Hi Everyone. Just a quick a/n to say thank you for all your support it is amazing and helps me to keep wanting to write. I have had a lot of request from people asking me to skip straight to Tris and Caleb choosing. I am sorry to say that it will be a little while before that happens. I have some character development I want Tris and Tobias to have before they are reunited. There will also be a bit of quoting from the books as Four settles into Dauntless. I hope you all stay with the story, I will keep updating daily so that they get their quicker, I might even throw in a bonus chapter here and there. Once again thank you for your support and happy reading.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
TRIS POV
We are sitting around our kitchen table. We had all finished our breakfast a time ago but none of us move. There is a sadness in the air. We all know that we will not be seeing Tobias come back through that door tonight. Dad left with Marcus and Tobias, he didn't want Tobias to have any time with Marcus alone so he decided to walk them to the bus stop.
We should really get up and start to clean up the kitchen but I have no motivation to move. "Come on you two," mum says. "We need to get these plates cleaned up."
Caleb and I grab everything and start to wash up. We have just finished when dad walks in with Natasha. "Natasha," mum says. "How good to see you. I thought you would have been at the Choosing Ceremony today." Mum walks over to Natasha and says, "Oh dear."
Caleb and I look at each other and rush to walk out of the kitchen to see what has shocked mum. I walk out to see what mum is talking about. I look at Natasha and I see exactly what mum is talking about. Natasha has a black eye and a bruise on her cheek.
"Beatrice could you please put the kettle on," mum says. I rush back into the kitchen and turn the kettle on. I get three cups out of the cupboard, I know that Caleb and I will not be invited to sit in on this conversation.
"Natasha come in and sit down. I think it would be best if we sit in the family room," mum says. Thank you mum I think. If they sat in the kitchen we wouldn't be able to hear the conversation from the top of the stairs but I know that if they are in the family room, we will be able to hear everything.
Dad walks into the kitchen and says, "Beatrice I think it would be best if you and Caleb go upstairs. I don't think Natasha is going to feel comfortable talking and it may make it even harder if you are both here."
"Yes father," I say and I grab Caleb's hand and we walk out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
We get to the top of the stairs and I sit down. "What are you doing Beatrice?" Caleb asks.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" I whisper shout at Caleb. "Don't you want to know what happened?"
"I think we can see what happened Beatrice," he says.
"I know but what triggered it? He has treated her so well up until now," I say.
We both get comfortable and wait for the adults to start talking.
"What happened Natasha?" Mum asks.
"I didn't really believe you when you told me the truth to why Tobias was living with you. And Marcus made Evelyn seem like a raving lunatic for wanting to live factionless rather than stay with him. Everything has always been great between Marcus and I. I know that he expected me to act a certain way and to not question his decisions but although he had got angry in the past he had never lashed out at me before," Natasha tells my parents.
"What do you think changed?" Dad asks.
"I found out I was pregnant a few days ago. I could see Marcus start to change almost instantly. It scared me, the way his eyes changed. It was like I was looking at black sole less pits. Then last night he started to ramble on about how Tobias better pick Abnegation. I tried to calm him down but then he told me that this little bastard I am carrying better not turn out like Tobias has or there will be hell to pay. I lost it, I finally realised that what you had told me was true. I told him if he treated our childlike he had treated Tobias that there would be hell to pay. That's when he hit me."
"I was so shocked at first. I couldn't believe that he would hit his pregnant wife. But once the initial shock wore off I started to defend myself. He quickly stopped once he saw that I wasn't going to be a push over. What am I going to do?" Natasha has started crying as she asks the question.
"Well," mum starts. "I think you and I should go and collect your things. You can stay here until we can work out a more permanent arrangement."
"Oh no, I could never do that to you. I can't put you out like that. You don't have the room to fit another person in here," Natasha says.
"Natasha you cannot stay there. It isn't just you that you need to think about. If you think it is going to get better, then you are very mistaken. Especially after today," dad says.
"What do you mean after today?" Natasha asks.
It is silent for a minute and then I can just hear Natasha say, "Oh. Oh dear really? I thought he would stay. I mean he has seemed so happy living here."
"Well we aren't the problem," Mum says. "Tobias can't cope being around Marcus. The nightmares he has even if he has only seen Marcus from a distance have been horrendous. You have no idea just what that man put him through. You do not want your child living with the threat of that Natasha."
"We had hoped he had changed when he had found you and we could see that he wasn't hurting you. But it seems that the thought of another child has brought out the worst in Marcus again," mum says.
"Look lets go and get your belongings while he is at the Choosing Ceremony and we can work out the rest later. At least this way we all know you are safe and he won't be able to harm you ever again," Dad says.
I look at Caleb and he is looking back at me. I think although we knew what Natasha was going to tell us it is still a bit of a shock. We hear the front door close and Dad is walking up the stairs. "So I can assume you both heard all of that?" he says.
We both just nod our heads. "Well then come and help me put clean sheets on Tobias's bed. I think our guest may be staying for a little longer than she thinks she will be," he says.
We are all sitting in the family room when we hear very loud banging on our front door. I see Natasha's face drop and I know that she expects that this will be Marcus. The knocking is to loud for it to be Tobias and even if it was him he would just walk in. Although a small part of me wishes that it is Tobias I know deep down that it won't be. Hopefully by now he is enjoying the start of his new life in Dauntless.
Dad opens the door and Marcus storms into the house. "This is all your fault," he shouts. "You turned him against me and now he has left."
"Marcus have you forgotten why Tobias came to live with us in the first place?" my father asks him.
"I blame you Natalie. You have put fanciful stories in his head about how wonderful life in Dauntless is. That is the only way he would ever betray me, betray this faction like this. It is all your fault," Marcus yells.
I can't help but smile. He did it. He broke away from here. It also makes me incredibly sad. But for right now I will enjoy the fact that he is free. And I can also enjoy the pain it is causing Marcus. Because although it doesn't make up for what he did to Tobias, it is good to see him hurting.
"Natasha?" Marcus asks. "What the hell are you doing here? You should be at home making my dinner."
I watch as mum moves towards the kitchen. I wonder what she is doing.
"Natasha I will ask you again. What are you doing here?"
"Marcus it has come to our attention that you have been treating Natasha appallingly. She will be staying with us until a more permanent arrangement can be made," dad says.
"I don't think so," Marcus says. "Get your things Natasha we are leaving."
"No," Natasha says. "I am going to be staying here."
Marcus walks into the family room and starts to try and pull Natasha out of her chair.
"Stop," my mother yells. I look over to where my mother is standing and she is holding a gun and it is pointed towards Marcus.
Marcus freezes.
"Let go of her," mum says.
"How dare you," Marcus says. "I am the leader of Abnegation. You cannot threaten me like this. I will not stand for it."
My mother lets out a laugh. "I don't really care who you think you are Marcus. I am not going to let you harm another person. Was it not bad enough what you did to Evelyn? Then to start on an innocent child. Now you want us to allow you to beat your wife, the mother of your unborn child. I don't think so. It all stops now. Now you can either walk out the front door Marcus or you can leave in a body bag. It's your choice but remember I am originally from Dauntless and I won't miss."
Marcus slowly let's go of Natasha and starts to make his way towards the door. Just as he reaches for the handle he says, "this is not over. I will make sure you are all made factionless for this."
"No Marcus that will not be happening. I will be calling an emergency council meeting tomorrow and you better hope that your fellow Abnegation are more forgiving than we are. Or you may find yourself factionless by the end of the day," dad says.
We watch as Marcus leaves. You can feel the tension leave the air as soon as the door is closed behind him.
"Natalie could you please put that thing away now," dad asks mum. "I think it may be a good idea if we lock our doors tonight."
We don't usually lock our doors in Abnegation. But I can understand dads concerns. The look on Marcus's face as he was leaving was extremely scary. It reminds me of the stories Tobias used to tell me of how Marcus was when he would get angry.
"Okay I think that has been enough drama for one night. Beatrice, Caleb I think it is time for you to get ready for bed. I think tomorrow is going to be a long day. Natalie I will probably need you and the kids to help out with the initiates in the morning. I am going to have to try and sort this mess out with the council as soon as possible. I think Marcus has blown his last chance, it is time we have him removed from the council. I would request for him to be factionless but I am afraid of what he may do to Evelyn," dad says.
With this Caleb and I say our good nights and walk upstairs. I wish Tobias had been here to see what had just happened. I know mum and dad were to kind to Marcus after they found out what he had done to Tobias. Hopefully now they can get something done about him. Otherwise I know we will all be living in fear of what he may do to Natasha.