"Katie stop running around! If you want to go to the park you have to get dressed" Clarke sighed, watching the 4-year-old run riot around the apartment.
"Momma I don't wanna" Katie giggled.
"You don't want to go to the park and feed the ducks. That's fine. We can go another day." Clarke sighed melodramatically, knowing she would get her daughters attention if she did.
She heard the pit patter of feet stop suddenly, and Clarke smiled.
"But I wanna go today!" Katie grumbled.
"Then pick something out to wear and momma will help you get dressed"
She shook her head in a quiet laugh when she saw a flash of blond hair disappear into her bedroom.
Clarke looked around the living room and noted to tidy up when she returned. Toys were spread out across the floor, and pencil crayon marks covered the small table in a rainbow of colours. She picked her coat up from the back of the sofa, seeing the chill occurring outside she reminded herself to grab Katie's puffer jacket.
A few minutes later the 4-year-old returned, wearing what Clarke deemed to be, a rather sensible outfit chosen by a toddler.
"Come here then" she smiled, taking the sparkly top and leggings from Katie's hands.
After a couple of minutes struggling to get her daughter dressed, they were both finally ready to exit the apartment. Thought the young girl had been very reluctant to wear her big coat, Clarke reminded her once again that if she didn't the ducks would have to wait another day.
Even though the park was around a 5-minute walk, the cold made her seriously consider taking the car. But Clarke figured they would warm up on the way down. Luckily there was no wind, meaning that both girls were saved from the bitter chill of early spring.
Katie held tight to her mother's hand, as did Clarke; knowing that the second the pond came into sight she would run straight to it if she could. Arriving at the park gate, which easily swung open, Clarke didn't loosen her grip on her daughter's hand.
Early flowers were blooming from the ground, making the park seem slightly more alive as it had done all winter. The pond had thawed out since it was covered in ice a few weeks ago, meaning that the number of ducks would be significantly higher than before. The sun had begun to peep out behind the clouds, but only slightly.
As they both got closer to the pond, Clarke saw that there weren't many ducks around. And knew the 4-year-old would be disappointed.
"Where are all the duckies?" A little voice piped up and confirmed her suspicions.
"I don't know sweetheart. Maybe they're all in their beds, it's quite cold out." Clarke said sympathetically.
Katie pouted, making Clarke wish she could click her fingers and make ducks appear instantly.
Luckily, because her daughter was so young, she got distracted easily. The pout lifted off her face when she saw the playground.
"Momma! Momma! Can I go play!" She squealed, pointing and practically jumping on the spot.
"Yes, just be careful!" Clarke called after her, not getting a chance to say another word before the blond girl ran towards the playground.
Clarke smiled and trailed after her. She loved seeing her daughter happy, as did all mothers. Being a single mother was hard on Clarke sometimes, even though she had her best friends Octavia and Raven. Balancing her job as a high school teacher, and looking after Katie took its toll. But coming home every day to see the smile on her daughters face made it all worth it.
Katie's father, Finn, had no involvement in her life at all. Clarke had got pregnant rather young, and Finn bailed on her. Not wanting the responsibility of a baby at 19. He told her to get an abortion, she told him no; and they never saw each other again. Clarke's mother wasn't disappointed in her for getting pregnant, she was just worried about her studies. Luckily Clarke was a year ahead anyway, so it didn't impact her too much. She got her diploma just before Katie's second birthday; and has been teaching for almost 3 years. She loved it, and her students seemed to love her as well.
Clarke's dating life had taken a rather big dip after Katie was born. She was afraid that no one would want to date a girl with a kid at 24. Octavia and Raven had tried setting her up, but they'd all be failures and never got past the first date.
Clarke was shaken out of her thoughts by her daughter's squeal. She had managed to get herself up on the roundabout and was currently sat in the middle of it, as it slowly spun around.
Clarke couldn't prevent the grin that spread across her face, not that she wanted to anyway.
"Momma! Look at me!" Katie laughed, standing up and holding onto the bars.
"Katie be careful, don't fall off"
Even though there was barely an inch distance between the roundabout and the ground, her daughter had a tendency to be especially clumsy. Something that she got from Clarke.
Reaching the roundabout, Clarke sat down on the roundabout before her daughter decided to cry out in protest.
"No momma, this is my roundybout. You can't sit down!" Katie said seriously.
She scowled when Clarke chuckled at her, so she held in her laughter and tried her best to match her daughter's expression. The corners of her mouth were still slightly turned up, but it was the best she could do.
"RoundAbout sweetheart. And you know you have to share." Clarke said, in a mock stern voice.
Instead of responding Katie shook her head, and sat directly in the middle. She looked at her mother expectantly.
"Do you want me to push you?"
The blond hair shook around her shoulders as she nodded her head.
"Ok you ready?"
Another nod.
"Hold on tight"
Clarke began to slowly push Katie around, making sure she never let go and didn't push it too fast.
Looking around Clarke noticed that the park was empty, not a person in sight. Though it didn't surprise her, the Spring air seemed to get even colder. Clarke wondered whether it would be better if they headed home, she didn't want Katie to be too cold.
As Clarke looked down she saw that her daughter was no longer sat in the middle of the roundabout. A sudden sense of panic rose up in her, and she rapidly looked around for Katie. Seeing a blur of golden hair rush past the bark of the playground.
"Momma look there are ducks!" She heard her daughter call out behind her.
Setting off at a mad dash as she realised her daughter was getting closer and closer to the water's edge of the pond.
"KATIE! KATIE STOP!" Clarke yelled.
But her daughter ignored her call and instead continued running directly towards the pond.
"KATIE!" She screamed at the top of her voice.
A wave of terror took over her when she realised she wouldn't get to her daughter in time. Pushing her speed further, she was determined to get there.
Suddenly as Katie reached the edge with no sign of stopping, a blur of brown hair swept past her; grabbing the girl before she could fall in. At the impact both fell, and the brunette woman pushed them as far as she could from the edge, to avoid them slipping down the slope into the water.
As Clarke reached them, with tears streaming down her cheeks, she enveloped her daughter in a hug.
"Oh my gosh! Katie don't you ever do that again! Ever!" Clarke raised her voice, causing her daughter to start blubbering.
"I'm sorry, momma."
Before she got too upset, Clarke held her tighter. Afraid to let her go. She suddenly realised the brown hair women was hanging awkwardly nearby.
"Oh god, thank you so much. I don't know what I would've done if-"
Clarke stopped talking at the first glance of the woman. She was breathtakingly beautiful, the emerald eyes shone out. Her hair fell effortlessly around her face and shoulders. Clarke's words caught in her throat at the beauty of the brunette.
"It's no problem at all. As long as she's ok?" The woman asked, referring to Katie.
Clarke nodded, trying to form any kind of word in her head.
"Yes" she managed to get out. "She's fine, thanks to you. If you weren't there God knows what might've happened. I can't thank you enough."
The woman shook her head with a smile.
"Like I said it was no problem at all. I'm just glad I managed to get to her in time. I'll see you around sometime."
Just as she was about to walk away, Clarke grabbed her arm. Feeling the spark that ignited at the touch, she tried to focus on anything else so she could actually talk properly.
"No wait. There must be something I can do to repay you." Clarke couldn't help smiling at the woman's beauty.
Smiling back at Clarke the woman replied. "No it's absolutely fine, don't worry about it."
"I insist." Clarke said, not wanting to let the woman go.
"Ok, what did you have in mind?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Do you want to go for coffee sometime?" Clarke was almost shocked at her own words; she was surprised she could even form a coherent sentence.
"That would be great." The woman's smile turned into a grin, and Clarke gently released her arm.
Her grip on Katie didn't falter during the conversation, which annoyed the young girl. But seeing her mother's mood change made her grateful.
"Can I have your number then?" The brunette asked, her tone suddenly turning flirtatious.
Clarke had to stop herself squealing, or giggling, or freaking out because an insanely attractive girl just saved her daughter from falling in a freezing cold pond then asked for her number.
The blond nodded before watching the brunette take her phone out her coat pocket.
The emerald eyed woman looked at her expectantly before Clarke tried to coolly recite her number.
Pocketing the phone, the woman looked up at Clarke once again and smiled.
"I'll text you, so you know who I am. See you around."
The woman winked at Clarke, who stood there frozen from the interaction before jumping into action once she realised the woman was walking away.
"Clarke!" She shouted after her, cursing inwardly at how stupid she sounded.
It caused the woman to turn around and look at her in confusion.
"My names Clarke. And this is Katie. "She cleared up, blushing, and stepping aside to reveal her daughter hidden behind her.
The woman stepped a little closer and smiled at her antics.
"I figured what your daughter's name was. I think the rest of the neighbourhood now know." The brunette teased, causing Clarke's face to redden further.
"Lexa. Nice to meet you, Clarke." Lexa said, holding out her hand for the blond haired woman to shake.
Clarke almost melted at the way Lexa said her name.
"Nice to meet you too" She pushed a piece of hair back that had fallen in her face.
"Well. I'd better get this one back home" Clarke said, making Katie reappear at the sound of someone talking about her.
"Do we have to go home." Katie whined, but instantly stopped at the stern look on her mother's face.
"Yes we do young lady." Not saying anything else on the matter.
"Now say thank you to Lexa."
Katie looked innocently up at the brunette, making Lexa smile instantly.
"Thank you Lexa." Katie recited.
"You're very welcome sweetie." Lexa bent down to her level and ruffled her hair, causing the young girl to giggle.
"Will you play with me Lexa?" Katie asked, batting her eyelids to try and look adorable.
"Sorry K, but I think your Mom wants to go home. But maybe another time?"
Katie nodded her head and grinned widely at the nickname.
Clarke couldn't stop watching Lexa at the interaction, the way she talked to her daughter, the way she smiled, the way her eyes constantly lit up.
Standing back up, Lexa shot Clarke a wink and added "I'll call you."
Making the blush, which Clarke had just managed to get away, reappear. Unfortunately, Katie noticed how her mother acted around Lexa, and decided to comment about it.
"Momma likes Lexa!" She cried, smiling in the process.
Much to Clarke's luck, Lexa was still in earshot of her daughter's voice. And turned around once again before winking a second time at Clarke and continuing on her journey to the gate.
"Ok Katie, it's time to go home."
Picking her daughter up, Clarke wandered in the opposite direction of Lexa, occasionally glancing behind her to see if she could catch a last glimpse of the brunette.
Only one thing remained in Clarke's mind. When was Lexa going to call her?