Disclaimer: I own nothing
sorry it's taken so long, been on night shift. Just wanted to get it out so apologies for any mistakes.
She showed them a traditional old world American stand, or their version of it, that did what were called hamburgers. A beef patty and salad between bread. Or you had the hot dog. Or the cheese fries. Another stand did nachos and tacos and tortillas from old world Mexico if you liked spicy food, or you had curries from India with their spices or naan bread. Another stand did BBQ, ribs or pulled pork. Yet another from Turkey that did kebabs, meat and salad wrapped in a dough wrap. She pointed Octavia and Abby to a seafood van. Deep fried or grilled fish with home style chips. She advised to stay away from shellfish until they could determine allergies. She answered all their curious questions as she had Clarke's as to how the food was possible.
Lincoln went for a hot dog, it had been ages since he had been able to consume one and he wanted the lot, thanks to his partner he was starving. Octavia and Abby decided on the fish and chips. Abby's grilled and Octavia's battered. Lexa dragged Clarke to the Indian stand where she ordered 3 garlic naan's to share.
Their luck was in when they were able to find a table which was vacated. Octavia looked at Lincoln's hotdog and screwed up her nose in distaste before taking a tentative bite of her fish.
"OMG. This is heaven" she murmured before diving in. Abby too seemed to be enjoying her meal. Lexa provided all with Garlic naan. Clarke swore she couldn't eat another bite but managed a few bites of the delightful bread. Lexa of course finished off both their portions.
"OMG, where do you put it all" she complained and then told the others of the huge meal Lexa had consumed
"I have a big metabolism and I plan to burn it off later" Lexa shrugged and four faces flamed and jaws dropped
"Lexa!"
"What?" Lexa looked perplexed and Clarke was horrified, burying her burning face in her hands. Lexa finally caught on and burst into laughter "I meant a run and training in the morning"
"Sure you did" Octavia scoffed and Lexa winked. Abby could only watch shocked. She knew Lexa and the Heda were two different personalities but this was almost bipolar. She was simply amazed at the difference Polis had brought out in Lexa. She had come to accept and make peace with Lexa the person but this Lexa she could come to like. The Commander she could still do without though.
"Ok enough" she begged "Lets finish our meals with some pleasant conversation"
Lexa agreed for the sake of Clarke and in the hope she still got some sex that night. She didn't want to push too far. The conversation turned to the next day. Lexa informed that she really did plan to go for a jog in the morning, usually want to be warriors and 2nds came with her to show off their fitness. She then trained with a few, judging their abilities. Octavia would be expected to attend. When she was able to pass her initiation she would then be able to choose a second, maybe tomorrow one warrior wannabe might catch her eye.
Octavia nodded her understanding. She had many months and more training under Indra and maybe Lexa to do before she would be ready for the tests.
Lexa said they were free to attend dress shops and she would arrange an escort with her staff so that she could find a dress for Saturday. Abby would be able to get one too if Clarke wished for her mother to stand up beside her. At that moment the others found them and more seats were pulled up as they raved about the festival and they couldn't wait for tomorrow night and the continuation.
Clarke however was deep in thought. If her mother stood up as her bridesmaid and her father was dead who would give her away? Within moments of looking up she had her answer.
"Lex is there a place to hire suits?" She asked and Lexa looked confused but nodded
"Yes why?"
"Because if my mother is standing in as a bridesmaid and my father has passed I need someone to give me away. I want Bellamy to do it" she looked at her friend and saw him staring back at her with wide eyed awe. "Will you?" She asked hopefully.
"Really? Are you sure?" He asked
"Yes. You are a good friend and my second in command. I'd love you to"
"Then I'd love to do it" he smiled and she had no other choice but to get up and go around to give him a hug in thanks as he stood also.
"Thank you" she pulled back and smiled up at him.
"Go bro" Octavia grinned and everyone settled in their seats again.
Lexa took her wife's hand and gave it a squeeze, Clarke guessed that was her way of giving approval to the choice. Lexa then outlined that they would meet up for lunch at her family's tavern before inspecting the church and Great Hall where the reception would take place. If there was time after that then they would discuss who would cater besides Zara with her pies and cakes.
Lexa and Clarke returned to the Homestead soon after, retiring to their rooms, Octavia and Lincoln retiring with them knowing they had to be up early the next morning. The rest stayed out enjoying the festival, sticking together as a group and knowing guards were watching them. They did not retire until the festival shut down around 11pm.
Lexa was up early the next day, dressed in jogging clothes. One thing about being in Polis that she enjoyed was that she didn't have to wear her big boots or Heda clothes to go for a run. She left temptation, by the name of Clarke, sprawled out in bed while she headed out of her apartment. Octavia and Lincoln were dressed similarly and waiting a little bleary eyed.
They headed outside to find a crowd of juveniles and young adults waiting for them. Octavia could only gape.
"Does this usually happen?" She asked stunned.
"Every morning" Lexa nodded while stretching to warm up. Octavia took a moment to do the same, working the kinks out of her tired muscles before they were off.
Lexa set a brutal pace. Half the group had dropped off by the three mile mark. By five miles when she turned to head back only Octavia and Lincoln and a few others kept up. Half way back and she had shaken all but Octavia and Lincoln and she was damn proud of them, especially Octavia, she had taken her training seriously. She was breathing a lot harder than Lexa and needed a rest and a lot more water at the end but she had done well and Lexa told her so.
Octavia was just ready to die. Sheer grit and determination and fear Lexa would dismiss her as her guard had kept her going. Thank God for all the extra exercise she did with Lincoln. She smirked to herself, yes that too but Lincoln enjoyed running and had her out running early in the mornings most days. Even earlier now she was a guard.
They went to the training grounds next, someone threw Lexa a sword and she went to test the mettle of the want to be warriors and the 2nds. No one lasted long against the Heda, but then again no one ever did. Lexa handed her a sword and invited her out.
She informed all that Octavia was her personal guard and Indra's second. She also informed she was originally from the Skaikru but had pledged her allegiance. This caused many murmurs and she was happy to see Octavia had already taken up a defensive stance watching the crowd around her waiting for a strike. When one came she issued her battle cry and went about testing her own skills against a half dozen other 2nds. She won easily which earned an impressed nod from Lexa and gracious bows of defeat from the others. She had earned her title.
Lexa paused when she recognised one of her servants from the Homestead standing on the sideline waving to her. She hated being interrupted on the training ground but a sliver of fear shot down her spine thinking maybe something happened to Clarke. She hurried over to him
"What is it? Is it the Skaiprisa?" She asked and the servant looked wide eyed for a second.
"I beg your pardon Heda I didn't mean to worry you. The Skaiprisa left with her mother and friends to go wedding shopping on schedule. They seemed eager to start the day" he apologised
"Then why interrupt me in the middle of training?" She growled
"Luna of the Boat People has arrived and sent a messenger requesting a meeting" he responded and Lexa couldn't help but grin. Luna was a great leader to her clan and even a better friend.
"Tell Luna to meet me at my family's inn at midday" she instructed and with a bow he hurried off. Lexa had a hard time keeping a smile off her face as they trained until she had to get ready to meet her wife and friend. She couldn't wait to introduce Luna to Clarke and vice versa. She knew they would get along well and that Luna was going to take great delight in teasing them.
After a quick shower, an old world invention that she loved partaking in, she hurriedly dressed in black jeans, jumper and bomber jacket she wore the previous night. She swept her hair up and under a woollen hat the old world called a beanie. Pulling on boots she headed outside and knocked on Octavia's door.
It was opened by a half dressed Octavia who was tucking her shirt into her jeans.
"Shit sorry, with two of us it takes a bit longer and I took too long in the shower" the younger woman admitted sheepishly as Lincoln came out of the bathroom half dressed himself and she stood and waited for them to finish dressing and pull on their jackets.
In quick succession they were heading out the door and along the streets which were filled with few people. There were a lot of private residences in this part of town for the more well off people. Any shops were usually eateries and Inns or Taverns along the waterfront but a few hundred meters down from the Homestead.
The festival square was nearly deserted, a few vendors getting ready for that night and restocking produce and other items. Lexa led her guards, she seemed to have inherited Lincoln with Octavia, across the square nodding at those who dared say hello.
Upon reaching the front door of the Inn she heard her name being called by Clarke and paused to wait for her wife. She looked radiant and in good spirits. Lexa hoped that meant she had found a dress and any other items she was looking for. She welcomed her wife with a hug and a quick kiss.
"Hello Houmon. Had a productive morning?" She asked and saw blue eyes sparkle
"Very, the shops here are amazing" Clarke beamed.
"Good" Lexa nodded "Let's head inside, I'm starving"
"You're always hungry" Clarke grumbled and Lexa laughed as she opened the door and followed Clarke in, letting the others follow in their wake. She felt her old friends presence the minute she stepped inside and looked around. You couldn't miss her friend, her presence in the room made others appear insignificant, except for her small but striking wife at her side. Unlike them they still wore their grounder clothes and it just made them stand out even more.
"Well, well, well. The wolf has been tamed" drawled her friend and Lexa grinned.
"Luna" she stepped forward and hugged the woman tight.
Clarke watched her wife hug the big Amazon woman. She made a striking figure and looked like someone you shouldn't mess with. So this was Luna of the Boat People and one of Lexa's closest friends. Clarke pegged her as being in her late 20's a few years older than her wife.
She watched as Lexa turned to the beautiful girl next to Luna, a girl roughly her own age but smaller with more of Lexa's build. She wondered who she was as Lexa pulled back and turned to her, calling her over.
Clarke moved forward and took the hand Lexa had extended to her.
"Clarke I'd like to introduce you to my good friend Luna and her wife Raquel. Luna, Raquel my wife Clarke" she introduced and Clarke tried not to look too stunned as she looked between the two. They were married? She took Luna's offered arm in a grounders greeting.
"A pleasure Skaiprisa. I have heard a lot about you" Luna bowed her head respectfully.
"Likewise. I hope to get to know you so you can tell me all Lexa's secrets" she smiled which caused a laugh. Clarke then turned to Raquel who instead of shaking her hand offered up an affectionate hug.
"Hello, it's so good to meet you. I hope we can be good friends and we can unite together when these two get up to mischief"
Luna groaned "Love that wasn't our fault".
Lexa looked like a startled deer, she wouldn't meet Clarke's eyes and her cheeks were bright red.
"Mmhmmm. Tell that to someone who believes you" Raquel rolled her eyes and Clarke bit her lip to prevent from laughing at the dynamics of the relationship. Something told her Raquel had Luna's measure despite the age difference. She would have to get Raquel to teach her.
Lexa saw the look and groaned, Luna sighed
"We're in trouble my friend" the tall woman muttered and Lexa couldn't help but grin, she wouldn't have it any other way.
Clarke turned and introduced Raquel to her mother and friends, hardly surprised when Raquel gave them all a hug before turning to Clarke and linking their arms. "Come Clarke. Let me tell you how I met my wife. I can tell by your looks you're curious about the age difference and how I snagged her"
"Not again" Luna mumbled but bent over to give her a kiss as she passed "It was the best day of my life"
"You and my brother nearly drowned" Raquel snorted.
"But I got you" Luna grinned and Raquel patted her cheek, eyes shining. There was a lot of love there Clarke realised as they headed upstairs to the restaurant and Lexa's cousins hastily made room for one big table before handing out lunch menus. Clarke sat next to Raquel, Lexa and Luna sat together opposite them while the others scattered themselves around the table.