It's been what? A week since I last uploaded a new chapter? I'm really sorry :( How I wish it was summer all over again for me, so that I'll be able to write as much as I wanted to. Oh well, say hi to reality.

Putting that aside, hope you enjoy this chapter!

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-America's POV-

I suddenly felt a chill ran through me so I brought my blanket closer. I knew it would be hard but knowing doesn't mean it will be easier. I felt really awful. The first two months were bearable but now that I'm in my third month, I started to feel the stress of pregnancy. I didn't have any energy to do anything. I was very moody, and I hated it. It didn't also help that everything started to feel really painful, not only my back but most especially my abdomen. 'My abdomen' I though, brushing my hands on it gently. The last time I checked it, it was swelling a bit and was bruised. I can't bring myself to check it now, because I knew it would look worse than before.

"Six more months. You can do this, America." I told myself, only half-believing. If it comes to such a point that I couldn't take it anymore, I just don't know what I'd do. The only thing I truly know is that I won't ever give up on my baby. Not ever. I just can't think of how I'll live it through if something bad happens to my baby. I'd rather die than lose him/her.

I gave out a sigh. 'Stop thinking like this. You are a fighter, America.' I curled myself in bed and decided to rest when someone knocked at the door. "Come in!" I said, not even bothering to open my eyes and face the doorway.

"America?"

I suddenly froze. No. It's impossible. I quickly sat up and shifted myself to see if I heard wrong but I wasn't. "Maxon." I let out, my eyes widened in shock. "How did you—" Before I could finish my sentence he came to me and embraced me. His whole body was trembling. I know I should be pushing him away but I couldn't. I just miss him so much. Seeing him. Feeling him. His warmth. Everything. For the past 3 months I've been trying to move on and just lock away these feelings and memories about him.

"I thought I'd never see you." He said, his voice trembling.

"How did you know?" I forced myself to ask.

"Georgia." He looked at me, his face suddenly became serious even though his eyes were very red. "Georgia told me, America."

I looked at him in bewilderment.

"Everything." He added.

It took me a few seconds before it all clicked in. "NO." How could Georgia do this to me? I trusted her. I could feel my face flush with anger. He'll try to stop me. He'll try to take away my baby. I suddenly felt defensive. "Get away from me." I said, my voice low.

"America—" before he could say anything else, I pushed him off the bed. My eyes started to well with tears. "Get out, Maxon. I don't want to hear anything from you!" And it was true. I can't take it… If he told me to get rid of my baby.

I knew he would disagree, anyone would, but it's still very different and painful if you hear it come out from the mouth of the person you love and who you thought would understand you and trust your decisions.

"America, just hear me out." He pleaded.

I closed my eyes, letting the tears roll down my face and shook my head. "No. I've had enough of people telling me what I should do."

I heard him stand up and move towards me once again. I felt him sit at the edge of my bed and place a hand on my face, slightly caressing his thumb on my cheek. "America, please look at me." He said softly.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at him, just as he told me so.

"I love you." He said and paused, his face grew even sadder. "You have to stop this. We can't keep the baby even if we wanted to. I just don't want to lose you. I just can't. I hope you understand where I'm coming from."

"No. I don't understand! How can you say that, Maxon? Just because you don't want to lose me, you're going to sacrifice our baby?! Is that it?!" I shouted. 'Why is it no one understands me? Who will fight for my baby, if not me?' I thought angrily.

"That's not what I meant, America. Do you honestly believe I'd want our baby gone?" His voice rising at every word.

"No… " I looked down. I fisted my hands and looked at him accusingly. "But that doesn't change the fact that you would want me to get the baby aborted!"

"America, you know what Dr. Matthew said. You can't keep the baby. It's too dangerous. You can't live through the pregnancy, much more try on giving birth." He reasoned out.

"You don't know that! I might just live it through." I let out, more determined to make a point. "Didn't Dr. Matthew say there's a slim chance I'd get pregnant but look at me now." I brought my hands towards my abdomen, showing my baby bump. "I am pregnant for THREE MONTHS. Isn't it a miracle, Maxon?"

He pursed his lips, his eyes filled with despair. "It is. If circumstances were different, I'd be ecstatic but America, it's your life that's at stake here."

"I know." I simply said and removed his hand from my face. "But what if? What if I live it through?"

"You don't know that."

I looked straight at him. "I don't; but you don't know also."

"Please understand, America. You're risking your life here!"

I've had enough of this. I breathed deeply, trying to calm myself. "Do you think I don't know that?" I squinted my eyes. "I know the risks! I'm the one who told you about them!" I reminded him. "But even so, I would still keep this baby, Maxon. No matter what. It's my body! Don't you think I deserve to make this decision?"

"but what about me, America? Where do I fit in? What if—what if Dr. Matthew was right? Don't you think I also deserve to be part of this decision you are making?" He said, tears cascading down his face. I hated to see him like this. I wish I could make him understand.

An idea materialized in my head. It was ridiculous but I was desperate. I let out a sigh, held his hands and then brought them to my stomach. He looked at me with puzzlement. "Can you feel it, Maxon?" I asked, my eyes pleading for him to understand. "It's just been 3 months but our baby has grown this much. Isn't it amazing?" I breathed out. "We made this, Maxon. We brought another life into the world, from our love. We made this happen." My eyes started to tear up once again. "I love this baby, even if I hadn't seen him or her yet. And I love this baby much more because it was from you Maxon; It was YOU who made it possible for me—for this baby".

"America—"

"Maxon, I'm not asking you to take responsibility. I won't bother you or ask anything from you. Just please, let me keep this baby." I pleaded, my voice sounding very desperate. "Please. I—I'll even go to a faraway place where no one knows about me if that's what you're worried about."

He suddenly looked at me in disbelief and hurt. "Is that how you see, me? Do you think that I don't want to take responsibility? Do you think I care about what people think about me?! Am I that of a heartless and selfish man to you?! " He let out, his voice filled with pain. "America, I love you. I've said that so many times. Why don't you understand? I want you to be safe, that's why I don't want you to keep the baby. You're that important to me—so much more than having an heir to the throne"

"This baby, Maxon." I looked straight at him. "is all I have. I'm left with nothing without him or her. He—she's the only thing that makes me want to live. Please don't take that away from me." I pleaded.

He looked tenderly at me and brushed the hair that fell down, away from my face. "You still have me, America."

I shook my head. "No. I don't. You have Kriss."

"I don't love her." he defended.

"It doesn't matter. You still have to marry her or someone else." We were silent for a while before I decided to speak again. "I'm keeping this baby, no matter what you say or anyone says. That's my final decision and it won't ever change." I said firmly.

He gave out breath of defeat, knowing that he won't be able to do anything. "Ok then."

I was confused for a moment. I thought he'd continue to argue. "Really?" I asked in disbelief.

"Really."

"Ok." I said awkwardly, not knowing what to say or how to react.

"But—" he stopped and looked straight into my eyes.

"But what?" I urged. Deep inside I was overwhelmed. 'He's going to let me keep you.' I told my baby. I couldn't help but smile by the thought of it.

"You have to stay in the palace." He stated.

"What?!" I said in horror, my heart stopping for a moment. "Maxon, Kriss wouldn't—" He cut me off before I could continue.

"and I am not marrying Kriss."

"Maxon—"

"You've made your decision and I agreed to it. I'm making mine, America."

I shook my head in disagreement. "But the people!"

"To hell with the people! America, you're pregnant for pete's sake! The baby." He looked at my stomach. "He/she's not only yours but mine also. I also want to take responsibility."

" And you still can, Maxon! Even without breaking your engagement with Kriss." I reasoned.

"America, the reason why I'm engaged to Kriss is because you told me we can't be together; because I needed an heir and you can't provide me with that, which in my defense, I never really cared about. But you are pregnant NOW. So why can't we still be together?" He asked, sounding like a little boy.

"Because I'm an 'uncertainty', Maxon. We can't really say that I—I'll be able to have a successful pregnancy. You can't risk the country's future for me." I reasoned more, even though all I wanted was to be his.

"I'm done with all that, America. We've been through a lot of pain just for this damn country. I've sacrifice enough. I've done enough. I don't want to sacrifice anymore. I want to find our happy ending this time. Not anyone else. Not the people's. Not the country's. But OURS." He brought a hand to my right cheek and wiped away the tears before kissing me.

The kiss was brief but it meant so much to the both of us. He placed his forehead against mine and spoke, his lips brushing mine. "I want to keep both of you safe. I want to make sure you both will make it through." he said, his voice shaking a bit. He then moved backwards so that he could look into my eyes. "So please, go back to the palace. You're pregnant even though you shouldn't be. The palace can provide you with a greater chance of surviving. America, I can't lose you." He pleaded. "I can't lose you and the baby." He smiled sadly.

I can't describe everything that I was feeling right now. It was so overwhelming. For the first time for a very long time, I was crying out of relief; out if happiness. I wasn't alone in this fight anymore. I wiped my tears away and nodded.

He encircled me with his hands and brought me towards him, embracing me. "I love you, America."

I chuckled and hugged him back. "You've been saying that ever since you got here. Don't you get tired?"

I could feel him shake his head. "Not ever."

"Me also." How can someone love me this much?

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How can I love someone this much?