It is a strange feeling to drive to your family who think you are dead.

I had been in many situations where I had to make life or death situations, times when I had nearly lost my life and even been shot - but nothing was as terrifying as this. Being trapped in a car with the man I used to love was the hardest thing I had ever done. I had played similar situations over in my head when I had first left with Alexander. I had dreamed about me falling back into his arms - even though he hated me. But at times it was the only thing that had kept me sane - the hope of seeing him again. But now I was with him, all I wanted to do was escape.

As I looked over to him, he looked terrified. He kept running his hands through his blonde hair, as though it was constantly in his eyes. He couldn't sit still for more than two minutes - which was starting to concern me.

"Your Highness, when was the last time you saw the Singers?" I asked quietly, trying my hardest not to make eye contact.

"Not since before America left. I didn't even see them on the Engagement day since they didn't come and get her. Have you ever met them?"

"Not...personally. But America often talked about them before she passed." I lied, but with each lie it was getting harder to keep up this falsehood.

As we headed closer to the gate, I saw the warm yellow colour that had drawn my eye when I had seen the photograph all those years ago. It seemed like such a happy place but I knew that there was a darkness lurking. As the gates swung open it suddenly occurred to me that I didn't know why my family had chosen to move - or even how they knew about the house when I was sure only myself and Maxon had known. As we edged nearer, my stomach started knotting into a thousand knots, getting tighter the closer we got to the door. As we slowed to a halt, I noticed that the door had opened and a woman had appeared - my mother.

Taking one final look over at Maxon, I opened the door and climbed out slowly - fearing that my legs would give way. I looked towards my mother and saw that she had more grey streaks in her hair than I remembered. She appeared more hunched over, as though all of the world's problems laid on her back alone. She wore a look of concern - which came as no surprise considering the amount of guards that had arrived in a very short space of time.

As I stood by the car, I felt a breeze that felt like it went right through me as if I was a ghost. I felt like I didn't belong here, that it was all an illusion. I had lived my life as a different person for so long now that it was as though America was the character I had played. I watched carefully as Maxon climbed out of the car with a serious expression. In that moment I knew that he was terrified - even more than me. So much had happened between us that if I had had to be the one to see his parents after he had died, I would not have even known where to begin.

Maxon and I looked at each other, as though we were mentally preparing each other for what was about to happen. Suddenly, our silent stares were broken by a female voice.

"Maxon?"

We both turned towards the origin of the voice and to our surprise, there was a young woman standing there with a confused look on her face. Even though I couldn't work out who she was, something seemed so familiar about her. The woman looked at me with a shocked look, she open her moth to say something when-

"May! That is not how you address the prince!" my mother called as she walked swiftly towards us.

When she had caught up with May, she curtsied while also pulling my sister down with her. I looked towards Maxon, who simultaneously had a face of confusion and embarrassment. I thought quickly to resolve the awkward situation we had landed in before saying:

"I believe it's best if we get in before any reporters catch wind of the Prince's location."

Luckily, my mother agreed and hassled us both into the door. As we walked, I looked over to May who looked scarily like me at that age - with a short haircut. But to my surprise, she appeared to have lost all of her joy and excitement that she had had from we stepped into the house, I stopped in amazement. The house was beautiful and I could imagine how much fun they must have had running in the wide open corridors. Mom took us through into the living room, where the rest of the family had gathered. Unfortunately, all eyes were drawn towards me.

"Miss, do...do we know you from somewhere?" asked my sister Kenna, who had risen from her chair to get a closer look.

As she neared me, I could see tears forming in her eyes, as if she could see through my disguise. I desperately wanted to tell them all the truth and wrap my arms around my mother - but while the rebels were still a threat, it wasn't suitable for me to do so.

"I know who you think I am, but I am not." It felt like the lies were burning my throat.

I watched as the hope faded from not only Kenna's but everyone's eyes at the idea that I had returned.

"How..did you know her?" Kota asked, not even looking at me.

"I knew her after the Selection." Trying to keep my explanation brief as I didn't know how much they had been told - or what they had been told for that matter.

Everyone looked between each other, as if they didn't quite know what to say to me or Maxon. A silence filled the room which made me regret ever agreeing to visit this place.

"Mrs Singer, I am very sorry for the intrusion but I had only been recently made aware of America's passing and wanted to-"

"She loved you, didn't she?" May's quiet voice called from her corner.

I wanted to kick my sister so hard for bringing it up but to see the sadness on her face, I couldn't do anything. The room had fallen into an unbearable silence that I would do anything to break, yet I didn't. There was so much I didn't do in that room, in that moment. I could have done so much - revealed myself, lied and made up a story about how America had helped so many - but standing by the door, I couldn't do anything. It was though there was glass around me.

"May!" my mother called from the other side of the room.

Maxon was clearly shocked by the question and didn't know how to continue until Kenna spoke up.

"If I may ask, how is your family Your Highness?"

It had nothing to do with what Maxon had wanted, but I was so glad for Kenna's interjection.

Maxon also seemed relieved and spoke kindly about his family and told stories of the adventures his daughter had getting into recently. Although it may have been hard for my mother and sister because of the thoughts of what could have been, the rest of the family laughed and joined in with the conversation. Eventually, even May broke out of her sadness and joined in with the laughter.

But that was what my family had always done best, to find happiness in the darkest of situations. As I looked at Maxon, he seem so comfortable and at ease surrounded by my family. The family he nearly joined if it had not been for my stupid mistake.

And that was when I broke.

I left the room and walked away. I couldn't take any of it. Although it seemed as though I was weak, I had become so different that I didn't recognize who the real me was anymore. I could barely stand to be in the same room as my family or Maxon. As I walked outside, Andrew approached me with a grave expression on his face.

"We have a problem."

"When don't we?" I replied sarcastically, trying to ignore the darker voices in my head.

"It seems we have had a break in at the Castle prison."

"Did anyone escape?" I asked urgently, if Alexander had got out, my whole family was at risk.

"Well no..but..." It would have been clear even to a passing stranger that my assistant was trying hide something from me.

I looked at him in the eye, which lead to him revealing the truth- Andrew was a damn fine assistant, but he couldn't hide anything from me.

"It's Officer Ledger, he broke in and attacked Luca."

"You have got to be kidding me!"

Seven Years Ago

I was so disorientated, Luca had placed a bag on my head as I had settled in the car so I hadn't a clue where I was. All I knew was that I was now in a dark, damp room with only a single flickering in the middle of the room. It was cold but I could hear the faint sound of a TV through the door on the other side of the room.

I could hear cheering but I didn't care why. I had lost everything I loved and my freedom in one day when I had been so happy just that morning. In a way, it was worse that death as I knew he hated me. He was going to be happy and live the happily ever after we - no he - had always wanted.

As I curled into a ball, a large bang came from the doorway making me jump to my feet. Bright light flooded into the room but most was blocked by a large figure - I never did find out their name. They pulled me out and shoved me in front of the small TV that was screaming at me. I was so close that it was hard to distinguish shapes or even read the headline at the bottom of the screen.

"How happy they look." Luca's voice called from across the room,"He never would have been this happy with you."

I had been able to make out Maxon and Kriss' smiling faces, while I was sitting on the chair beside them. I felt a single tear and as much as had tried to hide it - he saw. He knew my weakness and I could only imagine how he could use it against me.

He pulled my hair, so that my face was only inches from his.

"The lies that you told and all the chaos that you brought to his life, he will be happier without you. Your family will be happier with you." He whispered into my ear as I tried to ignore the headache he was causing.

And then it all went black.

Present Day

After finding out that my former friend had attacked my enemy, I came to the conclusion that the visit was over. That and the fact that Andrew had received 5 calls from the King demanding his son came home that moment. Andrew had been talking with the troops and had tried to draw it out as much as possible.

It seemed that I couldn't leave that castle for more than 5 minutes before something dangerous occurred. I gingerly made my way back towards the sitting room where I could hear laughter. It reminded me of a dream that I used to have during my imprisonment, walking towards my family's door but never being close enough to open it.

Through the door I could hear everything.

"Thank you for allowing to live in this house, Prince Maxon."

"I had given it to America before the Selection was over, it seemed only right that her family recieve something for raising such a fine woman like her."

"When the letter arrived, we could hardly believe it!" That was May, clearly excited over the amazing place she got to grow up in.

The room suddenly went quiet before Maxon asked the question that I knew he had come here to ask.

"Mrs Singer, I know it is a difficult subject but ... how did you find out about America's..." He couldn't bring himself to finish that question.

"We had a guard come to our house about 5 years ago now. He told us that she had been found but had died shortly after. We - we hadn't heard anything from her since the Selection so it was...quite a shock."

"I'm so sorry" Although I couldn't see him, I could just imagine the sorry look he had on his face.

As I opened the door, the entire family stared at me - Maxon as well. For a moment, I knew they thought I was America and my cover had been blown. But today was not the day for that revelation.

"Your Highness, your father is requesting that you come back to the palace." I said with a sorry look on my face.

Even though I really wanted to leave this place, I got the impression that he didn't. As he stood up and said his goodbyes, a small girl walked towards me and tapped my leg. Bending down, I realized that it was my niece Astra (she looked just like her mother Kenna. Without a word the young girl gave me a flower with a giant smile across her face. Nervously, I took the flower before thanking her quietly.

"Thank you for keeping His Highness safe." She said before skipping back to her mother.

I smiled as I watched her take her place by her mother. I looked around to see that the entire family had gathered as though they were taking a picture. Each had a smiling face and were holding each other close - even Kota who hadn't been part of the family before. That had puzzled me, though the fact there was a blonde woman holding his hand gave me the impression that there was more to this than just him changing his mind and asking for forgiveness.

But as they all stood together, I realized that they were happy. They had each other and that put me at ease. As Maxon made his way out of the door, I stood there for a little while longer just looking at them. I bowed my head and turned towards the door to close it.

That was how I wanted to remember them as I didn't know when I'd see them again. They were happy and healthy - and I would be grateful for that for the rest of my life.