Wow, I suck. Leaving you for months after a chapter like that. I'm sorry for not updating, summer has been a lot busier than expected. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

-

It's been two weeks since Maxon's heart attack, and he's still hasn't woken up yet. I've been by his side every minute of every day. Gerad and Gwen usually bring me meals, but I usually don't touch the food. I haven't showered, walked, stood up, or even said a word to anyone since it all happened.

All I could think about is how I could've prevented this. He was definitely stressed lately, between Gwen being pregnant and all the duties of being king, but I didn't think it was any worse than it usually was. 

Is this my fault? If I had noticed a difference in his behavior, could I have stopped this before it happened?

Tears silently fall down my cheek. There are so many questions in my mind. How could this happen? Why didn't he say anything about it? Or did he even know?

But one questions weighs me down the most.

What if he never wakes up?

I shutter, trying to shut the thought out. But there's a good possibility that he won't wake up. That I've lost the love of my life forever.

And what about Gerad and Gwen? Amberly? Logan? I haven't been there for them... I can't bring myself to talk to them. Looking at them reminds me of the life Maxon and I had together. 

I shake my head. Why am I acting like he's dead? The heart monitor is still beeping. And while it still beeps, there's still hope. But I can't swallow the feeling that he's already gone.

"Maxon, my love," I rasp, choking on the words. "Please wake up. I need you here. Your kids need you here. You need to see your grandchild... You have to. Maxon, I love you... And I can't lose you now." The tears stream steadily down my face and I don't bother stopping them.

"Mom," someone whispers from behind me. I pick my head up slowly and turn to see Gerad standing behind me, holding a rose in his hand. He hands me the rose, and I look at it for a moment and then I look back up at him. 

"What's this for?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper.

"I know this is incredibly hard on you, Mom. I'm struggling too- we all are. But you have to believe in him. He's strong, he'll make it. And you need to be strong too, okay? Can you promise that me that you'll be strong, no matter what?" he says, looking into my eyes.

"I- I don't know if I can-"

"Dad always told me how you were a fighter. You're strong willed. That's what he loved about you. You wouldn't let people tell you what to believe in." He smiles softly. "And above everything else, he'd want you to be strong right now. Especially since you have a birthday party to go to."

I look back down at the rose sadly. "Gerad, it's not my birthday..."

"I know," he says, nodding. "It's mine."

My mouth drops open. How could I forget my own sons birthday? What kind of mother am I?

For the first time in two weeks, I stand up, and wrap my arms around him. "Gerad, I am so sorry. I'll make it up to you, you understand? I..." I wipe a tear away. "I love you so much. And I am so incredibly proud of you. Happy twentieth birthday, darling."

"Thank you, Mom," he says, giving me one last squeeze and then letting go. "I love you too." He takes my hand and starts walking towards the door. "Gwen and Amberly want to help you get ready. They picked out a dress and everything."

I nod and we go to our bedrooms. Gwen and Amberly are waiting for me in mine as promised, and a beautiful, light blue dress is hanging on the wall. Icy blue was always my color.

"Mom," Amberly whispers and runs towards me, almost knocking me over with her force. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, sweetie," I whisper, kissing her forehead.

Gwen walks over quietly, putting a hand gently on my shoulder. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm better now. I- I'll be strong," I say, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

"We're here for you if you ever want to talk or need anything," she says, smiling and pulling me in for a hug. 

I was so wrong about Gwen. She's an amazing girl, an amazing wife... And she'll be an amazing mother.

"Thanks, Gwen," I say, and then look down at her baby bump that's started to form. She's bigger than I would've expected. But then again, I haven't really been paying attention to her and the baby like I should've been.

Gwen notices me looking at her stomach and smiles. "I know the gender," she whispers, trying to suppress a grin.

"And?" I ask eagerly.

"I'm having twins," she says, beaming. "A girl and a boy."

Her words make my eyes widen. I try to say, "Congratulations," or, "I'm so happy for you," but nothing comes out.

Gerad was supposed to be a twin. 

"I'm sorry America... I didn't even think how you'd react to that, I'm so sorry-"

"No, Gwen, I'm sorry," I finally say. "I am so happy for you, congratulations. You're going to be an amazing mother." I pause. "Have you told Gerad yet?"

She shakes her head. "I've known for a few days now. I'm going to tell him at the party." she says. "Now, let's get you cleaned up. Amberly got the shower ready. I'll get a maid to help you with your makeup, because I happen to suck at anything related to beauty."

-

The party is amazing. And it's just what I needed. It takes my mind off Maxon and I get to spend the day with the people I love most. I just wish Maxon could be here for his son's twentieth birthday.

"How's the party?" I ask Gerad, putting my arm around him, admiring the room.

"It's wonderful. I'm so glad you're back on your feet. That's the only birthday gift I needed," he replies. 

"Thank you. You're the reason I'm not still in the hospital wing." I look up at him. "I got so lucky with you. You've become such an amazing man."

He bites his lip. "Has Gwen told you anything? About the pregnancy? I haven't heard anything in a while... Is she okay?"

"I haven't heard anything-" I start to say, but then the room becomes silent. I look up to see what's going on, and I see Gwen standing on a table. I grin, looking up at Gerad to see the surprise on his face.

"Hi, everyone," Gwen says nervously. She looks over at Gerad and seems to relax a bit. "I just wanted to inform you all of something." She grins, and looks at Gerad. "I'm not only having one baby, but two. Twins; boy and a girl."

Gerad immediately rushes over to the table, helps her down from it, and kisses her. It's such a beautiful scene. My baby boy is madly in love.

-

Phew. Hoped you enjoyed that chapter, I enjoyed writing it.

Hope you're all having good summers!

-Eve