Chapter Text
Maxon and America Schreave were eating breakfast when America turned to Maxon and said,"Why don't we try something different today?"
Maxon raised an eyebrow wondering what America was going to suggest and he looked at her saying warmly,"And what would that be love?" looking as his beloved daintily wiped her mouth with the corner of a napkin and gently placed it in her lap.
America enthusiastically than suggested to him that they go out on the lawn and eat their breakfast as it was a really nice day and it had been so long since they got out of the house since they had the twins who were now approaching 10 months old. “Man Ahren and Eadlyn had grown up so fast.” Maxon thought silently to himself. The twins were a mere 7 minutes apart which meant that Eadlyn was the oldest making Ahren a close second.America was so good with them to as if she were gifted with the talent of being a great mother. Maxon cherished his two beautiful children more than life itself and he would do anything to keep them happy.
Maxon thought America’s idea was great and quickly called a server and instructed him to tell the nanny to bring Eadlyn and Ahren onto the lawn in 5 minutes while Maxon and America collected a plethora of foods from their table to bring with them. Of course America brought her favorite strawberry pastries while Maxon grabbed an apple and bagel and the two almost skipped out to the lawn.
Things had been really difficult in Illea lately and he was working to dissolve the caste system but it was no easy feat. Even though it was stressful work, the people seemed to react well to it throwing illustrious parties and parades every time they were dissolved. It made his work worthwhile and gave him the motivation to continue on even though there were some negative reactions.
When America and Maxon reached the lawn, America leaned into Maxon and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips breathing in the fragment scent of his cologne which smelled of a deep forest pine with rich hints of cinnamon.
Maxon relaxed into her savoring the sweetness of the kiss and after pulling away headed toward the picnic blanket that was readily set up. Eadlyn and Ahren were sitting on the blanket with their nanny waiting for them patiently and upon seeing their Mom and dad Eadlyn said in her baby voice,”Papa!” as a dimpled smile formed on her lips. Maxon walked over to his baby daughter and beaned happily and exclaimed in a delighted voice Eady!!
As Ahren saw his mom and dad he also broke out in a happy smile his eyes brightly looking up at his mom exclaiming in an equally cute high pitched voice,”Mama!!” America, elated to see her little boy went over and tickled his stomache earning the cutest little baby laugh from Ahren and exclaimed warmly,”Hi Ahren!”
They all enjoyed breakfast as a family and had many laughs as the twins got food all over their face and were making indistinguishable baby sounds towards each other. America relaxed into Maxon, whispering into his ear,”this is the good life.” Maxon looked back at her giving a smile that said he agreed and they cuddled on the lawn for a few minutes.
Not to much later Eadlyn and Ahren got restless and began crawling around. America and Maxon oblivious to this lost in the euphoria enjoying the moment didn't notice as Eadlyn began to try and get up onto her elbows her baby legs tensing in exertion.
Finally Maxon and America looked up to see Eadlyn take a shaky step and fall flat in her face exploding in laughter. Maxon and America upon seeing this walked over to Eadlyn and raised her up in the air saying "Oh my gosh Eadlyn took her first steps!!!" Both exchanging happy smiles. Even Ahren got in on the action as Maxon raised him up in excitement. They were one happy family.
Eventually they went back inside, sending someone out to pick up their blankets, buzzed from the excitement and grinning from ear to ear.
They put the baby's back in the nursery and Maxon went back to his office to work while America went to the woman's room to talk to Marlee about their new discovery.
That day at the office Maxon was happy until he picked up a newspaper his head scrunched in stress upon seeing that a revolt had occurred in Yukon.
At that moment America walked into his office just coming back from talking to Marlee noticing his brow etched with stress.
She came to comfort Maxon as she muttered “There was another revolt” disapprovingly...things were getting worse.