The Selection (The In-Between Bits)

The wall had never looked this interesting.

I vaguely registered Maxon waving his arms around, noticed how his voice changed pitch every so often with expression. I knew that the role of Queen of Illéa included the more… serious jobs, but no one had told me that I would have to sit in a four hour long conference between the leaders of the strongest countries of the world.

To be honest, it had been vaguely interesting for the first forty-five minutes or so, before the conversation quickly petered out and changed subject to the long-running war between our Nation and New Asia. Before that, I had conversed with Nicoletta. She was still like a goddess, with long tanned limbs and a perfect complexion. Over the past two years, we had become firm friends after she had lent money to us to fight the Southern Rebels. Even though my only bridesmaid was Marlee, she had been invited to every party that myself and Maxon had thrown, including the one where I had announced to Maxon that I was pregnant.

Pregnant. That word still sounded foreign to me, as strange as 'wife' and 'marriage' had sounded in the first few weeks of being Maxon's fiancée, and eventually when he was my husband. I had told the news to my family, of course, but a few weeks after Maxon had found out. It was nice keeping it our secret for a little while, but when I began expanding, it was a little harder to conceal. May had gone insane, of course, saying it was 'meant to be', and that she had guessed at Maxon's party before. I had tried not to take it personally, as I thought I hadn't started showing then. I assume Kota found out through whispers among our family. He had gotten what he wanted, now that he was a One, but mother still felt sour towards him, and we rarely spoke anymore.

"Uh, America, my dear?" I heard Maxon say, breaking the fog of my thoughts. I started, and saw that the people in the conference hall were receding towards the door of the palace.

"Oh!" I blurted, and quickly got up, rushing to the foyer to see off everybody who came. I said farewell to the leaders of France, England, and New Asia. I saw Princess Daphne out of the corner of my eye trying to leave quickly. Poor Daphne. Maxon hadn't revealed how she had taken to the news of our marriage, but I'd assumed that she was bitter, to say the least.

The last person to leave was Nicoletta. She waved for her parents to proceed without her, before she turned to me. She had a playful expression on her face as she took my hands in her own. What on Earth? I thought to myself as we stared at each other for a few seconds, though it felt like an eternity.

"So…" she said slowly in her accented English. Uh oh. There was only one way I could imagine this conversation going. Still, I kept my composure, and batted my eyelashes in an oh-so-innocent way at her.

"Yes?" I replied, my eyes remaining fixed on hers. It was like an intense staring competition, and whoever broke had to say something.

She pulled close to my ear. I could smell spices and warmth as she said, "When were you going to tell me you were expecting?"

I felt myself smile almost giddily. "How did you know?" I said in retaliation.

She gave me a look that said get real, before listing all the clues. "Well, you haven't taken a single sip of champagne all day, your dresses in the magazines have had no waist whatsoever, which is so not you," she said. The typically American phrase sounded strange on her foreign tongue. "And you've touched your stomach a grand total of six times today."

She studied my expression as I shifted from happiness to shock. I couldn't have done it six times, could I? And here I thought I was being careful. Nicoletta's smile broadened as she exclaimed, "You're even doing it now!"

I looked down, and, sure enough, I had a hand placed on the top of my stomach. I looked up in defeat, and motioned for her to sit down on the plush chaise positioned to the side of the door with me.

We spent the next few minutes with her asking questions, probing about the due date (not certain, about seven months from now), the gender (too early!), and my next scan.

I cleared my throat before answering the last one.

"Well, actually, it's, um… today." I muttered shakily.

As Nicoletta excitedly screamed, Maxon threw open the doors to the conference hall, and I saw that he and Aspen were laughing together about a topic unheard from outside. I got up quickly, too quickly.

"Whoah!" I muttered as I ungracefully collapsed to the floor. I saw Nicoletta rush to catch me out the top of my vision, and Aspen's face twisted to concern. I heard Maxon's shoes clack on the floor, and within a few seconds he had his arms around me, his face hovering above me.

"America! Are you okay? Say something!" he rushed hurriedly. I took in all of their expressions of worry, and I couldn't help it. I started laughing.

I saw all of them exhale. Aspen rolled his eyes, a smile toying at the corners of his mouth. Nicoletta began speaking rapidly in Italian, smiling with relief. Maxon looked confused, before I attempted to get back on my feet. He, too, began laughing, and he pulled me upright. Once we had both finished laughing, wrapped in an embrace, I noticed that Nicoletta and Aspen had both excused themselves.

Maxon gave me a quick peck, before taking hold of my hand. "Right, then, shall we be going?" he said chirpily, though I could sense that he was still a little shaken. I remembered the appointment with the Doctor. The scan.

I inhaled sharply, and laced my fingers through his. I nodded nervously.

"Now or never, I suppose."