The One Fanfiction

Chapter 29: Part 2

        The guards gave us strange looks as we walked towards the exit doors. Maxon was about to open the doors when a guard standing watch nearby interrupted him. "Your Majesty, are you sure it's safe to be outside right now?" An irritated look crossed over Maxon's face. He was about to make a snappy remark, but I put a hand on his elbow.

        I turned to the guard and said pointedly, "Can you give us a moment?" He nodded politely and I pulled Maxon out of the guard's earshot.

        "Maxon, relax. He's just doing his job." My fiancé huffed testily and I could tell he wasn't really paying attention to my words. This must be a side effect of the anxiety and I would have to be patient.

        I rubbed his arm soothingly with my free hand. For a moment, he didn't respond to my touch. Then, his scowl softened and he took deep breaths.

        "I know. I'm sorry. I just feel like I'm being patronized because of being kidnapped. I can still take care of myself."

        "I know," I whispered gently. "But, sometimes you need to let others take care of you for a change. It's okay to not be independent sometimes." Maxon looked at the floor. I could feel him fighting a war inside. He was trying to get the upper hand on the stress, so he could feel like himself again.

        Maxon turned back to the door and walked up to the guard. "Would you mind stationing some extra guards around the garden for a while? America and I would like to spend some time outside, but we want to keep it as safe as possible." The guards face flushed with relief. He obviously was happy to not have angered royalty.

        

        "Of course, Your Majesty." The man gave me a grateful smile, apparently aware I'd changed Maxon's mind.

        Maxon and I sat on our favorite bench. Our eyes scanned page after page for anything useful. One of us would occasionally get up and wander around aimlessly as we read our books. It was tedious work until we started making progress.

        After an hour of flipping through an enormous book, I found something. It was a chapter on something called "PTSD" or "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder". My jaw dropped as I read through the list of symptoms. Almost all of them applied to what I'd noticed with Maxon. I couldn't believe it. I'd found it. I quickly skimmed the rest of the page.

        "Maxon," I said urgently. "Maxon, look. I found it." He looked at the page. I followed his gaze as he scanned the page. Maxon's eyes widened in surprise. When he returned his stare to my face, he broke into a grin. I began to smile along with him.

        "You did it, America! You found it!" Maxon yelled gleefully. He got to his feet and pulled me into his arms. Maxon lifted me off the ground and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I laughed with unadulterated joy. He kissed my cheek frantically. His happiness surrounded me in warmth. I nuzzled my face into his shoulder and clung to him tighter.

        We wouldn't be so happy if I'd only figured out what was wrong. We were celebrating because of the next chapter's title.

        Cure.