(A/N-Special thanks to Lynn for beta reading this for me. And to those who read, review, follow and fav this. Thanks so much for your support!)

"Tris? Tris?"

She regained consciousness hazily, painfully, to see Four on his knees beside her, his face anxious. His hands, she discovered, were chafing hers, which were as cold as ice.

"What in God's name are you playing at?" he demanded, anger showing through now as he realized she was not after all deeply unconscious.

"I tripped," she said. "I seem to have wrenched my knee. I can't stand."

He sighed exasperatedly. "If you hadn't gone tearing off at half-cock on your own, this would never have happened." He took hold of her, rising to his feel all in the same movement, and Tris found herself encased by steely arms against a hard chest. The sudden closeness made her heart flutter erratically in her chest, but his breathing seemed hardly disturbed by his exertions as he strode homeward, finding his way with unerring accuracy along tracks that looked identical to her.

"What on earth has got into you?" he demanded. "Why didn't you wait for me? You knew I wanted to talk to you."

"I'm not in the habit of standing around waiting on men while they phone a string of other girlfriends."

She wasn't looking at him as she spoke or she might have seen a glimmer of humor on his face as he said, "Actually, I only called Morgan. I ran the others this morning, before I went out."

"You must have had a lot to say to Morgan,"she retorted acidly, "it took you long enough."

"We did have a lot to talk about," he agreed.

His quiet complacency infuriated her still further. "I think it would be best if the children and I went back this afternoon," she told him. "It was a mistake to bring us here."

"Nonsense!" His grip tightened. "You haven't given things a chance yet. Besides, the children are enjoying themselves."

"Well, I'm not."

"That's entirely your own fault." And before she could frame an indignant reply. "Due to your suspicious nature and over-developed imagination."

"Imagination! HA! I suppose I imagined all those phone calls?"

"Not at all," Four grinned suddenly. "And I must say I find all this jealousy very promising."

"Jealousy? What on earth makes you think I'm jealous? I couldn't care less," she lied, "how many female friends do you have, or how many of them come to see you while I'm here. Let them all come, for all I care."

"Oh, Tris!" His face, his disbelieving smile was very close, his eyes on her pursed lips. "If only it weren't getting so late..."

"Oh, yes, about that, I'm sorry if I've kept you from your Christmas dinner," she said.

"No worries. We don't eat our meals until evenings, and lunch has been put back."

They had almost reached the house now, and uncomfortable as she was in such close proximity to Four, she was dreading even more the coming encounter with Mr. and Mrs. Pedrad.

"My parents were extremely anxious for you safety and besides, they didn't want you to miss your meal," Four told her. "And since you've met with an accident, I'll take you to see Christina and have them check on your knee."

"Look, Four, I meant what I said," she told him. "Let's take the children with us and you can drop us off at Christina's afterwards."

"And you think you'd look after two small children with a banged up knee? No, Tris, whether you like it or not, you're coming back here, for as long as necessary."

"Necessary for what? My leg will probably be perfectly all right by tomorrow."

"I'm not just referring to your leg," he said darkly.

By this time they were in the vast hall and she was being exclaimed by all the others. And she was still apologizing for all the inconvenience she had caused when Four carried out to the car for the journey.

"Now will you believe that my parents aren't entirely indifferent to you?" he said as they drove away. Their manner certainly had seemed warmer, their concern genuine. Her apologies had been received gracefully and disclaimed as being totally unnecessary.

"I intruded on a family holiday. As a guest I've proved to be a damned nuisance, and besides, I'm only one of a string of..."

"They care because I've told them how much you mean to me," Four said, taking her breath away momentarily.

"But we're not...I mean...I said..."

"Oh, I know what you said. But I'm not accepting that as final."

Tris was silent. Wasn't this what she had hoped for, that he would show his usual persistence? But that was before she discovered how many women were vying for his attention. Wealthy men invariably had a playboy image, and she hadn't know Four that long. Would she be able to trust him? She didn't want a repetition of her experience with Robert.

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

Four carried her into the hospital. But, once her knee had been X-rayed and strapped up, he used a hospital wheelchair to take her to the maternity ward. "Christina! Oh Christina, how are you?" It was such a relief to see her friend sitting up in bed and looking her usual cheerful self.

"What have you been doing to yourself?" Christina wanted to know. "Been doing some interesting sex?"

"Christina! No, it was just a stupid accident, twisted my knee. Never mind about me. You had me so scared," Tris went on as she handed over the flowers she had purchased in the hospital's gift shop, she hugged her friend, careful of her delicate state.

"Me, too," Christina said. "But I'm fine now, honestly. But I can't thank you enough for taking care of the kids, with Christmas here as well. And now you've hurt your knee? It won't be much of a Christmas for you."

"On the contrary," Four said, "I hope this is going to be the most memorable Christmas in Tris' life."

"Oh?" Christina looked from one to the other with palpable curiosity. "Does this mean...?"

"What Four means," Tris said hastily. "is that he's kindly invited me and the children to stay with his family over the holiday. So you don't need to worry about us. Just concentrate on getting your strength back. Can I have a peep at my new nephew again?" she asked, hoping to steer the conversation firmly away from herself and Four.

She bent over the cot," Isn't he just perfect?" she enthused. "He looks just like Tommy did at this age."

"He does, and Tris, Will called the hospital. He's on his way, and in view of the circumstances they're letting him stay in Chicago until after the new year. I can't wait to see him," Christina said.

"I'm so glad for you," Tris said sincerely, but she couldn't repress a stab of envy at the evidence of so much bliss.

"Now that I've said hello and congratulations," Four said to Christina, "I'll leave you two alone for a while. I'm sure you've got some girl talk to indulge in."

Tris didn't know what was worse, having Four there with Christina's speculative eye on them, with the risk that she might come out with some embarrassing remark about their relationship, or being left alone with Christina, which gave her the opportunity to question Tris.

"So you've been introduced to the family," Christina said as soon as the door swung close behind Four. "Sounds like a promising development. Wedding bells next?"

Tris shook her head. "Don't read too much into it, I'm not. His family is just different than I am."

"Don't you like them? And do you mean to tell me Four isn't making the most of his opportunity of having you under his roof? If so, he's not half the man I took him for."

"If only that was all it was. There are so many problems, if you only knew."

"Well, tell me about it," Christina said. "The problems might be only in your mind. You always were a one for making mountains out of molehills."

Tris gave her a brief resume of events.

"And Four says it's all your imagination?" Christina mused. "I'm inclined to believe him, you know. You have been hyper sensitive since the Robert affair. As to all those women, who keep phoning him, Four may just be one of these men who are capable of remaining friendly terms with their exes. Why on earth don't you just ask him?"

"Because I won't give him the satisfaction of thinking I'm jealous. And perhaps I'm afraid of the answers."

"You don't seriously believe that Four is juggling a harem of women? That he wants to add you to it? That's he a man whore?"

"No...yes...oh, I don't know what to think," Tris said. "I've never been so confused in my life."

Christina grinned. "Love gets you that way. If you want my advice, just hang on in there over the holidays, keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut. You may find out a lot that way, and also save yourself from saying something you'll regret later."

Tris didn't say anything.

"You did spend the night with him. I take it you did...?" Christina paused delicately, and as Tris nodded, "You don't by any chance mean you might be pregnant?"

"I don't know...yet," Tris admitted. "There hasn't been time to.."

"So neither of you took precautions?"

Tris shook her head. "It all happened in the heat of the moment."

"Oh, my, God." Christina regarded her exasperatedly. "If anyone has asked me I'd have said at least that you were smart. If you are, will you tell him?"

"I don't know," Tris said miserably. "But probably not. It would see like blackmailing him into some kind of commitment."

"Okay, but don't let him get you into bed until things get resolved between you."

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

Four came in again briefly at the end of visiting time to say goodbye to Christina, and to wheel Tris out, promising to bring her again next day. "And perhaps you'd like Tommy to come too?" he suggested.

"Oh, I'd love him to come, if it's not too much trouble," Christina said.

"It's no trouble," Four said as they said their goodbyes.

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

Four seemed very quiet on the journey back and Tris was thankful to be silent. Once they got back to his parent's home Four helped her up to her room, and then went to his own. He had promised to come up and fetch her down, but her knee was feeling much better. She changed into black jeggings and a silver sweater. Cautiously, she went down the stairs.

The family was in the drawing room for dinner, as she paused in the entrance way, she saw Four and the rest of them chatting over their drinks, and it was Hana who noticed her first. "Tris, my dear, how very lovely you look."

This had the effect of drawing all eyes upon her, and Four and his father moved towards her, echoing the compliment. But it was Four who took her arm, "I told you I'd carry you downstairs," he said as he steered her towards the blazing log fire and the drinks try set out on a low table before it.

"I managed," she told him.

The group sat down and enjoyed dinner, Hana and Michael seemed very interested in how she grew up and her family. She listened to how Four and Zeke used to get into trouble and somehow Uriah managed to find a way to tag along with them.

"It's not my fault," Uriah denied as Four and Zeke both laughed.

"It never was," Four said.

"I pity Marlene," Zeke said.

Marlene? Wasn't that one of Four's many girlfriends? Tris asked herself.

"What for?" Uriah asked.

"Because she loves you," Zeke said.

"I'm so glad all my boys have someone that they care about, Zeke has Shawna and Uriah has Marlene and now Four has Tris," Hana said as she smiled at her husband.

Tris couldn't meet Four's gaze just yet, but she could feel his eyes on her.

"Four why don't you show Tris the rest of the house? All the nooks and crannies," Michael said.

"Of course," Four said as he stood up and Tris took his hand as started to lead her through the house. At one point, he swept her up in his arms to carry her up a second, less imposing flight of stairs. Held in his arms, his breath lightly fanning her cheek, the scent of him, composed of male warmth, and his cologne. She felt the familiar desire stir in her. If only they were home and Four was carrying her upstairs to their bedroom.

"Are you cold?" Four asked, he must have sensed her sensuous shiver.

"No, I'm fine."

His look told her that having eliminated the most obvious cause of that shudder, he now knew as well as she did what had caused it, and his arms tightened. "Don't try to deny what you feel, Tris."

He carried her in a drawing room on the wing which he told her was his wing when he was home. A log fire burned strongly in the grate, and set out on a low table was a tray holding a coffee pot, a plate of desserts with glasses.

Tris looked at him questioningly and he smiled, "Yes, this was planned in advance, with orders not to disturb us."

"I don't intend to be your..."

"My what?" he asked, his eyes dangerously narrowed.

"I'm not going to be just another girl you bed," Tris said. "Like Lauren and Morgan, why are you laughing at me?"

"Not Marlene as well?" Four asked. "She's Uriah's girl in case you didn't catch that and Lauren is my cousin, Morgan is her husband."

"You could have told me, you knew what I was thinking," Tris said.

"You should have trusted me instead. You trusted me with your body, I want the trust of you giving me your heart as you have owned mine." Four said.

Tris let out a breath and knew what she needed to do, needed to say. Those words that would forever heal this rift between them, a rift she had caused. But she knew once she said those words to him, it would change her life...forever.

"I'm sorry I doubted you, I was a fool." Tris said. Four gave her a look, and she knew he wanted those magic words from her.

"I fell in love with you, now are you happy?" Tris asked.

Four smiled and his hands clamped down on her shoulders, his fingers almost bruising in their intensity as he drew her to him, her lips meeting his with an inevitability as natural as breathing, and searing waves of desire swept through her.

He held her a little from him, looking down into her face."I love you too Tris, now how soon can we be married?"

"What?' She couldn't believe what she'd just heard. "What did you say?"

"I said how soon can we be married?" Four asked.

"We...you...nothing was ever said about getting married."

"You think I'm the type of man who tells a woman that they love them and makes love to them and just walks away," Four said. "It's been my intention to marry you, from the moment I set eyes on you."

"But.."

"I couldn't say at first. You made it all too clear you wouldn't be easy to persuade. But I was determined to persuade you. I warn you, with me it's marriage or nothing, Tris. I..."

"Four, shut up. I wouldn't settle for anything less than marriage," Tris said. "I'll marry you whenever you like...however..."

"What?" he tensed.

"I would like Christina to be well enough," Tris said.

He relaxed, "Of course. Now can I ravish my fiancee?"

"You better," Tris said as he picked her up and brought them over to a bed. As he laid her down on the bed, he looked down at her, "I want to get us a place of our own soon. My place isn't for a family and once the children start arriving," he laughed delightedly, "You blush exquisitely, Tris. But, you do agree? There are going to be children?"

She nodded, "For all you know, they might already be on the way."

From his reaction, it must be the first time in their acquaintance that he was at a loss for words. "But...you mean...you could be...you...I mean...the pill?"

"There was never a reason until you came along to take them." Tris said.

She felt his arms tighten, "I know it's selfish, but I'm so glad I was the first and last with you. But do you think you might be?"

"I don't know...yet."

"Would you mind if you were?" Four asked.

"Not a bit," Tris said softly against his mouth.

"In that case," he quickly got rid of their clothing, "it wouldn't hurt to make sure."

"Merry Christmas, Four," Tris said.

"Merry, Christmas, Tris," Four said.

All was right with the world.

The End.

(Well, there was the last of the Christmas stories, I hoped you enjoyed them all.)