I am going to get started on this chapter. I have four days free to work on it but if I don't finish it, it'll be done some time during the week of March 18th.

Tris POV

Walking into the courtroom for the third time is hitting me like a ton of bricks. Today Judge Reyes will decide the fate of my attackers and I am nervous as hell. What if this nightmare doesn't end? What if they are found not guilty? I can't help these thoughts that run through my head. Again, Tobias and Jack assure me that everything will be fine.

Judge Reyes gives Jack and the defense lawyer a chance to make final remarks. I am so grateful for everything Jack has done. Tobias was right. He is an incredible lawyer. He is a very eloquent speaker and asks the jury to do the right thing because as he tells them, no one deserves to be abused in any way, shape or form. I can't help but wonder if he said the same thing to get Marcus convicted.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity to me, Johanna asks Peter and Drew to stand.

"Has the jury reached a verdict?" She asks.

One of them stands up. "Yes. We find both of the defendants guilty on all counts."

I close my eyes and sigh before opening them again. I share a smile with Tobias before turning back to look at Peter and Drew. Their respective reactions are not surprising.

"Very well. In accordance with the verdict I hereby sentence Mr. Patterson to 15 years and Mr. Hayes to 20. A permanent restraining order will go into effect upon their release. Court is adjourned." (A/N: I know in reality sentencing is a separate thing but this fanfiction. I preferred to move things along.)

I watch as the bailiff escorts Peter and Drew out of the courtroom. Peter is fuming while Drew hangs his head in what looks like shame.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see Jack smiling at me. I smile back.

"Thank you, Jack. For everything."

"It was my pleasure, Tris. Anything you need, I'm here."

Tobias rushes over and pulls me into a fierce hug. I wrap my arms tight around his waist. Tears of relief roll down my face.

"It's over, baby. We're free." He murmurs into my hair.

He pulls back and cups my face in his hands, wiping away my tears with his thumb. He then leans forward and presses a gentle kiss to my lips.

He keeps an arm around me as we exit the courtroom following behind Jack.

"So, how about a celebratory lunch on me?" Jack says.

Tobias looks at me for confirmation and I nod.

"I know just the place." Tobias says.

Of course we find ourselves at Caesar's. Amar graciously said everything was on the house. We talked with him for a bit and gave him the news on the outcome of the case. He was happy that things ended in my favor.

"How do you feel Tris?" Jack asks me.

"Relieved. I'm glad I can finally put this behind me. I don't know if I'll ever fully comprehend what Al did and why, but I know I can't change it. He made the decision and that's that. I'm ready to move forward with my life."

"That's the only thing you need to do. Don't dwell on the past. Really, you're already moving on as you have a wedding to plan. It should be happy occasion for both of you. You two have been through so much and I am grateful that you both chose me to do this."

"I wouldn't have chosen anyone else, Jack." Tobias says. "I know I didn't tell you this before, Tris, but I had the same fears you did before and during Marcus' trial."

"You did?"

"Yeah. I was terrified of having to recount everything Marcus did to me and I was even more terrified that he'd go free. I purposefully waited years to speak up just I wouldn't have to end up an orphan. I knew that Hana would've taken me in if she knew what was going on but I just couldn't tell anyone at that time. I just had so many negative thoughts running through my head. The only solution I could come up with was waiting until I turned 18. I was this close to risking my life by trying to leave without turning him in, but I had no elaborate plan. Then that fateful night happened. I showed the judge and jury my scars. I think that's what influenced the jury's verdict. And just like he did today, Jack said similiar words to the judge and jury. I remember Marcus yelling at me as he was being lead out of the courtroom after the judge handed down his sentence. He yelled that he would do everything he could to get out of prison and that I would regret turning him in. I enlisted days later. A part of me felt like a coward for running away even though Marcus was locked up."

"You are not and never were a coward, Tobias."

"I know that now. I let Marcus' words about me being worthless get into my head, but being in the service and meeting you made me realize that I could not only do something good for the world but also be loved by somebody and make a family of my own."

"I love you, Tobias. I'll always be your family."

"And I'll always be yours, my love."

PAGE BREAK

Tobias POV

"Are you sure you're ready to do this?" Tris asks me.

"Yeah. I need to do this for myself, for my friends. I want to be me when I marry you, the real me. I don't have to hide anymore. I'm free."

"Do you miss him?"

I don't need to ask who Tris is referring to. "Sometimes, yes. Sometimes I replay the last thing I said to him in my head, knowing that it was something that I never thought I'd ever say to him. I don't regret it though. I remember his doctor telling me, after he gave me the news that Marcus was dead, that I needed to let go and forgive for my own inner peace. He was right. It really was a relief forgiving Evelyn and now coming to terms with Marcus' death and forgiving him as well. And the decision to keep Marcus' name was something I really didn't hesitate in making, but I felt better talking to you and my mom about it first. Like I said before, I want our kids to carry the name."

She nods. "I have an idea."

"What's that?"

"Well, I think doing this is a given any time, but we have somewhere to be the day before the wedding."

I look at her curiously before finally understanding what she means. I smile.

"I think that's a perfect idea."

PAGE BREAK

"So are you ready for the best bachelor party pretty soon courtesy of moi?" Zeke asks me as I watch him grill food for our barbeque at his and Shauna's house.

"As long as you stuck to what I asked, Ezekiel."

"Duh! I don't wanna die prematurely, thank you very much."

I roll my eyes and laugh.

"So, you're gonna surprise Tris for hers?" He asks in a quiet tone.

"Yeah. Christina said that they'll only be at the club for an hour or two since Tris doesn't like them much and then they'd go to a hotel for the night."

"Awesome. She'll definitely love the surprise."

I smile. "Yeah."

Once everyone gets their food, I stand.

"So, I have an announcement to make. And before y'all get too excited, no, Tris isn't pregnant. This is something a bit more personal for me and something I need to do before Tris and I officially get married. I know I haven't been open about my past and it isn't because I only trust Tris and not the rest of you. It's hard to explain, but it's just how I felt. It's nothing against any of you, especially Zeke and Uriah. I didn't exactly intend to spill my secrets to Tris the night we met, but it just happened."

"It's because you were in loooove!" Uriah teases, lightening the mood a little bit. We all laugh.

"Thanks Uriah. Anyway, I've been thinking about this a lot and I've come to the conclusion that getting married as 'Four' doesn't seem right. While Four is a part of who I am, the name was also a mask I wore to hide myself. For a long time I was ashamed of my past. The reason for that being my parents. My name is Tobias Eaton. My father was city councilman, Marcus Eaton. I say 'was' because he actually passed away last year. When I was 18 his name and mine made the newspapers. I called the cops on him after he drunkenly beat me unconscious. However, that wasn't the first time he beat me. He beat me almost daily since I was 6 years old. Even in my early teens I was too afraid to fight back. Sometimes I think it was just dumb luck that he was drunk that particular time. He was sentenced to life in prison. Naturally, I never visited him until I got a call last year that he was terminally ill. He died a couple weeks later. His funeral was actually the weekend before we all went to the club that time - when that incident with my ex happened."

I pause and everyone looks stunned.

"So, is that why you don't drink? Because of your father?" Christina asks.

I nod. "Obviously I wasn't 21 yet, but I was already afraid of becoming my father. Experiencing that made me realize that alcohol made it worse. You all know that I am not someone who cowers easily, but unfortunately my father held a certain power over me and was extremely emotionally abusive, always telling me that I was good for nothing. It took me a long time to realize that everything he said wasn't true, that I could be happy and be loved."

"Where was your mom during all this?" Zeke asks.

"She bailed when I was 6. Marcus beat her too and she got out. She left me with that monster. It was weeks or maybe even days after she left that Marcus found his next target in me. Right before I left for bootcamp, my mother contacted me. I saw her once before I left and I let her know when I got discharged. We are okay now. And I made amends with Marcus before he died."

"Man, Four. You've been through so much crap but you didn't let it destroy you. I can tell you without a doubt that you are not and never will be your father. I know you. Not to get all mushy, because you know that ain't my style, but I am fortunate to call you my friend and brother."

"Thanks Zeke. I feel the same way. And thank you all for not pitying me. I'll always consider you guys my family even though we aren't blood related. The bond we have is stronger than that."

We all raise our glasses and enjoy a great night. I couldn't ask for anything more.