THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THOSE WHO REVIEWED! Here's the next chapter! Sorry it took so long, but I hope you all like it!

I awoke some 3 hours later at 8:30 in the morning to a knock on my bedroom door. America was still laying on top of me, her head on my chest, my arms wrapped tightly low around her waist. Reluctant to leave my position, I slowly slid out from under her and repositioned her, to which she let out a small groan.

"Shh," I whispered. "Go back to sleep."

I arranged the sheets and pillows around her so she could not be seen from the doorway if the person knocking was an unwanted visitor. The knock came again and my heart quickened.

"Just a moment," I called out.

I jogged over to my closet and pulled my robe over my bare chest and slowly opened my door. I breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Eric!" I sighed to my butler. "Good morning. You don't know how good it is to see your face."

I was being quite talkative and upbeat for the morning, and Eric looked at me with confusion. He had known me since I was about 7, and could probably tell that I was trying to hide something. However, being the respectful and wonderful man that he is, he didn't question me.

"Your highness," He began, "I was told to inform you that the king requests your presence as soon as possible at breakfast.

"Of course! Right away Eric. Thanks for letting me know."

And with that Eric turned and walked down the hall, but not without giving a questioning look towards my bed. I turned around and looked back at my bed. Oops. America's brilliant red hair was fanned over the pillow, sticking out boldly against my white sheets and pillows. I wasn't worried, though, Eric would never spread that kind of thing to the other staff.

The other staff. I had to tell them and my mother about what had happened last night to America—and what has been happening to me—and just who was behind it.

Setting the thought aside for now, I went over to wake America up. I flopped down on the bed next to her and sighed loudly.

"Who was that?" America mumbled sleepily.

"You know," I teased, "We really ought to do something about that hair of yours. My butler is under the impression that we were up to very naughty things last night."
"Well, we weren't exactly innocent..."

"No, my darling," I kissed her slowly and tenderly, "we were not."

I continued kissing America for a minute before coming to my senses. "How are you feeling?" I asked, barely managing to pull away from America's lips.

She smiled, her eyes closed. "Wonderful."

"No, America," I sat us up carefully, brushing her hair back from her face. "How is your back feeling? Are you in any pain?"

She twisted gingerly and grimaced a little. "Its not that bad, I mean—"

"America, please don't try to be strong. May I remind you that I am practically an expert on these wounds, and it's probably feeling a little worse than 'not that bad.'"

America cast her eyes downward. "Ok, it hurts. A lot. Happy?"

"No, of course not!" I assured her, taking her hands in mine and leaning my head down to make eye contact with her. "I don't want you to be in any pain, Ames, I'd rather take all the pain for myself. I just really need to know how you're doing so I can help you to feel better as soon as possible."

"Ok...then you know that cream stuff that you put on last night? That made it all numb? Do you think you could use some more of that? It really—"

I put my finger to her lips. "Say no more."

I got up and went into my bathroom to find what America was describing. I looked in the mirror and discovered that my hair was a royal mess. How had she been taking me seriously? I walked back out to find America sitting up on the bed, her hair in a similar state.

"Why didn't you tell me my hair looked like this?" She questioned me.

"I was about to ask you the same thing!"
"Well, I like yours like that."

"And I like yours like that, too."

We looked into each other's eyes for a moment before I cleared my throat and walked over to the bed.

"So, I think there are a few things we need to talk about while I do this," I said tentatively.

America seemed skeptical, but laid facedown on the bed and lifted her shirt up so I could apply the cream to her back.

"Ok," she said slowly. "Go for it."

I took a deep breath. "I've never said any of this out loud, so bear with me if my thoughts get a little jumbled."

"Always."

I smiled. "What happened to you last night—and what has been happening to me—needs to become public."

"But Max—"

"Wait, let me finish. If the people of our country knew what their king's true personality was, they might be mad enough to make a difference." I heard footsteps in the hall outside, so I paused for a moment. When they went away, I continued. "We should start by telling the staff. You know how gossip spreads here. By the end of the week, everyone will know about it, and maybe on the report, we could make an announcement or even—"

"Whoa, whoa. Slow down. You can't make an announcement on live national television that the king beats his son and abuses the selected! The country would go into complete mayhem!"

There was a gasp from the doorway.

"—Mom?"

There she was, my mother, standing in the doorway with tears staining her face, looking about two feet tall. I rushed over to her and grabbed her hands.

"Mom, what did you hear? We're ok I promise, please stop crying,"

She wiped at the corner of her eyes with her fingertips and took a deep breath. She let out a sigh.

"I heard most of that, to be honest and I—"

An enormous sob escaped her.
"Please," I whispered. "Come sit. Talk to me."

America had pulled her shirt back down and was sitting upright on the end of the bed. Looking as pale as a ghost. Oh god, she must be petrified right now.

"Um, maybe I should leave?" America said timidly. "Oh! Your Majesty," she remembered to add.

I looked to my mother. "No, no," She pleaded. "I think the three of us have a lot to talk about."

Ahh! Sorry if this was a little boring, but please review! I've actually been super busy lately, and any suggestions or ideas you leave really give me motivation to continue. Thanks for reading!