"I swear, your baby bump gets bigger every day, Kenna." America smiled, stroking her sister's belly through the hospital gown that she was wearing for her sixteen-week checkup.

"That's probably true." Kenna shrugged, smiling down at America's hand. For as nervous as she had been at the beginning of this pregnancy, she was absolutely glowing now.

"I know you're having twins, but this is excessive." America giggled. "Like you're just showing off or something."

Kenna shook her head and leaned back against the hospital bed. "I wish it would slow down, believe me. My body can barely keep up with all of this growth. Lena says it's normal, especially since I've already had one baby. Apparently, once you've had a baby or two, your uterus stretches out faster and takes longer to shrink back down."

America wrinkled her nose at this news, locking fingers with her sister. "Still worth it." she determined. She felt a yawn coming on, and tried to stifle it but failed spectacularly.

Kenna smiled at her, "Thank you for coming this morning."

"Are you kidding? I'm thrilled. This is my first chance to see my brand new little clone babies. Besides, I feel kind of guilty that you and James couldn't have your appointment yesterday, on the actual start of your sixteenth week."

The Palace had been in complete Easter chaos the day before, celebrating America's second annual Palace Egg Roll, and, understandably, Kenna had been needed to keep an eye on Addy while America tended to the insanity. Though it was anarchy in the gardens, it was considered another rousing success, and officially became a tradition with people already talking about next year's event. Maxon was so proud.

America's favorite part of the whole day had been watching Maxon cradle Addy through the gardens during the egg hunt, picking out the perfect, prettiest, shiniest egg for his princess. Motor skills still developing, Addy had clasped the pink and gold, glossy plastic egg in both hands, and Maxon kept a hand on it, too, to keep it from falling away. America distantly remembered dreaming of that moment the year before, when she'd only just realized that she was pregnant, but the reality was so, so much better than the dream had ever been.

And now, America was beyond exhausted. She needed a good, long vacation. Luckily, the plans for England were still on.

And as for Kenna, she finally had time for her appointment, after the frenzy of activity the day before and all of the hard work leading up to it, but as it was now Monday, James had to go into the office. This marked the very first time he'd missed one of Kenna's appointments, ever. He was absolutely guilt ridden about it, which was hard to watch. Even Astra had consoled him with an extra hug before work that morning.

"That Egg Roll was on the calendar way before I got pregnant, Ames. If anyone is at fault, it's James and me for getting pregnant one day too early."

America rolled her eyes and Kenna laughed. Her point was made. It was no one's fault and everything was fine and James would get over missing the appointment when he saw the adorable ultrasound picture that evening at dinner.

America yawned again, and then hurried to explain and complain, "Addy would not settle down last night." she released Kenna's hand to rub hard at her eyes. "I swear someone snuck caffeine into her bottle."

"Yesterday was probably overstimulating for her, all of the children and the bright colors and noises. She can't talk to tell you about it, but it was definitely unlike anything she's ever experienced before, and it probably set her little mind whirring."

"It's way cuter when you say it like that. She wouldn't fall asleep, but she wouldn't let me set her down, either. She needed to be in my arms, awake, or she was angry. Very angry."

Kenna chuckled and rubbed America's back, soothingly. "That isn't your fault, you didn't do anything wrong. Those nights happen, no matter how good your baby is."

"She is a good baby, isn't she?" America boasted, brightly.

Kenna giggled, "Absolutely."

America leant forward and kissed Kenna's cheek, a 'thank you' for the sisterly reassurance.

Dr. Ashlar hurried into the room with a small bow. "Your Majesty, Duchess, I'm so sorry I kept you waiting."

"Oh, we were fine." Kenna reassured him. "We know that you're the busiest doctor in Illéa."

"Thank you for your patience." Dr. Ashlar smiled and hurried over to the sonogram machine. "How have you been feeling, Duchess?"

"Very well." Kenna reported. "Tired all the time and hungry with my every breath, but the nausea is gone now, even without the pills."

Dr. Ashlar covered her legs with a blanket and rolled her shirt up. "When I draw blood today, I'll keep an extra eye out for your iron levels. Your sister tended toward anemia during her pregnancy," Dr. Ashlar nodded toward America, "It could very well be that you do, too. That would account for your exhaustion." Then he shrugged, rubbing gel all over Kenna's gorgeous baby bump. "Then again, being a full-time nanny, a mother to a vivacious four-year-old, and carrying twins could also more than explain your low energy level."

Kenna giggled and nodded her agreement. "It's hectic, but I'm loving every second of it. I wouldn't trade anything."

"That's so good to hear." Dr. Ashlar smiled at her and removed the wand from its holster on the machine. "Alright. Let's check on the dynamic duo, shall we?"

America squeezed Kenna's hand eagerly.

It was just like the ultrasounds America had gotten with Addy, in fact, it was the very same machine. Just one intense moment of anticipation, and the screen bloomed to life. Shades of grey and black danced together to form the image of two precious little babies.

"Oh my God… Kenna."

Kenna was smiling from ear to ear, tears in her eyes as she took in the sight of her children. "I know, Ames."

"There's two of them!"

"I know." Kenna laughed.

"Two babies! Those aren't blobs like the first time I saw Addy, those are babies!"

Dr. Ashlar intervened, "At sixteen weeks along, the Duchess has well entered the fetus-stage of development. These babies have had twice as much time to develop as our Princess Adrienne had for your very first ultrasound, your Majesty."

"Apparently." America said, mouth agape.

"This is very much what Princess Adrienne looked like at sixteen weeks, I assure you." Dr. Ashlar seemed to smile at the memory.

"Yeah, but here there's two!" America exclaimed.

"Duchess, I would expect to begin feeling their flutterings any day now." Dr. Ashlar grinned.

Kenna nodded, blissfully. "I've missed those. The flutterings that come before the kicking."

Dr. Ashlar nodded, "The kicking will come soon enough."

"Don't I know it. And it doesn't stop until they're about three-years-old, if you're lucky." Kenna bemoaned, but it was through happy tears.

"They're beautiful, Kenna. They are so, so beautiful." America cooed.

"Have you and the Duke discussed whether you'd like to know the genders?" Dr. Ashlar asked.

"We would, but not yet. We want to be together, with Astra. Next time, I think." Kenna said.

"Not a problem at all." Dr. Ashlar smiled, continuing his evaluation. He turned on the heart rate monitor and America basked in the cacophony. Three heartbeats all at once, creating the most beautiful noise.

"How do they sound?" Kenna asked Dr. Ashlar, after a moment of enjoying the sounds, herself.

"Very strong…" Dr. Ashlar was studying the screen in front of him, consulting his watch, and then studying again.

"Dr. Ashlar?" America asked to get his attention.

"Hm? Oh." Dr. Ashlar returned his attention to them. "The babies are very strong, right on target. It's your heartbeat that I'm considering, Duchess Kenna…"

"Just Kenna." she told him, but her voice betrayed her concern.

"Hm…" Dr. Ashlar barely heard her. "I'll tell you what," he said, snapping a quick photograph of the babies on the machine and sending it to print for James. "Wait right here, Kenna, I'll be right back."

America and Kenna were suddenly alone in the examination room, looking at each other, baffled.

"Is that…" Kenna didn't know what to ask, or maybe she was too afraid to ask it. Finally, she said, "Did he do that when you were pregnant with Adrienne?"

America wanted so desperately to reassure her sister, to tell her that everything was normal, but she couldn't. "No… he never did that."

Moments that felt like hours later, Dr. Ashlar returned with another doctor behind him, a younger man near James' age, but already starting to grey just a little.

"Your Majesty, Duchess," Dr. Ashlar said, "This is Dr. Colin Matteo, he is one of the specialists we have on staff here."

"Specialist?" America asked. Kenna's hands were shaking, her face completely pale, so America knew to ask all the questions right now.

"He's a cardiologist."

"Dr. Ashlar, what's wrong?"

"I noticed a slight irregularity in the Duchess' heartbeat. It might be nothing to concern ourselves with at all, but given that Duchess—"

"Just Kenna." America reminded him.

"Given that Kenna's is a high-risk pregnancy—"

"High risk?!" America demanded.

Kenna managed to mumble, "All multiples are high risk." but her tone was flat, her voice so small and scared.

"Kenna is correct," Dr. Ashlar said. "As common practice in Illéa, all multiple pregnancies and births are considered 'high risk' out of an abundance of caution." This placated America enough for Dr. Ashlar to continue, "And as such, I want to make absolutely certain that Kenna's heart is delivering plenty of oxygen to herself and the babies, and that it is not in danger of any kind of failure or attack."

"…Heart attack…" It was a nightmare. She was still asleep, probably still in the rocking chair with Addy. This was a horrible nightmare and she needed to wake up. Her sister was not in danger of having a heart attack. Not this young. Not like—

"…Like Dad…" Kenna interrupted America's thoughts by vocalizing her own.

"Yes, your family history is also a large factor, Kenna. You mentioned earlier that you've been unusually tired. All three facts combined, your fatigue, your family history, and your heartbeat, led me to call in my colleague."

"With your permission, Kenna," Dr. Matteo said, looking between her and the machine, "I'd like to go ahead and just use this sonogram machine to perform an ultrasound on your heart."

"…I'm sorry?" America asked for Kenna. The ultrasound machine was for sneaking peaks at babies to check on them and coo over them before they're born, it had nothing to do with heart problems, as far as America was aware.

"I usually use a more specialized machine, but it performs the same task, and this one is already set up. I'd like to look at your heart the way you and Dr. Ashlar just looked at your babies, see what it's doing in there."

"Of course." Kenna said.

"Great." Dr. Matteo set to work changing a few settings on the machine while Dr. Ashlar wiped Kenna's belly clean and had Kenna remove her shirt, which had been bunched up to expose her belly, so that they'd have access to her chest. Kenna shivered, goosebumps instantly rising on her arms. America frowned and re-laced her fingers with Kenna's, squeezing her hand reassuringly.

It was an agonizing minute while Dr. Matteo examined her. Unlike the familiar images of babies, where America had learned what to look for on the screen of the machine, she had no idea what was good or bad about Kenna's grey, beating heart.

"Alright… Excellent ear, Dr. Ashlar, very well done." Dr. Matteo complimented his peer. "What I'm seeing here is the very beginnings of a slight thickening along the chamber wall, Kenna. A much more advanced stage of this is no doubt what took your father from you."

It was devastating news.

The doctor continued, "It's not robbing the babies of anything, and your health seems to be exemplary, otherwise, so I won't take any action other than to keep a close eye on it for the duration of your pregnancy. Assuming all goes well, once you deliver the twins, I'll start you on a mild blood thinner and a clot buster, and we'll keep this from getting worse. In the mean time, I want you to rest as much as possible. I know that you have a young daughter, and you're nannying the Princess, but—"

America waved a hand, "Whatever Kenna needs. We'll hire a team of help to assist with the girls, and Kenna can stay in bed all day."

"That won't be necessary." Kenna mumbled at America.

"Nor wise." Dr. Matteo agreed. "Mild exercise and activity will be very good for your heart, Kenna, just don't overdo it."

"I understand." Kenna's voice was shaky.

"I would also sit down with Dr. Ashlar and your husband and look seriously at an elective cesarean for your babies, possibly sometime before your due date within a reasonable and healthy range. We don't want a long, drawn out, intensive labor for you, and twins can be nothing if not intensive during delivery."

"Is that… safe?" Kenna turned to Dr. Ashlar.

"Very." Dr. Ashlar reassured her. "And we'll monitor the babies' progress to find the right time for them. They'll be healthy and perfect and your heart will be spared a good deal of stress. Caesarean surgery is still major surgery, and in some ways more traumatizing on a body than conventional birth, but on the whole, I would agree with Dr. Matteo. A full day of difficult labor just isn't what your heart needs right now."

"That sounds… reasonable." Kenna said, still stunned.

"We've plenty of time to sort everything out." Dr. Matteo assured her. Then he turned to America, "Your Majesty, in light of this discovery and its hereditary nature, I would advise that all of your relatives who may have inherited this trait have an examination of their own to check their heart health. We don't want to let this get out of hand for any of you."

"Even…" America closed her eyes, and it was her turn to loose strength. Kenna squeezed her hand, trying to be supportive, but what was there to say? Adrienne was Maxon's heir, and Adrienne was at risk for this heart defect. Not to mention, all of Addy's future children would be at risk, and on down the royal line. This was something Illéan royalty would have to contend with from now on. And it was all America's fault.

Kenna asked the question America could not. "How will you check the baby? How will you examine Adrienne?"

"For now, I'll keep an ear on her. When she's older and bigger, I'll be able to get a wand on her, just like I did with you. I can't imagine any complications for her at this stage in her life, and if there were any heart defects already presenting, I'd certainly be able to hear them." he reassured them.

"And Astra?" America asked.

"Astra is probably ready for a more thorough test. We'll make it a game for her, she won't need to be afraid, and you'll be able to stay with her, Duchess. …Kenna." Dr. Matteo amended, remembering their request that he not use her title. "I wouldn't be concerned about these examinations turning up anything dire, Kenna." He turned to address America, too. "Your Majesty, Kenna is the oldest of your family, which means this has likely progressed farther in her than in anyone else. By catching it this early, and screening regularly for the rest of you, we may have easily saved you all from your father's fate."

They may have.

They may have saved them all from her father's fate. That's all America could hear, echoing in her head, for the rest of the day.

Maybe they were saved. But maybe not.


They all went in on the same horrible, nerve-wracking day later that week. Magda came, not to be tested, but to watch over her children and grandchildren. Even Maxon took a couple of hours off of work to lend his support.

America went first. There wasn't enough room for the whole family in the examination room, so Maxon was the only one with her. It was actually sort of nice. She didn't want either of them to have to pretend to be brave, and this way, they didn't have to be.

Dr. Matteo found thickening, almost invisible except that he was looking for it on his specialized machine. Less stress was not an option for the Queen, but there would be some medication to take between pregnancies and once she was done producing heirs. It wouldn't be a big deal, an extra pill in her regimen of vitamins at breakfast, and an extra examination every six months on top of her regular checkups.

Addy was next, and Maxon and America literally clutched one another for support as Dr. Matteo bent over her bare little chest with a stethoscope, listening closely and timing the beats carefully.

He detected nothing abnormal.

America almost cried in relief.

Astra went next, and Maxon, America, and baby Addy stayed in the room with Kenna and James at Astra's request. Astra was very bubbly and excited about the whole thing, getting to listen through the stethoscope and having all of her questions about the machinery answered. She loved seeing the images of her body on the screen, and was amazed by the vision of her own heart before her.

"That does not look like on cartoons!" Astra was fascinated.

Then she got up and got to demonstrate her best jumping jacks and show how high she could leap and how fast she could spin in circles (before she got too dizzy), and once her heart rate was good and high, she stayed as still as she could manage while Dr. Matteo listened to her heart again.

He detected nothing abnormal.

The Orders' and the Schreaves cleared out and it was May's turn. Ryland was a very good newly-official boyfriend, having showed up to attend the appointment with her.

May's trip to Italy had, indeed, been a turning point in their relationship. She was gone for two weeks, and they spoke infrequently during that time due to their various time differences and personal schedules. When she returned, he was waiting on the tarmac for her to deplane.

She'd brought him back a bottle of very fancy Italian wine and he'd brought her a bracelet worth two month's pay. For one of the King's personal guard, that was incredibly expensive. He also brought flowers and chocolate and a choice. She could wear the bracelet or not. It was all up to her.

For May, it was easy to see that wearing the bracelet meant that they were together, officially. People would see that divine little bracelet and ask about it and she wouldn't say, "Oh, a guard gave it to me." That would never do. The only acceptable answer would be, "Oh, my real, true, official boyfriend gave it to me."

She had him put the bracelet on her wrist right then and there, and she hadn't taken it off ever since.

So now, even though it was one of Ryland's rare days off, and he could have been out in Angeles or visiting family, or even just sleeping eight straight hours for once, he was right there with her, holding her hand as they walked into the examination room together.

May's presentation of the hereditary defect was actually more advanced than America's. It didn't make any sense, May was younger, but it was one of those flukes of nature. She'd go on the same regimen as America, and the same one Kenna would go on once the babies were born, and Dr. Matteo would keep a close eye on her to make sure that the medication put a stop to things. If not, there were more drastic measures they could eventually take, including surgery as a last resort.

It probably wouldn't come to that.

Gerad was last, and he went in with only Magda for company. His results were inconclusive. There was a spot that could have been the beginnings of a thickening, but otherwise his heart was very healthy. Dr. Matteo decided that Gerad would not go on medication yet, but would be screened once a year, like Addy and Astra, to keep an eye on things.

It was a hard day for all of them, but at least they were all alive and this had been caught early enough to be treated effectively. They had so much to be grateful for. Or, that's what they were all telling themselves to try to make the best out of this difficult news.


When they finally left the hospital wing, America gathered with the Singers and James in the family room. Maxon wanted to stay, but he had to get back to work. Paige took Astra and Addy out for a walk through the gardens for a little bit of fresh air, and to give the others some time to process.

They were still in shock, but James was great at breaking the tension with something light and silly. Joke baby names, for a start. Hubert and Barnaby for boys, Mildred and Dorothea-Louise for girls. The nicknames for those were somehow even more horrendous.

By the time America left for her afternoon meeting with Silvia, the room was smiling, joking, and very much looking forward to the healthy and safe arrival of Kenna's twins.

On her walk to the meeting, it suddenly occurred to America that, if Kenna hadn't taken the fertility vitamins and conceived twins, thus adding extra stress to her heart, leading to its tell-tale arrhythmia, or if she hadn't been in the Palace to have Dr. Ashlar listen in on her heart with his expert ears and catch the early warning sign, this defect might never have been detected in any of them. Who knows what would have happened?

What a terrifying thought. It led to an unease that loomed over her for the duration of her meeting and the whole way back to the third floor.

America found the family room and nursery abandoned, but she knew that Maxon was supposed to be with Addy. Quickly, she slipped off her shoes and changed into one of Maxon's shirts and a pair of soft sleeping shorts, drew her hair up into a messy bun, and tiptoed to Maxon's bedroom. There she found them.

Maxon was asleep lying on top of the covers, legs crossed at the ankles, Addy lying on his chest with her ear pressed to his (perfectly healthy, non-defective) heart. He wasn't dressed for bed, apparently they'd both been too tired for such formality.

America stood there and watched them breathe, just listening to the reassuring, low puffs of air coming from Maxon's nose and the higher-pitched, tiny puffs coming from Addy.

She didn't know how long she stood there, but it was a good while. Then she tore herself from the doorway and perched on the bed next to Maxon, tracing a finger on his cheekbone.

"Hi." She said, when his impossibly long eyelashes fluttered up.

"Hello, Love." he whispered, peeking down at the baby and smiling. "We were napping."

"You look pretty comfortable."

"Want to join us?"

"I'd love to." America smiled. She got up and crossed to the other side of the bed, slipping delicately down and over to rest in Maxon's free and welcoming arm. She snuggled in, resting her head on his shoulder and peering down at their redheaded baby.

"Are you alright, Love?" Maxon asked, letting his eyes drift closed.

"Just… spooked. Today was… horrible."

"Was it? It was very stressful, waiting for everyone's results, but I should think it's a good thing that you're all being properly monitored now. We should have thought of it years ago." he mumbled.

"I underwent all kinds of exams before and after your Selection, nothing ever turned up." America reminded him.

"Well, this is a sneaky little thing then, isn't it?" Maxon frowned. "But don't worry, Love, we'll take care of your heart. It's very precious to me, we'll take excellent care of it. Addy's, too. Everyone's." He was struggling against drifting back to sleep.

America nodded, still not comforted.

Maxon noticed and forced an eye open. "Ames? You're safe. Addy and Astra are safe. Your brother and sisters are perfectly safe."

"I know." It helped to be reminded.

Maxon kissed the top of her head and smiled down at their baby. "Look at this adorable baby. You need baby time, that's what you need to feel better." He carefully negotiated Addy onto America's chest. Addy whined and scrunched up her face, but she didn't cry. She seemed more annoyed than anything, and settled right back down once she realized she was on Mommy now.

America couldn't help it. She was grinning like crazy. "I love you, Addy."

Maxon, in an absurd falsetto, replied, "I love you, too, Mommy."

America looked at him from the corner of her eye and laughed, as softly as possible. "No, Maxon!"

He agreed, "That did come out far creepier than I'd intended."

"You made her sound like a haunted doll!"

Maxon laughed, too, and then relaxed back against his pillow, breathing deeply. "She'll be hungry soon. Wake me up once you've fed her and I'll go put her down for the night. I need a good excuse to get up and take off this suit anyway."

"Deal." America craned her head over and pecked his lips.

They both fell asleep like that, waiting for Addy to grow cranky, and really couldn't believe their luck when it didn't happen until midnight, a solid four hour nap for all of them. Their little baby was growing up, sleeping longer stints at a time.

And Maxon was right, America reflected. Addy wasn't just growing up, she was growing healthy. She'd hit every one of her benchmarks so far, and was putting on weight exactly as expected. Dr. Ashlar was very proud of his exemplary little patient.

It was scary to think that, as hard as they'd worked to secure themselves from rebels, there were some things that they just couldn't control. But if Maxon was getting better about not agonizing over rebels when the rebel problem was more or less contained, and Addy was getting better about not agonizing over milk when she was supposed to be sleeping, then America could practice not agonizing over her family medical history when their health was more or less great and they had the best doctors and medicine that money could buy.

As Addy gulped her midnight snack, America genuinely smiled and ran her free hand through a sleeping Maxon's blonde hair, massaging his scalp. He woke up just enough to groan a little, appreciatively, and then drifted off again, lulled by her touch. The whole time, Addy held eye contact with America, mesmerized by the blue of her mother's irises. The moment was pure bliss.

The doctors and Singers and Maxon had been saying it all day, but for the first time, America believed it again.

They had so much to be grateful for.