I snort when I see Maxon's weird facial expression after watching me finish my third strawberry tart. I've had a huge appetite lately since I'm eating for two people, three including me, and since I can now keep down some decent food and not throw it back up.

"What? I'm eating for three, remember?"

Maxon playfully rolls his eyes. "Of course I remember, darling. I'm just shocked seeing you eat this much lately."

He puts a gentle hand on my stomach, and, as if they knew his hand was there, the twins start kicking. Maxon looks up at me, and wonder, and love, and hopeful fear plays across his handsome face. I grab his hand and put it near my hip on the left, letting him feel the second twin. A maid comes in, telling me Dr. Ashlar requests me in the hospital wing. My due date was yesterday, so he's probably checking to make sure their vitals are okay.

"Can you come?"

"I can't today, America. I have that meeting." When I look up at him, I can see he truly wants to go, but after all the meetings he has missed from my previous check-ups, it's risky if he misses more.

"Okay. That's fine." He obviously sees the disappointment on my face, because his eyes soften and he places his hand on my cheek. I lean into his touch, and he places his lips gently on mine.

The check-up was definitely not helpful. Dr. Ashlar checked the twins' vitals and told me they're ready, but they just don't want to come out, and he had no idea when they would. He also said just be ready, and I'm not allowed to do any more work. I'm only allowed to be in my room. No Women's Room, no dining room, no meetings. If I need to go to the bathroom, Maxon or one of my maids need to go with me.

I don't know why I ever thought pregnancy would be fun.

The twins start to kick again, hitting me right in the bladder. Ugh, just come out! My thoughts do nothing to stop them, and they continue their assault on my stomach. And Maxon said he would be by my side through all of this. He's twenty minutes late to bed.

He finally enters and sees me sitting up in bed. "Darling, I thought you would be asleep."

"I thought I would be, too. But someone was late," I retort.

"America, I'm sorry." He comes over and takes my hand, only to find me pulling away.

"I doubt it," I snap, "First the meeting, now being late!"

"My de—" He quickly stands up.

"Maxon Schreave, don't you dare start! You promised you would stay with me through this! And here I am, an overdue pregnant woman with a husband who just won't be supportive!"

He flinches as if my words were a punch. And then my anger turns to sadness and tears start to pour from my eyes. All these hormones...

Maxon chuckles a bit and sits next to be, rubbing my back.

"What's so funny?" I ask weakly, pathetically. I'm so exhausted, from the check-up, from crying, from hormones.

"Your hormones. You seem a lot like your mother." He says quietly.

I giggle and shove him lightly. "Just help me to the bathroom."

I wake up when I feel a sharp pang in my stomach. Turning on my side, it happens again. And again. And again. Another pang happens, but it's so strong it makes the other four pangs feel like nothing.

Oh, gosh... Am I going into labor?

I sit up and tap Maxon on the shoulder and whisper, "Maxon!"

He slowly opens his eyes and wipes the sleep from them. Another pang; this one makes me let out a groan. This time Maxon really wakes up. "America! What's wrong?"

Now the pangs are becoming constant. I'm definitely in labor. Oh, my, these are contractions!

"Babies—" I suck in a sharp breath, "—coming—Maxon—help me..."

He practically jumps out of bed and is by my side in an instant. He puts out his hand and tries to help me to stand, but whenever I sit up I feel a sharp pressure in my stomach. I point to the door. "Go tell... a guard to get a maid!"

Maxon runs over to the door and sticks his head out, getting the attention of a guard standing watch my the door, and tells him to tell a maid that I'm in labor.

Almost an instant later I'm rushed into a wheelchair and rolled down to the hospital wing. I barely even remember getting down there with all the pain I'm in. Suddenly I snap back to reality once I'm lifted into the hospital bed.

Maxon grabs my hand and massages it lightly with his thumb, but—based on my steel-hard grip— he stops when I squeeze harder. His brows furrow when I suck in a sharp breath, and he jumps a little when I let out a yelp.

"Is this normal? Is she supposed to be in so much pain?" Maxon asked Dr. Ashlar. Sweat broke out on my forehead.

And I thought a bullet wound hurt. No burn, scrape, or bullet ever had enough pain to compare to this. Kenna and Marlee both said the same thing—I should expect pressure and cramps—but I never imagined it would be like this. Yes, I was having cramps, but it almost felt like my stomach was moving inside of me. And the twins were kicking like crazy.

"Now, my king, I don't want to make you worry, but we haven't even gotten to the worst part yet." Dr. Ashlar replied.

And, of course, after seeing Maxon's frightened face, a contraction hits me, and I let out my first scream. My back arches as the contraction continues and I grip my husband's hand harder than I thought possible. As the contraction comes to an end I peek over at Maxon. He looks completely and utterly sick. Sweat beads on his forehead and he stares at me, but it doesn't seem like he actually sees me.

I grip his hand. "Maxon?! Maxon, are you okay?"

He shakes his head and bends down. I hear him gag quietly and he lets go of my hand, grabbing the wastebasket next to me and heaved up what was left in his stomach.

The contractions intensify and I continue to fidget and whine. I never thought it would be like this. And, by the looks of it, neither did Maxon. I scream again, and Maxon grabs my hand.

"Maxon—You 'kay? Dr. Ashlar…!" I can't finish my sentence because I'm breathing too hard, too fast. It's like there isn't enough air in this palace for me.

Dr. Ashlar takes his stethoscope and checks my heartbeat, putting a damp towel on my forehead. He glances nervously at Maxon. "Your Majesty, you need to calm her down. She needs to remain calm to reduce stress on the babies, and the only way Her Majesty can do that is if you keep her distracted and if you calm down, as well."

Maxon nods and takes a deep breath while I continue to gulp down air fast. "Take a deep breath, my dear."

Despite my discomfort, I smile. "Maxon!"

He chuckles and has me take a breath along with him. It seems to calm the both of us.