The previous chapter is finally done. I wanted to get it right and not bore you with too many details and endless dialogue. I honestly don't know when this chapter will be complete but I'll try my best to get it up soon.

Tris POV

I wake up Christmas Eve morning content as can be. I take a few moments to remember my parents and the memories we shared during Christmas. It's always a bittersweet feeling but I know they would want me to live my life and be happy.

I relish the warmth of Tobias' embrace before carefully removing his arms and quietly getting out of bed. I walk over the window and open the curtains just slightly to see a fresh blanket of snow on the ground. The forecast calls from a couple more inches of snow before sunrise tomorrow. The snow falls lightly and steadily. It is truly a beautiful, calming sight. After a few moments I hear the sheets rustling then strong arms wrap around me from behind. I smile and lean back slightly into his embrace.

"Morning love." He says.

"Morning handsome." I say as I turn around in his embrace. We kiss leisurely for a few moments.

"It's beautiful, isnt it?" I muse, watching the snow continue to fall.

"Not as beautiful as the woman in my arms."

I blush and almost roll my eyes.

"Shut up."

"Its true! You're more beautiful than any snowfall, sunrise or sunset. I love you more than anything, Tris."

"I know. I love you too."

We stay like this for a few minutes and I shiver when I feel Tobias' lips on neck.

"Are you happy?" I ask.

He smiles and nods. "I am. Are you? I know it's hard for you and Caleb without your parents."

"I am. I have Caleb to lean on, and I have you. I really don't need much more than that."

"I promise I'll do everything to make sure that we spend a wonderful and memorable Christmas together."

"You're already doing so much just by being by my side. Everything else is icing on the cake."

"I'll always be by your side."

"I know. We need to get dressed and get started on dinner. Your mom will be here soon to help. We also need to finish wrapping the last of the gifts for everyone."

"I'm glad you and my mom get along better now."

"I am too. She is your mom and I want her to be included for any and every occasion no matter how big or small it is."

"Thank you, Tris."

"There's no need to thank me, Tobias."

"Come on. Let's get to work before I give in to the urge to take you back to bed and have my way with you."

I laugh. "We will have plenty of time for that later. I promise."

PAGE BREAK

Tobias POV

Before I met Tris the holidays were always hard. I was never able to experience the joys of Christmas and getting presents and being with family. I spent my last Christmas before enlisting with the Pedrads. That was the only memorable Christmas I spent before I met Tris. I never thought anything could top that but I have a feeling that this year will. This year not only do I have Tris but also my mother.

We've spent a lot of time these past few months getting to know each other again. Although it is still a little strange for me, I have been able to open up to my mother and tell her my hopes, dreams and fears. And she has done the same with me. I realize just how much she suffered even after leaving Marcus. She was extremely happy when I told her that I'm proposing to Tris tomorrow. She and Caleb are the only ones that know. I want to surprise my friends and I think Tris would want to also.

Watching Tris and Evelyn cooking together makes me happy and excited for the future. They are the two most important women in my life. My only blood family. I've always felt that Tris is a part of me. She is essential to my happiness and well being as if we have blood ties.

It's memories like these of the four of us sitting around the table talking and laughing that I will cherish forever. After dinner we all sit on the couch and exchange gifts. I gave both Tris and my mom flowers. I also gave my mom a Pandora bracelet with a couple charms. Of course more charms can be added in the future. I helped Tris get Caleb a vintage record player. He thanked us both profusely. I have one more gift for my mom hidden so as soon as all the other gifts have been exchanged, I give Tris a look. She nods at me.

"Caleb, can you help me with the dishes?" Tris asks.

"I can help you, Tris." My mom offers.

"It's okay, Evelyn. You helped me cook this wonderful meal already. Besides, that way you and Tobias can spend more time together."

Caleb helps Tris gather our dessert plates and they head to the kitchen.

"I do actually have one more gift for you, mom." She raises her eyebrows curiously at me.

I get up and retrieve the gift from behind the stereo speaker. I hear her chuckle. I hand it to her and sit back down. She eyes the package curiously before the tearing the wrapping paper. She gasps when she sees what it is. A photo album. I thought it'd be nice to get my mom a photo album of some of the memories we've shared so far these last few months.

I see tears fall from her eyes as she flips through the pages. "Tobias, this is a beautiful gift. Thank you, son. I love you."

"You're welcome and I love you too. There's still room in the album so we can keep adding to it."

"I'd love that very much."

"Mom, getting to spend these last few months with you again has been something I have hoped for for a long time and I know that this is just the beginning. I want us to leave the past where it belongs and move forward with continuing to rebuild our relationship. We have so many more memories to make than just the ones in this album. I want to tell you that I forgive you and that I've missed you. I'm thankful to have you back in my life."

"I've missed you too, my sweet boy."

She hugs me and I return it, happily. We don't speak anymore for a few moments as she looks through the album again.

"I remember when you were just a boy." She muses. "You've grown up to be a handsome man. Brave, kind and selfless."

I blush.

"You don't a bad bone in your body. When you told me that you were enlisting I wasn't surprised. I always knew that you'd wanna help society somehow. You will be a good father one day."

"You think so?"

"I know so. You aren't destined to follow the same path as your father. You're making your own. And you have an equally strong woman by your side."

"It's not your fault, Mom."

"True, but at that age I certainly wasn't as brave. I was naïve and depended too much on your father to help me stand up on my own two feet. He held power over me and I did nothing to stop him. You found a woman who was already strong on her own. And even if she can get back up on her own when she falls she has you to lift her up even higher. There's no reason she would say no to you."

I smile knowing what she means.

"Thank you, mom."

I hug her again just as Tris and Caleb reenter the room. I look over at Tris who is smiling at me. She steps towards me and I wrap my arms around her and kiss her temple. This was by far the best Christmas Eve and I know tomorrow will be even better.

PAGE BREAK

(Still Tobias POV)

I will never tire of waking up this way, with Tris in my arms. I'm hopeful I'll get to wake up like this everyday for the rest of my life. Today could change my life forever.

"Tris, wake up. It's Christmas." I whisper in her ear. She groans and rubs the sleep from her eyes.

I bring my mouth to hers to wake her up further. "Are you awake now?" I grin, pulling back.

She nods, blushing. "Let's go open gifts."

When we get to the bottom of the stairs Tris looks towards the tree and gasps.

"Tobias James Eaton, there weren't this many presents here last night."

I smirk and shrug. "No idea how those got there."

She rolls her eyes at me and smacks my chest.

We spend the next half hour or so opening gifts. Tris gets me a pocket knife and a shirt and other small things. I get her a necklace and earrings.

"I have one more gift for you, but you'll get it tonight after dinner." I say.

She looks at me, curiously. She walks over and sits in my lap. I chuckle as I wrap my arms around her to keep her steady.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna get it out of you, Eaton." She points at me and glares at me, playfully.

I laugh and reciprocate the playful glare, "Keep dreaming, Prior."

"I guess I'll have to tickle it out of you then."

"Even then I'm not telling you."

She reaches out and begins tickling my sides. I laugh but don't say a word. Eventually, after I tickle her back, she gives up.

"Good things come to those who wait."

She rolls her at me again. "Shut up."

I just laugh and shake my head.

We spend the rest of the day curled up on the couch watching movies. When dinner rolls around I am excited and nervous at the same time. Tris sets the table and brings out candles and lights them. I get out a bottle of wine and set an entire Dauntless cake on the other side of the table. We enjoy the delicious dinner she made and talk about anything. Finally we make our way back to the couch with our wine and cake.

"So can I get my gift now?" She asks.

I nod. "Stand up for a second and close your eyes."

She does as I say as I retrieve the ring box from my backpack where I had hidden it.

I walk back to her and quietly get down on one knee. "Okay you can open your eyes now."

When she does she looks down at me and gasps, covering her mouth with one hand. I take a deep breath.

"Tris, from the moment I laid eyes on you, you took my breath away. I fell hard and I fell fast but it was the most amazing feeling. I didn't know what love was until I met you and I fall more in love with you with each passing day. Our relationship has been tested more than once this year and I know things won't always be easy but I want to face those obstacles with you. As I've told you time and time again, I'll fight for you because you're worth it. You're everything I could ever want. Beatrice Grace Prior, will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

Tears are streaming down her face but she nods furiously. "Yes, Tobias. I will definitely marry you."

I smile as I slide the ring on her finger and stand up. I gather her in my arms and kiss her.

"This is the best Christmas I've ever spent. I love you." I say.

"Ditto. I love you too."

"Let's go upstairs and celebrate."

"That sounds like a great idea."

A/N: So sorry this took forever. I've been sick since Christmas and had been working on this chapter here and there. Hope 2019 will be a good year for everyone.