"Rise to the top of the world, America. America don't you cry. Lift me up, give me strength to press on." – Imagine Dragons


Maxon carried his wife down the steps, his twenty odd years of traversing those steps the only thing that kept him from missing one and sending them both scrambling. She whimpered against his shoulder. He noted the sheen of sweat developing on her face. "We're almost there," he whispered. "It'll be okay."

In truth he was terrified but he had to be brave for her. They finally arrived at the hospital where Dr. Macky was ready and waiting for them thanks to the guard Maxon had sent down in front of them. The nurses were bustling about, lighting lamps and setting up various machines and medical equipment. "We have a bed prepared for her in here," Dr. Macky ushered them into a small, private room.

The same guard that Maxon had sent to the hospital in front of them was there too. "Officer, go awaken my mother and tell her that the baby is coming."

"Do you want her here sir?"

Maxon considered briefly. "Only at her own decision," he consented. The guard nodded and ran off. Dr. Macky was inserting an IV into America's arm, making her squirm. Maxon brushed her hair back and touched his lips to her hairline. "How long Dr. Macky?"

"Contractions are close together but I'll have to examine her to really give you an accurate time frame. At this point it could be a few hours or an entire day. First time babies are quite stubborn at times," the doctor explained as he wrote a couple things down on his clipboard.

His examination concluded that she was almost ready to deliver. "You said the contractions started around dinner?" he asked Maxon.

"That's when we concluded that they were real contractions, not just the false ones she's been feeling for the past few weeks." Dr. Macky scribbled that down as Maxon checked his watch. Six hours ago. The time seemed to drag as he watched his wife writhe in pain.

He watched the sky get lighter as America's labor progressed. Between contractions, she reached up and put a hand on his face. "You don't have to be so strong," she whispered to her. "You don't have to put on that brave face for me."

"I do actually. It's the only thing keeping me together." He laced his fingers through hers as she braced herself for another contraction.

An hour passed before his mother came down to the hospital and grinned at them. "How are you feeling honey?" she asked America, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Thirsty," America admitted with her arms covering her face.

Amberly grinned and sat down in the chair by the bed. "Maxon, could you get her some more ice? I'll stay here with her," she assured her son as he sighed and stood up to go get ice. "I know you're scared and in pain but you'll look back on today and think of it as one of the best days of your life."

America smiled grimly. "Thank you for being here. It's nice having a mom here with me. Someone that knows what I'm going through."

"Well I'm actually glad that the times have changed enough for Maxon to be here with you. Clarkson was never with able to convince the doctors to let him be there. Not that he tried that hard." She sighed and America could tell that she still felt pity for her husband. "And also, I thought you would appreciate some reinforcements," she said coyly. She nodded to the door.

"Kenna!" America exclaimed, letting her sister run up and hug her. "What are you doing here?"

"You didn't really think you were going to do this without me, did you?" she asked. Another contraction came and Amberly decided to excuse herself.

She met Maxon outside the door. She pulled her son in for a hug. "I'm so proud of everything you've done and overcome to get here today," she whispered in his ear.

"Thanks, Mom." He smiled and pulled away. "I am scared," he told her, saying what she already knew.

She nodded. "I know. You probably never thought you'd see this day at one point."

He agreed. "I should get back in there. Are you not staying?" he asked, his hand on the door.

"Today's your day. You don't need me anymore Maxon." She smiled fondly and left.

Maxon walked back into the room and saw Dr. Macky giving another examination. "Good news America: you can start pushing now. Let me just finalize everything with the nurses that will be assisting me, okay?"

She nodded weakly and sank into Maxon's arms. At four o'clock in the morning, their son was born. After he was cleaned and the room had quieted down, Maxon sat next to his wife in the narrow hospital bed with his son in her arms. He held the birth certificate in his hands. "First name...Christian. Last name…Schreave of course. Middle name?" he asked. "He could just not have one. Or maybe Abel…I know you like that name and it goes well with Christian."

"Maxon," she mused, stroking a finger down the newborn's silky cheek.

"Yes?" he answered.

She shook her head and laughed. "Maxon," she said decisively. "As a middle name."

"Christian Maxon Schreave," he mumbled, frowning slightly. It lacked the smooth cadence he'd wanted.

She shook her head again and looked up at him. "No…Christian Maxon Abel Schreave. I know it's a mouthful but…" her voice trailed off.

"But?"

"I don't want to be grim, but I'm not sure how long I'll have you around. I want to ensure that you're memorialized," she admitted.

He nodded and smiled. "Thank you." He kissed her forehead and wrote the name down in his sloppy cursive. He signed his name and then signed America's for her. He'd quickly learned her signature so he could sign documents for her in the event of an emergency and she had done the same for him.

She shifted Christian in her arms and then lifted him to Maxon. He set the paper down and took his son into his arms. She gripped her husband's strong arm and they both stared down at Christian. "The country has an heir," she whispered.

"More importantly, we have a son." Maxon looked down at her. He looked behind her at the orange sky. "Good morning beautiful."

"Good morning handsome."

I know it's short but I'm kind of speeding it along to get to the ending which is going to be amazing! That's all I'm telling you. Make all the predictions you want, you won't guess the ending. Lol. Review por favor!