I'm using this AN as a placeholder for the next chapter. Hope everyone has a happy holiday! I'm gonna do this chapter in Tris' POV and maybe the next chapter of the same events in Tobias' POV.

This chapter might be a bit graphic and disturbing.

Tris POV

I don't know why I'm nervous about going to Four's house for dinner. I've been feeling so many emotions lately and it took me until today to realize that it's him. Something about him makes me feel like I'm about to fall. Or turn into liquid. Or burst into flames. I stand in front of his house and take a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. Seconds later I hear the lock click and the door opens. There he stands looking as handsome as ever and with a huge smile on his face. He immediately pulls me to him and our lips meet. Even when we break the kiss he doesn't let go of me and I wrap my arms tight around him.

"Hey." He whispers in my ear before pulling back slightly.

"Hi."

We kiss again briefly then step inside. I almost gasp when I see the inside of his house. It's a cozy, two story house that seems perfect for Four.

"Would you like a tour first then we can open a bottle of wine?"

"That sounds great."

He takes my hand and leads me through the foyer to the nearest room which is medium sized sitting area with a couch, TV, and a shelf with various books. The room connects to the kitchen where we go next. I immediately inhale the aroma of delicious food. His kitchen is huge with all the latest appliances.

"It smells amazing in here. You didn't tell me you could cook."

"I had to learn at an early age. It took lots of practice but I do my best."

Suddenly I remember what he said about his parents the night we met. I decide not to ask. He said he'd tell me when he's ready.

"Let's go upstairs really quick. Dinner looks about ready."

"We walk upstairs and he leads me to the master bedroom - his bedroom. The first thing that catches my eye is the wall above the bed with the words "Fear God Alone". He follows my gaze.

"That's incredible." I say.

"I am not really good with decorating my house but this means a lot to me."

"I can see why. It's perfect."

We head back downstairs just as the timer on the stove goes off. I notice the table is already set and on the counter is a perfectly frosted Dauntless cake on a fancy cake plate.

"Go ahead and sit down and I'll bring the food to the table. You're my guest so leave everything to me."

I smile. "If you insist."

"I do. To tell you the truth you're the first girl I've ever cooked a meal for."

"I'm honored to be the first."

He sets all the food on the table which consists of chicken, roasted potatoes and a salad. When his back is to me I notice a tattoo on the back of his neck creeping out from the top of his shirt. He pours me and himself a glass of wine before sitting down.

"This looks and smells amazing." I remark. "It's been a long time since I've had a legitimate home cooked meal."

"You and Christina don't cook?"

"We do but it's not the same. At least for me it isn't. Ever since my parents died and my brother left I've forgotten what it's like to have those kind of traditions. My mom was a great cook and always knew how to bring the family together. The holidays especially are the hardest."

"I understand. I wish I could've gotten the chance to meet them. They sound like good people. Unlike my parents."

"You said your mom left. Do you know what happened to her?"

"At first I didn't, no, but a few years ago she reached out to me. It was right before I left for boot camp. It wasn't exactly a pleasant reunion."

"Where did she go?"

"She moved to St. Louis but ended up coming back to Chicago for reasons I don't know and don't really care to know. I've seen her a couple times since I got home but things will never be the same."

"May I ask why she left in the first place? Whatever it is, you can trust me."

"I know and thank you. I appreciate that." He exhales. "My mother left because my father was physically and verbally abusive. I was very young but I remember every time he hit her and every horrible word he said. After she left it didn't take long for my father to find his next victim."

I gasp and tears start to form in my eyes. I honestly was not expecting to hear that.

"For years I endure things that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Even worse than anything I saw overseas. Every day was the same nightmare. Sometimes I can still hear the crack of the belt connecting with my skin and me trying to keep myself from screaming. If I even made the slightest noise the next hit would only be harder. Sometimes I wonder how I even survived the night. I would have to clean up my own blood from the floor. Most of the time I couldn't even bandage myself because even a bandage against my raw skin was painful.

He pauses and a stream of tears is running down my face. He reaches across the table and gently wipes them away before continuing.

"When I didn't get the belt he'd instead lock me in the closet for hours without food and water. Sometimes he wouldn't let me out until the next day. That's the reason why I'm claustrophobic. It all came to an end when I turned 18. One night after he got drunk and passed out only after whipping me until I was barely conscious did I call the cops. They took him away and let me stay in the house since I was already 18. After that I joined the military."

I wipe my tears and reach across the table to grab his hand. He returns the gesture.

"You are so strong. I'm proud of you and I'm thankful to have you in my life."

"Thank you. I'm thankful for you too. I'm sorry if I'm ruining our date by telling you all this."

"You're not ruining anything. It's nice to finally have an honest conversation with someone I'm dating where we can open up to each other without being afraid."

He smiles. "Well, enough about me. If it's all right, I want to hear more about your parents. I want to know more about the people who brought into the world the most beautiful girl-woman-I've ever seen and who agreed to be my girlfriend."

I blush. "Okay."

To be continued in the next chapter in Tobias' POV