To Forge Forever

by My Writing Is This

Just when one fight ended, another began. Having found each other, our family was whole again. I had Eric back and we were free to be together and happy. But the war was far from over. Breaking free of it all, we were still on the path of discovery, pain, and loss. Holding on to the little happiness we could find and the hope for a better future. A forever with the man I loved.

5. Support

Chapter Five: Support

With my heart beating a mile a minute, we followed Tori toward the Erudite med area. My mind was already moving through all the worst case scenarios. Picturing how much blood their might be, how many bruises, how many marks against his skin that would send me into a blind rage at whoever touched him. I could see the same expression on Tris's face. Both of us were holding it together but inside we were writhing with the possibility of something catastrophic happening to the men we loved.

"I'm freaking out now." Tris told me softly. Again, I couldn't trust my voice so I simply nodded at her. "Pen." She said making me look at her. "Tell me they're okay."

Furrowing my brows at her, it took me a long time to answer her, "They're gonna be okay." Tori looked at me over her shoulder. "What happened?" I asked her.

"Let's just get to them and then I'll explain."

"Why can't you explain now?" Tris shot at her.

"Because I need both of you to see them first. You'll be less likely to rush off and do something stupid if you see that they're okay."

"They are okay then?" I asked. She didn't say anything. I gripped her arm, making her look at me, "Tori."

She put her arm around me, rubbing mine comfortingly. "Eric's in a little rougher shape than Four. But he's gonna be okay." Biting my lip to try not to cry, I nodded at her. "He's gonna be okay, Pen. It's just a bump in the road. One that I've been trying to keep quiet." I nodded again. "You'll understand when you see him. Then I'll explain." I nodded again. "I love you, Pen. Everything is going to be okay."

"Love you too." I said quietly, leaning my head against hers.

Stepping through the doors, there were a few people lying in beds, with two others whose curtains were drawn. Looking at Tori, she nodded, running her hand down my hair as I stepped away from her. Tris was next to me until I rushed forward, slipping into the curtain closest to me.

"Pen." Four said sitting up straighter.

I just frowned at him before pulling the curtain back and slipped into the next one. The smell of alcohol hit my nostrils before I'd even finished stepping through. Tears were immediately in my eyes as I looked at Eric. He looked like he was sleeping; cuts and bruises on his face and the knuckles of his right hand were all split open. Slowly stepping to him, I slipped my hand under his, gripping it tightly as I ran my hand along his hair.

"Baby, you're shaking." He frowned with a slight slur.

I wanted to be angry with him. I wanted to shake him and tell him how stupid he was being. But I couldn't do it. Instead I just cleared my throat, talking softly to him, "Yeah, I'm a little cold."

"Then lay down with me so I can warm you up." He commanded.

Smiling, I leaned down and kissed him sweetly, tasting the liquor on his lips. "I love you, baby."

"Mm, you taste good." He smirked, before he shot up, vomiting all over my front.

Gasping, it took only a second for me to put my hands on him, steadying him as the second wave hit. Sighing, rubbing his back, he coughed and spit the remainder from his mouth.

"That's better." He said leaning back.

Gripping him tightly, he passed out before his head hit the pillow. Gently lowering him, making sure he was comfortable, I ran my hand across his hair and down his face, as I once again took his hand in mine. Continuing the motion, I couldn't help but stare at him. Even now he was beautiful. Wiping the last of the vomit from his chin, I leaned down and kissed him, resting my forehead against his. Sighing, I leaned away, looking down at myself. I was covered from my stomach to my feet, smelling like rotting food and a shit ton of liquor. Kissing him once more, I turned and threw the curtain back and then did the same to Four's. Tris had her arms around him, whispering softly to him.

"Opie." He said holding out his hand.

"What did you do?" I shot at him.

"Opie, I'm sorry."

"Tobias Eaton." I said with venom. "What did you do? I will not repeat myself again."

"Things got a little...out of hand." He replied.

He smelled like alcohol as well but he wasn't slurring and I was pretty sure his stomach was fine. For a moment I imagined punching it, making him throw up as well, but then thought better of it.

"A little out of hand?" I frowned motioning to my vomit soaked clothes. "What the hell happened, Four?!" I was yelling now, the force of it making him jump and it was obvious his head was pounding. "Did he go after his parents?" He just looked at me with furrowed brows. "Did he pick a fight with someone? Did he take it out on a punching bag? Tell me what happened!"

"Pen." Tori said softly.

"No!" I yelled at her. "I want Tobias to tell me! Because I've never seen him drunk before because he has never been drunk before! And now he's passed out from drinking too much! And I think you can tell by the look of me that he's not okay!"

"Pen, I'm sorry." Four told me again.

"You said that. I heard you. But that's not what I want to hear. I want you to tell me what happened." I told him as calmly as I could muster.

"Pen." Tori said again, gently gripping my hand.

Tears sprang to my eyes as I looked between her and Four. "Why won't you tell me what happened?"

"He did go to confront his parents." Tori told me.

Shock moved through me, making me cover my mouth to keep from screaming and sobbing at the same time. "Did they...?" I asked, pointing toward Eric.

Four sighed and nodded, making me scoff and pace away from him. "He fought back."

"Why would you let him do that?" I shot at him, rushing toward him and getting in his face. "What the hell were you thinking, Tobias?! You let him confront the people who beat him and then let them hurt him and then him them? What is the matter with you?!"

"Pen." He said looking at me sadly.

"Stop saying my name!" I yelled at him. "Ever since we left home you've been nothing like the man I love as a brother." I told him with a disappointed tone. "Who are you?"

"That's not fair." He frowned at me.

"You knew what he was thinking and feeling! You knew and you still let him confront them!"

"I thought that's what he needed!" He yelled back at me, getting to his feet. He was unstable, putting his hand on the edge of the bed as Tris steadied him. "He needed to confront them, talk to them, but I didn't know what they were really like."

"So that makes it okay?" I shot at him.

"You could have told me! You could have given me a little insight to them and I would have reacted differently."

Scoffing, I nodded at him, "So this is my fault?"

"I didn't say that!"

"You're clearly implying it!"

Tori took a step closer to us. "Okay, guys, calm down."

"Pen, I wouldn't have let him go there if I knew how malicious they were. They wanted to hurt him."

"What are you talking about?"

He sighed, bowing his head before meeting my eyes again. "Tris, please get her a chair."

She swiftly obliged and I dropped down into it as he sat on the edge of the bed. Putting my elbows on my knees, I pressed my hand against my forehead, taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm down. Though the smell of Eric's vomit was anything but calming. Then I laced my fingers in front of me as I looked up at Four again, meeting his eyes expectantly. He sighed as he bent a leg, sitting on the bed again.

"Just tell me what happened, Tobias." I told him gently.

He nodded, "He was already drunk when it happened. It didn't take long since he's not a big drinker."

"Not a big drinker?" I interrupted him. "He doesn't ever drink!"

''Opie." He frowned. "Please just let me explain."

"Fine." I shot at him, motioning for him to go on.

He raised a brow at me before he went on. "He wanted to talk to his parents and since I wasn't drunk I thought I could handle it." He paused and it was clear that he had been wrong. "His dad was drunk when we got there. Eric asked them what he did to deserve the abuse they'd given him. That was the only question he asked. In the next moment his dad was beating him while his mom laughed." He paused again, watching the tears slide down my cheeks. For a moment I couldn't breathe, staring at Four until it passed, nodding at him. "It happened so fast, Opie. But since Eric was drunk he fought back. He hit him twice. His mother came to help but he shoved her to the floor, a string of curses and insults being thrown at him. I grabbed him and pulled him back, but he was already realizing what was happening and he took off. I lost him for maybe a half hour, passing a few wounded Dauntless and even more factionless before I found him punching the shit out of a brick wall."

"His hand." I whispered, nodding at him.

He nodded, "He was bleeding pretty good for a while."

"How long have you been here?"

"A few hours. Tori wanted to get him cleaned up before she went and got you."

"Has he been given any fluids?"

"He drank a couple glasses of water."

Nodding, I stood, turning back to look at Eric. "I should start an IV."

"Someone else can do that." Tori told me gently.

"No." I said shaking my head as I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "I want to do it."

Tris put her hand on my arm, "We should get you cleaned up."

"I'm not leaving him." I replied quickly.

"I'll stay with him." Tori told me. "I won't leave his side."

Nodding, I looked at Tris, "Okay."

"We won't be long." She told Four, kissing him, running her hand along his chest before putting her arm around me.

Leading me back to my room, the broken window was the only evidence that something had happened. Tris led me to the bathroom, making sure I had everything I needed before she stood there looking anxious. For a second I just looked at her, enjoying when she was anxious.

"Will you help me?" I asked her.

For just a moment her eyes grew wide and then she was pushing her hair behind her ears, "Yeah."

Laughing, the feeling amazing in this moment, I put my hand on her arm, "I'm just kidding."

I could see the relief fill her, "Oh thank god."

"But if you'll wait for me, I'd appreciate it."

"Of course." She told me.

"Thank you, Tris. I really do appreciate it."

"Hey, you're family, Pen." She smiled.

Moving to hug her, I stopped, looking down at myself. Instead I put my hand on her arm, "I'm glad we're family."

"Me too." She said and left, closing the door behind her.

Stripping, throwing the clothes away, I stepped into the shower, looking down at the spot where we had fought and reconnected. All over the little girl in the next room. Showering quickly, I thought I'd have a breakdown moment and need to cry, but I felt calmer. At the same time my heart was aching for Eric. For what he was going through. I didn't know how to help him through this one. I didn't know what he needed from me.

When I was done, I went into the next room and quickly grabbed clothes while Tris tried to keep her eyes averted from me. Smiling, I had pulled on underwear and a bra before I turned to her, raising a brow questioningly. It was clear there was a question moving around in her mind. Or at least an observation.

"I didn't realize you had so many tattoos."

"I worked in the Parlor. Of course I have a lot of tattoos."

"You don't show them off very much."

Sighing as I pulled up my jeans, I rested my hands on my hips, "My tattoos are my story. They all have meaning to them and all span from a moment in my life."

"Do you have one for Eric?" She asked.

"Not yet. But I will." I smiled. Pulling on a long-sleeved black V-neck, I grabbed my bag and started to put things inside of it.

Tris watched me before asking, "What are you doing?"

"I'm grabbing him the things he'll want." I told her. "I have clothes I'll change him into. Toothbrush. Toothpaste. I have his book."

"His book?" She frowned.

"He's from Erudite. He does read."

"I suppose."

"You know, I never really noticed his reading habits." I smirked at her, looking at the book. "I think I unconsciously ignored it since he was a former Erudite who was hunting me. But now that things have worked out, he enjoys reading. Not to learn more but to enjoy it. He reads fiction. Usually some sort of thriller or mystery, the occasional fantasy or science fiction, and the rare drama."

"He reads and you draw." She smiled.

"Yeah." I nodded. "And he might be in there a while so it'll be nice if he has something to occupy his time."

A frown crossed her face, "Where are you gonna be?"

Meeting her eyes, I didn't say anything. I was going to be there and yet part of me wanted to seek out his parents and teach them a lesson that they would not soon forget. He needed to be protected. There was little he needed to be protected from, but his parents were definitely a part of his life that he needed to be protected from. I told him they would never touch him again and in the same day I'd failed. I wasn't there. He got drunk and confronted them and I wasn't there.

"Don't do it, Pen." She told me.

Blinking repeatedly, I started to move again, "I wasn't thinking anything."

"You were, Pen." She said sadly. "You were. And you can't. Let it go right now or you will make things worse."

Meeting her eyes, I nodded, "I know. But they can't get away with this. I need to protect him."

"I know you do, Pen. But going up against his parents will bring not only Tori on your head but Evelyn as well."

"Hell, Evelyn loves me." I frowned at her, making my way to the door.

Tris crossed her arms, "Lucky you."

Evelyn had no love for Tris and I knew that, making me feel guilty. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." She stated. "I know that she doesn't like me."

"Still..." I said and scuffed my shoe against the floor.

"Don't worry about it. We should get back." She replied with a small smile.

Nodding, we left again, swiftly making our way back to the med area. It seemed like the news of what happened had spread, eyes watching us, followed by whispers from everyone we passed. I wasn't surprised and yet I wanted to punch every last one of them. I needed the training room. Our training room. The needed the faded black overused punching bags and the scent of sweat and blood and excitement and adrenaline. I needed a release and it didn't seem like I was going to get one. Not here.

As soon as we were in the med area, Tris moved toward Four, while I swiftly went to Eric. "How's he doing?" I asked Tori, setting the bag in an empty chair, running my hand along his hair as I leaned over him. I knew I was staring but I couldn't help myself. I could stare at him forever.

"He's sleeping soundly." She replied.

Looking at his arm, an IV had been placed. "Who did this?" I frowned.

Tori's eyes darted to mine, nervousness in them, though a smile remained on her face. "One of their nurses. She did very well."

Taking a deep breath, I nodded, "Okay." Watching her relax, I couldn't help but smile. "I'm not going to fly off the handle or anything."

"I'm ready for anything." She smiled. "If you want to fly off the handle we can do that."

"I don't." I told her. "I already yelled at Four. I'm okay for right now."

The curtain moved and both Tris's and Four's face appeared. Four was propped up, looking at me warily. "She's not okay." Tris stated.

Tori frowned at me. Sighing, I shrugged, "I'm okay. I just need a release."

"She wants to confront his parents."

"No." Tori said matter-of-factly.

My calm was swiftly replaced with anger, "Something needs to be done, Tori."

"Something will be done." She nodded softly.

"Look at him." I said pointing at him. "He's hurt and drunk and half of the man he usually is. This cannot happen. I will not let this happen. If I even see them look his way I swear to god I will kill them. I will kill them and not bat an eye. I'll kill them with a smile on my face."

"Pen." Evelyn's voice said forcefully, making both Tori and me look at her. "A word?" She added with a raised brow.

"I'm not going anywhere right now." I shot at her.

"Pen." Evelyn said again.

"You say my name like that's all it takes to make me listen to you." I frowned at her, gripping Eric's hand. "I am more concerned about my boyfriend right now. I have no desire to speak with you."

"It concerns him and what happened tonight." She stated, her tone turning dark. "Please accompany me to my office so we can discuss it."

"I was with him." Four said standing up. He was ready to pull the IV from his arm if he had to. "I can tell you what happened." She looked at him and he swiftly backed down. I knew that look. Four's had the same effect on me. He met my eyes, sighed, and nodded at me.

Turning to Eric, I leaned down and kissed him sweetly, "I'll be right back, baby. I love you."

Tori took his hand from mine, holding it tightly in hers, "I'll keep watch over him."

"Are you sure?" I asked her. "Would he be keeping you from anything?"

She shook her head, "No. Even if he was it wouldn't matter. He's family."

"Thank you." I said wrapping my arm around her neck.

Looking at Evelyn, she didn't smile as she turned away, leading me down the familiar hallways to her office. Trailing my fingers along the spines of the books as I passed, she quietly closed the door behind me. I was starting to hate this office. I'd been in here too much and right now I was only concerned with one thing, and that was Eric. Now, if she had a plan for his parents or gave me free rein to kill them, then this might be an okay visit. If it was to scold me, I'd get that release I'd been looking for.

"What can I do for you, Evelyn?" I frowned at her, dropping into a slouch in one of the chairs.

She looked at me with slightly narrowed eyes. It was like she was gauging me to see what I was going to do. Keeping her eyes, I waited for her to say something. She wouldn't have dragged me all the way here if she didn't have something she wanted to say. If that was the case, it would be another reason to get that release I'd been looking for.

When I couldn't take it anymore, I leaned forward, my elbows on my knees. "Listen, if I wanted a stare down I could've stayed in the med area. What do you want, Evelyn? I am in no mood to deal with you right now. I'm worried about Eric and it makes me anxious being apart from him."

"Why?" She asked.

"Because he's going through something hard and I need to be there for him."

"You need to be there for him." She repeated. "But he doesn't need you to get through it?"

Furrowing my brows at her, I slightly turned my head away from her as I kept her eyes. "I suppose not."

"You left him in the care of my son and look how that turned out."

"Are you trying to piss me off?" I shot at her, ready to storm out or beat the shit out of her.

"No." She replied shaking her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't ask you here to start a confrontation."

"Then why am I here?"

"I want to help you." She stated.

"Do what?"

There was a long pause before she replied, her voice gentle, "Keep Eric safe." Surprised by her words, I relaxed a little, my expression softening. "I know exactly what you're feeling. Exactly what he's feeling. I understand your position and the need to protect him."

"I know you do." I nodded. "But unlike you, I'm not going to run."

Something flickered in her eyes and for a moment I thought this was going to go bad quickly. But she simply smiled and nodded, "I know. Another reason I want to help you. You're nothing like me, Pen. I think that's part of your appeal. But the love you have for Eric is real and it is beautiful. It's obvious that you love each other and you don't find love like that often anymore." She paused, distance entering her eyes as if she was remembering something. "In Abnegation there is no such thing as public displays of affection. You don't touch skin unless you're in your bedroom and only after you're married. Courting is something that just isn't done because that would be self-indulgent. Displays of affection would be boasting. Endearing conversation would be inappropriate. You've been lucky to be in Dauntless. You get to experience things and be open with your feelings."

"I was never able to be open about my feelings." I told her before she could go on. "Not where Eric was concerned. Everyone hated him and disapproved of my relationship with him. I nearly cut ties with my entire family to be with Eric. I wouldn't call that open."

"But you and Eric were open with each other. You grazed flesh. You kissed. You held hands. It's still more than most get."

"But sometimes it's not enough when everyone and everything around you falls apart because of it."

"But you'd have him."

I nodded, "And I would love to say that that was enough. That he was all I needed and that nothing else mattered. But it matters, Evelyn. People matter. The only person I really need is Eric. But it wouldn't be a life I'd choose. I need Tobias. I need Claude. I need Tori. I need my family. The people in our lives are what shape who we are. Without them I wouldn't be as carefree or strong or competitive or put together for that matter. We need each other to grow and become better people." I told her, sighing. "If I only had Eric we would be happy." I nodded at her. "For a while anyway. But we're not made for a life like that. We need people to surround us. Not just me. He does too. I need someone to bitch about him to and vice versa." I ended with a smile. She nodded, staring at me. "So how are you going to help me?"

"You're a bit different, aren't you?"

"Excuse me?" I frowned at her.

"Your Divergence is showing." She stated.

Scoffing, I shook my head, "Because I can spout shit that everyone should already know?"

"Because most would never think that. People do what they've been taught by their faction and that's where it ends. Nobody thinks the way you do."

"They do. They're just too afraid to say anything. The people who lead them have given them more than enough reasons to be afraid." I shot at her with a harsher tone than I had intended. "Tell me what you dragged me here to say. I want to get back to Eric as soon as possible."

"You left him in capable hands."

"I want to be there when he wakes up." I went on.

We stared at each other for a long moment before she took a deep breath, averting her eyes. "I can arrange a meeting with you and his parents."

"Why?" I asked with narrowed eyes.

"Because it's obvious that you'll do it on your own and I'd prefer we do it on neutral ground where you can yell all you want but no physical damage will be done."

"I'm looking to cause pain, Evelyn. I don't know if talking will suffice."

"It'll have to if you want me to set this up."

"I didn't ask you to set anything up." I told her.

She smiled at me sadly, "You're hurting, Pen. I can see that. But you need to accept that things are different."

"I do accept it." I shot at her. "My life has been turned upside down because of all this. You're talking to the wrong person if you want to lecture about how different things are."

She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk, looking at her hands as she laced them together. "This isn't going well."

"What did you expect?" I shot at her. "For me to bow down and kiss your feet in thanks for your kindness?"

"I have been kind to you, Pen. You'll see how kind when I take it all from you."

"It's an apartment and a bathroom. I think we'd survive without it." I told her calmly.

She scoffed and shook her head. "Are you making this hard because I am in a position of authority or because you despise me?"

"I don't despise you." I told her with a frown. "I don't agree with the majority of your decisions but I don't despise you. And I don't care that you're in a position of authority. At the end of the day you're as dispensable as the rest of us."

We had another stare down, making my annoyance grow. I was just about to get up and leave, when she spoke again. "Do you want the meeting or not?"

"I'll think about it." I told her, getting to my feet. She just looked at me. "Am I not allowed to think about it? I'd like to discuss it with Eric before I decide."

"Why?"

"Because we're partners." I frowned at her. "If he has legitimate reasons for wanting me to stay away from them, then I will. Hell, even if he doesn't, all he has to do is ask me not to. I won't do it behind his back. We didn't come this far to start distrusting each other."

"Like Tobias and Tris?" She replied nonchalantly.

My frown deepened as I stepped toward the desk. "You don't know him anymore, Evelyn. You never did. You abandoned him, leaving him with his abusive father. You no longer have the right to anything going on in his life without his permission. More than that, you don't know anything about their relationship."

"Do you?"

"Better than you do." She nodded. Crossing my arms, I sighed, bowing my head. "Why am I really here? What are you hoping to get out of me?"

"Nothing." She said shaking her head. "I just wanted to help."

Cracking a smile, I shook my head at her, "You suck at helping."

She laughed loudly, and nodded, "I'm gathering that."

Taking a seat again, I propped my elbows on my knees, rubbing my hands together. When I spoke my tone was calm, not wanting to fight with her anymore. "I appreciate you wanting to help. I really do. But I've spent the last five years with this idea of you in my head and it's hard to let that go. I know you understand the situation. Better than I do. It's still new to me. All I know is that I need to defend him. Especially in this. And to have him get drunk and go after them without me pisses me off more than I can say." Pausing, getting angry again, I took a deep breath to steady myself. "I should have been there. He's never been drunk. He hardly ever gets buzzed. That's just not who he is. I now know why. It all spans from his parents. I hate them for it and I need to do something about it."

She smiled and nodded, "Just let me know what you decide."

"I will." I nodded. "Thank you."

"You should get back to him." She told me, still smiling.

Nodding, I stood, walking to the door. Pausing with my hand on the handle, I turned back to her. "Thank you."

Her smile slightly grew, "You're welcome."

On the way back to the med area, I actually took my time. The whole encounter running through my mind. I didn't know what to think. About Evelyn or the offer she gave me. I didn't know what to say to Eric or to Four or to Tori. There wasn't really anything to say. It happened. I'd get back to her. That was it. If she thought this would bring me over to her side, she was going to be disappointed, but either way it was what it was.

Re-entering the med area, there was no sound, making my presence known almost immediately. I had barely made it halfway across the room when Tris appeared from where Four was resting. She crossed her arms and smiled at me. She was anxious. I was too afraid to ask her about it. Instead I just returned her smile, stepping up to her as I wrapped my arms around myself, rubbing my arm.

"You okay?" I asked her.

"I should be asking you that." She sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm getting more anxious the longer I'm in this room. We've spent too much time in rooms like these."

Smiling wider, I nodded, "Yes we have." Then Tori appeared. "How is he?"

"Still sleeping." She smiled.

"Good." I replied. "I wanted to be here when he woke up."

"Just don't yell at him right away." She told me, standing so close to me that our arms brushed. "He's gonna feel like crap."

I raised a brow and looked at the closed curtain that belonged to him, "He'll deserve it."

There was a long pause when no one said anything. Then Tori broke it, "Okay, I can't take it anymore. What did she want?"

"Nothing much." I replied.

"That's vague." Tris frowned.

"It's fine guys. I was more antagonistic than she was. And the topic of conversation was Eric and his parents."

"Did she give you any information on them?" Tori asked.

I shook my head, "It's not information that I need. I need to cause them pain."

"So it was an intervention." Tris stated and nodded.

"Sort of." I said with a shrug. "She offered to set up a meeting between me and them."

"And?" Tori and Tris replied in unison.

"And I told her I'd think about it." I replied nonchalantly. But I knew they'd see right through that.

"You'd think about it..." Tori said slowly with furrowed brows and slightly narrowed eyes.

"Yes." I said shortly. "I told her I would think about it."

"Why?" Tris asked. "Isn't that what you want?"

"It is." I nodded. "Or at least I thought it was what I wanted. But sitting there, yelling at her, I realized that it's not about me. It's not about what I want. It's about Eric and what he wants. If he tells me to stay away from them then by god I'm staying away from them. If he okays it, then yes, I'll meet with them. If he wants to be there to tell them everything he's ever wanted to, then so be it. But I want him to be the final say. Because I am not going to make it about me. It's about him." I said feeling the need to rush forward to him. Then I repeated what I'd told Evelyn, "We didn't come this far to start distrusting each other." Tori nodded in response while a look crossed Tris's face. "You guys are okay, Tris. You gotta give yourself the benefit of the doubt."

"I've lied to him. He doesn't forgive that easily." She replied sadly.

"He will when it comes to you." I told her matter-of-factly. "He loves you, Tris. You have become the most important thing in his life. You just need to trust him. He can handle anything you throw at him."

She sighed and nodded, "Yeah."

"Believe me, Tris. Because I'm telling you the truth. I don't lie to you."

She smirked, "That would take the fun out of your opinions towards me."

"Hey, they've changed considerably since we first met." I stated.

"I guess that's a good thing." She smirked.

Laughing lightly, I shook my head, "You're a pain in the ass."

"Just like you."

I nodded, putting my hand on her shoulder before walking to where Eric lay. Slipping past the curtain, I took him in. He was still sleeping soundly. Bruises were starting to appear and I couldn't help but wonder if it was his parents or from the Dauntless and factionless he'd fought with afterward. Either way, I hated it. We were used to cuts and bruises and fights...but this was different. This was worse. It felt like there was a bomb, hidden, slowly ticking down till it exploded.

Stepping up to his side, I rested my hand against his face, leaning down and kissed him sweetly. Pressing a kiss against his forehead, I sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed, taking his hand in mine. Staring at him, watching the rise and fall of his chest, the small noises he always made escaping him. Smiling, I ran my hand down his face, my thumb running across his jaw, trailing my fingers down his neck before resting my hand against his chest.

"You should get some sleep." Tori told me gently.

Nodding, I sighed, "I know."

"He'll probably sleep through the night." Nodding again, I stood and pulled the chair as close to his bed as I could get it. "Do you want me to get you a blanket?"

"No. I'll be fine." I smiled up at her.

Wrapping my arm around him, resting my head against his side, I held tight to his hand, using it partially as a pillow. Sighing, I shut my eyes, feeling Tori run her hands down my hair before placing a kiss against it. She gently rubbed my back, helping me to relax. Hearing her pull up a chair, she sat next to me, continuing to rub my back. She was so close to me that I could feel her warmth, making me sigh contentedly. Thinking I should thank her, sleep followed before I could form the words.