Hi guys! Sorry wasn't able to update yesterday! A lot of things came up, and I was stuck at school. My update-everyday streak is finally over! :'( I think I won't be able to update as often anymore.

Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter. Not actually that confident about it.

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"I love you, Maxon." I whispered. "Yes, I've always wanted to marry you."

The door suddenly opened and I saw Maxon standing in front of me.

"Then what's holding you back?" He asked.


-America's POV-

My eyes widened in shock. Maxon went closer to my bed and looked down to me. His breathing was heavy and his face full of sweat. I sat up and looked at him. "M-Maxon. Why are you here?" I stuttered, and then bit my quivering lips.

"Answer the god damn question, America!" He shouted. "What's holding you back?" His voice desperate.

I closed my eyes, letting my tears fall down. I shook my head and looked at him, my eyes starting to brim with tears again. I can't do it. I'm just not ready yet. "Please. Just not now, Maxon." I pleaded.

"Don't you trust me?" He said, his eyes filled with hurt.

"I DO, Maxon."

"Why then?" He paused. "Why can't you tell me?"

"I—I can't"

"You can't or you WON'T?"

"Please, Maxon. Let's just stop this!" I cried out.

"Damn it, America. Why do you make things complicated?! Why can't you just tell me the bloody truth?" He ran his right hand through his hair and started pacing back and forth. "What do you take me for, then?!"

"Please, just understand."

"Understand what, America?! You won't even say anything! What the hell will I UNDERSTAND!" His voices rising after every sentence.

"I don't know…" I looked down at my lap.

"You DON'T know?" He said with disbelief and started laughing cynically. "You have to think of a better excuse, America." His voice strained, as he looked straight at me. "I won't leave until YOU tell me, what the HELL is going on with you."

I started feeling angry. Why can't he just let me be? Why was he so bloody intrusive? Why does he have to be so damn insensitive? I'm the one who's been hurting the most, why can't he understand that?! "IT'S NOT YOUR GOD DAMN CONCERN, MAXON!" I shouted.

"IT IS, AMERICA! The moment I met you, everything about you has become 'MY GOD DAMN CONCERN!'"

"I DIDN'T TELL YOU TO MAKE IT YOUR GOD DAMN CONCERN. If you're so tired of me, why don't you just walk away?" I hissed. I shut my eyes closed, tears streaming down my face.

"America—"

"Just go AWAY!" I glared at him and then turned my head to the other side so that I wasn't facing him.

"I won't."

I looked at him as he stood, unmoving. Why does this guy have to be so stubborn! I got up the bed and stomped towards him. I shoved him, and tried to push him away but he wouldn't budge. "Move! Damn it!" I cried out.

"No."

"YOU—" before I could finish what I was about to say he crashed his lips to mine. My eyes widened in shock and my brain stopped functioning for a second. When I came back to my senses I started pushing him and slapping his chest. He looked hard at me and moved his lips away. I thought he had finally stopped but instead he carried me in his arms where I squirmed and kicked in vain. He walked towards the bed and dropped me. I tried to get up but he pushed me back and trapped me with his body. He stared at me, making me feel self-conscious.

"Tell me what's wrong." He commanded.

"Unbelievable! Is this how you're going to treat those who disagrees with you, once you're king?" I retorted, glaring at him.

His eyes looked hurt. I suddenly felt disgusted with myself. Why do I always hurt the people I love? Why is to so hard to tell the truth?

"Aren't you tired of fighting?" He asked.

"I am, Maxon." I sighed. His question ran deeper to me than to what he actually meant.

"Why then?"

"I—it's hard." I raised my arms to cover my face and cried. We stayed that way for a while until my crying turned to faint sobs. He then pulled my arms down and leaned to kiss my eyelids.

"Try me." He said softly, his eyes pleading.

"I—" I closed my eyes and breathed out, trying to control my emotions. "I can never have a baby, Maxon." I whispered, looking away and then back at him.

His face was stone hard as he tried to digest what I just said. He looked at me, confused. "Tell me that's a joke, America."

I bit my lips. "It isn't. I wouldn't joke about something like this, would I?" I never could agree more to what he said. Ever since Doctor Matthew informed about it, I was hoping that he'd come running to me telling me that the results were wrong. That never happened though.

"If course it isn't." He said almost to himself. He looked as if he was contemplating about something. We remained silent for a while before he spoke again. "How? Didn't you say your family didn't have any problems about having children?"

"We don't. I was also very much capable as we talked about it the last time." I said. I wanted to cry but I held it in. I just want this secret out of my system.

"Then what makes this time different?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked straight at him. "It's because I was shot in the abdomen. It wasn't only my stomach that was damaged but also my reproductive organs." Tears started threatening to fall down so I looked up and wiped them away before I continued. "The doctor said that the chances of me getting pregnant are slim." I looked at him, my eyes red. "And even if I did get pregnant my body wouldn't be able to take the stress and strain of pregnancy. I would must probably die in the process, he said."

I looked at him to see how he would take it in but I just couldn't read his face. He removed himself on top of me and sat at the edge of the bed. His shoulders started shaking. "This is all my fault, America. If you hadn't met me this would have never happened."

I crawled towards him and hugged his back. "Maxon, stop it. It isn't your fault. I made a choice when I did that and I don't regret it. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Don't lie, America. I know how much you have wanted to have children."

"But you are more important to me." I placed my right hand at his chin and moved it to my direction so that he was facing me. "more important than everything else." I closed my eyes and kissed him, my tears falling down once again. "Which is why we have to end this."

He looked at me, his eyes watery. "Why?" He whispered.

"I can't give you a child, Maxon. That's why."

"I don't care if you can or cannot give me a child. All I ever wanted was you, America! Can't you see that?" His voice cracked.

"Me too." I sighed. "But you are a prince, Maxon, who will soon be the king of Illea. You need a wife, a queen, who is perfectly capable of giving you an heir."

"All my life I've dedicated to this country. Did EVERTHING for this country. I never asked nor wanted anything in return. But now all I'm asking is YOU, America. Is that too much to ask?" He cried.

"I know." I pursed my lips. "But it's not just about us anymore."

"Can't I just be selfish for once?" He choked, tears rolling down his face.

"I wish it was that simple. I wish." I said to the both of us.

We stared at the ceiling fan watching it spin, letting time pass by us.

"I've never hated my position as much as I do now." He sighed.

"Don't say that. This country will have continued to suffer if not for you. You're a wonderful prince and will be a wonderful king." I offered.

"What do we do, America? What do I do without you?" tears streaming down his face.

"Marry Kriss." I said indifferently.

"But I don't love her. I love you!" He let out.

"I love you too, Maxon! But nothing will come out from this relationship! We still can't be together. Let's end this before we hurt each other." I cried.

"This isn't fair… not fair at all." His voice sounding a little bit higher than usual as he shook his head like a kid.

"It isn't." I agreed. I stood up, placed my head on top of his and hugged him. He then buried his head against my stomach and hugged me back.

"I love you." He sobbed. "so much that it hurts."

"I…" I closed my eyes. "I won't ever forget you."

He looked at me, his eyes filled with too many emotions, understanding that I was letting 'us' go. he placed his hands on my face and brought it down to his. Our lips both trembling as we kissed, knowing that our days together were counted.