DddIt had been two days since America had been taken, Kriss and I sat in my study trying to figure out what to do next. All we knew was that we had to save her but we had no idea how to do that.

"We give them what they want!" I said decisively

"No! You can't let them have control. This country won't survive without you!"

"Well I can't survive much longer without her!" I yelled back. I fell back to my chair and put my head in my hands. "I haven't slept since she disappeared, Kriss. I don't know how much longer I can cope. I know where she is, why can't we just go and get her?"

"Because if you go down there, all guns blazing, they'll kill her." Kriss patted my hands.

"How do you know all this?" I looked up as she looked away. "Kriss?"

"Maxon. I should have told you this a long time ago." She paused and I was fairly sure I knew what was coming. "I'm a northern rebel. I entered the selection to infiltrate the palace, but then I fell in..."

"No!" I shouted into her face. "Don't say that. I'm marrying America. I love America." I paused "And you're in the group that stole her from me." I was angry now. I had had feelings for Kriss but the only reason she ever came was because she wanted to kill my family. I stood and left the room, unable to look at her.

I walked down the corridor to my room, planning to sit on my bed, maybe try to nap. I pushed open the door to find my room wasn't empty, someone was lying on my bed.

I heard her tears and I knew that it was her. She was stark naked and covered in yellow bruises. I went over to her and wrapped my arms around her. She didn't even look round, she must have known it was me as she clutched at my arms, not wanting to let me go. And I wasn't planning on letting her go again.

I gently placed a blanket around her to keep her warm.

"Hey, how are you?" I asked her softly. She rolled over to look at me.

"Better now you're here.." She whispered. "I need to tell you something but can you come back at dinner and we'll eat in here?" I nodded at her and left. I stationed a guard outside the door and left to talk to Kriss again.

"She's safe." I said walking past her. I almost heard her expression change.

"W-what? When, how did-"

"I don't know and I'm not asking until she's ready to tell me. I think you need to tell me everything about the rebels and what they might have done to her." I grabbed her by the arm and pushed her into the nearest room which turned out to be a spare bedroom.

"I was Northern." She emphasised "The Southerners told me what was happening because they thought I would help them in order to get you." I looked at her, tears in her eyes. " but I would never do that because all I want is for you to be happy." She was nearly sobbing now. I had no idea what to do so I put my arm around her shoulder and patted her softly.

"There something I need to know, Kriss." She looked at me and nodded to tell me to continue. " What happened the night before the choosing?"

"OK, it wasn't really my fault. It was mainly Tuesday and Bariel who had decided that I America had wronged you. Then I went a little crazy because they convinced me that you would not be happy with her and that she would ruin your life." She paused to catch her breath "I can see now that that definitely is not the case. So I am so so sorry. I almost sent a letter to America but I didn't think she'd want to hear from me."

"I'm having dinner with her later, if you want you could go and see if you could speak to her and tell me what you just told me sometime before then. It might cheer her up. I have work to do but I might see you later after you have apologised." I smiled at her and then left the room, heading towards my study.

Before I knew it it was six and time for dinner with America, I had told the staff that I would be eating with Lady America in my room. I had a quick look in the mirror and gave my hair a quick comb with my fingers, smartened my shirt and then walked off to my room where I prayed America would be waiting.

I couldn't see her straight away but it only took me a couple of seconds to spot her red hair out on the balcony, she was wearing a green robe over her nightgown. I knocked on the open glass door and she nodded her head, slightly sadly. I went and sat next to her on the bench.

"I missed you, a lot." She told me as she put her head on my shoulder.

"I missed you, too" I told her as I wrapped both of my arms around her gently.

"They didn't get anything out of me." She whispered. " in fact I'm fairly sure the reason I'm back is because they just gave up with me. They tried everything but they couldn't get anything out of me and I started to attack them. One man tried to rape me." She Winced at the pain of the word and the memory. "But they didn't. They couldn't get near me,you should know that I pack a mean punch!" We both chuckled at the memory of her knee hitting me in the groin after a misunderstanding.

"I'm proud of you. But, in all honesty, I'm just glad you're back."

"I'm glad to be back." I couldn't take it any longer and kissed her. Softly at first but when she put her arms around me I knew that was the green light so I supported her back and laid on top of her on the bench.

We laid there until there was a knock at the door, we sat up as a maid came in with our food, placing it on our table and smiling. We both tucked into the delicious food that was sat in front of us. We both sat back as we had cleared our plates.

"I want to move up the wedding." America said finally. I paused.

"To when?"

"Next month, the second Saturday in February."

"Sooner the better." I said, winking. "I mean, except my obvious sexual magnetism, any particular reason?"

"My parents' wedding anniversary is the Thursday before. And being away from you made me realise how much I want to really be yours" she looked at me and I smiled back at her. I kissed her gently and stood, I gave her my hand and helped her up.

"Come on, bed. It's been a busy few days for both of us." I led her to our bed in my suite, helping her out of her robe and into bed. I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth and change into my pyjama bottoms. I went back to bed and got into the sheets. I put my arms around her stomach and pulled her close to me.

"Never leave me." She whispered.

"I'll always be with you. I promise.