A/N: i guess this is technically a surprise update! hooray! i had extra time to write, so I wrote this chapter for you guys. this is the second-longest chapter that I've wrote for this story, and i hope you all love it as much as i do!

the contents of this chapter were requested by a reader (as was the last chapter)! sorry that this took so long for me to post since you requested it, but i hope that better late than never works!

please help a writer out by leaving a review, following, or liking this story. it makes my heart indescribably happy to see all of the notifications through my email! also, if you leave a comment or review of something you'd like to see in the future, i will definitely try to fit it in for you.

anyway, hope you enjoy this sweet chapter!

*THIS STORY IS RATED M. PLEASE DON'T READ IF SENSITVE*

"Maxon!" I called and ran to him from across the great hall. He turned and his eyes lit up when he saw me feeling better than I had earlier when he found me in the garden and then even later in my room. He opened his arms and prepared for me to jump up into them. I leaped and wrapped my legs around him, hugging him close to me. He held me up and kissed my neck that was right by his face.

He twirled me around once before setting me down. "How are you, Darling? How are you feeling? Better?"

"Definitely feeling better."

"That's good to hear, Darling." He looks over to Marlee who is awkwardly standing off to the side, "Lady Woodwork, pleasure seeing you, again. Will you and Sir Woodwork be joining me and America for dinner?"

"Yes, we will be joining you. Carter- I mean Sir Woodwork- will be a little late, but yes. We thought it was best to let you and Queen America have some alone time with her family while they were here."

"I'm sure that she appreciates it."

"I do, but I have missed seeing you at meals," I tell her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders.

Maxon grabs my free hand and the three of us walk into the dining hall. I let go of Marlee and allowed Maxon to lead me to my seat. He pulls the chair out for me and I sit down. He pushed my chair in for me and kissed my cheek. Marlee sat across from me and Maxon sat at the head of the table. I know Carter would be rushing in to sit next to Marlee the second he was done with whatever he was doing. Maxon, similarly to what he did yesterday at breakfast, refused to let me serve my own food or pour myself a glass of water without his assistance.

"Maxon," I whine, "my stomach was hurting, not my arms."

"I would rather you not hurt yourself at all."

I sigh and roll my eyes. "Maxon…"

"America… Let me do this for you. Let me take care of you."

"But I'm okay now…"

"America…"

"Maxon…" I test him slightly.

He looks down for a moment then meets my eyes. He sighs before he begins to speak and lowers his voice, not in frustration just in an attempt for me to understand how deeply he values what he is about to say. "I stood at the altar with the most beautiful woman in the world and we vowed to each other to love one another in sickness and in health. I promised her, and she is you. Let me do this for you because of those vows we made."

I huff, "Fine, but only because I love you too much to say no."

I'll let it slide this time, but I don't need to be coddled. He, of course, knows this about me and I know that he is just doing his best to make sure I'm okay, but still. I've never been one to need the assistance of many to do anything. I'm always ready to do it myself, I always have been. That is the only reason why letting him take care of me for once is the worst. But, again, I'm letting slide for today. If he does this again, and it's not today, then I'm smacking his arm away from me and doing it myself.

The burst open and Carter just about ran in. "Sorry, I'm late!" He rushed in. His hair was still wet from a recent shower, and his dress shirt wasn't tucked in. He kissed Marlee's cheek and sat down hastily.

"It's alright, Carter. You didn't miss anything. Don't worry about it." Maxon excused him.

"Well, you missed America refusing Maxon of doing a good deed for her."

"I wasn't refusing…"

"You were definitely refusing, America," Marlee told me. I just rolled my eyes, causing her a little giggle.

Carter quickly served himself and we began to eat. They had made a steak of some sort (Maxon called it Denver Steak, which I guess is a type of steak cut.) with mashed potatoes, sauteed green beans and asparagus, and a chef's salad with all of the yummy veggies on top. All of the meal was so delicious and filling. Every so often, I would bite down hard, clenching my jaw, trying to hide the pain from the waves of cramps and they came and went. Maxon, thank God, never caught on to my subtle coping mechanisms throughout the main course of the meal.

I wanted to take seconds but stopped myself when they brought out dessert. My eyes must have grown to the size of saucers when I saw just what the staff had brought out to us. This, in typical Maxon fashion, made him chuckle at me. A maid set down a large platter filled with a multicolored cake. They called it a sampler cheesecake because every 2 slices were different from the other ones on the platter. They had plain vanilla cream, classic strawberry, chocolate chip, blackberry, and a creamy peanut butter chocolate cheesecake. There was enough for all of us to have at least 2 slices, but I was already full, so I opted for just one slice. Maxon gave me a slice of the strawberry cheesecake. A maid immediately came around to put an extra berry on top and pour the yummy liquid syrup topping over it.

I took one bite. The creamy, yet firm, cheesecake was so sweet. The drizzle on top was such a good contrast to the actual cake, but it was welcomed. It was perfect, just like everything else the kitchen staff made for us. I unintentionally moaned because it was so good.

"You've done it again…"

I opened my eyes, which I didn't even realize that they had closed, and looked at Maxon. I swallowed the rest of my food quickly. At the same speed, I wiped the edges of my mouth with my napkin and cleared my throat once more before speaking. "Done what again, Your Royal Husbandness?"

"Queen America?" Why did he address me so formally? I was confused, but I will do the same for him.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"How are you enjoying the food?" He quirked his eyebrow up at me, a wide smile across his face. It took me a minute to connect the obvious dots he drew for me. For some reason, the connection between the first meal at the palace and now was one I was not prepared for. Once I did make the connection, the same wide smile was plastered on my face. I leaned over to look at him more, resting against the arm of my chair. I saw from the corner of my eye that Marlee was doing mini claps in front of her chest, and she was practically bouncing out of her chair. I guess she knows where this conversation is going to be going. Carter was trying to calm her down, but it wasn't working out for him.

"It's excellent, Your Majesty. I have a sister who loves sweets more than I do and I think she'd cry if she tasted this cheesecake. It's perfect." I replied snarkily, playing into his little game.

"Do you really think she would cry?" He leaned back casually, just as he did the first time he wanted to play this game.

"I think she actually would." I raised my one brow to him, playing along. I loved this more than he would ever know.

"Would you be willing to bet on it or would you prefer to make a barter? You seem very good at striking deals…"

I sighed, "I'll go with a barter since I have nothing worth betting. What do you want?"

"What do you want?" He flipped the question back on me. I hate it when he does this. He did this the first time. It was beyond irritating.

"If she cries…" I had to think for a minute. Maxon, graciously enough, had already given me everything I wanted in life. He gave me love, a home, comfort, and stability. Not to mention the countless objects he had given me such as the four pianos and the beautiful ring I wear on my finger every day. That's not even including the house he bought for my family or the many jewels he has gotten me on many different occasions. What more could I want? What more could I need when all I had to do was ask and I would be given whatever I wished for? Then it hit me, "If she cries, I would like to do a photoshoot with you and the assistance of my royal advisor, Lady Woodwork."

"I wasn't expecting that…" Marlee whispered from across the table. I looked at her and raised my eyebrows to her. She gasped and nodded. I'm so glad that she now understands that this photoshoot we will be doing if I win is the one we were talking about earlier.

"Done. And if she doesn't cry, I would love to take a walk with you around the grounds." He winked. I know he means that we wouldn't be just walking around the grounds, he wants us to end up doing something dirtier… something sexier… I would have to turn him down, but I know where his mind was at. I could see it in his captivating eyes.

"You drive a hard bargain, sir, but I am not one to shun away from a challenge. It's a deal." I hold out my hand, which he gladly shakes it.

"Lutenitent Mark? Please send a strawberry cheesecake to the Queen's family in their new home. When it is sent, have May, the youngest girl, take a bite. Please report back letting me know if she cries or not." He sighs and looks into my eyes, "I have a gut feeling that I will be getting another walk in the garden with my wife."

I sighed and took another bite of the cheesecake. Throughout the rest of dessert, I was hiding more cramps. They were more painful than the ones earlier, but enough bad enough to warrant a pain pill. Maxon's head would snap towards me when I dropped my fork down on my plate rather hard or bit my lip for a long period of time. I dismissed his glances, though. He shouldn't have to worry about me. Especially not while we are eating with our friends. Marlee noticed these little signs as well. I just faked a smile when she looked at me asking with her eyes if I was okay. She believed it all. We were still eating and talking when Mark, the lutenitent Maxon sent out, returned.

"What was the verdict, Mark?" Maxon asked.

"There were no tears. She took a bite and enjoyed it, but there were no tears. Lady May gave me this to give you, Your Majesty."

I took the note from him. He bowed and departed. I read out loud what was written on the white paper in a pink glitter gel pen. "'Ames, I'm really sorry. It was good, but not good enough to cry. I just couldn't let a single tear fall, and I tried for you, Ames. I really did. I hope I didn't cost you anything important. If it's anything like last time, I think you'll be okay. I love you and miss you already. -May. Ps: tell Maxon I say hi!' No!"

"Looks like you owe me a date," Maxon tells me, smugly.

"Seems that is the case."

"I would tell you what time to be ready, but you are on a busy schedule now, Darling." He straightened his tie down the center of his shirt, confident as ever.

"Hopefully soon, but I was kind of wanting to still do the photoshoot." I look down with sad eyes. They are real, but I'm playing into the guilt trip that Maxon will inevitably fall for.

He buys it without a second of hesitation. "Well, since you want it so much and I am a fair ruler… we can still do the photoshoot."

"Thank you!" I look at Marlee from across the table, "Are you still okay to do the photoshoot, Marlee?"

She nodded excitedly, "Of course. I can't wait to help you guys out."

"Great. Then it's settled. We will go on another date, sometime the day after tomorrow, and the photoshoot will be done sometime after that. Marlee, how long do you think we will need to plan it?"

"Depends on how long you think it will take to get stuff ready and when you'd like to start prep work. We can start working on it and planning it after your date, but getting the clothes made for it might take a day or two. Will you be ready by then?"

I knew what she was actually asking. Will I be off my period by then? "I should be ready by then. Does that sound good to you, Maxon?"

"Whatever you wish, Darling."

"Alright. Then it is settled."

We talked for just a few more minutes before deciding to head off. Marlee and Carter wanted some alone time, and Maxon would be more than happy to have alone time with me. Marlee and Carter were first to leave, walking hand in hand out of the dining hall. Maxon got up next, but it was only so he could pull my chair out for me. I grabbed his arm and we walked laced together arm in arm. I leaned into him as a cramp rolled through my stomach.

I must have grunted or something to show I was in a lot of pain because he was ready to question my well being the second he noticed something was off about me, "Darling, are you okay?"

"Just another cramp. I'm okay." I sighed as the pain dulled enough for me to continue walking like normal.

"So, you didn't exactly tell me what was causing these 'cramps of death'. Can I know what's going on with you, America?"

I took a deep breath. I already kind of hinted to him that I was on my period, but I'm not sure he got the hint. I don't want it to be uncomfortable if I tell him. "Later. I want to just enjoy the rest of tonight."

"Okay, but you are going to tell me."

"I will. I promise."

"Good. Oh, that's the other thing. Your shoes were found outside and taken to the Queen's Suite right before dinner."

"Thank you."

We walked arm in arm on the first floor of the palace. I didn't know where we were going. I thought we could be going upstairs but we passed the stairs already. I guess it didn't matter where we were going because I would follow him anywhere. He led me out to the garden. I smiled because he knows me so well. This is the perfect way to end a rather sweet night. The guards got the door for us and we stepped out. He pulled away from me. I was about to question it when I realized that he was just taking his shoes and socks off so we could walk barefoot in the grass together. My smile grew. He grabbed my hand and we ran into the open space. While I loved the garden during the day, I have to say that the garden at sunset and into the night might be my favorite thing. The grass is still kind of warm from the sun, but it's not too warm out. It's perfect. I fell down onto my knees and rolled over in the soft greenery, laughing. It had been a long day without laughing since this morning. Maxon was cracking up by just watching me laying in the yard laughing at myself. He laid down with his head next to mine but his body going the opposite direction. I calmed down enough to pause and look up into the changing sky with the love of my life.

He sighed, "This is nice."

I closed my eyes and just smelled the fresh air, "This is nice."

I looked at him. His head was turned to look at me. A soft smile spread across his lips and his eyes were filled with love for, what I assume, is me. My insides melted just a little bit thinking of how many times he might have looked at me this way during the Selection and I just dismissed it or ignored it.

"I love you..." I told him.

"I love you, too."

We stared at each other for a long time. I don't know how long it was, and, to be honest, I don't care. I really don't know what he was thinking about when his eyes were on mine, but I know what I was doing. I was finding all of the things that I loved about his handsome face. I loved the warm blonde color of his hair. I loved how when we were in bed, his hair flopped over and wasn't so perfect. I loved it when he had it combed over and gelled so it would stay out of the way from his eyes during the day. I loved the way his forehead wrinkled when he raised his eyebrows at me in a challenge. I love how when he talks to me and gets confused he looks down and then back up to me like my eyes hold the answer to whatever question he might have formed in his head. I loved his eyes, the way the warm brown mixed with the light honey color before reaching the halting stop of his pupil. I love how I can see the difference in the size of his pupils when he looked at me versus anyone else. I loved the way it feels when he looks at me, and I mean really looks at me. Really staring at me like I'm the whole world. It always feels like warmth and home. I loved the way the bridge of his nose is straight but has a slight hook to it at the tip. I love how smooth his nose is when I kiss it. I love that his smile was kind and warm. I loved that when he smiles fully, it's like seeing him be young. Almost like we aren't running a country and being adults together. I loved that when he laughs, the first give away is that the edges of his mouth turn up before there is any sound. I love his chin and how it was soft, yet angled. I love the little bit of stubble from when he doesn't shave. I love him and everything about him.

"I love you," I whispered out mostly to myself, but also to him.

"And I love you." He whispered back.

By the time we were done gawking at each other, the sun had completely set over the palace in Angeles. I looked up to the stars. There were so many. I loved them all. It made me wonder how many stars there are. How many could we see from the lawn of the palace? How many of these stars remind me of- "Maxon?"

"Yes, America?"

"Do you know how many stars there are?" I turn my head to face him.

He looks at me with so much adoration, I feel like I am the world with him. It makes me feel queasy in the most romantic way possible. "I do not. Not off the top of my head, at least. I bet there are billions. I could look for you, later, if you'd like."

"No, that's okay." I turn back the cool navy night sky. "I bet you that those billions of stars don't compare to how much I love you."

"Oh really?"

"I love you for every star in the sky, and 10 times over. And then even more after that." I turn back to him. His eyes are still love-struck. I don't think he ever turned his head away from me to look up at the stars.

"And I love you that much plus even more." He tells me confidently.

We smiled at each other. The warmth from his smile spread to me, warming my whole body. After another moment, we decided to go back inside. Maxon sat up first. I sat up, too. I stretched while he stood up, brushed off any loose grass from his suit, and then came to help me up. He pulled me up quickly. I made sure that there wasn't any grass on my dress. I grabbed his arm and leaned close to him. We walked back to the doors. Of course, camera crews were there, waiting for us to go back inside. They had been floating around the palace for the majority day. They came early in the morning, left after the taste-testing, and probably came back right around dinner to get any late-night date stuff.

Maxon grabbed his shoes and then grabbed my hand and we walked back inside. He tried his very best to ignore the camera crews by talking to me. "God, I hate it when they are here."

"I know, Love. I know."

"It's so much easier when we are alone."

"No kidding." I huff out through a light laugh. "Just wait until I get pregnant. Then, they'll be gone."

"We could speed that process up…"

"I'd like to keep you to myself for just a little while longer, if that's okay with you."

"I think I'd like to keep you to myself forever."

"I'd like that a lot."

It brings a small smile to his face as we go upstairs. We walk the rest of the way up the stairs to the second floor in silence, Mainly because if he thought of anything else except for getting out of their view, he would explode. "Are we out of view from them?"

I peer behind us. I don't see anyone. "I think we are."

"Thank God." He mutters.

We stop at the top of the stairs on the second floor. He pulls me into him, my body practically falls into his arms. His hands pull on the underside of my thighs all still while holding his shoes. I am lifted off the floor. I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms get slung around his neck. He kisses my readily available neck while I can't protest. He pulls his head away from my neck to look at me. I gaze into his eyes and fall in love over and over again. Then, he takes off. I squeal with shock and excitement. He is unpredictable sometimes, but only when it comes to these sweet intimate moments. He carries me up the stairs and all the way to our room. I laugh the whole way. Something about him doing all of this for me all the time makes me feel extremely giddy and loved. I guess it's the extra attention and energy that makes me feel so happy that I'm his. He set me down outside the King's suite. Unfortunately, this is where we part ways as we do every night. His shoes drop to the floor by our feet.

I grab his free hands and start fidgeting with his gold ring, "I hate leaving you."

"I know, Darling."

"Do you know why I hate leaving you?"

"Is it because when I got shot, you had to leave me and that was hard for you to do because it was leaving the one you love?"

"You know me so well. That's exactly it." I sigh, "I'm afraid that if I leave your side for even a minute, you might die…"

"Like I did in your dream this morning…?"

I nod and hug him. His arms envelop me with warmth and comfort. A single tear slips from my eye. Stupid hormones. Somehow he can tell that I started to cry, and is already comforting me, "Shh… it's okay. I'm not going anywhere, Darling. I will always be waiting for you."

I nod and pull away. "I know. It doesn't make it any easier, though."

"I know." He tips my chin up to look at him. "Go get cleaned up for bed, and I'll be waiting. I promise."

"Pinky promise?" I hold my finger out for him. I gnaw on my lip anxiously, waiting for him to clasp his finger around mine.

His finger wraps around mine tightly. He kisses the tip of my pinky before saying, "Pinky promise."

"Okay." I sigh, letting go of him. I kiss his cheek and walk away, not looking back till I close my door.

I undress quickly and walk into my closet to grab his shirt and shorts. I slipped them on and rolled the shorts so they didn't completely fall from my hips. I walked to my bathroom and washed my face, taking care of everything else that needed to be done, too. My hair was brushed through quickly and then I threw my hair up and out of the way in a messy bun.

I sighed and walked back to our room. I knocked and entered. A smile spread across my face to see Maxon sitting up and waiting for me in our bed. He patted the spot next to him, pointed to me, beckoned me to him with his fingers, and then pointed back down to the open space. I closed the door behind me as I walked in. He had lit candles similarly to how he did after our bath a couple nights ago. The room smelled of warm vanilla and of Maxon (his cologne more specifically), two things I love. I sat down on the bed and kissed his cheek before sliding myself down into the covers. His warmth makes me instantly cuddle into his side. I rest my head on his chest, listening to his breathing and the steady thud of his heart. His lips meet with my hair.

"It's only 9:30, we don't need to sleep right now, and I can think of a few ways to pass the time…"

"Maxon…" I start, but the words I want to say dissolve from my mouth so it just sounds like I'm whining. I sit up to look at him. His face is flushed lightly and his ears are a little red.

"So, that's a no then." Disappointment rings through his voice. Well, I can only imagine how upset he will be when I tell him it's because of my period.

"Love…"

"What?"

"It's not you, I swear."

"Then what is it?" He asks, a little bit of fire on his words.

I sigh, "My period."

"Oh… Oh…"

"Oh?"

"I just… I don't… I can't… uhm… wha..."

"Are you confused?"

"In a way, yes."

"Let me explain a little so you understand kinda what I am dealing with. I have a period because you didn't get me pregnant, which right now is good. My period typically lasts 3 or 4 days. It's been longer, but on a normal cycle, 4 days is about the max. That pain this morning was cramps." I sigh, "I'm going to be honest though, they've never been that bad. That was like radiating pain throughout my stomach and thighs and back. It's never that bad. This is day one. Tomorrow, day two, will be worse than today. Typically, it's heavier flow and more pain. Day three will be bearable. Little to no pain, with a lighter flow. Day four will be either very little or nothing at all for both pain and blood. When this is all over, it'll probably happen 28 to 31 days from now."

"I just have two questions?"

"Go for it."

"I hate to sound like a horny man, but can we have sex with all that going on?"

"Technically, yes. Will it be messier? Yes, most definitely. Will my sex drive be higher? Again, yes. But it comes with me bleeding a lot."

He nods. "Why didn't you just tell me what was going on, Darling?"

I sigh, swallowing the majority of my pride, "Well, first off, I wasn't sure how you'd react. It's not like you know about this stuff and I didn't know if you'd be uncomfortable with me telling you. Besides, I didn't want you to be upset that we can't have sex without making a mess on your white sheets. And, on top of all of that, I was really not in the mood to share the most disgusting thing about myself with you, especially since I didn't know how you'd react to any of it."

He kisses my cheek, "My Darling, you are not disgusting. You are beautiful. And you really thought I would be upset by something natural that you can't control?"

"Well, I wasn't sure how you would react. I didn't want you to be upset because of that."

"I'm not upset. I will get over not having sex. I went 19 years without it. What's four days?" He clears his throat, "Is there anything at all that I can help you with?"

I shake my head. "Just be careful about what you say around me, be sweet and kind and loving, and give me all of the sweets and chocolates that you can get your hands on."

"That easy?"

"You can't take away the pain, and you can't stop the devil's flow from between my legs, so yes."

He laughs for a minute before responding. "If that's all you need from me, then I will provide."

"Speaking of needing things, I have a question."

"What would that be?"

"What is something that you want?"

He sat for a minute and pondered my question. "I… I don't think I want anything. I mean, I have a beautiful home, a beautiful wife, a good job, a stable income, and good friends. I don't think there is anything more I could want."

"You have to want something!" I whine.

"I don't think there is anything I could possibly want that you could give me."

"But what is it?"

A small smile creeps up onto his face as he tells me his deepest desires, "I want to give you the world, America. I want you to have everything you've ever wanted. You can't give me the world to give to you. I want to make sure that you are loved every second of the day. You can't give me that. Now, enough of that. Let's go to bed."

He slides down into the bed. My body follows his, folding into his side perfectly. I sigh, "Goodnight, My Sweet Maxon."

"Goodnight, My Sweet America." He kisses my head.

I drift into sleep. My last thought is how Maxon wants nothing more than to give me the world and love. He doesn't want anything physical, just me. I couldn't agree more.