Favorite sport/Olympic sport/ever thought you'd compete in the Olympics? - I'm an athlete so I love basically every sport. except basketball. I'm sorry, but I cannot stand basketball. I find every excuse not to go to my school's basketball games. I know it sounds terrible but I just can't do it...I can't. and I love boardercross in the Olympics. that's what I'd do if I ever go to the Olympics, which I would love to do. I'm a little behind with snowboarding but I think that if I dedicated myself, I could go to the Olympics for something in snowboarding. I don't think just anyone can go to the Olympics but I don't think it's as difficult as everyone thinks. if you're an athlete and have a passion for your sport and you dedicate your life to it, the rest will fall into place. unless your sport isn't in the Olympics. in that case you're just SOL.

When do you think you'll get to read the Selection Stories? - I just did last night! OMG...I am so excited for the One to come out. I think anyone who's read that teaser can agree. and I have to say, it really helps with writing this stuff to know more about the characters.

Sweet or sour? - Sweet, all the way. and I'm not a candy person. I'm a chocolate person.

what is your inspiration for this fanfiction? - I answered the same question in Chapter 7 but I guess I decided to take this route in it because one of the things I loved most about the Hunger Games is how raw the characters got to be and how they all basically went crazy and I guess I kind of wanted to do that with these characters.

"As far as I'm concerned, they love each other. It's love. I think it's love at first sight. But it's not perhaps a conventional love affair. You know, it's far more mysterious than that. As is love, I suppose." - Christopher Eccleston

In the days following, Maxon helped America become better accustomed to the underground city. He even drew her a rough sketch of a map for her to get around better. One night they arrived back at the White House, Maxon looking to find some booze as soon as they were in for the night when Aspen surprised them on the front porch.

"Hello America," he said coolly as he approached them slowly, looking at their entwined hands.

She nodded to him in acknowledgement. "What's up?" she asked nonchalantly, already scared of where the conversation was heading.

"I really enjoyed your little PSA the other night. I had no idea you two were so close, not even together for that matter. Have you been making good use of your time together?" Something was wrong. He was speaking too formally.

Maxon picked up on it and subtly shifted so he stood in front of America. "What do you want, Aspen?"

"I want what's rightfully mine," he said simply.

America frowned. "And what is that?" She knew the answer but she wanted him to say it out loud, mostly because she didn't think he would be bold enough to tell her honestly.

"You, Mer." She flinched at the use of her old nickname. "I want you."

Maxon stepped in front of her, shielding her completely. "You're mistaken in thinking that you have a claim on her. She is mine." Aspen started to argue but Maxon cut him off. "We were joined together under the sanctity of God and…"

Aspen raised his voice against Maxon's. "What God? You think that if there was a God we'd be going through all of this shit now? Sorry," he apologized quickly to America but she was hardly phased. "All I'm asking is for one night with her."

"Why? We've had our time together, was that not enough?" she demanded, not wanting to bring up her relationship with Aspen in front of Maxon but she had no choice.

He laughed but it didn't sound right. It was off. It sounded unnatural, cold, with no joy behind it. "I don't think you two are understanding me correctly. I have this house wired, along with your precious little caves. You don't do what I'm asking and I blow them all."

"And what will that accomplish, exactly?" Maxon challenged.

"Well, it will hurt you more than it will hurt me. I'm not the one that needs the army he's amassed in those two places. Give me what I want and you can get what you want," Aspen explained.

Maxon was about to challenge him even further but America cut him off. "I'll do it," she said in an icy voice.

Snapping his head around, Maxon demanded, "What are you doing?"

"I'm protecting our son," she said, using the only defense against him that he could not refute. She turned back to Aspen. "When do you want to do this?"

He smiled wickedly. "Tomorrow night. I'll have one of my men pick you up." He turned on his heel and walked away, calling, "Don't even think about shooting me now with my back turned. It's bad form."

Maxon sighed and put his gun that he'd drawn back in his belt. He turned to America but she shook her head at him. "Let's just get inside," she said quietly, opening the door.

They climbed the stairs and made their way to their room in silence, only speaking to acknowledge people they saw in the halls on the way there. Once inside their bedroom, Maxon asked, "Why are you doing this?"

She sat on the edge of the bed to take a boot off. "I told you; it's to protect Christian."

He shook his head and sat next to her, taking his weapon belt off. "I should be protecting Christian, not you."

"You know Maxon, I really don't want to hear anymore sexist comments like that." She walked to the bathroom and closed the door loudly, not quite a slam but it wasn't gentle. She leaned against it, her heart pounding in her ears. She washed her face and changed before rejoining Maxon.

He was already changed and under the covers of their bed when she tucked herself in, sleeping on the far edge of the bed. The next morning, she snuck out quietly at dawn without waking him.

He found her in the back yard of the house where she was inspecting and cleaning guns for the soldiers that would be shipped to the caves later that day. She was in the process of loading magazines when he approached her, still rubbing sleep out of his eyes.

"I don't want you to sleep with him," he said quietly.

The vulnerability of his voice made her pause in what she was doing. She quickly shook it off though. "I know what I'm doing."

He stepped up next to her and turned her so that they were facing each other, just a few inches apart. One of his legs made its way between hers. "I don't want you to sleep with him. We'll find another way," he insisted.

"It's just one night," she said, trying to downplay it.

He shook his head. "That's what we thought it would be when Christian was conceived." She snorted and rolled her eyes, looking away.

"That was completely different."

"How? How was that any different?"

She laughed in spite of herself. "Aspen wasn't even in my life at that point."

"And? Ames, one night can change a lot. What if he tries to kill you? What if you sleep with him but he still blows up everything I've built?"

"He won't. I know he's crazy and he's acting desperate but he won't do anything that he knows will result in your killing him. He's unbalanced but he's not stupid. I know for a fact that he fears you. He would be stupid not to. That's why he's doing this. It's an offensive strategy to try to gain control of a situation that in all reality he will never have any authority in," she explained. "I know what I'm getting myself into."

He shrugged. "I know I can't change what you two have already done in the past but I can't stand the thought of another man with his hands on you." To prove his point he slid his hands lower down on her back, down to her hips. "Especially Aspen."

She pulled away, kissing the back of his hand lightly. "I'll be okay," she promised lightly.

"Ames, you're the only one for me. You know that. You know that you're the only person I've ever slept with."

She nodded. "I know and it kills me that I can't say the same. In all honesty, I was at a low point and I sought comfort in the only thing I could find at the time. It tears me up inside to think of it now." She pulled him back to her and sighed. "Look, I'll go with Aspen tomorrow but I promise, as soon as I get back you can have me all to yourself for a week."

He smiled sadly. "I don't have that luxury anymore."

"You're king. Make it a luxury," she beckoned. She pulled away again and walked away, looking over her shoulder one last time before going inside the armory to do a final inventory check on javelins.

So I was a little inspired by Moulin Rouge for this chapter, #sorrynotsorry. yes I just hashtagged.

please review and send me some questions!