How'd you like the One? - I am literally still dying from it. I woke up at 3 am to read it so I could have it done before school. well that didn't happen but I got to about chapter 28 before my first class and I was like, "Okay, yeah, this is the end. things will start to slow down now." NOPE! little did I know that's where all of the action was starting! luckily my first class is English so I was able to read it and I finished it by the end of class but wow, I was having hard-core heart palpitations because of it.
"Allow despair to empty you so that an appetite for life may return."
A choked sob escaped her chest but that was all she could give. She quickly rallied against any grief but couldn't help leaning her head against the stone. A hand clapped down on her shoulder. She looked up into the eyes of her husband and eldest son. "I'm fine," she promised them.
"Ten years have flown by," Maxon said. "It's okay to still be sad."
She was still sad but not before. The pain had faded into a dull arthritic ache. The pain of Aspen's betrayal and sad end was worse when she and Maxon returned to the palace. She couldn't bring herself to leave her bed for days and could barely meet her husband's eyes, not out of shame but out of fear of the cautious look in his eyes every time their eyes did meet. He would look at her like a wounded animal that he didn't mean to hurt. Christian helped. He brought her back to earth, reminded her of her greater responsibility to her son and her country.
"Mom, c'mon. It's time to go," Christian said, pulling his hand away.
She looked back at the gate to the field and saw her other two children standing with Kota.
She nodded and took Maxon's helping hand, rising and instantly leaning against his strong chest. She heard him quietly urge Christian to go on without them. His footsteps quietly tapered off as he made his way back to the gate.
"We're alone." Maxon stroked her back and kissed her hair.
She let her tears spill out. "No matter how hard I try, coming here just opens the old wounds, makes them hurt like they happened yesterday."
"But you'll get through it. You always do."
"Not without your help."
He chuckled quietly. "And the help of Christian, Georgina and Michael."
She nodded in agreement. "But mostly you." She reached up kissed him quickly. "Let's go home."
They walked hand in hand out of the graveyard, memorial site, whatever it can be called.
Back at the palace, Maxon and America stood inside the small foyer by the gardens entrance waiting for the announcement of their arrival. She adjusted his blue tie, smoothing a hand over it. "Like always, I am ready to leave the sadness of this morning behind so we can enjoy our party."
He smiled and tugged on his sleeves, passing her a cuff link. He was always bad at putting them on himself and she enjoyed the intimate tedium of putting them on for him. "Happy Independence Day, Lady America," he said quietly, swooping her in for a kiss.
She laughed and kissed him back. "Stolen kisses have always been your forte, haven't they Monsieur Maxon?"
"I believe to my subjects it is still King Maxon," he started. Just as he was about to say something one of the guards came down the steps with their three children. Christian held his six-year-old brother's hand tightly in his own as their ten-year-old sister chatted excitedly about the evening's festivities. "Daddy!" Georgina exclaimed, running toward Maxon and instantly grabbing onto his pants leg. "Can I have macaroni...maga...macaroons?" she stammered, trying to remember the right word.
Maxon laughed. "Of course. G, you look beautiful tonight."
She smiled and hid behind Christians leg. "Thank you Daddy."
"Christian, can I trust you to keep an eye on your brother and sister?" America asked, smoothing his light red hair back with a swipe of her hand.
He rolled his eyes but nodded. "Of course Mother."
Another guard approached and told them to assume their positions. On cue, the doors to the gardens opened and the advisers and other government workers clapped and raised their glasses. America and Maxon waved with the hands they weren't using to hold on to each other. Christian and Georgina waved while Michael stood quietly, wanting to cover his ears. As the crowd dispersed to take their seats or go to the dance floor, America and Maxon went around to greet everyone.
Finally, after giving their condolences to everyone in attendance, they were able to go on the dance floor. They held each other closer than what was probably socially acceptable and turned slowly in a circle, each keeping a careful eye on their children sitting with their cousins. "Do you think we could actually enjoy this party for once instead of just posing for the cameras?" he proposed.
She smiled and laid her head on his chest. "Maxon...I'm pregnant." She looked up to see his reaction.
"Are you serious?" He asked, his face breaking into a bewildered smile. "That's incredible!" He pulled her just a little closer. "Four kids," he mused.
"You sure we can handle it?"
He sighed. "Actually, I know we can because I've already thought it through. I had a feeling that you were just waiting for the most opportune moment to tell me."
She wrinkled her nose at him. "Aren't you a smarty pants?"
He sighed and focused on the sight of Michael chasing Sofia and a cousin around the fountain. "You've made me the happiest man alive," he told her.
She snorted. "I'm sure you'd have been happy with anyone else."
He shook his head. "I don't think so." She was quiet so he took the opportunity to say again, "I love you."
"Whatever," she sighed, ignoring him playfully. Someone tapped on her shoulder and she turned to see Kota standing behind her expectantly.
He bowed. "May I have this dance?" he asked, smiling at her.
She elbowed Maxon to get him to back away as she accepted Kota's hand. "Yes," she agreed. Kota assumed Maxon's position – with an obvious lack of intimacy – and started to spin her. "We're doomed as dance partners. The two worst dancers in the Singer family."
"We'll be lucky to have all ten toes by the end of this dance," he joked, playing along with her. Then he sighed and grew serious. "I've missed you sister."
"But I'm glad for your absence; it means you are spending quality time with your wife."
He blushed and looked away, trying to hide his smile. "Have you heard from May?"
She sighed. "No and I don't know whether or not to scared or relieved. She may have done terrible things to me and Maxon but she's still my sister. The fact that I haven't heard from her in ten years is starting to worry me."
"But there've been sightings of her. At least we know she's alive."
America shook her head. "It's not the same though."
They were both quiet and then she heard someone yell. "Daddy!" Georgina suddenly cried. America pulled away from Kota and ran toward the sound of Georgina's frightened screams. They were by the dessert table and Maxon had apparently passed out. America knelt at his side and held his face in her hands, feeling his pulse pound in his neck beneath her pinkie finger.
Gerad was standing in front of her. "Ger, go get Dr. Macky, now!" He took off for the palace, his years of playing professional soccer paying off.
Maxon shifted underneath of her, moaning in pain. "Maxon, it's okay, I'm right here," she whispered to him, stroking his cheeks. She looked up at the frightened faces surrounding them, her father urging people to back up and give them some space. She looked to the bush Gerad had just disappeared behind and saw a flash of something sparkle.
Amberley was standing there in the shadows. She slowly smiled pitifully at America and backed away to leave.
oh man! btw, I just put up another story. it's really just one-shots of Maxerica after the One and these two stories having nothing to do with that one. so go check it out because that'd be awesome! thanks guys!