Hey Readers, here is the next chapter as promised. Thank you to everyone who continues to support this story through your various ways. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I don't own Divergent. I only own the plot, any military-related mistakes are mine. Just a friendly reminder, I did take some liberties with this story in regards to this story to make things more interesting. Happy Reading!
Chapter 39: Happiness Is
Zeke, Stephen, and Mark appear behind Tobias, lifting him high into the air with ease. Evil smirks dance across their lips while they carry him out of the room. Everyone's eyes are on Tobias and the small group of guys. My cheeks heat from the embarrassment of being the center of attention. The group of men laugh while carrying Tobias on their shoulders toward a small lake on the base. Mattie yells, "Come Tris!" While gleefully dancing after both of her fathers; she grabs my hand, tugging me along. A giggle escapes my lips when my eyes catch a glance of Tobias's face. The men have begun to pull Tobias's camouflage jacket and hat off. His back is toward the water when they place him onto his feet on the dock. Mark glances at Mattie with Tobias's hat in his hand. He sets it on top of her head, grinning, "Sweetie, hold this for Major Eaton, for safekeeping." Tobias's eyes dart around taking in his surroundings. He still hasn't figured out where the men have brought him. Attempting to sound stern, he laughs, "Oh no! I'm not doing whatever you have planned!" Crossing his arms over his chest. Yet another giggle escapes my lips.
Zeke yells, "Hell yes you are!" At that moment, it dawns on Tobias where he is. He laughs, "Zeke, don't you . . . " Tobias is abruptly silenced as Zeke leaps at him; Zeke bodyslams Tobias, which pushes him off the dock into the water in his full uniform, boots and all. Tobias re-emerges to the surface, laughing as Zeke stands there shaking his head. A smile tugs at my lips while I sit on the dock, enjoying and watching the interaction between the group of guys taunting Tobias from the pier. Mark playfully mocks Stephen, and soon Stephen is tossed into the water while Mark strips his jacket and boots off, leaving them on the dock before gracefully jumping into the water. Mattie laughs at her two fathers, dunking each other in the water. Soon all the men are horsing around in the water. Mattie is dancing to a song in her head on the dock while attempting to sing it.
Stephen swims near the dock to Mattie, smiling and laughing at his daughter. Encouragingly, he says, "Come on, Mattie. Come jump into the water with daddy. I'll catch you. The water isn't cold." Mattie nods her head while Mark laughs, "You're a novice. Watch this, Steph. I bet I can get her to come in. Mattie, sweet cakes, come see daddy." Mark holds his arms open to her while treading water. Mattie tosses Tobias's hat onto the ground, jumping into the water with a squeal, "Daddy! Catch!" Mark catches his giggling daughter while she splashes into the water. Stephen rolls his eyes at the two of them. Mark hooks Matties's arms around his neck and begins to swim into the deeper water with her. Stephen replies, "I'm the one who is home with her ninety percent of the time, and I feel like she loves him more than she does me. Do you see what I have to deal with when he is home?"
Glancing at Mark playing with Mattie, I answer, "It's probably because Mattie sees you more than she sees Mark. Mattie loves you both equally." Thinking out loud, I continue, giving voice to the same fear I have of when or if Tobias and I have kids. Mattie shows a greater love for Mark because he is never home, and Stephen's feelings are hurt because he feels like Mattie loves Mark more. My head spins while I try to imagine a future like that with Tobias. My eyes catch Zeke and Tobias dunking each other into the water. Tobias pushes Zeke under the water once again. He turns, waving, and signals for me to get in. I shrug my shoulders. Tobias yells, "Come on, Tris. Get in here!" I shake my head, no. Tobias swims closer. My legs hang over the side of the dock. He whispers, "Please," glancing up at me, his chilly fingertips snake around my ankles. Before I realize it, I'm in his arms in the water, while I scream from the freezing water temperature. Tobias's lips meet mine when I hit the water, silencing my screams. Against my lips, he whispers, "Thank you for everything. Thank you for putting up with all this craziness."
I grin, "You are welcome, Major Eaton." A smirk plays on his lips, right before he bends slightly, and his lips meet mine in a kiss. His lips gently pressed against mine make the world feel like it has stopped spinning. Tobias's lips move against mine softly, seductively. A male voice breaks our moment when I hear the words, "Four, we should all go out tonight to celebrate your promotion." Tobias's lips briefly pull away from mine, but his eyes never break the intense gaze between us. He stares, imploring me to give him an answer to a question he never asked. I shrug my shoulders while he yells, "Sure, what do you have in mind?"
Happily, Mark answers, "Let's go to the local bar in town. Tonight is half-off appetizers and drinks. We can get Summer to babysit Mattie." Mattie interjects from Stephen's arms, "I'm no baby!" Mark laughs, patting her on the head, "Of course not!" Stephen cuddles her tightly into his chest as Tobias lifts me onto the dock. He pulls himself up onto the dock right next to me. Our soaked clothing sticks to our wet skin. Tobias's eyes lock onto mine once again, smiling, "Well, I guess Tris and I better get going then." He quickly pulls me away from everyone by the hand. His eyes sparkle with mischief as he playfully places his hat onto my sopping wet head and positions his jacket carefully around my shoulders. He grasps my fingertips tightly, pulling me along the road behind him. My eyes are fixed on his finely chiseled physique, which is clearly visible through his wet uniform the entire way home.
Every few minutes, Tobias pulls me into his embrace and brushes his fingertips softly across my cheeks, drawing my lips to his. As our lips meet, I glance at Tobias while he lifts an eyebrow, asking, "What?" I shrug my shoulders. His eyes light up once again, and, at that moment, I know my Tobias is finally back from whatever dark hole he has been living in since he came home from this deployment.
I fumble with the door lock to the house while his lips nuzzle the nape of my neck. His rapidly increasing breathing and his five o'clock shadow tickle as they dance along my skin. A giggle bursts forth from my lips as I push the door open, grabbing ahold of his damp shirt, quickly pulling him into the house right behind me. His breaths ghost over my lips while our eyes connect, and we fall into one another's eyes, trying to reach deeply into each other's souls, knowing exactly what the other wants. Tobias and I lean slowly into one another. My eyelids shut, and his nose bumps into mine. We both awkwardly laugh; he pulls away a little, re-adjusting his head slightly to the left, and presses his mouth tightly against mine. In that moment, I can sense every feeling Tobias is conveying to me through his kiss. Tobias is pouring his love for me into this kiss while his fingertips run up my arms, pulling me closer to him, pressing the full weight of his hard, muscled body against my soft, supple one. Every inch of his perfect body can be felt against mine. His strong hands firmly grasp my thighs, lifting me, and my arms instinctively lock around his neck as the time and distance between us fades away. He kisses me all over as I slip my legs around his waist and lock our torsos together. A shiver shoots down my spine as Tobias brushes my hair to one side. That shiver is either from the cold, the wet, or the heat between Tobias and I, but I couldn't tell you which one it was in that instant. He slams us both into a wall, pushing me into it while he kicks the door shut behind us. His lips slide smoothly against mine, whispering, "I love you, Tris." Against his lips, I murmur, "I love you, Tobias," and he begins to walk us toward the couch.
A smile pulls at his lips like he won the lottery while his lips melt into mine for another long, lazy kiss. My fingers glide across his abdomen as I tug his t-shirt over his head. My fingers move of their own accord along his arms, caressing his tight muscles as they flex beneath my hands while he moves us onto the couch. His teeth tug at my lower lip, eliciting moans from me while his fingers slip over the buttons of my blouse. He glances at me, seeking permission to undo them. I nod frantically in agreement, and he begins to undo them. His lips travel slowly down my neck while I start undoing his belt buckle. Suddenly, a bucket of ice is tossed onto my mood when my eyes dart to the open curtain, and my mind drifts to the person who has been watching my every move. My fingers instantly stop working on Tobias's buckle. I whisper, "Tobias, tell me everything is going to be okay. Now that you're home."
Tobias stills above me, and his lips pull away from my neck. A look of concern is evident in his eyes while he whispers, "Yes, everything is going to be okay. Now that I'm home, I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. Someone will have to kill me first before any harm comes to you. Do you believe me?" His hands cup my face while he stares fiercely into my eyes as if he's trying to will me to believe him. I reply, "I do." His lips slip back to mine, essentially distracting my mind from thinking of the photographs and the mysterious letters. Smirking against my lips, Tobias whispers, "Happy Fake Wedding Anniversary, Tris. Let's start trying to make a family." I giggle, "Let's!" A smile tugs at my lips when they meet Tobias's in an eager kiss; as his beautiful idea blossoms in my mind, we lose ourselves completely in one another, only to find ourselves together as one in the end.
Thoughts and opinions on this chapter. I can't wait to hear them. Please review. The next chapter will be up on the weekend of Aug 14 2021.