Thanks to all of you who read the last chapter! I won't disappoint you guys trust me! I'm a big Maxon America fan and hope Cass won't disappoint in her next book! Gilmoregirls1197 haha it is crazy isn't it? That's why I love it too! avoxmermaid he's so protective too. Why can't all men be that way? Meg-sters52 I would never! I love America she's an awesome character! Erin thanks so much! I took your first review into much consideration and am still a little fast but I'm getting there! Oh and don't worry I love cake too –especially chocolate! babysister1997 I'm getting there don't worry. But I don't wanna rush into things! malu1205 thanks for having my story as a favorite and following it! Keep reading! WriterReader13 thanks for also having my story as one of your favorites and following it! Hope you keep reading! ClaireMonteith it's the little things that makes people unique so don't be afraid to be feely. I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter and I hope you'll like the ones to come. maggiebswim your review was fun to read but don't worry about anything I got ya ;) 123 pretty pretty please? ;) . thanks for following my story! I hope you're enjoying it! Mockingjay04 when I'm ready to kill them I will but I don't feel right about it right now. We all have a devious side but mine's not coming out (yet) ;) Thank you all again and I hope you enjoy chapter 30!

Love Smashleigh

Chapter 30:

"America! Darling how are you feeling?" the Queen asked rushing to my side as I entered the Dining Room.

Maxon unwrapped his arm from around my waist so his Mother could hug me. The tears in her eyes made me feel bad that I did what I did. But if I didn't would Maxon have lived?

"I think I'm getting there." I told her. "I haven't dined with you all in a while so I feel bad." Actually I haven't even eaten in the last few days. The pain in my throat is so excruciating that every bite I take makes me nauseous. But if I told Maxon that he'd freak!

"You most certainly are!" she said as she led me to my normal seat at Maxon's right hand. The King sat on my right and the Queen across from me. I've somewhat missed sitting with them as, what would soon be, my family.

"I think you've recovered quite well dear." the King said smiling at me. It wasn't his usual cold smile but a warm, genuine one. Maybe Maxon was right and he just needed to warm up to me a bit.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." I said. Was I supposed to address him as Father now? I don't call Dad by his first name. Would it be awkward to call him Clarkson? When the King nods I guess he doesn't want me to yet.

"She's recovering quite marvelously isn't she?" Maxon said lovingly as he nudged me with his foot.

Sure, I thought, if not eating and having a throat that burns like someone threw a lit match down it is ok. But I just nod my head and wait to be served.

Breakfast looks delicious this morning and the sweet smell of blueberries wafts around the room. But my stomach churns in protest. I guess its warning me not to do anything too rash. But how can I refuse such delicious looking food? My mind says one thing but my stomach says another and all I do is push the small fruit salad around the bowl and wait for the others to finish.

"America, are you hungry?" Maxon asks me with a concerned look.

I shake my head. "I guess I'm still missing my appetite." I tell him. When he shoots me a challenging look I shake my head again. "I'm fine really."

I glance up and meet the Queen's curious gaze. But she immediately glances down and pretends she wasn't staring. Seems like Maxon wasn't the only worried one.

"America dear we have a dress fitting today and I think we should go get ready." the Queen said sweetly a few minutes later.

I nod my head and stand. Maxon and the King stand with us and I meet Maxon's concerned eyes again. 'Don't worry' I mouth to him. He eyes me doubtfully before I see the tension leave his shoulders.

"I got her Maxon. You need to stop worrying so much." his Mother teases.

He offers her a weak smile while watching us leave the room. I glance back one more time and see him tug his ear. A smile breaks across my face, my first genuine one in a while, and tug mine back. His face lights up and he turns back to his Father, who is eyeing us suspiciously.

The cascade of white is so beautiful I can hardly take my eyes from it. As the maids slip me into it I let my eyes travel along the strapless mermaid gown. It's a loose gown that doesn't exactly hug my figure but doesn't exactly leave me looking like a pumpkin. The material is cinched on my waist by a small sequined flower. A small 'V' is cut into the front but not too revealing. It's a simple yet elegant choice and…

"Miss we can't seem to zip it up." one of the maids says behind me.

"What do you mean you can't zip it?" the Queen asks from the other side of the divider. I almost forgot she was there.

"It doesn't seem to want to go any farther." another girl pipes up.

I try sucking in and feel them tug the zipper up but it won't go. Did I gain weight during the last two months? All I remember is being asleep! Wouldn't that cause me to lose weight?

"The wedding is in a week!" the Queen hisses softly. "She needs to fit into the dress."

"We're not sure why it wouldn't fit." the first maid apologizes. "It fit fine the last time she tried it on."

I looked in the mirror and studied my figure. Nothing looked out of the ordinary beside my somewhat shallow cheeks. But that was from losing a few pounds. How could I have miraculously gained them back?

Suddenly the Queen's eyes hardened for a moment. "Ladies could you give us a minute?" she asked ushering them out the room. Once the door was closed she came over and tried the zipper herself. Still it didn't budge. "America…"

I met her eyes in the mirror. "What?"

"When was the last time you…" she was trying to find the right words.

My eyes looked like sand dollars as I rushed to my desk, gripping the dress against my chest. After shuffling a few papers out of the way I traced my fingers over my calendar. I should've been due a long time ago. So that's what's out of the ordinary huh?

"No." I said softly. "That's impossible."

I turn my gaze to the Queen to realize she's looking at me with all her heart. "Darling I know it sounds bad but think about it." she says reassuringly. "I'm sure we can pass off the child as premature. How far along are you?"

I trace my finger over the calendar again, counting the weeks. 6…7…8…9….10. Could I really be that stupid? No wonder I haven't been eating and no wonder I won't fit into the damn dress! I'm 10 weeks pregnant!

"W-what am I going to do?" I asked her. "I c-can't…"

She was at my side swiftly. "Easy there." she said. "We'll figure out something. But I suggest you keep this to yourself. Maxon can know after the wedding."

"After?" I ask. "I can't do that to him. He'd be so mad at me."

"But darling that boy can't keep his mouth shut." she joked. "Now turn around and we'll get you out of that dress so we can make some alterations."

And just like that she was back to the no nonsense woman. She retrieved the maids in the hallway and they began resizing the dress to fit my new figure. But how was I going to tell him? Could I even keep my mouth shut a week and not blurt out the fact?

Slowly I ease away from the door. I know it's wrong to eavesdrop but now I have a perfectly good reason to. America pregnant? But I… and she… we… holy shit! I slump into a chair by the fire and rub a hand over my face. She wouldn't wait until the wedding night to tell me right? My Mother was just joking! That's it she was trying to make her feel better! But why did it feel like she wasn't. I begin ticking off the weeks on my fingers. 7…8…9…10! By the wedding she'll already be 11 weeks! How can that be? Almost three months!?

I pace furiously across the room. Alright think Maxon. There's no time for games anymore now that your fiancée is pregnant and due…at the end of June? Shit that's only six months! How can we pass a child off six months after the wedding? Oh that's right WE CAN'T!

Breathe! Then another thought pops into my head. What will my Father say? What will her Father say? Now I've got to worry what they say along with what my country will think! But family comes first right? Oh God this is going to be just great! I can't manage a country with my Father around! What the hell am I going to do about a child? An…heir. Wait that's all the country wants right? An heir? It'll make them so happy to learn about him! Assuming it is a him of course.

A knock at my door makes me turn. "Come in!" I call.