"FAMILY"

We pull into our parking space, and I practically dive out of the car before Tobias even has it in park.
"Christ, Tris, calm down."
"I can't!" I say, breaking into a smile. "I haven't seen Caleb in almost four years. Plus, he gets to meet you and we get to have Christmas together!" I take Tobias' hand, barely giving him enough time to put a quarter in the meter, and pull him towards the arriving flights.

Bouncing up and down on the balls of my feet, I try to keep an eye out for him as throngs of people make their way off of various flights, fighting to find their luggage carousel. We're standing near the entrance — it's congested and hard for me to see over the sea of bodies. The curse of being short I think as I strain on my tiptoes again. I see Tobias look at the picture of Caleb I sent him on his phone again, and look out into the crowd.
"There. I think," he says, pointing. I jump up a couple of times to get a look.

"Caleb!" I shout, and see him turn his head. I raise my hand and wave it like a lunatic as I push through the people, breaking into a run and wrapping my arms around my brother's neck.
"Beatrice!" he says, lifting me off the ground and spinning. I hold on tight for a minute after he sets me down. "Oh god, it's good to see you. Look at you! You've grown up!"
"Well I'm not a little kid anymore," I say, smiling. I feel Tobias' presence behind me and turn to see him standing there with his hands in his pockets.

"Caleb, this is Tobias, my fiancé." Tobias smiles a little at the word, and holds his hand out.
"So you're the one who's captured my sisters heart," Caleb says, extending his own hand. They shake for what feels like an entirely inappropriate amount of time, and I raise an eyebrow.
"We can do whatever macho man-dance the two of you are doing later. Let's get your bag and get out of here."

"Nice place," Caleb says when we pull up.
"Thank you," Tobias says when I don't speak up. "Tris picked it." I look sideways at him, and see the smile on his face.
"Really? How long have you guys lived here?"
"Like…around a year and a half?" I say looking over to Tobias. He nods.

I know I haven't been here the whole time, and we even split up for a little while in there, but that still feels like the right answer. We found this house together and we bought it when we were together. It's been ours all along. Caleb doesn't need to long answer. Not yet anyways.

"And you've been together how long?"
"Caleb," I say. "Stop. You don't need to do the big brother thing."
"What? I'm just making sure I have all the facts."
"Almost two and a half years," I sigh out. "Is that good enough for now?"
"For now," Caleb says with a wry smile. "So what's for dinner? I'm starving."

We feed Caleb a snack and force him to take a nap to hopefully ward off the jet-lag. Tonight is the first night in a long time where everyone was able to get some time off, find a babysitter, or come back into the country so we can all be together. It's going to also sort of function as our engagement party, even though it's been a while since Tobias asked me. I stare down at the ring —a simple half carat solitaire— and smile.

I had told Tobias to go ahead and pick it out, since he really seemed like he wanted to surprise me with it. At first I was a little worried he would come home with some huge rock that cost a small fortune, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's absolutely perfect; not too flashy, and not too plain. The wedding band that goes with it is a little more flashy, with a lot more diamonds. It's contrasting, but they compliment each other. It's almost like he knows me. I chuckle a bit, and catch Tobias' eye.

"What are you laughing at?" he asks as he walks over and wraps his arms around me.
"Nothing. Just looking at my ring."
"And that's funny?"
"No. Stop worrying. It's beyond perfect." I kiss him on the tip of his nose and grab my phone, texting Christina to triple check Will doesn't have to go in tonight.

After Caleb wakes up, we pile in the car and meet the gang at Sliders.
"A karaoke bar?" Caleb says when we walk in. All eyes turn to look at him. "Okay. Sheesh. Sorry I'm not in the loop." The hostess pulls two tables together and seats us in the karaoke section.

"Man, how long has it been?" Zeke asks.
"Since we all got together? Shit. I don't know. Two Christmases ago?" Tobias answers.
"No way. There was Anna," Shauna says.
"Eh, I wouldn't really count that," I say, and we share a laugh. Caleb just looks between us, completely lost. It's all part of the things I have to fill him in on.

We order our food and flip through the song book, agreeing that we'll pick a song for the person on our left to sing when Uriah suggested it. That means I get to pick for Will. I see him pull out his phone, and suddenly mine is going off.

- Bathroom. Now.

I look over at Will who is acting like nothing has happened.
"I'll be right back," I say, getting up. I wait for a few minutes near the bathrooms when Will shows up.

"I need your help," he says.
"With?" He smiles a wide smile and pulls a box out of his pocket. "Oh!" I say, looking at the little velvet box.

"I was thinking of doing it tonight. With everyone here. I mean, if that's okay with you."
"No, that's fine. I'm just worried she might think it's…not the right setting." I'm sure Christina will say yes no matter what, but she's so quick to point out when Tobias is being cheesy, I wouldn't put it past her to do the same to Will.

"Really? Damn. Any suggestions?"
"Why not just do it spur of the moment? I mean, you can still do it tonight, but like, pull her aside when you're playing a game or something."
"Okay," he says, looking a little lost in his thoughts.
"What did you have in mind, anyways?" He just grins and pulls me back to the table.

He texts me the song he wants to sing, and I smile. They're the last one of our little family to take 'the leap'. Tobias and I are engaged, and Zeke asked Shauna not long after Anna was born. Uriah and Marlene snuck off to Vegas a couple of months ago and got hitched, and now Will is going to ask Chris.

All of our lives are changing, and it brings a smile to my face that we still make sure to make time for each other, even if it's far in-between.

We eat and talk and sing and catch up with one another. When it's Will's turn, he gives me a wink and heads on stage.

It's a beautiful night,
We're looking for something dumb to do
Hey baby
I think I wanna marry you

Christina is uncharacteristically still as Will sings slightly off-key. It's actually one of the sweetest things I think I've ever seen; it's not often that Chris looks like this or is left speechless. Tobias nudges me, a questioning look on his face, and I give him a slight nod. He smiles now, and leans over to Caleb, who looks between the two of them and gives me a wink. Soon enough it seems the whole table has realized what's going on except Christina, who hasn't taken her eyes off of Will once.

He finishes and we clap like crazy. I notice the little blush he has when he comes back to the table. Christina seems to have come out of her little daze, and suddenly looks between Will and I a few times before sticking her face in her plate and picking at her food.
"Why don't we all go play some games," Zeke suggests. His eyes flit to mine, and I stand, encouraging everyone else to follow suit.

I do my best to not stare at the two of them as they head over to play some skee-ball. Tobias whistles a little tune as he follows, taking up the last lane, leaving me to take the one closest to them.

"Want to make a bet?" I hear Will ask Chris.
"A bet?"
"Yeah. Winner gets a prize."
"Uhh…sure?"

Tobias and I make our own silent bet over skee-ball, even though he knows I'm going to leave him in the dust. Roll after roll, Will does his best job at sucking completely, allowing Christina to win. I poke some fun at Tobias for losing, trying my best to act normal and not be the eavesdropping best friend.

"Well, you win," I hear Will say.
"So what's my prize," Christina asks quietly. I'm not sure I've actually ever heard her this quiet before. Tobias puts another coin in my lane as he tries to pretend he's not watching. But the grin that crosses his face let's me know that it's happening. I turn to see Will holding out the box; Christina brings a hand up to her mouth.

"Is that what I think it is?" she asks.
"You know it is," Will says. "I love you. With all my heart. Make me the happiest man—"
"Yes!" She throws her arms around Will, and the people around us begin to clap when he slides the ring on her finger.

"Oh my god, Tris!" she squeals out. She turns around and holds out her hand for me to see…the giant rock she has. Which is surrounded by even more rocks.
"Jesus," I say. "Careful with that thing. You'll knock somebody out with it."
"I know!" she says, grabbing my hand now to show off both our rings. "We're getting married!" She throws her arms around me and squeezes so tight I can hardly breathe.

The rest of the evening is spent having a wonderful time eating, drinking, and singing. This is what family is all about. This is love. I don't think I could have ended up with a better group of people in my life.

A/N:
Song: Bruno Mars - Marry You

Two years, 4 months

Also, fair warning, this story has just 4 chapters left. Seems quick, I know, but I promise they're filled with all sorts of goodies.