**I DO NOT OWN THE DIVERGENT SERIES.

Chapter 20:

Tobias POV:

I glance one more time at Tris, who still sound asleep in bed. I hate to leave, but I have to work. Especially since we have two babies on the way.

I walk into the control room, and then I sit down at my desk.

"Morning." Zeke moans.

"Morning."

He yawns. I log in to the computer.

"How's Tris?"

"Good. Shauna?"

I nods, still have asleep even to answer a question. I glance at the places on the computer screen. I get to see everything. A shadow of guilt swarms over me. I've been keeping something from Tris. In the city, the factionless are becoming more and more active. People have become concerned lately. There was no sign of them for the longest time. Then out of the blue, here they come. They seem to triple in size everyday. Our supervisor, Alex comes in. He's a nice guy. Big, strong, clean cut chestnut hair. He was in an initiate class with Amar.

"Men, we need to have a meeting."

Everyone's eyes jump from their screen to him. It's rare we have an unplanned meeting.

"As you all know, the factionless population have become a growing problem for our community. They pose a threat to our way of life. Obviously we are short on soldiers…so some of you are going to be sent out on a mission to infect the factionless with memory serum, then transport them back here to our growing establishment."

No. I can't leave Tris.

"Here is the list of names. I sorry, I know this will be hard for some of you." He pulls out a paper and begins to read.

"James Herald, Zachary Pruitt, Kyle Breach, Tobias Eaton, and Zeke."

"Alex! I cant. You know I can't. Tris is pregnant! I can't leave now."

He comes over and places his hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Tobias. But the board told me that if anyone declined to go, they would be fired. I'm sorry."

He walks back to his office.

"Man…what are we going to do?" Zeke asks while scratching his head.

"It's going to be hard to leave Tris and Shauna. They need us." He adds.

I nod, sigh and lean back in my chair. I have two kids on the way. I can't get fired.

"We can't leave them alone. They are going to have to stay with Caleb, Amar…or someone."

He nods.

After work, I go to see Alex in his office.

"How long will we be gone?"

"A minimum of two months."

I storm off without saying a word. How could they be so cruel? Take me away from my wife…my family?

I walk to Christina's apartment to pick up Tris. I don't want her alone as long as Tobias is near. Christina gave us a key to her apartment so I walk on in.

"Hey, baby."

Tris runs up and kisses me.

"Hi." She whispers.

"What are you girls up too?"

"Being girls. You wouldn't understand." Christina.

I smile. Mathew walks in.

"Hey." He comes over and hugs me. He's always been a bit on the sensitive side. There was a time I though Tris had a thing for him.

"How are you?"

He walks over to Christina and sits down next to her as if to say. I have her, so I'm good.
"I'm great."

"I'm glad."

Tris still clings to my arm. I might as well tell them the bad news now.

"I got some bad news at work today." Mathew hand me a bear. Tris backs away as if frightened.

"What's wrong?"

"Me, Zeke, and a few other guys are selected to go on a mission."

"A mission? What kind of mission?" Tris is getting concerned.

"The factionless have become a problem. The Bureau fears that they are planning to overthrow us. So, they are sending us out to infect them with memory serum, then bring them back here."

"How long will you be gone." Her eyes fall with sadness. I stutter.

"T—two months."

They all wince as if pain has shivered through their bodies. Tris starts to cry, she is emotional lately.

"Tobias. I need you." She comes back to me and hugs me hard. Her arms wrap around the mid of my back and her head lies on my chest.

"I know." I kiss the top of her head.

"This is not fair. They can't do this to you."

"If I don't go, I'll lose my job."

Her eyes start to panic.

"How long have you know about this factionless situation?"

Here it comes; the truth that I have been keeping from her.

"A couple of weeks."

"A couple of weeks? Tobias, why didn't you tell me?"

"Nobody really thought much of it, I suppose. Plus, you have more important things to worry about."

I motion to her growing belly.

"Tris will stay with us." Christina already knows what I'm thinking. I nod.

"Thank you."

She smiles.

"When do you have to go?"

"Three days."

She nods and breathes in slowly as if trying to calm her mind. She pushes the thoughts out of her mind for a moment then walks over and hugs Christina.

"Thank you."

"No problem. We will see you tomorrow."

Tris and I both nod, and then walk out the door. The walk home is silent.

"I can't believe they would do this to you."

"Me either." But I do believe it. I'm used to not being…well appreciated. But I've never really minded.

"You know, when you get back, I'll be five months pregnant."

I nod. I'm very saddened by this thought. I'll miss when we find out the sex of the babies. She starts to cry.

"I'll wait."

She knows what I'm thinking.

"…to find out about the genders. I want you there."

"Thank you." I whisper and kiss her on the head as we walk into our apartment.

***Thanks for your patience. I love you guys.