Yep, finally a new chapter. I'm proofing and getting the next one ready as well. Enjoy!

The next week was learning to actually work in teams. Between work, training, and trying to find time to get out of the Dauntless compound to talk to his mom Tobias was exhausted. Max watched us closely especially when Four made a lame excuse about the cut on his arm. Eric made a stupid comment about me getting Four back for my ear which amazingly diverted attention for a little while. Four and I ignored him and moved on. Max pulled me aside on Wednesday night and asked, "What's going on with Four? You seem fine."

"He's just been up planning training strategy. Making sure we get what we need from them," I lied, when in truth I was the one planning different scenarios while he was out, but his undercover work was taking him into the very late night, "He's taking it seriously. He's just a perfectionist."

"Alright," He looked around at the candidates. They were beat up but still working, he could tell they were all exhausted. Team A had been working with us and even they were starting to struggle, but nobody was going to admit to exhaustion. "We can't afford for people to get hurt because they are stupid tired. We'll go to supper and then we'll call it a night for tonight."

"Max," I protested, "You know nobody is going to give up. This is too important. They won't want to go rest. They'll come back here and continue working out without us and then someone WILL get hurt. Dauntless don't give up or quit." I had to act the part even though I knew we all needed to rest. Even initiates had days off. I saw Christina fall asleep in her breakfast yesterday morning.

Max laughed and nodded, "Leave that to me." He clapped his hands to get the attention of everyone. "Alright, candidates line up by ranking, we're going to supper."

Team A filed out behind their leaders then Four came up to me and whispered, "What did he want?" The others lined up behind us and using the stomping feet as cover I said back, "He sees your exhaustion. He's thinking about giving everyone the night off."

He looked at me and I said, "Not tonight, you need to rest." Hopefully anyone that heard me would think I meant something other than him going out and meeting up with his mom tonight. It was weird that I was now hoping people were thinking we were having sex. And that was a cover for something way more elicit.

When we went into the cafeteria the rest of Dauntless were there. It was a standing room only again tonight. Since the training started more and more people made sure they were at supper when we came in. It was like we were royalty or something. Bets were being made by how many bruises they saw on the candidates and what that might mean to standings.

We all silently ate; many of us were just too tired to hold up a conversation. As we grew closer to going back to the training room Max stood up. "I just want to say that I am so proud of this group of candidates. They are not making this easy on us to score them. I know right now that any one of you would be a good member of these teams. But unfortunately at this time we only have room for 15. Having said that, I would like to reward you for your intense dedication. I'm locking the training room tonight and you all have the night off to be with your families and friends. Get some rest, get drunk, have a little fun. Just make sure you're able to go to work tomorrow and back to training tomorrow night. Don't break any bones and don't fall in the chasm. And if I see any of you training in any way, points will be taken away. This is an order, go have fun!" he set back down and looked at me with a grin.

There was a shout from our audience, "Zipline!" and I looked around me and saw the smiles. Suddenly the energy of the candidates started to come back to them. Someone started playing some really loud pounding music as people started to pour out of the cafeteria into the pit. The candidates moved slowly but they followed out with big grins on their faces and pats on the back. I sit next to Four and relax into him as he wraps an arm around me and kisses my temple. Max drops two bottles of the same thing I had that one night in front of us. "You two can relax too. I knew if you just got it out of your system you could make a good team." He laughed.

Eric said sourly, "Yeah, right up to when they break up. Then we'll see how it goes." He then stomped out the door.

Max shook his head, "Now, I think he's the one needing to get laid."

Four and I both force a laugh. But we both know that Eric has some kind of plan along those lines that we don't want to have to think about.

Max slapped a hand on Four's shoulder, "Alright you two. Go get changed into something casual and I want to see you in the pit for at least an hour. Then you can go get some sleep."

Four nodded, "Yes, sir" and took a swig out of his bottle. I sipped mine but didn't want to drink too much of it knowing what happened last time.

We stood and walked up to our rooms quietly, I changed into a tank top and a pair of stretchy pants. Something that when I came back I could just crawl in bed and not have to worry about changing again. I met Tobias in the hallway and he was just wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. I had my bottle in my hand and he eyed it. "It's just for looks, if I have a drink no one will give me one. I drank a little to knock the pain down but then dumped the rest and filled it with water."

He grinned, "Not a bad idea."

When we walked back into the Pit we caught Max's attention and he just nodded and looked at his watch. Letting us know he was timing us. Four grabbed my hand and squeezed it. This was the first time we were really public with this. I lifted his hand and I slipped under his arm. We looked at each other and grinned. Everything else might be crazy but this was right.

Christina and Will were standing with Uriah and Brandy, Zeke and Shauna. Christina saw us and squealed, "I told you so." Then she ran up to me, but she caught herself before she got to us and asked, "Wait, is this okay right now?"

Four nodded, "Yeah, for tonight. But we can't talk about training. And tomorrow we go back to training rules."

Christina said with a smile and grabbed my hand, "Girl, we need to talk." And she drug me off towards the tattoo parlor. I looked over my shoulder to Four and he grinned and waved me on. "I'll catch up in a minute." He stepped over to talk to Will and the others.

I followed Christina over to where Tori was sitting watching all the other Dauntless. "Hello ladies," she said to us as we got closer.

Christina took a seat on a stool and they both stared me down, "So spill." Christina said.

"I don't know what happened," I said and looked away. I took a drink out of my bottle and looked up. "One minute we're fighting and the next, we're in my room and… NOT fighting." I stated as simply as I could, going with the story Max knows.

Christina's eyes went wide, "Oh, I called it!" she raised hand for a high five, that I returned half heartedly and blushing.

Tori grinned with understanding, "Are you okay? Were you ready for that?"

I smiled back, "Surprisingly yes. Everything just seemed to click into place. It was just…right… you know?" I was glad I was getting a chance to talk about this in some way with girls. Even if I had to lie about the timing and everything how it really came about.

Christina nodded, "Yep, I get it."

Tori nodded, but kept quiet. I know I will have to talk to her alone at some point but for now it's nice that I have her as a friend.

Christina hopped down from her chair, "I think this calls for a celebratory purchase."

"Chris, do you really NEED a reason to purchase something?" I asked her with a laugh.

She laughed back, "NO, but this is really an important step in your life."

"I know I just don't know what would be an appropriate purchase for taking that step." I stated.

Tori hopped off her chair, "I do, come with me."

She waved me back to her designs. "It's something I came up with recently. Kind of hit me in the middle of the night." She showed me a little drawing she made. It just looked like a symbol of some kind but nothing I'd ever seen before.

"What is it?" I asked her

She traced her finger over the top part of the figure "This is a four" but then she followed the leg of the four down further where it ended in a loop, "And that's a six" she said with a grin. "You ground him. Give him more purpose. He pulls you through and guides you."

Tears welled up in my eyes at the thought but I was hesitant, "I don't know. I've heard tattooing names is the kiss of death of a relationship."

"These aren't your real names, just symbols for you. Secondly, I don't think you need to worry about it. There's just something about you two. Thirdly, it will be small enough we can cover it if we ever need to," she said.

Christina said somewhat sadly, "Wow, that's so much better than my ring."

I looked at her, "NO, it isn't. That ring is important and don't you dare think it's not."

She stepped back with hands up, "I wasn't actually serious. Just making a statement that the tattoo is cool. Sorry."

I sighed, "Sorry, it's been a long few weeks."

She laughed, "Tell me about it. So are you going to do it?"

I bit my lip then nodded, "Yeah, but where?"

Christina got excited, "What about that ankle tattoo?"

I shook my head, "No, not for this."

Tori said, "What about over your heart. Below the birds."

I nodded, "Yeah okay that would be good." I went to her chair and pushed the strap of my top down so she could get at it. It didn't take very long to do. But just before she was done Tobias walked in searching for me.

When he saw me in the chair he smiled, "If you keep going you're going to look like me."

Christina said, "Well this one is for you."

He looked confused and then walked closer. I showed him the picture and he could see the drawing on me. I told him what Tori said and he looked at her strangely, then looked back at me. "Tori, I want the same one. Same place."

Tori grinned at me first and then said to him, "Take the other chair, I'll be there in a second."

After Tori finished up with mine and she walked over to Tobias. Christina looked at me overly excited and whispered, "I feel like I'm your maid of honor at your Dauntless wedding."

I cracked up laughing at that, "Yeah, but we don't have time for a honeymoon. Back to work tomorrow."

She took my hand, "I have an idea, though. Come with me." She yelled back at Four, "We'll be right back. I'm just going to steal your girlfriend for a few minutes."

We went over to the clothing store and went directly to the lingerie section. It's a section I avoided except for the basic necessities. She shoved through the racks of frilly things that were way too much for me. Did other factions have these things? Abnegation absolutely didn't but wasn't this just a waste? Then she held up a black strappy short night gown. It was made of a shiny material but otherwise wasn't overdone. She shoved it up to my body and quickly measured it. "That should work perfect. Go try it on."

"Christina, I can't wear this. It's too much, I'd feel stupid," I said with a blush.

"No you won't. You won't be wearing it long enough to feel stupid." She said with a chuckle, "Just go try it on. It will be my gift to the bride."

"Will you stop with that? We aren't married," I said in a whisper.

"The way he looks at you? You will be before the end of the year." She said with a laugh.

I look at her because with what I know I don't know what will be happening by the end of the year. But she doesn't know all that. I shake my head and take the way-too-sexy piece of cloth into the dressing room and try it on. I guess you could say it fit, what there was to it. It looked really funny though with all my bruises and cuts and scrapes. And the bandage covering my new tattoo really looked fantastic. Christina popped her head in and I turned to her with a grimace.

She frowned at my look, "Don't do that. You look hot and you definitely look Dauntless hot. You wear those bruises and scars with pride girl. Now get changed back."

I shrugged and did what she said but not before taking one more look at myself. I straightened my shoulders and stood up tall. I thought about how I stood up and talked to Marcus that one day. And gave myself the look I gave him. Holy crap, the girl looking back at me was kind of hot. Is that what Tobias saw in me?

After that I got changed quickly and we ran back to the tattoo shop where Tori had just finished his tattoo. I looked at him and he took my hand and squeezed it. We didn't say any words but I think we were both thinking that what this thing was between us was crazy and serious, and sometimes words just wouldn't do justice. He slid his shirt back down, always careful to not show too much of his back to anyone who wouldn't understand. After sitting up he pulled me closer and landed a soft kiss on my lips.

Christina giggled off to the side but I ignored her.

Then he said something that made me laugh, "I'm exhausted. Can we go get some sleep now?"

I looked at the clock on the wall and laughed, "We've got about 15 more minutes and I'm sure Max is watching for us."

He groaned, "I know he is." He slid out of the chair and took my hand then said, "Let's go make appearances and play nice." Then he turned back to Tori, "Thank you, very much."

She nodded, "Any time, Four, and Six. See you back in the training room tomorrow."

As we are walking out I hear her ask Christina, "If you're the Maid of Honor then what was I? The officiant?"

Christina laughed, "It would seem so. Hey when it's time for me and Will, would you do the honors then too?"

Tobias looked at me, "What is that all about?"

I laughed, "I'm not sure you really want the answer to that yet."

He saw the bag I was holding and asked, "What's in that?

I laughed, "You'll find out later, if you don't fall asleep first."

We walked around and stopped by different groups of candidates and families, chatting with them each for awhile. I glanced at Max every once in awhile and he was watching us. Once I knew that we had definitely been there an hour I looked back up at him and he nodded to me. Tobias was so tired he really had no idea what was going on. It also didn't help that people kept handing him something to drink every so often. I had lost my bottle earlier but I'd only take sips if I was offered. Tobias took drinks. He wasn't drunk but he was absolutely relaxed. I reached up and pulled him down closer so I could whisper in his ear, "We can leave now."

He blinked back at me while he processed that, "Oh, yeah."

I made excuses saying we had to get up early and work on some things before going to work. And I guided him towards our apartments. When we got to his he mumbled in my ear, "Stay in mine tonight."

"Okay, I'll be out in just a minute." And I headed for his bathroom, changing into the strappy bit of fabric Christina had bought me. I left my other clothes in his bathroom to change back into in the morning. I walked back out the bathroom door and he was already undressed and under the covers. I could hear him snoring softly. I laughed, well I had a feeling that would happen.

But when I shut the door to the bathroom he came awake and caught me off guard. I hadn't had time to try and look confident in this outfit like I did in the dressing room. He looked over at me and his mouth dropped open. "WOW" he said.

I blushed, "Christina got it for me. I'm going to have to be ten times harder on her in training tomorrow. Otherwise everyone will think I've been bribed."

He nodded, "Yeah, but remind me to thank her later." He got back out of bed and pulled me to him. Our kiss could have set the room on fire. He picked me up and carried me back to the bed and was on top of me in no time. We were both breathing hard when he looked in my eyes, "I'm sorry if this is a little rushed. I just need you so bad."

I nodded, "It's okay. I've missed you since you've been out the last few nights."

What this time lacked in finesse and sweetness it sure made up in passion and need. I lot less Abnegation and a lot more Dauntless. Both of us taking what we needed, and we both had a few more marks on us afterword. The tattoo on his back had several red scratch marks from my nails. And my collar bone that didn't have the tattoo was sporting a lovely hickey. At least I might be able to cover that up. I was really hoping our neighbors couldn't hear us because we hadn't been quiet. Afterwards we passed out with him still half laying on me. With his shoulder and arm covering my chest and his leg across mine, you would think I would have felt pinned down but all I felt was safe and cozy.