"You're staring"

"Am I?"

The sound of a soft chuckle filled the quiet room. "Yes."

"How can you even tell? You're not even paying attention to me."

"I know you. And I can feel it."

Clarke smiled as her eyes remained on the floor. Focused on the way the black shaded against the light grey tile. The feel of slender fingers caressing her hair caused her eyes to close and a soft hum to escape from her throat.

"Stop drawing for a second and sit with me."

It was a simple request and Clarke was more than happy to oblige. She wiped her hands together, removing some of the charcoal that had gathered on her palms. Standing from her place on the floor, she smiled down at the open arms waiting for her.

"Lexa, I'm never going to finish if you keep craving attention." She teased, snuggling in close against her chest, breathing in the familiar scent of her girlfriend.

"It's not like it's an assignment of anything." She pressed a kiss to her temple. "Besides, it's our anniversary."

Clarke furrowed her brow, tilting her head back to stare into those beautiful green eyes. "Anniversary?"

"Of the first day we met." She moved away from Clarke, leaning to the side. The drawer slid open and she pulled out a small box. A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Happy Unity Day... and happy anniversary."

Clarke sat up, leaning her back against the headboard. Her eyes caught sight of the large window. Seeing the darkness of space surrounding the bright light that was Lexa. Her fingers tugged at the tiny string, unraveling it from its place. Lifting the lid, she revealed a silver ring with a blue stone sparkling back at her.

"Lexa..." She breathed, looking into her eyes. "I'm only seventeen... don't you think that's a little young to get married?"

Lexa stared at her blankly for a moment. "Are you serious right now?"

Clarke laughed, shoving her lightly. "No! I know you're not asking me to marry you." She held the ring with her fingers and brought it closer. "I'm just messing with you. Get a sense of sarcasm, Commander."

Lexa rolled her eyes. "I really wish you'd stop calling me that."

Clarke raised an eyebrow, giving her best seductive grin. "Do you really?" She inched toward Lexa, her lips hovering close.

Lexa swallowed her response when Clarke's lips brushed against her own.

"Thank you for the ring. I love it." She pressed a kiss to her waiting lips.

The smirk moved further across Lexa's mouth as she watched Clarke admire the stone.

Clarke leaned back against the metal headboard once again. "Where did you get this?"

The brunette shrugged her shoulder and fiddled with the hem of Clarke's pants. "I was in the trade market and I saw it sitting on one of the tables." Another shrug. "So I took it."

"Lexa!" Her name came out a bit louder then intended. "If they find out, they'll float you!"

Lexa scrunched her nose and scoffed. "I have three months until I'm eighteen." She reminded, waving her hand dismissively. "At the worst, I'll get locked up until then followed by some shitty work detail."

Clarke dropped her hands into her lap. "That's a risk I'm not willing to take." She shoved the ring in Lexa's direction. "Go return it."

Lexa placed her hand gently on Clarke's, pushing the ring back toward her. "If I take it back, I'll get caught for sure." Her hand wrapped around Clarke's. "Please keep it."

Clarke sighed, slipping it onto her finger. "You're crazy."

Lexa huffed in response. "I'm in love. People in love do crazy things."

"Oh you're blaming love?"

Lexa nodded.

The blonde hummed as she crossed her legs to sit Indian style in front of Lexa. "And who are you in love with?"

"This girl."

"Oh wow. She sounds interesting." Clarke teased and Lexa rolled her eyes.

"She's perfect."

"No one is perfect, Lexa."

"She is." Lexa mimicked Clarke's sitting position. "She is smart and beautiful. She has this amazing smile. And she's an artist."

Clarke ducked her head for a moment ad she listened to Lexa speak. She could feel the tiny of a blush as her eyes met deep beautiful green once again.

"Every day she draws a world we have never known. And a life we have yet to live." Lexa inched closer, resting her hand on Clarke's cheek. "I'm fascinated by her and I love her very much."

Clarke remained speechless for just a moment, taking in the look I her girlfriends eyes. How she stared at her so adoringly that Clarke feared she would melt under the weight of it.

"I love you." Clarke whispered, finally finding her voice to speak.

It was the broadest smile Lexa had every given her. Clarke reveled in it. Loving the way it lit up her girlfriend's beautiful face and brightened her eyes. When Lexa leaned closer, Clarke followed suit and kissed her deeply.

The memory faded too quickly.

Clarke took in a deep breath, shaking it from her thoughts. She started toward the door, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. Her smile wasn't as bright, but that would change once she saw her again. Once she held her again. Once she felt those perfect lips against hers once again.

Her body moved as if on auto pilot as she made her way toward the door, stopping and stepping back when the door suddenly opened. Her mother entered looking somewhat solemn but less than apologetic.

"Clarke." Her mother greeted, her tone flat.

Clarke scowled. "Doctor Griffin." She returned, unwelcoming.

Abby sighed at her daughter's tone. "Clarke, we need to talk."

"We have nothing to talk about." Her stare was dark and stern. "Now, if you'll excuse me, it's my girlfriend's birthday and I need to go see her."

Clarke attempted to step around her mother and halted when a strong hand wrapped around her forearm. Her brow furrowed and her gaze shifted from the hand to her mother's eyes.

"I can't let you do that." Abby stated. "You can't see Lexa today."

"Yes, I can." Clarke snapped back.

"No, you can't." Abby kept hold of her daughter to keep her in place. "Lexa can't see you today. There's something you need to know."

"What now? Are you having her lashed next?"

"I will not continue to be made the bad person in this situation."

"You had her thrown in a detention center!"

"She committed a crime, Clarke!"

"It was a ring!" Clarke yanked her arm from her mother's grasp. "It wasn't food or medical supplies or even oxygen! It was a ring!"

"Stealing is stealing. No matter what the size of the action." Abby sighed and reached for her daughter again. When Clarke stepped away from her touch, she pursed her lips and allowed her arms to fall by her sides. "You gave her a warning, Clarke. You knew this would happen."

Clarke scoffed. "Yeah. I just didn't think my mother would be the reason." She took a step closer, locking eyes with the older woman. "Then again, with your track record, I should have expected it."

Abby's body tensed at her words. The shock registering on her face immediately and Clarke used her stunned moment to slip around her and out the door.

Abby regained her senses and spun on her heels watching as her daughter exited the room. "Clarke!" Her voice echoed off the walls as the girl passed through the door. "Clarke, stop!"

She moved quickly to catch up to her daughter. Clarke walked determinedly down the hall, quickening her pace at the sound of her mother's steps across the metal grate. Her movements paused and her eyes widened at the sight of Lexa coming toward her, flanked by two large men. They stood on either side of her, holding her by her biceps as they guided her down the hall.

"Lexa!" Clarke shouted, hurrying her steps to reach her.

"Clarke!" Lexa called out as she struggled against their grasp.

"Let her go!" Clarke ordered, pulling at the man's hand.

With his free one, he pushed Clarke back and held up his hand in a warning. "We have orders." He told her, frankly. "Lexa Woods is coming with us."

"No she's not!"

"Clarke, enough!" the sound of Abby's voice bellowed through the narrow hall. She slowed her pace when she reached them. "Lexa has to go."

Clarke spun to face her mother. "Go where?" She asked, frantically. She looked at Lexa again. "Where are they taking you?"

Lexa shook her head. "I don't know. I don't- "

"They're taking her to the drop ship." Abby explained. Blue and green stared at her in confusion. She swallowed hard then cleared her throat. "Lexa and ninety-nine others are going to the ground."

Clarke felt her jaw slack and the tears stung behind her blue eyes. "Wh-what? What are you talking about? You can't just send her to Earth."

"We need to." Abby stepped closer, hesitating for just a moment to touch her daughter. To rest her hand on her cheek. "Clarke, the Ark doesn't have much time left. We need to know if the Earth is inhabitable again."

"So you're going to sacrifice my girlfriend in order to find out?" Clarke shook her head and stepped away from her mother. "No, I won't let you... you can't do this."

"We have no choice, Clarke."

"You do have a choice!" Clarke shouted causing her mother to wince. "Send someone else! You already let them take my father, I won't let you allow them take her too!"

Abby stiffened at her statement. Her jaw clenched and she took in a deep breath. "I'll give you a few minutes to say goodbye." She said, her voice monotone. She turned her attention to the guards, nodding a silent signal for them to release the other girl.

The man exhaled deeply as he unlocked her hand cuffs. He narrowed his eyes at the brunette. "I swear, if you even think of running…"

Lexa glared at him. "It's not a huge ship." She snarked. "Where do you think I'm going to go, floater?"

The man's jaw clenched, flashing her one more hard glare before joining Abby and the other guard.

Clarke's arms were around her neck immediately. Her body slammed into Lexa's causing the taller girl to grunt at the impact. Lexa held her tight and close, closing her eyes as she breathed in the scent of Clarke as if it was the last time she ever would.

"Not exactly how I expected to spend my birthday with you." Lexa said, softly.

Clarke closed her eyes, pressing her face into her girlfriend's shoulder. "I can't let you go." She breathed, her voice breaking with every word. "I won't."

"I don't think there is anyway you can stop it, Clarke."

She pulled back slightly to look into sad green eyes. "Then I'll go with you."

"You will do no such thing!" Abby interjected, grabbing both of their attention.

Clarke narrow down her eyes, her jaw set in a defiant scowl. "You can't stop me."

"Clarke..." Lexa began but was immediately cut off by Abby.

"Like hell I can't!"

"Clarke, listen to me." Lexa pleaded, pulling her attention away from her mother. She cupped Clarke's face with her hands, brushing her thumb along her cheek. "I love you."

The tears began to brim, clouding her blue eyes. Her fingers curled around her girlfriend's wrist. "Lexa..." She spoke her name softly, her voice cracking under the sadness. A plea for her not to give in. Not to leave.

"We will see each other again." Lexa swallowed hard, trying to fight her own tears from falling. "If not in this life then the next."

Clarke broke. The tears fell from her eyes, streaming down her face. "Please don't say things like that."

Lexa brushed the tears away with her thumb. A small smile formed at the corner of her lips. "Too dramatic?"

Clarke allowed a watery chuckle to escape her throat. "Stop trying to make me smile."

"I need you to smile." Lexa informed her. "I need to see your smile one more time before I go. Please."

Clarke tried. She truly did. Looking into Lexa's eyes. Seeing the pain and the sadness of being sent away to a world they didn't know. To a life separate from one another. This was not their plan.

She shook her head. "I can't do this. I can't loose you."

"I know." Lexa pulled her into a hug, holding her as the sobs racked her body. "I love you. I've always loved you. I will always love you."

Lexa leaned back, leaving her hands on Clarke's hips. Her fingers dug into the material of her shirt as she moved closer and kissed her. Clarke whimpered against her lips, her hand clutching the front of Lexa's shirt.

"I love you, Lexa." Clarke whispered against her mouth as she pressed their lips together again.

"Time to go." A gruffly voice ordered, clamping hand down on Lexa's shoulder, pulling her from Clarke.

"No!" Clarke exclaimed, holding onto Lexa's shirt for dear life.

"Clarke, let go." Abby ordered, placing her hand on the girl's shoulders to pull her away.

The guard latched Lexa's hands behind her back. They tugged her away, pulling her around Clarke and down the hall. Clarke turned to watch her go and her mother stood between them, like a barrier refusing to let Clarke break through.

Lexa glanced over her shoulder, stumbling over her own feet as they dragged her along. Her eyes glistened and tell tear finally escaped and stained her cheek.

Clarke felt her body weaken. Her air and blood thinning and fading as the world around her began to spin. She leaned in to her mother for nothing more than to keep herself from collapsing. She watched, helplessly as Lexa disappeared around the corner like a ghost never to be seen again.

The rage filled her then. Replacing the sadness and the hurt. She pushed away from her mother, blue eyes narrowed and filled with tears on the brim of falling.

"I will never forgive you for this." Clarke hissed, stepping back and away. "For any of this." With a forceful step around her mother, Clarke returned to her room and made sure the door closed loudly behind her…