You all rock! I had 11 reviews from the last chapter! Do you guys know how happy that made me? theselection-divergent-thehost as always I love reading you reviews and I'm glad you liked my chapter! Meg-sters52 Maxon would do anything for her and she would do the same. Thanks for your review! Panda-Crazy-19 it was a little sad but yet romantic in a cute way right? I mean how could you not see how Maxon is such a perfect guy? Mockingjay04 you have to read to find out what happens! I know it's sad for Maxon and I'm glad you picked up on the King's 'disapproval' when he didn't say anything! Thanks for the review! avoxmermaid glad you loved it and thanks for the review! livingtodance he is always perfect! I feel I have to work on something to make him seem not so perfect though. It gets a little too good to be true. Michaelson9 I'm glad my story makes you smile and I hope you keep reading! floosnitch2022 thanks for following my story and I hope you keep reading! maggiebswim thanks for your review and Maxon would open his heart if possible for America of course he feels ;) ClaireMontieth thanks for your review and I know it was sad…but romantic! caseymargaret love you for the hearts! happydays19 I will always upload more and I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter! MandaRox159 thank you for following my story and I hope you enjoy the rest of it! julie07 thank you for having my story as one of your favorites and following it! Keep reading! superwolfgirl thank you for also making my story one of your favorites and following it! babysitter1997 thank you for following, favoriting, and reviewing! You rock!

Thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Love Smashleigh

Chapter 24:

"Come on Maxon get up!" my Father barked entering my room.

I rolled away from him, facing the window, and shoved the pillow over my head. "Go away old man! Can't you let me rest?" I snapped wearily.

"Nope!" he said snatching the pillow away. "You've been in bed long enough! I would think a month was enough time!"

I sighed. He was kind of right since the bullet wound was only an annoying reminder now. "Fine but I'll get ready on my own damn time." I grumbled.

"Hurry up we have work to do!" he bellowed leaving the room.

Slowly I peeled the sheets off my oddly sweating body. Why was I so sweaty this morning? It's what September? Or was it October now? Dear God Maxon get your head together! I stretched my tightly wound leg and winced slightly. It was better now but still hurt with the pressure applied on it.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the door open. America stepped through the one adjoining our rooms and peeked her head around the door. "Feeling better?" she asked lazily.

Slowly she shut the door and strode over to me. I swallowed hard noticing she was wearing her nightgown still but that didn't seem to faze her. Even though she was my fiancée I wasn't getting use to seeing her in her white shift even though I'd one day see her… holy shit why the hell was I thinking this way? It's what ten in the morning?

"Relax silly." she said kneeling beside me. "You've seen me before, it's no different."

Oh but it is! I thought in my head. True I've seen her like this before but lately I've been growing really anxious for some reason. Pre-wedding jitters maybe? A slight blush crept up her neck and I swallowed again. Nope not jitters.

"How are you?" I asked running a hand through my hair.

She took the hand and held it between her two tiny ones. "To be honest I've been a wreck." she sighed. I gave her a concerned look but she didn't care. "I've not been able to sleep because I'm frightened for you. What would happen if-"

I cut her off with a kiss. It was gentle but I yearned for more and so did she. Right now it wasn't an appropriate time to think like that though; my head wasn't exactly keeping me in line right now. I growled softly and pushed her away. "Get out of her." I said playfully.

She pouted but stood up brushing off imaginary dust on her gown. I knew she was stalling but I wasn't going to push her, she could stall as long as she wanted. "Gosh I don't think I can wait 'til December." she sighed.

I watched her leave the room throwing a glance back at me one more time. The longing in her eyes matched the desire in my heart. Three -or four, I can't remember still- months was too far away.

The 'work' my Father had me do seemed pointless! They were documents from what looked like last year and I was close to exploding with rage when he placed a hand on my shoulder. "I just want to hear your opinion since I've already given mine a while ago." he told me.

I sighed. Okay so that made sense for why he was giving me these then. But why all of a sudden would he become the supportive Father? What's in it for him?

"What's the point?" I mumbled, placing my head in my hands. "I'll never learn about any of this."

"Look at me Maxon." he said. I lifted my head and met his cold gray gaze. "I need you to learn this quickly because, well you see, I'm not giving the orders around here for long."

I looked at my Father sadly. He was reaching the ripe age of fifty soon. I guess he would be nervous because if he were to die that'd make me King. The thought made me swallow hard. King Maxon? Dear God the thought sent chills down my spine just thinking about it.

"Don't worry." I told him confidently. "I think I can get it, in time."

He gave me a sad smile. Though he was heartless about my choices in the past he was beginning to understand my view. Plus I wasn't the man I was a year ago, I've changed. He wasn't heartless, that's for sure. My Mother told me that after most of her miscarriages he would always be there for her. She told me when I was born he was elated to finally have a son and cared for me himself. But then the rebels decided to begin what was now close to full out war. Something in him hardened and it turned into the protective shield that now guards his heart. Only people who have known him he lets in, but America he keeps out.

The petals played on my fingers as May and I strolled around the garden before dinner. No longer did the garden have its beautiful summer glow, fall had come. To watch all the flowers wilt and disappear made me pout in mock pity. "Aw America don't do that!" May said wrapping a skinny arm around my waist.

She had grown since I last saw her and was almost as tall as me, reaching my eye level. I looked down into her matching blue eyes and smiled. "Oh May it doesn't seem like a year!" I sighed. "To think that soon I'll have been here only a year and it's flown by so fast!"

"Did you say a year?" she asked with a twinkle in her eye.

"Yes?" I said warily.

Her smile widened and she laughed. "America when's his birthday?" she asked as if it were obvious.

Wait! It was obvious! Maxon's birthday was on the 20th and he'd be turning twenty! The thought sent shivers down my spine. What was I going to do for him? What could I do?

"Oh God May!" I exclaimed. "What am I going to do? What'll I get him?"

She let out a howl of laughter and looked up at me. "America you're kidding right? You're asking me this! Think of him and think of what he likes!"

I dropped my head in my hands. Dear God this was going to be some rough planning!

"What are you doing?" he whispered as I felt his hands on my shoulders.

Quick as a viper I moved his birthday plans underneath some 'homework' Amberly assigned me. "Oh nothing." I said, my voice cracking on the last word.

"Sure seems like nothing." he chuckled kissing the top of my head.

I leaned my elbows on the table to keep him from snatching it away. He kneeled beside me and looked into my eyes. "It's nothing really." I told him.

A mischievous smile crossed his face. "Nothing you say?" he asked running a hand up my arm.

The touch sent shivers down my spine and I closed my eyes as his hand lingered near mine. But when I felt the tug of paper underneath me I swatted his hand away.

"No, no, no!" I said standing from my chair and moving him away from the desk.

He pouted playfully. "Oh what's the big surprise?" he whined.

I kissed his pouted lip. "Oh nothing to worry your wittle head about." I played along.

His hands gripped my waist and pulled me closer. "And if I want to worry about it?" he asked softly in my ear.

His breath tickled the nape of my neck and then I felt the warmth of his lips as they traveled up towards my ear. "Maxon…" I said.

He kissed my jaw and slowly made his way to my waiting lips. His kisses went from soft to wanting in the blink of an eye. I tangled my fingers through his slightly overgrown hair and kissed him back. All of a sudden my knees hit something and Maxon laid me down on the bed, looming over me.

"Maxon." I said cautiously.

"Just be quiet America." he said huskily.

I know that voice. I've only heard Aspen use it a thousand times when… no, no, no. "Maxon we can't." I say softly, but it's a little distracting when his lips move down my neck.

"I don't know if I can stop myself." he said with a small laugh.

I think of pushing him off but my body has a mind of its own. My arms wrap around his neck pulling him closer and I feel him press against me from head to toe.

"Tell me to stop." he whispered taking my mouth in his and sending a scorching heat down my body.

But I don't say anything, it's just too much…