A/N: i say this every time, but i am so sorry about the wait. i was working on this chapter really hard, trying to find the flow and make it work together. I'm happy with where it's at right now, and i hope you are too. this chapter was really fun to write out and plan, so i hope you enjoy it

I will warn you this is extremely fluffy...

*WARNING THIS RATED M FOR MATURE/GRAPHIC CONTENT. DO NOT READ IF SENSITIVE*

We stopped in his office to drop the cameras, which wasn't a problem. The problem was that I had to go into my room to change out of this dress and take care of my makeup before going to bed. This meant that Mary was going to try to keep me in the Queen's Suite for as long as possible. It also meant that I would have to leave Maxon before rejoining him, but maybe that was a plus because I don't think he would be able to get this dress off of me even if he tried. Maxon walked me to the door. He bowed and I curtsied.

"See you on the other side…" He joked.

I laughed, "Yeah, okay. I'll be over as soon as I can. I think Mary will try to keep me in my room for as long as possible, but I'll try my very best to be out of there quickly so I can be in your arms."

"I can't wait." He turned to walk away from me.

Before he could walk to his room, I grabbed his arm to pull him back for just a moment and I kissed his cheek lightly. Then, I scurried back to my room before he could stop me. I peaked my head out the door as he walked away. I sigh and close my door, collapsing against it.

"Your Majesty." Mary curtsies, "How was your date night with the king?"

"It was very nice, thank you for asking."

"Of course, Your Majesty. Let's get you out of this dress and into a nice warm bath before you head off to bed with the king."

I walk into the room more and she begins to untie the corset that sucks my body in tightly, "If you don't mind me asking, what did you do on your date?"

"We went to the Women's room because it was empty and he taught me about photography and I taught him the bare minimum about music."

"That's sweet. Did you play the one song you were telling me about this morning? The one you were working on? What was it called? 'It was Only Yours' or something like that?"

I nod, "I did. He really loved it."

"That's sweet." She tapped my shoulder lightly, "Your dress is unlaced, you should be able to step out of it."

I peel the front of it away from my body, and she was right. I was able to just step out of it once it was past my hips. I took off the rest of my garments and grabbed my baby blue silk robe from the back of the chair in my room.

"Let's get this makeup off of you." She grabs my hand and pulls me into the bathroom, which already smells amazing from the bath she drew.

Removing the makeup doesn't take too much effort. She was mostly worried about getting the eye makeup off. She also concentrated pretty hard on my neck, making sure to get the concealer off from earlier. As she works to get the makeup off of my skin, I work taking my hair down and brushing it out. Once she backs away, I pull my hair into a messy bun.

"Alright, in you go. The bath has lavender in it to calm you and to help you get good sleep for your long day tomorrow."

There are so many bubbles, and it gives me a rather couple-ly idea. I hesitated for a moment, but then the question spills from my lips. "Mary, do think it is possible that you could go get Maxon so he can join me?"

I blush the second I realize the words leave my lips. I have nothing to be embarrassed about, but I still feel that particular emotion flood through my body.

"Of course, Your Majesty." She curtsies and walks out of my bathroom to the door that leads to Maxon's room. I hear her knock along with her calling out rather loudly, "King Maxon, Queen America has requested your presence in her room!"

I don't hear what happens next. A moment later, Mary comes back with Maxon. He looks confused, I guess Mary didn't explain what was happening when she pulled him away.

"I'll leave you two alone." She curtsies and closes the bathroom door.

Maxon is still fully dressed. He shed his coat, tie, and shoes, but other than that he is still wearing what he was wearing earlier. "America, Darling, what's going on?"

"I, uh, thought it might be nice to unwind for the day together. So, uhm, I asked Mary to get you so, uhm, you could take a bath with me…" I look down at my toes, anything that will keep me from seeing him right now. I am too embarrassed, especially since he doesn't seem thrilled to be in my bathroom right now.

I just see his wine dress red shirt fall to the floor by my feet, landing right by my toes. My head pops up to meet his eyes.

"I'd love to join you, America. Thank you for asking." He continues to undress until he is in just his boxers. "Do you want me to get in first?"

I nod slowly. I don't watch him as he pulls his boxers down. I don't watch as he carefully steps in the warm water. I don't watch as he adjusts so that way there is room for two people to fit in the small space. Once the water stops splashing around, I look up from my feet. He just looks at me anxiously. And I'm the one that's supposed to be nervous here. I slowly untie the robe and let it fall to the floor. I don't pay attention to his reaction, but I can only assume his pupils dilated to the size of the moon. He holds his hand up for me to grab on to. I take it and step into the warm water. I realize that in all of my time on earth, I really have never thought about how to share a space so small with another human. Do I sit with my back against his chest or do I face him and hope that I don't kick him where it hurts? I decide to face him. As I slowly and carefully lowered myself down, my foot slipped out from under me. I crashed into the tub, falling hard on my ass. On top of that, I almost kicked him in the face. Thankfully, I didn't because I know he would never let me live that down.

"Are you okay?" concern laces his edged voice.

"I might have a bruise, but I've had worse before, so I'll be okay."

I manage to get myself almost up right and comfortable. It takes us both a couple of seconds to figure out how to actually get comfortable together. My feet are under his butt and his feet are resting on my hips. His knees are exposed, but so are mine. I sigh loudly. I lean my head back on the edge of the tub, just trying to enjoy the relaxing properties of this bath, but I can't concentrate. It must show because when I pull my head up and my eyes peek open, Maxon looks concerned, yet again.

"What's going through your head right now?" He asks me.

I sigh, "Just thinking about how embarrassing this is. I just want to be with you. I can't go more than 10 minutes away from you, but when I try to do something romantic, I fail. I can't even get into the bath without falling on my ass. I can't even sit down properly without looking like a fool. I feel so dumb, right now. This was a terrible idea. I think what you said in the garden earlier was right. All of my ideas are terrible."

"Darling, I think it is adorable. You are being you and quirky. It's cute. This wasn't a terrible idea. I was wrong to say that earlier, so terribly wrong. Let me prove that this wasn't terrible. Here, let me wash your hair for you." His beckons me with his fingers and I know what they can do, so I listen.

I turn awkwardly in the tub. My body fumbles around, maneuvering between his legs. In the end, my body is facing away from him, with just enough space between us so that way I'm not touching him. I'm sitting on my feet and I can feel the very edge of his leg touching my feet and butt. I pull my hair out of the bun I had it pulled up in. The ends of my red locks fall into the bubbly water. He takes the cup with the spout that Mary usually uses and fills it with some of the water. I tilt my head back slightly. He pours it over my head, trying not to get any on my face. Once he's done with that, he puts some shampoo in the palm of his hand. He gently massages it into my wet hair.

"I'm sorry this is awkward." I say to break the silence.

"It's not awkward. This is taking care of you. I'm doing what I can to uphold what we promised at the altar, remember?"

"Right. Till death due us part."

"Till death due us part. And don't you ever forget it, America."

"I won't."

"I mean it. I promised to love and cherish you forever. In sickness and in health. Till death due us part. Don't forget it."

"I never will. I promise."

He rinses out the shampoo and begins to put in the conditioner, "America, do you want to know what I thought of you the first time I met you?"

"Maxon, love, you have to be more specific than that. We met for the first time a total of three times."

He chuckles, "The very first time."

"When I had the rather embarrassing meltdown in the garden? Sure, I would love to know."

"I thought you were interesting and almost enticing in a way."

"Oh really?"

"Let me explain before you judge me. You were crying, which God help me with that to this day, but even then I thought you were the most beautiful thing in the world. I remember I didn't see your face first, I saw your hair. A swoosh of red like… honey and roses and the sun all together. Then, as I was saying good night to you and letting you stay out there as long as you wanted, I actually had a chance to see your face for the very first time. I thought you were absolutely beautiful in every form of the word. I saw your sparkling blue eyes under your lashes and your rosey cheeks… and I fell in love."

I was blushing hard without a doubt. He never told me that. I practically whispered, "Thank you, Maxon."

He began to rinse out the conditioner, For what, Darling?"

"Keeping me around and then choosing me when I shouldn't have even been around."

"I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. I was glad to keep you around, even if you just wanted to stay for the food."

I gasped and smacked his leg from behind me, "Later it was because of our friendship…"

"Yeah, yeah… whatever you need to tell yourself to make yourself comfortable at night."

I rolled my eyes. "Your turn, Maxon."

We go through turning around in the tub, which is much more work then it should be. Once we have both successfully turned around, I realize that if I am going to wash his hair, then I am going to have to kneel because he is so much taller than me. I am willing to kneel in the tub if it means caring for him the same way he does for me. I pour water over his head and just think out loud as I wash his blonde hair.

"Since we're talking about Selection stuff, I wanted to tell you someone that I loved that happened. One of my favorite memories from the Selection, besides all of the amazing ones I made with you, was one that I made with your mom." He tenses up just enough for me to notice. If anyone else were to see this moment, they wouldn't even notice. Nonetheless, I continue on as I rub shampoo into his scalp. "She told me that if she was correct about where things were going with you and your feelings, then I would be able to call her 'mom'. I wanted that… I didn't exactly realize it, but right after I processed what she said, I knew I wanted that for myself. I know that I messed up a lot, but she was going to welcome me with open arms into her family. You are just like her, you know. You welcomed me in after I broke your heart and ruined you in the stupidest way possible. But she would be happy to see the choices you made. She would be happy to see you happy, Maxon."

I hear him sniffle as I start to rinse the shampoo out, "She would be more just happy. She would be proud of you and who you have become. You are a great king and you are already planning to do so much for your country. You are a kind and loving husband." I put a dollop of condition into his hair and continued on. "And I know we aren't there yet, and don't plan to be for a little bit, but I know that you are going to be a great father when we get there. You are going to love and cherish the children we have and they are going to feel that love every day, just like she did for you. She would be happy for you and proud of you and she would be content with the life you have made for yourself."

I rinse out the conditioner. When I am done he turns around to face me, which, again, is a struggle. His eyes are red and there is still a tear streaming down his face. I wipe it away, but his hand covers mine.

"Thank you for that, America. I didn't realize how much I needed to hear that." He sniffles.

"I've noticed that you don't give yourself enough credit for what you have accomplished, Maxon. My job is to remind you that you are loved and that if no one else is proud of you, that at least I am. She would be proud of you." I kiss his head and stand up to dry off.

I grab a towel for myself and one for him. I hand it to him as he stands up. I wrap my towel under my arms and his towel sits low on his waist, which is just maddeningly sexy, by the way. He gives me his hand so I can step out and I don't let go when he steps out. I turn him around so I can see his back and decide that I will dry him off. I undo my towel so I can dry off his back. The sight of his scared back still makes me sick to my stomach because I know that some of those are there so I wouldn't have them on me. He takes his towel off to dry his chest and face. I dry off his legs and his butt. I make my way back up to his shoulders and then he turns around. I turn so he can dry off my back. I have to pull my hair out of the way, which is no problem. He is careful not to make this intimate act sexual when he starts drying off my lower half. He touches my shoulder, so I turn around.

"Thank you for this, America. It was perfect, all of it."

"Even when I fell?" I slip on my robe from the floor quickly.

"Even when you fell."

I kiss his cheek, "I'll be over in maybe 10 minutes. Mary is going to want to blow dry my hair."

"Okay. Can I take this towel with me?"

"Yes. Oh! Speaking of taking things with you, I almost forgot: I asked Mary to get this." I run over to my sink and give him an unopened bottle of my favorite perfume. "It's the same one that I wear everyday. I wanted to make sure that you always have me with you, so if you miss me you can have my scent and you won't have to try and steal it."

He blushes slightly and laughs, "This is adorable. Thank you, Darling. I'll see you in our room soon."

I nod as he picks up his clothes and leaves. Once he is gone, I sigh. Mary comes in, her cheeks slightly red.

"Did you have a nice bath, Miss?"

I laugh, "I did. Thank you for starting it for me. So, I was thinking I could wear something… sexy… for him tonight. Do you have any ideas?"

"Well, if you want my honest opinion, I think that he would love to see you wearing just his shirt."

"Nothing under it?"

"Maybe a cute underwear. If that would make you more comfortable, then that's what we'll do."

I nod, "Okay. I think we should do red…"

"I'll be right back with his shirt and some red panties for you, Your Majesty."

I towel dry my hair while she is gone. I decided that me messily braiding my hair was better than waiting any longer to join him in the next room over. I slipped on the cheeky red lace panties that she brought along with his shirt.

"Mary, how do I look?"

"Your Majesty, I hate to be improper with my words, so please forgive me, but I think you look sexy. He is going to eat this up."

I giggle. I knew full well that he would indeed be eating this up… and I would be loving every second of it. "Thank you, Mary. Enjoy your night off. Get some rest, and I will see you bright and early tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Be safe tonight." She winks at me.

I blush slightly and nod to her as I make the journey to my husband. Before I enter, I wipe my palms down on his shirt. I take a deep breath before I enter his room to go to bed. I don't bother to knock. He is probably waiting for me to crawl into bed with him.

When I open the door, I find that his room is rather dim. As I look around I see the candles that he has lit around the room. Rose petals that he must have gotten from our garden make a path leading me to our bed. He is in his tight fit black nightshirt and light gray athletic shorts. I pause for a moment because he is still lighting a candle and didn't even notice that his door was opened. I think. I could say something or I could surprise him a little bit more. I think I'm gonna roll with this. I carefully walked over to what we decided was my side of the bed. I try to quiet the light slapping sound my feet make, but walking up on my tiptoes and not letting anything but the ball of my feet touch the floor. I slowly sit down, careful not to disrupt him as his lights another match directly by our bed. I pull the shirt down over my mid thigh, so that when he notices me he won't be able to see the red panties that are riding up my butt. He finally lights it and lets himself tower down onto the bed. His eyes stayed closed but when I sigh his eyes popped open. His body jerks up and turns to look at me.

"America!" His voice is full of shock, but soon tapers down with disappointment, "I didn't see or hear you enter… surprise."

"Maxon, it's lovely. Thank you for this, but I told you I don't need big things like this. You choosing me and loving me is enough."

"I know, but I wanted to show you my love and I wanted to surprise you. Do you like the rose petals?"

I nod, "It is a very romantic touch. I love it."

"That's good. I thought you might enjoy that."

"I appreciate it. I always will." I kiss his forehead.

He stands up and comes over to my side of the bed, where I sit elegantly. "My loving wife, what are you hiding from me under that rather nice shirt that you stole from me."

"Well," I turn on the bed, and let him stand between my legs. My hands grab his and start to rub soothing circles. "I know I already got you my surprise, technically, but I want to surprise you and give you a little gift. But, my loving husband, you have to close your eyes."

He sighs but compiles to my request. My hands meet his arms to push him away from me. "America?"

"Shh. Trust me."

"Always." He rubs his hands anxiously.

I quickly prepared my part of the surprise. It doesn't take much effort to do, but I want it to be perfect.

"Open your eyes, my love." I tell him.

His eyes grow to be the size of saucers, filling with a hunger that I have only seen a few times since we have been together. He blinks a couple times, as if this might be a dream and I will disappear when he opens his eyes. Maxon slowly creeps towards me, his right hand reaches out to touch my bare body. His fingers lightly brush the center of my collar bone out to my left shoulder. Goosebumps follow the slow travel that his fingers make down my naked figure. His fingers stop at my hip, when they reach the lacy fabric. When he figures out that this isn't a dream, his eyes change ever so slightly. Instead of just hunger they fill with something stronger than hunger. Something that I can't really pinpoint the second it happens. Something that has already started to consume him. Instead of hunger...

They fill with lust.

"Oh, Darling… you are magnificent… stunning… and you're all mine…"