THE SELECTION: The Decision.

The Change

America's POV:

"Wait, you're pregnant?!" Came Kota's voice.
  My eyes widen and when I turn around, it is clear that my whole family heard.
I bite my lip. "Surprise?"
The looks I get range from shock to excitement to anger.
  "Oh, this is golden," scoffs Kota. "We're bringing a little bastard child into the family.  Good job, America— you snagged a prince while laying down!"
  "Kota, that is way out of line!" Shouts my father, pushing him away from me.
  My mother looks close to fainting.  May looks thrilled.
  Maxon steps in to mediate the situation.  "Please, let me explain—"
  My mother cuts him off.  "No.  No you can't explain.  I should have never pushed her to come here, I should have listened to her.  Other mothers guessed that you would do whatever you wanted to these girls, but I was just too naive—"
  "Mother!" I snap.  "That's not what happened.  If any of you are the slightest bit interested in the truth, this happened after Maxon had already asked me to marry him.  I'm not manipulative or easy or whatever you people are suggesting, and neither is Maxon.  We're not getting married because of this baby, and it's not a bad thing at all.  In fact, we're excited.  We're going to be parents. This is more than most people could dream of.  As far as I'm concerned, this baby will be greatly loved by anyone who remains in my life.  If you don't approve, then this is where our relationship ends."  I sound stern now, almost cold. "If you have anything negative to say, I don't want to hear it.  We're in the middle of something real here— we were all just shot at.  Is nobody going to have the common decency to appreciate that we are all here, together and safe?"
  I shake my head and then turn around into Maxon's open arms.
"It's okay, darling... it'll all be okay..." he rubs my back gently.

It's like nobody listened to a word I said. Everyone breaks up into their own little groups of grief or anger or whatever they're feeling and they speak to no one else. Fine by me. I'd rather stay away from all of them right now.
I sit down in a corner with Maxon, waves of nausea crashing over me. I manage to keep it down, but I feel absolutely awful.
Maxon gently massages my stomach and looks lost in thought. "I'm sorry, America," he whispers. "I'm sorry I've brought this on you."
"You haven't brought anything on me. We did this together, and it's not a bad thing. We're going to have a baby." I smile softly.
"And we're going to be married," he adds, taking my hand and kissing my new ring.
  "Yes, we are." I grin.  "And I couldn't be happier." I reach up and kiss him softly.
Kota stands up quickly in the corner.  "I can't deal with any of you anymore.  I'm getting out of here." He marches towards the stairs.
  "Good luck with that," laughs Maxon, somewhat bitterly.  "Those doors are sealed.  We're all trapped here until someone lets us out and tells us we're safe."
  Kota shakes his head.  "That's ridiculous.  You act as if you're powerless, like there's not some button you can press to let me out."
  "In this situation, I am powerless. And right now, I'd say that's a good thing.  There is a good chance that, if it were up to me, I'd let you out there right now into the gunfire and chaos, just to teach you a lesson.  Clearly this hasn't been scary enough for you, Kota.  Or is it that you're just dying to get out into the real world and sell a story about America and I? Is that it?"
  Everyone is speechless for a few moments. Finally, my dad speaks up.
"No. He isn't. Because he knows that if he says a word about anything here, he won't have anyone left. We're a family, even if he doesn't want to accept it.  America, Maxon... I know this was a shock to all of us, but we're your family.  We support you, no matter what."
  I feel tears spring to my eyes and I quickly rise and hug my father.  "Thank you, dad..."
  "Of course, kitten." He kisses the top of my head.
May walks up to me timidly. "Ames? I just want to say that I'm really excited for you. I want to be the best aunt in the entire world to your little prince or princess," she smiles.
"Thank you, May. I know that you will be." I envelope her in a hug.
Kenna bounces baby Astra on her hip and gives me a little smirk. "Since it seems that we're going to have lots of time on our hands down here... how about some wedding planning?! I saw this dress in a magazine that is just to die for!"
I let out a soft laugh. "While I appreciate the offer, Kenna, I think that party planning was never really my thing. I'll leave that to the professionals."
"Nonsense," my mother chimes in, finally seeming to forgive my little 'accident.' "Honestly, America, you can't entrust something like your wedding to other people. Kenna and I can plan it for you, and I certainly hope that Amberly would help us."
"I'd love nothing more!" Grins the queen.
Suddenly there's a flurry of activity; a whirlwind of wedding planning. I just give a small groan and bury my face in Maxon's chest. This is going to be a long night.