Chapter 26- Wedding Bells
BlissfulBillie: thank you so much! That was both a hard and a fun chapter to write and I'm so glad you liked it!
KMlovesfanfics: YES! I felt like a lot of last chapter was kind of explaining why America would be hesitant to agree to something she had dreamed about! Super happy it hit the right chord!
Virtue01- i despise miscommunication as a plot device for ~drama~ so my Maxerica are no lying, secret-having, miscommunication fools lol
Aubreylovesthegame: hehehe thank you sooo much
QueenAmericaSchreave: that was such a sweet offer! I'm actually doing pretty well thank you!
So… here we are: the finale of Better Choices. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little misty eyed writing this (even knowing I'm planning on a sequel). I first started writing this story three years ago and reading it back shows me how much I have grown as a writer and a person in that time. I've grown up writing this and I will never be able to thank you all for supporting this endeavour and loving this series and this fanfic as much as I do. I am eternally grateful. I think it's kind of apt that I'm ending this on New Year's Eve. Better Choices is the end of an era for me and it's fittingly come at the end of one of my hardest years. Thank you. I hope Wedding Bells does justice to this story as a finale. See you soon and enjoy… xoxo High Lady of the Fandom Court
So without further ado, the finale…
*five months later*
Maxon stood from beside me, tapping his champagne flute gently. The lull of conversation quieted throughout the room. I smiled. Everyone I loved was here. And tomorrow would be the first day of the rest of Maxon and I's life together. Maxon placed his fork back down and twined his fingers with mine, still looking at our friends and family assembled in the small Angeles restaurant. I squeezed hard. Maxon smiled softly.
"America and I would like to thank you all for coming to our rehearsal dinner tonight." His voice filled the room. "As you all know, America and I didn't have a traditional love story, but I couldn't imagine it any other way. We cannot thank you enough, our closest friends and family, for the support and love you have shown us these past months of the Selection and wedding planning. We wouldn't be here without you. And to my America," Maxon turned to me and pulled me to my feet, eyes shining. "Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for saying yes. I love you."
Maxon pressed a kiss to my forehead and I smiled, trying not to cry. I would never understand what I did to deserve him, for him to love me.
"I love you too," I whispered only for him. Maxon smiled brighter and turned back to the room.
"So, let us raise a glass," Maxon raised his glass and I watched as gold was lifted into the air. "to friends, family, and the love of my life. Cheers!"
The rest of dinner flew by in a blur of smiles and raucous laughter. I was so incredibly happy. I didn't think I could be happier, but each day, I loved Maxon more and it was that love, it was Maxon, that made me that much happier.
Maxon opened the door to the car, bowing and pressing a kiss to my knuckles, "My lady."
I laughed and pulled him closer to kiss him lightly. "You're ridiculous."
"But you love me for it," Maxon whispered in my ear as we climbed into the car. I bit back another laugh and instead leaned into Maxon's side.
"We're getting married tomorrow, Max," I whispered. Somehow I still couldn't quite wrap my mind around that. Tomorrow I would be Maxon's wife.
"I can't wait," Maxon whispered back, kissing my temple softly. "I love you, America."
I smiled softly and closed my eyes, burrowing into Maxon's arms. I didn't need to respond. Maxon knew how I felt. He was my home.
"I wish you didn't have to stay away tonight," he murmured into my hair. "No one would know if I left before everyone else woke up." We had taken to collapsing into one of our beds at the end of our long days. I knew how hard it was for Maxon to sleep, but he always seemed to fall asleep easily if I was there next to him. Still, I shook my head.
"It's bad luck, Maxon," I admonished playfully. "And besides, I would know. We can't start our marriage like that."
Maxon chuckled. "Only you would worry about that."
"But you love me for it," I mumbled, mimicking his response from earlier.
Maxon tightened his arms around me. "I do."
It was still dark when I woke up. I glanced over to the closed door connecting Maxon's room to mine. His light was on. It cast a faint square on my floor and his footfall traveled with it. I bit my lip. Maxon was nervous.
He was used to getting up at an ungodly hour but he only paced when he was worried about something. I slipped out of bed, tugging my robe around me. Summer was coming, but the nights still held the kiss of winter. I knocked on the door softly.
"Maxon, are you okay?" I whispered.
The pacing stopped and then I heard him walk toward the door. "Did I wake you?" Maxon's voice was slightly panicked and still crackled with sleep.
I shook my head before remembering that he couldn't see me. "No. I was already up. Are you okay?"
"I'm… I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop." He murmured. There was a sound on the other side of the door like he sat down, leaning against the door. I followed suit.
"There's no shoe, Max."
"But there has to be, America. Something always goes wrong." He was quiet for a moment. "Do you think we fight too much?"
"Maybe," I laughed softly. "But we always make up."
"But what happens when you do something monumentally stupid or I have to make a decision you don't like or we have to travel for extended periods of time in different places? How do you know we won't have some massive fight that breaks us? How do you know that we'll be okay?"
I bit my lip. Maxon had been spinning. It wasn't common for him to unravel-he usually snapped back before he let himself get too far. But it sounded like he had spent the whole night thinking about this.
"Maxon." I leaned my head against the door, closing my eyes. "I can't say that we'll always be okay. I can't promise that, Maxon. But I know us. I am monumentally stupid sometimes. But even then, Maxon, most of my monumentally stupid moments have come when I was trying to do more than I could alone. And I'm not alone. I have you. And we'll handle making decisions as they come. Do you remember the night of our engagement party?"
"You were so beautiful that night," he mused as if lost in a dream. I smiled softly.
"Maxon, I was mad for a moment. Mad that you didn't tell me. More mad that you put yourself in danger. But you talked to me and we were okay. We'll make decisions together and the ones that we don't, we will talk about.
"And when we travel, we can write letters." I twisted my engagement ring around my finger. "I think it's rather romantic."
Maxon whispered, "I really want to kiss you right now."
"Not until later," I laughed, shaking my head. "Not until you're my husband."
Maxon sighed heavily, laughter twinkling behind his voice. "If I must." He paused and his voice was more serious when he spoke again. "Thank you, America."
"I'm not leaving, Max."
His fingers stretched through the crack under the door, searching for mine. I slipped my hand into his. "I know. I was just…"
"I know. It's okay."
A knock at my other door pulled my head away. A crowd of women burst through the doors without waiting for my response. I sighed with a smile.
"I love you, America," Maxon whispered as I let go of his hand. I squeezed one last time: I love you too.
I didn't take another breath until I was standing next to my father in front of the towering cathedral doors. I inhaled sharply.
"How are you, kitten?" He took my hand with a smile.
"Happy," I said after a moment. "I'm really happy, Daddy."
My father smiled. "I'm glad. You will be an extraordinary princess, America."
I leaned into him, relishing my last moment both of peace before the rest of the happy chaos set in… and as nothing but his daughter. He was going to give me away today. And while I loved Maxon more than anything or anyone in the world, there was something bittersweet about it. I couldn't be my father's little girl anymore. I had to grow up.
"What's that look?" My father chided softly, lifting my chin with one finger.
I smiled at him softly. "Don't let me fall."
His eyes softened. The echo of the wedding march played before he could answer. The doors opened before us and I gripped my bouquet tightly. My father kissed the back of my hand and took a step forward.
The crowds in the pews surged towards the aisle-all hoping for a glimpse of… me. It was still baffling to me. Hidden cameras followed Maxon and I around when we left the palace or the guards found paparazzi hiding in the gardens. I was going to be Illea's princess and yet it still felt strange for the country to think I was anything more than simply ordinary. I shook my head infinitesimally and smiled broadly.
I couldn't see Maxon, but friendly faces dotted the crowds. August and Georgia stood beside each other in a pew on the right and a little bit farther, on the left, my maids smiled at me brightly. I couldn't help but notice Lucy's hand nestled tightly in Aspen's. I raised a brow at her with a laugh. She ducked her head, laughing in return.
The other Selected girls formed a tightly knit group in the front pews. Celeste blew me a kiss. I smiled brighter, my eyes catching on my family in the first row. Mom smiled broadly, almost deviously, as if to say "I told you so." May looked almost happy enough to burst. I turned again to see Queen Amberly smile softly with eyes shining almost as much as the delicate tiara atop her dark hair.
And then, I saw him. His blond hair was impeccably placed and I ached to mess it up a little bit. Maxon wore the formal clothes that he wore for our magazine photoshoot. It felt like years ago now. We had both grown up so much since then. And loved each other more.
My father stopped just before the steps. Marlee took my bouquet with a squeeze of my hand. I hugged my father tightly. "I'm so proud of you, America," he whispered.
Maxon came down like he was drawn by some invisible string. I pulled away from my father and he placed my hand in Maxon's, kissing my cheek lightly before he stepped back. Maxon helped me up the stairs and then reclaimed my hands, facing me at the altar at last.
I wiped away a stray tear with the pad of my thumb. "You don't look so chandelier-y in that anymore," I murmured.
Maxon chuckled, "And you look absolutely angelic, my America."
I kept my eyes locked on Maxon's while the bishop spoke. I repeated his words, barely paying attention to anything other than the man standing before me: the man loving me harder than anyone ever could. Before I realized it, Maxon had slipped a ring on my finger and his lips pressed against mine sweetly.
He pulled away, cupping my cheek. "Are you ready, Mrs. Schreave?" He asked over the applause.
I nodded with a barely contained smile. Maxon straightened and led me to the velvet kneeler in front of a glittering tiara on a pedestal.
"Please kneel, Lady America," the bishop said. I did, bowing my head slightly. "Do you, Lady America Singer Schreave, solemnly take the duties of Princess of Illea to protect, honor, defend, and uphold the people and customs of this country?"
"I do."
"Will you accept the duties of the Queen when such a time comes?"
"I will."
"Do you so promise to serve your country until you breathe your last?"
"I do so promise."
The bishop nodded with a smile. "Then, by the power vested in me by God and the Kings of Illea, I crown you, Princess America Schreave."
He placed the tiara on my head. I stood turning slowly to face my people. The applause was deafening. Maxon stepped back to my side and Marlee handed me my bouquet.
Maxon squeezed my hand and we walked into the daylight smiling brighter than the sun. The crowds outside the cathedral cheered and threw flowers onto our path. A guard opened the car door and we slipped in.
Maxon wrapped his arms around me and I giggled. He planted a kiss on my temple and his lips traveled down my cheek and my neck. I laughed again and pulled his face to look into his eyes. "You're mine," I whispered. It still didn't feel real.
"Forever, Princess," Maxon whispered back before he captured my lips with his.
I liked that: forever. We would have forever to love each other. We would have another forever of memories. We would have forever of happiness. We would have a forever together. And anything could happen. I liked that a lot. It wasn't happily ever after. It was just the beginning.