Epilogue
Twenty Years Later
Jamie POV
As it turns out, by the end of that day, a quarter of the Abnegation population had been eliminated, but that means we saved the other three quarters. Jeanine wouldn't have quit until they were all gone.
Tris's parents both lost their lives honorably that day, but her brother is still alive and well. When all of the people involved in the attack were tried, her brother was convicted of closely helping Jeanine due to the fact that he was one of her best strategists.
All of Dauntless leadership was tried, but only Max was convicted, as he was the only leader that was not under the influence of the Simulation. After Max was taken into custody, Four became the leader of Dauntless. Though Eric was Max's right hand man, he actually offered the job to Four. He was a bit reluctant to give it up, but he came to the realization that Four was a bit more level headed and less prone to anger flares than he was.
After initiation was over, Eric finally asked me out. We dated for three years, until I was twenty, then we married. A little over a year later, I gave birth to our first daughter, Zoie Grace Coulter, who will be choosing today. Eric had to stay behind and wait for all of the initiates at the rooftop, but her little brother, Alex, is with me.
Her brother is named after mine. On the day of the attack, my brother was killed because he came to his senses and turned against Jeanine, so I thought I would name my son after him.
"Mom, why is the ceremony taking so long?"
"Shh, whisper. Inside voice."
"But why is it taking so long?"
"Because, there are a lot of sixteen year olds. Besides, it's barely started."
"I know."
Finally Zoie is called to the stage. She jogs up there, grabs the knife and cuts her hand, letting it drip into the coals, no hesitation.
"That's my girl."
"Can we go now?"
"No, we have to wait until everyone is finished."
"But mom, I'm bored."
"We all are, just sit still. You'll be fine, it won't kill you to sit through this."
Alex huffs and slouches down in his chair. Zoie comes back to Dauntless and sits down with the initiates, turning around and grinning at us. A little while later I hear a snore from her brother. I'm tempted to wake him up, but at least he's not complaining.
Finally the ceremony is over and I wake him up.
"But mom, I was sleeping."
"Okay, I'll leave you here to sleep. I'll come back for you at next year's ceremony."
"Alright, I'm coming."
Being only ten, Alex isn't quite big enough to jump on the train by himself, so I hold onto his hand the whole time, dragging him up. We jump off a little early, going down to the usual entrance to Dauntless. I drop Alex off with Tris, and I climb up to meet Eric on the rooftop, trying not to look down the entire time I'm climbing.
"Nice timing, the initiates are just now getting off."
"Hey, be nice. There's an Amity in the crowd, he's not used to all of this."
"Well he better get used to it."
I give him a look.
"Okay, okay, I'll be nice... ish"
"Good enough."
After we get all of the initiates down to Four, it's time for Eric and I to jump.
"You know, we could just stay up here for a little while, I mean, it's not like we have anywhere to be until dinner time."
"You're just stalling aren't you?"
"Look, I just got up here a while ago, I survived that, now I have to get back down?"
"Yep. I'll go first and help you out when you come down, okay?"
"Alright, fine."
He jumps, and I hear him yell up to me a few seconds later, telling me I'm good to go. I jump, not yelling, and land in the net. Even after all these years, I'm having a hard time letting go of the net, even when I feel Eric's hands on my waist, picking me up and setting me down on the ground.
"See? You're fine, you lived."
I just nod.
After dinner, Four leads the initiates off to their quarters and Eric and I go back to our apartment, getting Alex from Tris on our way back.
This is my family. My baby girl is grown up now, becoming a true member of Dauntless, a real part of something important. I have a husband, and a young son as well. I'm a trainer for the initiates, along with Eric and Four. This is my dream, this is what I've always wanted. This is where I belong.
