Hello lovelies!

SOOO... this is my first fanfic and hopefully it's not to bad. I would LOVE to have your reviews so I can improve :)

This takes place at the end of The One but it happens as if Maxon and America never fought about Aspen. It starts at the ceremony where Maxon is proposing to America. I might write sometime about how I think Max and Mer's fight should have gone down but for now this'll just be an alternate ending and continuation of The One.

I'll try to update this on a regular basis but NO PROMISES! I'm starting this at the beginning of my school's winter break so I won't know for a month or two how this fanfic will fit into my regular schedule, but I promise I'll let you know when I decide how frequently to update.

Sorry if there's any grammar/spelling/plot mistakes. And if you find any major ones please tell me in the reviews! :3

Of course all rights go to the lovely Kiera Cass.

Enjoy ^w^

I gasped as Maxon knelt down before me. He had already told me that he had chosen me, but I still couldn't believe it was really happening. He was proposing.

"America," he said, "I kept trying to write down what I would say to you in this moment, but I couldn't find the words. No words could express the love I feel for you. I could not find one expression that could even begin to cover what I feel, just when I look at you. Let alone when you laugh or speak or smile. So I decided to wait and write my speech as I go. To find the words from my heart and speak them to you as they came. But I kneel before you now and I still cannot say all that I want to. All that I need to. So all I can say is this: I love you, and will you marry me?"

I could barely speak. I had known this was coming but the reality of what was happening struck me. All of the drama that went along with the selection could be over. We could finally be together. Just me and Maxon forever.

"Yes," I said. My whisper was barely audible. "Yes," I said louder this time. "Always yes."

Maxon placed the glittering ring on my finger and stood. He took my head in his hands and whispered, "I love you so, so much," as he pulled me to him and placed his lips on mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck as we kissed and heard the crowd below us erupting into applause. I knew that the entire country was watching this kiss but I couldn't bring myself to care. All I was concerned with was the fact that I was finally engaged to Maxon, the love of my life.

I smile spread across my face when we broke away. "I love you too," I laughed. The words still felt alien on my tongue, but I knew they were true. I loved him. With all my heart.

He placed one more light kiss on my lips before we turned to face the audience. Maxon kept his arm around my waist as we waved to the crowd. There had to have been a hundred people there, and I knew that the event was being broadcasted throughout Illéa.

I scanned the crowd until I found my family. My mom and my brothers and sisters were there all standing up cheering. Kenna had brought James and baby Astra. James had Astra in his arms and Kenna was sitting next to May and Gerad. Mom was clapping with Kota who caught my eye and winked. They all looked so happy.

I continued to scan through the crowd until I saw Maxon's parents. Queen Amberly was standing up and clapping respectfully but I could see in her eyes she was truly thrilled that Maxon had picked me. The king however was another story. He was clapping, but he was still sitting down and did not look enthusiastic about the way today had played out. I knew he still didn't want Maxon to marry me but he would have to deal with it. I was going to marry Maxon, and I made a promise to myself that I would never, ever let the king hurt him again.

Maxon led me off stage where I was assaulted right away by my maids with cries of congratulations and puffs of make up as they hurriedly fixed what had been washed away with tears. When they were satisfied, Maxon and I made our way from backstage to greet our guests. We came to where my family had been standing and May immediately pulled me in for a hug.

"Ames!" She cried into my ear. "You won! You're getting married! Congratulations!"

"Thanks, May, but you're kind of hurting my ear," I said as I gently pulled back. She gave me an apologetic grin and then stepped back to allow my mom to come forward.

She didn't say anything at first but wrapped my in a lingering hug before saying, "he would have been so proud." I knew she was talking about my dad. His hole was one that I definitely felt here today, but I knew he was looking after me from wherever he was just as he's always done. I felt a brief pang of sadness remembering him, but I knew he would have wanted me to celebrate today not mourn him. There would be time for that later. My mother then pulled back to look me in the eye. "And so am I," she said.

Before I could respond I was distracted by a sudden movement throughout most of the guard. They had all moved their arms to retrieve a red strip of fabric from the pocket of their uniforms in almost perfect unison. They raised their fists holding the long, blood-red shreds of cotton into the air just before three gun shots rang out through the hall.

People screamed as the warning shots were fired into the air, and a voice shouted, "Get down! All of you! Now!" Everyone scattered. Some dropped instantly to the ground but others ran to find and exit. I knew we couldn't stay there. I turned around to find Maxon.

"We have to get to the safe room," I said.

"There's no time," he responded. "We have to get down." We slowly lowered ourselves to the ground trying to stay hidden from the rebels. When my family saw Maxon and I go to the floor, they quickly followed suit.

I looked around and saw that Maxon was right. We would have never made it to the safe room. The rebels in the guard uniforms had formed a perimeter around the room and were using the butts of their guns to force anyone who was trying to escape to the ground. We were safer here in the middle of the room where it was harder for the rebels to spot us.

In through the grand double doors walked a plain looking man. He was average height, had gray hair that was starting to lose its thickness on the top, tanned skin as if he had spent many long days working under the sun, and looked to be about 40. He wore a pair of worn out blue jeans and a beat-up t-shirt with a pair of slightly muddy working boots. He was someone you would pass on the street and never give a second glance to. Just a normal seven on his way to work at the local farm. But everyone was paying attention to him now.

He had a small pistol that he pointed to the crowd with. The weapon couldn't do much damage on a large scale, but he had rebels all around the room dressed as guards. The man held the gun out steady as he spoke. "Ladies and Gentlemen, my request is simple. You can either give up your new princess or give up your lives one by one."

For a minute I was frozen, pressed onto the floor like everyone else, but absolutely frozen. Not even breathing. But eventually the gravity of what he was saying began to take effect on me.

Me. He wanted me.

I knew immediately what I had to do. I was the new princess of Illéa, and I would not let my people die for me. I couldn't.

I was about to stand up when I felt a hand reach over and squeeze my own. I looked over and saw Maxon. He had been behind me when the gun was fired and had dropped down to my right. I could see in his expression that he knew what I was going to do, and would give anything to stop me.

"Maxon…" I whispered. He had to understand. I wouldn't let anyone die for me.

"Don't move. Stay here. The guards will come," he responded.

"Then why haven't they come yet? Why weren't they bursting through the doors as soon as the shots were fired? No one's coming. Not before anyone gets hurt anyway."

"So that means you get to put yourself in the line of fire?"

I didn't respond. By this time the rebel who seemed to be in control of all this had grown impatient.

"All right," he said. "I see you don't want to give her up too easy. Guess I'll have to show you I'm not playing." He started walking around the room as if he was searching for something until he seemed to find what he was looking for. He reached down to the person lying on the ground and pulled a girl to her feet. She was young. Fourteen or fifteen years at the most. May's age. The rebel pinned her hands behind her back with one hand and placed the gun against her temple with the other. All I saw was may lying in front of me, and all I could think was what if that was her? What if that was my sister? Then suddenly I couldn't stand it anymore. No one was coming and I wouldn't let this girl die.

I squeezed Maxon's hand which was still wrapped tight around my own and stood up. I was shaking but I managed to look the rebel in the eye and speak with surprising calmness. "Let her go."

"Ah, Princess" the rebel said, "but of course." He pushed the girl away and she instantly fell to the ground. The man pointed to two guards. "You there. Grab her." I stood calmly as the guards made their way over to restrain me. I knew if I tried to run that the people in the room would suffer the consequences.

"It appears that we're done here," said the man. He began to walk away and the two guards followed dragging me with them. I turned my head for one last glace at the room and saw that Maxon had stood. One of the guards turned his head to see what I was looking at and stopped when he saw who it was.

"Sir," the guard said shortly. The Rebel turned around to see what the holdup was. He squinted his eyes when he saw Maxon.

Before the rebel said anything Maxon spoke, "Don't you dare touch her!" His voice scared me. In it, I could hear the sound of all the hurt, pain, fear, and strangely, all the love he felt. I hadn't wanted to do this to him. I knew it would hurt him for me to stand and be led away, but I couldn't watch those people be murdered when there was something I could do about it.

The rebel laughed. "Oh, Prince Maxon, I'll speak with you later." Before I had time to wonder what he meant by that, the man turned on his heels and continued out the door motioning for the guards to follow behind him.

We marched through the palace halls after all the guards had filed out and barricaded the ball room door. The hallways were eerily empty. Normally at this time of day the palace was bursting with life but not a soul was in site. I couldn't think of where everyone might have gone unless the worst had happened. But I couldn't think about that now. Not with all the uncertainty about where I was going and what they would do with me. I just needed to focus on keeping myself safe.

After we emerged from the magnificent front doors of the palace, the guards led me through the gardens and up to a lot where countless black vans were parked. There seemed to be enough vans to fit all of the rebels inside. One guard came up to me with a blind fold and gag and tied them on. He then tied my hands behind my back using rope and pushed me into one of the vans. They slammed the door and then someone started the engine. I felt a jolt as the van began moving and took me away from the palace.

So what'd y'all think? Please tell me in a review :) Hopefully I'll be able to update soon because I'm really excited to keep seeing where this thing goes! I have a few ideas but you all will just have to wait and see what I've got up my sleeve! *evil laughter*

Anyway have a happy holiday, lovelies, and I'll talk to ya soon ^w^

-actuallymaddy XD