How old are you/What grade are you in? - I'll just say that I'm a senior, haha. Class of 2014!

Have you read the Hunger Games or Divergent? - Yes! Funny you ask; the reason it took me so long to update is because I neglected life for three days this past weekend due to the Divergent. I saw the Divergent trailer on YouTube and was like, "Wow, that looks like an awesome movie, why don't I go read the books?" which ultimately led to the negligence of life. I'm unashamed. Personally, I liked the Divergent better than the Hunger Games because I found that with the Hunger Games, everything was black and white, good or bad. The Divergent had such a more ethical battle in it; it made me think more. Either way, I am really stoked for both movies! (The ending of Allegiant had me all like 8-O)

Do you like bacon? - I tolerate it. I don't eat it by itself but I'll eat it in stuff. I used to be vegetarian but realized I love chicken and veal too much for that. I still don't do breakfast meat - neither bacon nor sausage! I know, I'm weird.

If I didn't answer your questions, it's because you'll find out if you keep reading!

"Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning!" - Peter Pan

"Doesn't the smell of fish make you want to puke?" Aspen asked America as they jumped off their boat and on to the dock.

She rolled her eyes and tipped the boat driver, thanking him under her breath. Maxon stood with a small map in his hands, looking up at the town spread out in front of them at the base of a mountain range. "Compass?" he asked.

"That way's north." Aspen pointed.

"No, that way is north east."

America searched for a compass in her backpack and passed it over to Maxon. He held it up and nodded. "North east." He clapped Aspen on the shoulder. "Use the sun buddy." He pushed past Aspen as America followed, taking a deep breath.

"Taught you that in finishing school, did they?" Aspen called out.

Maxon laughed. "Actually it's common knowledge but it was reinforced in my spec-ops training. Now, the safe house is somewhere behind those mountains."

America nodded. "Great. Let's go." She started walking but Maxon pulled her back by the elbow.

"No, no, no. We are not going anywhere tonight. We will be staying in that motel and getting a good night's sleep before we start hiking tomorrow," he told her.

"We're wasting time doing that. Why don't we hike as long as it is still light out, camp in hills, and then keep going as soon as the sun rises?" she challenged.

He rolled his eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you? I don't want you to overexert yourself and risk harming our child."

"You seem pretty convinced that it's your kid," Aspen suddenly said.

Maxon turned away from America and took a few steps toward Aspen. "You're telling me she's been unfaithful to me? That I have reason to doubt my wife's fidelity?"

"Maybe you do."

America tried to get between them. "Aspen, don't," she warned, knowing where it was going. But it was a train collision happening right in front of her and she was helpless to stop it.

"What is he talking about Ames?" Maxon asked her.

Aspen spoke up. "Look, man, she thought you were dead. She was lonely. I was there for her."

Maxon frowned at her, hurt evident in his eyes. All anger vanished when he saw America's defeated look. He wasn't mad at Aspen; he was betrayed by her. "Is it true?" he asked. "Ames?" he whispered, trying to get through to her.

"I didn't want to lie to you," she hedged. "But Aspen told me he can't get a girl pregnant!" A fisherman was carrying a crate of fish past them and turned to look at them suspiciously. "Okay, guys, we can pick this up later but I think we need to get moving."

America walked in front of them to the small hotel and got the keys for their room. As soon as they got in the room she threw up in the small bathroom. She heard Maxon come in behind her but she waved off his helping hand. Instead he perched on the linoleum tub, his elbows on his knees as he rubbed his jaw in frustration.

When she was done, she leaned against the toilet. "Maxon, I'm so sorry…"

"I just…I have one question," he said quietly. "What if you didn't find out I'm alive? What if I was really dead? What then?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. In St. George I was just trying to get through life day-by-day and find Christian. You were the last thing I was concerned about. Yeah, I knew there was a chance you were alive. I mean, c'mon, I saw your empty tomb and knew that your dead body didn't walk away. I was hoping that you were alive but I couldn't think like that. I had to think of my own survival."

"And Aspen? Where does he fit into it?"

She shrugged again. "He was there for me in a time where I didn't recognize the person I was seeing in my own reflection. He grounded me, balanced me out. I'll always be grateful to him for that but I can tell you that even if you were dead, I would never feel the same way about him as I feel about you."

He huffed and she could see tears in his eyes. "So why'd you do it? Why'd you sleep with him? If you're as over him as you say you are, why did you allow that attraction to grow into something so much more? Did you seriously discuss kids with him?"

"Yes but not because I wanted to have kids with him. I just brought up that we should be more careful. It's…not important. My relationship with him has always been irrelevant." She looked away, not being to stand the pained expression in his eyes anymore.

He sighed and leaned back, fiddling with a loose string on his pants. Yes, America was used to seeing him dressed down but not this casually. Not with a somewhat tattered shirt and slightly threadbare pants. It was like he and Aspen had switched wardrobes overnight. "So what we need now is to figure out where we're going from here."

"There's too much between us Maxon." She shook her head.

"But there's too much at work against us too. We need to be together to protect each other."

She frowned. "You mean you need to be with me to protect me?"

He shook his head. "That's not what I said." He searched for the right words. "Look, I love you America. I always have and I always will. I think we know by now that whatever you do I can't change that. But right now you have to understand that I'm separating myself from my emotions. That's the only way I can look past this mess."

She nodded. "I understand that. It's what we need to do for our own survival."

"And our son's."

"And our son's," she agreed. Aspen knocked on the door and poked his head in. When he saw that they were both in the bathroom he stepped in, the light making the buttons on his jacket sparkle.

He cleared his throat. "I got us some food…it's out here so, yeah." He lacked his usual confidence in the face of the awkward situation but America was thankful that he wasn't angry.

Maxon helped her to her feet. "You should eat; you're going to need strength." He recognized that familiar look in her eye from when she was pregnant with Christian.

She rolled her eyes and took a grudging bite from a loaf of bread, crossing her arms as she sat down on the bed. They ate quietly, only a few awkward words being spoken between them. They went to bed early, deciding that sleep was of the upmost importance. There was only one bed in the room, which obviously went to America. When Aspen barely voiced his curiosity over whether it'd be him or Maxon sleeping with him, Maxon shot him a look that should have killed him.

America curled up on her side, her back to Maxon. She listened to his breathing and knew just from that that he was still awake. On the floor in front of the door was Aspen, positioned and alert even in his sleep in case an intruder came in. The bed moved slightly and she heard Maxon moving the covers. Then she was aware of a sudden draft of warmth hitting her back. Maxon was close. Too close.

She sat up on her elbows. "What're you doing?" she demanded.

He frowned in defense. "You know I can't sleep on my back."

"Well sleep on your side over another two feet," she snapped.

He rolled his eyes. "As you wish, Your Majesty." He did a mini bow and moved over.

When it was barely light out though, and America woke up, surprised to not be sick. Was she really far enough along that it was gone? More startling though, Maxon was pressed against her. They were lying in their usual position, in the middle of the bed – because apparently royalty always slept in the middle, alone or not – with Maxon's arm draped over her stomach protectively. Enjoying the momentary peace and quiet and the warmth coming from her husband, she begrudgingly snuggled into him and went back to sleep for another couple hours.

Man oh man. I hope you guys like it! again, sorry it's been a bit longer than normal. there was the whole abandonment of reality because the of the Divergent trilogy and then I've always had a pretty crappy week (i'm pretty sure i'm becoming an insomniac, in addition to being masochistic and an anarchist). So anyway, sorry again! Review and keep sending your questions! I'm having too much fun answering them!