What are you majoring in in college? - don't know yet! either English or anthropology!
Are you working on any other Fanfics? - I am actually! I'm working on a Hunger Games fanfic right now and I'm kind of in love with it. that's part of the reason I haven't been updating as much; I've been working on that one so much. but I haven't published it yet because I want to finish this one first and I don't know where the other one is really going yet so I don't want to commit to anything long term with it.
"Above all, love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins." - 1 Peter 4:8
America suddenly could not take her eyes off of Maxon. It was like watching a train collision; it is so terrible she just could not look away. She waited for the blood to bloom over his chest, for him to collapse in his seat, for him to take his final breath but then Beckner fell into Maxon's arms. Amberly let out a loud cry and backed up from the guards suddenly swarming into the room.
Kota stood in the doorway and was lowering his gun, the barrel still emitting smoke. America ran to Maxon as he threw Beckner's body to the ground and hugged her. She knew there was blood on her dress but she just needed to feel Maxon's body against hers, safe and whole. He buried his face in her hair and balled the back of her dress in his fists, not watching the people swarming around him. He just let her scent of apple and vanilla fill his senses.
Someone tapped on his shoulder and he looked up to see Kota standing next to him at attention. America was still pulled tight to his chest. "What is it?" he asked.
"Your mother and Officer Station escaped in the commotion," Kota reported.
"Thanks for telling me. For now, just make the sure the rest of the palace is secure and then we can move on to dealing with my mother," Maxon told him. His hands moved down to cup America's elbows and he looked deeply into her eyes. "Are you okay?" he asked her seriously.
She couldn't lie to him. Not about their baby. "I'm getting cramps," she admitted miserable. "But your arm…"
"Will mend," he quickly finished for her. "We need to get you to the infirmary. And I'm carrying you, whether you like it or not." Without further ado, he scooped her into his arms and carried her across the palace to the infirmary.
"Maxon, I'm really already feeling better." And she was. The cramps were fading away and she was more concerned with Maxon's arm.
He rolled his eyes and strolled through the doors to the infirmary. Nurses were bustling about, tending to guards who were injured in the brief attack. Dr. Mackey was right in the front doors and stopped what it was he was doing when he saw Maxon holding his wife. "What happened?" he asked, looking over America.
"She's been through a lot and she said she was feeling faint cramps. Can you just check to make sure the baby is okay?" Maxon asked, obviously answering for his wife.
Dr. Mackey took them into his private examination room and Maxon laid her on the small bed. The doctor did a quick assessment of America and determined that both she and the baby would be okay. "I recommend a warm bath and just taking it easy for a few days, okay? Keep walking and running to a minimum. Now Maxon, let me look at that arm of yours."
Maxon shed his coat, shirt and tie, leaving him shirtless, a sight America never grew tired of. The gash on his arm was deep and America felt the need to look away. Her husband was calm as Dr. Mackey gave him his stitches, something Maxon had grown quite accustomed to over the years. "And the consensus on my arm, Doctor?" Maxon asked.
Dr. Mackey sighed and finished placing a bandage over the stitches gingerly. "I would recommend rest as well what with your shoulder still healing from the bullet wound and now this. You both have had some tough weeks and I think a couple days of relaxation would be best for both of you."
Looking to her husband, she expected Maxon to argue but he nodded and took America's hand. "I think we can do that," he told Dr. Mackey.
Dr. Mackey smiled and excused himself as America helped Maxon pull his shirt over his shoulders. She kissed his sternum as she reached up to button those first few buttons. "We can never have a normal day, can we?" she asked quietly as he picked up his tie and jacket.
He shook his head and chuckled. "Come with me and I will give you my anniversary present for you." He took her hand and they walked upstairs to their bedroom. Their maids already had a bath prepared. Maxon and America took advantage of it and he joined her once he had undressed and grabbed her present.
Careful to keep his arms above the bubbles rising from the water, he passed her what she instantly recognized as a jewelry box. She smiled at him knowingly and opened it, revealing a simple silver locket with an A on the front. She slid her thumb nail on the edge and opened it, revealing a picture of Maxon on one side and Christian on the other. "But what about our other child?" she asked, unconsciously rubbing a hand over her stomach. The warm water almost instantly made her feel ten times more relaxed.
"Well we can always replace the pictures as our family grows," he told her.
"I love it. Thank you," she whispered, learning forward to kiss him on the lips. She set the necklace down next to the tub and scooted closer, knowing where the kiss would lead. "And I love you," she added.
He bit her lip lightly and deepened the kiss, his hands clutching her hips. "I love you too."
May walked down to Beckner's old room and went inside. She had just heard the news about the attack and could not believe it. Amberly was waiting for her inside. May wanted to shrink away, to cower in the corner. She was scared of what Amberly was going to do, how she was going to react. "Amberly, I had no idea of their plans," she started.
Amberly shook her head and crossed her arms. "I shouldn't have been stupid enough to just have two of them attack. Now I've blown my cover and have had to send Liam away. It's totally up to you to finish the job for me."
"You don't think we could just let Maxon die? He's sick and his time should be up soon. He may be lucky but he's not a miracle worker."
Amberly considered what she was saying then slowly nodded. "But that would be conceding."
"Not necessarily. If you're still around as a threat, Maxon wouldn't dare to reinstate America's power. So we let him die a slow and painful death and then what will happen? You'll have total control."
With a sigh, Amberly shrugged and added, "Or there would be total anarchy." The corners of her mouth slowly turned up. "It would be me and America to vie for the crown then. And with Maxon dead, she would be so distraught that she wouldn't be able to fight against me. Yes, this could work very well."
May smiled and met the queen's eyes. "Do you still have the documents they'd need to make America queen?"
"Yes, tucked safe and sound in my old room. The last place they'd expect to look."
"Perfect. So we are agreed? We are waiting for him to just die himself?"
Amberly nodded. "Yes, you may go now."
May nodded and walked out. She stepped behind a tapestry in one of the passageways and allowed herself to sob for a few moments. She counted in her head to one hundred, telling herself that when she reached one hundred she had to go back to her family. Wiping the tears from her eyes and fixing her makeup, she entered the hallway of the palace and headed toward her parents' room.
America put a pair of yoga pants and a hoodie on when she went to check on Gerad in the hospital. He still wasn't his usual self but he was alive and America could accept that for the time being. He was staring at a bowl of beef stock in front of him, not eating it, when she walked into the infirmary. Dr. Mackey nodded at her from where he was organizing supplies with another nurse and then returned his attention to the task at hand.
"Hey bud," she greeted, sitting in the chair next to his bed. "Is that dinner?"
He scrunched his nose at the stock and looked at her. "When the doctor said I could eat again I was hoping for chocolate. At least real soup."
"They're just looking out for you," she assured him.
"How are you and Maxon?" he asked quietly. He asked every time she visited him, expressing a great deal of concern for them. After all, he had ingested the poison meant for them. She was always flattered when he asked.
"We're good. We had a close call today but maybe I'll let him tell you the story later, okay? We'll probably come visit longer tomorrow. I was just coming to check on you." She stood up to go and kissed his forehead. "At least try to eat, please."
She walked out and went back upstairs. Her bedroom looked empty but as soon as the door was closed, Maxon emerged from their bathroom with his robe tied loosely around his waist. He trapped her against the wall and started kissing down her neck to her shoulder. "Why don't we pick up where we left off earlier?"
"I'm not arguing," she gasped out as his teeth grazed the skin behind her ear.
He cocked an eyebrow at her and then pulled her up, wrapping her legs around his waist and leading her to their bed. She straddled his legs and started to pull off her hoodie but it got stuck around her chin. "Help me, I'm stuck!" she laughed out, tugging on the collar to free herself.
He laughed too and helped to free her. She threw the sweatshirt down next to them and then laughed again, blushing deeply. "It's like we haven't been at this for three years," she said.
He just shook his head. "Never a dull moment," he mumbled against the soft skin of her chest.
More insight into May's side of things! Review please!