THE SELECTION: The Decision.

The Ball

America's POV:
We are finally ready and we head downstairs arm in arm. Maxon is wearing the uniform I've so often made fun of him for, though it really is incredibly handsome on him. I fiddle with some of the pins and meddles on it as we walk.
"Are you going to hang me from the chandelier?" He teases.
"Not this time," I smirk. "If you're nice."
He laughs and we finally walk into the ball room. It seems that we're late to our own party. Everyone turns and stares at us and my cheeks go red. Maxon, however, knows exactly what to do.
He bows to everyone and then holds my hand up and I give a small curtsy and everyone breaks into applause. It's suddenly a whirlwind of congratulations and questions about me, and I have to hold Maxon tight for fear of actually falling over.
Finally, it appears that we have met the last of the well-wishers, and we walk over to the drinks.
Maxon pours us both champagne but as its about to hit my lips I freeze. "Wait... Maxon... I can't drink this..." I look around then whisper, "it's not good for the baby."
His face falls. "America, I'm so so sorry... I wasn't even thinking..." He quickly takes it from me and pours them both out then turns to a waiter. "Can we get some sparkling grape juice in both of our glasses?"
The waiter quickly obliges and pours the children's drink into our glasses.
"Maxon, you could have still had your champagne..." I sigh.
"No no. We're doing this entirely together... I'm not going to drink for the next nine months." He grins.
I raise an eyebrow. "Really? Good luck with that," I tease.
He rolls his eyes. "America Singer are you insinuating that I'm a drunk?"
"No! I'm just saying that you like to drink at parties... And when you're stressed..."
"Well, not anymore."
"Good for you..." I smile. I kiss his cheek, knowing full well he probably won't be able to stick to it.
  He suddenly takes my drink and leads me to the middle of the dance floor.  "Let's dance..."
  "Maxon, I don't know about that..." I laugh softly.
  "Just follow my lead..." He pulls me close and starts slowly leading me in perfect time to the music.
  After a while I relax and lay my head on his chest, hearing his heartbeat sync up with the music.
  He hums softly in my ear as we continue to dance and I can't help but grin.
I look up to him and kiss him slowly. He stops dancing and kisses back... It's the most blissful moment of my life... Until I realize it's gotten unbearably quiet in the room and everyone is looking at us.
I pull away quickly and bury my face in his chest. Everyone laughs. Most people clap and whistle. I'm mortified.
  Maxon gives a chuckle and pulls me into a tight hug, sensing my embarrassment.
  "Great performance, my dear." Maxon teases softly in my ear.  I swat his arm but keep holding him tight, trying to cool my face down.
Suddenly the room goes quiet for an entirely different reason. Clarkson has just arrived and everyone drops into a deep bow.
I avoid looking at him as much as possible as Maxon holds me tight, but then it is completely unavoidable.
He walks over to us with a fake smile. "It is customary for the future father in law to dance with the bride-to-be, as well as the mother of the bride with the groom..." His voice is tight and clipped and it's obvious this is only for appearance sake.  He extends his hand stiffly and for a moment I don't even speak.
  "You don't have to do it," Maxon whispers.
  I shake my head and step forward.  "It would be my pleasure," I say cordially.  I take his hand and hold my head high as he leads me to the dance floor.
We get in a dancing position but it is incredibly awkward. We twirl around for a bit before he finally speaks.
"I told you to stay away from my son..." He begins.
I put on a big fake smile. "That's not a decision you're allowed to make... It's Maxon's life."
The only sign that I've made him mad is how tight he squeezes my hand. "Let me finish. I most definitely don't approve of you... But I realize that we're locked into this decision now, seeing as you're pregnant... I've accepted it. I don't like it, but I've accepted it. But if you think for one second that you're going to rule this country-"
"Rule the country? Is that what you think of me, that I am in this for the title? The crown?" I pull back a bit with distaste. "I hate that! Honestly, that was the only thing holding me back from marrying Maxon. I don't want to be princess... But for him, I will be. I'll support him no matter what, but I don't want to be in charge of anything."
He looks a bit taken aback.  "You don't?"
  "No..." I look over to where Maxon is dancing with my mother and they are both smiling and laughing.  "Believe it or not, I'm marrying him because I love him..."
  He twirls me around once as the dance dictates but that turns out to be a terrible idea.  I have to stop and hold my head because I'm dizzy.  I feel vomit rising in my throat and I cover my mouth.  "Excuse me," I say quickly. I sneak out the side door to the garden to throw up in peace. I throw up so much for so long that I'm in tears by the end of it and I lean up against the palace wall with my trembling hands on my face.
"Amberly's morning sickness was terrible, too..." Mutters a familiar voice. I look up, startled to find King Clarkson standing a few feet away watching me. He doesn't hide the disgust on his face when he looks over at where I had thrown up. "You know, I pity the guard that has to clean that up."
I level him with a glare. "At least I made it outside."
"Mm... Yes. I don't think it would fare well for you to be vomiting at your own engagement party," he muses.
"Thanks for the advice." I roll my eyes. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go up to my room for a bit."
"You can't leave your own party," he says firmly. "People will get suspicious. Here, take one of these..." He pulls a bottle of pills from his coat pocket.
I raise an eyebrow. "Um, no thank you... I don't feel like dying."
He scoffs. "Yes I hate you, but I'm not going to kill you. Who do you think I am?"
"The kind of man that beats his son for no reason," I say coldly. I've held that inside for so long that it feels good to let it out.
He looks like he's been slapped. "He told you?"
"Kind of... After one of the attacks we were in a shelter together and I was trying to fix him up... I saw the scars and bruises." I shrug.
He looks away but denies nothing. "The pills belong to Amberly. She takes them when she gets a headache so I always keep them on me. They help with the nausea. Take them or don't, I don't really care. I just thought it would save you a lot of trouble."
I eye him carefully but eventually take the bottle and pop one of the pills in my mouth.
Just as I close my eyes and try to take deep breaths, Maxon and Kenna rush out.
"Darling! There you are..." He runs over to me. "Is everything okay? You disappeared with no warning... I thought..." He cups my cheek with his hand. "Never mind. What are you doing out here?" His eyes flit to his father standing behind us.
"I felt sick... Just morning sickness... I needed some air." I shrug and lean into his hand.
"Should we call it a night? I don't want you over exerting yourself," he says worriedly.
I smile a bit. "I'll be fine..."
Kenna walks over and presses a hand to my forehead. "You feel a bit warm... It could be because all of this hair of yours! Why wouldn't you put it up tonight?" She begins pulling my hair out of my face but she pauses. "America Singer, is that a hickey?"
Maxon's eyes widen and I go red.
"Let's not dwell on what that may or may not be," Maxon finally says, diplomatically.
His father groans. Kenna laughs.
"I'd give you two a talk on virtue if you weren't already pregnant," she says with a smirk.
That causes my blush to deepen and I smack her arm. Maxon wraps his arms around me from behind and kisses my cheek.
"Make all the jokes you want, Kenna... We're beyond blessed to be having a baby... I didn't even know if it was possible to have one, and now we do right off the bat? It's more than I could've asked for. I, for one am incredibly excited."
I smile softly and lean back against his chest. "Me too," I admit. "Terrified, but excited." I look up at him and a slow grin spreads on my face.
"You two are too cute for words," Kenna deadpans. "It's not fair. America gets the nicest man in the world, who is also a prince and super hot? What does that leave for the rest of the women in the world?"
  It's Maxon's turn to blush but I laugh and turn around in his arms to face him.  "Nothing.  It leaves nothing for anyone else because I'm hogging all the good things in this world." I kiss him softly.
   "Awwwwwwwwwww!" Kenna coos.

A/N:  Hey guys!! Wow it's been really long since I updated and I am SUPER SORRY!! I'm also sorry for the quality of this chapter but I promise the next one will be better, I just had to get back into the rhythm of this story ;)