Sorry guys! I got a new job which takes up a lot of my time. By time I'm home, I'm super tired every night. But I managed to squeeze this baby out in small spurts. Hopefully, I didn't wait too long to write this one.

Recap: Micah is under suspicion for attempting to kill Daryl during the Unity Day Celebration. Both Kane and Shumway now know the history between her and Daryl (or rather, most of it). How will Kane protect her?

That last chapter seriously messed me up emotionally after writing it, lol. This one is kind of a filler before the next chapter, which will be intense. Also, this is just days before Unity Day masquerade (where Octavia is arrested).

Warning: strong language and adult themes ahead.

Faya Gada | 9

A few hours later, Micah awoke with a headache. Her face was dry and stiff from crying, and she had a major case of cotton mouth. She attributed that to her lack of food or water consumption. The light above her head was dimmed almost to a dark golden hue and there were no sounds. Except for the deep breaths sounding under her. She found Blake sprawled on his back with his arms stretched across her back. He had removed his guard jacket and boots. There was a small sheen of sweat on his brow. That was most likely Micah's fault. The room was always kept at a slightly warm temperature, and by laying on his chest, she had fed him more body heat than he needed.

But he had stayed.

The conversation leading up to the bed ran a bit fuzzy in her brain as she wasn't exactly stable emotionally, at the time. But she did remember raving like a lunatic and trying to use him to distract herself. She wanted to use and be used so badly, that she became desperate and blind to logic. Before, sex had been logical to them. Micah was frustrated about a lot of things and Bellamy was a man who didn't get any. Micah knew she sometimes took it way overboard, but Bellamy was always willing and compliant with her rules.

No cuddling. Don't make it personal. And finally, tell no one.

Micah had nearly broken every one of those rules hours before. Her wild proclamations were more than likely heard by the guards behind the thin, metal door. Though they were grunts, she knew those guards weren't stupid. She just hoped they were gracious enough to turn a blind eye.

But there was still a sense of peace in this moment. She usually woke alone to her loud overthinking. But now there was another person and things felt more personal. And she didn't want to admit it, but she liked it.

She heard a groan before she felt a hand against her side.

"Micah, you okay?"

She couldn't help just looking at him dopily with a simple nod of her head. There weren't any words she wanted to use and he seemed to understand this. Bellamy looked at the comm on his jacket after picking it up to check the time before pulling himself out of the bed. He quickly pulled the items on before heading toward the door. Seeing her eyes follow him insecurely, he stopped and smiled at her.

"I'm just going to see about getting you something to eat. I'll be right back."

As Bellamy left her room and knocked on the outer quarters, he felt himself smile a bit at Micah's behavior. The hardened lieutenant wasn't known for depending on other people or being perceived as vulnerable. But Bellamy understood where it was coming from. With her latest development with Daryl, she wouldn't be allowed to see very many people; not that there would be any visitors. Aside from him and Tevin, Micah didn't really have anyone as she had pushed them all away. But he wouldn't put it past Mr. Pike to try to come around.

"Daniels, could we get some f-"

"What are you doing here?"

Standing across from Bellamy was the exact person he had been thinking about. He tried to cover up his surprise, but failed as a woman who looked akin to Micah examined him with a tray in her arms. She looked a lot like Micah [1]; the same curly hair but braided away in cornrows. It was like looking at an older, lighter, and slightly taller Micah Pike. Bellamy didn't have to be a genius to realize who this was.

"Mr. Pike…I was assigned to watch your daughter while she's on house arrest."

Micah's mother brought herself forward, balancing the tray in her arm after wincing at the statement. "And you are…?" Bellamy shook her hand. "Bellamy Blake, ma'am. It's hard to believe she's your daughter. You look much too young-"

"Oh, Mr. Blake. Please stop it. You can't tell, but I'm blushing now." Bellamy smiled at that like a well-mannered, young man. "Just call me Veronica," she replied as he stepped aside to let the two in after the guards finished inspecting the parents.

Bellamy moved to the small room as soon as the door slid closed. "I'll fetch Micah for you-"

"Uh," Veronica stepped forward to stop him, "why don't you let me go in there?" She handed her tray to her husband, "Charles, could heat this up for me? I'll be a few moments."

Before Bellamy could interject, she waltzed to Micah's door. She lightly knocked on the door before peaking her head in. "Honey, can I come in?"

Micah turned her head away from the photo she was looking at after hearing her mother's voice. A curl fell in her face and she had to move it in order to see the person she was thinking. "Mother?"

Veronica swiftly moved into the room and let the door close behind her. She didn't want Micah to know Charles was in the next room.

"Hello, Smoochie [2]."

"Charles! Would you turn the stove off?" the woman yelled through the door. She sat on the edge of the cot, a bed of curls between her legs. She had a tub of clear cream in one hand and a comb in the other. The girl's hair was becoming a problem so they were trying something different. A towel sat across Veronica's legs to stave off the wet in the hair she just washed. After dabbing a large mountain of the cream into her hand, she began to run her fingers through the mountain of hair.

She knew her daughter was vexed by her rough handling, but there was no other way the nourishment would get into her scalp otherwise. But once they did this, it would be easier to care for in the following weeks. Micah winced as her mother pulled on the last section of her hair. Her kneecaps clanked as she clenched her fists. When the twist was made, her mother let go of her hair and rested her hands on her daughter's shoulders with a squeeze.

"All done."

"Finally!" the gap-toothed girl exclaimed, throwing her arms up into the air. She scrambled to her feet and scrunched her face at the echoing pull in her head.

"Mommie," she whined.

"Sorry, baby," Veronica tried to reconcile. She was surprised Micah didn't complain when finishing the hair; she commenced to pull the comb through her hair, working to untangle from the ends to the scalp. Now that it was done, they could both get on with their lives. "But your hair is really kinky...Kinkier than mine."

Micah winced when massaging her scalp thoughtfully. "Kinky? That's a funny word."

Her mother cracked a smile that was hidden. "Ah-ah-ah," she tisked. "What did I say about questions in the morning?"

"Write them down throughout the day then ask them at dinner."

"That's right. Now you'll be late for class. Go on," she pushed her daughter toward the door. But Micah ground her feet into the floor.

"Wait!" Micah turned around and leaned up. Her mother knew to lean down to let her lips catch her cheek. "I love you, mommy."

"Love you too, Smoochie. Now don't forget your father."

"Of course not!"

Her curious daughter had somehow always picked up on the dirty words. She had to beg Charles to stop his habit of cursing when their baby girl was born. Like any other child, she was a sponge constantly absorbing (and unfortunately, compulsively using) any information she could get her hands on. She was quite adept in drawing all the right blanks about certain adult phrases and situations.

Veronica had joked that their daughter would grow up to be Aphrodite [3], catching and throwing hearts far and in between. She was a sensitive child, preferring touch and kisses; she was also very curious about sexuality. Though it was normal for a child her age to ask about sex, she was never deterred by the infamous 'stark' tale. She wanted details, and details Veronica had been open to give. It was untraditional, but Charles had been the one in charge of setting their daughter straight because apparently Veronica was too liberal. Who knew he would also be the one to drive her away.

"What are you doing here?" Micah asked, crossing her arms over her chest. Though she wanted to pull her mother in for a hug, she felt shame for staying away for so long. Her and her father's feud had nothing to do with her mother, but she let that keep her away.

Veronica stepped forward, stroking Micah's loose hair. She may not have been combing through it every day, but her hair was staying moisturized and pretty much detangled. "Baby, I came as soon as I heard. I knew something was amiss when Henry came by asking all these questions."

"Shumway?" Micah pulled away from her mother's embrace and looked at the other Pike. "What was he asking about?"

"Oh, hun," Veronica tugged on a strand of her daughter's hair. "Don't worry about that. That's for another time. Right now I want you to let me be your mother." She could see the worry coming off Micah when she touched her. It had been so long since the two had seen one another after the fight.

Just then, Micah's stomach let out a powerful roar and she placed a hand on her stomach. "Did you see where Bellamy went? He was going to go feed me."

Veronica placed hands on her daughter's shoulders and smiled. "I brought some casserole."

Micah sat at her tiny dining table, excited at the prospect of her mother's cooking. Veronica looked through the cabinets and found plates before handing them to Bellamy to set the places at the table while she retrieved her food from the small oven. Bellamy could practically see her anticipating the meal, but she also looked a bit skeptical. Like she didn't fully trust the situation graced to her. Before the house arrest, she was never like that. Sure, she was always preparing herself in case something went south or the other way, but she didn't actively have no belief in what was standing right before her. Veronica wondered what had changed her affectionate daughter into what she called a "realist".

Bellamy watched Micah. She and her mother obviously talked about something for a while since they didn't come right out. And he could see her underlying happiness in seeing Mrs. Pike. But she still had the slightly crazed look in her eyes that she had when she asked him to never leave her the night before. She may have been enjoying this moment, but she was still scared of something. But what?

Bellamy laid down the plates and cutlery. And he moved to take a seat beside her, but she had already set eyes on the extra spot. And she became suspicious.

"...Who else is here?" with an accusatory tone, looking behind her to the bathroom door. That's when the sound of a toilet flushing sounded around the room.

Veronica pretended to busy herself with the casserole, which she piled into a large bowl that now sat as centerpiece for the table. Bellamy got up from his seat and moved to block her view. He placed his hands on her shoulders and forced her to face forward. When she tried to disarm him, he countered it with a technique she had taught them and kept her from leaving her seat. His hands caught her wrists as he leaned forward, his arms slipping around her shoulders. His lips brushed against the shell of her ear.

"Hey, hey," he whispered, doing his best to restrain her as she breathed heavily. His breath ghosted on her neck and she involuntarily shivered. "Just breathe for me. Breathe." Veronica watched from afar from the kitchen. It was strange to see how close in proximity her daughter let this man get. But her curious glances were ignored. "Come on."

After another moment, Micah actually began listening to Bellamy's instruction and took hollow breaths. "That's it, Mike. Just breathe with me." Her body began to slowly relax under his form. Just as the bathroom door was sliding open, Bellamy was able to loosen his hold on Micah and step slightly away. She seemed to forget what had caught her attention. That is until she saw the face appear across the table from her.

"I have been holding that all morning seems like," Charles surmassed, trying to lighten the mood. He could see the contempt in his daughter's face. "Hi, Mikey."

Bellamy had sat down again and at her reaction, seized her hand under the table and gave it a squeeze.

"...I don't wanna do this."

"Micah-"

"And you think I want to see you labeled a criminal?"

"Charles!"

He shot a look at his wife before turning to his daughter again. "What I mean is you are my daughter, and even though we have issues I never want to have you taken away from me without us at least being able to say goodbye." Micah's eyes grew salty as a wave of uncertainty washed over her. "I'm not saying you did something or that this is goodbye, but one day there will be."

Charles thought his words would do its work. But they did a little too much work. They saw the look of finality on Micah's face and knew this wouldn't work. She ripped her hand from Blake's and pushed her chair back. Tears threatened to flow.

"Micah?" her mother breathed out in worry.

But her daughter didn't answer. She slammed the chair into the table and quickly retreated to her room before Bellamy could stop her.

Bellamy sat with his back to the door, his head resting to the side. His legs had gotten tired after standing in front of the door for half an hour Micah's parents had left an hour ago, but left the casserole on the counter. They were disheartened by their daughter's actions but there was nothing they could do at the moment; it seemed like the best they could do was leave.

Blake could hear a quiet whimper from behind the door and was praying she hadn't hurt herself.

"Micah," he called for the twentieth time. But it was still her silent crying that answered him. That is, until he heard a click behind him and the door against his back slid away. And he heard footsteps coming away from him. He sank on one of his knees before vaulting himself up from the floor.

"Micah?" He watched her stalk back to her bed and crawl under the comfort of the bed sheet. She honestly looked like a child in that moment. She had her body curled around a pillow as her hair shielded her face from his.

"Why are you here?"

Bellamy's eyebrows screwed together at the off-putting question. It was a dangerous question, at that, and he wasn't sure of how to answer.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Why are you here… With me right now? Why did you volunteer? What do you gain, Bellamy?"

She used his first name.

"Mike, I don't gain anything… You sound a little ridiculous right now-"

"Do I? Do I really have no reason to think there's a reason?" Wiping her nose she supported herself with her arms, legs tucked under her weight with the pillow still clutched between her fingers. "I'm stiff, manipulative, difficult… not to mention a complete bitch all the time. What do you have to gain from being here right now?"

He could see little gears turning in her head now and began to worry about where this thought process was going. Thought she was always honest, her low opinions of himself shocked him; so much that he took an involuntary step back on the ball of one of his feet. He supposed the only way he answer her question was to match her honesty, even if she didn't agree.

"A chance to make a difference… To help a friend."

"Friend?" She scoffed. "You call what we do a 'friendly pastime'? Really?"

"Really." He held her eyes as he slowly made his way to the side of the bed. He didn't mean to treat her like an infant, but she had her crazy eyes again and he couldn't tell what direction this conversation would take. "I think we're both people who are hurting all the time and need an outlet to make it some days."

She looked skeptical, but could tell his words were truth. "And sometimes secrets really bare on you," he continued sliding closer to her. At this she looked away almost guiltily. "So much that you're okay with using someone."

"Bellamy-" her voice coated in a half-sob. He was closer to the problem than he knew.

"It's okay," he placed a hand on the back of her neck before pulling her into his body. "I already know how it is. I told you, I'm here to help."

Her body shook but no water fell from her eyes. She had a lot of pent up emotions crammed into her small body and he wished there was something he could do. And he could feel his own built up tension from all the stress of life on the Ark. It was times likes this when he realized he was all she had and visa versa. Aside from O and his mother, he had no one. There wasn't a way to confide in another about his home situation or truly open himself up enough to be vulnerable.

Because of this, he was very tempted to spill the beans on everything: Octavia, using Micah, his loneliness...But that would be like inviting sever consequences...right? And what if she hated him?

Unsure of what to do, he held her tighter and began to recite lines from a poem his mother taught him. He could tell she was listening because her breathing changed.

I was walking again
in the woods,
a yellow light
was sifting all I saw.

Willfully,
with a cold heart,
I took a stick,
lifted it to the opposite side
of the path.

There, I said to myself,
that's done now.
Brushing one hand against the other,
to clean them
of the tiny fragments of bark [4]

She wrapped her arms tighter around him. "...I actually like it. What is it?"

"A poem I learned from my mother," he answered, letting her tuck her head under his chin. "She used to recite it to my sister and I whenever we-"

"Sister?"

That's when Bellamy realized what he had done.

1 - I imagine Rae Dawn Chong playing Micah's mother (but with hair in long cornrows). Just look her up on IMDb.

2 - Is that not the cutest little pet name?! ;D

3 - Micah is a pretty sexual being. She likes sex and isn't afraid to admit it. But this doesn't mean this is going to turn into a fic where she goes around kissing anything and everybody. She may love sex, but she wants to be responsible about it (like any adult should).

4 - "Changing Everything" by Jane Hirshfield