A/N Hey Guys! Remember me? (you probably don't haha) so like 3 years ago before the release of 'The heir' I wrote this fan fiction called 'Children of Illéa Honestly it was pretty crap (you'll have to give me the benefit of the doubt since I was only 11 at the time) Anyway, the actual idea wasn't too shabby and I think my writing has improved just a tiny bit so I have decided to kind of make a new revamped version… Children of Illéa…. 2.0? So anyway, I'll say now what I said then- This story is mildly AU and see 10 years after the events of the selection.Maxon and America are unable to bear children of their own. Their solution? To hold a selection… for kids! I really hope you enjoy this, I'll try and upload chapters regularly (Which shouldn't be too hard at first since I'm basically just rewriting old chapters!) Please follow and leave a review as I really like constructive criticism!
America was in tears, her shoulders heaved with silent sobs. Her husband pulled her into tight embrace stroking her hair tenderly letting her cry.
"I just don't understand." She whispered after a long while, her voice hoarse from crying.
"I don't either my love." Said the king.
"We've been trying for months. All I want is a child. Is that too much to ask? Just one baby… an heir to our throne…"
"Perhaps…" Maxon said slowly "Perhaps we should see a fertility doctor."
"What!?" America spluttered.
"It's just an idea!" Said Maxon defensively "But it is one we must seriously consider. I hate to say it Darling but we have to prepare for the fact that you might be infertile." America swallowed and sat down on the bed, her face paler than a sheet of paper.
"Okay." She said, "Okay, call a doctor." He nodded planting a kiss on her forehead and exiting the room to make some calls and leave his wife to her thoughts.
A matter of days later America and Maxon sat in the hospital wing their palms slick with sweat, starting when anyone came into the room. After what was probably no more than half an hour, although it felt like a day, the doctor Strode back into the room.
"What? What is it?" Asked America, "What's wrong with me." The Doctor glanced down at her sheet of paper, seemingly perplexed.
"it would seem… Nothing."
"What?" America breathed, her eagerness rushing out of her like air from a balloon as she fell back into her seat.
"There would seem that there is nothing wrong with your fertility at all." America let out a laugh of relief and looked over at her husband joyously. He didn't laugh or even smile.
"This doesn't explain anything Ames." She said leaning forward "We're back at square one."
"May I suggest that if you are really having problems that you…" Said the doctor
"You don't mean to say…" Said Maxon drawing himself up.
"I'd hate to offend sir but you can never be sure unless you test."
"No, no. You're quite right, I should have myself tested where do I need to go?"
It was late very late. America sat on their bed, her face stained with tears and Maxon paced the carpet, chewing his thumb; it hadn't really sunk in. It was a highly complicated genetic disorder, it had meant his mother was unable to bear more than one child and it was unlikely that he would be able to bear any.
"Max? Maxon?!" America cried, jogging him from his thoughts.
"Yes?" He said quietly.
"You've been pacing for at least an hour, you'll wear a hole in that carpet if you're not careful. What in God's name are you thinking about?"
"We need an heir." He said.
"Oh, Good one Sherlock. I'm glad we figured that out!" Said his wife sardonically.
"Shush America hear me out. We need an heir… so perhaps a sperm donor?"
"No, absolutely no categorically not. I'm not having anyone's child except yours." She said firmly.
"Right." He said, "Well that was only one thought but I can't say that you'll like this one any better."
"Say it." She said. "you can't know I will until you say it."
"How about we hold a selection?"
"A selection? How can you say that? How are we supposed to hold a selection if we have no heir to hold it for? Honestly Maxon now is no time for jokes!"
"You didn't let me finish Ames! We could hold something like a selection but for kids, orphans. We select a young orphan at random from each province and invite them to stay in in our home. We spend time with them and get to know them then we whittle it down to one, perhaps two and we adopt them." He grinned at his wife. She bit her lip thoughtfully,
"I like the idea. But what'll happen to the orphans we don't pick? We can't exactly throw them back onto the streets the shock would kill them!"
"I thought of that." He said. "Perhaps we change them uppers-" Maxon and America had done their best to dissolve the castes but Rome wasn't built in a day, and three divides still remained, Lower, Middle and Upper, "And we offer them homes with wealthy loving families and for those who don't wish to be adopted we will build a grand stately home nearby for them to live in where they'll want for nothing."
"I Hate to say this Maxon… But I like it! Its charitable, it's fun and it's the seamless way to find a child perfect for us. I knew you'd come through!"
"Perhaps we'll find our heir after all." He said, pulling her in and kissing her gently.