A/N:

The Devil Wears Westwood: You should never take family for granted. Poor Kota is learning the hard way... :)

Totalbooknerd13: She's not too shabby. :)

jthornestudent: Thanks! I think the last chapter answered your questions. Thanks for reviewing! :)

Thanks for reading! -SJ :)

"Calix Shalom Schreave!" I shriek. "In here! Now!"

Marlee hides her mirth behind her hand, but anything my children do amuses her. If either of her two had pulled this stunt, she would have a similar scowl across her face. "He's in class, America. Remember?"

"Lady Marlee, please locate Prince Calix and bring him to me. And, if you could send a runner to the king?" She composes her face as she hears my official tone, but whispers, "Go easy on him, America."

"And if Ben did this to Everett?" I retort. She smiles and goes to retrieve the wayward prince from his lessons.

As much as I swore I wouldn't raise my voice when I had children, sometimes the hair gets the better of me. Being constantly outnumbered by small people with my own disposition, yet very little of my restraint, doesn't help. Neither does the tension of the last few weeks. Abrielle startles a little, but dimples display themselves prominently on her cheeks as she continues to play. The last few drops of green-tinted bath water finally circle the drain. I'm wrapping in a fluffy white towel when her older brother saunters into the room.

Why did he have to saunter? Couldn't he at least pretend to be remorseful? He looks up at me with Dad's eyes, but everything else about him is pure Maxon. Except his attitude. As much as I hate to admit it, that's me. Me and a life that tends to hand him whatever he wants.

"Yes, Mama? Aunt Marlee said you wanted to see me?" He grins.

"America?" Questions Maxon from the doorway, "is everything all right?" He's out of breath and I realize he dropped everything and ran from his delegation meeting. I put my hand to my forehead, sigh, and say "Exhibit A" as I remove the towel from Abrielle's now-green curls and slightly-less-green body.

Maxon's eyes are wide and he valiantly contains a laugh. Abrielle pipes up, "Daddy, my hair is green!"

"And what do you think about that, Brie?"

"It's my favorite color, but" she continues in a conspiratorial whisper that the whole room can hear, "Mama doesn't like it."

Maxon coughs into his hand as Marlee re-enters the room. "No, Brie, I don't suppose she would. Lady Marlee, I believe Aunt May is in the nursery. Would you please escort Princess Abrielle and have her dressed for the day?"

Marlee picks up our little girl, wrapping her back up, and laughs as Abrielle continues to exclaim how much she loves her green hair.

I turn my attention back to the boy in front of me, keeping my expression stern.

"Remove your hands from your pockets, Prince Calix." My hunch was correct. They are almost as green as my own. "Exhibits B and C" I add, showing Cal's palms. "D and E." I display my newly tinged skin tone.

Maxon looks our son in the eye, taking on my official tone, "Would you care to explain?"

Looking back and forth between us, he proudly shares how he had executed his plot to filch green food dye from the kitchens by distracting Cook and then filled Abrielle's shampoo bottle before leaving for his courses this morning.

An idea formed in my mind, "Your Latin exam is this morning, yes?"

He hesitates, and then nods guiltily. I had given him the one thing he most wanted-an out. Maxon spoke, using his official voice ,"Prince Calix, Lady Marlee will escort you back to class, where you will take your Latin exam, even if you have to work through your lunch break. For the next month, you will be escorted anywhere you go in the palace by Miss Paige. And when you start to complain, remember all the time you took from your mother today. You'll hear the rest of the story at dinner this evening." Softening a little, he added, "We love you too much to let you get away with this one, Cal."

"Lady Marlee?"

"Yes, Your Majesties?" Marlee's blonde hair popped around the corner so quickly, I knew she had been waiting for the summons. She held a hand out to Calix, purposefully whispering loud enough that we could hear her as they left. "See that vein on your mom's temple, Cal? If that pops, we're all in pretty serious trouble. Did I ever tell you about the time during the Selection when…"

I swiftly close the bathroom door and pull Maxon into our room so he can laugh. And he does. I impatiently wait for his merriment to subside, crossing my arms across my chest.

"You have to admit, Ames. That was ingenious." He wipes tears from his eyes.

I half-smile at him, "Maxon, he single-handedly erased three months of diplomatic work because he didn't want to conjugate Latin verbs this morning. I had to delay my meeting with the Women's Delegation from the German Federation, and you left a meeting with their Premier. When I do meet with them this afternoon, I have to do it with green hands. There's some superstition about gloves..." Maxon tries to silence my tirade with a kiss, but he receives a hand instead. He improvises and kisses my palms. "He is the Crown Prince. And he is driving me to distraction! Has been in especially rare form since I returned from the tour. And there are two more little boys in that nursery exactly like him who copy every blessed thing he does. Every blessed thing. If we don't reign him in now-Regicide. Maxon, I'm serious. It will be our only option. And it doesn't matter because we have two more."

Maxon smiles and pulls me to his chest, wrapping my arms around his neck, "I know a certain red head who un-did a decade's worth of work with a five-minute report because she was mad at her boyfriend. And I hear she grew up to be one of the most revered Queen's in this. Whole. Wide. World." His last three words were punctuated with kisses.

"Touché. Just to clarify, at that time, you were making it very clear that you weren't just my boyfriend. So, I'm not sure you want to bring that up right now," but my eyes dance betraying my stern look. Time had smoothed over the jealousies and hurts. I cherish my friendships with Kriss and Elise and their families. I mourn Celeste, and the loss of what our relationship could have become.

"So, what's the rest of his punishment? Mucking out the stables alone? Rations of bread and water only? Solitary confinement?"

"How about being in charge of cleaning the tub until his sister is strawberry blonde again? Maxon, that poor little girl is going to be constantly and thoroughly harassed by the other three for the rest of her life."

He nods in agreement, but continues, "I'm sure she'll hold her own. She will have all of them
wrapped around her finger. And, really love, she is absolutely thrilled to be green. I for one thank him for finding a way to get me out of that god awful meeting." He switches gears, searching my face intently, "I missed you this morning, love. Our sunrise breakfasts are one thing that keeps me going." For the last two years, we missed only for the birth of Barrett and Griffin.

I lean back and look at him, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "Not going so well?"

"Just slow."

"Well, we'll see how it goes with the Women's Delegation. Maybe we'll get this one in through the back door."

"It is scary how you can accomplish so much with a cup of tea."

I raise an eyebrow, "Don't forget my charming personality."

I stare at my palms. There is really nothing that can be done about them. I straighten my skirt, and prepare to meet with the Women of the German Federation. Surely some of them have mischievous children, as well. I know for sure that Gretchen, the premier's wife, has five boys under the age of ten. I can't even imagine.

Marlee and Georgia signal that they are also ready. At least my two best friends are backing me up. I open the door to the small parlor, exuding kindness and calm. They stand and curtsy and then Gretchen introduces the two women with her as Ilda and Huette.

"Please, let's sit and enjoy some tea," I say motioning us to the seating arrangement as Mary begins to serve. Something about my gesture catches Gretchen's attention. Oh, yes. I had temporarily forgotten. My hands are still very green.

She laughs, "Little boys make life interesting, don't they, Queen America?"

"They certainly do," I answer, "In so many ways." And I share the story of the morning's excitement. Gretchen and Marlee have tears in their eyes. I tell the story as calmly as I can, allowing them all to see how well my palms compare to a verdant field.

A disturbance in the hallway catches my attention. A woman is insisting she will come into the parlor, while Carter is assuring her that she will be doing no such thing. I place the voice, and hurriedly stand. "Ladies, if you will excuse me?" I don't wait for their answer as I rush to the door and step into the hall, making sure to close it behind me. Then I turn to my fellow Elite. "Lady Elise, I wasn't expecting you. Whatever is the matter?" I motion for Carter to back away a few paces. He does so, but makes sure we both know it is reluctantly as Aspen joins him in the corridor.

"As if you don't know, my Queen," Elise's snarl is particularly surprising because of her usual calm demeanor.

I take a step backward, and gesture with my palms up in front of me, "Really, Elise, I have no idea why you are so upset. But, I'd like to help. You know I am always here for you." I smile genuinely at my friend. One of the few people in the world who understands the experience of the Selection. Of the Elite.

"I don't believe you. I can't believe you. After all we've been to each other. You…you introduced me to my husband in this very palace. I thought we were truly friends as well as allies. Our countries are prospering, America. We've pulled them out of war together. We've forged peace together. And you say you know nothing! Like hell you don't. You know everything. Why would you throw all we've worked for away? Why would you betray me? An unauthorized Illean camp within our borders! The Prime Minister sees this as an act of war, and so do I… Why are your hands green?!"

"Elise, I honestly have no knowledge of this situation. I can tell you are upset, and right you should be. I know I would feel the same." I feel the tears welling up in my eyes, threatening to spill over my lashes. She looks away from me, unwilling to relent.

I turn to Aspen, "Is the whole world damned? Does everything really have to crash in simultaneously? You didn't authorize this unilaterally?" I direct my anger towards him, knowing he can bear it.

Quietly, he speaks, "We have authorized no additional camps in New Asia, Lady Elise. I know it sounds far-fetched, but we have had a pressing week that showed us how dangerous it is to get too comfortable."

Nodding, I add, "You have no reason to believe us, Elise. But, we have no reason to lie. Breaking the peace with New Asia would hurt us more than you."

Elise's guarded expression is back, "Perhaps we should find a better place to speak of this?"

"If you will, Lady Elise, Commander Leger will meet with you immediately." Elise nods her agreement. "Then, Commander Leger, please show Lady Elise to my study. I will join you both within the hour."

They match pace down the corridor, until Elise pauses to look over her shoulder and asks, "And your hands?"

"It's a long story, involving a now unhappy almost-nine-year-old boy and an almost-five-year old girl who is thrilled with her resemblance to a frog," I dead panned.

"I am happier and happier every day that I have one little girl," Elise says with very wide eyes.