Epilogue
Basically in this chapter I'll be going through some moments in their life. Thanks for everything :) A/N will be posted tomorrow.
Tris P.O.V.
Just after I shriek, I yell, "Eaton!" I slowly pick up the small dog and cradle it in my arms.
He comes outside quickly, "What—what's wrong?"
The others soon come out, and I hold the puppy so the they can see them. "I found a puppy! There's nothing for miles around here! I'm going to get him something to eat and drink." I quickly carry the small dog inside the house. I set him on the counter and fish out some bread that Chris brought. She brought the basic stuff for sandwiches.
I notice he has no collar on and he's definitely a newborn. Probably a week or two old, if that. The poor thing's parent was probably giving birth to him and his siblings outside, maybe in a yard or something, so he'd easily escape.
Everybody starts coming inside as I pet and feed him.
"Poor thing. Probably stranded for days with nothing to eat," Tobias says as I feed him another piece.
"I know. He was most likely born outside and escaped, so there's no way to track down the family, either."
"What are you going to name him?" Chris asks.
"I was thinking Ollie. You know, short for Oliver?"
"Oh, that's so adorable!" Shauna says.
"Are you going keep him?" Zeke asks.
My light, bright eyes soon dark and sad. I shake my head. "I didn't even think about that. I'm not allowed to have pets in my apartment unless it's, like, a fish or hamster or whatever," I say disappointedly. "I guess I'll have to take him to the pound."
"Nonsense. I'd be glad to keep him," Tobias says. "I've always wanted a beagle, and I was never allowed to have a dog as a kid. Plus you can come visit. I mean you'll be spending a lot more time there anyway, right?" He winks.
"Ugh, no. Not even this dog can make me come over," I say in mock disgust. I can't hold back my smile, so I wink back at him. "But seriously, are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. He already seems like a good dog, not having any discipline or training yet."
I nod and gather him into my arms. "You're name is going to be Ollie. Do you like that?"
He barks.
"Aw," all the girls say, plus Uriah.
"And maybe you'll just have to stop visiting eventually," Zeke says.
"Why would I stop visiting him?" I ask.
"Because one day you'll be moving in with him."
Turns out, Zeke was right for once. It's three months after the whole camping trip, and today is Thanksgiving.
"My god, Tobias, how have you been here for five months and I haven't seen you until today? Look at you! You look amazing!" my mother says, incredulous, as she pulls him into a hug. "I didn't even know you were here until two days ago when Tris asked me if you could come over today!"
Tobias and I step in all the way into the house, taking off our shoes. Aunts, uncles, cousins, who have all met Tobias, slowly start to recognize him, but don't say anything.
Mom walks back into the kitchen, saying the turkey is almost done.
"Um, does your mom know we're together? Or your dad, for that matter?" Tobias asks quietly.
I don't say anything. "Ah, no, not really."
He angrily laughs. "What, are you ashamed of me or something?"
"God, no, Tobias. I am extremely proud to call you my boyfriend, but I guess they've always expected me to always bring a jerk home, just like high school, and I don't want them to think you've turned into a jerk. I am super proud of you. Hell, I flaunt you." I smirk.
He nods. "You should probably tell them in private. I'll just… go socialize." He kisses my forehead and walks into the living room.
I step into the kitchen where my mother and father are conversing.
"Hi, honey," Dad says. "Where's Tobias?"
"Oh, he's just waiting in the living room," I say nervously.
"Something on your mind, Beatrice?" Mom asks.
I never mind that Mom and Dad call me my real name. They have a right to, and I don't mind it either.
"Well, don't freak out. Seriously. Promise me you won't." I step closer and hop on an open counter space, swinging my legs.
They nod.
"You guys like Tobias, right?"
My mother laughs. "Of course. He's been your best friend since pre-school. He came over at least four times a week."
"Well, you see, we're kind of… uh, dating."
Silence. They are too shocked to say anything.
Finally my father says, "What?"
"Well, we're dating," I say more confidently, and beaming.
"Are you serious?" Mom asks, also beaming with joy.
"Wait," Dad says. "You. And Tobias. Tobias Eaton."
"Yeah."
"That means he's turned into a jerk. You only go out with jerks, which angered me back then, by the way. Where is he? Living room?"
"Dad, just stay here and let me explain, alright?" I say.
He slowly and hesitantly nods.
"How long have you two been together?" Mom asks. "When did this happen?"
"Well… four months ago," I mumble.
"Four months?" they exclaim.
"Why on Earth didn't you tell us?" my dad asks.
"I was afraid you'd assume he was a jerk, just like how you did, Dad." I pause. "And I'm in love with him. And… I have a feeling that we aren't just trying this out to see what happens. I think we are both in this for the long run." I smile and run a hand through my hair. "In fact, I kind of sort of just moved in with him yesterday."
At this, they both raise their eyebrows.
"Wow," my mom says.
"Can you go get him?" Dad asks.
I nod and hop off the counter, walking out the door.
"Tobias," I say, waving him over, since he seems to be sitting the awkwardly, not speaking to anyone.
He walks over and smiles. "Yeah?"
"They want to talk to us. Well, my father wants to talk to you, actually." I chuckle.
He's already nervous. He nods. "Okay."
"Hey, you've got nothing to worry about." I place a soft kiss on his lips and entwine our hands.
I pull him into the kitchen, and I can already tell my father is shocked by Tobias's body.
"Wow, Tobias. You look so…," my father trails off.
"Not fat?" he tries to fill in.
"I guess you could say that." Dad chuckles. "So, I heard about you and my daughter. You know she has a reputation for dating jerks, and by being with you, hopefully she's grown out of it," he says, as if I'm not standing right here.
"I hope I'm not a jerk." Tobias chuckles.
"Me too."
"Well, I totally called this one," says my mom. "I thought it'd happen back in high school though."
"Mom…" I shake my head. I grab Tobias's hand, laughing, and pull him out of the kitchen.
We stand outside and around the corner so nobody can see us, and I stand on my tiptoes so my lips reach his.
"What is this?!" I hear Caleb yell.
"So. Mom. Dad. You never really told us how you met," a now fifteen-year-old Brooklyn says.
"Yeah," Mitchell says, at the age of thirteen.
"Well," I say, "once upon an ancient time, we went to the same pre-school and became best friends."
"Once I was in high school, I realized I was in love with your mother."
"But I didn't know it. We were best friends, and he didn't want to ruin that."
"Plus, I was really fat back then, so I wasn't popular like your beautiful mother."
"But I loved you," I say. "Anyway, the day of our graduation I threw a party, and I found out he was in love with me. He was really upset about the whole thing and was standing beside the roof outside, ready to leave."
"But your mother caught up with me, and then long story short, we got gooped on by a bunch of asshats. Well, I got gooped on, that is."
"Then he left for five years, and the only reason I knew he was alive was because he was on the cover a really famous entrepreneur magazine from back then because he was one of the youngest, most successful businessmen out there."
"Then I came back. After about four weeks, your Aunt Chris rented that lake house we go to every year, and that was when we had our first kiss."
"And also when your mother told me she was in love with me. While we were kissing, your aunts and uncles pushed us into the lake, so that was fun," Tobias says, laughing.
"So that's why we go there every year still, and that's why we kiss in the same exact spot every time. That was actually where I found Ollie." Sadly, Ollie died a year ago of old age, so we got a new pug named Jane, after the song "Diary of Jane" that Tobias and I absolutely love.
"Okay, seriously, that totally sounds like it came out of a book," Brooklyn says.
"So you got friendzoned for, like, years?" Mitchell asks.
"How do you know what the friendzone is?" Tobias asks.
My son laughs. "Because I'm in it."
I pull up our conjoined hands. "There's still time and a chance." I chuckle.
He raises an eyebrow. "I'm not marrying her."
Tobias leans forward. "That's what I said."
Mitchell shakes his head.
"You know," Brooklyn says, "it's almost disgusting how you two are still in love after 17 years of marriage." But then, with a smile, "I hope I'm as lucky as you, Mom." Then with that, Brooklyn walks upstairs to her bedroom.
Tobias and I smile at each other.
"You two are about to kiss, and I don't need to see that, so I'll be going to my room," Mitchell says, already running upstairs.
Tobias immediately kisses me once we hear his door shut, and I run my hands through his hair, which somehow he still has. One of my palms lies on his cheek, and he rests his hands on my hips underneath my shirt. I push him down onto the couch so he's lying down, and he grabs my waist, pulling me toward him. I turn and see him so we are face to face. I kiss him one last time on the side of his mouth lazily and nuzzle my face into his shoulder.
"In love with you," I say.
"In love with you too."