The first few days in Chicago were relaxed and fun. On top of the shopping and Zeke and Shauna's wedding, Natalie and Tris got some time to cook and bake together. Amar, Tris, Tobias, Natalie, and Andrew played board games. They laughed, they joked, and they told stories. Natalie and Andrew loved having some time to really get to know Tobias, and Amar, too. Tobias and Amar enjoyed the glimpse into Tris' family life. All of them enjoyed the good food and good company.

One day, Tris took Tobias to the Christmas Market and Navy Pier. The couple enjoyed being out in the crisp winter weather together, looking at the booths and attractions. That night they took Andrew and Natalie for a nice dinner, and the two couples talked about marriage and the future.

On Christmas Eve, Caleb came home. Andrew picked him up at the airport, and they returned just in time to join Natalie, Tris, and Tobias for Christmas Eve service at the family's church.

After service they all gathered at the Priors' home, and at Natalie and Andrew's insistance, that included Amar. The six of them ate a turkey dinner with potatoes, vegetables, and cranberry sauce. The Albanians provided baklava for dessert and a bottle of wine to serve with the meal. Caleb was mostly quiet, and the family enjoyed themselves immensely.

.

On Christmas morning, Tris, Tobias, and Amar returned to the Priors' home in time for the family's big Christmas breakfast. Tris helped Natalie in the kitchen while the men lounged in front of the television.

"Tell me about Tobias' house in Albania," Natalie said as the women washed and chopped fruit side-by-side.

Tris had told her parents many things about her summer in Europe, but hadn't gone into much detail about the house. "Well," she began, "for one thing, it's huge. Tobias told me it's about a thousand square meters, which meant almost nothing to me. When I got there and saw the place, I ran the calculation. It's about eleven thousand square feet. That's like five or six of our house! One third is the servants' wing, with the kitchen, laundry, two apartments and three rooms for the staff. Only Roza lives there, though.

"There are two other houses on the property. Amar and George live in one. The groundskeeper and his wife live in the other. They're nice, but they're older and they don't speak English. There's also an apartment above the garages, and the assistant groundskeeper lives there.

"The rest of the main house is very big and airy. It has a Mediterranean style. The walls are golden stucco, and the floors are dark wood upstairs and tile on the main level. There are lots of big arched windows and patio doors. On the main level there's a stone terrace, and upstairs some of the rooms have balconies.

"There are a lot of antiques in the house - dark wood, light upholstery, kind of a Moroccan vibe to the patterns. Tobias hasn't changed much, just the master bedroom. Marcus had that all dark and fussy with this grandmotherly Victorian thing going on that didn't match anything else. He stripped it down to fit and renovated the bathroom. You'll love it."

"What about the kitchen?" Natalie asked. "Is it modern? In those old houses with staff wings, sometimes the help's part of the house gets left behind."

"Marcus renovated the kitchen a few years before he died," Tris explained, "so it's really nice and updated. He was a jerk to the staff - well, to everyone, really. But the old housekeeper must have had some dirt on him, because she got anything she wanted, including a gorgeous, modern kitchen."

"Will you get to do any cooking?" Natalie asked.

"If I want to," Tris said. "It is our house. I can send Roza home and cook for Tobias. Of course, I don't want to mess up her plans or insult her at all. Sometimes she's gone, too - like when her granddaughter was born. Knowing I can cook should help her relax. She can take time off if she wants to."

"It's going to be a very different life for you," Natalie said.

"I know, Mom," Tris replied. "But I'm not going into it alone. Tobias grew up there. Amar and Roza are very understanding. They'll help me figure it out. Soon it will feel normal to me."

"I know, Baby Girl," Natalie said as she gave her daughter a side hug. "You're going to do great. I'm so proud of you, and I can't wait to come see you as the queen of your castle."

.

The family enjoyed Christmas breakfast together. Again, Caleb was mostly quiet, observing his sister and the two Albanians. Andrew insisted that he and Caleb would clean up since Natalie and Tris had cooked.

Tobias and Amar offered to help, but Andrew refused. "You are guests in our home," he said. "Caleb and I will do the dishes."

"Dad!" Caleb snapped disapprovingly. "That man is literally the hired help. He should be doing this."

"Not in our house he's not," Andrew said firmly.

Tris' head dropped, and her shoulders slumped. "E urrej vëllain tim," ("I hate my brother"), she said quietly to Tobias.

Amar chuckled. "I can't believe you learned to say that in Albanian."

"I knew I'd need that phrase," she replied dryly.

Tobias glowered. Though Tris and Amar tried to keep things light, he knew that Caleb hurt them both practically every time he opened his mouth. Tris had sworn to him that Caleb never laid a hand on her to hurt her, but Tobias knew first-hand that verbal abuse could scar even deeper than lashes from a belt. Every time Caleb spoke, Tobias wanted to whisk Tris off to Albania and keep her away from her brother forever.

"Hey," Tris said close to Tobias' ear. "What's going on? You practically have smoke coming out your ears, and you're going to ruin our wedding pictures if that scowl becomes permanent."

Tobias snapped back to reality to see his fiancee sporting an exaggerated mock scowl. His expression softened, and she smiled warmly. "Të dua," she said.

"I love you, too," Tobias replied.

When breakfast was cleaned up, the family gathered in the living room. Tobias sat on one end of the sofa, and Amar, still looking somewhat uncomfortable, took the other. Tris sat between them, snuggled close to her fiance's side.

Andrew read the Christmas story from the Bible. Tobias put his arm around Tris, who reached for Amar's hand and gave it a squeeze. Natalie watched her daughter comfortably interact with the men who would soon be her day-to-day family. She was saddened that Tris would soon be so far away, but pleased to see the genuine care between them. She looked forward to meeting the rest of Tobias' household/makeshift family.

After the story came gifts. Caleb went first, handing out sharply-wrapped packages to his parents, sister, and future brother-in-law. They each received a book. Tris' was a history of Albania. It looked unbelievably dry, but she was impressed that it was actually on a topic she would care about, and not some scientific interest of Caleb's. Tobias received a book on the importance of research to business. Natalie got a cookbook. Andrew got a book on science and religion that looked more like an insult than a thoughtful gift.

When the gifts from Caleb were opened, Tris and Tobias gave theirs to her family. Amar knew that he would be exchanging gifts with Tris and Tobias over new year, back in Albania, so he understood why he wasn't included in their gift exchange on Christmas day, and just enjoyed being included in the family time.

Everyone loved what the couple had bought for them.

Tobias also gave each Prior an envelope. "This isn't really a gift," he said. "Tris mentioned something to me the other day. She said that there are different ways to care about people, and it got me thinking. I decided to make a donation to a different organization on each of your behalfs, because I appreciate the way you care about others, and I wanted to honor that."

Andrew, Natalie, and Caleb opened their envelopes. For Andrew, Tobias had made a donation to the Chicago Fire Department Foundation. For Natalie, he donated to the food bank. For Caleb, Tobias donated to a science scholarship at Erudite University. Each of the three donations was in the amount of a thousand dollars.

"Tobias," Natalie said, "thank you so much."

"Like I said, it's not really a gift, but just a way to honor what I appreciate about each of you and the work you do," Tobias said.

Tris smiled warmly at her fiance. Tobias pressed a small kiss to her lips and handed her an envelope. "Here's yours, Zemra ime," he said.

"Tobias!" Tris said. "You already donate over eighteen thousand dollars a year in my name."

"You donate eighteen thousand a year in her name? To what?" Caleb asked, and Tobias watched Tris tense.

"Fighting child abuse," Tobias said matter-of-factly. "I met Tris through the foundation she worked at, so I've given to that cause ever since."

"Before you met?" Caleb asked, incredulous.

"Yes," Tobias said firmly. "Your sister's kindness helped me through some difficult days, and I wanted to honor that. Since we met, Tris has changed my life. I love her passion for helping people, especially children. Her heart is my favorite thing about her."

Tris and Tobias smiled at one another. The adults looked at them fondly. Caleb scoffed.

"Open your envelope, Beatrice," Caleb said, bored.

Tris peeked in the envelope, and found a folded sheet of white letterhead from a child advocacy center near Tirana. Though the English was poor, Tris joyously ate up every word.

Znj. Prior,

Thank you for your generous donation. The 2.059.968 lek given by you and Z. Eaton is much appreciated, and will be used well.

Z. Eaton tell us that you are passionate for child advocacy. We like to invite you to come and tour our facility when you are moved to Albania. You can see the work we do with your money.

Many children in poor family cannot go to the school. We make it possible for them to get education. Some do not have food to eat. We feed them. Some do not have parents. We make family for them.

We love children, and are glad that you do also. Welcome to Albania!

Tris grinned at Tobias and hugged the letter to her chest.

"Well, what is it?" Caleb asked.

"He made a donation in my name," Tris said, "just like he did for you. Mine is for a child advocacy group in Albania."

"Tobias gives to the foundation here in Chicago where Tris used to work," Amar elaborated. "This year he matched that gift for an Albanian organization, since Tris has two homes now."

"Can I see the letter?" Natalie asked.

Tris passed it to her, and Natalie smiled as she and Andrew read it.

"This organization is really special," Tobias said, eager to get the spotlight off his generosity and back on the organization's work. "They offer counseling, legal services, and help families find resources so they can stay together and have their needs met. They place kids in foster families when their parents die or can't care for them, and they help with education."

Natalie handed the letter to Caleb, who looked it over and scoffed. "This is very poorly written," he said. "These people should not be educating children."

Tris snatched the letter from her brother. "They teach in Albanian," she said. "Someone went to the work of writing this in English for my sake, and I think that was kind, thoughtful, and generous of them!"

"Your sister is right," Andrew said firmly as Tobias put his arm around Tris in an attempt to calm her. "That was very thoughtful, writing in English. And it was very thoughtful of Tobias to give to things we all care about."

Caleb made a huffing noise at being scolded. He meant every word he said, and couldn't understand why his parents and sister were such pushovers for things like kindness. He didn't want people to be mean necessarily, but in Caleb's mind, nothing was more important than being correct. Who cared if you meant well or tried hard? That was just encouraging failure and mediocrity.

While Caleb was sulking, Natalie was digging out more gifts from around the tree. She gave a large, moderately heavy box to Amar.

"You haven't had a turn," she said, "so I think you should go first."

"Natalie!" Amar objected, surprised by the unexpected inclusion in the family Christmas celebration. He glanced at Tobias and saw Tris grinning at him, her earlier tiff with Caleb forgotten in her eagerness.

He laughed self-consciously and began unwrapping his gift. What he found stopped him in his tracks. It was a beautiful, masculine, hand-made quilt.

Tris hopped off the couch, and she and Natalie opened the blanket fully so he could see the whole pattern. It was huge - definitely big enough for the king-sized bed he and George slept in. The pattern was dark at the bottom, charcoal grey fading to grey, then bits of watery, faded turquoise, and light silvery grey near the top. The pattern was fairly simple - overlapping vertical strips that had a strong, masculine, geometric feel.

"This is amazing!" Amar declared. "Did you make it?"

"Tris and I worked on it together," Natalie said. "She wanted to improve her sewing skills, and I love quilting. She found the pattern and picked the fabrics. We sent it out for the long-arm quilting."

"Incredible," Amar said. "I need to snap a picture and send it to George."

The two women held up the quilt, and Amar took several pictures, thanked them again, and hugged Natalie and Tris before putting the quilt back into its box.

Tris sat back down on the sofa, and Tobias leaned in close. "I didn't know you could sew," he said.

"I'm full of surprises," Tris said playfully.

"Yes you are," Tobias growled in her ear.

.

That night Tris and Tobias went back to the hotel and changed into the new pajamas they had received from Tris' parents. Both had red and black plaid flannel pants and black t-shirts. His shirt read "future hubby," and hers said "future wifey."

As previously arranged, Amar delivered champagne, baklava, and fresh fruit to the suite. Tris convinced him to stay for a few minutes while Tobias opened his gifts. Seeing as how he was involved in the gift, he agreed.

Tobias handed Tris and Amar each a glass of champagne as Tris spoke.

"I had a lot of trouble coming up with a gift for you," she said to Tobias. "I tried to think of something you didn't have, but that was pretty pointless. So I tried to think of something you needed more of, and that's when I settled on this."

With those words, Tris hoisted a large, wrapped box onto the coffee table. Tobias looked back and forth between Tris and the box. "Open it!" she encouraged.

Tobias removed the paper and discovered a plastic storage bin. His brows knit together in confusion, and he popped open the lid. Inside was an assortment of wrapped packages, and a huge stack of carefully-labeled envelopes.

Tris reached for the first envelope, labeled "Christmas Day," and Tobias opened it.

Tobias,

When I leave on January 5, there will be 151 days until I return home to you. I've written you 151 love notes (plus this one!), so you can be reminded every day how much I love you, and how excited I am to become your wife. Some of the notes come with gifts, too. Amar will deliver them every morning.

Never forget how much I love you. You are a wonderful person, and I'm excited to go on the adventure of life together with you!

Love,
Tris

Tobias closed the card and ran his finger along over the row of envelopes. "You really wrote me a hundred and fifty-one notes?" He asked. "How did you find a hundred and fifty-one things to write about?"

"It was easy," Tris said. "You may have a lot of money, Tobias, but you've never had a lot of faith in yourself. You've never understood how amazing you are and how much we all love you. Trust me, I had no difficulty thinking of things I love about you. And I know this looks like a bunch of handmade nothing, but I promise there will be some fun surprises and gifts, too. I'm just making you wait and drag it out for five or six months."

"I love it," Tobias declared. "I'm touched, and I'm excited to see everything you have in store for me."

Tris handed Tobias another wrapped package. "There's more?" he asked.

"Of course," Tris said lightly.

Tobias opened the box, revealing the set of throwing knives.

"Rumor has it that's something you'd like to learn," she said.

Tobias grinned. "This looks a bit his-and-hers," he said.

"I was hoping you'd get good and maybe be willing to teach me," Tris replied.

"I'd love that," Tobias said, still smiling broadly.

"Speaking of when you get good," Tris added, sliding another wrapped box toward him.

"More?" Tobias questioned as he eagerly tore into the paper. "Woah. These are very nice. And is that the family crest?"

Tris nodded. "I just thought once you get good you might like a nicer set, too."

"You're amazing," Tobias said, leaning over to kiss his fiancee's cheek.

Tris giggled, then looked up and realized that Amar was taking a picture of them. "Something for the scrapbooks?" Tris asked.

"You're cute in your matching pajamas," Amar said. "But I'm going to get going before you start celebrating any more than you already are."

Tris blushed, and Amar gathered the boxes, wished them a merry Christmas, and left for the night.

When they were alone, Tobias slid a box toward Tris. "Every time I see something in your favorite rose pink, I think of you. I know you think I buy it all, but I resist more than you know. I couldn't resist this one. Merry Christmas."

Tris eyed the box warily. "You didn't have to get me anything, Tobias."

Tobias laughed. "Come here," he said, reaching for Tris, who let him maneuver her onto his lap, straddling him so they were face to face.

"You are the kindest and most selfless person I've ever known," Tobias said, putting his hands on Tris' cheeks and holding her face still so he could look intently into her stormy eyes. "You are the embodiment of the phrase 'better to give than to receive'. But you are mine to love, and I'm going to love you with all I am and all I have - including my money - for the rest of my life. Open your present, Beatrice Prior."

Tris turned slightly to grab the wrapped package off the coffee table. She opened it to reveal an ivory-colored box with a gold crown logo. Opening that she found a green jewelry box with the same gold crown.

"Layers upon layers," Tris laughed, removing the green box so she could open it.

Inside the green box, Tris found a watch with a stainless bracelet strap and a pearly pink face. "You got me a Rolex!?" she exclaimed.

"I needed some work done on one of mine," Tobias explained. "Rather than send Amar, like I usually would, I decided to go along. I thought we could do some shopping, and maybe find you something for Christmas. When I saw this, I just knew it was meant for you. It's both practical and delicately beautiful, like you. I thought you would like it more than other jewelry."

Tris swallowed back her argument. "Thank you," she said instead. "It is gorgeous. I look forward to wearing it for many years."

Tobias helped her put the watch on. It was already adjusted and fit perfectly. Tris rocked forward and gave Tobias a chaste kiss.

"I can't believe how much has changed in the past year," Tris said. "You've gone from being a stranger I thought was a scam to the most important person in my life. I love you, Tobias."

"I love you, too," Tobias said, giving her another kiss. "One year ago I was standing in the doorway between loneliness and happiness. I'm so glad you took my hand and pulled me through. I'm happier than I ever thought possible."