I really should be studying for biology but I hate the subject with a passion so I am here instead.

Due to popular demand and because a lot of people do not know what a 'one-shot' means (jokes, I love you people), this story is now a two-shot. That, and a lot of you actually requested for a part where America wakes up and after thinking over it so did I.

Darkness is all I could see for what feels like an eternity. I don't remember much of what happened since my thoughts and understanding of time drifted in and out of consciousness. I only remember being carried away, people in chaos, screaming, pain - and then I passed out - hearing Maxon calling my name.

Darkness surrounds me until I wake up, blinded by yellow lights flickering above me. My ears are ringing, but I could make out some muffled voices next to me as well as a hysterical one. It's Marlee clasping her warm hand on my cold one desperately. It doesn't take me long to fall back under. I don't think anyone noticed my eyes opening since it was only for a second. I barely realized it happened myself.

Darkness is where I hear someone call for me.

"My Queen, do you know where you are?"

Darkness...

-o-

A gentle touch caresses my forehead, its warmth against my cool brings me back to the surface. My eyes slowly flutter open as I inhale as deep as I can. Never in my life did I expect the scent of a hospital to be reviving, revitalizing. My eyes look over to where the warmth is coming from since it is something I crave so badly right now. In my peripheral vision, I see Maxon and force my head to turn so I can fully look at him without any blurry spots.

Maxon.

By my bedside with his head in his hands.

Maxon.

My Maxon.

I've missed his warmth so much.

I need to speak but my throat feels like sandpaper. I won't let the scratchiness stop me. I've already been through enough and the pain that will come with talking is nothing compared to how I ended up in a hospital bed.

"What...happened...?"

My voice is soft and obviously sounding like styrofoam being crushed, but the message still gets across. Maxon looks up at me in disbelief. He looks like a completely different person. I see weakness, fear, and a whole medley of other emotions in those eyes as they look into mine. Oh...my poor husbandness... I can't even imagine what this must have felt like for him. I was unconscious so I barely felt a thing, but he had to witness everything and it definitely broke his heart.

"America..." Maxon mutters, his voice slightly cracking. "My dear, my darling dear, you're awake."

My smile is weak and genuine. My heart feels heavy but it carries a good kind of weight this time. He leans forwards to kiss my forehead and it has never felt as good as it does now.

"You had a heart attack..." Maxon tells me, holding one of my hands with both of his.

I expected that and knew it but still, it hurts to hear because saying it aloud makes it truer then leaving it to be unsaid. Sadly, it only takes experience for that to be realized.

Tears start welling up in Maxon's eyes. He blinks and they fall willingly; he doesn't even bother to wipe them away.

"Oh my god..." Maxon mutters. "I might have been hysterical this whole time but I have the absolute right to be. It was just so scary. When we reached the hospital wing, all doctors were on you. According to their tests, you were suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy, a progressive heart muscle disease. It caused your left ventricle, the main blood-pumping chamber to be enlarged and weakened." He takes a deep, shaky breath. "It prevents the heart from filling up with blood. Fainting is a prominent symptom but there's the risk of blood clots and...sudden death."

My eyes do the nodding. That was a lot to hear at once and it felt as if all those words just went over my head. Again, saying it out loud only makes it truer.

"Imagine that..." I whisper. "My heart was too big."

My smile curves more this time and so does Maxon's which is all I wanted. I know he's been on-the-edge this whole time so I just want him to feel positive.

He blinks away another set of tears. "It feels as if my heart started beating again for the first time."

"Mine too," I respond.

"Whoever said real men don't cry have never been in love before." He lifts my hand and kisses it softly. "We're going to be okay, my dear."

"We all will..."

And this was the happy ending this story deserved. Thanks to all the people who wanted this or who just got here and read this far. Please feel free to check out my other stories and even recommend one for me to write.

~ MysteryGal5