Amar found Tobias staring off into the chasm. He was leaning over the railing, watching the water, fascinated with the juxtaposition it represented: the water started off calming, almost nurturing, before it angrily churned and became something that had the ability to kill in an instant. Tobias sometimes imagined the Dauntless he'd learned about, the ones who found jumping to their deaths preferable to living factionless. It was a painful choice he could sympathize with, one he was glad nobody had to experience ever again. He smiled as a hand came down on his shoulder.

"Did you talk to him?" Tobias asked.

"Yeah." Amar's voice was hard to hear over the rush of the water.

"Did he at least give you some answers?"

Amar shook his head. "Toward the end, I sometimes got the feeling that George was ashamed to be with me because of what we were… Working with David, the whole push to pass on pure genes, I think it just messed with his head."

Tobias nodded. The trials for Jeanine, David, and George had been held over the past few weeks; Jeanine had worked to delay the inevitable, stalling while she collected evidence for her own defense until she finally ran out of options. She had tried to argue that she was brainwashed by David, convinced that she had to do the things she did because her life and well-being depended on it. David had continued to maintain that he never did anything wrong in the first place, even after a list of cities with the heaviest amounts of damage was found among his things, and he admitted that he had planned to give orders to kill everyone in them. George had chosen not to defend himself, instead accepting whatever punishment the court decided to levy. The three of them had been summarily executed for their crimes against humanity, the same fate that had been bestowed on Max and Eric months earlier.

Amar sighed heavily. "I'm just glad it's finally over. I feel like I don't have to stress about it anymore. I can finally just move on."

"Yeah," Tobias said. "I completely understand."

Amar squeezed his shoulder before they walked out to wait for Tris. It had been a year since the events that took place in the city, since her parents and Caleb had died. Tris was hesitant to come, but she needed to finally take this step forward. She needed to visit their graves. Tobias smiled when the van pulled up and Will hopped out to open the door for Christina and Tris.

"Yeah, yeah. No need to show off," Christina said, smirking. "You're both good boyfriends."

"True," Will said. "But I'm better."

The group chuckled as Tobias helped Tris as she jumped down, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "Sorry I couldn't come. Had to finalize security for the dedication."

"I know." Her voice was a little strained. She cleared her throat, and flicked her eyes to the van. "I, umm, brought Caleb."

"Oh." Tobias looked in the van to see his urn sitting alongside her bag. "I didn't realize you had finally decided to go to the morgue."

Tris thought about how the Bureau had held onto his ashes for a year, until she was ready. "Yeah. I just thought it was time. You know, that he should be with Mom and Dad."

Tobias watched her for a moment before grabbing her things. She had been good the past six months, was still getting better with each day, and he hoped this wouldn't cause her nightmares to come back with a vengeance.

His worry faded when he watched her take in the compound for the first time, her eyes combing every inch of the Pit. "I can see the appeal," she joked as Tobias nudged her, motioning for her to follow.

"There used to be no railings," he said as they walked up the paths that were carved into the rock.

"Really? When did they get put up?" she asked, leaning over and looking down at the people below.

"About two months ago. It was part of the decree to dissolve the factions." He shrugged. "There's an old elevator just outside the Pit that's being worked on, too. Now the people who choose to live here can stay until they're old. They don't have to fear their choices anymore."

The demise of the factions was unanimously agreed upon once the people of Chicago found out the truth, though most people still identified with them and still used their names. Citizens volunteered to help with the restructuring of the city, most of them opting to move somewhere centrally located where family members from all factions could be together. Thirteen of the least-damaged buildings had been completed so far, but there were countless more to go. Living most of his life in such a narrow portion of the city, Tobias sometimes forgot that there was so much more out there. He knew Tris was eager to let more than just small groups from the Fringe in, but they had to be let in at a trickle, partly because there weren't homes for them yet, and partly because they needed to make sure the newcomers were prepared to follow the rules set by the city.

"Home, sweet home," Tobias said as he unlocked his door. He set Tris's bag in the closet, the urn on his desk. He eyeballed it for a moment, slightly relieved it wouldn't be staying long.

"It's… quaint. And higher up than I thought it would be." Tris walked over to the window, and looked out on the city. From this view, it looked better than she had ever imagined.

"Yeah, well, sorry it's not a posh Bureau apartment."

Tris looked over her shoulder to see a teasing smile on Tobias's face. It had been taxing the past six months, spending weeks apart to only have a day or two together, but they had made it work. It was only temporary, until the new government center was set up in the city. She opened her mouth to give him the news that they were only a week from completion — about five weeks ahead of schedule — when there was a knock at his door.

"Sorry to interrupt," Will said. "But Amar's calling for all of us to have a meeting. You, too, Tris." She groaned, having barely seen any of the compound.

Amar briefed them all on the security protocols, the schedule for who was to speak and when, as well as emergency procedures should anything go awry. They had a group of Fringe that had only come in a week prior, and security was still on high alert. Though nothing had happened since the people from the Fringe began coming in, it generally took them a couple of months to adjust. So far, they were proving that underneath everything, they were good, decent people.

Tris found herself yawning by the time Amar was done finalizing every last detail. She apologized, but Tobias waved it off and took her straight back to his place to get some rest.

"Nervous?" Tobias asked, adjusting his earpiece. Everyone who had participated in liberating the city was asked to appear on stage, to receive special recognition for their efforts.

Tris looked up at him, and shrugged. "I'm just happy I don't have to talk."

Tobias chuckled before he pressed a hand to his ear. "Copy." He looked at Zeke who nodded, having heard the same message in his own earpiece. "I don't know why we couldn't have been pulled off detail for the ceremony," he mused. "It would have made things a lot easier."

"You really think Amar would let his best guys off for something as silly as receiving recognition for saving the entire city?"

Uriah snorted as he came up beside Tris. "Ain't that the truth."

They exchanged a few laughs until it was time for them to head onto the stage. The nine of them stood in a line near the back while Jack Kang and Johanna Reyes took turns speaking. As the elected leaders of the city, they gave their blessings and the reasoning behind the memorial to the fallen Abnegation. There was a new sculpture that had been erected —depicting men, women, and children with their hands joined in fellowship— with the date and a memorial plaque giving the full history of what happened to the people who had lost their lives.

Tris got teary-eyed as they began to read each name aloud, tears streaking her cheeks every time she recognized a name. Tobias held her close and ran a hand up and down her back, allowing her to bury her face in his arm when her parents were named. Ruby was able to track down a couple of tissues, coming back just in time to hear Johanna and Jack introduce each one of them individually. They each stepped forward, waving to acknowledge the thanks of the crowd before stepping back into place. Tris felt her breath catch in her throat when special tribute was paid to both Matthew and Caleb. Johanna turned to give her a soft smile as Jack continued talking, thanking them for their bravery and adding in that they truly understood what it meant to be selfless, before asking everyone in attendance to join hands and enter into a moment of silence.

Tris squeezed Tobias's hand and felt Christina's wrap around her other one. She snuck a peek at the crowd after a moment, at the enormous number of people spread out into every area they could fit so they could pay their respects and honor her former faction. As she looked out into the crowd, she saw a young boy cutting across before disappearing. The quick glimpse she caught tickled a memory from the back of her mind. She put her head down, struggling to think of what it could be when it clicked.

Her memories of the boy from the Fringe came flooding back to her. The kindness that he extended to her, the fact that he had probably saved her life; someone like him shouldn't have existed in the outside world according to the Bureau, yet he did. He had sparked so many ideas in her, giving her a different kind of strength; it brought a smile to her face.

"The city of Chicago dedicates this statue to honor those who sacrificed, and to those who lost their lives. May it serve as a reminder that we should always work hard together, live peacefully together, and respect one another fully, no matter what our differences may be." The crowd erupted into loud applause as Johanna and Jack started with Ruby and Jones, going down the line and shaking each one of their hands, thanking them again for everything they had done.

Tobias resumed his post near the stage while the crowd began to filter out, but Tris remained, her eyes roaming the masses until they landed on the person she sought. He was smiling up at her, his hands in his pockets. Tris felt her mood lift as she raced off the stage, pausing just before she wrapped her arms around him, noticing how much happier and healthier he looked.

"Hi! I didn't know you were here, or I would have found you. When did you get here? Where are you staying?" The questions came out unfiltered, and she only stopped her barrage when he gave her a wide smile. The boy from the Fringe shrugged, then spun around with his arms out, happiness written all over his face. "Is everything okay, though? Do you have a place to live and a job?" The boy nodded enthusiastically. She wanted to ask him his name and a million other questions, though she had no idea how he would tell her. His eyes glistened with a hope she hadn't seen in a long time, one she imagined was in her own eyes when she first left the city. "If you ever need anything, you can find me through the housing department, okay?" They stared at each other for a long moment before he nodded, his smile growing even wider.

Tris held her hand over her heart, the sense of hope she felt seeing him overwhelming her emotions. He had made it. He gave her a wave and a final smile before turning and leaving her there; she watched his retreating form until he disappeared. She wondered idly if she would ever see him again, if he would ever let her express the gratitude she felt for what he had done for her. Jostling her way through the people still milling around, Tris bumped into Fernando, happily reuniting with him as well.

Tobias had another meeting with Amar when the crowd completely dispersed. When it was over, he grabbed his bag and found Tris, then took her for a walk through the city towards Abnegation. It still looked the same, but it felt different, more alive. The surviving Abnegation had stayed, joined by some of the factionless moving into the homes that were left vacant. Abnegation wasn't stifled or quiet anymore: there were children laughing and playing in the streets, and adults running after them to scoop them up and tickle them. It was a far cry from how they had both grown up.

The graveyard had been constructed in the empty fields a few blocks down from where Abnegation ended and factionless began. Tris looked over the sea of stone, her heart thumping hard in her chest. Tobias took her hand and led her directly to them; he had made sure they were buried next to each other. There was a small part of her that still hoped she would wake up, that everything was one long, horrible dream. But touching their headstones grounded her to reality: they were gone forever.

Tobias unzipped his bag and pulled the urn out, handing it carefully to Tris. She thanked him and held it close as Tobias backed off, giving her the space she needed to grieve. He watched her kneel down, fighting the urge to go to her when he could hear her sobs.

Everything about their deaths was unfair, and Tris wondered bitterly why it had to be her, why she was the one who had to lose her entire family in one day. She held her hand over her chest, like she so often did, and felt their rings resting underneath her shirt. She had kept them hidden away in a drawer for a while, too upset at the thought of them being with her instead of with her parents. But she found herself taking them out more and more, drawing strength from them whenever she needed it. A brief smile touched her lips as she found the newest addition: a small sphere that held some of Caleb's ashes.

Tris looked over her shoulder to see Tobias a few feet away, a worried look on his face. He came to her as soon as she waved her hand, and wrapped his arms around her. "You okay?"

"Not right now, no, but I will be. Thank you for bringing me, Tobias." He kissed the top of her head, and helped her set the urn between the headstones. Caleb belonged with them.

He pulled her up and held her close, waiting until her tears stopped to take her home. They took the train the long way around the city, and Tobias pointed out the various buildings he'd been in that had been renovated and where he'd been overseeing things, as well as the areas where they were thinking about planning smaller housing districts. Tris held her breath as they passed Erudite, and Tobias's arms wrapped protectively around her. It would always be the place where she almost died, and she wasn't sure she would ever get over that.

Restoring the lake was another project they knew was on the table. Tris recalled the expanse of blue she had seen when she finally made it up in an airplane. Uriah had sat next to her, more excited than anyone she had ever seen. They had laughed and joked the entire time; it was one of the most exhilarating moments of her life. She'd laughed at Tobias's horrified face when she told him the story, and made sure to take a long look at it now as a marsh, excited to see it in the future when the water would be all the way up to the shore. She smiled when the train passed the pier, wondering if the government would allow them to open the boardwalk again in time. Seeing the positive changes that were happening around the city lifted her mood enough to know that her parents, and even Caleb, would be proud of how things had turned out.

Tobias was eager to take Tris on a tour of the rest of the compound. He showed her the gym and the training rooms, the net they had used for initiation, and then pointed out some of the shops that were scattered along the pathways in the Pit. "What's that one?" she asked, pointing to the red neon lights.

"Tattoo parlor." She looked at Tobias and gave him a sly smile before dragging him through the door. She browsed the art on the walls, feeling a desire to get a tattoo from an actual member of Dauntless; Tobias humored her, wondering himself what it would be like.

"Can I help you?" Tris turned to see a tall, slender woman smiling down at her.

"Maybe," Tris answered. She looked to Tobias, whose eyes were wide as he stared at the woman in front of them.

"Four," the woman said, nodding her head.

"Tris, this is Tori Wu, George's sister." Tris felt like she had the same, wide-eyed look on her face. She wasn't quite sure how to act.

"It's okay," Tori said, looking between the two of them. "I know what happened to George wasn't your fault. He made his own decisions. If you want a tattoo, let me know, and I'll be happy to help you." She smiled kindly at them, then turned back to her station, busying herself with papers.

"Is she really okay?" Tris asked.

Tobias shrugged. "Okay like you are, maybe. I know they asked her and her parents to testify after George refused to speak on his own behalf. Her father's memory is gone, and her mother was too sick to travel. After Tori found out everything he was accused of, and the evidence the NAA had against him, she said no."

Tris watched the way Tori got lost in her work for a moment, recognizing the need for a distraction. "Come on. Let's get tattoos."

Tris went first, the two of them agreeing to keep it a surprise from each other. It wasn't as painful as Tris remembered, but the steady burn was a welcome diversion. Tori made small talk, and even thanked Tris for the things she went through, the sacrifices she had made for change. Tris just nodded, wishing she had something reassuring to say back to Tori. Instead, she asked Tori what Dauntless life was like and was surprised at how fondly she spoke of it.

"For a long time I was upset at what Dauntless had become, especially after losing my brother. And then the simulation…" She trailed off for a moment and Tris studied her face, interested in how she would react; she was pleased when a small smile finally crossed her face. "The video, the NAA. The bad parts of Dauntless disappeared almost overnight, turning the faction back into what it used to be. The camaraderie, the focus on doing what was right and not what we were told. But then in one day I learned Georgie was alive and a traitor all at once, and I was angry again. But someone I once knew told me that it was impossible to control everything around you, that sometimes you just had to let things go. So I took a deep breath, and I did. Doesn't mean it hurts any less, but it's better than sitting around and letting it consume you."

Tris felt the sting in her eyes as Tori's words rang true for her. She had to learn to let everything go, to accept the things that had happened and move forward with her life. She couldn't keep dwelling on the past, or hoping that it would change somehow. She had to face the truth that it never would.

Tris thanked Tori when she was done, and Tori gave her a hug, telling her to come back anytime.

Christina and Will appeared while Tris stood waiting for Tobias outside the tattoo parlor, watching life in Dauntless. They made small talk about things like the ceremony, moving back into the city, and how they should all join Christina for family dinner on Sunday at Candor. Tris was intrigued at the mention of a zip line when Tobias came out; he dodged the offer to join them the next time they went and quickly changed the subject to dinner in the cafeteria.

Tobias had saved his favorite part of Dauntless for last: Tris was awed when she saw the chasm up close. Tobias directed her to a hidden path that led to the rocks below. He held her hand as they walked down and sat close to each other, keeping their legs up to avoid the spray.

"So, do you think there's enough space for two people in your apartment?" she asked, trying to keep her face neutral.

"Well, that depends on who's asking," he answered, trying to not allow himself to get his hopes up.

"Oh, nobody important. Just your girlfriend." Tris couldn't stop the smile that crossed her face. "I mean, you only have like a week or two to figure it out, since the city center is ahead of schedule and all."

She laughed as he sat up straighter, his eyes alive with excitement. Tobias had asked her to stay with him when the time came, but she wasn't sure if she could be somewhere that would remind her of what had happened to her family every time she opened her eyes. But the Dauntless compound was hypnotizing, drawing her further in with every second she spent there. Besides, these weren't the people who were guilty, and Tris knew it was unfair to put the blame on them. She was learning to forgive them, like she was learning to forgive herself.

She placed a soft hand over his heart, and looked him in the eye. "I don't want to be apart any longer." Tobias let out a breath and closed his eyes, pressing his forehead to hers. Tears pricked at her eyes, at the emotion she could feel radiating off of him, and Tris knew she would never tire of the way he made her feel. She pressed her hand harder, feeling the bandage underneath. "Okay, let me see it!" she said, wiping her eyes quickly.

"You first," he said, eyeing the large bandage over the left side of her chest. Tris grinned and peeled it back, revealing a vibrant orange and red phoenix over her heart, its long tail woven through her ravens. Tobias's eyes flicked from the tattoo, up to her eyes, and back.

"You're my family too, Tobias," she said, placing her hand back over his heart. "I might have made some wrong choices in the past, but I know without a doubt that this one is right."

He smiled as he pulled her hand away, giving it a kiss before lifting the front of his shirt. Tris watched eagerly as he pulled the bandage off his chest, revealing a large raven in flight. "You are my heart, Tris." Tobias watched the smile that grew across her face, feeling his own eyes prickle with heat when a tear escaped from hers. "I will always be your family." She leaned closer and he grabbed her, pulling her into him; they held each other tight as the world carried on above them. Tris was content to stay where she couldn't be found as long as Tobias was by her side.

"This place is beautiful. Do you come down here a lot?" she asked as they broke apart, wiping her eyes and straightening up to make herself more comfortable.

Tobias nodded. "When I want to get away from things, or just think."

"What about?"

"The usual. My parents. The choices we all made to end up here. You." He smiled at her when she looked up at him. "I love you, Tris."

She cupped a hand behind his neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss. No matter how many times their lips touched, it felt just as electric as the first time. "I love you too, Tobias."

As she nestled into him, she felt like she understood why he liked to escape to the depths of the chasm: it seemed like the water energized her, charged her thoughts. As she reflected on her life, she recalled an old quote she had learned as part of her Abnegation upbringing: 'Our lives are shaped by those who love us, and those who refuse to love us'. She had always found it interesting when she was younger, but she hadn't been able to fully appreciate its beauty and truth until that exact moment. Both she and Tobias had been shaped by love; he by the people who had refused to love him, and she by the people who had loved her so much that they sacrificed themselves for her.

She had lost her family, the people who meant the most to her, but born from that loss came people who chose to be a part of her life: a new family formed from love. Tris couldn't imagine her life without Tobias or the wonderful friends they had made. Every day with them brought new challenges, something that invariably helped her strive to be a better person. Just like they chose her, she chose them to be her family, too.

Tobias rose, pulling Tris up with him. "Are you ready?"

"Absolutely."

"Then let's go."

As they exited the chasm together, hand in hand, Tris was finally ready to move forward, with love and hope.

— Our lives are shaped by those who love us, and those who refuse to love us. - Author Unknown

A/N:

As they emerged from the chasm, the assassin exhaled slowly, and gently pulled the trigger...

Just kidding. ;)

Well, that's it for this story. I hope you guys enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. A lot of you have asked if I'm planning on writing anything else, or if I've started anything new. I do have plans, too many in fact because I can't decide what to do next lol. I've been outlining, but nothing is grabbing me, and I think part of the reason is I just need to take a break. I spent 6 months writing this, and the last 4 that I've been posting, I was still editing almost every day. 10 months on one story, and I'm a little burnt out! I'd rather wait until an idea really inspires me, than shove something out just because. Quality, not quantity. :P

Please make sure to give your thanks to BK2U as well, because she's the one who put up with me changing things here and there, and would be up at 2 am making sure everything was perfect for me to post. You guys owe her a lot for this wonderful story.

If you like my writing, or are curious what I may do in the future, make sure you follow me as an author so you can be updated when I post. You can also follow my tumblr, milnerwrites. I can't promise it will be exciting, but if anything is happening in the writing department, I'll do my best to give you some updates there.

And last but not least, please let me know what you thought of this story! As authors, we do this for fun, and reviews are the only sort of payment we receive. It's nice to get feedback on what we do. Thank you all again so, so much. It's been a blast, and I'll see you sometime in the future!