I don't own The Selection.

reviews:

Reader:

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! That chapter was so good! I wonder what will happen to Kota, I can't wait to find out. Thank you for that awesome chapter! Have a wonderful day!

livewithbooks:

ah! i'm so so so so glad you liked it. have a wonderful day as well!

gabyselectionlover:

i was so nervous when you said pain and then kenna was brought up

livewithbooks:

i'm so sorry omg! i probably should have clarified *insert awkward smiling emoji*

okay guys.

so i'm thinking of doing like another chapter or two so everyone can see the twins as like one year olds and then i'll do a timeskip of like about another year and then there will be the news of a new baby? pls let me know your opinions on that or if you'd like more time with just the twins

I WROTE MOST OF THIS CHAPTER TODAY LOLLLLL (while watching s&b cast interviews. update: ben barnes owns my heart. he's such a freaking dork i love him)

also, just me nicely begging, please please please let me know what you want me to do with this *insert crying emoji* i'm honestly stuck with it and it's messing up my brain :)) any suggestions would be EXTRAORDINARY

love you guys! i'm proud of you all! feel free to message me if you need anything :)

Today, my first order of business was getting the national budget done.

Stavros sat across from me, and Avery sat in my lap, playing with her stuffed carrot. She was the most well-behaved nine month old I'd ever met.

Luckily for me, most of the initial awkwardness caused by him seeing us kiss had worn off.

After what seemed like hours, we were done with the budget and onto the events in the last few weeks. Kota and Jamie had been all over the news, and I was being seen as an idiot for allowing him to get out in the first place.

"Sir, we still need to charge Kota Singer."

"I thought he already had charges against him."

"Due to.. recent events, they've multiplied. And he needs a new sentence."

Like she knew what I was thinking, Avery clapped.

"Damnit." she said, her voice dead serious.

And suddenly, I knew that I was going to be murdered by a very angry America Singer. Before she could say it again, I covered her mouth and ran a hand through my hair. This was not a good thing.

"Did she—" Stavros said, gaping. "Did she just.. talk?"

"Her first word, too."

"I'm sure Her Majesty will be pleased," he coughed, covering a laugh. The comment was sarcastic.

"I'm probably going to be brutally murdered."

"I hope not, sir."

Avery cuddled up to my chest, feet wiggling in the air where she held them steadily. I pulled the covers up to cover them. Then, I kissed each of her tiny fingers.

Beside her, Roman slept soundly, not moving a muscle except for the occasional twitch of a limb. Magda was correct: he was an angel. He was every bit an angel and then some. And for that, I was so very thankful.

Over on the opposite side of the room, America sat at the piano, playing it quietly.

"Damnit," Avery squealed.

America froze.

I buried my face in Avery's onesie, hoping that the footsteps I was hearing didn't belong to my wife. But, despite my desperate hopes, it was America. She was standing at the end of the bed.

"Did she just say an indecent word?"

"I'm sorry, Ames," I said, keeping my voice low. "I shouldn't be taking her to work, exposing her to all those words, but it's something my father never did, and I was so underprepared—"

"You take her to work because you don't want to be your father?"

Her voice was sad, yet not angry. I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded.

"I'm not mad," she said. "I knew she was going to learn how to cuss eventually. But.. you—you aren't like him at all."

"I.. I know,"

After a moment, she crossed her arms and laughed. She stopped when Roman sighed. Neither of us were willing to risk him waking. Sleep was a precious, precious thing when you had infants.

"Isn't it cute when she does it, though? She can make anything adorable."

I nodded. "She really can."

"We're going to be total suckers. God, they're going to be so spoiled!"

"Maybe that isn't a bad thing," I said. "We can reinforce manners. Encourage them to be kind to everyone."

She laid down next to me, sitting up on her elbow so she could put a hand on my chest. I groaned as my arm, which was behind both Roman and Avery, fell asleep. There was no way that I was about to move it. I'd just suffer for a while.

"What's wrong?"

"My arm is asleep. Again."

"Oh, what a shame." she teased, smirking. "You better not wake him up."

"Never."

She leaned down to kiss me, and I could feel the smile plastered on her face. It was enough to make me smile too.

Three Months Later

"Happy Birthday, little love," I cooed.

I hoisted Avery into my arms, kissing her cheek.

She was already dressed for her and Roman's big birthday ball, which would literally be the best party of the year. Roman was asleep in his crib, oddly enough. He slept more than Avery ever had.

Avery wore a tiny dress that was the same shade of blue as America's, and the same color as my tie and Roman's bow tie. Mary had insisted that we'd look great. Roman also wore a baby-sized tuxedo that matched mine. It was one of the first times I wouldn't have to wear my royal uniform.

"Dada," Avery babbled, poking my cheek. "Up!"

I readjusted her so that she was closer to my face than before. Her speech was much better. She was learning simple statements and commands that helped us understand what she wanted. Plus, she knew how to say Mama and Dada. Roman was a little advanced. He could say Daddy and Mommy, but struggled to pronounce them correctly. It was still amazing.

"You think we're going down now?" America asked.

I shrugged. "Most likely. Is he even awake?"

"Maybe," she said, rubbing Roman's back. "He'll probably be out in ten minutes."

"I guess we should get this over with, then." I said and took her hand. "Ready, my love?"

"Not at all."

And we walked down the stairs with huge smiles on our faces. Cameras flashed, people cheered. The typical things. Just as America had predicted, Roman was asleep in her arms as soon as we sat down.

She had to wake him again.

I hated it but, if we wanted him to sleep through the night, then we could only allow one or two naps a day, and this would be his third.

Kenna was cuddling little Maddox, who was about three months old, James right beside her. He was sound asleep in his mother's arms, a lot like Roman. Magda was beside me and helping to keep Avery entertained. She was an amazing grandmother.

I kept finding myself searching the room for Adele, or even for Daphne.

Of course, neither of them were here. I'd kicked Daphne off the premise, and well.. Adele was not very capable of attending.

"I can't believe these boogers have been here for a year," May said.

"I know! It's insane," Brice said.

Later on that day, after the palace had been cleared of all guests, America and I were required to do a photo shoot with the twins. It would also serve as a family portrait.

And in order to do this, all four of us had to change clothes.

Justin helped me get my uniform on, buttoning each button and pinning on all of the badges I'd earned during my lifetime. And then, he slipped the sash over my head and put on the last badge: the one representing the fifth caste.

"No crown?" I asked, absentmindedly running a hand through my hair. "Oops."

He laughed. "No crown. You'd probably knock it off anyway, sir."

"I wish you were wrong."

"Ah, so do I."

"How's Mary?" I asked. "I won't be signing divorce papers anytime soon, will I?"

"No, sir. Not anytime soon."

"Fabulous."

And then, I was dressed and ready for yet another photo shoot. I found America with Mary and Lucy, who were perfecting her makeup.

America was wearing a white dress. It resembled her wedding dress in several ways, one of them being the way the skirt flowed away from her body like a fountain. The neckline dipped down in a modest vee, but left most of her chest covered. She wore her songbird necklace and the simple blue bracelet I'd given her years ago.

"Hey!" she grinned, strapping on her high heels. "Wanna trade shoes?"

"I'm good,"

Lucy shook her head. "That would be a sight."

"Where are the twins?" I asked.

America sighed. "With Marlee. She insisted, and since I trust her, she's handling them. I think Georgia may be with her."

"Oh God."

Lucy grinned. "You have such little faith in the woman!"

"Luce, she's Marlee." America said. "Give her makeup and suddenly she's won the lottery."

Mary was smiling as she brushed America's hair.

I sat down on her bed—which I had only slept in a handful of times—and looked around the room. It was emptier than the King's Suite, which was our main bedroom. The walls were a light blue, the curtains white, and most other things were a little random. I loved it.

Mary stepped away from America and curtsied. "Your Majesties."

She dragged Lucy out behind her, leaving me with America. I crossed the rooms in four steps and kissed her passionately. Of course, we were cut short by a knock at the door. In walked Marlee, and in waddled the twins.

The two were clinging to each other as they stumbled towards us. I crouched down and they both ran into my arms.

I kissed both of their cheeks. "Hello there, my little loves."

"Don't they look splendid?" Marlee said. "Avery hardly fought me when I put on that beautiful dress."

Avery kissed my cheek. "Dada."

"You did great, Mars. May as well hire you as their personal stylist." America teased.

"God, Maxon," Marlee groaned. "Your entire family has the best genes. Look at these two! They're hardly a year old and look like models."

I laughed.

They really did look like models.

Avery was wearing a knee length dress that matched America's dress almost exactly, except that it was made for a toddler and not an adult. The neckline was higher, the sleeves were longer. Avery had on flats and her short hair was down. Her look was simple yet adorable.

Roman wore a white shirt underneath a sweater vest with tiny dress pants. His shoes matched mine and his hair was slicked back. He looked a lot like me.

"Your Majesties?" Silvia asked from the doorway. Marlee had disappeared. "It's time."

I swept up both twins in my arms and then we were on our way downstairs.

The photographer introduced himself as John, and then we were instructed to do a number of poses. Some were with the four of us, some with just the twins, some just America and I. My personal favorite was the ones I took with Avery.

She'd squeezed my nose and called me Dada and I'd laughed, just as the camera went off a few times.

Maybe that would be one they used.

America came into the bedroom the next day, holding a magazine.

I turned off the TV show and both Avery and Roman went, "On!" It seemed they'd taken a liking to the show Sesame Street. To soothe my daughter, I handed her the stuffed carrot she loved. Roman simply stretched out on his back.

"Look!"

My giddy wife handed me the magazine and a smile spread across my face.

It was actually two different magazines. On one, Avery and I were on the cover. I was laughing and she was beaming, my nose in her tiny fist. Behind it were the words Illéa, which was also the name of the magazine. I loved the picture so much.

She flipped the page for me, revealing a dozen pictures of us and the twins.

The one that stuck out the most to me was the one of America and I. I was looking at her with the most loving expression while she laughed with Roman.

On the second magazine, it was all four of us on the cover. I was holding Avery and America held Roman. My arm was around America's waist, and I was kissing her forehead. Avery and Roman were simply beaming.

"These are amazing," I said. "I've never loved a magazine more."

"I know! Our approval ratings even went up. Especially yours. The people love you and Avery. The royal father-daughter duo."

"How much?"

"Three percent, Maxon!"

She kissed me softly and shoved me playfully. I just grinned and leaned back into the pillows, pressing play on the remote. The twins squealed in excitement. America climbed in beside me. Only if the public could see us now: watching Sesame Street as a family.

"Peekaboo!"

Avery scrunched her body up, giggling and sticking her tongue out. I covered my eyes again and hid from her. When I revealed my face again, she squealed.

"Dada," she said, and I lowered my face to hers. "Dada."

I smiled. "Hello, little love."

She babbled her lovely nonsense and I just kissed her tiny nose, enjoying every second of it. Avery was really beginning to string words together. My personal favorite was Dada or Daddy.

"Can you say Daddy?" I asked hopefully.

"Da…"

"Come on, that's it!"

"Dada,"

I shook with laughter, burying my face into her adorable frog onesie. Of course she was stubborn. Being America's daughter, it made sense.

"You said it perfectly on Christmas," I sighed. "Please?"

"Dada."

Behind me, I heard laughter and turned. It was Magda.

Her silvering hair was pulled back into a bun, which looked a lot like Marlee had done it. She wore a white top with blue jeans. I sat up and set my daughter in my lap. Her brother was in the corner, scouring the area for his missing stuffed animal. It looked like he'd instead found a toy piano.

"Daddy, play," he ordered, wobbling back to me with the help of his crib. It sounded like Waddy, way.

"Oh, sweetheart," Magda laughed, picking him up. "Here you go."

She set him down by me and took a seat across from me. Roman dropped the piano in my lap, sticking his tongue out with a giddy giggle. Avery copied it exactly.

"Why don't you get Gramma to teach you?" I told Rome, who was drooling all over his shirt. "Remember, your tongue stays in your mouth."

"Mwouh," he repeated.

"Yes, your mouth."

He stuck his finger in his mouth, which had just been all over the floor. I pulled it back out and wiped it off on my shirt, just before handing him over to Magda, who was smiling. She welcomed him into her lap and taught him the basics of piano.

"There you go!" she laughed.

Rome beamed. "Gwamma p..way,"

Gramma kissed his cheek, tickling him too.

Avery clung tightly to my side, running hands through my hair and kissing my cheek. I was pretty sure she'd picked all of this by watching her mother and I interact.

"They are truly an energetic pair, aren't they?"

I nodded. "I miss when they couldn't walk. I did a lot less chasing. Not to mention how bossy they are."

"Waddy!" Roman squealed. "Pway!"

"See what I mean?" I sighed.

She laughed.

"I'm not very good, Rome."

My son crawled into my lap and now, I had two one year olds messing with me. He was begging me to play and she was.. grooming me? Odd.

I tried to play, but it ended up with both Magda and I laughing too hard.

I sucked.

(A/N: OK SORRY FOR THE INTERRUPTION BUT THIS PART OF THE STORY HAS A COUPLE TWs SO LET ME GO OVER THEM RQ)

(TW: MENTIONS OF RAPE, THREATS, MINOR CUSSING, INJURIES, INTERROGATION, CRIME, MENTIONS OF MURDER)

(READ AT YOUR OWN RISK PLS!)

I walked into the interrogation room, my support system behind the bulletproof glass.

Stavros, Aspen, and Carter were here with me.

Kota jumped out of his chair, yelling and screaming about how I had betrayed him.

The guards behind him held him down and slammed him back into the seat. He was snarling at me, almost like a rabid dog. How sick was this man? He was still fighting the guards as I got closer.

I knew what he was doing.

He was trying to scare me. Intimidate me, maybe.

"You son of a bitch!" he screamed. "I'm glad I orphaned you. You deserve every bit of it. I hope you're happy rotting in hell, Maxon."

"Are you done yet, Kota?"

"I'll never be done! Not until you're dead like the rest of your family! What did you do? Rape her? Impregnate my sister so you could have those pretty little babies with her? You're sick! Sick! Watching the light leave your mom's eyes was the highlight of my life!"

I put my hand out. "Give me your wrist."

He frowned, but obeyed.

With one, hard twist, I broke his wrist.

He shrieked and fell backwards, clutching the broken thing. Beside me, Aspen put a hand on my arm, and I shrugged him off.

"Don't call my mother a bitch, alright?" I said. "Now, America and I have decided on your sentence."

Good news: he wasn't glaring at me anymore.

"You're charged with two counts of murder for killing King Clarkson and Queen Amberly Schreave, and two counts of attempted murder for shooting Queen America and for holding the young Brenna Kile at gunpoint. There will be no bail, and you will be held in Angeles' National Prison until your trial. You can plead guilty, but remember Kota, we have proof."

He gaped.

"I'll have a doctor come down immediately. Have a good day, Mr. Singer."

And I turned on my heel, but paused.

"And Kota? If you escape again, or pull any stunts at all, the last thing you'll be worrying about is your wrist."

I was expecting everyone to be mad that I'd hurt him, but Kenna hugged me tightly.

She pulled back and high fived me. "That was totally badass! I knew I named Maddox after you for a reason."

Even Magda hugged me.

America and I walked in silence back up to our bedroom.

She shut the door, and then wrapped me up in her arms. I was entranced by her beautiful blue eyes for the millionth time today. She kissed my cheek and smiled.

"Thanks for putting him in his place," she said. "Why'd you do that? To his wrist?"

"I didn't do it to hurt him, Ames."

"I know. I'm not mad."

"He was just.. he pushed me over the edge," I sighed. "I didn't want to hurt him, but then he was saying all of that.."

She laughed. "I would've lost it too. Just try not to do it again."

Now that Kota had been dealt with for now, I was allowing myself to relax.

We were with Marlee and Carter and Kile, who was playing around with Roman on the grass. Avery was attempting to drink from a glass of water herself, while we kept a close eye on her.

"You know, they're going to be best friends." Marlee decided.

The boys were tossing a ball back and forth—well, Kile was throwing the ball. Rome was dropping it and tripping over it, already a little clutz. Silvia would have him out of that habit in less than a year. Kile helped Roman learn to throw, and then praised him for it.

America grinned. "I hope so."

"The Palace Gang," Carter murmured. "Now all we need—"

Avery cut him off. "Uh-oh."

She had spilled the glass of water, and I was now thankful it had been plastic. I put the cup back upright on the ground and moved her out of the muddy puddle in which she sat. Her little sobs broke my heart.

"Oh, she's soaked," Marlee stated.

Avery shivered.

"I can go change her clothes," America offered.

"I'll do it," I decided. "We'll be back."

I left with my daughter in my arms, her patting her soaked dress with a hand. She'd need a diaper change too. The guards we passed gave me a sympathetic look, which I returned with a smile.

We reached the nursery in record time.

In an attempt to soothe her, I bounced her for a second. It didn't work.

Maybe she was tired of being wet.

I peeled off her wet clothes and diaper and dried her off with a towel, making sure to clean her diaper area too. She was diapered again in minutes. Then, she went with me to pick an outfit. She—well, we picked a t-shirt with The Beatles on it, converse, and shorts. What a fashionable baby.

To make her feel better, I let her take her favorite stuffed dog down with her.

She perked up immediately.

i know the interrogation scene wasn't necessarily in character for maxon, but i mean.. kota is literally like insulting his family/threatening him so i i felt like he was pretty angry. also aren't max and avery the best father-daughter duo ever? yeah. they are. fight me.