Thank you for all the love so far! Hope you like this chapter!


The next few weeks are blissfully happy for Tris and Tobias. Tris invites Tobias to Sunday brunch where he has a wonderful time seeing as he had met most of her family already. Justin and Jalen think that Tobias is the coolest thing since sliced bread. Every time Hana tries to shoo them away from pestering Tobias with questions about what he does, the two would find a way back to him. Tobias didn't mind, he even promised the boys if Uriah and Christina said it was okay he would take them to a small construction site that would be safe for them to see how the construction workers made his building design come to life. They spend a day at the beach with Shauna, Zeke, Christina, and the boys while Uriah is on duty at the fire station. Tris keeps asking Tobias if they aren't spending too much time with her family but Tobias reassures her it's fine. She was happy around her family, he would never want to take that away from her. He enjoyed the constant challenges from the men in her family about best sports player or best male R & B singer, he found the constant banter between the older gentleman hilarious.

The following Friday, Tris meets Marlene, Lynn, Will, Amar, and George when they come to hear Sounds of Candor play at The Pit. Tobias doesn't miss the awkward looks between Will and Marlene and Lynn. Hana and Andrew keep the group well-fed with the specials for that evening. Tris suspected her father was showing off a bit.

"This next set is for my Daddy and Uncle Harry," Tris says adjusting the microphone stand. " We put together a few tings just for you and if you appreciate the riddim of the islands, you enjoy this to" She adds throwing on her Caribbean accent.

"Bomp Bomp Bomp" Zeke and Christina yell from their table which causes Tris to laugh.

Andrew and Harrison had made sure all the kids in the family learned about Grenada history and reggae music. The brothers still spoke Patios to each other. Zeke, Uriah, Tris, Christina, and Rose know basic sentences and phrases and can carry a basic conversation. Caleb always refused to learn, citing that he would never speak to anyone outside of the family so what was the point. Natalie and Hana spoke French Creole from New Orleans and some of the words were similar. Tris wanted to spend time in her father and uncle's home country and learn to speak patios more fluently at some point.

Tris had been excited when she suggested a reggae/Caribbean set that included No No No by Dawn Pen, Jamming, Could you be loved and No Woman Cry by Bob Marley. Andrew and Harrison both come out on to the patio and are all smiles at the reggae vibe that Tris had arranged for them.

"T. she's amazing," Marlene says as the band plays Slow Down by Skip Marley and H.E.R with Tris and Bobby singing a duet.

"Yeah, she is" Tobias grins as Tris winks at him and tosses her hair to the side.

"I think you might be in love Tobias" George teases as Tobias laughs and rolls his eyes. But he hadn't said it out loud but he could feel it. Tris brought him so much joy in the three months they had been seeing each other. He knew he was falling for her and the most shocking thing about that revelation was that it didn't scare him like he thought it would.


The next weekend Tobias invites Zeke, to hang out with him and Will to shoot pool and grab drinks on Saturday night. Tobias and Zeke had hung out a few times over the past month and were forming a tight bond. Tobias was sure that he and Will would get along and he'd hoped Will would open up about what was going with him.

"T. I'm shocked you get to hang out" Will teases as Tobias sets up his shot.

"Man, Fuck You" Tobias chuckles as he sinks his ball.

"He ain't lied T. You and Tris have been attached at the hip" Zeke comments taking a drink from the beer bottle in his hand from the stool he was sitting in.

"I like her. A lot" Tobias says with a shrug as he tries to fight a smile. "And she's working tonight so I am free to do whatever I want"

"Maybe you more than like her a lot" Zeke teases.

"I'm starting to think so" Tobias replies cryptically but with a smile as he sharpens the tip of his pool stick.

"Real Talk, you two are good together tough and she's really into you" Zeke adds knowing his cousin was head over heels for Tobias too.

"Speaking of people who are good together...What's up with you and my sister?" Tobias throws out to Will as he leans on against the pool table while Will takes his shot.

Zeke raises his eyebrows at the mention of this. He had met Marlene and her girlfriend Lynn a few weeks before when they come to the restaurant to hear Sounds of Candor play.

"Yes, I dated Marlene for two years, It's been over for almost 3 years, she's with someone else now so it's nothing to talk about"

"Oh, I beg to differ" Tobias scoffs. "The two of you both clearly are feeling something"

"You still in love with her?" Zeke asks candidly.

Will takes a deep breath and places his head against his hands that propped up against the pool stick.

"Yeah I do still love her but it doesn't matter. It took me too long to figure out what I wanted and now she's with Lynn and she's happy. I'll just always know she was the one that got away."

Tobias doesn't push it any further that evening but if wanted both Will and Marlene to work it out they needed a push. Tobias liked Lynn, she and Marlene clicked, but she and Will had clicked too. He wasn't sure what was going to happen but unfortunately whatever did was going to leave someone heartbroken.


Tobias is surprised when he pulls up in front of his brownstone to see his sister walking toward his front door with a small suitcase. Sure she would drop by unannounced, especially when he wasn't doing well after Lauren's death but she wouldn't this late unless something is wrong. He takes out his phone as he gets out and notices three text messages and two missed calls from Marlene he had missed since his phone was on do not disturb while he was with Tris.

"I'm sorry to show up late like this T. I figured you were out with Tris but I...I.." Marlene chokes out.

"Come one let's get inside" Tobias replies as he places a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm going to take Pharaoh out, why don't you fix us a drink"

Marlene nods and sniffles as Pharaoh wags his tail and pushes against her legs wanting her attention. She goes to the hall bathroom to splash water on her face. Her eyes were burning from crying. She goes to the liquor cabinet and glances at the wine rack next to it and picks up two tumblers and fills them with bourbon. She needed more than wine right now. She goes to the living room and sits down one of the tumblers on the coffee table and takes a drink wincing when the alcohol burns going down.

Tobias comes in and fixes a Pharaoh a bowl of water before coming to sit down next to her picking up the drink she fixed for him. He has a feeling of what was going on. There was no way his sister would show up here with her suitcase if the issue wasn't with her and Lynn.

"Lene what's going on with you and Lynn?

"I...I.. We were doing so great, I'm starting to think it's over."

Tobias sighs, he thought his sister and Lynn were really great together but Marlene could be stubborn when she wanted her way or felt like she was right.

"She found out I have been talking to Will and flipped out on me. I tried to explain that Will and I had been talking so much to try and help you get out more, get you out of the depression you were in after Lauren's death. He's your best friend, you needed him too. And she didn't believe me when I said it was nothing"

"Was it nothing Lene?"

Marlene finishes off the rest of the bourbon in her glass. She sets the tumbler down on the coffee table and then stares at her hands before she places her face in her hands with her elbows propped up on her knees. After a minute she sits up and Tobias sees she has tears in her eyes again.

"Maybe not, I'm so confused. I know you and Lauren didn't want us to date but I did love him, I think I still do."

"He still loves you for what it's worth. He told me. And I think Lauren and I were looking at how much you two never were ones to settle down, I didn't want either of you to get hurt. " Tobias says honestly which elicits a groan from Marlene.

"Yeah, I can see how I never stuck to any one person long term. I thought he was going to be different and then it just got all messed up. I met Lynn and things got better. I love her, how can I love both of them T.? What am I going to do?"

"Can I ask why you and Will broke up the first time?"

"I was being stubborn, but he felt like I wasn't being supportive. It wasn't like I was trying to neglect him, things were so competitive in that ER rotation, I was working so many hours. He said he understood how hard medical school and residency were when we met but I don't think people really understand what it's like for doctors when we are on call all the time. He kept pushing me and I walked away. It wasn't like I could walk away from being a doctor and I didn't think it was fair of him to not even understand where I was coming from, I was so mad that he was trying to push me away, I gave up."

"I think you need some time away from both of them to sort out your feelings"

"I know you and Tris are getting really close, would it be too much if I crashed here for a few weeks? I can't handle going to Mamma and Daddy's"

"Come on Kid, you know you are always welcome here" He pulls her to him and places a kiss on her temple.

They sit there in silence for a while before Tobias suggests they watch Kings of Comedy. It was one of his sister's favorite movies and he knew she wouldn't be able to stop herself from laughing. He just wanted her to be happy and right now she needed to figure out who made her the happiest, and he couldn't do that for her but he would be there to support her no matter who she chose.


Tris sits on Hana's living room floor on a pillow against the couch, as Hana works putting in box braids for Tris. She loved this time with Hana. It always took a whole day and they watched movies, gossiped and Hana would listen to Tris talk about all the things she wanted to do when she got a new heart. Now that Tris and Tobias were together, Hana listened to her talk about their last date. She was happy for her niece. If anyone deserved this chance at happiness it was Tris.

Hana had been Tris's mother for most of her life with Natalie dying when she was only five. She never felt like she missed out on that type of relationship because Hana had picked up right where her sister left off. Christina's mom Stephanie too. She made sure she and Tris their girl time, helped her through getting her first period and

"Auntie Hana, Can I ask you something?"

"Bumblebee, You know you can ask me anything"

"Why have you, Daddy, and Uncle Harry never remarried?"

Hana places the comb she had been using to part Tris's hair down next to her on the couch and is quiet for a moment before she speaks, gathering her thoughts

"Well for myself it was so much going on with having four small kids running around, all close in age, the restaurant was just getting going and it was a lot. There were many nights when all of us were exhausted and it took all of us banding together to make it happen. I guess you can say I didn't have time for it"

"Did anyone ever ask you out?"

"Yes they did, but I was always very upfront that I had two young boys that came first. For some men that was too much for some men. I went on a few dates here and there but It was important to me not have all kinds of men parading through giving you kids the wrong impression."

Tris nods her head and is quiet again

"Where is this coming from sweetheart?"

"Well Tobias and I are spending so much time together, I really like him, I'm starting to think maybe even.."

"That you love him?" Hana asks, finishing her niece's sentence and placing a hand gently on her shoulder.

"But can he love me, like he loved his wife, am I going to get hurt if I keep this up? I don't think I can put myself through that"

"Baby Girl I know this is your first relationship and your first time falling in love. Heartbreaks happen. But we can't stop falling in love because you are scared of that. Falling in love is worth the risk. Did you know your Uncle Reggie wasn't my first love?"

"Really?" Tris asks as she turns and places her arm on Hana's knee.

"Yes, I was in love with a boy from New Orleans when we moved here, I was devastated when we had to move here for your grandfather to work as a bus driver. The economy was so bad, so many people were out of work but my father had a friend that could hire him on a bus route as a driver. I wrote Robert letters every week for two years. It was hard, but we were determined to not give up on each other.

"When did you fall in love with Uncle Reggie?"

"Daddy wouldn't let your mother and father go out alone so I always had to go with them. I think Andrew got tired of me cramping his style and invited Reggie along one evening. Oh, I couldn't stand him at first" Hana laughs as she reminisces.

"No way" Tris laughs

"But I got a letter from Robert one week saying he couldn't do this anymore. We had both been saving our money to visit each other. I took babysitting jobs, he was a busboy at a restaurant. I knew that really while I was saving for a ticket to visit New Orleans, I wasn't going to come back to Chicago. We had talked about starting over together someplace new and I was ready to take that risk for him even though I was only 16 by then. I cried for days after I got that letter."

"Did you ever see him again? Or hear from him?"

"No, I didn't, I assume he met someone and got married but I don't know. But you know who was there for me?"

"Uncle Reggie?"

"Yep, he brought me flowers to cheer me up, and after a few months he wore me down to go on a real date with him."

Tris smiles as she tries to picture it, she didn't remember her Uncle, he died the year before her mother did but Natalie, Andrew, Harrison, Max, and Stephanie made sure there were plenty of stories and pictures shared so the kids felt like they knew them.

"Do you think you could ever fall in love again?"

"Yes, I'll never stop loving Reggie, but I know he would want me loved and taken care of if I found someone. Part of it is me being open to love again."

"Do you love Uncle Harry?" Tris asks curiously. It didn't escape Uriah, Tris, Zeke, or Christina how Harrison and Hana looked at each other.

"Honestly, Sometimes I think so, he's been there for me though losing Reggie and your mom and then Stephanie. He's always there when I need him, I couldn't have made it through without him"

Tris knew the death of her Godmother had been hard on the family. Stephanie's death had come as a blow not only to Max, Christina, and Rose but to their close-knit extended family. Hana and Stephanie had become even closer after Natalie's death and then again with navigating Christina and Uriah's unplanned pregnancy.

"Have you told him that?"

"Not in so many words"

"I think you should Auntie, I think he loves you too, you two should be happy"

"When did you get so wise Bumblebee?" Hana chides "Just make sure you take your own advice. You have to be brave."

Tris settles back so Hana could finish braiding her hair. Her Aunt was right, she had to take her own advice. If Tobias was putting himself out there after losing his wife, she needed to be all in with him and be brave.


The Bud Billiken Day Parade was a time-honored tradition in the Chicago African American community. Tris and her family had grown up participating in the festivities for the annual Back to School bash. Now that Jalen and Justin were older, the entire family spent the day watching the parade and participating in the activities. Tobias and his parents had always made an appearance handing out school supplies with Jack and Jill. He and Lauren made donations and came when they could to volunteer since Lauren's grandfather had been an editor of the Chicago Defender but it had been years since Tobias had been to the parade.

That day Tris and Tobias hold hands as Christina and Uriah walk ahead of them looking for a spot for everyone to camp out along the parade route.

"I haven't been to this parade in years, Lauren and I would come volunteer to hand out school supplies since her grandfather was one of the editors of the Chicago Defender"

"That's nice, I know you said she was big into charity work, did you two do a lot of volunteering together?" Tris asks as they meader through the crowd.

"Yeah, we did, I actually need to get back on the thing she was working on when she died, I promised her I would finish the project and I want to keep that promise"

"What was she working on?"

"Renovating and building an addition for the Abnegation Community Center on the Northside. She was on the Board of Directors and had been raising funds for the project. Amar and I were going to design and run the construction at cost but after Lauren died the fundraising stalled."

"Wow, I grew going to that place after school. That's where Daddy and Uncle Harry met Uncle Max and Uncle Reggie. My parents used to take us there for all the summer programs. It's sad how run down it's gotten. It did so much good in the neighborhood. I'd love to help if I can."

"Seriously, You would help?"

"Of course Tobias, not only because that place is special for me and my family but because you want to finish this project. Maybe we could work on it together, if that's okay with you, I wouldn't want to overstep" Tris wonders if she should have went that far, she didn't want to make it seem as if she was trying to take over what Lauren had been working on.

"I think that is a great idea, and I would love your help" Tobias replies as he squeezes her hand tighter. She got him, and it just solidified how much he was falling for her.


Tris puts all of her feelings into the set the band is playing for the upcoming weekend. That Saturday night, they were booked for a concert in the park and the crowd was larger than they drew at The Pit. Hana, and Andrew assured her that they could manage the Saturday night crowd without her. She had been replaying her conversation with Hana over and over in her mind. She knew she was falling for Tobias but was she ready to tell him that out loud. She knows she told Hana to be brave and put herself out there with Harrison but she was still scared to do that with Tobias. So she does what she does best and puts all her feeling into a song. She chose Lions and Tigers and Bears by Jasmin Sullivan hoping Bobby, Mike and Ravi wouldn't mind. Tobias always watched her so intently when she was singing, she was a bit worried about making herself so vulnerable with this song but at least it would save her the humiliation of saying it and him not feeling the same way. All she would do was leave it on the stage and that's what she did.

Sorry if I sound so filled with gloom

You say you care and I know you do

But this is from my experience

And my conclusion only makes sense

Just cause I love u and u love me,

It doesn't mean that we're meant to be,

I can climb mountains, swim cross the seas,

But the most frightening thing is you & me!

I'm not scared of lions and tigers and bears (oh my)

But I'm scared of (loving you)

I'm not scared to perform at a sold out affair (that's right)

But I'm scared of (loving you)

Am I the only one who thinks an impossible task?

Why it don't last? Is that too much to ask?

Why do we love Love, when Love seems to hate us?

Most circumstances I know my fate

But in this love thing I don't get the game

Why does it feel like those who give in,

They only wind up losing a friend?

I'm not sure no, I'm not sure

But if we never try we'll never know

It's better to have loved than not to love at all

But trying is worst than to stumble and fall

And if what we do?

I'd rather it be with you

Cause at least there will be

Sweet memories

Tobias stood there in awe as Tris sang. He knew she was singing to him, he could feel it. His heart was beating wildly. He couldn't imagine being without her now, he was starting to ache for her on the days when they couldn't be together. He wanted to make sure he did everything right but knowing how apprehensive she had been about advancing their physical relationship he didn't want to overwhelm her. He'd keep it to himself for right now but he wanted to move forward with her if she wanted that too.

The next song is Yesterday by Toni Braxton and Trey Songz with Tris and Bobby singing another duet. Their voices blended together beautifully. Tris would look over to where Bobby was singing every few moments but Bobby never took his eyes off Tris. Tobias knew that look, the look of someone who was in love. Tobias wouldn't categorize himself as the jealous type but he was feeling very territorial with Tris. He needed to know what he was up against especially if he was going to put himself out there and tell her how he felt.

After the show, they decide to enjoy a drink alone in the courtyard just the two of them. He loved the feeling of being with Tris and her special place. It just fit her, the special lights, the fragrance of the flowers. She was always completely relaxed when they spent time just sitting and talking after one of their dates.

"Tris can I ask you something?" he says taking a sip of wine.

"Sure" She looks at him wondering why he seemed tense. Things had been really good the past few weeks; she hoped that she hadn't miss read how things were going between the two of them.

"Ummm, Did you and Bobby ever date...I mean not that it's any of my business, I just..." Tobias runs a hand over his face. Ugh, this was coming out all wrong.

Tris fights back a smile, was he jealous?

"Nothing has ever happened between Bobby and me Tobias. He asked me out once after you and I started dating, and I turned him down."

"Oh"

"Were you worried?" she prods

"Um, not to sound arrogant but not really, I just noticed how he looks at you like he wishes you were singing to him"

Tris gets up and moves to sit on Tobias's lap. He welcomes her placing a hand on her waist. She traces the tip of her finger across her lips.

"You are the only one I'm singing to" she whispers before kissing him gently. He smiles back into the kiss letting the feeling of happiness wash over him.


Let me know what you think! Do you think Marlene will try to work things out with Will or Lynn?

The Bud Billiken Parade has been held in Chicago since 1929 and is the longest-running African American parade in the U.S. The only other longest-running parade in the U.S. is the Rose Bowl parade.