Alright since I delayed posting this chapter – for which I am extremely sorry – I am going to skip right to the story! But I thank everyone for the reviews and thank all of you for reading my story! This Friday will mark the 3rd week of recovery for me and I have started walking again so I'm able to do more and get more done! I missed all of my fanfictioners and I hope you guys enjoy the story for as long as I choose to extend it! My surgery was rescheduled so that's why I'm back so late…but I'm happy to be back and I hope you all will enjoy reading my stories again!

Love Smashleigh

Chapter 4:

Olivia:

I let my eyes finally flutter open and was met with the sight of blinding sunlight. Throwing a hand over my eyes I tried rolling over. But my body was restrained by a solid figure beside me. An unfamiliar scent wafted through my nose and I peeked through my fingers to see – not Sam – but Eli. I would've screamed if he didn't cover my mouth with his hand. The memories of the previous night flooded into my mind and I struggled against Eli's iron grip. I bit down on his hand hard and the taste of coppery blood filled my mouth.

"Damn it, Olivia!" he exclaimed pulling his hand away from my mouth.

"What are you doing?!" I yelled, jumping off the bed I was snuggled on. "Where's Sam?!"

"Don't you know where we are?" Eli mockingly asked.

I took a quick glance around the room and gasped. No, no, no, no, no…is it possible we were that close to home? I feel like I was only asleep for a few minutes! Suddenly I felt dizzy and leaned against the wall for support. My room was familiar to me but it's somewhere I didn't expect to be anytime soon. And with Eli of all people. God how could he do this to me?

"Knock, knock." someone said from the door. Alex peeked his head through the door and I practically threw myself at him. "Whoa! Olivia it's good to see you too!"

I fiercely hugged him and let a few tears roam down my cheeks. My words were choked back by my small sobs. The life I planned out in a matter of weeks has turned into a nightmare. Then a thought hits me. Composing myself I pull away slightly to look up at Alex. "Where's Sam?"

His eyes flash with sadness before dropping to the ground. "He's gone, Olivia."

I gasp. "What do you mean 'gone'?"

"My Father had him banished for his inexplicable behavior." Eli said proudly.

I whip around and face him. "You did what?!"

"I didn't do anything. My Father had him banished from Illeá."

"You monsters!" I scream at him. Alex restrained me from gouging his eyes out. Which I so badly wanted to do. "You bastard! That's my fiancé!"

"No." he said shortly, standing up and coming over to stand in front of me. "I am your fiancé. Not a stable boy."

"That is enough Elijah." Alex says sternly.

Eli eyes Alex distastefully before bowing his head and exiting my room. As soon as the door clicked shut behind him I let out a blood curdling scream and collapsed on the floor. Burying my head in my arms I let the sobs rack my body as my heart shattered. I'll never see Sam again! I'll never get to look into his beautiful blue eyes. I'll never get to run my fingers through his blonde hair in the mornings to untangle it. I'll never love anyone as much as him. I won't even try.

"Olivia?" Alex asks, awkwardly crouching beside me. I respond with a weak moan. "I'm not good with people crying…but come here."

His arms enveloped me and I buried my head in his shoulder. He awkwardly ran a hand up and down my back. But he offered no words of reassurance. He wasn't joking when he said he wasn't good with people crying. But maybe he was since no words would ever reassure me.

"I don't wish to leave you like this." he said softly. "But I have a wife to pick."

I stiffened in his arms. "Oh."

Planting a kiss on the top of my head, he slid me onto the bed and placed the covers over me. "I'll talk to you later?" It was a question not a order.

"Please?" I plead. When he nods I sigh in relief. "Thank you."

America:

While Lucy and Anne prepare me for the day, I cannot help but admire my now somewhat round stomach. We went for the ultrasound the other day and revealed that I was having another boy. If I could carry him full term. Maxon was excited but kept his excitement to a minimum just in case. I on the other hand, have been going all out in preparing the nursery for his arrival. Names have been considered but all I can think about is having another baby to coo over. My eighth little child. I am now close to three and a half months pregnant.

"Darling, though I admire you looking at our child, we have a busy day ahead of us." Maxon teases.

I turn my head towards him with a radiant smile. Could he really blame me? I've been waiting for another child a long time. But he and I both agreed that this will be our eighth and final child. We already have Selections planned for all of them and taking so much money out of the treasury can be taxing on us.

"Has Alex decided who he's eliminating again?" I asked.

Maxon nodded. "Seems we are already down to ten girls, my dear."

"Ten girls?!" I gasp. "It's barely been a month."

"Seems our son is a bit more productive than I." Maxon says bitterly.

I drop my eyes to the floor, unable to meet his eyes. "It wasn't your fault."

He strides over to me and tilts my chin up so I look at him. "I could've ended it anytime and take you. But instead I pushed you further and further away."

I shook my head and dropped my head in my hands. The memories are still fresh in my mind. I feel like if I hadn't pushed Maxon away so many times and just accepted my feelings for him, things may have been different. I always wondered what would have happened if I didn't marry Maxon. If I went home and married Aspen.

"Stop that." he said softly. "Stop thinking of the 'ifs'." Maxon folded me in his arms. "Let's go on a little trip tonight."

I nodded and laid my head on his chest. The steady beat of his heart brought comfort to me and I matched my uneven breathing to his. "Can we?"

"My dear, we're the monarchs of Illeá!" he says proudly. "Who's going to say no?"

Alex:

Claudia, Juliana, Marissa, Cassandra, Claire, Kalee, Elizabeth, Sofia, Karolina, and Kelli. The final girls that I have narrowed down from the first day. It's been two weeks since they arrived and I have already eliminated the ones who were either a) here for the crown and b) unrefined or inconsiderate. Though a few of the ladies left still lack refinery I can look over it for their sakes. Tomorrow night is the Report and I just know that Gavril will grill me for my favorite of the girls. There is one particular that I have in mind but everyone is still fairly new to me. But for now I have a date with a beautiful Lady Juliana.

Her and I planned a movie night tonight. The theater in the palace, though old, has the best movie collection anyone will ever had. Knowing from experience that she is not a hopeless romantic, I decided to go for an action movie. Maybe that'll spark someone excitement in her.

"Prince Alex." someone says softly from behind me.

I turn and meet the eyes of Lady Cassandra. She's the smallest of the group at only five foot two but ever since she arrived I noticed that she started filling out. I couldn't see her bones now and her skin was a little bit pinker than before. "How are you, Cassie?" I ask softly, stepping closer.

She smiles shyly. "I'm doing well. You?"

I take one of her hands in mine. For some reasons I feel a tenderness towards her unlike the others. Running a thumb over her knuckles I plant a small kiss on her hand. "Just wonderful." I say softly.

"I'm glad." she says.

"Although I'd love to stay and chat with you darling, I must be somewhere."

"Oh." she says sadly. "You have a date with Juliana."

I looked at her shocked. I should've known they'd gossip but I didn't expect it from little Cassie. She seems too…I don't know, pure? "Why yes."

"Well I don't want to keep you then." she said, releasing my hand.

She turns but I place a hand on her shoulder to stop her. What is with me today? "Wait." I turn and place my hands on her hips. She stiffens at the gesture and then I watch her relax. "I was wondering if you'd have dinner with me tonight."

For a moment she thinks about it. Finally a smile creeps along her lips and she nods. "Yes, I'd love to."

I grin and plant a small kiss on her cheek. "Perfect. How does seven sound?"

She grins back. "That sounds perfect."

Maxon:

"Open your eyes." I whisper in America's ear.

I hear her intake a breath and can't help but hold back a smile. I knew she'd like it. I've worked hard enough for the past few hours preparing it. "Oh Maxon!"

She walks to the center of the room and spins in a circle. I watch from the door as she walks over to the circular white crib. She runs her hand over the smooth white wood and light blue cushions covering the edges. When she looks up I notice the tears in her eyes as she traces the small little blue bird sitting on our tree. The room was repainted baby blue for our soon to be son. But I had to make sure the tree was untouched. It took almost four hours for them to avoid painting the tree since it took up most of the far wall.

"Surprise." I say softly, walking over and wrapping my arms around her waist.

She leans back into me as we admire the new room. Finally she turns to me and plants a small kiss on my lips. "As much as I love the room, what's for dinner?"

I chuckle. "Oh you're hungry are you?"

"We're hungry." she says softly.

I place a hand on the small bump of our baby. It's nice to see America so happy and content lately. She still has the responsibilities of a Queen but she'll always be my wife and our children's mother first. How did I ever get so lucky to love her?

"Let's go eat then. I have something special for you."

"More special than this?" she asks excitingly.

I laugh. "Remember what you told me you wanted when you were pregnant with Andrew and Matthew?"

She gasps. "You remember?"

"I remember you wanted peaches and salmon the seventh month in." I told her. "I had to stop everything I was doing so I could make my darling happy."

She giggles. "Was I really that bad?"

I bring her close. "Worse." I tease.

Leading her back through our bedroom and onto the balcony. Set up on the little wrought iron table was a small vase with a single rose and two plates. I pulled out her chair and helped her sit. She lowered herself down and watched as I went over to the small table set up with our dinner. Placing a good size piece of salmon on her plate I added a mountain of food and placed it in front of her.

She smiled at me when I sat opposite her. Taking one of her hands in mine I watched as she tried not devouring the food in front of her. I gave her a look and she shrugged her shoulders and started digging in. I laughed and rolled up my sleeves to join her. She smiled at me and we both had a messy dinner of salmon.

Sam:

"Samuel?" someone asks behind me. I turn and meet the eyes of my Father. He's fuming and I know he is. "Samuel, what have you done?"

I dropped my head and waited for his rage to come. My Mama never told him about my love for Olivia because she knew he'd either stop it or tell the King. We couldn't risk that and there was no way I could have lived without Olivia. Now look what I've done to her. All I've done was taint her…ruin her. She wouldn't care either way since she would marry another but I wouldn't live if she did.

"Carter, please." my Mama pleaded with him.

He turned his attention to her and his eyes softened for a moment. I know he loves her too much to do anything to rash but I know I'm getting some sort of punishment. But he walks over to her and places his hands on her waist. Spreading a palm over her slightly swollen stomach she looked up at him with tear filled eyes. They both knew something I didn't but I really didn't want to hear it. Sighing, my Father turned back to me. His eyes were rimmed red and there are only a few times I've really seen him cry. "Sam…you can't stay here anymore."

I thought he was messing with me, but his face was completely serious. "Go where?"

"You've…you've been banished. You are ordered to stay away from the Princess and leave Illeá." he told me.

My chest tightened and I almost tipped the chair I was leaning on over. "BANISHED?!"

My Mama lets out a loud sob and leaves the room to break down. My Father strides over to me before I collapse and supports me. "Son, listen to me."

I look up at him blankly. "What am I to do? I can't leave her!"

He sighs. "Listen I have an idea. But you cannot let anyone know."

Well everyone it feels good to be back! I don't know about how often I'll update but I will try! I hope you enjoyed this somewhat fluffy chapter and that you'll enjoy all the chapters to come!