I'm so sorry that I haven't posted since...January, I think. I've been really busy and I've kind of put this off to the side. I'm still working on the huge research paper, and I was just on vacation, so I didn't write at all last week. I have also been dealing with my mental health, dealing with episodes. Plus, I have other things that I do for fun such as reading, listening to true crime podcasts, watching YouTube videos, etc. I promise I'll post as much as I can, but I don't know when I'll get time to write, and I don't know where this story is going to go.
Because I don't know what to write, I've decided to start a new thing with this fanfiction. I want you guys to give me prompts to write off of! I'll make one chapter with your prompt, like a little mini-story inside of this fanfiction. Your username will be mentioned at the beginning of the chapter (besides if you tell me you don't want me to). I'll try to make as many chapters as I can, but I'll also continue with this storyline. All you have to do is click the review button and tell me, or you can click on my profile name, Catrine LaFleur, and then click PM and tell me that way. I'm looking forward to writing off your ideas!
-CL
P. S. When degrees is mentioned, it means degrees Fahrenheit.
Bella POV
I wake up and my head feels like it will explode. I grimace and open my eyes. I slowly turn my head, ignoring the pain that comes with movement. Maxon's still laying next to me, snoring. I smile and I slowly get out of the bed. I walk to the bathroom and find painkillers. I take a pill and walk back into the bedroom. Maxon's still snoring. I don't want to wake him, but I know he has to get up. I inspect him, noticing the bags underneath his eyes, the paleness of his skin, and how thin he looks. He's overworked, I think. No, he has been worrying so much he's forgotten to take care of himself. I leave the room, wanting Maxon to get more sleep.
I walk to the kitchens and ask the chef to make Maxon's favorite meal and have it sent up to the Princess Suite. I walk back to the Princess Suite and I realize it's freezing. I walk to the thermostat and check the temperature. It's 65 degrees, which is what it's usually set at. I touch my forehead. I'm running a fever. I grab the thermometer from the bathroom and check my temperature. 103 degrees. I put the thermometer away and rush back to the bed, burying myself underneath the covers. I'm still shivering. I lay as close as I can to Maxon, but his warmth still isn't enough. I pull him closer to me and I feel him hug me. "Darling? What's the matter?"
"N-n-nothin-n-ng," I say, trying to stop my teeth from chattering. "I just-t-t don-n-n't-t feel w-w-ell."
Maxon touches my forehead and looks at me. "Bella, you're running a fever." I nod, not wanting to speak. Maxon gets out of the bed and I feel his warmth leave the bed with him. I whimper still freezing. "I'll be right back, love." He walks into the bathroom and returns with the thermometer. "Let me check your temperature." I let him, even though I just did it. He looks at the thermometer and sucks in his breath. "I'll do again to confirm that it's accurate." He repeats the process and sighs. "Dear, you have a 106-degree fever. Let me go get Dr. Ashlar."
"W-why?"
"When a fever gets this high it can be life-threatening."
"I'm fin-ne, Maxon," I say.
"I would feel better if Dr. Ash-" Maxon starts, but then the rebel alarm goes off. We look at each other and then Maxon runs over, scoops me in his arms, and opens a secret door that leads to a safe room. "It's ok, dear. I've got you." I realize that I'm shivering.
"I'm-m just-t cold-d-d," I say, my teeth chattering.
"I know, love. I hope Dr. Ashlar makes it to the main safe room so he can make sure you're ok." We reach the bottom of the stairs and Maxon curses. "This was the wrong passageway. We're not in the main safe room."
"Max-xon-n, w-we hav-ve t-t-to st-tay her-re," I say. I shimmy out of his arms to prove my point, but I sink to the ground, shaking.
"Bella…" He starts, but then he hears the lock click, knowing we can't get out of here now. "Damn it." Maxon rushes over to the cabinets and pulls out a blanket. "Here, use this. Stay warm." I take the blanket and pull it around me, still shivering. I hear Maxon looking for something in the cabinets, but I lay my head down and close my eyes.
"Max-x-xon-n, I'm-m s-s-so c-cold-d," I say, trying not to fall asleep, knowing that I might not wake up.
Maxon curses, rushing over to me. "Bella! Bella, look at me! I'm going to turn up the heat and find some more blankets. You've got to stay awake, though. You've got to help me." I nod and stand up slowly, Maxon supporting me. We walk over to the cabinets and grab all of the blankets out of them. Maxon walks me to the bed and I lay down. Maxon puts all of the blankets on me to stop me from shivering. "I'm going to call the guards and ask what's going on." I nod. I hear Maxon talking to someone on the phone, but it sounds like I'm underwater. "Can you get Dr. Ashlar to the safe room that connects to the Princess Suite? Yes, Bella has a really high fever…Mhmmm…I see…Yes, of course…Ok, just send him whenever it's safe…Please do it quickly…I don't think she'll make it much longer…The last time I checked it was at 106 degrees…He's on his way? Great. Is Amer-" I hear before I slip into unconsciousness.
Maxon POV
"Is America ok?" I ask Officer Ledger.
"Yes, she's in the main safe room with me and a few others. No harm has come to her," he answers.
"Thank you, Officer. Is Dr. Ashlar with you?"
"Yes…I just heard that's it's safe to move. I'll escort Dr. Ashlar to your safe room. We'll be there soon." Officer Ledger hangs up the phone and I sigh.
"Bella, Dr. Ashlar is on his way," I say, walking towards the bed. I see a pile of blankets and I know that Bella is underneath them. I grab the thermometer, then walk back to Bella. I notice that she's sleeping, so I try to be gentle, not wanting to wake her up. I take her temperature, but it's still the same. "At least it hasn't gone up," I say under my breath. I put the thermometer back and hear Bella stir. "My dear?" I ask, walking back towards her. I see her face and she looks flushed with a sheen layer of sweat.
"Maxon…I feel so tired…so weak…"
"I know, darling. Dr. Ashlar is on his way to check you," I say. I hear a commotion outside of the safe room and I draw my gun. "Stay still." I walk towards the door, my gun raised. I click off the safety, ready to shoot if necessary. I hear a key enter the lock and the door opens. Officer Ledger walks in.
"Whoa! Your Majesty, it's just Dr. Ashlar and me," he says, throwing himself in front of the doctor.
I lower my gun. "I'm sorry, Officer Ledger. I thought that it might have been a rebel." I click the safety back on the gun and put it away. "Bella is this way." I walk them to the bed and Dr. Ashlar sets his medical bag down. "Do whatever you need to, Doctor." He nods but doesn't say anything. He examines her and asks her some questions. He finishes, cleans up, and walks over to me.
"She'll be fine, Your Majesty," he says with a bow. He holds something up in his hands. "Just give her this medicine after every six hours. I don't want her to self-medicate just in case she gets confused and takes more than one dose."
I take the bottle of liquid medicine and then shake Dr. Ashlar's hand with my free hand. "Thanks so much, Dr. Ashlar. You've really helped me these past few months. Did you know what week you'll be taking off?"
"Yes, I do. Thank you, Your Majesty." He bows, smiles, and exits the safe room.
Officer Ledger lingers behind, no doubt wanting to ask me something. "Yes, Officer Ledger?"
"Your Majesty, if you need anything, you know who to call," he says, bowing and following Dr. Ashlar. I rush over to Bella. I pour the dose of medicine and have Bella sit up.
"Love, you need to drink this. It'll help you," I say and Bella opens her mouth. I pour the medicine into her mouth and she swallows it. "You ok?"
"Yes," she says and I lift her out of the bed and carry her to the Princess Suite. I lay her on the bed and notice a tray of food on the table. I look at Bella, confused. "Oh, I ordered that this morning…before anything happened."
"What happened anyway?" I ask, laying in the bed next to her.
"I don't know, but I think I got the flu that is going around the palace. You might want to stay away from me, Maxon. Your country doesn't need a sick king," she says, shooing me out of the bed.
I laugh. "Yes, Your Highness," I say, bowing. She gives me a deadly look, but I burst out laughing. "Oh my gosh…your face…" I say in between laughs. Soon Bella's laughing too. By the time we're done laughing we are both clutching our stomachs.
"Anyways, I woke up this morning and I went and ordered breakfast for you. I came back and didn't feel well, so I checked my temperature. I had a 103-degree fever, so I went to bed and hoped to sleep. And you obviously know what happens next," Bella says. She runs her hand over her hair. "I must look like a mess, don't I?"
"You look perfect, my dear. You always do," I respond, kissing her head. "Wait, you said you had a 103-degree fever? When I checked your temperature, it was 106 degrees. It must have gotten worse." I look at Bella. "I'm sorry about the rebel alarm. There were a few rebels who made it into the palace, but they were contained quickly. Now, you get back to bed and rest." I walk to the window and look out to the gardens. "I've got to go do some work," I say, closing the curtains.
"Of course," Bella says. "When you check on America, can you come back and tell me how she's doing?" she says, smiling.
"What? Why-how do you know?" I ask.
"Oh, I know you Maxon Schreave, inside and out because I love you. All of you."
Sorry for the weird ending, but I wanted to post this today. Until next time!