Hey guys, thank you so much reviewers for all your support, especially piper is boss. You make my day every day! So here we go, another one shot. Whoop whoop! This one is once they are married in America's point of view. Shocker I know. So I wanna let you know that the song arms by Christina Perri is not mine, I'm just using it because it works so well with this whole entire life. Yeah pretty much. Here we go! -J

p.s. get ready for Daphne to do something craaaazy

Silvia and I had been planning for this day for weeks. At the palace it was cool and only slightly windy. Anywhere else in mid-august would be boiling hot and muggy. Tents were set up with tables and silverware and balloons in various shades of white and cream floated around the tables. A small stage for live music was set up and the food was being prepared as I went through the checklist.

This year as I looked around at the set-up, it was quite a smaller affair than I saw on the report last year. Maxon said he didn't want quite big party, so we invited some close friends and family and a few guests from other royal families.

Gifts of various shades and sizes sat on a table across from where Maxon and I would sit. Everyone else, including my family, would sit at different tables scattered around the gardens. Most of our guests flew in last night but a few still had to check in.

I wanted everything to be perfect, this is the one surprise I could give him. I walked back to my room to find Maxon still asleep in his bed. He was sleeping in for the first time since our honeymoon ended. It was nearly noon though and the party started at one. Sharp.

I walked over to his bedside and kneeled on the floor, and kissed his cheek. "Good morning. Did you sleep well birthday boy? I know you want to sleep more but the party starts in an hour." I asked while running my fingers through his mangy hair.

"Yes I slept very good. But five more minutes." he said before flipping himself face down into his pillow. He gripped the bed posts of his bed as I started pulling him by his feet off the bed. "Get. Out. Of. Bed!" I have a final tug before sending myself backwards. I landed at the foot of the bed and let out a fake whimper.

"America!" In no time he was out of bed, and by my side. I looked up with a devilish grin and flung my arms around him. I landed in his lap and he sat against the bed frame. He held me in his arms and I kissed his nose. "Gotcha" I said smiling. He shook his head and brought me closer to him.

"You are going to have to pay for that one!" He said with an evil smirk.

"And how do I do that, your highness?" I asked, flipping my hair off my shoulder. He leaned in and kissed me. We were a tangle of arms and legs, he lifted me off the ground and said. "That should do for your punishment but I still need my birthday present." He said, attempting to swoop in for another kiss. I put a finger to his lips and he looked at me, disappointed.

"And you will be receiving that later." I jumped out of his arms and said, "I have to go greet all the guests. I suggest you do the same." He sat down on our bed and I gave him one last smile before closing the door behind me.

I walked out to the gardens, where several guests had already shown up. Many of those guests came up to me and said thing along the lines of,

"The decor is marvelous!" "What type of flower is this?" "Did you design this yourself?"

An unfamiliar girl with dark blue eyes strolled up to me. She was wearing the same colored dress as I did; a white one. Though I had a light blue belt, she had a dark blue one. They both complimented our own eye colors. She smiled and curtsied, "It's a pleasure to meet you your highness. We haven't met before but I am Daphne. Maxon's old friend." The ring in her voice had both pride but a little bit of jealousy.

"The pleasure is mine, Daphne. Have you enjoyed your stay here at the palace so far?" I asked, trying to make polite small talk with her.

"Oh yes, but on a different topic, have you seen Maxon around? I want to give him my own birthday wishes." She said, a little rudely might I add. I nodded and walked back to our room. Normally I wouldn't have let her see him personally, but I knew Maxon and her were friends. He had mentioned it before so I didn't see why not. I knocked before I entered and gave her a motion to stay here. She nodded as I entered. I left the door a crack open and walked in further. Maxon was putting on his tie and said, "Hello, my dear." He left his tie loose and greeted me with a kiss. I whispered, "You have a visitor." I gripped his hand and Daphne entered our room rather than wait for Maxon. We both stiffened a little, this room was for us. Not her.

Daphne cleared her throat, "May I talk to Maxon. Alone." It didn't sound like a question but more of a command. Maxon looked down at me and shook his head. I kissed his cheek and left the room. But didn't wander too far. I heard some muffled talking and then silence. Then Maxon was yelling. I rushed back to the room to see Maxon pushing Daphne away and she whined. "Maxon, I loved you FIRST!"

"What is going on here?" I asked. Lipstick the shade Daphne was wearing was on Maxon's lips. He rubbed it off and I sank a little.

"Nothing." Maxon said. "Daphne was just leaving." I walked over to Maxon and I could see the hurt in his eyes. I didn't jump to any conclusions though. Maxon had walked in on me and Aspen so I wasn't going to get mad. At least at him anyway.

Daphne held her head high and left the room. I turned around to Maxon, tears forming in my eyes. He shook his head and I walked into his open arms. I wrapped my arms up and around so my hands touched his shoulders. He rocked me back and forth and I felt the ache he must have felt when he saw me and Aspen. The burning in your heart that is unshakable. "Sit down." He led me to the bed and we laid back, me cradled in his arms, tears running down my cheeks.

"When I was little, you know I didn't have many friends. Daphne was one of them. She was the only person who truly understood me and even though we saw each other only 3 times a year every time we saw each other we would fall back into step with each other like we had never missed a beat. Last year for my birthday, she wanted me to convince my father to let her compete in the selection. Or take it away and have me marry her. I told her I couldn't do that. She left. Angry. I broke her heart. Then just now she told me it wasn't too late. She kissed me and I couldn't do it. It wasn't what it looked like, I swear. I love you, so much. More than you even know. I am sorry you had to find out about her like this. I'm sorry." He kissed my hair and I cuddled in to him.

We stood up and I said, "It's okay. Really it is." Even though it hurt to see him kissing another girl, I looked up at him and he leaned in, placing his head just above my neck. He kissed it tenderly and I leaned into his chest. We stood there for a minute. "It really is okay Maxon." He nodded and stayed silent, but I could feel his warm breath against my neck. He kissed again and I lifted his head up with my finger tips. His eyes were closed, and his head down. I looked up at him and he opened his eyes. I laced my arms around him and his around me. We kissed in the silence. "I am so sorry," he breathed on my lips. We kissed again and when I pulled back for a breath, "I understand. I really do. Let's go, you have guests waiting." He kissed me once more and then said, "Send them home. I would rather spend the day with you. Alone." He came in for another kiss but I made it quick.

"You know I can't do that." I whispered. He nodded and gave me his arm. We left to go to the gardens, leaving all the secrets behind.

Later that day

Maxon and I had just finished our lunch with the guests. It was Maxon's favorite, fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken and warm bread. He had his chair right up against mine, afraid I might change my mind. Afraid I wasn't going to forgive what happened earlier. We had walked into the party with grace, or at least Maxon did, and was given time for Maxon to open his gifts, speak to guests, and eat the meal.

I stood up from my chair and Maxon looked up at me and stood. I sat him down and smiled, "Wait here." I walked up to stage and the quartet left. I picked up my guitar from Carolina and strapped it around my shoulder. I walked to the microphone and said, "Maxon, my love, this past year with you has been unforgettable. This song is for you. I thought I loved you during the selection, but I have learned that my love for you got so much deeper and truer since then. I love you. Happy Birthday." The guests clapped respectively, as shocked about what I was about to do as Maxon was. He sat there with surprise in his smile but love in his eyes.

I breathed out and began singing along to my music,

I never thought, that you would be the one, to hold my heart,

But you came around and you knocked me off the ground from the start.

You put your arms around me, and I believe that it's easier for you to let me go.

You put your arms around me, and I'm home.

How many times, will you let me change my mind and turn around?

I can't decide if I'll let you save my life, or if I'll drown.

I hope that you see right through my walls,

I hope that you catch me, cause I'm already falling.

I'll never let our love get so close,

You put your arms around me and I'm home...

You put your arms around me and I believe it's easier for you to let me go,

You put your arms around me and I'm home.

I tried my best to never let you in to see the truth, and I never opened up.

I've never truly loved...

'Till you put your arms around me, and I believe that it's easier for you to let me go.

I played my guitar through the hums and beats. And then finished the show,

You put your arms around me and I'm home.

I bowed my head and curtsied, as I always did after a performance. I looked up at Maxon, but he wasn't in his seat. My brows furrowed as I searched the crowd. I began to walk down the stairs when I saw him running towards me around the tents. I dropped the guitar and let him pick me up when he got to me. He twirled me around, my skirt flying out. I locked my arms around his neck and squealed. When he sat me down I asked, "Did you like it?" He engulfed me in a deep kiss, and dipped me backwards. A camera clicked in front of us but I didn't care, I actually wanted to remember this moment forever. He pulled me up and said, "I love it. Thank you. Did you write that for me?" I was kissed again and I smiled before I said, "Who else?"