THE SELECTION: The Decision.

The Dress

   Maxon's POV:
  We finish most of the day's activities and then decide to watch a movie, which is good because America and I are beat.
  We all crowd between couches and chairs and even the floor.  America and I are on the couch pressed against each other.  Gerad climbs into my lap and America is holding baby Astra in her arms.  Kenna, May, and Mrs. Singer sit on the floor and my mother sits on the other side of America while Mr. Singer sits to my left.  Kota sits on the chair in what seems like a purposeful attempt to be removed from us all.

  Amberly's POV:
  We all settle in for the movie, but before it's even started I look over to Maxon and America and let out a soft chuckle.  She's holding a baby and he's holding her younger brother, but they were both so exhausted that they fell asleep with their heads resting against each other's.  When I get a closer look, I notice that they're even holding hands between them, which makes me smile more.  I nudge Magda.
  "They're adorable, aren't they?" I whisper.
  She smiles and nods.  "They're perfect for each other... I knew this would happen though! I always told her that it could happen..."
  "What do you mean?"
  "America wasn't exactly jumping at the idea of entering the Selection but I persuaded her to at least put her name in... I knew it would be a wonderful opportunity! She didn't even think she would get accepted..."
  "And look at them now..." I smile.  "I'm so glad she put her name in.  None of the other girls gave me the same feeling as America... I just knew that my son would love her.  And boy was I right." I smile.
We laugh together and when the baby starts getting fussy we quickly take the kids from Maxon and America so they can get their rest. Soon enough, however, they must wake up without us noticing because they are kissing tenderly as Maxon holds her tight. I have a small ache in my chest as I remember when Clarkson and I were exactly like them.

Maxon's POV:
We finally pull away from each other when the movie ends. I stand up quickly, pulling America with me. "Very good, very good. Now, I believe we should all get ready for the ball." I turn and call several servants in. I look to the Singer's. "They will each take one of you and get you something to wear tonight."
May perks up. "I get to wear a ball gown?"
I smile down at her then bend to her level. "Of course you do.... You'll be the perfect princess! Be sure to tell them exactly what you want to wear... I want you to be happy with it, okay? Because after the ball, you can keep the dress if you'd like."
"Really??"
"Of course!" I smile and she tackles me in a hug that I gladly return. When I stand again I grab America's hand. "Alright... We will see you all in a couple of hours..."
Kenna smirks and raises her eyebrows. "Why are you two going to get dressed together...?"
"I... Uh... I... See you at the ball!!" I quickly pull America out of the room and we jog down the hall, laughing the entire time.
"Your room first?" I ask.
"Sure," she says with a laugh.
We get to her room and I lock the door behind us. "We have three hours. That's plenty of time to get dressed and do what I want to do..."
"And what do you want to do?" She smirks. In response, I tackle her onto her bed and pepper her with kisses.  She laughs freely and closes her eyes, letting me kiss her all over.
  I suddenly stop and pull back a bit to look at her with her eyes still closed and a swell of emotions rise in me.
  "What's wrong?" She whispers, beginning to open her eyes.
  "Shh... It's okay... Close your eyes again... I just... You make me feel things I never thought I'd feel... You make me want to do things- my god, the things I want to do with you...." I take a deep breath.
  She opens her eyes all the way and stares up at me boldly.  "Okay."
  "Okay what?"
  "Do what you want with me..." She doesn't even blink.
  "A-America..." I stutter.
  "Shh. I want to know what you want to do... I want to know how you feel about me," she says with a soft smile.  "Look, I'll even close my eyes."  Her eyes flutter closed and my heart pounds in my chest.  I start out nervous, fumbling to undo the dress while kissing, but I soon become sure of myself, of us.

                      *******************
  She's smiling slightly, her breathing a bit labored.  I'm still kissing at her neck softly, but I seem to have run out of steam and now I'm in a drunken stupor as I trace patterns on her body with my hands.
  "Darling," she whispers, her breath intoxicating.  "I'm afraid we really need to get dressed..."
  I sigh heavily and pull back to look at her but she cups my cheek with one hand gently.  "Thank you. That was..." She laughs a breathy laugh that completely sums up her thoughts.
  "Good..." I grin and kiss her cheek.  I reluctantly get up.  "What can I do to help you get ready?"
  She looks at the clock.  "Well, I don't have time to take a shower now...  I'm supposed to call my maids to put my makeup on..."
  "No! Don't call them... I mean, I'm sure between the two of us we can figure it out... And I can help you get dressed.." I say hopefully.
  She smirks.  "Of course."
  I grin and we get to work.  Her makeup turns out halfway decent, even with all of the mistakes I've made, but it doesn't matter.  She looks gorgeous as always. While she is finished that up, I come behind her with a hairbrush and start gently brushing her beautiful hair.  She sighs contently and smiles at me in the mirror.
  I pull her hair up into my hand and bend down to her neck.  I start kissing one spot softly, and then with more passion.  She lets out small laughs and when I finally pull away, I see that I left a red mark.
  "Maxon!!!" She groans.  "Now I have to wear my hair down..."
  "Good." I grin.  "I love your hair down..."
  She rolls her eyes and then I watch her as she just pins back a little bit of her hair, letting the rest fall over her shoulders in its beautiful red curls.
  "Let's see what my maids have for me to wear..." We walk over to her closet where we find a dress bag laid over the chair with a note pinned to it.  I pick it up and it reads: 'Just a Glimpse of what is to come!'
  We give each other confused looks but as she unzips the bag, a white dress peaks out.  "It looks kind of like a wedding dress..." I say softly.
  She pulls it out and we realize that it looks EXACTLY like a wedding dress at the top, but it comes only to her knees and puffs out s bit at the bottom.  The top is embellished with little white butterflies that go all the way down the lacy sleeves.
  "That's going to look beautiful on you, America..." I smile.
"It's the most gorgeous dress I've ever seen!" She exclaims.  "And that's saying something."
  "Well let's get the most beautiful dress on the most beautiful woman..." I smile.  I help her get hers off and help her step into the white one carefully. She pulls it up and asks me to lace up the back but I keep messing up because I'm so distracted by how gorgeous she is.
   I finally finish and she steps in front of the mirror.  "What do you think?"
  I walk up behind her, my hands sitting on her waist as we stare at each other in the mirror. 
  "I think that you are going to be the most beautiful bride anyone has ever seen... I can't believe that I have you..." I whisper.
  "Well believe it... Because I'm not going anywhere."