Maxon's PoV

"I love you."

I break into a huge grin and then wrap her in a tight hug. When she said this the first time she was half asleep and I was worried she didn't know what she was saying.

"I love you too," I say happily into her hair.

She smiles up at me but soon her expression changes to something I can't read. "Maxon," she says, "About the guard from my hometown, Aspen."

Oh.

"Have you... have you punished him?" She looks so scared.

I shake my head. "No. Not yet."

"Please. Maxon you have to let him stay." What? I'm comfused, one minute she's saying she loves me, the next she's asking me to spare the cheating ex boyfriend? She sees my expression and shakes her head. "No, no, no. I love you Maxon. It's just that he... his family really needs the money. His dad died a little while ago and now he's a huge part of his family's income and..." She sighs.

I nod. I know she doesn't want him to disappoint his family. "Okay," I say. "He can stay but there's no way I'm letting him guard your door anymore."

She smiles. "Thank you."

"Anything for you my dearest."

She smiles. "My dearest... I think I can live with that."

"Well it's only true."

She smiles. It's like she's contagious because I immediately grin. Her smile is so perfect. Her pink lips, her white teeth, the way her eyes seem to light up.

I lean in and kiss her. She puts her arms around my neck and I slip mine around her waist. I deepen the kiss but after a minute she pulls back. "Maxon it's past eleven. Won't someone be looking for you?"

I shrug and kiss her again. "So what if they are," I mumble against her cheek. I start to leave a trail of kisses from her ear down to her neck. She tilts her head and starts nibbling on my ear. I bring my lips back up to hers and she runs her hands through my hair. She moves her lips down to my jaw and starts to leave a trail of kisses down to the bottom of my neck. She nuzzles her head into my neck and kisses a patch of skin right under my jaw.

She drives me crazy sometimes. It's like she doesn't know the effect she has on me. I lower her down so she's lying on her back and I'm over her. I kiss her again and run my tongue along her bottom lip. She opens her mouth and I slip my tongue in.

When we finally pull away I say, "That was better than any time with Celeste."

She smiles. "And better than anytime with Aspen."

I glance at the clock on her side table and sigh. "As great as this has been I really must go."

She sighs. "Okay."

"See you tomorrow at breakfast." She nods and snuggles into her blanket. I lean down and kiss her forehead then go, closing the door silently behind me.

America's PoV

My maids dressed me in a short blue dress. It has a sweetheart neckline and goes until just past my knees. My hair is curled at the ends and my makeup is minimal. I'm wearing black heels that aren't to tall so I can actually walk in them.

I get to breakfast last, as usual, and sit beside Elise. I smile at her and start on my pancakes. I look up and see Maxon smiling at me. I smile back and go back to eating.

After breakfast I head back to my room in search of something to do. I sit down at my piano, playing something I learned years ago.

"That was really amazing," I hear from my doorway and look up to see Maxon.

I smile. "Thanks."

Then his smile fades. "I came to tell you something important though." I nod and he continues cautiously, "We've had a recent drop in proceeds and..."

"Just spit it out Maxon," I say when he trails off, standing and going to wards him.

"We can't send money to the Elite familys any more," He says in one breath.

My heart drops.

"America, I'm so sorry." He wraps his arms around me and rests his chin on m head. "It's my father." I nod. Of course it is. He did this all for me. It won't effect the other Elite. They don't need the money.

"It's okay. My family's smart. I'm sure they put most of the money away to save. They'll be fine right?" I say it as a question though, not a statement.

"America your family is smart. I'm sure they'll be fine." I nod. I open my mouth to say something when an abrupt knock sounds on the door.

"Come in," I call and the door opens, a guard coming in.

"Lady America. You received an urgent letter."

"Oh. Thank you." I take it and see my mom's handwriting. Sending Maxon a questioning glance I rip it open and start to read. Once I've finished I fell unsteady. I go over and sit on the bed.

"What's wrong?" Maxon asks coming over.

"It- it's my dad. He's sick. His meds... they cost all the money we had from the selection. My family has no money and my dad's too sick to work anymore." I rest my head in my hands. "But they'll be fine right. We've been in worse situations. We've gone days without food or heat. They'll be okay right? You said they'd be alright."

"America," He sounds torn. "I'm sure they'll be fine. Do you want to call them?"

"But how-" I start.

"I have a safe phone."

I nod and he pulls a phone out of his pocket and hands it to me. I dial the number of the phone the castle gave my family to use while I'm here. After a few rings My mom answers.

"Hello?"

"Mom!"

"America! Oh did you get my letter?"

"Yeah. I did. What happened? How's dad?"

"He's bad America. He can't even sit up without help. The doctor says he won't last for more than two weeks if he's lucky."

I feel a tear slip down my cheek. "What? No! No, there has to be something we can do! I have a few dollars in my room. You can take them. Just please. Please don't let him die!"

I hear someone yelling and mom says, "America I have to go. We'll do everything we can for him. I promise." And the line goes dead.

More tears fall down my cheeks but Maxon wipes them away and wraps his arms around me. "What happened?" He asks after a minute.

"It's bad. It's really bad Maxon. He's only got two weeks and then..." I can't bring myself to say it. "I need to see him Maxon. I really need to see him."

"You will America. I promise, you will."