he had been holding in for the past few hours overtakes him as he stumbles backward into his chair.
Evelyn lets out a sob bringing her hand to her mouth as Marcus pulls her close. Marlene steps close to her brother wrapping her arms around his shoulders as she lets her own tears fall down her cheeks. Tobias can hear voices but he can't focus on anything. He was trying to remember the last words he heard from her lips, remember her laugh from that evening. He was never going to be able to pull her into his arms again and tell her how much he loved her.
"Tobias, can you hear me?" Marlene's voice interrupts his thoughts and he wipes the tears from his eyes and closes them tight for a second attempting to focus on the present.
"Yes, I'm sorry, can you repeat that?" he asks as the doctor comes into focus again in front of him.
"You indicated that your wife was an organ donor, we need your permission to move ahead. We can save up to 8 lives tonight if you allow us"
"Umm, yes please do what you need to do" Tobias replies, his voice still shaky.
"Son, let's get you to our house and cleaned up," Marcus says quietly after the doctors leave with a few more papers.
"No, please just take me home," Tobias replies quietly looking at the ground.
"Sweetheart, I don't think you should be alone right now," Evelyn says worriedly as she sees over how disconnected her son looks now.
"Please, Mom, just let me be alone, please" Tobias sighs not really sure where he was going to find the strength to argue with them. Marlene looks at her mother and nods her head and Evelyn gives in.
Marlene drives her brother home, using her key to his place to open the door since he lost his keys in the accident.
Pharaoh greets them with enthusiasm as soon as they enter the door and Tobias feels his heart collapsing all over again as steps in and takes in the foyer. He focuses in on the photo of them from their wedding on the table at the entrance. The kitchen light was still on, he always fussed that she would forget to turn it off when they left in the evenings and today had been no different.
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay with you?" his sister asks, placing a soft hand on his shoulder.
"No, I'm sure," he responds, gently picking up the picture and rubbing his fingers over the image of his wife.
She grabs Pharaoh's leash from the coat rack by the door and takes him on out. When she comes back Tobias is still standing in the same spot but looking at the living room. Even though it was empty, she knows he's envisioning Lauren sitting on her end of the couch with her favorite blanket thrown over her legs flipping through the channels on the tv as she often did on her days off when Marlene would drop by.
"I'll come over tomorrow to help with the arrangements," she says quietly and sighs when he doesn't respond. She gives him one last look before heading out the front door.
Pharaoh looks curiously at Tobias and then goes back to stand in front of the door wagging his tail waiting for Lauren to walk through the door. Tobias hears him whimper and turns around and sees him waiting like he did every day.
"She's not coming home buddy" Tobias chokes out as he kneels down and rubs Pharaoh's back and ears. "She's not coming back" he sobs out when Pharaoh whimpers at his distress and licks his face.
Tobias sobs uncontrollably now, letting himself finally break down with grief. Laying on the floor, the hardwood not providing any cushion but he didn't care. He didn't think he would ever feel whole again. Pharaoh simply snuggled close as Tobias weeps. His eyes sting as the tears keep coming and his chest feels like it has a gaping whole in it. He loses all track of time as exhaustion and as grief takes over him and he falls asleep right there on the floor.
A/N: Let me know what you think! Check out my Pinterest Board rdixon417 for visuals.
The Links and Jack and Jill are real organizations that have been in existence since the 1940s and 1930s respectively and were founded by African American women. Jack and Jill specifically brings together African American children in a social and cultural environment, while The Links has a long tradition of engaging in educational, civic, and inter-cultural activities in the communities they serve. While these are not sororities, the membership aspects are similar.
The Chicago Defender is a Black-Owned (now digital paper) that reported the news of the Jim Crow Era to the South and was founded in 1905.
