Tris slept the entire ride from her parents' house to Eric's. She slept through Eric parking his truck in the garage and taking her suitcase into the house. She slept through Eric carrying her inside and up to his bed. She stayed asleep as Eric removed her shoes and he and Tori talked quietly about Tris' ordeal. She slept through Tori leaving and Eric locking up his house. She was still asleep when he joined her in his big bed and wrapped his arms around her.
"I almost lost you," Eric whispered as a tear trickled down his cheek and onto his pillow. "Again. I just want you here with me. All the time. I want this to be your home. I want you on all my accounts, and the deed to our house. I want you to share my last name and adopt our daughter. I want to have more kids with you. You're the mother I would choose to have kids with. I want to grow old with you, and travel with you. I want the big things and the everyday, and I want it all with you."
Eric poured out his heart to his sleeping girlfriend. When he ran out of words to say, Tris snuggled closer to his chest and made a contented noise that spoke as eloquently as a declaration to Eric's heart. In spite of what she'd been through, she felt safe with him, and that made him feel ten feet tall and invincible.
.
Eric and Tris only had a couple hours to sleep, but they slept like the dead. Right on schedule, Ava began calling for her daddy. She was a good sleeper thanks to the schedule Tris and Natalie had instituted, enforced, and taught to Eric. Ava was also a happy, sunny baby, and that combined with her sleep schedule to create good mornings in the Coulter home.
On that particular morning, Eric and Tris were dead asleep and still clutching one another tightly when Ava called out.
"Dada," the toddler called happily.
In spite of the short and stressful night, Eric woke with a smile. He loved hearing his daughter call for him. It reminded him every morning that no matter what Melinda had put him through, she had spared his child, and he counted himself lucky to have the chance to raise his little girl.
Eric yawned and stretched. He was reluctant to leave his warm bed and sleeping girlfriend, but Ava called him again. "Dada," the little one yelled, louder this time.
Suddenly Tris sat bolt upright in bed. "Ava!?" she exclaimed.
Eric put a hand on Tris' back. "It's okay," he said. "She's just waking up."
Tris looked around the room, then groaned as she remembered the night before. She let herself flop back onto her back. Eric turned to face her and scooped her into his arms.
"Are you alright?" he asked as Ava called for him again.
"I'm fine," Tris insisted, kissing him on the cheek. "Go get your daughter."
Eric pulled back a bit and looked at Tris, searching for any hint that she was struggling. She smiled, and he was satisfied when he saw calm and resolve reflected in her eyes. He gave her a brief kiss, then rolled out of bed and headed toward the nursery.
Tris got up as well, put on the sweatshirt she had worn the night before, and followed Eric to the nursery. As usual, Ava's enthusiastic reaction to her being there in the morning made Tris smile.
"Mama!" the baby squealed at top volume. "Mama, Mama, Mama!"
The baby bounced up and down in her crib, waving her arms. She couldn't maintain her balance on the unstable surface of the mattress and quickly plopped onto her diaper-clad bottom.
"Dada, Dada," she called to Eric, "Mama!"
"I know, Baby Girl," Eric said. "Mama's here. Yay!"
"Ay!" Ava yelled, clapping her hands.
Tris laughed and scooped the baby out of the crib. "Mama!" Ava said again, triumphantly.
"Just think," Eric said, putting an arm around Tris, "every morning could be like this."
Tris laughed. "I'm pretty sure the novelty of my presence would wear off. Are you sure you want me living here?"
"With all my heart," Eric assured her as Tris carried Ava to the changing pad and Eric gathered some clean clothes for his daughter to wear. "I've wanted to ask you to live with us for a while. Actually, I wanted you to move in when Ava did, but I couldn't figure out how to sell that to your parents. Or Max. Shoot!" Eric interrupted himself, careful not to swear in front of his daughter. "I forgot to call the school!"
"Why?" Tris asked.
"I thought I'd take today off," Eric explained, "so I can stay here with you."
"You're so sweet," Tris said, leaning over to kiss Eric on the cheek while she finished changing Ava's diaper. "But I'm fine. You can go to work today. I thought I'd call Melanie, though, and keep Ava with me for the day. We can go to the mall like I planned, then we'll come back here and I'll work on homework while she naps."
"You don't have your car," Eric reminded her. "But you can keep the truck if you drop me off."
"When are you done today?" Tris asked.
"Hockey practice ends by five or five-thirty," Eric said. "I'm sure someone can give me a ride, or I can call if I need you to pick me up."
"How will you get from school to the rink?" Tris asked.
"Ride with someone or take the bus with the underclassmen," Eric said.
Tris laughed out loud, and Ava joined her. "You'll be like the principal in the last scene of Ferris Bueller's Day Off!" Tris said, laughing so hard she could barely get out the words. "Do you remember that? When the principal's car gets towed so he gets on the school bus, and that nerd girl offers him some candy from her pocket? Do you even fit in school bus seats?"
Eric smiled at Tris' laughter and Ava's fake laughter as she tried to be part of the conversation in her baby-toddler way. He had been so afraid that the break-in would weaken Tris. He was worried that her confidence would be shaken like it was after the shooting, but she seemed as strong as ever.
"Mama's silly," Eric said, looking over Tris' shoulder at the baby on the changing pad.
He playfully kissed and nibbled at Tris' cheeks, neck, and shoulder while growling like a puppy. Ava squealed and clapped her hands. Tris gave up trying to dress the wiggly baby while father and daughter played.
They eventually got everyone fed and dressed, and made it out the door to get Eric to work on time. When she drove his big truck up to the doors of Factions High School, Eric unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over to give Tris a kiss.
"I'm so proud of you," he said. "You are strong and amazing. But don't hesitate to call if you need me today. It's okay to be upset. Remember what I said after the shooting. Lean into me if you need to. I'm more than happy to help."
Tris kissed Eric again. "This isn't like the shooting," she said. "After that I felt like I was fighting with my own mind. I couldn't be strong. This is different. I can do this."
"Yes you can," Eric confirmed.
"Now stop worrying and get out of my truck," Tris teased. "Ava and I have shopping to do!"
Eric grinned as he pulled out his wallet and withdrew a fifty dollar bill. He put it in the cup holder between them, and Tris scowled at him.
"Feed my daughter, please," he said nonchalantly. "And if you need gas or see something we need for the house. Or buy yourself lunch. You know, whatever."
Tris rolled her eyes. "I'm not taking your money," she said.
Eric opened the passenger door and jumped out of the truck. "Well," he said, "don't leave it in the vehicle. I'd hate to have someone break into my truck because you left cash laying around. Love you!"
Before she could object again, he shut the passenger door and walked away. Eric walked to the sidewalk before he turned and grinned at Tris. She stuck her tongue out in response, and he blew her a kiss.
.
Natalie called when Tris and Ava were at the mall. She informed Tris that she had changed her flight and was coming home. Tris tried to reassure her mom that she was fine and that Eric and the officers had secured the house and contacted the Priors' insurance company, but Natalie insisted. She gave Tris her flight information and asked if her daughter could meet her at the airport.
Of course Tris agreed. She spent the rest of the morning at the mall, working on her Christmas shopping. She and Ava had lunch, then Tris changed the baby and got her settled in her car seat so she could nap while they drove to the airport.
Eric called Tris several times that day - on his lunch break, during his prep period, and between school and hockey practice. She was driving home from the airport with Natalie when the last call came.
"Hello Eric," Tris said as she answered her phone with the truck's hands-free setup.
"Hey Duchess, how are you?" Eric asked.
"I told you; I'm fine," Tris insisted. "Ava and I just picked up my mom from the airport, and we're driving back to her place right now."
"Hi Eric!" Natalie interjected.
"Hey Natalie," Eric said, obvious relief in his voice. "I didn't know you were coming home early."
"After the break-in I was useless out in DC," she explained. "Andrew is finishing things up, but I wanted to be home."
"I spoke with your insurance guy on my lunch break," Eric said.
Eric and Natalie carried on their conversation about the break-in, going over issues relating to the police report, insurance, and repairs to the damage at the house. Tris concentrated on the road.
"Natalie, will you come stay with us tonight?" Eric asked warmly.
"What?" Natalie asked in surprise. "Oh, no, Eric. That's very sweet, but I'll be fine in my own home. The kids who broke in are in jail, and things are secured."
"Eric's right, Mom," Tris added. "The patio door is boarded up and my mattress and bedding have been removed. The broken glass is cleaned up, too. But I would worry all night if you were there alone. Besides, I'm sure Peter's parents have bailed him out by now, and Drew's probably have, too."
"They have," Eric confirmed. "I got a text from Brian this afternoon."
"If you won't stay with us, we'll come stay with you," Tris said stubbornly.
"Are you sure you're okay with that?" Natalie asked. "I thought after last night you might not be able to sleep in the house for a while."
"I'll be fine with you, Eric, and Ava there," Tris insisted. "I guess we might have to, um, sleep in the guest room though," she said, her brave voice faltering as she remembered Peter defiling her bed.
Natalie put a comforting hand on the arm Tris was resting on the center console. "That was a sick thing Peter did," she said to her daughter. "I think the best option would be to redecorate your room and start fresh. Maybe you should get a bigger bed in there so you and Eric aren't squished if you're both there."
Tris nodded and took a deep, shaky breath, trying to find her strength again.
"Tris," Eric's voice came gently over the hands-free. "Are you okay?"
"I am," she assured him. "Just creeped out for a minute."
"Listen, I have to get to hockey practice," Eric said. "Are you sure you're okay? I could have one of the other coaches run practice. We don't start games until after Christmas, so it will be okay if I'm not there."
"Warrior," Tris said firmly. "I promise I'm alright. Ava and I are going home with Mom, and I'll come get you after practice. Make those boys work hard, okay? No slacking off because Coach is distracted. We have a tradition to uphold, and I want to go to winning hockey games this year."
"Yes Ma'am," Eric said, and Tris and Natalie could hear a genuine smile in his voice.
"I wondered if you had a nickname for him," Natalie teased when they had hung up the phone.
Tris blushed. "He's had a nickname longer than I have," she confessed. "It just came out organically. We were just friends then, and I was trying to make him feel strong and remind him that his Dauntless family would always be behind him, and it just, kind of, came out."
"It's a powerful reminder," Natalie said. "You love him well."
"I hope so," Tris replied.
"Have you thought about moving in with him?" Natalie asked.
"I want to," Tris said. Her words were positive, but her tone was reluctant.
"But?" Natalie asked.
Tris huffed as she pulled the big truck into the Priors' driveway. "Everything in our relationship is a reaction to some crisis. We keep falling into relationship milestones. For all I know, Eric doesn't want any of this and we keep progressing in our relationship because he's too nice to say no."
Natalie chuckled as she climbed out of the truck. "You're exaggerating," she chided her daughter.
"I know," Tris said as she worked the car seat harness off Ava.
The baby's eyes fluttered open and she smiled at Tris. "Mama," she said.
"Hey Sunshine," Tris said gently. "You took a good nap. Look who's here!"
She lifted the little one from her seat and turned her so she could see Natalie. "Nama!" Ava cheered, a grin splitting her chubby face.
The women made their way into the house, arms full of purses, suitcases, shopping bags, and a wiggly little girl with a wet diaper. Tris took Ava up to the guest room/nursery for a fresh diaper while Natalie examined the damage from the break-in.
Tris was putting Ava's clothes back in place when Natalie walked into the guest room. "You know," she said, deep in thought, "your room is bigger than this one. We should move the queen-sized bed in there and put a single in here with the crib. If you stay living here you'd have a big enough bed for Eric to stay, too, and if you move in with him, that just makes your room the guest room while this one becomes the grandkids' room."
Tris chuckled. "One grandkid, Mom. Just Ava."
"For now," Natalie said, smiling at the baby in her daughter's arms. "There will be more some day."
"I haven't been jogging lately," Tris said sarcastically, "but if you want more grandbabies I'll keep my eyes open."
Natalie swatted at Tris as the two women laughed.
.
Eric, Ava, and Tris all stayed at the house with Natalie until Andrew came home on Monday. The women helped Eric move the queen sized bed into Tris' room. Eric also installed motion-detecting lights for Natalie, and a doorbell camera at both the front and back doors. A contractor came out and replaced the broken patio door. By Monday it was like nothing had happened, and the house was safer than ever.
Tris' room was in limbo. They had moved the bigger bed in, but nothing was done to rearrange or redecorate. Natalie and Eric were both waiting for Tris to make a decision, or just say something about her future living arrangements. At the same time, Tris was waiting to see if Eric would bring it up again. He said he wanted her living with him and Ava, but she thought that was just his fear talking. She was afraid to bring it up again, because he might not really want her there all the time. Sure, he loved their sleepovers, and who wouldn't like a second parent on hand, especially now that Ava was getting around and getting into everything. But when Eric said, "You make my house feel like home," Tris' insecurities told her that what he really meant was "It's easier to raise a toddler with two parents." When he said "I want you here," she heard "I feel better knowing you're safe." She was frustrated by how much of their relationship had been driven by circumstances and fear, and she just couldn't believe Eric's sincerity.
.
Eric woke up Monday morning with Tris in his arms. They were in the queen sized bed in her chaotic mess of a bedroom. Ava was either still asleep in the guest room/nursery, or Natalie had gotten her up already - either way the little one wasn't making any noise yet. Eric glanced at the clock and saw that it was time for him to get up.
"Duchess," he called sweetly, trying to wake Tris.
Tris grumbled and burrowed into Eric embrace.
"Baby, I have to get up," he tried again.
"Morning," Tris grumbled.
"We need to get up for school," Eric said, nuzzling into Tris' neck and shoulder. "But before we do, I have to ask you something."
"Hmm?" Tris questioned sleepily as she turned in Eric's arms to face him.
"Tris," Eric said, intensity ringing in his voice and eyes blazing, "I love you so much. You make my life better and I want to spend the rest of my days with you. Will you move in with me and Ava? Please?"
Tris sighed contentedly and kissed Eric's stubbly jawline. "Do you really mean that?" she asked. "You're not just worried about me living alone or something?"
"You can handle anything," Eric said. "I'm not worried about you being alone. I just like it better when you're with me, and I want my house to be our home. What do you say? Will you move the rest of your stuff to my place? We already do so much together. I just want the back and forth to end. I want to know you'll be sleeping beside me every night. I want you to be there with me and Ava every morning. Will you, Duchess?"
Tris threw her arms around Eric's neck and pulled his bare chest tightly against her pajama-clad body. She kissed him firmly on the lips. "I was hoping you would eventually ask," she said.
Eric was dumbfounded. "What are you talking about? We've talked about it many times! I've always told you I want you to move in! What do you mean you were waiting for me to ask?"
Tris giggled nervously as she kissed Eric on the cheek. "You've mentioned it," she said. "But you've only said it when we were in a panic over something bad happening, or when you seemed desperate for help with Ava. I didn't know if you really meant it, and I wasn't going to invite myself."
Eric shook his head. "I hate that you still doubt me," he said. "I'm crazy about you, Tris. It's not a trick or a joke, and I'm not using you for sex or babysitting. I love you," he kissed her forehead. "I want you," he kissed her cheek. "I need you," he kissed her other cheek. "Because you are awesome, and beautiful, and sweet, and you make my life better every day just by being there. I have never felt pushed into anything with you. Everything inside of me wants everything with you. I hold back because there's an expected timeline - especially when your girlfriend is only eighteen. I quit holding back every time something happens that reminds me of how precious, short, and uncertain life is. I just wish you could feel how much I truly love you," he said intensely.
"Oh, I can feel it," Tris said, lightening the intense mood with a teasing voice as she rubbed her thigh against Eric's morning wood.
Eric smiled. "Tonight in our bed I'll make sure you feel it," he teased. "Come back here after class. Ava can nap while you pack up, and after hockey practice we'll put all your stuff in my truck and I can take you home for good."
Tris smiled up at Eric and kissed his cheek again. "Home," she said. "I like the way that sounds."