Chapter 1

It had taken Clarke Griffin all of 3 seconds to agree to a 2 week escape to a secluded Tuscan villa with her best friends. Wine, carbs, and a chance to forget about how much she hated her job? Nothing had ever sounded sweeter. In fact if she was being perfectly honest with herself any one of the three would have been enough to convince her to go.

What she hadn't agreed to was spending 2 weeks in a secluded Tuscan villa third wheeling her best friends.

She'd found this information out a week ago after another boring day at the office

"Murphy what do you mean you aren't coming?"

She could practically picture him with his feet kicked up on his desk, testing how far back he could lean in the office chair before he landed on his ass. "Sorry Griff, can't afford it right now. Jackson's been riding my ass hard ever since I stole the company credit card."

Clarke rolled her eyes and chastised him as well as she could over the phone, "I thought you said you borrowed the company card."

"I did borrow it! What I failed to do was ask for permission… it's not my fault the people in finance are too uptight to see the distinction."

She rubbed her temples in frustration, "Why do you always get yourself into these situations?"

Murphy sighed melodramatically, "The universe. It hates me."

Clarke thumbed through the papers on her desk absentmindedly and groaned.

She heard a scoff over the phone, "Oh don't you groan. You're the one who got vacation approval to go to freaking Italy. Italy, Griffin."

She peered over the top of her cubicle to make sure the fact that she was blatantly avoiding work was going unnoticed, "Yes, Italy, where you and I were supposed to be single together while Wells and Raven make us nauseous with their love."

"Well now you won't have me to stand in the way of your romantic ventures. When the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie that's amore and all that." At this point in their friendship Clarke could admit that Murphy was talented at many things. When it came to getting on her nerves the boy was a fucking prodigy. But singing… her cringe said it all.

"Yeah keep going with that and you're gonna get more than a moon hitting you in the eye."

He laughed over the phone, "You, my friend, are lacking in the subtlety department. Oh don't be so bitter Griff. Think of it this way, now you'll be forced to go find yourself some fun."

"I'm fun!" she countered just as Meg from across the hall walked by and looked at her skeptically. Clarke sunk deeper into her chair.

"You keep telling yourself that. Look I'm as bummed as you, but it'll be fine. Just pack some Gravol and bring me back some wine or a hot Italian girlfriend."

She shook her head in disbelief even though she knew he couldn't see it, "Tell me again why we're friends?"

"Because I'm the only one who doesn't treat you like the daughter of a senator."

"Possible senator," Clarke muttered bitterly.

"You and I both know that what Abigail Griffin wants, she gets. And I'm also the one who snuck your drunk ass out of the Christmas party before mommy saw."

"That was a good night," she reminisced.

"Seriously Griff relax, have some fun. Get away from this shit hole for a while, I mean uh, office, this beautiful wonderful spacious office," Murphy's voice became more muffled and she had a sinking suspicion that their conversation was no longer private.

"Yes sir… I'll be sure to get those done sir… This is definitely not a shit hole sir. You want me to what?" She could barely make out the grumble, but she was pretty sure Jackson was currently asking Murphy to recite, "I am the shit hole." She couldn't argue that it wasn't fitting.

"Listen I got to go, text me later," he said in a rush.

"I'm still mad at you," she made sure to note. She heard his familiar scoff on the other end of the call, "You're always mad at me. Have fun Griffs - don't do anything I wouldn't do."

With that the call ended and all the while Clarke was thinking a better statement would have been "don't do anything I would do." Even after working together for almost half a year John Murphy's lack of inhibition managed to surprise her even on his best day. And yet somehow the kid never got fired, he was like a damn cockroach.

The two of them had met at the start of Clarke's mother's campaign for senator, both as interns although everyone knew that Clarke was already looked at as far more than that, not by her own volition mind you. No matter how hard she'd tried to be seen as just any other intern, Abby Griffin somehow always found a way to make her stick out. Clearly letting her own daughter make her own name was something beyond the scope of her capabilities.

Years ago, almost back before a time Clarke could remember, her mother had been a surgeon and apparently a damn good one at that. But after a law suit had taken over the hospital accusing a handful of doctors on counts of faking clinical trials, Abby became fed up with the system and turned towards activism. Her father, an avid activist himself, had supported through it all and there was a time when after Abby's surgery salary had run out the Griffin's were living pay check to pay check. Funnily enough those were the times Clarke looked back on most fondly.

It didn't take long for activism to turn to politics, and for politics to turn to a position on the City Council of Hartford. The public was enthralled, and councillor turned to mayor and by the time Clarke started college Abigail Griffin was the second youngest person and the youngest woman to ever hold the Governorship of Connecticut. And now here they were 4 years later, Clarke having just graduated from Yale as a dual art history and poli sci major, and her mother going at it again, this time for a position on the United States Senate. People could say what they wanted about her mother, but at the end of the day she was bold, unapologetic, and knew how to go after what she wanted. What she didn't know however was how to keep a family together.

Clarke had spent three months after graduation trying to find a job outside of Connecticut. She wanted out, always had. She loved the idea of being on the West Coast, but by the time she'd made up her mind Masters applications had closed and she was left like 80% of her graduating class. Working for her parent. Surprise, surprise. Clarke hated the campaign. Don't get her wrong, she was grateful for the job, but she hated the way her mother had become someone unrecognizable to her, the way she'd almost stopped being able to recognize herself.

At least in college she'd been able to maintain some modicum of anonymity, but there was no hiding it here. She wasn't just Clarke, she was Clarke Griffin, the name following her around like she was branded with it.

And yet there'd been one person who didn't seem to hate her for her position in the campaign, and that was Murphy. From day one he'd treated her the same way he treated everyone else, with sass, crudeness, and a general disregard for respect. And it had been the most refreshing thing she'd experienced in years. The two had cultivated an unlikely friendship almost immediately, although it could be described as love-hate at best. He was a tough pill to swallow even when appeasing the powers at be, never mind when he was around people who couldn't hold him accountable for his actions.

She'd introduced him to Wells and Raven after a couple of weeks of working together and the four of them had become fast friends. Even though the three of them were arguably as close as any group of friends could get, Clarke having known Wells from birth and living with Raven from freshman year of college, they were practically inseparable and yet Murphy had fit right in.

"I adapt Griffin," she remembered him saying, "It's how I survive."

And now here she was, a week later sitting window side in a three person row next to her other two best friends.

"Is she still pouting," Wells asked from the aisle seat.

Raven looked over at her with a teasing grin on her face and nudged her playfully in the ribs, "You bet your ass she is. Girl gets a 2 week trip to Italy and spends the whole flight moping."

Clarke closed the cover of the Italian travel guide she'd been perusing and turned to face them, "I am not moping. I'm educating myself, unlike you two. There's a lot to see in Italy you know, we need to have a plan."

"You know what else there's to see in Italy? A villa," Wells leaned over and grabbed the book from her, "with a pool. and a bar."

Raven swatted her boyfriend affectionately and grabbed the book back from him and passed it to Clarke, "Please, you know she's going to geek out the second she steps into an art gallery. Let the girl have her fun."

Clarke beamed at her while sticking her tongue out at Wells, "See this is why she's my favourite."

"Mine too," he said endearingly while giving Raven's leg a squeeze. Raven rolled her eyes, but Clarke didn't miss the easy smile that passed between them. Clarke pretend to gag out of obligation and self respect, but if she was being honest with herself she was glad the two of them had finally gotten together. Wells had spent 2 years, 2 damn years, pining over Clarke's badass of an aerospace engineer roommate. Granted half that time Raven had a good for nothing, definition of fuckboy, needs a hair cut or 20, boyfriend. Clarke wanted to shudder at the thought of Finn, thank god Rey had gotten out of that mess.

And yet Wells had pined for her all the while, refusing to admit his feelings even after they'd broken up. Stubborn idiot, she thought fondly, but who could blame him. Raven was the definition of intimidating. But Clarke hadn't missed the way the two of them seemed to light up around each other, the soft smiles they'd share and the carefree teasing. It was different than the way they were with her, but Clarke had been the first one to cheer when they'd finally figured their shit out.

It'd changed her friendship less than she thought it would. Other than the fact that Clarke now lived alone, it was as if nothing changed. Well almost nothing. They no longer had to hide their sickeningly adorable feelings from each other.

"You two are the worst," she muttered half heartedly while putting the travel guide aside and setting her sketchbook onto her lap. They still had a 5 hour flight in front of them, she might as well make the most of it.

Raven laughed, "At least you get to be single on this trip. I'm stuck with this one."

Wells shot her a hurt look, "I'll have you know that I'm offended."

"I know baby, your ego bruises like a peach."

Clarke snorted, "She's got that much right."

"I take it back," he said, "neither of you are my favourite. Murphy is my favourite. Take me back to Murphy."

"You'll see your brofriend in two weeks, I'm sure the two of you will survive." Raven turned to look back at Clarke, "So what's the game plan Griffin. We finding you a hot Italian fling?"

Clarke laughed, "I don't think Murphy's gonna let me come back home if I don't."

Raven squealed excitedly, "Oh my god yes! This is going to be perfect. You and your damn dry spell have let my match making talents go to waste."

Clarke had to admit Raven had a point there. The last person Raven had set her up with had been Niylah, and even though that never went beyond casual hookups it certainly hadn't been a bad way to pass the time. For a straight girl Raven was suspiciously good at finding Clarke hot girlfriends, or at least hot flings.

"And," Wells piped in, "You'll have me there to be your wing man."

Clarke shot him a dead pan stare, "Wells. The last time you were my wing man you let me leave the bar with Lexa, just look how well that one turned out."

Wells cringed, "Not my finest moment."

She laughed in response, "You can say that again." That breakup had been by far the most brutal she'd experienced in her life and since then Clarke had all but sworn off dating. It was easier this way, always had been. But that didn't mean she'd sworn off having a little bit of fun.

Raven yawned, "Ok I'm out, Wells switch with me - you kids can chat away and wake me up when we're no longer in a tin can 30 000 feet above the air."

Clarke shook her head, "Of all the things to be scared of, you're scared of planes. Something about that has to be ironic."

Her best friend shot her a glare, "If you'd spent 4 years studying how easily these things can fall apart your ass would be paranoid too." And with that she leaned her seat back and shucked on a less than flattering night mask and passed out. Raven had an uncanny talent for sleeping just about anywhere.

"So," Wells started now that he was sitting next to her, "How are things over at Team Griffin."

Clarke groaned and replied sarcastically, "About as good as you're probably imagining."

She looked over at her friend whose face donned that solemn and concerned look it always morphed into whenever he was worried about her. "Thank God you got out Wells," she said as she leaned against his shoulder.

He smirked softly, "I don't necessarily think getting out was my choice."

Clarke scolded herself for her own insensitivity. Thelonius Jaha had been a renowned politician just like her mother until a shooting had left him paralyzed from the waist down. He'd since retired to California where he spent his days meditating and joining God knows what kind of new naturalistic movement. He was happy now, or at least he sounded happy. Clarke was pretty sure the elder Jaha had lost a few of his marbles since the accident, but still. Things had been tough going for a while there and the accident had hit Wells hard.

She looked up and saw that Wells wasn't upset he was smiling softly, "Relax Clarke, I think it was a blessing in some way. My dad he was becoming someone…"

"Unrecognizable," she finished for him and he nodded. Wells knew. The two of them had navigated a childhood in the political landscape together.

She sighed heavily, "Promise me we're not going to end up like them." She'd sooner die than wait for the day where her fake smile became indistinguishable from her real one. Somedays that reality seemed closer than she cared for. Those were the days when she slipped into the role of the perfect daughter easily, and forgot to bring herself back out.

"Not possible. Now no more talk of politics and campaigns or the future. These two weeks are about us, and forgetting all the crap we've got to deal with back home, got it?"

She smiled softly, "Always so damn bossy."

"Well someone had to keep your ass out of trouble."

She leaned back into her own seat, "I resent that."

He cocked an accusatory brow, "Governor's Ball. 2011."

Well that certainly shut her up.

"You know I'm not going to admit that you're right, right?"

Wells laughed, "I don't need to be told things I already know."

Clarke couldn't help but snort when a pissed off Raven reared her head, "Ok I take it back. You and gossip girl can pick this up tomorrow, sleep time now."

Wells snuggled into her while she tried to fight him off before reluctantly submitting and eventually the two settled into some semblance of a comfortable position. Or at least as comfortable any one could get in economy.

She dimmed the lights above them and settled into her own seat as deeply as she could. When sleep didn't come she popped in her headphones and pressed play on one of her favourite art history lectures she'd recorded. And yes, she was that extra. If her mother was going to buy her a 120 GB phone she might as well fill it up. She shut her eyes as her old professors familiar soothing voiced filled her ears. Behind shut eyes she remembered the paintings she'd spent hours pouring over during her second year Renaissance Art class. The thought of finally being able to see them in real life as opposed to prints in the pages of books made her giddy with excitement. Sleep finally took her as thoughts of Botticelli, Raphael and all the greats swirled across her consciousness, blissfully keeping the memories of gunshots, divorce trials, and loneliness at bay.

Maybe this would be good, she allowed herself to entertain the hope. It had to be.

A/N : Should I be starting another story when I've already got another one to finish? No, probably not, but hey I was feeling inspired and wanted to get this idea down. I've had this milling around in my brain for a little while now and finally had the motivation to actually put it to paper, might as well while I have some free time. I hope you guys will enjoy it! I can't wait to actually get the chance to write Wells (say it with me, Wells Jaha deserved better) and him and Raven would have been so good IMO. Plus I'm always a sucker for the Clurphy brotp, always will be. And finally as always I can't wait for the Bellarke... it's going to be a bit of a change of pace from my other works, but we'll see how it goes.

On an irrelevant side note I've also decided to put this one up on AO3. I made an account just to test the waters (same username, no capitals) and see how I like it. As of right now though I find much easier and more comfortable to use, so I probably will stick to uploading any new works I put up here and probably won't be transferring any of my old ones over (because effort.. so much effort).

Finally obviously none of these characters are mine, they all belong to the CW.