A/N: Okay I know everyone is ready for Tris to tell Tobias about the transplant but I had to set up a few things first. Because ya'll have been so patient with letting me set this up, you get two chapters back to back! Enjoy!


Tobias is surprised that after the trip to the Art Museum on Sunday afternoon Tris asks if they can order take out for dinner and watch a movie at his place. Shauna had covered for her at the restaurant after brunch so she and Tobias could spend the entire day together and she wanted to make the most of it. This was the first sign that she had given him that she was possibly ready for something more intimate in their relationship. She was nervous yet excited for some real alone time with him even though she wasn't sure she was ready to go all the way. She was working up to telling him about her transplant, she wanted to wait until they could have some real privacy.

"So is Marlene still staying with you?" Tris asks casually as Tobias drives toward his house.

"Well, she and Lynn have been talking about her moving back in but it hasn't gone anywhere yet. I'm starting to think that they are really done. And yes she's still crashing as she calls it." Tobias replies.

"That's too bad" Tris comments as she looks out the window.

"She said she's got a new place picked out but she's out of town at a medical conference in Cali so we will have the house to ourselves," he reassures her.

To Tobias's surprise when he and Tris walk through the door to his house, Pharaoh excitedly jumps on to Tris and falls to the floor requesting for her to rub his belly.

"Woah, easy boy, Let's not scare her away on her first visit"

Tris chuckles as she leans down to rub his belly.

"Well aren't you handsome, you must be Pharaoh" Tris giggles when Pharaoh hops up and licks her face.

Tobias stands back in awe, Pharaoh had not reacted to anyone like this but Lauren. He would wag his tail for others but this level of excitement he had for no one else. Tobias is again shocked when Pharaoh follows Tris foot to foot as he gives her a tour of the house. He still spent time waiting by the door for Lauren. He would venture out a little further with Tobias now and sometimes with Marlene.

Tris didn't know what she was expecting from Tobias's home, maybe shrines to his deceased wife and everything still in its place the way she had it. She loves the brownstone, she finds it warm and inviting yet masculine. In the living room area she finds the only picture of Lauren, she picks it up and runs her fingers over the frame, she was very beautiful, it was tragic she had to die so young. A sense of sadness washes over her as she stares at the woman who was once Tobias's whole world, it reminds her that she's living this new life because of someone else and that she's got to tell him the secret she's been keeping. She sets down the photo making sure it was exactly like she found it. As if sensing what she was thinking, Tobias makes his way over and pulls Tris to him.

"Does it bother you?" Tobias asks, nodding his head towards Lauren's picture. He hadn't been sure if he should keep it up, especially with Tris coming over. It was one of the things he still felt conflicted about. Did he remove all traces of her? That didn't feel right, but he hoped if and when he moved on that whatever woman it was wouldn't feel threatened by his late wife. Sure Tris was insecure about some things but she had never been threatened by Lauren's existence and always let him talk about her when he needed to.

"No of course not, She was the love of your life, This is your home, you should remember her. I was just thinking how young she was, like my mom," she confesses omitting part of her truth.

"Thank you for understanding that, You're the first woman I've had over so this is kind of a big deal for me"

"Really?"

"Yes, I am enchanted by you Tris, you have brought out feelings in me I never thought I would feel again." He pulls her into a hug and plants a soft kiss on her forehead as she smiles.

"My parents tried to convince me that maybe I should move, start over but I didn't want to."

"Did you not want to because this was the home you shared with Lauren?" Tris asks curiously, searching his eyes.

"At first, but when I finally got out of my grief I decided that I wanted to stay because I really loved this house, I loved the location and there wasn't really anything similar for sale so my sister suggested that I redecorate instead. Lynn did all of the interior decorating and Lene helped me pick out a lot of the new decor based on what Lynn suggested"

"I really like it, I love the feeling, it makes me feel at home," Tris says, placing her hands around his neck.

"Good" Tobias leans in for a quick kiss. "Because I'm hoping you will be here more often now"

"Thank you for being patient with me, I don't want you to think that I don't trust you because I do it's just well kind of intimidating"

"Hey, I'm more than happy to wait as long as you want. I want you to feel comfortable and ready. Can you tell me why you are intimidated? "

"It's just awkward. You're older, you were married, and I don't know what I'm doing. I don't want you to be disappointed, what if I do something wrong or something you don't like. How do I know I won't be terrible at it? I don't want you to get frustrated and walk away because I'm nervous and..." She blows out a frustrated breath and puts her head in her hands

"Hey, Tris, look at me, please," Tobias says softly tugging on her hands and pulling her into his lap on the couch.

"Tris, sex can be fun and exciting but it's something that takes time to figure out between two people even if both of them are experienced. And I've been just as nervous about us being physical as you" he says as he tips her chin to look him in the eye.

"Really?" She asks as she searches his eyes.

"Granted, I was no angel before Lauren, and I started dating, but we were together for three years before we got married and were married for almost five years before she died, I'm nervous as hell since it's been so long since I have been with someone other than her."

Tris bites her lip nervously. "I'm sorry I hadn't thought that you would ever be nervous. Can I ask how many women?"

Tobias bites his lip and raises his eyebrows.

"I'm sorry, don't answer that..." Tris says nervously "I thought you were supposed to talk about how many partners you've had or getting tested...Ugh, I'm sorry I suck at this" She shrugs her shoulders and throws her head back in frustration at this conversation.

"Hey, no you are right, it is important to talk about it and when we get to that point I don't mind using a condom or getting tested. I just don't want you to be any more intimidated if you know my body count"

"It's that many?" Tris says and covers her mouth quickly realizing how that came out.

"I mean no...Ummm so probably 10...I might have lost track a bit there in college"

"Okay" Tris nods her head taking in the information he just gave her. He could tell she was still nervous and hoped he hadn't made her feel any more intimidated.

"Sex is crazy, and all the movies and books you read make it sound so romantic and easy but it can be awkward and weird. The more you communicate about what you want the better it will be. I want to learn your body, everything that you like, what makes you feel good and I want you to learn me, however long that takes."

He moves his thumb across her lips and she gives it a light kiss with a smile.

"I'm going to make sure you are comfortable with whatever happens. You want to stop, then we stop, it's that simple. If you want me to go further I need you to tell me, if something feels good tell me. " Tris nods and puts her arms around him and squeezes him tight. He rubs his hands gently up and down her back.

"Thank you, Tobias, It feels like I can breathe with you being so open with me"

"Good, now let's get watch a movie"

They order some take-out and pick out a movie together. Tris snuggles into Tobias and he wraps his arms around her. He feels so content having her with him at home. She fit perfectly against him as he laid across the couch sprawled across his chest. Tris feels equally content in his arms as they laugh at Just Wright with Queen Latifah and Common and he plays with the coils of her natural hair. Tris doesn't know when they started kissing, or when their makeout session starts to intensify, or when that changed positions. Tobias lays her back on the couch and covers her body with his. Tris feels like there is heat running through her veins as Tobias slides his hand up her dress to grip her thigh. She breathes heavily as Tobias kisses down her neck, and she whimpers at the feel of his lips as he gently sucks the soft skin of her neck. Tobias is spurred on by every whimper and moan that he elicits from Tris. The smooth skin of her thigh against his hand, the smell of her cocoa butter lotion. He wants to feel her but not push her to something she's not comfortable with. But without a doubt she is driving him insane, he wants to show her how she makes him feel.

"Is this okay Tris, tell me if I'm moving too fast" Tobias says as he moves his hand further up her thigh.

"Will you talk to me please?" she asks shyly. "I think I might not be as nervous if I know what you're thinking"

"Of course Baby" he leans in and kisses her again but this time his fingers ghosting over her center through her panties causing her to gasp against his lips.

"You are so sexy Tris, these thighs, these hips, Ummm Baby. I know we are going slow but that doesn't stop me from wanting you," he confesses.

Tris moans as he moves his lips to her neck again. She runs her hands over his back feeling the way his muscles flexed. Instinctively she spreads her legs so he can lay between them. She gasps when she feels his erection press against her through his khaki shorts. When he rolls his hips against her she feels her nipples stiffen and he moves his mouth back to hers capturing another moan when moves his hand back to rub the outside of her panties that are now moist. Tris isn't sure if she should be embarrassed, she's not completely naive, she's read plenty of books and seen plenty of movies to know how the body works but being in it is different.

"I can feel how excited you are Tris, that's such a turn on" Tobias pants out leaning back a bit.

"I want more" She breathes out with a shaky voice.

"Can I use my fingers?"

Tris swallows and nods not trusting her own voice and Tobias moves his fingers to rub circles over her clit outside her panties. Tris lets out a moan and grips his shoulders. She feels dizzy with want. Tobias moves back to her mouth as he slides her panties to the side and gently toys with her wetness. He uses all of her moans and movements to guide him as he continues on his quest.

"God, Tris, I love hearing you moan," he says, pulling back and watching her as he slides his finger in her making sure not to go too deep. "Relax Baby" he soothes.

Tris sucks a breath in a first of the feeling of his finger but relaxes at his words. His touch was gentle and the more pressed the heel of his hand against her bundle of nerves the more she thought she was going to lose it.

"I love how tight you are around my finger, you're so wet already."

He moves his other hand to caress her breast over the top of her shirt. Tris pulls her lips together enjoying the sensations that he was giving her body. She grinds her hips against his hand as another moan escapes her lips. She could see the lust in his eyes as he watched her. Suddenly Tris feels like she's falling and the feeling is overwhelming.

"You like this don't you?, Don't worry I got you" he soothes as he rubs her clit with his thumb and uses his finger to make shallow thrusts inside her and she grabs his forearms.

"Tobias, Oh my God, It feels so good," she moans as she throws her head back and squeezes her eyes shut tight as she arches her back.

"Look at me Tris" Tobias commands softly. Watching her is so erotic and he hopes one day he will get to fully be with her, but for right now, this was enough for him.

Tris opens her eyes following his command and sees him watching her as she pants and squirms against him. The way he's looking at her with pure lust and licks his lips hungrily pushes her over the edge and her orgasm hits her. She grabs Tobias's wrist as he continues to pump his finger when she cries out. He leans down and pushes his tongue into her mouth for a molten hot kiss as she continues to come down from her high. When she stops moving, Tobias sits back on the couch and pulls her with him so she's straddling his lap. Tris can feel his erection pressing against her. She puts her fingers in his hair and kisses him softly.

"I think I should come over more often," she says between kisses causing Tobias to chuckle.

"You are always welcome, " He reaches up and pulls one of the coils of her hair softly watching it spring back into place.

"What about you?" She asks innocently and Tobias thinks he might lose it right there with her on his lap and he chuckles again throwing his head back on the couch.

"If I'm being completely honest, I will take care of myself later in the shower. I don't want to move too fast with you,"

"You would be okay with that?" Her chest heaving as she darts her tongue out over her bottom lip before biting it.

"Yes, I'm okay with it. You like the thought of that? Me pleasuring myself and thinking about you?" he asks and chuckles when she blushes and looks down biting her lip again this time nodding. The thought that she had some power over how aroused he was excited her, made her feel more confident in what they were doing.

"You are so adorable" he gushes and pulls her down for another kiss that she happily returns.


Tobias hadn't really thought about sex from the time Lauren died until he met Tris. He hadn't noticed any women, the ones that threw themselves at him he ignored. But when Tris came into the picture it awakened that side of him again. He noticed the swell of her breasts, the curves on her hips. As their makeout sessions grew more and more intense he grew needier and needier. She was becoming more comfortable and wanting to explore more which had him almost about to lose his mind. He felt like a horny teenage boy again always thinking about it now. He and Tris had shared a few more makeout sessions at his house with him bringing her to an orgasm but that was as far as they had gone.

"So you got plans or are you going to be wrapped up with Tris all weekend?" Will prods as he and Tobias grab lunch on a Thursday afternoon.

"We'll hang out, I think she wants to go to the movies this weekend" Tobias rattles off.

"That's it?" Will asks curiously. "You mean you two haven't smashed yet?"

Tobias sighs, he wasn't going to give Will details but he knew his lack of response already gave him away.

"Damn bro for real?"

"We are taking things slow," Tobias says with a shrug trying not to make a big deal about it, which wasn't a lie. He had been nervous about being physical at first but now he was ready to go full steam ahead all.

"How are you doing it? You two have been together what, five months?"

"Lots of workout at the gym and a lot of cold showers," Tobias says grimly.

He was pretty sure he was going to be in line for a fitness magazine cover if he added any more workouts but they helped him quell the sexual frustration. He had never been in a situation like this where he had been actively involved with a woman and they had gone this long without having sex. Before Lauren he had a few one-night stands, some consistent hook-up buddies in between girls he dated but if he was interested the max it had taken was probably a month. This was new territory for him.


Tris, Shauna, and Christina were having lunch one afternoon and somehow the topic turned into Tris and Tobias when she had mentioned how much she liked his place but hadn't spent the night yet.

"Tris you haven't gave it up yet?" Shauna exclaims

"Geez tell the whole world why don't you?" Tris says mortified hoping no one else in the restaurant heard Shauna's declaration.

"Tobias must be ready to punch through a wall" Chris comments as she shakes her head looking at her menu.

Tris sighs, it wasn't that she didn't want Tobias, God she did. It was getting increasingly harder for her to pry herself out of his arms especially when his hands and lips were on her. His lips were so perfect and the things he was doing to her body made her clench her thighs together.

"He says he's comfortable with taking things slow" Tris shrugs.

"Of course he said that, he's a good guy, but that doesn't mean he probably isn't thinking about having his way with you. I bet he's taking a lot of cold showers" Shauna reasons.

"And using a lot of lotion" Christina snickers.

Tris groans and leans back dramatically in her chair letting out a huff which only causes Chris and Shauna to laugh again. This was exactly why Tris hated talking about sex with Christina and Shauna.

"It's not that I don't want to, he's made me very comfortable and we've done somethings, just not everything…." Tris blushes. She liked exploring Tobias's body, feeling his muscles. She was getting much more comfortable. She knew she was getting in her own way overthinking things but she definitely didn't think it was going to be much longer before she was begging him to go further.

"And do these things include him getting you off?" Shauna asks while waggling her eyebrows.

"Maybe….." Tris replies trying to hide her smile which she knew was pointless with Chris and Shauna.

"Now we are talking," Shauna says excitedly as Tris holds her head in her hands, she had no idea why her nonexistent sex life was so important to them.

"And you haven't extended the same to him," Chris asks more diplomatically.

"Well no…" She'd touched him but through his boxers but that was about it.

"Damn Tris, And you still haven't told him about your transplant, so I know he hasn't seen you with your shirt off"

Now she really did feel selfish. She was planning on telling him, she felt more comfortable now but every time she got ready to she was interrupted. It was so easy to get lost in his lips and hands over her body. He robbed her of all rational thought as soon as they started touching each other. Marlene had moved out into a new apartment so the last two times she had gone to his place he had practically attacked her as soon as the door shut, picking her up and carrying her to the couch kissing her senseless before she could even get a word out. The last time she was ready to tell him the week before, the office called and he had to leave in the middle of their lunch date to handle an emergency at one of the building sites.

"Every time I try to tell him something has literally come up …."

"Oh, I bet something came up" Shauna teases and Tris throws a piece of her roll across the table at her as she laughs.

"Rip the bandaid off Tris, You are making this a bigger deal than it has to be by dragging it out. Not to say you should rush into having sex with him, but it's been what 5 months? At least tell him about the transplant" Christina reasons.

"I know, I know. I'm going to tell him. And it's not that I'm opposed to having sex with him, I want to... I just don't want to be, nevermind"

"What is it?" Christina asks.

Tris pauses for a moment. "I think I'm in love with him, I haven't told him but I haven't really said it out loud before now. What if he isn't in love with me?, do I still sleep with him knowing that? How will I feel after if I do?"

"The thought of getting your heart broken is scary, but Tris, you are missing out on so much because you keep playing these scenarios in your head. Lots of people have sex without being in love. You just need to decide what you want to do." Shauna encourages.

"Yeah, Tris, you need to talk to him about this, he needs to tell you how he feels, not you guessing or making decisions based on how you think he might feel. But I can tell you one thing for sure, that man adores you." Chris adds.

"And you're missing out on great sex" Shauna throws in which causes Tris to laugh.


Tris sits on the exam table with a thermometer in her mouth waiting for the beep. Tris was at the hospital for her monthly heart transplant check-up. Things were still going well for her health-wise and she hoped they stayed that way. She was planning on telling Tobias about her transplant this weekend. She had everything planned out, She was going to cook dinner at his place to give them plenty of time to talk. She picked a few pamphlets from the waiting lounge and placed them in her purse while she was waiting to be called back. Andrew had poured over them every visit when the doctors first indicated that Tris would need a new heart. She hoped that the information would help steer the conversation with Tobias.

"98.6," the nurse says cheerily writing down on her chart.

"Okay Tris, everything looks great, we will see you next month" Dr. Matthews smiles as she goes to use the hand sanitizer on the counter before she leaves.

"Ummm before you go Dr. Matthews I need to ask you something," Tris says mustering up the courage.

"Sure, what's going on?" Dr. Matthews replies as she moves to sit back down on the rolling chair next to the exam table.

"So I've been seeing this guy and I wanted to know about birth control, Can I take any with my new heart. I never thought about kids or anything before but...now"

Tris wasn't trying to jump that far ahead with Tobias but she wanted to make sure she would be ready to answer any of his questions about this when she told him about her heart transplant. What if he wanted kids and her body couldn't handle it. All these things began running through her mind with the reality that she would be losing her virginity sooner rather than later.

"I'm glad you asked me, Tris, we need to find the right method that will work with your heart. As for kids, there should be no problem with you getting pregnant but you would automatically be considered high risk, so when that time comes we will need to keep a close eye on you."

Tris nods and smiles as Dr. Matthews starts to talk about making a consult with the Women's Health department and thinking through what Tris wanted out of a birth control method. This weekend, she was ready. Nothing was going to stop her from telling Tobias about her transplant and taking their relationship to the next level.