THANK YOU ALL FOR 100 REVIEWS! BLESS YOU ALL FOR THE NEW YEAR!
Photo #43: Just a Few More Minutes
New Years is the time of year where everyone says they'll change and be a new person but that ends up never happening. A new year only brings the same person through a new set of days; and it all goes by so fast. Just when you'd think it started, the year is nearly completed.
New Years is a moment of magic and fireworks - where the world erupts in cheers and colors.
Eadlyn isn't surprised when she sees the next photo. It's a picture of her parents in their youth on New Years Eve - early in their marriage. Her mother holds the camera and plants a kiss on her half-asleep father's lips. Eadlyn isn't surprised at the kissing on this occasion but she expected the roles to be swapped since it would usually be her father initiating the kissing.
-o-
"C'mon, Maxon," America says, nudging him awake. "Just a few more minutes. You can do this."
Maxon flutters his eyes open, looking at the excitement on his wife's face. The two of them nestled on the couch in a shared quilt and comfortable clothing, watching Gavril Fadaye from The Report countdown the moments till the New Year. In front of them is a half-filled opened bottle of champagne and two glasses with a half-eaten fondue set in front of them.
"I'm awake, I'm awake," Maxon says even though he clearly isn't. He ends up closing his eyes again because of exhaustion. In his defense, a years worth of paperwork that came with being king really takes a toll on fatigue.
Maxon rests his tired head on her shoulder and uses America's long hair as a blanket. America keeps her eyes glued to the tv screen, listening to Gavril recap the year for them. A good part of them were about her and Maxon which only made her smile and think about how fast time has gone for her in general. Half of the events surprise her, having thought they happened ages ago and not mere months. It felt like only yesterday she was a Five in Carolina and now she was the Queen in a soon-to-be-casteless country.
America smiles to herself, taking a sip of her champagne and patting Maxon's leg as he naps on her. She couldn't have asked for a better year and a better one to come.
It was just the two of them tonight. Marlee and Carter were spending it with their familes outside of Angeles. The palace staff has been granted the night off, with the exception of a few guards and others who had no family but each other; so they remained in the palace. Maxon allowed them to be in civvies and have some champagne and appetizers to enjoy themselves as well. If him and America needed something, they catered to themselves.
"This is it, everyone!" Gavril announces with his shining expression on the tv. "The final seconds of the year!"
"Maxon!" America exclaims, slapping his chest.
"I'm awake!" Maxon replies, quickly taking a sip of her champagne as a little boost of energy (jokes on him since alcohol is actually a depressant and will only increase fatigue).
The two of them hold each other closely, counting down each and every second, tightening their grip as the numbers get smaller and smaller. The moment it hits zero, Maxon and America cheer as fireworks begin to explode outside all over the sky. The bright and colorful lights illuminate through the window and into their bedroom.
"Happy New Year!" America exclaims with the brightest smile on her face.
"Happy New Year, my dear," Maxon replies with a yawn halfway through.
America goes in to kiss him, taking a picture of it with Maxon's camera herself. Maxon holds her face in his hands as he kisses her back passionately.
"I promise this year will be amazing," Maxon whispers to her.
"You do?" America questions back softly. "And if it isn't?"
"I'm the king, I'll command for it to be nothing else but great."
"With politics aside, what should we do this year?"
He shrugs. "Any ideas?"
She smiles. "I have plenty."
"Let's discuss them tomorrow. We have 365 days to make so many wonderful memories and complete your bucketlist."
Maxon yawns and gives her another kiss. He shifts his position beside America and lies down in her lap to fall asleep again. America laughs a little to herself, fixing their quilt so it covers him mostly. She begins humming a lullaby while combing her fingers through his soft, blond hair.
Though one is asleep, both of them are enjoying this silent start to the New Year just as Illéa celebrates joyfully outside the palace walls.
I want a sleeping Maxon Schreave to cuddle on New Years.
Stay Tuned - a little walk down the runway never hurt anyone...
