CHAPTER SEVEN

TOBIAS POV

"Tobias can you come down stairs please?" I hear dad call out to me. I look over at Tris and give her a look to say I wonder what this is about.

I walk down stairs and mum and dad are sitting in the lounge room. They both have a serious look on their faces and I wonder what is going on.

"Come take a seat honey, we need to talk to you," mum says.

"Tobias Marcus is coming to dinner tonight," Dad says. Nobody acknowledges that Marcus is my father any more in this house. "I know this isn't an ideal situation for you but he has some news he wants to share with you. We also need to have a meeting with some council members tonight so that will happen after dinner."

I don't know what to say. I have been fortunate that the Prior's have been able to stop having Marcus over for dinner ever since I came to live here. Before that Marcus used to eat at their house at least twice a week. Of course he never took me to those dinners, it was up to me to find something to eat for myself. Which usually wasn't much, he seemed to take pleasure in feeding me as little as he possible could.

"Okay" is all that I can squeak out.

"There is something else also," mum says. "Marcus is bringing a friend with him."

I look at mum and dad and they must see the confusion on my face.

"A lady friend," dad says.

Then it dawns on me. Does she know what he is like? Does he do to her what he did to me and my mum?

"Tobias we don't know any information on their relationship," mum says. It is almost like she can read my mind.

I just nod. I don't really know what to say. Who would be stupid enough to want to be with Marcus? Doesn't she wonder why I don't live with him? Shouldn't that have alarm bells ringing?

"Now tonight we are going to need you to call us Mr and Mrs Prior. We need Marcus to think that we are all acting like the Abnegation members that we are supposed to be. Once dinner is over we will make sure to dismiss you children so that you can go back to the safety of your room. We won't let him be alone with you Tobias, we promised to keep you safe and we will do everything we can to make this as painless as possible for you. Okay?" Mum says.

Again I just nod. Mum gets up and comes over and gives me a hug. I hug back, I need to feel the security of her embrace at this moment. I know there is more to why Marcus is coming here tonight. I can feel it; he hasn't tried to come here since the day we moved in. He is up to something and I am really glad that I will have the Prior's with me tonight. Hopefully dinner will not last long because of the meeting they will be having afterwards.

I sit in my room and I don't really know what to think. Why would Marcus be coming here with a 'lady friend' if it wasn't to tell us he is getting married. Why now? Why can't he just leave me alone? Why can't he just stay away? I have a great life here with the Priors'. Him coming here will just mean more nightmares, more fear. Even though Caleb has taught me some great self defence moves I know it would never save me against him. Just the sound of his voice makes me wince.

"There you are," Tris says as she enters my room.

"Hey," I say.

"Mum told me about dinner tonight. Are you okay?" She asks as she sits down next to me.

I shake my head and Tris takes my hand in hers and says, "It will be okay. We will all be here for you. He can't hurt you anymore. We won't let him."

It makes me smile. Tris is so little but she has the fight of someone five times her size. I wish I had the strength that she does. I know tonight I am going to have to borrow some of her strength to get me through the night.

"Thanks Tris," I say.

"What for?" she asks.

"For being here for me. For making me feel safe. For giving me your strength even though I don't deserve it," I say.

"You're welcome," says Tris. "And you do deserve it Tobias, you deserve whatever you want in this world and more. You are stronger than you think."

I don't answer her back; we just sit there together in silence. Not an uncomfortable silence, it is just peaceful.

I can feel the tension in the house. We are all wondering why Marcus is coming tonight and I know that mum and dad are worried about what affect it will have on me. I don't understand why he has to keep coming back into my life. He knows that we all know what he has done but he acts so…. I don't even know how to describe it, it is so frustrating.

I have been banished to the family room, mum doesn't want me to break or burn anything because of my worry of having Marcus here for dinner. I really appreciate it but it just leaves more time for me to get stuck in my own head and think of horrible ways Marcus could still find a way to punish me. I am taken from my thoughts when Caleb comes to sit with me.

"You know they won't make you go back there don't you?" He says.

"Yes," I say.

"Then stop thinking about it. You are going to make yourself sick before we even start eating," he says.

"I wish it was that easy," I say.

"Well at least we aren't supposed to talk at the table tonight. So that is one less problem you will have to deal with Marcus being here. I just hope Beatrice can remember to keep her mouth shut," he says.

I start to laugh. Tris is going to have a hard time with that one. Caleb is laughing with me. We both know how she loves to ask questions. I don't think Marcus would appreciate questions from her.

"What are you two boys laughing about?" Dad asks.

"Beatrice. How is she going to keep her mouth shut at the dinner table tonight?" Caleb says.

"Mmm, we will just have to watch her and hope she can follow the rules for once," dad says. "Tobias just remember he can't hurt you any more, we are all here for you."

I nod my head and I'm about to say thank you when we here a knock at the door and I forget what I was about to say.

Caleb goes and answers the door and is greeted by an exceptionally cheerful Marcus and a woman that looks to be around the same age as he is. But I can't be sure, how would I know how old someone is? We don't even celebrate birthdays here, so age is irrelevant.

"Good evening Caleb," Marcus says as he walks through the door. Caleb just nods in greeting to Marcus. Caleb is so good at the Abnegation traditions. I sometimes wish I could be like he is, then maybe Marcus could have loved me.

Caleb shuts the front door and the Priors and I have all gathered in the family room now. Marcus sees me and comes straight over and gives me a hug. I don't know what to do I just freeze with my arms dangling at my sides.

"Tobias my son, it is so good to see you. I have missed you so much. I hope you have been behaving for Andrew and Natalie," Marcus says.

"Yes sir," I say, but it is barely a whisper. This is the Marcus that has all of Abnegation captivated. It is not the cruel and heartless father I had grown to know. He is putting a real show on tonight.

"Come over here there is someone I would like you to meet," Marcus tells me as he drags me the three metres to where the woman stands. "Tobias this is my wife Natasha. We were married last week."

I look at the woman that is standing in front of me and I give a nod of my head. Well I hope that is what I have done. I can't really think straight at the moment. Marcus has a new wife. Does she know what she has got herself into.

Before I let my thoughts run wild we are all ushered to the table. Thankfully I am seated next to Tris and not Marcus but he is sitting across from me and I can feel his eyes on me even while I am keeping my head down.

Most of the meal has been eaten and there has only been adult small talk which I just ignore as I eat my food. As children we aren't supposed to contribute to the talk at the dinner table so it makes it easy for me not to have to pay attention. This dinner is nothing like our usual dinners, which usually consist of Tris asking a thousand questions and dad trying to answer them all. But tonight she is doing exactly as I am keeping her head down and eating her food in silence. I can feel that she has so much pent up inside her wanting to come out but she knows that if she does open her mouth it could be detrimental to my well being. Maybe not now but at some time we both know Marcus is waiting for the chance to get me alone and beat me to death.

Tris must feel my tension and she brushes her hand over mine as she passes the food around the table. It is only a small touch but tonight it means so much and it reminds me that while I am living here I am safe.

"So Tobias, Marcus and I were talking and we would really love for you to come and live with us," Natasha says. "Would you like to come and live with us Tobias?"

"No," I almost shout at Natasha. I know that if I was at Marcus's house I would be whipped for this outburst. I quickly get up from the table and run up the stairs. I don't go into my room I just sit at the top of the stairs, I may feel completely panicked at this time but I need to hear what they are saying.

"Oh dear," Natasha says.

"Well I see his manners haven't improved," Marcus says.

"Caleb, Beatrice I think it would be good if you both go and see if Tobias is alright," mum says.

I hear their chairs scraping on the floor as they both get up from the table. I then see them start to come up the stairs, I quickly put a finger to my lips to shush them so I don't get caught for still being able to hear the conversation. Caleb and Tris both come and sit either side of me. Tris grabs my hand and laces it with hers. I don't have time to think of how good it feels to have Tris holding my hand because the adults have started to speak.

"Marcus I am sure you can understand that this would have to be quite a shock for Tobias. It has only been a few years since he lost his mother. I am sure if you give him some time he will be more receptive to Natasha," mum says.

"It is alright Natalie, I understand," Natasha says. "I think it was a bit of a shock to us at how quickly things have progressed."

"Well I think it would be selfish for Tobias to come and live with you both at the moment. You are newlyweds and should have some time to get to know each other. I don't think having a teenage boy in the house would give you the privacy that you should have at the moment," mum says.

I can't help but think how lucky I am to have the Prior's looking out for me. Mum is such a quick thinker. There is no way that Marcus will be able to say no to what she is saying.

"Natalie you are so kind. Thank you," Marcus says. I hear Tris let out a big sigh of relief and Caleb slaps me on the back. We know I am safe for a little while longer. "It will be nice to be able to spend more time with just Natasha and I. Which probably sounds selfish but I am glad you both understand."

"Marcus you are very welcome. We love having Tobias living with us. We are happy to have him stay as long as he wants. I really don't think that you would want to have to burden yourself with him at this time Marcus. We all know what happens when you get stressed. Don't we Marcus?" dad says.

I get up from where we have been sitting at the top of the stairs and I walk into my room. Both Tris and Caleb have followed and we all flop down on the floor. I don't want to keep listening to what the adults are saying. I know that I won't have to go and live with Marcus but I do feel bad for Natasha, I hope he treats her better than he treated me and my mum.

We are just sitting chatting about anything other than what has just happened down stairs. I am so thankful for having Tris and Caleb around. They help me not to sit and wallow in the pain of what my life was and help me to enjoy the new life I have been given. I always wondered what it would be like to have siblings and now I know. I can't believe how lucky I am, I could have still been with Marcus or I could have had people who didn't really want me around. But instead I get two really great friends who always make me feel welcome.

"Here's my three favourite children," mum says as she enters my room.

"We're your only children," says Tris,

"Well then I am blessed that you are all my favourites," she says as she comes and sits on the floor with us. Tris sits in her lap and I wish it was me in her lap right at this moment.

It is almost like she can read my mind because she then says, "I have enough lap for you boys as well."

I don't need to think about this I might be thirteen but right now I could do with the hug. So I move from where I am sitting and go and sit with Tris and Caleb on mums lap. We don't actually all fit on her lap but she makes sure she is hugging all three of us. It is so warm and comfortable in this big embrace.

"How are you feeling Tobias?" she asks.

"I'm sorry for running from the table like that," I say.

"Tobias you have nothing to apologise for. Now how are you really feeling?" she asks.

"I worry for Natasha; do you think he will do the same thing to her?" I ask.

"Well I think he will be in for a very rude shock if he does. Natasha transferred from Dauntless so I think Marcus will be in for a bit of a shock if he raises a hand to her," she says.

I can't help but laugh, that is the best news I have heard about Marcus in a long time. I would love to see what would happen to him if he does try to hurt Natasha in any way.

"Now Caleb and Beatrice I would like you to go downstairs and help your father clean up," she says.

"What about me?" I ask.

"Tobias you can make breakfast in the morning. I think today has been stressful enough for you. Plus I wanted to talk to you alone," she says.

"Sweetie I will never make you go and live with him again. I promise I will do everything I can to protect you. So I don't want you stress over any of this," she says.

I just nod my head and move onto her lap and let her hold me.