America
"America, you look stunning!" Nicoletta hurried across the Great Room to me, making several diplomats and maids jump out of her way.

"Nicoletta!" I gave her a one-armed hug as Aspen was perched on my hip.

Maxon's birthday that year was a large scale event, with many other royal families and friends present. Maxon had insisted that the event take place during the day so that our sons could attend and as they were nine months old they needed their sleep.

"I have missed you America!" Nicoletta said, "you really must come and visit more!"

"I've been keeping myself busy!" I laughed.

"Yes I've heard!" Nicoletta looked at Aspen.

"This is baby Aspen," I introduced him, "Aspen say hello!"

Aspen giggled and waved his hand at her, "'ello!" he said.

Nicoletta laughed, "oh you are just the sweetest!"

At that moment Nicoletta was almost knocked over by a small someone running past her. The small someone was quickly followed by Jackson Windsor, the Prince Consort of England, he scooped up his squirming son and made his way back over towards where Nicoletta and I were stood.

"Christopher, what do you say to Princess Nicoletta for bumping into her?" Jackson asked Christopher. Christopher was around three years old and was heir to the English throne.

"Sorry!" He beamed at Nicoletta.

"Oh, there is no problem!" Nicoletta laughed.

Jackson smiled and placed Christopher down on the floor, and Christopher was quick to take off.

"They tire you out don't they!" I laughed, watching the young Prince sprint away.

"Just wait until they start walking!" Jackson kept one eye on his son as he spoke to us.

"Shalom is crawling, but I think Aspen still likes being carried."

"I wish I could still get carried around!" said Nicoletta.

"I think everyone does," agreed Jackson. 

Jackson and his wife Elizabeth were around ten years older than Maxon and I, they had two children Christopher who was three and Alexander who was one. The English and Illeans had a very new relationship, with trade agreements and an alliance going back only a year, but Jackson and  Elizabeth had been nothing but kind to us. The English monarchy was one of the oldest in the world and also one of the only ones with a Queen who ruled in her own right.

"I haven't seen Maxon anywhere," said Nicoletta, "could you wish him a happy birthday for me America?"

"Of course."

I wished Nicoletta and Jackson well and went off in search of Maxon. I spotted Lucy and Aspen talking to Marlee and Carter. Marlee was cradling a one-month-old Amelia, and Lucy was holding Shalom. All four of them were laughing about something.

"Where's Daddy gone?" I asked Aspen, "can you see him anywhere?"

Aspen clapped his hands in response, laughing loudly.

"Ames!" May came across my path, "Mum is doing it again."

"Doing what again?"

I followed May's gaze and saw Mum beside the drinks table with Maxon's Aunt Adele. Both of them were throwing back drinks at an alarming rate. I laughed, "just leave her be May."

"What if she ends up in a fountain again?"

"Cameras!" I sung as a camera crew approached May and I.

"Lady May, can you tell us about your dress?" A woman holding a microphone asked, "it's sunning!"

"I'm glad you think so!" May swished the green fabric around her ankles, "I designed it myself!"

"Queen America, what about your dress?"

"I designed that too!" May was almost squealing, "she looks stunning in it doesn't she!"

"I will leave you in my sister's very capable hands," I told the camera crew. I patted May's shoulder as I left her with the cameras, hearing her begin to excitedly babble about how she made her dress.

I continued to search the room for Maxon. I spotted Daphne and Fredrick and smiled at them. Georgia and August took Aspen from my arms. I hugged Gerad and Kenna and gave Astra a high five as I passed but I was still yet to find Maxon.

In the end, I left the Great Room and ventured out into the empty gardens. I found Maxon sat on the bench on which we had sat on the first night of the Selection.

"Maxon, what are you doing out here?"

"I just needed some quiet," he said.

I sat down beside Maxon and looked out across the grounds. Maxon's hand swum the distance between us and closed around mine, holding onto me tightly as if I were a lifeline. We sat in silence for several minutes.

"I miss her so much America," Maxon's voice was raw and I realised that he had been crying, "We'll never know what her first words were, she might've already taken her first steps and we'll never know."

I didn't have anything to say that could comfort him. I held his hand tighter and shuffled myself closer to him.

"I know," was all that I could tell Maxon. Below the ruffles of chiffon silk which I wore like armor, I was just as broken as Maxon. Somehow I had become better at hiding it. Perhaps it was because Maxon had been forced to hide his emotions for his whole life that this was what had finally pushed him over his edge.

Maxon rested his head on my shoulder and I held him as he cried.