Just to kind of help you, here's a timeline.
December 25th: The Christmas Gala. America was kidnapped.
December 26th: The first video was put on the Palace TV's, saying that they have until January 20th to pay the money.
December 26th-January 1st: She was tortured every day and broadcasted on the Palace TVs.
January 2nd: Maxon and Aspen come to save America. Aspen betrays them. America was tortured to force Maxon to give information.
January 3rd: America wakes up
January 4th: This chapter, when they wake up once more.
I know no one asked, but I hope this might clear up some unasked questions.
Also, I forgot to add that America has her left arm in a cast (remember, the first time they tortured her on TV, one of them stepped on her arm and it broke). So keep that in mind. I'm sorry I forgot to mention that before.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
MAXON'S POV
My eyes opened and I looked around for the source of the interruption of my sleep. And my cell phone rang again. I groaned quietly and got up slowly so I didn't wake America next to me.
"Yeah?"
AMERICA'S POV
I opened my eyes and immediately found what woke me up. Maxon was standing by the edge of the bed, talking quietly into his phone. His hand was clenched in a fist by his side. My hand went to his, relaxing him.
"Fine, Bye." He put the phone on the nightstand and turned to me.
"Are you okay?" I could see the tension by the way he's holding himself.
"Yeah," I could tell he was lying.
"You sure?" I asked. He smiled softly at me.
"America, you're going to have to accept that there are some things I can't tell you."
"Why does it have to be that way? Maxon, think about it! Your father's gone and you're to be the next King! You can make your own rules!" I said excitedly.
"…You know what? You're right! I should be able to tell you things if I want to!" He sat down on my bed and took both my hands in his. "But you've gone through a lot the past few weeks. I promise I will tell you when the time comes. But right now you really just need to rest." I sighed angrily. "Please? I'll tell you anything you want. Just not now, okay? I really just need you to rest." He stroked my cheek softly. "Please? I really just want you to be healed and healthy again." He stopped talking for a second, as if waiting for answer. But I didn't say anything. "Please? For me?"
"Okay." I gave in. He smiled and relaxed.
"Thank you."
"But! On one condition."
"Anything."
"Don't let me get into the way of your country. But don't let your country get in the way of us, okay?"
"I promise." He kissed me sweetly on the lips.
"Thank you. Now I can tell you're mentally slowly inching your way to the door. Go! Go take care of whatever Parliament wants or whatever it is." He stood up.
"I love you, ya know." He said.
"I love you, too." He kissed me again.
"Oh! I almost forgot! The Rebels took this from you when they kid- when they took you." He took something small out of his pocket and hid it in his fist. He took my hand and slid it on my finger. The ring he gave me! I smiled at him.
"I love you."
"I love you." He kissed me on the lips and walked out the door. I watched him leave.
After he did, I spent my time admiring the little details in the ring. The door opened and I looked up. The doctor walked in.
He just did a short checkup.
"You're healing perfectly fine. In fact, you can probably start walking again. Only small walks here and there. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Go easy, okay?"
"Okay. Thank you." I answered.
"You're welcome." He started to walk to the door. "Oh, and Queen Amberly wanted me to give this to you." The doctor handed me a note and walked to the door for the second time. "Good day, Princess America."
"Good day, doctor. Thank you."
Princess America… I could get used to that…
Come to my office whenever you can.
Was all the note said.
I threw the covers to the side. I was wearing a hospital gown… I hate these things… I moved slowly and gently to the side of the bed, still lying down. I could feel the cuts and breaks all over my body. I gently brought my bare legs over the side of the bed. Using my hands for support, I slowly stood up, using the good arm, the one that isn't in a sling.
I knew I couldn't go to see the Queen- future mother-in-law or not- in a hospital gown. So I took two steps towards the door I remember Maxon showing me led to the walk-in-closet. Maxon just told me what the door led to. I didn't even look inside. I opened the one of the French doors and took two steps in. I blinked
And the next thing I remember, I'm back in my blue bed. I looked around, drowsy and confused. Maxon was sitting in the chair next to me. He read my confused look.
"You fainted, Mer. You seriously scared the living daylights out of me! I ran out of the room- in the middle of a meeting with Parliament- just to make sure you're okay.
"I… fainted?" I'm still confused. I thought I just blinked and suddenly I'm in bed...
"Yeah. The nurse outside your door heard you hit the ground. She came in to check on you and you were just lying there."
"How long have I been out?"
"Only like a minute or two. I've only been here for a few seconds." I was feeling better, so I sat up in bed against the padded headboard. "Careful." He muttered. He moved with me, as if we were magnets. Once I was settled he spoke again. "The nurse said it was probably just from lying down for so long. Your equilibrium was probably just off." I just nodded dumbly.
"I was just going to get changed. Your mother wanted to see me." He nodded.
"Just be careful. Go easy on yourself. If you feel even the slightest bit lightheaded, I want you to sit down, okay? I don't want another scare like this."
"Okay." I nodded.
"Now go back to your meeting. I'll be fine." I carefully swung my legs over the side of the bed for the second time. He stood up and grabbed my hand. "From now on, I want the nurse that's been stationed outside your door to stay with you wherever you go. Okay?" I didn't like the idea. "It's only temporarily. I promise… Nurse?" She walked in. "America this is Nurse Madeline."
"Hi," I said politely.
"Hello." She answered back politely.
"You'll be fine?" Maxon turned to me, worried.
"I'll be fine." I assured him. He kissed me chastely on the cheek. "Then I'll see you later."
"Okay." He left and I was left with the nurse. She waited to speak until the door was shut.
"The maids of the castle speak highly of you. I hope it's okay I didn't say 'Princess' or anything. From the rumors, you don't like any of that."
"No, I don't. Thank you."
"So? What's your plan for today?"
"Well first, I need to find something a little more… appropriate to wear." I looked down at my hospital gown. "Then, I have a meeting with the Queen in her office."
"Well, then! Let's find you something to wear!" She said brightly. And from that moment on, I knew I made yet another friend in the Palace.
The closet doors were left open from I had opened it only minutes earlier. I walked in and gasped. The dark brown wood gave it a classy feel. It wasn't just a walk in closet. It was an entire room, just for clothes! There was a chandelier hanging in the middle with a circular and cushiony cream colored bench-like chair in the middle. One side was for shoes, another for jewelry and accessories. And another for dresses and pant-outfits. I even see jeans! (A/N: If any of you has seen the Princess Diaries, just imagine her walk in closet.)
Madeline helped me find a semi-formal outfit. Designer jeans, a nice white-ish cream-ish lace blouse, and heels. Madeline walked me to Amberly's door, even though my room is only a few rooms down from her study…
"I'll wait in your room for you." She said. I nodded. She walked away and I knocked.
"Come in," She answered. I did so. "America!" She stood up. Amberly walked to me and brought me into a gentle hug. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, perfectly fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Maybe a little sore and all, but I'm fine."
"Good." She answered. "Let's sit, shall we?" she motioned to the couches by the fireplace.
"What did you want to talk to me about?"
"Well, first of all, I want to make sure you're healthy enough to go through with the wedding planning and the wedding. I don't want you to push yourself too far." As she spoke, I gently hugged my broken arm to myself. That stupid cast is always going to get in the way, isn't it…?
"I'll be fine." I assured her.
"America, you're so strong. But I heard of your little fainting session. I need you to promise me that you won't push yourself. If you're not feeling well or anything please give yourself a break."
"I-," I started to protest.
"I know, you're fine," She said impatiently. "But promise?"
"I promise." I said just as the door opened. I turned my head to see who it was. My mom, Adele, Kenna and May walked in.
"Just in time!" Amberly stood up to welcome them. I moved to do the same, but they stopped me.
"You sit!" My mom ordered. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, mom, I'm fine."
"America just promised me that she would take it easy." My mom simply laughed
"If you ever need my help getting her to keep that promise, just tell me. I have a feeling that promise won't last long." Amberly laughed along with her. We all sat.
"So it turns out," Amberly started seriously. "We have a wedding to plan!" She finished excitedly. I smiled. We got down to work.
"First, what season do you want it in?" My mom asked.
` "I don't know… This is my first winter here and it's absolutely beautiful with all the snow and ice. But it's too cold. I don't want to have to wear a jacket or cloak over my dress…"
"So no winter. That leaves spring, summer, or fall." Kenna said.
"Fall was probably the best time I've ever had with Maxon. But again, I feel like it'd be too cold. As pretty as the fall is, I just don't want to have to worry about the weather."
"So Spring or Summer?" Mom said.
"I don't know… Both are my favorite seasons… I don't know…"
Amberly smiled and I smiled back. Everything is slowly, piece by piece, coming together. There was a moment of silence before Amberly spoke again. "America, it's tradition to get married in the city Cathedral. But I want you to have a choice. So here it is: I know you love the gardens, so you can have the wedding out in the gardens. You can do it in the Cathedral or somewhere else, even. You can even do it here, inside the Palace, or back in your hometown. It's your choice." I bit my lip.
"And it's tradition to get married in the Cathedral?"
"Yes, but-," She was cut off by a large sound. The alarms for the Patriots! I was suddenly back in that cell, where I lived for days and weeks. I forced my mind back to reality and blinked a few times to stop myself from crying. They were coming back for me. I just knew they were. Amberly led us to the secret passages that brought us to the safe room. My mom comforted my trembling self and Kenna held May's hand. We entered the safe room and they shut the door. I sat down.
I sat down and concentrated on simply breathing. I was safe. I was safe. I was safe. I reminded myself. The door opened and I snapped my head up, expecting to see Ram and his henchmen, coming to get me. But Maxon ran through the threshold, going straight to me.
"Are you okay?" He asked, noticing my eyes are close to tears. I took a shaky breath and nodded. I knew he didn't believe me, but he didn't say a thing. He simply took my hand and sat next to me. I wrapped my arms around his waist and cuddled into his side, forgetting our mothers and my siblings are there with us. My dad and Kota were led in minutes later. They took in our embrace but didn't say a thing. They just went to the other side of the room to join the rest of my family and Amberly, all of whom are communicating like they're old friends, not Fives speaking the their Queen. I was grateful for that.
Eventually, Maxon moved his probably now numb arm from in between us to around my shoulders. He made comforting circles on my arm with his thumb.
"You're safe, ya know." He said quietly after a little bit of this.
"I am now." I answered. He let his head rest on top of mine.
"I love you."
"I love you, too." They let us go and we walked out together. "I have a question for you?" I said.
"Okay?"
"Do you wanna get married in that Cathedral?"
"What do you want?" He asked me.
"I don't know…"
"Well… When I was young I always imagined my wedding in that Cathedral…"
"Is that a yes?"
"Is that what you want?"
"I want what you want." He kissed me on the nose at my answer.
"Then yes." He said. "Have you decided a date yet?" He asked after a moment.
"Kind of... I decided it would be spring or summer. Somewhere around there." He just smiled.
"Sounds perfect already," He kissed me lightly. I decided at that split second I wanted to do something for him… like the song I made on the piano.
"Wait, your birthday's in August, right?"
"Yeah, August 23. Why?"
"Because that's the date of our wedding now." I kissed him on the cheek and pranced away with a smile on my face. He chased after me down the hall. "Hey! Wait!" He caught up to me. "What do you mean that's our wedding date?"
"Isn't it obvious?" I said playfully.
"Yes. But that's not what I meant." He answered.
"Happy Birthday." I said. And I walked into the Princess Suite. I looked at my blue walls and the Grand Piano that was brought in. The blue walls, my favorite color of it, even. That would be the color scheme for the wedding! Blue! That's perfect!
A/N: Hey! It's just 'lil ole me! So I hope you like the chapter, and how fast she recovers. I also hope you like the outcome of the vote. If you don't… I'm sorry. But it's the way it's going to be.
So I admit that I had to kinda make my own decision, too. There's a three way tie in the season's section. So I had to choose one. I'm sorry if you don't like what I decided.
Here's the scores!
Color Scheme of the Wedding:
1. Gold: | (1)
2. : | (1)
3. Blue/Silver: | (1)
4. Blue/Gold: | (1)
5. Purple/Blue: | (1)
6. Gold/Silver: | (1)
7. Light Purple/Light Blue: | (1)
8. Light Blue/Cream: | | | (3)
9. Blue: | | | | | (5)
Kind of Wedding/Location:
1. Outside and/or Beach: | (1)
2. Chic Modern: | | | | (4)
3. Classy Cathedral: | | | | | | | | | (9)
Season of the Wedding:
1. Fall: | | (2)
2. Winter: | | | (3)
3. Spring: | | | (3)
4. Summer: | | | (3)
So again, I'm sorry if it didn't turn out the way you wanted it to, but I'll try and make it up to if by MAKING THE BEST DANG WEDDING EVER! Haha… Again, if any of you guys have any ideas for like the reception or anything you want them to say during Vows or anything like that, please let me know. I'm open to it all. I might now use it at all or I might use everything you say or maybe somewhere in between. But I'm open to opinions and options.
Thanks!
~C.A.M.3