I'm so sorry for being late on this update. It's been a crazy few days and I'm trying to get back on track. Also, 1 MORE DAY TILL THE ONE! I'm really excited and I loved the first ten chapters. Thanks to everybody who reviewed!

Abbie loves reading: Aww thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

Guest (April 28th): I'm sorry I didn't get your review earlier, but I can't wait to find out what happens. 1 more day!

Chapter 5:

The guards set down the suitcases in front of my room and opened the door. We were finally home from the Province visits and trust me it was busy.

We never got any time for each other and we constantly kept meeting people. The interviews, the speeches, the reports, the sad lives, the too luxurious lives; everything. We'd stay up till 2:00am every night reading the interviews and seeing what changes needed to happen immediately.

Even today we'd have no rest time. It was 3:00 pm and I had to go to 4 meetings. Budgeting, Council applications, Interview Analysis, and Southern rebel details were the four I had to go to. It was worse for Maxon because he had 8.

On the bright side, I got to see my family and May. It was nice to enjoy their hugs without many people coming up and saying, "Congratulations." I got time to meet May's boyfriends and he's cute. His name was Ryan Eller and he really was sweet. Young love is so adorable! His family was quite generous for Three's and they seemed to not like the Caste system either.

I walked into my room and just stared for a while. I then made my way to the piano. I played a few notes before I started a Sonatina. I did have 45 minutes before the meeting, might as well use it on something I like to do.

Maxon walked in when I finished the piece. I quickly stood up and hugged him.

"Hey Mere," he whispered softly.

"Hey Maxon," I replied back.

"How are you?"

"Fine, just stressed."

"I know honey, me too. I want more time with you, it's been crazy though."

I nodded my head and then laid it on is shoulder.

"Maxon, how are we supposed to fix everything? How are we supposed to satisfy everybody?" How do we do this?"

"We still have 20 minutes before the meeting; I'd like to not think about it."

Maxon was right; the moment we enter the meeting we can think about this stuff.

"Want to go to the garden?" I ask.

He smiles and says, "Of course.

We head downstairs and go outside. It's beautiful outside and sunny too. We walk around with Maxon's hand on my waist.

"So how's your family?" Maxon asks me.

"Great, you met Ryan right?"

"Oh yes, isn't he May's boyfriend."

"Yeah, apparently yesterday he gave her a present. He got a bracelet with writing carved in it for her. She was freaking out because, you know…. She's May."

Maxon let out a chuckle and said, "He surely knows how to impress a girl."

These were times I loved with Maxon. We could laugh and not worry about anything. Sadly, those were times that don't happen often.

"We better go, we're going to be late," I say.

Maxon frowns, but he knows better than to be late.

We walk inside to go and discuss the most dangerous problem right now…. The Southern rebels.

I stared in shock at all the advisers. There had been 10 rebel attacks within the time we were gone. Maxon's face mimicked mine.

"How do we stop them?" I ask.

"That's the reason for this meeting," an advisor said.

"What they want is to end the royal line. They want to not have a monarchy so the question is, how do we compromise with them," Maxon answers.

The King said, "We find their base and stop them from doing anything more. Send out the troops."

What? Did he really think that would stop them? Maxon was probably thinking the same thing.

"Your majesty, I don't think that would work," I say strongly and confidently.

"Excuse me?"

"You see that's what they want us to do. They want us trapped up so they can take away our protection and then end up getting us. We have to work the opposite way; we need THEM trapped. We have to observe the next rebel attacks closely from high and low elevations so we can see how they are getting in. If they are coming through tunnels, we trap them inside, if they are coming from outside we put bombs to trap their way. That's not the main part though. We need to negotiate with them so we need to figure out how we can sit them down and talk."

The King sat back now. "Very well then, but exactly how to we get them to talk?"

"Trickery, it's truly a master mind," I reply calmly.

"Wait so we set up traps," Maxon asks questioningly.

"No, we trick them into thinking that I'm on their side and I want to kill the royal line. I have ways of persuasion from being a five. I can easily tell them I understand completely what they want. I'll go through the tunnels and meet with them and I'll tell them a plan."

I don't even know where all the words I'm saying are coming from. Did I really think this could happen?

Maxon immediately says, "No, I'm not letting you do that.

"You didn't let me finish" I reply.

"We have to obviously have to decide details on that. Then we will have a meeting in the middle of the night where I will hide guards and of course the people who will talk. Then we can decide on a way to settle an agreement."

"Nope, we need another idea. I'm not letting America be in danger," Maxon says.

"Will all do respect your majesty, Princess America's plan might work. She has a good point about how she can trick them."

Maxon actually looked scared and mad.

"We'll find another plan because if you all didn't realize this yet, she's been through way too much," Maxon replies.

It was my turn to talk. "Maxon, I signed up for this. When I married you this is what I said I'd do and I am going to stay true to that."

"I'm not letting you America, that's final."

We weren't fighting, but we were having a hidden debate. In his eyes were, "America, I love you and you're the only thing I have."

In mine were, "Maxon, I love you, and I want this all to stop."

Confusing right?

"You don't have to let me, I can let myself," I reply gently.

"Stop bickering and sit down. Her plan is good and we should discuss it further," the King said.

The Queen had been pretty silent, but she said, "Clarkson, are you sure about this. Remember when we got married?"

The King seemed to relax a tiny bit from the words. I wonder what she meant.

As if to answer my question she said, "We actually had a honeymoon and got to spend time with each other."

I think I saw King Clarkson smile a little bit, but then he snapped back into realty.

"That was when things were actually good. Plus they already had a honeymoon; they visited all the provinces."

"Clarkson, that isn't a honeymoon," the Queen said.

"There isn't time for some stupid honeymoon; I thought I made myself clear when I said the wedding was a distraction." He replied angrily.

I remembered that fight clearly.

"Why don't we discuss the plan," I offered quietly.

"We'll observe the next 5 rebel attacks and predict the 6th. Then we'll figure out the rest. We have to deal with council arrangement's now," the King said.

Immediately applications were being spread out. After this we have to study interviews and then budget everything. What a fun day.

I collapsed on the bed and curled up into a ball. These meetings were absolutely awful. So much arguing, yelling, and deciding. On the bright side it was productive. We narrowed down the applications to two from each province and they would come and be interviewed in a few days. Then we'd choose one from each. We're taking some more of the funds that used to be for war and putting it on education so every single child has it available to them. As far as food goes, we're lowering prices a tiny bit and making more jobs available.

"Your majesty, you must get ready for dinner," Anne said softly.

"Please don't call me that and I'll take dinner in my room. I'll get ready for bed by myself, you all are dismissed."

"Are you sure" Lucy asked.

"Absolutely."

They all filed out of the room leaving me in silence. I kept thinking what a honeymoon would be like. Would Maxon and I have no guards? No maids? Would we actually have time to spend with each other? Would we…. you know. I picked up a sheet to plan for the rebels. Yes we had to observe, but I need to seem believable. I started writing some ideas.

I lay in beds with my eyes wide open. I couldn't sleep even at 2:00 am. I heard the door connecting my room and Maxon's open. I stirred in the bed and sat up.

"Maxon?"

"Oh sorry America, I didn't realize you were awake. Why aren't you sleeping?"

"Just can't I guess," I said shrugging my shoulders.

His shirt's buttons were undone leaving a tiny bit of his chest showing. He came and sat down next to me and said, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing Maxon, it's late you should get to sleep."

"So should you," he said kissing my forehead and getting up.

"Wait no, stay here with me. Please?"

"I was hoping you'd ask," Maxon said crawling into my large bed.

He hugged me and said, "I'm so sorry."

"Why?"

"You don't deserve this stupid life. You deserve to be happy. You don't deserve rebels or a two week interview session around the country. You don't deserve all this crap and royalty. You don't deserve losing sleep and being under pressure. You deserve a honeymoon where we can be alone together."

"No, I don't deserve silk night gowns, a bunch of food, and most of all; you."

He sighed, "When all of this is over, we will get our honeymoon. It'll be absolutely wonderful. I'll get to carry you everywhere and we can snuggle in peace. No meetings, no royal duties, no disturbance.

I lay my head on his shoulder and say, "Yes honey, it'll be perfect." Then we both drifted off to sleep.

I hope you guys liked that chapter! How do think the plan is going to work out?! Review, Follow, and Favorite!