Hey guys. Omigosh it's been so long. I'm trying to get back on track, but with my schedule, it's pretty hard. Sorry it's not that long, but enjoy!

Chapter 52

-1 Week Later-

"Where's Four?"

I sighed as I gently bounced Carter on my knee.

"He's in the control room." I told Christina. "I've been thinking of bringing him some blankets so he can just live in there."

"What's his problem?" Christina asked as she glanced at her sleeping son.

"It's Carter."

"What about her?" Christina began. "He was so excited when she was born."

"He's terrified of her." I revealed. "He thinks he's going to hurt her."

Christina looked at me wide-eyed. "Why on earth would he think that? Why would he think that he would harm his own child?"

Knowing I couldn't tell her the reason, I had to keep my answer simple. "Let's just say it relates to his past."

Christina stood up suddenly. "No offense to him, but I don't care about his past. This is the present, and he can't avoid his wife and daughter." She bent over to grab Grayson. "Get up; we're going to deal with this right now."

I laughed lightly at my best friend and got ready to leave. "This is going to be fun."

As Christina and I walked to the control room, I thought about how I never expected to have this kind of life. I thought I'd have a simple, no-children relationship with Tobias. But this has been far from simple and childless.

We didn't bother with knocking. Christina and I were on a mission. Carter didn't deserve a life with a father who was too afraid to even look at her.

Tobias jumped as we walked in. "Tris, Christina," he said in surprise. "What are you doing here?" His eyes flittered nervously from Carter to me and back to Carter.

"Well, I heard that big bad Four is terrified of a baby," Christina teased. "So I came to set him straight."

"There's really no need for that." Tobias tried to say assertively.

"Nonsense, I'm happy to help." Christina stated. "Now, let's go back to your apartment so we have a better practice area."

The walk was uncomfortable. Christina tried to fill the silence, but soon gave up after realizing that no one was really up for conversation.

While Christina made herself at home, Tobias and I stood in the hallway after he asked to talk.

"Tris, what-" He tried to begin.

"Tobias, stop." I interrupted. "You need this."

He reluctantly followed me inside and sat beside me on the couch.

"Now, we will first begin by teaching you how to hold your child." Christina said. "I will now show you the proper way to hold an infant." Tobias watched intently as Christina used Grayson as her prop.

Tobias hesitated as I tried to hand him our baby. "You're alright." I encouraged softly. "Just make sure you support he head." The handoff went smoothly, and even though Tobias was stiff with fear, he managed not to drop Carter.

Over the course of an hour, Christina showed Tobias every possible baby technique known to man. It took him a while to realize that he wasn't going to hurt her, but eventually, he was comfortable with Carter in his arms. He didn't even protest when I left them alone to walk Christina out.

"Thank you so much." I told her in the hall.

She laughed. "No problem Tris. It was fun."

I joined in on the laughter. "You should be a teacher." I said.

"I'd be great at it." She boasted. "Anyways, no man should be afraid of his child. It would be bad for a family's social health. Isn't that right Grayson?" Christina continued to talk to her son as she left.

Tobias smiled warmly at me when I came back inside. "Thank you." He said. "I don't know why I let Marcus keep me from my own daughter. I'm nothing like him. I've proved it over and over and I still let him get to me."

"I'm proud of you."

Tobias stood and took Carter to her room. When he came back, he wrapped his arms around me and gazed into my eyes for a long time.

"Thank you." He whispered.

I was confused on this set of thanks. He'd already showed his gratitude for making him learn everything there is to know about taking care of Carter. What was this for?

I was about to ask, but he continued before I could speak.

"Thank you for being in my life. Without you, I'd be nothing. I'd be factionless. With you, I have everything. I have a beautiful wife that I don't deserve. I have a beautiful daughter that I don't deserve. Though sometimes I think being with you is a danger to my health at times, I love every second of it. I don't know what I did, but I am so grateful to have you by my side. You give me a reason to go on, a reason to live. You don't realize how much I need you. I love you so much, Beatrice Eaton."

I wiped away a single tear. "Don't call me that." I said, trying to show that his little speech didn't affect me as much as it actually did.

Tobias laughed and then kissed me. "Thank you for giving me everything a man could wish for."

"No problem." I said nonchalantly, still trying to show little emotion.

For a long while, we just lay there and stare into each other's eyes. We didn't need to say anything more.

I just began to doze when Tobias spoke again.

"We're having more."

"Excuse me?" I said sleepily.

"Children. We're having more."

"Oh? And what makes you so sure?" I asked, sounding less surprised than I actually was. The fact that he said that stunned me.

He smiled as he said, "Because one isn't enough. Carter deserves a brother or sister."

"And how many kids do you think that I should plan to have." I laughed.

"Two or three more." Tobias said, no hint of humor in his voice.

I nearly choked on air. "Two or three?" I said exasperated. "We can have one more and that's it."

"C'mon Tris!" Tobias whined.

"It's not your body that's playing host." I said seriously. "One more, and not right away either."

Tobias smiled mischievously. "We'll see about that."

"We'll see about nothing." I said, getting up.

Tobias merely smiled at me with his stupid goofy grin. When he saw me walking away, he called out, "Where are you going?"

"To bed. Since you've been living in the control room for the past week, you're now on Carter duty the entire week. Tobias sank into the couch and groaned in protest. "Don't worry, I'll feed her. But that's it."

As if listening to our conversation, Carter began to cry.

"You better figure out what she wants." I warned him. "Your daughter can get a little fussy when she's kept waiting."

Yeah, not much happened. But I just need some fillers before I figure out what to do next. Once again, so sorry for the wait. I'll try to be quicker.

XOXO

~Gossip Girl