AMERICA'S POV
"America, can we talk for a moment, I have a secret to tell you. But you have to swear to tell no one." Marlee grabbed my arm and pulled me into my bathroom as I nodded my head.
"What's wrong?" I asked in a whisper, not that anyone was in the rooms nearby and, so, could not hear us.
"I'm pregnant!" She silently shrieked. She was literally jumping up and down with excitement.
"Congrats Marlee." I said, pulling her into a hug. "How far along are you?"
"About three and a half months. I wanted to tell you sooner but I swore to Carter that we'd wait the three months and then you were away so, I'm telling you now."
"You know, we really have to move you out of that room way downstairs. I'll speak to Maxon and we'll get you an old selection room or something where you can stay."
"There's no need, we're fine where we are. You two have done so much for us already." I pressed a finger to her lips.
"We insist." I told her confidently. "As much as I just want to sit and celebrate with you, I have a meeting with a certain rebel and I have to meet Maxon downstairs." I hugged her again before running out of the room.
I walked down the corridors towards the main staircase thinking about Marlee. I was so happy for her, she was going to be a mother, and a great one at that. I stroked my stomach absent-mindedly. I was fairly sure that someone was in there, I felt all the signs that my mother and sister had talked about during their pregnancies, all I needed were the results from the doctor that I was getting later, then I could tell Maxon. I smiled as I turned the corner and found Maxon waiting for me.
"What are you smiling about?" He teased. I wanted to tell him right then about my suspicions but I didn't want to get his hopes up if it was a false alarm.
"Marlee's pregnant." I whispered as we walked down the stairs. He looked slightly disappointed for a moment before smiling brightly again. "Could we give them a room upstairs?"
"Of course. It's highly unlikely we'd ever fill all of the guest rooms anyway so they can definitely have a suite. If that's what they want of course." I smiled at him and took his arm.
We walked slowly down the stairs and into one of the parlours where there were several guard next to the rebel girl who was sat at the table. She had two guards on either side and was smiling slightly (though I couldn't decide if it was an honest or sly smile) as we entered and moved towards the two empty chairs that were opposite the girl. I saw her eyes drop to where our hands were entwined and her smile grew slightly. I couldn't figure this girl out.
The guards bowed and the girl dipped her head slightly but didn't stand as Maxon and I sat down on the plush chairs. I tried to squeeze my hand out of Maxon's but he squeezed it harder and wouldn't let it go.
"Good morning." I said to the girl, smiling at her welcomingly. "How have the past few weeks been?"
"Oh, brilliant, thanks. Your Majesty," She bowed her head dramatically again, there was a definite hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Yeah, enjoyed the food, the warmth. It's a nicer place to be than the camp. But, the lies…no thank you."
"What lies do you think you've been told?" Maxon asked her. The girl's gaze moved from me to my husband.
"The usual propaganda that you've been broadcasting for years. That you are trying to improve the country." She paused. "Though I did hear a new one. I was told that you've made plans to remove the castes!" She laughed.
"Actually, those are true plans. Granted they might take a few years but eventually, we will be casteless." I explained.
"Ha. Who says you'll even be in power by this time next year?" Maxon and I turned to each other stunned, I felt the guards grow tenser as if ready to attack on command if needed. "Think about it. There's only one Schreave left. All that has to happen is for him to die and then who'll be in charge?" She slumped back in her chair.
"I class that as a death threat to the throne of Illèa and no one threatens my family." I shouted as I stood. I stared down at her, anger flowing beneath my eyes. "I wanted to forgive you. I thought that we could be the kind royals that would forgive and forget. But now I see that we need to show exactly what happens to rebels. Take her back to the cells." I spat the last words out as the guards picked her up by the arms and forced her out a door and into the dark corridor. "Wow. Southern rebels are nowhere near as nice as Northern ones." I said to Maxon as I turned to face him. I smiled at him and he stared up at me, looking stunned, happy, and worried.
"Are you ok?" He asked. He snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me down to sit in his lap.
"Just worried."
"What's on your mind?"
"What if we have a son and that doesn't stop them?" I started. "What if they attack us until they finally kill us? What if we leave him like your parents did?"
Maxon slowly pulled me closer and placed a kiss just below my ear. "I will never let them harm you, I promise you, my darling. They would never harm you, or our children. I swear to you that I will always be here to protect you all." I turned my head and kissed him lightly. We sat there for a moment before I stood.
"As much as I love you. The Queen of Illèa has an appointment to keep." I winked at him and walked out the room towards the hospital where I was meeting Dr Ashlar.
MAXON'S POV
I watched her skip off excitedly down the corridor and it was at that moment that I realised that I would never fully understand her, no matter how much or for how long I loved her. I walked up the stairs to my study and sat down at the desk, deciding that I should probably go through some of these papers before they completely over-power me.
I was looking over a paper on removing some troops from New Asia when my door flew open and my very happy wife skipped in and quickly kissed me on the cheek.
"To what do I owe the honour of an especially happy wife?" I asked, pulling her down so that she was sat on my lap.
"I just got some news from the doctor-"
"What? Are you ok? Why didn't you tell me you needed to see him?" I rambled desperately and she just laughed at me.
"No, I'm fine. In fact, I'm better than fine, because we're going to have a baby." I stared at her, wondering if I'd heard her right. Was she really pregnant.
"Really?" She nodded at me, confirming it all.
I picked her up, one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her neck, she giggled as I took her through to the other room and throwing her on the bed. I kissed her longingly as I pinned her down on the bed. I felt her arms around my back as she pulled me towards her. I reached behind her and unlaced the dress at the back and she instantly exhaled heavily.
"I think we're going to need some looser dresses" I said in between kisses.
"I agree." She laughed
I felt her hands move around to my front as she carefully undid my shirt buttons until I finally felt her cold hands on her skin.
"You know you can't get her any more pregnant right?" A voice called from the other side of the room. I looked up quickly and there was Marlee – I should have guessed.
"What are you doing in here?" I demanded. I was slightly angry but also quite embarrassed about what she'd seen and what she'd almost seen.
"I was here first, helping a friend out with some of her work. I figured I'd better say something before you went any further."
"Well then, you might want to leave I'm afraid Marlee." America shouted as she pulled me back down.
We heard the door close and then we both sat up, she placed her head on my shoulder and I slipped my arms around her waist.
"I can't believe we're going to have a family." I whispered.
"I know. We'll get even less privacy than we do now!" she laughed.
"Comes hand in hand with the job, I'm afraid." We sat there in a pleasant silence until it was ended in the worst possible way. The ringing of the rebel alarm.
Hi! Sorry it's been so long, but here is the update! Hope you enjoyed it and please review. I'll try and have the next chapter up ASAP. By the way, I've also written a one-shot of an alternative ending of The One that you can read if you want. Thanks, and I'll see you next time!