Hi all, thank you so much for your reviews and catching up, it really means the world to me. I was out of town and my flight got canceled last weekend so I couldn't update. I know ya'll are itching for Tris and Tobias to get together but they will! I tried to rewrite some things this week to do that, but I ended up not liking any of it, unfortunately. Part of Tris and Tobias not spending time together is one because of initiation and two Tris will need to learn how to balance priorities. Sorry, it's slow! This coming week I'll be taking care of my mom who is having knee surgery next week so it might be two weeks before I am able to update again. Love Ya'll


Caleb and Marlene walk down the quiet streets of Abnegation. Their wedding had been pushed back a week due to the murder of Jacob Eversley.

"So, they have no idea who did it?" Marlene asks quietly, looking around. She could see the nervous look in a few people's eyes as she walked past people. Abnegation were too polite to openly gossip but it was in everyone's eyes.

"No, but don't worry, Dauntless will be here patrolling. And I know you can take care of yourself" Caleb says softly as he opens the door to the house they had been assigned to move into once their wedding ceremony was complete the following week.

"Do you think they will come after your father, or you?" Marlene asks wordily. From everything Caleb had told her about Andrew Prior, she had a feeling Jacob Eversley wouldn't be the last murder.

"I don't know Mar, but I do know that I'm going to protect you no matter what"

Marlene smiles and leans against him, letting his arms wrap around her breathing in his scent. Abnegation didn't use cologne, but Marlene had come to feel that Caleb had a unique smell from the soap he used. She was so proud of him for learning how to shoot a gun, making sure he was working out. Part of her wondered what it would be like if they had met in Dauntless instead of Abnegation.

After a few minutes, Marlene pulls away and she and Caleb take a look at the traditional Abnegation house. For Caleb, it was an exact copy of Andrew's house. Marlene started making notes on how she could arrange things.

"I am really happy that we are getting married because you know I love you but I'm so excited not to have to share the dorm room with Susan and Miranda anymore" Marlene sighs as she runs her hand over the dining table.

"I'm happy we have our own space too."

"Oh really…" Marlene drawls as Caleb grabs her by the waist and places a kiss on her lips.

"I'm also really happy we will have our own bed now" She playfully walks her fingers across his chest.

The sound of someone clearing their throat causes them to jump back from each other.

"Susan, hello," Marlene says nodding her head and smoothing her dress down trying to calm herself.

"Mrs. Haskins asked me to deliver this basket for you, Miranda and I would be happy to help you make curtains or anything else you might need to set up your home"

Marlene notices how stiff and curt Susan is.

"Thank you, Susan," Caleb nods taking the basket from Susan to set it on the kitchen counter.

"Yes, thank you very much, I will appreciate any help," Marlene tells her.

Susan takes a deep breath and nods, bowing her head before exiting back out the front door.

"That was awkward" Marlene comments.

"Yeah, it was. I think she might be a little jealous"

"Susan" Marlene scoffs "Are we talking about the same person?"

She pulls some of the items out of the basket that were all kitchen things. Marlene had been surprised that there was no point system like in Dauntless to buy things. In Abnegation, everyone was given an equal share of things per person, with people donating extras to families that needed more. She was getting used to the minimalist way in which they lived. Surprisingly, she had done well with learning how to cook but sewing was still intimidating. Most Dauntless ate in the dining hall but since initiation, she'd had to make meals. Caleb had been a big help in showing her tips and tricks in the kitchen. Natalie had also given her so many tips as well on how to make things taste better and be creative.

"Yeah, I guess I could say before Choosing Day, Susan and I would have ended up courting"

Marlene raises her eyebrows at this new bit of information.

"I've been living with your ex-girlfriend and you're just now telling me?"

"You can't technically call her a girlfriend; I just liked her. My father had the idea of arranging a marriage between us. We aren't allowed to court before initiation anyway. All we did was have a polite conversation to and from the bus stop on the way to school"

"So, what happened," Marlene asks feeling a little bit of jealousy dissipate.

"This girl from Dauntless transferred to Abnegation and I haven't been able to take my eyes off her since the first time I saw her"

Marlene puts her arms around his neck, and he moves his hands down to her waist running them down to her ass to squeeze it.

"So, you never kissed her?" Marlene asks, looking up into his blue eyes.

"I was never even alone with her. You, my love, have been my first everything" he assures her.

"I love you" She smiles.

"I love you too, soon to be Mrs. Prior"


"Well, this is a nice surprise," Amar says as he opens the door for Tobias who hands him a pack of beer upon entering.

"Well, it's a business call, so don't get too excited"

Amar motions for him to grab a seat on the couch and hands Tobias a beer once he has sat down and then opens one for himself.

"So, I assume Max needs something if he sent you to talk to me"

Tobias takes a drink and then gathers his courage. He had no idea how Amar was going to react.

"Max wants you to join a special task force we've put together. There's something going down and we need people working on this that we can trust. You are one of the few people I trust, and I need your help on this"

Amar furrows his eyebrows as he listens.

"I trust you Four, but why are you asking this and not Max?"

Tobias takes a deep breath before he responds.

"I asked Max to let me talk to you first because this thing is complicated"

Tobias launches into the story of what the task force was planning. Amar gets up and paces as Tobias talks.

"So, Tori and I were right, George didn't kill himself…Max gave him up and you're helping him" Amar bellows his breathing increasing as he felt his blood boil.

"It's complicated Amar and I know it's hard to believe but I trust Max, I wanted you to hear it from me before you talked to him. Give him a chance to explain, Listen to him. It doesn't make it all okay but he's trying to make it right"

Amar wipes the tears that were spilling from his eyes.

"George didn't deserve this…" Amar says sniffling and looking at the season.

"I know he didn't, none of the people who Erudite is experimenting on did, but we can't let them get away with this, they've tried to manipulate Dauntless and Abnegation is involved too. We have to fight back, and we need Max to do it"

Amar hangs his head as he continues to process what Tobias was saying.

"I understand if you can't trust Max but please trust me" Tobias pleads, getting up to stand in front of Amar.

"Damn Abnegation, always so forgiving" he sighs.

"Somethings I do believe they get right in Abnegation; forgiveness is one of them"

Amar sighs again and wipes his face. He saw nothing but sincerity in Four's eyes as he turned over all the information in his mind. Tobias doesn't say anything as he watches.

"I do trust you Four, so if we can get the people responsible for George I want to"

Tobias nods, he still wasn't sure if Max would turn himself in, but he knew how complicated that was with reconnecting with Natalie and finding out Tris was his daughter. Max taking responsibility for his mistakes had gone a long way with him and hoped with time Amar could learn to forgive him.

"Four, we need to keep this from Tori. She's been through more than you know. She's just now living again thanks to Zeke. I don't want her to go to a dark place"

"I understand…Zeke doesn't want to hurt her either. I promise you I want justice for George too, but this is so much bigger than that. We have to save the city from Erudite."

"You're a good man, Four"

Amar pats him on the shoulder, and they lock eyes. Tobias feels his breath quicken as Amar leans into him. He's frozen unsure of what Amar is thinking. Suddenly Amar presses his lips to Tobias and Tobias leans back in shock.

"I'm sorry Four. I'm so sorry…" Amar stammers as he moves to the other side of the room running his hands through his dark hair.

"Umm It's okay…I ummm… well…" Tobias stammers.

There were so many things running through his head. Dauntless was so different. In Abnegation, there were no same-sex relationships. He felt like he was just coming to be comfortable with sex after spending his life being taught that physical contact and sex before marriage were wrong. But in Dauntless he'd learned that people were people and he really liked who Amar was as a person.

There were many lessons from Abnegation that he carried with him, Forgiveness and serving others were two important ones, but there were so many things he realized they got wrong. People were people.

So much of his thinking had been challenged since he came to Dauntless. He liked Amar and respected him, but he didn't get that same feeling he had when he thought about Tris or even when he thought about Shauna and the nights they shared.

He sees the look on Amar's face, and he softens. He wasn't disgusted, in a way he was flattered that Amar thought of him that way.

"Amar…"

"You should go…" Amar says tightly not looking at his friend as he goes to grab some water from the fridge.

"I didn't know you thought of me like that," Tobias says with a shrug.

Amar looks up, surprised that Four wasn't angry and hadn't bolted out the door.

"You're a handsome guy and nice and fun when you actually loosen up"

Tobias chuckles at this.

"Maybe if my love life wasn't a complete mess like it is right now," Four says rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

Amar was a good person; loyal, brave, caring, sincere, shouldn't that be what he looked for in a partner? He wasn't initially attracted to Shauna before they started having sex and now, he found himself thinking about her naked all the time. He guesses this would be a question that would go unanswered. Having his heart tangled up with Tris and Shauna sharing his bed, he felt selfish leading Amar on.

"You're too kind for your own good Four," Amar says with a slight smile but is surprised that Four seemed not to be completely pushing him away.

"All of this is new to me, and I'm still trying to figure it out. But you're a good person Amar. I think I'm still shocked when people say they are interested in me. All the time you spend in Abnegation is trying not to be seen, to forget yourself. It's a new feeling to have all this attention."

"I'm sorry again, the drinks and I…I just miss George so much…" Tobias lets out a frown at the hurt coming from Amar. He can't imagine everything he was feeling.

"You want to talk about it?" Tobias offers.

"How about you tell me about this so-called mess in your love life instead," Amar tells him sitting back down on the couch. "Let me guess…you haven't told Tris you're in love with her"

"How did you know?" Tobias squeaks with his eyes wide and sits up straight.

"I see the way you look at her when you think no one is looking"

Tobias groans and falls back on the couch as Amar laughs. He remembered when he didn't have the courage to tell George how he felt about him. Tori had been the one to call him out. It gave him the courage to make the first move.

"I waited too long to tell her how I feel. Now she's with Lynn and I well…I don't know really what you call it"

"I see…You know, if you two are meant to be together, nothing can keep you apart"

Tobias smiles at his friend. He needed to believe that and realized he couldn't give up on him and Tris just yet.


"You know if you were going to kill me and dump my body, there were plenty of places no one would look that we've passed," Harrison tells Max as they ride deeper into an area of the city that Harrison knew was uninhabited.

Max chuckles and shakes his head but keeps his eyes focused on the bumpy road.

"We're actually here" Max pulls the truck to a stop.

Harrison takes a look around. It was clear the area had been large houses at one time, but he had never been this far back into this area of the city.

'What's going on Max" Harrison asks as they walk towards one building.

Max had thought about this place for a long time. For many years when he needed to clear his head, he would explore the city. He knew it better than anyone. This was the northwest section. The wall was about five more miles from this abandoned street. This was where Max wanted to build his and Natalie's home. He had it all planned out that night he went to Abnegation, having already picked this place out. Ever since he'd found her again, his mind went to this is where they would come.

"I need to know I can trust you, Harrison. I've known you all of my life, we went through initiation together, we've risen through the leadership ranks together…"

Harrison furrows his eyebrows as Max talks.

"This is me Max, when have I given you any reason not to trust me?"

Max sighs and rubs the back of his neck. This entire situation had him questioning everything, every person he had ever trusted, including himself.

"I know something is going on Max. You have a daughter who transferred in, how did that happen? What am I missing? All the secret meetings you've been having...and this is murder in Abnegation…. It's all connected isn't it"

Max nods his head in response looking at the building in front of them. He launches into everything that had transpired in the last year.

Harrison is speechless. He never thought Erudite would become this greedy in their conquest for power. Max had been tight-lipped ever since initiation started. He was still shocked Max had a daughter. Harrison had an inkling of the reason Max's daughter transferred from Abnegation, but he'd never guessed that Natalie was still alive.

"I can't believe Nat is alive…and you and Nat really have a kid together…Holy shit Max" Harrison grins and slaps Max on the back.

Max chuckles. "Thanks, Man. All these years of wishing for a second chance with Nat and finding out we have a daughter. It's everything I've ever wanted" Max turns to look at the house again.

"You want to step down don't you" Harrison probes, understanding why Max chose to bring him here.

Max lets out a sigh. He didn't want to, but he didn't see any other way for him to be held responsible for his part in helping Jeanine or any other way for him and Natalie to be together.

"I don't think I have a choice. I'm responsible for the deaths of Dauntless members at Jeanine's hand. I don't deserve to lead Dauntless anymore"

"Bullshit, everything you just told me, and five people compared to who knows how many we will lose when the fighting starts…No one will agree with you on this Max"

"Nat and I can finally be together" Max whispers.

Harrison kicks a rock and puts his hands in his pockets. He'd never thought in a million years Natalie would have left Dauntless on Choosing Day. Max had been devastated. He watched him over the years, women always throwing themselves at Max as he rose through the ranks. Natalie had always been the one for him.

"You two deserve to be happy…but maybe we can change things so you can be together"

Max raises his eyebrows in shock. Harrison was as Dauntless as he was, never in a million years did he think Harrison would go against the faction system.

"You have a second chance Max, take it, by any means necessary. But if Erudite thinks they change the system for power, why not change it for something good? Right as many of the wrongs as we can, give you and Nat and the other factionless a chance"

Max smiles, Harrison had given him some hope.

"For the first time in a long time, I don't know what to do Harrison. I feel like we can't win this war that's coming" Max tells him honestly. "All of the factionless attacks we've dealt with, nothing has been like what's hanging over our heads"

"I will follow you to the end Max, that's how much I trust you. And if anyone can lead us out of this it's you" Harrison knew Max was trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together in his mind.

"That means a lot, Harrison. I know we are outmanned and if Erudite has truly created these super soldiers with this serum, it's going to make things worse. I won't send people in to get slaughtered, but we can't let them take control of Amity and our food supply."

"That's why you've increased the supplies slowly from Amity"

Max nods in confirmation.

"Dauntless is a fortress, we can survive for years possibly inside but that's not going to help us long term. We have to spread out and not let them get in behind us."

Harrison smiles as he turns around and looks at his surroundings again. Max was a genius.

"This isn't just the place you want to disappear with Natalie, is it?"

"Maybe I exaggerated when I said I didn't know what to do. I think that we should expand the perimeter and set up barriers. We're going to need to set some traps and take out more of them before they can get to us, even the fight. We also need to get Abnegation and Candor behind our lines if at all possible. I just need to work out the details."

"I think I have a plan" Harrison grins.