Alternate ending to the season 2 finale. Although I was going to make this a one-shot, I have to go to work, and wanted to post before I left. Want more? Favorite/Review. Want to discuss The 100, or any other Fandoms? Add me on Twitter /ellyswampchild.

They had been walking for hours. Clarke, who had become accustomed to mile long treks through treacherous and unfamiliar territory over the past several months, was beginning to tire. The sun was setting over the western trees, and the breeze had turned cold causing goosebumps to appear on her skin despite the jacket she wore.

Earlier today the Mount Weather survivors and rescue mission had returned to Camp Jaha. As she watched the kids she had been sent to earth with reunite with family and friends, Clarke knew she wouldn't be able to face them on a daily basis, "I bear it so they don't have to," she whispered under her breath. The phrase which had first been spoken by President Wallace moments before Clarke sent a bullet into his chest, now held a new meaning. If she stayed at camp, she would serve as a constant reminder of pain. Without her, her friends would be able to focus on healing.

Clarke had planned to slip away quietly, while the former residents of the Ark were distracted by the bittersweet homecoming. Bellamy had ruined that plan. Their relationship had changed drastically from their initial days on earth. The two closest people the 100 convicted teenagers had to leaders went from loathing each other, to becoming fiercely protective of the other. Sometimes Clarke believed Bellamy cared for her as much as he did his sister, which was more than his own life.

When Bellamy had approached her at the outskirts of camp, Clarke had resolved to keep her original plan of leaving. He had invited her to have a drink, as if he knew nothing of her departure, but she knew better. To an acquaintance Bellamy usually appeared stoic, only showing emotion in the most extreme circumstances. Clarke knew that although he wasn't overtly emotional, he was sensitive and easily affected by losses. As she spoke to him, she noted the way his eyes flitted from side to side, his breath became slightly more ragged, and he swallowed repeatedly. He wasn't okay, despite his best efforts to remain indifferent. Clarke's resolve had faltered, and she had agreed to walk with him as he hunted to clear his mind.

That had been roughly three hours ago. Bellamy hadn't attempted to hunt; he had walked past numerous tracks, and when Clarke pointed it out, he had responded that they were old and the animal would be long gone. This was believable the first several times, but Clarke was beginning to suspect he hadn't intended to hunt at all. When frigid droplets of water began falling from the sky, Clarke decided to confront the boy in front of her.

"Bellamy, I think it's time you headed back."

He showed no indication that he had heard her, and Clarke hurried to catch up, placing a hand on his arm, "hey, are you listening? It's starting to rain; you should head back to camp before it gets worse."

Bellamy stopped walking, but didn't turn to face her. Instead, he stood staring at the darkened forest before them. Clarke quickly scanned the trees, wondering if he saw something, but the woods remained quiet except for the increasing patter of water droplets as they fell through the leaves. His shoulders rose and fell quickly, and his hands which hung at his sides were clenched into fists. Clarke knew he was trying to compose himself before speaking to her, and with a mildly annoyed sigh she leaned against an adjacent tree and waited for the myriad of words she knew would come.

It was several minutes before Bellamy spoke into the darkness, and when he did his voice was eerily monotone, as if he were choosing his words carefully, "you want me to walk back now? Alone? At night? When a storm is coming?"

Clarke pushed off the tree and took several steps towards him, "you could have been back hours ago, if you hadn't walked passed all the tracks."

"I'm not going back." Bellamy's voice was barely more than a whisper, almost swept away in the breeze that rustled the leaves above their heads, but Clarke heard him clearly and froze her steps.

"What do you mean, you're not going back?"

Bellamy turned to face her, and Clarke noticed for the first time the exhaustion written on his face. His eyes, which usually held fearlessness and determination, now looked defeated.

"I'm not going back, Clarke," his gaze met hers pleadingly; he was asking for her permission to leave camp with her, "not without you."

Clarke ran her fingers through her rain dampened hair, wondering when she lost control of the situation. As much as Clarke felt that the survivors needed time away from her to heal, she also needed space herself. She hadn't had time to process the traumatic events that took place since arriving on earth. As the groups chosen leader, Clarke had focused all of her energy on taking care of everyone else, and pushed herself to the sidelines. If it had been anyone except Bellamy in front of her, she would have told them to leave, but as much as she had wanted to be alone, Bellamy's expression told her he couldn't handle be alone right now.

"Okay," the word was weak as it left Clarke's mouth, "for tonight, though. We'll find somewhere to sleep, then talk in the morning."

Bellamy nodded tiredly, and although it was evident he wasn't thrilled with having to renegotiate in the morning, Clarke was thankful he didn't argue. The rain was falling heavily now, and Clarke heard the rumble of thunder in the distance. They needed to find shelter, otherwise they'd both freeze, or be exposed to danger when the safety of darkness was lost to the illuminating lightning strikes that were quickly approaching.

"We need to find cover," Bellamy spoke her thoughts as he lightly took her hand and begun leading her through the thick cluster of tree. Bellamy was determined his steps, stopping only momentarily to study the landscape before guiding her once again. Worry had just begun to creep into Clarke's mind, when Bellamy stopped abruptly, dropped her hand, and pointed to something through the darkness, "There, a cave."

Clarke squinted and blinked rapidly straining her eyes to see through the dense blackness brought about by nightfall. Fortunately lightening momentarily showered the landscape with light, and Clarke noticed the flat terrain had transformed into a hill with a jagged oval opening cut into its side. She looked at Bellamy warily, unsure if venturing into an unfamiliar pitch-black hollow was any less dangerous than sleeping outside, but Bellamy nodded reassuringly, and taking her hand led her into the hillside.

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