"Octavia it's straight, I swear," Clarke sighed as her friend stood on the latter still moving the corner of the banner, "I promise it is as straight as you and me."
Octavia raised an eyebrow as she finally let go. She was clearly a perfectionist and she refused to believe Clarke about anything. She loved the banner though, which Clarke was thankful for. She wasn't sure she was in the mood to redo the big project, not when her and Bellamy were finally together again.
Octavia smiled as she descended the ladder, "now it's straight. Okay I wanna set up this one next."
"Why didn't you pay someone to do this? Or get Lincoln and Bell to help?"
"I don't have it in the budget. And while we're on the subject, what's up with you and my brother? And Clarke Elaine Griffin don't tell me that it's nothing," Octavia held up her hand as they started to move their tools towards the next booth.
Clarke rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself, "first of all, that's not my middle name. Second of all we're just happy. We haven't given this a label and we're just letting it happen as it will."
Octavia sighed, "you told me I wasn't allowed to let you fall in love with him again."
Clarke laughed, "well you failed. Plus it was a hard job, seeing as I never really stopped in the first place."
"Well I'm glad you and my brother are happy. I haven't seen him this happy since you left the first time around. He hasn't dated anyone either, because he's missed you. But him and his stupid pride were too much to let him answer your phone calls. I know he never gave up on you two though," she flashed her a smile and Clarke knew that she really was okay with them being together, "plus you were always my favorite girlfriend of his."
Before Clarke could answer her, a deep voice interrupted their girl time, "hey working girls. We thought you could use some dinner."
Bellamy came over holding a bag of food in his right hand. He wrapped his left arm around Clarke's waist before he kissed her lips quickly. She barely noticed that Lincoln was there with him. She smiled as he pulled away, the sweat on her forehead didn't matter to either of them as they stood there together.
Octavia was beaming at her boyfriend as her brother pulled Clarke close, "hey you."
Clarke couldn't help but smile, "long time no see. How's your head?" She pressed her hand against his temple. He winced slightly, but he seemed to be getting better. She was glad it hadn't been anything serious, but then again she had enjoyed playing nurse.
Octavia had been keeping them both busy this past week. They hadn't gotten to see the boys in days. Clarke was always exhausted at the end of the day. She'd find her way back home and fall into bed, never hearing Bellamy call. There was a lot of work to be done for this fair and somehow the girls had gotten stuck with it all.
She missed falling asleep beside him. She missed him and his warm arms holding her close. She even missed his snoring, even though she claimed to hate it. Bellamy missed her cold feet pressing against his legs, laughing as they both came together. He missed having her there with him at night and in the morning. He told his sister to give her time off, but Clarke wouldn't let Octavia do all the work alone.
Bellamy loved this, having Clarke here in his life. He was never affectionate with anyone else. He kissed her cheek as they walked towards a picnic table that had been delivered today. Bellamy kept his arm around her shoulders.
"My head is fine thanks," he tensed his jaw as he let her sit down first, "the doctor said I can go back to work Monday."
Clarke smiled, "good. Don't make me worry again."
"Yes ma'am," he said before setting the food down on the table. He wouldn't tell her this, but he had loved having her play nurse with him. It was the only thing that kept him from going crazy while he wasn't working.
Octavia and Lincoln were already sitting across from them. His sister sighed happily, "god you two are just adorable."
Bellamy started to unpack the food as he rolled his eyes, "okay O, stop being creepy please."
Clarke shook her head as he handed her a burger, "so since you two strong, capable, men are here you shoulder help us finish setting up."
Bellamy groaned as Lincoln laughed. He nodded, "I'll help. Then my girl comes home earlier."
Clarke smiled as she looked at her first love, "I'll come to your place tonight," she said quietly, watching his eyes light up, "we haven't had a sleepover in a while."
Bellamy blushed as he swallowed his bite of food, "yeah, okay," he stuttered as he nodded, "I think I can help."
Octavia shook her head as Clarke looked in her direction. She winked, they had cut their workload in half now. She was ready for this stupid fair to be over.
The four of them sat and ate, talking about everything and everyone. Clarke learned more about the town and it's people as they finished their meals. They had been starving, Octavia wasn't big on breaks. She wanted to get this done and Clarke understood. But it felt nice to sit and eat for once today. The sun was starting to set behind them as they got ready to take on the last part of their work.
Before they went to work Clarke grabbed Bellamy's hand. She let out a slow breath as he turned to look at her. Octavia and Lincoln were out of ear shot, they were talking about the booth. She smiled as she squeezed his fingers gently, "Bell, I just," she sighed as she played with his hand, "what are we? You know I don't care about labels, but I need to know what this is. I wanted to know what we're doing here."
His smile tok her back a few years to when they were younger and thought they'd take on the world together. It was the smile she had fallen in love with, the smile she had seen so many times in her dreams. It was her smile, the only one he had for her.
"I care about you Clarke. I always have, ever since we were sixteen. This," he brought their hands up and kissed hers, "falling asleep and waking up with you, it's my favorite thing."
Clarke nodded, "as long as we're on the same page," she whispered softly, leaning into kiss him deeper than before, "I'm okay with that."
Bellamy was slow to respond as she pulled away. His eyes sparkled in the dim light, his smile goofy and full, "I don't want to mess up this time."
"Me either," Clarke agreed as Octavia cleared her throat loudly.
She stood there behind them tapping her foot, "so as cute as this is, we've got work to do. You two can do this later, when I'm not around please."
She stressed the last part, but she was bluffing. She was happier than she had been in a long time seeing her brother get the only girl he had ever wanted in his life.
Bellamy stood up and tickled his sister as she squealed loudly. Clarke felt like she had finally found it. Sitting there with the two people she had lost, she knew she'd finally found her home. It had taken her two years and a break down but she finally found her way to the only boy who ever looked at her like she put the stars in the sky. Her home wasn't a place. Her home was wherever he was.
—
Bellamy had had a tough week. Between getting hit and being told work was out of the question for a few days he was restless and sore. Plus he hadn't gotten to really see Clarke since she started helping his sister with the fair. He missed falling asleep beside her. He missed kissing her and watching that surprised smile spread across her face. He missed her.
But she was always so tired the nights she did come over. He was ready for the fair to be over so he could have his girlfriend back.
He was more than ready to go back to work, but Monday seemed so far away now. He felt useful helping the girls the other night, but now they refused to let him help. Octavia didn't know about his injury, but Clarke did. He stopped by the grounds yesterday to see her and almost got hit with a ball. Clarke all but pushed him back into his car claiming he needed to go home and stay healthy.
Whenever Bellamy needed to relax or unwind he took a bubble bath. It was something his mom taught them to do when they were younger. She would suggest a bath when they were sick or stressed. She claimed the warm water would sooth away any pain they had.
The doctor told him he needed to take it easy and relax. Apparently he needed to slow down. So he filled the bath tub with warm water, watching the suds rise. He got undressed after putting on some music. He had a few candles and lit them too. He didn't always go all out, but since he couldn't do much than sit around all day he figured he earned this. He stepped into the water and he remembered just how soothing a bath could be.
He let out a content sigh as he felt his muscles loosen up. He sat down, leaning against the back of the tub and closed his eyes. If he couldn't relax with his girlfriend, well this had to be the next best thing. The aches in his shoulders started to ease. He enjoyed this moment, he wasn't sure when he would get it again.
He had brought a book with him to read but he didn't want to move. Everything was just right, the water, but bubbles. He didn't want to disrupt the balance so he stayed still and thought about everything that had happened over the last few months.
He thought about how he had spent two years missing her, two long years wondering why he never answered her calls. Then she stumbled back into his life and somehow he forgave her. Somehow he pushed aside all the pain and anger he felt over her leaving and offered her a safe place to land. Maybe it was because he could see the pain in her life, the way she held herself differently. She was so guarded, she had never been this guarded before. He liked being the one who got through to her.
Or maybe it was because once you fall in love with someone you never really stop. Not when you love them the way Bellamy loved Clarke. He loved her with every piece of his heart, deep down into his soul. Sometimes it scared him, when they were first together he didn't understand it. But now he knew there was no one else, there would never be anyone else.
Because she was it for him. She was the missing piece he never thought to look for.
Bellamy opened his eyes after a few seconds, the sound of his front door slamming shut bringing him out of his relaxed state, "I swear to god your sister is trying to kill me. She's such a perfectionist and she can't even draw. She has no artistic ability and she tells me how to do it. If she wasn't related to you I'd hit her. I would."
Clarke's voice rang through the apartment, making him smile. She was so comfortable enough to come in without being invited, to walk into his home and make it her own. They had gotten so far and yet not far enough together.
Bellamy stopped smiling when he realized she was about to catch him in the bath. He never told anyone that he did this. Octavia had assumed he'd grown out of it, since they didn't live together anymore he didn't tell her the truth.
"Bell? I know you're home," she called out for him as she walked further into the apartment. He could hear her shoes on the hardwood floor.
His bedroom door was open and her footsteps got quieter as she stepped into the room. She walked into the bathroom, surprised when she saw him sitting there with the bubbles up at his chest. She bit her lip, trying to stop the smile that was forming, "oh. I uh. I didn't expect this."
She laughed then, despite her efforts not to. Bellamy just smiled, not embarrassed that he found her in a bubble bath. He actually liked the blush that was on her cheeks, seeing him like this, "I was told to relax. This is me relaxing."
Clarke giggled as she walked into the room completely and sat down on the toilet beside the tub, "well I could always help with relaxation. I'm pretty good with messages, if you need one."
Bellamy groaned as she squeezed his shoulders. That felt amazing, he had to admit. She had always been good with her hands, she was an artist for god's sake. She had almost become a doctor. But she had never give him a message before.
Bellamy looked at her, she looked adorable in her cut off shorts, her light blue shirt covered in splashes of red and blue paint. There was a streak across her cheek he wanted to reach up and run his thumb along it. She kept rubbing his shoulders as he closed his eyes once more, thinking of all the ways he'd like to touch her if she would let him.
"How'd you get away from the dictator? Did you hit her?" his voice was low as Clarke pushed on a knot by his neck. Her tiny fingers pressed firmly into his skin causing the perfect pressure to relieve the pain.
"No," she sighed, "I told her my wrist hurt and I wasn't going to draw straight lines soon. She made me redraw this sign three times. it wasn't small either, Bell it was huge," Bellamy opened his eyes and she was shaking her head, "plus I miss you. A lot. I wanted to make sure you're really okay to go back to work Monday."
Bellamy smiled as he grabbed her hand. His eyes met hers as they sat there together. After a moment Clarke leaned forward, ready to kiss him. Except Bellamy had a different idea.
He pulled on her arm before their lips met, pulling her off balance. She squealed as she fell into the water with him, her lips finding his. She pushed back on his chest as he started to laugh, the vibrations hitting her finger tips.
"Bellamy! I'm still dressed," she laughed despite her annoyance.
He pulled on her now soaked shirt, "well we can fix that," he whispered pulling her back towards him. He kissed her longer than before. All their time apart had finally gotten to him, "plus you're covered in paint. We can't have that can we?"
Clarke shook her head, kissing him back as she pulled herself up on his lap. She straddled him, her wet hands going through his hair, "I hate you sometimes."
Bellamy's smile was enough to make her regret those words even if she was kidding, "no princess, you love me."
She rolled her eyes, more than thankful her shorts were between them, "you think I do," her mouth was close to his. His hands held her still, her heart pounding as she remembered the moments exactly like this one. The moments they had shared so many times that led to bigger things happening. That felt like a lifetime ago, she felt like a completely different person, one who wasn't ready to give into that part of herself yet.
Bellamy didn't push her, his lips the only thing he used to ask if she was ready. She sighed, more than happy in this position. But she still wasn't ready to give in to more than this. His hands on her waist, hers wrapped around his neck. Their bodies pressed together, but nothing more happening. This was where she was comfortable, she wasn't ready to go outside of that zone. Not yet.
Clarke took in a breath as she sat there in the water. She felt braver when she was in his arms, so she took a chance. She might not be ready to go further, but she was ready to help him out when he needed it. She reached down and touched him. Bellamy gasped as her fingers wrapped around him.
"Clarke?" She smiled, her heart pounding as she leaned down and kissed his cheek.
She nibbled on his ear as she moved her hand up and down slowly, "baby steps, Bell. Let me take care of you for once."
He moaned as she kissed his shoulder, the water rushing in to fill the places her hand left as she moved it. Clarke smiled watched him close his eyes, enjoying this moment more than she thought he would. The bubbles were still big and fluffy, covering her hand as it worked.
As she touched him she remembered what it felt like to be with him once more. Her body ached for it, but her mind screamed at her to keep the control. She picked up her pace, ignoring her own needs. She had gotten good at ignoring her own needs. Bellamy gripped the edge of the tub, his toes curling at the other end. He bit his lip, pleasure rushing through him.
He fell apart screaming her name. When he opened his eyes he pulled her towards him, his body twitching as he released tension, "Clarke."
She smiled, "don't thank me," her voice was a whisper getting out, "I came to make you dinner."
She grabbed a towel and got out of the water. Baby steps was the only way she would get through this. If she took it one day at a time, letting it settle around her she wouldn't get caught up in the anxiety that came with her missing memories. She felt like She was an innocent girl once more. Not sure if she was ready to experience more of the world.
After she dried herself off, she pulled on one of his shirts. As she pulled her leggings on Clarke stood in front of Bellamy's mirror. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. She might not know what she wants out of life, but she knew it wasn't far from this place right here.
"You didn't have to do that," Bellamy wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. He pressed a kiss against her neck and Clarke melted, "I know you're still figuring things out. I told you I'm here for you, nothing else."
Clarke nodded, "I know. But I think if I take baby steps maybe I'll finally let go of the pain," she turned in his arms and pressed a hand against his warm chest. The towel wrapped around his waist was low, "I might be confused about some things, but I know at the end of the day it's you I want."
Bellamy smiled and kissed her softly, his hand wrapping around her damp hair. When he pulled away he pushed a piece of hair behind her ear, "so about that dinner."