A/N: Thank you for all your reviews, follows, and favorites! Ya'll keep me motivated! Hope everyone is staying warm and safe! This southern girl is freezing this week!


Tris sits in her bedroom as Christina straightens her hair the sounds of H.E.R and Jhene Aiko play softly from her speaker. Tris was so anxious she could barely sit still. Tonight was her first date with Tobias. Zeke had the boys and Jada so Christina and Shauna could help Tris get ready for her date. Rose was laying across Tris's bed scrolling on IG while Shauna was hanging up the outfit choices she had brought from her closet so they could decide what Tris was wearing.

"Tris I swear to God if you don't stop squirming, I'm trying so hard not to burn you." Christina threatens as she continues to work on her task.

"I'm sorry, I'm just so nervous". Tris admits. She had been full of nervous energy all week patiently waiting for Sunday.

"Well, Aunite Hana tells me that he is very handsome and he seems like a nice guy from what you've told me"

"Have you talked to him at all this week?" Rose asks rolling over on her side.

"Yeah, we've been texting, he seems really sweet so far. He already sent me flowers this week." She replies waving her hand to the bouquet of pink roses sitting on a table near her balcony window. "And yes he's freaking gorgeous, I don't know how this happened to me"

"Putting in effort already, that's a good sign. And in case you haven't noticed, you are a certified hottie Tris, you just keep it covered up," Shauna says over her shoulder.

"Well, I'm more comfortable in my sweats" Tris shrugs as Christina finishes the last section of her hair.

"We really gotta get you some sexy underwear Tris" Shauna complains as she lays out one of the dresses she picked out for her date with Tobias. It's a lavender sleeveless dress that had a high neckline with a full skirt and she paired it with a pair of white sandals for the warm night. There was supposed to be a slight breeze so Tris wouldn't be too hot or confined in the outfit.

"It's a first date! Nothing is going to happen! I bet he doesn't even try to kiss me. I don't need sexy underwear" Tris says with an eye roll.

"Hey take it from the person who was a teen mom, One little kiss on the neck that you didn't realize would feel so good and the next thing your panties can come down, and before you know what happened, then BAM, you're pregnant" Christina chides.

"And that is how Jalen got here?" Rose teases.

"Yes that is exactly how Jalen got here, Justin and Jada too" Christina confirms as they all laugh.

Shauna lays out another dress, this one is a green button-down dress that stopped at the knee. It was sleeker and didn't flare like the lavender one. The buttons and the collar were perfect to hide Tris's scar. Rose pulls out a pair of gold flats to compliment the belt she picked out to go with the green dress and lays them on the bed for a visual.

"I like this one," Tris says point to the green outfit drawing a smile out of Shauna, Rose, and Christina. Tris had never really been into fashion and over the years as she became sicker, the girls tried to help pick out comfortable things that still made her feel girly and pretty even though she had an oxygen tank strapped to her. Tris had felt like a human barbie doll over the past year with all of their makeovers.

"Good because this is my favorite one" Shauna smiles with confidence at her fashion skills.

Tris shakes her head as she goes into her bathroom to change.

When Tris comes out of the bathroom with everything in place she does a twirl for her cousins as Christina who grins the biggest grin snaps a picture.

"You look amazing!" Shauna exclaims.

"Yes Tris, Giving me looks Tris" Rose giggles and snaps a picture with her phone.

"Well let's just hope he thinks so too," Tris says nervously adjusting the buttons near the top of the dress.

"Stop fidgeting, you obviously haven't told him about your transplant, why?" Christina asks smoothing down the top of Tris's hair.

"I just want to see how this goes first, I don't want him trying to pitty me straight out the gate. I just want to keep it to myself for right now".

"Tris" Shauna tries to reason "It's a part of who you are"

"Let me just see how this goes, If we keep seeing each other then I'll tell him. I'm not going to lead off with Hi my name is Tris and I had a heart transplant"

Shauna nods in response, she still had a hard time understanding why Tris could be so closed off and hesitant when talking about her transplant. It was a blessing that Tris had this incredible story and a second chance at life.

"Just enjoy tonight, you if anyone in the world deserves it" Rose affirms pulling Tris in for a hug.

Rose makes sure to take a few pictures of all of them together.

"Please tell me you aren't documenting my date chronicles on IG" Tris whines

"But of course I am cousin" Rose grins out.


Tobias nervously adjusts his shirt as walks out of his closet and looks in the mirror behind the bedroom door. He was worried that his khaki pants and button-down black shirt made him look like he was trying too hard, maybe he should have gone with a pair of jeans instead.

"Will you stop fidgeting, you look fine" Marlene yells from the bed as she pulls out a potato chip from the bag as she props herself up on her elbow and she flips through the channels on the tv.

"Are you seriously eating potato chips in my bed?"

"Oh whatever, like you didn't when you were in your downward spiral" She retorts as she picks up another chip and rolls her eyes.

Tobias scoffs in response but she was right, his sister knew him all too well. He was glad that they could joke like they used to.

"Why are you here, don't you have lives to save or something? Where's your girlfriend?" Tobias had groaned when Marlene showed up earlier in the afternoon to hang out. He hadn't told her about Tris yet and she was

"I was off today. Good thing too since you didn't even bother to tell me you had a date! Lynn is in New York helping take care of her grandma who broke her hip. So you're stuck with me"

"This is exactly why I didn't tell you because I knew you would be over her harassing me. Do I really look okay?" He asks turning around to face her instead of the mirror.

"Yes, big brother you do, and if this chick is as laid back as you say she is, I don't think she is expecting you to show up in a three-piece suit"

"I'm out of practice, I haven't done this in like ten years" Tobias sighs he couldn't ever remember being this nervous for a date.

"You really like this girl don't you, is that why you're so nervous?" Marlene sits up sitting cross-legged in the bed intrigued at never seeing her brother like this. He had always been so confident, borderline cocky when it came to women. He had his fair share, much like Will was now, that had been Tobias in college. Women were always throwing themselves at him which had added to his cockiness. He settled down when he and Lauren started dating so this was a new look for him.

"Lene, it's crazy, I freaked out the first time I saw her, I literally never felt like that before," Tobias says deciding to finally get this off his chest as he sits on the end of the bed. She just sits there and lets him talk not interrupting his steady stream of thoughts.

"Lauren was my best friend, she knew me better than anyone before we started dating, I remember when we decided to try dating because it made sense and I loved her, we had chemistry, we fit together, but this is like something different I don't understand it. It's like some shit out of a movie. I feel so drawn to her."

"Do you remember the stories Grandma and Grandpa used to tell us about when they met? How it seemed like fate and how we used to wonder why Mommy and Daddy were never like that? Maybe this is like that for you. You were supposed to meet her."

"But what does that mean Lene? That Lauren and I's relationship was I don't know…."

"It means that you and your best friend fell in love out of your friendship and were happy and that is one of the strongest kinds of love there is. Now you have an opportunity to create something new with someone and maybe you will find a second great love of your life. That doesn't happen for everyone, just enjoy the ride if it does. If we learned anything this past year I think it's been for all of us to enjoy this thing called life"

Tobias smiles and looks over at his sister. "When did you become wiser than me kid?"

"When you hit puberty and started thinking with your penis" She chuckles and picks up the remote and starts channel surfing again. "Now get out of here before you're late"

Tobias rolls his eyes and grabs his wallet and phone as he heads toward the door.

"Don't worry, I'll take Pararoh out before I leave" Marlene calls out not looking away from the movie she started watching.

"Whatever you'll be here when I get back and I won't have any chips left"

"Ha, you're probably right, maybe I should make myself scare in case you get lucky tonight"

"It's a first date! Jeez, you and Will are the worst. I swear I don't know how you two didn't work out."

"Whatever, Bye!" Marlene yells and waves him off with her hand. It irritated her how well her brother knew her. Secretly she had been conflicted with spending so much time talking to Will about how to get Tobias out of his grief it had definitely sparked something between them again. She wasn't ready to talk about it with her brother yet.

"If you get potato chip crumbs in my bed, I want my key back " Tobias yells as he heads down the stairs.

"I love you too Tobias" she sing songs with a yell causing him to chuckle as he grabs his keys and heads out the door.


Tris had insisted that they keep their first date lowkey and Tobias had breathed a silent prayer of relief when he saw her text. It was like she needed the exact same thing as he did. Tobias decided against the traditional sitdown dinner and opted for Food Trucks that parked near Millennium Park. They both picked different trucks letting each other try a few different items. They walked leisurely and talked. Once he let go of his nervous jitters, it was the most relaxed Tobias had been in the past year and it felt so natural. Every time he accidentally grazed her hand it felt like something flowed between them.

Tobias talks about the architecture firm and some of the things he likes to do. He makes a conscious effort to not talk about his late wife in the conversation. Tris didn't push him, which he loved.

"I miss Atlanta though, I fly down a few times a year, usually for Homecoming in October"

"I can't wait to go on a plane" Tris sighs out with a smile as they walk down the path toward Buckingham fountain.

"You've never been on a plane?" he asks curiously cocking his head as he places his hands in his pockets.

"Well yeah, I've never been anywhere but here, ever since I was 14, I…." Tris stops before she continues "Ummm my dad was sick" She lies quickly. Things had been going so well so far, she didn't want him to start looking at her like she was a charity case, not on the first date. "So I always had to stay close to home so I could take care of him"

"Oh wow, he looks so healthy now" Tobias comments with his eyebrows furrowed.

"Oh he's really healthy now, and he doesn't like to talk about it….ever….." She adds for emphasis.

"Well, I'll try to remember that, what about your mom?"

"She died when I was five, heart disease," she says quietly.

"I'm sorry"

"My family has seen a lot of death, my mom, my uncle Reggie, my Godmother Stephanie but it's made us all really close, as you can probably tell from Sunday night, well except for my brother" she shakes her head.

"Why is that?"

"I don't really know, he got a scholarship to NYU and left and never really looked back. We see him sometimes at Christmas but he stays away for the most part" she shrugs. "I've always been close with my cousins Uriah and Zeke, we were all raised more like siblings than cousins. Their wives are my best friends so it really one big loud crazy family"

"I like that though, I'm really close to my sister Marlene, she's probably my favorite person in the world. It was always just the two of us. Both of our parents are only children. We always wanted a big family, "

"You are welcome to borrow mine anytime" she teases drawing a chuckle out of him.

They keep talking, asking each other about their favorite things as they walk past the Buckingham fountain, stopping to grab ice cream from a vendor cart on the path. Tris snaps a few pictures of them. Tobias has an Instagram and Facebook but he had rarely used them. He and Amar had interns that handled all of the accounts for the firm. Tris shows him how to make stories and add music and gifs.

"Okay, so what's your favorite movie?"

"Love Jones"

"Love Jones, Really?" He chuckles

"What," she asks with a smile as she bites her lip. Tobias feels like it's adorable yet sexy all at the same time. She was really easy going and fun.

"I get that vibe from you" He smiles in return.

"Okay, so what about you?"

"Probably Coming to America or Harlem Nights. I'm a big Eddie Murphy fan"

"My son works?" Tris booms in her best James Earl Jones voice.

Tobias laughs a deep belly laugh at her impersonation. Tris lowers her eyes feeling a bit embarrassed. Her family was used to her blurting out random movie quotes in conversation. Her horrific date with that guy Eric he had rolled his eyes every time she did it over their dinner. It just came naturally to her.

"Sorry, I quote lots of movies in regular conversation, I spent a lot of time watching movies, so they just pop into my head," Tris says shyly.

"Who was that? Oh, Just that man I met in the restroom" Tobias shoots back in a fake African accent like Eddie Murphy. He was loving how adorable she was, she seemed shier and more thoughtful but still funny and real. It was a real juxtaposition from how confident she seemed when she was performing.

Tris grins at his quote and they spend the next few minutes giving their favorite lines to each other.

"Yeah Lauren loved Coming to America too, we used to quote it all the time" Tobias laughs fondly at the memory. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" Now it was his turn to feel awkward as he sucked in a breath and looked away. He had been consciously trying not to mention his dead wife during his date but it just slipped out.

"Don't be sorry" Tris says quietly placing her hand on his arm "It's okay to talk about her, really"

"I don't know how to do this Tris" he confesses. The first woman he actually notices since his wife died and now he didn't know how to not bring up his dead wife. He wouldn't blame her if she didn't want to go out with him again after this.

"Neither do I but we will figure it out together if you want" Tobias is surprised but he sees nothing but honesty in her eyes as she smiles at him. He feels his heart race, there wasn't that look of pity he saw when he spoke about Lauren in front of other people.

"I'd like that very much"

Tris smiles and takes Tobias by the hand and links their fingers together. The feeling of their hands linked together makes Tris feel like she has butterflies in her stomach. Tobias bites his lip while he smiles, how did he end up finding this amazing woman holding his hand. They start the walk back to his truck, with Tobias telling Tris a little bit about Lauren and how they met after she asked to hear more about his late wife. To his surprise though it's not awkward and Tris listens, feeling more at ease to see him be open and honest. Tobias thinks this might be one of the first times he doesn't feel weighed down by grief when he talks about Lauren.

After walking back to his truck Tobias takes her to a building on State street and they take a service elevator to the top and go out onto the roof.

"This was the first job Amar let me supervise on my own. I love this building" he tells her as they look out over the Chicago skyline.

"This is amazing. We can see all this because we are standing on something you built." Tris breathes out. She felt small against the imposing view of the city but it also made her feel alive as the breeze blew her hair.

"Well, I didn't do it all by myself" He chuckles. They stand there for a few minutes in comfortable silence. The sounds of horns honking with the Chicago traffic. The Sears Tower lit up against the dark sky. For Tris, it was the perfect moment. Tobias was smart and caring. She really liked how he allowed himself to be vulnerable with her. Even though he seemed shy and nervous a bit, once both of them calmed down he seemed confident which was sexy.

Tobias admires her as she takes in the view. Her long hair that he wanted to run his fingers through now that it was straight as it blows with the breeze. She really was beautiful. Her innocence and earthy vibe were sexy. He didn't want to compare her to Lauren, that would be unfair to both of them. She had Lauren's caring spirit but he was seeing Tris in her own light and he liked what he saw. She was different from his late wife, and he knew he liked everything about her so far.

"Lauren was my best friend for most of my life and now it feels like a whole other life I'm living. There are so many things I learning to do over or want to experience with this new journey I'm on. But I'm glad I met you, Tris, I feel excited for the first time about being on this journey now. " he says quietly.

"I get what you mean," she replies, reaching for his hand again. He gives it a squeeze in return. When he sees her shiver, due to the wind whipping at the height of the building he takes off his jacket and places it around her shoulders.

"I have this list of things I want to do in life that my cousins helped me come up with. There's so much I want to do that I've never done before"

"Maybe I can do some of them with you?" Tobias offers.

"Yeah, take on this new life and try new things together" Tris adds as she laces her fingers with his and they take in the view of thier city.

When Tobias drops Tris off, they both walk slowly up to the gate leading to the courtyard. Tris and Tobias are still holding hands even though they are quiet, enjoying the comfortable silence flowing between them. Tobias takes a deep breath, he isn't sure if he should kiss her good night. He wanted to but he didn't want to be too forward. Tris had awakened every part of him, parts that he thought he thought he would never feel again. She was literally a ball of sunshine in a world for him where everything had been dark.

"I had a great time Tris, I hope we can do this again," Tobias says quietly as they stop in front of the gate. Tris feels her heart flutter. Every time she thought he was nervous or shy she could hardly believe it was because of her. She was glad he had told her about Lauren tonight and confessed he was nervous about starting to date again. It calmed her and made her feel less self-conscious.

"I'd like that. I had a great time too. I should give you your jacket back" Tris says as she moves to take it off.

"It's cool you can keep it. You can give it back to me next time we go out." Tobias says with a smile and moves his hand to pull the jacket tighter around Tris.

"Besides, it looks better on you anyway" he complements but he moves to pull together the top three buttons of her dress that are undone, simply pulling them together not trying to make any type of suggestive move. Tris full-on panics thinking Tobias can see her heart surgery scar. Before she can register what she is doing she slaps him across the face.

"Oh my God, Oh Shit...Oh my God, I'm so sorry," Tris cries out placing her hand over her face in embarrassment. "Did you see anything?"

Tobias looks equally shocked not sure what just happened " I wasn't looking!"

"Oh Lord, I'm sorry, It's just that I had a, umm I had a heart umm, a heart, heartwarming dream about you." Oh God, What the fuck am I doing? Tris groans internally about how she is making a complete fool of herself. Why couldn't she just tell him, she had no idea but once again she wanted the earth to open up and swallow her whole. But she couldn't bring herself to get out that she had a heart transplant.

"It must have been a nightmare," Tobias says trying to follow where she is going with this. He was amused that she seemed unnerved.

"No, you were very... umm" Tris was at a loss for words trying to cover this hole she had dug herself into.

"Scary?" Tobias adds not sure what would make her slap him from a dream.

"No sexy!" Tris again cringes, She couldn't think of what else to say. What the fuck was she doing, this man was never going to speak to her again.

"You had a sex dream about me?" Tobias gasps out stick clutching his face.

"No I didn't have a sex dream about you, I just met you, I don't even know you" Tris rambles on as she laughs nervously. Oh God, What am I doing?

Then she doesn't know why she does it but she presses her lips to his. Tobias is still in shock from getting slapped and now he was equally as shocked that she was kissing him. He relaxes into the kiss, her soft lips feel good, and he can breathe in her lavender scent. And just when he's about to pull her to him she pulls back. Tris bites her lip and looks at him nervously for a split second.

"Good night," she says quickly and runs off into the courtyard to the backdoor of the restaurant.

"Goodnight," Tobias says aloud even though he's standing there alone. He brings his hand to face again, still feeling the slight sting of her hand but he grins like a fool. She was quirky, funny, thoughtful and everything he needed.