I don't own Divergent.
Hey, everyone. Sorry for the long wait, though I think most of you read the reason? Anyway, I just wanted to thank you wall for the support I've gotten. It's made this easier. Love all you you!
Enjoy!
I shrug and take my husband's hand. "It's okay. Anyway, Rob, I have to go - we're almost at the field. Tell Uri he needs to hurry up if he doesn't want to be late for practice."
"I heard that," Uri mutters.
"Then do it," I retort. "See you guys later."
Tobias fidgets with my fingers as we walk towards the dugout for practice. He picks his catcher's mask up. "Can you stretch me?" he asks.
"Sure thing, babe," I answer, pulling him onto the field and beginning the basic stretches.
"So what do you think's going on with AJ?" he asks, wincing a bit when I pull at a sore muscle.
My fingers feel out the spot I pull. "Nothing to worry about. Does this hurt?"
"No. I think I just pulled it a little bit weirdly in yesterday's game." He lifts his arm for me to stretch. "But what's he thinking? I don't understand."
I pause momentarily and look at the bleachers. "He's used to being the star, Tobias. He knows what happens when another kid comes along. Look at what happened with Hayden, Tristan and Nick."
Tobias sighs and nods. "You're right."
"But that won't happen," I assure Tobias. "I -"
"Um, excuse me, Prior -"
"Eaton," I correct, glancing up at the voice before going back to stretching Tobias. "What can I do for you?" It's the newest rookie, Perry something-or-other.
"Well, if you're almost done playing with your boytoy -" he starts.
"Husband," Tobias cuts in," and unless you want to become ball-less in the next hour, I recommend you think twice before you finish that sentence."
I shove him slightly, grinning and finishing his stretches.
"Um, I need you to look at my shoulder," he replies, looking down.
"Sure thing, Rookie Boy," I reply. "I'll take you to my room. Four, I'll see you in a few minutes."
"Love you," he says. "Oh, and I need that flash drive from you. I'll just take a lap and then run in and grab it, okay?"
What flash drive?
"Okay," I agree, waving. "C'mon, Rookie."
"Why do you all call me Rookie?" he complains.
"'Cause you're the Rookie," I reply. "We even called Uri 'Rookie' for a year after he was done being a rookie."
He huffs and sits on the table. "It's stupid."
"Learn to live with it." I eye him from the corner of my eye as I prepare. "So what's bothering you?"
"Hurts," he replies, looking around.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," I say. "Specifically what? What do you have to do to make it hurt?"
"Lift it, mostly," he states, shifting on the leather-padded table.
"Okay. It doesn't sound bad to me. I'm just going to get you started with some heat, and then after practice we'll ice and I'll show you some exercises. Sound good?" I begin getting out the necessary equipment.
"Yup." He runs his other hand through shaggy blonde hair and looks to the ground.
I strap the heating pad to his shoulder. "Just sit tight while I log you in." I sit in front of my computer, mostly paying attention to him. Why did Tobias act so weirdly earlier?
The Rookie watches me, as he thinks I don't see him, and then licks his lips and reaches his hand - oh, gross. That's just disgusting. I don't want him on my table!
I pull out my phone and text Tobias to hurry with whatever he's doing, and a minute or so later, he comes through the door and sees probably exactly what I nearly saw.
Tobias chokes. "Rookie, keep it in your pants!" he exclaims. "And that's nasty, doing it in a public place and around my wife. Go on. Git."
"But my heating -"
"You can keep it," I tell him.
"Go on, Rookie," Tobias says, glaring at him.
He sighs and leaves the room.
I cringe. "That was beyond disgusting."
Tobias kisses my cheek. "Sorry I -"
"No, you were great," I say, cutting him off. "Thanks for coming."
He hugs me and then leans down and kisses my stomach. "Hi, baby," he whispers. "I don't think you can hear me yet, but I'm your daddy. I can't wait for you to come out so I can be a dad to you." He kisses my stomach. "Love you, baby."
I smile and thread my fingers into his hair. "That makes two of us," I reply, kissing him. "C'mon, you have to get to practice and I have to let Max know that Rooks came to me with his shoulder thing."
Tobias makes a face. "Yuck."
I chuckle humorlessly. "Yuck, indeed."
When I get home, Tobias is in the living room, cleaning up a little. "Hey," I say, leaning against the doorframe.
"Hey, love," he replies. "How was school?"
"Pretty good. How was the game?"
"We won," he replies.
I hug him. "That's great. Is AJ here yet? Have you had dinner?"
"I offered him dinner, but he went right to his room and locked the door." Tobias shrugs. "So I ate and cleaned. I figure he'll come down if he's hungry."
I sigh and go fix a plate. Then I walk up to AJ's room and knock on the door. "Hey, Aje."
"What?"
"Andrew, open your door." I shift to one of my hips as my son opens the door. "Drop the attitude," I order. "¿Quieres tu cena?"
"No quiero comer," he replies, scowling and moving aside to let me in.
I put the food on his desk, which has his homework spread over it. "¿Por qué no?"
"Porque no quiero tener un hermano o hermana menor," he says, sitting on his bed and crossing his arms.
"No puedes decidir eso, AJ," I remind him. "El bebé va a nacer. Tú vas a tener un hermano o hermana menor, aunque no lo quieras."
He shakes his head. "Why? I don't want you guys to forget me, like with Tristan and Nick."
I kiss his head. "Baby, your father and I would never forget you." I point to the food. "Eat up and then get ready for bed. You only have like an hour before lights-out."
He sighs and nods. "Will you come and say goodnight?" he asks.
"Of course, baby." I give him a smile and glance around his slightly messy blue room. "I'm going to eat, talk with your dad for a bit, and do a little bit of work, and then I'll be back up here to tuck you in."
He nods, blonde hair covering his eyes, and chews on his lip. "Mom…who's my dad?"
I freeze for a second. "You dad is your dad," I reply. "What do you mean?"
"I mean my real dad," he says. "I know Dad adopted me."
I take a deep breath and turn to face him. "Tobias Eaton is your father," I say.
"All I want is a name, Mom," he begs.
I run a hand through his hair. "Tobias is your real dad, AJ." Then I turn and leave, frowning.
I knew this day would come, but I thought…well, I hoped it wouldn't come for a while. I hop down the stairs covered in a dark red runner and then plop onto the couch.
"What's wrong?" Tobias asks immediately, kissing my cheek. "Is AJ still upset?"
I look at him, deciding whether or not to tell him. "AJ asked about Peter," I reply. "I mean, not specifically about Peter, but about who…sired him."
Tobias jerks back as though I've slapped him. "But -"
"I told him that you're his father, Tobias," I reply, rubbing my temples. "I didn't think he'd be asking so soon," I murmur.
Tobias breathes deeply. "Are you going to tell him anything?"
"I don't think we should say anything yet," I answer. "He's not old enough to understand and, even if he were, it's not a good time."
Tobias nods and covers my hand with his. I'm sure his fingertips overlap over mine onto the corduroy couch. "Do you want me to fix you some dinner?" he says after a few minutes. "Then you can start reading."
I smile and kiss him. "That would be wonderful, my love." I pull out a book and my notebook and begin to read, studying up for the cadaver dissection we're doing tomorrow.
Soon I feel something warm pressing against my knee, and I glance up. Tobias hands me a plate. "Thanks," I murmur, taking the fork, too, and going back to my reading.
"What are you reading about?"
"What?" I glance up, fork midway to my mouth.
"I asked what you're reading about," he repeats, blinking and frowning just slightly.
"Oh, sorry. We have a cadaver dissection tomorrow, and I'm just doing a little bit of pre-reading. It's pretty complicated stuff," I answer, putting the bite of chicken in my mouth and returning to my textbook.
"I'm not dumb," he mutters.
"I know," I reply. "I'm sorry, Tobes. If I had more time, I'd explain it. But I have a lot of stuff to do tonight, and I want to spend some real time with you." I rub the inside of his thigh quickly and turn my attention to the book.
I put my dish in the sink and walk up to AJ's room again to tuck him in. "Hey, bud," I call, standing just outside his door. "Are you ready for bed?"
"Yeah," he replies.
I step in and he's in bed. I chuckle. "Thanks, Aje. Did you finish your homework?"
He nods and opens his arms. "Tuck me in," he begs.
I sit on his bed and give him a hug. "Which song do you want tonight?" I ask, referring to how, when AJ first started at Collegiate, Tobias and I would sing some campfire songs to him to put him to sleep.
"The River Jordan one," he says. "With the milk."
I chuckle. "'Michael Row the Boat Ashore'?" I ask. AJ nods, so I begin to sing.
By the time the song is over, AJ is asleep, so I kiss his head, turn out the light, and take his plate to the kitchen, loading the dishwasher while I'm in there.
Tobias hands me my book wordlessly when I sit back down on the couch.
"I'm done for tonight," I reply, putting it back in the bag. "C'mon, let's go upstairs."
Tobias shakes his head. "You go. I want to watch the rest of this fight."
My eyes widen and I set my bag down. "Tobias, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, Tris," he says, but in that tone.
"Tobias Eaton, do you think I'm stupid? Jesus Christ. Just tell me what's going on." I climb onto his lap.
"Nothing. Just go do your reading or study or do whatever. I don't care." He turn his head.
I sit back slightly, but I don't get off. "So that's what this is about? Do you feel like I'm not paying enough attention to you?"
He scowls just slightly and I know I'm right. "Just go."
I grab his head slightly so he can't turn away and then I kiss him. "No."
"Go."
"No." I kiss him again and then another time until he begins to kiss back, just slightly. "That's better. I'm sorry you feel…well, unloved, I guess. I should be more attentive to you. It's just…I'm always so busy and stressed and I guess I've been putting myself and AJ in front of you. I'm sorry."
He smiles slightly and kisses my cheek. "It's fine. I guess I'm overreacting. And you should put yourself before me."
I grin wryly. "But not AJ?"
He hesitates. "I…hate to say it, but if I had to choose between you and AJ, I would have to choose you, Tris."
I shake my head. "You'll never have to make that choice, Tobias."
"Let's hope not," he says. Then he presses his firm lips to mine. "Will you watch some TV with me?"
"Do you mind if I read and cuddle with you?" I reply. "I guess I do have a little more reading," I admit, taking his hand.
"Go ahead," Tobias replies. He presses a kiss to my temple. "Sorry again."
"Tobias," I say in a warning tone. "You didn't do anything. We're good, okay?" I stand, get one of my books and a pencil, and sit next to him, close enough that my back is partially against my chest and one of his arms wraps around my shoulders. Then I begin to read again.
"Hey, Tris," Tobias says.
"Huh?" I look up.
"The show is over. Do you want to go upstairs?" he asks.
I nod and gather my stuff. Then Tobias grins at me, blue, blue eyes twinkling, and lifts me up. I squeak as he carries me up the stairs. "Tobias!" I say sternly, but then I giggle.
He smiles innocently. "I have to keep you on your toes," he teases.
"As if AJ doesn't," I mutter. Then I laugh again as Tobias drops me on the bed. The quilt Tobias has - the faded blue one he's had since I met him - begins to warm me and I smile up at Tobias. "Tobes, who made the quilt?"
He freezes for a second, and then replies, "Evelyn." He chews on his lip. "She made it for me right before she left."
I stroke his cheek. "Sorry."
"It's fine." He plops down on the bed and sits against the headboard. "Are you done with your reading?"
I hesitate. "I -"
"Finish it, Tris." He hands me my bag. "Go on."
I smile and kiss his hand. "Okay."
Spanish Translation:
¿Quieres tu cena? - Do you want your dinner?
No quiero comer. - I don't want to eat.
¿Por qué no? - Why not?
Porque no quiero tener un hermano o hermana menor. - Because I don't want to have a little brother or sister.
No puedes decidir eso, AJ. El bebé va a nacer. Tú vas a tener un hermano o hermana menor, aunque no lo quieras. - You can't decide this, AJ. The baby is going to be born. You're going to have a little brother or sister, although you don't want one/it.
