Over the past week, I've been in an out. The feeling of this stale-aired hospital room is depressing, everyone is always quiet and crying or something. The doctors and my parents, as much as I've heard, are transporting me back to Chicago. 

I long so much to be able to move my body, to not be helpless, but there hasn't been any good news. I want to jump up and hug my parents and hold them but I can't. 

It is also hard, because today is my birthday. It's been a year since the chaos of my life started, since I received these powers. As amazing as my last birthday was, this one is hell. 

The doctors also said I lost some memory, which explains a lot. There is a guy named Blake, who is apparently my boyfriend. I guess he must be divergent, because I don't have much memory of him. Mom and Dad apparently also have two more kids, twins. Ellie and Ashley or Ashlen. 

It's all a lot to comprehend, really the last thing I remember is arriving in the divergent safe house. 

Blake startles me, "Hey Nat." 

I'm smiling, sure not in real life, but at least in my head. His voice is soothing, and every time his hands touch mine it sends sparks through me. It's easier to understand why I'm dating him now. 

"I really hope you can hear me," 

My heart races at the sound of his voice, which you can hear on the heart monitor. 

He laughs, "So you can hear me? Well, I hope you can try and wake up soon. It's getting boring, being in Florida without your crazy attitude. We'll be flying back to Chicago in a little bit, and your mom said I could stay by you. Look, I'm really not sure if you actually hear me, but I love you, Natalie Rose. I don't know why people try to hurt or target you, but I really hope you will come back to me." 

It physically hurts my heart to hear him in pain. Tears might be pouring from my eyes if I was able to move. He really does love me. 

Knowing it will be a long day, conscious or not, I let myself drift off to a dreamless sleep. 

----------------------------------

Six freaking months later

They started finding alternative ways for me to learn, so I don't wake up and end up a year behind in school. They used technology from the modern televisions to project audio and images into my head. I don't have a choice whether or not to watch them, which means I can't skip health class. 

They've also done a surgery, that brought back those ten months of memory I was missing. I remember Blake now, and the twins. I've been caught up on memory. 

Blake comes in every weekend to check up on me. He's also been helping Mom with housework and, Ash and Ellie, since I can't. 

"Can you load up Natalie's next class?" Someone shouts. 

I have seven classes a day, and they give one an hour. I don't have to do them on weekends, of course. They only last thirty minutes a piece. 

"I got it!" Blake yells back. 

The machine let's out a familiar click, and my health teacher loads onto the screen. 

"Today, we will be watching a video of a c-section." 

Damn. 

------------------

Blake's POV

"Can you load Natalie's next class?" Tris shouts. 

"I got it!" I answer. 

My finger jams in the button on the side of her machines, and the scanner faintly buzzes. 

These days without her are bad. Every one of her friends have been hanging around the house, wanting to hang out with her, and helping her parents. Whenever Shailene and Jennifer come over, they give her a makeover. 

"Blake dear, could you come help me cook lunch?" Tris asks, her voice echoing from the kitchen. 

"Absolutely, I'm coming!" I respond, running down the stairs. 

She is stirring pasta and cooking meat, and buttering bread. I run over, taking the spoon for the pasta from her hand. 

"Thank you Blake!" Tris exclaims. 

They find it more appropriate to call them by their first names now, since I'm always over anyways. Once the timer goes off, I drain the pasta and go to butter the bread. 

Man, I have no idea how she can be a mother! Juggling the kids, and cooking, and cleaning, even with help from us, must be a handful. 

"I have it from here, Blake." Tris thanks me, flashing a shining smile. 

"Sure," I respond, and head over to the living room. 

"Afternoon Blake, you're still here?" Tobias asks, as I sit down on the couch. 

I nod, "I figured since I was already helping with the girls, I'd help with lunch." 

"You're a good man, really. I'm so glad we have you here to support us." He compliments, giving me an honestly gracious look. 

I grin, "I'm here to help, whatever you need." 

We watch some shows, only for a few minutes, before Tris calls us over for dinner. The two of us race in like a bunch of rabid pack animals. The twins crawl around into the dining room, where Tris puts them in their high chairs. They have been trying to walk, and know a few words now. 

"Hungy." Eliza mumbles, grabbing at the bowls Tris is setting out. 

"Hold on baby girl." She coos. 

"I'll get the girls food, you get your own." Tris instructs, motioning at the bowl of spaghetti. 

I beat Tobias to the food, piling it full of pasta. I grab some garlic bread and a soft drink, in addition. 

"You two can go ahead and eat by the television, I'll feed the girls." 

"Thanks Tris." I sit down on the long couch, my drink set on the table beside it. 

Tris is an amazing cook, and her spaghetti is one of my favorites. When the girls finish thier cut up spaghetti, they crawl back to the living room. Eliza grabs the edge of the couch, bobbing her mouth. 

"Do you want up?" I ask. 

She bounces, "Bwake. Up." 

I laugh, lifting her little body into my lap. She grabs my bread with pudgy hands, eating little bits, not that I mind much. Soon, Ash climbs up the couch, sitting on my other leg. I let them finish my bread, and I just eat my spaghetti. 

"That's so adorable!" Tris gushes, laughing at us. 

I smirk, but continue eating. 

"Bwake!" Eliza yells, smacking me with a greasy, cheesy hand. 

"No hit!" I scold, grabbing her hand. 

Her bottom lip quivers, "Bwake?" 

I hold her hand, "No hit, okay?" 

She scrunches up her nose, this time wiping cheese on my face, gently. 

I laugh, wiping it off. 

By the time I'm finished, I have spaghetti sauce and garlicky-bread-cheese all over me. I set the girls on the ground, and wipe off their hands and faces. Then, I take my plate to the kitchen, rinsing it off. Lastly, I wipe the mess from my face and shirt, grateful that my shirt was red before. 

"Thank you for holding the girls Blake!" Tris praises. 

I nod, "No problem, they're fun!" 

The girls start screaming my name, so I run back to the living room. Even if I started coming here to help Natalie, this family has grown on me. 

------------------

Natalie's POV

A door creaks open, waking me from a deep sleep. 

"I can't believe she even survived!" A harsh voice hisses. 

That sounds like... the man who dropped me off the slide, and got me into this god damn mess. 

"She's gotta be done-for now." A woman grumbles. 

There's the noise of a shift, and suddenly, it feels like a humongous weight is places upon my chest, I can't breath. Another plug is taken out, and I feel an insane amount of pain. The bed is pushed over, and my body falls to the floor, something slamming into my back. Somehow, adrenaline maybe, I let out a horrible scream as footsteps slam out of the room. 

My mind begins to blur, feeling like I'm fading from reality. I can't. Think. 

"She is gonna die, come on!" I hear Blake yell. 

For just a split second, I think those might be the last words I will ever hear.