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Chapter 38

This stops now

Tris' POV

I sigh, stirring the ground beef in the pan. I turn glancing at Christina who is awkwardly chopping away at the lettuce. I glance at Tobias who is sitting at the dining table helping the kids with their homework. Funny, if it wasn't for the life threatening situation at hand, we would look like a normal family from the outside.

"I think the meat is done." Christina points out, snapping me out of my daze. I look down, nodding in agreement that the beef is all brown and ready for the seasonings. I stir in the spices and the water and smell the aroma as I finish stirring it all together. I scoop the meat into a bowl, just as Chris brings out all of the toppings. I smile, noticing the perfect timing. The kids are done with their homework and dinner is ready. It can't get more perfect than that.

We all try to keep the talk to a lighter and more comfortable level for the sake of the kids. But I can see the burning in Christina's eyes, she is dying to unleash her thoughts and questions.

"So you're really Em's Daddy?" Junior asks, I hold in a laugh as I take in this look he is giving Tobias. The look of curiosity and needing to get to the bottom of everything. So much like his father.

"I sure am." Tobias says, proudly.

"And you're not leaving again?" He asks. I glance at Christina who should be scolding him, teaching him manners. But quickly realize how that will definitely never happen. Christina has never been one to hold back her candor and Will (his father) was always one who needed to feed his curiosity. He is the perfect mixture of both of his parents.

"No. I'm not going anywhere." Tobias assures him while glancing at Emily. My heart warms at the sight before me. I always dreamt of this moment, of us.

"So what does that make you to me?" Jr asked.

"Technically? Nothing. But I knew your father very well, just like your Aunt Tris… So I hope one day you can see me like an uncle." Tobias says, taking another bite of his taco. Junior jumps up and down in his seat, excited at the thought of having another uncle to spoil him.

"Are you going to live here now?" Junior asks, making Chris choke on her taco at the thought.

"No. I'm staying just for a few more nights until we figure something out and then we will go from there." Tobias says, vaguely.

"Will you take me with you? Me and Mommy?" Emily asks, obviously the situation is confusing for her more than anything. I glance at Chris, she tries so hard to hide the hurt and worry about the future. But I see through her mask… She's worried about our bubble. Our bubble that we created for the kids and us. The bubble of two single moms working together and making it work for the sake of the kids.

I know I have to deal with all of this sooner or later, to figure out how to blend this all together. I mean this definitely can't be an all or nothing kinda deal. Right?

I close the door to Emily's room softly behind me. I let out a deep sigh the minute the door is closed and there isn't a sound to be heard. Tonight, she had so many questions about the future, about the present. What does this and that mean now for us and for her? I felt rotten when I couldn't answer not a single question. Obviously there is a lot to work out, and sooner rather than later. I glance in Junior's room, smiling as I see Christina fast asleep. Her arms wrapped tightly around Junior's body, I don't have the heart to wake her. Instead I close the door softly and head down the stairs to check on Tobias.

My eyes quickly spot him at the front window. Staring out into the street, obviously making sure everything is fine and dandy out there in the world. My mind instantly rushes back to Eric Coulter. I have to admit knowing who is behind this is actually comforting. As if we are one step closer to all of this coming to an end.

I walk as quietly as I can, snaking my arms around Tobias' waist and holding our bodies tightly together. I breathe him in, loving the smell of his scent and the sound of his breathing and the feel of his heart beating against my own. Tobias' hand gently lays on my hand that settles on his chest. He sighs, not willing to take his eyes off the street, as he unwinds my arms and pulls me to the front of his body. He wraps his arms around me, protectively holding me against him. He rests his chin on the top of my head, breathing me in as I do to him.

"How about you sleep in my bed tonight?" I ask. Not wanting to sleep alone tonight.

"I would if I could but I need to stay down here," he says. I can see the determination in his eyes. The determination to keep us all safe.

"You know this isn't your fault,'' I say, gently.

"Yeah." He mutters, not convincingly at all. "I know. It's not my fault that because I came back, you and everyone else in this house is in danger. It's not my fault that you were hurt because of me, it's not my fault…." I place my hand over his mouth, shutting down his words.

"It's not your fault. You are not the reason why your father was a sick son of a bitch. I'm glad you're here and back home," I say, tears threatening to fall down my cheeks. It's been a long day, my emotions might get the better of me.

"I know that…My brain does… But my heart… Just wants to protect you both even if that means…"

"I love you, you're not going anywhere. You belong with us, you always have," I whisper. I glance down towards his lips, breathing deeply as my body heats for his lips. As if he could read my mind he leans down slowly, until our lips touch. What starts out as a tender and loving kiss, quickly turns into a much heated and passionate kiss. Before either one of us is aware of it, my mouth opens to his accord letting his tongue into my mouth. I moan, as I can start to feel his need swell up against my stomach. But before long, Tobias slows down the kiss. Obviously practicing his self control more than I would like him to right now.

"When this is all done… We really need to talk and figure out what we are doing." He begins, "The kids had a lot of questions tonight…. Questions that we weren't ready for, that we should have been." I nod my head in agreement. We need to figure things out sooner rather than later for Emily and Junior's sake.

"What about getting our own place?" Tobias asks.

I can't help but think about Chris' words the other day. The ones that were so raw, the ones that she herself had so much trouble admitting. The bubble.

"I don't know," I begin. I feel the conflict in my head, I know what I want in the long run. I want him and Emily. I want to be a family and someday down the road maybe be married and have more children. But that doesn't mean I'm ready for that either.

"You don't want to live with me?" He says, the hurt portraying on his face.

"It's not that," I begin. "I do. I just don't want to move too fast." I admit. I bite my lower lip, holding in the part of Christina and the bubble. I don't know if he would understand where she is coming from. There is already a strain between them.

"And?" He asks, knowing damn well there is more to it than just that. After all, we already have a kid together…. How much faster can we get than that?

"And… Christina is worried what it would do to our…." I let my words trail off, not owning the right words to say.

He nods his head, letting out a heavy sigh. "I get it." He begins. " Tris, I have been gone… You were forced to figure things out for you, for Emily and Christina and Junior…To make things work for all of you. I can't just expect to come in after all of this time and just take over." He says, too understanding. "But is there a way we can make room for me?" He asks. I close my eyes, wishing it could be that easy.

"I know this is a lot to take in… and figure out. But how about in the meantime, we look for a place? A place for me, a room for Emily to stay in and a place for a family to possibly grow in." He asks. My heart swells at how understanding and loving he is being about all of this. It swells even more when he mentions a room for Emily, either which way this all turns out.

"That sounds interesting…" I answer.

"A place close by, maybe walking distance would be good. Some place where we can all work together and get used to a new way." He continues.

"I'm heading to bed…" I say, kissing his cheek lightly before I turn around and head for the stairs.

"Was that too much?" He asks, in amusement.

"Good night Four." I blurt out, giggling.

"Goodnight, Six." He says, stopping me cold in my tracks. I turned around, shocked at the name he just called me. I haven't heard that since High School. I smile, shaking my head as I turn back around and silently move forward.

Tobias' POV

My muscles are stiff from staring out the window and making sure that the patrol cops are indeed doing their job and staying alert. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up like they have been doing for the past three hours. I finally decide to give in to the exhaustion when I see the two cops get out of the car and take their rounds around the perimeter. At least they are awake. I glance at my watch, taking in the golden hour. Three am. If I sit down now and allow my eyes to close, maybe I can get at least three hours of sleep.

I walk past the couch, not wanting to get too comfortable and instead settling for the old looking lazy boy recliner. I sit back, deciding not to put my feet up, but just lean back and relax. My eyes close rather quickly given the circumstances. Letting the comfort of the darkness take over me.

A loud sound snaps me awake. The sound of glass shattering. My eyes snap open, looking all around me, searching for what doesn't belong. I hold my breath, waiting for something, anything. Some kind of sound. I hear a loud squeak sound, as if a door that hasn't been oiled recently has opened. I instantly know exactly what door it has come from as I hear the direction the squeak came from. I try as best as I can to stand from the uncomfortable chair. I glance out the window, my blood running cold when I see the cop car that was there before is no longer there. Son of a bitch.

With quick thinking I move to grab anything, a large and heavy sculpture… Anything. I move towards where the sound came from. Ready to do whatever means necessary to protect this household. I dig into my pocket for my cell phone, speed dialing Detective Max in the process.

"This is Tobias Eaton… There's been a break in," I whisper, once the Detective answers the phone.

"We have a patrol unit right outside…"

"They aren't there," I say, bringing him up to speed. Just then I hear footsteps getting closer, I decide to put my cell phone down, but don't hang up. I'm holding the sculpture sturdy like I would as if it were a bat, ready to swing. I swing the bat up with all my might, ready to bring it down when a flash of blond hair stops me. Tris is stunned when she sees me. I bring it down quickly, glancing all around her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." She begins, Obviously oblivious to the danger. The large shadow behind her confirms that.

"There's someone here," I whisper to her, pushing her small body behind me.

"What?" She asks.

"Shh." I say, just as she finally sees the shadow on the wall across from us.

"Oh my god." She says.

"Get up the stairs, barricade the door." I told her. "Protect the others. Go now." I demand. She rushes to turn, running up the stairs and out of sight.

"I guess you figured me out." Eric starts, revealing himself from behind the wall.

"Eric."

"Tobias." He says calmly as he walks forward towards me. His voice is full of amusement, he obviously is enjoying himself. "You know when your Daddy came to me… I thought he was bat shit crazy…. I mean to pay me all this money just to watch you? He gave me a picture of that blonde little number… and told me to make sure you kept your distance from her. I actually thought maybe you both had some kind of thing for the same chick." He laughs "Never did I imagine that he just simply didn't want her mixing with his perfect little boy." He teases. As he continues. "Honestly it was my pleasure to sit back and watch you not get every little thing you wanted. I would have done it for half the money, but the old man knew how to pay well."

"This ends now, Eric!" I blurt out. "Leave them alone."

"This ends when I say it does…" He says, his voice filled with determination. "You think you are calling the shots around here? Not even your father can call the shots anymore… What I say now, goes." He rants, pacing a small path, back and forth around the living room.

"You're as sick as that old man." I mutter out. I just need to buy enough time, enough time for Detective Max to do something, anything.

"You shut up, right this minute." He snaps, pointing my way. I see him getting agitated, his hands are going between moving towards me and grabbing the gun that sits in the waist of his pants. I try not to draw too much attention to the gun, worried that it would agitate him. For now I'll just keep him talking, focusing on me.

"Eric… I just don't get it. Why do all this just because you hate me," I say, trying to get him to keep talking.

"What is there to get, Eaton? I hate you. I despise you….." He finally stops staring at me harder than ever, His hands gripping the gun harder as he pulls it out of his waist. "And now it's time for you to finally feel the way I have felt my whole life." He says, pointing his gun towards me. I hold my hands up, letting him know I'm not carrying a weapon.

"Eric, come on man," I say, knowing my time is limited. I just know that whatever happens, I can't let him go up the stairs and towards my family. Just as I think I can't delay him any longer I see the back door that he came in through, open slowly. A trail of cops standing behind the door, shields up, rifles and pistols pointing directly in the path of Eric.

"Freeze!" One of the cops says, "drop your gun!" The other one says. I take a deep breath, feeling a sigh of relief knowing that one way or another this thing will end soon.

""Fuck you." Eric snaps, holding his gun straighter. I can see his finger moving towards the trigger ready to fire a single bullet at me. But he doesn't get the chance, one of the police officers fired their weapon first, shooting Eric's hand that holds the gun. Eric screams in pain, dropping the gun to the ground. I step back, my hands still in the air.

I watch with pleasure as they handcuff Eric, while calling an ambulance for him. Detective Max happily reads his rights, as he tells him what he is indeed charged for. That's when I learned… The two cops that were parked outside earlier didn't just disappear, but were murdered and hidden a block down the road from here.

It's not long before Christina and Tris realize that the coast is clear and they are finally safe enough to bring the kids down. They rushed down the stairs, Tris and Emily ran into my arms as I encircled them both. Chris holds her son close to her body, relieved that she can once again rest easy.

It's over. We're safe.

A/N

I know that sounds like the end…. But not to worry there are two more chapters to come.

On another note:

Keep an eye out for the next chapter in Thanksgiving with my Ex, which will be posted on Thanksgiving day. I'm sure you will all love to know exactly what a year can do to those two.

Revised by: FDFobsessed

Like always, happy reading everyone, be safe and stay healthy

Trini