AN: Thank you for your continued support and all of your compliments. I'm sorry I can't update every day like some of you keep asking (I just started a new job, I'm training for a half marathon, I'm trying to write my own novel and sometimes I have to spend time with real people not just the fictional characters who live inside my head :P).
Also, SJWrites2014, as you are the main person who keeps asking me to add more of Celeste/America friendship stuff into the story, I will offer you some more if you update your story. ;)
America's POV
I stood there absolutely dumbfounded looking back and forth between Aspen and Lucy. While I didn't hold any feelings for him anymore, there was no denying my shock at the scene. How long had this been going on? When did they have time without me noticing? How could I be so blind to see that Aspen wasn't trying to move on from me if he thought there was a possibility I wouldn't pick him? After all, I had told him I wanted space after I thought I was going home. At that point I knew for sure I wanted to be with Maxon. Every moment afterwards I had followed through with being with Maxon and Maxon alone. Of course he would be moving on. And I was more than happy for him. He always wanted to be somebody's hero. That was clear from the moment in the tree-house when he dumped me. He had wanted to be able to provide for me, be my knight in shining armor. But I hadn't needed a knight, I needed someone who would rival my tempers, fight with me, but underneath it all love me unconditionally. That had been Maxon but not Aspen. And now, he had found the woman who needed a knight in shining armor to come and rescue him. There was no one who deserved him more and no one who could ever be better for him.
His eyes fluttered open and looked down at her instinctively. However he eventually felt someone's eyes on him as he turned to look at me. I gave him a small wave, smiling soft. It was the first real smile I could offer anyone since I had lost Maxon. I was glad it was there because I wanted him to know it was okay that he was happy. I wanted one of us to be able to move on past these handful of months and be happy. I walked over to him after he gestured for me to come and sit with him. His hand never left Lucy's. When I got closer I could see there were still tears threatening to fall out of his eyes but he had left them in pools fighting them with everything he had. That was Aspen, brave and true to the very end no matter how hard things got. I pulled up a seat and looked between the two of them. I hoped she'd wake up soon for him.
"Mer," he whispered, placing his other hand on my own. A few months ago, this would have been all that I wanted. Him holding my hand and being with me. Now, it was just out of friendship and that was just fine with me to. "I'm so sorry."
"It's alright, Aspen. I'm so glad you're happy."
He nodded at me before his eyes glanced at Lucy, as if removing them would keep her in a coma forever. He looked back at me not sure what he was going to say. I saw his jaw and lips move as if he was trying to form words but still nothing would come out. "What are you going to do now?"
I shrugged my shoulders knowing that I needed to keep my promise to Maxon and not tell anyone about my new job position. I wanted to be able to gain his trust if we were going to be working together for the rest of our lives. "Return home and go back to performing probably. Maybe teach music. I'm not really sure."
"So he's really sending you home?" I nodded my head sadly. "Well, he's an idiot Mer. I should know I let you go once. I've had conversations with Kriss before, just at a few different parties we were allowed to attend. She's nice but she's no you."
That made me smile softly. He always had a way to make me happier, make me feel good about myself. I would always be grateful for the friendship we had between the two of us. I saw him now as family and a part of me that I would never let go of. That helped to ease the sting of pain I felt about losing my father and Maxon within a few days of each other. I looked again at him and Lucy and couldn't help but to want my questions answered. I wanted to know how long this had been going on, how it started, and how he was feeling. Pretty much anything I could ask him to forget about my new job for a little while as well as forgetting about my disappointing meeting with Maxon.
"When did this happen? I mean it must have happened before we went home because you seemed very put off by the idea of dating Anne." I smiled teasing him as he raised his eyebrow at me. He shrugged his shoulders and looked as if he decided to give me this change of topic that I was looking for. What a good friend I had always had in him.
"A few weeks after you were nearly sent home. She had flirted with me before, pretty much whenever she saw me around running around the palace. I hadn't really noticed her before. Why would I when there was you?" Those words sent shivers down my spine. This was the second time I had heard them but this time it wasn't the words themselves that threatened to break at my heart. It was the reminder of when Maxon had said them to me in the safe room. Aspen must have sensed my pain because he continued in that moment.
"I hadn't really noticed her but after you told me that you didn't want me to start writing or come after you…well it broke my heart. I got drunk that night. Lucy found me crashed against one of the walls. She took me to one of the quarters for the maids and took care of me. The next morning we started talking. And we never really stopped after that."
I nodded my head and opened my mouth to say something but he continued before I could. "I want to marry her, Mer. More than I ever wanted to marry you. We had something but the kind of love we had was for children. This is deeper than what I ever felt for you and now I'm afraid we've both lost our second chance."
I shook my head. "No, Aspen, I've lost my second chance. You, on the other hand, will live a long and happy life with Lucy as soon as she recovers. You will have lots of children and you'll die old together. She won't die here," I reassured him. "I'm the only one who has lost out on their second chance." I stood up and kissed the top of his head. I didn't want any comfort or additional thoughts in my head that Maxon could change his mind and I knew if I hung around that Aspen would try and do that.
Without another word, I headed back to my room wondering if someone would bring Nicoletta so I could ask her about my new job. Ask her what the Italians had been thinking in wanting me to take this position. I decided that I would do just that, not thinking there was much else that could be done for the next couple of days. Part of me wanted to go and apologize to Kriss but that would have to wait until after Maxon had told her I was staying. I wanted her to know I would pursue him. She could have him, she was what he deserved after all. I just hoped that she would be able to accept me in this new position would mean that we would have to be in contact with each other. But I would try my hardest every day to show her I was alright with the way that things had turned out. I would gain her trust—and Maxon's—by not interfering in their relationship like Celeste had suggested I do. I, instead, would focus myself on my line of work and learning and doing as much as I could to make sure that Illéa and Italy relationships became one of the strongest that we had ever known. I smiled at myself with new purpose for the first time since I had lost Maxon. Everything could turn around, slowly, but surely.
Maxon's POV
The hours had dragged on since my meeting with America that morning. I was grateful, not wanting to be in a rush to tell Kriss about the arrangement with the Italians. While I didn't think she would have a temper about it, I was completely unsure how she would respond to me agreeing. Part of me wished that she would lash it out at me. At least then I could argue back at why we had to be able to accept that America would forever be in both of our lives. Hopefully because she didn't have a temper and had never been as quick to doubt herself, she would be able to see this would stay as simply a business arrangement. That's all I could hope for.
By my last meeting I had become completely exhausted. There was the matter of naming me king, the funeral—which Kriss was more in charge of than me but I was grateful for it—simple wedding details but most of those were being pushed off until we were ready to set a date, as well as reviewing some of the final orders my father had planned to carry out before his death. Another trip to New Asia was within a few weeks' time. I groaned. Hadn't our last meeting been in vain? Well, perhaps now that the Italians had agreed to become our allies I would be able to convince them to come with me and help to end that war. One less problem to worry about. Still, I dreaded the thought that they might not agree to a peace treaty. That was all that I wanted to start off my ruling as king though. Then I would move onto my project to dismantle the Caste system. America had lost my trust of me telling her that was one of my biggest plans. I had both admired and hated that she threw it out on the Report. Part of me simply admired her courage—even if it was molded with stupidity—while the other part wanted to have the honor of presenting that idea on a grand scale. She had taken that moment for herself when I had wanted to share it with her. At least Kriss would share in that with me the next time it was announced.
After my meetings, I decided to have dinner on my own before going to confront Kriss. I wanted to be able to relax and refuel before I delivered the news, as I figured it would be a long night before I was able to return to my own room to sleep. I would do anything to wash away her fears. But I needed energy to be able to do that. I leaned back on one of the more comfortable chairs in the King's Suite as my meal was brought to me by one of my new maids. I thanked her as she headed back out the door and sighed, breathing in the few moments of relaxation I would be able to add to my hectic day. When I was finally able to relax, however, there was a soft knock at my door. At first I figured it was Kriss. But once it opened, I was almost overly grateful to see that it was just my mother. I welcomed her in, setting aside my dinner so we could talk for a few minutes.
Her eyes were still red but they weren't as dark a color as they were last night. She was still grieving but at least she was doing a little bit better. I hoped she didn't notice my lack of emotions towards my father's death. I didn't know how to feel or what to think—or what to say to anyone on the matter so I really hoped she wouldn't bring him up. "He'd be so proud of you Maxon. He always was. He loved you so much." Lies, I mentally spat at her words. But I would never, not even in his death, give my mother a reason to doubt that he had been anything but a good father to me.
"I had thought for sure you'd have chosen Lady America, Maxon, and I do hope that if you felt pressured to choose otherwise that you sent things straight now. But, if Lady Kriss is who you are happy with and love, then I support that as well. I think she will make a very good princess, too." So mother had been cheering on America—which I really already knew—alongside the Italians. Part of me wished I could open up to her about the Italian's offer and how it was making me feel. Part of me wanted to tell her about Officer Aspen Leger and the morning I had wanted to propose to America. But I was afraid that I would keep losing the good feelings I had felt radiating off of Kriss this morning so I kept my mouth shut.
"The Italians have agreed to be our allies. Lady America will be our diplomat over Italian relations. Hopefully," I started slowly, not sure what anyone would think of my idea, "I will be able to use that alliance to help end the war with New Asia. I think that would be a really good way to start off my time as king."
She smiled at me with a face full of pride. That was something my father would have never shown to me. I was immensely grateful to be getting it from my mother. While she hadn't ever had control over war meetings, there was so much that she was in charge of behind the scenes. If I could be anything like her, accomplish all of the good and grand things she could—or at least on the same scale—than I knew that I could be proud of the things I was doing.
"There is something I would like you to consider, Maxon." I nodded my head for her to continue. I would do almost anything that my mother asked me to. "That officer, Leger I believe, who took control of yesterday's events and saved my life, I would like you to get the Major to offer him a promotion as well as a medal for good services."
Good services? My mind began to pound the way it did the first time the words Nicoletta said this morning did. What good services had he done besides saving my mother: more lies and betrayals from Lady America. But I couldn't tell her any of that. I couldn't tell her that I wouldn't have him honored as a hero either. After all, he was the only reason I wasn't an orphan. I had to agree, even though a small part of me just wanted to run a sword through him. I nodded my head quickly and mouthed something along the lines that I would make sure it was taken care of.
After she left, I found myself no longer in the mood for my dinner. Instead, I decided it was simply time to tell Kriss that America would be staying around until she retired from her new position. I got up and walked down the hall to the Princess suite. I realized I hadn't been here since I showed Marlee to America.
Smiling up at me answering the knock on my door was my future bride. I smiled and kissed her forehead before walking in. She had added a few minor decorations to the room but nothing could be really done until the ban had been lifted off the palace.
"Lady…I mean Princess Kriss," I said quickly correcting myself. That would take some time to get used to, but I would have to work on it nonetheless. "I have some news I need to share with you." She looked up at me, fear flashing through her eyes. I wondered if she assumed I had gone back to America being my choice so I quickly wrapped her in my arms. "The Italians have requested that, on the terms of being in alliance with them, Lady America become their diplomat. We need their aid to keep training the Northern Rebels and to end the war in New Asia."
"She's staying." I could hear the anger, hurt, and a small ounce of fear behind those words. I wrapped her tighter in my arms. I just wanted her to feel better about the situation.
"Yes."
"This isn't fair, Maxon. The Selection was supposed to be over all the other girls were supposed to be sent home." I felt a small tear roll down her shoulder. I hadn't meant to make her this upset about it.
"I know it isn't fair to you, Kriss. But our country needs this. I understand if you don't want to stay—"
"Of course I want to stay, I love you Maxon. I just wish she didn't have to be here anymore is all." She looked up at me with pleading eyes and I closed to distance between us with a small kiss. I wanted to reawaken those feelings that I had this morning, show her that America was long gone. She sunk into my arms and I was grateful that she was beginning to trust me. When the kiss broke, she tucked her head under my chin and stayed locked in my arms.
"Stay the night with me," she whispered quietly after what seemed like hours of silence. I nodded but was completely surprised by the request. But I wasn't stupid enough to refuse it.
I laid down with her against my chest after stripping down to my under shirt so that I could be comfortable. She laid curled up in a small ball against my chest and I held her there securely. Stroking her hair until she fell asleep I found that all I could think about once again was America and Officer Leger. I decided that I would have to look into just how much she had kept from me, just how much she had lied to me, if I was going to have to keep them both around in high positions of power. I closed my eyes and drifted off to the sound of Kriss' gentle breathing, glad that she had calmed down from our discussion.
Please don't kill me for the addition of yet another Kriss/Maxon scene. And please review. And yes, poor Maxon can't seem to catch a break. Having to promote Aspen and give America a job as a diplomat. Through given the reviews some of you have given me I'm guessing you'll say he deserves it for not taking America back already? :) Reviews are so very much appreciated .
