Reluctantly Tobias had accepted Tris's offer for help. Maybe he had been silent for too long. He was so grateful to Tris for this. She had given him a way to tell someone in a position of authority that could possibly do something about his situation. He still wasn't sure which way this would go, but at least he had the hope that someone would notice and help him. He didn't know much about Tris's father. But from what little Marcus would say, he seemed to be a decent, honorable guy. But on the surface, that's exactly what Marcus was: decent and honorable, until he got home.
They finished unloading the Amity truck without saying too much. They were both nervous. Tris was nervous about getting Tobias to her father before Marcus found out what they were up to. And Tobias was nervous because he wasn't quite sure Tris's father would believe him. He hoped he would, but the past had taught him that no one really wants to get involved in these situations. The easiest thing was always to do nothing. Especially since Marcus had so much power. What proof did he have? It would be his word again Marcus'.
On their walk to Tris's house, he almost turned back three or four times. Each time he calmed himself by remembering what Tris had said. Her father might be able to fix this for him. Getting away from Marcus is what he needed. He would be able to stay in abnegation and be with Tris. This could work out just fine. Or it could all blow up in their face.
When they finally made it to Tris's house, they were surprised to find that Marcus was already there. This was the second time this had happened to them. He was there at the soup kitchen, waiting for Tobias. And now he was here waiting for them both. Did he guess what they had planned to do? Tris met Tobias's gaze and she could see the alarm and fear in his eyes. Tris feared that by offering to help Tobias, she just made the situation worse. She thought they would be in control of what happened here, the plan was for Tobias to honestly recount how his father mistreated him. Now, it was obvious that Marcus was in control of the situation.
"There are you!" Marcus stood us and they made their way to the kitchen area. "Somehow, I knew you were going to walk Tris home before you went home yourself. Funny, how it all worked out. We can both walk home together now." His forced enthusiasm was evident.
Tris was eyeing Tobias silently begging for him to say something, anything about what his father was, and he desire to get away from him. Tris noted her parents' uncomfortable presence. It was obvious that her father wasn't happy with the situation. Marcus didn't just drop by. He knew there at to be more than that. However, when Tris looked at her mother, she saw something that she didn't expect: understanding.
"I…uhh…" Tobais lamely started.
Natalie, Tris's mother interrupted, "Why don't you both stay for dinner? We have more than enough, that way you won't have to cook after such a long day." She already started pulling the extra plates they needed.
"That's very generous of you, Natalie. But Tobias and I need to get home." Marcus said sternly.
"Don't be silly, it'll only take a few minutes to eat and it's already ready." Natalie sensed the push back in Marcus, but she kept pushing. "Tris, why don't you go get your brother, and we'll all start eating."
Marcus was not happy. But by the time Tris came back with Caleb, he seemed to have softened. Natalie was doing her absolute best to steer the conversation to a joyful recount of all the great things that Marcus and Andrew got accomplished recently at work. Tris even saw Marcus smile a couple times. She would glance over to Tobias from time to time. He started the meal so stiff that she couldn't even bear to look at him. But now, he was at ease. Marcus loved hearing how amazing he was, and his mood was getting better and better. Suddenly she heard a big belly laugh and was amazed to see it came from Marcus. Tris's father seemed to have relaxed a bit as well.
"Sometimes I forget how good it is to be able to visit with people, we should do this again soon," Andrew smiled in spite of himself.
"Well, I don't want to say anything prematurely but from seeing our children together, it seems like this isn't the last time we will all be getting together." Natalie said with a gleam in her eyes.
"Mom!" Tris was embarrassed. Is it so obvious to everyone?
This seemed to make Marcus and Andrew nervous, the mood in the room faltered then. Tobias drew a deep breath. With the way things were going tonight, it seemed like things might have turn out to be all right. There would be no big reveal today. But Marcus's mood was better, and Tobias wasn't as scared to leave with him. However, now all of that was threatened. But Natalie seemed to know what she was doing.
"It's so nice to see my daughter and your son getting so close. I'm sure they confide in each other and tell each other everything." On the word everything, she annunciated every syllable. She smiled. "If it works out between them, I think it'll be lovely. I'm sure you know that we would do everything to protect Tobias, just like I'm sure you would do everything in your power to protect our daughter."
Everyone in the room just watched Natalie with stunned silence. She continued, "I'm sure you're also thrilled that my daughter has just given your son another reason to stay in Abnegation. Isn't his choosing next month?" She said cheerfully. She stopped and took another bite of her roll. "Oh! And I absolutely adore that they volunteer together. They should keep doing that. It fosters an Abnegation spirit." She looked over at Tobias, "Please know that you can come to me if you ever need anything. Anything, do you understand?" She was suddenly very serious. Tobias nodded. "But I don't think you'll need to, it seems that everyone in this room will have bright, untainted futures."
Natalie was threatening Marcus. She was doing it so skillfully that she didn't need to say anything outright. To everyone else, it seemed like Natalie was making pleasant but awkward conversation. But Tris, Tobias and Marcus knew differently. It seemed that Marcus understood everything that she was saying and not saying. He was caught and he knew it. Natalie silently threatened him that the next time he laid a finger on Tobias, she would know and she would side with Tobias for Tris, and his reputation would be ruined.
Andrew and Caleb were blissfully unaware of the gravity of this seemingly harmless conversation and just looked uncomfortable.
"Why don't we have some dessert?" Andrew filled the awkward silence.
"Yes, what an excellent idea. It is a special occasion, after all. A new beginning." She paused, a nice long pause. She looked at Marcus, "For Beatrice and Tobias."
That was the end of the awkwardness for the night. Through desert, Natalie steered the conversation back to the good work Andrew and Marcus were doing. By the end of the night, and uneasy Marcus was laughing again. Tobias saw the transformation and couldn't help but hoping that this could be new beginning for everyone.
Tris felt better about Tobias going home with Marcus now, and it looked like Tobias was also more at ease with the situation. When Marcus and Tobias left, Natalie sent Caleb and her husband away, telling them that they would take care of the cleanup.
"We need to talk," Tris's mother said.