I don't own The Selection.

reviews:

Virtue01:

Thanks for the update sad time for America. She feels upset for hurting Maxon because it reminds her of his father abuse of him. I do hope she is going to be ok with that woman trying to kill her. Maxonk must be sick with worrying about her. Stay safe

livewithbooks:

you are very welcome! i hope you stay safe too and have a wonderful day.

Virtue01:

I forgot to say that I like the idea of a trilogy sequel in Maxon pov. Great idea

livewithbooks:

i'm so glad you like the idea! thank you for the input!

Amy:

Great chapter, I love it! I personally would prefer to be able to read up until all of the kids you are planning on adding are in, but obviously, it's up to you. Also, I would really enjoy reading a series like the one you mentioned at the beginning of the chapter. Good luck with getting into honors classes!

livewithbooks:

thank you!

ElendVentureLove:

I love it as usual AND YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS PLEASE KEEP GOING ON THIS ONE!I WANT TO BE WITH THEM WITH ALL (however many you want but perferably 5 or more) THE KIDS! PLEASE! I WOULD BE HEART BROKEN IF YOU STOPED!

livewithbooks:

wow, i love the enthusiasm you have omg. thank you for your input. also, don't worry! i have absolutely no intentions of stopping this story soon.

IvoryAllium:

First of all, great job! Amazing as ever! I think a trilogy would be really cool, I haven't read many fics of the the kids as well, kids. It would also be interesting to read about them growing up. I am also a divergent fan, yay! I thought your divergent fic was great but I'm sure you can improve it to make it just as perfect as this one. Good luck on your essay and stay safe!

livewithbooks:

ah, thank you! i'm super glad you like the trilogy idea. yay! another divergent fan! i'm really glad you liked my other one, but i feel like i could really improve it. my writing has gotten much better (from what i can tell) since last year, so i'd hate to have a crappy fanfic posted if i can do better. thank you!

Guest:

The idea of a trilogy sounds awesome! I would definitely read it. Also that was an awesome chapter, keep up the awesome work!

livewithbooks:

thank you so much!

okay guys! i'm back, yay! so i really want to thank you all for your responses to my last chapter where i mentioned the idea of a trilogy for this fanfic. the support i've gotten is amazing (like, wow?)

and i do want to mention one thing. i swear that if i don't reply to your review (when i reply to any at all), i'm not ignoring it! a lot of the time this website glitches and before now, i haven't been using my email to check for notifications. i'm pretty sure i missed a lot of reviews over time and i really apologize. would you guys be okay if i only replied to reviews if they have a question or a comment i think i should address? i feel like a lot of the time, i'm basically saying the same thing over and over and it kind of makes me feel bad!

i have posted my divergent fanfic that i'm restarting! it has two chapters right now, but i have like three other chapters pre-written! i hope (this is for any divergent fans) that it isn't a total failure

here's the story!

(also, i want everyone to know that even if you don't believe me, i'm proud of you and i love you. you're stronger than you think.)

"Maxon?"

America was shaking me gently, sitting on the bed where she usually slept. I groaned and stretched, extending my arms over my head with a yawn. A smile crossed her face.

"Sorry for waking you up," she said. "I just wanted to talk."

"Is everything okay?'

My words were slurred, heavy with the aftereffects of sleep. Another yawn attacked me and we both laughed as she yawned too. She crossed her legs so that she now sat criss crossed on the bed.

"I should let you sleep," she sighed.

As she tried to get away, I put a hand on her thigh and looked up at her.

"Let's talk."

She nodded and sat back down.

"I'm sorry I.. I pushed you away like that," she said. "I was scared that you saw me.. as him. And knowing I put that bruise on your body… it was horrible, Max."

"Have you had any more nightmares?"

She was silent.

"America?"

"A few," she said. "Look, I'll let you get some sleep. You really need it."

"Don't go, Ames." I whispered, eyes falling shut on their own accord. "I can't sleep without you, my love."

She sighed but I felt her crawl under the covers and into my arms. I sighed in relief when she let me nestle my head into her neck. I was somehow desperate for her smell and just the warmth of her in general. Her body was tense, alerting me to the fact that she was probably hesitant to do this.

I let her have her space and moved over a bit. But then she moved her entire body so that she was back on my chest.

"I can't sleep without you either," she whispered, kissing my cheek softly. "I love you so much."

"I love you more," I mumbled, smiling.

"Never."

"Shh, don't wake up Daddy,"

There was a very familiar giggle, and I peeled my eyes open. To my utter surprise, Avery and Roman were sitting on the bed, wiggling and squirming. They were both in their little onesies they loved, hair messy like mine probably was.

I pulled them both into my arms. "Well, hello there, my darlings."

America crawled over beside me, laying so that the twins were in between the two of us, tucked happily under the covers. It was a perfect moment.

She tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. I really needed to get it cut. "Sorry for waking you.. again."

"It's fine," I laughed. "Besides, why not wake up to these little faces?"

"I was trying to coax them into crawling to you, but they didn't listen very well."

"It could be months before they crawl, love,"

"It better not be."

I just grinned and kissed her on the lips, being very careful not to smush the two nuggets beside me. She kissed me back immediately. And then the door opened, revealing Mary and Lucy—

America gasped when she saw Lucy in her uniform. She shot out of bed, running toward the two at full speed. I turned back to my children as they hugged, kissing both tiny heads. It was truly amazing to see them together again, but they did deserve some privacy, even if it wasn't much.

"Lucy? You're working again?"

Lucy laughed. "Of course I am, Your Majesty. It was truly Maxon—King Maxon's idea."

"Don't you dare," I warned. "It's Maxon or any other stupid name you create."

"That's completely improper," she teased.

America rolled her eyes. "Just call him Maxon. He's very insistent."

"Am not."

"Maxon, you had thirty-four other women to pick from but you spent your time being yelled at by me."

"You have a point."

"As always."

I wasn't going to take this any further. She could and would rip my head off if I messed up. But that was the America I knew and loved, meaning I was more than willing to keep my mouth shut.

Roman yawned and stretched, eyes falling shut. Avery poked him with a stiff arm and when he didn't move, she started wailing. I hoisted her into my arms, which seemed to do the trick.

"Oh yes, the screaming begins," Lucy said. "Have fun with toddlers."

"Everyone keeps saying that and the more I hear it, the more terrified I am." I said.

Mary laughed as she opened the bedroom curtains. "I'm sure they'll be little angels."

"Just like their mother," I teased, getting a gasp and a pillow thrown at me. I squealed, making everyone laugh. In order to hold off America, I held Avery up in front of me. "I have the baby and the royal heir. You wouldn't hurt her, surely."

"Just you wait, Your Majesty."

"Is that a threat?"

"No, it's me trying out my dreams of being a comedian."

"Odd."

Lucy grinned. "Feisty redhead. You got yourself into a mess, Maxon."

"I've got two feisty redheads,"

Work was as boring as always, except we were now trying to find out how a deceased woman was alive. That brought a little more excitement into the whole thing.

Stavros had, indeed, found a reason.

Jamie Kand was a fake name. Somehow, she'd been able to use it for most of her life. You could call it her second personality. But that still didn't help us—much, anyway. We still needed to find her actual name.

That was the hard part. Stavros had explained that they could trace it back to her original birth certificate, but it could take months.

I wasn't sure we had months anymore.

Avery grabbed my finger, attempting to stick it into her mouth. I pulled it back and tickled her instead. She didn't seem to like this, for she kicked me playfully, squealing in her babyish voice.

"Ah, little love," I whispered. "Let's not kick Daddy, alright?"

She giggled and stuck her tongue out.

"Ames!"

America ran out of the bathroom. "What? Is she okay?"

"She stuck her tongue out at me!" I whined. "I thought that didn't happen until she turned thirteen."

Kenna followed my wife out. "I hate to break it to you, but Astra started doing that when she was three. She's never stopped."

"No!"

Turning back to Avery, I frowned and she repeated the action.

Kenna and America laughed at my grumpiness. Kenna—who was expecting her second baby—was gently holding her growing baby bump, a lot like every pregnant woman I'd ever seen. Maybe it was some maternal instinct.

And the missing twin, Roman, was currently with his grandmother. They were having a grandma-grandson day today, I guess.

"Your tongue stays in your mouth," I explained to the clueless six month old baby in front of me. "You can only do that to Stavros."

"Why Stavros?" America asked.

I shrugged. "He's a very grumpy person."

Avery's tongue escaped her mouth again. Her little arms flew up above her head, her legs sticking up as she wiggled them. My mouth turned up in a smile; she was too cute.

"Fine," I said. "If you insist, you can keep your tongue out, I suppose."

"Ames, I think you've lost your husband." Kenna said.

She sighed. "I guess I'll have to find a new one."

I scoffed, kissing Avery on her nose. "Mommy's being rude. Don't be like Mommy, little love. Be nice. And kind. But make sure you yell at the grumpy men. Bastards, aren't they?"

"Maxon Calix Schreave!" America scolded. "Do not curse in front of the twins. Ever."

Kenna crossed her arms. "Oh, she pulled the full name card. Beware."

I smiled against Avery's cheek, hiding my face from my wife. However, I couldn't stop the laughter that escaped me. No one in history had ever had the courage to use my entire name. And as a scolding? I laughed harder.

"Okay, you two, I've got an ultrasound appointment. See you at dinner?"

America nodded. "We'll be there. Love you, sis."

They exchanged a quick hug. Kenna came over to me, hugging me too. We waved our goodbyes and once the door was shut, America crossed her arms.

"If her first word is anything inappropriate, I'll kill you."

"Please, Ames. Don't kill me."

"Shh," I cooed. "Calm down, Ames."

She pushed herself up out of bed and began pacing back and forth, rubbing her forehead.

It was one in the morning and she'd appeared to have another nightmare. This one was more calm, with less kicking and yelling. She hadn't laid a finger on me this time.

"Ames?"

"I'm.. I'm okay,"

She wiped the tears away that were rolling down her cheeks. I took this as my cue to get up too. I slung a small blanket around her back and pulled her to my chest, kissing her forehead and head.

"Thanks,"

"Anytime."

We stood there like that, wrapped under a blanket and in each other's arms. I felt her relax against my chest. I swept her up in my arms, carrying her bridal style over to my side of the bed.

She yawned and laughed as I set her down.

I pulled the blankets over her small frame and kissed her softly. She inhaled deeply, telling me she was smelling me.

"Creepy, I know," she joked. "You smell like cinnamon."

Smiling against her cheek, I said, "And you smell like vanilla."

She patted the bed and I crawled in beside her, pulling the tiny hairs out of her face. The rhythmic motion must've lulled her to sleep. I was so very thankful that she was able to get more rest. With six month old twins, we needed it.

"Morning, you two!" Lucy said.

I was never going to get used to Lucy being in our bedroom.

"Go away," America groaned. "Wait—Lucy?"

"I'm letting Mary take a break," she explained, pulling open the curtains. "Today I'm going to get you ready for work, Your Majesty."

There was a wailing that came through the baby monitor.

I stood. "Well, I guess I'll go please the babies. Love you."

"Aw, I love you too," Lucy teased.

America snorted. "The blond is mine, Luce."

I got up, pulled on a shirt, and walked down the nursery. As expected, both twins were wailing and squirming in their cribs. I tended to Roman first, who needed a diaper change.

After setting him down on the changing table, I peeled off his diaper. I tossed it into the trash can and moved onto the next step—cleaning him thoroughly. As gross as it was, he was a baby and couldn't do it himself, so it became our job.

Next, I positioned the new diaper underneath him and strapped it on securely.

And he was done.

Luckily, Avery didn't need a diaper change, so I set them both in their baby-pillow-feeding-thing. It was handy, but I didn't know what it was called. I held both bottles while they drank away.

They were done in less than thirty minutes so I burped them, checked one more time for any diaper accidents, and put them back into their cribs. Then I was off to get ready for work.

"Look, we really need to talk, Ames." I said, setting my fork down. "How many nightmares have you had?"

She avoided my gaze. "Six. Two a night since the first one."

I almost gasped.

Two nightmares in one night was a lot for anyone. How had she been able to function at work with such little sleep and so much stress? That was hard for anyone.

"And you didn't tell me?"

"I—I was scared,"

"Of what? Me?"

She chewed another bite of food, glancing down the table at everyone else who was too deep in their own conversations to notice ours. I took her hand under the table, continuing to eat my own food.

"I didn't want to think about them," she whispered. "I broke a vase, Maxon. And an alarm clock, and I sprained my wrist. I've been damaging things at night."

"That's why you didn't want to sleep in the same bed?"

"Yeah. I can't.. I can't.."

Her eyes were welling up with tears. I felt horrible for bringing her to tears, so I squeezed her hand under the table and left the conversation alone. There was no need to push her. Especially not in public.

We ate and said goodbye to everyone like always.

And then, we made it to our bedroom. I closed the door and turned around to find America crying. She sat down on the end of the bed, so I kneeled in front of her.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I shouldn't have pushed you like that."

"It's fine, Max,"

"It's not."

She held my hand carefully. I kissed each of her knuckles, taking great care in trying to comfort her.

"Could.. could you hug me?"

The request made me smile, but I did obey. I sat beside her, holding her in my arms. She calmed immediately.

"Thanks,"

We both laughed. Her voice sounded weird because her cheek was smushed into my chest, muffling it. I kissed her head.

I closed my eyes and let out a slow breath.

The smell of her shampoo was one of my favorites. It was comforting—almost like watching an old movie from your childhood. And as I slowly rubbed her arm, she slumped in my arms.

I frowned and looked down. The smile that took over my face had to have looked stupid.

She was asleep.

I scooped her up in my arms and laid her in bed. Being gentle, I took off her shoes and dress the best that I could. She woke momentarily and helped me get the dress down her hips, but was then out like a light.

While climbing into bed next to her, I pulled the blankets up to our chests. I kissed her cheek and rolled over.

What a night.

America was nightmare free last night; she'd actually gotten a full night's sleep.

When I woke up, she'd just been returning from taking care of the twins. I grinned and rolled over onto my back, just as she sat down by my legs, placing a hand on my bare chest.

"Hey," I whispered.

"Hey."

She crawled on top of me, pushing the blankets out of our way as she kissed me. Her hands drifted into my hair, and mine went to her lower body. She smiled against my lips.

And then the door was thrown open.

"Oh my God," May shrieked.

America tumbled off of me, landing on the floor with a thud. I sat up as quickly as she had, pulling on a shirt to cover myself.

In the doorway stood Magda, who was laughing, May, who looked embarrassed, and Kenna, who looked like she knew everything. Talk about an uncomfortable atmosphere. I wanted to curl up in a ball and disappear for the first time in a long time.

Well, this summed up our privacy problem pretty well.

We had none.

"I'm not sure who looks more embarrassed," Kenna huffed.

May snorted. "Definitely Maxon."

"Do you guys really not know how to knock on a door?" America groaned.

"Sorry," Kenna said. "We know you're.. busy.. now."

"Get out!"

The three left, laughing.

America, in her shorts and my sweatshirt, went over and locked the door. I frowned. That was against every safety protocol and she knew it.

"Ames—"

"No, don't 'Ames' me," she said. "We have no privacy. I cannot even kiss you without the world knowing. If you'd like to be able to ever touch me again, this door stays locked."

"Okay. I'll talk to Stavros about changing the protocol."

"Thank you."

She crawled back into my arms, where she truly belonged. I kissed her neck softly and she tilted her head back. We had work, but neither of us seemed to care. This was much better than any desk job.

I carefully began to braid her hair.

"What are you doing?"

"Braiding your hair," I said. "Mary taught me how. She said you liked it."

I could hear her thank Mary underneath her breath and laughed quietly. Perhaps she truly did like it more when I did it.

When I was done, it wasn't nearly as good as Mary or Lucy's braids.

I frowned in defeat.

"You did great," America smiled. "Thank you. I needed that."

"Always at your service, ma'am,"

She laughed, making me grin. America Schreave had the most contagious laugh and I'd be damned if it didn't put a smile on my face everytime I heard it. I'd said it before and I'd say it for the rest of my life; her laugh was my favorite music.

"I think May was more embarrassed than we were," she whispered.

I smirked. "I'm sure she'll have plenty of those moments herself."

"Ew! May is still my little sister, Maxon."

"But she's getting married in.. what? Two months?"

"I can't believe it," America sighed. "My little sister.. getting married. Peyton better take care of her or you have to exile him."

"Will do."