It's been quite a long time, I know and I'm sorry. Hope this happy chapter will make up for it! Enjoy and let me know what you think.

I don't own The Divergent Trilogy

TRIS' POV

"Hello Tris, it's Evelyn" Tobias' mum's voice reaches me, my phone on speaker on the kitchen table on a pile of sheets and notes, pen here and there on the paper covered surface and a mug resting next to it.

"Hi, how are you?" I fight the tiredness in my voice, studying is exhausting and I'm glad she called offering a really welcomed break from books and notes, my exams are haunting me, I need to study so many things and I only have four days… it's really stressful and it definitely keeps me busy, thankfully Tobias' job and projects are keeping him busy as well so he doesn't have to sit around and get bored while I study. We're both drained, focusing on our tasks all day long and at night we collapse and fall asleep around nine, I fell asleep on my textbook last night and he at his desk, the computer screen on.

Thank God we're leaving for New York in five days!

"I'm fine, what about you? Tobias has told me it's not an easy week for you both"

"You can say that, too many deadlines for him and I have two important exams in a few days"

"Oh, sorry to hear that but I'm sure you'll pass them" she sounds positive and confident and for some probably illogical reasons it gives me strength and hope, it's not like I don't believe in myself or something like that but all this pressure and tiredness is putting me down a little bit.

"Hope so, anyway enough about me. How's Paul? How are things going? You still didn't tell us about your trip!"

"We haven't got the chance yet and that's actually why I called you…"

I hum in encouragement.

"We were thinking about having dinner together before your departure" she stops for a brief second before chuckling "We're quite a family of travelers" I chuckle as well: they have just came back from South America, Tobias and I are leaving in less than a week and Lauren and her friends are going to Canada in a month or so for a bachelorette party.

"It's true, I hadn't realized it till now" I say, still chuckling a little bit.

"Yeah! Wait what was I saying? Oh yeah right the dinner. So yeah…basically we'd like to have dinner together with you, Tobias and Lauren to… you know catch up, tell you about our trip… we took a lot of photos and they're amazing!"

"I'd like that and I'm sure Tobias will as well, if he doesn't know yet"

"No, he was in a hurry when I called him yesterday so I didn't tell him…"

"No problem, I can tell him or I'll make him call you tonight"

"Okay, sound good. Paul's not busy this week because he has the morning shift and Lauren's free at night as well so you two can pick the date, whenever works better for you and you can tell me tonight so that I can organize things"

"Okay, thank you a lot. A break from work and study will be a blessing for us. I'd suggest we could have dinner here but-"

"Don't be silly Tris, I'm gonna host or Paul will maybe but we'll take care of everything"

I feel a little bad honestly, it almost always Evelyn to invite us over, not the other way around… "Tell me what to bring, I'll bring something I insist"

"No need to"

"Please"

"Uhm wine? A pie?" it sound like a question, hesitant even.

"Okay Tobias will take care of wine since I don't know anything about it but I'll bake a pie, I actually have a new recipe to try! Yes, I know what to do"

"Perfect, thank you"

"Thank you!" I say before ending the phone call feeling better than before, I'm much more relaxed and positive now, my notes and books looking less terrible.

When Tobias comes back home I tell him about my talk with his mother and he looks content to have an opportunity to spend some time with Evelyn, Lauren and Paul as well, quite excited to see the photos - since I know he'd really like to visit those places as well and I wouldn't mind one bit either so we'll go there sooner or later - and relieved because this dinner represents a break from our busy and exhausting routine. We decide Thursday is the ideal day, I have my exams on Friday morning and I've learnt that keeping my mind off my studies subject the night before a test is the best for me, otherwise I tend to get really anxious, I can't sleep and I usually end up screwing and throwing weeks of hard study and work out of the window, a lesson college has taught me. Thursday night I'll have fun, we won't stay out too late since the following day I have to be awake, Tobias and Lauren work and Paul has to be at the hospital around 6 in the morning because of his shift so we all need to go to bed at a decent hour so it really is the perfect day. Evelyn happily agrees ane tells me - again - that if I don't manage to make and bake the pie it's really not a problem, I reassure her and make a mental note to go shopping tomorrow to buy what I need.

On Saturday we're leaving but in the evening so we'll have time in the morning to pack our stuff, on Friday night we're going out with our friends for a few drinks as often happens at the end of the week. It had become an habit hanging out at least once a week: we chat, laugh, have a beer, a shot or non-alcoholic drinks, for example still water for Shauna since she's pregnant and the due date is close now - we can't wait!

Thursday really is the ideal day!

The following two days pass by between books, notes and computers once again both for me and Tobias expect for Thursday afternoon because I need to prepare the dessert for tonight while I eagerly wait for Tobais to come back home. This morning he had to present and show all his projects and stuff to a couple of important people of his business word and his afternoon they're telling him their response, a promotion and an unique job opportunity may be waiting for him… I just hope at Paul's tonight we'll celebrate his success as well, he as worked hard for it, it's something he really would like to achieve.

This morning as I adjusted his tie knot in the doorway, kissed him goodbye and wished him good luck I sensed his light nervousness but his determination was stronger, a shy smile on his lips as he left, turning around and whispering 'I love you' towards me before he hopped in the car and drove away.

When the doors eventually is unlocked and opened I'm in the middle of cooking and testing my abilities in the dessert area, flour on the kitchen counter and butter waiting to be added to chocolate and pears cream I'm taking care of, some more pears chopped waiting for their turn as well. My hands are a mess of ingredients and so is my apron but I decide I don't care and I head towards the doorway immediately, I'll clean up later if necessary.

My man's face is bright and he's smiling, it widens when he sees me and his long legs cover the distance between us in a matter of seconds, from his glistening eyes I can tell he's happy, beyond happy and my heart swells with pride and love but I don't get the chance to tell him that, not right away at least, because he cradles my face and crushes his lips on mine before lifting me up and spinning me around, my arms secured around his neck, his mouth never once leaving mine until oxygen becomes a problem.

"I'm so proud of you" I mumble against him.

"I love you. So much" he tells me, once he has pulled away so that his eyes are staring at me, happiness and devotion in them.

He does not need to tell me how his meeting and presentation have gone, he's beyond content and affectionate, I don't mind one bit in fact I really enjoy it, his touchy attitude, his sweet words, his soft caresses and kisses.

It looks, it feels like a dance as we work side by side in the kitchen, he hasn't asked me if I needed help, he has just started helping me, selfless and caring as usual. There's chemistry between us, it's undeniable as we get things done and lose ourselves in one another at the same time, things get heated a couple of times but we manage to stop before they go too far, we really don't need to burn the whole house baking a cake nor arrive late at Paul's, they're always so kind it really would be rude so we just let our lips meet and our hands roam a little bit.

It's time to get ready in what feels like the twinkling of an eye.

Everything is delicious, Paul is a great cook and he makes a perfect team with Evelyn even in the kitchen, the fabulous and divine dinner we eat being a proof and my - well our - chocolate and pear pie is a success as well, I'll have to tell my mum that since she gave me the recipe to try out last time she visited.

The dinner is just the cherry on the cake tho because everything is amazing and we spend a wonderful and lovely night, we've all become really close and I feel part of this family and I'm sure Paul is starting to feel part of it too even if his relationship with Evelyn hasn't been officialized that long ago. He's a really good man and genuinely cares for Tobias' mum, every time we meet or hang out together we get to know him better and deeper and he never lets us down, especially Tobias - despite the rough start he now can not deny how good for his mother he is, they're bonding and they often share moments when they're all absorbed in a 'men conversation' - helping out one another, discussing male stuff or sharing experiences and tips. Evelyn always swells with happiness when it happens and I' really happy as well, we share a look and we know - at first sight - that we're thinking the same thing.

"C'mon it's time for our photo album now!" Paul says excitedly when our dessert plate rest in front of us, empty, and we're stuffed. He doesn't let us help clean up insisting he'll take care of everything when we'll leave and makes us sit on his big comfortable couch while he brings some glasses and puts them on the coffee table and Evelyn goes in the other room and comes back with a huge, enormous photo book. She sits between me and Lauren, Paul hovers over her from behind the couch and next to him stands Tobias so that we all can see well. And it really is worth it! Tons of amazing, breathtaking pics, hilarious comments and interesting stories and anecdotes about their journey. Now I really want to visit South America and I think Tobias agrees with me because lots of 'wows' and 'ohhs' leave his mouth, his hands stopping in my hair whenever a gorgeous pic is revealed before resuming its movements.

We end up leaving later than planned but I don't really mind and I think I won't regret it tomorrow morning neither, it really has been an amazing night and we both agree on it, smiles on all our faces when Paul waves at us from his porch and we part ways to go home.

We've celebrated Tobias' promotion all together but even if five or even six hours have passed since his announcement he's still all excited and euphoric, extremely happy and smiley. We have a big day waiting for us and I'm really tired so I fall asleep almost immediately once in bed, in his arms... Don't know if he does as well, I'm sleeping too soundly to notice if he moves, stretches or stirs beneath me but I'm content and the last thing I see before my heavy lids shut is his face, handsome and loving - I can sleep peacefully, my anxiety for the exams waiting for me forgotten, I'll think about them tomorrow, no need to ruin such a night!

Thank you for reading, hope you liked the chapter!

Reviews and PMs are always welcomed, they a mean a lot and keep me motivated!