Happily Ever After

chapter 19

Tris's POV.

    I wake up to Tobias pressing his lips to mine, which is now his strategy in waking me up.  Not that I'm complaining.  I smile up at him and he smiles back.  "Do you mind telling me what happened?" he asks me patiently.

    I nod and ask, "Do you know a guy named Eddy Fargo?"

    He moves out of the bed and scratches his head.  "Umm... you ran into him?"

    "I didn't really run into him, actually."  I recall the events of the day, while he listens curiously.  "So you know him?" I ask when I am finished.

    He explains that Eddy was a Dauntless initiate at his initiation who didn't make it.  "I guess he came for vengeance, since a Stiff got 1st rank and he became factionless."  Before we can talk any more, the doorbell rings and we go check to see who it is. 

    When we get there, we see Natalie trying to open the door.  I ask the five-year-old, "And what do you think you're doing?"

    She looks behind her and gasps.  "Sorry."  She says guiltily.  Tobias and I look at each other and I know what he's thinking.  I smile and so does he.

    "Your punishment will be given after we greet our visitor." Tobias tells her.  She nods sheepishly and I open the door.  Standing before me is a little girl accompanied by a woman, who I assume is her mom.

    The woman reaches out her hand, and while I shake it, she introduces herself.  "My name is Haley Wood and this is my daughter Skylar."  I shake Skylar's hand and Haley continues.  "We are new to the neighborhood and decided to meet everyone.  And my, what a nice house you have!"  She points to Natalie.  "Is she your only child?"

    "Oh, no, we have five." I say, matter-of-factedly.

    She gasps, "You mean, you've gone into labor five times?  You look younger than me!"

    Tobias explains to her, "Actually, we probably are younger because we were married a month after we found out she was pregnant.  Then, she gave birth to triplets and after that, it was twins."

    Her eyes widen and we invite her in.  "Your love for each other must be very strong if you had twins and triplets.  How did you come to own such a wonderful home?"  She asks as she looks around.

    I tell her that it was kind of a baby present, since our friends knew that we were going to have triplets before we did.  Then, I remember that she doesn't even know our names.  "Anyway," I say, " my name is Tris Eaton, and this is my husband Tobias."  I introduce Natalie and say, "Natalie, why don't you find Will and Shaliene so you can show Skylar around?"  She gestures for Skylar to follow her and they run off in search of her brother and sister.  I turn to Haley and ask, "Would you like to see the twins?"

    "Of course!" she exclaims.  As we lead her into the babies' room, she stops us.  "I know it is impolite to ask this, but . . . .  Are you two the legendary Four and Six?  The two who saved the city of Chicago from the people's memory getting wiped?"

    I look at Tobias and he shares my expression that only means one thing: What do we say to that?

    We had talked about what we would say in this scenario.  So I carry it out.  I say, "I guess you could call it that.  I mean, it isn't a big deal."

    "A big deal!  I wanted to thank you for doing that!  You could have just left to live a peaceful life and not have to risk your lives, but you did!"  She notices us looking down and fidgeting and asks, "What is wrong?"

    I sigh.  "We really don't like to be reminded of the life we've lived."

    "Oh, I am so sorry.  Sometimes my mouth runs faster than my brain."  I look up and smile.  She reminds me of Christina in so many ways.

    "Well, let's go see the twins!" I say excitedly.  That seemed to break the tension between us big time.  When we finally get there, I pick Percy up and hand him to Haley.  Then I pick up Annabeth and hold her closely.  Tobias is immediately at my side and puts his arm around my waist as he smiles that irresistible smile at Annabeth and me.  I put her down and stand on my tiptoes, my lips almost on his.  He seems to get the picture and picks me up so I can kiss him and I do.  When I kiss him, I am completely unaware and care-free of the world around me.  It's like he gives me memory serum in his kisses.  I forget what is going on around me and the problems I am going through.

    A clearing of someone's throat wakes us from our trance and I suddenly remember that Haley is in the room with us.  He puts me down and we pull away from each other and then I want more of him.  I want to wrap myself up in his arms and stay there forever.  I finally say, "Sorry."

    "That's okay.  Anyway, you have beautiful babies.  Although I do not see where they got their eyes."  She states.

    "We don't either!"  I tell her warmly.  "Well, if you don't mind, we'd like to have a little discussion with Natalie."  She seemed to get the hint and left the room to find Skylar. 

    After Haley went home, Tobias and I searched the house for Natalie.  It doesn't exactly surprise me that she would go against our rule that says if you are under the age of 14, you can't open the door without one of us (or Chris, Uriah, Zeke, etc.) accompanying him or her.  She has been defiant for a while.  It is the Divergent/Dauntless in her blood.  She just has to remember that it is good not to be able to let people control you, but we love her and there's a difference between someone wanting to control you and teach you.

    When we finally find her, we give her the boring lecture that I always thought was stupid when I was younger.  After that, Tobias starts to give her her "punishment".  Since Tobias's childhood punishments were too brutal, we decided on something way different than any family would ever have as a punishment: a pie to the face, hair, and head.  This is great for the girls because what girl likes their hair covered in pie?  We have a separate punishment for the boys: they ha to let me and the girls put make up on him.  He'd have to wear it for a full day without complaining.

    I get out a lime pie and give it to Tobias.  He takes it, and Natalie closes her eyes, waiting.  Tobias puts the pie to her face and it happens.  The pie is pressed to her face and rubbed around her head and into her dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. 

    After about thirty seconds, Natalie's face is covered with pie.  When Tobias takes his hands off her head, she loois up at him, and he nods, signaling that he was finished and she could go take a bath.

    Tobias goes to the sink to wash his hands and I follow him.  I can still see his tattoo of the Dauntless flames and the five factions.  It reminds us of the cost we paid to to get to where we are now.

    When he turns on the water and I smile up at him and he smiles down at me.  In an instant we know what the other is thinking: Let's finish what we started.  Once he's finished, we tuck the kids in bed, head up to our bedroom so we can make love without any disturbances.