THE SELECTION: The Decision.

The Deal

  Maxon's POV:
  Pregnant.  She's pregnant.
  I'm such an idiot.
  I suddenly feel like I might pass out, but I know I have to hold myself together.  I have to be okay right now because I know America won't be.  Looking at her confirms my suspicions.  She's gone ghostly pale and her eyes look blank, almost as if she's completely zoned out of the situation.
  I quickly look back to the doctor.  "You're sure?" I ask hesitantly.
  "I'm almost positive.  We do have formal tests that can be done... I can get one for her and be back in no time."
  I nod.  "Thank you.  But... We would appreciate your discretion..." I say it like its a suggestion but the look in my eye shows that it is anything but.
  He nods.  "Of course, your Majesty.  I'll be back soon." He quickly gets up and leaves, leaving America and I alone.
  My attention is pulled back to her.  "America, darling.... Relax, please..." I whisper, crawling into the bed beside her and trying to hold her in my arms but she shrugs me off and looks away.
  "I've seen people killed for less, Maxon..." She whispers.  "It would be one thing if I wasn't here... I would just become an Eight... But because of where I am... Who you are..." She looks down.  "I'm so stupid...."
  "You aren't stupid... Or, maybe we're both pretty stupid... But we can make this work.  We can finish the selection and get married and when you give birth we can say the child was born early..." I try to sound hopeful.
  "No."
  "No...?"
  "No.  You aren't marrying me because of this... You aren't.  I'm not going to have you resent me later because you could have chosen differently.  You aren't going to be stuck with me just because I'm pregnant..." She says the word like it tastes bad in her mouth and that makes my heart break a little bit.
  "America, don't be ridiculous-"
  "That's exactly what I'm going to be...  You need to look at other women.... You need to experience this... You said it yourself, this is your one shot.  Don't blow it."
  I look at her sadly.  "America, it's been you from the start... I may have felt something towards the other girls from time to time, but you have held my heart since the moment I found you crying at the door."
  "Your father hates me...."
  "He hates everyone.  But my mother, who has been so guarded with her heart, loves you more than anything.  Do you know how badly she wanted a daughter?  But it was hard enough just to have me... It's not easy to have children in my family... That's why I didn't think... I didn't think about this at all... Everyone in my family has had to try hard to get the children they have, and look at us! We are blessed with a sign that shows us how much we were meant to be together..." Even I can hear the excitement that seeps into my voice.
  She bites her lip hard.  "Give me one more week.  Consider the other girls for just one week.  If you can tell me that you still feel real things for me, real love.... Then I'll stay.  But if not... I think that I should leave."
  That hits me like a ton of bricks.  "L-leave?  America, you can't be serious... You can't raise a child on your own out there, I won't let you."
  "Plenty of women do... And you have more important things to think about than a baby right now... People need you, Maxon..."
  "What about what I need?" My voice cracks.  "I need you America...."
  Before she can respond, there is a knock at the door.  I get up and open it to find the doctor at the door with a brown paper bag in his hands.
  "It's in here... There are instructions for her as well.  Do you want me to stick around?"
  "No thank you, we can take it from here, I think.  We appreciate everything you've done..."
  He nods.  "Of course.  And don't worry, nobody else will know."
  "Thank you." He leaves and I shut the door then turn to America hesitantly.  She silently gets up and takes it from my hands and goes into the bathroom.  I hear the door lock and I sigh and sit up against the door nervously.

America's POV:
  I shakily follow all of the instructions and then set the test on the counter.  Now all I have to do is wait.
  I can't seem to face Maxon, however, so I stay in the bathroom and wait in silence.  In what seems like an infinite amount of time, the timer finally goes off and I rush to pick up the test.
  Positive. 
  Tears well in my eyes and I open the door.  I can see the silent question forming on Maxon's lips so I give a small nod before the tears finally fall and I break down into sobs in his arms.  He just holds me as the tide comes in and I can't seem to stop.  Eventually he carries me back to the bed and continues to hold me.
  "America," he whispers after a while.  Looking up at him I can tell that he's been crying too.  "I'll take your deal.  Tomorrow, I'll spend time with the other girls... I'll spend time with them for one week.  But I can tell you that it won't change anything.  I love you America Singer.  Nothing will change that.  And to prove it to you..." He reaches in his pocket hesitantly.  "I've been carrying this around for days...  If you look at it, I think you'll be able to see that it wasn't made for just anybody."  He pulls out a box and, within it is a ring.  I gasp softly upon looking at it.  It's the same color blue as my eyes exactly.  And when he slides it on my finger, it fits perfectly.  He's telling the truth.  This couldn't be for just anyone.
  I hug him tight and cry into his chest.  What's with me and crying today?
  "Thank you..." I whisper.
  "Not so fast... I'll accept your offer, only if you'll accept mine... First, at the end of this week, I'll propose to you on television and you won't try to stop me... Second... This deal of ours doesn't start until tomorrow, so I get to spend the night in here with you... And we can stay up and talk all night, because I don't want to be without you, even in sleep."
  "You're a dork," I sniffle.
  "A dork who loves you..."
  I laugh softly.  "I love you too... And I accept your deals..." I pull him to lay down and I snuggle close to him.
  "Imagine," he whispers.  "Us.  Parents.  It's amazing.... May I?" He asks hesitantly as his hand hovers above my stomach.
  I smile.  "Of course Maxon... You don't even need to ask..." He rests his hand gently on my abdomen as if imagining he could feel the little baby inside of me already.
  "How are you feeling?" He asks suddenly.
  "Strangely enough, I feel a lot better now..." I smile softly and kiss his cheek.
  We sit in peaceful silence for a while until I speak up.
  "I told you I was in love before... And I've been scared to tell you this, so please don't be upset with me..."
  "America...?"
  "The boy that I was in love with is here now... He became a guard...  Officer Leger..."
  Maxon becomes stiff.  "Leger?  You mean... The guard that I put to guard your room specifically?"  I can see him starting to get upset.
  "Yes, Maxon... And that made it so hard for me at first... He broke my heart and he came back here and apologized.  I was so confused for so long... But what you need to know is that, I don't have those feelings for him anymore.  He's a great friend, but the only thing we had was out of excitement of being a little bit rebellious and out of needing each other for survival. I needed a friend and he needed food.  But I can wholeheartedly tell you that I don't need him... I need you."  I touch his cheek gently and he looks like he wants to pull away but he doesn't.
  "Tell me one thing, America...  This baby is mine... Isn't it?" He finally shows cracks in his confidence. 
  But this infuriates me.
  I pull away from him and let him see the hurt in my eyes.  "Yes, Maxon!! Of course it's yours! But this is why... This is why you can't marry me... You don't even trust me... I may have done some stupid things, but I would never ever do that... The only reason I'm pregnant with your baby right now is because I am in love with you beyond sense!  But clearly, you still don't believe that."
  My anger has made me get out of bed and pace the room.
  "America-" he starts.
  "Don't! Don't... Please. Just... Give me my week."  I open the door as he starts to get up and head towards me.  He reaches for me gently and begins to apologize but I cut him off again.
  "No, Maxon... Please leave..." My voice cracks.  He looks dejected but he doesn't say another word as he walks out the door.