A/N: I know I said it was going to be a one-shot but I changed my mind. As you'll see, I took some...creative liberties. I forgot to say this in the first chapter, but everything belongs to the wonderful Kira Cass! Thank you so much for reading!

I head down to the Halloween ball, my butterfly wings hitting the walls. I enter the great room and look around for Marlee. She's nowhere in sight. I see Maxon dancing with Kriss. I walk over to my family. May is in a beautiful poofy bride's dress. I thought she was kidding when she said she was going to be a bride. Aspen is talking to my dad. I try to avoid his eyes. I've been seeing him a lot recently because he and Lucy are friends, but every time I make eye contact with him he gives me a look like he's a kicked puppy. I talk with my family for a while, looking over at Maxon every time a new song starts. Once he is done dancing with Elise I expect him to come ask me to dance but instead he asks Kriss. Again. I excuse myself from the conversation and walk over near to where Maxon and Kriss are. Maybe he just didn't want to interrupt me talking to my family. The song ends and he asks Crystal to dance. It is like he is purposely ignoring me. The only other Selected he hasn't danced with is Marlee, but she is nowhere in sight. I start to get upset, so, just to spite Maxon, I ask Aspen if he wants to dance. He agrees. The first minute or so of the dance we are silent. Then he starts a conversation.

"So, seems like Prince Maxon is ignoring you."

"Stay out of it Aspen."

"Mer, I've moved on. You don't have to worry about it anymore. I've fallen in love with someone else. Actually, we are engaged."

"Oh." I say, shocked. "Who?"

"uh, Lucy" a huge smile spreads across my face

"I'm so happy for you Aspen. You guys are perfect for each other" No one needs a hero more than Lucy and no one can protect her better than Aspen. Someone taps me on the shoulder.

"May I cut in?" Maxon asks, coldly

"Of course your highness" Aspen winks at me as he leaves. As we start to dance Maxon seems tense.

"Aspen is getting Engaged" I say.

"Really? To whom?" He looks like a huge burden has been lifted off his shoulders.

"My maid, Lucy."

"How exciting." I can't take this anymore. I thought we were in such a good place and now he is ignoring me!

"Maxon Calix Schreave, are you ignoring me?"

"No! Darling, I was just putting in my time with the other girls so I could spend the rest of the night with you!"

"Oh, I just—you've been spending a lot of time with the other girls recently and I thought maybe you changed your mind."

"Honestly, I've been trying-and failing-to find a second option. No one measures up to you though." I blush.

"Maxon, I-" I kiss him lightly and rest my head on his chest as he pulls me closer. He sets his chin on top of my head and we start dancing so slowly we are barely moving. Again I see myself having a future with Maxon. At the garden party I realized that a future with him is what I want. Now I know I need it. I can't live without him. I love him.

"Maxon," I say quietly, "I love you, you know that right.? You know all I want is a future with you."

He moves his head so our foreheads are touching.

"I love you too." Then, he gets down on one knee. I gasp. My mom has definitely fainted. Several other people gasp and everyone stops dancing as they realize what's happening. The other Elite scramble to the front of the crowd. Crystal is smiling, Elise is stoic, and Kriss is on the verge of tears.

"My Darling America," Maxon starts, " I love you. I have since the first week of the selection. I should have told you a lot sooner. Maybe we could have avoided so many stupid mistakes if I had. Then again," he says, his smile growing bigger, "sometimes I think it was all those obstacles that made me love you so deeply." I lose control and tears start falling down my face. " America, my darling, I know you see a Prince here, but let me be clear; this isn't a command. This is a request, a plea. I beg you; make me the happiest man alive. Please do me the honor of becoming my wife." I can't speak. I'm so happy. I just nod my head. May yells out " what do you say Ames?" I laugh a little through my tears and find my words. " yes! yes! YES!" I say, hopefully loud enough that May can hear. Maxon stands up and I fly into his arms. He spins me around as we kiss. I'm marrying Maxon Schreave. He sets me down. Our foreheads stay together, we both laugh, giddy with happiness. He wipes the tears off my face and puts the ring on my finger. A web of thin gold vines crawls up, forming the ring, holding at the top two gems— one green, one purple—that kiss at the crown of it. I know the purple one is my birthstone, so the green one must be his. We turn to face the crowd. The elite have left, most likely trying to process in peace. I hug each member of my family in turn. . "you're going to be a princess, Ames!" May says.

"I knew you would win." My mother says, like it was obvious Maxon would choose me.

"I'm so glad you're happy, Kitten." My dad says. Tears trickle down my face.

"I'm going to miss you so much daddy" I say, hugging him tighter. When we pull out of the hug, he gently wipes my face and says, "I'll miss you too kitten, but I think your fiancé has arranged a place for us to stay near by" I smile, of course he did. I see Aspen standing behind my dad. "Aspen! Go get Lucy and the other girls. They can wear my clothes and shoes. I want them here with me!"

"As you wish, your highness." He says smiling and bowing. He then runs out of the room to get my girls.

"America!" Maxon calls. I walk over to where he is standing with his parents. Queen Amberly holds her arms out to hug me.

"congratulations!" She says, then she whispers so only I can hear, "I knew it was going to be you. Maxon loves you very much."

"Thank you, mom." I whisper. We pull apart and I look over at King Clarkson.

" congratulations.." he says coldly

" thank you King Clarkson." Even he can't ruin my happiness right now. At that moment, Aspen runs up breathless.

" Your highnesses," he says, addressing me and Maxon. "We have a situation"

" Indeed we do," King Clarkson says under his breath. Amberly glares at him.

" what is it Officer Legar?" Maxon asks

"Follow me." Aspen responds. We run out of the room and down the hall. Aspen stops in front of a room. "Before I open this door I want to say that I'm showing you this because I know that if you want to you'll cover this up and no one will get hurt."

" Aspen, what's going on I ask?" He opens the door and we see Marlee draped across office Woodwork, kissing him.

"Oh god Marlee. What have you done?" I say quietly. Now it all makes sense. Her disappearing for long periods of time. Why she chose to sit by herself at the garden party with only Officer Woodwork nearby. Why she stayed even though she knew she didn't want Maxon. Marlee turns to face us, her face flooding with fear. We all stand there, starring, for what feels like hours. "Do you two love each other?" Maxon asks. I turn to him shocked. I didn't think he'd be furious but I didn't think he would be this calm either.

"Yes." They say in unison.

" then we never saw it." Maxon says. " after all of the other selected have left, Marlee will stay at the palace and you two may do as you please. Until then you can't let anyone find out. Do you understand?"

" yes" Marlee says " thank you Maxon."

" of course. Besides, the selection is over. I've chosen my bride." He smiles at me and walks away. Aspen follows, leaving me with Marlee and Woodwork. "America?" Marlee says "Can I talk to you?"

"Yeah of course." When Maxon turns around to see if I'm following, I motion that he can keep walking.

"Um...I'll go to the officer's rooms." Woodwork grabs his jacket which had been cast aside at some point. He gives Marlee a quick kiss on the cheek, then turns and bows to me.

"Thank you Lady America."

"Please," I respond, "it's America." He walks down the hall leaving just me and Marlee.

"America, I just-I just want to explain. You see-"

"It's okay Marlee. I understand. More than you know. Remember when I told you about my ex-boyfriend from back home? That was Officer Legar. Granted, I never hooked up with him while I was here, but I do understand. You love him. How could you not be with him?"

"Thank you so much, America." She pulls me into a hug

"Of course." After we break apart I walk back to the Great Room. Marlee walks in the opposite direction towards her room. When I enter I see Maxon talking to my family. I walk over and hook my arm through his. He stops in the middle of his sentence, smiles, looks down at me, and kisses my forehead before returning back to what he was saying. May comes over and hugs me from my other side. She just stands there hugging me. Looking around at my family, all talking and laughing together, I can't wait. I can't wait for falling asleep next to him every night. I can't wait for morning snuggles and baby kisses. I can't wait for tag games and peanut butter figure prints. But for now, I'll just enjoy this party, because all of that? It's waiting for me in just a few short years.