A/N: I usually don't update twice in one day, but I was just too eager to keep the story going! :)

Chapter Two: Maxon

"I'll be glad when you're gone."

I thought about the words again. The last ones I had ever spoken to her.

I gazed out the window of my office, watching as the late winter sun danced off the water splashing from the fountain's cherub. The day's warmth was evident even while indoors, and for a moment, I let myself remember the way she had described winters where she was from.

"Cool and crisp, usually," She had laughed, then mimed shivering, "But sometimes, when the cold comes off the Atlantic, it cuts right through to your bones. And snows sometimes, too. Wet and slushy. Nothing like the powdery stuff in the movies."

I could have listened to her speak of that life, her normal life, for hours and would have… If her lies would not have stolen that future away from us both. I grimaced and turned away from the window, determined to put her out of my mind.

There was a knock on my door, and it was quickly opened.

"Your Lady is looking for you, Your Majesty," A guard murmured with feigned enthusiasm; My fiancée's former competitor had been a favorite among them all since she had fought for one of their own.

She had been my favorite as well.

I sighed, moving to shuffle papers on my desk, tucking away the more sensitive documents.

"Well, by all means, Officer Adams. Let her in!" I smiled and waved a hand forward. If I were going to make Kriss a happy wife, I needed to start by being a happy husband.

"There you are!" She smiled as she swept gracefully into the room, standing on tiptoe to brush a quick kiss to my lips, "I'm so sorry to disturb you, X." She bit her lip, letting her eyes drift over the papers on my desk.

I shook my head and subtly laid a map of the city over them as if I had been planning on unfurling it all along.

"You never disturb me, my dear," I sighed, sitting in my chair and allowing her to perch joyfully on my lap. I rested one hand on her back, looping the other arm over her legs. I had always been fond of the girl in my lap, but the familiarity still felt wrong, even after a month's worth of our engagement. It was like my arms had known that they were once meant to be around someone else. "What's on your mind, Kriss?"

Kriss relaxed in my arms, clearly at ease. She produced a small notebook from beneath her arms and opened it to a page full of scribbles.

"Well, it's about our engagement party. I still haven't decided if we should have a sit-down meal or just let everyone mingle about." She tapped the pen to her chin, and I could clearly tell there was more on her mind.

"What's wrong, K?" I asked, whispering the rarely used term of endearment she had asked me to use when she had decided she would, for some unknown reason, call me 'X' when we were alone.

"I just… I really wanted The Elite to be there. Your mother is always speaking so fondly of The Elite from her time in The Selection, and how close they are."

I stiffened, realizing America could soon be back under my roof. What would I do if I saw her again? One brief glimpse of the memory of her whispering so familiarly to Officer Leger answered that question.

If I didn't send her running right back out, I would allow her to stay but ignore her. Only for appearances' sake… and for the sake of my soon-to-be wife.

All the while, I would be aching to beg her not to leave again.

"Well, that's natural. And of course, they should be here!"

Kriss heaved a sigh.

"I agree. And, of course, I know Marlee can't be here, being an eight and all… and obviously love, for what she did to you." She kissed my temple, completely unaware that Marlee was preparing the very food she would enjoy for dinner tonight.

"Mhm," I murmured in agreement, "And?"

"And… well. Two of the other four have replied to my invitations, but I haven't heard a peep from America or Celeste. I know it's natural to be jealous, but we became friends. I love them almost as much as I love you." She touched her fingertip to my nose.

I glanced down at my wing-tipped shoes, remembering the way Celeste had nearly hissed in disgust as I had knelt for my proposal, understandably shocked after what had transpired during our last private conversation.

And more than that, I remembered the way she had been there for America, helping her out just when she had started to falter. I had been too caught up in my anger then to deeply appreciate the gesture… But now, I was grateful for her.

"I'm sure they're just terribly busy with their new lives, just like you," I teased, keeping my voice light, "Celeste is working again, and…" I paused, licking my lips. I so rarely said her name. "And America has gone back to Carolina. That's quite a journey, and even though she's a Three now, she may not have been able to secure a better paying job yet."

I couldn't help but smile to myself. Although she deserved money and wealth, I knew her enough to know that she probably went right back to work as a musician and singer. I did wonder briefly if she and her officer had reconnected yet, however distantly, and the smile died just as quickly as it had come.

Kriss tilted her head, legitimately confused.

"Carolina?" Kriss shook her head, "Elise moved here, as you know, and she told me she ran into her mother and sister at the market."

I froze.

"What?"

"Yeah. She saw them. Something about vacationing before a fresh start. If I remember what she told me." A rare pout graced the usually stoic Kriss' lips. "If she can afford to send her family of Fives on vacation, she can afford to come and congratulate us. If she comes, I sure Celeste will, too. I miss them."

"She just might yet," I shrugged, struggling to hide the fact that I was reeling from the news that America was living in the home I had gifted her family. I had thought I had known her well enough to think that she would not want it.

XxXxX

"Are you sure this is allowed, Your Majesty?" My driver, Johnson, asked for the fifth time, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. I sighed, glancing out the tinted, bullet-proof windows as he drove. Of course not, I thought to myself, if my father knew I was putting myself in danger like this, I would be beaten so hard I would miss my own wedding.

"Turn here, Johnson," I replied coolly, hoping he heard the answer in my words.

"Yes, sir." He turned down the street, resplendent with new homes.

"The one at the very end, there. On its own." He nodded, pulling down the street. I caught my breath when I saw a young boy playing in the front yard, the danger of rebels clearly the last thing on his mind. Gerad cheered to himself as he kicked the soccer ball into the air, and I could not help but smile. Perhaps now that his sister was a comfortable Three, they would have the means for the boy to enjoy his athletic pastimes more often."

"Gerad Singer!"

My breath caught when the sunlight caught a flash of red hair, storming out the front door. For one wild second, my heart sped as I thought America was speeding across the lawn. One turn of the girl's head, however, proved that it was not who I thought. I was not sure if I was heartbroken or relieved.

"What did Mom tell you about keeping it to the backyard? We're not in Carolina anymore, Gerad, you have to be careful!"

May froze when she caught sight of the parked sedan and snapped her fingers at her brother.

"Gerad. Gerad, come here." The boy heard the urgency in his sister's voice and ran to her side, peeking around her towards the car as they backed up. However angry I was at their older sister, I didn't want her siblings to be frightened.

I rolled down my window and offered the best smile I could muster.

"Your Majesty!" Mrs. Singer appeared suddenly in the door as she and May dropped into a low curtsy. It pained me to be treated thus by people I had thought would become my family. I waved them off.

"Please, ladies. No formalities here. I'm alone," I smiled again, my eyes darting towards the door.

"She's not here," May said quickly, obviously every bit as quick and observant as America had given her credit for.

"Ah." I swallowed. "Off with Officer Leger then?"

"Officer Leger?" Mrs. Singer tilted her head, wiping her hands on a dish towel as she walked out to stand next to her youngest children, "Aspen? I don't think they have spoken much since she left the palace."

"She'll come for their wedding, though," May smiled, as if she were positive of that, "Our families have always been too close for her to miss that."

"She's marrying him?" I choked, unsure whether I was glad that my anger had been justified or horrified that she truly had moved on so quickly, "The guard?!"

May blinked, and looked towards her mother, clearly confused by my sudden irritation.

"Marry him? No, your Majesty," Mrs. Singer's brow knitted together, unsure of the direction our conversation had taken, "He is marrying one of her former maids. They were awfully close as well, I believe."

A long silence swelled between us as I processed the information, before realizing it changed nothing. It was not that she had cheated, or been unfaithful… Although I still believed she may have been. It was that she had lied to me, from the moment the young man first walked into our palace. Despite all my questions, everything I promised her, she had failed to tell me that Officer Leger had been the one who had left her so shattered. The one whose love had always come between us.

"Well, ladies, Gerad," I smiled, taking a deep breath, "I'm deeply sorry to have startled you. My father has me going around checking on some of our Real Estate investments. It must have slipped my mind that I had gifted this one to your sister."

I swallowed, the lie burning on my tongue.

"We're pleased that you're marrying Lady Kriss," Mrs. Singer replied quietly, a gentle smile on her face, "America says she knows she will make you a very worthy Queen."

I nodded, waved a quick farewell, and asked Johnson to head home.

Mercifully, he said nothing about my tears.

A/N: Thanks for reading! :) Let me know what you think!