I don't own Divergent.

Hey everyone! So this update, set between first baby pt 3 and second baby pt 1, is brought to you upon the [rude] request of a [cowardly] guest who reviewed their response. Anyway, it's meant to explain some big jumps that I didn't really explain between the two chapters.

However, I would like to mention that, while this time the [rude] review was right, I'm always more inclined to write and post when talked to politely (and less angry while doing so).

Further, I would like to direct all of you to my profile, where I'm coming out (in more ways than one). If any of you are homo- or trans-phobic...well um that sucks? Please educate yourself? I'm really not a scary person? I don't understand why I'm scary?

I understand many people on this site are probably either allies or queer themselves. Hey, guys. (One side note [don't read if young or easily offended]: reading slash because you think it's hot doesn't make you an ally - you can be an ally and read slash, but reading slash doesn't make you an ally and personally I think it's a little creepy, but that's beside the point [I think most smut is creepy, but particularly so when straight women are writing/reading slash smut, sorry]). Anyway, thanks for the support.

As usual, enjoy!

"Hey, Tobias," I say. "Are the boys in bed? How was the game?"

He holds his arms out to embrace me. "They boys have been asleep for about an hour, the game was good, and you are beautiful," he informs me.

I laugh and kiss his cheek. "Thanks, handsome. What's up? Why are you so charming?" I sit next to him on the couch and curl my legs up to my chest, facing him.

"Well, I heard a few players talking today…" He huffs and hands me a pamphlet.

"Foster care," it reads. I look up at Tobias. "Do you want us to become foster parents?"

He nods slowly. "We have the resources and I just think we should give back. We have this great house and happy family and I think we should extend that."

I open the pamphlet and scan the inside. "They want people to foster LGBTQIAPP+ kids," I mention. "I'd like to do that."

Tobias hesitates. "Why?"

I meet his eyes with a firm gaze. "Tobes, queer kids in the system are going to get hell. You should know that. I've seen queer kids that came from the system to my dad and they were usually pretty fucked up."

Tobias takes a deep breath. "Look, I'm open to anything. I agree with the fact that queer kids are going to need more help, which is why I hesitated - do we want to take that on?"

"I think we could definitely take one kid on," I goad slightly.

Tobias nods. "Let's do it, then. Let's become foster parents."

I lay my head back. "It'll have to start after this weekend," I tell him. "I'm flying to Chicago to check up on Caleb and my dad, remember?"

"Oh, yeah. Are you taking either boy with you?" Tobias' face is hopeful.

I chuckle. "I'm taking both." I stand and head to the kitchen. Tobias follows. "How many games do you have this week?"

"Three more, counting tomorrow's." He kisses the side of my neck.

I turn and give him a quick kiss before going back to warming myself up some dinner. "Do you need anything in advance?"

He shakes his head and helps me. "I'll be fine for a few days, Tris," he says, laughing lightly.

"Thanks, babe." I kiss his cheek. "Love you."

"Dad!" I call.

"Papa!" AJ drops his bag and runs for the older man, knocking into him.

I chuckle and pick up his bag, making my way to my dad. "Hey, Dad."

He hugs me and then picks JD up. "Hey, baby girl," he says. "C'mon, boys, let's help your mother out," he says, taking a bag from me.

AJ sighs and takes his bag back from me. "Let's just get to Papa's," he says.

"You and AJ are going to stay with Gramma, and I'm going to stay in the compound with Papa."

AJ sighs. "Okay, Mom."

I kiss his head. "Sorry, Aje. But I have to work with Papa and Uncle Caleb all weekend. I wish I could hang out with you two, but I have some responsibilities. But I think Gramma's going to take you guys to some museums and do some fun things with you."

AJ nods. "I understand." He walks ahead to the car, and Papa and I follow.

"Bea!" Caleb hugs me. "How are you? I haven't seen you in forever."

I laugh at my brother. "I'm good, how are you?" He's in his classic blue shirt.

"Good! I missed you." He pulls me towards the cafeteria. "Come have some coffee with me and then we can get to work."

"Okay." We walk to the cafeteria, chatting and laughing. Once there, I grab cups of coffee for both of us and we sit at a table. "How's everything going?"

"With the Divergents?" Caleb sips from his coffee. "Eaton is trying to gain power again."

I hum. "Has anything worked?"

"No, and he's trying to get Uncle fired." Caleb frowns. "Something needs to happen."

I swallow. "I think I know what needs to be done. I'll go tomorrow."

"Why not just do away with him?" Caleb asks.

I hesitate. "Well… I guess there are two reasons. One, Eaton really has done some good in parts of the city. Education, and stuff. And two…killing him isn't our right, and it could stir up too much trouble."

Caleb lets air his through his teeth. "Okay."

Dad sits next to Caleb. "What's going on, kids?"

"Bea wants to go talk to Eaton tomorrow," Caleb replies.

Dad frowns. "Is that a good idea?"

I sigh. "Jesus, Dad. It's not like I can't handle him. He's an old man."

Dad raises an eyebrow. "Eaton had Tobias, who's about your age. That means he can't be that much older than me. Am I an old man?"

"Does Eaton train recruits every year and continue to do dangerous missions?" I retort, grinning at my old man. "And yes, you are an old man."

Dad laughs lightly. "If you'll spar with me for the recruits tomorrow, then you can go."

"Dad!" Caleb says. "She has kids! She's my little sister!"

"Hey, whoa," I say, shoving my brother lightly. "I'm neither yours nor little." I shake my head. "Not that I'm sure Tobias would be into this, but I really couldn't give any less fucks."

"¡Mamá!"

"That's JD," I say drily, standing up and looking around for my little boy. I see him and a sheepish-looking AJ at the door and walk towards them.

JD races towards me and throws himself into my arms. "AJ es antipático," he says.

I kiss his head. "AJ es su hermano," I reply. "He loves you."

AJ gives me an impish grin. "Hey, Mom."

I shake my head at him. "What were you doing, you little rascal?" I ruffle his hair. "You know, your brother is not the only form of entertainment out there.

AJ chuckles. "Sorry, Mom." He surveys the room. "Where are the initiates?"

"Papa has them in lunchtime training," Caleb says. He hugs his oldest nephew and ruffles his hair, too. "Hey, buddy." He kisses JD's head, too.

"Uncle Caleb!" AJ grins. "It's great to see you, Uncle Caleb."

"Do my eyes deceive me?" A big, burly man comes up to AJ. "You're AJ, right? Six's kid?"

AJ nods. "Who are you?"

"You fell asleep on your mom's lap in one of my days of training," he says. "I helped create a pen weapon. I doubt you'd remember."

AJ shrugs.

I grin. "Matthew?" I guess. "Geez, I need to keep up with y'all initiates. Where'd you end up placing?"

"Hey, Six." Matthew shrugs. "I tested into Dauntless-Erudite, but I chose Erudite. Little safer, y'know?"

I nod. "Makes sense."

"I do some initiate training, too." He grins shyly. "And I have a little kid of my own, too. She's one."

I nod. "Congrats, Matthew." I nod to JD. "JD's my youngest, but Four and I plan on fostering."

Matthew nods. "That's great. What are you doing here?"

"Meeting with Dad to go over basic Divergent stuff. Maybe testing AJ, too." I look down at my son, currently preoccupied with something else. "I don't know if I hope he tests into the right ones. I want his life to be normal, but if he tests into Dauntless and Abnegation…Dad'll need to start training him soon. This summer, probably."

Matthew looks him over. "He'll be fine."

"I hope."

Dad helps me strap AJ into the chair. "Don't worry, kiddo," he says. "The straps are just to make sure you don't hurt yourself if you freak out during the simulation," he informs my son. "But don't worry, your mom will be right here. You really needn't worry, AJ."

AJ nods. "I'm fine, Papa. Just…why are we doing this, again?"

Dad sits back on his heels. "Well, AJ…you know that your mom is supposed to take over the Divergents once I get too old, right?" At his nod, Dad continues, "Well, you're supposed to take over after your mom. We need to make sure you're eligible for a leadership position, to see if we need to start training you this summer. By your age, your mom was helping train initiates. We'd simply stick you in with the initiates."

AJ nods slowly. "And if I'm not? If I'm, say, Amity-Candor?"

Dad and I exchange a look. "Then you'll still come train with your Papa," I say, "but you wouldn't take over the Divergents."

AJ nods. "Okay. I'm ready, Papa."

Dad nods, injects AJ with the serum, readies a few more things on the computer and double checks a wire attached to AJ, and then he says, "Okay, Aje. You have one minute before it starts."

AJ smiles at me. "I love you, Mom." Then he stares straight ahead and waits.

I watch my son for a physical response carefully, but he sits still as he navigates what his mind is showing him. Dad watches only the computer screen, but he doesn't look upset, so everything must be okay. Dad continues to watch and AJ continues to sit still until he wakes up, face pale and shiny.

"Are you okay, bud?" I ask.

He nods slowly. "Can you unhook me?"

I begin to work on the straps. "How'd it go?"

"Fine, I think." AJ reaches down to help once I've freed one of his arms. "Papa, how'd it go? Did I pass?"

Dad smiles. "Yes, AJ. You passed."

"What is he?" I ask.

"Same as his mother," he says, chuckling. "Dauntless-Abnegation-Erudite."

AJ smiles and throws himself into my arms as soon as the last strap is off. "When do I get to come train with Papa?"

I meet Dad's eyes. "It might be best for you to just stay for the rest of the summer, bud."

Dad nods. "I'd need to start his training now, if possible. Initiate training has just started, but I don't want him to be too behind. Speaking of which, we have to get to training."

Yesterday, after we talked with Matthew, Dad and I agreed to test AJ before training started today and then send me to Eaton after I sparred with Dad.

I smile at my son. "We're going to go get you a uniform, and I need to grab one too. C'mon, Aje."

He beams at me and follows me to a stockroom. I hand him one in his size and send him into a changing room, stepping into the one next to him.

"Initiates, this is AJ Prior-Eaton," Dad says. "And I'm sure a few of you have heard of my daughter, Beatrice."

I chuckle and kiss AJ's head. "Join the initiates, AJ."

AJ wipes his head. "Mom!"

I shake my head. "Git." I turn and face Dad, who hands me some sparring equipment. I slide it on and check Dad's straps as he checks mine. Next, he hands me a sparring dagger. AJ's eyes are like saucers when Dad slides his dagger along my suit to check its marking ability (the daggers are coated in a special substance that reacts with the material of the sparring gear). I do the same, and then I give Dad a grin. "Let's see if Pops is still as good as he was."

Dad laughs. "I'm usually able to beat you!"

"You also practice significantly more than me," I point out. "C'mon, old man."

Dad gets into position. I mirror him, and he lunges at me, nearly catching me off guard, but I dart out of the way. I lunge forward and make a shot on his ankle. Next is one aimed at his chest, but simply slices down his arm. He gets a few in on my forearms, but I haven't let him any closer.

"Come on, Bea! Can't you do any better?" Dad grins at me.

I shake my head and fake over his head, going under a second later and making what would be a fatal blow. But, of course, both Dad and I are covered in the little red slashes.

Dad calmly begins to unstrap his gear. "Congratulations, Bea," he says.

"Thanks, Dad." I work on my own straps. "How you feeling, old man?"

Dad finishes his straps, chuckling, and helps me with the last of mine. "I'm fine, baby girl." He hugs me. "It's good to see you, Bea." Dad turns to the initiate. "My daughter has been training like that since she was nine. Today, you'll have AJ with you. He's never been trained -"

"I've showed him a little handfighting," I murmur.

"- and he's only eleven," Dad continues. "I'd like you all to be fair to him. Not nice, necessarily, but fair, given that he's not like you." The initiates nod. Dad smiles. "Good."

"Bye, AJ. I'll see you tonight," I say. "Bye, Dad."

"The stuff you need is in your room," he murmurs. "And I want you to take Thom with you."

"Geez, Dad." But I don't fight him on it, not here.

"Hey Thom," I grunt, suited up and ready to go. I shoot Tobias a quick text and slide the phone into my backpack. "Ready to go?"

The older Dauntless nods. "Don't see you much around here," he comments. "What brought you back?"

"Dad and Caleb and I are just going over stats and stuff, and Dad wanted to test and train AJ." I shrug. "I mean, Dad's okay and all, but he's getting older. It might be time for him to retire in a decade or so, which means AJ needs to be ready as my replacement."

Thom nods. "Is it always going to be a hereditary leadership position?"

I shrug. "I mean, my dad doesn't make all the decisions for the Divergents. The council makes the majority of them."

Thom shrugs and steps onto the L. I follow him and we hold onto the rails, him watching me quizzically.

I shake it off and lead the way towards Eaton's office. There, a security guard tries to argue with us, but I give him a name for Eaton and he quickly lets us through.

"Ah, Beatrice." Eaton turns in his chair. "I never expected my son's wife to come greet me without him."

"Well, I'm here, aren't I, Marcus?" I put my hands on his desk. "I hear you're stirring up trouble, as usual."

"Well now, quick to jump to accusations, aren't we?"

Thom stands behind me.

"Look, Marcus. You should be glad it's me here and not someone my brother or father sent." I shrug. "They wanted to kill you." I give him a malicious smile. "I disagreed, and not because I like you. I disagreed because I think, if you are to be killed, that Tobias should do it."

Marcus swallow slightly. "So…what do you want, then?"

"Ah, good. Cooperation. That's always good." I slide a file across the desk. "Take a look, Marcus. These are Tobias' injuries. I've taken the care to examine him and have him examined and document the injury, when it would have occurred, and how, if at all, it was treated. Tobias has also given his statements in that file." I take the file back. "Now, here's the deal: you back off my dad, or I send this file to the Chicago Tribune and let them make of it what they will." I grin. "I'd consider carefully. And remember, all it takes is one single email for your entire career to come crashing down around you. You want to be a politician, don't you?"

Marcus swallows and looks at the folder in my hand. "It seems we have a deal." He stares at me. "I want you to know that we are on the same side, Beatrice."

I stare at him. "You're an evil man," I say. "It's nearly time for us to leave, Thom, but first -" I pull out my Divergent knife and walk to Marcus' side of the table. "After this one, Mr. Eaton, you'll only have one 'd,'" I comment, carving the letter into his skin. "I'd be careful, because there's not much I can do if you get your fourth."

"How'd it go?" Dad asks.

"We came to an agreement," I reply, blowing on my soup before taking a bite. "How was training?"

"Okay." Dad glances at AJ, who's raptly listening to Dad and me talk, and then away. "We can talk about it later."

"Speaking of which, when does it start up again?"

"Twenty minutes."

I glance at AJ. "Are there any younger initiates he can hang out with for a little while?"

Dad considers. "AJ, why don't you go hang out with Bubble?"

AJ gives me a protesting look but obeys.

"So what happened?" I give my dad a sort of worried look.

Dad shrugs and gives me the half-half symbol with his hand. "Nothing bad, persay. There's just - discomfort around him. He's not as good as them, but I have to be more gentle with him, and they notice that."

"How much worse is he?" I ask.

"A lot," Dad admits. "He just hasn't had the necessary training, Bea."

I nod slowly. "I can try to work with him between my meetings." I sigh. "Sorry, Dad."

"No, it needed to be done. I'll talk to the initiates and explain to them that this is just a formality - that AJ is too young to actually go through initiation right now." Dad smiles and puts a hand on my shoulder. "Come on. We should go get ready."

I finish my water and check my phone. Tobias has called twice. "I should probably call Tobias," I admit. "How're Mom and JD?"

"Your mother had apparently been bringing him to all her meetings, and he's been quite the charmer, from what I've heard." Dad gives me a wry grin. "The Eatons are just a charming bunch."

I laugh and put my phone to my ear. "Hey, babe."

"You were at my dad's office?" comes the explosive response.

"Jesus, Tobias. I'm perfectly capable of going to his office. All I did was threaten him, and, besides, I had Thom with me." I walk out of the cafeteria, holding an apple in one hand.

"Tris! He's crazy!" Tobias hits something.

"Calm down, Tobias! You're going to injure yourself, you idiot." I take a deep breath. "Tobias, it's over and he'll back off. Besides, I'm fine. Look, I've got to go. I have training with my dad and then a meeting. Oh, and -" I break off.

"And what?" Tobias just sounds weary.

"And AJ's going to be staying here to go through initiation," I finish weakly. "He'll be staying with Dad, though - not in the dorms."

Tobias sighs. "How long?"

"A few weeks past when I leave. It depends." I sigh. "I love you, Tobias. I'm just doing what's best for my family."

"Your family?"

"Tobias -"

But he's already hung up.

"Fuck," I mutter, walking towards the training room.

"Didn't go well?" Dad guesses.

"No, and I made the mistake of saying I was trying to what's right for my family." I sigh violently. "It was just a slip of words - it didn't mean anything, and yet it meant everything to him. Jesus. He knows my family is his family."

Dad rubs my shoulder. "Everything will be okay."

I sigh and say, "Hey, Matthew."

"Hey, Bea." He grins at me. "You know what I was thinking?"

His grin is so infectious that I can't help but smile back. "What?"

"Your nickname - Bea," he starts. "I was thinking it could be improved."

I laugh lightly. "This doesn't sound like your thinking, Matthew."

He scowls slightly. "Okay, so Maynard came up with it. But still - he told me to explain. Anyway, Maynard and I were thinking it could be improved. We came up with Bear."

I chuckle slightly and then pause and consider it. "I actually kind of like it."

Matthew gives me another infectious grin. "I'll announce it to the initiates then."

"Jesus, Matthew," I say, laughing despite myself. But the grin drops from my face as the last two initiates straggle in. They've both been beaten to a pulp, but they're still holding hands.

The shoulders of one of the girls starts to shake, and the other one puts her arm around the girl and pulls her into a tight hug.

"Manni, what happened?" Dad demands.

The girl just shakes her head. "Shh, Jeanie, it's okay."

"Have you been to the infirmary?" Dad looks around the room. Several initiates have careful looks plastered on their faces, and Dad notes this, if the tightening on his face is any indication.

The girl who must be Manni shakes her head.

"I can take them, Dad," I offer.

"Mom, can I come with you?" AJ asks in a small voice.

I catch Dad's eye. We have our silent conversation. "No. Sorry, bud. Stay with Papa."

I put a hand on one of the girls' shoulders and lead them out of the room. "What happened? You can tell me - I'm not my father."

Manni swallows, on the brink of tears herself. "Jeanie and I are in love," she murmurs. "But not everyone likes it."

I sigh deeply and shake my head. "I'm sorry, girls. I'll stay with you at the infirmary, if that's okay." I give them an apologetic look. "I have to take you back to training once you've been cleared by the infirmary."

Jeanie sniffs. "It's okay. Thanks." She straightens and sensibly wipes tears from her bruised dark skin.

Manni kisses her head and takes her hand. Where Jeanie has longer hair and dark eyes, Manni has a light brown buzz and golden eyes.

I wait in the waiting room for a nurse to come and talk to me about the state of the two girls. When one finally comes in, I'm on the edge of my seat. "Are they okay?"

She nods. "Both have been treated. Neither has any worrisome physical injuries, but the psychologist is worried about putting them back into intiation."

I set my mouth. "We have to. My dad doesn't have a choice. And he'll watch over them."

She shakes her head, sighing. "I know, Six. I've worked here for twenty-five years, you know."

I slump into my chair. "I'm sorry."

Manni comes into the waiting room and sits next to me. A few cuts and scrapes have been cleaned and bandaged, and she smiles at me. I see a sort of defeat in her eyes, though.

"Hey," I say, taking her shoulders. "You said you love Jean, right?"

Manni nods. "Why?"

"You need to not let this get you down. Show her how strong you are. Be strong for her." I give Manni a small smile. "You can do it."

Caleb hands me a folder and I open it, scanning the first few pages. "The council's been edgy recently," he explains.

I nod. "I'll just listen today." My phone starts to vibrate in my pocket and I make a face, trying to subtly slide a hand under the table into my pocket to turn the vibration off.

"Why'd you call me four times?" I ask Tobias as I walk towards training.

"You didn't answer the first time and then I got worried," he explains.

"I was in a meeting, Tobias. A meeting!" I itch my nose. "And now I have initiation. Look, I love you, and I'll call you later, but I really need some space here." I hang up and enter the initiation room, smiling as Dad throws a knife. I pick a knife up off the table and call, "Dad!" as I release it. He turns and catches the knife, grinning at me.

"Care to be part of target practice?" he asks.

"Sure, Dad," I say, laughing.

"My daughter, the Bear," he jokes. Matthew winks at me as I stand in front of a target. Dad flicks his wrist and the first knife embeds itself next to my right hand.

"Papa, that trick is boring," AJ announces.

The initiates titter and the spell is broken. I grab the knife and step away from the board, ruffling my son's hair.

Manni holds Jean's hand near the back of the group and I smile at the fierce look she gives anyone that meets her eyes.

Bubble (who I discover is the thirteen-year-old sister of one of the initiates, who's going through her initiation with her sibling), AJ, Manni, and Jean all end up on one end, and I help AJ and Bubble, while also keeping a close eye on the girls. AJ's soon hitting the target (though the knives aren't sticking). Bubble gets the concept a little quicker, so I show her a grip change and her knives begin to stick.

"How can I make my knives stick, Mom?" AJ tries to copy Bubble's grip and his knife falls before hitting the board.

"Give me your knives," I order.

"Mom!"

"Initiate, give me your knives," I repeat, voice changing.

AJ hands over the knives, eyes wide.

"Now practice your throw as if you had a knife in your hand." I move his feet to a proper position. "Move your feet." He moves and I shove him. "Now get them back into proper position."

AJ sets his face and moves back to the proper position, miming a throw. "Was that right?"

"Do it again."

He shakes his body and steps out of position. Then he resets and mimes the throw again. I hand him a knife.

He takes a breath, puts his feet in the right position, and throws the knife. It sticks, just for a second, but it sticks.

AJ grins and throws himself at me, hugging me tightly.

"Good job, buddy."

"So what are you going to do?" I ask Dad, shoving through initiates to talk to him.

"About what?"

"Manni and Jean," I reply. "They were beaten, Dad."

"I have to treat it like I treat any other form but bullying," he replies. "I issued a warning for the future and a threat to the past."

I sigh. "Even when it's homophobic?"

"I have to be fair to a tee to hold power here, Beatrice. You should know that." Dad sighs and turns to face me. "Look, I wish I could do something, Bea. I can't."

I sigh but stare at the ground. "You can't…but can I?"

"Bea, if you beat them up, it'll spark the same sort of response," he replies.

"What if i do it in training? As part of a sparring thing?"

Dad releases air slowly. "You'd have to find out who beat them, first, without asking the girls."

"I already know," I reply smoothly.

"So we're going to do some handfighting today," Dad says. "When I say 'handfighting,' I really mean there are going to be matches. The first match will be between my daughter, the 'Bear,' and an initiate of her choosing."

I pretend to scan the room, though I already knew from the start who I was going to choose. "How about you, Shaun?" I suggest lightly, picking a nail. "I'll even go easy on you."

The boy swallows and moves up to the front of the pack. "I, uh, you don't have to, uh…"

"Oh, it's my pleasure." I get into a fighting stance. "At ready, initiate."

He swallows and obeys.

"Be fair," Dad says. "Go!"

He stumbles at me and aims a sloppy punch. I duck and drive a first into his ribcage. He coughs and moves back. He next tries a kick, which I block and reciprocate with a kick that brings him to his knees. From there, it's a few more kicks to the ribs and a few more punches to the face before he finally surrenders. I grab him by the shirtfront and hoist him up so I can whisper, "Don't touch them again, you homophobic piece of trash. You or your friends come near them, and I'll personally make sure you're delivered to the trash receptacle, where you belong." Then I drop him and leave.

"Tris!" Tobias hugs me tightly. Then he releases me and picks JD up. Then he hugs both of us tightly.

I laugh and carry the luggage in. "How was your staycation?" I tease. "JD, buddy, why don't you go get your jammies on," I add, pointing in the direction of the stairs.

As soon as JD steps on the first stair, Tobias has me back in his arms, pressing his lips to mine. "I missed you," he murmurs. "I'm sorry for getting angry about you going to see my dad."

"It's okay. You were just worried." I kiss him and slip out of his grasp. "We need to get JD to bed and then I need a shower."

He catches me again with an arm around my waist. "I think I need a shower, too," he informs me, growling against my neck.

I laugh lightly. "Later, Tobias."

He grips my hand for a second, giving me a deep smile, before releasing me. "Love you. Oh, and I scheduled an appointment with a social worker for tomorrow."

My face darkens. "Yeah, I have something to talk to you about."

Tobias tosses me one of his shirts as he's pulling on a pair of boxer-briefs. I finger my damp hair and then pull the shirt on. "Tobias, I need your help with something," I say, grabbing a pair of basketball shorts from my drawer.

"What is it, love?" he asks, pulling a tank top on and rubbing my towel through his hair one more time.

"I want to cut my hair," I reply. It's long, nearly hip-length.

"I'm not sure I'm most qualified to do that," he says slowly. "I don't really know how to use anything but my clippers."

"That's fine," I reply. "I want to donate my hair, and I'd rather someone I love be doing it than some random person."

Tobias nods slowly. "What…how much do you want off? What cut?" His fingers grasp the hem of my shirt, and he pulls it over my head.

"Let's start with a bob and then go from there," I reply. I follow him to the bathroom. He pulls a stool out and then looks for his clippers and scissors, bringing a brush and a comb as well.

His fingers brush my scalp as he brushes and then combs my hair, and for a few short seconds I remember how my mother used to cut my hair every three months.

"Are you sure you want to cut it all off, love?" Tobias asks, banding the hair into six ponytails and poising to cut the first one.

I meet his eyes in the mirror. "Yes."

The scissors snip and a chunk of my hair falls to the floor. Tobias quickly cuts the other five and lays the ponytails on the counter.

"So you just want me to cut it around your chin?" he asks.

I nod and close my eyes as he moves the scissors around my head.

"I'm done with the bob, Tris," Tobias says quietly, hand on my shoulder.

I open my eyes and meet his in the mirror, smiling at him. "Thanks, Tobes."

He nods. "I'll make you a deal - I'll do the buzz, too, but I want you to tell me what you're upset about. Does it have anything to do with wanting to cut you hair?" He plugs the clippers in and looks through the case for the proper setting. "I'm going to use a four," he mutters.

"Okay," I agree. "And, if you will, can you part it right here -" I point, and Tobias parts it with a comb. "Now buzz that section." Tobias starts to buzz it, and I say, "Two girls were beaten while I was there."

"Okay…? Why?" He's cautious and his fingers are soft and deft. "Was it you guys?"

"No! And the girls - Manni and Jean - were dating. Are dating. They were beaten because they're queer." I sigh. "The worst part is that it's not even that uncommon."

"Were the bullies punished? Tobias asks, touching up where he just clipped.

"I beat one of them up, but other than that, nothing else could be done." I moisten my lips. "Some of the kids we get got kicked out, or beaten, or had to leave their homes, their families, just because they're queer."

Tobias kisses my shoulder and says, "I understand now."

"What?"

"I understand more why you want to foster queer kids," he replies. "What do you want me to do next with your hair?"

"Part it here," I reply, half-dazed. "And an undercut on that side, too," I murmur. "What made you understand?"

"When you meet someone, you make an instant connection and you really care for them, Tris." He pauses in his clipping. "And so, having seen so many of these people hurt, just for a simple fact about themselves, you want to save them." He continues to clip. "Jeez, Tris," he says, voice light now, "you can't save everyone, you know."

I laugh and smile at him in the mirror. "I love you." I turn the ring on my finger. "But I'm glad you understand."

He pulls the bob away from the undercut on either side that extends down to my neck. "Do you like it?"

I nod. "Thanks, Tobias."

He kisses my shoulder again. "Anything for you, love."

Spanish translation:

AJ es antipático - AJ is mean/unkind.

AJ es tu hermano - AJ is your brother.