So this is quite a fluffy Maxerica chapter. Sorry it was a bit longer than I planned, but please read, review, and I'll try to post another one soon.
AMERICA'S POV
Maxon and I stayed huddled on the roof for most of the night; his shoulder was covered in wet stains from my tears as he wouldn't let me move away. Instead he held me to him as tightly as he could manage, as if he never wanted to let me go. Eventually we both seemed to fall asleep as I woke to the sound of Maxon's soft, calming breath and the steady beat of his heart on my chest.
Slowly and carefully I wriggled out from his grasp, I looked back to check he was still asleep and when I saw that he was I walked over to the edge of the roof once more. I leant over the little wall and stared out at the Angeles skyline. It was dark now, illuminating the blocks of flats and huge skyscrapers; the little lights allowing people's homes to twinkle like the stars in the sky. The part of Carolina that I lived in was nowhere near the size of the city, nor was it anywhere near as bright.
Above the city, the moon shone brightly, basking the city in an almost eerie white glow. For anyone out now, the white moon mingled with the yellow glow from people's homes would be the only sources of light, and something told me that, despite Illèan curfew, I was not the only one out of bed.
I watched as the city slowly got darker as people went off to their comfy beds, saying goodnight to their families and preparing for the next day. Some would have had to have gone to bed hours ago in order to get up in time for the early shifts of post men and other such jobs. Others would not long have been home, returning just before curfew, and would now be saying goodnight to their children who may not have seen them all day. They all seemed to want someone perfect to lead them and someone who did not face the little troubles that they faced every day.
Suddenly, it struck me that only a few hours previously I had actually considered killing myself for these people who probably have had similar personal troubles to my own. I want to be perfect for these people so much that I almost gave them my life. And yet, they all get to go on living their own lives with no idea how close their letters almost came to ending mine. I envied them for that, they didn't have to worry about their impact like we did. If I make a decision, even if it's just what flowers to have at a party, it could effect a trade agreement or a peace treaty, something that will greatly affect the country and each and every one of the people that right now live comfortably in their homes, judging me for something beyond anyone's control.
"What are you thinking about?" I whipped around at the sound of my husband's soft voice in its half-asleep state.
"Nothing." I smiled and shook my head slightly. Maxon stood and wrapped his arms around me.
"I love you, you know." He whispered into my ear as he slowly kissed my neck.
"I know, and I love you too. And I promise, I'm not planning on leaving anytime soon." I turned and pulled his face towards mine so that our lips met. I decided in that moment that no matter what anyone said, I would stay for as long as Maxon still loved me
"How do I look?" I asked turning to Mary who had just walked through the door carrying my dress for tonight's report in a garment bag.
"Beautiful, Your Majesty." She smiled.
"America." I corrected her. I hated people referring to me as Your Highness when in an informal setting.
"America." She repeated in a mocking tone from the safety of my walk-in-wardrobe.
As soon as Amy finished pinning up the last wisps of hair, I thanked her and walked through to the wardrobe to see a beautiful pale blue dress just visible through a gap in the bag. Before I could say a thing it was out of the bag and Mary was pulling it over my head, making adjustments to it by lacing up the back. Finally, I was allowed to look in the mirror and see the dress properly. It was a floor-length dress that had a corset-style top and went out slightly for the skirt. It was simple, yet beautiful. My hair was up in a tight bun and Mary carefully placed a silver tiara with blue gems that matched my dress perfectly.
"Mary, how you manage to make me look so good every day I'll never know." I giggled and she just shook her head.
I walked back through to my bedroom and saw Marlee sat knitting on one of the chairs by the window. The sight of her ever growing stomach almost made me cry but I turned away to see Maxon stood in the doorway. He quickly enveloped me in a hug, as if he knew I was on the verge of tears.
"It'll happen for us, too. I know it." He whispered softly into my ear. I nodded.
Maxon clasped hold of my hand and we waved goodnight to the girls before walking down the recording room hand-in-hand. Once outside of my room, he pulled me closer towards him and moved his hand from mine and placed it on my waist. In return, I half leant into him, wanting to be as close to him as possible.
We sat in the chairs that were next to each other on the right-hand side of the stage, they were a little further away than I would have liked but I was fairly sure that they were also closer together than normal.
The lights dimmed and the national anthem began to play across the, now, silent stage. As the lights began to come up, Maxon stood and walked powerfully over to the podium in the centre of the stage.
"Good evening Illèa. Before I pass over to my advisors who have important messages for you, I would like to give a few of my own. First of all, I would like to announce the new 'council of the people' who will be voted for by all of you, one from each province, that will meet with me once a week to discuss any issues that you feel need raising. The election will be held in two months and the results will be read out in the report immediately following. Anyone is welcome to stand for election, all they must do is collect, fill in, and return a form that is available at your local Illèan council offices." Maxon turned, looked at me, smiled and then turned back.
"Second, I would like to remind you all that letters that are sent to the palace are first read by the staff in the post room and that only appropriate letters are passed on to my wife or myself. We have recently had reports of several cases of attacks on our private lives and recent issues we have faced." I heard him hesitating on the word 'issue' not wanting to use that word to describe losing our unborn child but not wanting to use any other word either. "I wish to tell you that if you are found to be sending such letters to any member of the family it will be seen as treason and offenders will be treated accordingly. Thank you, I will now pass over to my team to bring you the latest news." He bowed his head slightly and walked back to his seat.
When I was sure that the cameras were focused elsewhere on the stage I reached over, grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
"Thank you." I mouthed and he smiled.
After the report we walked back upstairs together and walked straight across the bedroom towards the balcony. From here, we could see everything. The twinkling lights of the city, the bench where we met, the woods that surrounded the palace on two sides, every part of our journey seemed to be in our sight right now.
Maxon led me across and we sat on the loveseat at the edge of the balcony. I curled up next to him and he wrapped his arms around me.
"Promise me that you'll never leave me…ever. I need you America, I don't care what any of those people say. I don't care what anyone may think of you. You are perfect and you better not ever change. Promise me that you'll be here until the end of time, right next to me, shouting at me but loving me, too."
"Maxon, I'll be here for as long as you'll have me. For as long as you can deal with me, I'll be here and if you ever think I'll stop telling you when you're being an idiot then you're sadly mistaken." I teased and kissed him lightly on the lips.
As I pulled away, Maxon pulled me straight back down joining us together once more as he forced me to lie on top of him, feeling his heart beat against mine and his lips hot against my own.
Sooo? Leave me a review please and I'll see you all next time