A Different Divergent: A Better Tomorrow

~sixty-three~

Chapter 63

Something wakes me with a jolt but I can't quite figure out what it is. I yawn as I roll in Tobias' arms and see that he's sleeping peacefully on the makeshift bed he made out of an air mattress and layers of linens and pillows. It's amazingly comfortable for being on the floor of a moving train. He outdid himself last night with our date. Italian food, dancing, talking, laughing, lovemaking. I can only think of a few times with him that top it. I thought we would be up late into the evening but the rhythmic sway of the train and sheer exhaustion conspired against me, making me fall asleep almost immediately after the second time that he made love to me. A pain unlike anything I've ever experienced in my life moves through my belly causing me to double over, and I finally recognize what woke me up. I grunt in pain, holding onto my abdomen. When it subsides, I lay my hand on Tobias' chest.

"Tobias!" I say, trying to shake him awake while I run my hand over my lower abdomen. No, no, no. It's too early. "Tobias, wake up. Something's wrong." He grunts then drags his eyelids open but I doubt that he sees me clearly right now. "Tobias, something's wrong with Peanut." This breaks through the fog of sleep. "It's too early."

"What do you mean something's wrong with Peanut?" he asks as he sits up, sleep thick in his voice. I explain to him what I just felt and worry crosses his face. He knows it's too early also. "You need to get dressed." He flicks on the twinkle lights so we can see and finds my dress. He helps me to my feet, and as I'm trying to put the dress on over my head, another pain hits.

"Oh, God!" I say, holding onto my stomach. The garment slips through my fingers and falls to the floor and Tobias grabs ahold of me just before my knees buckle. He lowers us to the mattress and starts looking around. When the pain dissipates, I ask, "What are you looking for?"

"My phone," he says, his Four mask firmly in place. I stare at him for a full minute then burst into tears, overwhelmed, frustrated, and scared to death.

"I don't want Four right now," I wail, unable to see through the veil of tears flowing from my eyes. "I want my husband. I want Tobias." He wraps his arms around me and cradles me against him, rocking me ever so gently. "I'm so scared. Don't hide from me right now. I need you. I need you."

"I'm so sorry, love. I'm here," my Tobias says, caressing my hair and kissing my temple as he holds me. "I'm scared, too. I didn't mean to shut down. I'm here. Let's try getting you dressed again." He grabs my wrinkled dress and has me hold my arms over my head. He slips the icy fabric on and lets it fall into place, causing me to shiver. He finds my jacket and hands it to me. I shrug it on as he slips my boots on my feet. He picks up my bra and panties and shoves them in the picnic basket. I watch as he frantically pick things up.

"Tobias," I say. "You may want clothes, too." He stops what he's doing, looks down, and curses. "Usually I like watching you walk around naked in front of me but I don't need to get turned on right now." I give him a small smile in an effort to lighten the mood but then another pain hits and he kneels in front on me. I grab onto his hand and squeeze. I don't know why. I just do.

"These are pretty damn close together," he says. "Do you think you're in labor?"

"I don't know," I say, barely getting it out. He pulls on his boxer briefs, jeans, and sweatshirt and shoves an armful of stuff into his duffle bag. He finally finds his phone. It fell off the bench and slid to the opposite end of the car. He makes a call but I can't hear what he's saying. He hangs up and sits down beside me. His expression is alternating between annoyed and scared. "What's wrong?"

"I didn't think," he says, his Four persona battling to be front and center.

"I don't understand."