America's POV...
It's the morning after we got attacked by the rebels. The palace is finally all cleaned up. I'm sitting on my balcony. Someone gently covers my eyes. "Guess who, " the voice says. "Hmm it better be my boyfriend or I'm about to knock the living daylights out of you, " I say. "Good news it is your boyfriend, " he says. He sits down next to me and wraps an arm around me. "What are the plans today?" I ask. "I sadly have to work all day, but I should be free by 6ish if you want to meet up then. "Of course, " I reply. "Maybe a nice dinner, " he says. I nod. "Oh your family is coming today, " he says. "They are!" I exclaim. "Thank you, Maxon, " I say hugging him. "You're welcome my dear, " he says. "I am not your dear." He laughs. I jump up to get dressed. "So all I get is a hug, " he jokes. "Suppose so." "You better get back here, " he says. He chases me all over the room. He catches me from behind. "You know you love me, " he says. "Yep." "Say it or face the consequences, " he says. "Noooope." "Have it your way, " he says. He pins me against the wall and starts kisses me-hard. He then goes to my jawline as my breathing hitches. "I..." "Love you, " I concede. He looks at me and smiles. "Now that wasn't so hard was it, " he says. I roll my eyes. "I love Maxon." "I love you too." I quickly kiss him and then go to get dressed. So I get dressed for the day and walk back out. "You're hot, " Maxon says. I blush. "Thanks." "Hey don't you have to work?" I ask. "Ugh I don't want to, " he moans. "Well Maxon it's not like you have anything better to do, " I say. "Being with you is better...a lot better, " he says putting his hands on my waist. I put mine on his shoulders. "That's very sweet...but you need to work...and then we can see each other okay, " I say. "Fine." He kisses me goodbye and walks out the door. When I'm completely finished getting ready for the day(with help from my maids. Someone knocks on the door and Anne gets it. "Lady America's parents and siblings have arrived, " Officer Tanner says. "Tanner! Did you say, parents?" I ask. "Yes." "That's impossible they are dead, " I say. I run out of the room with Tanner behind me. I stop once I'm on the stairs to where I can see all of them. It's true. My parents are here...they aren't dead. I run down the stairs and into my dad's and mom's arms. Then my siblings. When I go to hug Kota he pushes me away and I stumble back a little. Aspen helps me so I don't fall over. "Thanks, " I whisper to him. "How are you guys alive?" I ask my parents. "Well we were only in a coma but it was cheaper to be dead, " they say. "We sadly did miss everything that happened in that time period, " my dad says. "But Maxon filled us in on pretty much everything, " my mom says. "Where is my nephew?" Kenna asks. "Oh let me go get him!" I exclaim. I walk away and hear Kota saying things. "So are you still dating America at the same time Maxon is?" Kota asks. "Silence him, " I say to a guard. I run upstairs to tell Maxon and to get Luca. "Maxon! Kota just asked Aspen if he was dating me at the same time that I'm dating you like during the selection!" I whisper yell. Maxon hurries to his feet and rushes downstairs. I get Luca and then follow him. Maxon gets him to shut up. "This is Luca, " I say. "Luca this is your Aunt Kenna, Aunt May, Uncle Gerad, Uncle James, and your grandmother and grandfather. Oh and your cousin Astra!" I say. "Hi!" he exclaims. They all talk about him. "So this is Luca Leger or Singer?" Kota asks. "Schreave, " I say. "Are you sure he isn't a Leger?" Kota asks. "I'm positive!" I yell. "Well I mean okay Maxon how do you feel about your girlfriend's ex being there for the birth of your supposed child?" Kota inquires. "Kota if you haven't noticed the kid looks nothing like me, " Aspen interjects. I'm still starting at Maxon. I wonder how he does feel about that. "I have to get back to work, " he says and walks off. "Yeah you know I'm right!" Kota yells. "Kota you suck, " I say with a shake of my head. I rush after Maxon. I find him in his office. "Maxon are you okay?" I ask. "Yeah I'm fine, " he says. "You don't actually believe him do you?" I ask. "No of course I don't America... it's just hard to hear someone say something like that, " he confesses. "I'm sorry, " I apologize. " It's not your fault sweetheart, " he says walking over to me. He holds my hands and kisses my forehead. "I'll let you get back to work, " I say. "Ok love you, " he says. "Love you too, " I whisper. I walk out of his office and back downstairs. Kota and Aspen are having an argument. I walk over. "He believed me didn't he?" Kota says smugly. "No actually Kota my man doesn't believe lies, " I snap back. "What were you two arguing over?" I ask. "He tried getting me to say that the kid was mine, " Aspen says. I turn to Kota and slap him as hard as I can. He hits me in the shoulder. Aspen gets in front of me. "Oh protecting your girlfriend, " Kota teases. "Am I allowed to hit him?" Aspen asks. "I'll defend you, " I say. Kota punches Aspen. Other guards come running. Tanner pulls me back away from them. "Are you okay Lady America?" he asks. "Yes but please it's just America, " I say. He runs over to the fight. A guard runs upstairs. I wonder where he is going. They secure Kota. He's trying to escape but he's failing. Maxon comes running down. He runs over to me. "Are you okay?" he asks. "Yes I'm fine, " I say. "Did he hit you?" "In the shoulder once, " I say. "Are you sure you're okay?" "Yes Maxon I'm fine, " I say. Maxon walks over to Kota and the guards. "Ever hit her again and I promise you your life will be miserable, " Maxon says. Kota stops squirming and shuts up. The guards let him go. Now Officer Tanner and Officer Carson can you please show the singers where they will be staying. The guards obey. "Ok I'm going back to work, " Maxon tells me. "Ok, " I say. Teddy brings Luca to his room to play. I walk to the women's room to find Queen Amberly drinking some tea. "Come sit America, " she invites. I do so. "How are you liking it here since it'll be your forever home soon, " she says. " It's great and all but to be completely honest Queen Amberly I don't think it will be my forever home, " I say. "Why is that?" she asks. "I don't think he wants to marry me, " I confess. "Why would you think that?" she asks. "Well if he had chosen me at the ceremony we would have already been engaged maybe even married. I've been here for a couple of weeks and he hasn't proposed yet...I think he just feels guilty. Sometimes I think he does love me but other times I think he doesn't and I feel neglected. I don't want Luca to get too attached here if it's not forever. I'm half tempted to pack up and leave and actually never come back," I say fiddling with a Bobby pin. "Oh my goodness! Have you tried talking to him?" she asks. "No I don't want him to feel even more guilty." She just nods my guess trying to understand it all. "Anyways... I should go check on Luca, " I say. I curtsy and leave.
Queen Amberly's POV...
I rush up to Maxon's office as soon as America leaves. "Maxon!" I say bursting in. He looks startled. "Yes mother?" he asks. "We have a big problem!" I exclaim shutting the door. "What's wrong?" he asks. "America doesn't think you actually want to marry her. She said she's half tempted to leave. She thinks you just feel guilty and that's the only reason she's still here. She said that if you had chosen her at the ceremony that you two would have already been married or at least engaged and she's been here for a couple of weeks and you haven't! She sometimes thinks that you love her but other times not and she sometimes feels neglected. She doesn't want Luca to get too attached to her because she thinks she's going to have to leave, " I spill. His eyes widen. "No no no she has to stay I just wanted everything to be perfect and I had to figure out how to do that, " he panics. "I have to propose today, " he says. "Maxon she's going to say no if she feels like she said. No woman wants to marry a man that doesn't love her, " I say. "Then what do I do?" he asks. "Prove that you love her and propose the next or a few days later." He nods. "Thank you mom, " he says. I nod and walk away.
Maxon's POV...
As soon as I finish all of my work I get a bouquet of flowers and head to her room. I knock on the door and to my surprise she is the one to open it. She looks surprised. "Hey Maxon, " she says. "Hello my dear these are for you, " I say handing her the flowers. "Thank you, " she says. She walks over and puts them in a vase with water. Her maids aren't here...thats weird. "I love you America you know that right?" I ask. "Well I know that's what you tell me..." her voice drifts off. "Why would you think that I don't?" I ask. She tells me everything she told my mom. "America...none of that is true. I love you with all that I am. I'm sorry if I don't always give you the attention that you deserve America and I haven't proposed yet because I wanted everything to be as perfect as you are. I love you and Luca but if you aren't happy here then you can leave. I only want you to be happy, " I say. Her eyes swell with tears. "Really?" she asks. "Really, " I say. "Oh Maxon, " she says hugging me. I guess that's it she's leaving. "I guess you should pack up your bags then, " I say turning to leave. "What?" she asks. She standing there motionless. "Youre leaving aren't you?" I ask sadly. "No! Of course not!" she says. "I love you Maxon! I just didn't know if you really loved me, " she whispers the last part. "Youre staying?" I ask. "Were you not listening?" she jokes. "Of course I'm staying, " she says. She walks over to me. We collide in one magical kiss. (authors note:lol sorry that last sentence was cheesy but 🤷♀️😂) Our foreheads are still pressed together. "Ready for dinner?" I ask. "Yes, " she says. After dinner we go out to the garden. We sit on our bench. "I love you darling, " I say. "I know you do...now...i love you too, " she says. She smiles and puts her head on my shoulder. We watch the sun set and she is on the verge of falling asleep. "Come on let's get you to bed, " I say picking her up. She wraps her arms around my neck as I carry her bridal style. When we get to the door to her room I set her down. "I love you sweetie good night, " she yawns. "I love you too darling good night, " I say. She goes into her room. I walk to mine. I was actually already planning on proposing tonight that's why I flew her family in and all but it will have to wait. Maybe tomorrow...
Hope y'all enjoyed this super long chapter! Please comment and got it makes my day! Love y'all! And special shout out to @Lhusz13 and @Daugular01 for your amazing comments and voting and your dedication to all of my stories. Thank you so so much 💖