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 40: Celebration

Tobias's rough fingertips twirl my hair while I draw invisible designs along his torso. My fingers encircle his belly button. His smile can be felt against my temple while my fingertips lightly tickle him, moving his hair across his abdomen: one of the only areas he is ticklish. Subconsciously, my eyes move to the clock next to the television, not wanting to move from my bubble. Why did we agree to go out with everyone tonight? I want to stay on this couch alone with him where the world can't hurt us.

Tobias's murmured voice draws me from my internal turmoil, "Baby, we need to get up, or else we are going to be late meeting with everyone." I groan at his words, not wanting to move from the couch or the comfort and security of his arms. Tobias begins to move, leaving to go into the bathroom. Instantly, I feel cold without him. Moments later, he whispers near my ear, "You can stay here, but I'm going to take a shower. Would you care to join me?" A smile tugs at my lips at his words while he places a blanket over my bare body. His lips press against mine while I attempt to wrap my arms around him to pull him back to me. His lips linger against mine for longer than usual. He longingly pulls away and sighs as I pout. My eyes are glued to him while he walks into the bedroom. That's my husband!

A feeling of comfort warms me. I feel like Tobias is finally home with me. The fatigue from all the late nights spent worrying creeps up when I suddenly feel tired. I shut my eyes, hoping to catch a quick nap. Suddenly, the couch begins to move. Why is the sofa moving? My eyes flutter open, and my vision fills with a smiling Tobias. I giggle, "Your glasses are back on." Tobias moves my hair from my face, laughing, "Yes, and the shower is all yours, princess." A smile tugs at my lips when I hear him call me princess once again. The nickname warms my soul.

Quickly, I shower, put on a nice shirt, jeans, hoop earrings, curl my hair, and fix my makeup. I want to look nice for Tobias tonight. "Tris, you almost-" Tobias becomes tongue-tied when he rounds the corner to the bathroom, and his eyes fall onto me. Shyly, I smile, "What's the matter, Captain, or should I call you, Major Eaton? Cat's got your tongue?" I whisper, moving closer to him, dragging my fingers across his tight, black t-shirt. Tobias catches my fingertips with his hand. He brings them to his mouth, kissing the back of my hand. Against my skin, he murmurs, "You look beautiful, Tris." His eyes never leaving mine. My cheeks instantly heat, and smiling while pushing my sunglasses into my hair, I whisper, "We should go. I don't want to be too late." I walk past him, out the door, leaving him even more speechless with a smile playing across my lips.

Tobias drives the Raptor through the streets of the base, driving no more than twenty-five miles an hour. If you do, Heaven forbid, you will get into trouble with the military cops. A giggle escapes my lips while a memory invades my mind of a time Chris and I got into trouble for driving her VW bug too fast on the base. Will had to be called to rescue us from a ticket and a possible stay in a jail cell. Will's panic-stricken face fills my mind. Yet another giggle erupts from my throat as I recall him finding Chris and I sitting outside the car on Fort Eustis with two military policemen next to us who were threatening to arrest us for arguing about how fast we were driving. Once the men saw Will, Chris and I were free to be on our way, but we were told to stop speeding on base, or the next time we would happily be given a ticket.

My long hair whips around my face as my hand dances through the open window, enjoying the warm afternoon air. A permanent smile plastered onto my lips. My good mood isn't going anywhere. As soon as Tobias passes the sign for exiting Langley Air Force Base and the gate opens, he guns it, and the truck is nearly flying down the road. I laugh at how carefree he looks in that moment.

When Tobias and I enter the bar, much later than we intended to, he intertwines his fingers with mine. Zeke spots us immediately, yelling, "Tris! Four! Over here!" He waves to us in the corner of the room. Tobias glances at me, smiling, "Now is your chance to run." I giggle, "It's too late. Zeke has already spotted us." Tobias laughs, "True."

When we reach the table, Zeke grins, "How nice of you two to grace us with your presence. You are like twenty million hours late! Hey Four, nice glasses, four-eyes." Tobias rolls his eyes, replying, "Shut up, Zeke! These are much better than the ones the Air Force allows me to wear while in uniform." I giggle, glancing at Tobias's black-framed glasses. A male voice interrupts Zeke's interrogation, "Dude chill out! Don't give Tris hell. I just got here too." My eyes wander over my shoulder to find Sam, standing next to Ryan. Sam is staring at his feet, looking uncomfortable. Zeke knocks his shoulder with Sam's, grinning, "Mac, you don't count. We all know the Coast Guard can't keep time worth a damn!"

Ryan rolls his eyes, smirking, "Yeah, but I'm in the Air Force like Four, and I just got here too. Don't gang up on Tris and Four." Zeke crosses his arms, shooting, "But who drove, you or Mac?" Guilty, Ryan points, answering, "I'm sorry, but Sam did." Zeke bursts out laughing, "My point still stands, and neither of you get a vote. Let's all agree the Coast Guard can't be on time to save their lives, just like the Navy." Ryan laughs. Sam rolls his eyes, muttering, "Children."

Stepping away from the group, Sam follows. I eye Sam, asking, "Mac?" Sam shrugs his shoulders, replying, "It's my flying nickname. It's what all the other pilots call me." Sam's ears turn red, revealing his flying nickname. Zeke grins, "Actually, it's Mac Attack because he's one of the best damn Coast Guard search and rescue pilots around." Tobias smirks, "Word!" My head spins, listening to Tobias praise Sam. Did Tobias use the word, Word? Is this man, truly my husband? Is he an alien who was sent home from Syria?

Shyly, Sam smiles, "Thanks, guys," his cheeks turning red, pulling up a stool to the table with his shot of whiskey and a bottle of beer. My stomach drops when I see a flash of red hair. Does Stacy work at this bar? I quickly stare at the woman with red hair, wiping down a table. I pray if it is Stacy that she won't notice Tobias nor me in the corner. Stacy doesn't stay in my mind for very long when Will and Zeke both stand up from the table, grinning like madmen. Happily, Zeke smirks, "Look what the devil finally dragged down to Virginia from New York," as he slams his bottle on the table. Will screams, "Uriah! What the devil are you doing here?" My eyes land on a brown-haired, tan-skinned, muscular man.

When the man approaches the table, my cheeks heat when I notice his brown eyes, recalling Uriah from my time in New York all those months ago. He made me feel wanted, but it was all a game between him and his wife. It was still pleasant to feel wanted by someone when I was in a loveless relationship. Will's voice brings me back from my inner thoughts, asking, "Where's Marlene?" He brings a beer over to Uriah and introduces him to the group. Uriah sighs, "I PCSed to Fort Eustis. My report date is tomorrow. Marlene will be here next week. She is finishing taking a few classes at a local college in New York and had to take her final exams."

To Tobias, I whisper, "What's a PCS?" Feeling stupid, still not knowing the terminology Uriah is using even though we have been married for almost a year now. Into my ear, Tobias whispers, "Permanent Change of Station," his fingers subconsciously play with mine, continuing, "It's the orders I sent you when we moved to Virginia." His breath sends a delicious chill down my spine.

"Oh!" I smile, biting my lip, and my eyes continue to watch the red-head move throughout the bar, cleaning tables and chairs. I attempt to keep Tobias's back turned toward the room. Uriah asks, "What is everyone doing here?" His eyes glance at everyone standing around the table. Zeke points, grinning, "Celebrating! This guy right here made Major! He had his promotion ceremony earlier today." His hand slaps Tobias in the chest and sends him sailing backward into a vacant stool. A giggle escapes my lips at Tobias's expression while Tobias shoots Zeke a look like he's dead for touching him.

"Sweet!" Uriah says, staring at someone, in the distance. Uriah grins, "Hey Four, you have got some cute girl checking you out halfway across the bar. As soon as she saw you almost fall, she looked like she wanted to come running to your defense." Tobias rubs his backside, groaning, while standing, "Don't pay her any mind, and certainly don't make any eye contact with her. Eventually, she will go away when she gets the hint. Please don't give her a reason to come over here. I'm a happily married man, and I don't want the attention." Tobias wraps his arms securely around me, pulling me tightly against his chest, and pressing his lips softly against my head. Uriah's eyes dart toward Sam, who is sitting slightly away from the group, pulling the label off his beer bottle. Uriah points and smirks, "Sam looks like he needs a date." Ryan punches Sam's shoulder playfully, laughing, "Oh, he needs a date!" Ryan places an arm around my shoulder, touching his bottle against mine, asking, "Don't you agree, Tris?"

Sam takes a sip of his beer, muttering, "You sound like my mother." He turns to look at the girl Uriah is speaking about behind us. Sam's eyes widen. Urgently, he says, "Nope, definitely not that one! If she was the last one on earth, I would stay single forever." Tobias laughs, "What's the matter, Sam? Is she ugly or something? All the rest of the guys are saying how nice looking this girl is. Let me see what the problem is." Tobias twists before I can stop him. He freezes midturn, his eyes widen with uncertainty, and he looks like he has seen an unwanted ghost from his past.

Thoughts and opinions on this chapter. I can't wait to hear them. Please review. How do you think this encounter will go between Tobias and Stacy? The next chapter will be up on the weekend of Aug 28,2021.