Hey Readers :) So sorry about the late update. I've been working straight for the past month and haven't had much time to write or edit. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, I've started a one shot story surrounding my two stories, "Life At A Glance". Anyways here's chapter 7.


Chapter 7

"Maxon, can you please pass me her blanket?" I ask over Emmaline's cries. Maxon sighs and goes across the room to where the blanket is currently perched on the vanity. I cradle Emmaline against my chest, rocking her back and forth. "She never cried this much during the past four months. " Maxon complains as he hands me the blanket. "Oh I'm sorry, did she disrupt your sleep last night? Because the way I remember the past 12 hours was you sleeping and me dealing with her crying." I snap, wrapping Emmaline in her blanket. Maxon says nothing but shakes his head. I watch him walk over to the bathroom and grab his tie off the counter. "I'm sorry, I'm just tired." I whisper. Emmaline continues to weep and fuss in my arms. I rearrange her to face forward and try slightly bouncing to calm her. "I know my darling, I'm sure she'll settle down soon." He walks over and places a kiss on my forehead. "I'm heading to my study before going to the budget meeting; just in case you need me." Maxon mutters. I shake my head and look down at my fussy girl. "Okay" I whisper, hearing the door close behind him.

I manage to calm Emmaline a little by singing to her but not for long. "Oh Emmy, I know you feel miserable." I sigh, laying her down on the bed. "This cold should be over soon." Yesterday afternoon Emmaline came down with a fever. Of course I panicked and went to Dr. Cole immediately but he reassured me that it was only a slight cold and gave her some medication to help her feel better. Emmaline cries louder and kicks her little feet at me. "Oh sweetie, you're going to be fine." I whisper. I hear the door open and see Mary coming in. "Mary, I'm so happy to see you. I need to shower but I can't leave her and Maxon is being a pain. Emmy's fever has come down but she's still miserable. Also I'm supposed to be meeting Marlee this afternoon but at this rate I won't be getting there. " I ramble on. I look to Mary and see her laughing at my franticness. "Oh Mary, I'm sorry. How was your honeymoon?" Mary just shakes her head. "Now is not the time for that. Go get a shower and I'll deal with the princess." She walks over and picks Emmaline up. "Thank you Mary."

I come out of the bathroom, covering myself with a robe. I look around my suite to see Mary nowhere in sight. "Mary?" I call out, searching the room. I walk into the nursery to see Mary tucking Emmaline into her crib. Mary looks up at me and put her finger to her mouth silencing me. I watch her as she finishes tucking Emmaline in and dims the light. We walk back into my suite and I immediately pull Mary in for a hug. "How did you calm the child who cried all night?" I ask desperately. Mary laughs and pulls back. "She just needed a pair of calm hands to cradle her and a cold cloth on her forehead for a little while." I shake my head and collapse on the closet chair. "Of course she didn't want to calm down for me." "She could tell you were stressed you're Majesty." I sigh loudly and cover my face with my hands. "Mary, I'm going to lie down while she's sleeping. I need to rest before my meeting with Marlee." I stand up and walk over to the bed. I clean off all the baby toys and get in under the covers. "Of course, You're Majesty. I'll be around cleaning and tidying the rooms. I'll have some food and coffee ready for you when you wake up." Mary smiles and heads into my closet and closes the door behind her. It isn't long before I feel myself drifting off to sleep.

"Marlee can you hand me those papers on the new school system in Waverly?" I shuffle stuff around my desk making room for the stack of papers. "America, I think you need to clean your desk." Marlee laughs, handing me the papers. "I know but I never seem to have the time or energy." Marlee shakes her head and starts organizing all the papers from this morning's budget meeting. "Remember you have that budget meeting tomorrow with Silvia to discuss Maxon's party." I nod my head and skim over the papers. Not everything adds up on the papers. "Marlee, why are only the elementary schools receiving new art programs and older ones are not? I thought the new system was going to change it so that all schools will have more art programs." I ask, looking up at her apologetic face. "Well that was the plan but the budget was only big enough for the…" A loud screech interrupts Marlee's reply and I turn to see Emmaline crying in her chair. "Oh Emmy." I coo, lifting her up and into my arms. I motion towards my cover up across the room and Marlee gladly retrieves it. I start feeding Emmy and turn back to Marlee. "As I was saying, the budget only allowed us to put art programs in the elementary schools." She explains, pointing out the numbers on the papers. "Okay, I want to look over those numbers again and discuss this with the board of education in Waverly. Education and art is one of my priorities as Queen and I want to make sure it's done right." I state, setting the papers front and center on my desk. "Have we gotten any other province reports back?" "Not as of this morning." Marlee replies. I nod and make a mental note of the extra work I need to complete. I finish feeding Emmy and burp her.

"Marlee, could you do me a favour?" I ask, setting Emmaline back into her chair. "Of course, what do you need?" "Could you start looking into getting a proper nanny for Emmaline? I'm going to hate leaving her with someone else but I can't look after her and work anymore. Especially now with her growing and needing more of my constant attention and the advisors expecting more work from me." I explain, not taking my eyes off my daughter. "I understand America. It's terrifying thinking of leaving your child every day; I was scared leaving Kile at first but he's fine. I promise to find the perfect nanny." Marlee hugs me and ruffles my hair. "She'll be well taken care of."

"Good evening love." Maxon grins, walking into my study. "Good evening." I reply, not looking up from my work in front of me. "I see that Emmy has settled down." Maxon lifts her up from her chair and tickles her. "At the moment she is calm. She cried several times this afternoon while I was trying to work." I sigh, putting the papers into a drawer in my desk. "Miss Emmy, were you crying all day? Do you not like being sick?" Maxon uses his baby voice as he bounces her in his arms. "Says the man who refused to get out of bed one day because he had a tiny cold." I tease. "Hey I had more than a tiny cold." He pouts. I stand up from my seat and grab Emmy's blanket from her chair. "Alright mister I get it. The King of Illéa can't stand being sick. Let's go to supper before Emmaline decides to cry again." "Ames, she'll be fine." "I know" I whisper, leaning up to kiss him. "Let's go to supper." I start walking towards the dining hall in hopes Maxon is following me.

We reach the stairs and I turn to Maxon with a serious face. "I ask Marlee to start looking for a nanny for Emmaline." Maxon remains silent and kisses Emmy's cheek. "When did you decide that we were getting a nanny?" he asks, turning to face me. "Well I was 20 minutes late to my meeting and I can't always look after her when I'm trying to get work done." I explain "Also it would be nice to have someone here to look after her whenever we need someone. It's a hassle trying to track someone down when I need someone." Maxon nods and uses his free arm to pull me in for a hug once we reach a landing. "I understand America. She just seems young to be stuck with a nanny all day." "It won't be all day Maxon. Only when I have important meetings or she's too fussy to sit in my study with me." I explain. He nods and looks to Emmaline. "Do you want a nanny? Well I guess you don't know what a nanny is but you're going to have the nicest nanny in the world. No strict nannies." He looks to me "I want to be part of the hiring process though Ames. I only want the best for my baby girl." "Of course My Royal Husbandness."

The bright morning sun fills the dining room, making even the inside of the palace feel like summer. For once I actually feel awake this early in the morning. Emmaline slept through most of the night with no major incidents. Both Maxon and I were happy about that. The doors of the dining room open and Marlee enters holding a small bundle of papers. "I have 6 applicants here to be your nanny." She smiles, sitting down at the table across from me. She hands me the papers to me. "Only 2 already work in the palace but the others have worked for high officials or advisors. I have set up interviews for this afternoon starting at 1:00 sharp. They will take place in your study and I will be there to help you. I've made a list of questions for you to ask but feel free to add or remove some." Maxon looks at me with a grin on his face and chuckles. "Marlee, has anyone ever said that you go above and beyond with your job?" "Not since yesterday." She replies. I laugh and continue eating my breakfast. "Marlee, America and I made a list of questions and requirements for the applicants. Also I've requested that we have secondary interviews with the final candidates after today. I want to meet them before we decide on one." Maxon explains between mouthfuls of eggs. "Of course you're Majesty." I finish my breakfast and turn to Maxon. "My mother will be watching Emmaline this afternoon in the women's room. If I'm not done with the interviews can you relieve my mother from babysitting duties around 5? Mom needs to return home to help Kenna with the baby." Maxon shakes his head and replies. "I have a meeting starting at 4 and I doubt it'll be done by then." I sigh and stand up from my seat. "Marlee please make sure the interviews are done by 5. Also Maxon remember that we are having lunch with my mother at 12 in the women's room. Please be there." I stress, taking the bundle of papers off the table. "Of course my darling, I'll be there." He grins, taking my hand and kissing it.

"So we've narrowed it down to two of the applicants today." I state, going through the notes I've made today. "That's good my darling. Did you set up more interviews?" Maxon walks out of the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around his waist. I try to hide my blush and turn my attention back to the papers. "Yes, we have both interviews Friday afternoon. I've checked your schedule and you are free so you will be at the interviews. I can't decide this on my own." Maxon takes a seat beside me and starts massaging my shoulders. "I will be there. I want a say in who looks after our baby." He places a kiss on my cheek and looks down at the papers. "We can look at those in the morning." I shake my head and continue reading the papers. "Maxon we are going over these tonight." Maxon ignores me and starts sliding the sleeves of my bathrobe off my shoulders. "But my darling, you look gorgeous tonight and the princess is fast asleep in her room." He whispers against my bare shoulder. "For now." I mutter thinking about the lack of sleep I've gotten the past few days." Maxon ignores my comment. I sigh as he moves his lips to my neck. I gather up the papers and set them on the floor. "I guess I can spare you some time." I tease, turning to face him. "I'll take what I can get." I remove my robe, and move onto Maxon's lap. He immediately starts kissing me and wanders his hands. I reach over to the bedside table and turn off the light.

"Maxon please don't go too hard on the nannies today. I want them to be open and honest with us, not terrified" I plea. Maxon smirks and pulls me in for a side hug. "America, you know I'm going to go hard on them. They have to be prepared to work for us and take care of the heir to the throne." I sigh and take my hand away from his. "Please Maxon, they were nice and proper when I met them a few days ago and these two seem to know what they are doing. I don't want you to scare them off." I watch his face as he thinks it over. "Alright America, I'll be easier on them." He pulls me in for a kiss. "I love you my darling." "I love you too."

We enter the women's room to find two chairs set up with a table between them and another chair. We make our way over to the chair and take our seats. "The first applicant should be here in five minutes." I state, picking up the papers from the table in front of us. "Her name is Maisie and she is 32 years old." Maxon reads aloud from his copy of papers. "She has worked as a housekeeper for the mayor of Zuni and has recently moved here to work as a maid. She looked after his son several times over the course of the past eight years." I nod and look over the notes I made during the last meeting. "She sounds qualified. But she seemed a bit uptight last time." I state, flipping through the pages. Maxon sets the notes down on his lap and turns to me. "Alright, I hope she loosens up a bit today. I don't want any strict nannies."

The door opens and Marlee comes in with Maisie following her. Maisie has the same tight lipped smile on her face as the last time I met her. Maxon and I stand up and greet our guest. "Welcome to the palace Ms. Maisie." Maxon smiles, holding out his hand to shake. "Thank you You're Majesties for this opportunity." She shakes Maxon's hand and curtseys. "Have a seat Ms. Maisie and we'll start the interview." We all take our seats and Maxon quickly starts asking questions. We start asking introductory questions and such before getting into the more serious ones.

"So how much experience do you have with infants?" Maxon asks, sitting tall in his chair. Maisie takes a big breath before answering the question. "Well Mr. Ashburn's son was two years old before I cared for him. He had a previous nanny who had more experience for when he was young." I take in this information. "A toddler is much different than a young infant. Do you think you could handle the care of an infant?" I ask before taking a sip of tea. "Of course." Maisie replies rather quickly. "The princess is a quite simple child and is easily calmed. She won't be a bother to me at all" Maxon turns to me in a confused manner. I grimace and turn back to Maisie. "Ms. Maisie, where did you hear that information?" She turns red, realizing what she said. "Well the tabloids and the other maids." She says quietly. Maxon remains silent but I can see behind his blank face that this isn't our new nanny. "Thank you for your time Ms. Maisie." I state. We walk her out of the room gently.

The door closes and Maxon sighs loudly. "Maxon, you can't expect the maids not to gossip about Emmaline. I just think that she shouldn't have mentioned it during her interview." "It's not that America. I just hate how she acted like she already knew our daughter. I can't stand when people assume they know us just from gossip and tabloids. They don't know us and they act like they do. I am not the person they think I am." He freaks running his hands franticly through his hair. He starts pacing the room mumbling to himself. I walk over and take my seat again. I pick of a cup of tea, taking a sip. I let him cool down for a few minutes before he takes his seat. "Sorry my darling." He whispers, placing a kiss on my cheek. "I understand. I feel the same way sometimes."

"Welcome to the palace Ms. Hazella." I greet, walking her into the room. Maxon and I spent 10 minutes of us taking time to calm down before the next applicant. Hazella is a petit young woman, simply 21 years old. Her brown hair is shoulder length and her complexion gorgeous. She's defiantly a prom queen type. From her last visit I discovered she is from Carolina but from a different part. "Please have a seat." Maxon gestures. We all take our seat and begin the questioning. "So Ms. Hazella, last time you and I talked we discussed your experience with young children." I start, smiling widely. "Yes, I've worked for the police chief of Carolina since I was 15. He and his wife have children, two of which were born after I started working for them. I looked after the children for the past 6 years every day." Hazella explains, keeping a polite smile on her face. I see Maxon looking over her application before asking a question. "Why do you not work for that family anymore?" he asks. For some reason I never thought to ask this last time Hazella was here. Her voice remains quiet and steady as she answers. "I was living with at the family's house for the past 4 years because my mother, my last family member I had, had died. This family decided that after I moved in with them that I was owned by them. 2 months ago they found out that I have been seeing this boy who is a 4. They weren't happy to hear about the boy and told me to choose my job or him. I chose them but they still believed I was seeing the boy so they fired me. I decided to take what money I had and move here to Angeles where my cousin lives."

I remain silent as I take in the information Hazella has just told us. Maxon looks at me Hazella sympathetically before responding. "Thank you for sharing that with us, Ms. Hazella." "I wanted to be honest with you all. You're entrusting me with your child. I think your daughter deserves the best care and I think that includes you knowing everything about me." Hazella smiles. We return to our questions and she answers them honestly and confidently. She has the right answer when we ask her scenario type questions and understood the rules of living in the palace. We finish the interview and we escort her out of the palace, promising to let her know soon about the job.

Maxon and I return to the women's room and discuss the interview. "Well she has experience and seems qualified." I state, rereading her application. "Also she's friendly and open." Maxon replies, turning to face me. "Do you think she's right for the job?" he asks, with a grin on his face. I set down the pages of questions we asked and nod. Maxon turns to me with a huge grin on his face. "Well America, I think we've found our nanny."


I hope you all liked this chapter :) The next chapter will have lots of drama in it so be warned. It should be up by the end of July the latest. Until next time.

-SelectionGirl0723