A Dauntless Love

Chapter 17

Liz's POV

This was the longest day of my life. I only slept for a couple of hours and when I woke up I realized I still had all day until Eric came back for me. The nurse was kind and brought me a book to read. I couldn't pay much attention to it though. By lunch time I was ravenous and the food they brought me relieved the knot in my stomach. I didn't know exactly what time Eric would be back and the hours seemed to drag by. I let myself wonder if he was coming back. Then I quickly silenced that thought. It was only dinner time and he was usually later than that. I was counting ceiling tiles, trying to ignore the pain, when the door opened. It was Eric. I couldn't control the smile that spread across my face. He closed the door behind him and locked it. He came over to my bed and sat down on the edge of it.

"I'm sorry it took so long. We can go home now." He said.

I sighed.

"Home. That sounds wonderful."

Eric helped me out of the bed and into the clothes he had brought for me. It was my favorite pair of cloth pants and a tank top with his own jacket, the one I had been sleeping in. I slipped on a pair of boots. I was starting to feel human again now that I had real clothes on. I stood up completely and he reached for me.

"No, I need to do this on my own. I'm okay to walk. We can't have people see you carrying me." I said.

Eric looked like he was going to protest but then nodded.

"Okay, let's go then."

It was dinner time and most of the Dauntless members were eating in the dining hall. I didn't know whether we were going to my apartment or Eric's so I followed his lead. He would hold my hand when we were alone. I was in pain but it wasn't unbearable. I could walk, slowly, but I could walk. Eric was patient with me as we slowly made our way towards his apartment. He stopped outside the door.

"Can I pick you up now?" he asked.

I looked up and down the hallway and there was no one there. Then I nodded. Eric gently picked me up and I leaned against him. I would never get sick of being in his arms.

"Close your eyes." He said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Just close them please." He said.

I closed my eyes. I heard Eric open the door and then close it behind us again.

"Okay you can open them now."

I opened my eyes and I knew I was going to cry. His apartment contained not only his own things but mine as well. I looked up at him and he was smiling.

"I dropped in on the initiates this morning but then I had better things to do. Welcome home." He said.

He set me down and I walked around the apartment. He had seamlessly integrated our things in the apartment.

"Eric, this is incredible. But what about keeping it a secret?" I asked.

He came up in front of me and looked at me. He held my hands in his own.

"I don't ever want to be apart from you again. And I don't want to keep you a secret anymore. I spoke to Max today and told him all about you, except for the baby; I think that should stay our secret for a while. He said that it would be safer for the other members of Dauntless to know about you."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

Our relationship had always been secret and I thought it would always remain a secret. I suppose deep down I wondered if he didn't want to lose some kind of credibility by having a girlfriend. But here he was, telling me that he was ready to announce us to the world.

"I'm positive. I want to hold your hand as we walk together. I want to kiss your lips whenever the hell I feel like it and most of all I want to happily show you off. I want everyone to know just how lucky I am."

I smile through the tears that threatened to fall.

"There goes your damn pride again." I said.

He laughed and gently pulled me against him.

"I love you so much Lizzy and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

I looked up into his eyes. They were shining with the love I knew was there all along.

"I would love nothing more than that."

Eric had brought some dinner from the dining hall and we sat at the dinner table that we hardly ever used and ate it. After that we retired to the couch. We both kicked off our boots and flopped down. Eric sat back against the arm and I sat back against him. This was my favorite place in the entire world. His warm, strong arms wrapped around me and held me close to him. His hands rested on my lower stomach and his thumbs gently brushed back and forth across my stomach. I don't think he even knew he was doing it.

"So I suppose we should have the conversation." I said.

"What conversation?" he asked.

"The, we are having a baby, conversation." I replied.

"Oh, that, well what about it?"

"Well I know we hadn't planned on having a baby. I just want to know how you feel about it. We never discussed it or anything. Are you okay with this?" I asked, holding onto his fingers.

He was quiet for a second.

"I have to admit that the thought of being a father terrifies me, but in a good way. Like I'm afraid I won't be a good enough father or they will suffer because I am their father."

I turned to look at his face.

"No, Eric, shh. I know you will be a great father. Our baby will be so lucky to have you as their father. I wouldn't choose anyone else."

He leaned down and kissed me softly on the nose.

"And I wouldn't choose anyone else to be the mother of my child. You are going to be an incredible mother. This baby is a miracle and is the greatest gift I have ever been given."

I couldn't help but let a tear fall at Eric's heartfelt words. I could see it in his eyes that he truly meant it. He already loved our baby so fiercely. Eric took my hand and slid my engagement ring back onto it.

"I want you to be wearing this tomorrow when we go public." He said.

I couldn't deny the overwhelming joy I felt from knowing that Eric was going to claim me publically. I finally knew we could be a real family. No more hiding, and no more shadows. Tomorrow we were stepping into the light.