Chapter 72 - The Future

—Tris

"Good morning," I wrap my arms around Tobias from behind, pressing my face onto his clothed back. He's pouring a cup of coffee, and I hope maybe my hug will make him pour me one too.

He turns around, my fingers trailing his torso as he wraps his arms around me, my face now pressed to his chest.

"Good morning, my love," he mumbles in my hair, his breaths steady.

"You changed your shampoo," he comments, earning a laugh from me.

"A few days ago," I smile chuckling when I look up at him. He presses his lips to mine , my head still on his chest.
Our friends always make fun of how much shorter than him I am.
Or in general, how much shorter I am than everyone around me.

"It smells nice." He presses his lips to my forehead.
He makes me feel weak, but not in a cowardly way.
The way his strong arms hold me close, his solid form against my small frame.
He's my rock, no matter what.

"Where's Tom?" I stop straining my neck to look at him and put it back on his chest. His thumb draws small circles on my waist as he holds me.

"Still asleep, it's early, Tris." He laughs and I suddenly remember that my brother and his family are visiting.

"Guess Erudite doesn't start their day at five thirty in the morning," I say earning a dry laugh from him.

"Everything is nine to five over there. They're on vacation too, so they might not be up for hours." He exaggerates and I laugh lightly.

"Why are you up, then?"

"Because I know Zeke is home this morning, and I know you're going to train with him this morning, and I wanted to make you coffee." He says with an innocent tone.

"Thank you," I strain my neck to kiss his jaw, and I can't not smile at the satisfaction on his face.

I do not deserve this man.

+ + +

"Hey there, mini me!" I scoop up my niece in my free arm, taking her over to the closet to tuck away the staff I trained with today.

I always keep one in the house, just like Tobias has his gun.
It makes me feel secure.

"Where were you?" Her grey and curious growing Erudite eyes gleam at mine, her face inches away from mine.
God, she's growing up so fast.

"Teaching a friend to fight with one of those things," I motion to the closet where I left the staff. "And looking at a lot of baby pictures." I recall the first hour Zeke spent showing me pictures of his two little babies, and still sharing his upset nature that they didn't let him take pictures in the operating room.

"Can you teach me?" Her face is eager and I laugh, poking her cheek.

"Maybe when you're older, if you want."

"You should've invited Zeke for breakfast." Tobias peeks out of the kitchen, Thomas waving his little hands at me and calling for me.

.
"Oh come on, I know you can swing harder than that. You gotta be offensive, Zeke."

He turns, swinging the pole at my sturdy block harder this time, and I smile at the familiar ache down my forearms as the metal clanks together.
He's catching on.

"That good enough for you?" He remarks and I swing to hit his torso, proud when he successfully blocks me and tries his best to push down on the pole to disarm me.

I give him the satisfaction and let go of the pole, the metal clanking to the ground.

"I told you to not let me win!" He turns in anger, throwing his one hand up.

I laugh dryly and he turns around to face me, a pout clear on his face.

"Initiation is next month," he says as I bend down and retrieve my staff, the metal sliding with a particular sound across the cement floor of the training room. "Are you sure you're not going to train with me?"

"I don't think I can handle the noise," I stretch out my shoulders, placing the staff behind my neck and letting my arms loop around and rest on it. "I might stop by, but you don't need me, you're doing good!" I exclaim, sighing when a small pop comes from my lower back.

"Have you been training with Chris?"

"Not enough, probably. You guys aren't teaching more than basics at initiation though, so she'll be fine."

"Yeah, the sparring classes are scheduled to start the month after. I told them to hold off, I'm not leaving Shauna high and dry with the twins all the time just months after they're born."

"I can always help you guys out with them too," I offer. "You know that." I say and he nods in appreciation.

"I gotta go," he looks at his watch, the screen lighting up on the small face of it. "I have to catch the train to go see Shauna and my little loves." He smiles cheekily and I laugh.

"Give her my best!" I call as he jogs out of the training room, giving me a thumbs up without turning around.
.

"He's already at Erudite Med, or else I would've." I bend over and scratch Indy's head, his tail thumping.

"Where's your mom and dad?" I ask Bea, walking with her still hoisted in my arm. She finds it hilarious, and her giggle makes me happy, so I keep her there despite my mildly cramping arm that is already sore from the impacts of training this morning.

"Sleeping because they're old," she says in an exaggerated whisper that makes Tobias cackle.

"Oh yeah, huh," I laugh, not sure how to respond. I bounce her in my arm, making her giggle as I add some coffee to my cup.

I bend over and pull out the container with Indy's kibble, earning an excited yip from him as his toenails scratch on the tile of the kitchen. The food clanks into the bowl, and I manage to get the bowl on the ground with Bea still in my arms.

I walk us over to Thomas who desperately wants me to pay attention to him, bouncing Bea left and right which makes both her and Tom giggle.

I run my free hand over Tom's growing blonde curls. Tobias sits across from him, feeding him and smiling contently.

"Alright," I groan. "You're getting heavy." I put Bea down and shake out my cramping arm. She sits down next to Tobias at the kitchen table while I take a sippy cup out to fill.

"Do you want juice, Bea?"

"Yes please!"

I fill up the sippy cup for Thomas and snap on the lid to keep it from spilling, and then fill a glass half way for Bea.

I can't help but wonder if this will be our life one day; juggling around a few kids in the kitchen, getting ready to start the day, and everything being alright.

Of course, chances are we wouldn't have an eight year old and a two year old at the same time, but I can't help but wonder if Tobias ever thinks the same thing.

There was a point in time where I regretted bringing Thomas into this world because of my fear with the Bureau being angry. That still is a constant worry of mine, and I wouldn't want another child until this Cold War has taken a calm.

I shake my head, stopping my thoughts.

Yeah we could handle more kids, but that doesn't mean we need more.

"Let's invite Will and Chris for brunch," I suggest and Tobias makes a face. "They're part of the family too." I sigh at his face, taking out my phone and texting Will.

I don't regret my decision, all of us sitting around the table eating the pancakes we labored over making for hours.

"We have some news," Will takes Christina's hand, smiling.

"We're expecting!" He smiles shyly, Chris grinning wildly.