(A/N-Thanks to all who read and reviewed, followed, and faved this story. Appreciate it all so much. And thanks to Lynn for beta reading this.)

Four POV

Was he making a big mistake?

Once again, he checks his phone. It's almost like an unpreventable tick at this point, he's been doing it so constantly since this afternoon, when Tris walked away from Lindland Hotel. She looked so dejected, even from the back. He'd hate himself forever if that was the last time he'd see her.

Nothing on his phone. No calls, no texts.

Well, nothing from Tris, anyway. He's got a couple of messages from work because he took off with no notice. And, of course, there's a ton of messages from Nina.

Fucking Nina.

Why did he ever let her into his life? He should've run like hell the moment he discovered her first lie, when she told him about a deeply spiritual trip she'd taken to Tibet.

He couldn't stand here.

She made Tris cry.

If she thinks he'd even bother to respond to her attempts to communicate, she's wrong. But he hasn't blocked her—not yet because he needs these messages as evidence. She's spinning a web so complex she won't be able to escape it herself.

First though, he needs to fix things with Tris.

Looking around, he notices there's no doorbell, so he raises his hand to the door and knock.

No answer.

It's late now—almost 2 a.m. The streets are dark. The neighbors are probably asleep.

Doubt creeps into his thoughts. He went to great lengths to book a seat on the flight to Seattle at the last minute. He doesn't care that he paid about twice what the ticket should've cost, but what if he's wrong? What if Tris' not here? What if she's back in Denver instead, crying in her apartment?

But—checking his phone again—Caleb hasn't responded to his calls and texts, which can only mean that he knows what happened. Or a version of what happened, at least. Tris' version. Which probably doesn't make him look like the best boyfriend in the world.

Knowing Caleb, he probably told his little sister to come to his side right away. He's got a high-powered job he can't leave, but he'd want to keep watch over Tris and take care of her.

"Caleb!" Four calls out.

Still nothing.

He hears some noises inside, so obviously someone's home. But that someone also obviously doesn't want to see him. He knocks harder and harder until he's pounding on the door, banging so hard he worries he's going to splinter the wood or something.

"Caleb!" he's yelling at this point. "Open the door!"

More noises from inside—feet shuffling, hopefully.

"Knock it off!" But it's not Caleb or Tris. Looking around him, Four sees few lightbulbs have flare on in the house next door as well as the house across the street. Who cares? If they call the cops, maybe Caleb will finally have to answer the door. And even if he's wrong, and Tris is not here, Caleb probably knows how to reach her.

He's the only lead Four's got, and he's not about to just walk away.

"Caleb! I know you're in there!" Four shouts. "Open the door!"

He keeps banging and shouting. The neighbors probably think Caleb owes some mobster loan shark some money, and he's the thug who's been sent to collect on his debt.

"Motherfucker," Four hears Caleb's familiar voice grumbling from inside.

Finally.

A click, and then the door cracks open. He's never been happier to see Caleb, even if he's shooting him a death glare right now. "What the fuck are you doing here?" he asks in a loud whisper, eyes frantically scanning the neighborhood. His hand is still on the doorknob, ready to shut the door in his face.

"I need to see Tris. She's here isn't she?"

"Do you know what time this is?" he asks, ignoring Four's question.

"Yeah. Late. That's why I had to knock so hard. I needed to wake you up." He gives him a small smile, hoping to melt the tension with a little joke.

"Fuck off."

Okay. He doesn't seem to be in the mood for a light-hearted chat.

"Caleb, I really need to see Tris," Four pleads, seriously this time.

"There's no chance in hell I'm going to let you see her. She's already got one crazy stalker ex. The last thing she needs is another one," he says through gritted teeth, apparently finding it a challenge to control his voice. His jaw ticked, the muscles in his neck tight.m

He's furious—with good reason if he thinks he cheated on his sister. But he's also just pretty much told him that Tris is inside. Hope sparks in his chest at the thought of Tris possibly hiding just behind the door, listening to him.

"Tris!" Four yells out, unable to contain himself.

"You fucking asshole. I told you to leave." Caleb takes one threatening step forward, joining him on the porch, pulling the door closed. Four steps back. The last thing he wants is to get into physical altercation with one of his oldest friends—over some stupid scheme Nina cooked up, no less.

"Caleb, I assume you heard about what happened from Tris. It was all a misunder—"

"Look, Four. The only reason your pretty face is still intact is because you were my friend—" Four grimaces at the past tense "—but you hurt my sister, and I'm really, really tempted to beat you to a pulp right now. I don't even care that the cops are probably going to be here soon because of all the noise you've been making."

"There's another side to the story, Caleb. You know how crazy Nina is," Four says in a voice loud enough for Tris to hear if she's listening. The neighbors can go fuck themselves. One sleepless night won't kill them.

"Yes, I know how crazy she is, and I can't believe you—" his index finger jabs Four in his chest "—would be stupid enough to fall into her trap again. I don't care what you do with your life anymore, but leave my sister out of whatever sick game you and Nina are playing."

"That's what I want to talk about." Four says. "I swear I didn't do anything with Nina. It was all staged. By her. She's insane, Caleb. Ever since she found out I had a fiancée, she—"

"Fiancée?" Caleb's forehead creases, his face turning even more ferocious. He reaches for his collar, but Four steps back just in time. "What the fuck are you talking about? You have a fiancée, and you're fooling around with my sister, like she's some worthless side piece? Fuck, Four."

"No, no. You've got it all wrong." Four keeps his voice calm, reasonable, hoping his tone will be contagious enough to help Caleb simmer down. "We, uh, I took Tris to Nina's wedding and asked her to pretend to be my fiancée. It's a long story, but there's no one else, Caleb. There's no one else. I swear. Tris is the only girl I care about. I'd never hurt her. Never."

"Well, you did," Caleb snaps. "You fucking did. Fuck you, Four. I thought you were a friend. For a minute, I even entertained the idea that you might actually care about her enough to treat her right. But obviously, I was an idiot. And Tris, too. You fooled us. If you think we're just going to take your word for it that you didn't do anything with that crazy ex of yours . . ." Caleb chuckles wryly, shaking his head, not even bothering to finish his sentence. "Just go home, Four. Before I do something I regret."

"Caleb, I'm not shitting you. Nina came up with this sick plan to ambush me just before my meeting. She somehow got Peter to take Tris there, and then she kissed me, no warning. I pushed her away. I swear."

Caleb narrows his eyes at Four. "I want to believe you, Four. I do. But I also know how deeply Nina's dug her claws into you. I've always thought that you'd go crawling back to her as soon as she gave the slightest indication that she wanted you back."

"Give me some fucking credit, Caleb," Four says, raising his voice in frustration. "Tris! If you're in there, I want you to hear this. You don't have to come out or anything—I get that you're angry with me—but please hear me out."

"Shut the fuck up." Caleb shoves Four so hard he stumbles backward, not expecting him to get this aggressive.

"Hear me out, and I'll walk away after if you still want me gone." In a louder voice, he says, "Tris, I know you think you know what happened, but you don't know the full story. You don't know my side of the story."

"Shut the fuck up, Four." Caleb shoves him again, forcing him down the porch steps.

"I have proof!" Four yells out so loud even the neighbors will hear. "Tris, I can prove to you that I wasn't cheating on you!"

Caleb grabs Four by the elbow now, pulling him down the walkway. Just before he throws him out onto the street, he hears the softest click.

The door. It cracks open.

Then, a voice. The most beautiful voice he's ever heard.

"Four?" Tris calls out his name.

She looks exhausted, her eyes red and puffy. Her hair is messy.

But there's a glimmer of something in her eyes. Hope?

"Tris, thank God. I've been looking for you all day. I'm glad you're okay. I can explain everything," Four says.

All he wants to do is rush over there and comfort her. Wrap her arms around her, stroke her hair, whisper soothing words in her ear. But Caleb's still standing in front of him, blocking his path. "I've got this under control, Tris. Go back to sleep."

Tris' beautiful eyes dart between him and Caleb like she can't decide who to listen to.

**********PAGEBREAK***********

Tris POV

"Caleb, I can handle this."

Her brother stares at her like she's just sprouted an extra head. But Four . . . Four's lips curve up to form a small smile. He looks as much a mess as she probably does. Not surprising, really. They've both had a pretty eventful day. That smile on his face, though. Her heart beats faster at the sight. It makes her weak.

She knows that shouldn't just believe Four. After all,she did see him kiss his ex—his married cheater of an ex—mere hours ago. But her resolve is melting. Her brain can't compete with her heart when Four is standing here right in front of her. He flew all the way from Denver to Seattle to find her here. That has to count for something, right?

"Tris, you have no idea how happy I am to see you." Four starts to stride toward her, but Caleb holds his palm against Four's chest, saying something in a voice too low for her to make out the words.

"Caleb, I want to hear him out," Tris says.

"He's only going to mess with your head," Caleb says.

"You really think I'd do that?" Four sounds hurt. Even though her mind is telling her not to listen to him, her legs are already restless, longing to run to him, to put her hand on his face and make him feel better. She walks down the porch steps and joins the two men, putting herself between them. "Let's just talk. I don't want to see you two fight."

"That's all I want to do. Talk," Four says slowly, carefully, like he's trying not to provoke a rabid animal.

Caleb throws his hands in the air and lets out a frustrated groan.

"You said you had proof," Tris says, looking at Four.

Four slips his hand inside the pocket of his coat and pulls out his phone. He presses a button, and cool light bathes his face in a ghostly glow. He taps the screen a few times, then hands the phone over to her.

Nina Guerriero, it says at the top of the screen.

"These are . . ."

"Texts from Nina, yes," Four says.

There's a bunch of texts on one side of the screen, and nothing on the other side. Nina has been texting Four, but he hasn't been responding, she realizes. Despite his insistence that he doesn't want to hear what Four has to say, Caleb shuffles closer, standing just behind her to look at the screen.

She starts reading.

You're just going to walk away like that after we kissed? I can't believe you just left me. You could've at least offered to give me a lift. You're being so rude, Four. The least you can do is apologize. You're angry, huh? You're so hot when you're mad. Come on. How long are you going to sulk? Four. You're being so childish. It was just a kiss. Four. How long are you going to ignore me? Reply already! Look, I only did it because I don't think that girl is right for you. I did it for your own good.

Her eyes widen as she reads that last text. Nina admitted to having schemed the whole thing—in writing. She raise her gaze to meet Four's eyes. He's been watching her intensely, his muscles tense. He says nothing, but he raises his eyebrows as if to ask her how she feels after reading those texts.

"So you haven't been having secret meetings with Nina?" Tris asks, her quiet voice piercing the somber silence.

"No," Four answers quickly. "No way. I'd never do that. I'd never do anything to jeopardize our relationship.

"So what happened at the hotel . . ."

"She ambushed me. I didn't even know she was coming."

"And the kiss . . ."

"I had no idea she was going to do that. I was caught by surprise," Four says earnestly. "I pushed her away as soon as I recovered from the shock."

She studies Four's features. Can she trust him? She did only see a second of that kiss before she walked away—she couldn't take the sight any longer. "I swear, Tris," Four says. "I didn't go there for some secret rendezvous with Nina. I just wanted to close that deal with Casey Technologies."

She nods. They did go through Four's proposal a few times over the past week. He wanted to make sure the meeting would go smoothly.

"How did that go?" she asks.

To her surprise, Four shrugs. "We'll see what happens at the next meeting, assuming they're willing to reschedule at all. They didn't seem happy that I just left them at the lobby like that."

"You what?" she stares at him in disbelief. "But it was supposed to be this big meeting. You were supposed to close an important deal."

A small, tired smile plays on Four's lips. "Nothing's more important than you, Tris."

She can't help it; warmth spreads across her chest. Does he mean that? But he actually walked away from that meeting and flew all the way across the country to see her instead, not even knowing that she'd be here for sure.

"You did that for me?" she asks when she finally finds her voice.

"It was nothing," Four says, shaking his head. "I've finally realized how little it all matters without you, Tris. For the first time in my life, I've found something—someone—more meaningful than my work. You. I love you Tris."

"You mean that? You love me?" Tris asked.

"With every beat of my heart, my love for you grows," Four answers.

She does something she's been dying to do since she heard his voice calling out her name. She throws her around Four and lets him envelop her—his hands on her back, his sturdy chest for her to lean on, his lips on her head. Four fills her whole world, and she feels like she's right where she belongs.

"I've missed you so much; you have no idea." Four tightens his embrace, holding her like he's never letting her go.

"I think I have a pretty good idea. I've missed you too." She looks up to meet Four's gaze. For a moment, they look into each other's eyes, saying nothing and everything, all at once. Pure, unadulterated happiness floods her body. Four leans his forehead on hers, his nose brushing against her cheek. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, filling her lungs with Four's scent.

"I can't believe you're here," Tris whispers.

"I told you. I'd do anything for you," Four said. "And do you have anything to admit to me?"

A smile pulls her lips up. "I love you too, Four."

A soft smirk grows on his face as he leans in for a kiss...

A cough interrupts their intimate moment.

Oh, that's right—Caleb. She totally forgot he's still here. He's probably not happy that she's being an idiot.

"Uh . . ." Caleb clears his throat, fidgeting with the zipper of his hoodie. "I'll, um, give you guys some privacy."

"Does that mean you're okay with . . . everything?"

"If Four meant what he said, then I won't stand in your way."

"I meant every word," Four answers quickly.

"Good. I thought you did." Caleb takes a step toward the door then stops and faces us again. "I'm happy for you two. Really."

"That means a lot to me, man," Four says.

"And me too," Tris adds.

Caleb smiles, then he slips inside the house.

Her smile spreads into a grin. Next thing she knows, they are both laughing—she can't exactly explain why, but the sensation of tension melting away is so wonderful she doesn't even want to question it. All she knows is she's happy to have Four's arms around her again.

***********PAGEBREAK***********

Four POV

Tris' tears have dried up, her head resting contentedly on her chest. The smell of her faded perfume fills her senses, and she breathes the scent deep, relieved that Tris and Caleb listened to what he had to say, that they saw the truth.

Tris is the most important thing in her life now, and she's not going to let anything come between them—not work, not crazy exes, nothing. The chill in the night air has him concerned that Tris might be getting a little cold. He can feel her shivering a little in his arms.

As if reading his thoughts, Tris looks up at him, a shy smile on her face. "Hey, would you like to come inside? It's getting a little cold out here. I'll make us some hot chocolate."

"Sure. We can't stand out here all night. Although I'm not sure I want to let you out of my arms just yet," he replies, brushing a stray lock of her hair back over an ear. Tris takes his hand and guides him inside the house, heading straight to the kitchen. She heats up some milk in a saucepan and rummages in a cupboard.

"So . . ." She looks about the kitchen as if searching for the words. Humor gleams in her eyes. "How did you know I'd be here? I could have just been at my apartment, ignoring you."

She smiles at her words. "Well, I did try your apartment at first. But I guessed you weren't in, and then—" he shrugs his shoulders "—I just knew you'd be here. I know you, I know Caleb. Let's just call it a hunch."

"Wow, Detective Four," she teases gently, half turning to check on the milk before returning her gaze to him.

"That's me." He shoots her a grin.

A faraway look comes over her. Smiling to herself, she asks, "Hey, do you remember when we used to watch football together? Me, you and Caleb?"

"Yeah, of course. Although that seems like a long time ago now."

"Well, I never really was interested in the football. I only watched it because you were there. In fact, I spent most of the time staring at you while you and Caleb were engrossed in the game." She cocks her head and looks at him inquisitively. "You knew I had a crush on you, didn't you? That's why you never wanted to spend any time alone with me, why you were always awkward and made excuses to leave the room or be somewhere else. I always thought it was because you didn't like me, but now . . ."

He grins at her words, a little embarrassed by the truth. "Yeah, you got me. I knew you liked me. You were just . . . so young. It didn't feel right, you know. Plus, you were my best friend's little sister . . ." his voice trails off, and he looks Tris up and down, taking in her womanly figure, trying to recognize the skinny girl he once knew. "But now . . . well, look at you. You're all grown up. So damn beautiful. Now it's me who can't stop staring at you. You're so damn distracting."

She giggles a little at his words, pouring out some cocoa and bringing him over a steaming mug. She hands him the mug, their hands brushing against each other. They stand there and chat for a while, sipping on the steaming hot chocolate, talking about old times. As Tris collects the empty mug, he pulls her close and kisses her, caressing those soft, sweet lips with his.

"You should stay tonight," she whispers in his ear, voice low and filled with promise. "We can take the guest room."

"It's getting late. What are we waiting for?"

She gives him a seductive smile before turning away, hips swaying as she walks toward the stairs. He follows, eyes on her perfect butt as she climbs the stairs slowly as if teasing him. He catches up with her and grab her butt, shooting her a grin. "I couldn't resist."

Tris giggles and skips off to the doorway of the spare bedroom.

"You know," she whispers, voice low, "when you used to stay over, I'd fantasize about you coming to knock on my door in the middle of the night when Caleb was asleep, declaring your love for me, and . . . well, doing things to me I could only imagine at the time."

"Well, here I am," Four says. "There's no need for fantasies tonight."

He grabs her by the waist and pulls her into the room, closing the door behind them. He kisses her hard, claiming her sweet mouth as his. She tastes sweet, and he looses himself in her, letting her fill his senses. She moans softly as he pulls her against me, the delicious little sound urging him on. Desire rises within him, his hardened cock twitching in his pants, longing for her.

He pulls back just enough to look into her half closed eyes. Her face is flushed with passion, her heavy-lidded eyes clouded with lust. "You know I'd never cheat on you, right?" Four whispers. "I'd never do anything to hurt you. You're everything to me. I'd do anything for you."

"I know that now," she replies, smiling sweetly. "Now, stop talking and show me how much you care about me . . ."

She squeals with delight as he picks her up, her legs wrapping around his hips as he kisses her deeply, carrying her over to the bed. He whispers, "Now, tell me about these fantasies of yours."

Tris smiles, a naughty gleam in her eyes. "Well, there's one with you carrying me just like this . . . and then you throw me on the bed and have your way with me."

"Sounds doable enough."

"Is it?" she raises an eyebrow.

"Yes," He tells her, tossing her onto the bed, watching her breasts jiggle as she bounces on the mattress. He climbs up over her. "You know what else is doable?"

"Me?" Tris asks, grinning.

"That's right." Four claims her mouth in another passionate kiss, his cock throbbing almost painfully in his pants. "I'm going to replace all those silly fantasies with something real. Next time you play with yourself, you'll be thinking about this."

"Don't over promise, mister. You're sounding terribly cocky," she says, even though he can see from the fire in her eyes that his words are turning her on.

"And you like that."

"Oh, do I, now?" she challenges. She's wearing a loose T-shirt and looks unbelievably hot in it, but she'd look better with it on the floor.

"Yeah. And I can prove it." Four yanks off the T-shirt and tosses it aside, feasting his eyes on her full tits, her pink nipples already hardened into little nubs. "Hmm . . . no bra, huh?"

"I was asleep when you showed up. Nobody sleeps with a bra on," she says, reaching up and pulling him down by the neck, urging him to kiss her again.

Their lips and tongues twist together, both of them fighting for air as her delicate fingers fumble with the buttons on his shirt. He shrugs off his jacket and his unbuttoned shirt, letting them crumple behind him. "I don't know . . . I'm not convinced you weren't deliberately seducing me, tempting me with your bra-less tits. No man can possibly say no to these babies."

Tris' giggle ends with a sharp gasp when he kisses down her throat and takes her nipple into his mouth, teasing it with his tongue and nibbling on it with his teeth. She lets out a sexy moan, the kind that goes into his ear and sends jolts of electricity straight down to his cock, making him desperate to bury myself balls-deep inside her.

"Oh, Four," she moans. His name has never sounded so good.

"Is this what you had in mind?" He asks, tasting her other nipple while his hands roam all over her body. Her breast fits perfectly in his hand—no doubt a sign that they belong together.

"Yes," she sighs.

"You haven't seen anything yet." He slips his hand inside her sweatpants and rubs her over her panties. She can already feel her slick juices through the thin fabric. "Remember when I told you I knew you liked what I was doing? This is the proof, right here. You're soaking wet, you naughty girl."

She says nothing, but she arches her back as he run his fingers over her, pressing herself against his hand, spreading her thighs a little wider. Man, he loves watching her like this.

"Remember any of your fantasies, then?" he asks.

"Stop asking me things, Four. I don't remember anything. I can't even think. You're driving me so crazy right now." He knows she's so aroused even speaking is a struggle, but he loves hearing her voice like this, breathy and hoarse and so fucking sexy.

So he asks her yet another question. "Am I living up to your fantasies?"

"Yes," she says, nodding, her eyes squeezed shut.

"Do I do this in your fantasies?" he pulls down her pants and panties, all at once. He slides his fingers over her soaked petals and finds her clit.

Her teeth clamp down on her bottom lip. She nods frantically, letting out a choked, "Yes."

Pulling his pants off, he takes his cock in one hand and pushes inside her, her eyes firmly on her beautiful face as her jaw hangs open and her eyebrows knit together. His weight is on his elbows as he thrusts into her. He can barely control the pleasure he feels building within me.

"You feel amazing," he tells her.

She bites her lips as she looks up at him, her body shuddering as her hands cling to his arms. She tries to restrain herself, but small moans escape from between her parted lips. He picks up his pace, thrusting into her again and again. Tris pulls him down against her, wrapping her arms and legs around him, biting on him shoulder.

"Four. . ." she moans.

"What's that, Tris? Are you coming? Tell me."

"Yes," she says, her breath coming in gasping hitches. "I'm coming, Four."

And then she explodes beneath him, her face scrunched up in ecstasy as she clenches around his cock, milking him for all he's worth. And he lets go, thrusting faster as his balls tighten. A powerful orgasm builds within him, his cock twitching almost painfully at the sensation.

"Fuck," he growls as he comes inside of her, their bodies pressed together.

Tris' fingernails drag across his back, digging into him almost painfully, until suddenly she grows limp, her body spent. He brushes away the hair sticking to her damp forehead. Looking into her half-lidded eyes, he asks, "Was that as good as your—"

"Yes, Four," she says, smiling as she cuts him off. "That was better than my fantasies."

"Just checking." He gives her a grin. "That's what you would've missed out on if you hadn't let me in."

Her eyes grow sober, her smile fading. "I don't want to be without you again."

"It was that good, huh?"

"I'm serious," she says.

He looks deep into her eyes and caresses her flushed cheek. "I don't want to be without you either, Tris. Ever.

*****************PAGEBREAK************

Tris POV

Over the next few days, she spends most of his time at Four's place, only making trips back to hers to pick up clothes and toiletries. One afternoon, just as she's packing yet another overnight bag, Four stands, hands on hips, and looks around her little apartment.

"Why don't you just move in with me?" he asks. "It seems a bit silly to keep paying for this place when it's not much more than a glorified closet these days. I've got plenty of space."

This should be a big, momentous decision—one she needs to sit down, and take some time to consider. But it doesn't feel like that at all. It feels like the most natural thing in the world.

"Okay," she says. "Let's do it."

And so they do. Just a few days later, her lease is canceled, and her stuff is moved into Four's lovely apartment.

Life is pretty much perfect. She feels content, happy, and settled. She also gets to do something that she was never allowed to do when she was with Peter—have friends. She became fast friends with Christina from work, as well as Zeke's younger brother Uriah. They became the closest of friends as well, Four was slightly jealous at the beginning. Once she told him what a knucklehead he was, that she loved him and only him, wanted him and only him over her, under her, in her, he stopped being a knucklehead.

***************PAGEBREAK**********

Two years later...

Darkness met his eyes when he rolled over and opened them. Four frowned in the shadows and stretched his arm out for his wife, but the bed was empty. He sat up, looking for her when retching came from the bathroom.

"Tris?" he asked as he hurried to get out of bed. When he peeked in the bathroom, she was hunched over the toilet, hugging it tightly, and he rushed to her side. He drew her hair back and rubbed her back as she vomited more before finally stretching her hand up to flush the toilet. "Was it dinner?"

He helped her sit back on the floor by the tub before he grabbed a washcloth, wetted it, and pressed it gently against her face. She was pale but didn't feel feverish.

"Maybe," she muttered. "You don't need to see this. Go back to bed."

His alarm sounded from the bedroom and he grinned. "No need. Time to get up anyway." He sat beside her and she rested her cheek against his shoulder. "I'm not flying out today."

"No, you have that conference," she argued. "We've been planning it for months. I'll be fine. I feel better already."

He eyed her long and hard, and her fake smile fell as she hugged the toilet again. "That's it, I'm not leaving," he grumbled. "I think we should get you to the doctor."

She shook her head in between heaves. "I'm not even puking anything up. It's probably just sinuses or something. I'm fine, promise. And if it is food poisoning, it'll go away in a day or so. I'll take the day off just to be sure."

Four refused to budge from her side and held her hand as she rested her head against the wall, staying by the toilet. "I'm supposed to be gone for a week," he reminded her.

"So if it lasts longer than a day, I promise I'll go to the doctor's," she said.

"Uriah owes me a favor. I'm going to have him stay with you."

"No, don't do that. You'll just get him sick if it's the flu or something," she argued. "I can take care of myself, you know."

He kissed the top of her head with an aggravated sigh. "Don't I know it. I'm still calling him."

"If I don't want you watching me puke, I definitely don't want him to."

Puffing out his cheeks in an effort not to scold her, he held her hands and kissed her knuckles. "It's either Uriah comes and watches you or I don't go at all. Do it for me, please?"

She pursed her lips together but finally gave in. "You're going to call me every day, aren't you?"

He kissed her forehead with a grin. "Twice, if I can manage it. I wish you would change your mind and just come with me."

"Eh, California doesn't really suit me. Besides, I plan on spending quite a bit of time catching up on some reading and watching some tv."

"Then I guess I'll be bringing you a souvenir."

He'd just reached her when her face slackened and she bolted for the bathroom again. "That's it! I'm not leaving, not now." He picked up his cell, ready to tell Jeremy to cancel his flight, when the retching stopped and Tris appeared in the doorway, holding the washcloth to her face.

"Don't you dare. Spouses get sick."

"Yeah, and good husbands stay behind to take care of them."

"It's a big meeting, you said so yourself," she argued, hiding her face behind the cloth. "If I get worse, I promise I will call you right away, okay?"

He ground his teeth but fell under the sway of those stormy eyes, dragging him into the whirlwind of emotions he could no longer ignore. "If you don't, I'll find out." Reluctantly, he finished dressing, watching her as she lay in bed, propped up, and fiddling with the remote for the bedroom TV. Reruns of Friends popped up, and she settled back against the pillows. "I'll land around eleven," he told her as he smoothed her hair back from pale face. "Want anything before I go?"

"My legs still work just fine," she assured him. "But thank you."

"You don't have to thank me. This is what I do," he said roughly. "Uriah will swing by later today once he finishes at the office. It's Monday, so he might be a bit late."

"Go, before you miss your flight," she said and gave him a gentle shove. "I'll be right here when you get back and healthy as a horse."

Four picked up his suitcase near the bedroom door and she blew him a kiss. "Weird, isn't it?"

"A bit, yeah. I got so used to this—to us."

"Just a week," he reassured himself more than her. The pang in his gut said he shouldn't leave. He was not a clingy man, but the idea of being away from Tris for so many nights gnawed at him. He wouldn't fly back until next Monday night.

Only a week. What could possibly go wrong?

******PAGEBREAK**********

Tris POV

"I think you need to go to the doctor," Uriah called to her through the bedroom door on Wednesday morning.

"I'm fine," she argued, flushing the toilet and collapsing against the wall.

"Bullshit. If Four finds out you're lying through your teeth to him, he's going to be pissed."

He was right, but so far, she'd fooled Four, just like she was going to keep fooling him and herself and Uriah because the other option wasn't possible. Granted, two weeks ago, her period was so light it was a joke, and the morning sickness had started a few days before Four had left for his trip. She slipped her hands to her belly, not ready to believe the impossible was happening.

Now, she searched desperately for any other explanation for what was happening to her body. She was tired all the time and nothing sounded good except pickles, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, which completely grossed Uriah out. She was too scared to pee on a stick yet, but eventually, either she would start showing or an actual full-blown period would hit and she would know the truth. Did she risk waiting that long?

"Tris? What's going on in there?"

"You can come in," she said and pressed her head against the wall.

Uriah stepped inside, his cell in hand already. "I texted Four."

"What! You said you wouldn't tell him I wasn't better! Whose side are you on, anyway?"

"Tris, you've been puking since Monday, you're pale and weak, and frankly, a bit cranky," he muttered as she sat on the edge of the tub. "I'm taking you to the doctor because that's what he's going to tell me to do. Get your shoes and coat."

She kept her butt firmly planted on the floor. "No."

"This isn't up for discussion." His cell chirped and he held it out for her to see.

She let out an aggravated sigh at the all caps message from Four saying to drag her to the doctor before he took the first flight out of LA and did it himself. "Can you please tell him to calm down? I'm not sick."

"Bullshit, again."

"Can you put the phone down for a minute while I talk to you? Please?"

He set it down slowly and crossed his arms over his chest. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't throw you over my shoulder right now and take you to the doctor?"

She sucked in a shaky breath, then blew it out as a grin of shock spread across her face. "Because I need you to go the drugstore and buy me something first. Several somethings, actually."

His eyes narrowed. "I'm listening."

"I need to pee on a stick."

Uriah's eyes widened, darting from her face to her belly and back again. "Holy shit," he gasped and clapped a hand over his mouth as he leapt to his feet. "Holy shit! You're pregnant? Oh, God, it all fits! That terrible shit you've been eating and the puking. Tris, that's great!"

"I don't know yet," she said, unable to contain her joy at the idea, though. "It could be a fluke."

"Or you could be pregnant. You have to tell Four," he urged and handed her his phone.

"No, I can't. Not yet."

"Why the hell not?"

She held out her hand and he helped her to her feet. "If I tell him and find out I'm not… it would crush him. I can't do that to him, not with everything he means to me."

He kissed her cheek and guided her back to bed. "Your secret is safe with me. How many do you want?"

"Enough, I guess," she said. "Never thought I'd be doing this."

"Right. Just tuck in and I'll be back as fast as I can." He whistled in awe then waved over his shoulder as he left. "Don't move! And if you want anything else, just text me."

"Thanks, Uriah!"

She thought she heard him yell back and then the penthouse was quiet. Pregnant. Could she really be pregnant? Her hands rubbed her belly, imagining a baby growing within her. Four's baby. Tears pricked her eyes because she could be carrying a child for him.

Her cell went off and she picked it up without looking. "Hello?"

"You better be on your way to the hospital," Four nagged.

"I told you I'm not sick. Uriah's panicking over nothing."

"Three days, Tris. You've been sick for three days, and I think you were sick last week too," he argued. "For the love of God, woman, just go, please?"

She opened her mouth to tell him exactly what she was doing about her predicament, but choked them back. "If I'm not better by tomorrow morning, I'll go, I swear it."

"You won't have a choice then. I'm coming home."

"What? No, you're not—you can't!"

"Yes, I damn well can. My wife is sick and refusing treatment. I'm finding the first flight out of LA and I'm coming home."

"Four, wait," she pleaded. "There's a flu going around."

"Since when?" he asked.

She sucked at lying, but maybe she would manage it better over the phone. "Since the last two weeks. Four, I'm already feeling better, honest." She counted out the long seconds of silence.

"You're a terrible liar," he growled.

"How the fuck do you do that?" she whispered, sagging into the pillows.

"Magic." He muttered under his breath. "I will give you one more day."

"If you want to come home early, I won't stop you, but I swear to you, if I get any worse or if anything changes, I will tell you. Do you trust me?"

"That's not even a question," he stated. "Get some rest and text me soon."

"I will. Four?"

"Yeah?"

She worried at her lip before she said, "This bed is too damn empty without you in it."

"Same. Talk to you soon, love," he said and hung up.

Tris set her cell aside and snuggled deeper into the covers. The scent of Four surrounded her and lulled her to sleep. A nap wouldn't be a bad idea, at least until Four returned.

Later that evening, Uriah paced outside the bedroom door, checking his watch for the tenth time. He'd bought four boxes of pregnancy tests, unsure of which kind Tris needed. "Anything yet?" he asked again.

"Will you just give me a minute?" she shouted back sharply.

"Tris, what's wrong?"

He expected her to yell again, but she opened the door a crack and he pushed it open the rest of the way. Her shoulders hunched, she stood at the sinks, leaning over the three sticks lined up in front of her. He waited for her to tell him to wait, but he stepped closer and she stepped slowly aside. Uriah glanced down at them. Each and every single one clearly said exactly what her problem was.

"Tris?"

Her hands fell to her belly and when her gaze lifted to his, she smiled. "I'm pregnant."

"We're happy about this, right?" he asked, resisting the urge to leap forward and hug her.

"I think so, but I have to know for sure, so hold onto your excitement. I'll make an appointment for tomorrow morning at the doctor's office and then I'll know for sure." Her smile faltered, but the look on her face was pure awe. "I can't believe it's true."

"Have a little faith," he told her sternly. "You and Four were just meant to be."

"I guess so. Don't you dare tell him," she added, pointing an accusing finger at him.

"I won't, not until you give me the green light."

Tris nodded slowly and sat down hard on the edge of the tub. "Pregnant. Well, this is definitely a new adventure. Maybe his mom will stop hounding him about grand babies."

"There is that," he agreed. "Want me to get you anything?"

"No. No, I'll be fine. You have to get to the office."

Uriah checked his watch. "I do, but if you need anything, text me or call Zeke. I'll make sure he knows you're under the weather and might need something today."

"Thanks, Uriah," she said and he took her hand. "Thanks for being the friend I never had."

"I'll always be your friend, sweetie, never forget that." He hugged her before he left. Once he was safely outside the penthouse, he let out a loud whoop of excitement. Four would be thrilled if she really were pregnant and could have a baby. He pushed the down button for the elevator and tapped his toe impatiently. He stepped into the elevator as it opened and his cell rang.

"Four, boy, how's it going?" he said happily when he answered.

"What's wrong with her, really?"

"She's got a bug, man, nothing more."

"You're lying too. Why do you both think you can actually lie to me?" he snapped.

"Look, it might not be a bug, but I have been sworn to secrecy." Uriah grimaced. "She's still figuring out a few things."

"That's not making me feel any better. I think this might be one of those days I randomly fire you."

"If it makes you feel better." He laughed.

"I can't stand this. What's wrong with me? I've been freaking out over her since I left."

Uriah rolled his eyes. "You're in love."

************PAGEBREAK*****************

All afternoon, Tris walked aimlessly around the penthouse. She threw away the tests and hid the boxes in the other bathroom so Four wouldn't find them when he came home on Monday. Surprisingly, she felt better, at least physically.

Late in the afternoon, she gave up trying to focus on anything and camped out on the couch, watching a marathon of The Golden Girls for the hell of it, nibbling on saltines and drinking water even though it made her have to pee every ten minutes. She was about to doze off when a key turned in the door and she sat up, expecting to see Uriah checking on her, but his was not the body that stepped through the doorway.

"Four!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing home?"

"So this is what you're hiding from me," he muttered as he dropped his suitcase and kicked the door closed behind him.

Tris gulped as he stalked closer. "I don't know what you're talking about." Shit! Did Uriah tell him? Please, God, don't let him know yet!

"You have a fetish for old TV shows, is that it?"

She glanced back at the TV then to him and shrugged one shoulder. "You caught me."

He held her gaze, making his way around the couch until he stood before her. Without a word, he drew her to his body and kissed her fiercely until she melted against him. His tongue delved into her mouth, and Tris forgot everything she was worried about. If she were pregnant, he would love her more for it, and if it was a false positive, then he would still love her.

"Why are you home?" she asked when she came up for air.

"I was worried, and you and Uriah were not making me feel better." He held her face and studied her eyes and body. "You look better. Were you sick today?"

"Nope," she said too quickly. "Really, I think it's sinuses or something—all snot."

His lip twitched, but he didn't let her go. Instead, he scooped her up into his arms and walked to the bedroom. "A bath would do you good."

"A bath, huh? Whatever you say, Dr. Eaton," she teased.

When they reached the bathroom, he set her on her feet and turned the water on hot, poured some bubbles into it, and turned his hungry gaze to her. Tris shivered, his one look telling her exactly what he wanted to do to her before he even touched her. She glanced down at her baggy t-shirt, sweats, and fluffy socks, and regretted dressing for comfort today.

"You think I care about what you're wearing?" he said as he tilted her face back towards his.

"You might not, but I do," she said, tugging at the hem of her t-shirt.

"Don't be. You've been sick and you're comfy. I don't care what you wear, Tris. You're with me and we're together. At the end of the day, that's all that matters."

He kissed her neck languidly and she tugged his dress shirt out of his slacks, craving the touch of his warm, hard body. His lips left her neck long enough to relieve her of her t-shirt, growling deep in his throat to see she wore nothing under it. He rubbed his cheek against her breasts while his hands tugged at the strings holding her sweats up, her breath coming in little bursts as he undressed her so carefully. Her pants slipped down and he helped her step out of them, socks and all, and guided her to the tub. She stepped in and sank below the bubbles, her eyes stuck on him as he unbuttoned his shirt.

"LA was so lonely without you," he informed her as he shrugged his shirt over his massive shoulders and kicked out of his shoes.

"Same here. I think I started talking to the walls."

"You do that already," he said with an arched brow.

"Reciting lines of poetry to find the right words is not talking to the walls," she corrected, speaking slowly. It was hard to focus when his hands undid his pants and he shoved them down his body, revealing every delicious bit of him she wanted to kiss and nibble. She licked her lips at his bobbing erection, wanting to taste him.

He climbed into the tub with her and dragged her back against his chest. "Next time I go out of town, you're coming with me, sick or not. I can't stand being away from you."

Tris rested against his body, comfortable in the cradle of his hips as he shut off the water. "I'm not used to missing someone this much either," she said, sighing when his hands slipped down her wet body. "You're making me dizzy already."

"Good, I want you dizzy," he whispered against her ear. "I want you wet for me, begging for me as much as my body begs for yours."

"My body always wants yours." She lifted her hips and his hand glided easily against her cleft.

His erection swelled against her back, and she wanted him buried inside her. Three days was too long without his touch, but he didn't let her turn around yet. He spread her lips, caressing them before his fingers thrust inside her. Tris groaned, digging her nails hard into his thighs as he worked to stretch her and find that one spot to make her scream his name. His thumb pressed against her clit as his free hand held her breast.

"I can't live without this. Without you, you mean everything to me," He licked her earlobe and sucked hard, teasing her nipple while his fingers ravaged her. Her hips bucked and she lost herself in the sensations pouring over her.

Every nerve was alight with passion. The water lapping over her skin was like a separate touch of his body, as if he was able to touch every inch of her while he brought her to the edge of climax then pulled back before starting over again. He teased her, and all she could do was hold on while he explored her body with such intricate care and detail, there wasn't a single spot he left untouched. Tris shifted back against him and rubbed his cock, but there wasn't a way to get a hold on him.

"Not yet," he growled. "I want to hear you scream first."

"Four," she begged as he stroked her hard and fast beneath the water. "Oh, God! Four!"

"Come for me, Tris. Cry out your release for me."

Her mouth fell open on a moan that built the harder he stroked. Her body twitched with the pleasure shooting through her limbs, his hand not ceasing as it tore every last bit of pleasure from deep within her depths. She shuddered one final time and collapsed against him.

"Not… fair," she muttered and spun around slowly in the large tub.

"I don't play fair, remember?"

"Neither do I." She straddled his lap, and before he could attempt to pull away and torture her more, she gripped his length hard and worked her palms down his swollen erection, rubbing her thumb over the tip. "Now, I want you to come for me."

His hands found her hips and he lifted her enough to thrust into her. Tris wrapped her arms around his neck as he captured her lips, kissing her hard and deep to match his thrusts. The idea of making love while she was pregnant with their child, set her on fire, and she had to be as close to him as possible, telling him without the words that refused to come how much she needed him in her life. He completed her; he was the missing piece she had sought her whole life. The water splashed out of the tub and onto the floor. Her laughter joined his as he made love to her the way a husband did to his wife.

"Four," she tried to say, groaning with each drag out of her body, but she couldn't find the rest of the words. He filled her to the brim with love and fire, stretching her beyond what she ever imagined, and she held on for the ride.

When the orgasm tore through their bodies, he plunged into her one final time, spilling his seed as his hips bucked wildly and she took him all in, quivering from the sharp bursts of pleasure shooting from her sheath to her chest. They would be fine. In that moment, she knew it. No matter what came next, no matter how he took the news of her being pregnant, they would be fine.

**************PAGEBREAK********

Four POV

As they finished their steamy bath, he tucked her hair, curling gently from the water, behind her ears and kissed her as he pulled out. "Damn," he groaned, the aftershock of pleasure catching him off guard.

"Satisfied that there's nothing wrong now?" she asked breathlessly, settling against the other end of the tub.

"For the moment," he grunted. "You would tell me if something was wrong, right?"

She smiled and reached for his hand in the water, holding it to her cheek as she leaned into his palm. "I will always tell you everything. Sometimes, it just might take a little longer, that's all."

"Since I did come home early, I have to swing by the office and check in with Zeke and the two guys I left at the conference."

"I told you not to come home," she said, but the light in her eye said she was glad he did.

"Up for eating tonight?"

"I think I can handle it. Whatever you're in the mood for is fine with me." She closed her eyes and sank deeper into the water. Her hands slipped to her stomach and Four frowned, worried she was feeling sick again and maybe their exertions were too much, but she appeared peaceful.

He pushed through the water for one final kiss, lingering as long as he could before his cell went off and he hung his head against her shoulder. "I'll be back soon."

"I'll be here," she said and squeezed his hand.

Four dried quickly and dressed in fresh clothes. As he checked his casual dress one final time in the mirror, the hair on the back of his neck stood up and an icy hand dragged down his back. He spun around, but Tris was still soaking in the tub and he was alone. A voice whispered at him not to leave, but that was ridiculous. She appeared in good health and he would be back in a few hours. Everything was perfectly fine. He ignored the strange sensation, finished dressing, and squatted by the tub.

"I just have to stop by the office real quick, grab some food, and then I'll be home. Golden Girls marathon?"

"If you're up for it," she agreed with a smirk. "I'm pretty sure I've memorized every ending."

"No spoilers." He kissed her forehead then the top of her head and her lips for good measure. "Right, I'm going then."

"Hurry back."

"For you, love, I always will."

************PAGEBREAK**********

Tris stared at her smiling reflection in the mirror. After Four left, she soaked for a while longer until she was pruney, then got out, wrapped herself up in a towel, and promptly fell asleep lying on the bed.

She didn't sleep long and decided to get up, after slipping on blue jeans and a bulky sweater to be comfy the rest of the night, she decided to set the TV up for when Four returned later, when a knock sounded at the door. She set the remote down and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Four had his keys. They weren't on the table by the front door, and she was pretty sure Uriah wasn't stopping by until later that night.

"Who is it?" she called out.

A high-pitched man's voice replied, "Sorry to bother you, Mrs. Eaton. I'm just dropping off some files Mr. Eaton forgot at the office."

Quick, just be quick, she told herself. She opened the door, forcing her lips into a smile, until a hand gripped the door hard and a booted foot planted itself in front of it. Shaken as Peter sneered down at her. "No," she whispered. "Peter."

"Honey, I'm home," he growled and forced her back inside.

Gulping, Tris debated her chances of darting around Peter for the door, but she would never make it. He yanked the phone from her hand and threw it in the sink, smashing it to pieces.

"I don't want you calling anyone," he snapped, and she backed away quickly.

"What do you want?" she demanded fiercely. "I don't want to be with you, so just leave me the fuck alone."

His sadistic grin fell at her sharp tongue, and Tris forced herself not to flinch away from his furious glare and the way he reached out and gripped her shoulders hard enough to make her wince. "You do not use that tone with me, Tris. Ever. You are coming with me, right now."

"I'm not going anywhere with you, you fucking ferret-faced bastard!"

He raised his hand and she braced for the hit, but like always, his hand fell to the side, curling into a fist. "Watch your mouth! You are coming home with me, and then you and I are going to have a nice long talk about where we're moving."

"I'm married!" she yelled in his face. "You can't kidnap someone's wife!"

"Why not? You are mine, and he just swooped in and stole you from me! My beautiful Tris?"

If she could stall until then, make him stay here, then Four would arrive and everything would be fine… everything would be just… fine. Her eyes widened when Peter shifted and his jacket moved aside. A handgun was tucked in his belt and her body froze.

"Have I taught you nothing about how important you are to me?" he muttered angrily and released her.

Tris backed away towards the hall. He had a gun. There was nothing stopping him from shooting her—or Four. "Peter, please," she said, her voice shaky. "Just calm down. We… we can talk about this calmly. Work something out."

He ran a hand through his hair, and the sudden blank stare in his eyes chilled her to the bone. "Talk. You think I came all this way to talk? God, how did that man put up with your stupidity this whole time?"

She bristled. "I'm not stupid, but you are if you think I want to spend any more time with you. Just get out. Please, leave before you do something you'll regret."

"The only thing I regret," he raged as he stormed towards her, "was not locking you up when I had the chance! Come here!" He lunged for her, but Tris ducked under his arm and sprinted down the hall, sliding on the floor in her socks. She managed to stay on her feet and slipped into the master bedroom, slamming and locking the door seconds before Peter's body slammed into it full force. The door rattled in the frame. It wouldn't hold for long, and Tris tried to shove the dresser in front of it. "Come on, you bastard," she snarled, bracing her feet against the other wall as she pushed.

But it was too heavy, and with every hit from Peter, the door cracked and threatened to give way. She was trapped with no phone, no way out, and no way to warn Four of what he was walking into. The door slammed open on the next impact, and Tris screamed at the top of her lungs, hoping someone would hear her, when a fist connected with her face. She flew backwards, landing hard on the floor and cringing at the sharp ache in her cheek. Gingerly, she rolled over to her back as Peter towered over her, his chest heaving, eyes wild, and his fist curled at his side.

"You… you made me do that." He stepped closer as she scrambled to get away. "Your perfect face, you ruined it."

She spat at his feet. The weak Tris he knew was gone. Four had helped draw her out and helped show her the woman she could be. "You'll never have me, Peter. Never."

He grabbed the handgun from his belt—a small revolver—and waved it before her. Automatically, her hands slipped to protect her belly and his nostrils flared. "No—no, it can't be. You fucking cheating bitch!"

Tris winced as he yanked her to her feet and shoved the gun into her side. She fought the fear and panic, trying to focus as Four had taught her to do, but the gun at her side made it too hard. All she wanted to do was cry, to let the tears fall and give up. She had fought all her life, and she was so tired. Her life was a nightmare that would never end. He dragged her out of the bedroom when she heard the front door open and keys jingling.

"Tris? I'm back."

Fire coursing through her body, she threw her elbow back into Peter's side and tried to run out of his grasp. "Four!" she managed to scream before it was cut off on a yelp of pain. Peter snatched her by the hair as Four sprinted towards her.

"I'd stop if I were you," Peter warned and pressed the gun against her temple.

Fuming, Four skidded to a stop at the end of the hall, his hands curling and uncurling at his sides and his lips screwed up in a snarl. He slipped one into his pocket, but Peter's hold on her hair jerked her head back and she lost sight of whatever he did. "Let her go," he whispered harshly.

"Why would I do that?" Peter smoothed his hand through Tris' hair and she cringed, wiggling her body to try and break free. She turned her head, and Four's curse as he stomped forward a few more steps told her he'd spotted the mark left by Peter's rage. "Stay where you are or this gets messy."

Four's gaze softened as it shifted to Tris. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine," she muttered through gritted teeth.

"Everyone will be fine," Peter said happily, "if you let me leave with her."

"You really think I'm going to let you walk away with my wife?" Four's hand brushed against his pocket and his eyes glimmered as he stared intently at Tris.

She frowned. What was he telling her? She squinted at his pocket and realized his cell was in there—had he called the police?

"I came to reclaim my property. Though she might be damaged goods, now, after you infected her with your seed, I'll be able to do as I've wanted with her." He traced his fingers down her face, then lower.

Tris squirmed in his grip, but he lowered the revolver to her stomach and she gasped. "No, don't, please."

"Why not? He put it inside you, now I have to take it out."

Four took a half step closer. "What's he talking about?"

Tris smiled through the tears forming in her eyes. "This is not how I wanted to tell you, but you're going to be a father."

Peter pressed the gun harder against her stomach, and Four flung curses at him to let her go. "Put the damn gun down and step away from my wife and child!"

"This is how this is going to go," Peter informed him calmly as if they were discussing the weather. "You are going to let me walk out of here with my wife, and tomorrow morning first thing, you're going to file for a divorce. The moment it goes through, Tris and I are taking a nice, long trip far away. Maybe to the country… we'll get a nice farmhouse. Someplace I can keep a better eye on you."

Her future flashed before her eyes, being trapped with Peter for the rest of her life, never able to see Four again, never able to hold the miracle baby growing in her belly. No, it wasn't going to end like this. She had to get away from him, get to Four. If he'd called the police and they were listening, they would be here soon, right?

As if on cue, the elevator doors dinged out in the hallway, a sound that echoed through the penthouse since Four had left the door wide open in his rush to get to her. His eyes locked on hers and he nodded. Tris pushed her fear aside, and with a yell, shoved away from Peter, stepping on his instep hard to throw him off balance. Four rushed forward at the same time, stretching his hands out for hers. Everything happened in a blur. Several cops rushed in through the front door and yelled for Peter to drop the gun.

Peter screamed her name as Four quickly curved his body around hers in the hall. "No!"

A shot went off and Four grunted in pain, their bodies hitting the floor hard. More gunfire erupted, but Four tucked Tris' head down, keeping her safe with his body. Then there was silence, a loud thud, and it was over.

"Four?" She shifted in his arms, trying to move him, but he didn't budge. "Four? Damn it, say something! Four!"

Two police officers rushed over and helped drag Four off. He grimaced in pain, and Tris ran her hands up his chest, searching for wounds. He reached up to catch them. "Fine," he muttered. "Perfectly fine…"

"Four!" She held his face hard in her hands. "Open your eyes, Four!"

Her eyes searched his body for any sign of a wound when she spotted the blood on the floor beneath his back. One of officers was already on the radio, calling for an ambulance and the coroner. Another cop rushed over to put pressure on the gunshot wound.

"Is he going to be all right?" she gasped. "Tell me!"

"I can't tell where he was hit," the cop told her. "I'm sorry."

Four's grip on her hands loosened and his eyes slipped closed again. "No, look at me." She kissed his lips hard. "Four, please, you have to be all right, you can't… you can't leave me now."

His lips twitched. "Pocket."

"What?"

"Pocket… coat pocket."

Fumbling with his leather coat and cursing vividly under her breath until he laughed with a wince, she found a small box and pulled it out. "This? What is it?"

He squinted one eye open. "Yours…"

Confused, she flipped the box open to find a sparkling single ruby stone set on a band of white gold. It was shaped in a circle, the band twisting around it. "A ring?" He nodded stiffly. "You got me a ring… what… why?"

"Simple, I love you."

"Four, please. You have to open your eyes. You're going to be a father and I can't… I can't do this without you, okay? I can't have this baby without you, I can't."

The cops close by whispered under their breath, but what they said, she didn't understand or care. She only had eyes for Four, could only listen to his ragged breathing.

"I didn't think I could love until you came into my life." She smoothed his hair back from his face, tracing his scar. "You taught me what it meant, you saved me, and it's not fair… it's not fair for you to just go out like this so you have to make it. Please, God, you have to make it."

His hand raised slowly, cupping her cheek as his lips curled into a smile.

The paramedics arrived and she was pulled to her feet and out of the way as they loaded him on the stretcher. The police said they needed her statement as the paramedics checked the wound on her face. Her eyes shot to Peter's body, and words failed her as she swallowed hard. He was dead. They covered his body and she blinked a hard few times before quietly telling them she was pregnant, and the second set of paramedics escorted her to another ambulance to get her checked out as well. Numb, she let them direct her where to go and told the police weakly what had happened. There were questions and she thought she answered them, but her only care was for Four and seeing him open those blue eyes again.

She was walking towards the ambulance when the events of the last twenty minutes took their toll and the world went dark.

********PAGEBREAK**********

He floated in a world of shadows and voices whispering to him. Four cringed as bright lights flashed overhead before disappearing. Beeping… so much beeping, and then silence. He thought he heard crying—Tris, maybe? He thought he'd reached for her, swore she'd gripped his hand, but there was nothing there.

How long he was out, he wasn't sure, but when he attempted to open his eyes, pain flooded his body and he winced against the light filling the room. It was dim but still hurt, and he tried to turn away from it, grimacing at the pain ricocheting up his back.

"Careful, Mr. Eaton, you'll rip your stitches," a man said and two hands eased his shoulders gently back. "How are you feeling?"

Four blinked to clear his vision so he could see a young man's face staring down at him quizzically. "Feeling? Pain… does that count, doc? Hell, are you even old enough to be a doctor?"

The man laughed. "Afraid so. Dr. Jones. I've been out of school two years now."

"Two years, great. So I should expect to be dead soon." Four grunted and tried to sit up, but Dr. Jones forced him back down again. "I have to get up."

"Do you remember what happened?"

Four sank against the pillow and shut his eyes tight. What had happened? He had gone out to the office then to get dinner for him and Tris… came back and… and… "Tris! Where is she? Is she all right?"

"Your wife is just fine," Dr. Jones said and putting a finger to his lips, nodded towards the chair in the corner where Tris was asleep. "She and the baby are doing well."

"Baby?" That's right, she was pregnant with their baby. He laughed in disbelief. "The penthouse and that man… he shot me."

"He did, but lucky for you, he missed any major organs. You lost a decent amount of blood, but you'll recover soon enough. From what the police told me, you saved your wife's life. That bullet would've hit her and probably killed her and your baby." He patted Four on the shoulder as tears welled in the large man's eyes. "They're safe, Four. You all are."

He wiped his eyes quickly and muttered a gruff thanks to the young doctor. "And the man who attacked us?"

Dr. Jones' eyes fell and he shuffled his feet as he set Four's chart back at the foot of his bed. "Shot dead by the police once they arrived. Rest, Mr. Eaton, I'll have a nurse check on you again in a few hours."

The doctor left, and Four watched Tris sleeping, curled up in the chair across the room. Her head rested on her arms, she'd kicked her shoes off, and from this angle, he could see the black eye where that bastard had clocked her. Four's hands fisted in the sheets, ready to bring Peter back to life and pummel him right back into death with his own hands. His back throbbed, but he pushed the pain aside. If anything happened to Tris or their baby, he wouldn't be able to live with himself, probably wouldn't be able to live at all. She was his world now, and all he had in his life that he cared for. He pushed himself up in the bed, and the change in angle gave him a view of something red and glittering on Tris' finger.

Unable to stay away from her any longer, he gritted his teeth and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His weak legs gave out when his feet hit the floor, and he cursed, falling into the wall with a loud thud.

"Four? Jesus, what the fuck are you doing?" Tris snapped as she rushed to his side. "Get your ass back in bed right now."

He sat down hard on the bed but wrapped his arms around, holding her close and breathing her in. "Thank God you're all right," he muttered roughly, tears pricking his eyes again. He held the back of her head, kissing her forehead as she clung to him in turn.

"I'm fine," she whispered. "We're… we're both fine, but you have to lay back. You were shot, remember?"

He did as she ordered, chuckling at her fierceness. She sat on the bed beside him, holding his hand and smiling at him, but the longer they stared, the worse the pain in her eyes became before she collapsed against his chest, sobbing against him.

"This is all my fault. I'm sorry," she wailed. "You never would've been shot if I hadn't… if..."

Four hushed her and dragged her against his body so he could hold her in his lap. She was so small, and he cradled her securely, wiping the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. "Tris, don't you dare apologize."

"You were shot, Four. It's my fault."

"No, it's that dead bastard's fault. He tried to destroy your life and he failed. If I had to do it all again, I would," he said forcefully. "I do not regret a moment of our time together, do you understand me?"

"But—"

"No," he growled and crushed his mouth against hers, needing to taste her lips and know she was really there and this was going to be his future. The kiss deepened until he tried to move and his stitches tugged. He hissed. "Damn."

"I guess we should hold off on a proper reunion," she mused and kissed his nose.

"Afraid so. Tris, it's over, really over. You're free now."

Smiling softly, she took his hand and settled it on her stomach. "You ready for this, too?"

Four hated how his eyes grew blurry again, but he couldn't help it. His love for this woman and the babe growing in her belly was too much. "I never thought I'd actually find a woman I loved before you, never imagined actually have a child. Now, I have everything I could ever ask for."

"Good, because you're stuck with us both for a very, very long time."

She settled against his chest as he closed his eyes, resting his cheek on the top of her head. "God, I hope so."

*********Epilogue**********

Over the years Four and Tris enjoyed life, love and their family. They had two children who were currently upstairs in their bed waiting on Santa. It was Christmas Eve and Four was putting the finishing touches on their presents for their children's presents from Santa.

"You really went all out with Christmas this year," Tris said as she walked up to her own Santa in a red suit.

"Well, I tried to convince you to wear a Mrs. Claus, but no, you wouldn't," Four said as he put his hands on his wife's waist.

"Why, Santa whatever are you up to?" Tris asked. Four only pointed up above their heads where a sprig of mistletoe was.

"With you? Everything," Four said as he leaned in to kiss his wife.

What they didn't know was their little ones were still awake and watching from the door way. "See, I told you I saw Mama kissing Santa Claus." Thea said to her older brother.

"I'm going to tell Daddy," Theo said.

"Tattle tale," Thea said as she hit her brother.

"Ow!" Theo said.

"Theo! Thea!" Tris yelled out as the kids raced upstairs.

"You think they saw me?" Four asked.

"If they did, I'll come up with something," Tris said.

"Tris?" Four called out for her.

"Yes," Tris said.

"When you're done, will you do something with me?" Four asked.

Tris smirked and said, "Always. Now you finish up and get in bed, because Santa Claus is coming tonight."

The End.