Sorry this took so long to finally be completed. Life got crazy and I just didn't have any time to write anymore (or do anything, really). I'd like to thank those of you who stuck with my story from beginning to end. I might have lost a few readers here and there, but there were several of you who never gave up reading this little fic of mine. I hope that you enjoy the conclusion. It's just a simple little something, but I think it really sums up what, to some extent, the ending of the One might have been like if it had been told in Maxon's POV instead of America's. I didn't want to feel like I was repeating Kiera, so I just stuck with Maxon's POV, thoughts, and feelings for this final chapter. If any of you like Once Upon a Time, I think that will be the next fandom I start writing for (I already have one oneshot that you guys should check out, if you are fans). Anyway, enjoy this final chapter and please leave me some reviews so I know if you guys liked it! And look! I changed the cover image of the story to fit the ending! :)

Maxon's POV

Just moments before Celeste's ceremony, I had finally been able to get in contact with Mrs. Singer. I had asked her husband's permission for their daughter's hand a long time ago, but I knew that it would be polite to ask again. Without the ability to call her father, I knew that the most respectable thing to do was calling her mother. I should have thought that through, because the phone call had been intercepted by May and I spent almost an hour talking to my future sister-in-law. It did seem that she liked me enough to just be my sister, which made me happier than I though it would. For the first time, I would have siblings. Then, America and I would have children, nieces, and nephews. My life wouldn't be dull anymore from such a small family. All I had to do was propose.

I knew it wasn't in a true gentleman's nature to propose on someone else's wedding day, but I couldn't wait any longer. The ring was burning holes in my pocket; my skin feeling like it was being scorched by flames. I had to get it onto her finger—I had never felt a greater urge in my life. I had picked a beautiful place, just a short walk away from the wedding reception. The water was calm there, no buildings nearby, but in their place stood tall, magnificent trees with rose bushes creating a small serenity. It was nothing like the gardens in Illea, but it would have to do for resembling our small piece of heaven.

Once the party was in full swing, I walked over to America with my purpose at the forefront of my mind. Tonight, it was finally going to happen tonight. I gave her a mock bow, smiling at her as she rolled her eyes. "My dearest princess, it seems I'm the only one with manners this evening. You're supposed to bow to your king first."

That earned me a scoff from her, my hand outstretched for hers left dangling in the air. "I'm not your princess, Maxon, we haven't made that official yet," she said, a small laugh in her words but I could see the sadness in her eyes. I pulled her had up to mine, kissing it gently. "So I won't be bowing you tonight, or any time soon."

"Ah, there's my Ames," I replied, pulling her up to her feet. "And you've always been my princess; I just haven't always known it." I secured my hand on her waist, the other holding hers as I began to twirl her on the dance floor.

She tried planting her feet onto the ground, but I was stronger. I twirled her around, pulling her closer to me. I never wanted to let go. I knew she hated dancing, but holding her this close to me was too good to pass up. It made me feel like we were the only two people in the world—as it always had. I was just Maxon, and she was just the love of my life. No duties, no jobs, just our love for each other. I would have to make it a daily command to make time to dance with my future wife, even on the days that we had argued. "You are so beautiful," I whispered, kissing her softly.

"Yes, well it must be all the anger I'm directing towards you for making me dance."

"It's a social convention, Ames. We have to at least follow it on Celeste's day for a little while," I teased back. I had almost caused the wedding to be started late and I didn't want to hear another earful about how I had no right to steal her thunder.

"Yes well, if I ever get married, we are just eating food and wearing pants."

I laughed, my head almost throwing back at her sense of humor. How I had become the luckiest man alive when she had had two other suitors was beyond me. "If you say so, my dearest," I replied, pulling her hand as I led her off the dance floor. "I still have that surprise for you so it's going to require blindfolding you for a bit," I said with a smile, as I tucked a stray curl back behind her ear.

"Just don't let me fall," she replied, closing her eyes as the blindfold was put on.

"I would never," I replied, kissing her cheek before I led her. The path was short and narrow, but I made sure that she never missed a step. I had arranged for a small bench to be sat in the dead center of the secret garden I had found. I wanted to be able to get down on one knee while she was comfortably sat on the beautiful marble stone. My heart was pounding, my body ready to burst with excitement if she agreed to be my wife. There wasn't doubt in my mind like there had been the previous few times I had wanted to propose. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that she loved me. I just also knew that she was still afraid of being hated by the people she would serve as Queen because of our love affair and the rest of our history.

Sitting her down, I finally removed the blindfold to the sight of the garden and me on one knee in front of her. She let out a small gasp looking around at the scenery before her eyes glued onto my gaze. I held one of her hands in mine, stroking it gently with my thumb. "I've tried endlessly to do this on a grand scale. I wanted to propose to you during my speech at Halloween, but that was probably a good idea that I did not given how much I had had to drink. I wanted to propose to you at the end of the Selection, with all of the cameras surrounding us so that the world would know of my love for you. But now I see that it should have been a private affair all along."

"My love for you has grown from the moment I saw you crying in my gardens. You were the first woman to be honest with what you truly thought of me. And from every moment on, I fought so hard to change your perspective. All I wanted was your love and your approval. And now that I finally have it, I know that I can't live without you another day. I was a fool to have waited so long for this ring to be on your finger." I finished, pulling out the small black box and presenting the beautiful ring I had redesigned for her finger out. I saw the tears in her eyes and felt the ones lightly rolling down my cheeks as I pulled the ring from the box and presented it to her properly. "America Singer, will you do me the greatest honor in the world and become my wife?"

"Yes, Maxon, yes. A thousand times yes," she whispered, my fingers pushing the ring gently onto hers the moment I heard her response. I picked her up in my arms, spinning her around as I kissed her. This was happy ever after and so much more.


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