THE SELECTION: The Decision.

The Answer

America's POV:
As much as I hate it, I end up going to breakfast the next morning so that the King has no reason to yell at me. But I'm not going to be happy about it.
I look into my closet of beautiful dresses and they just make me mad. I feel miserable. Why should I have to dress up when I feel this sick, just to get some food? It seems ridiculous to me, so I don't. Instead, I dig out one pair of jeans that Maxon gave me and I put on the shirt I came here in. I wear no makeup and my hair is up in a messy bun.
I walk downstairs a while later and due to another round of vomiting, I'm five minutes late already.
When I walk in I can feel everyone's eyes on me. I mumble my apologies and head to my seat with my head down. The waiter rushes over and asks what I want to eat but everything we usually have makes me sick right now.
"Is there any way I could get a bowl of strawberries... With sugar?" He doesn't even seem confused. He nods and hurries to get them made.
Celeste looks me over with disgust. "America, what are you wearing??"
"I'm wearing comfortable clothes." I snap. "I'm sick and the last thing I need is a dress laced up until I can't breathe."
"You're sick?" Kriss asks sadly. "I'm sorry America... That's terrible. Is there anything I can do for you?"
I sigh. "No... Thank you though, really... I just need to try to keep some food down."
She nods. "Well... I'm always here if you need anything."
The waiter brings my bowl of strawberries and I start picking them out with my fingers and rolling them in sugar before popping them into my mouth. I feel everyone watching me and I look up at Maxon and see his amused smile but I level him with a glare and he quickly looks down.
Good. Maybe now he won't talk to me.
I finish quickly and try to leave but Maxon excused himself and follows me out.
  "America! America, please!" He catches up to me and grabs my arm.  "I'm sorry, okay? I know I was an idiot... I do trust you... It was just a lot to take in... I love you so much... I'm just afraid of getting hurt... I know you are too..."
"How can we stop this, Maxon? We keep fighting and I'm tired of it... We keep forgetting to tell each other things or leaving out things and it's just making us question everything. I just want one minute where I can ask you anything without being afraid that you will take it the wrong way..."
Maxon furrows his brow in thought. "Okay."
"Okay what?"
"Okay... Let's sit down somewhere, right now, and have total truth. No repercussions. I want to know all of your fears and secrets, and I want to tell you mine. Let's go."
"And we can't get upset with each other about the questions?"
"Nope."
I nod a bit. "Okay... This might be good for us... Because right now I'm beyond confused and I just want to figure everything out and then take a nap." I sigh.
Maxon laughs. "That's my girl. Let's go." He starts heading to his bedroom but I stop him.
"Woah woah woah... We're not going to discuss this in your bedroom..."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not going to let you trick me into making out with you." I smirk a bit.
He rolls his eyes. "Well, that wasn't the plan but that wouldn't have hurt. Fine. Where do you suggest we go?"
"Your office? It's nice and boring."
"Hey!" He laughs, shaking his head. "Why are you so mean today?"
I shrug with a smirk. "I hear pregnancy mood swings are pretty bad. You should get used to it..."
He pouts. "I have a feeling you're doing it on purpose... But that's fine, I probably deserve it. Let's go." He takes my hand and I let him lead me to his office. He locks the door behind him.
"I'm all yours. Go."
I take a deep breath. "Even when I told you at the beginning that I would never love you, why did you keep me around?"
"Because I was hoping I could change your mind because you stole my heart from the beginning..." He smiles softly. "Okay, my turn. Why did you tell me you would never love me?"
"Because I was still in love with Aspen... Or I thought I was..." I shrug.
"Are you still in love with Aspen? Does his being here confuse your feelings for me?"
"No." I emphasize the word. "It confused me a lot at first because I was just starting to forget him and then he showed up, but now I know that I love you. I love only you."
He nods a bit and looks relieved.
"My turn." I bite my lip. "And remember... You have to be honest with me... Were you really going to pick me? Or was it just the baby... I have to know before I can move on..." I search his eyes. He lets out a long sigh and my heart sinks a bit.
"America... How many times do I have to tell you? It. Was. Always. You. Sure, the baby coming may have quickened my proposal, but that's a good thing. I already knew I was going to propose... I just had to get the nerve to ask you.... The baby gave me that nerve."
My eyes get glassy. "Stop making me cry, Maxon... I hate crying." I sniffle.
"I know you do, darling..." He smiles, pulling me into his arms until I've composed myself.
I pull away and wipe my eyes. "Your turn."
"Alright. This is one that has been bothering me for some time now... Would you be happy here? I understand that you love me... But I also know your feelings about being princess and being shut up in this castle. The only thing I am able to offer you is my love... I can't give you the freedom you've always desired, I can't always keep you safe... Would you be okay with just getting... Me?"
"Maxon... Don't be silly... Yes, I don't particularly want to be a princess... But you're worth it to me. I love you more than anything... Even if you were an Eight, I'd still love you. You can offer me so much, and I have so little to give in return, but the one thing that matters is that we will have each other... And a family..." I whisper the last part.
This time, it's Maxon who looks on the verge of tears. "Thank you, my dear... That's what I needed to hear more than anything."
Just as Maxon reaches out to touch my cheek, the door flies open and the king marches in, followed silently by Queen Amberly.
"Maxon! I demand you stop this right now!"
Maxon gets to his feet quickly and steps in front of me. "Stop what, father?"
"Stop wasting time with this scum... You left all of the other girls in the dining hall to follow THAT one! I mean, look at her! She can't even dress like a lady for more than a few hours at a time! She's a disgrace and I want her gone now!" His voice booms.
I'm about to speak up but Maxon beats me to it in his quiet, "No."
"What did you just say?" Clarkson glares at his son.
"I said no. You aren't choosing my wife... You aren't manipulating my feelings... I get to say who I like and who I don't." Maxon finally glares back and I have to stop myself from kissing him.
"Well, are you ending the selection then? Right this second? Should I send the other girls home?" Clarkson says sarcastically in a manor that says he knows his son would never do such a thing. I don't know who was the most surprised in the room when Maxon whispers, "Yes."
Amberly, Clarkson and I all say, "What?!" At the exact same time.
"You heard me. Send the other girls home... I have my America and that's all I've ever wanted. America, I know you wanted me to give it a week to make sure, but I know how much we love each other and I'm not letting anything ruin that." Maxon kisses my cheek quickly them turns to his parents. "I love her. And I think she's going to be a wonderful princess. She may not like dresses or crowns as much as the other girls do, but she's more caring and passionate than they will ever be. And you know what? She loves me. I know in the bottom of my heart that she does... And I love her. I'm not merely settling for her because she's the best of the pick... I'd pick her again and again against any woman I'd ever meet... So I'm sorry father, but my decision is final for once. You aren't getting your way."
I'm so in awe of Maxon that it takes me a moment to see the look in Clarkson's eyes. He looks like he's about to hurt Maxon and Maxon looks ready for it. I quickly step in front of Maxon protectively and I believe the king would have hit me too if it weren't for his wife. Queen Amberly envelopes me in the biggest hug I've ever been given and I think all of us hold our breath.
She keeps her grip on me tight and I feel the tears on my back. "I told you you could call me mom one day..." She whispers. Maxon looks confused. "She did?" He asks me.
I laugh softly and wrap my arms around her as well. "I'd be honored to call you that..."
Even Clarkson can't seem to figure out what to do. I know that, no matter what kind of a person he is, he loves Amberly beyond question. He'd never hurt her.
When Amberly finally pulls away from me, she turns to Maxon. "You marry her as fast as you can and don't you dare ever break her heart."
"I wouldn't dream of it, mother.... America is my other half... I couldn't bear to lose her," he says with a smile as he takes my hand.
Clarkson glares at us both but finally speaks. "Fine. Marry her. What else are you doing that I won't approve of? Taking the country out from under me?"
"No... Not taking the country from you... But, while we're on the subject of things you don't approve of... America is pregnant." As Maxon speaks he gently holds me behind him. I actually think the King's head might explode.
"YOU GOT HER PREGNANT?! IS THAT WHY YOU'RE MARRYING HER?"
"No... I had already told her I was choosing her... That's when she got pregnant... We knew we were going to be together... This just changed the plans a bit."
I look over at the queen and she looks like she might faint.
"You... You're having a baby...?" She asks quietly.
"Yeah..." I bite my lip hard, afraid she might disapprove. I'm once again surprised when she hugs me.
"I... Oh my goodness... I never thought I'd live to see grandchildren... You see, it's so hard for everyone in our family to have children... It's difficult to do naturally...."
I smile a bit. "I have four siblings. Clearly the Singer's have no trouble having children..." I laugh softly.
The queen laughs along with me. "All the more reason for you to marry my son..."
"Amberly, it's against the law!!" Clarkson almost shouts, sounding like a child.
"Yes, but some laws are meant to be bent, Clarkson. They're in love... Let it be, please."
He looks like he wants to argue but he doesn't press it any further for now.
Maxon grins. "Mother, will you take a picture of us? I think I'd like to remember this moment..." Maxon grabs one of his cameras from his desk and hands it to the Queen. After showing her how to work it, he pulls me close. He rests his hands on my stomach and kisses me tenderly just as the camera flashes.