Chapter 3

It was Lexa's first shift, and she had picked up the three kids from school, and now returned back to the Griffin house. Lexa was still stunned by the sheer size of the house. With six bedrooms (2 of which were unoccupied), four washrooms, and several sitting rooms, the house was easily the largest that Lexa had ever stepped foot into. Lexa was even more impressed with the backyard, which was also very large with lots of neatly trimmed grass making up a large playing field for the kids to run around on. There was also a fenced off pool and hot tub towards the back.

Despite how nice the place was, Lexa knew better than to compliment Clarke on it. From what she had been told of Clarke by Anya and Octavia, Clarke was very motivated to accomplish things on her own, and didn't consider any of her wealth to be her own since it had been amassed by her parents. As someone who never had any privileges in life, Lexa appreciated that Clarke was humble and down-to-earth despite what she had. In addition, Lexa respected how seriously Clarke took her job as being the primary caregiver for her siblings. Lexa had never had good guardians involved in her life, so she knew better than to assume that all older siblings would have done what Clarke had in her position.

"Can we sword fight some more? When are we going to get the real swords?" Maddy asked as they walked in the door.

Lexa let a hint of a smile play on her features as she looked down at Maddy. The younger girl sure had a lot of energy and passion. With hair that was a similar blondish red to Aden's that fell halfway down her back, and green eyes, the eight-year old had certainly been blessed with beauty as well.

"We can, but first you and Aden need to finish your homework. Aden, you can work on your own today, right?"

Aden nodded his head, and pulled some papers out of his bag. Lexa was relieved that he seemed to be well behaved.

"Maddy, I can help you with some spelling today."

"I don't need help," she replied, crossing her arms. "Can I watch TV first?"

Lexa tried to hide her eye roll as she looked down at the kid in front of her. She hoped that Maddy wasn't as stubborn as Clarke, but she had a bad feeling that was the case.

"We have to finish your homework first," Lexa replied sternly. "It's really important to learn how to spell things properly."

"I haaaate spelling," Maddy replied.

Lexa sighed in frustration. "Take out your books, I will be back in a few minutes. I'm going to find something for Ryan to do."

"Ryan, what do you want to do?" Lexa asked as she took a seat on her knees in front of the child.

"I don't know," Ryan replied quietly. "When's Clarke coming home?"

"She's going to be home really soon. Maybe you want to make a picture for when she gets back?"

Ryan's blue eyes widened in excitement at the suggestion, and Lexa gave him one of her rare smiles as she pulled out a coloring book and some markers for Ryan to use. She placed them at the kitchen table, next to where she would hopefully be working with Maddy.

Lexa spotted Aden working at the dining room table, and found Maddy sitting beside him.

"Maddy, can we go to the kitchen to work?"

"I told you I don't want to," Maddy replied stubbornly.

"There will be no fencing lesson if you don't finish the spelling."

Maddy looked up at Lexa on that comment.

"Fine," Maddy replied after a moment. Lexa was relieved. The last thing she needed was for Maddy to fail her test. Lexa was sure that Clarke would fire her if that happened.

After taking a seat at the table, Lexa checked on Ryan to make sure he was having fun still, and then turned towards Maddy.

"Clarke told me that you have been working on these fifteen words this week." Lexa said, as she placed a list down. Maddy nodded her head in response.

For the next twenty minutes, Lexa slowly went through all the words with Maddy. Even though Maddy struggled on most of them, Lexa remained patient and continued on until she believed that the child had learned everything.

"I think all that hard work has earned us some time to fence," Lexa said, and Maddy sprung up from her seat and ran to the backyard.

"Do you want to come outside for more fencing, like last time?" Lexa asked Ryan. The boy shook his head in response.

"I want to keep coloring," he replied.

"That's fine," Lexa replied. "Do you want to color outside?" She asked. Lexa didn't feel comfortable leaving a boy so young out of her hearing distance.

"Sure," Ryan said, and Lexa helped him pick up his markers to take outside.

Aden came outside a few minutes later when he finished all of his work.

Lexa spent the next hour outside, working on different moves with Aden and Maddy. Ryan had been content to continue coloring.

Since it was 5:30 already, Lexa knew that the kids would be getting hungry. She also figured that Clarke would appreciate it if supper was made, so Lexa brought the kids back inside. After setting the kids up in front of the TV, Lexa began to make some pasta with vegetable sauce. Octavia had told her the night before that it was one of the kids' favorites.

A half hour later, the food was ready, and the kitchen had been cleaned. After seating the kids down at the table, and placing their food and juice in front of them, Lexa heard the front door swing open. When Clarke walked into the kitchen, Ryan quickly ran up to her.

"Hi Ryan, how are you?" Clarke asked affectionately as she lifted the boy up for a hug.

"I made you lots of pictures! Can I show you?"

"Of course. Do you want to finish your supper first?"

Ryan nodded, and Clarke put the boy down.

"Thank you so much for making dinner for them Lexa. I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate it."

"It's my job Clarke," Lexa replied plainly. "There's enough for you as well. I can stay back until they are all finished to wash the dishes. I can wait in the other room if you would like some time alone with your siblings."

"Don't be silly, you can stay in here with us. Have you not had any of the pasta yet?"

Lexa shook her head.

"You must be hungry. It's dinnertime. Let me get a bowl for you." Clarke replied, surprised that the brunette hadn't simply served herself.

"Thanks," Lexa replied, as Clarke pulled up a chair next to Lexa, placing two bowls down in front of them. "I had initially made enough so that the kids could eat the leftovers for lunch tomorrow. But I don't know if there will be enough now."

"Don't worry about it, I'm sure I can supplement their lunches with something else."

Lexa nodded, surprised by the nice gesture and to be invited to the dinner table. She had assumed that Clarke would want her around for the least amount of time possible. As it was, Lexa was sure that Clarke did not yet fully trust or approve of her as the babysitter.

"Lexa's a better cook than you Clarke!" Maddy exclaimed. "She should show you how she made this. It's really good."

"Really? I will have to try it then," Clarke replied with a smile. After taking her first bite, Clarke's brows shot up.

"This is really good. I think these three are going to reject my pasta from now on, so you're going to have to show me how you did this," Clarke said jokingly.

"I can show you whenever Clarke," Lexa replied. As she spoke, Lexa caught Clarke's eyes in her own. Clarke really had beautiful blue eyes. They looked even better when she was smiling like she was tonight.

Clarke nodded, as she broke the eye contact. She mentally chastised herself for once again staring at Lexa.

"How was your day?" Clarke asked the kids, hoping to get her mind back on track.

"Lexa showed us more sword fighting moves!" Aden replied. "She said that I can compete in tournaments soon if I keep practicing."

"Me too!" Maddy exclaimed, not wanting to be left out.

"Well that sounds fun," Clarke replied. After searching up fencing on the internet for an hour the other night, she had finally convinced herself that the kids would probably be safe. It was no higher risk than most other sports.

"What about you Ryan?"

"I colored. Can I show you the pictures now?"

Clarke couldn't say no to Ryan's hopeful look. "You can bring them to the table. Try not to get food all over them."

Ryan smiled and got up. Clarke laughed when she noticed that Ryan's hands were all covered in markers.

"He never expressed much interest in art before, but he suddenly seems to be enjoying it." Clarke said to Lexa.

Lexa merely nodded in response.

Ryan came back holding five different pictures, and Clarke complimented them all.

"I can make more tomorrow." He promised. "I just have to make one for Lexa first."

Clarke smiled. Ryan really was sweet. He always had been.

As Clarke watched her siblings continue to talk, she realized that it had been a long time since she had been able to fully appreciate and enjoy their company. She loved her siblings more than anything, but they were also a source of constant stress. Maybe she should have hired a babysitter ages ago. It wasn't fair for the kids to have to spend time with her while she was in sour moods.

After dinner finished, Lexa quickly got up to begin washing the dishes. After ensuring that the kids were all occupied, Clarke returned to the kitchen.

"We might have gotten off on the wrong foot the other day," Clarke began as she walked into the kitchen. Her behavior and attitude towards Lexa a couple days ago was troubling her. "I just want you to know that I'm happy to have you her taking care of the kids. My friends didn't force me to hire you."

Lexa put down the dish she was working on, and turned towards Clarke.

"You don't need to apologize Clarke. You want what's best for your siblings. I will work to gain your trust and respect."

Clarke couldn't help but be drawn back towards Lexa's eyes as she spoke. Lexa was definitely not the type of person who Clarke had envisioned hiring. But even though Lexa seemed so serious all the time, the kids were clearly having a lot of fun with her.

"I should go now. The kids will be happy to spend the evening with you." Lexa said.

"Thanks for coming Lexa. You will be back tomorrow and Friday?"

"I will be here Clarke. Have a nice evening." Lexa replied as she left.

It was Friday, and Clarke began to apologize profusely when Lexa walked in the door.

"I'm sorry, but it's Friday night so I agreed to let the kids all have friends over. It's going to be a bit crazy in here tonight. And I know you won't get a chance to read it tonight, but here is the list of important information about each one of the kids that I told you I would make. I had been too busy to make it until last night."

Lexa took the huge stack of papers that Clarke had handed her and couldn't help but chuckle. "Are you sure this is a list Clarke? It looks more like a biography of each child."

"Did you just make a joke?" Clarke asked in surprise. She had never heard Lexa say anything even remotely humorous up until this point.

"I am capable of it," Lexa replied. "But I do appreciate this Clarke, despite my earlier words. I will read every word of it."

"Thanks Lexa. I will relieve you in a couple of hours. I will be upstairs in the office again."

Lexa nodded, and went to go find the kids.

Aden and another boy about his age were building things out of Lego in the main room, Maddy was playing catch with a boy in the backyard, and Ryan and his friend were playing with some toy cars.

After two hours had passed, Lexa let out a sigh of relief when the kids' friends all left. While they had been mostly well behaved, the kids would sometimes begin to argue or get upset, so she would have to step in.

It was not quite time for bed, so Lexa decided to sit the kids down for their before bed story. Thankfully, Clarke had recommended many books that would be appropriate for all three of them.

After getting the kids all seated on the ground in front of her, Lexa pulled up a chair and began to read.

When Clarke walked downstairs, having put her books away from the night, she stopped when she noticed the scene in front of her. Lexa was reading to the kids, who were all intently listening as they sat in front of her.

"How many birds are in this picture Ryan?" Lexa asked after she finished reading what had been on the page.

"Ten!" Ryan yelled.

"That's right Ryan. And Aden, can you read the next page?"

Clarke watched on as Lexa read and interacted with the kids. While Lexa's posture remained stiff, her voice and eyes conveyed another story. She spoke patiently and tenderly, making sure the kids understood each and every one of her words. She even smiled at the kids when they were able to answer her questions and read properly.

When Lexa closed the book, Ryan looked like he was about to fall asleep, so Clarke came downstairs.

"Do you want me to tuck you in Ryan?" Clarke asked, and the boy gave a faint nod, with his eyes half closed.

After putting Ryan to bed, Clarke came back downstairs. The older two kids usually went to sleep an hour later than Ryan, so they weren't as tired.

Lexa was sitting on the couch with Maddy in her lap, and Aden to her side as they watched a television show. Clarke took the seat next to Aden.

"Fun night?" she asked him, and he smiled in response.

"Lexa, did Maddy tell you what she got on her spelling test?" Clarke asked, as it had just come to her mind.

"I got almost everything right!" Maddy exclaimed excitedly.

"That's right, you did super well. That's what you deserve for working so hard at it with Lexa."

Clarke sent a smile of thanks Lexa's way, and Lexa met Clarke's eyes as she nodded.

Clarke knew that Lexa wasn't needed here anymore, but she didn't want to ask Maddy to move from her position on Lexa's lap since she looked happy, so she didn't say anything. Lexa seemed to understand that Clarke wanted her to stay, since she made no move to leave.

After an hour had passed, Clarke and Lexa got up to put the kids to bed.

"Will you put me to sleep Lexa?" Maddy asked as she grabbed Lexa's hand.

Lexa looked up at Clarke for approval, which she was granted.

"Of course. Let's get you ready," she replied as she laced her fingers through Maddy's and walked upstairs.

"You ready to go Aden?" Clarke asked, and the boy nodded. Even though Aden was old enough by this point to put himself to bed, Clarke had kept up her parents rituals of always giving her siblings a hug and kiss goodnight in their beds just before turning off the lights.

After Aden and Maddy were asleep in their rooms, Clarke and Lexa headed towards the front door.

"Here's your payment for the week," Clarke told Lexa as she handed her a wad of money.

Lexa's eyes widened as she counted out how much had been given to her.

"You shouldn't be surprised," Clarke commented. "I told you how much you would be getting per hour."

Lexa had regained her composure as she put the money in her wallet. "I'm not surprised. I'm just-" Lexa paused for a moment. "I'm not used to seeing much money at once." Though she stuttered slightly in her words, Lexa did not avert her gaze and continued to speak straight to the blonde at eye-level.

"Well gets used to it. You've earned it."

Clarke has acknowledged that Lexa isn't an awful person for her kids, so that's a step up from the last chapter! The kids have been well behaved for Lexa so far, but will that last?

Also, I would really appreciate if you let me know of some good, but lesser known Clexa stories. I'm looking for some new stories to get into.