My email is a little messed up so if I didn't mention you I will when I receive the email! I'm sorry! Love you all for reading last chapter! I know I've been posting less lately but I have states for basketball and am too exhausted to post every day. If these next few chapters aren't as descriptive I'm sorry but I'll try to make them more descriptive now. Panda-Crazy-19 now I know you don't like cliff hangers but you do like fluffy stuff. I'll remember that in further chapters. Thanks for the review! livingtodance thanks for the review and I know what you mean, don't worry ;) kaye05 thank you for following and being another favorite to my story and I hope you continue to read! juliaott thank you for also following and I hope you read on! annemarie1996 thank you for following and I hope you keep reading! Liz1301 thank you for following and I hope you continue to read! Hermione Black Malfoy Riddle (geez that's a mouthful, hehe) thank you for following my story and I hope you read on! travellingendlessly thank you for following my story and I hope you keep reading! theselection-divergent-thehost thanks for the review and I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter! avoxmermaid I'm so, so happy to hear you say that and am touched, truly! I really hope you keep reading! All I Want Is To Be Wanted you're about to find out! Michaelson9 seeing your reviews for each chapter made me smile, thank you so much! caseymargaret thank you for following my story and I hope you keep reading! Thank you also for your review and I'm glad you enjoy my fanfiction! Here is your update

Okay that was a REALLY LONG author's note but I hope you enjoy my story anyways!

Thank you all again for reading!

Love Smashleigh

Chapter 23:

We rocked along the bumpy road west until reaching the rendezvous point. It was a little sketchy, I'll admit, but not unpredictable for the rebels. The building was small enough to accompany my Father, the rebel leaders, and I, but very uncomfortable.

"Let's get down to business." one of the men said sitting at the head of the table. His strong Southern accent made it difficult to understand a few words.

"Agreed." my Father said. "Let's cut to the chase. What will it take you to leave us alone?"

A man snickered but I couldn't tell which one in the dimly lit room in was. "Oh now that you would not be pleased about." one man said.

"And why not?" I asked, trying to remain neutral.

A smile spread across his lips and his eyes scanned his accomplices. "Well Your Majesty," he began, "The only way you can end this is to give up your beautiful fiancée."

You could've heard a pin drop and I felt my body flush with anger. "Why the hell would I do that?" I snapped.

They seemed to laugh at my anger. "Your Majesty, I'm sure you prize your own life over any other." he said. "So it's simple that we take the woman and not you. It's actual quite generous."

"Generous!" I burst out. "How could taking the woman I love be generous?"

"You'll find someone else." he shrugged his shoulders. "It will just be payback for what you did to us."

"I didn't do anything!" I said standing up abruptly.

"You've done more than you could imagine." he said. "Do you think you haven't taken our beauties away? All our family? Have you not notice why we're all men?"

To be honest I didn't notice. But that wasn't me, was it?

I sat with the Queen the remainder of the afternoon as she braided May's hair. She was unnaturally quiet and I'm sure it was because of the absence of the King and Maxon. I was a little fidgety myself; Maxon never told me where he was going. It was a little torturous to think he could be in trouble right now.

A knock at the door had the Queen rushing over, leaving May's hair unfinished. She opened it slightly and peeked through to see who it was. "Enter." I heard her whisper.

A travel stained man entered and he seemed to be out of breath. The Queen let him sit in one of the chairs and gave him a glass of lemonade. "What is it Samuels?" she asked as soon as he finished the drink.

"T-they attacked them." he stammered. "Thank God they both lived but they are badly wounded."

"What's going on?" I asked suddenly. Maxon was injured wasn't he?

The Queen looked over at me with tear filled eyes. "Did Maxon not tell you where he was going?" she asked. When I shook my head she sighed. "He was meeting with the rebel leaders, hoping to form a treaty or compromise."

I felt myself grow pale and May was at my side in a second. "Relax, relax." I heard her whisper. But I couldn't relax, he said not to worry but now I'm worrying even more!

"Where are they?" the Queen asked.

"They are upstairs right now. Both in their rooms." he replied.

Without hesitation I rushed out of the room and heard the Queen's heels click behind me. We both rushed up the stairs towards the third floor, which was now packed with people rushing in and out of rooms.

"We cannot let you go in there." a guard told me as I reached Maxon's doors.

I glared up at him. "How are you going to stop me?" I spat and pushed past him.

I threw the door open and was met with a revolting sight. Maxon's right shoulder was badly injured from a bullet and his left leg was wrapped tightly, yet the blood seeped through. His face had a few scratches but was mostly just dirty. "Ma'am you shouldn't be in here." a nurse told me trying to usher me out of the room.

"Let me help." I demanded as I dashed over towards his bed.

She dipped a curtsy. "Very well ma'am."

I grabbed a wash cloth from beside his bed and gently dabbed his face. He stirred and reached a hand up to restrain my wrist. "No." came his breathy voice. His eyes fluttered open and looked up at me. "A-america?"

My vision blurred and a few tears streamed down my cheeks. "Oh Maxon." I whispered. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He motioned for the nurse to leave and she hesitated. "Leave." I snapped softly.

As soon as the door was closed I pulled a chair up to the bed and gripped Maxon's hand. He looked at me thoughtfully before explaining the whole dilemma. During the entire time I couldn't help but let the tears fall from my eyes. "But why, why did you do it?" I cried when he finished.

He ran his thumb over my knuckles in slow circles. "Because I am replaceable and you are not. They will find some other distant relation to rule the country. You are only you and nothing and no one can replace you." he replied.

"But you're not replaceable to me." I cried.

He gave me a small smile. "I love hearing you say that but I'd rather risk my life than yours." he said.

"Oh you stupid, stupid boy." I said softly kissing his lips. Tears stained his cheeks and he kissed me back. "Don't do this to me."

He kissed me back one more time before gently laying on the sea of pillows, now stained with his blood.

I sat by his bed day and night, waiting for him to wake up. The doctors and nurses assured me he'd be better and that I should leave to get some rest but I refused. The demons from hell couldn't even chase me away from Maxon. But soon I was on the brink of exhaustion and ended up dozing off in the uncomfortable chair beside his bed.

My right hand twitched slightly as I tried gliding it across the bedspread. The pain was excruciating and I let out a small moan, turning my head on the pillow. I glanced at the clock and saw it was late- almost midnight. How long had I been asleep? With my good hand I tried propping myself up but it only brought more pain. I plopped down hard on the mattress and almost screamed when she stirred beside me. How long had she been there?

She rested in the chair with her head leaned against the uncomfortable bedpost. Her face showed days of exhaustion and she must've stayed up for hours waiting for me to wake up. At least it felt like hours. Could it have really been days? I reached a hand out to her but paused when I watched her stir restlessly in her sleep.

"Maxon…" she mumbled.

I watched her struggle in her sleep and felt my heart contract. When she has nightmares I always sense them. She struggles and struggles when too much stress is on her and sleep cannot even comfort her.

"America?" I whisper softly.

Immediately her eyes shoot open and it takes a minute for her eyes to make out my face in the shadows. "Maxon?" she asks.

I smile and all of a sudden her arms are around me. "Ouch!" I exclaimed when her hand grazes my shoulder.

"Oh! Oh I'm so sorry!" she says placing her hands in her lap and leaning away from me.

"No." I say picking them up and placing them back around my neck. "It's a good kind of pain."

She smiles weakly. "You've been asleep for almost a week." she said softly. "I-I've never left your side."

I could tell she was close to dozing off. Her eyelids drooped shut and she leaned her head on my good shoulder. As carefully as I could I edged back so that I was leaning against the headboard. She still sat in the chair but seemed comforted by my touch alone and soon heard her beautiful little snores. The sound comforted me and I found myself drifting back into sleep as well, even though I've slept enough for a while.