A/N: Thanks to each and everyone of you who read, follow, vote on and review this story. You guys rock!

And of course, a special thanks to the lovely It'sHardIKnow for editing this story. I'm blessed with a beta like you.

Enjoy the following chapter.

28

The weeks after Tris showed us how badass she really is flew by in an instant. My friends and I gathered in the training room several times, mostly to watch the girls, but also to spar with them. After several pleas coming from my wife, I finally agreed to spar with her. I didn't want to hurt her, but she made a good case: if she could defeat me, then I would actually see how good she really is. I knew she was good, but it still unsettled me.

Once we started fighting, though, I realized, she was dead serious to kick my ass. She hit really hard, and didn't hold back. In the middle of the fight I stopped her, and she gave me a quizzical look.

"Fine. We'll fight for real, no holding back. But," I said to her, while her smile grew wider, "we need a safe word." She nodded. We agreed on Rose. That would be our safe word. If one of us were to get in trouble, and couldn't continue, we would call out our daughter's name.

Even under these circumstances, I still held back. Tris, obviously, noticed that, and kicked me really hard in the shin, and then started choking me the same way she did with Max. I ended up on my face just like him, but Tris didn't stop. She called me a wuss for not fighting back. I didn't care, but then she leaned in, and told me that, one day, she'll face someone who wouldn't even care about her wellbeing, therefore needing someone to teach her to fight against an opponent like that. I understood what she asked of me, but I still hated it.

I fought back. I kicked her and punched her jaw. She stumbled backwards, and I almost felt guilty, but then, like always, she surprised me with a swift kick in my stomach. As much as I hated hitting her, my girl had a fire in her, and I loved that; she was a worthy opponent. The fight eventually ended with no winner. We both conceded at the same time, causing us to laugh.

I had to promise her to do that again with her. As much as I hate it, I know she can stand her ground. And, during the fight, I realized something else. If one day, I really was to become like Marcus, she would be ready to take me down. I think that was the only thing that really made me take the fight seriously, agreeing to not make it easy for her. I am going to train her to beat me before I can beat her. But that's something she doesn't need to know.

Today was my day off. Natalie came to visit like she usually does so many other mornings, but this visit wasn't like any of the others. She'd come to talk to me about our next step in our investigation. Tris is with Rose in the nursery, putting the baby down for her nap, while I quickly discuss with my mother-in-law what we should do.

"I have a copy of Andrew's key, but I don't see how we can break into his office without someone noticing. Not to mention he's there every day," she voices, concerned. It took her a while to be able to snatch Andrew's key for long enough just to make a copy, but I was confident that she would succeed.

"We'll have to think of something," I start speaking, when my wife suddenly comes out of the nursery.

"Are you two done conspiring behind my back now?" she asks, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"What? We were just talking," I tell her, my tone dismissive. Tris arches an eyebrow, giving me a look that says "I don't buy it".

"Really, honey, we were just talking," Natalie tries to explain and Tris closes her eyes, sighing dramatically.

"First of all, I know all about your little project to break into dad's office," she murmurs, surprising us. I want to ask how, but that seems dumb. She is very smart. Of course, she would have thought of that herself. "Secondly, next time you want to conspire with my mother, make sure you take the right part of the baby phone with you," she adds, picking up the device on the coffee table in front of us and replacing it with the one she held behind her back. Damn! I look up at her, and she seems angry. However, she doesn't say anything as she backtracks into the nursery to deposit the device into its pod next to the crib, and then comes back out a moment later.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to stress you out," I tell her softly, reaching out for her. She sighs once again, and comes to sit in my lap, kissing my temple.

"You know I stress regardless. This is important, and, until we find out the truth, I'll be on edge." I nod my head. I know she is right. I just wanted to spare her the disappointment if we don't find something.

"It wasn't Tobias's fault," Natalie suddenly announces, defending me.

"I know. It wasn't your fault either. Mom, really, I'm not a baby. You guys can tell me these things. What did you think would happen? I would go bananas? Please," Tris scoffs with an eye roll. I know she is playing it down, but I believe that she would have handled it. So far, she's handled everything life threw at her. "So, what have you two detectives been up to?" she inquires, and Natalie tells her the same thing she'd told me.

"We just need to figure out how to get into your father's office without detection," Natalie concludes.

"Easy. Next month is the leaders' meeting in Amity. Both Marcus and Dad are going to be in attendance," Tris informs us confidently.

"How do you even know that?" I ask her flabbergasted. She gives me a look that practically screams "are you stupid?"

"I happen to be married to a leader. Not to mention that three out of the four remaining Dauntless leaders like to drop by casually for God knows what. I talk to people, you know," she huffs, and punches me lightly in the arm. I smile at her enthusiasm, and kiss her cheek.

"How did you know your father will be there though?" Natalie asks.

"I asked Max to find out which leaders would attend. Not everything is top secret, you know? Nor is everything impossible to find out. You just need to have a little faith in me, guys," my wife answers, chuckling. "I also have some information of my own. Since you two decided to have your own mission, I did the same," she informs us, smirking. I go to ask her about it when a knock on our door announces someone.

She stands up, and goes to answer it. To my surprise, Jack and Max are the ones who enter my living room, greeting both my mother-in-law and I, taking their seats on the remaining chairs, and Tris just stands next to the couch where I sit. I suggest she takes my place, but she shakes her head.

"I called Max and Jack, because we have some urgent business to discuss. Earlier today, my brother called me with information. Before I get to that, here is what I did behind your backs," she talks, staring at Natalie and I whilst emphasizing the last few words. Sure, I feel guilty for keeping secrets, but I am not the only one, so I glare at her. She ignores me, proceeding to explain.

"Back in Abnegation, my parents' house is right next to the Blacks. Their children, Robert and Susan, were good friends with Caleb and I. Robert is one year older than I am, while Susan is a year younger. He transferred last summer to Amity and has been there ever since. He still keeps a close relationship with his father though. Jonathan Black works in the government but doesn't have a high position like my father. Nevertheless, the two had always been good friends. Mom, is that still the case?" she asks, and looks at Natalie.

"Yes. Your father still thinks highly of Jonathan. But I don't understand what that has got to do with anything," Natalie responds, confused. She looks mainly at Tris, but also scans our faces for an answer. Obviously, none of us knows what Tris means with all this.

"Everything, Mom. Mr. Black hates Marcus. I know for a fact that Jonathan Black was in love with Evelyn Eaton, well Evelyn Johnson, before she married Marcus," Tris reveals, glancing at me. My jaw drops at the mention of my mother, and I can't help but feel a little angry at my wife.

"So?" Max asks.

"Jonathan tried to forget about her because, in the first couple of years of being married to Marcus, Evelyn was happy. Jonathan married his wife, Mary, and they had their two children. But then Evelyn died, and Marcus became adamant to erase her from people's memories. Mr. Black asked often about Tobias, wanting to visit the son of his first love, but Marcus made up stories that he was sick and whatnot. Mr. Black asked Robert to get closer to Tobias, to be his friend, but, evidently, that was nearly impossible. Robert was younger so he didn't have the same classes as Tobias, and Marcus basically robbed his son of any social gatherings of any kind. When it was announced that the children of Marcus Eaton and Andrew Prior would be married, Mr. Black tried to talk to my father, but hit a wall. Dad practically kicked him out of his office, and told him never to mention it again." I remain silent. This is the first I hear of this. How is it that a stay-at-home-mom knows more about the people in other factions than the rest of us do? Is she reading people's minds with me not knowing?

"How did you find this out?" Jack asks intrigued.

"Robert. As I told you, Caleb and I were friends with Robert and Susan. Susan is a sweet girl, but so naïve that it isn't funny anymore. Robert always had a thing for me and didn't really like that I was suddenly engaged to another boy." She then looks my way, and I frown. Robert Black was in love with my wife? Maybe he still is? Did they meet? I can't remember her being gone too long from home. She couldn't have gone to Amity and be back in time for me not to find out.

"Wait, you've spoken to Robert?" I ask her, and even I can hear the jealousy in my voice.

"Yes. He was here," she declares, and looks straight into my eyes. I stand up abruptly, and glare at her. There was another man in my house, a man that is most likely still in love with my wife, and I just find out about it now?

"What?" I growl a little loudly.

"It was the day you went to Candor, and before you flip out," she begins, sensing probably that I am getting angrier by the minute. She takes a breath, and comes closer to me. She places both her hands on my chest, and looks into my eyes. "I decided - with Caleb – that Caleb was to go and get Robert and bring him here the first chance he got. We didn't know when that would happen, and, with you rarely leaving the compound, I didn't even think it would be difficult to get in touch with you. Little did I know that the same day you were scheduled to have a full day of meetings in Candor, my brother would show up with our former neighbor. Caleb called me on his way back to the city and I tried to call you, but I knew you were in important meetings. I then realized I didn't want Robert to know about Rose. I called Marlene, who agreed to babysit her at her parents' place. When Robert got here, I gave him a crash course of what happened. I left out the bad stuff," she tells me, and I nod. "But I made it very clear that our marriage is very real and that we love each other. However, I needed his help."

"Why didn't you ask Susan?" I ask. She gives me the same look as before that made me feel really stupid.

"She is in Abnegation. Did you want me to go there and knock on her door?" Tris asks, sarcastically. Of course not! That's the last thing I want. I wrap my arms around her waist, and hold her close to me.

"Susan wouldn't understand. Susan is the embodiment of Abnegation. She wouldn't have been of much help. Robert, though, he could talk to his dad freely about these things. He even confessed to me that he had a crush on me, but then, after he transferred, he fell in love, like real love, the forever kind," she explains, smiling, and stands on her toes to reach my lips. I peck hers quickly, knowing she'll want to continue. "I explained how Caleb and I believed that our Dad must have been tricked by Marcus to agree to this marriage. It didn't take Jonathan Black much to agree to help us. Of course, Robert is aware that my whereabouts are top secret, so Jonathan Black thinks that it was Caleb's idea, and a way to bring me out of hiding."

"You should have said something," I whine, reproachfully, and she scowls.

"You are one to talk," she replies, punching my arm.

"Did Jonathan find anything out?" Natalie asks with curiosity.

"So far, nothing. He faces the same problem as you do. But, he could help you snoop around undetected. When you go back to Abnegation, look for a way to talk to him. Tell him Caleb told you about his help, and, together, find a way to search Dad's office. It'll be easier for you even during the day with Jonathan there." Natalie nods, and then Jack asks why he and Max were summoned. Tris laughs.

"What's so funny?" Jack asks confused.

"You are. I didn't summon you. I asked you to come."

"I think calling someone and telling them to come over, ASAP, qualifies as a summon," Jack challenges with a playful smirk.

"You didn't have to obey. I'm not your boss," Tris replies defensively.

"Says the one who is always bossy," Jack bites back.

"Kids, please," Max tells them with an eye roll, but I can tell he is amused.

Tris ushers me to sit back down, before she addresses our friends. Giving that Tris's choosing is in two months, it is important everything works out smoothly. When we put our plan in motion to leave Abnegation, we made sure that everything was legal, and that Tris wouldn't encounter any difficulties once she had to choose. As far as I know, legally, she has every right to choose, and no one can stop her. So, that's what Jack tells her, as if wanting to reassure her.

"Why the sudden fear?" Max asks her. He came to know her well enough in these past two years to know when she was scared.

"Something that you said, and something that Caleb told me," she says gently, finally sitting down on my lap. Max looks at her confused, and Natalie asks what her son told her daughter. "Max, you said that after Jack suggested to the council to allow 18-year-old factionless to choose this year, Marcus went ballistic. We attributed that to the fact that he was one of those who wanted the faction system the way it was before Jeanine tried to start a war," she reminisces, and all of us nod. "I think that's what he wants us to think. Well, partially. I do believe that the old ways favored him more than what is happening right now, but he must also have an ulterior motive."

"What kind of motive?" Natalie asks, and I can sense a shift in her mood. She is scared.

"For some reason, Marcus is convinced I went to live factionless after Tobias chose Dauntless."

"What?" I ask dumbfounded. "How do you know?"

"Caleb told me that Robert was told by Jonathan that Marcus told Jonah when they thought they were alone," she explains. The simple fact that I have to literally imagine the people in her explanation telling one another a piece of information is exhausting, let alone wrapping my head around the actual content of it.

"Why would he believe that?" Jack asks, just as confused.

"Jonathan heard, by mere chance, that conversation between Jonah and Marcus. He didn't pay much attention to it, because they were talking about that recent proposal of integrating factionless kids into our society. But his interest was piqued when Marcus mentioned my name. He told Jonah that he found it odd that Dauntless would encourage Candor's proposal to let the factionless kids choose a faction coming Choosing Day, and figured that maybe Tobias was behind it. I can't tell for sure if Marcus knows that Four is a leader or not, or that his son changed his name to the Dauntless nickname Amar gave him, but it seems Marcus thinks that the only reason Dauntless is pro integration is because of me. That is why he is fighting so hard to keep the factionless kids from choosing two months from now."

"That's ridiculous. Wouldn't he have thought that maybe you came to Dauntless?" Jack asks the question I've been asking myself.

"Apparently, not. I think Marcus was so convinced that he had us under control that he is still unable to accept reality."

"I think I know why," I tell them, and all eyes are now on me. I take a deep breath, hating that I need to remember my time in Marcus's house. "I think Marcus could tell that you were falling in love with me. He told me a few times that you warmed up to me. It was the week after he told us to consummate," I talk, and she nods. It's still painful to remember that the first time we gave ourselves to the other was because my father threatened to rape her. "While telling me that you had feelings for me, he made sure to remind me that I was nothing special. I think, after seeing me choose Dauntless and you running away, he figured you were head over heels for me, but I just didn't care enough about you, since I would get a new girlfriend in my new faction anyways." I cringe at the words that come out of my mouth. I let that sink in. I don't know for sure if that's true, but this is how I see things.

"I think you might be onto something," Natalie confesses. We all stare at her, hoping she'll elaborate. She doesn't disappoint. While we all know how manipulative Marcus can be, Natalie too noticed when he was truly pleased with how things went. When he told Andrew and Natalie that Tris was finally falling in love, he seemed sincere. It could have been a façade, but knowing that he wanted to tie us both down, what better way than making us fall for each other, and have a baby? Rebelling against him would have become less likely. So, I guess, he wanted to exploit Tris's feelings for me.

We discuss a little the legal issue, but Jack assures us everything we did was perfectly legal, and we all have the documents to prove it. There is nothing anyone can say against it, because it all happened according to the law. And while Erudite and Amity aren't exactly our allies, they don't really see eye to eye with Marcus either. If anything, lately, Marcus has started aggravating the Erudite with his archaic world view. For the first time in decades, someone with actual human feelings is running the faction of the intelligent, and she doesn't like Marcus one bit. I've never met Samantha Jones, but, according to both Max and Jack,she is a stand-up girl, who puts human lives above all else. She swore to never repeat Jeanine's mistakes, and, so far, she has kept her vow.

"I think you two should back off the fight a little," Tris finally says. The two leaders look at her, waiting for her to continue. "Your idea was wonderful, Jack, but we both know it will take far longer to smooth things out before the council actually lets factionless choose."

"Are you expecting us to just let it go?" Max asks frustrated.

"No, but let Marcus think that he's got the upper hand for now. Let him relish in the short-lived triumph. Come Choosing Day, he will learn that all his efforts were in vain, and if we play our cards right, he will lose it. It is about time that people start seeing Marcus for what he is and frankly, just coming out and telling everyone that he abused us wouldn't do it. He has allies. And you said it so yourself, Jack. To put someone under truth serum requires a certain amount of evidence. Also, who's to say he won't manipulate his confession?" she asks, and we all stay silent. I don't see how he could withstand the truth serum, even though I know my father is Divergent. He told me when he prepared me for the aptitude test. While we both knew my life wouldn't be in danger anymore, he wanted me to get a clear Abnegation result. Of course, I defied him, and got a result for both Abnegation and Dauntless. I was surprised. Until that day, Dauntless was only an option for me because of Tris, but hearing that something inside me was in fact Dauntless, made me smile widely, and made me hope that, once I chose the faction of the brave, my life will change to something better. And it did.

"How could he manipulate his confession?" Natalie inquires.

"While the truth serum compels you to tell the truth, you can only ask questions to find out what you want. You can't just expect someone to spill their guts just because of the serum. It was created to trick the brain, to make your judgment fuzzy, and talk without thinking. But I can't just ask you to tell me everything. You could tell me, but, by not forcing your mind to think of something specific, the serum won't make you talk too much. For instance, I could ask you if you had breakfast. You would answer truthfully, but I can't expect you to elaborate. If I was to actually ask you what you ate, you would then be forced to tell me," Jack explains.

That makes sense. I remember my own truth serum confession. It was a bit different, since I wanted to spill my guts, but, after I was done, I started remembering how I forgot to tell about the time my father had kept me locked in the downstairs closet for two whole day; or how I once caught him smelling Tris's shirt when he thought he was alone; not to mention the fact that Marcus actually believed he had every right to beat me up. That also would alter his truth serum confession. In his mind, he did the right thing, while we were the bad guys. Tris is right, we need more than just our confessions. People need to see him for who he is. And maybe if we find out what he did to Mr. Prior, we'll hopefully find other shit too.

A/N: Thoughts? I'm eager to know them.