A/N: I'm sorry for the late post! I've been without Internet for the week. Thank you so much for all the reviews – especially the really in depth ones! You guys rock. :)

"Miss?" For the first time since I had come to the castle, I jumped from my bed. My three familiar maids stood in front of me. An oversized smile promptly adorned my face.

I was covered in sweat from the nightmares that had become a constant nightly event. However, my maids didn't seem to mind as we embraced. Their presence was a momentary relief.

It had been three days since I had last seen Maxon in the gym; he had been absent along with his father at all meals. I had only seen Queen Amberly a handful of times since, and she always wore a heavy, worried expression. Kriss had also been absent from all meals and events.

"What are you guys doing here?" I demanded, overjoyed to be able to see them.

Anne shrugged slightly. "We received our orders only just this morning. We are to prepare you for The Report tomorrow."

"The Report?" I echoed. Since I had returned from the Rebel camp, I had not been allowed to participate in any public events. The public had to believe that I was still healing from my illness. The Palace made it very clear to the press that I was not out of the woods yet. The fact that they could justify my disappearance so easily had weighed on me.

Anne misunderstood my response. "Don't worry. We've been working on a gown for a long time now. Ever since you came back. You will look stunning."

I smiled at the promise, knowing that I couldn't look anything but beautiful in their capable hands.

"You have to tell me everything I've missed," I implored, grateful to have their company back. Lucy climbed onto my bed next to me, ready to tell me every detail before Anne interrupted her.

"While we get you ready," she insisted, pulling me toward the bathroom.

"Ready for what?" I asked. For weeks my responsibilities had consisted of staying locked in my room and running until my heart felt like it would leap from my chest.

"Your meeting with Prince Maxon," Lucy exclaimed, surprised I didn't know.

"My w-what?" I stuttered. I hadn't faced him since Kriss had given me the news of her impending engagement. I wasn't sure how to act around him. This new news shocked me.

"You're supposed to meet him in the gardens in an hour," informed Mary steadily as she took over and guided me into the tub. My mind raced, but I forced myself to stay in the present moment. I would deal with Prince Maxon when it came.

"What have you guys been up to for the past few weeks?" I asked as Mary started tugging at my hair.

"Well," Mary began, leaning close to me as if she was about to disclose a secret, "Lucy went and got herself a beau."

Lucy turned bright red. "That's not true!"

Mary laughed playfully as Anne tried to hide a smile. "She's constantly writing to him."

"Who is it?" I interjected.

"It's nothing," insisted Lucy, becoming suddenly very interested in making sure the fabric of my new dress lay just right. It was a soft blue color with an empire waist. It was simple, but elegant.

"Officer Leger," Mary informed me. My stomach promptly dropped at the news. "Lucy's quite the little caste climber."

"Don't say that," snapped Lucy, with the most ferocity I have ever heard her use. "It's not like that."

"I know," responded Mary softly, realizing she had taken her teasing too far. By way of making up for it, she added to me, "They're absolutely adorable together. Lucy visited him every day while he was in the Hospital Wing with his injured leg."

Everyone was silent for a long moment, each for her own reasons. I carefully stepped out of the tub and dried myself off. Anne guided me into the day dress while Lucy quickly began applying a light coat of make up. She blended the colors expertly to make the shadow under my eye disappear.

I consciously prevented thoughts of Aspen from creeping into my head. I had to focus on Prince Maxon right now, and convincing him to protect my family after his marriage announcement was made. There were larger things at risk.

"There," proclaimed Anne, as all three of my maids stepped away from me. The girl in the mirror looked more confident than I felt.

Thanking them, I slipped into a beautifully decorated pair of flats. The brace on my right foot made heels impractical. Slowly, I made my way toward the garden, hardly noticing as Officer Andrews fell into step behind me.

I saw Maxon before he saw me. He was dressed formally and looked anxious. His face appeared worn and worried. He fidgeted with his pocket lining as he waited.

When he caught sight of me, his expression changed completely.

"You look amazing," complimented Maxon. I brushed my red hair from my shoulder, the delicate curls falling perfectly along my back. I felt somewhat embarrassed that for so long Maxon had only seen me sweaty and in male work out clothes.

My stomach twisted slightly at the compliment. He shouldn't be saying things like that to people who weren't his fiancée. It made me feel toyed with. I had to bite my tongue to prevent myself from telling him how I actually felt about the whole situation. I needed one last thing from him.

Prince Maxon offered me his arm as we stepped into the garden. I hesitantly took it and followed his lead. I noted that Officer Andrews left us at the door, watching our movements from afar.

We walked in silence for a long while. We made awkward glances toward one another.

"Are you happy to have your maids back?" he asked finally.

I nodded in response, acknowledging his question with a faint smile. I tried to find the words to express the concerns that weighed on me, but my thoughts spun in circles.

"I'm sorry Father put you through all of this," Maxon continued, his voice conversational. It astounded me how easily he could make something huge sound like the most insignificant detail.

"I have to tell you something." The words rushed from my mouth before I could stop them. I immediately wanted to grab them back, but was overwhelmed with a sense of relief that it was finally out there.

Maxon paused and turned toward me. "Yes, America?"

"They threatened my family. I need you to keep them safe." I forced myself to focus my attention on meeting his gaze. It was important that he agreed. For the sake of my family, he had to agree.

The hurt was immediately evident on his face. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I... I think they're going to hurt them, Maxon."

"America, you need to be honest with me," he responded. He studied my face intently. I began to tremble. "Tell me everything."

"Please," I implored, desperation soaking my words, "keep them safe."

"Why didn't you tell me this when you first came back?" he asked untrustingly. His suspicion made me nervous.

I took a risk.

"They've been leaving me notes. I thought that they'd leave me alone. I thought that I could fix all of this by myself. But, Maxon, I need your help."

"What do the notes say?" he demanded. His tone wasn't harsh, but insistent. I was uncertain of how to handle the situation. I wanted to be honest with him, but I didn't want him to feel responsible for all of this. I cared about him, despite all that I had lost at his hands: Marlee, Aspen, a chance to make a difference, a chance to end the rebellions. I was not about to lose my family, however.

"That there isn't a lot of time left," I responded after a long pause, deciding to speak in half-truths.

"Time left for what?"

"Before they hurt my family, Maxon," I repeated. I was growing impatient with the situation. "You have to keep us safe."

"What do they want from you, America?"

I remained quiet. There was no correct answer to his question.

"What do they want?" echoed Maxon, his tone growing softer as he closed the distance between us. He was trying to comfort me, but all it did was make me more nervous.

"It doesn't matter. Just promise me." My voice wavered. I allowed him to wrap his arms around me. There was comfort in being close to him.

"You have to tell me, America," he implored.

"Promise me," I insisted, tilting my head upward toward his face. His expression was one of resolve.

"Why can't you trust me with this?"

"Because I want you to be happy, Maxon," I snapped. I pulled myself away from him. My tone softened immediately. None of this was his fault. Not directly, at least. "I don't want you to feel guilty about your decision."

"What are you talking about?"

"Kriss told me," I said stoically. The words caught in my thought. Saying it outloud made it feel too real.

Maxon's gaze found the ground immediately. "She promised she wouldn't."

"She promised me first she would." I had the sudden realization that this was most likely what Maxon wanted to speak to me about this morning. This was most likely the last time I would ever see him in person. I would be forced to watch him live the rest of his happy life with Kriss.

The feeling pulled at my stomach. I had to fight the urge to cry.

"I didn't want you to find out like this," Maxon said softly.

"Just promise to keep my family safe," I implored quietly. I didn't trust my voice to say anything more.

"Of course, America. I'll have them brought to the Palace immediately," he responded promptly. He breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled and looked toward me and started laughing. Soon his chuckle turned into laughter.

It was infectious. Through a slight smile I asked, "What's so funny?"

"Nothing with you is how I expect it. Everything about you it completely unorthodox." He embraced me once more, lifting me slightly off my feet in the process.

I wasn't sure how to respond. I stood awkwardly in his grip, feeling completely overwhelmed.

"I love you, America. Everything about you."

"That's not fair, Maxon. You can't say that to me and marry Kriss. You can't do that to me." My reaction surprised me. My hurt feelings I had been stifling for the past three days erupted as anger. The whole Selection wasn't fair, but this was on a whole new level.

"Marry Kriss?" His laughter increased exponentially.

"It's not funny." I shoved him, forcing him to stumble backwards slightly. His amusement only increased my anger.

He shook his head, stepping closer to me once more as his laughter died down.

"America, I want to marry you."

"You-what?" I processed the words slowly, trying to find the loophole and waiting for the inevitable 'but' to come. It never did.

"America, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. It's always been you, since before the Selection even officially started."

"I love you, Maxon."

We spent the following hours in the garden. I told him everything. I recounted my meeting with Jason as best I could. He told me how he finally convinced his father and how passionately his mother had advocated for King Clarkson's acceptance of his decision. He told me of how Kriss had asked to leave immediately when he informed her of his decision, while Celeste had opted to leave after the announcement on the Report.

When we finally returned to the Palace, I felt a huge weight lifted from my shoulders. I returned to my room, feeling like a character from a children's story. It all seemed perfect.