New chapter here! :)) Uhm... so some of you guys might have been confused by the previous chapter so I would just like to make it clear that the first half of it was just a dream of America. Sorry if it had confused you guys :(, not really at my best when I created it.

Moving on... I'm hope you like this one! AND Advance Happy New Year! Please review/favorite/follow if you can :D

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-America's POV-

The weeks had passed by like a haze to me. Today was the day that I will finally be released from the confinement of the clinic and back into the palace. A part of me was relieved to know that I won't be seeing again the bleached white walls and sickening hospital smell of the room I was situated in but at the same time I felt horrified by the idea that I will be back into the main palace again where I would see him.

I was still not ready. That was what I am sure of. Even though he had kept his promise of not showing himself again to me while I was still confined in the clinic, it was still not enough. It's as if no matter how much time had passed, the wounds that were inflicted on me won't ever heal. I realized that there are just wounds that were cut too deep, feelings that were just too strong and, memories that were too engraved, that time, no matter how long, could never mend.

The click of the door opening had cut me from my train of thoughts. I gazed out to the window where I could see the landscape of the other side of the palace, not bothering to greet whoever entered the room.

"Queen America." Doctor Matthew called but I still didn't bother to acknowledge his presence nor showed interest in what he was about to tell me. I heard him clear his throat which he obviously did to get my attention, and so, just to not be too rude, I obliged to set my empty eyes at him.

As he held onto his clipboard and scribbled on the papers, he stated "The recent checkups we made showed that your condition have become stable and consistent, thus, it has come to our decision that you are already perfectly fit to be discharged."

I just hummed in response, not really absorbing what he had said to me.

"Queen—"

"I heard you." I cut him out, my voice sounding a bit more annoyed than what I had meant to. "I already know. I overheard the nurses outside talk about it earlier." I added in a matter-of-fact manner.

I heard him sigh out of frustration and exhaustion. "I should be stricter with the mouth of those gossipers." He grumbled and continued. "That is not all though."

I looked at him, my attention caught. He eyed me warily as if trying to find the proper words to utter before finally spelling it out to me. He cleared his throat and adjusted his spectacles before finally mastering to speak again. "I recommend that—No I meant, I adhere that you should take counselling sessions. I already scheduled your counselling sessions,as to not trouble your other duties as a queen, all I need now is your approval and signature."

I glared at him, biting my lower lip till I could feel it sting. "That is not needed." I gritted through my teeth."I have not become crazy. AND I am pretty sure I have my emotions in check and in control." I hissed. How dare they dictate what I need or not.

"We would never think that you were crazy, my Queen. Being a doctor, my primary concern is to make sure of your well-being. May it be physically, psychologically, emotionally, or mentally. I may not have gone through what you had gone through, but I know well enough that losing a child would have some grievous effect on you, which is why I adhere that you accept the counseling sessions." He explained.

I pursed my lips in raged as I inhaled a lungful of air. "I would never EVER console my feelings and emotions to a stranger." I spat. "I know myself enough and much better than you, to say that I do not need such."

"As I said—"

"Not a word about it." I commanded, feeling a bit foreign with the authoritative tone I gave out. "My decision is final."

Shrugging in defeat he continued writing on the paper before handing them out to me. "Very well, but if ever you change your mind you can just fill these out and submit it here in the clinic."

Silently, I took the papers and set them aside the table. "...Won't ever happen." I mumbled incoherently.

"Moving on.." He sighed. "I have already informed your Highness about your release. After you sign these papers, you can start preparing. He will be fetching you 40 minutes from now."

I tensed at the idea that I'll be seeing him again. What will I do? How will I respond when I see him? Can I honestly face him? These questions plagued my mind before Doctor Matthew brought me back to reality.

"Did you hear what I just said?" He questioned.

I nodded in response and went back to bed, pulling the bed sheets up to my shoulders.

"Queen America—"

"I am not deaf. I understood everything. I'm tired and I want to rest. Won't you leave me alone?" I ended with a rhetorical question.

"Very well then, I'd like you to remember that Maxon will be picking you up in 40 mins." He said as he closed the door in a silent click.

When I couldn't hear any footsteps in the hallway anymore, I got up from my bed and looked out of the window once again. It was a bright day. 'too bright' I thought. I hated beautiful days ever since that day happened. Deep within me, the idea that days could pass like this, as if nothing had happened, sickens me to the pit of my stomach. How can the world be so normal? And sometimes beautiful? How can it go on when I've lost my baby? When people have died? When tragedy has befallen on someone? I clenched my hands in anger. I could feel myself shaking as the questions kept on pouring out. "Why? Why is the world so cruel? Why have I become like this?" I gritted through my teeth, tears started dampening my cheeks.

"I'm so tired. So tired." I sat at the edge of my bed, bringing my hands to my face as I let the tears fall down. "I don't want to fight anymore." I cried, a childlike voice coming out from me.

-Maxon's POV-

I was finally going to see her, my beloved America. Nervousness then hit me. I could feel my hands get sweaty. 'What do I do? How will I talk to her? Is she ready to see me? What do I do when she's not? What do I do when she says she hates me? when she says that she doesn't want to see me anymore?' Such questions have been plaguing my mind as I walked through the corridors of the palace. Without realizing, my feet have brought me straight to the palace wing where the clinic resides. I looked down at my watch, seeing that I was far too early from the suggested time.

Doctor Matthew came out of America's room and headed towards his office.

"Your highness." A group of nurses nodded and I smiled at them in return. I watched them as they went on their way before finally moving towards America's room.

I was about to open the door when I heard someone sobbing from the other side of the door.

"Why? Why is the world so cruel? Why have I become like this?"

"I'm so tired. So tired."

"I don't want to fight anymore."

I felt my heart drop and my stomach churn. I felt sick to the pit of my stomach. She didn't deserve this and it was all my fault. I promised her that I would protect them but in the end, I was too pathetic to do so. I wasn't able to protect anyone, even the people that truly mattered in my life. I loved her and our baby… even until now. How could a father not grieve for his child? I was also like her, broken and in despair but as a king I was not permitted to show these emotions. I was trained to conceal and put on a mask on anything and everything that will show weakness.

I steadied my breathing, masking my emotions once again before entering the room. I opened and closed the door behind as quietly as possible. I looked at her form as she curled herself in bed. She was asleep, tear marks still fresh on her cheeks. I silently went to her side and gently sat on the edge of the bed as to not wake her up. She was healthier now compared to before, but still too thin. She has become very fragile in my eyes, as if she would break at any given moment.

Moving my hand towards her face, I gently brushed off the strands of hair that fell off. Satisfied that no hair was covering her face anymore I went forward to give her a subtle kiss on her forehead. Afterwards, I stood up and went to get a chair across the room and placed it parallel to the bed. I studied her sleeping form. At least, even just for this moment, she was at peace. When she wakes up I know she'll probably hate to see me. And just the thought of it turns me into stone. After 20 minutes I could feel myself doze off but the slightest shuffle she made woke me up instantly.

"Maxon?" Her voice was music to my ears. It felt like an eternity since she last spoke to me. I've missed how beautiful she makes my name sound like when she says it. I know it's ridiculous, but no matter how many times I hear her voice call my name, it still makes my heart flutter and my stomach knot in so many ways.

I shifted my eyes towards her face, meeting her piercing blue eyes. One of my worst predictions came to life, making me regret looking back at her. I saw horror and bewilderment in her eyes. Masking the hurt and stabbing pain I felt, I smiled weakly at her. "Hey, you woke up."

Ignoring what I said she sat up from bed. "What are you doing here?" She asked in bewilderment, looking at the clock plastered on the wall.

"I came to fetch you remember?" I responded, pushing back whatever emotion that dared to resurface.

"You're 20 mins too early." She said with a hint of frustration and annoyance.

I laughed awkwardly and faked to look at my wristwatch. "Oh yeah. My meeting ended early so I thought that I'd get here early…" She'd probably kill me if she knew I was far earlier than what she thought.

Grumbling, she got up from bed. "I need to change."

"Sure." I replied, not knowing what to say after.

She shot me a glare before speaking. "You're supposed to get out now."

I stood stupidly, blushing from my oblivion. "I'll get out now." I mumbled as I headed out and closed the door behind. 'Maxon, how stupid can you get?' I thought to myself. 'but then again, I've seen her naked body so many times.' What the hell is wrong with me? "Stop thinking about. Stop thinking about it." I chanted.

I heard the door open and my breath was taken away. America wore the pants I gave her long ago, pairing them with some knitted sweater. "Beautiful." I whispered.

"What were you saying?" She asked while tying her hair into a messy bun.

"Nothing." I replied and turned my head away from her, hiding the slightest tint on my cheeks. "Let's go to Dr. Matthew so that we can finally leave."

She gave out a shrug and started heading towards Dr. Matthew's office. I ran to her side as dead silence accompanied us until we got there.

I signed some papers, I could feel the heavy gaze of Dr. Matthew's inquisitive eyes pry on me and America. After finishing whatever business we had with the clinic, I gave him a weak smile and waved our farewells in which America seemed disinterested in. Our journey to the main palace was painstakingly long and suffocating, so far from what I wished it had been. Even though she was right beside me, she felt so distant from me. 'This is better than her expression earlier though.' I thought and sighed afterwards.

As we reached her room I studied her. She was here but I knew she was else where. This was her way of coping and tolerating my presence. It hurt, but I knew it was my fault. This was my punishment... I just hoped that someday or at some time, she'd go back to me again.

"We're here." I said, finally breaking the deafening silence. I opened the door for her and she went in mumbling what seemed to be a thank you.

"I should go then." My voice, unsure. She nodded in response. "I'll see you at dinner?" I asked, sounding a bit more excited than what I had intended to.

She seemed to hesitate before nodding in response. I closed the door for her and just stood there for a while. I went closer and placed my head against a door panel. "I love you." I whispered before finally leaving.

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SOOO...Can I be honest with you guys? Somehow I'm lost with what I want to do with this story. At first I had a clear picture of what I had wanted it to be, but then I took a turn, then another turn until I have no idea how I'll go about this story anymore. I'm just praying that I'll be able to end this story.