Summary: Non-canon, Drama/Romance hopefully with some Action/Adventure thrown in. Bellarke, Linctavia and probably more once I get going! :D
Disclaimer: Just borrowing The 100, not for profit.
The Homestead.
Chapter 2 – Lincoln.
Lincoln's eyes lingered on Octavia's sombre silhouette riding through the morning fog ahead of him. She had been unusually quiet since leaving their hut on the outskirts of the forest, not far from the homestead.
"Stop looking at me like that," she demanded half-heartedly without even turning around to glare at him ungraciously. She sounded strange… flat.
He trotted closer and nudged in beside Treya, her moody mare, until he was so close his thigh grazed against Octavia's with each rise and fall of their riding motion.
She feigned irritation, but did not pull away.
"After the gathering you'll speak to Abby, right?" Lincoln implored, trying not to sound too desperate.
But Octavia simply shrugged and dropped her eyes to the ground. She looked weary. There was something else too, something he couldn't quite grasp, but he'd never recognised it in her before.
They had been through so much together, but all of this was suddenly new to them.
As they rode on Lincoln began to realise how selfish he'd been, consumed by the uneasiness and apprehension that had almost immediately overtaken him when Nyko had confirmed the news yesterday morning.
Last night he had woken in a sweat, only to find Octavia soothing him with those keen green-grey eyes and a strong arm across his heaving chest.
It hadn't occurred to him that she'd probably been awake half the night with her own worries.
Reaching across Octavia's torso, Lincoln lifted her chin and reassured her with a steadfast stare. She smiled weakly and they joined hands, still riding as close as they could.
Despite his own mixed emotions, Lincoln wanted Octavia to believe that everything would be okay - that they had nothing to fear and everything to wish for.
He clenched his jaw and hoped with an aching intensity that once they arrived at the homestead, and were done with the day's proceedings, Abby could tell him what he needed to hear.
It should have been, after all, the most joyous moment of their lives together.
"Congratulations my brother," Nyko took his friend's arm and gripped it heartily. He turned to Octavia, whose face was incredulous. "Your son will be as loyal as his father and as stubborn as his mother."
On any other occasion Lincoln would have smiled suggestively at Octavia over Nyko's joke, but his mind was a mess trying to make sense of what his friend had just said.
"My son?" He stammered.
"Are you sure?" Octavia's voice was strained. She paced back and forward out the front of Nyko's small quarters where they stood waiting for their work detail to begin. "Maybe I did the test wrong? I mean, I followed your instructions, but maybe we should try again, just to be certain?"
"Octavia," Nyko placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You already provided me with three handfuls of each grain – that's six attempts. I believe the results are undeniable. "
Octavia bit her lip and shook her head, unsure of her emotions.
Despite the fact that Nyko was simply substantiating what they'd already suspected, it still came as a shock.
Octavia was pregnant.
"How…how far am I?" she asked with a small voice.
"I can't tell you," Nyko conceded. "Perhaps Abby has some way, some test to ascertain that. You should ask her when she arrives tomorrow for the gathering."
Lincoln stood stock still, suddenly filled with a sickening feeling in his stomach.
"I understand you have fears," Nyko continued addressing them both calmly. "But this is a time to celebrate. After all you have endured, all the pain and suffering, a new life is a blessing."
Octavia's face began to soften. "You're right," she whispered, slipping her hand into Lincoln's. "We are blessed."
Lincoln pulled her head into his chest and wrapped his arms around her, hoping she wouldn't sense the hesitation in his heart or feel the fear he held for his unborn child, coursing through him.
At the homestead, Octavia dismounted deftly and led the horses to the stables as Lincoln was mobbed by his adoring students.
Of all the work details on the ranch, the role he relished the most was teaching the orphaned Skaikru and Trikru children who lived amongst them.
Recently he had proven to be so successful in building a bond with the kids and accelerating their learning that despite his physical strength and strong work ethic, Marcus had removed him from most other work duties to concentrate his efforts on educating the orphans.
Lincoln had finally found his place.
Today was a day of rest, and a time to gather with their leaders, which meant no schooling, but Lincoln lived with the belief that the children were always learning – no matter where they were or what they were doing. And for that reason he tried to model the qualities he expected of them, all the time. Even on rest days.
As the children excitedly told him about the kill they had made last night for today's get-together, he couldn't help but think, however, that they were teaching him far more than he could ever teach them.
For an instant he forgot the fears that had been plaguing him since yesterday and allowed himself to get lost in the laughter and cheer of their youth.
All too soon though the delegates from Arkadia arrived and as he watched Abby step out of the rover, with her bags slung over her shoulder, the sickening feeling in his stomach returned.
Author's note: Hey guys, hope you are enjoying my first fanfic in nearly ten years! The 100 has inspired me. Please review - it keeps me going! Chapter 3 up soon!
