The next morning Eric and I head to the leaderships' office and start working on my training. As we cross through the pit I take Eric's hand and hold my head up strong and determined to show my fellow members that I won't hide. I may be pregnant but that doesn't make me incapable of being apart of my faction.
Once inside his office he shows me the personnel files that need to be rearranged. In a nut shell I get to look through all the current dauntless members' personal files to make sure they are complete and up to date. Real exciting I think to myself. This couldn't be more tedious. I feel like a secretary, and not a leaders assistant.
Since we are sharing one desk, I started making piles around the office to keep myself somewhat organized. After reading my tenth file I look over to see Eric leaning back in his chair, looking at me with a smug look on his face like he is up to something.
"What is it?" I say with a little bit of annoyance in my voice. I really don't mean to come off overly moody but currently I just want to wrap myself in a blanket and sleep. My body is already starting to change to accommodate my pregnancy. I can tell in my lower abdomen that I'm starting to show about the size of a softball. My chest has started to enlarge as well.
"Just admiring the view however, if you prefer to do something else I can think of a few things." He give me a big grin while also a wink.
"Ugggghhh, what are you talking about exactly?" Panic starts to set in as my mind wonders what he is thinking.
"Oh you know we could blow off my meeting and lock ourselves away in our apartment?" He pauses a moment while he narrows his eyes to read my silent expression. "I guess that idea is off the table... I have a meeting over at Erudite that I think you should attend with me."
"Sure why not," I pause "Will they want to run tests on me?" I know were both in this experiment together but it's my body doing all the hard work. I am becoming protective of this little peanut growing inside of me. Just because they created it doesn't make it any less mine.
"Knowing Jeanine as long as I have she will want to see us. It's bound to be scheduled anyway since we confirmed that we are expecting."
I huff in annoyance, "Let's just get this over with." I look over to the clock on the way saying already eleven fifteen. After putting away the files we leave his office and start making our way to the train tracks.
"Eric, do you think that it's a good idea for me jumping on and off the train?" I really don't want to jeopardize this child's life.
I feel him place his hands gently on my waist and pull me closer to him stopping me in my tracks. He cups my face and brings it up so that I am looking at his stormy grey eyes. They seem clouded with an unreadable emotion.
"I won't let anything happen to you, I promise." The way he says it is more like a vow. An unbreakable promise that he is letting me in on.
My mind is clouded with too many thoughts to give him a response so I just nod my head as we continue to wait to jump on the train and make our way to Erudite.
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As we approach the front building of Erudite I become slightly anxious. I try to suppress this emotion and walk a little taller to put on a façade. I can't seem weak to them, I am Dauntless more or less. Sure my initiation was swept under my feet but I am trying my best to act the part.
Walking side by side, I take Eric's hand without looking at him and I give him a gentle squeeze. This is more for me than it is him. I don't want to be Dauntless leaders assistant here, I want to be his equal, his partner.
Sure it's still hard for me to wrap my head around that fact that because of this experiment that I am married to him. I guess what makes is unbelievable is the fact that he distances himself from me. That is my whole issue with this experiment.
I am not sure distance is the right word, hesitance seems a better fit to me like he's cautious.
If they expect us to raise our child like this perfect Dauntless soldier I can't do it by myself. They choose him to be an equally responsible to the outcome, I guess as the female I am, I just want some effort on his part. Seriously what is his deal?
I shake my head to clear my thoughts. I give Eric a weak smile as we come up to the elevator bank. We stand waiting for the doors to open, after a minute a group of Erudites step out wearing white lab coats. I catch a pair of blue eyes that I grew up with for sixteen years.
As we make eye contact he stops in his tracks. His group of colleagues continues walking down the hall as he is planted in his spot. He looks dumbfounded as to why he sees me. I don't start a conversation because frankly now is not the time or place. Faction before blood, that's what we believe in.
We brush past him to get on the elevator at the last moment leaving Caleb behind wide eyed as the doors close.
We take the elevator on the top floor, and we step into a very white hallway. There is no indication of whose offices are on this floor, so I can only assume at this point that the labs are here.
Eric takes my arm and pulls me along towards the left hallway and continue walking untIl we stop just outside a light blue door. Eric raises his hand to the door I'm a fist and knocks.
"You may come in." says a muffled voice from the other side.
I open the door first and make quick eye contact to show I am ready.
"Well if it isn't my favorite couple. Please come have a seat." Says none other than Jeanine Mathews. This makes my grimace however I try to push it aside as we take a seat in front of her desk. I need to keep a neutral face.
"Hello Ms. Mathews, it is a pleasure to see you again." I can only hope this façade sticks, as of right now I am terrified to the bone. Eric simply nods his head in response to my greeting.
"Jeanine, I understand you wanted to schedule this meeting as soon as we confirmed our pregnancy. What exactly do you need from us?"
"I didn't know that the experiment was progressing this quickly to be honest. I assume that you, Beatrice are going to your scheduled appointments and taking the vitamins?"
"Yes Ma'am I am." Keep these answers simple then she can't question me further. That is the mantra I am repeating in my head.
"Well that is excellent news, at this point Erudite is in contact with your doctor. They are sending us the information that we need so we can evaluate the experiment. We won't interfere with your normal lives really until the child is born. That's when our observations will change and we will need more access to your daily lives."
This makes me cringe on the inside. I cannot let her know that I despise the idea of being watched over. I give her a fake smile than turn my body towards Eric and grab his hand; see I can play wife.
"Ms. Mathews with all due respect can we reschedule this meeting for another time? I'd like to get back home and rest a bit let my body get acclimated to the changes it is experiencing." The sooner we can leave the better.
"Very well than, I'll see you both soon."
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"Eric, you cannot deny that there is an ulterior motive here then to just create a perfect child." My anger is starting to boil because I know he's hiding so,etching from me.
"If I tell you what I know, I need you to promise me a few things first."
I KNEW IT! There is something bigger going on here! Shit, that means my worst fears could come true; they could take this little human being away from me.
I am pulled out of my thoughts when Eric navigates us through our apartment to the couch. He's holding my arms a bit tighter than normal, as if he knows that I will leave once he tells me the truth. Which in all reality is exactly what I intend to do.
"I want you to know that I really did have no say in whom they picked for this experiment. It truly was about genetics. Once they told me that I'd be paired with you to bring a child into this world. I was genuinely joyful, I don't do emotions very well, Tris. I just knew that things could work between us, if we both try. Don't get me wrong, I know I haven't exactly lived up to 'Loving Husband' by any means." He pauses a moment while he scratches the back of his neck. "What I tell you about this all, I want you to promise that you won't leave me." He sighs, "I know you will need time to comprehend this all but please talk to me, let me in on what you're thinking."
"Eric, your scarring me, just spit it out what do you know?"
"Jeanine came up with this experiment to see if it would be possible to create someone who is 100% Divergent, susceptible to any serum created."
"WHAT?!"