"I have seen the best of you and the worst of you, and I choose both."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooop

We sat at the table in the dining room eating our breakfast. Clarkson was reading the newspaper and then gave it to Amberly to read. She read the front page and then looked at us. I had just took a bite of a pancake when she spoke.

"Have you two been to the football game Saturday?" she asked Maxon. He almost spit out his juice and coughed before he spoke.

"Why would you think that, mother?" he said.

"Because you two are on the front page," she said while she gave the newspaper to us. We both looked at the front page of the newspaper and she was right, we stood indeed on the front page. A picture of us where we both were smiling. Maxon had his arm wrapped around my waist and smiled down at me while I was smiling at something in front of us. It was a very nice picture of us.

"Can you explain this?" Clarkson barked. He too had seen the picture by now and was furious.

"We went to see the game last Saturday," Maxon said. We couldn't deny it, the proof was in front of us.

"Are you both out off your mind?!" Clarkson yelled. He was so furious and I should be scared of him, but I wasn't.

"Nothing happened," I said. He and Amberly shared a look and then looked back at us.

"It easily could have!" Clarkson said.

"Father, we had been careful, nobody recognized us. And now they apparently do but it's already to late to do something about it," Maxon said.

"This is not going to pass without consequences," Clarkson said. I knew were this was going to lead to.

"What are you going to do about?" I said. "Lock us up? You know where that lead to the last time." The last time we were forbidden to even go to the gardens was in the Selection, and that didn't went so well. "Can't you see it? We're hiding," I went on. "We can't stay hidden forever. And haven't you seen how well they react to our little outing last Saturday?" I asked. "If you're always afraid that something is going to happen when we're not in the palace, then the rebels will take that as their clue that we're hiding, afraid to even face the people we're ruling. And that will lead to bad things. Think about that. Now, if you will excuse me," I said as I stood up and walked out of the Dining Room.

I was maybe halfway through the hallway before Maxon caught up with me. He took my hands and forced me with that to stop walking. "You're right," he said.

Confusion hit me. "What?" I asked.

"You're right about what you just said. We are indeed hiding and need to be more in the open. That would definitely help with our rating polls and facing the rebels."

"So this wasn't some dump speech I was telling just now?" I asked. He smiled.

"No, not at all," he replied as he kisses me. I smile after pulling back for some air. "I love you," he said.

"I love you, too," I said as he kisses me again. He looks at his watch and sighs.

"I need to go, see you at lunch," and he gives me one last kiss before he leaves. I sigh and went to my room. I was there for maybe five minutes before Amberly was in my room.

"Can I talk to you?" she asks sweetly. When I see her face I can see she's not mad at me for my little outburst. I look at Mary and she makes a curtsy and leaves. Amberly takes a seat on one of my couches and I went to sit across of her.

"You know, you are right about what you said," she says. "But you shouldn't have said it in that kind of tone."

"I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to get mad, it just needed to be said. And what Maxon and I did, it was just a date," I replied. She laughed at that.

"I know, and I don't make any accuses. You just want your children to be safe at all times."

It did not go beyond me that she said children. I knew she loved me and saw me as a daughter, but still. I loved it that she saw me as her own child. I smiled at her.

"Did you do something like that when you had my age?" I asked her.

"No, I didn't. Clarkson and I did go on outings outside the palace but always with known of security."

"Oh," was all I said.

"How about we go and do some work now so we'll be finished earlier?" she asked. I smiled.

"That would be nice."

We went to work in the women room. We were just drinking some tea when a maid informed us that Kriss had arrived and was coming our way. When she walked in I stood up to give her a hug and she hugged me back. Then I went to sit next to Amberly and Kriss gave a deep curtsy and sat opposite us. A maid offered her some tea and she gladly took it.

"How was your flight?" Amberly asked.

"Good, your Majesty," she answered.

"That's nice to hear." We talked a bit about sweet nothings and then I took Kriss upstairs to my study. She looked around wandering.

"It still looks the same," she said. I looked at her.

"Yes, why wouldn't it?" I said. She shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know. Maybe it would've changed or something."

We walked into my study and I went to my desk to grab the things I needed.

"It's so big," she commented.

"My study?"

"Yes."

"Oh, I don't really notice it anymore, I think."

"Seriously, it's almost as big as my room here in the palace. Well, maybe a bit smaller," she added.

"Are you staying in your old room? The one you had during the Selection?" I asked her. She nodded.

"How is Maxon?" she asked with a weird look on her face. I frowned.

"Good."

"And how are you doing?" she asked.

"Fine."

"No, I mean how are you doing? Are you still recovering?" Oh. So that is what she meant.

"No, I am not recovering anymore since I am already recovered. It was a... difficult situation, to say the least. But further from that I'm doing fine. Are you?"

"Fine. Now, shall we get started on those ideas?" she asked. I smiled and nodded. So we started to work and when it was time to go to lunch we made our way downstairs. We walked in with Amberly and took our seats. Kriss looked a bit confused to see where she needed to sit so I let her sit beside me. Then Clarkson and Maxon came walking and Kriss stood again to give them a curtsy. Maxon pecked me on the lips and took the other seat next to me.

"Lady Kriss, it's so nice to see you again," Clarkson said.

"Thank you, your Majesty. It is very nice to see you too, again," she replied.

"How are you doing?" Maxon asked her.

She smiled sweetly at him. "I'm doing good. How are you?"

"Good," he replied.

"Tell me some of the work you are doing, Lady Kriss," Clarkson asked.

"Oh, well, I am a teacher at schools and sometimes I do some volunteering," she answered.

"And do you already have a suitor?" he asked.

"I do not, your Majesty. Although a lot of men have tried and are trying to go on a outing with me, I haven't let my eye fall on anyone," she replied.

"That's a shame. You could make any man happy."

Kriss blushed a little at that. "Thank you, your Majesty." We ate the food that lied on front of us and chatted a bit until Clarkson had to leave for a meeting with Maxon. Then Kriss and I went back to my study to work again until it was ten minutes for five.

"I'm sorry Kriss, but I have to stop working. There is something else I need to do," I told her.

"Is everything alright?" she asked.

"Yes, I just need to go. Is it alright with you if we continue this tomorrow?"

"Of course. Will I see you at dinner?" I nodded and we walked out of my study. When we were off of the second floor I rushed downstairs to the front doors. Maxon just came, as did I. He took my hand and we walked outside. We were maybe standing there for a minute or so when a black car came rolling in the driveway. It stopped in front of the stairs and the doors where opened, revealing Marlee and Carter.

I flew down the stairs and attacked Marlee in a hug. She hugged me back and we stood there for a while. I heard Maxon and Carter talk while Marlee and I just hugged each other. After a while we pulled back and I gave Carter a hug while Maxon and Marlee hugged each other. "You guys made it!" I said after a while. That made them all laugh and we went inside.

"How was your journey?" Maxon asked.

"Good, thank you, your Highness," Carter replied.

"You can call us by our first names, you know," he said with a smile. They smiled at each other. I took Marlee and we looped arms. We started walking.

"You have no idea how happy I am to have you back," I said.

"I never left, you know," she said with a grin. I laughed at that. Carter and Maxon were talking to each other too.

"But you're right. It is nice to walk freely here without the chance of being recognized as a criminal."

"You were never a criminal."

"Maybe not in your eyes, but definitely in the eyes of other people."

"That are just dumb people," I replied. She just rolled her eyes at that and we stopped in front of a door on the first floor. I opened the door and walked inside with Marlee. In the middle of the room we stood still.

"America... where are we?" Marlee asked.

"Your room," I answered. Carter now stood next to Marlee and they looked confused.

"What?" Carter asked.

"We thought you maybe liked a room with more space. You will have a lot more room and it will be easier too once your baby will be born," Maxon said. He stood next to me and had laced his fingers through mine. The room existed by a two-person bed, a sofa, a desk and some furniture, and their belongings of course. There was a door that was connected with their bathroom, too.

"This is to much," Carter said although you could see he was very happy with his new room, as well as Marlee.

"It isn't. You have gone through a rough time and you deserve to have your own space that is big enough to live in," Maxon said.

"Are you serious?" Marlee asked.

"Of course we are. Why wouldn't we be?" I said smiling.

"Thank you so much!" they both said.

"Your stuff is already here so why don't you look around and settle in," Maxon said.

"Thank you so much!" they said again and they hugged us. I would introduce Marlee with the job as one of my personal maids after dinner. Maxon and I made our way towards the door and he led his hand rest on the doorknob.

"By the way," he added while he turned to face them again. "You should go and see Dr. Ashlar and led them check," he added with a wink. They knew what we meant.

"We'll do," Carter said and Maxon turned again and opened the door and walked though it. When I closed the door we began walking.

"That went well," I said.

"Very well," he took me down the stairs and led us into the gardens, towards our bench. We both went to sit with our faces towards the wood. "How did it went today with Kriss?" he asked.

"Well. We worked out some ideas. As for now it goes well."

"That's nice to hear."

"Mhmm," I said as put my head in his lap and laid down on the bench, me legs dangling at the end. "How was your day?" he rubbed the back of his neck.

"You know, boring."

"Well, I am here to make it less boring."

"Yeah, you do. I guess I just married you to make my life less boring."

"Congratulations to you mister for remembering one of the perks of being married to me!"

"Someone is in a good mood," he said as he tickled my side. I laughed and he began to tickle me everywhere. I squirmed and laughed so hard my sides hurt.

"Maxon... Stop!" I yelled. He finally stopped and he bent down to capture my lips with his own.

"I love you," he said once he pulled back. I took one of his hands and laced our fingers together. Then I looked at those warm, loving brown eyes of his.

"I love you, too," I said. He bent down again and captured my lips once more. After that he pulled back and led out a sigh. His free hand went to my cheek and he began to stroke it softly. I closed my eyes and enjoined this moment.

I woke with a kiss on the lips. My eyes flew open to see Maxon smiling down at me. "I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention to fall asleep," I said.

"It's okay. The only reason I woke you up was to tell you that we need to go to the dining room."

I sighed and got up, straightened my dress and hair and then took his hand. We walked to the dining room and took our seat. Dinner went by quickly and after it I left to pick up Marlee at her room. Together we walked to mine.

"Have you been to the doctor yet?" I asked.

"Yes, he both checked us to see in what physical condition we are."

"Was he surprised?" I asked.

"A bit. You would think we would look terrible when your an eight and banned. But I think he knows. And he les us take a look at our child," she whispered the last part.

"Really?"

"Yes. Oh Ames, it was amazing," she said and sighed with content.

"I'm happy for the both of you," I said as we entered my room. I saw her gasp and smiled. "Welcome to my room," I said laughing. Mary and Paige appeared and smiled at the expression on Marlee's face. She went to Mary and hugged her, who happily hugged her back. Then Paige introduced herself.

"America, your room is giant!" she said. My room was indeed big. There was a very big two-person bed to right, that had the doors to the balcony next to it. At the end of my bed there was a little couch were you could out some stuff in too. There was a piano too and some couches and a table.

"Yes, well, you better get used to it because you will be coming here a lot."

Mary and Paige told her what she needed to know and everything. After that we chatted a long while until Marlee and Paige could not keep their eyes open anymore so I sent them all to bed. I went into Maxon's room and saw him just coming in. He had a serious expression on his face and therefore he didn't notice me at first.

"Maxon?" he looked up at the sound of my voice and came to me. He put his arms around my waist.

"Maxon?" I asked again. "Is everything alright?" he smiled at me and put some of my hair behind my ear before he answered.

"Of course, why wouldn't it be?" he questioned.

"I don't know. You just had a serious expression on your face, that's all."

"The only thing that is solemn is that I still haven't kissed you yet," he replied with a grin.

"Then we must change that, mustn't we?"

He grinned and bent down to kiss me. You can guess where it lead to. He bed me three times. After that I laid tired on my stomach when I heard him say faintly; "I love you, America. I will always love you," before I could reply I fell into a deep sleep.

The next day I woke up and Maxon was already gone. I sat up and held the blanket in front of my bosom. I stood up, put on my panties and grabbed a t-shirt of Maxon and walked into my own room. It wasn't that they hadn't seen this before or something, I just didn't know if Marlee would be in my room already. When I was in my room they prepared me for the day.

After breakfast I worked with Kriss until she needed to leave. That was something around four o clock. We said goodbye and I was walking to my study when a guard of Clarkson approached me, saying the king requested me in his office. I frowned and followed him. When I was in his office the guard closed the door.

"You requested me?" I asked. He looked up.

"Yes, you and I need to talk about you said yesterday," he said. I got nervous of the way he said it. "You know, you are right," he began. Was I living some kind of dream or something? I hadn't heard those words come out off his mouth before. "But I do not like to be treated that way in my own home." Oh no.

"We will talk about what you said later, but for now, expose your back."

"No," I said. I wasn't going to led him beat me.

"What did you just say?"

"I said; no."

"And I said; expose your back!" he got a angry now.

"It is like you have just said; I do not like to be treated that way in my own home," I mimicked him. "I am so done with these beatings," I said. "You can't just do whatever you want whenever you want."

"Are we going to play it like that?" he asked. "Because I can do whatever I want, whenever I want. I am the King," he said.

"Not even a king can cross laws," I spit back. "You have done it already so many times and it has to stop," is said angry. I was really going on his nerves.

"I am only going to ask it one more time, young lady, or I will do something you are going to regret. Expose. Your. Back. Or do you want me to give Mr. and Mrs. Woodwork another caning? Just think of that: on the second day they're back they will be caned again because someone would not take their place. You and I both know I am not afraid to do that," she spat. That made me stumble back. He would do it if I didn't let him have his way. So I did as he asked. I zipped my dress open and took off the upper half of the dress. I let the dress on on the hips. That way he had open access to my back. He grinned and already had the whip in his hands.

"I knew you would come around, eventually."

He took out the chair and let me down on my knees so I could lean on the chair with my elbows. My hair was already up in a bun. The first whip came and I covered my mouth with my hands. It hurt like hell. He timed the whips all perfectly. Each whip came down on my back when the whip he gave me before was at its most painful. He gave me six in total before he let me put my dress back on and leave.

I could barely walk with the pain I was experiencing. I was just at the bottom of the first stairs when Maxon came running towards me.

"America," he said when he was in reach. "I have been searching for you everywhere. I am sorry I have to tell you this but I need to go," he said in one breath.

"What?" I asked confused.

"Father and I need to leave immediately. The German Federation has requested our presence immediately, they said it was urgent."

"Is everything alright? Are you in danger there?" I asked worried. He shook his head and took my hands.

"No, I don't really know what it is, only that I need to leave."

"When do you leave?"

"Now."

"Oh," was all I said.

"Darling, are you alright? You look a bit sick," he said worried. I wanted to tell him about the beating but I couldn't bring myself to it. I had no idea what Clarkson and Maxon both would

do. I would tell him once he would be back.

"Yes, I am just surprised, that's all. When will you be back?"

"I don't know," he said. I looked down at my feet. His finger brushed my chin and I lifted my eyes to meet his.

"I hate this," he said. "I haven't seen you all day and then I need to leave so sudden. I'm sorry."

"Maxon, it's okay. Just give me a call when you're there, alright?"

"Of course." He looked at his watch and sighed. "I need to go," he said before he gave me a long, lingering kiss. "I love you," he said after.

"I love you, too," I said as he gave me one last kiss before he left.

This day literally couldn't get any worse the it already was. I slowly walked up the stairs, my lower back on fire. Once I was in my room none of my maids were there. I rang the bell and after that they appeared, all three of them. They came in happy but that changed the second they saw my pained expression.

"Mary could you help me out of my dress? And Paige, could you grab the box?" I asked. Mary and Paige knew what I mend by mentioning the box. Paige dashed to the bathroom while Mary came to stand beside me to undo my dress.

"It happened again?" Mary asked concerned. I nodded. "Why?"

"Of something I said this morning."

"What happened again?" Marlee asked. Of course she had no idea what we were talking about and this isn't the way I wanted her to find out but I had no choice. Mary had zipped the dress open and put it out. At that moment Marlee saw my lower back and gasped.

"America, oh no."