Hello!

BlissfulBillie Review:

"KOTA! You can't trust him! Hahah love this! Keep up the amazing work!"

WriterQueen123 Response:

Thank you so much for your support!

Virtue01 Review:

"Great chapter I bet it was Kota who took the violin. America was right to feel suspicious of him. Maxon is really going to sort him out. Thanks for the update and stay safe."

WriterQueen123 Response:

Good predictions! Thank you for commenting!

DoughnutReader Review:

"OMG! No America needs her violin! If it was Kota I will be like ahhh! I play Violin too however if I'm honest, right now if I found it mysteriously missing I wouldn't be to sad ... lol!

This is so good! I understand you wanting to wrap up this fanfic, you have worked so much on it already! And I also get you saying you like the more free time, I am writing my own Selection FanFiction (not one shots but about America and Macon grandson/ Eadlyn and Eikko's son's, Selection) and I get the thing about stress and free time! All of a sudden two hours of your day are gone from: writing, editing, doing the authors note and uploading! Though I love writing and still find it awesome that others can read you're Work I respect you taking this to it's end! I look forward to the next ch.!
P.s: yes it would have been cool to see Maxerica with they're 4 children that would have taken FOREVER! So I'm sure everyone will understand!
P.P.S: I literally woke up and checked my emails to see that "writerQueen123 has updated" and I was like Yayyy! so you literally made my day...
Stay safe everyone x"

WriterQueen123:

This super thoughtful review means the world to me! We've already talked a bit in PMs, so I'll keep this short, but I'm really happy that you're enjoying the fanfiction and it even inspired you to write your own! Thank you for letting me in!

AGrace234 Review:

"Okay I literally discovered this FanFiction TODAY and I've spent the last three hours reading the whole thing. IT IS SO GOOD! Thank you for continuing the story!"

WriterQueen123 Response:

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I'm so glad you're liking it!

CMarie14 Review:

"Oh no! I love what you are doing with this story! You are so talented!"

WriterQueen123 Response:

Thank you so much for the compliment! I really appreciate your message.

lululovetoread Review:

"AHHHHH! CLIFF HANGER! WHY?! Did Kota steal it?! Or maybe it was Maxon's cousin! Please update soon! I NEED to know what happens next! Also love your wrtitng this story is amazing!"

WriterQueen123 Response:

Sorry the update took a while! Thank you so much for reviewing!

Guest Review:

"Love this chapter! The suspense is killing me already! Thanks for another great chapter. You are an amazing writer. Keep up the good work! Stay safe."

WriterQueen123 Response:

Thank you so much for your sweet message! I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Hi everyone! I hope you are all safe and well. I'm always here to talk if anyone is feeling especially stressed or burdened by these unsettling times. Thank you for all your kindness and support! Enjoy...

"No, no, no, no. Where. Is. Kota?" I demanded angrily, shutting the ornate violin case and setting it aside. I squeezed my eyes shut, praying that this was a nightmare and that I hadn't let my brother in just to be betrayed. Again.

My mother was also massaging her temples, unable to believe that her son could be so deceitful. Gerad and May looked stricken.

"We'll find it, America. Don't worry," Maxon said uncertainly, squeezing my hand.

"It might be misplaced," May suggested meekly.

"I wish. We all know it isn't," I sighed.

"Do you want me to send some guards on a search for Kota?" Maxon asked. "Just tell me what you need. I don't want to intrude upon this...family matter."

I cracked a small smile in spite of what was going on. Maxon was so formal. "You're family too, Maxon," I nudged him teasingly. "And yes, finding that wretched thief would be helpful."

"We still don't know if he took it," my husband reasoned.

I pursed my lips. "Let's search."

Kota was found seven minutes later, driving back to his house with my styrofoam wrapped violin stowed away in his trunk. The guards dragged my breathless brother back into the music room, where we were waiting.

"Explain yourself," I demanded. The butler handed Maxon my violin, and the two guards took vigilant positions beside the door.

"I'm sorry, Ames," Kota's voice broke.

"That's Queen America to you," I snapped.

He nodded resignedly. "I had to do it. I am sorry."

"Would you please grace our ears and explain why?"

Maxon, sensing my rising fury, interlaced my fingers with his. His touch gave me calm.

"I...I have..." Kota trailed off. We all looked on expectantly. "I have stomach cancer." I took a step back. Maxon rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb, letting me know he was still there for me.

Mom and Gerad looked like they were on the verge of tears, but May crossed her arms and stepped forward. "So why steal from America?" she challenged. "And her birthday present, no less! What in the world makes you think that you're better than us all?"

"I'm really sorry," Kota repeated. "Leah and I don't have nearly enough money to pay for the necessary treatments, and we know that you'd never give us that money of your own accord. It was the only way." He looked down.

"When 'the only way' hurts your family, you don't take it," I spat. "Leave."

"Please...please consider my request for funding," Kota begged. "I'm desperate. I really need the money. You know I wouldn't ask unless it was absolutely unavoidable."

"No, of course not," I replied sarcastically. "You would steal first."

"Please."

"No! Guards, get him out of here," I thundered. "He can die in jail, for all I care."

The guards nodded and seized Kota. "Your Majesties? Would you like him sent to Linston Prison to wait for a trial?

Before I could give my affirmation, Maxon shook his head. "Keep him waiting in the gardens while we have a quick discussion."

Before I could argue, the guards pulled Kota out of the room. The rest of my family quietly exited the music room to give us space. I jerked my hand away from Maxon's. "How could you?"

My breathing grew rapid, and I felt hot tears in the back of my throat before they came. I looked down, trying to hide the drops slipping off my cheeks, but Maxon saw. He wrapped his arms around me, and I let myself go, leaning my head on his chest while sobs racked my body.

When my crying subsided, Maxon took a step back. "America...I'm sorry for interfering, but I just don't want you to make a decision that you'll regret forever. Do you really want to send your brother to prison? Without paying for his treatment?"

"Absolutely," I huffed. "I hate him."

Maxon gently turned me around to face him. He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes knowingly. "You don't hate him, Ames. You know you don't."

I bit my lip and looked away, wanting to disagree. But I couldn't. A small part of me would always love the little boy who would tie up sheets to branches so that the tree looked like a ship. The little boy who was always the captain and always made me the first mate. I remembered my duties in our game, mainly consisting of sweeping the floor and making food, which was dirt and twigs stuffed into Mom's old baking pans. Kota would take a spoonful of dirt and "eat" it by throwing it over his shoulder. This meant that I'd have to sweep again, but I never minded. I was just happy to be on the ship with my big brother.

No, I could never hate Kota. I just hated that he kept letting me down.

"You're right," I sighed. "So what do we do? Save him and wait for him to screw up all over again?"

"We could put him on community service duty for the next ten years," Maxon suggested.

I smiled. "That's not a bad idea." I hugged Maxon tightly, drinking in the refreshing scent of his cologne. "Thank you for being here for us. You know me better than I know myself."

Maxon chuckled, gently twirling a lock of my hair. "Happy birthday, my love."