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Chapter 13
Explanations, Joy and Grandparents
Tris' POV
"You know, I still can not believe that jerk said that this morning." Maggie burst out turning down another bumpy road.
Honestly I'm not sure what would have been safer for my pregnancy at the moment, a bumpy slow car or the fast smooth train. At this speed it might take us hours to reach the Abnegation sector versus minutes that it would take on the train.
I was on one week bed rest just a few weeks ago when I was spotting. I admit it really scared me, the thought of losing the baby. I may not have been thinking about having kids in the first place, but now that I am… I want it more than anything. The thought of losing him or her…I don't know if I could survive that.
Although I was finally let off of bedrest, Doctor Ortiz did want me to have as little to no stress as possible. He also suggested that I stay close to home and not go too far from the sector of Dauntless.
Last week I finally hit the second trimester mark of my pregnancy. Doctor Ortiz was more than pleased with my test results and the fact that I no longer had any more spotting episodes. He was more than comfortable in me leaving the sector finally, until my third trimester that is. Although I was forced to finally tell not only my department, but the leaders of my faction about the pregnancy. Up till now, Max was the only one let onto my secret. Well, him and Maggie of course.
But as of this morning, or more accurately as of seven am this morning, more than half the faction probably knows.
"With that stated, is there any other matter that needs to be addressed?" Max asked, giving the floor to anyone that needed it. By anyone, he meant me. Max knew with my second trimester, my restrictions from jumping the train and my ever baggy clothes no longer being that baggy on me. He knew I had to fess up. I reluctantly stood from my seat, clearing my throat. I had an announcement to make myself.
"The floor is all yours, Tris." He announces, taking his rightful seat as he gives me the spotlight.
"Thank you, Max." I muttered under my breath.. "Well, I am happy to announce that I am pregnant," I say, the heat of my cheeks is becoming more and more noticeable. "So no more train jumping for me, for a while," I say, trying to make light of things. My eyes scan over the room falling on Eric's amused face, Maggie's excitement, Peter's shocked face and Uriah's eyes looking as if they might pop out of his head. "It's a really long story," I say, trying to get ahead of all the questions that surely would come pouring out of their mouths at any moment.
"Pregnant?" Uriah questions at the same time Peter questions, "Like with a baby?"
"Yeah." I answer, restraining from answering Peter's question with a duh.
"No, with a hamster… Dumbass." Maggie jumps in for me.
"I guess… You're not the stiff we all thought you were." Eric blurts out. "I'm confused, are we supposed to congratulate you on the baby or that you finally got the courage to lose your V card?" He asks, sarcasm filling his voice. I took a deep breath, trying to refrain from killing or atleast slapping a leader of this faction.
"You're such an asshole, Eric." Maggie shot at him. Normally this type of behavior would normally have led to some type of discipline… Although for Maggie and Eric's history, this was a normal scene between them. Max never paid any attention behind it, obviously he grew used to the normal banter between them.
"Well that didn't stop you from…" Eric's words trail off as Uriah cut between them. Obviously not wanting another Maggie VS Eric round.
"Alright…" Uriah begins, holding up both of his hands in surrender. I think we all are aware of how much Eric is an asshole, and Maggie is the…" Uriah smartly stutters the last word of his sentence, when he sees Maggie who stands up from her seat and crosses her arms. "Smart woman for leaving such a man." He says, his voice cracking the last few words.
"I think I speak for everyone, when I say congratulations, Tris." Max says between laughter. " I would suspect that you will be taking the car to Abnegation to finish the last bit of business." He says, getting back to the matter at hand.
"Tris, are you hearing me? I'm surprised you aren't more fed up with that asshole than I am." Maggie says, her voice snapping me back to the present. I turn my head towards her, seeing the red fume on her face as she continues to focus on the road. "The nerve." She continues.
"He wouldn't be Eric, if he didn't act like that." I remind her, my voice amused, I know better than to let Eric get under my skin. He, who has nothing better to do with his time than to terrorize everyone around him. We all know he is more talk than play. "Let's just get through the next few days. It's going to be hard enough." I point out. Remembering the last time I was in Abnegation. It was the day that I found out I was pregnant. Right in front of my parents, who seemed just as furious and embarrassed as I was. Of course, they don't know the story behind how I got pregnant. I cringe at the thought of trying to explain just how indeed I wound up pregnant in the first place. Hope that they can find it in their hearts to believe me. As I wouldn't believe me. Not knowing the faction I live in and my age. It's unheard of, really.
I feel the heat from my parents stare hitting me from different angles of the room, with their unanswered questions. There is no doubt in my mind that they will both interrogate me the moment I step foot into my childhood home. I shake my head, trying to empty it of all but the matter of the meeting at hand.
"The factionless is a growing problem… it affects us all as a city, not just individual factions." My father pointed out.
"Yes, but it was their will to be factionless for one reason or another. Why must we be the ones to save them?" Marcus says, his voice showing no sympathy for those in need. I think of Tobias' fear landscape that he allowed me into years ago. The look of hate and rage in his eyes, the beating he was more than prepared to do if I didn't intervene. My hand immediately falls to my stomach, protectively guarding him or her from all that this city and the harm it can do.
Tobias and I never did go into too much detail about his abusive father. Our time was too limited. But from the time we did have together, his childhood was made of horror stories. Trapped in closets and daily beatings just for breathing.
My parents never raised their voice to me growing up. Not that I didn't push all the buttons I could, with what I wanted to be courageous and brave like the Dauntless and not quiet and hidden like the Abnegation. But still, I never doubted my parents' love for me and never went one minute without understanding why I was sent to my room or silenced.
"The crime rate is out of control." Jeanine Mathews says, interrupting Marcus. He glares at her rudeness, obviously hating women in authority. "Just the last week or so we have had growing numbers in our free clinic. Injuries that resulted from violence.
"Yes, but the reason behind the growing violence has more to do with the lack of resources for them. Not the lack of policing." My father says.
"We can always spare some peace serum to calm the nerves down. Lord knows we eat it daily in our bread. It works miracles, I tell you." Joanna says, her smile looking pleasant at the thought of the bread as she mentions it.
"Well why don't we place it to vote…" Jack Kang, the leader of Candor suggested. We have been at this for what feels like hours. Every faction has their own opinion on the matter.
"I don't think either way is right," I say, not really seeing the reason behind the vote.
"Do you have another way, Tris?" Jack asks, turning towards me.
"Well, I just think we have to come up with a different solution… We have tried more policing before, we have also tried more resources and backing off approaches and nothing has worked." I answer, pausing to think. "Wouldn't it be more helpful if we gave them a choice to put them to work. To earn their keep, in turn having a better lifestyle than they do now." I suggest.
"Put them to work? A better lifestyle? They had that chance at one point or another and they blew it. Why do you think they are factionless, girl?" Marcus spit out, as if I'm stupid.
"There is enough work around this city for everyone. They are factionless because they can't fit in any one faction. They shouldn't be punished for that. I'm sure we can find something for them." I push.
"And that is why they are called factionless girl. Because they can't fit in where they are supposed to." Marcus says, for a brief moment I see the true Marcus Eaton. The Marcus Eaton that could actually abuse and torture his son. "This is pointless." He says, giving up with his hands.
"The only thing that is pointless is if you choose to fight. Every person in this city matters, why should one faction or person be more important than another?" I ask the room full of Ambassadors and leaders.
And there it is, the problem with this whole system in the first place. One faction believes they are mightier than the other. The ones that end up suffering most of all are the ones that can't seem to fit into what they think they should.
I contemplated on asking Marcus for a new housing assignment for the night. But fearing that he would decide to offer his home to us, I decided to bite the bullet and go back to my childhood home for the night. After all, I have to face my parents sooner or later. After all, I am Dauntless. I need to be brave.
Maggie and I walked alongside my parents down the street of to leave the car at the justice building of Abnegation, since no cars are allowed to drive down the roads. All along, I'm not surprised, not a word is exchanged. Although my mother seems to have burning questions as she stares at the small bulge of my stomach. I try, really try to cover it up protectively with the extra material of the sweater I'm wearing. I know it's no use, I knew that last week when even Four began to notice.
Ever since the Doctor's orders for bedrest, Four has come over to my place almost every morning with breakfast in his hands. Even after the bedrest order was lifted, it had become a morning ritual for us. A way to check in with each other, especially the baby. I admit I couldn't resist the delicious smell of bacon and egg or even the french toast.
Last week when Four came trailing in, he was smiling wider than ever. His eyes glued to my tiny swollen stomach. Of course it was easier for him to see than others, as I didn't try to hide it when I was home.
"Tris." He breathed my name, the sound sent delicious goosebumps up and down my spine. "Your showing," he announced. As he placed the food down on the counter and turned right back to me. His hands were cautious as he slowly moved them towards my stomach. I was hesitant to let him touch me, but settled on letting him. I would imagine soon everyone would want to do this, I better get used to it. Especially when it came to the baby's father.
"Yeah a little," I agreed, I balanced my back with my hands to give him a better view.
I heard the front door of my parents house close tightly behind us. Snapping me back to reality. My father, wordlessly taking Maggie's and my overnight bags from us and up the stairs to our rooms.
I of course will be staying in my room for the duration of our stay. While Maggie will stay in what used to be my brother's, Caleb's room. It has now been turned into a guest room since he left and hasn't bothered to look back.
"Maggie, will you excuse us, please. We would like to have a word with Beatrice." My mother demands. I look towards maggie who awkwardly bows her head and excuses herself up the stairs to her temporary room.
"I think it's time we talk," My mother begins, her voice furious as she glances up and down towards my eyes and stomach.
"Yes, I do think we have plenty to talk about." My father agrees, coming back down. I take a deep breath, knowing this will be in fact a long stay.
A/N
Thoughts, comments, concerns… Do you think Andrew and Natalie will support Tris and her decision to keep the baby?
As a result of last week's poll, the results are in. Stay tuned to see what the results are.
Revised By: FDFObsessed
Like always, happy reading everyone, be safe and stay healthy
Trini