💐The Wedding💐

Part 4

Suddenly, reality came back to
me. I'd spent forever memorizing
my vows. I really didn't want to make a fool out of myself and let America down. My hands shook as I inhaled, preparing to recite the words that mattered most. As I looked up, I saw America's smiling eyes and knew it would be alright.

"America, before I met you, I
didn't know what it was like to live. I didn't even know that I needed you until I had to try to imagine life without you, and I realized that a life without you wouldn't be much of a life at all." I stopped to swallow down the tears that were coming into my eyes. I was still shaking.

"I love you more than anything.
More than I thought it was possible to love someone." I held her hands in mine, watching the tears come into her eyes, too.
"I love you too," she whispered.
I smiled to myself and finished. "I am the luckiest man in the world, because king or not, I have found my queen."

She looked to me and then to
the crowd, barely containing her tears. "I should've gone first," she whispered so soft that even I could barley hear it. I let out the tiniest laugh as she fanned her eyes.

She composed herself with a
deep breath. "If you would've told me a year ago that I was going to marry the prince of Illèa, I would've said you were crazy," she started, without making direct eye contact with me. I wanted to laugh at how true that was. "But now..." I reached a hand to her chin and lifted up her face. "Maxon, I love you so much. Whatever happened in the last few months to make me feel this way... it doesn't matter. All that matters is that we're here together now."

I could've sworn we were the
only people in the room, although it was filled with over a thousand guests. America squeezed my hands as she finished, "I can't live without you, Maxon." She was on the edge of breaking. She picked up one of her hands and brushed under her eyes, trying to salvage her makeup.

"Oh, darling," I whispered. "I feel the exact same way." I returned the hand squeeze and peeked over at the bishop, who nodded his head, confirming that the ceremony was to continue. I felt warm and fuzzy all over, the inside of my chest bubbling over with love. I just wanted to scream of joy. I saw America fidgeting a little as well.

Next was rings. I took
America's wedding ring, and she took my gold wedding band. I slipped her ring on her left hand and softly said, "With this ring, I give you my love." She looked up at me from her hand and pressed her lips together in a smile.

She took my ring between her
two fingers, and picked up my left hand. She delicately slid the ring onto my finger, saying, "With this ring, I give you my love." She breathed softly as we looked at each other's hands.

I grabbed her hand in mine,
and brought it up to my lips. I gave her fingers a gentle kiss, just as I had when we first met. I made sure to touch my lips to the ring. We slowly lifted our heads and our eyes locked. I saw over America's shoulder that May was in tears, so full of joy for her sister.

The pastor looked at me, then
at America, and he even smiled as he said, "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride." My heart leaped with joy! I had never been so happy. America cupped her hand on my face and pulled me down into a slow kiss. There was applause and cheering and flashing of cameras, but I couldn't take my eyes off my wife for one second. Wife. America is my wife. Those are the happiest words I've ever thought.

We pulled back slowly. "I love
you," I whispered softly. Then she whispered back, "I love you too." "You ready for this?" I asked. "As long as you help me," she replied. We smiled, and turned to face the crowd, hand in hand. Now that we were husband and wife, it was time to become king and queen.