Tris POV

We are in the middle of warming up when Eric walks in. This time he doesn't bang the door but I still know the moment he enters despite my back facing the door.

He stays in the background until we are done and divide into the earlier assigned groups.

"Stiff's with me," Eric announces loudly and there are some snickers from what we already deemed the peanut gallery. Former Candor.

"I already got Tris," Lauren announces bravely despite Eric's glowering eyes. I bet if it wouldn't hurt so much he would have scrunched up his face as well.

"You focus on everyone else, seems little Miss Abnegation signed herself up for some special treatment."

Lauren gives me one last pitying look, she knows as well as I do that he is referring to my pregancy.

I silently step beside Eric and follow him to a far off corner that has some mats.

Eric stretches and I silently follow his example, a little more can never hurt and it is better than standing there and inadvertently cooling down.

Finally Eric seems ready to face me and his scrutiny is more than obvious. He is not going to make this easy for me but how much am I willing to take before I have a go at him myself?

Hunter was right in all that he said last night, I don't want or need a toxic relationship. We need to jump over our egos and talk it out. We both sensed that we could be great but are we both still willing to go for it?

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

Okay, so he is going for it. Fine, I can be the adult in the room.

"Initiation," I state quietly.

"Why do you even bother, it sounds like you have your place here secured," Eric hisses.

"I am not taking advantage and I am going to earn my rank," I counter.

"But you don't have to. What's inside of you is giving you an unfair advantage," Eric growls before grabbing his jaw, massaging it while glaring at me.

"That's untrue and also uncalled for," I growl, not willing to let this one slide. Balance, I try to remind myself. Hear him out but stand your ground.

"Is it," Eric challenges.

"Look, if you are uncomfortable with me being here, just hand me over to Lauren and Four and pretend we never met before yesterday. I am not here to listen to you trying to put me down for no reason other than a bruised ego. Forget you you ever met me, forget what's in my file. Ignore me and move on with your life," I hiss while already turning around to look for Lauren.

Eric's hand grabs my arm and I hiss when his bruising grip stops me from moving any further.

"We are not done here."

"Take your hands off of me immediately," I state with an ice cold voice I did not even know I was capable of.

Eric's hand lets go of my arm and I rub it while turning back to face him. He looks remorseful enough for me to not comment but he also looks like shit.

"You look like you should have taken more time off," I blurt out when I finally get a real look at him. At the moment he is not hiding his feelings.

"I don't have the privilege to take more time off. I am a leader and duty never stops. Why did you not tell me who you were. Cryptic messages about timelines were not necessary, Beatrice."

"Tris," I correct immediately. "And I did not really think when I met you, I mean, I wasn't lying when I said you should wait until after initiation was over before you asked me for a date. You asked me to marry you," I remind him.

"That was the orgasm speaking," Eric corrects and I nod in agreement. I was afraid this was the case but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I would have married him, but maybe that was my own bliss making me think it was right at that time.

"Then we both know which way forward we have to choose. Turn the other way, let Lauren and Four train me and pretend I don't exist," I demand, feeling anger finally seep through.

Eric turns and takes three steps before he once more turns and storms back.

"No."

"No," I ask, feeling my heart beat rather unsteadily all of a sudden.

"I am not going to pretend you don't exist," Eric hisses.

"Then fucking tell me what you want me to do?!"

There are some heads turning our way when I shout and Eric drags me after him and out the door so fast, my head is swirling. Both Tobias and Lauren take a few steps our way but Eric just looks at them and shakes his head. Both obey his silent order while giving me pitying glances.

Eric drags me down the hallway and when I finally have the wherewithal to dig my heels in he still drags me around the corner before I am suddenly thrown around and my back hits the wall. Eric's lips are on mine before I can open my mouth. His tongue slides in the moment I do and I am clutching his shirt while helplessly standing there, unsure which way is up.

Eric's teeth nip my lip and I finally come back to my senses and return the favour. Eric growls when I dig in a bit too harshly and his hands move up to hold my head prone.

His mouth leaves mine with a groan of pain while his eyes burn into me.

"Eric, I am sure Hunter told you not to kiss Tris for a while," Max's voice booms down the tunnel. "This is regular training time and if you two want to risk being caught making out, do it at least outside of those hours."

I close my eyes and pray the floor will swallow me whole.

"You knew," Eric growls before wincing in pain as he turns around to confront Max. "All this time I have been looking for her and you knew where she was. How did you even know?!"

Eric narrows his eyes at Max who looks slighty stunned before getting his bearings.

"Her mother told me."

Eric turns to look at me with an accusing gaze.

"You told your mother?!"

"It was the right thing to do. You read Tris' file," Max interrupts before I can even think of an answer.

"I didn't read her file," Eric hisses before wincing again.

"You didn't," Max asks, echoing my thoughts.

Eric looks like he would rather suck a lemon than respond so I tentatively intervene on his behalf.

"Eric looks like he should take a break from talking, Max."

"But he didn't read your file, Tris," Max repeats, still unsure of what this means.

I know what this means. Eric doesn't know yet and all his previous talk was about something else. I am still at a loss about some of it but the main part is that he is pissed about my perceived deception.

"I heard that too," I sigh. "Eric and I have things to discuss later when his ego is not as bruised for thinking I deceived him when I first met him," I explain quietly while keeping an eye on Eric's reactions.

"Why would you deceive him, you met him for all of five seconds. I mean, you two seemed to have come to an understanding back then," Max rambles on.

"Eric did not realise I was neither Dauntless nor a full member of any faction. When I told him I couldn't marry him because I didn't know him he asked me for a date. I kind of fumbled a bit and told him I couldn't do that until initiation was over," I admit. "He asked me to go on one earlier and I said I wasn't going to be around. I don't know why I didn't outright say why. He asked me not to consider anyone else and that he would make me his on September twentieth. I was to be his for the rest of his life and he claimed love at first sight. Mom leaving your office cut our time short," I end lamely.

Max just shakes his head while I remember the last conversation, the one we had inside the training room.

"Don't worry, though, Eric cleared the air, so to speak and made it abundantly clear he was not clear headed when he made all those declarations. We are going to go separate ways and he is letting Lauren and Four take over my traninig," I announce and Eric shakes his head vehemently, still wincing, while Max's eyes seem to bug out.

"He wasn't clear headed and now he is turning his back on you," Max parrots.

"I was angry," Eric bellows and promptly grabs his jaw.

"That's no excuse, Eric. You were trying to hurt Tris on purpose," Max accuses and Eric looks down. "You two really do need time to talk. Fuck, why did I not see that coming?! I should have known there were things you needed to talk about. But not now. Eric, go home and ice that jaw, I will take over for today. I will find a way for you to meet Tris later, after hours." Max emphasises the 'after hours' part and Eric looks resigned. "Go."

With one last look my way Eric leaves, albeit reluctantly.

"He doesn't know," Max asks me, sounding incredulous.

"I thought he did and that's why he was mad. Seems it was for other reasons. What am I going to do?"

"Sit down like adults and talk about your future. Don't mention the baby right away, just get the other stuff sorted without any mention of the pregnancy. Make sure you two are okay before you spring that on him."

"Sounds easier than it is. I mean, yes, we need to figure out what is actually the truth. He spewed some shit but being upset and hurt is no excuse for trying to hurt me."

"Look, Tris, I am not saying ignore his behavior but Eric is completely out of his depth. He doesn't do relationships, he doesn't do females. He lives to work and you turned his whole world view upside down more than once. He is a leader who had sex with a dependent from another faction and that dependent is now to be trained to become a member under his supervision. He was blindsided and I guess that finding out we all knew what happened won't help keep his temper at bay. He does have a temper but it is nothing you can't manange. Just, I think what I am saying is, find the balance between cutting him some slack and being assertive about your own wants and needs."

"Thank you, Max. I am sorry I caused all this drama."

"It takes two to tango and had I not invited you over he might have met you yesterday for the first time and it would have been the same," Max wagers before giving me a hug. "Come on, enough talking, more working."

Max brings me back inside and I join Lauren's group while Max explains loudly he is taking over for Eric today. He singles us out one by one for an assessment and I am happy to stay in the background after the earlier drama.

Of course everyone wants to know what the fuck happened so I give an abbreviated version, skipping a few facts when I explain I met Eric a few weeks ago outside Max's office and he did not realise who I was when we talked. He felt deceived. That gets a few eyebrows and some looks that indicate certain people have more questions but they leave it be, for now.

…

Max heads me off after dinner, claiming a follow up with Hunter is needed for those within hearing distance. Lauren will most likely assume it is in regards to my pregnancy and I hate having to deceive people so I can talk to Eric.

"Be brave," Max tells me as he knocks on Eric's door.

It opens almost immediately, Eric must have waited for me.

"Drop her off at Hunter's when you are done. He will bring her back to the dorms so there are no questions about where she went," Max states before turning around and going over to his own apartment.

"Thank you," I call after him and he gives me a tired smile before going inside.

"Come in," Eric sighs while holding the door open.

I enter without a word and follow him into his living room. Looking around, I have to admit that I like what I see. It's not dark but it is also not neutral. Somehow he managed to make it look welcoming without being too cozy. Kind of like Eric himself, I muse.

Eric sits down on one end of the large couch and I follow his example, taking a seat on the opposite end. I notice Eric had the foresight to put glasses and water on the coffee table, right where we ended up sitting.

Then we are both sitting there, silent and looking at anything but each other.

…

"Look, we were both caught off guard and out of our element. It was not going the way it should have but fact is we did what we did, when we did," I blurt out when I can't stand the awkward silence anymore.

"And?"

"Are you going to make this harder than it needs to be," I challenge.

Eric sighs and then winces once more.

"Did you take painkillers?"

"No."

"Why not? You are clearly in pain," I state the obvious.

"I wanted to be clear headed for this conversation," Eric growls.

"Take the edge off so you don't focus on your pain and discomfort all the time," I order and he grumbles but does as requested.

He turns his back to me when he dissolves some powder in his glass and sucks it down with a straw. I don't comment but wait for him to signal he is ready to continue.

"I think your age and faction would have been pertinent information I was missing to make an informed choice," Eric finally starts airing his grievances. "I was angry but I have to admit that I don't know how much of a difference it would have made in the overall picture."

"So you are mad at yourself," I ask tentatively, not wanting to rock the boat.

"I was mad at the situation I found myself in all of a sudden. One moment I was dreaming of marrying you and having babies and the next thing I see is the cold harsh reality of who you really are."

"I am still me," I inject.

"Yes, and that's what made the whole thing so confusing. I was pissed, livid, but I now realise that I still want everything with you. I am a leader and had sex with a dependent of Abnegation, of all factions. You do realise the possible ramifications to my standing in this faction?"

"I never meant to harm you, Eric. I never expected to meet you that day and I sure as hell did not expect to do all that we did," I admit freely. "Yes, I made the mistake of not explaining things properly and I am sorry for that. When I saw you next you were barely conscious, bleeding and I just… fuck, we never had a chance to talk like we were supposed to."

"You could have visited me while I was in hospital," Eric states.

"How? What reason could I have given anyone to do so?"

"To follow up on the poor man you helped bring to the hospital? See how he was doing and find,out if there was anything he needed," Eric suggests, sounding like he is getting angry again.

"I was told as much as anyone who is not related to you or required to know. I actually asked around," I admit for the first time. "Max was the one who gave me the bare necessities and Veronica added a little here and there that did not have much more value than gossip. They were more focused on making sure I wouldn't change my mind regarding my impending choice."

"You could have told them about us," Eric states quietly and I turn to gape at him.

"I did not think that was prudent without your consent."

"But somehow you found it in you to tell you mother, who went to Max, who, in turn, made the rounds. I am a leader!"

"Okay, Eric, you are a leader. Would you rather have wanted me to tell them and be allowed to visit you or would you rather have waited until I was a full member," I challenge, feeling my own temper rise.

"I don't know and that's part of the god damned fucking issue I have. All I know is that I can't walk away from you," Eric all but shouts. "I still want you as much as I wanted you back then," he whispers, holding his jaw once more.

"I want you too," I admit and then we both sigh. "What now?"

"Now we get through initiation without killing anyone," Eric states earnestly.

"I'll cover for you if you feel like a dead body or two are warranted," I grin.

"Come here," Eric urges, opening his arms and I don't hesitate.

I crawl over and slide on top of his legs while getting enveloped by his strong arms. He pulls me close and I snuggle into his chest, leaning my head onto his shoulder.

I can hear him inhale deeply and there is a quiet sigh, followed by a low moan.

Eric adjusts my position and then I feel it too, his prominent erection is pressing against my pelvis.

"Tris?"

I look up and see his eyes are hooded.

"Yes?"

"I love you!"

I close my eyes and take stock of my feelings before I open them and smile at him.

"Keep going," I encourage.

"I still want it all with you and I want it as soon as possible. Are you mine?"

"Yes."

"Will you marry me?"

"Yes, but…"

Eric's lips on mine stop me before I can tell him about the baby. He needs to know this now, he won't take it well if I don't.

"Eric, there's…"

Eric shoves his tongue into my mouth while he grabs my hips.

He helps me undulate my body so we rub against each other.

"Eric, I…"

His hands slip into my waistband and all thought temporarily leaves my mind.

"We'll talk in a moment," Eric groans while in the midst of pushing my pants down.

He struggles and then I squeal when he lifts me up before rising to his feet.

He makes short work of our clothes and then he looks at his couch. I gasp when he picks me up and then we are moving. While I am holding on tightly to his neck, he only glances up from time to time to check where we are going, otherwise occupied with his mouth on mine.

I only start paying attention again when I am set down on top of a charcoal duvet and then Eric crawls up between my legs. He kisses every bit of skin he can reach and then his lips meet mine while he notches the head of his dick inside my pussy.

"One more time and I will be good," he swears.

I don't ask if he is making promises to himself or to me. With one fluid motion Eric slides all the way in and then freezes.

"It's better than I remember," he groans before hastily shoving one hand in between us.

I can feel him jerk inside of me while his finger rubs my clit furiously.

Pregnancy seems to have me primed, or maybe it is being with Eric, his carnal desire and inability to hold back. It doesn't matter what brings me over the edge, just that I soar high and touch the stars before reality comes rushing back.

"Fuck," Eric grunts and I can see his jaw clench. His eyes close and it looks like he is in pain but my breathing is too erratic and my mind too jumbled to utter even one coherent sentence.

Eric rolls us, holding me tight, and then his head presses into the fabric beneath him.

I can see a nerve or two seizing and his skin on his jaw tightens every time it happens. Without much thought I reach up and gently massage the right side of his jaw. Eric's nostrils flare but after a minute or two his breathing evens out and his jaw unclenches.

"We should have waited," I whisper and he shakes his head.

"Worth it," he sighs.

"We need to talk some more," I say, hoping to bring us back on topic.

"I know but with the hard stuff out of the way I just couldn't help myself. I need something to tie me over until I can claim you for all to see. You are mine, Tris."

"I am yours," I confirm once more. "But Eric, there is something else you need to know."

Once more I am interrupted but this time it is Eric's spent dick slipping out of me. I wince when I feel the liquid trickle out right after.

Eric's arm stretches to the far side where his nightstand is and grabs a box of tissues. He hands me a few and we clean up in silence.

"We should talk about birth control!"

My head jerks up and I look at Eric with what must be a 'deer in the headlights' look on my face.

"I know you want children and I want them too. Being young parents would be good. I mean, you still have to make it through leadership tranining but what I am saying is… would you consider going off birth control?"

"Eric, I…"

"Hear me out, okay? I thought about it since I heard your mother tell Max you wanted kids, I even imagined what ours would look like. It doesn't hurt to start trying… some couples need years before they are successful… I am not saying that will be us but if you were to fall pregnant right after ranking it would still work out for us. We can be two leaders and have a family… I want a family with you, Tris."

Eric looks at me, pleading with me to understand his point of view.

"I'm having a baby!"

I didn't mean to blurt it out like that but all his talk about babies and pregnancy has me on a one track mind and if not now, then when is a good time to bring it up?

"We can make one the moment you are done," Eric agrees, nodding his head.

I flinch and then bury my head in his neck, holding on tight.

"I am pregnant, Eric. That time in your office…"

I can feel Eric's arms turning into steel bands while his breathing picks up. He heard me, he understands.

"That's why…"

"Everyone seems to know about us? My mom found out and she was ready to murder someone. Max was her first target and that got the ball rolling," I whisper harshly. "But not everyone knows about us. Only Max and Hunter, well, and my mom but she doesn't count as she is not Dauntless anymore. Crap, Hana too," I suddenly remember. "Well, she knows about us but maybe not the baby. Hunter confirmed it last night and had to put a note in my file. Four and Lauren only know I am pregnant, nothing else."

"Jesus Christ," he groans and then he freezes. "And you offered me the opportunity to walk away from you?! I would never do that, Tris. I mean it when I say you are it for me."

"You told me it was just the orgasm speaking," I remind him quietly and he groans again.

"Of all the asinine things I could have said…"

"Shhh," I interrupt and Eric hugs me tight. "We moved past that, we are on the same page now, right?"

"Yes," Eric croaks.

"Good. That's good," I state, nodding my head.

"I want to marry you, Tris."

"You will."

"Now?"

"I am an initiate," I remind him.

"The laws are on our side. It might be unconventional even for Dauntless standards but it would be legal. We'd both be covered for any eventuality."

"Can I think about it?"

"Not too long," Eric requests and I nod.

"I need to get going. Hunter is going to bring me down but I have been gone for a while already."

"Not yet," Eric begs.

"We need to. Max said we can ask Hunter questions before he drops me off."

That gets Eric going, it seems some burning questions can not wait.

I almost laugh when he rushes me into the bathroom and even goes as far as bringing me my clothes.

…

We don't hold hands when Eric takes we down a flight of stairs and knocks on an unmarked door. I felt the urge to but I know we have to wait.

Hunter opens his door and a shit eating grin comes over his face when he takes us in.

Eric is barely crowding me but the hand splayed over my stomach is the giveaway Hunter was looking for, it seems.

"Come on in. Congratulations, Eric!"

"Asshole," Eric growls and once more the wince does not go unnoticed.

"He had to talk, cut him some slack," I hiss and Hunter turns his gaze on me.

"Retract your claws, Tris. I wasn't gonna say anything."

"Uh huh, and I am going to tell my dad I am having a baby in seven months," I deadpan. "Easy, Eric," I exclaim when he sways.

"Sit down, both of you," Hunter orders.

"Seven months, Tris, you have to marry me right now," Eric hisses when he pulls me gently into his side. That man seems to be a permanent contradiction.

"I don't," I sigh.

"But you could, from a legal standpoint," Hunter interrupts. "It would give Eric not only full access but also opens the door to medical choices being made on your behalf. I am not saying it's going to be needed but if you want to go down that route then why wait? It's your choice to update your file but as the wife of a leader Eric has a wide array of tools to help you through initiation. You don't even have to stay in the dorms," Hunter ends but Eric doesn't stop nodding his head.

"But if I move out of the dorms it signals I am giving up on initiation," I exclaim.

"No, it doesn't," Hunter and Eric state at the same time before looking at each other.

Eric motions for Hunter to go ahead.

"Look, Tris, being pregnant should be fine during initiation. We haven't had that happen for a while but you are not the first. Moving in with Eric allows you access to around the clock medical care, better sanitation facilities, any food you want or need, a better mattress, more regulated sleep. I mean, you can't tell me it is not disturbing your rest to share a room with thirty others," Hunter challenges but I bite my lip and stay silent. He makes it sound so tempting, I don't know what to say.

"Then there is the added benefit of Eric being allowed to conduct all your tests under my supervision. As your primary care provider I can make sure the serums work fine and intervene if needed. Eric can sign off on everything right away."

"Okay, that takes it too far. It sounds a lot like cheating," I exclaim.

"No, not at all. Look, I get that you want to pass initiation on your own and you could, but you don't have to make your life harder than it needs to be. Nobody can question the legality and those who know you, which is half the faction, know why you are to be the next leader. Everyone else will soon learn that you are more than qualified."

"I want a day to think this through. I will give both of you my answer the day after tomorrow," I state with conviction.

"You marry me the day after tomorrow?"

"I will let you know when we get married, okay? Now, do you have questions for Hunter that I need to be here for? I got the whole lecture yesterday and I am tired," I sigh.

"If you want to wait for me here I will run Tris back to the dorms and then we can talk," Hunter offers Eric, who nods eagerly. "There's a coldpack in my fridge. Use it!"

Eric kisses me goodbye while Hunter bitches in the background about having to wire his jaw shut again if he doesn't stop overdoing things.

"I love you!" Eric looks me straight into the eye, making sure I know he means it.

"I love you too," I yawn and off we go.

…

"I know you don't want to be treated differently, Tris, but it would be good for you to at least have the option to head to bed when you are tired. If you want to marry Eric then the date does not really matter, does it?"

"I know that but I need just a little bit of time to come to terms with it. This is a rite of passage and I am going to miss out on some of it if I do this."

"While I really do understand where you are coming from, you also have to think about your health," Hunter urges.

"None of you play fair," I whine.

"Get used to it. Eric will need some gentle nudges to get him back to earth."

"I thought a sledgehammer would do just fine," I quip.

"I'd rather dismiss him from my care," Hunter counters.

"Yeah," I sigh. "One last day where I can pretend everything is normal."

One chapter left and a teensy epilogue/glimpse into the future.