When Tris and Ava woke from their naps, the three of them relocated to the living room. Eric ordered Chinese delivery for an early dinner since neither he nor Tris had eaten since the late breakfast at the Priors'.

Eric and Tris sat on the floor and played with Ava and her toys while they waited for their food. Tris finally got to see Ava growl, and it made her laugh, which made her ribs ache. Eric noticed and insisted that Tris ice them again. He brought her two ice packs, and she tucked them into the Ace bandage just like her mother had earlier.

Tris was laying on the floor a few feet from Ava, watching the baby and her daddy play, when the doorbell rang. Eric got up to meet the delivery man, and Ava was left on her tummy, surrounded by infant toys.

The baby looked over at Tris and grinned her drooling grin. Tris smiled back, and Ava flailed and kicked as she babbled. Then she reached her arms forward and pulled her body toward Tris. Tris' eyes grew wide as the happy baby did it again and again, inching closer like an army commando crawling through mud.

When the baby reached her destination, she held her arms up to Tris and grunted, asking to be held. Tris swept the little girl into her arms and squeezed her.

"Look at you!" Tris exclaimed as Eric came back with two bags of food. "You're getting big!"

Ava babbled and patted Tris' cheeks in reply.

"Duchess, I hate to nag," Eric said, "but you're not supposed to lift her. I'm sure she was fine on her tummy for a minute. Even if she got frustrated when I left, it's not like she could get into anything."

Tris laughed. "Sometimes parents just don't understand, right Sunshine?"

Turning to Eric, Tris said, "You need to get the baby book, Warrior, because I didn't go to her; she came to me."

"She crawled?" Eric asked, stunned. "Already?"

"It was more of an army crawl," Tris said. "She dragged herself to me."

Eric set the food bags in the kitchen and rushed back to where Tris and Ava reclined on the living room floor. He got his phone ready, then put Ava on her tummy a few feet away from Tris, and crouched beside his girlfriend to record the baby.

"Come on, Ava!" Eric encouraged.

The baby lifted her head and smiled at her two favorite people. Then she began kicking and waving her arms.

"She did that last time, too," Tris said. "She's revving up her engine."

"Vroom vroom," Eric made engine noises at his daughter. Ava laughed, then growled at her dad in reply. The video wobbled as Eric shook with silent laughter.

Ava locked eyes with Tris, and Tris held out her hands toward the little one. Understanding the gesture, Ava began dragging herself toward Tris' outstretched arms.

When the baby reached her, Tris scooped her up for a hug, just like before. They turned to smile at Eric, and he stopped the video on the image of Tris and Ava, their cheeks pressed together as they grinned at him proudly. A stray tear streaked down Eric's cheek as he smiled back at his two girls. Tris reached to wipe it away, and he captured her hand in his own and brought it to his lips for a kiss.

"I'm so glad you're here with us," he said to Tris. "We feel whole now. You're the difference between a frazzled single father barely holding it together and a real family."

"Eric," Tris said gently before leaning over to give him a light kiss. "You and Ava are a family. You're so good with her. I see you getting more confident every day, and she is growing and thriving."

"I know, Duchess," Eric replied. "But you're part of our family, and it just feels good to have you here."

Eric sat down beside Tris and put an arm around her shoulders. As they leaned against the couch side-by-side, Eric messed around on his phone for a minute while Tris stood Ava on her lap and let the baby bounce on her thighs.

"Have you ever seen those baby jumper things that hang in a door frame?" Tris asked. "Ava is the right age for that. I'll bet she would love it. Or maybe an exersaucer - or a walker since you don't have any stairs that go down. She's going to want to be more upright and mobile as she gets bigger. I think my parents still have an exersaucer. We should try her in that tomorrow."

Eric kissed Tris on the cheek. "I sent you that video," he said. "And I extracted a couple still photos from the video for the baby book. She crawled for you first, so you'll make that entry, right?"

Tris agreed, and Eric stood up to get the book. When he did, he saw the bags of Chinese food waiting in the kitchen and laughed. "We forgot about dinner," he told Tris.

She laughed as well. "Food first, baby book second," she said.

.

After eating their dinner, Tris and Eric fed baby Ava some cereal, and Tris wrote about Ava's milestone in the baby journal. Then they went upstairs, and Tris watched Eric give the little one a bath. He kept an infant tub in the bathroom next to Ava's room, so Tris sat on the toilet lid and ran her fingers through Eric's hair while he washed Ava and she splashed and played.

When the baby was clean and dressed in a sleeper, Tris begged to be allowed to hold her and feed her a bedtime bottle.

"She can be wiggly," Eric protested. "And she's getting strong. I don't want her to kick you in the ribs or something."

"She sat with me in the living room," Tris argued, "and we were fine."

Eric sighed in defeat. "You'll sit in the chair?"

"Of course," Tris said, rolling her eyes.

"And you'll let me carry her to the crib?"

"Fine," she huffed, though she thought she could have easily done that, too.

"I'll get a pillow," Eric said, ducking out of the nursery with Ava in his arms.

Tris rolled her eyes again and sat down in the oversized upholstered rocker in the corner. Eric returned with one of the pillows from his bed, and placed it over Tris' torso.

"Really?" she questioned. "I'm going to hold my baby, not take a cannonball to the gut."

"Humor me," Eric said, setting Ava on the pillow.

Tris cooed at the little one while Eric prepared a bottle. Ava stared lovingly at Tris, her eyes getting sleepy.

"Look at that face," Eric said as he handed Tris the bottle. "She's such a mama's girl."

Tris' eyes snapped to Eric's face, and he realized what he had said. "I…" he stammered. "I… Shit. I'm sorry? I mean, I'm actually not sorry, but… "

"Eric," Tris interrupted, her voice shaking. "I'm not Melinda. I know you thought the two of you were going to be a family. You thought you would be there for Ava's birth, and bring her home from the hospital, and raise her, and just… be a family. But that didn't happen. You got your daughter back, but you didn't revert back to the original plan. As much as I love you and Ava, this isn't the family you were planning a year ago.

"Ava and I have a unique bond born of her traumatic beginning and the time we spent clinging to one another. I was terrified that she would have attachment issues or failure to thrive. She was born into this world and literally thrown away. She started her life with a negative balance, so to speak, and I wanted her to know what it was to be loved the way she deserved. But no matter how much I love her or she loves me back, no matter how much time we spend together, even if this relationship between you and I works out long-term, I won't be her mom. We didn't create her with our love. She didn't grow in my belly. I didn't give birth to her, and I couldn't nurse her. I'm not really her mother.

"If you're confused about who I am… If I'm here as some kind of replacement - taking Melinda's place, then… then I don't know if this is going to work out."

Eric dropped to his knees beside the chair where Tris held the now-sleeping baby. "Tris," he breathed. "Duchess…"

For a minute they sat quietly, gathering their thoughts as Tris cried silent tears and Eric fought for the words to explain how he felt.

"I'm not confused," Eric said gently. "I've never been confused about who you are. In my mind, Melinda is just an ex, a woman I dated for a while and who left when things didn't work out. We never lived together. I hadn't said 'I love you' for a long time when she left. I wasn't planning a future with her. When she told me she was pregnant, I fell in love with the idea of Ava, and I stayed with Melinda for my baby's sake. I'm sorry she died. I'm sad that her demons won and she went back to drugs. But I wouldn't wish her back. Not even for Ava. I'm angry that she chose drugs over her baby. I'm furious that she abandoned my daughter in the cold.

"Ava doesn't need Melinda. Ava isn't missing anything in her life. She has two parent figures who love her with all their hearts. I know you're not her birth mother, but Tris, you are her real mother, because you're the one who loves her and takes care of her.

"As for me, I've been crushing on you for a long time. I shouldn't admit this, but I was interested in you before Melinda left me. I tried to tell myself that it was just because I was lonely in my broken relationship. You were this bright, beautiful woman, but I was your student teacher, and I was trying to hold together a relationship with the woman who was expecting my baby. When Melinda left it was really hard not to think about you. When I finished student teaching and we met at my graduation, I thought we might be friends. I hoped we could go out on a date. I wanted you before you became attached to my daughter - before I even knew Ava still existed. My feelings for you are independent of Ava, yet strengthened every time I see the way the two of you love each other."

Eric stood and lifted the sleeping baby from Tris' arms, tucking her into her crib for the night. They left the nursery, and Eric tossed the pillow back into the master bedroom before leading Tris downstairs.

"Duchess, I have a question for you," Eric said once they had settled on the couch. "Would you like to stay here tonight? I can sleep on the couch or set myself up on the floor in the nursery and you can take my bed if you want. I have a big tub you can soak in, too. I just don't want you to be in pain, and that seatbelt thing this morning really seemed to hurt you. It's quiet here, and you can just relax and I can take care of you."

Tris giggled. "I may be eighteen, but I don't think my parents would be happy about that. I'll tell you what - if you can convince my dad, I'm in."

Eric took a few swipes at his phone and smugly handed it to Tris. The screen was showing a text conversation between Eric, Natalie, and Andrew.

E: (Video of Ava army crawling to Tris)

N: OMG! I've been trying to get her to come to me. Of course she does all her tricks for Tris!

A: That baby sure loves Beatrice.

N: You're not letting her lift Ava, are you? Her ribs need to heal.

E: I'm not, I promise

E: The ride over was hard on Tris. The seatbelt hurt her ribs. She took a long nap when we got here.

N: Do you have ice and acetaminophen?

E: She's been icing it this afternoon, but doesn't want any pain meds.

E: (Picture of Ava and Tris taken from the end of the video)

E: I was thinking that it might be best if Tris stays here tonight.

E: This is not about sex. You've seen her ribs. I just want her to have a quiet place to rest and more time to heal before she wears a seatbelt again.

N: You're adults. If Tris wants to sleep there, that's between you and her.

A: I don't want to hear anything about Beatrice and sex in the same sentence. Ever. (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil monkey emojis)

N: Andrew! Our daughter is growing up. Just make sure you use protection, Eric. You already have one child, and Beatrice is only eighteen.

E: Well, this is awkward. I haven't asked Tris if she wants to stay. I didn't want to start something if she said yes and you were offended.

N: She'll need some things. You let us know if she's staying, and we'll send Caleb over with a bag for her - or to pick her up so you don't have to wake Ava if Tris would rather go home.

E: Thank you. I'll let you know.

As she got to the end of the conversation, Tris' face was bright red. She tapped out a reply to her parents on Eric's phone.

Eric's number: This is Tris. I can't believe my parents and boyfriend are having text conversations about me and sex! Awkward doesn't scratch the surface! I think I'll stay here tonight - I don't really want to see either of you right now! I'll text Mom with a list of things I need.

Tris tossed Eric's phone back at him and covered her face with one of the new throw pillows Eric had added to his couch. Eric read what she had sent to her parents and chuckled.

"Sorry, Duchess," Eric said. Tris peeked at him from behind the pillow, and he gave her his best puppy dog face.

"Put your boo-boo lip away," Tris said. "That only works for Ava."

Eric batted his eyelashes, and Tris threw the pillow at him before pulling her own phone out of her pocket to text Natalie.

T: I need:
PJs that aren't too revealing. E offered to sleep on the couch, but if I'm fully covered he shouldn't have to do that. He's too big to be comfortable on the couch.
My jumpsuit for tomorrow
The Dauntless necklace E gave me for graduation
Clean bra and underwear (black)
A swimsuit. E has a big tub, and I want my suit in case I need help getting in and out
Hairbrush and deodorant. I'll do my makeup and change shoes when I get home
Card for Lynn sitting on my desk. Her party is before mine and she leaves for the Marines Monday, so I need to stop there
I think that's it.

N: Should I have Caleb pick up some condoms at the drug store?

T: NO!

N: I'm teasing you. But we should get you on birth control just to be careful.

T: Can we not talk about this?

N: Caleb will be there in a little bit.

Tris sighed. "Here comes the next wave of torture," she said.

Eric laughed. "What now?"

"My brother is coming over with a bag of things for me," Tris said. "My mom offered to send him to the drug store to get us condoms. And, she wants to get me on birth control. All these 'fun' conversations thanks to you."

"Me?" Eric asked in a teasing voice. "I just wanted to have a sleepover with my girlfriend."

Tris turned to lean her back against the armrest so she could pull her legs up onto the couch and face Eric.

"How many girls have you slept with?" Tris asked hesitantly.

Eric's eyebrows lifted as he swallowed hard. "I think that topic is a bit heavy while we're waiting for your brother to arrive, don't you?"

"I didn't," Tris said, starting to worry, "but I guess the number must be higher than I expected."

Eric reached for Tris' feet and pulled them into his lap. "How about you then, if you think it's a light topic?"

"None," Tris said, and Eric's eyebrows shot up again. "I'm not into girls."

"Ha ha," Eric said, rolling his eyes. "That's not what I was asking and you know it."

"Well the answer is the same anyway," Tris said. "I'm a virgin."

"No shit?" Eric asked, and Tris just shook her head, biting her lip nervously. "Have you dated much?"

Tris shook her head again. "They were pretty strict at Abnegation Middle School, no dances or anything, so I missed all that awkwardness. My first boyfriend was in ninth grade when I passed notes and held hands with Robert Black for a few weeks. Do you know him? He graduated from Amity, and his twin sister Susan graduated from Abnegation."

They're Ethan's kids, right?" Eric asked, and Tris nodded.

"Anyway, that was my first little innocent thing. He dumped me for an Amity girl with big boobs. He's been dating his way through Amity's most well-endowed ever since. I went on a few dates after that, like in tenth and eleventh grade. A few school dances or meet-ups at the mall. I had a few casual two-week relationships, but nothing serious. Then this year we got a hot new student teacher, and high school boys lost their appeal."

"It was Four, wasn't it," Eric teased, making Tris laugh.

"Who was your first kiss?" Eric asked.

Tris' eyes widened. "Um, I think you were right. This topic isn't a good idea while we're waiting for company."

Eric looked at Tris shrewdly. "It wasn't me, was it?" he asked nervously.

"No," Tris answered, a bit sadly. "I wish it was, honestly. I would rather embarrass myself by admitting that no one kissed me until I was eighteen."

"How bad can it be?" Eric asked.

"I was fifteen and stupid," Tris said.

"The story of how I lost my virginity starts the same way," Eric said.

"Fifteen, huh?" Tris asked.

"Well," Eric said, averting his eyes and rubbing the back of his neck, "fourteen, actually. But definitely stupid."

The doorbell interrupted their conversation, and Tris and Eric were both relieved.