No. I'm not yet dead. LOL. Sorry haven't updated for almost 4 weeks, had a lot of papers to finish (and still not yet finished). Anyways hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Please review if you have time. Thank you so much! Never expected anyone would want to read my fics. BTW, we're nearing the ending! (I think? Lol)

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-America's POV-

Once again, I was back in the palace. I could feel myself quiver as I stared into the palace doors. I couldn't help but fear and worry. What would the people say when they notice my bulging stomach? When they learn that I'm pregnant? What would Kriss do? I can't help but be filled with fear. "I don't think this is a good idea." I whispered to myself. Maxon must have heard me. He held my shaking hands, slightly caressing them. I looked at him shyly and saw his eyes fill with tenderness and assurance.

"It's going to be ok, America." He said, squeezing my hands a bit. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise." He further assured.

I just nodded and gave out a sigh. 'You can do this America.' I told myself.

"Ready." He asked.

"Well, even if I say I'm not we still have to go in, anyways." I joked but my voice evidently nervous.

"You have a point." He chuckled. He signaled the palace guards to open the door. He entwined his right hand with my left and led me into the palace. Even though I was so worried a while ago, all I could think of now is how warm and sturdy his hand felt against mine. I'm no longer alone in this fight, he'll always be there for me. I know that now.

It felt like déjà vu again, Kriss was running down the staircase all ecstatic until she saw us—ME. Her face contoured in horror as she glanced upon our entwined hands. Out of guilt, I tried to pull my hands away but Maxon held me tighter. "Let go, Maxon." I whispered.

"No, I allowed you to let go of my hands last time. I won't ever let that happen again." He whispered back, never stopping for a breath.

"What is she doing here?" Kriss finally asked, frustration evident in her voice. She shifted her direction from Maxon to me as she walked closer and closer to us and I couldn't help but feel weak and vulnerable. Without knowing it, my mother instincts kicked in and so I held my stomach in defense. She noticed my unusual actions which made her look down at my stomach. Her eyes grew big in realization.

"You-you're…" She chocked out and looked at me with horror.

"I can explain—" Maxon tried to cut but Kriss was faster.

"How could you, America." She asked, her voice filled with hurt and venom.

"It's not her fault." Maxon defended but it looked like Kriss couldn't hear him. It seems as if she blocked out everything else and it was only me, she was seeing and hearing.

"Even though the selection was already over, you still didn't give up, did you?" She accused.

"Kriss, I didn't mean to…" I tried to explain but she didn't allow me so.

"YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO?" She said in disbelief and laughed cynically. "That is the most pathetic excuse I have ever heard. Is that the best excuse you could think of, America?" She challenged. It was very apparent that her emotions have overcome her. She was shaking in anger, and it scared me. Maxon pulled me to his side so that he could stand in-between me and Kriss.

"Kriss, calm down." Maxon said, his voice careful.

"CALM DOWN?! How dare you say that, Maxon!" She exclaimed. "What have ever done to you, for you to hurt and play with me like this?!" Her voice rising at every word and ended with a whisper of "I loved you."

I couldn't help but feel the crashing guilt. If only Kriss was a bad person. If only she was mean to me, it would have been easier to deal with this, but she wasn't. She always played fair and was kind and pure in heart. 'What did Maxon ever see in me?' I thought, tears starting to form on my eyes, as our conversation started to heat up. "I'm so sorry, Kriss." I chocked. I couldn't say anything else. She deserved to be angry.

"Sorry?" She said sarcastically. "Do you think sorry is all it takes from what you did to me?" She squinted her eyes.

"I—I don't know what to say anymore." I said honestly and bobbed my head down, letting the tears fall down.

"Of course you don't!" She shouted in anger and stormed towards me. Maxon was startled and wasn't able to recover quickly as Kriss slapped me. "Yo-You whore!"

-Maxon's POV-

It took all my energy and will to resist from doing anything bad to Kriss. My whole face felt scorching hot as my blood boiled. I know she wasn't herself right now just like how I was when I learned about Aspen and America, but I can't help but feel hatred. "Stop it, Kriss." I warned, my voice low as I held tightly the hand that slapped America and pulled it away from America.

"Why?" She cried out. "Why are you siding with her?"

I let out a sigh of frustration before looking into her eyes. "I don't know how to make things better but I'll just tell the truth to you anyways." I waited for her to give some kind of response before continuing but she didn't. "Kriss, I—I don't love you the way you wanted me to; the way that you love me."

"But you chose me?" she questioned, her eyes starting to fill up with tears.

I pursed my lips and breathed deeply. "I did but—" I looked at America. "she has always been my pick, ever since the beginning."

Kriss looked at me in bewilderment, her tears cascading down her face. "I'm confused. Why me then?"

"Because we didn't have a choice. I couldn't pick, America." I explained, but it obviously made things more confusing.

"Why?" she asked. "And what makes this time different?"

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to clear and rearrange my thoughts and then looked at America. I don't want her to hear anything further because I know she'll try to blame everything on herself; I can't ever fathom that. "America, you should go back to your room."

She shook her in disagreement. "I can't leave you here."

"When have you ever?" Kriss talked back as she rolled her eyes.

I let her gesture pass and just focused on America. "Please, just for today. You need to rest." I pleaded. "For the baby." I whispered to her.

She gave in and nodded. I give her hand one last squeeze of assurance before letting it go and watched her disappear along the corridors before looking back at Kriss. She raised her eyebrows, expecting me to continue where we left off.

"Remember the final selection? When the rebels came in?" I started.

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~insert all of the events that happened~

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"I'm really sorry, Kriss. Nothing can make up to what I did to you. You don't deserve this." I ended.

"I don't." She said, more to herself. We were silent for a while. before Kriss decided to talk again, she wiped her tears away. "Can I just do one more thing before I leave this place?"

"Of course. Anything." I responded.

She stared into my eyes and for a moment I thought she was going to kiss me which made me want to take back what I said, but she didn't. Instead she clenched her fist and slapped me hard on my right cheek. It stung. I never knew she could hit that hard.

"That makes us even." She said. "Well, not really. Not ever."

"Yeah." I agreed, placing my hand where she hit me.

"Well... I should probably go home now. I don't have anything to do here and I miss my family really bad, anyways." She admitted.

I couldn't say anything else and just simply nodded. She gave out a breath before speaking again. "I won't say you did nothing wrong but I feel awfully bad for what I did and said to America. She's pregnant and sensitive, and yet I let my emotions get to me. Can you say that I'm sorry?"

"Do you want to talk to her" I asked.

"No. Not now. I still can't… I'm sorry." She replied.

"I understand. I'll escort you outside." I offered, smiling sadly.

"Stop doing that." She said.

"Doing what?"

"Being that nice. Girls, always fall for that. well, I do."

"I—" I was speechless.

Kriss chuckled at my inability to think of anything to say. "I was kidding. Anyway, take care of America and stop being so nice to girls! Do you want America to worry about those matters?"

I shook my head. "Never."

"Well, that's settled then... So going back to what you offered earlier, care to lead me out of the palace, Your Highness?" She joked.

"Politely" I added and laughed.

A week later

-still Maxon's POV-

"Why are we doing this? Isn't it weird?" America said while her maids were helping her dress up. I studied her. Her hair was tied in a tight bun and her body was adorned with a loose pure white gown with intricate flower designs, concealing her baby bump. She looked the most beautiful, I've ever seen. Warmth spread throughout my whole body. I've waited so long for this day to come. I was drifting away further into my thoughts when she spoke again "Don't you think it's too fast?"

I raised my brows. "Fast? We've been held up so many times by circumstances. This wedding is long due." I smiled sadly, remembering all the events, secrets and revelations that unfolded.

She shook her head. "You know that's not what I meant. The country is most probably confused about the turn of events with Kriss and then now, we're going to get married? The people might lose trust in you, Maxon."

I gave out a sigh and brushed through my hair. I walked towards her while her maids made way for me. "Didn't I tell you? I don't care about that anymore. I care about you." I said, brushing the tips of my finger along her cheeks. "And anyways, we're going to get married sooner or later. It's better we get married now when we can still hide the baby bump."

She looked down and nodded. "You're right. I—I'm just a little bit anxious."

"Me also but I'm so happy that this is finally happening." I admitted, a little a bit abashed. I looked straight into her eyes and smiled. "I'm finally marrying you."

She let out a chuckle. "When did you start being so cheesy!" She joked.

I smiled. "Hey! I'm being serious here." I said, trying to act offended but failing miserably.

She rolled her eyes and looked back to me, grinning. "I love you." She mouthed.

"I love you more." I mouthed back, pulling her closer to me. "So much more than you think." I whispered before finally kissing her.

author's note: Sorry guys if the pacing is fast. I guess, I was trying to end this as fast as I could. Hopefully, the next chapter will be better.