A/N: Based on 2.05 spoilers - I couldn't resist (and I'm not sure I'm still alive).
As always, I don't own anything. Please enjoy and review.
Clarke is sitting with her mother in the remains of the Ark, letting herself be fussed over. She only responds in grunts and monosyllables, still feeling Anya's blood gush over her hands. Anya's death - and the consequences - is fractionally easier to deal with than her conflicting feelings about her mother.
Clarke was never given a moment to mourn and her anger was buried under her grief but now her mother is alive and feelings rage and joy are at war within Clarke.
"Chancellor Griffin," Jackson starts and Clarke has never been more grateful to see anyone in her life, "The Guard found more people around the fence."
Abby is alert in an instant, "If they shot anyone else-"
"No, Chancellor," Jackson cuts in soothingly, "They are following your orders to give warning shots first. Some of the kids you sent have come back, there's the Blake siblings-"
Clarke is out of the battered room in an instant, running out into the corridor as fast as she can. Jackson's words echo around her head, pushing her legs faster.
Blake siblings.
Bellamy is alive.
...
She pauses outside the Ark remains, eyes adjusting to the sunlight. An indescribable emotion rushes through her at the sight of him, chatting absently to Octavia, and she can only stare.
He's more bruised than she remembers and looks like he could use a good meal or two but he is alive. The relief is a weight off her shoulders she didn't know she was even carrying.
Clarke's not sure what alerts him to her presence but he looks up from Octavia and locks eyes with her, freezing them both to the spot. His lips move in the shape of her name and whatever spell came over her is broken as she rushes forward.
He meets her halfway, her arms wrapped around his shoulders and his around her waist. Clarke can't keep the smile off her face and tightens her grip. Bellamy's head rests in the crook of her neck, his embrace almost too tight, too desperate but there is a warmth seeping out of his thin shirt and Clarke realises that for the first time in a very long time, she actually feels safe.
She's not sure how long passes before she begins to notice other things, like the smell. Bellamy is not carrying his usual scent of damp earth, instead, an unfortunate mixture of sweat and blood - likely an accurate description of the last couple of days for him.
"You smell," she laughs into his neck and she feels him stiffen before his own laughter reverberates through his chest.
"We haven't all had time for someone to draw us a bath, princess."
His tone is light and teasing and she hadn't realised how much she missed his reassuring voice.
A throat is cleared next to them and Clarke jumps back, suddenly embarrassed as Octavia smiles.
"It's nice to see you as well, Clarke," Octavia says, a considering look in her eye. Clarke pulls her into a half-hug, mainly to avoid her penetrating gaze and observes the pair.
"Where's everyone else?" She asks with concern and a little shame she had momentarily forgotten, "Where's Finn?"
"Finn and Murphy are out looking for you, Monroe's in the infirmary tent and... Sterling didn't make it," Bellamy adds softly.
Clarke understands that look and knows Bellamy will have another life weighing on his conscience.
"Is Monroe going to be okay?"
"She'll be fine," Octavia says a little impatiently, "Where's the rest of our people?"
Clarke looks to Bellamy and an understanding passes between them, "Let's find a quiet place to talk," he says, "Looks like we've got a lot to catch up on."
She nods in agreement and begins to lead them to engineering where Clarke knows Raven is working. Their people are still captive in Mount Weather, the Grounders likely still want to kill them all and they have people spread all across the forest but Clarke is starting to feel like they might actually have a chance.