The Second Choice | COMPLETED

Chapter 14

Hey guys!
I'm sorry it's been so long since the last update! Thanks for sticking around and not giving up on me. Ilyasm and we're almost at 5k! So thanks again!
Val.

It had been two full, complete weeks since I had heard America talking in the hospital. Not that I was counting or anything. I hadn't gotten to visit her again yet. The hospital wing was always so busy, nurse and doctors always rushing around to help the staff, guards, advisers, anyone really who was still recovering from the attack. It was a nice, sunny day, not too rare in Angeles. I was outside with Kriston and Kriss. I smiled as Kriston crawled around sloppily, falling down once in a while. Kriss quickly swooped him up after a couple falls, kissing his adorable little face repeatedly. I smiled again, standing up from my knees to walk over. Kriss smiled her brilliant smile at me, you know, the one that seemed to light up everything around you? Yeah, that one. I grinned back. She was so adorable. Kriston babbled endlessly, something along the lines of gamablabloojajooeegagoaboo.

"Are you hungry, dear?" I murmured, taking Kriston into my arms as he reached out.

"A little bit." Kriss admitted, her smile slowly fading gently into a half smile.

"Lunch?" I suggested simply, bouncing Kriston lightly.

"If you wouldn't mind taking me." She winked and I chuckled.

"Then shall we?" I held out my free arm, carefully balancing Kriston in the other.

"We shall." She said cheerfully, looping her slender, pale pink silk encased, arm through mine. We walked back inside the palace and down the halls, Kriss' heels giving a soft clicking sound with every step she took.

"Maxon?" She whispered suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence we had had.

"Yes, love?"

"Do you want to go on a trip?" She asked. My head tilted slightly. That was a strange, sudden question.

"Why do you want to go on a trip?" I asked her.

"Well, it's just that you seem stressed lately and you won't tell me why, not that I'm trying to pressure you into telling me or anything. You've always been patient with me. I just thought it would do us all some good to get away for a while, even if it's just a couple of days. You know? And it would be our very first family vacation. " She explained quickly, rambling a bit as she looked up slightly to meet my eyes. I thought about what she had just said. Maybe I was a little bit stressed over the fact that America was still in the hospital wing despite the fact that I knew for sure she was awake. I also hadn't seen her yet. I wasn't completely sure why I was so incredibly anxious. Although a pretty good reason was because I still loved her. And I still had my stupid, frustrating problem, being the fact that I loved two women. Anywho, I could tell the trip meant a lot to Kriss.

"I'll try to have it arranged as soon as possible." I assured her with a small smile. Another bright smile lit up her face.

"Really?" She whispered.

"Of course." She tilted her head a bit more, going to kiss my cheek but I turned my head at the last second, catching her lips on my own. I heard a soft oh of surprise before she kissed me softly. I smiled against her lips and went to deepen the kiss when I heard a babble. I laughed softly, pulling away to look at Kriston.

"Well then, aren't you a bit disruptive?" I teased. He giggled, even though I was certain he had no idea what I had just said. Kriss smiled at me, winking slightly before we both leaned down to peck his cheeks. Suddenly, I heard a click and the bright flash of a camera startled both of us enough to pull away. The photographer looked at us with slightly wide eyes, suddenly afraid. Kriss just smiled warmly, a light pink rosebud beginning to bloom on each of her cheeks.

"I apologize, your majesties. I did not mean to be a disturbance." He said quickly, bowing swiftly. I had to admit, the press, paparazzi and photographers- or as Kriss liked to call them, the three Ps- could get a bit irritating at times but it wasn't always bad.

"It's alright. It wasn't a bother." Kriss murmured kindly before the photographer bowed again and walked speedily down the hall, away from the direction we were originally supposed to be headed, the dining room.

"Now how about lunch? Still hungry?" I asked her and she nodded, resting her head on my shoulder. I shifted my arm so it was wrapped around her waist. We continued to travel down the hall until we made it to the dining room. Kriston was seated in his high chair, right next to Kriss, who was sitting directly across from me.

"Your majesties." A butler came out of the swinging doors that led from the kitchen to the royal dining room. He strode to the table and bowed deeply. I nodded.

"Hello, Christopher." Kriss' sweet voice piped up.

"Good afternoon." I added.

"What would you like for lunch today?" Christopher asked politely.

"Anything you would recommend?" I asked.

"The chefs have been trying new recipes for veal parmigiana." He offered.

"Sounds lovely." Kriss nodded.

"And of course, puréed peas and carrots for the young prince?" The butler asked.

"Yes please." Kriss nodded again, smiling slightly.

"I'll be right back with the meal." He bowed again and left briskly, disappearing behind the swinging doors. The food was out in less than five minutes and so we only managed to decide the destination of our (hopefully) soon trip.

"How about Hawaii?" Kriss had suggested.

"Or maybe the Bahamas?"

"We haven't been to the Bahamas yet." I mused.

"Then Bahamas it is." She smiled happily, clasping her hands together in excitement, eyes sparkling as the food arrived. I smiled in return. If she was happy, I was too.

A/N:
Hey guys!
Sorry again for the super late update... Eek.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go check out One Sided (A Sugarskull Skyraiders novel) on threegirlsandabook I know I already mentioned it but I would really appreciate it if you guys read my other book. Anyways, till next time.
Val.
*note: I don't actually know if Angeles is always sunny so please bare with me. Ty
*another note: I'm not sure if Bahamas was a thing in the world of the selection so again, please bare with my ridiculous ideas. Ily all!
*third note: I wrote this at 12 am so it's kind of just a filler. Oops.