Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Twilight and Divergent. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and Veronica Roth. I do own the characters created for the storyline. Please support the official release.
Writer's Notes:Thank you everyone for all your support! This story has been one of my favorites. It's finally come to an end. Please let me know what you think by leaving reviews! New stories will be coming soon!
Bella was 23 weeks pregnant now and you could see her bump. The twins were definitely both boys. Carlisle was watching her carefully, making sure that she wasn't overdoing anything. Bella was strict when it came to Dauntless and she wouldn't let anyone do her job. The factions were working together in a peaceful harmony now. Will was doing a great job leading Erudite. Even with Christina still in Dauntless, they still carried on their relationship. Four and Rosalie made their relationship official, and Rosalie was pregnant now and it was still so very new. Four was going to be a dad which both scared him and excited him at the same time. There were expansive measures being taken with the help of the newest faction, the Architects. They were constructing outside the wall to expand the wall further to include better streams. Trees were being planted all over the city and the water reservoir was upgraded to include hydroponics to keep the oxygen levels higher and to filter the water better. Things were better without Jeanine. It was clear that Divergents were never the problem, that it was Jeanine with her thirst for more control and power. There were few supporters alive now. Bella killed them as they rose up and she did it without hesitating. She got the nickname the Ice Queen amongst the new wave of recruits. The next choosing was today. Bella walked across from Dauntless, taking the transport into Candor where the choosing was being held. She wore formal Dauntless clothes. Her leather tunic was tight and her protruding bump was noticeable. Her leather pants were adjusted to expand with her growing belly. Her hair was still short, this time a blend of reds streaked through her hair. Her tattoos were bold on her skin because she was sleeveless. Her heavy boots clicked on the white marble as she entered the auditorium. She was in this same spot a year ago almost. She walked up on the stage and looked out at the separation. The blues of Erudite, white of Candor, Yellow and Orange of Amity, Grey of Abnegation, Black of Dauntless and the Green of the Architects.
Her dark eyes looked around the room and it grew quiet.
"Today is your day. The day that you choose the faction you want to go to. Your aptitude test revealed more about yourself. But I encourage you to choose what you want. This is not a force of will. You choose what you think best suits you. If you got a Divergent result, feel free to come to me with questions. There is no Divergent faction. But, every faction welcomes you, whoever you are. The survival of this city is dependent upon you. The future. You are the future of our world. Don't feel pressured to choose a faction. Choose for yourself. When you hear your name, come to the stage. Use the ceremonial knife and choose your faction." She said and looked over at Natalie and Natalie started talking, calling out names.
Bella stood to the side and watched the new wave of recruits come to the stage.
Bella went back to Dauntless, going to the start and waited for the recruits to make their way over. Some things were still the same. People needed to go through the process. There would be no eliminations, but they would be trained thoroughly. Rosalie joined her at the top. "You ready for this?" Rosalie asked Bella.
Bella blew out a breath. "Yeah. I'm just here to see their faces. Then you and Four will take over for the training part. I know you're a weapons expert. I need them trained on weapons more than anything else. The sparring is important too. Hand to hand." She said and watched as the recruits started jumping off the train. She saw a mix of colors. Green, Yellow and blue were peppered throughout. No grey. She didn't expect too many Abnegation to transfer anyways. When everyone gathered she looked around.
"Listen up. There's one way into Dauntless and its here. Your training starts today. Be prepared. It's not easy. You will break some bones and spill some blood. It's not for the faint of heart." She said her tone was cool, even.
There were some nervous shifting amongst the group.
Rosalie spoke up. "Any volunteers to jump?"
"Is there something at the bottom?" A girl asked. She was from the Architects.
Bella looked over at her. "I guess you'll just have to find out."
There was silence.
"If no one jumps I'm going to throw someone over so someone better step up and jump." Bella barked out.
An Erudite boy stepped forward. His hair was a russet brown and he had light freckles that peppered his face. His green eyes reminded her of Lukas. He swallowed, clearly nervous, but he stepped up on the ledge and looked over into the darkness. He closed his eyes and then just let himself fall, screaming on the way down.
Bella didn't even look behind her after he jumped. "Who's next."
Bella walked back towards her office. She left Rosalie there with Tori to go through the introduction and gathering gear. She needed to take her medicine and get something to drink. She opened her door to her office, leaving the door open as she went to her desk then opened the drawer and pulled out a bottle of pills. She took one out and dry swallowed it. Her palm pilot beeps for low battery. She unclipped it and hooked it up on the charger and pulled another palm pilot out and signed in with her thumb print and it started beeping as an incoming call from Four. She answered. "Hey, how's the patrol on the outer wall?"
"Big." Four's voice crackled. The wall interfered with communication sometimes.
"Four, I can't hear you. Just tell me when you get back." Bella said with a sign and clicked the button. She went to the mini fridge and pulled out a bottle of water and sat down to rest a moment. She felt the babies kick, so she lay a hand over her belly, rubbing slightly. "Mommy is okay." She murmured to them. She was trying to be strong. She looked up at Carlisle when he entered. "Hey. The new recruits just got in."
"I saw them in the pit with Rosalie and Tori." Carlisle said. "I came to check on you. Make sure you're drinking and eating." He said and walked over to her and leaned in, taking his stethoscope and placed the other end to her belly, listening.
Bella relaxed, letting Carlisle do his exam. "I'm fine."
"I know you say you're fine, but I'm just making sure you're not overdoing it." Carlisle said and leaned up, looping the stethoscope back around his neck. "The babies are moving around good?"
"Yes. Both of them. They were just kicking around when you walked in." Bella relayed.
Carlisle smiled. "Good." He said and then rubbed a hand down her arm. "Are you sleeping okay?"
"You know I'm not." Bella said and sighed. "I'm busy all the time. I'm running an entire faction and we're doing expansions. It's a lot to have to get done. I'm delegating though. Rose and Four will do the training until Rose can't anymore then Tori will step in and swap out with her. Maybe Uriah too, just depends."
"I know, but you don't talk about Eric anymore, and I-"
"He's dead Carlisle. I have to move on. It's not healthy for me to sit in despair. I lost it a little bit after Lukas was killed, but I'm okay now. I'm in a good mental spot."
Carlisle was quiet a moment. "Are you sure you want to put my name on the birth certificate."
Bella sighed. "Carlisle. They need a father. You're the only one that offered, and I know that I declined at first, but I… I understand that I need help. I'm not going to be naïve about this."
Carlisle offered to help raise the twins because that was the right thing to do. He knew that Eric would want someone to look after Bella and his children, he didn't want anyone else to prowl around and try and take advantage, so he stepped in. The relationship between him and Bella was purely platonic. He was old enough to be her father. And while it seemed odd, no one questioned it or the validity of the arrangement. "Okay. Well, take it easy. Drink all your water and I'll bring something to you for lunch later."
Bella nodded. "Thank you."
"Of course." He said and leaned down and kissed the top of her head, running a hand over her back briefly. He started to leave before he looked up at the commotion coming through the door. He left his hand on Bella's back and became defensive, until he stopped and saw Four, supporting Eric. Eric was covered in sweat and dirt and he need to shave. It was clear that he worked hard to survive beyond the wall.
Eric looked at Bella, sitting behind the desk, Carlisle's hand on her protectively. Seeing Bella felt like a dream right now. He couldn't believe that he was back in Chicago and that he was standing there right now in front of Bella.
Bella looked at Four and Eric in shock. Her eyes were wide and she couldn't move or say anything. She felt like this was a cruel mind trick. She put a hand over her belly as she felt her chest constrict.
Eric swallowed. "Bella…"
"Eric." She whispered, tears coming to her eyes now. Hearing him say her name made it real. She stood, shakily, Carlisle's hands steadying her.
Eric moved from Four and went to Bella, his arms going around her. Bella melted against him, her shaky hands coming up and she embraced him back. "I'm alive. I'm okay. I'm here." Eric said, kissing her temple. She cried more and he just held her. He never wanted to let go. Never wanted to ever be apart from her again. He leaned back a little and kissed her on the mouth, it turned into more kisses then he was crying, tears sliding down his face as he kissed her.
Carlisle looked at Four and then glanced to Christina and Uriah as they walked forward with George, Jasper and the kids. "Let me take a look at everyone." He said and urged Christina to help get the others to the clinic, letting Bella have a moment alone with Eric.
When the room was clear, Bella finally managed to reel her emotions in. She looked at Eric, her hand grazing his cheek and his beard. "I thought you were dead. When we saw the Divergent City like it was…."
"I know." Eric croaked. "We found the city like that. We went East to the ridge to the springs before we traveled back going North to find George and the kids. He wasn't there in the city when it happened. He was on his way back and had no idea." He sniffed a little and Bella wiped his face some. "I lost my palm pilot a long time ago."
"I didn't know. It was dead so we… assumed the worse. I'm sorry. We didn't look for you."
Eric shook his head. "No. That's what you're supposed to do. Four filled me in on some changes. Where's Lukas I want-"
"He didn't tell you…"
Eric frowned. "Tell me what?"
"Lukas was killed." Bella said. "He died that day. The day that Jeanine sent Dauntless into Abnegation. He took a bullet for me. Caleb tried to kill me"
Eric felt like he was hit with a ton of bricks all of a sudden. "What?"
"He died. I… I couldn't stop the bleeding." Bella said and felt the emotion come back.
Eric saw the tears flood her and he started hugging her again. "Shhh…."
"I'm sorry Eric. I couldn't save him. I tried." She sobbed out.
Eric felt the pain that she was feeling and he felt the pain of losing his brother, but he only cared about her right now. "It's okay. Please… please don't cry." He murmured. He felt her bump against him and his hands moved down over her bump, feeling the babies. The babies were okay and Bella was alive. That was all he could think about out there and now he was back. He just wanted her to not blame herself for something that she couldn't have prevented. "I love you. Please… look at me."
Bella looked up at Eric with watery eyes. She had pushed all that emotion away. She was settled. She had come to terms with Lukas's death and Eric's. She was moving on but all that emotion came rushing back when Eric walked through the door. She wished a thousand times or more for him to return to her. And here he was, her wishes coming true. But now she felt anxious and hurt. She lost a piece of herself for those two months.
"I love you. I'm sorry I didn't get back sooner." Eric murmured.
Bella nodded, leaning up and kissing him softly. Her heart was calming in her chest a little and the kicks of her sons distracted her.
Eric looked down amazed as he felt the thuds against his hands. "Is that…"
"Your sons." Bella said, smiling a little. "Lukas Eric and Albert Charles."
Eric was astonished. "Sons…" He murmured. "Boys. They're healthy?"
"Yes. Carlisle has me on vitamins and he does frequent checkups. He won't let me overwork and he forces me to delegate."
"Good."
"Eric… we thought you were dead…." She murmured, thinking about Carlisle's promise.
Eric frowned. "What does that mean?"
"Carlisle… and I."
Eric shook his head, his hands dropping. "Don't tell me… did you marry him?"
"No. No…"Bella shook her head. "But he was going to help me raise the boys. Given them a father and his name."
"I…"Eric wanted to be mad, but he realized that he couldn't. Carlisle was doing what he would have done. Protect Bella and the babies. No matter what. Having a father was one of those things. "What about now…"
"Now, he doesn't have to do that. But I wanted to tell you because… that's what everyone knows. They know that Lukas died, you died and that Carlisle was stepping up to be the father. It's clear you're alive now. " Bella said, taking Eric's hand in hers. "You are my every dream and wish come true right now. I have longed for you to return, but… I was trying to face reality. So much has happened and… I was trying to stay strong for our sons. Because they needed me to be strong." She explained.
Eric understood that. He saw the logic in it. Bella was logical. So he nodded, leaning in to kiss her again.
Bella kissed him back before she leaned away. "Let's get you in a shower." She said and smiled at him, her dark eyes still watering from her joy that Eric had returned.
Two weeks passed and things were going according to plan. Eric's return was triumphant it seemed. He was welcomed back freely and no one believed what Jeanine had said at this point. He went back to training recruits, helping Rosalie and Four for the moment.
George's return was an emotional one. Tori couldn't believe that her brother was standing there now in front of her. She wanted to hate Bella and Eric for keeping him away from her, but she understood more than ever now, how important it was for him to stay in secret.
Oliver and Danny went back to their factions. Grateful to be back with their parents. Sabrina was orphaned before being brought to the Divergent city. She was Dauntless born. She had been through a lot in two months. She made her case to Bella. She wanted to be apart of the new wave of recruits and train. She brought up her experience outside the wall with Eric, George and Jasper. She was almost thirteen and she was certain she would be nothing but Dauntless. Bella allowed it. Sabrina joined the other 27 recruits in training.
Jasper felt the shock of Lukas being gone. He was angry with being short changed on his life with Lukas. That Caleb and Jeanine took him from them so soon. He was angry that he was forced out of the city. He felt that maybe if he had been there, things would have been different. That maybe he could have done something more. He wasn't mad at Bella. He knew that none of it was her fault. But the pain was there from losing Lukas. His heart would always feel that pain of losing him.
Bella sat at her desk using the computer to digitize the filed on the new recruits. She didn't like all the paper being on her desk, so she worked on keeping everything on the computer with paper as backup. She glanced up at Jasper when he walked in. "Hey." She said and looked back at the screen.
"Checking on you. Eric is busy with training the new recruits. He sent me to make sure you took your medicine and you've eaten."
"I have eaten and I just took my medicine a short while ago." Bella said and then leaned back to look at Jasper. "How are you?"
Jasper nodded. Every day was getting better. "I'm good. It's been rough… I miss him, but I uh… have to move on. So, where do you want me?"
Bella studied Jasper a little bit. "I want you to go with Kane and Sybil from the Architects. They're going to be building outside the wall with a team. Take Tori with you and Uriah. They need our protection in case ravagers become a problem. The wall expansion is still underway. "
Jasper nodded. "Alright. I can do that."
Bella frowned. "Wait. I'm sorry. It's outside the wall and-"
"Bella, darlin', I'm okay. I can be outside the wall. I'm not traumatized by being outside the wall. Don't worry so much about me."
Bella smiled a little. "Okay. I just… I'm so happy that I have you back with me."
Jasper smiled back at her. "It's good to be back." He said and then he bowed slightly and left Bella there.
Bella sat there a few moments before she shook her head, smiling a little, before turning back to the computer.
Later that night, Bella found Eric in their bedroom. He was working on the training schedule for Four. Four was happy Eric was back. They all agreed that Eric was organized more so than Four. Rosalie didn't mind it either because that left her more time to spend with Four.
"Training schedules?" Bella asked as she unhooked her gear and set it on the dresser.
"Yeah, just trying to fit everything in. Sabrina is number five on the board and she's turning thirteen next week. She spars like a spitfire." Eric said and looked up at Bella, watching her undress. They had been intimate almost immediately when he returned. They never wanted to part but both had jobs to do. He set everything to the side and focused his attention on her as she walked towards him naked. Her bump was so beautiful. She was beautiful anyways, but pregnancy suited her. Bella went and got in his lap, her arms coming up to circle him. "You, are beautiful." He murmured, leaning in and kissing her. His hands moved down, roaming over her bump.
Bella loved how he touched her. He was so gentle, as he stroked her belly which only made the boys kick and move around, responding to his touch. She was 25 weeks pregnant now and she was more than halfway there now.
Eric smiled as he leaned back to look down at her bump. "They are moving a lot lately."
"Mmm. Yeah, I feel Lukas in my ribs all the time. And Albert, he's using my bladder as a punching bag." She said.
"You can tell them apart?"
"Of course." Bella said and kissed Eric softly. "Albert is my defiant one it seems. Lukas is pretty chill for the most part. He just wants to be lazy, but he kicks Albert to let him know that he's getting to close."
Eric smiled wide, looking up at her radiating beauty. "You're going to be the best mom."
"You think so?"
"I know so." Eric said and kissed her again. "I love you so fucking much."
"I love you too."
"Marry me." Eric said, kissing her again.
Bella giggled a little. "Of course I'll marry you."
Eric smiled and kissed her again, hard. It turned into a deep kiss and before long they were entwined together on the bed.
They were happy. Despite everything they both had gone through, they were happy. Eric's return was nothing short of a miracle and Bella was the best version of herself with him there. Now life was about making Chicago a better place and bringing their twin boys into the world. Lukas Eric Coulter and Albert Charles Coulter. They would be the luckiest boys in the world with parents like Eric and Bella.