I'd like to just take a second and thank everyone who has been a part of this story! It seems absolutely nuts to be posting the last chapter, and honestly, I never thought anyone other than myself would enjoy it.

I hope everyone gets the feeling that Eric and Everly have come full circle, and I think this chapter touches on everything in their lives that anyone might possibly wonder about. If you'd like to continue on with them, make sure you're following along because I'll post Eric's version soon! The story will be told from his POV, but there is plenty of new material in the chapters. My goal is to update them far more frequently, along with the additional outtakes.

I'd like to thank all of you who have followed from the beginning, all of you who joined in along the way, and those who just started reading. Thank you to everyone sent messages, who reviewed the story, who read it multiple times, and to those who continue to reread it. Thank you following along, for enjoying the outtakes, and for always wanting more. Thank you to societalfailure for your kind words and patience, to Jaqueline for helping me from the get go!, thank you to felyneve90 for listening when I needed it (and for announcing you're finishing your story!), thank you to frecklefaceb for always entertaining me with your witty commentary. Thank you to BK2U for editing nearly two thirds of the million chapters. Thank you to bamberlee for everything, including cheeleading this story on into continuation. Thank you to buriedinbooks, to akell1018, offroadinjandals, mom2reesie, magellean-88! All of you have made this story so much more! If I've forgotten anyone, I'm so sorry! It's been a crazy past few days.

Thank you all so much!

It's been a wild ride ;)

Now go enjoy!

She shrieks.

At the top of her tiny lungs, her whole face turning red as her little hands ball into fists. She's really too young to understand why she's so upset, so she just is.

"What's wrong with her? Is she going to throw up?" Jason eyes me cautiously, despite the fact that he's sitting a good six seats away from me. I shake my head no, picking her up and bouncing her against my chest in hopes of calming her down.

"No, she's not going to throw up."

I try everything I can to calm her down, especially since this is the first time we've been out in over a month. We're sitting in the furthest part of Clyde's with all of our friends, in the remodeled section of the restaurant. It seems that their manager had the brilliant idea the place needed an upgrade. Gone are the million tiny tables that made for a mess of seating, and in their place are more booths, including one meant for large parties. It worked out well, since we certainly had a large party today. We were dining with all of our friends- Christina and Rylan, Jason and Megan, Tris, Four, and Adam, Karl and Charlotte, one of Karl's friends and his girlfriend, and finally Tori, who was looking strangely nervous as Evangelina cried louder the second Adam joined her.

"Is she hungry?"

"Is she tired?"

"Maybe it's too dark in here."

"Maybe she's cold? Did anyone bring a blanket?"

"Why are there so many babies here?"

There are a million questions thrown at me, to all of which the answer is I don't know. I just fed her, she isn't tired, and while she might be cold, she was dressed warmly. I start to feel panicky, a sick feeling washing over me when Eric takes her from me and she only screams louder.

"What the fuck?" He mutters, insulted as ever when Evangelina doesn't stop crying. He tries everything he's learned that she likes; he holds her against his chest, he rocks her, he makes her stand up for a second and says her name loudly, looking at her as if she can read his mind. "Evangelina, chill out."

She doesn't chill out. She glares at him and her face turns redder before she screams again.

"Why won't she stop crying?" He looks at me suspiciously, and I shake my head.

"I don't know."

"Oh, uh, here." Lucy has terrible timing. She drops his beer off with a funny look on her face and pauses to stare at him. "Do you want…" She stops midsentence, wracking her brain to think of something an infant might want in a bar. "Uh, does she want some water?"

"No, but thank you," I answer quickly, and I reach to take Eva back. "Maybe she just wants a change of scenery."

"Here." Eric gratefully hands her back to me, still confused that she hasn't stopped crying for him. He is pretty much her favorite and most preferred parent, unless she wants to eat. "Maybe she's tired. She has only slept for about twenty hours today."

I smile over her wailing, watching Rylan snicker as Christina elbows him. Much like my own sleeping habits, Eric finds it offensive when his daughter seems to sleep more than she is awake. I warned him it wouldn't last forever, and that he really should take advantage of it while he could.

"Who had…. the soda?" Lucy looks at all of us, and I take one from her, and so does Tris, then Christina.

"Why are you drinking that?" Jason looks at her curiously and she smiles.

"I work in the morning. Super early, so I can't get wasted with you all." She rolls her eyes, but nods sympathetically when Evangelina keeps crying. "Do you want me to take her?"

"I don't know, give me a second. I can't figure out why she's so unhappy." I fumble with Eva, trying to soothe whatever it is that has her hating life at the moment. "I swear, she was fine seconds ago."

"Weird," Jason mutters, and he slides his beer at me. "Maybe you should drink this, Everly. Because I think you need it more than me."

"She's fine. She'll stop in a second." Eric glares at him, shoving the beer back at Jason, ignoring the way it spills over the side.

"Doubtful," Jason eyes him back, and I swear he inches his chair closer to Meghan after mopping up his drink. "I wonder if she'll always cry this much?"

"Maybe I should hold her. Maybe she misses me," Rylan suggests, and I am seconds away from handing her off to him. His gesture is kind, but it'll be mortifying if only her Godfather can get her to quiet down.

"Here, maybe she and Adam can sit by each other? Maybe she just wants to be next to her friend?" Tris interrupts, scooting closer to me. Much to Eric's horror, she picks up Adam from the other side of her and holds him in her arms so he's near Evangelina. "He was cranky this afternoon. Maybe it's the weather."

"It's definitely the weather. Makes me cranky, too." Jason snorts and even Four looks ready to stab him.

But whatever it is, Tris' idea works.

Evangelina quiets down the minute Adam is next to her. She puts her head on my chest and the two of them both stop wailing. The silence, which seems deafening in comparison to the screaming, washes over the table. I'm relieved, probably more than anyone else, and I recline back against Eric's arm and try to ignore the look of pure dread on his face.

"What are you getting? A hamburger?" I look up at him quickly, noticing right away that he looks very irritable. "A salad?"

He ignores me.

He's too busy throwing a nasty look at Four, who's busy reading the dinner specials and pretending Eric isn't staring him down like he'd like to shove the menu down his throat.

"Nachos?" I elbow Eric and he leans into me. "Seafood pasta? Where exactly are we getting fish from? Amity?"

"Everly, did our child just stop crying because she wanted to sit by Four's child?" Eric hisses the words through clenched teeth, not even trying to be quiet. I peer up at him from beneath my bangs that I had cut myself. Which was a terrible idea in hindsight, but it was too late now. "Everly, please tell me that…"

"Yeah, so I forgot to mention she really likes Adam. Maybe it's because they're both babies, or because she spends a lot of time with him because you left us alone to go back to work. But they each sleep really well when the other one is nearby. Tris and I get a lot done at naptime." I brightly answer his question and I smile up at him. "Did you decide what you're getting?"

He stares at me, then at Four who's still pretending he's gone deaf, then back at me. "Did you just say they sleep well next to each other?"

"Something like that," I point out and I kick him beneath the table. "You know what, I think you should get tacos. They're new."

"They are really good." Lucy points out, returning with a plate of chips. She somehow sets it down directly in front of Eric without spilling it. It's an impressive feat considering her eyes are glued to the babies. I briefly wonder how many other members have brought their children here, and I would guess not many. "Are you guys ready to order?"

Her timing is perfect. Eric doesn't have the chance to become too violent now that Lucy is patiently waiting. I kick him again, and he slings one arm around my shoulder, probably with the pure intent of putting space between Eva and Adam.

"Eric?" I ask him, and he looks down at me, his eyes darkly murderous. "Did you decide?"

He glances down the table, then back to me. Everyone has closed their menus, Jason has relaxed- though he still looks worried that someone might throw up, and Evangelina and Adam are still quiet.

"I'll have a steak." Eric barks at the poor girl, but he relaxes a little, and his fingers pull on the ends of my hair. "Everly, what are you getting?"

I take a huge risk by ordering chicken, and I turn my attention back to him when he helps take the menu from me. He smiles, reaching over me to take Tris' menu. A few seats down, Rylan is talking with Christina, Karl is laughing so hard he nearly spills his beer at something his friend said, and Jason is counting all the lanterns and commenting that he might like to steal one when no one is looking. It feels good, all of us here, with nowhere else we need to be and no one trying to kill us.

"So, is anyone else thinking we'll never see Harrison again?" Karl asks curiously, and the table erupts into varied opinions. Rylan shakes his head, Tori seems to think he'll wander back in, and Four seems only halfway interested.

Personally, I'd completely forgotten about Harrison. Him leaving would leave a huge open spot, one that they wouldn't want to leave open for very long.

"You won't. He'll be off on some post, miles away. Said he needs some peace and quiet and lot less excitement. He said he's over it all." Eric answers, still twirling my hair.

"Maybe Brittney will come back," Jason suggest cheerfully, and the table erupts again, this time at the horror of her setting foot back in the offices.

I sit back and listen, completely content to be against Eric's chest as everyone argues. While no one is torn up over Harrison leaving, they all agree that Brittney shouldn't be allowed to return, let alone have any responsibility. I listen carefully as they talk about all the drama she caused, flashing back to the time I had to redo the entire inventory because of her, and I have to say I agree with them.

"Do you think she'll come back?" Tris asks over Eric's arm, and I shake my head.

"Not a chance," I grin, pleased at how well this night is going. The feeling continues throughout our evening, even more so when Lucy drops off our meal and the manager waves from behind her, taking a long look at Eva.

It all feels right. It feels whole, these people surrounding me now my family, as we eat dinner together in peace.

I'd even go so far as to say Eric agrees. Pacified with his dinner and the fact that Brittney will never be issued any sort of security clearance, Eric seems to forget that his daughter was happy next to Four's son. As the night winds down, he pays the bill for everyone, including Four. He even presses his nose into my hair for a second, neatly signing the check and reaching to take our daughter as everyone gets ready to leave.

Eva had eventually fallen asleep on my chest and stayed that way while we ate. Even now, she barely moves, not even when he takes her and picks her up to hold her against him. He stands there with a serious look on his face, our daughter's pink dress cheerful against his dark jacket, and he holds one hand out to me while I try to not trip getting up from the booth.

"Hey, we'll walk out with you!" Rylan calls over to us, trying to be louder than the roar of the restaurant. "Thanks for dinner, by the way."

"No problem," Eric answers, looking somewhere above his head. He looks down and smiles at me, clearly lost in thought while he waits for everyone in our group to follow suit. We all leave at the same time, and I smile as we walk out, my hand in Eric's.

We walk slowly, stuck behind the swarm of people waiting for a drink at the bar. I take in the restaurant, noticing all the upgrades they have done, seemingly overnight. It had always been a cool spot in Dauntless, this dive bar tucked neatly away, offering a sanctuary from the rest of the faction. Tonight, Clyde's is super busy, far more crowded than the last time I was here. Everyone has flooded into the place now that it's reopened, especially after being turned away during the renovation and forced to eat in the mess hall.

I smile as we walk past the other parties, recognizing a few of the faces, and noticing a few new ones. There are plenty of glances as we walk by- still the same incredibly curious ones we had before, but this time, I notice all the members look fairly pleased.

Especially when their gaze lands on Eva, safe in her father's arms.

She turns six weeks old before I know it.

I stare down at her in her basinet, her dark hair pushed to the side, her eyes closed as she sleeps peacefully, and I wonder where the time went. I was sure I'd only just given birth, nearly passing out in my mother's hallway while I tried hard to wait for Eric to return. I swear it felt like mere days since we'd driven back here, then mere minutes since I'd sat and opened all the baby gifts we'd received.

Much like with Four, it seemed like the entire faction had sent gifts. It was unnecessary, but very kind. I'd sat for hours beside Eric, opening present after present, surprised at the strangely thoughtful and useful things people had picked out. It looked like I wouldn't have to buy anything for her for a long time. All sorts of clothes and tiny baby shoes in varying sizes, toys that looked far too dangerous for a newborn, blankets, pacifiers, lotions and all sort of things I'd never really thought we'd need. There were books, some more for my entertainment purposes and some for her, and even a few had sent blocks and stuffed animals.

The best one of all was Rylan's.

He'd kept his promise to us, along with a vow to staunchly protect Eva with his own life, and he'd had shirts ordered for her.

Tons of them, all black, with phrases like 'Future Initiate' and 'I may be cute, but I'll kick your ass". Eric laughed at the one that said, 'I'm just here for the cake', and he'd rolled his eyes at the one that said 'If you think I'm cute, you should see my Godfather."

Rylan had also included a photo of himself, a very formal and official looking one, and I decided I'd have to put it in her room before he came over. In fact, I'd carried it in with me, setting it atop of her dresser next to the stuffed dog Eric's nanny had given him. It made it look like he was watching over, her first and most official Godfather.

I turn my attention back to her when Evangelina makes a tiny snuffling sound, and I take a step back, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning against the door frame.

I have the sinking feeling she's going to grow up in the blink of an eye and it won't be long before I can't remember when she was this little.

"Do you really like that one better?"

Christian stares at me behind his oversized glasses, his head cocked to the side. He looks like some kind of strange bird, but his stare is just as intense as Eric's, though in an entirely different way. He takes a step toward me, then a step back, then he scowls and looks over my shoulder at Christina.

"I hate to say it, especially since I made it, but it's too...boring." He sighs dramatically, rapidly clicking the pen in his hand a few times. "It just doesn't scream, Everly. It screams…I work on the third floor. In the library. I go home alone at night and read myself sad poems until the darkness overtakes me."

Christina snorts, trying hard to cover up her laughter as I stare at Christian.

"Really? We don't even have a library. Our third floor is mostly supplies and the daycare center. And I certainly don't think anyone in Dauntless is stocking up on books of sad poems, especially the Dauntless toddlers." I point out, smoothing the dress down and frowning. "I like this one. The other is a little too revealing. And tight. I mean, I could barely get it over my chest."

Christian sighs, and so does Christina.

"They're both absolutely stunning. No one would ever know that six weeks ago you'd birthed out that little babe. But I do agree, that maybe, just maybe it's a little too fitted."

I stare at myself in the mirror, trying to ignore the way the dress is so tight I can barely breathe and so short that I more than likely can't sit down. It is pretty, I can't argue that, but I also can't imagine an occasion for which it would be appropriate, especially the occasion for which I need it.

In two weeks, I'll be marrying Eric.

I mean, really marrying him. I am already married to him, but this is the formal celebration I'd never knew I'd needed. I don't know what prompted Eric to plan such an event, but he'd brought it up a few weeks after we'd brought Evangelina home, slipping it into a conversation over what I'd like to have for dinner.

I had nearly dropped my drink.

The notion of this wedding was beyond romantic, almost unlike Eric, until I realized what he'd planned. It wasn't a wedding like I was thinking. It certainly wouldn't be a sappy event, nor was it one that would leave everyone in tears, unless you pissed off Eric, or maybe spoke while he was talking.

It was more of a party than a ceremony, one where he'd inform everyone how much he adored Evangelina and I, along with a few smug mentions of how he'd gotten me to marry him. An exciting dinner that he and Jason and Rylan had planned, with food that sounded far more exquisite than anything I'd ever eaten and far nicer than what was served in the mess hall. It would be followed by desert, a towering cake made of chocolate and rich, dark frosting, some cupcakes ordered from my friends in Amity, both paired with either a high end wine I couldn't pronounce but Eric seemed to like, or a champagne that sparkled. He'd dismissed any sort of dancing or music, claiming an aversion to both, but had planned a rendezvous on the roof to wind the party down. The invite boasted a spectacular ending to the night, including an open bar and entertainment.

I could only imagine that someone would catch fire or succumb to alcohol poisoning at some point during this night.

The guest list seemed out of control, but again, on Eric's terms. The names of those most important to each of us, along with the political figures needed to maintain peace. He'd scorned them all by getting married and robbing them of the sight of him in a tuxedo the first go around, but he'd made it up by inviting them this time. Not to mention that fact that it would help to unite them all, bringing everyone together to celebrate these moments of quietness.

I should have been stressed out by all this, even just a little bit. After all, I was still nursing our daughter around the clock, I hadn't returned to work, I'd cut my own bangs, and I spent most of my time with Tris and Adam. I was in no mindset to plan any sort of party, but that was where Eric came in. He'd shoved a few papers at me, told me to the sign them quickly, and once I was done- barely even able to see what I was signing- he told me to go meet Christian.

I'd brought along Evangelina, happily content to see her third and best dressed Godfather, and my eyes had widened when I saw the slew of dresses he'd made for me. Actually, for us. Christina was waiting for me, eager to take Evangelina and even happier to examine every garment that was handed to me. I tried on dress after dress, making sure they both got to see it from every angle, and never in my life had I seen so much tulle or lacey fabric. But the more I tried on, the skimpier and more revealing they got. Which was fine, except that I didn't stand a chance to even make it to this wedding if Eric caught sight of it.

Which was also fine.

"I like the black one best." I announce, ignoring the quirk of Christian's lips. The dresses were almost all black, but I liked the blackest one the best. The look on Christian's face tells me despite the fact that he had hand sewn them all, he preferred the others.

"I think you should go with the lighter one," he sulks, crossing his arms and looking over at Christina for backup. "Eva is wearing pink, and so should you. Or even, I suppose this would be alright, a variation of pink. Maybe a blackish pink."

"Really? You really think I should wear the pink one?" I stare at him in confusion, not so thrilled at the idea. "Okay, let me see it again."

I take a step off the platform, careful not to trip in the shoes he'd shoved at me that matched almost every dress he'd made. Christian nods excitedly, watching me like a very fancily dressed hawk.

"I'll grab it for you."

Truth be told, I already knew which dress he was talking about, and I was torn. Pink would forever be my favorite color, and quite possibly the quickest and easiest way to Eric's heart. He had a soft spot for the color now, and he quite frequently dressed Eva in it. I found it rather comical, for she had drawers full of tiny little black outfits. Yet, I watched him slide the pink fabric over her head on a daily basis. He must have suddenly become a fan of the color, which meant she rarely wore anything dark, especially when she was with him.

So of course, she'd be wearing pink to our wedding. Or party. Or whatever it was. Christian had sewn her no less than six dresses, all in varying shades and lengths. He seemed to have her exact measurements, and the tiny garments were beautiful, and I'm sure Eric approved.

"Hey, Everly. Try on the shorter pink one, too. I want to see that one again." Christina calls over to me, holding up Evangelina and making her wave as they both watch.

I can't help but grin at the sight in front of me. Much to my delight, Christina had bonded immediately with her. It had felt like a given, considering Rylan was determined to win Eva's love and affection, but I'd been worried Christina might have felt left out. She was the only one of us without a baby, and she might find the idea of being around her absolutely boring. But she'd been the exact opposite. Happy to help, happy to hang out, and happy to hold Evangelina.

I didn't expect everyone in Dauntless to like Eva as much as we did, in fact- I was expecting most of Eric's friends to be bored with her after a few weeks. I wasn't entirely wrong. Jason was terrified of her, refusing to hold her at all until she could support her own head, and backing away like she might burst into flames. He'd practically knocked Meghan out of the way when Eric had asked if he wanted to hold her, and feigned a phone call, telling us he'd be right back. Two hours later, he returned, but only to sheepishly collect his phone that he'd left behind on our coffee table.

But her first Godfather was great. Rylan was pretty at ease doing anything with her, and he and Eric spent plenty of time together, simply hanging out. The two of them stayed home with the baby while Christina and I snuck out to eat, and we'd come back to them sitting on the couch with her propped up between them. She always looked happy, and Eric swore she never cried or protested, despite the fact that they were watching something about serial killers.

Karl was equally at ease. I shouldn't have expected any less, especially after he'd been dating Charlotte for all this time. His short stint in the daycare couldn't have hurt, either. It hadn't taken long for the two of them to stop by, cheerfully dropping off muffins and asking to see the baby. Evangelina liked him instantly, but probably because he looked just like Eric. She quickly warmed up to Charlotte, and much to Eric's dismay, it was looking like she enjoyed anyone who held her.

Except for Harrison.

She had screamed bloody murder when Harrison held her, but the look on Harrison's face told me the feeling was mutual. He hadn't stayed long; just enough time to be polite, before escaping off to his new life overseeing a post miles away, presumably one with no infants.

"I think this one might be it."

I walk back from the fitting room with an entirely different dress on, holding it up so I don't trip over the length. They both turn to face me, Christian bent over Christina to tickle Evangelina, and when they see the dress, I know my decision is right.

Their faces light up in delight, the same way Eric's did the second time I sat down beside him in my pink sundress.

Two days later, I open an envelope with the worst and best news ever.

Karl's wedding has been pushed back.

I feel my heart sink, worried that maybe he'd changed his mind and decided to stay as Dauntless' most eligible bachelor. For some reason, it felt important to me that he would be happy. He deserved it, after all, he'd been working hard- he'd taken on training a class in the event that neither Four nor I were back in time, he'd worked countless hours to aid in taking down Evelyn, and he'd found someone who liked him just as much as he liked her. He and Charlotte were an adorable couple, completely and utterly perfect for each other.

So when I get the notice, I panic right up until the moment Eric comes home.

He reads the letter in my hand, smirks, then smugly informs me that Karl will fill Harrison's spot, and this time, Max is insistent that the newest Leader's wedding is a big event.

Of course, the one day I have to head down there, the infirmary is nuts.

I'm not sure what's in the air, but it's making me wish I could have stayed home. I try hard to keep Eva pressed against my chest as I slip past the members waiting to be called back, knowing full well they can see me, but I'm not quite ready for them to come over and ask to hold her.

Turns out, Eva is pretty popular in Dauntless. We haven't taken her out a ton, but everyone is very interested in seeing her. I've caught more than a few sweet and giggly adoring stares when someone catches sight of her, and I've caught more than a few jealous and cranky looks. Especially when Eric carries her through the hallways. Eric likes to hold her while we walk, and it is even better because you can barely see her. She looks smaller than ever in his arms, and he walks with his shoulders back, his normal saunter, and one very obnoxiously smug look on his face.

Sometimes, I lag behind a step or two, just so I can observe them. I love the way I will catch sight of her hair, or her headband, peaking up over his shoulder. I like the way he walks easily, gently even, keeping her safe in his arms. It is sight I never thought I'd see, but there it is. He seems to gleefully enjoy stalking past people in the hallways, giving them the honor of a single glimpse of her, and he especially loves when they stop in their tracks.

The women are especially ravenous when they see him.

Babies aren't a popular sight in Dauntless. I have rarely seen any children, except when I went to visit Karl during his banishment or the one kid who wanted Eric's job. But Eva goes everywhere, and she never ceases to cause of flurry of excitement, especially in Eric's arms. He is even generous enough to smirk when he catches them staring, knowing full well they are dying on the inside or wishing he'd really stop for them.

Today, he's stuck in his office, and I've headed down to an appointment I've been waiting for. Luckily for me, I only wait about three seconds before I'm taken back to a quiet room. Once there, a nurse gently takes Eva from me and instructs me to sit on the bench and take my shoes off.

Five minutes later, Arlene wanders in, looking very pleased.

Seven minutes and one uber quick exam later, she reluctantly gives me my birth control shot, though even she can admit that neither Eric nor I really want a second baby anytime soon. I'd made this appointment yesterday, right after my checkup with Dr. Denten. Dr. Denten had been beyond thrilled for us, even if she hadn't delivered the baby. Once she'd gotten past her obvious and poorly hidden horror at the birth taking place in Amity, she'd admired Evangelina for longer than was probably required, and she'd kindly informed me that she'd love to see me for the next one, whenever that was. She'd then looked at me and told me that two babies under the age of two was a challenge, and she went on to give me a few options to consider.

Much to Arlene's dismay, I'd taken her advice and made an appointment to sign back up for routine birth control.

"How is she doing?"

She glances up from wiping my arm, making sure it's not bleeding before slapping a band aid on it. She'd just given me the same speech about waiting for the birth control to kick in, pausing to remind me to use a backup method for a few days, before she turned to throw the wrapper away.

"She's doing great," I answer her, smiling at Evangelina. One of the nurses was holding her, cooing at her to get her to smile while I was busy being stabbed, all so I could have sex with my husband again. "She sleeps great, she eats great, and she's already more popular here than Eric."

Arlene smiles, haughtily satisfied now that all her dreams have come true. In an entertaining way, she's gotten everything she's wanted and then some. Eric and I had wound up married, we've stayed married, and now we've had a baby. One who seems to like Arlene, even though I'd warned her about Arlene's true motives on the walk over here.

"Everything is good with you and Eric?" Arlene asks, not at all trying to sound casual. But I take zero offense to it. I've learned that Arlene had Eric's back for years and was probably the only other person in Dauntless who really gave a shit about him. "Has he managed to survive these past few weeks?

"He's really good. He said to tell you hello." I smile, pulling my sleeve back down and hopping off the table I'd been sitting on. "He wants to come with me when I bring her for her shots. I told him we'd have you do it since you're here."

She looks up in surprise. "You're going to do them here? Not with Daniel?"

I nod, pulling my boots back on and tying them quickly. I then reach to take my child back from the nurse who clearly doesn't want to give her back.

"I agreed to almost all of them. Now that she's a little bit bigger, I think it'll be fine. But I don't want to take her to Erudite. I think it'll be too much work to get her there. Daniel is going to come to visit here in a few weeks, but Eric wants them done before then. He thinks it's too long to wait."

"Sounds great to me." She marks off a few things on my chart, scrawling her name at the bottom. "I'll see you both for her appointment. I'll have Molly call to remind you."

"Thank you." I cheerfully answer, stopping when she turns to look at Evangelina. Eric had dressed her in a pair of pink leggings and a black shirt, and I had to smile when he grinned down at her, touching her nose before he kissed her forehead. It was clear she was everything to him, even more so when he hesitated leaving for work, just so he could look back at her one more time.

"Everly." Arlene says my name sharply, and I stop to look up at her. I prepare myself for an onslaught of…something. Maybe the sort of suggestion that we have another, immediately, or maybe that I should make sure she is first to know if or when we decide on another. But instead she steps in front of me, and peers down at the baby as though she's never seen such a creature before.

"I just wanted to let you know Eric sounded very happy when he told me she was born. I wasn't expecting her to be a girl, but I think it's good for him."

"Thank you. I think so, too." I tell her, watching as she smiles down at Eva.

"Her name is Evangelina?" Arlene asks, and I nod.

She pushes her glasses further up her nose and smiles widely. "I like it. Take care, you two. I'll see you back soon."

She catches me off guard. I'd been prepared for something else, so I don't really have any great answer to say to that. I smile and nod again, clutching Eva tighter to me. The nurse is watching us carefully, her stare fixed on Eva's dark hair.

"I'll see you for her appointment," I tell her, but she reverts back to the Arlene who was beyond delighted to discover I had Eric's last name after only a few weeks of being here. She waves me off, turning to scrawl something on my chart, and is back to barking at her nurses before I'm out the door.

I leave the infirmary quickly, waving a goodbye to Molly, and I stop when I run right smack into Eric.

"Sorry, I thought you saw me." He mutters, grasping my arms and rubbing where I'd smacked into him, steadying me. "I thought I'd surprise you and take you both to lunch since you were done at the doctor. Did everything go okay?"

"It went fine. Everything with Dr. Denten was really good, Arlene was surprisingly normal, and she seems happy to give Evangelina her shots." I look up at him, taking in his sharp profile and his slick hair, and I smile. "She said she liked her name."

Eric glances over my head at the infirmary and rolls his eyes. "Oh good, I'm glad we have her approval. Are you hungry?"

"Starving. Are we going to Clyde's again?" I ask, happy to see him, and even happier that we can eat together. He takes Evangelina from me and I take his free hand.

"Rylan and Christina are heading that way and they invited us if you'd like to go. I told them I'd find you, and we'd be a few minutes late. They didn't care. Rylan wants to see her." He tightens his grip on mine, this man who was once so hesitant to even touch my hand in public, and I grin up at him.

"That's fine with me," I tell him, letting him lead the way. I turn back to glance at the infirmary, the strange sensation of someone standing behind me rising up. I try to shake it off, but it lingers, until I give in.

When I turn around, I catch sight of Arlene standing there, watching us leave with a giant satisfied smile on her face.

On Tuesday, Eric comes home from work early.

My heart leapt into my throat when he walked in, fully prepared for his sudden appearance to be because of some terrible, impending event that would eat up all his attention for the next few weeks. I imagine the absolute worst: the factionless are rebelling again after Marcus finally followed in Evelyn's footsteps and created some army, or maybe Candor was rebelling after feeling left out, or maybe there were strange happenings beyond the wall.

In reality, he just wanted to come home.

He changes out of his heavy uniform, happily stripping down to a shirt and boxers, and picks up Eva on his way out of the bedroom. I return to folding her tiny clothes, noticing the slow increase of black infiltrating her wardrobe, and I smile at the two of them when he sits down on the couch with her.

A few minutes later I hear her giggle as Eric holds her up, mockingly helping her perform jumping jacks. He does it again and again, smirking every time she shrieks in utter delight. She seems to think he's hilarious, especially when he playfully growls the word "initiate" at her, telling her 'ten more, initiate', making her jump higher and higher. I pause to watch them, my heart threatening to burst at the sight.

Their little game continues long past my laundry folding, until Eric's initiate conks out for her nap.

I get the feeling he's used to it.

"Are you excited?" Tris asks, sitting next to me while I try to find us something entertaining to watch. Today was a day that Eric had chosen to work all day, and one where I'd grown bored of entertaining myself and Eva. Luckily for the both of us, I had a plan. I invited Tris over, she graciously accepted, and I introduced her to Eric's world of movies. To my delight she liked them just as much as I did, maybe more. Maybe because we were both home, with no real responsibilities other than watching Adam and Eva, and it was a nice break from that. But even better, our babies both seemed to enjoy them as well, since they got to lie there and stare at each other. "Or are you worried it'll be a disaster?"

I wrinkle my nose.

"I'm a little nervous now. It's pretty soon."

I finally get the movie to start, and I recline back, keeping one eye on Evangelina. She and Adam are both lying on this mat with a million dangly toys above them that Charlotte swore all kids loved, but so far they are really only interested in each other. "I mean, the worst thing that could happen is that I trip and fall in front of every single person I've ever met. Maybe knock over a faction leader or two."

"No!" Tris gasps, looks rightfully horrified and I try not to laugh.

The wedding is quickly approaching. I have to admit that it feels weird to even call it a wedding. But it is probably my nerves. I keep flashing back to the weddings in Amity that I've seen, and it makes me uneasy. Eric would have vomited at the sight of the flower crowns, the bonfires and singing, and the bright colors. I'm not sure what to expect for this wedding, but it seems surreal to be marrying him all over again. I've never disliked how we were married, except for the time I found out in front of the entire administration office, but this wedding feels official. Really official.

"Is your dress long? Is that why you're worried?"

"Not anything crazy. You should have seen what Christina picked out. It was ridiculous." I grin at her, and she nods her head knowingly.

"I can only imagine. She's got crazy ideas for what people should wear." She mumbles the words, peeking down at the babies, satisfied that they're both still content with each other. "But I'm sure it'll be fine. You'll look great and it'll be fun. Everyone is really excited for this party."

"I think it'll be a lot of fun." I agree with her, and I'm hopeful.

Things in Dauntless have been interesting to say the least. Eric has returned to work full time, and his departure has been easier than I'd thought. I feel comfortable in my routine, but that had been thrown for a loop when I realized I missed adult conversations beyond texting him. I am lucky that Tris is home right now, too, but eventually she'll go back to work, and it will be just Evangelina and me, and maybe Rylan.

"What's new with Four?" I ask her, watching Eva kick at Adam. "Is he enjoying his leadership position?"

Tris nods, her face lighting up. "He is. He said now that things have calmed down, it feels much better. And I think the normal hours are nice. I get to see him more than when we worked opposite times. I decided that when I go back, I don't think it'll be all the time."

I grin in satisfaction. I'd been super happy that Tris had told Kacie she would only work normal hours, and I was even happier that Four had taken the leadership position and seemed to be enjoying it.

Especially after my none too subtle pushing. Four was one of the first people I had met here, and despite his best efforts to keep me away from Eric and alive, he'd been a part of our relationship. I'd spent plenty of time with him, and I felt like my pushing him was repayment for him trying his best to keep an eye on me while I was training. I had enjoyed working with him, I enjoyed our time training the classes together, and I'd helped he and Tris find each other all over again. I was relieved that I'd watched him make peace with this mother's death, and now he had nothing but his family and his faction to focus on.

I'd also managed to arrange for him to receive a million baby presents, so that should have earned me some bonus points, too.

"Good. You should stay home more so we can hang out. Or you can hang out with Four. Whatever is more fun." I answer her, propping my head up with my hand and quieting down as the movie starts. She's picked something girly and sappy, something Eric would rather pull his own eyeballs out than watch, but I'm fine with it. Besides, there is a high chance that all of us, Adam and Eva, Tris and myself, will all fall asleep during this movie. But I'm okay if that happens.

Tris is, too.

She settles back against the couch, closing her eyes for a second, as the first scene of the movie starts.

"Maybe we can convince Eric and Four to watch them so we can meet Christina for dinner soon." Tris mumbles the words sleepily, and the babies quiet down as the movie starts.

None of us manage to stay awake past twenty minutes.

On Thursday, after waiting the painful days for the shot to kick in, I completely lose my nerve to sleep with my husband.

I sit on our bed, my nightgown hitching up over my legs, and I furiously pull it down and try to look ugly. I'm sure he's been waiting for this moment, especially since for once- I'd been able to stay up past eight pm. He knew I'd gone to get the shot and he knew that it took a day or so to work. I would bet it was marked on his calendar on his desk and he'd probably gotten a text reminder from Arlene.

"Everly?" He calls out, watching me try to look hideous as he eyes me from the doorway of the bathroom, his gaze stuck on my bare shoulders and legs. I swallow nervously, the room seems to grow way too hot, and I realize that I am panicking.

Worse than the simulations.

Worse than any fear landscape.

Worse than being left alone with Harrison for an hour.

It wasn't that Eric was the issue. I knew having sex with him would be a very fun time for the both of us. It was the thought of putting anything near my vagina that suddenly felt horrifying. I'd blocked out most of the post baby healing in lieu of focusing on how cute our baby was and how cute it was when Eric held her. I'd never thought about the stitches, and once I'd stopped bleeding, I felt fine and never looked back. I was focused on Eva and Eric, on being happy and catching up on my sleep, and keeping our child alive. Sure, I'd nearly jumped Eric when he left for a work a few times, but now, noticing the smirk on his lips and the way he looks ready to pounce on me, I wonder if he'd take a raincheck.

"Yeah?" I croak, wondering if I could telepathically get him to stop and bring me some water.

It doesn't work.

He slips his t-shirt off over his head, so slowly that I swear he's doing this on purpose. It takes what feels like five minutes before his well-defined chest comes into view and I find my stare glued to him. His pajama pants follow suit, revealing the sight of his boxer briefs and strong thighs, and when I finally move my gaze up to his face, he's sporting a very pleased expression.

"Where's Evangelina?"

He asks me casually, as though she could have wandered away on her own but knowing full well she's asleep. I have a hard time answering him, watching the way he walks toward me lazily, his eyes intense.

"Everly?"

"Um, she's…um I put her in her room." I blurt out the words in a strange voice, ignoring the flash of guilt at putting my child to bed in her crib. She'd looked far too small to be in there all alone, but Adam was a little too young for a sleep over just yet, and I'd wanted a few hours with just Eric. "She was really tired."

I squeak the words at him, especially when he stops right next to me and climbs over me. For a second, he hovers above me, forcing me to lie back down onto the bed, and he places one of his palms on each side of my head.

"Good. Let's hope she stays asleep." He arrogantly announces, and one second later, his mouth descends upon mine.

I have a lot of thoughts in that second, all good, mostly the lusty things I'd like him to do, and they easily push away my fears from before. He kisses me just like the very first time, when I was backed up against his kitchen counter and completely and utterly unable to say to no to him. I know that if I told him to slow down, he would, but it's not long before I'm the one who's pulling him closer, pleased when he settles himself between my legs.

"I've missed you so much." He mumbles against my neck, and I dig my fingers into his hair. I've missed him too, especially like this. Our nights together were the first way he'd told me how he felt. There were so many quiet, silent words spoken while we were in bed safely away from everyone else in Dauntless, and so many loud and blissfully unforgettable moments that happened just the same way. He would forever pull me closer, forever need me the same way I needed him, and forever give in to the same feelings I shared.

"You sure everything is good?" He asks me, and my eyes close when one of his hands holds me in place.

"Yes." I answer quickly, though he could be asking me about a million things. Everything was good; I felt fine, I wasn't tired, Evangelina would sleep for a while, I'd gotten the birth control shot, and I'd made sure to wait the time Arlene told me. For a split second I panic again, thinking maybe she'd tricked me and it wouldn't have kicked in yet.

But it's a little too late when Eric nudges my legs further apart and I realize he's already kicked his underwear off. He pauses there for one slow and teasing moment, then, slowly pushes himself inside me. I'd been waiting for this, ever since we'd sat down a half hour ago. He'd kissed me on the couch, yanking me onto his lap and nearly tearing off my nightgown right then and there. He'd only stopped to carry me to bed, leaving me all worked up while he went to brush his teeth.

"Everly, fuck, I love you." He groans against me, and my fingers dig into his shoulders, holding him in place. He stays still, letting me adjust to the feeling of him after a long six weeks. It's nowhere near as horrible as I was imagining, and the feeling of his skin on mine, of his chest and arms over me, is beyond good, until he moves his hips.

It's then that I completely forget about how many days I was supposed to wait.

It feels that good.

Really good.

Fuck it.

"I love you, too." I wrap my legs around him, giggling when he smirks down at me, his eyes bright.

He looks happy, really and truly happy, and I pull his head back down. I kiss him until I can't breathe, I kiss him until he starts thrusting faster and faster, I kiss him until we've lost track of anything but each other.

It's not long before I lie with my head on his chest, my hair tangled and all over him, and I fall fast asleep, drifting off to the sound of him snoring beside me, completely content with our lives together.

Evangelina catches on quick.

The third night I lie her down in her crib, her eyes fly open, and she looks up at me with an accusatory stare. She looks just like Eric in that moment, annoyed and wholly aware that I'm about to leave her in here rather than bringing her to bed with us.

I think about giving in, holding her sweet little self against my chest and carrying her right back into our room and burrowing beneath the warm blankets and Eric's chest. I totally understood her reluctance to be in here by herself. I didn't love sleeping alone, so it was hard to justify putting her to bed in another room.

Except that Eric is waiting for me, probably completely undressed by this point, and I wasn't going to miss out on that.

"Someday, you'll understand. You'll find some guy that you'll want to sleep next to every night without a tiny little baby taking up the whole bed." I tell her, touching her hair one final time.

Eva isn't impressed. She starts to turn red, but I shake my head, kiss her forehead, and stick Eric's stuffed dog next to her. She eyes it suspiciously, but eventually deems it an acceptable substitute for Eric, and she closes her eyes and immediately falls asleep.

I smile all the way back to my bedroom, celebrating my success as a parent.

"EVERLY COULTER."

On Monday, I cringe in the mess hall, holding a plate of scrambled eggs in my hand and saying a quick prayer that Rylan is saying my name joyously. The last time he'd yelled for me like this was over being nominated as a godparent, and today he shares the same very agitated stare.

"Hey Rylan," I answer, picking up some toast and offering my plate to him. "Are you hungry? Want some breakfast?"

"What are you and Eric going to do with Eva when you go back to work?" He asks loudly, his hands on his hips and his stare right on me. "Are you going to put her in…in the daycare center?"

He says the last word as though he's horrified on our behalf, despite the fact Charlotte works there. I want to remind him that Karl worked there, too, and neither of them had a child go missing while in their care.

So, I shrug, trying hard not to drop my plate.

"I haven't really thought about that yet. I mean, I was thinking maybe I could bring her with me. It might be kind of cool to visit the factions with her. I don't have that much travel anyway and she might like to see the sights." I answer easily, smiling at his serious expression.

Truth be told, I hadn't thought of anything of the sort until this second. While I was fully fine leaving her with Charlotte for a few hours, I wasn't sure Eric would love the idea.

Clearly, neither does Rylan.

He shakes his head furiously, suddenly a clone of Eric's disapproval.

"You can't do that."

"What? Yes, I can." I tell him, and I set my plate down. "Why not?"

"Like Eric is going to let his child hop from faction to faction. From a train." Rylan emphasizes the last part, and I hate that he has a point.

"Well, maybe he'll watch her while I go? Or we'll take a truck. Karl can drive us. Or Eric himself." I offer, and he shakes his head again.

"Okay, well where would you feel most comfortable? What do you think the best plan would be?" I peer up at him and he relaxes, pleased that I've taken him into consideration.

"I don't know. That's why I was asking you."

"Rylan, this is really not at all helpful." I put my hand on my hip and I find myself smiling despite this pointless conversation. "Do you…not want her to go to the other factions?"

A funny looks flashes across his face, but he eventually nods.

"It's not safe." He tells me, and his words bring violent flashbacks to every time Eric told me why I shouldn't move out of his apartment. Or go outside. Or to the mess hall with Tris and Christina. "Everly, you know what I'm talking about."

I stare at the second version of Eric, and I eventually shake my head.

"Right, I don't have a clue what you're talking about. But okay, I'll keep her here. She won't ever leave."

"Good," Rylan grins and flings his arm around Christina. She's wandered over to us, a weird look on her face, and she glares at Rylan out of the corner of her eye.

"What are you doing?" She asks him, and I have to try hard not to laugh when she continues on. "We talked about this. You promised me that you wouldn't bug Everly. The baby isn't going anywhere. You don't have to turn into the safety monitor of Dauntless. I'm pretty sure Eric and Everly can keep Eve safe without your help."

He looks at her like she's being ridiculous, but he grins widely at me.

"Funny, but you'll see. I've set up some new security check points. But hey, I've got a meeting in fifteen minutes. You two have a good breakfast and I won't tell Eric you just referred to his child by the name Eve."

He's gone before either of us can say anything, and Christina looks at me apologetically.

"I'm sorry. He's been worried about where she'll go for days. I'm not sure why. I told him to forget about it, but he won't drop the subject. I'm not even sure when you're going back to work."

"It's okay," I tell her brightly. "I haven't really thought about it at all. But uh, I'll see what Eric's thoughts are on it."

"Oh boy," She laughs at me, grabbing her own plate from the table and starts to load up on toast. "Wanna eat together? I don't have to be at work till ten."

"Yes, I'd love that!" I link my arm through hers, knowing full well Eric and Evangelina are still sound asleep and I have plenty of time to sit with my friend. I follow along with Chris to a table off to the side, delighted when she immediately launches into a dramatic story about the gossip in the tattoo shops. I take it all in, slowly eating breakfast, and forgetting all about the great safety monitor of Dauntless.

Before long, it's ten am, and I head home, thinking maybe I should try to figure out just what I'll do when I go back to work.

"Absolutely not."

Eric stares at me like I've sprouted six heads, but even I can agree that my plan to bring Eva with me wasn't exactly fool proof.

"She doesn't need to see any other factions. She can enjoy the one she lives in, while she's here. In it. Besides, she'll get to see Amity when we visit your mother. God forbid you drag her through Abnegation like you took a wrong turn. No one deserves that, especially not Evangelina."

I should smack him, because he looks disgusted just thinking about, well probably Abnegation, but also that he's once again shot down my travel plans. But I don't.

He kisses me, obviously a plan to distract me from telling him I'll take her where I please, and of course- it works.

And just like that, the day arrives out of nowhere.

I'd half expected it to take ages before it was the day of our wedding, but it's mere seconds before I open my eyes to Eric leaving in a huff, annoyed he was being forced to get ready with his friends. In the blink of an eye, he's replaced with my own friends, a flurry of people coming in to curl my hair and do my makeup before I'm quickly escorted down the long walk to the banquet hall.

My nerves almost get the best of me, especially when I realize Daniel is standing there, waiting to walk me down the aisle.

I stare up at him, his dark blue jacket so dark it's almost black, his hair freshly cut and parted to the side, and I try to memorize this moment. He smiles at my stare, so happy that it's almost too much for me, so I lean into him, holding onto him tightly and take a deep breath.

This wedding might have been the worst idea Eric could have thought up. Not because I didn't want it, and not because everyone had shown up in droves and was impatiently waiting for me to walk down the aisle to my already husband, but because I did want it.

I wanted all of it.

I had gotten everything with Eric, but this, this event he had planned might have been the kindest and most honest thing he'd ever done. He'd set aside his disdain for people knowing his business and he'd done this solely for me, in my honor. He'd used the same hall we'd had our anniversary party in, jokingly informing me we were actually having a Leadership dinner and not a wedding, and he'd had it decorated from floor to ceiling. It looked beyond beautiful; tons of black and white flowers everywhere (far more exquisite than those at Four's wedding) lots of candles and lanterns, and plenty of other things that were on fire that probably shouldn't have been.

The rows were jam packed with people from every faction, and to my surprise, there wasn't even standing room.

"Are you ready, Everly?" Daniel asks, straightening his tie with his free hand. He looks beyond handsome and somehow calm and collected despite the millions of people craning their necks to catch a glimpse of us.

"I think so," I answer, gripping onto him tighter. For a split second I feel dizzied, like I'm standing on the edge of the roof. "Oh God, Daniel what if I trip?"

"You won't," he promises, and quickly shakes his head. "I've got you anyway. I wouldn't let you fall."

He smiles down at me, his eyes crinkling, and I know his words have so much more weight than I could ever imagine. I squeeze his arm back, carefully holding onto the flowers Christina had shoved at me, and with that, the two of us take off down the longest walkway I've ever seen.

The room is nearly silent.

It feels like it takes ages, but Daniel keeps our pace slow, probably so I don't trip. I walk carefully, smiling at every single face I see and trying hard to keep it together. I'd felt fine this morning, waking up to Eric slipping out the minute Christina started banging on the door. I'd spent the day getting ready, playing with Adam and Eva, hanging out with my friends and laughing over inside jokes the three of us shared. It felt oddly normal, and I wasn't at all nervous until Christina had helped me zip up the dress and practically shoved me at Daniel.

She'd skipped off to take her place, and I was left standing with my father in law, behind endless rows of guests.

"You're doing great," Daniel whispers, smiling back at members of Dauntless watching him. He's not an odd sight, since most have probably seen him while he was visiting here, but he looks like someone who'd be important. He winks at Cara as we walk past her, and he grins at my mother and Evangelina, both waving at us.

"Thank you," I beam at him, and he slows us down even more as we approach the front.

It's then that I catch my first glimpse of Eric, and it's enough to make me stop in my tracks.

He's staring at me with narrowed eyes. He glances up and down at my dress, and I could laugh when I wait for him to sneer in disgust. But he doesn't. His lips curl up, taking in the fitted design, the low cut front, and the very formal and elegant version I'd picked out. My gut instinct had been right at skipping over the sweetly girlish pink one, and I've never been more pleased than seeing his eyes darken as he smiles widely at the black gown Christian had made.

He watches me, very seriously, in the darkest suit I've ever seen. When I'm close enough, he takes a step forward, patiently waiting for me to walk to him.

Everyone is quiet, probably because no one's ever seen him smile, and Daniel reluctantly stops us.

"Everly." He says my name proudly, leaning into hug me. He holds on tightly, leaning in to whisper in my ear so only I can hear.

"Thank you."

With that, he's gone- off to take his seat in the front row, and I'm left standing there in front of Eric.

He smirks, his trademark unimpressed sneer, except this time, he does look impressed.

"You look….stunning." he informs me, grinning as everyone behind him snickers. His friends are set up like a traditional wedding party; Rylan, Jason, Karl, and much to my shock-Four, all stand to the side of him. On the other side stand my friends; Christina, Tris, Charlotte, and a scared looking Meghan. Christina told me she was only invited because she was Jason's date, but I didn't care.

They stood before giant arches, flowers and candles combined together. They're all watching, smiling, when I step forward to take Eric's hand. I take in his suit, his freshly pressed shirt and bowtie, and I smirk back at him when he yanks me towards him.

"Thanks for telling me about this wedding," I tease and I have to admit he looks nice.

Really nice.

He shrugs, a hint of a sneer starting, before he turns to face me.

"Everly," he pauses, making sure all of Dauntless is watching.

I follow his stare out, and I realize I can see everyone. My friends from Amity, my mother and Evangelina- both dressed in pink, Max and Tori, a scowling and seething Lauren, a so-excited-he-could-seriously-die Christian, members of patrol squads I'd walked with, Kacie and her date, Quinten in an oddly formal shirt and tie that don't quite fit his hulking frame, Arlene and her medical staff- dressed to the nines, and in the second row- Henry, the very kid who'd demanded Eric's job, watching him like a hawk. His mom smiles nervously, and she yanks him back to sit down before he can storm over to Eric and demand to take over his wedding. Behind her are rows and rows of members, the leaders from other factions all sitting together, even Will, awkwardly staring at Christina from afar. Next to him is Zeke, someone named Marlene, who I've never met but have heard of, and the guy who wanted to fight Four during his initiation. My brother, standing to the side with Woody, Willow, looking a little green, and even Bob, squinting at me. I take it all in, as Eric squeezes my hand so I'll look back at him.

When he's sure he has my attention, he grins devilishly, and I can tell he's so utterly delighted by what he's about to say.

His eyes are dark, amused and bright and he takes a step closer to me, cocking his head to the side.

"Everly Coulter, will you marry me?"

The party is quite the event.

I stare at Eric, trying very hard not to cry as we stand together on the roof. The entire place is lit up, sort of the same was it was for the New Year's party, except there are dark decorations everywhere. They look like black snowflakes, sharp and jagged, and each one has a candle inside of it. All our friends are here, the entire faction seems present, and even our parents. I can see Daniel, holding Evangelina to his chest, ever the proud grandfather as everyone fights to see her. I can see my mom, smiling brightly and chatting away with my brother and sisters. She's brought them all, which was probably a nightmare on the ride over, but they're all here- including Zander, looking like he might explode from excitement even as Forrest tries to keep him from falling off the roof.

I still couldn't believe it had happened. After Eric's slick and teasing proposal, we'd exchanged a few words with each other. He vowed never to let anyone hurt Evangelina or I, and I swear a few girls started crying when he leaned in and kissed me, enthusiastically announcing to everyone that I'd stay married to him forever.

I hadn't had a chance to tease him about Four standing up with him, though I knew if I pressed the subject, he'd tell me it was because of Tris. I couldn't begin to describe how happy that made me, mostly because it meant he'd taken the time to invite them to be in our wedding and he'd managed to finally move past their tiny little feud.

We spend most of the night with drinks in our hands, thanking people for coming and trying to find a few minutes to ourselves. It's proving to be impossible, even though the rooftop party has a more chill vibe to it. I lean closer into Eric, ignoring the sharply cold air, and smiling so hard it hurts. I greet person after person, my heart feeling like it might burst, as they all tell us congratulations and most ask where the baby is.

Finally, when my hands are numb, and it feels like I've met every single person on the roof, Eric clears his throat and points to the sky, drink in hand.

"Look over there."

I turn to look where he's pointing and I freeze in place.

His timing is, as always, impeccable. At his words, the fireworks go off, one after the other. They are all white and pink, some a darker pink, and some a lighter pink, but all bright. I stand with Eric, now pressed right up against him, my hands on his chest, clinging to the fabric of his jacket as they go off rapidly. He holds me tightly, and together we watch them burst and bloom in succession.

"Did Rylan get these again?" I ask, unable to look away. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Daniel holding up Eva, somehow covering her ears but still making sure she can see what's going on.

"He did get them. In fact, he's lighting them off right now. Which means, there's still a chance he or Jason will light themselves on fire tonight." He snorts.

"They're still beautiful, you know." I tell him, pausing to look up at his face.

"They still are." He answers, his eyes stuck on me.

I lean my head against his chest, resting it there so I can listen to his heartbeat. One of his hands slides down and around my waist, and he holds me impossibly closer. His suit jacket feels weird, too rich and soft, and I almost miss the heavy, rough fabric of his uniform jacket that I've become familiar with. But we stay like this through the show, the fireworks exploding faster and faster, until they burst all at once, and the entire sky is lit up.

"I love you, Eric."

I say the words quietly, so only he can hear them, and he nods.

"I know."

I snort against his chest, but he tightens his grip, as everyone gasps when another round goes off, this time, the real finale. Their heads are turned skyward, watching the dazzling display of fireworks, all pink.

"I love you, Everly Coulter."

It's the last thing I hear as the crowd bursts into cheers, clapping as the show ends. I smile against Eric's chest, turning closer as the wind blows, and I close my eyes. I try to soak it all in, every last detail, every moment that's lead to this particular one.

I did it, I realize.

I had been brave.

Years ago, I left behind a life that didn't suit me. I'd left behind a life that felt suffocating, sucking the fire out of me with every passing day. By my own decision, I'd stood on the edge of a rooftop, wobbling as I stared into a black abyss, my heart pounding with excitement. I'd leapt, unwilling to look back, and it was here, in Dauntless that I'd found myself. It didn't matter that it didn't happen the way I thought it would nor did it follow any of the rules that it should have. But I found everything I was looking for. I'd found Eric, I'd fallen in love, and I'd realized what if felt like to finally have someone fully support me.

I'd proven myself here, and I'd made it, a full-fledged contributing member to my new faction.

I'd accomplished what I'd only dreamt of, and for a second, everything feels like a dream.

But I know it isn't.

When this night is over, I will go home with my husband. We will take our daughter, already quietly betrothed to her best friend, and we will return to the home we've made together. We will climb into our bed, my head will rest against his chest, and I will fall asleep just like the very first time I slept beside him.

Happy.

Safe.

Loved.

I am suddenly overwhelmingly thankful, that I'd stood on the edge of the roof, my pink dress tangling around my legs moments before I'd jumped, and I'd never once regretted my decision.

I'd kept my promise to myself, the very girl who chose Dauntless without a second thought, who wanted to be more than what others thought was right for her.

I'd been brave.

I'd always been brave, all along.

I open my eyes when Eric's hand finds my hair, digging through the long wavy strands and tugging my head up to look at him. He smiles, this oh-so-pleased grin that shows his teeth, and I smile back up at him. I take in his profile, his utterly neat blonde hair, the slant of his nose, the metal above his eyebrow, and the dark black gauges in his ears.

His eyes are light, his lashes long, and I know from personal experience that tonight his eyes will darken, reminding me just how much he loves me, just how much he's always loved me.

It's then that I thank my lucky stars I'd been the only girl initiate.