A/N: I know. I've been incredibly lazy and I bet most of you know the 'writer's block' feeling. It's real great (not). My sincere apologies for this really long wait. All I can say is life got in the way, which is sort of a valid excuse. Anyways, enjoy. Excuse an errors, I did go over this chapter to fix anything, but sorry in advance if you catch a mistake(s).
Nine
Four years ago...
An eight-foot Balsam Fir towers over the little five-foot three Tris. Even going on her tippy-toes is completely useless due to the great heat difference. Tris holds a cardboard box to her side with at least fifty different ornaments in them. She hangs them one-by-one to the best of her ability.
"Can you at least help me?" She picks out a round ornament and chucks it at Tobias.
"I'm okay, I'm just enjoying my eggnog here." Tobias eyes her ass as she huffs and turn around.
"Stop staring at my ass." Tobias is bewildered at the fact that somehow Tris was able to know that he was staring at her tush.
"I'm not allowed to stare at my beautiful fiancé?" He questions.
"No, not unless you help." Tris turns around and places both hands on her hip glaring at Tobias.
"That's not fair." He calmly sets his mug down on the coffee table and approaches Tris. He wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her flush against him. "Do you want to know why?"
She doesn't say anything.
He attacks her neck which she immediately allows access to. "Because you're mine. And I can do whatever I please to you." He tucks his hand under the hem of her flannel shirt. He rubs circles on the soft flesh of her stomach. Tobias gently places kisses along her neck, her jaw line, and cheek.
"Mmm." She moans.
His hands lower to her bum and cups it, gently hoisting her upwards. She wraps her legs around his waist and pushes her hips so makes contact with his now hard on. Tobias plays with her bra and gently caresses her erect peaks through the fabric.
Tris sighs. "You like that, love?" Tris bites her lips but doesn't say anything. "Do you like it when I touch you like that, babe?" He asks again. Tris becomes jello under his touch and becomes extremely grateful that Tobias is currently holding her up. Tris doesn't trust herself to hold herself together, especially when he is touching her like this.
"Mhm." She hums.
"What? What was that?" Tobias loves it when he is able to push her buttons when it comes to, well, sexual activity.
"I like it when you touch me."
"Only like?"
"You're okay." She teases. "I've had better." Which is a lie and he knows it because they we each other's first.
He scoffs and playfully rolls his eyes. "In that case..." He lets her down on the ground.
"What, what?" She is so hot and ready for him and the fact that he just stopped doing that, drives her insane.
"Since I'm only okay to you...I'll just stop then." He teases her.
"Please." She begs. Tris begs.
"Is the Tris Prior begging me to touch her?" He runs the tip of his nose along her jaw. She pushes him off her earning a groan for Tobias. "Because usually it's the other way around." And then his voice drops half an octave. "I love it when you touch me."
Tris is unable to say anything because if she does, her words will deceive her.
Tobias takes this cue to continue talking. "I love it when you wrap your tiny hands on me." He takes both of her hands and place it on top of his crotch. "You feel that?" His whispers tickle the top of her ear. "That's all you."
Tris rubs him through the fabric. "Mm. I love you."
"I love you too. Come on, I can just hear our bedroom beckoning us to come." He smiles and pulls her towards their room.
Oh how she loves the Christmas season.
Present Day...
"How is my little baby?" Tris coos at the little bundle of fur she holds in her arms.
The little cats purrs as she pets the little picks him up from the waist and places him in a little carrier. Theo meows constantly and licks his arm. She smiles at her little bundle of joy. After, she brings her luggage and carry on bag with her and places it in Christina's trunk. She grabs Theo by the carrier and puts him in the back seats.
"Ready?" Christina asks.
"Mhm." Tris plops down onto the the passenger seat. "Ugh, I really don't want to spend five hours on an airplane to go from here to San Francisco. I have literally no patience for this." Tris whines.
"Oh boo hoo. But seriously Tris? All you have been talking about is how you can't wait to see your brother and niece. And now? I don't even know what to make of you." Christina teases her friend.
"Oh shut up." She says and smacks Christina on the arm. Christina just smiles and rolls her eyes. "Keep your eyes on the damn road, Chris."
Christina just continues to smile and shake her head.
The two girls and cat managed to find a parking spot at the airport parking garage. Christina helps assist Tris by carrying the small carry on Tris brought with her while Tris rolls her luggage with one hand and carries Theo with the other. Tris hears the constant scratching noise of Theo and he continues to poke his carriage. Tris smiles. Now that she has a cat, all is well. Everything but Tobias, in the least. Her mind would sometimes, but not seldom drift off to her ex. Every time her mind does wander, she can't get rid of this strange feeling. She just wants him out of the whole picture and to not bother her ever again. She wants peace, and now that she has seen him several times the past few months, she doesn't think she will be receiving that peace anytime soon.
That gut feeling she she constantly receives is right though. She will not be receiving any peace anytime soon.
"And then I was like, we should go back to my place." Zeke continues to blab on about his recent date with Shauna. After Tobias told Zeke that Shauna had the hots for him, Zeke decided that he should ask her out. It totally paid off because Zeke got to know Shauna better and he ended up really liking her. Shauna is an extremely intelligible and nice girl.
"Mhm. Yeah." Tobias says unconsciously because he isn't actually listening to what Zeke is saying.
"We had amazing sex." Zeke says to see if his friend is actually listening.
"Cool." Tobias nods.
"It was the best orgasm I ever had. It was the real deal you know, Shauna may look real nice, but she's a really dirty talker." Zeke says smiling as his friend continues to nod at what he says. "Don't get me started on her breasts."
"Mhm. Cool."
"Dude what are you even thinking about?" Zeke questions.
"Yeah, that's amazing, dude."
"Tobias!" Zeke smacks Tobias at the back of the head finally earning his attention. "Were you even listening? Actually don't answer that, I already know. What were you thinking about?"
For the past few minutes, Tobias had been fantasizing what it would be like to have Tris in his arms once again. He wonders for a moment that if he hadn't screwed his life up, if he and Tris would still be married? Kids even?
"Oh it's nothing, don't worry about it." Tobias dismisses his friend.
"Look, if you like Shauna then I will back off. You technically had her first, just say the word and I'll let her down." Tobias wonders why Zeke can be such a good friend sometimes.
"No, I don't like her the way you do. I'm just," He runs his hand through his hair and sighs loudly, "I'm just very conflicted right now."
"I see who you're talking about. But seriously man, you need to give yourself a break. You never see her anyways, and I'm pretty sure Tris hates your guts. So, might as well just let her go." Zeke says.
"But I-"
Zeke cuts him off, "you need a break. I don't want you thinking about her, just focused on what's in front of you and not what's behind you. Maybe it wasn't ever meant to be."
"I don't-"
"Just try, okay?"
"Okay, I'll try to take a break from thinking about her."
Tobias tries to distract himself with his work. He is currently trying to design a new application for Google. Zeke makes himself comfortable on Tobias' couch while Tobias works in his room. He sits on his bed with the blanket laid across his lap. His laptop sits on his lap while several papers are sprawled across the bed. Tobias' reading glasses constantly slip off his nose as he types away on his computer.
"What'cha workin' on, Tobi?"
"First off, don't call me that. Second, I'm working on some application for Google. They recently hired me to make a security application for companies."
"I thought you worked for Facebook." Zeke says and he bites his nails.
"I do, but I'm helping a friend with a favor I owe him. And plus, my boss at Facebook knows about this. They've helped Google several times before, so no hard feelings." He explains.
Although Tobias tries to work on his project, it becomes extremely difficult to focus. He ends up forgetting about his work and ends up surfing the internet. Somehow, he gets to YouTube and searches for Tris' username.
Tobias scrolls down to the old, old videos and sees Tris and him in most of them. What makes him smile is that she never deleted the videos even after what he did to her.
Best Friend Challenge.
He reads.
"What are you doing?" The video starts off with Tris staring at Tobias as he fixes his hair.
"I'm fixing my hair before we start, babe."
"That's awkward because the camera has been rolling for like a minute already." Tris smiles at Tobias.
"Really?" Tobias smiles at the video. He usually wasn't the type to be watching videos of himself, but this is the only way he is able to see Tris, and the fact that he gets to watch them together makes it even better.
"Yeah. Anyways, hello people of the Internet. It's Tris here with my boyfriend, Four. Say hi." Tobias waves at the camera. "So Four and I have been dating for like what, six months?" Tris asks.
"Relatively."
"Yeah, so we are going to see how well we know one another. I saw this on Buzzfeed and decided to do the same. I got Chris to write a whole bunch of questions and I have them in my phone. We each have a drawing pad and we are going to be asked a series of question. We are answering for each other to see how well we know one another. Okay?"
"Kay."
"Okay, cool. Number one," Tris reads off her phone. "What word does Four use a lot? Oh we're not answering for each other? Okay. Whatever. But I know this." Tris sticks her younger out as she scribbles a word down.
"She looks so adorable like that." Tobias says aloud as he stares at the screen in front of him.
"You look so adorable." It's as if he just read his own mind from seven years ago.
"One, two, three." They two of them reveal the sheet of cardstock paper.
Tris laughs aloud as she praises herself for getting the answer correct. Tobias peaks at her answer and smiles. "Yeah, I do indeed use that word way too much. You know me so well, baby."
"That was the only question so far." Tris says. "Okay, next. What is Four's biggest pet peeve?" Tris writes something down out and Tobias does the same. Tobias peaks over Tris' shoulder. "What are you doing?"
There's a goofy grin on his face. Just watching him and Tris from over seven years ago makes him happy.
"One, two, three, reveal." Tobias says after they both finish writing.
"I don't even know if this is correct or not." Tobias shows her his answer. "Okay, yeah it is."
His card says, 'Impatient' while Tris' says, 'Taking things an obscene amount of time.'
"Oh ok. That's basically the same thing." She says. "Next, what is my favorite emoji?"
"What's an emoji?" Tobias asks.
"You don't know what an emoji is?" Tris places her hand on his arm. "Have you been living under a rock your whole life? Even my parents know what an emoji is. They use it in almost all their texts, they don't use it correctly, but they still know what it is." She says. "You know what, next question", and she reads off her phone. "What is-
"What are you doing?" Zeke bursts into his room and Tobias slams his laptop shut. "Oh gosh. You're not watching porn are you?"
"What? No! No!"
"Then what are you doing then?" Zeke smirks and cocks an eyebrow at his friend.
"Nothing. I'm just working." Tobias asks as nothing is happening.
"So you wouldn't mind if I just took a peek at what you are doing?"
"Uh..." He kicks his laptop under his bed and silently thanks that there is a case over it. "Whoops, sorry can't."
Zeke just rolls his eyes and bends down to pick up his laptop. He grunts as he reaches for the laptop which is far underneath Tobias' bed. Zeke opens the screen of his laptop and starts to smile.
"Getting over her, my ass. Tobias, this is so pathetic, it's kind of funny." And then he starts laughing.
Zeke watches in amusement as his best friend turns a really dark shade of red.
"Shut up." Tobias mutters.
"Come on big boy. We're going to do something fun because obviously you suck at doing anything that will distract you from her."
"Well if it isn't Beatrice Prior." The four and a half hour trip from Chicago to San Franciso really wore her out.
"What the hell is on your shirt?" Tris asks Caleb and he looks downwards at his shirt.
"I think it's apple sauce? No, carrots. I don't know." He lifts his shirt and takes a whiff of it.
"Ah that's gross." She puckers her lips as if she tasted something sour.
"That's definitely puke." He makes a disgusted face and then grins at her. "Where's my hug?"
Tris shake her head, laughing and lifts her arms up for an embrace. "I missed you big bro? How's Ari? Is she sick or something? Is that why she's puking all over you now?"
"She's fine. And the puke, I think that's Susan's. Morning sickness and all."
"Big bro, you're disgusting. You should have at least changed your shirt before you picked me up. But whatever. Now help me with my bags. I'm too tired." Tris says with an exasperated sigh. She carries Theo's little cage with her left hand and rolls her suitcase with the other.
"No, I think you're just lazy."
"That's very correct."
Caleb helps her with her carry on luggage as she takes the other one. "Thanks."
"No problem, sis." They walk down to his car that is parked in the SFO parking lot. He puts the two luggage into the trunk of his car and she hands him her personal bag. They soon get into the car and drive off towards his house. The takes Theo and places him on her lap.
"Is Mom and Dad at your house yet?" Tris asks as Caleb stares off onto the road.
"No, they're coming tomorrow."
"Ah okay."
After the fifteen minute drive to his house, Caleb pulls up and parks the car in his garage. He helps Tris grab her belongings and the two of them walk into his house.
"Auntie Twis! Twis! You here! You here! I miss you, Auntie Twis!" A small little two year old practically tackles the five foot three adult onto the floor.
"Oof!" Tris lands on her butt. "Hey, Caleb? Do you see Ari around? I don't see her anywhere." Tris pretends to not notice the little blond girl and looks around the home in search for her.
"I here! I here! Look Auntie Twis. I here!" The blonde two year old shouts as she jumps up and down.
"Do you hear anything, big bro?"
"Nope. Nothing. I don't hear anything."
"Daddy!" The little girl squeals loudly. "It's me, Ari! Look!" the girl runs up to her dad and pulls his arm.
"Oh there you are. I didn't see you there, baby girl." Caleb teases.
"Look! Auntie Twis is here." The small blond stumbles with her words due to the fact that she still cannot pronounce many letters like 'r'.
Tris gets up and brushes herself. "Your girl is strong. She literally tackled me into the floor."
Caleb sweeps the girl off her feet and puts her over his shoulders. The small blond giggles loudly. "Take me to mommy, daddy!" The girl points in the direction of where Susan is currently sitting.
"Okay big girl, let's go."
Tris follows the two into their living room where Susan sits.
"Hey Susan. Caleb told me you've been puking all over him lately. How's the baby been?"
Both Caleb and Susan turn to me simultaneously and say, "it's a boy!"
"WHAT?! That's great! I'm so happy for you guys." I go to embrace Susan and Ari jumps out of Caleb's arms and follows.
"Mommy and Daddy say that you don't have a boyfwiend. Is that true? I want to have a little cousin. Mommy says that you have a cat? Can I see it? Can I see it?" She jumps up and down at the idea of seeing an animal.
"Sure honey, let me go get him." Tris goes to the kitchen where Theo is in his cage. Theo purrs and snuggles against Tris' hand as she meticulously picks her up.
"It's so cute!" Arianna squeals loudly as she tries to pick up the little kitten. "Can I pet it? Can I pet it? What's it's name? It's so cute? How old is it? Do you sleep with it? Is it heavy? How many times do you-"
"Calm down, tiger." Caleb laughs. "You're overwhelming your Aunt."
I smile, "It's fine. But to answer your question, his name is Theo, he's two months old. Uhm...," she thinks for a second. "Yes, I sleep with him at night, but only if he feels like it. Because you know, cats aren't really the cuddlers. He's really light too." I answer a majority of her questions.
"Ah coolie! Can I carry him?" She continues to jump up and down.
"Why don't we eat dinner first, and if you finish everything then I'll let you play with Theo, deal?" Tris purposes.
"Oh-tay!" Arianna exclaims. "Daddy, let's eat dinner. Hurry!" Tris finds it funny that a little two-foot nine girl that can barely walk attempt on pulling her dad towards the kitchen.
"Oof, okay." Caleb goes to the kitchen with his daughter trailing right by his side. He put on oven mitts and pulls out the two trays of pizza he and Susan made earlier. He rests them on the counter top and begins to cut the pizza into pieces.
"Hurry up, Daddy!"
Caleb puts his hands up in the air and sighs. "The things I do for my girl." Tris just laughs.
"You're even whipped by your own daughter, big bro."
"Oh shut up, Tris."
"Hey, watch your mouth you don't want Ari saying-"
"Shut up, Daddy!" Tris repeats what her dad had just said.
Caleb puts his hand to his forehead and sighs. "Oh fuck, what did I just do?"
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Shut up!" Ari jumps up as she repeats over and over the words of her father.
Tris starts laughing uncontrollably. "Oh my gosh, Caleb, what did you just do?"
"Mommy! Daddy just taught me new words! Are you proud of me?" Ari starts running around the house squeal. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" She sings.
Tris just laughs and puts her hand on her brother's shoulder. "Well. I wish you luck. So...you know, good luck and have fun dealing with you daughter. So yeah." She leaves and grabs a slice of pizza.
Unfortunately, the pizza was still way to hot as she bites it the piece. "Oh shit. That's hot." She hisses.
Ari comes running in. "Daddy, what does shit mean?"
Caleb's head immediately snaps toward Tris and he glares at her. "You have no idea how much I hate you right now. And don't get me started on what Susan is going to do to me? She's going to fucki- freaking kill me, but skin me alive before she does so. Gosh, it's so hard to not swear. No wonder why mom always scolded us when we did."
"Well, if you want me to make you feel better, Mom's probably going to kill you if she hears her precious granddaughter swearing constantly."
Caleb scoffs. "Well that's obviously makes me feel much better, you know."
After a mini argument between the two siblings, more like bickering, they small family finally settles down and eat dinner.
"Oh I'm starved." Being pregnant makes Susan hungry 24/7 and as well as having to pee every two minutes. "Wait until you're pregnant, Bea. Not fun. At all. So anyways, have you met anyone special lately?"
"No. Well, I don't know. I'm so conflicted you know. I've been constantly running into Four lately, and I don't really know what to do. And I'm still trying to get over Robert, and I just don't know."
"Four?" Caleb stresses. "The cheating bastard, Four?"
"Is there anyone else you know that has a number as a name?"
"Id he ever bothers you, then let me know. I'll give him a piece of my mind."
"I appreciate it, but no offense Cal, you're sort of scrawny."
Caleb rolls his eyes. "Whatever. I'm just trying to help."
"I know you are, and I seriously appreciate it."
They four of them eat in a comfortable silence for awhile until Arianna decides to break the silence. She manages to finish eating her dinner, however, there is tomato sauce all over her face and mouth.
"Tris! Can I hold Theo now?"
"Sure. Come on, let's go." Tris offers her arms and Ari jumps into her and wraps her arms around Tris' neck for support.
"Auntie Twis, what does chweating bastard mean?" Oh gosh.
"Why don't you ask your father, honey."
"Don't tell me you have never been mini golfing before." Zeke tells his friend.
"Once, but that was with Tris."
"You literally suck at this, you know. Here, let me help you." Tris wraps her arm around Tobias and places her hands over Tobias'. She fixes his grip on the gold club. Tobias could feel his breathing suddenly increase.
"What are you doing?" His crotch suddenly throbs. Tris' tiny fingers brush across his lower abdomen creating goosebumps across his arms.
"I'm helping you." He can feel her breathing against his upper back.
"That's not really helping, babe." Tris feels a light thump besides her as he let's go of the gold club. Tris hears Tobias growl and he roughly spins her around. "You. Are. Unbelievable, Tris." He pins her to the nearest wall and kisses her roughly.
"Did I help you?" She smiles into the kiss.
"No, you're unbelievable and I love you."
"Yeah, yeah. Less talking and more kissing, big boy." He fists his t-shirt and brings him even closer. "I love you too, though. I hope you know that."
Tobias smiles even wider.
"Tobias! Tobias! Dude, you in there? Hello?" Tobias snaps out of his gaze.
"What?"
"What were you thinking about, bud?"
"Nothing."
"You're a terrible liar. I hope you control your little buddy there. He seems...I don't even know. You know the whole point of this was to not think about Tris, and obviously that's not working out."
Zeke points down towards his little boner that Tobias seems to have.
Tobias bangs his head against the window in order to hide the deep blush that is slowly appearing on his face. It's like a terrible habit. He can't stop thinking about her. For the first year, it was absolutely miserable. He would constantly thinking about her; during work, in the shower, in his dream. It was a complete nightmare.
"Come on big boy. Let's go." He pulls up into a small parking lot. They see Shauna at the front and Zeke greets her with a kiss.
"Oh you forgot to mention the fact that I was going to be a third wheel."
"Oh, sorry?"
"Oh shove it up your ass." Tobias lightly pushes Zeke.
They get the materials for the game and pay for the entry ticket. The three of the play through the courses despite the fact that Tobias literally sucks at the games. As he's about the hit the golf ball, he briefly closes his eyes. He can still feel Tris' arms wrapped around his body. He lightly hit the ball and makes a whole in one.
"Damn Four. That was pretty good after everything you've done."
"Thanks."
Tobias smiles and suddenly becomes serious. He decides that he can't just sit here any longer. He needs to do something. All of these feelings, everything he's been through, he decides that he has to act somehow. He needs to get back Tris. He needs to apologize, he needs to make things right. He needs to do this, and so it's decided.
He's going to win back Tris and he won't stop until he does.
A/N: Comment what you want happening on the next chapters...or ask any questions, or comment any suggestions, idk, I am open to anything. We all know that youtube video was based on Shai's and Theo's buzzfeed best friend challenge (btw).
Lots of Love,
Katrina