So, guys...this is the last chapter, aka the long-awaited epilogue. I'm so sad that I have to end this, but I hope that this ending meets your standards!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Divergent Trilogy and I never will. I also do not own Never Grow Up by Taylor Swift.
Epilogue
(5 years later)
"It's getting kind of late, Tobias. Don't you think we should head back home?"
The truth is, I don't want to go home, but we've been exploring Chicago for hours and it was probably time for us to head back. Plus, Christina forced heels on me earlier tonight, so my feet are aching.
Chris put me in a form-fitting, knee-length, black dress she bought for me, and, surprisingly, I liked it. But then she sat me down, curled my hair, did my makeup, and forced 3-inch heels on my feet, all of which I did not like. However, I do have to admit that I like the way I look with the makeup: It makes my eyes pop and my skin look flawless, which couldn't be further from the truth.
"Not yet. I have one more thing to show you," is his reply.
"What is it?" I ask.
"I can't tell you; it's a surprise. You'll just have to see it for yourself."
"But Tobias…" I whine.
He squeezes my hand and chuckles at my impatience. "Come on, you'll love it."
"Can you at least tell me how far it is from here?"
"It is a little ways away, but it won't take too long, and I know you'll love it. Please, Tris?" he says with a certain pleading in his tone that I can't help but cave.
I sigh. "Okay. Fine. You win. Let's go."
His face lights up and I smile at his change of mood. It blows my mind to know I can make him this happy, that I have this much control over his emotions.
He leads us to the outskirts of Chicago, and I can only hope he knows the way back home. Surely he does; it sounds like wherever he's leading us to isn't his first time at the location.
We're outside the city limits now, and he takes a sharp turn. I've been here alone before now on random explorations—not that I'd tell him due to his tendency to worry where I'm involved—but apparently, he has too. Especially considering I can't recall anything particularly interesting from my adventures, and he can.
My feet touch grass instead of cement a few moments later and I come to a stop. "Wait for a second, Tobias."
He stops and turns to me, confused. I let go of his hand, silently remove my heels, and sigh at the instant relief. I let the heels dangle as I soothe my aching feet, taking the time to feel the grass underneath me; I've always loved soft grass between my toes.
Tobias chuckles and takes my hand again. "Better?"
"Much," I reply with a satisfied grin.
We walk a bit slower than before, like we have all the time in the world. Everything is familiar to me thanks to my explorations, but then Tobias takes a turn into a large patch of trees that I somehow haven't noticed and I'm immediately lost.
"Tobias, where are we going?" I can't stop myself from asking as we walk deeper into the trees.
"You'll see."
We fall into a comfortable silence again. This was one of the things I loved about our relationship: We didn't have to talk to know that the other was listening. It's also one of the things I love about Tobias: He's there during everything I encounter without me asking him to be. Always.
We walk for quite a while longer, and I hear something resembling water. I perk up, trying to determine where the sound is coming from.
"We're almost there," he says in reply to my obvious curiosity, squeezing my hand just a little tighter. He leads me to the left, and I eagerly follow. The sound of the water gets louder and louder until I know we must be close by. It's not too loud, but it's loud enough that I can safely assume there must be some type of water flow here—wherever 'here' is. Perhaps a waterfall. "Close your eyes, Tris."
I look up and frown at his demand. "Why?"
He smiles at me. "Just do it."
"But I want to see it," I complain.
"And you will. I promise."
I stare for a few more moments before I sigh and close my eyes, giving into his request. He lets go of my hand and I hear him moving, his footsteps becoming nonexistent. When I'm left in silence, the first thought I have is, He left me.
"Um...Tobias?" I call out nervously.
"I'm right here, don't worry. I'm not going to leave you alone," he says, reading my mind just like he always does, and his hands come up to cover my eyes from behind me. I jump at the unexpected touch. He laughs at my reaction, most likely trying to keep from telling me that I'm too easy to scare. My cheeks redden instantaneously and I find myself thanking the night for the cover of its darkness.
"Walk forward," he whispers in my ear. The feeling sends shivers down my spine. I start to take a few steps and instinctively raise my arms to feel for my surroundings. He stops me a moment later. "You trust me, right?" he whispers again.
"Of course," I whisper back, wondering where this is going.
"Then put your arms down, babe. I'm not going to make you walk into a tree or a never-ending pit." I laugh slightly. "Think of me as your vision for the time being. Trust me as if you would trust your own eyes."
I'm a bit nervous not being able to see the upcoming obstacles, but then my brain reminds me that I trust this man with my life and my heart, and he would never hurt me. Not intentionally.
I let my arms fall back to my sides.
"Good. Now, make a ninety-degree turn to the right." He chuckles. "Further to the right, Tris. What part of 'ninety-degree turn' don't you understand?"
"I've never done this before!" I defend. "So, excuse me if I'm a bit wary!"
"I'm leading you to your surprise. Not your death." I can practically hear his eye roll.
I scoff. "What if my surprise is death?" I asked, aiming to get on his nerves so he'd crack and tell me where it is we're going. Instead of doing this though, he laughs.
"Relax, Tris. Here." He takes my hand in his and lifts it so it's pointing in the right direction. "Follow my lead."
We keep only small talk between us, Tobias not as willing as I am to keep jabbering on about random topics that even I have no interest in (I was still trying to break him). But then he interrupts me in the middle of my sentence like he hadn't been listening to a single word I've said—which wouldn't surprise me if it were true—and says, "Keep your eyes shut, okay?"
"Okay," I whisper eagerly, my goal to find out where we were going before we got here long-forgotten.
His hand comes off of my eyes and his other hand drops mine. He takes a deep breath and says, "Okay, you can look now."
I open my eyes, and I am not disappointed with what I see; my jaw immediately drops and I can't help but stare for a long while, blinking rapidly as if it were an illusion. Surely such beauty couldn't possibly exist.
In front of me stands a small running river. The water is gently rushing downhill, and it sparkles with each movement. It's surrounded by rocks that are a few feet above the riverbank, and a light mist sprays along the length of it. The mist shines silver with the light of the night, making it look ethereal.
My chin tilts up to look at the source of the mist's luminescence—the stars. They look extra beautiful tonight; however, this is most likely because I can look at them with nothing impairing my view, unlike how it is in pollution-and-skyscraper-filled Chicago. I turn my attention back to the stream and walk closer to it, the stars illuminating the area around me.
I find that I was right about the presence of a waterfall: there is a small one further uphill. I turn around to face Tobias and take his face in my hands, slowly kissing him, a small smile on my face.
"It's…I don't know what to say, Tobias. It's absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful," I say and look at the water again.
"Yeah…it is," he says with a certain gentleness in his tone that is reserved for me only. I turn to find his gaze is not focused on the stream, like mine had been just moments before, but directly on me. I blush, realizing what he was agreeing to, and kiss him again. His arms wrap tightly around my waist and guide me away from him. "I didn't bring you here for nothing," he says, smiling. "Go explore. I know you want to."
I smile back at him and peck his cheek. He lets go of me and I step away from his arms, eager to go get a better look. I travel up the rocks to the waterfall and sit on a smooth, white rock, dangling my feet over the edge so the mist kisses my feet. I close my eyes and listen to the sound of the water. It reminds me of the chasm where I first—albeit subconsciously—started to let Tobias in.
Tobias was right: I do love this place. I would take this walk again, even with heels on, if it meant I would end up here.
I hear soft footsteps come up behind me then stop. It's silent for a couple of moments, and I, for the first time since I've been here, think about what time it must be. It has to be at least midnight, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was one o'clock by now. I sigh and stand up, still facing the stream. I stare at its beauty for another minute or so.
"We will come back, right?"
I wait for an answer, but it stays quiet. I frown and look to where Tobias should be waiting patiently for me to tear myself away from this place.
"Tobi-"
I'm cut off by my own gasp of surprise.
Tobias is on one knee and displaying a small square box. It's opened to show a beautiful silver ring with a small diamond precisely placed on the top of it.
My right hand drops the heels in my hands with a thud, and it flies up to cover my mouth. Although, I don't think it would be possible for me to talk—or make any noise in general—at this point in time, even if I tried. Premature tears flood my eyes, making it hard to see. But I can hear, and that's all that matters.
"Beatrice Edith Prior," he says. "You once asked me why I chose you. I didn't give as good of an answer as I should have, and I'd like to change that. So, why did I choose you? Because I love the way you're willing to take on any challenge the world gives you, plus the ones that the people you love face. I've never met anyone as selfless and as strong-willed as you, and I never will.
"Without knowing it, you both make and encourage me to become a better person." He holds back a smile at my blubbering, though a small piece of it still shines through. "Most of all, though, I love the way you give second chances to those who need them, no matter who it is. You see the good in people despite every reason you shouldn't, when, most of the time, those people can't see the good in themselves. I would know."
Tears freely stream down my face. As if he and I were the only ones in the world right now, there is nothing, including the stream, that I can hear but his voice. Absolutely nothing could distract me from this moment. I'm quietly sobbing into my hands, trying as hard as I can to see him through my tears. I don't want to miss this; I want to remember every little detail.
"Every little thing you do reminds me that I could not have chosen a better person to fall in love with. I could go on forever with this list, but that's not the point. The point is, I love you. I love you so much it hurts, Tris. I don't know where or who I would be without you, and I don't want to know. I can't imagine a future without you. I want you in my life, Tris. I need you in my life. I know that we will face things that will test our patience and faith in each other, but you've proved to me that no matter how big the obstacle, we'll always be able to get through it. Always."
He pauses for a moment and takes a deep breath before asking the long-awaited question.
"Will you marry me?"
I smile so big it hurts. My head is swimming with hundreds of emotions, most of which I can't name. But there is one that I can.
Love.
I feel nothing but love for this man in front me. He's done so much for me for so long, and my heart throbs at the thought of saying 'no'. This man, down on one knee, threw his entire heart and soul out on the line all for a yes or no answer.
My head is suddenly screaming at me and I realize that I've probably been sitting here way too long for Tobias's liking. I try to form words, but the only thing that comes out are sobs. So, instead, I nod repeatedly until I can. "Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes. A million times yes." I breathily laugh. "I'll marry you, Tobias James Eaton."
He sighs in relief and a large smile breaks out on his face. He stands to meet me with the ring, and I take my left hand off of my mouth to hold it out to him. He steadies my shaking hand with his steady one and slips the ring onto my finger; I instantly decide that I like the feel of the cool metal. I take a moment to stare at it and think of what this means.
I'm getting married. The girl who always swore she wouldn't stay with anyone because she didn't want to hurt them—or them to hurt her—is getting married. The girl who never wanted anyone to be involved in her mess of a life is getting married. The girl who never thought she'd be blessed with a happy ending is getting married.
Married.
I finally tear my eyes away from the ring and look up at Tobias. He holds my face with both of his hands and wipes the still-flowing tears from my cheeks. I take my other hand off of my mouth and wrap it around his neck.
"I love you," he quietly says.
"I love you, too," I manage to choke out.
With that, he leans forward and kisses me with passion I've never seen in him before. I try to match it, and I find it easy with the simple reminder of the silver on my left ring finger. I move my hand to grip his arm in order to keep me steady, as my legs feel like they could give out at any given moment.
We kiss for what feels like hours before he slows it down. "We need to get home," Tobias murmurs.
I nod but don't make too much of an effort to unwrap myself from him yet. We stay like this for a few minutes before a yawn escapes me. Tobias chuckles.
"And that's my cue."
He steps back, causing me to finally peel myself off him. I bend down to pick up my long-forgotten heels, standing up a moment later and grabbing Tobias's right hand with my left. I don't know why, but I feel as if he should know how the ring feels on my finger too.
"Can we come back?" I ask, breaking a long silence. "Soon?"
Tobias places a kiss on my head, and his blue eyes twinkle with a raw happiness I've only seen a few times. "Of course."
We eventually reach the cement again, and I detach my hand from his, looking down at my pair of heels in distaste, not looking forward to putting them back on. The entirety of the night finally hits me and I let out another yawn as a wave of exhaustion hits me.
"Give me the heels, Tris. I know you have to be exhausted," Tobias gently says to me. I frown in confusion but hand him the heels anyway, eager to give my hand a rest. He turns so his back is facing me and squats.
"Hop on."
I smile at his thoughtfulness and all too gladly get on his back. I wrap my legs around his stomach and my arms around his neck, low enough so I won't be choking him, and yawn again. I let my head fall forward into the crook between his shoulder and neck.
"Thank you," I whisper and close my eyes.
"No. Thank you," is his simple reply. I smile and stay quiet for the rest of the trek home.
(8 months later)
"Tris! Come on! We have to get your hair and makeup done still!"
"I'm coming, Christina! Be patient!" I laugh and quickly walk to her oversized makeup and hair station. And I thought the preparation for the night Tobias proposed was painful…
"Finally! Okay! Marlene, Shauna, Taylor, and Lynn are finished decorating and will be here any minute!"
I hear the door open and shut, as if on cue, and they all walk over.
"We're here, we're here! Don't fret!" Shauna says with a smile on her face.
Christina squeals. "I can't believe this is finally happening!"
Marlene, Shauna, and Taylor all squeal in return while Lynn and I give each other the look that we've always given each other when they get too loud or too girly for our taste. We both smile, knowing exactly what the other is thinking.
This will never change. And that's okay.
I look at them for a second. They all look beautiful with their dark blue, knee length dresses, their hair and makeup done to perfection. They are ready. All they have left to worry about…is me.
"Okay, okay! Let's get started, girls!"
Marlene skips over and plugs in the curling iron. Christina quickly grabs her makeup bag and pulls various items from it, some of which I still don't know the purpose of.
"Close your eyes!"
Taylor isn't a bridesmaid. Lynn didn't want to be, which I figured would happen because she is Lynn after all, but I eventually convinced her. I think it helped that we've always had a certain, unspoken understanding not to squeal and act like kids on Christmas morning—Christina, Marlene, and Shauna did enough of that for the both of us. Taylor, however, steadily declined. She said something about not deserving to be a bridesmaid at my wedding. I tried to convince her otherwise because she is my sister-in-law, but she wouldn't budge. So, instead of continuing to push her to be a bridesmaid, I had her wear the same dress that the actual bridesmaids are wearing so she would still be a part of the group, even if she wasn't near the altar.
An hour later and my hair is done in a beautiful, curly updo while the makeup on my face makes me look even more beautiful than I did at prom. I gape at my reflection for a minute and smile. "You guys are amazing!"
They all smile, but before Christina can say, You're welcome, Shauna yells, "Dress!"
They all scramble towards the closet where my white dress hangs—even Lynn. Lynn, being the fastest, is the first to reach the dress and carefully pulls it from its safe place.
She holds it up and says, "So…are you ready?"
I smile. "Ready."
When my dress is on successfully, Christina runs back over to the closet and grabs a pair of cream-colored heels. "Now for your favorite part!"
I groan.
Shauna, Christina, and Marlene all laugh while Lynn looks at me sympathetically. Taylor sits quietly and smiles at me.
Sorry, Lynn mouths.
I slowly slip on my heels. I still don't like them, even if they are only a half an inch in height.
Marlene walks away only to come back with my veil. "We can't forget this!" She carefully and strategically places it on my head while Shauna turns and grabs the bouquet of blue and white roses and hands them to me. Then, when their work is complete, everyone takes a step back to look at me.
Christina is the first to speak. "Girls...look at what we've just accomplished."
They all stare at me for another minute. I put my bouquet down, anticipating what's to come, and Christina comes up and hugs me, trying not to alter anything so it would need refixing. The rest of the girls do the same and eventually step back again.
"You look beautiful, Tris," Christina says.
The rest of the girls nod in agreement.
"Thanks to you guys, I do," I bashfully say, my cheeks glowing.
We all sit in comfortable silence for a few seconds until we hear a knock on the door. "Girls, can we come in? Or are you still stripping?" Zeke yells.
"Hey, it actually wouldn't be that bad of an idea if we went in while they were still changing…get what I'm saying?" Uriah tries to say in a quiet voice but fails. I hear a slap and a couple of thumps followed by Uriah's whimpering. I can safely assume that all four boys hit him for that comment. I laugh. Those are our boys, all right.
"Yeah, come on in!" I yell.
The door opens and Zeke, Uriah, Will, Mason, and Caleb walk in. They all stare for a minute at their own girlfriends, or wives if you're Zeke or Caleb, then turn to look at me.
"Wow," Uriah says.
The girls laugh, and I smile. Zeke walks up to me and hugs me tightly, obviously not thinking about my makeup or hair. And I don't really care. Uriah hugs me next, followed by Will.
Caleb comes up, softly smiles, and extends his arms. I walk straight into them and squeeze him tight. He kisses my cheek. "You look beautiful, Bea," he whispers.
"Thanks, Cal."
He's practically shoved to the ground by Mason, who is now fifteen years old. He's now the age when everything started to go very, very, very wrong for me. I swore to myself a long time ago that I would make sure he never had to face everything that I did. And though he will always be scarred, at least he has something I didn't for a long time:
A reason to move forward.
He leans down to hug me—he may be almost 10 years younger, but he towers over me just like everyone else I know. I've grown used to it.
"I can't believe you're making me stand through another boring ceremony," he quips with an over-exaggerated whine. "Weddings are so overrated."
I laugh. "I'll be sure to remind you of that on your wedding day."
"You don't have to worry about that, Tris. None of the girls I've met have even come close to being my girlfriend, let alone my wife."
"Well, I would hope not! You're only fifteen!" I exclaim and pull away.
"I'll be sixteen soon!" he argues, and then he smirks. "You can't stop me from dating, Tris. You do know I could get a girlfriend anytime I wanted, right?" he says, wiggling his eyebrows.
Mason has grown to be very handsome, I'll admit. I've always assumed the girls knew it, what with his striking contrasts—dark blond hair that grows lighter in the summer, deep but brightly shining green eyes, and sharp but soft facial features—but I can now confirm that suspicion. Luckily we've raised him to be a respectful man, so I know he wouldn't date someone unless he liked them for who they were on the inside. At least, I would hope so.
I roll my eyes. "I can't stop you from dating, but I can stop you from being an ass," I say and thump his head.
He scowls and thumps me back, pinching my arm as he pulls away from me.
"Be careful!" Christina yells a moment later.
"It's fine, Chris! He didn't do anything!" I cross my fingers as I say this.
She huffs and walks around me, giving me a quick but thorough examination. When she doesn't find anything to be below par, she sighs and smiles.
"Maybe he didn't."
I sigh in relief. Mason cackles quietly behind me. In one quick motion, I reach out an arm and elbow him in the gut. I hear him release a sharp breath and start to cough. No one seems to have seen it. Or, if they did, they chose to ignore it.
Zeke looks at his watch and says, "I hate to say it, but we better get going, everyone. We still have to make sure all of the guests get to their seats in time."
"You're right. Let's go, everybody. Except for you, Tris. You have to stay here," Marlene says.
I roll my eyes. "Obviously."
They all start walking out the door, Mason still coughing and trying to find the breath he lost. I almost feel guilty.
Christina lets go of Will's arm at last minute and runs back to me when nobody is looking. She hugs me one last time and says, "You really do look beautiful, Tris. But I wanted you to know that you're a sister to me, and I think I speak for all the girls and boys when I say that, but I just thought you should be told."
She walks back to the door.
"Wait—Christina!"
She turns back to look at me.
"Thanks for being there all these years. And for agreeing to be my maid of honor. I can't think of anyone who would be better in that place than you."
She smiles widely, and her eyes sparkle with a bit of mischief. "It's not a problem. And, just so we're clear, you will be my maid of honor as well."
I furrow my eyebrows at that command and suspiciously look her over. "Wait, what do you-"
She smirks and hurries out before I can question her any further. She closes the door, leaving me to think about what she said. After a few moments, I shake it out of my head. I need to focus.
I walk to the mirror on the other side of the room and take my bouquet again. The door opens and closes again, and the actions are followed by a gasp. I turn around to see Tori covering her mouth with tears in her eyes. She walks over and carefully runs her fingers down my face.
"You look absolutely beautiful," she says, nearly in tears.
I set my bouquet back down and hug her tightly. "Thank you so much, Tori. For everything."
She pulls back to compose herself. "Are you nervous?"
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," I admit sheepishly.
"Don't worry, Bea. He loves you. I could see it when you disappeared in Haviland that one night, for goodness sake! You love him too, right?"
"Of course," I automatically answer.
"Then, you'll be fine. Just remember that you will always look beautiful to him. You don't need to worry about that," she comfortingly says.
I smile and turn back to the mirror. "Thanks, Tori."
"You're welcome."
I take a deep breath and frown. "Do you think Mom and Dad would've liked him?"
"I know they would've loved him." I see her smile from behind me and I smile as well, convinced wholeheartedly. "Are you ready?"
"Yes," I say without any hesitation.
"Then, let's go! What are you waiting for?"
I laugh and follow Tori out the door. I see the girls and guys all lined up outside the big doors, ready to start. They all turn to look at me and smile. I smile back as Tori walks through the doors to her seat in the front. Mason walks over and, surprisingly, hugs me one last time.
"Love you, sis."
"I love you, too, Mason."
Caleb and I make our way to the back of the line as Mason takes his place next to Lynn. Yes, Tobias ended up asking him to be a groomsman, and not just because he was short one (there was an odd number of us in the gang, after all). It was because he and Mason had formed some sort of bond over the years, and they've become just as close as Tobias is with the Pedrads.
Soon enough, everyone has walked through and it's my turn. I take a deep breath and take Caleb's arm, trying to push my nerves away. My gaze falls on Tobias as I struggle not to stumble in my shoes, and his eyes light up. I smile, all of my unsurety forgotten, and walk down the aisle, already daydreaming about the future.
(8 years later)
"Mommy, Mommy! Come look at my picture!"
I laugh and take my seven-year-old daughter's small hand.
"I'm coming, Natalie!"
She runs to the living room and holds up her drawing. It is a heart with 4 stick people drawn in it and a smaller person in a smaller heart on the outside.
I point to the person inside the smaller heart and ask, "Who is that?"
She laughs and points to my stomach. "It's the other baby!"
I smile. I only have five more months to go. "Your drawing is beautiful, Nat. I'll hang it on the fridge tomorrow, okay? Now, why don't you go get ready for bed?"
"But, Mommy-"
"No buts, Nat. Go get your jammies on, okay?"
She looks upset. "But, Momma-!"
I give her a stern look, raising my eyebrows at her. "Now, Natalie." A car pulls up in the driveway, and its headlights flash through the glass window of the door as it angles itself, forcing me to blink. In that fraction of a second that I'm distracted, Natalie has gotten up and ran out the door. "Natalie Victoria Eaton!" I exclaim, stumbling as I make to follow her. "Get back here!"
I register the small smirk on my daughter's face and desperately wish I'd been blocking the door so I wouldn't have been forced to chase her. By the time I make it through the doorway, Nat is practically dragging her twin out of the car. I sigh and drop my chin, giving up.
"Come on Drew, let's play!"
I take a deep breath and run my fingers through my hair to calm my wild emotions—not many of which are things Nat deserves to see.
Arms wrap around my waist, and a chin rests on my shoulder. "Nat giving you trouble again?"
I lean into the body behind me. "You could say that." I turn my head and am met with gentle lips on mine. When I pull back, I rest a hand on his even-stubbled cheek and smile. "How was baseball practice?"
"James loved it. He did great."
"Good." I pause, watching our children run in the yard for a few moments. "Have you ever figured out why Nat calls James by a nickname for his middle name instead of just his first name?"
"No, I haven't," Tobias chuckles. "But I guess it will always be one of their quirks. Speaking of Natalie, though, what did she do now?"
I groan, closing my eyes and rubbing at my temples. "Oh, you know, the usual: I tell her to do something, and she decides that whatever she has in mind is of greater importance." I reopen my eyes to see Tobias's curious ones. I open my mouth to elaborate. "I told her to get ready for bed, but she ran out here instead." Then, as a muttered afterthought, I say, "I hate not being able to move as fast as usual."
He softly laughs, pulling back and shouting over my shoulder, "Natalie Victoria! James Andrew! Go get ready for bed!"
"Aw…" they both whine, but go inside anyways.
"Why is it that they always listen to you?" I ask, an edge to my voice.
He laughs at my annoyance. "I'm scarier than their mother?"
"You want to bet on that?"
He kisses my forehead. "Nope. And anyone who does is a damn fool."
I can't help but laugh, my irritation drifting to a place I won't be able to reach it again—at least, not again tonight. "Let's go inside. I'm ready for bed too, actually; this little one tires me out," I say, rubbing my swollen stomach.
Tobias smiles and grabs my hand. We head back through the door Nat and James had run through not too long ago, locking it behind us and going upstairs to the kids' rooms. To our surprise, Natalie appears to already be sleeping soundly. Tobias tucks her in as I go to tuck James in.
I walk into his room and am immediately spotted by blue eyes just like Tobias's. The mini-replica of Tobias's eyes hits me in my gut every time I see them, but it isn't in a bad way; it makes my insides twist and my heart beat faster with the emotions that accompany the sight. And, if that wasn't enough to put a smile on my face, knowing the only difference between the two boys' eyes is the grayer tint to James's—something I suspect he got from his mother—was.
"Hi, Mommy," James greets me.
I smile. "Hey, Jamie." I use this nickname as much as I can because when he gets older, he won't allow it. I may as well take advantage of his age while I can.
I walk over, pull the covers up to his shoulders, and kiss him on the cheek. He smiles sleepily. "I love you, Mommy."
"I love you, too, James. Get some sleep. You can play some more in the morning."
"What about school?"
"Tomorrow is Saturday, baby. And guess what?" I ask, smiling.
"What?"
"All your aunts, uncles, and cousins are coming to play. Even Grandma Tori is coming."
His eyes light up, even though they're half-closed with the weight of sleep. "So I get to play with Ava, Tyler, Lily, Mark, Matt, Olivia, Sophie, and Gavin?"
"Uh-huh," I confirm, trying to hold back a laugh.
"And Uncle Caleb and Uncle Mason and Uncle Zeke and Uncle Uriah and Uncle Will and Aunt Christi-"
I finally crack and laugh at his eagerness, swooping down to kiss his cheek.
"Yes, Jamie. All of them."
"Yay! When?!"
I laugh again. "Tomorrow. But the sooner you fall asleep, the sooner tomorrow will come, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy. I love you."
"I love you, too. Go to sleep, now," I softly say, kissing his forehead once more and running my fingers through his blond hair. His eyes flutter shut, and soon his breaths have evened out and his lips part. I stay for awhile, just watching him sleep, until I back out of the room, the thought of saying goodnight to Nat at the forefront of my mind.
But instead of me finding her, she finds me—right outside of James's door.
"Natalie, what are you doing?" I ask accusingly.
She shrinks, her shoulders sagging and her head hanging. "I'm sorry, Mommy."
I sigh and take her hand. "Come on, you need to get to bed."
"But I'm older than James!" she argues.
"Honey, you're only four minutes older than him. You still have the same bedtime," I explain, chuckling at her seven-year-old logic as I lead her to her room. It's obvious that she got out of bed to come listen in at James's door. I have a feeling she's going to be the biggest troublemaker of the two. Natalie steps up into her bed, and I pull the covers over her. She tries to blow some of her blond hair from her face, but it ends up falling back down into her eyes, making her scowl. I smile and deftly tuck it behind her ear, kissing her head as I do so. "Has Daddy tucked you in?" I ask her.
"Yeah, " she smiles. "He kissed me goodnight."
I remember how scared Tobias was when I told him it was no longer going to just be the two of us. He had been utterly terrified of turning into his father, and though I tried to tell him he had nothing to worry about, it wasn't until he held our babies in his arms that he was totally convinced. I'm going to love you forever, was the echoed whisper in the hospital room that awoke me from my post-labor slumber. I had smiled at his words, but he didn't notice my conscious state due to his focus being elsewhere—particularly on the fingers each of his children had a hold of.
Nothing else was said, but there was a noticeable change after that: When I woke up again, the air was no longer tense with Tobias's apprehension and he began displaying open affection for our twins no matter who was around; he never complained when I'd asked him to check on James or Nat when they would wake up crying in the wee hours of the morning; he watched me when we had visitors and quietly shooed them out if I showed even a single sign of fatigue; he was there at the drop of a hat whether it be for me, Nat, James, or all three of us.
He was finally acting like the overprotective, loving father of the inviolable family he'd dreamed of all these years. Not that I'd ever doubted he would overcome his fear. He was Tobias. My Tobias. And my Tobias could overcome anything.
"Are you mad at me, Mommy?" Natalie suddenly asks.
I frown, stroking her hair. "Why would I be mad?"
"Because I ran away from you earlier and didn't go to bed when I was supposed to," she honestly answers, cuddling down further into her blankets.
"Honey, I'm not mad at you," I assure her.
"Do you promise?" she asks, looking wary.
I cup her face and smile, searching her dark blue orbs. "I promise."
"Pinky promise?" she sheepishly says, holding her pinky out to me.
I take a hand off her cheek and wrap my pinky around hers for a few moments. "I pinky promise."
She smiles and yawns. She closes her eyes for a minute, then opens them back up in an effort to stay awake. Her eyes are a replica of Tobias's as well, but, like James, they have a grayer tint to them. Other than being opposite genders, there is hardly any difference between her and James; they are about as identical as you can get. I guess only time will tell if it stays that way, though.
"Go to sleep, honey."
She closes her eyes, but I can tell she's still awake. She confirms it when she speaks. "Will you sing to me, Mommy?"
I bite my lip and think for a moment. "Which song?"
"That song you were humming earlier."
I smile a little bit, knowing which song she's talking about. "Okay, but only if you keep your eyes closed."
"I will," Nat promises, her eyes fluttering shut.
I quietly start to sing and stroke her hair.
"Your little hand's wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in and turn on your favorite night light
"To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have honey
If you could stay like that
"Oh darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
No one will desert you
Just try to never grow up
Never grow up."
I only reach the end of the chorus before she's fast asleep. I kiss her cheek and pull the covers back up to her shoulders, very quietly exiting the room. As I pass by, I peek into James's room to see that he's still sleeping. I smile at his peaceful face and head down the hall.
The shower water is running in our bedroom. Since I've already taken my shower, I climb into bed to wait for Tobias to finish his and close my eyes.
Shauna and Zeke got hitched nine years ago. They had their first baby seven years ago, just a couple of months after Tobias and I got married, and her name was Ava Marie Pedrad. They had a boy two years later and named him Tyler Jay Pedrad. Shauna is pregnant with another girl, only a couple of months farther than me.
Uriah and Marlene were married about six months after Tobias and I. They had a set of twins, both boys, four years ago. Matthew Oliver Pedrad and Mark Calvin Pedrad definitely keep Uriah on his toes. It's free entertainment watching him and Zeke try to keep up with their kids while trying to appease their wives and their rules at the same time.
Christina and Will got married six years ago and had a baby not even a year after—Christina wanted children that were close to the ages of the others' children and Will didn't dare say no. Although, I don't think he would have even if he did have the choice. They had a boy first—Gavin Jacob—then had little Lillian McKenzie two years later. It turns out that that comment she made about me being her maid of honor did mean something: Will had proposed to her two nights before my wedding day.
I still haven't been able to get over the fact that my not-so-dead brother and my not-so-ex-best friend got married. Caleb and Taylor had a little girl seven years ago—Olivia Grace Prior—which was two years after they had another girl named Sophia Beatrice Prior.
It's still odd to think that I'm an aunt and Tobias is an uncle, but, then again, some days I still feel like I'm in high school and wonder how on earth I got here.
Also, Oliver did end up calling Sam. We try to meet up with them at least once a month, and Sam and I get along better than I ever suspected we would. She got along with Tobias quite well, too. I have a feeling it's because of our pasts that we all get along—Sam and Tobias for the abusive household, and Sam and I for our time spent testifying against the most terrifying parts of our lives in court.
Tobias got along with Oliver as well, and when I finally cracked and told him the story of how Oliver and I met, he only laughed. So did Sam. Needless to say, Oliver and I were both relieved at their lighthearted reactions.
They're married now, and last I heard, Sam was about to have a baby of their own.
Mason finally found someone that was 'cool enough' for him to 'at least date' about a year ago. I was so startled when I first met her that she assumed I didn't like her, which gives us some good laughs now because that couldn't have been further from the truth, though.
I absolutely adored her. I had just been shocked.
Mason had once told me he'd never date someone who could possibly beat him in looks, wit, or dominance, and I always believed him. But when it came to her, he didn't stand a chance at winning. At first glance, she looked like a creation of the angels themselves: hair as golden as the sun, bright sky blue eyes, soft but full curves, and a smile that made anything and everything around her bloom to life. Her voice was like silk, and her stride made her look like she was floating. Even her name suggested her gentle nature.
However, she had a stubborn side. She could knock the biggest egotistical brats down to where they'd be cowering in their own shame. I laughed for a good hour the first time I saw her in action; Mason pouted for as long as I laughed.
Lily Fraire and Mason Prior are getting married next month.
Tobias finally climbs into bed, his arms wrapping around me from behind and pulling me to his chest. I relax and feel his hands rest on the bump on my stomach.
"Only five more months," he whispers.
"Only five more months," I repeat. We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes. I rest my hands on top of Tobias's. "You would never into Marcus. I hope you know that," I gently say, knowing that though he did overcome his fear, there would always be a bit of mistrust in himself.
His arms tense from around me and he stays quiet, refusing to answer me.
"Tobias, you need to stop worrying about that, okay? You love those kids too much to be anything like Marcus. Understand?" He nods, but his arms are still tense "Understand, Tobias?" I say, a little more forcefully.
He relaxes and kisses my neck, still to this day sending goosebumps down my spine. "I understand," he whispers.
If you would've told me thirteen years ago that I would eventually be happily married with a set of twins and another on the way, I probably would've either broken down or laughed at them. It was too good to be true, right? All I wanted was for my family to be alive and well.
Now I know that this is all I could have wished for: a loving husband, a tough to handle but beautiful set of twins, and another little one that is only five months away from entering this world.
Yes, it would've been nice to have my parents alive and my old friends not to turn on me, but I know that with my own family and my new friends, I have everything that I will ever need and want.
"Oh, and Tris?" Tobias says, and I snap my eyes open. Bleariness fills my vision and I don't bother to keep sleep from reaching my body.
"Yeah?" I whisper, seconds away from sleep.
He pulls me closer to him, resting his chin atop my shoulder. "Happy birthday. I love you more than I can say," Tobias whispers.
I smile and barely get out a, "Love you too," before I let myself succumb to the mind's calling.
Tobias's POV
(11 years later)
A honk comes from outside the door. I can tell that Tris is barely holding back tears as she watches bag after bag get hauled down the stairs. I rub her back to comfort her, although I'm not feeling much better.
"What about your tv? Can I have that?" Sammy's voice floods through the house as our kids walk down the stairs.
Our kids.
The words still baffle me even after eighteen years of them being true. Wasn't it just yesterday that Tris and I decided it was time to finally resume our relationship?
"No! I already told you no!" Natalie snaps at her.
"What about your movies? Can I have those?"
"NO!"
"Can I have your books, James?"
They finally come into view, Nat looking comparably the most annoyed between her and James.
"Samantha Lyn Eaton, quit bugging your brother and sister! We've already discussed this! You are not to take any of their belongings when they leave, understand?" Tris berates Sammy. Sammy ducks her head and mumbles something incoherent under her breath. "Besides," Tris adds, her voice much softer than before, "they aren't going to be gone forever. They'll come back to visit."
Sammy was named after my mother. It wasn't my idea, but Tris insisted. She pointed out that James and Natalie were both named after her parents, so it was only fair that Sammy be named after mine, excluding Marcus. I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of naming my daughter something I had always considered an 'old woman' name, and after a while, Tris gave up on convincing me.
So, we compromised.
Of course, I did want to give my mother recognition, but I didn't want our daughter to share her first name. That's when we thought of Sam—Oliver's Sam—and knew that it was a strong, wonderful name to pass on. When I still didn't like Evelyn as her middle name, Tris thought only for a moment before tiredly smiling, looking down at Sammy, and whispering, "Welcome to the world, Samantha Lyn."
And that was that.
Not to mention that Sammy was now Lynn's favorite kid—for obvious reasons. The gang was overly confused as to why we named her after their Lynn, and they just assume that something significant had happened between us. We still haven't bothered to correct them, even after eleven years. I guess it'll come as a shock to them if they ever learn how her middle name is actually spelled.
Nat and James set the last of their bags down and take turns hugging Sammy, though I can tell they're still annoyed with her. It's a sibling thing, I guess. At least, that's what Tris had told me.
James ruffles Sammy's hair before he pulls away, leaving a scowl on her face.
"You…you will still visit, right?" Tris asks them, her voice sounding grim and hopeful at the same time.
Nat and James both turn their attention towards their mother, quickly rushing over once they see the state she's in. "Of course we'll visit, Mom," James reassures her.
"It's not like we're going halfway across the country. We'll only be a few hours away from home," Natalie says, attempting to reassure her in a different way. I'm fairly sure James's way works better, though I'm not going to be the one to tell Nat that. Tris has always been a lover of vague truth, and James—ever the observant one—figured that out a long time ago. "It's only college, Mom. It'll be okay."
"I know," she whispers, trying to fend her tears off. "I'm going to miss you guys so much."
Nat squeezes her one more time then pulls back. She grins a spitting image of Tris's own smile. "I love you, too, Mom," she says, replying to the implied words.
As James takes Natalie's place in front of Tris, Natalie moves on. And something hits me:
I can't do this.
Where's the little girl who used to sit on my shoulders just so she could feel like she was flying?
Saying nothing, standing on her tippy toes, Natalie reaches up and wraps her arms around my shoulders. Closing my eyes, I wrap her up in a tight hug. If I'm squeezing too tight she doesn't say so. "I love you, Dad."
I force myself to speak, trying to rein my emotions back in. "Be careful, okay?"
After a few more minutes of this, she gently disentangles herself from my grip and flashes a quick, mischievous smile at me. "Now, Dad, you know careful isn't in my vocabulary."
I heave a deep sigh. "Yes, I know. But couldn't you at least spare your old man from some worry, lie or not?"
She smirks. "I don't lie. Besides, you'll worry no matter what. "
She's right. About not lying, I mean. She was in Dauntless, unsurprisingly, but she also had an equal aptitude for Candor. That was probably the only easy thing about raising her—she always told the truth.
But she was also right in saying I would worry no matter what.
James was in Dauntless; however, he tested equally for Erudite. I was very surprised when he chose to stay in Dauntless instead of transferring. I have a feeling he only picked Dauntless because of his sister, but I doubt he'd ever admit to it. The kid may be easy going, but damn did he inherit his parents' stubbornness.
"Only because you're my little girl," I tell her wistfully.
Her demeanor softens and she reaches up to hug me again. "I'm gonna miss you, Daddy," she says. I know she's trying to comfort me by acting like a little girl again, and though I know she's eighteen and moving out, it works a small bit.
"I'll miss you too, Nat," I whisper, not trusting my voice. "I love you."
"I love you, too," she says and emphasizes the phrase with another squeeze.
Another honk comes from outside. Natalie pulls away, kissing my cheek. "Gavin and Ava are waiting, Dad," she says regretfully, and I can see the worry in her eyes. Worry for me, I'm sure.
I've only ever fallen apart once in front of my children, and it had been before Sammy was born. I still remember that day Natalie answered the knocking at the door. Tris had been in the kitchen cooking supper and I was in the living room with the twins, watching an old Disney movie—I can't remember which one. Natalie had come and gotten me, and there had been fear in her eyes. Obviously, nothing rational had come to mind when I saw that fear: Marcus did. 'Grandpa Marcus' had never been uttered in our house—not even his name alone—so there was no reason that Natalie should have been that afraid even if it had been him. But my judgment was clouded and I couldn't think straight, leaving that thought at the forefront of my mind.
To say I was confused when I saw who was really there would have been an understatement.
I sigh and kiss my eldest daughter's forehead, brushing some of her blond hair behind her ear. "Go on. Have fun, but not too much fun. Stay safe, and don't do anything I wouldn't do, okay?"
She smiles at me and hugs me very quickly once more. "Have too much fun, go crazy, and participate in everything dangerous. Got it. Great advice, Dad." She laughs at my facial expression before grabbing her suitcases again. "Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad! Bye, butt-munch!"
"Hey!" Sammy shouts at her.
Natalie smirks. "Just kidding, sis. See you all later! Love you!"
And, before we can reply, she's bounding across the house and making a speedy exit. I stare disbelievingly at the shut door. Is this really happening? Is my little girl really leaving?
"Are you Mr. Tobias Eaton?" a policeman asked, a somber look in his eye. Two policemen. I looked over his shoulder for a moment, but there were no other men to be seen. For a moment I panic, thinking maybe they were delivering the news that Eric had broken out of jail and they couldn't find him. But then I remember that he asked for me specifically, and if the scenario I'd thought up had happened, it would have been Mrs. Beatrice Eaton they'd asked for, not Tobias.
Turning my eyes back to the man who had spoken, I confirm his question with a frown. "I am. May I ask why you're here? Is something wrong?"
I heard a small whimpering at my side and looked down to see Nat and James by my side, Nat clutching my shirt in her tiny fists. She had always had a fear of the police for some unknown reason. I hoped that that fear would die out one day, knowing that if God forbid something ever happened to her, going to the police would be the smartest and most justified response. But Tris and I had talked already, and we planned to have a long talk with James and Nat before they went off to college—maybe even before then, if the time called for it—about their mother's high school years. I'd told Tris we didn't have to tell them, that it was in the past now and we could move forward and never bring it up again, but she'd refused. She wanted our children to know—not everything, no, but enough that they would know what to do in situations such as hers. Know that they could come to us.
I couldn't argue after that; her eyes had been burning with the fire I'd fallen in love with, telling me she was going to do it with or without me.
I'd chosen with.
Luckily, that talk was still years away. I had a feeling that James would start asking questions soon, though, as he's made it his mission to trace the scars on his mother's wrists when he sits next to her. He's never said anything, but I saw from the very first moment he'd traced them that the kid knew more about those scars than he should have—especially when he didn't seem surprised by Tris's tears.
"Tobias, what's going on? Who's at-" Tris stops mid-sentence, looking at the officers with a suppressed fear. Her eyes widen and meet mine, and I know she's asking the only question I have the answer to as of now. I shake my head, barely perceptible. She looks relieved for a few moments before worry takes over, and she gently shoos Nat and James back to the living room.
"What happened? Why are you here?" Tris asks the policemen, resting a hand on my arm for comfort. Who she was comforting, I don't know.
The man who had been speaking before does so again, and I see his jaw tighten. "I have been asked to inform you that your father was reported dead on arrival this morning at 12:46 am. He was found with his car flipped on the side of the road, and there was nothing we could do by the time we got to him. I am sorry for your loss."
My ears rang; my heart stopped beating; my breath escaped me. Marcus. Marcus was found on the side of the road—dead. Dead. A gentle numbing went through me, making me feel lighter than I had a few minutes ago.
"Tobias. Tobias, look at me."
I hear what Tris is saying, but I can't bring myself to follow her instructions. I can't look at her without feeling any emotion, and if I felt anything now I don't know what I would do. If I look at her, I'll snap—in which way, I'm not sure—and that scares me. Scares me more than it should.
"Tobias, please-"
"Was he drunk?" I interrupted. My voice is tight, and my muscles are tense. I decide to rephrase my question. "If he were alive would he be charged with a DUI?"
The policemen look unsure of whether or not to answer my question. One of them flicks their eyes down to look at my clenched fists, probably wondering if their answer would make them swing. The thought of raising a hand around Tris, even if it's to a stranger, is enough for me to calm down. I relax my fists, spreading my fingers and twisting them with Tris's. The men look slightly comforted by the sight.
"Yes, sir, he was."
I curse under my breath. "Of course he was."
They seem confused by my reaction thus so far; I'm sure that they were expecting me to lash out, or maybe even to cry—not have an obvious detachment from my 'loved one'.
Marcus was dead. He was gone for good with no chance of return. I didn't have to stay up at night wondering whether he'd figured out where I was and what my current life was comprised of. I didn't have to worry about his interruption of our lives, the endangerment of my family.
So why did I feel so guilty?
"We're very sorry for your loss, sir," the man beside him repeats, and I know that there is nothing left for them to say.
Sensing the same thing, Tris turns her attention to the officers and grimly smiles. The grave look on her face is either a damn good act or not an act at all—with Tris, it could be either. "Thank you for telling us," she says, "but I think we'll be able to handle this from here on out."
They give us a nod, looking skeptical but not entirely unconvinced of Tris's claim; I'm sure this isn't their first time hearing those words come from the spouse of the one receiving the death notification. The men slowly walk back to their vehicles, and Tris shuts the door in front of me before I can watch them drive off, and she lays a careful hand on my shoulder, unsure of what to do.
"Tobias?" she says again, worried. "Are you okay?"
I still refuse to look at her. I blink several times, flexing my hands and focusing on the blood rushing in my ears. A deep hollow feeling spreads throughout me, filling me with nothing to my very core.
Marcus is dead. He's never coming back.
"Tobias, look at me right now."
I don't. Instead, I make my way back to the living room where Nat and James are and sit on the couch beside them. Nat looks just as worried as her mother—James looks cool and collected as always, though I can see the faint signs of worry in his face, too—and crawls into my lap, settling herself against me. And then I break.
Quiet sobs rack my body, and I clutch Nat tighter to me. I hold her like I once held Tris when she was falling apart, except now I'm the one crumbling. James wraps his arms over Nat's, almost encircling the entirety of my middle (their arms aren't quite long enough yet to make it all the way around). Tris sits on the arm of the couch and touches the back of my neck. It's the closest she can get to me without pushing her kids—our kids—out of the way.
With the extra height she's gained from sitting on a surface higher than I am, Tris comfortingly pulls my head to her. I press my face into my wife's shoulder and clutch to my kids as if they were my only lifelines. And, in a way, they are.
Marcus was the only family in my life for a long time. Sure, I had the Pedrads, but they weren't blood. My mother is dead-has been for over three-quarters of my life, and I had no brother or sisters. I felt alone because all I'd wanted for a long time is my family's approval. But now I realize that Marcus was never family I should have been trying so hard to please, to impress. Because you shouldn't have to impress family to get them to love you. They are supposed to love you no matter who or what you are.
Unconditional. It was a word I'd never quite understood until now.
I take my arms off of Natalie only for Tris to slide down next to us, and when she does I wrap my arms around her and James. I pull them closer to me, James being pushed far enough to take Nat's place in my lap. Nat climbs into Tris's instead without complaint, and three pairs of arms wrap around me: two of them young and fragile, one of them small and strong, all of them exactly what I need. I squeeze them tighter and manage to get out a simple, "I love you."
Three voices ring out at the same time, an echo of what I'd just uttered. "I love you, too."
"Dad," a gentle voice says, bringing me out of my reverie. James stands there, a knowing look on his face.
I sigh and look apologetically at him. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just having trouble coming to terms with this."
He smiles. He also has Tris's smile. Luckily for him and Natalie, though, neither of them were given her height. "I know. I can tell."
"Am I really that easy to read?"
"Only for those who have lived with you for 18 years," he quips.
I half smile at him. "Come here, golden child."
He and Natalie are complete opposites as far as personalities go: while Nat is outgoing, adventurous, and loud, James balances her out by being introverted, gentle, and unobtrusive. While Nat was running around doing who knows what during the weekends and summers, you could usually find James at home reading books or helping Tris with housework. He also tended to get the better grades, but that went without being said. Hence the reasons why he earned himself the nickname 'golden child'. Nat didn't mind. In fact, I think she liked the distinction from her twin.
Luckily for me and Tris, Sammy seems to have developed more James in her than Natalie. I love Nat to the moon and back, but I don't think I could handle another.
James chuckles and comes in for a lengthy hug. I suppose it's called for since we won't see them again for a few weeks. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you, too, James. And thank you for not following in your sister's footsteps while you were growing up. Lord only knows what I would've done with two of you," I say, trying to pull off a joking manner. However, James sees right through me-as per usual.
"Don't worry, Dad. She'll be fine. I promise," he says in a low tone, so as not to let Tris know I'm worrying this much. I force a small smile. "How about we make a deal?" James offers.
I raise an eyebrow. "And what does this deal entail?"
"I'll look after Nat for you, make sure she doesn't do anything too outrageous, and you look after Mom for me, make sure she's okay." When I give him the look that encourages him to elaborate, he admits, "She's kind of worrying me. I haven't seen her like this since the night Nat failed to tell us she was staying at a friend's house—for three days."
James has always been close with Tris, and I can't say I blame him. She's an amazing mother.
Sneaking a peek over his shoulder, I see Sammy confusedly trying to comfort an over-emotional Tris. I smile smally at the sight and turn back to James.
"Don't worry about your mother; she'll be okay. I'll watch after her," I assure him, knowing that she'll be back to normal in a few days.
"Then we have a deal?" he asks me, proffering a hand.
I smile and shake his hand. "We have a deal."
He grins at me. "I'll see you around, Dad."
I smile softer at him. "I'm going to miss the presence of a golden child around here, but I think I can survive for a few weeks without one. And if I don't...well, it's all your fault."
The claim earns me a laugh. James pats my shoulder. "Take care of Mom and Sammy."
"I will. And you take good care of Nat."
He nods. "I will, don't worry."
He flashes me one more show of pearly whites before he goes back to Tris. He gently takes her away from Sammy and smiles, wiping some of her tears. He whispers something in her ear as he pulls her in for another hug. Tris smiles a moment later and hugs him as tight as her arms can muster. James has to bend down to hug her, unlike Sammy who had to practically jump to even reach Tris's shoulder. Poor kid is going to just as short as her mother. Like she can tell what I'm thinking about, Sammy looks to me with wide eyes, looking quite distressed at the scene playing out in front of her.
"Your mother will be fine, don't worry," I whisper to her.
Looking a bit more comforted by my reassurance, Sammy relaxes and nods. Her eleven-year-old arms wrap around my waist as she settles herself against my side. I run my fingers through her brown locks, trying to comfort her. With her ocean-blue eyes, dark brown (almost black) hair, hooked nose, and spare upper lip, I've been told time and time again that Sammy is a spitting image of me. And on the outside, that may be true. But with her compassion for others, her constant need to better herself, her stupid but brave endeavors, and wisdom beyond her age, I have no problem arguing that she's more like her mother than me.
I lean down and kiss the top of her head as James carefully steps away from Tris. He takes her hand and starts to walk her to the door with him. A quick look from him, and Sammy and I are following as well, the former finally detaching from my side.
As we step out onto the front porch, the car holding Gavin, Ava, and Natalie honks again. Then a window rolls down, Ava yells, "Sorry! I didn't know you were standing right there!", and the window quickly rolls back up. I chuckle and shake my head. Pedrads will be Pedrads.
James, as if waiting for a bomb to go off, slowly lets go of Tris's hand. She takes in a sharp breath but otherwise is fine. He leans in and kisses her forehead, then turns to Sammy standing between us and bends down so he can give her a kiss on the cheek. "Be good for Mom and Dad, okay? Take care of them for me," he says to her. Sammy nods and throws her arms around him once more. Tris slightly smiles at the interaction. James stands back up and faces me again.
"Remember our deal," I remind him.
He smiles. "Wouldn't forget it. You can count on me."
I can't help but smile back at him. "I know I can."
He hauls his duffel bag over his shoulder and smiles once more before going to the car and hopping in, greeting Ava with a short kiss. I roll my eyes. How James managed to fall for the offspring of a Pedrad, I have no clue. But even I have to admit Ava is good for him. And, though I don't approve of any relationship that my little girl is in, at least Gavin was raised under sensible, responsible parents. I don't have anything against Marlene and Shauna, but they're also the ones who married Dipshit One and Dipshit Two, so I don't completely trust their judgment.
The kids were brought up under the idea that the gang and the gang's children were their aunts, uncles, and cousins, and while they still referred to the gang as aunts and uncles, they always thought of their 'cousins' as good friends. We didn't fight them on this, especially when four of them started to have feelings for each other.
The car starts to back out of the driveway, then suddenly stops when it reaches the end. Tris looks to me in confusion. I shrug, just as confused as she is.
Quick as a flash, Nat has jumped from the car and sprinted all the way up to where we're standing. She throws herself into my arms and I stumble back a couple steps from the force. When I regain my balance, I feel wet tears on my shoulder and neck.
"I love you, Daddy. I'll be careful, I promise," her muffled voice speaks into the fabric of my shirt.
I sigh and close my eyes, tightly wrapping her into another embrace. I've never seen my girl cry before, unless, of course, you count her toddler ages and below.
"I love you, too, Nat," I say and kiss her head.
A few minutes later, she pulls away and sprints back to the car before I can get a good look at her. It looks like she intends to keep it that way; not letting me see her cry is probably for the best right now, anyway. I would only worry more.
Now the car backs out of the driveway without a hiccup. As they drive down the street, the windows roll down and James and Natalie stick their heads through the windows.
"Bye! I love you!" they both yell.
"We love you too!" Tris yells back before choking up and starting to cry again.
Even from this distance, I see James's look. I chuckle and pull Tris under my arm and into my side, kissing her temple. Sammy locks onto my waist again and waves. I follow her lead and wave as well, but Tris continues to sob—long after the car has disappeared from view.
"It'll be okay, Mommy. You'll see," Sammy says, looking up and taking her hand.
Tris smiles tearily at the youngest Eaton and squeezes her hand. "I know it will be, honey. It's just hard. Eighteen years go by much too fast."
I couldn't agree more.
Sammy smiles and throws her arms around Tris. "How about we go inside and watch a movie together?" I suggest when Tris looks ready to cry again.
"Ooo! Mommy, Mommy! Can we make cookies for the movie instead of popcorn?You know, like tradition?"
Tris laughs, wiping some of her tears. "I suppose we can. What kind do you want, baby?"
"Chocolate chip, chocolate chip!" Sammy exclaims. "Oh, oh, oh! I can start getting the ingredients out!" is the last thing she says before rushing into the house.
I turn my full attention to my wife as she sniffles and attempts to get the remainder of her tears off her cheeks.
"Never in a million years did I think I'd see my Tris breaking down over our kids' extended vacation," I say jokingly to her.
She swats my arm. "Shut up."
I chuckle and gently wipe the tears she didn't get with my thumb. "Are you going to be okay?" I ask seriously.
She takes a deep breath and weakly smiles. "I'm okay. I've still got you and Sammy, so it's not like I'm completely alone. The house is still occupied; it'll just be a bit quieter without Nat's music blasting and dirtier without James's help." She is able to laugh at her revelation. "It will take some getting used to, but I can handle it."
I softly kiss her before murmuring, "They'll be all right."
She nods. "I know, but I'm a mom. I'm bound to fret."
I chuckle and kiss her forehead. "Don't stress yourself out too much, okay? They wouldn't want you to." Especially James. She nods again, looking less and less miserable with every minute that passes. "Good. Now I think we'd better go see if Sammy has managed to burn down the kitchen yet."
She laughs and gently slides her arms under mine, pressing the palms of her hands to my shoulder blades. "Thank you, Tobias."
I wrap my arms around her oh-so-familiar physique. "Anything for you."
"I love you," she sighs into my chest. I close my eyes and hold her a little tighter.
Even after all of these years, after all of the changes and chapters in our lives, one thing has always remained untouched, and it always will. Because no matter what, I know our love will always prevail, strong and steady as waves crashing onto shore.
"I love you, too," I whisper.
So...how was it? Was the epilogue all that you wanted to see? Please review and tell me what you thought! If you have any questions, just PM me and I'll be happy to answer them all! They can be about things I left unanswered (that I didn't realize), or it could just be questions about random stuff! I love talking, so don't be afraid!;)
Now time for the endless amount of thank yous….THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU! You guys were so extremely sweet! I've met so many new friends from this experience, and I couldn't have asked for better readers, reviewers, favoriters, and followers! I'm so sad this is the end, but I suppose it was about time...I'm not giving myself a break after this, but unfortunately I will not be writing for the Divergent fandom again for a while. I am going to be focusing on my story for The Mortal Instruments instead, so, if you're interested, feel free to drop by! I'm welcome to visitors!;)
I wish words could express how thankful I am for all of you, but they just can't. No matter how many times I say it, it will not be enough. So thank you, and I hope that one day I'll return to this fandom and write for all of you again! It'd be an honor!:)
This is usually where I say 'Until next time!' meaning the next chapter, but now I can't...so I guess I'll just have to say it in a different context.
Until next time (unless you choose to venture to my other story)! :D