Tobias woke up suddenly and sighed at the sight of his beautiful fiancee sleeping peacefully beside him. That nightmare was new, he thought to himself.

Tobias had dreamed about Tris being verbally and physically abused in exactly the same manner that Marcus had abused him. But Tris' abuser wasn't Marcus, it was Caleb. He had watched Caleb whip his sister with a belt, slap her, and kick her while he used the same words Marcus used to hurl at Tobias.

You're worthless

You were a mistake

No one will ever love you

You're a disappointment

You're going to destroy everything our family has spent generations building

Tobias didn't like to admit it, but he hated Tris' brother. Though she swore that Caleb had never hit her, and that he didn't start speaking so harshly to her until they were away at college, Tobias knew the cruel, self-centered look of an abuser when he saw it. Caleb had the same blaming, self-important attitude that Marcus used to have when he would tell his son, "This is for your own good."

Tobias tried to shake off the nightmare. Caleb was back at Erudite, nowhere near the luxury New York hotel suite where Tris lay asleep in his arms.

.

"Are you awake already?" Tris asked sleepily.

"Mmm," Tobias grunted in agreement.

"Everything okay?" Tris asked, growing concerned at the sight of the bags under Tobias' eyes and the crease in his brow.

"Bad dream," he said dismissively.

Tris snuggled into her fiance's side. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Tobias shook his head.

"Have you been awake long?" Tris pressed as she began gently stroking Tobias' cheek.

"Couple hours," Tobias said as if it were no big deal.

"Tobias!" Tris exclaimed. "It's not even seven o'clock, and you've been awake for hours because of a dream? You should have woken me!"

Tobias said nothing. As much as he craved Tris' comfort, he didn't know how to talk to her about Caleb.

"Was it Marcus?" Tris asked, still trying to get Tobias to open up about his dream.

"Ye- no, actually. It was abuse but it wasn't Marcus. It was someone else - something I saw recently," Tobias said. "Tris, what would you do if you saw a person talking to someone in a way that was… belittling, I guess. Hurtful. Rude. What should I do?"

"I guess it would depend," Tris replied cautiously. "If we're talking about a stranger it's different than if we're talking about one of your employees or a child or something. What were they saying?"

"They're both adults," Tobias elaborated, leaving out details to try and get an honest, non-defensive reaction. "He's always putting her down. Everything is about him, and how her actions make him look - even though it usually has nothing to do with him. He called her a slut recently because a stranger flirted with her."

"What a jerk," Tris said. "Have you talked to her about it?"

"I've tried," Tobias said. "She defends him, blows it off, says it's no big deal."

"That's a common reaction," Tris said, thinking of what she had learned in school. "Victims often defend their abusers."

"So you agree it's a form of abuse?" Tobias asked.

"It sounds like it," she replied.

"Tris," Tobias said gently, tipping her chin so she'd look at him, "I'm talking about Caleb, and the way he treats you."

Tris' eyes widened, and Tobias could see the wheels turning.

"He… I… You… You dreamed about that?" she stammered. "It bothers you that much?"

Tobias sighed and pulled his arms tighter around Tris. "Zemra ime," he said gently, "if the two of you lived together I would put my whole life on hold to be there. I don't trust him. He reminds me of Marcus. I hate the way he talks to you. I hate that you and your parents are so... I don't know, so unused to his behavior, I guess… that you don't fight it. You keep saying that he's not usually like that, and your parents say they don't know what's gotten into him, but that's all I've ever seen from him. You wouldn't let anyone else be treated the way he treats you. Your parents wouldn't tolerate it if I talked to you that way. Why does Caleb get excused?"

"Tobias…" Tris breathed. "I… I didn't realize how strongly you felt about this. You had nightmares? About Caleb?"

"He was beating you the way Marcus beat me," Tobias mumbled, deflating as he remembered his dream. "He was saying the things Marcus always said to me."

"Oh Tobias," Tris crooned, pulling her fiance close. "Caleb has never hit me - not since we were toddlers. He's a self-important ass, but he's not abusive."

"Physically," Tobias corrected. "He is verbally abusive."

"I… I still… I just can't equate my harmless, nerdy brother with the word abuser," Tris stammered. "I guess I think of him as the same brother he was when we were kids. Since he went to Erudite and Aunt Jeanine took him under her wing, he's changed. I still… I still expect him to be the old Caleb, and… and every time I see him I'm… I'm disappointed… all over again. Tobias why doesn't my own brother care about me?"

Tris dissolved in tears, and Tobias instantly felt guilty for making her cry. He pulled her close to his chest and ran his fingers through her long hair. "I'm so sorry," he soothed. "I'm sorry Caleb lets you down. I'm sorry he hurt you. I'm sorry I brought it up, Zemra ime. I just wanted you to see what I see so you can protect yourself. Please don't cry."

Tris sniffled. "I get it, Tobias. I see now what you've been trying to say about Caleb. And I'm sorry he triggers your own past. Are you okay?"

"I am," Tobias assured her. "As long as you're with me I'm more than okay."

.

Tobias, Tris, Amar, and Rebekah enjoyed their two days in New York. Amar got a chance to show Rebekah how it works when he travels with Tobias, and what kind of things would be expected of her if she accepted the position as Tris' assistant - a possibility that became more likely as Rebekah got to know Tobias and Amar.

Tris and Tobias attended the "shipping tycoons" dinner together on the 28th. Eric and Lauren were there representing the Coulter family. After dinner Eric stood and dragged Tris and Tobias to the lectern at the front of the room where he proposed a toast to the couple, congratulating them on their upcoming wedding.

"Thank you," Tobias said after the toast. "Tris and I were at the Coulters' wedding this past spring, and I'd just like to thank Eric for not offering everyone a peek under his kilt as the toastmasters did at their wedding."

Everyone laughed, and Eric leaned toward the microphone. "I'm wearing pants tonight," he interjected in his rich Scottish accent. "I'll save that treat for your wedding reception!"

The crowd laughed again, and Eric winked at a deeply blushing Tris as they sat back down.

Mr. Weston, the semi-official leader of the group, took the microphone next. He added his congratulations to the newlywed Coulters as well as the engaged couple. "Isn't it great having young blood with us again?" he asked, and the assembled leaders of the shipping industry agreed.

.

After the dinner, Amar and Rebekah picked them up to go back to the hotel. Tris noticed that Rebekah looked anxious. She wondered if her friend was worried about going back to Albania.

"Is everything ready for tomorrow?" Tobias asked, referring to their upcoming flight.

"Yes," Amar assured him. "Rebekah and I have everything taken care of."

"Thank you both for everything," Tris said.

"Oh!" Rebekah deflected. "I haven't done anything, really. It's all Amar."

"Rebekah?" Tris asked. "Is something bothering you?"

"I just… I don't know if I can do this," Rebekah confessed.

Amar and Tobias were shocked, but Tris remained calm and sympathetic. "Are you worried about going home?" she asked.

"No," Rebekah hedged. "I just… It's a lot, I guess. I mean, I have no problem teaching you Albanian or translating for you, and I love that I would get to travel. The private jet is amazing. But, I just… I haven't been driving very long, and these big cities have horrible traffic."

Tris smiled and reached forward to put a hand on Rebekah's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Amar is Tobias' assistant and his driver. You won't be my driver. We'll either travel together with Amar driving, or I'll get a car and do my own driving."

"Or we'll hire a driver for the two of you," Tobias added. "Even at home, Amar, Jorik, and Rraman do the driving."

"You can continue to practice if you want," Tris added, "but we won't ask you to drive as part of your job. In fact, I'm hoping we can both learn to drive a stick shift this summer. I've never learned, and I was hoping we could do that together."

Rebekah laughed a small, relieved laugh. "I'm glad to hear that," she said as her shoulders relaxed. "New York is a terrifying place to drive. And I'd like to learn a manual transmission with you. I'm sure there is a private drive or some quiet country road where we can practice near the Eaton estate."

"Hmm," Tobias mused. "If you're going to learn to drive stick, I might have to re-think your wedding gift, Mrs. Eaton," Tobias said to Tris.

"I need nothing but you, future husband," Tris replied, leaning close to Tobias and smiling up at him.

"There is nothing unusual about a husband buying his wife a car," Tobias argued with a smirk.

"That depends on the car," Tris countered.

"That depends on the wife," Tobias teased, "and you, my dear, are a hot pink Ferrari."

Tris laughed heartily. "So I'm a Barbie doll?" she asked. "I refuse to drive a hot pink Ferrari. I'm a blonde American girl; I'm going to stand out as it is! I do not need a gold-digger car. If you must buy me a car, buy me something practical. No pink, no convertibles, no excess horsepower."

Tobias stuck out his bottom lip in an exaggerated pout. Tris gave him a stern look, then smiled and kissed his bottom lip.

"Ju thashë që ajo nuk do të donte një makinë të zbukuruar," Amar said.

"English," Tobias scolded out of habit.

"Jo," Rebekah argued, "ajo duhet të praktikojë." (No, she needs to practice) "Tris, what did Amar say?"

Tris chewed on her bottom lip. "I understood 'I said,' 'she,' and 'car'," Tris replied. "From that and the context and tone, I'm guessing it was a bit of an 'I told you so.' I'm sorry I didn't get more of it."

"Mirë!" (Good!) Rebekah encouraged. "You don't have to understand every word to follow along. Context, tone of voice, and a little vocabulary are often enough. It's just like when you were a small child. You learned more words and grammar as you went along. You'll do the same with Albanian."

Tris nodded, but the compliment and encouragement failed to lift her spirits. She felt like her progress was slow. Rebekah was a good teacher. She was patient, kind, and creative. But Tris was disappointed in herself. Her senior year of college, wedding planning, preparing to move, and family obligations just didn't lead to fluency in a new language as quickly as she wanted. As much as she was excited to be with Tobias and make her home in Albania, Tris was nervous.

"I'm so proud of you," Tobias said, close to her ear. She could hear sincere pride and affection in his voice, and it surprised her.

"Why?" Tris asked. "My Albanian is simpler than Edon's. There's nothing impressive about me."

"I firmly disagree," Tobias said, wrapping his arms around Tris and pulling her close. "Everything about you is impressive. I love your heart - your kindness. I love how hard you work. Mostly, though, I'm impressed by the way you love me. I don't deserve you, Beatrice Prior, but you make me a better man every day. My goal in life is to be worthy of you."

"Stop," Tris said, shoving at Tobias playfully. "You know I don't like when you put yourself down."

"And you know that I don't like when you do it, either," Tobias said, nudging her in return. "You're busy finishing school and planning a wedding. I don't expect you to master Albanian quickly while doing all of that - even if I did hire the best tutor for you. I just love that you want to learn, and you're getting a head start. Fluency will come when you live there, Zemra ime."

"Thank you," Tris said. "Or maybe I should say 'faleminderit.'"

Tobias grinned. Tris blushed. Amar stopped the car at the entrance to the hotel.

As usual, Tobias was sitting on the passenger side of the car, and the hotel doorman opened his door as Amar opened Tris' door and offered her a hand.

Tris took the offered hand and stepped out of the car. Amar pulled her close for a hug.

"I don't like when you put yourself down either," the driver said, holding Tris by the shoulders so he could look into her face in a fatherly way. "Tobias is a different man than he was a year ago. He always had greatness inside himself, but you opened the door and coaxed it out in the open. He is confident now - in business, in the household, everywhere. He has new friends, and a lightness that I have not seen before. You are more than enough. You're good for him. George and I love you very much, bijë."

Tris inhaled sharply to hear Amar call her the Albanian term for 'daughter.' It promised home, family, and so much more.

"I love you too, Amar," Tris said, smiling through happy tears. "When you talk to George, you tell him that I'm excited to see him in two days."

Amar gave Tris another quick squeeze and kissed her cheek before walking her around the car to Tobias.

"Everything alright?" Tobias asked when he saw the tears on his fiancee's face.

"Perfect," Tris said with a bright smile.

The couple walked through the lobby to the elevator, ready to call it a night.

.

On the twenty-ninth, Tris and Tobias did a little shopping together before they left for the airport in the late afternoon.

The flight attendant prepared and served dinner for Tobias, Tris, Amar, and Rebekah, and the four of them ate together.

Amar told Rebekah more about their usual travel routine. Tris noticed that the tutor gravitated toward Amar. The driver/assistant had a lifetime of experience working for the Eatons, and a unique relationship with Tobias that perfectly balanced his dual roles as assistant and friend/pseudo-family. Amar assured Rebekah many times that as easygoing as Tobias was, Tris was even more thoughtful and casual.

After dinner the help retired to their part of the airplane, behind the galley. Tris and Tobias curled up together on the sofa-turned-bed.

"I'm so glad I'm bringing you home," Tobias said as they drifted off to sleep.

.

The Eaton estate's black Mercedes sedan and SUV were waiting at the airport in Tirana when they landed. Rraman and Jorik were there, too. Tris and Tobias greeted them, and Amar introduced them to Rebekah.

The two groundskeepers left in the SUV with the luggage and the supplies they'd bought in town while Tobias, Tris, Amar, and Rebekah climbed into the sedan. Tris insisted that Amar drive them around Tirana a bit so Rebekah could see how things had changed in her nearly four-year absence. More than once the young woman wiped away tears, and Tris reached up to pat her arm or squeeze her shoulder.

"I can't believe I'm home," the tutor said several times.

When they drove up to the Eaton estate, Tris felt a strange wave of the same spirit. Though it was nothing she had ever dared to dream of, in her heart the grand estate had become home.

.

During the week Tris was in Albania, she crammed in as much as possible. She was dragged from one meeting to another - dress fittings, sessions with Sasha the wedding planner, a meeting with the art museum in Tirana to discuss the upgrades Tobias was funding in advance of the show of his collection, baking baklava and kadaif with Roza in preparation for the new year, the list went on and on. Between meetings she met with Roza and the household staff, showed Rebekah around the estate, and spent as much time with Tobias as possible.

On New Years Eve, George and Amar hosted a gathering with themselves, Tori, Tris, Tobias, and Rebekah. The hosts provided a turkey dinner, and Tris brought dessert. New Years Eve is the equivalent of Christmas in Albania, and this gathering was their Albanian family Christmas. They ate, laughed, played games, and exchanged gifts.

The party lasted until midnight, and Tris and Tobias kissed when the clock struck twelve.

"Gezuar vitin e ri," Tris said, wishing Tobias a happy new year as he held her close.

"Gezuar pervjetorin," (Happy anniversary) Tobias said with a smile.

"I… I don't know that one," Tris said, her face scrunched in confusion.

"I wished you a happy anniversary," Tobias said quietly, causing Tris' face to light up.

"That's right!" she exclaimed. "It's been one year since you asked me to be your girlfriend."

"Best year of my life," Tobias said sincerely. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Tiffany box.

"No objecting," he commanded, seeing that Tris was about to resist. "Men buy anniversary gifts for the women they love."

Tris gave him a look, but didn't complain. Tobias popped open the box to reveal a simple, casual silver chain with two little heart-shaped pendants. One was silver, and engraved with something about Tiffany's. The other was pink with a silver border.

Tris smiled at the pretty necklace, then grimaced. "I don't even want to think about how much money you've spent on me this year," she said. "Shopping, traveling, gifts, my car, my student loans, dropping everything and flying to see me in the middle of the night… I just… It's overwhelming. I honestly try not to think about it. I've said this before, and I'll say it a thousand times more: the stuff is nice, but it pales in comparison to spending time in your presence. Every text, every call, every adventure, every quiet night in front of the TV - every moment with you has been priceless. I'm over the moon excited to marry you and be your wife. Not because you have this beautiful home, but because you have this beautiful soul. I love you, Tobias."

"You have quite the way with words," Tobias breathed in a husky voice.

Someone sniffled, and the couple remembered that they weren't alone. They looked up to find George and Amar standing arm-in-arm, Rebekah smiling sweetly, and Tori openly crying as they all stared at Tris and Tobias.

Tris blushed and buried her face in Tobias' chest. "I wish we were alone," she groaned.

"I almost always wish that," Tobias said with a chuckle as he kissed the top of her head.