In the morning Clarke is standing over Monty and Jasper lying on the ground. Wrapped in each other's arms. A bottle of moonshine lays about an arm's length away from them.
"Monty," she says, pushing his shoulder with the toe of her boot. No reaction. "Jasper, get up." Still, nothing. She huffs loudly and pushes harder.
"Here," Suddenly Raven is at her side clutching an ominous bucket. When she tips it, water splashes over both of the boys lying at their feet. As they jump awake gasping and sputtering on the water, Clarke has to hide a smile.
"Raven! Hypothermia is a thing you know." Though she can keep the smile off her face (barely) each word rings with amusement.
"Hey love birds, maybe next time you decide to cuddle you can do so in private."
The boys shrug as they make feeble attempts at flinging water from their hair.
"Yeah," Jasper counters. "Well now we don't have fresh water for laundry, genius."
"Oh that? That wasn't fresh water…" She grins and her comment sends the boys running towards the creek."It actually was," she confides in Clarke. "So… now I have to go get more. Totally worth it." She balances the bucket on one hip.
"I can get it," Clarke offers. She needs something, anything, to distract her from last night's dreams.
"Okay, want some company?"
"No, that's okay. Thanks though.: Raven hands over the bucket and Finn's voice, surprisingly close, makes her jump.
"You shouldn't go alone," he says, slowly scanning his eyes from Raven to rest on Clarke's face. Bellamy approaches, taking up the spot to Finn's left. They're both armed.
"You said it's been quiet," Clarke argues.
"I did. It was. Meredith and Davis have been gone all night. We can only assume they've been caught by Mount Weather. You shouldn't go alone," he repeats.
Clare opens her mouth to argue but Bellamy interjects, "He's right Clarke."
"I'll go with you," Raven offers and Clarke shoots her a thankful look.
"No, Finn, you take her," Bellamy catches Clarke's eye and man if looks could kill. "I need you to help me send a message to Chancellor Griffin. Hopefully we can get through to them without Mount Weather jamming us."
"Right," she says. "I'll show you, for the millionth time, how to use the radio. You know, you could've just said, 'No Raven, the cripples should stay in the camp.' Really, I understand." Her tone is light but Clarke can see the annoyance behind her eyes.
The group splits up and Clarke is left alone with Finn. He shuffles his gun from one hand to the other and gestures to the woods.
"Shall we?" She leads the way.
It hasn't rained in nearly a week and the creek is seriously low. The water trickles lazily over the rocks as Clarke dips the bucket in.
"This must be terrible for you. Only officer available is me. Regret offering to come get the water now?" His voice is filled with resentment. He stopped feeling guilty months ago. Now, he's just angry. At everything. Angry at Clarke for not forgiving him. Angry at Bellamy for taking advantage of her when she's vulnerable. But mostly, he's still angry at himself.
Clarke ignores him; she doesn't have the energy to fight with him right now.
"So," he continues when she stays silent. The bucket is almost full. "You and Bellamy, huh? Never thought I'd see that happen." At this, Clarke pauses and stands to face him.
"What about me and Bellamy?" He shifts uncomfortably under her gaze. It's the same one his mom gave him when he was little and she knew he was in trouble.
"Gee, I don't know Clarke. You guys aren't exactly sneaky." He finally breaks eye contact with her when a twig snaps behind them. Instinctively they both turn Finn steps in front of Clarke and raises his weapon. Another twig snaps. Whoever is coming their way is obviously not trying to hide that fact.
"Surely it isn't Mount Weather. They're being too loud," she whispers. But the fear of going back there is evident in her shaky voice. Finn's heart aches for her. He resents that too.
Finally, the branches part and Octavia stumbles out, followed closely by Lincoln. Before Finn can stop her, Clarke runs towards their visitors.
"Clarke!" Octavia embraces her tightly, she missed her friend. Ever since the Grounders and Ark survivors decided the mountain people were a common threat, Octavia had been staying in Lincoln's village.
It was hard, trying to bring Lincoln back to them. But they finally did it. Finn doesn't trust the Grounders. It probably has something to do with the fact that he massacred almost an entire village. He stands awkwardly to the side, scanning the woods as the girls talk to each other in quick voices. He notices Lincoln staring and holds his gaze.
"There is no one with us," Lincoln informs him."We're on a… sort of getaway."
"A honeymoon!" Octavia chimes in excitedly. Clarke and Finn exchange a glance.
"Honeymoon?" Clarke asks, eyebrows raised.
"Yes," Octavia practically squeals. Lincoln watches her with amusement. "It was totally last minute! Or else of course I would've told you guys about it." Clarke hugs her again.
"I'm happy for you. It's Bellamy I'd worry about."Finn can't help but roll his eyes.
"That's the main reason we're here. Where is my big brother?" Clarke gestures towards the camp, and then, picking up the bucket, starts back towards it.
Bellamy and Raven are standing, ore like hovering, over the radio.
"Damnit!" Bellamy slams his hands down on the stupid contraption. "I hate this thing. Raven, fix it."
"Can't fix a jammed signal without blowing up the tower, captain." She says in a way that suggest she has had this exact conversation with him more than once.. Probably today.
"Hey, Bellamy-" Clarke steps inside the ship, it only made sense to keep the camp here.
"Just give me a minute, princess." His eyes are focused hard on the radio, as if he could intimidate the signal into clearing.
"Hey, Bell." It's Octavia's voice that finally forces Bellamy to look up.
"Octavia?" He closes the distance between them in two long strides and folds her into his arms, softly brushing a scarred hand over her finely braided hair. "I've missed you. Where's Lincoln?" As if speaking his name summons him, Lincoln steps through the door.
"We have some news, Bell," Octavia speaks carefully, Bellamy gives her a suspicious look, glances briefly at Octavia's abdomen. The others don't notice, but Clarke does. "We got married!" She finally blurts out. "Grounder style. It was strange. I had to kill an animal with my bare hands…" She waves her hand dismissively. "Anyways, yeah. We're married."
Clarke see the relief as Bellamy hugs her again.
"Congratulations, O." He releases her and shakes Lincoln's hand. "Welcome to the family." He gives Lincoln a genuine smile and turns back to the rest of the group. "Seems like there is need for a celebration Make sure Monty has enough moonshine." A devious grin breaks across his face and everyone clears out to prepare for the party.
The night wears on, there is dancing and music. Good food and booze. Lot and lots of booze. By the time everyone else is asleep the fire is almost out and Clarke feels like a top that's been spun and spun and spun. When she finally makes her way to Bellamy, it took her waaaay too long, but she'd had to hold on the fence to keep herself from tumbling over. Anyway… when she stops in front of him, she realizes that he is completely sober.
"Hey," she pokes his chest with her pointer finger. "Why didn't you drink?" Bellamy is frowning fondly down at her.
"One of us needs to be sober, princess. I figured you need it more than I do." She returns his frown.
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing. You just deserve a break. You need to unwind a bit." He gives her sad look before looking over her shoulder. "Although I believe it's time for you to go to bed." With his hands on her shoulders, he turns her towards her tent (whoa, the world just tilted) and presses lightly on the small of her back. She trips over Octavia's sleeping body.
"What about everyone else? Someone needs to put them in their beds."
"Why don't you let me worry about that?"
They enter her tent and he gently guides her to her bed.
"Goodnight, princess." He turns to go, but Clarke reaches out quickly, and with more precision than he'd have guessed, and grabs his wrist. She pulls him back to her.
"Bellamy… I just-" She stares up at him for a moment and he watches her eyes, can almost see the cogs inside her head spinning and clicking into place. Then, with no warning, her lips are crushing against his. Her hands are in his unruly curls, and her body is pressed against him, and she's everywhere. As surprised as he is, he doesn't stop her, wraps his arms around her and crushes her tightly to him.
His hands push into the small of her back, wanting to move her as close as possible. Clarke had surprised herself even, now she reveled in the feel of his arms tightly around her.
In a blur of motion Clarke pushes Bellamy's shirt over his head and reaches for the buttons on his jeans. She fumbles briefly before his hands find her, stilling them all together.
"Clarke," he whispers, pressing his face into her hair. "You're drunk. You need to go to sleep."
Deflated, she takes a step back. She frowns down at the floor of her tent and nods. Bellamy sighs loudly and runs a hand through his dark hair.
"Trust me," he starts, reaching for her again. "I most definitely want to. And I'm not one to turn a girl away just because she's drunk but," he grabs her waist, balling her shirt up in his fists, pulling her back to him. "This would be taking advantage of you. And I don't want you to… regret waking up next to me." He plants a kiss between her eyebrows and steps back. "Besides, I have to put the kids to bed, remember?" He smiles at her, but she doesn't return it.
"I won't regret it," she insists.
"I need to be sure of that." He pulls his shirt back on and glances back at her once more before leaving her.
"Your loss," she mumbles even though he can't hear her.
