Thank you all for reading the last chapter! I know it's a little distressing but very informational no? Mockingjay04 thanks for your review and I don't want you to stop reading! Please don't! But I'm glad you like all of it just the same! theselection-divergent-thehost thanks for your review and I'm glad you loved it! UPDATE YOURS SOON PLEASE! Meg-sters52 I'm sorry cliffhangers are kind of my thing! But I'm glad you like it and I hope you'll like the rest! flawed angel I will do my best to 'get rid' of them. For now enjoy the story! Gilmoregirls1197 thanks for the review and I'm glad you liked the intensity of last chapter! Keep reading!

Hope you enjoy this next chapter everyone!

Love Smashleigh

Chapter 19:

As soon as I reached the safe room I immediately rushed her over to one of the paramedics on hand in case of emergencies. She quickly had America hooked up to an IV and began delicately extracting her body of poison. But I wasn't allowed to watch or be near her during any of this process, only wait away from it all.

Everything was a blurry frenzy of activity and I was in the middle of it all. Doctor after doctor, nurse after nurse, rushed at me with some weird tool or another. It was scary but I could faintly see or feel any of it. My body was numb and my head felt groggy and out of place. All this time I searched for Maxon and couldn't find him. I involuntarily reached a hand to where I believed he would be but he wasn't there. I felt completely, utterly, alone in this long dizzying process.

There was no sound from the other side of the screen except a slow steady beep. It was agonizing having to wait and not know if she'd be okay. The doctors and nurses were taking their good old time in examining her and it was killing me!

"Maxon." my Mother said. I turned to see her worried face and my Father's calm one. "Get some rest. You need to relax, she'll be fine."

I shook my head. "You don't know that." I said sadly. "No one does."

Finally everything was black and my head felt blank. There was no noise and there weren't a million thoughts buzzing through my head. Only one, Maxon.

Maxon. It was like a whisper only no one said a word. Everyone was silent and all I heard was the single word. But she was unconscious. Could she have said my name?

"Did you hear that?" I asked my Mother.

She cocked her head to the side. "Hear what?" she asked giving me a quizzical look.

Maxon. I heard again. She was summoning me but she never said a word. Immediately I pushed the screen aside and went to her side.

"Sir you shouldn't be in here." a nurse said sweetly.

"No." I said. "But I want to."

His hand enveloped mine and immediately I felt all the thoughts fill my head again. The heart beat monitor sped up and I heard its low, humming beep. Faintly I could make out Maxon's face and the sad smile lingering there.

"America can you hear me?" he asked, I heard the hope in his voice.

I managed to squeeze his hand but then I blacked again by that small movement.

I hadn't lost her! Thank God! But she was still weak and the slight movement she made by squeezing my hand cost her greatly and she went limp again. She's alive though. Oh thank God she's going to be alright!

"Keep it up everyone." I said softly. "She's alright."

"How do you know sir?" someone asked.

"Because I know my America. She's not done yet." I told them.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT DIDN'T WORK?" Daphne exclaimed.

The man on the other side of the phone cleared his throat. Daphne flew back on a later flight back to France because she 'forgot' something and now that something wasn't finished!

"Your Grace I know this must be frustrating-"

"Frustrating? It's beyond frustrating!" she exclaimed slamming down the phone.

Slowly she drummed her freshly manicured fingers on her mahogany desk. Her two accomplices sat opposite her waiting for the report of their lasted scheme.

"So she's alive?" Celeste asked nastily.

Daphne nodded. "She suffered barely anything!" she snapped. "Did you even inject the poison correctly?"

"You're probably lucky I did at all!" Celeste snapped back. "We could've gone when we originally had Fredrick planned to do it!"

"But now Fredrick won't!" Daphne said. "It's odd that after one kiss he could become so smitten with that little tramp."

Celeste huffed and sank further into her chair. "Let's forget it for now and talk about our suitors." she said motioning to Elise.

Daphne's eyes twinkled. Like any noble Frenchmen would want to marry you, she thought. But aloud she said, "Oh I can give you some of their profiles tomorrow. I believe you'll be very satisfied by my choices."

I turned my head on the soft, plush pillow beneath my head. The cool linen felt nice on my hot skin and I cracked open my eyes slightly. Maxon was dozing in the chair beside my bed with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked more like a man on guard than a resting prince.

I took this opportunity to survey the room. Everything was white, and I mean everything. From the furniture, to the walls, the floor; then it hit me! I'm in the princess's suite. As quietly as I could I managed to prop myself on one elbow. But the room swam before my eyes and I plopped ungracefully back onto the massive sea of pillows. Maxon woke immediately.

"Are you awake?" he asked softly, taking one of my hands.

I smiled weakly and closed my fingers around his. "I-I feel a-awful." I managed though my throat burned like a thousand needles stabbed through me.

"Don't speak if it hurts." he said. "Just rest, please. You gave me quite a scare."

I closed my eyes and immediately drifted into sleep. But I could hear Maxon's faint whispers in my ear and the brush of his lips on my forehead.

"Love you, America."

Chapter 20:

"Oh my dear!" the Queen exclaimed seeing me at breakfast a three weeks after the attack.

I smiled weakly and leaned on Maxon's shoulder for support. I'd been working day by day to get farther and farther and now I finally managed to make it to the Dining Room. Maxon smiled and led me the last few steps to the table, where I sat at his right hand.

"She's getting much better." Maxon said proudly.

His hand gripped mine under the table and I smiled weakly at him. Now it was time to get through breakfast and to be honest I didn't think I'd have enough energy to eat.

"Lady America, are you quite sure you should be down yet?" the King asked me sweetly.

I glanced up at his smug expression. "Please call me America." I said with as much fake joy as possible. "After all I am going to be your daughter-in-law."

"Speaking of families!" the Queen interjected smoothly. "When can we meet yours?"

I thought for a moment. What would my family be like around them? Surely May would faint at the sight of them and I doubt Kota would be a suited candidate to meet them, he'd brag about his sculpting skills like always. Kenna is a little… preoccupied with her husband. So that leaves Mom, Dad, and Gerad. Gerad would be ecstatic to have another brother! He might even get to do what he finally wants! I smiled and tried focusing on my plate.

"Actually Mom," Maxon said, "I believe they're already here."

"What?" I exclaimed as everyone burst through the door.

Ignoring manners I rushed out of my chair ignoring my weakness and everyone enveloped me in a hug. Kenna and Kota were absent, thank God.

"America!" May squealed hugging my waist.

"Oh May!" I said burying her in a hug. For a little fourteen year old she was growing more and more like me.

"You must be the Singers!" the Queen said enthusiastically as she walked over to us.

Everyone released me and I wobbled on my feet a bit. In an instant Maxon was at my side with a supporting arm around my waist.

"Your Majesty-" my Mom began.

"Please do call me Amberly!" she said. "I believe we are going to be family soon are we not?"

My mother flushed with pleasure and nodded. "I've only dreamed of my daughter becoming something more, that's why I named her what I named her." my Mom said.

"Your daughter is truly something!" the King laughed.

Only me, Maxon, and the Queen knew the insult behind it but didn't correct him. We all just smiled and I started introductions.

I couldn't think there could be a more rambunctious group! My parents, thank God, were quite calm but May and Gerad were like two horses waiting to race. May was ever present around the Queen and she was enjoying having a little girl who she could dress up and do her hair. Gerad, though he was seven, enjoyed playing football outside with Maxon. It was amusing to see Gerad try and maneuver around Maxon only to be tossed into the air and rolled about. Gerad laughed and laughed. I sat in a chair under a tent with my Mom and the Queen, wishing I could go out with them.

Finally I got the courage to stand and try on my own. Both of the women watched me to make sure I was alright. Once out in the sun I felt the warm light hit me and was alive with energy. Still I took it cautiously and walked along the edge of the lawn where the flowers were closing and a few dry leaves crunched under my feet. The trees were changing colors and to see all the reds, oranges, and yellows was absolutely beautiful. Though it was still hot for late summer you could feel the cold chill of August setting in.

"Gotcha!" Maxon said placing his hands on my hips.

I was startled for a moment and trembled. He felt me tremble and pulled me closer. "I'm sorry." he whispered in my ear. "I just couldn't help but hold you again."

I let myself lean back against him and listen to the steady beat of his heart. "I've missed you." I told him turning in his arms. "It's been a rough couple of weeks."

He kissed my forehead and wrapped an arm around my waist. We walked along like that, him holding me around the waist with my head resting on his shoulder. The noise of my brother playacting at being a star football player was cute. May's continuous chatter with the Queen never got old because I haven't heard her voice in so long. I don't think I'd ever get use to them leaving again. Even though it's only been two days I feel like this shoulder never end.

"So are you ready for the announcement tonight?" Maxon asked finally.

We were nearing the tent and had to squeeze in my last reply. "I believe so." I said. "Just catch me if I fall okay?"

He chuckled. "Okay."