Epilogue
Eric held true to his word and married Tris the next day. Tris did not object to the small intimate ceremony with just them and Max and Uriah as their witnesses. Even though Tris had fully embraced the Dauntless lifestyle, she still could not shake her discomfort of being the center of attention. Eric was more than happy to comply with her request of a small wedding since he too preferred to keep special moments, such as marrying the woman of his dreams, privately to himself.
They spent the next three days in Eric's apartment celebrating their marriage the only way they wanted to...lots and lots of incredibly mind-blowing sex. They christened every surface in Eric's apartment that they could. They had to come up with some creative ways to satisfy their carnal needs because of Tris' growing belly. Eric was more than happy to try some new positions, some of which he loved. He hoped he would be able to convince Tris to add them to their repertoire of their favorite positions even after she gives birth of their son.
Needless to say the entire faction was in a state of shock when they went public with their relationship for the first time after their impromptu honeymoon. Complete chaos erupted with Tris' friends when they not only found out that she had married Eric but that he was the father of her child.
Tris had refused to tell anyone the identity of her son's father until she had the chance to tell Eric first. She did not want news of her pregnancy reaching him at the fence before she could talk to him about it. The only person who knew the truth was Uriah because he had accidently discovered their relationship. Tris swore him to secrecy and Uriah did not let her down. He grinned proudly to himself for not leaking the secret before Tris told her other friends the news.
Unfortunately, some of Tris' friends did not take the news well. Her already strained friendship with Christina blew to hell in a handbasket. Christina could not understand how Tris could become involved with the very man that tried to kill her. For years Tris and Will tried to get Christina to understand the real purpose of Eric's behind him hanging her over the chasm, but she could never comprehend it. So when she found out that Tris and Eric were married and were having a child, she shut Tris out of her life once and for all. Since Will and Christina were married, ultimately Will had to end his friendship with Tris as well. Being married herself now, she understood the need to support one's spouse so she did not blame Will for choosing to side with Christina.
Tris was never that close with either Lynn or Lauren so they were indifferent about Eric and things between them remained the same. Zeke was upset at first because Eric was one of his least favorite people in the faction but after listening to Uriah's viewpoint, he eventually accepted their relationship and became friends with Eric. Eric agreed for Tris' sake since she viewed both Uriah and Zeke as brothers. Shauna followed Zeke's lead since they were dating and tried to accept Eric as a friend as well.
Other than Uriah, Four was probably the least upset about the news of Eric and Tris. When Tris and Four ended their relationship, it was a mutual decision between the two of them. Neither harbored any feelings of ill-will towards each other considering they had both been unfaithful in their relationship. In the months following their break-up, Tris and Four were able to become friends like they had before they started dating. Tris eventually told Four that she was glad that he found someone like Sam to make him happy since that is all she ever wanted for him. Upon hearing Tris' announcement of marrying Eric, Four returned the sentiment she had given him and wished both her and Eric the best of luck in their new endeavors.
As for Eric, he only had a handful of people that he was close enough to and trusted to consider as friends. They, of course, welcomed Tris as one of their own. They could see the positive influence she had on Eric and thought it changed him for the better.
Page Break
The next three months prior to their son's birth, were just as busy as Eric had predicted. Eric had requisitioned for a new four bedroom apartment. The Euradite that remained in Eric had him thinking of future expansions to their family. Because of his status, his name was moved to the top of the waiting list. A couple of weeks after his request, he was given keys to a newly remodeled apartment unit with a breath taking view of the city skyline. Eric spent the next two weeks painting the entire place to Tris' specifications. Then with the help of old and new found friends, he moved both of his and Tris' possessions into their new home.
One particular trip between apartments took longer than expected due to Zeke and Uriah getting the couch wedged in the stairwell. Eric left Four and Sam in the new apartment to finish painting a mural on the wall in the nursery while he went to help Zeke and Uriah. Eric was the first to return to the apartment and had the misfortune of walking in on Four and Sam naked and frolicking in the paint. He now shared the same vision as Tris when she had found them together many months ago. Eric claimed to have seen nothing as he haphazardly stumbled out of the apartment with his hand over his eyes just in time to keep Zeke and Uriah from experiencing the same image. Unfortunately for Zeke and Uriah, they still got to witness Four and Sam in all of their naked glory as they forgot to dress before they followed Eric out of the apartment profusely apologizing for getting caught. Fortunately for everyone involved, they were able to look back on the incident many years later and enjoy a good laugh about it.
After Eric finally got all of their possessions moved into their new home, Tris spent her days off from the tattoo parlor unpacking and getting the nursery ready. It wasn't long before the first of many nesting phases set in. People used to make fun of Eric's OCD but it turned out to nothing compared to Tris when she was in her nesting phase. She was ten times worse than Eric but he never complained and did whatever it took to make her happy about cleaning and organizing their home for the baby's arrival.
Tris and Eric had decided on a jungle theme with exotic animals for the nursery. It was painted a light gray with mint green and yellow accents. They had also finally settled on the name Liam Eric for their son.
Tris began to glow only as an expectant mother could. Eric decided he liked Tris being pregnant when her sexual desires kicked into overdrive. He gladly gave into her every demand when it came to having sex. Wherever, whenever and however she wanted it, he happily complied. Eric never even complained when Tris had a craving in the middle of the night and woke him up to go fetch whatever her stomach desired no matter how exhausted he might be. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for his wife and child.
It seems as though Eric's son inherited his father's sense of humor. Liam decided it would be funny to pull a joke on his parents by fooling them into thinking he was coming early. One night Tris woke up with the worst cramp she had ever had in her back. She laid there thinking it was from the spicy food she ate but the waves of pain kept coming at regular intervals. Tris tried to calmly wake Eric so as to not push him into a panic from the prospect that Liam was coming sooner than expected. Eric had become so protective of the two of them so she feared his reaction to Liam being born too early.
As predicted, Eric flew into a complete panic. He barked orders over the phone to prepare a car and driver to take them to the hospital. Threats of torture and death followed each of his commands as additional motivation to make sure everything was ready when they arrived to the garage. Eric grabbed Tris and Liam's bag and proceeded to carry her the entire way to the car despite her protests.
By evening of the next day they were back home sans a baby. It turned out Tris was experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions and Liam remained safe and secure inside of his mother's womb continuing to grow. Needless to say, Eric refused to let Tris' leave his sight until Liam was born.
Over the next few weeks, Tris and Eric disagreed about the environment for Liam's birth. After the false labor scare, Eric insisted that Tris give birth at Euradite's hospital because they had the best doctors and most current technology in the event something went wrong. Tris hated the idea of their child being born in such a sterile and unwelcoming environment and insisted upon their original plan of a home birth with a mid-wife. She wanted Liam to feel safe, secure and loved when he was born and felt that giving birth in their home was the best choice. The parents-to-be were in a stalemate, neither refusing to budge on the issue.
A week before Tris' due date, she managed to stage a disappearing act with the help of a couple of friends. She refused to tell Eric where she was and threatened that she wouldn't come home until after Liam was born unless he gave in to her desire of a home birth. Having already missed so much of Tris' pregnancy, he did not want to miss the birth of his first child so he relented and reluctantly agreed to her demand. Within the hour Tris returned home with a smirk on her face because she got her way.
Liam's due date came and went. Tris was not too worried since she was only able to narrow down his conception date to a 7 day span. Apparently Liam was conceived when Tobias had left the compound for a week to update security cameras around the city. Eric took the week off work and he and Tris took advantage of Four's absence. Needless to say, they didn't leave Eric's apartment the entire week.
Eric on the other hand had become a nervous wreck, constantly worried something was wrong when Tris' due date passed. Once again, Liam decided to have some fun with his parents and refused to make his entrance into the world until five days later. Tris was once again woken during the middle of the night with cramps. She did not get too concerned until her water broke. Expecting Eric to go into another panic since it was the real thing this time, Tris was pleasantly pleased when he remained calm and began to time her contractions. He helped pace her breathing when the contractions came and rubbed her back to help soothe the pain. However, Eric's patience did not last long. His ruthless Dauntless leader persona erupted when he called the mid-wife and was promptly informed that he should call her back when Tris' contractions were less than five minutes apart. After several threats of bodily harm and becoming Factionless, the mid-wife grudgingly agreed to Eric's demand that she come immediately.
Sixteen hours later, Eric sat on the edge of their bed holding his son in his arms as Tris rested. He beamed with pride at the tiny baby wrapped in a blue blanket. Just as Eric had dreamed once, Liam was the perfect blend of himself and Tris. Tears of joy trickled down Eric's face as he held Liam against his heart and reflected on his life since Tris came along. Just three months ago his heart ached painfully from the loss of the only woman he ever loved. Now his heart ached for a different reason; it ached from the overwhelming love he felt for his wife and son. He never imagined his once cold heart would be able to love anyone, let alone two people, as much as he did Tris and Liam. Nor did he ever imagine that one day he would hold a child that he created. For the first time in his life, Eric felt complete fulfillment. He vowed at that moment that he would never take his wife and child for granted and they would always be first and foremost in his life.
Eric couldn't imagine his life being any better than it was at that moment. He, however, was wrong. It only became better as he and Tris continued filling their four bedroom home. Three years after Liam was born, Tris gave birth to another son they named Ethan. Then much to their surprise, two years later they were blessed by the birth of twin girls – Ava and Mia.
Eric and Tris had their hands full raising four children but they loved every moment of it. In the end, three of their four children chose to remain in Dauntless with their parents. Ethan decided to transfer to Abnegation as his selflessness overshadowed his love of Dauntless. Although Eric and Tris desperately missed him, they were comforted in the fact that he was with Tris' parents, Andrew and Natalie, and that they would take good care of him.
Liam grew up and followed in his father's footsteps and chose leadership when he passed initiation. Eric was proud that the Coulter name would continue to burn strong in the guidance of the Dauntless faction throughout the forthcoming years. Liam eventually found love too. She was a dark haired, mocha skinned woman with the most amazing celery colored green eyes. It turns out Liam fell in love with the only child of Will and Christina, a daughter named Avery.
Eric and Tris couldn't be any prouder in their son's selection of a wife. They loved Avery dearly. Will had done a wonderful job of raising her, given the fact he was a single parent. Sadly, for Avery, Christina ended up becoming Factionless. Her hatred toward Eric for taking Tris away from her, in her mind, drove her to the brink of insanity in combination of postpartum depression. Despite Will, Tris and the doctor's best efforts, they could not save Christina. One day she disappeared when Avery was less than a year old. She was eventually seen living among the Factionless and refused to return to Dauntless when Will finally found her.
The twins turned out to be known as the Daring Duo of Dauntless. Ava and Mia had inherited their mother's fearlessness and their father's fierceness and sense of humor. With such a combination, they never backed down from anything; they never refused any fight, dare, or obstacle thrown their way. After passing initiation, they chose to be Initiate Trainers. For those who remembered Eric's days of training initiates and thought he was a tyrant, they were proven wrong when his daughters took over the position. Ava and Mia were even worse than their father when it came to training the future members of Dauntless. They felt it necessary for the preservation of the faction that only those who truly fulfilled the Dauntless manifesto become members so they pushed the initiates even harder to weed out the weak.
Eventually Ava and Mia married and much to everyone's surprise, their respective husbands both originated from Amity. It seems Ava and Mia needed the patience, kindness and understanding of their husbands to help balance them out like their mother did for their father.
Eventually Eric was elected as Head Leader of Dauntless when Max retired. Upon his promotion, Tris left the tattoo parlor and took a position as Eric's advisor. With Tris' guidance, Eric led Dauntless to become the strongest it ever had been and its members thrived under Eric's leadership. After many, many years Eric and Tris finally retired from their roles as leaders. Liam was elected to take over his father's position and his wife Avery filled Tris' position as advisor. Eric and Tris' retirement finally allowed their life to slow down just enough to have their alone time together but yet still left plenty of time for them to enjoy spending their remaining years with their children and grandchildren.
I hope you enjoyed the ending. I had a lot of fun writing this story. Thanks to everyone who stayed with it during my long intervals between chapters and thanks for all the wonderful reviews and support for the story. Eris forever.