Finn talked with Clarke in that familial way they had quickly fallen into after meeting on the drop ship and becoming fast friends, it was like none of the events of the past few weeks had ever happened and like Bellamy wasn't even there, not that Bellamy made any effort to prove otherwise, trailing at the back of their small group in brooding silence. It wasn't that Clarke would have preferred the company of her co-leader, she loved Finn and was overcome with relief that he was alive and well, falling quickly back into step with her, but she couldn't help the way she felt, she couldn't forget everything that had passed between them and she longed for the comfortable silence she often shared with Bellamy.

"-just wish we had a better understanding of them, what are their motives, why did they take you and why are the Grounders so afraid of them?"

"They're advanced, they have weaponry the Grounders probably don't even understand, maybe their fears are unfounded, naïve even, maybe they're just afraid of the unknown and haven't had many dealings with the Mountain Men"

"You never saw a face? Anything?" Finn turned and watched her face closely, as if her expression might be telling of something she won't reveal herself. She's vaguely aware of his distrust in her story, and she understands to a certain extent, why would they take them and lock them up, feed them and treat their wounds but never approach them, but on the other hand she's slightly miffed that he'd question her, considering the circumstances.

"Nothing, we were in quarantine so maybe they were afraid they'd catch something from us, I was always unconscious when they brought food or did tests" she replied, biting her lip to stop it quivering, afraid to wonder what they did to her while she was out.

"Are you even following the trail Spacewalker? I haven't seen you look at the floor in over an hour" said Bellamy, now at Clarkes side, his voice taking on an edge of irritation she's now very familiar with.

"I don't need to follow a trail, I remember the way from when I showed it to you last time" Finn replied, challenging Bellamy back and standing a little taller.

Clarke was sick of boys and their egos, she'd barely had contact with the opposite sex on the Ark, besides Wells, who may as well have been a girl in her eyes, she was very sheltered and she longed for those strictly female days again.

"If you get us lost-"

"You wanna give it a go Bellamy? By all means lead the way"

"I never claimed to be a tracker-"

"Then give it a rest already, we're nearly there anyway" Finn started ahead of them expecting Clarke to catch up to him but she fell back, adopting Bellamy's pace much to his delight.

"Was he less of a pain in the ass before? I seem to remember tolerating him more easily" he said under his breath, shooting her a playful grin that she didn't return.

"And I seem to remember you being less of a jerk… oh wait no, this is nothing new"

"A jerk?" he laughed, holding his chest in fake offence.

"Jeez Princess you wound me"

She quirked an eyebrow at him and twisted her lips into a tight smile, having none of his shit.

"And what about you Clarke, are you the same girl that stepped off the drop ship?"

He meant no offence, his voice light and humorous, just making conversation, but the words stung and the answer felt clogged in her throat.

No, she wasn't the same girl. Clarke Griffin of the Ark had died like those poor bastards that followed Finn out of their seats during landing or maybe she had died earlier, when her father was floated and her entire life turned upside down, locked away from civilisation. It almost made sense, that all of this, everything that had happened since had been a fantasy, trapped in some purgatory existence, doomed to repeatedly fail her people like she had failed her family.

"Clarke"

"Hmm?" she asked, pulled out of her thoughts by his hand wrapped around her upper arm. His eyes were soft and intent on hers, a look of understanding alight in them, a feeling they shared, a knowing.

"I saw you once before the drop ship, before your dad… You were reading a book in the rec room and I… you were pretty so you caught my eye and I couldn't help but hate you because you were Octavia's age and… you looked so care free."

She looks down, unable to meet his eyes, unsure how much longer she can shoulder the judgment of being one of the privileged when it had never been her choice and she had never treated any of them any different.

"I shouldn't have felt like that, I didn't know you, even then, you were like, sixteen… I bet I would've liked you if we'd met and you'd given me the time of day" he laughs and she looks back up at him, still unsure where he's going with this, Finn getting further and further away ahead of them.

"But now, since we landed, with everything you've been through… God Clarke you are amazing."

"W…What?" she mumbles, confused, his hand still wrapped around her arm, holding her closer to him, so close she can feel the heat of his body and can barely see anything in her peripheral vision.

"You're strong and level headed and quick, you always know what to do and you care, god you care so much, even for people like Murphy, even when you thought he killed Wells you tried to save him. You put up with all of my shit and continue to forgive me again and again… you are the best of us Clarke and that's why when I saw you at Mount Weather I was done. I wouldn't let myself believe you were dead when we were trying to get in there and when I saw you I just thought, I have to get you out and then everything would be okay"

He's rambling, holding both her arms now and holding her away from him, looking at her as if she's some beautiful piece of art he can't get enough of.

"Bellamy-" she tried to speak but she's not sure how to respond, thank you didn't quite cut it.

"Clarke, we're here" called Finn from the top of the hill he'd disappeared over and she shakes her head to clear the haze that had settled there. Her skins tingling all over and her mouth is hanging open until Bellamy gently lifts her chin with his thumb, his eyes glued to her lips as he licks his own.

"I don't think your dreams could live up to the reality of what I want to do to you."

A heat rises in her cheeks and he smiles, obviously noticing her blush.

"Raven first, get Finn off our backs then I'll show you how the low class do it"