After: a Maxerica Story

Part 2

I breathe heavily, putting the pregnancy test down and staring at it. I can't believe it. Had we taken it too far the first night? I know we have to have kids... but I wasn't planning on it happening so soon. I'm not ready to be a mother. I've barely even started to get used to being the queen.

Putting my head in my hands, I slide down the bathroom wall until I'm curled up in a ball. Tears flow from my eyes, even though I'm not sad that I'm going to have a child. I mean, I've always wanted kids. Could the tears be from shock? Or even from regret? No... I love Maxon. And I'm sure he'll be happy. 

At least, I hope.

After I've cried for a little bit, I decide I have to just face this and tell my husband. Breathing deeply, I slowly stand up, looking at myself in the wide mirror. I wouldn't want to tell Maxon looking like this. 

Still moving slowly, I start to clean up. Suddenly, I hear a soft knock on the door. It startles me, but I calm down when I hear Maxon's voice.

"You've been in there for quite a while... are you sure you're feeling okay, America?" he asks, his voice gentle and soothing.

"Um... yes," I lie. After a pause, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Seeing as we're married now, there's no point in lying to him.

I unlock the door and weakly smile at him. My makeup is still smudged despite my best efforts to quickly make myself presentable. Well, now he definitely knows I'm not okay.

I'm unable to read his expression. He's worried... confused... and slightly curious, I'd say.

Then he slowly looks at the pregnancy test lying on the sink. He looks at me again, and back to the test.

"Maxon..." I whisper. "I'm pregnant."

I see the slightest hint of a smile on his face, but I can tell he's shocked. Without saying anything, he walks towards me and wraps me in his strong arms. I bury my head in his shirt. I feel another pain in my stomach, but I ignore it as best I can. Now that I'm with him, everything is okay. I know he will be with me through it all, which calms some of the stress racing through my veins.

He pulls back after a long time, wiping the tears from my face. "America, why are you crying? This is wonderful news."

I look down. "It's just... I'm scared."

Bringing my head back up, he says, "You don't have to be scared. We'll get through this." As he says this, I smile. But then another horrible pain twists my stomach and I grimace. Maxon leads me to the bed and sits down next to me, holding my hand.

"I'm sure those pains will get better after a little time," he says.

Through the pain, I laugh softly. "Well, I sure hope so." I know next to nothing about pregnancy. It takes nine months... and that's about it. 

When the pain finally subsides, Maxon squeezes my hand and helps me up. "So, now that we know... when should we go about telling everyone?" he asks.

"Everyone?" I ask.

"You know... your family, the staff, the country."

I pause, my face heating up. "The country has to know I'm pregnant?"

He nods. "They have to know eventually. Either way, they'll see it after time."

"Maybe... Maybe we should wait to tell everyone. Except... I'll need to tell my mom. I'm going to need help," I say honestly. "Unless you know anything about pregnancy."

Now it's him who blushes. "Unfortunately, no."

I laugh and kiss him on the cheek. "I guess I might as well tell my mom now, and get it over with. Do you think it's too soon to? It's only been a few weeks, anything could happen."

He shakes his head. "You might as well tell her now."

I smile and grab his hand playfully. "You're coming with me."

He pulls his hand away. "No... no, I shouldn't come with you." The joy on his face has been replaced with fear and embarrassment. 

"Why not?" I ask.

"What if your mom gets upset about it? Then I'll be at fault, and she'll be upset with me." He pauses, swallowing. "My parents would have probably been ecstatic, since it's important to have heirs as soon as possible, but your family isn't used to that. We are young after all... What if they say you're too young to be pregnant? What if they say we should've waited?"

I blink a few times, considering his words. "Maxon, it's too late for anyone to ask questions like that. It happened. I'm pregnant. And like you said, it had to happen anyway," I say. "And it was my decision too. She has no right to be upset with you." Smiling, I add, "Don't worry too much."

"But we just became the king and queen," he argues. "We have responsibilities to take care of."

"I guess we'll just have to get those done in the next nine months, then," I say with a wink.

I turn and walk out the door. Closing the door behind me, I wait out in the hall, knowing that Maxon will follow. He loves me, and I know how supportive and perfect he will be through all of this.

His questions did get to me though; and he's right. We probably should've waited until we had the whole king and queen thing under control. But I remind myself: what's done is done, and there's no going back. 

The squeak of the door opening pulls me out of my thoughts. 

"I know I shouldn't be, but I'm just as scared as you," he admits, taking a deep breath.

Grabbing him by the hand, I say, "I know. Don't worry, I think we'll be just fine."

We run down the hallway until we get to my family's room. I breathe in slowly and look at Maxon. He looks just as nervous as I am. I squeeze his hand and he squeezes back. I kiss him on the cheek and say, "Don't worry." He nods. I add, "No matter what, I love you." 

He smiles and whispers, "I love you, too."

After a final deep breath I open up the door. My mom is talking to May and Gerad, their faces light and happy. May looks stunning in her new dress, and my mom looks beautiful too. Kenna and her husband are on the other side of the giant room, fretting over their baby. Kota didn't want to come to the palace, but he's allowed to visit. I doubt he ever will, unless it's to try and rise in station.

All eyes are on me and Maxon. We stand there, not talking. Now I'm not so sure I can tell anyone. Kenna just had a baby, and she's much older. Will they be disappointed in me?

Finally, breaking the awkward silence, my mom says, "Hi, America. Hi, Maxon. Is everything okay?" She smiles softly.

"Um... I..." I stutter. I lower my voice. "Can I talk to you alone?"

May's face drops and I tell myself that I have to tell her soon. Gerad shrugs his shoulders and goes back to reading his book. Kenna is too busy with her baby to pay attention to our conversation.

"Of course you can." She gets up and walks with us into the hall, closing the door behind her. "What's going on?"

I look at Maxon, and find he's looking at me.

"Yes... depending on how you look at it, I suppose," Maxon says. Thank goodness he's here.

"Well, what is it?" she asks anxiously.        

This time, I know I have to talk.

"Mom... I'm pregnant." It barely comes out as a whisper.

Her eyes open wide and she covers her hand with her mouth.

I wish I knew what she was thinking.