Burning With the Fire (Eric Divergent Fanfic)

Confessions

 Jenevieve's soft cries wake me up, even though I was barely sleeping in first place. I grab a light blanket to cover Jen and myself as she eats, and I take my seat on the window sill.

The moon shines through the window, casting a shadow of Jen and I on the floor. My eyes look over to the bunk Eric and I share, and he is sleeping soundly, which he needs so desperately right now. So far, Eric has had no night terrors, despite his mother's death today. I know he has them, and I'm just waiting for him to start screaming.

Jen finishes eating rather quickly, and as I stand to burp her, I hear quiet footsteps entering the dormitory. I look up, and see Tobias coming to the end of the dormitory. He smiles when he sees us, and quickens his pace. When Tobias reaches us, he wraps his arms around us, squeezing gently to not crush my baby. He pulls away quickly, look at Jen, who is watching him closely, unsure of him.

"She's amazing Elle. She looks a lot like Eric..." Tobias observes, reaching for her. I hand her over, and Tobias cradles her in his arms with a tenderness I never knew he possessed.

"I know, I love it. I'm shocked at the evenness between our hair tones though." I smile, watching Jen play with Tobias' fingers.

"I saw Eric's mom go down today." Tobias says quietly, peeking back at Eric's sleeping form.

"Him and his sisters are pretty shaken up. I'm doing everything I can, but he locks himself up, you know?"

"Unfortunately, I know all too well. Tris has barely spoken to me about her parents. I try, but she says she is fine. It's not true, and I know that. I just don't want to push her away. Everyone has their own skeleton in the closet." Tobias explains, and I didn't realize how similar a situation we were both in. Jen babbles and continues to suck on Tobias' fingers. He laughs at the simple baby action.

"Did you see who killed Eric's mom?" I ask.

"Yes..." Tobias whispers cautiously. He peeks over his shoulder at Eric again, which is a sign I won't like the answer. "It was Max. He wasn't originally aiming for her, he was aiming for me. But she threw herself into the line of fire, she must have seen how closely I protected you and the baby when we made the trade, I don't know why else she would save my life. I stopped, trying to save her and move her to the truck, but she told me to get out of there and leave her. She shut her eyes, I thought she was gone, but when I saw Eric crouched over her after, I knew she was still alive, at least until she died in his arms." Tobias admits, and he looks uncomfortable and flustered. "Arielle, if Eric ever find out I left his mother there, he'd kill me. I hate the feeling it gives me, and every time I look at him or his sisters, my gut just twists up and I can't help but think back to what happened, what I could've done." Tobias shudders, and I can't stop the tears that fall from my eyes.

"Tobias... I'm so sorry." I murmur, unsure of how else to respond.

"I don't know how to tell him, Elle. I can't keep that from him." Tobias states, and I rack my brain for a safe way to approach him on this.

Eric is impulsive, and he may do something to hurt Tobias out of the built up pain and anger.

"Give him a couple days. He is healing with his sisters, he needs this time. I'll try to ease him into it, but he is unpredictable when he is hurt." I explain, and Tobias nods. He hands Jen back over to me, and hugs me again.

"What's her name?" Tobias asks before heading back to his bunk.

"Jenevieve Elizabeth Aria." I tell him, putting a now-sleeping baby in her cot.

"Sophisticated and powerful. I wouldn't expect anything less." Tobias chuckles. I smile, and we both return to bed.

But once again, sleep eludes me.