Hi! I know this isn't a long chapter, but it's important.

And the reason I wrote about Christmas and not any other holiday is because in The Selection, Kiera said that they celebrated Christmas, so please don't ask why I'm not writing about any other celebration. Also, I wanted to make this story as canon as possible, so I thought that this was a good time for everything that's happening in the next chapters. But I think I should've done part of this before, but it's too late to change it. Whoops!

Anyway, the next few chapters are going to be in a series, and it's probably the most bittersweet thing I've ever written.

I'm predicting that this whole story will go up until probably 22 chapters.

Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: all Selection rights belong to Kiera Cass

Christmas was two weeks away. These were the joyous times of the year, when maids bustled around, putting wreaths on doors, replacing the white tablecloths with festive red ones. And obviously, who could forget Maxon putting up mistletoe everywhere when he thought I wasn't looking. It was just another excuse for him to sneak me kisses in between meetings and meals.

I sighed as I looked around the Great Room at the merry spirits of everyone.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, Eady?" I replied, still surveying the room.

"Where's the Christmas tree?" she asked.

I glanced around, realizing that it oddly wasn't here.

"Hm, I'm not sure, darling," I told her. "We could ask some of the staff to bring it up," I said, smiling at her. My daughter had always loved decorating the tree, while Ahren was more keen on running around the halls with streams of garlands in his arms.

She beamed back at me and nodded her head vigorously, with a cheeky grin planted on her face.

In no time was the 30 foot high tree transported into the room. I first thought the height of it was a bit excessive, but eventually grew accustomed to it compared to our considerably small tree back in Carolina. This was a palace, so who was I to blame?

Eadlyn, who had an eye for design, was already commanding maids and butlers where to put the ornaments.

"No, Justin," she said with a heavy sigh. "You need to put it there." She pointed to the middle of the tree.

"Here, Your Highness?" he asked nervously, not wanting to disappoint her.

"No. There!" she said with annoyance. She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

"Eady, don't be like that," I said, wanting to put off the pushy ways my daughter was acting. "Justin, you can put it wherever you like," I told him. He looked grateful for me, and simply tacked the ornament on.

After an hour or so, the tree was finally finished. I was stunned by how beautiful everything was. I walked to the side of the room and dimmed the lights. I looked at it in awe. The soft fire from the candelabras and the twinkling lights on the tree cast a heavenly glow, illuminating the room. The palace was filled with warmth and joy. It was truly majestic.

But all the happiness and excitement obliterated when Maxon ran into the room, looking fearful. And in my head, the saying, 'You can't have the good without the bad', played. He took my hands and said, "America. You need to go to the hospital wing." Why does it seem like every day I need to go there? It's probably Ahren who tripped and fell over the garlands again. Nonetheless, I grew afraid.

And he confirmed my worst fears by saying, "It's Kenna. She's had a heart attack."

I hope you enjoyed that!

I might post another chapter either today or tomorrow.

Thanks for reading this story!

Please review. Bye, and have a great day!