Hey guys! :) So by popular demand, and in celebration of the three year anniversary of DLS, I decided to write a THIRD and final epilogue, which I always had in mind but never got around to writing. I do hope that those of you who have read DLS can still appreciate the journey of these characters, and if you need a little refresher, feel free the re-read the first two epilogues lol
If you have not read Divergent Love Stories you might not have a clue what's going on here lol But feel free to check it out!
I really really really hope you guys enjoy :) R&R!

EPILOGUE 3 – Legacy

FOURTEEN YEARS LATER

Tobias is 55 Tris is 53 Rae and Jake are 44 Alex, Anna and Dominic are 36 Abigail is 35 Chris is 28 Heather is 26

Descendants

JJ is 17 Amber is 13
Joy is 11 Grace is 8 Ryan is 6
Mia is 7
Connor is 2

TOBIAS

"Seven," I exhale. "We have seven grandchildren, Tris."

From under the shade of one of the larger Green Ash trees in our yard, I stand and stare at the eccentric pack of children running around in circles on the field. There's a fifteen year age difference between JJ and Connor, but somehow they all manage to entertain themselves with each other.

"I was hoping we'd have ten by now," my wife answers matter-of-factly. She throws a large blanket on the grass, and then another on top of it. "That would make the games a little more fun, wouldn't it?"

Every summer we all come together like this and have a family day, the soccer tournament being the highlight of it all. It all started because Tris and I hardly saw our children back when we still lived in the Dauntless compound. But even after we followed them out here and moved outside the faction, we continued the tradition. The annual Eaton family day is sacred and we all look forward to it every year.

"It sure would," I laugh, "But where would they come from?" I lean my back against the tree and shove my hands inside my pockets.

Tris shrugs and smiles. "Christian?" she whispers. "He is the youngest. Or maybe you can convince Alex."

I laugh loudly, "I don't think he's the one who would need convincing." After Ryan was born, Abigail insisted she was done, and nobody blamed her. Joy and Grace were already quite a handful. Christian might be our only hope, since Rae and Jake have long been content with a boy and a girl, and Mia was Anna's miracle baby after doctors told her she wasn't able to have children. No one would ever pressure her to try again.

"Leave Abigail to me," Tris says. She turns to me, and she looks angelic as the sun shines its light on her face and her long orange dress blows in the wind. With a rude smile she says, "You just need to speak to your sons."

Tris has undeniably changed over the years. Her golden hair now has streaks of silver, her skin is a bit more wrinkled and she even seems a little shorter now. But somehow, and in the most inexplicable way, to me it's like she hasn't changed at all. I still look at her the same, I still see the wild fire in her eyes, the passion in her soul, the pure, selfless love in her heart. As much as she's changed I could never fail to recognize the beauty who gave me my life back. And I've changed along with her. I'm not as strong or as fast as I used to be, but every day I can manage to keep up with my children and grandchildren, I'm grateful.

"And speaking of my sons," I mumble as Christian and Alex make their way over to us, each holding a chair in their hand.

"Thank God," Tris exhales. "The ground feels harder than I remember," and I laugh.

Heather walks beside Christian holding a tray of sandwiches, and Rae and Jake follow behind them, carrying a cooler and a few bottles of water. Like me, they're all wearing jeans and an orange T-shirt. Grace, Alex's youngest daughter, picked the colour this year.

Tris sighs as she stares at them. "Heather looks so much like Christina it's scary. Makes me think I'm twenty-six again and my best friend is standing right in front of me."

Ironically, I feel my back begin to ache where it's rested on the hard tree. "Oh my love, we are certainly not twenty-six." We're both more than double that.

"Mom!" Annabelle yells from the house just as her brothers set down the chairs beside the blanket. She sticks her head through the door. "Do you want us to bring out all the food, or will we eat inside?!"

"Does she really expect me to yell back?" Tris laughs. "I do prefer to eat outside, but we'd need more blankets."

"Bring out the food!" Christian yells for his mother as Jake sets down the cooler and Rae drops the bottles of water inside. "And more blankets!"

"Thank you," Tris says sweetly to our son, kissing him on the cheek. It doesn't matter how old he is, Christian will always be Tris' baby. "And Heather!" she squeals, throwing her arms around her. "How have you been? How are your parents and sisters?"

Heather blushes. She's always been a quiet one; she typically doesn't speak until you ask her a question. It's rather strange, considering her mother is so outspoken. But she's always smiling and open to socializing.

"They're all doing great," Heather smiles. "My dad's still making trouble every chance he gets and my mom is still giving him hell about it."

"So same old, same old," Tris grins. "You'll tell her hello for me when you see her?" She takes Heather's face between her palms.

"Of course, I will."

We haven't seen Uriah and Christina or Zeke and Shauna for some months now. They all still live at Dauntless and the only way in is by train.

"Thank you," Tris whispers and Heather nods.

"I should go help Anna and Abby bring over some of the food. It's a lot," she says. Rae takes the sandwiches from Heather's hands and sets the tray down on the ground beside the cooler.

"You sure you don't want me to go, babe?" Chris asks her softly, helping his mother get seated in one of the chairs. My boys have always looked out for their mother, and they both spoil their wives just like I taught them.

"It's fine," she giggles. "The house is literally right there." And blushing, she slowly turns around and heads back inside.

Tris sighs and stares at our daughter-in-law as she walks away. "Heather looks well," she says with a smile. She's always liked Heather for Christian. They have such different personalities yet they compliment each other. Not to mention he's had a crush on her his whole life.

"But of course she does," Alex says, throwing himself down on the blanket. He grimaces when he realizes the ground is harder than he expected it to be. "Christian spoils her."

"He spoils them both," Jake laughs, pulling Rae into his arms. "His son has more toys than I have money."

"He gets bored easily," Christian shrugs. "You guys' kids can all play with each other. Connor's an only child."

"There's an easy solution to that," Tris mutters under her breath as she fixes herself in the wooden chair.

"Sorry, what did you say, Mom?"

"Christina must love him," Tris lies with a grin. Alex, having been close enough to hear what his mother really said, stifles a grin.

"She adores him," Chris answers, taking a seat beside his brother. "I wish they could see each other more often. I'm actually lobbying for better transportation both inside and outside the factions. I can see how much Heather misses her family, but I'm not about to let my two year old jump on a moving train."

"God knows it's necessary," Jake adds. His arms are wrapped tight around Rae. "The roads are shit and there aren't enough buses. I can't tell you the last time I went inside the city. Thankfully, I have everything I need right out here." He presses a kiss to her neck.

"You should run for president, Chris," Rae suggests with a smile.

"I told him so already," Alex adds, now lying on his back.

"I've been telling him so, since he was ten years old," Rae says.

Chris gives his sister an eye. She places a hand on her heart and smiles. "I sincerely believe you would do a great job."

"Do you really think people would vote for me though?"

"Of course they would! You are the genius son of Tris and Tobias Eaton who saved the city when he rescued his uncle from the hands of my evil father-in-law whose name we do not speak."

"Damn right we don't," Jake mutters under his breath.

Christian scoffs. "That was almost twenty years ago. Nobody remembers that."

"Everybody remembers that," Rae laughs. "Amber Violet came home from school about two weeks ago all excited because her teacher told her she came from a family of heroes, and she insisted we tell her the whole story, and not the censored version she had heard before."

"How did she take it?" Alex asks, giving both Rae and Jake an eye.

Jake smiles in return. "She was awestruck for days," he says. "She held on to her mother for a few more, and then she was annoyed when she found out JJ had already heard the whole story long before she did but was sworn to secrecy."

I think my children all nervously anticipate the day they will have to tell their own children about the war and the role they each had to play in it. It's no easy thing, but we all believe it's better they hear it from us before hearing a tainted version of the truth from someone else.

"But all in all," Rae says softly, "She felt proud. And she felt especially proud of you, Christian."

Christian smiles just a little.

"I think it's worth a shot," I finally butt in, and everyone turns to look at me. "You're the smartest person I know, and you're very influential. You've always had the best interest of the city at heart, and people know that. They'll support you," I confess to my son. Hearing it from me might be the push Christian needs to step up to the plate. He's always been reserved about politics, but I believe he was made for it. Having aptitude for three factions, Christian understands people in a way others hardly ever can, and he's assertive so he always gets things done. I have no doubt he'd be an excellent president.

He nods and seems to think about it for a short while. "Ok. I'll talk to Heather about it."

Rae immediately grins, unable to hide her excitement.

"Come on, guys!" Dominic interrupts us, yelling across the field. The kids all run around him and JJ in frantic circles, cheering excitedly. "Let's get this game started! I don't think I can hold these kids much longer!"

Jake and Alex quickly make their way onto the field, greeted by the excited screams of the children. Christian only takes off after JJ has dropped off Connor, who's still too young to play, leaving him safe in his grandmother's arms. Heather is still inside the house with Abby, but Annabelle's already running onto the grassy field.

When Rae groans and takes a seat beside Tris, I ask, "You're not playing?" Tris and Heather are usually the only spectators.

"Naw. It's gonna throw off the numbers. I'm gonna jump in when Abby's ready. Besides, I love to watch them play," she smiles.

"You sure?"

"Go have fun, Tobias," Tris says to me. "Leave us girls alone."

Rae laughs, and she uses Connor's tiny arm to wave at me. "Bye, Grampa!"

"Ok. Two teams!" Christian shouts, and all the kids immediately settle down. He's almost always the designated coordinator of the games. "I'm gonna make the dads captain this year, since last year was such a disaster."

"Seriously, Chris?" Annabelle laughs, rubbing her daughter's hair. "Rae and I did a great job last year. Didn't we do a great job?" She turns to look at Jake and JJ who stand beside each other looking practically identical. Jake manages to keep a straight face, but his son fails miserably. JJ's face twists as he holds back a laugh. Neither of them answer, and it's probably for their own good. Raelene would have their heads.

"Either way, it's best to give others a turn," Chris smartly answers with a huge smirk on his face. "So… Jake and Dominic, please step forward."

"Why them?" Alex whines loudly.

"Because I said so," Chris laughs. "Now captains, pick your team. Jake picks first."

Playfully, Alex folds his arms across his chest. "Why does he get to decide who picks first? Shouldn't they flip a coin or something?"

"You're not being nice, Daddy," Ryan softly scolds his father, tugging on the hem of his T-shirt.

Surprised, Alex's eyes open so wide, it's hilarious. JJ laughs into his palm and with a grin on my face I slowly shake my head at my son.

"I know, baby. I'm sorry," Alex quickly says to his youngest. He turns and gives me a sharp look. "Dad, why didn't you tell me he was standing there?!"

"Me?!" I laugh at him. "You're supposed to know where your son is."

"You are setting a horrible example for these children," JJ teases his uncle.

"I didn't know he was standing there," Alex mouths the words with a grin. He picks up Ryan in his arms, and when the three of us stand there side by side, it's like looking at the same person but in three different time periods.

With a playful scoff, Christian just shakes his head at his older brother and then he steps off to the side. We all stand in a line facing our captains.

The kids are quiet; they all wait anxiously to hear their names called.

"JJ," Jake begins proudly.

"Mia," Dominic says, and his daughter rushes excitedly to his side.

"Amber."

No one's surprised thus far. The captains always choose their own children first, then we try and distribute the remaining players fairly, making the teams as evenly matched as possible given the age differences of all the players. In this game that might be a bit difficult; both JJ and Amber are excellent players.

"Joy."

"Ryan," Jake picks the youngest to even the score a bit.

"Grace."

"Christian."

"Annabelle," Dominic winks at his wife.

"Alex," Jake says, and suddenly I'm the only one left standing there.

"Hmmm," Dominic teases.

"Daddy, pick Grampa!" Mia pulls his arm. "Grampa can play!"

I laugh. We always choose the younger ones first and then the adults. It was to ensure none of the kids felt they weren't wanted on the team, but then their parents all started making a habit of picking me last to make fun of me. Of course the plan backfired, because now after every game, my grandchildren come to make sure I don't feel sad about being picked last. Sometimes they even let me score thinking it will help my chances for next year.

"Yeah?" Dominic raises an eyebrow at Mia, and she nods enthusiastically. He pretends to think about it for a second. "Well get over here Grampa," he waves at me.

Chuckling, I walk over to my teammates and Mia quickly grabs my hand. "Don't worry, Grampa," she says to me. "We're gonna win this year. Just make sure Amber doesn't get the ball. She's really good." She smiles up at me and it melts my heart, taking me back to when my baby girl was seven years old. Mia is the most beautiful blend of Annabelle and Dominic. She has dark curly hair like her father and mocha skin, but she has her mother's eyes, Tris' eyes, and that same sweet, kind smile. She's tall for her age already, like her mother was, and she's just as adventurous, always ready to play with the boys.

Mia tugs on my arm so I stoop down a bit. "When I'm a captain, I'll pick you first. I promise," she whispers in my ear, and pushing herself up on her toes, she kisses me on the cheek. I truly hope I live to see the day.

"All right everyone, let's get this game started!" Jake yells, and his team cheers behind him. Even Rae is cheering from the side-lines. They've got the better team but there's no telling how this will turn out, since most of the rules of soccer don't actually apply here. For example, I'm not allowed to steal the ball from any of the younger kids, and the goalkeepers aren't allowed to block any shots they make. The general consensus is that anything goes until they hit eleven years old.

"May the best team win," Jake says, and he and Dominic shake hands before taking their places as goalkeepers.

The game is about to begin, and in the middle of the field, Amber and Joy stand face to face. "You ready to lose, cousin?" Joy teases, her strawberry curls blowing in the wind.

"I was born ready," Amber answers with a smirk.

Joy takes the kick-off, sending the ball far enough down the field for her little sister Grace to receive it. When Grace picks up the ball with her hands and throws it to Mia, everyone begins to laugh and Alex just shakes his head. Mia passes the ball back to Joy who drives it down the field, but only until it's intercepted by Ryan.

"No way!" Joy laughs, having been outsmarted by her six year old brother.

"Go, Ryan!" JJ and Alex run behind him, or at least they pretend to. And when they're close enough to the goal, Ryan passes to JJ who takes a shot, but it's deflected by Dominic.

"Won't be that easy," Dominic laughs. He throws the ball out, back to the middle of the field where I wait patiently. I start to make a move toward the other team's goal, but Alex blocks my path and he makes several attempts to steal the ball from me.

"Stop him, Uncle Alex!" Amber yells. But she's obviously forgotten who taught him how to play soccer in the first place. I kick the ball through his legs, and I skid past him before he's even realized what's happened.

"Go, Tobias!" Tris yells, jumping on her toes.

When I notice Christian coming at me, I take a chance and make a shot for the goal, but Jake catches the ball for the save. He kicks it across the field and it flies high, right where he wants it to go. Bouncing the ball off his chest, though he doesn't need to, JJ passes the ball to his sister.

"Show-off," Amber grins.

Fearlessly, she drives the ball past Joy and even Annabelle in a beautiful display of footwork that her father stands proud to admire. Rae stands to her feet and rushes to the side of the field. "Go, Amber! Go!" But Amber is focused and fierce, and as she expertly makes her way down the field, all I see is Rae. She's her mother's daughter.

Knowing they don't stand a chance if Amber makes it all the way to the goal, Dominic leaves his post and runs closer to the centre to meet her midfield. He's allowed to steal the ball from her, but I'm surprised he actually thinks he can.

Dominic blocks her path. "You can't make that shot," he teases her when she tries to pass the ball around him.

"I don't need to!" Amber laughs, and she kicks the ball forward, though it doesn't quite make it all the way to the goal. But standing right beside the wide open goalpost is little Ryan. He had slipped past his uncle without anyone even noticing.

"Kick the ball, Ryan!" Alex yells, egging on his son. "You can do it! Kick the ball! Or pick it up and run with it! You can do whatever you want with it, baby, just get it inside the goal!"

Hearing the commotion on the field, Abigail runs from inside the house to cheer for her son. She stands beside Rae and grabs her hand with one palm and stifles her screams with the other. This is Ryan's first game and he's about to score.

When he sees his mother, Ryan nods heartily. Then, slowly and carefully, he kicks the ball inside the goal. It just might be the most anticlimactic goal ever made in history.

"Nooooooooooooo!" Dominic cries out, pulling at his hair, and both Jake and Christian start running across the field like wild men. Alex throws both hands in the air before putting Ryan on his shoulders and parading him around the field, hooting and hollering, rubbing it in our faces that the youngest player on the field just scored against us.

"It's only one goal," I say firmly to my son, holding a single finger in the air. "You won't make another one."

Jake's team wiped the floor with us.

"Ten to two," I mutter. "That has got to be the worst loss in the history of Eaton family day."

Tris laughs at me. She presses her face into my chest and buries her arm under my shirt. Her fingers feel cold against my skin. "Or maybe it was the greatest victory in the history of Eaton family day!" she teases.

"I guess that depends on which team you were on," I grumble. "All I know is I won't be hearing the end of it."

Neither of us wanted today to end. That might be why we're still outside lying down on the blanket under the same large Ash tree. The kids are all long gone, and the silent air is haunted by the sound of their laughter. I hate it when they leave; there's always an emptiness that follows.

"At least the kids were all happy," Tris smiles. "I love how well they all play together. They're all turning out to be such amazing kids."

"That's because they have amazing parents," I say. My grandchildren have never been rude to each other, or fight amongst each other. They share everything, young and old. It always amazes me just how much the people in this family love each other.

"We did a good job, didn't we?" Tris asks softly.

"I think we did," I smile. Tris rubs her toes against my own as we both stare up at the late evening sky. It will be dark soon. "Today, Mia promised me that when she's captain, she'll pick me first." I've actually been thinking about it all evening, my grandkids growing up and one day having children of their own like my own children did.

"That was very sweet of her."

"But it got me to thinking," I admit softly. "I might not see the day."

"You can't think like that, Tobias," Tris says sternly, and she turns a little so she's looking straight at me.

"Why not, Love?" I turn and wrap my arm around her. "We have to accept that one of these days one of us won't be here, and then one day neither of us will be."

Tris rolls her eyes at me. "Yeah, but I've got another forty years in me, and wherever we go, we go together. Remember?"

I smile and nod at my wife. Tris and I made a promise more than thirty years ago that we'd leave this life together, old and grey, simply because neither of us is willing to live without the other.

If we're as strong and stubborn as my mother is, we just might pull it off.

"Speak it into existence," I throw Tris' own phrase back at her. She's said it more times than I can remember.

"That's right," she says levelly. "Let whoever's listening know we're not playing."

"Well I do hope we both live to see ninety," I say with a smile. "I could spend forever with you." I press a kiss to her lips and my fingers caress the soft skin of her face. "But at least I know when we are gone, our four children and our seven grandchildren will be just fine."

"Nine."

"What?"

"Nine," Tris says again. "Heather's pregnant with twins."

"What?" I gasp, and my mouth hangs open. "Damn you, woman," I tease her. "Did you speak that into existence too?!"

"I guess I did," she laughs. "I wanted ten but nine will do."

"Why are you so insistent on ten grandchildren, Tris?" I shake my head and laugh, and I pull her closer.

"Four and Six," she smiles as she stares up at me, her eyes filled with pure love and devotion.

I close my eyes for a second, thinking about every moment Tris and I have ever spent together, from the very beginning to where we are now. From fear landscapes to Amity camps, to our son and daughter being delivered in a factionless hideout by my then estranged mother. It's so long ago that it almost feels like it was someone else's life and not my own. But through it all, as much as all we've been through has changed us, one thing never changed and that is just how much we love each other. I've always wanted Tris by my side; I've always wanted to share every moment with her, even simple unimportant things I've rushed home to tell her. I've just always wanted her there. She's the mother of my children and the keeper of my heart.

"I love you, Tris," I whisper against her lips. "And I would want nothing more than to have another forty years with you. The last thirty seven weren't enough."

"I love you too, Tobias," Tris answers softly. "With every beat of my heart. And that's because we're only halfway there."

I smile. Could this really just be the halfway mark of our lives? I really hope so. I'm not ready to say goodbye to anyone- not my wife, not my children, not the beautiful little angels who call me Grampa. But even if another forty years isn't granted to us, I'm grateful for all I've been given. I've lived a beautiful life and I'll leave behind an even more beautiful legacy.

And for real this time... the end :)