Hey Readers, here is the next chapter. 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 45: Fireworks

Innocently, I ask, "Will you go to watch the fireworks with Christina and I?" Tobias cautiously glances at me from the book he's been trying to read for over a month now. I have been bugging him about attending the fireworks since this morning. The pestering has gotten worse since everyone else left the party. "What's the Fourth of July without some fireworks?" I smile, a double entendre playfully hiding behind my words. A sly smile tugs at his lips, "Okay, Tris, I'll go with you. After all, it's our first Fourth of July together. I want to do everything with you, and I want you to have every experience in this life. I normally don't celebrate or watch fireworks, but how can I deny you something you are excited about? We can even have a picnic by the water with the leftovers."

I grin, "That sounds like fun! I still can't believe Will won't go, not that he's here anymore. Chris said when she got home, he was gone with another note on the counter. He got called away to play James Bond or Batman again." Tobias rolls eyes at the nickname I have taken to calling Will when he disappears behind his back. He sighs, "I don't think Will is Batman. He isn't rich enough."

I giggle, "You never know," winking while Tobias slowly approaches me like prey he's stalking. Quietly, he asks, "What's my nickname that you call me behind my back if Will gets to be James Bond or Batman. What sort of superhero, am I? After all, I'm married to Super Girl." His eyes bore into mine, making me feel naked even though I'm fully clothed. His words bring back a memory of a time in Peter's kitchen: the first time Tobias called me Super Girl because I was a nurse.

Meeting his eyes, I glance at him, whispering, "Like what? What kind of Superhero do you want to be?" Tobias deadpans, "Captain America." I giggle, not knowing if he's serious or not, "Captain America, really, Tobias? Wasn't he in the Army?"

Seriously, Tobias replies, crossing his arms across his chest, "Yeah, so. I want a cool nickname of all my own. Plus, who doesn't want America's ass. He begins to laugh while I sit on his lap, placing my fingers over his lips before he can speak another crazy word. He quips an eyebrow while I reply, "You have a cool nickname. You earned it all on your own. You, Tobias, have the nickname Four, which is the coolest ever. You were the fourth-youngest ever in the history of the Air Force to make Captain at such a young age. You are like a god to some people. You make some people want to cry when they see you for some reason. They are either scared of you or because they respect the hell out of you. I have witnessed how you are treated, respected at these bases. Those poor younger guys worship the ground you walk on for one reason or another. Maybe one day you will share with me a story or two of why people look at you the way they do?"

Tobias laughs, "Okay, my love, I think your nose is turning a little brown," as he touches his nose against mine. I smirk, staring into his dark blue eyes, "Shut up! I'm only speaking the truth. You are just too blind to see the truth about yourself. Maybe your glasses need to be checked." I lower my voice, lifting the rims of his frames from his nose before kissing him on the cheek. He smirks at me while his lips brush against mine.

Christina bursts through the front door, interrupting our moment, singing, "Trissy and Four! Are you ready for some fireworks!" Tobias pulls away from my lips, grumbling while I giggle like a child once again at the idea of spending a magical evening with one of my best friends and my husband watching fireworks.

Chris, Tobias, and I settle on Virginia Beach, on one of the beaches to watch the locals shoot off fireworks as a way to conclude our Fourth of July celebration. Walking down the boardwalk, Chris slows her pace and tugs me away from Tobias. Tobias continues down the walkway, not noticing that Chris and I are directly behind him. Chris nods toward Tobias, who is carrying the basket and the blanket, "It's cool of him to be doing this after only being home from Syria for such a short time." Shit! He has been in combat multiple times. Will the sounds and light from the fireworks do anything to him psychologically? My mind begins to race with these questions.

He's only here because I forced him. Guiltily glancing at Tobias, I murmur to Chris, "He's only doing this because I pestered him." The harder I scrutinize his actions and his face, the more I can tell he's trying to hide his nervousness. Tobias hands Chris and I a sparkler each. From his pocket, he produces a Zippo lighter, a tiny smile creeps to his lips. After our sparklers are ignited, he grabs a sparkler as well, and we make invisible designs in the dark, night air while we wait for the fireworks to begin. I draw a heart, watching it quickly disappear into the night air. Suddenly, Tobias grabs my sparkler from me, pulling me against him, whispering, "I love you, Tris. I want to start a family with you, no matter what it takes. I'm in this for the long haul." His lips press against mine as the words sink into my brain, leaving me breathless. He pulls away, leaving only a millimeter of space between our lips, continuing, "Think about it, Tris. You and me against the world. We could try to have a little one. How cute would our babies look?"

His eyes dance with happiness like they do whenever he brings up our future together. I want to start a family with him, but I don't know how or . . . if I can. I will have to talk about it with my doctor. I can't give Tobias an answer, not wanting to give him false hope, as much as I want to answer him and say yes. Tonight isn't the night. His eyes never leave mine while he pulls me back to the empty blanket. I land between his outstretched legs, and his arms wrap around my waist as his lips brush against the back of my neck, causing goosebumps to form along my skin. His lips never leave my skin until Chris slumps onto the blanket with a sigh. Suddenly, she stands and begins to pace back and forth with her phone in her hand while I ask, "What's wrong, Chris?" Knowing something is amiss with my best friend.

Her eyes skate to mine, replying, "I'm worried about Will. He just called out of the blue. He never calls when he's away for work. He told me not to worry, that he would be home in a few weeks, not a few days like originally expected. The thing is, I heard gunshots in the background." Chris throws herself down onto the blanket, tears in her eyes. I mutter, reaching for her, "Hey, he will be okay. This is Will we are talking about. He always is. He will come home." I place my arms around my best friend, hugging her tightly. I am trying my best to put on a brave face for her, but, deep down, I'm worried about my other best friend too. I hope he's okay and comes home safe."

Sitting on the blanket, I talk to Chris about anything and everything, trying to keep her mind off Will. Tobias is silent, staring off at the waves crashing onto the beach. Chris's phone rings again. Quietly, she looks at it. Nervously, she says, "I need to take this. It's my contact in New York. They were supposed to receive my shipment two days ago. I have been waiting to see where it went." I nod, watching her walk off into the distance.

I whisper to Tobias, "Are you okay?" Before the fireworks are about the start. He smiles, "Yeah, why?" Playing with my fingers, I answer, "I never thought about how fireworks might affect you. We can leave if you want. It doesn't matter. I don't need to see them, especially if they are going to bother you."

Conviction fills Tobias's voice, replying, "No, Tris. I know how much you have been wanting to watch these damn things. You have been pestering me about them. However, if you don't mind, I'm not going to watch them. I have seen enough real fireworks to last my entire lifetime," he whispers the last part into my ear, pulling me tighter between his eyes. I mutter, "I love you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the creepy text messages." His lips brush against the back of my shoulder, "I love you. I wish you would trust me with everything, but I understand why you can't; Peter destroyed any chance I ever had of that before we even met." His words send a knife straight into my chest. Do I act the way I do because of my past?

When the first firework flies into the air, I pull my purse over to me and pull out a pair of earplugs in a box. I hand Tobias the box; he has a questioning look on his face. I say, "Take them. They won't block out the finale, but they should block out the majority of the noise." When the first firework explodes, he immediately grabs my hand, squeezing it hard, snapping his eyes shut, and resting his head against my upper back. Throughout the entire fireworks display, his breathing remains steady. Tobias doesn't watch. He only squeezes my hand or pulls me closer every time he hears the thunderous bang of a firework explode. Chris and I watch marveling at the different colors, lighting up the night sky. The finale is nerve-racking for both Tobias and I. Tobias jumps behind me at each noise, and he squeezes me extra tight against his chest while he breathes deeply into my back, trying to remain calm. When the show is over, he pulls himself away from my back, and I notice unspilled tears glistening in his eyes. He sits upright, quickly brushing his lips against my cheek, and pulls the earplugs from his ears, asking, "Are you ready to go home, girls?" While he's asking the question, a mask slips over his face concealing his emotions from the world.

Thoughts and opinions on this chapter. Please review. I love to read reviews they help to give me encouragement to keep posting. I'm temporarily placing this story on hiatus due to my life getting busy over the next several weekends and not having the time to write or edit. I want to give everyone my best material to read. I hope everyone stays safe, has a Happy Thanksgiving, who celebrates it. I also hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.