If you guys knew what my life has been like the past week...I mean, man. I'm graduating in a week and I'm still up to my neck with homework. haha. and then my computer got a virus so I shouldn't even be using it right now but I love you all so much that I am anyway. :) not to mention I'm basically dating a guy who has a girlfriend so there's that. it's complicated so don't take it as it is and assume I'm an awful person because there's a lot more at work there than it sounds. let's just say this guy is Maxon, I'm America and the other girl is Natalie, if that gives you any kind of perspective.

anyway lovelies, thank you for the amazing reviews! this chapter kinda picks up where Chapter One left off. I hope you like it and again, if you want to see something in particular, just tell me. (And don't worry, they'll have kids, just further down the road.)

"Forget all the reasons it won't work and hold on to the one for why it will!"

I walked out of my old bedroom with a box full of dresses in my arms and saw that Maxon was waiting for me. "Are you sure you don't want help?" he asked me for about the hundredth time. I really didn't know how he would manage to carry such a huge box with one arm but I knew that if I gave him the chance he would find a way.

Instead I told him, "You can take that small box on top." I nodded to the shoe box that I had put all of my smaller belongings that I had accumulated over the past few months as well as some extra things I brought from home the week before.

He looked disappointed by the menial task but he obliged anyway. "Let's go somewhere tonight," he suddenly suggested as we walked down the hallway to my suite.

"And where would that be?"

"It's a surprise, my dear," he teased.

I rolled my eyes at the endearment. "You should really stop surprising me. You're only raising my expectations for more presents."

He noticed the undercurrent of joy in my voice. "I thought you can't be spoiled?"

"I wasn't saying that I was enjoying all of these presents."

"Uh huh, sure." He nodded, smiling arrogantly because we both knew I was lying. Lucy immediately took the box from my arms when we reached my suite, her knees buckling slightly under the girth.

"You didn't have to help Princess," Lucy said, bustling over to my closet.

"I'm a Five, I'm used to it," I assured her as Mary emerged from the bathroom and reached for the box tucked under Maxon's arm.

He held on to it though. "I'd actually like to take some of these and put them in my room, with America's permission of course. And need I remind you, you're a One now?"

I raised my eyebrows but he still walked over to the door adjoining our rooms without question and disappeared inside. I laughed and went to my closet to help hanging the numerous dresses. From the bottom of the box, I lifted a pair of pants. I hadn't worn them for quite some time and suddenly they looked foreign to me. I knew putting them on would feel just as foreign. I had worn pants to sneak out a couple weeks ago but they were borrowed and threadbare. These were as impeccable as Maxon's suit pants.

I heard Maxon cough from behind me. I turned and smiled at him looking around the closet. My maids had disappeared. "We can get you more of these now that you're prin…queen," he corrected quickly.

I shook my head and put the pants back in the box. "I think I've had a change in heart actually."

"About being queen?" he asked nervously, fear and despair flashing in his eyes.

"No!" I exclaimed, not believing that he actually jumped to that conclusion. "No, if anything I'm more sure of that than ever." I reached for his hand and held it as his face returned to its normal shade of cream. "I meant about the pants. Dresses have grown on me a lot these past few months."

"Oh yeah?" he asked, raising his eyebrows as I leaned closer to him. "And why is that?"

"Well, with pants, it's a lot harder to do this," I whispered, boldly wrapping a leg around him. I don't think he was expecting it though because when I leaned closer for more balance we suddenly topped over. He fell on the floor, taking most of the impact and my elbow landed right in his shoulder. He grunted in pain and practically threw me off of him. "I'm sorry!" I immediately apologized, putting a hand to my mouth. "Are you hurt?"

He had his uninjured arm thrown over his face so I couldn't see it and I was surprised to see him laughing when he removed it. "You really are quite the seductress!" He laughed his wonderfully ugly laugh and I couldn't help it – I started laughing with him. Soon we were both rolling on the floor, clutching our stomachs.

In that moment I could feel it; the tension and grief Maxon had been feeling the last few days was lifting and I even forgot about the ache in my chest for a moment. But our fun had to end. Wiping the tears from my eyes, I looked up at the door and saw Lucy standing there with a dress in her arms. She winked at us and then walked away, humming a soft melody as she went.

Maxon pushed himself up and held a hand out for me to help me to my feet. "And now on to your surprise!" He smiled widely and practically ran out of the room, dragging me behind.

When we were heading for what looked like the front doors to the palace, I finally had to ask, "Maxon, where are we going?"

"I told you," he said, reaching for the door handle of a door I had only passed through three times before in my life, "it's a surprise."

A sleek black car was waiting for us on the gravel drive, guards surrounding it. I started to look for Aspen but then I remembered that his days of being a guard were over with his bum leg. Maxon opened up the back door closest to us and allowed me to slide in before going over to his side. "This is the first time I've ridden in an actual car with you," I observed, smiling. Somehow the confined space made me think of our time in the safe room and the urge to rip off his clothes and kiss every inch of his body was nearly unbearable.

"Well, I must say, this may be the best car ride I ever have in my life for that very reason." He smiled and reached for my hand across the seat. There were two more guards in the front seat and I noticed there was an armored vehicle driving both in front and behind. "We think the Southern rebels were put to rest during that last attack but we just want to be safe," Maxon explained, seeing the question in my eyes.

"Then why are we not in a tank?" I asked, sensing that there may be more to this car than met the eye.

Maxon laughed. "It may not look like it, but this car is a tank. A bomb could go off underneath us and we'd drive away as if nothing happened."

I nodded, shuddering at the thought. "Good to know," I mumbled, staring out the window at the city that was now flying by. I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that within days, all of this became mine. I was in control of all of it.

Before I knew it, we drove out of the city gates. I turned and looked out the back window in confusion. "Now will you tell me where we are going?"

Maxon was looking forward at the road we were flying down. "It should just be another couple minutes," he said, not answering my question.

The dry landscape started to slope upward and I could sense a rise in elevation as my ears started popping. I frowned at the minor discomfort and watched as the sand and dirt turned into lush grass. We drove through a large gate and down a long, windy drive. The bushes on the side of the drive parted to give me a glimpse of the house from the picture. "This is it?" I asked, turning to look at Maxon.

He smiled and nodded. "Go see," he urged as we rolled to a stop on the gravel drive. I did as he said but I ran straight to the grass, slipping my shoes off and putting my bare feet in the green, smiling at the feeling of the earth meeting skin. It felt as wonderful as I had imagined. I heard Maxon's quiet laughed behind me and I shook my head at him.

"Laugh at me if you want but you don't know how much I've missed groomed grass," I told him.

"I understand but I do really want you to see the rest of the house." He tipped his chin to the house that seemed even bigger now than it looked in the picture.

I sighed and put my heels on again, holding his hand as we walked through the front door. I knew immediately that this was not the palace but it could still probably fit five of the house lived in in Carolina. As if I needed more assurance that Maxon was the one for me, this place just didn't feel like home like the palace.

The wood floors spread through the rooms and even paneled the bottom half of the walls in what looked like the dining room. "Do you like it?" Maxon asked nervously and I realized then that he was actually scared I wouldn't. This house meant a lot to him because it was his present to my family and the first step in them approving of him.

"I'm sure they'll all love it," I told him, smiling at him warmly.

"Ames!" a familiar voice called me from down the hallway.

I raised my eyebrows. "Wait, what…?" I walked down the hall to the kitchen and saw my family in the kitchen. My whole family; Mom, Kenna, James, Astra, May and Gerad. Only Kota was missing and I honestly wasn't bothered by that. They all smiled at me from where they were standing or sitting but then they noticed my fiancé behind me.

Maxon actually looked nervous. I knew that he felt silly with his arm still in a sling but I still thought he pulled off the intimidating posture of a king. I reached for his hand and he stepped closer to me. I looked back and saw May craning her neck to see my ring. "Um, everyone…this is Maxon. Maxon, this is well…everyone." I smiled looking at my family and Maxon and their different reactions.

Mom and May had already met him but they were still obviously in shock that I was really marrying this man who happened to be the king. Finally, James stood and approached us. He reached his hand out to Maxon and my fiancé quickly let go of my hand to shake James's hand.

"On behalf of the Singer family, I'd just like to say welcome," James said with a small smile.

I let out the breath I'd been holding and saw Maxon do the same thing, his face breaking into a huge smile. "Thank you," he said graciously, actually bowing his head at my family.

May jumped off of the stool she had been sitting on and completely bypassed me to hug Maxon. He was taken by surprise at first because he stumbled back a few steps but I nodded to him encouragingly so he slipped his good arm around her. "You have excellent taste in women Maxon!"

"May!" I hissed at her flipped disregard of his title.

"What? He's my brother now, like James!" she exclaimed, pulling away from him. "I can call you Maxon, right?"

Maxon squinted as he deliberated. "Only if you help me find a nickname for America since she insists that she's not my dear."

I rolled my eyes as May stuck out her small hand for a handshake. "Deal."

Gerad slunk up to us then and looked at Maxon seriously. "If you even think about hurting her, you're gonna have to answer to me."

I could see Maxon struggle to hide his smile as he answered, "Actually, I think I'll have to answer to her first which is absolutely terrifying but if I'm still alive after that, I will most certainly come see you." Gerad nodded and walked out to the backyard through the French doors and I saw him pick up a soccer ball and start dribbling it around the large expanse of green.

The air in the kitchen was only getting more awkward so Maxon finally said, "I would just like for you all to know that I love America very much. I know this is going to be a strange transition but I will do my best to make it go smoothly. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

Mom laughed. "For Pete's sake, Maxon, you don't need to be so formal!" she exclaimed and I saw Kenna's mouth turn up at her. "We're all just excited to see her happy and I don't need to worry about her marrying a Six anymore."

Maxon and I both winced at the reference to the castes and also the reference to Aspen, whom we had yet to really talk about. I wasn't worried that Maxon would push me away like I was before but I was still dreading the conversation.

James cleared his throat and walked to the doors Gerad had just gone through. "Anyone hungry? Magda just put some food out on the back patio."

I nodded and looked at Maxon who shrugged. "Sure, I'm free for the rest of the day," he agreed, actually releasing my hand and following James out the doors. I watched him go, unsure of whether I should follow or not.

"He's fine with James," Kenna said from her seat at the breakfast table. She was burping Astra and I could see she had circles under her eyes from exhaustion. I hoped that now that they are all in this new house with more room she would be able to relax a bit more and enjoy spending time with her daughter. "James has really stepped up these past couple weeks. He's been taking care of Gerad and May while also being a good husband and son," she said quietly, keeping her voice down so she didn't upset Mom.

Kenna looked out the window at James who was setting places at the table on the patio with a brand new dining set. I looked past him at my own love who had taken off his tie and dress shirt and was trying to play soccer with Gerad in his cotton shirt. I could see him struggling though with his arm and chest bandaged and still confined to the sling.

We slowly made our way outside and I noticed the guards standing throughout the yard. Of course my family had to have security now. Kenna caught me looking and said, "Maxon called a couple days ago to warn us about the extra guards. I'm surprised you were able to get more guards for us though after the devastation at the palace."

"Well being allies with the Northern rebels certainly helped with us being able to get more guards. It meant the guards stationed up north could come here, to the palace, or go down south."

"Kenna, can you help me?" James called, starting to move the bowls of food over to the table. May called to Gerad and Maxon that it was time to eat.

She looked at me and I held out my arms to Astra who was quickly falling asleep. I cradled her in my arms and looked down at her tiny face, impressed by how much she'd grown since I last saw her. Maxon ran over and slowed down when he saw me holding the baby. He smiled and then walked over to my side of the table, pulling a chair out for me. I sat down and he took the seat on my left, still staring. "Do you want to hold her?" I asked quietly, well aware that my family was watching us like hawks. Maxon looked like he didn't know how to answer so I smiled and held her out to him. "Here."

"I've never held a baby before," he whispered, seeming embarrassed by it.

"Well there's a first time for everything. And it's better to practice with someone else's child." I wasn't sure if that was true or not but I just wanted him to do this.

Maxon sighed and reached out his arms. I shifted her in my arms so that I could still support her head and neck while also passing her over. I let her head settle in the crook of his elbow and her feet rested on his other forearm. She was so small and his arms were so huge that she basically fit in one arm. He was rigid at first. I wound an arm around his shoulders, being careful with his injured one, and rested my chin next to one of my hands. I could feel sweat on his back slowly soaking through his shirt and smiled. I liked this fun, dirty, family-oriented Maxon.

Kenna sat down across from him at the table and smiled at me but Maxon was too absorbed with the small human in his arms to notice. I looped my arm through his elbow but left my chin on his shoulder. "Where can we get one?" he whispered so that no one else would hear.

I laughed. "I think I have a pretty good idea of where we can do that but I believe you were waiting for a certain honeymoon for that to happen." He nodded and kept his eyes on Astra.

"You may think she's adorable now," Kenna said, "but you haven't seen her at three in the morning."

We all laughed and Maxon looked up to Kenna. "I'll hold on to her for dinner, you relax," he offered.

Kenna looked genuinely surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah, I ate back at the palace." I knew he was lying but I didn't want to ruin this.

A guard approached us and bent down to whisper to Maxon. I thought back to the time where Maxon had to leave me whenever a guard had a report for him but now it was place beside him and I was privy to everything and in such cases as this one, that wasn't always a good thing. The guard whispered, "Your Majesty, Stavros has an urgent message for you."

Maxon nodded and held Astra out to me. I took her gladly, knowing that he would tell me what this was about later. "He can't take a break for dinner?" Mom asked, dishing out some broccoli salad.

"Mom, he's king. He doesn't really get time off," I reminded her.

She huffed as James asked, "How's he been doing with that anyway?"

I shrugged, too preoccupied with watching him talking to a guard away from the group. Whatever they were talking about, it was serious. Maxon's entire demeanor changed. He was stiff and he was clamping his teeth down. "Fine so far," I answered vaguely.

"Well, the country hasn't fallen completely into turmoil and with you at the helm, that says something," Mom said smartly, touching her napkin to her lips daintily.

I decided to ignore her comment and ask a question that had been eating away at me. "Where's Kota?"

Mom cleared her throat and looked down at her food, playing with her fork. "He chose to stay in Carolina."

"Really? I feel like he wouldn't be able to wait until he could become Ones with the rest of you guys," I said, looking at Kenna for more of an explanation.

My older sister just sighed. "I think he was upset that the thing with you and Aspen didn't have any repercussions."

"No repercussions? I was almost sent home! If it weren't for the rebels attacking, I would be here, alone and as a Three," I told them, forgetting that they didn't know the whole story. "Look, I'm only here by chance. This entire process has been luck and though I think myself as lucky for being able to fall in love with Maxon, I am even more lucky that he was able to fall in love with me."

Kenna nodded. "We know that. Just…don't worry about Kota, okay? He's made his choice with this family and we've made our feelings about it clear. No need for us to dwell on it further."

Maxon walked back to the table, clearly shaken up. Our conversation ceased as he bent down to say to me, "We need to get back to the palace, now."

I stood and passed Astra off to May's waiting arms. "What's wrong?" I asked as we walked a couple feet away, out of hearing distance of my family.

"We've found the AWOL soldiers," he reported and I could see that this wasn't a good thing.

I nodded. "We should get back anyway." I turned to my family. "Sorry we can't stay but we have important business to attend to. Um, call us anytime you want, you have our personal number. We'll set up a time to come visit soon."

Maxon was pacing as I said my goodbyes. When I finally got to him, he put his hand on my back and ushered me back through the house to the car that was waiting. Once inside and speeding away from the house I asked, "So? Where'd they find them?"

"A Southern rebel base camp. There was about thirty in a warehouse, malnourished and from the looks of it tortured. They are being taken to a fort to get medical treatment in the province." Maxon wasn't looking at me even though I desperately wanted him to.

A chill went up my spine. "What else?"

He hesitated before answering, "There was a mass grave nearby. They found it this morning; they're still pulling bodies out now."

Now I had to look away. This was too much. Maxon and I were barely adults; how were we supposed to deal with all of this? How was I supposed to deal with this with no training? Maxon must have been thinking the same thing because next he said, "I don't know what to do America."

I looked over at him and saw that he was still staring out the window but I knew that he wasn't really looking at the landscape outside. "We'll memorialize them," I said quietly. "They lost their lives to the rebels, just like Celeste and your parents. Tomorrow night on the Report we'll do something that will honor all of the lives that were lost." I paused and he didn't respond so I went on. "We'll give the soldiers' families bonuses for the next few months until they can get sorted. We'll keep the public kitchens open for another few months. We can straighten all of this out."

He was quiet and I knew he was just collecting his thoughts. "How long have you been thinking of all of that?" he finally asked, looking over at me with amazement in his eyes.

"Silvia and I have been discussing it amidst our planning for the service on Saturday." I reached for his hand and he gladly took it.

He shook his head. "You're amazing," he sighed.

"I know." I smiled and looked down at our joined hands. He was playing with my ring, a small smile playing at his lips.

"I'm sorry our time with your family got cut short. I should probably forewarn you that visits will probably be few and far between," he said and I detected a hint of sadness in his voice.

I nodded. "I figured. But that's what phones are for. And we don't always have to visit them; the road goes both ways."

He laughed and lifted his hand to swipe it down my cheek. "Are you sure you want to do the Report tomorrow night? I understand if you don't because it'll be a lot to go through and a lot of unpleasant details to share…"

I leaned over and kissed his cheek to silence him. "I knew what I signed up for when you gave me this ring Maxon. I'm queen now and the people need to see that I'm ready to take all of this on. No matter what, I will stand by you."

The next night, I was again reminded of how drastically everything had changed in the last week. Over the course of the last couple days I learned that there were very few rooms left untouched by the rebels. The room the Report is filmed in was one of the rooms prioritized as the most important for cleanup.

I walked on to set with Maxon and it was just us, Gavril and Stavros on set. There were no other Selected girls, King Clarkson and Queen Amberly weren't there, and it seemed like there were even less camera men – much to my relief. Mary touched up my makeup as another maid fixed Maxon's. "I suppose I ought to choose another maid," I said to her.

Mary looked at me with sad eyes. "You'll need to choose more anyway. Being queen means more responsibilities and with more responsibilities comes more maids."

"Do you have any friends you'd like to work with?"

"My lady, no offense, but my opinion doesn't exactly matter," she told me, her voice implying that it should have been obvious.

I huffed. "Well it does to me. Why don't you and Lucy put together a list and get back to me in a couple days?" I thought I saw tears glisten in Mary's eyes but she quickly righted herself if there were.

She nodded. "We'll get right on it."

Maxon came over and put an arm around my waist. He had taken off his sling for tonight, something Dr. Ashlar and I both had argued with him about all day but knowing how difficult tonight was going to be for him, I let it go quickly and advised Dr. Ashlar to do the same. I wanted Maxon to be as comfortable as possible with tonight.

Even now, as he was taking in my face, I could see that he was nervous. I knew he had practiced his speech all day with my perching on his desk. He had only made it through once without having to stop himself. I offered to do it for him but he said no; we both knew that he had to do this himself.

Gavril entered, not his usual bubbly self but tonight, nobody was. He shook Maxon's hand and gave me a quick hug as he put his microphone on. "Are you two ready?" he asked us. We both nodded and Maxon's arm around my waist tightened. "Okay, so I'm going to interview Princess America before we do anything else, just to get that aired out. Then we can move on to everything else. Sound like a plan?"

"Yep," I said, looking up at Maxon nervously. I just wanted to get all of this over and done with for his sake.

Gavril nodded at us one last time and went up on stage as Maxon and I took our seats. He had his speech in his lap and was reading it over again. I put my hand on his and waited for him to look up at me before I spoke. "Maxon, you'll be okay. I'm right here."

"What if I can't do it Mer?" he asked and I smiled at the nickname. I had been secretly hoping he would learn to call me that.

"You can do this. I love you, Max," I told him, kissing him on the cheek quickly as the cameras started turning on. Then we were given the signal to be quiet and Maxon put his speech back in the pocket of his suit coat.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen of Illéa!" Gavril greeted, not being as flamboyant as he normally was. But the country surely understood that this was a more somber occasion. "First and foremost, I must thank all of you for waiting for tonight and joining us here; we know that details of the happenings here in the palace this past week are fuzzy and we will be clearing them up for you all to the best of our abilities.

"First, though, we have extremely exciting news! Tonight, we have with us, the new princess of Illéa, the newest addition to the Schreave royal family, and most importantly, our prince's choice for his wife! Are you all ready?" He paused dramatically. My stomach felt as knotted as a circus contortionist. Maxon squeezed my hand, sensing my nerves. "Everyone, please welcome to the stage, America Singer, Princess of Illéa!" The crew clapped as I stood and walked up to take a seat across from Gravril. He smiled at me encouragingly. "Thank you for joining us here Princess."

I blushed and tried to ignore all of the cameras pointing right at me. I tried to seek out Maxon but the lights were too blinding. "It's my pleasure Gavril. You didn't really think I would miss this, did you?"

"Well I know you're not one for being the center of attention," he told me. I couldn't help but smile at his quip. Gavril and I had bonded so much over the last few days that I understood why he was always around; his personality was so warm and welcoming that he always brightened the mood. "Now, Princess America, what's it like, knowing you're engaged to Maxon?" he asked, pointedly leaving off Maxon's title as a joke between the three of us.

This was an easy question but at the same time so difficult. How could I do my feelings justice? "It's indescribable, Gavril. Maxon and I are extremely happy."

"Even with all of this going on in the palace?" I also now knew that Gavril already knew most of the answers to the questions he asked because he was around all the time.

I nodded. "I think that's what makes the two of us work so well together. Throughout the Selection we had a lot working against us yet we have always made it through those rough times. I dare say that we were well prepared for whatever adversity we've been facing. I think our temperaments make it very easy for us to get along despite what's happening around us."

"Sounds like love to me folks!" Gavril exclaimed. "How did your family react to you two being engaged? I know your father passed away a couple weeks ago so this must be a difficult time for your family especially."

"My father did pass away, just a couple days before Christmas," I confirmed to the audience, speaking past the lump that formed in my throat. I paused to take a couple breaths before I could lose it. I saw movements in the line of the stage lights and Maxon emerged from the shadows, standing just barely in the light so I could see him. He smiled at me and I held his gaze as I went on, "My sister just had a baby though so we are still celebrating that and this news just added to that joy. We were able to visit my family yesterday actually and they welcomed Maxon with open arms. Not that it's any surprise; who wouldn't be excited for Maxon to join their family?" I joked, trying to ease my nerves.

Maxon suddenly came on to stage and sat down next to me, surprising both of us. I guess he was just so nervous he needed to be next to me. "Mind if I join you both?" he asked as he sat down, putting an arm across the back of the couch and around me.

Gavril laughed. "Do we have a choice?" he asked. Maxon shook his head with a smile and Gavril laughed again, looking at both of us. "Maxon, how are you feeling about your engagement?"

"I've been waiting my entire life to find my wife and I could not have chosen anyone better than America," he admitted. "I knew it was her from the moment she yelled at me. I just had to convince her." He smiled at me and I could feel both of us relaxing for just a moment as we got lost in each other's eyes.

"Well, I know I speak for most of Illéa when I say that I am thoroughly excited for your wedding. Any ideas for that yet?" he asked, leaning toward us.

I waved a hand. "We're not quite there yet. I would like to get settled here before we start setting anything in stone."

"Absolutely. We want to just enjoy being engaged and we don't want to rush into anything. Just don't make me too long, okay?" Maxon asked me.

"I won't," I promised. I liked this candid version of us but I knew that as soon as this interview was over we would be a very different couple.

Gavril sighed. "I think that's it for tonight, you two! There are more pressing matters at hand, after all. One of your advisers is waiting to make his announcement so let us hear from Stavros!" Gavril waved a hand to welcome Stavros who was standing at a podium, speech in hand. The cameras turned to him and we were left in the dark. Gavril quickly left to go get something from a maid standing off to the side.

"You'll be fine," I assured Maxon as I straightened his tie.

He nodded and held my hands against his chest. "You'll be with me?"

"Always," I told him, my voice serious as Stavros concluded his speech and welcomed Maxon up to the podium.

We both walked into the blinding light and I held my breath as Maxon arranged his speech in front of him. He clasped one hand against the podium and started reciting, "Ladies and gentlemen of Illéa, I stand before you all tonight as King and I know that you all have questions. I hope Stavros explained the details to you all well enough but the time has come where I address what you are all probably wondering: what happens now?

"I know that this is a very sudden and very tragic event. I know that it must seem like I am probably not prepared to be king, especially with the Selection being one of my main focuses for the past five months but I am completely committed to this country. I have developed a very strong bond with this land over these last few weeks and that is mainly thanks to the beautiful woman standing beside me." He paused because the next part of his speech was the hardest. "My parents had an incredible vision for Illéa, a vision that ended quickly and violently. Their loss has changed my life, for better and for worse, and I wish more than anything that I didn't have to stand before you saying all of this.

"America has bravely accepted the duty of becoming queen while I have been left with the responsibility to lead this country with very little help and training. These next few months won't be easy but don't lose faith; while it may look like we are lost we have a strong team of advisers behind us encouraging us and that is all I ask of you, our people. Change is coming and with your cooperation, Illéa will prosper and rise." He bowed his head quickly, shuffling the papers in front of him. "Thank you," he concluded, putting his hand on my back to usher me off stage.

Gavril signed off for the night and we went back to our room. Maxon tugged on his tie as he sat down on his bed, putting his hands on the edges next to him. I knew his shoulder was probably killing him but I didn't want to pester him about it now. I sat down next to him, playing with the heel of my shoe.

"So that's that then?" I asked him quietly.

He nodded. I got ready for bed, dressing in a light nightgown and crawling into bed next to him. He simply stripped down to his underwear and laid down, his stomach pressed to my back. He didn't sleep well that night and I knew that the next day and night would be no better. I woke up the next morning and I don't know what I was expecting – people running amok in the palace with pitchforks demanding to see Maxon and I, a new rebel army standing outside the palace gates, bombs from New Asia raining down on us – but I wasn't expecting for Maxon to come jumping into bed, newspaper in hand.

"America, look at this!" he exclaimed, enthusiasm blazing in his brown eyes.

I groaned and sat up, rubbing my eyes. He leaned on his arm behind me and rested his head against my shoulder as I looked at the front page. A smile crept on my face as I read the headline.

The King and Queen We've Been Waiting For: Long Live King Maxon. Long Live Queen America.