Here's part two from the last chapter! It continues from right where I last left off. Please review!

Maxon's POV

The second I could pull my hands out of the knot, I jumped to the ground and cradled America. I kissed her face free of tears and began to pick her up. I had to be careful not to let anything touch her back, but I didn't want to carry her to my room in just her bra, to protect her decency. I picked her up like a baby, her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist, one of my hands under her butt and the other supporting the back of her head. I hugged her chest close to mine so she wasn't as exposed. She pressed her face into my neck and began crying.

"Maxon, I can't believe how much trouble I've gotten you in I really didn't mean—"

"Shh, please America," I whispered in her ear as I jogged out the door and into the hallway. I had to get her quiet; it was very late at this point and just about everyone in the castle was sleeping. Plus, it really hurt me to hear her talk this way. How could she think any of this was her fault? "Ames, listen," I continued, whispering soothingly as I ran so she could feel at least a little bit of comfort. "I was the one who showed you the books. I was the one who didn't check on you and your topic for The Report before you could do any damage. I was the one who wasn't strong enough to protect you from my father, my own damn father..."

I looked over and realized she had stopped crying, but her eyes were closed and she was taking short, shallow breaths.

This was bad.

"No, no, no no nonono America, please! Open your eyes stay with me please wake up stay awake please!"

She whimpered softly and made her grasp around me a little tighter. This was a good sign, but I had to move quickly. I practically sprinted down the last hallway to my room, trying as hard as I could not to jostle America too much. The guards standing post outside my door had wide eyes and questioning stares but I gave them an order before they could say anything.

"Please, don't tell a single soul about this. I have the means to take care of her and, let me make myself clear, absolutely NO ONE must know about this."

"Isn't there anything at all we can do to help? Please?" One of the guards asked, his eyes heavy with worry.

"Thank you for your concern Officer..." I eyed his name tag, already rushing in the door. "Leger. Thank you Officer Leger, but no. Please keep quiet," and with that, I slammed the door behind me and ran over to my bed. America's eyes were still closed, but at least her breathing had slowed down. I had to bandage her up quickly.

As gently as I could manage, I placed America facedown on my bed, so as not to irritate her back. She stirred a little and moaned softly. I knelt down next to the bed near her face and smoothed back her hair.

"Shh, everything's going to be ok in a few minutes, I promise." The small moan that escaped her mouth gave me a sliver of hope.

I turned and went into my bathroom, retrieving the metal box full of supplies from my medicine cabinet. When I came back out of the door I stopped in my tracks. I was suddenly overwhelmed by this entire situation. America was all but torn to shreds, lying on my bed, but I loved her. She had basically given up our nation's biggest secret, but still, I loved her. I knew in that moment, I had to make her mine.

But there were others things I had to do first.

I set the metal box down on the bed next to America and opened it and sorted through until I found the cleaning materials I needed. I slowly, hesitantly, unclasped America's bra so I could have full access to her back. I'll admit I had imagined doing this more than a hundred times, but never in a grave situation such as this. I didn't take her bra all the way off, and left it pressed between her chest and the bed.

I leaned up to softly kiss the nape of her neck and said, "America, this is going to hurt, but you must know that I'll always be here for you, and you are the bravest woman I have ever met."

I tried to work as quickly as possible, but I could tell that America was still in pain. I whispered soothing things to her to try and distract her, but it wasn't really working. I apologized profusely, over and over, anything to try and convince her that it would still be worth it to stay here, with me, even after the terrible things that had happened here.

When I was finally almost finished, America's crying had turned to quiet tears, and her eyes were even beginning to drift closed in pure exhaustion. Before she could fall asleep, I went into my closet to grab a t-shirt and pair of my boxers she could wear to bed, placed them next to her, and leaned down to whisper, "America, I'm going to leave for a few moments to let you get changed, and you will be staying in here tonight, with me."

She began to weakly protest, "But that isn't allowed is—"

"Tonight, we can break the rules. I need to make sure you're ok tonight."

I turned to walk out and give America some privacy but caught the faintest hint of a blush on her face. I quietly walked down to her room to assure her tell her maids that no, America would not be coming to her room tonight, and yes, she will be perfectly safe. I wondered if any rumors about what had happened had spread; they all seemed quite concerned.

When I finally got back to my room, America was nowhere to be seen. I panicked, expecting the worse.

"America?" I called out softly. No response. I went over to the bed, my closet, my desk. She was gone. "Ames?" I called a little louder this time. I walked into my bathroom. "America? Are you here?" I was practically shouting, my mind racing with every horrible thing that could be happening to her right now.

I heard footsteps behind me and whirled around to confront the intruder. A rush of air left my lungs. America was walking towards me, head hung with guilt.

I grasped her tightly, burying her head into my chest and my face into her hair. "I thought I lost you," I mumbled quietly.

She giggled and confessed shyly, "I was just looking at the princess suite."

"You have no idea how glad that makes me," I said, then mentally added, both the fact you are safe, and the fact that you may be living there in a few short weeks.

With that, we slowly walked over to the bed, and I helped her ease onto her side as painlessly as possible. She turned over her shoulder and asked, "Are you sure I'm really allowed to stay here tonight?"

"My darling, nothing would bring be more comfort right now then knowing you are safe here." As I said this, she quickly shifted her eyes downward and tried to stealthily wipe a tear that had escaped, but I saw it and knelt down next to the bed next her face.

"Everything's going to be ok, I swear," I really wanted to help her get through this, as no one had ever been there for me.

America's face crumpled as she shook her head "no" and slid down on the floor so she was kneeling facing me, and collapsed into my arms, crying. I held her as her shoulders shook and her breaths came ragged and uneven. Slowly, I sat down and lowered her so she was sitting sideways in my lap, her head buried in my shoulder, her arms pressed up against my chest. I hugged her head closer to my body and rocked her a little back and forth to try and calm her down. A few tears of my own escaped as I relived the affairs of this evening.

After a few minutes, America looked up into my eyes, her own red and puffy and whispered, "Has—has he really done—that—to you?"

I averted my eyes, not wanting to upset her, but the action alone gave me away.

"But, how—why?" Her voice was trembling.

I sighed. "America, dear, let's not talk about this right now. I promise I will fill you in on everything at a different time, but now we need to get some rest," I glanced at the clock. "It's nearly 2 in the morning."

I picked her up and placed her in my bed again, tucking her under the covers. My shirt was wet with tears and rather dirty, so I took it off and began to head over to the couch to make my bed for the night. Just as I sat down and began to untie my shoes, I heard America call out, "Maxon? Do you think you could stay with me tonight? In here, in the bed, I mean."

A small smile spread over my face. "Anything for you, America."

There's part two! Thanks again for reading and stay tuned for a part 3! It might take a while, as I'm about to be really busy, but it'll be up here eventually! Thanks to those of you who reviewed, it really makes my day to see those up there! Let me know what you thought about this part!