Last year, I published the story this late sneak peek is intended for. You know the drill, all the information is at the end. I don't know why I thought I published the story at least two years ago. Probably quarantine reasons.

Photo #132: In the Market

Eadlyn knows that if her mother wants to do something, she'll do it. Despite taking the Schreave name upon marrying her father, her mother's Singer stubbornness never left her. Even being the queen, the most powerful yet most targeted woman in the nation (up to debate since Eadlyn's the heir), that didn't stop America Schreave né Singer from getting what she wants. It just gave her more obstacles to face which, once conquered, made everything worth it. Right?

Eadlyn believes so. If she can look at a family photo at a nearly empty farmer's market with her first thought being about her determined mother, then Eadlyn knows it was worth it.

-o-

There was only so much America could do. If she wanted to visit a farmer's market on her own (meaning with the kids), she had to make arrangements with the castle's security and talk to her aids to contact the farmer's markets. She needed to plan at least a week in advance which she's learned from trial and error.

And she managed that.

Early in the morning, an hour before the markets open, America and the kids got to visit a farmer's market in Angeles. It was a moment for them to wear their jeans and not worry about formalities, despite having guards posted nearly. The family got used to having a few protection officers following her around; the kids had them for their whole lives. The officers were never at their toes but if they looked up, they'd still be in their vision. They blend in with the crowd, even in a nearly empty place which, she assumed, was their intention.

Despite all that, Osten was looking at the carrot display with one of the protection officers, pointing out the oddly shaped carrots.

"This one's shaped like a pair of legs!" Osten exclaims, taking it out to look at. He shows the guard and holds it at his belt to prove his point and they're both laughing.

Meanwhile, Kaden is off to the side, watching the farmers milk their goats. He's fascinated, asking questions about the process and how by-products like cheese are made from it. He did the same thing with a beekeeper and honey. Nearby, Eadlyn and Ahren are looking at the flowers. He's asking for her opinion on which ones he should get Camille and she's jokingly mocking him.

America smiles at all her kids enjoying herself. For a moment, she looks down at the produce. All the fresh and rustic vegetables in season make her hungry and grateful for her life. Back in Carolina, before she even thought about the Selection, her family would be scrambling for food. They were better off than some in their caste and definitely compared to the lower ones, but it was still hard. They could only dream of looking at vegetables as organic as this and imagine watching goat's milk be produced.

She feels grateful and content.

"What are you thinking about?"

America looks beside her and sees Maxon, who couldn't miss out on this opportunity. He has his camera on them so he definitely got some photos of their kids enjoying themselves. New memories for the infamous photo wall in their room. There are definitely a few in there of her checking out cabbages or the many different apples.

"Maybe making dinner," America responds. "Give the chefs a break. A fresh, farm-like salad sounds nice."

Maxon nods. "For us and maybe the twins. Kaden would unwillingly eat it but Osten would throw a fit."

America shrugs, taking a breath as she looks at their youngest. He's moved on from the leg-like carrots and is searching for misshaped squashes with the guard. He's currently laughing over a butternut squash that's grown into a swirl like a snail's shell.

"Maybe if we find an odd-looking one, he'd consider," America says. "But then it'd obviously change shape in the kitchen."

"We're treating him like he's a baby again," Maxon laughs. Like any other parent, they've disguised food, primarily vegetables, to get their kids to eat. Pretty colours, baby talk, and airplane motions and sounds didn't always cut it.

"He's still our baby. A little baby carrot with that orange hair."

"Or baby pumpkin."

"Baby squash."

"Now we're just listing orange vegetables."

"You just ran out of ones to say."

Maxon laughs in an exhale as he wraps his arm around her waist. He pulls her close and kisses the side of her head as they watch their kids roam around gleefully. "You're always smarter than me, dear."

(I wrote this chapter and the ANs in February 2021). You know, I miss the Farmer's Markets.

And now, for the story:

In the Market - Pepper drags Natasha to the farmer's market for one thing but they end up being entranced by vendors trying to charm them. (Pepper x Tony / Natasha x Clint / College AU / Farmer's Market AU)