Hi!

I'm so sorry I've kinda been neglecting this story, but I have a new chapter up today!

This one's a two-part story, so this chapter is basically an introduction to it.

Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: all Selection characters belong to Kiera Cass

"Maxon, are you ready?" I asked.

I sat on the bed in our room and watched as he readjusted his blue tie.

"Yes, I'm all done. And you, my dear?" he asked.

I looked down at my white knee-length dress. It was simple, yet elegant, with waves of fabric overlapping each other.

"Yeah. And you really don't need the tie. Or the suit jacket. We're only going to see my family," I said to him.

"I know, it's just–"

"Maxon, love, you don't have to look like you're going to a meeting everywhere you go." I told him.

He sighed. "You're right. There's just so much going on right now; I feel like I will have to go to one. The castes, the fundraising for the poorer provinces, the–"

I walked over to him and gave him a kiss to silence him. He didn't need anything bothering him. "Just relax for the day." I said.

He smiled. "What would I ever do without you?" He took off his suit jacket and tie, leaving them on the vanity chair. He looked younger without them. He looked more like the Maxon I knew before he had all these stresses as king.

I smiled at him.

A series of small knocks came from the door. I looked over at Maxon questioningly. I walked to the door. I was almost there when it flew open. "Mommy! Mommy!" a little voice exclaimed.

I kneeled down. "Kaden! Can mommy have a hug?"

I extended my arms forward. My two-year old son toddled to me and fell right into my embrace. I would never get enough of this. I love my children so much. I planted a kiss on his cheek when he looked up at me. He giggled and gave me a sloppy kiss on my cheek. I laughed.

"Oh, Prince Kaden!" said Paige, who looked and sounded like she just ran a marathon. "Please don't run around so much! You're always going everywhere!"

I laughed again, looking at my son. It was true. His hair was ruffled messily, his shirt was now in need of ironing, and one of his shoes was missing.

"And, hello, Your Majesties," she said, acknowledging me and Maxon. "I found one of His Highness's shoes on the floor. A butler almost tripped over it." She handed the shoe over to Maxon. "Anyway, I think Prince Kaden will now need new clothes to wear. I'll go get him changed."

"No, it's alright, Paige. You rest for the afternoon. We can get him dressed."

She looked at me, grateful, but not shocked. It was common for me to do things that the maids did, especially if it involved the children. I didn't want them to grow up with maids and butlers doing everything for them.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," she said, curtsied, and walked away.

"Okay. Let's get you changed." I said to my son.

I held Kaden in my arms while Maxon and I went to the nursery. I put him down on a chair, looking over at the closet.

"What colour does baby Kaden want to wear today?" Maxon asked.

"Blue!" he said enthusiastically.

I smiled. Kaden and I had the same fondness for that colour. However, other than that and his blue eyes like mine, he was so much like Maxon. They had the same honey blond hair, the same selflessness that I could see develop more and more each day.

"Let's see." I said, taking Kaden into my arms again and walking over to Maxon, who was at the closet. He put an arm around my waist.

"I like this one." I said, pointing to a baby blue polo. "Do you want that, Kaden?"

"Yes!" he replied.

When we were finished helping him change, Maxon looked at his watch and said, "It's two-o'clock. The car should be ready."

"Okay." I said.

He took Kaden into his arms, giving him a kiss. "Do you know where the twins would be?" Maxon asked me.

"They should be just finished their lesson with Silvia." I said. Today, they had an etiquette lesson with her.

We walked out of the nursery and down the hall together. "I'm so glad I have you." Maxon said suddenly.

"Me too. But why?" I asked.

"Well, I've just been thinking. You've done so much for me, and for the kids. You remind me so much of mother." I stopped walking. He hadn't talked about her in a long time, probably because of the pain.

"How?" I asked him.

"There's many reasons, my dear. First, you're so selfless like she was." The word 'was' lingered on his lips. "Second, you're very caring. She used to come into my room every night and tell me she loved me. Even if there was a meeting she had to go to, she would make time to come to me and say those words." He gave a sad smile at that thought. "And you're very much like that. You would do anything for the people you love. Remember that one time Ahren fell in the gardens? It was just one small scrape. But you skipped a meeting to take him to the infirmary." I laughed, because I remember he already stopped crying by the time he was in my arms.

"There's so many other reasons, but you know what's the biggest reason you remind me of her?" he asked.

"What is it?"

"It's because I love you both." I smiled. I turned to kiss him. Kaden, who was in between us, saw us kissing, so he gave me one on my cheek. My heart was overflowing with love.

Maxon pulled back, and I saw Kaden giving him a kiss on his cheek. I smiled.

From the end of the hall, I heard a voice call, "Ahren! Hurry up!"

"Eady! Wait!" another voice said.

"No! Ahren, you have to run faster."

I watched as Eadlyn sprinted down the hallway towards us, followed by a panting Ahren, out of breath. When they finally caught up to us, they were breathing heavily. "Ea-" Ahren started, but coughed. I rubbed his back. He finally managed to catch his breath and say, "Eady. Just walk next time."

"Why were you two running?" Maxon questioned them.

"Well…" Ahren started, but couldn't think of anything to say.

Eadlyn looked to her brother, helping him, "We wanted to visit Astra and Leo. Paige said to find you here so we could go together."

"First, it's Miss Paige, not just Paige." I said. It was important for them to know that even though they were royalty, they still needed to respect other people.

"And second, we are going to visit them right now." I told them.

"Yay!" they said. They immediately started walking.

"Do you think Leo grew even more cuter?" Ahren asked Eadlyn.

"Of course he did, silly." she responded, ever so confidently.

They walked faster, getting excited to see their cousins.

I laughed. "They don't need etiquette lessons. They should have more English ones." I told Maxon.

He laughed too, and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

When we got to the driveway, the twins were already waiting outside the black car with tinted windows. The driver came and unlocked the car. Eadlyn pulled on the door handle and quickly went in, followed by Ahren. Maxon used one hand to usher me into the back. He got in, one arm still securely wrapped around Kaden.

And there we all were, driving away from the safety of the palace, into the comforts of my family's home. And I couldn't be any happier.

I'm sorry the ending was kinda off.

But I had to end it somehow, so I hope you enjoyed.

Please review! Bye!