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Bellamy wasn't sure what hurt most: his ribs or what the boys had done to his living room. In fairness to them, they had been busy saving the entire city's finances at the time. After five days of them typing on laptops and cat napping on the couch, Miller, Jasper and Monty did get up and clean the worst of the mess. It just left Bellamy with the ability to sit on his couch again. That morning, they had even cooked breakfast.

Raven and Murphy had gone stir crazy from sitting inside for so long so they offered to get the week's shopping as a thank you to Bellamy and the boys had tagged along. The clients were pleased with the books were balanced so they could afford to take some time away from the numbers. The riots in Ark had finally stopped with the police stepping up security. People had settled down but now they wanted to know what Blake and Griffin were going to do with the ruins of their businesses. Kane had driven back into the city earlier that afternoon to deal with the press and he was adamant that everyone stay away for now. It would cause another riot if Bellamy or Clarke just strolled back into the city.

So everyone stayed were they were, with some relief. They liked hanging around the pretty town for the week. Octavia and Lincoln had decided to stroll around the neighbourhood like the couple they were instead of going shopping.

That left Bellamy and Clarke to chill out in their home.

"If I could turn without experiencing pain, we would totally be making out right now," he declared and Clarke snorted into her drink.

They were stretched out with their feet in the coffee table, the sun outside shining through the open windows. The TV was on low and some show was just finishing.

The town just went on as if giant riots hadn't happened just a few hours away. Names like Griffin and Blake only meant that lovely couple on Forest Road who had the odd friends. But with Kane trying to control the newspapers and answer questions, it wouldn't be long before a statement would have to be released. Abby and Cage were not going to be helpful- the police had been questioning them since yesterday. Apparently, making huge promises and taking money for plans that were not going to be fulfilled was kind of illegal.

Clarke rested her head against Bellamy's shoulder, careful of his ribs. He was healing nicely but still needed another few days before he was doing cartwheels. "Kane called this morning," Bellamy mumbled, "He thinks we should bring out a joint statement."

Clarke frowned and titled her head to gaze at him. "Really? And admit that Romulus is ours?"

Bellamy clicked his tongue against his cheek and looked troubled. "I don't know. People liked Romulus because it wasn't Blake or Griffin. And now they think they're free of both of them. It might not be a good thing for them to know that Romulus started with us."

Clarke hummed and bit her lip slightly. "Romulus isn't Blake or Griffin anymore. If we're going to take some steps back from the company then it will be easier if people think it was always Raven and Murphy's."

Bellamy nodded and placed a warm hand on her knee. She cuddled as close to him as she could without hurting him and smiled. "We need to put Ark behind us. This might be a good start."

Bellamy paused for a moment and then said, "Hand me that laptop." Clarke reached forward and grabbed the computer. She balanced it on his lap and watched as he started typing. "What are you looking at?" she asked and Bellamy grinned softly.

"If we're going to leave behind the only careers we know, then we better look into those teaching courses."

Clarke felt a smile break out on her face and she almost threw herself at him. She caught herself in time but she ended up nearly falling off the couch. "Oof," she grunted, as Bellamy laughed and pulled her back to him. Clarke huffed.

"Your ribs better be fine by next week," she said, "I am not going to be the one to cut the grass out there."

Bellamy shrugged.

"This is your house too- you need to chip in with the cleaning."

Clarke watched as he kept searching. "Please, the second I clean any surface, you will just re-clean it."

"Not the point. It's true but it's not the point."

The kids next door arrived early the next morning to invite the group to a barbecue. Bellamy wanted to say no because his neighbours did not need to experience Jasper drunk but Clarke said they'd be right over.

"We are not staying inside for another day. And I have to really get to know the neighbours, right?"

His ribs had healed somewhat so Bellamy showered and dressed for the party. The whole street seemed to be in their neighbour's house and everyone welcomed the new group. Cal and Travis were challenging Jasper and Monty to a jello eating contest while Lily was amazed by Octavia's hair skills. The smell of mouth-watering food filled the back yard and the kids were running around between the adults and the swings.

In the late afternoon, Bellamy sat beside Clarke on some deck chairs with Octavia perched on the arm. She kept stealing small bits from his plate of food and he pretended not to mind.

The kids' father, Justin, was sat across from them with his wife. "So what's the occasion?" she asked them, "You seem to have half a football team staying at your house."

Clarke laughed lightly. "It really does feel like that Kate. And they make enough mess. Everyone just wanted to see Bell's house."

Octavia hummed. "Yah, especially since he and Clarke are going to live here full time now." Justin and Kate looked pleased.

"Oh thank God. You're the best neighbours we've ever had," Justin exclaimed, "And there have been some really, really bad neighbours."

Lincoln passed by with Miller, both of them arguing sports with a girl from the next house over. Murphy and Raven were refilling their drinks. The kids' giggles filled the yard and there was a mention of marshmallows and chocolate biscuits. Bellamy felt a hand on his arm and Clarke smiled at him. Her blond hair was loose around her tanned shoulders, with his jumper wrapped around her.

"Feeling ok?" she wondered and he grinned. "I'm good," he replied, "I'm actually really good."

Three weeks later

Clarke straightened her collar and brushed some stray hairs away from her face. They had fallen loose from the tight bun but it gave a soft appearance.

Looking in the mirror, Clarke let out a slow breath. She could do this. It was simple. Just read off the paper and look at the camera before exiting the room. Head up high with dignity and then leave with pride.

The women's bathroom on the ground floor of Romulus' offices was empty except for her and Raven. The other woman was reapplying her lipstick with some exhaustion on her face. She and Murphy had been working all hours since returning to Ark with Romulus with full client control. It reminded Clarke of the early days at Griffin.

It also made her glad she had walked away from it.

"You need to stay cool," Raven was saying, "The press just want to hear you and Bellamy say that Blake and Griffin are official done and have no plans to start up again in Ark. You put support behind Romulus and wish the city the best."

"When you say it, it sounds easy," Clarke replied, "But that doesn't mean the press won't shout questions or badger us."

"So!? You are Clarke Griffin. You've got this locked down. Just give them that steel look that you give Jasper when he's drinking too many of those energy drinks."

Clarke sighed and Raven caught her eye in the mirror. "Hey," she said, placing an arm around Clarke's shoulders. "It'll be ok. I know it's not easy letting go of what was yours for so long and now having to answer for your mom's crimes...what is going to happen with that by the way?"

Clarke bit her lip. "The police said they won't charge her or Cage for fraud but they will have to spend the next few years working back all the money they stole for other companies. Mom will essentially be working for various other companies for a while."

"Control freak Abby working for someone else? That I would hate to see."

The girls burst into laughter in the empty bathroom, the noise bouncing off the walls. Raven placed to her two hands on Clarke's shoulders once more and gave her a mock serious look. "Alright Griffin, one more business talk and you are free. You get to paint in your cool house with your hot boyfriend."

Clarke pursed her lips. "Well when you put it like that..."

The two girls left the bathroom arm in arm. Romulus' lobby was dotted with people who were really just running from lunch and back to work. The company was busy, especially with Miller, Monty and Jasper setting up in the conference room and showing everybody up.

Bellamy and Murphy were waiting by the elevators in their smart suits. Bellamy, whose ribs had healed nicely, smiled at Clarke went they walked up.

"Ready?" he asked, "We have to face the hounds."

Clarke laughed but kept at a safe distance from him. They had decided to keep their relationship secret—Ark was dealing with enough revelations coming out at once.

Murphy and Raven were standing pretty close but Clarke and Bellamy decided to not mention that either. The conference room on the first floor was filled with reporters and photographers waiting for them so the group of four headed in that direction.

Clarke felt her brain fall into the comfortable role she had played for so long. She sat down calmly and read her statement clearly. Griffin and Blake were over and no members of either family are considering starting the business again. Miss Griffin and Mr Blake as well as the young Miss Blake were moving on with their lives and careers that were not concerned with Ark. Reporters tried to ask questions and flashes went on in her face, but Clarke just exited the room.

It was only when they were sitting in the elevator again did she relax against the wall and take Bellamy's hand. They looked at each other and Bellamy smiled softly It felt really over, their time in Ark. After so long, the place had felt like the centre of everything. They knew that it wasn't. There was in fact, much more to world than Ark. And it felt so wonderful.

"What now?" Raven asked with Murphy folding his arms.

Bellamy sighed and winked at Clarke. "Anything we want."

Seven years later

Raven's quick hands deftly fixed the green tie around Murphy's neck. He stood there patiently as she did so, with only mild compliant. "Seriously, I've been doing this for eight years now. I think my ties are straight."

Raven huffed and patted the material. "I'm the one looking at aren't I?" She stepped away and admired her work before grinning.

"Happy?" Murphy asked with some amusement. Raven winked at him and then turned on her heel. He followed her out of their joint office and down the hallway.

Romulus' main Ark headquarters was the largest building in the city and Raven had helped plan every inch of it. At that moment, a group of board members were meeting in the conference room to hear about the new offices that were going to be set up in the next city. They would specialise in mechanics and it was Raven's pet project. Murphy could not have been prouder. He walked in step with her and checked his watch.

"We have to be out of here by seven, remember? We said that we'd stay the night before the party. And we cannot miss that party."

Raven nodded seriously. "It is too important. Have you the presents?"

"Already in the car at the house."

"What about the cupcakes?"

"We'll pick them up from the bakery when we leave. They said they'd stay open."

"Perfect," Raven said, "Everything is sorted for a weekend off. And we need a weekend off."

Murphy nodded and leaned forward to open the meeting room door for her. "After you," he said with a grin.

Raven was just about to walk through the door when someone caught her eye. That dark blonde hair and tiered eyes made her stand out and Raven nearly tripped from her double take. She grabbed Murphy's arm instead and turned him around.

"What are-," he grunted as she spun him around in the middle of their hallway. He nearly knocked over an intern with some printer paper.

Murphy quickly spotted the same woman and he looked back at his partner. "She's supposed to be far, far, far away from here, right?"

Raven bit her lip and stared at Abby Griffin for a long moment. She seemed very different from the confident women the Ark had known. She was just standing there near reception, looking a bit confused.

"I should see her. She probably wants to know where Clarke is."

Murphy rolled his eyes. "Well, she shouldn't get that information. Not unless Clarke says it's ok."

"We can't call her; she and Bellamy are working. We need to see want she really wants..."

Straightening her back, Raven marched towards the older woman.

Abby caught sight of her and looked weary. "Hello," she greeted, "Miss Reyes, isn't it? Or Mrs Murphy from what the news tells me."

"Let's not kid ourselves. I'm practically Mr Reyes by now," Murphy said, from his place by Raven's side. She was glad he had come with her.

"Mrs Griffin, what do you want?" Raven asked with no hesitation. She glanced around and added, "Clarke is not here."

Abby swallowed and nodded. She was wearing a blouse and jeans; she looked so normal. "I see. I was hoping that she had..."

Raven saw the disappointment in her eyes and almost felt sorry for her. The woman had just shown up in her old city that she had been exiled from seven years ago and now everything had changed. Ark was almost unrecognisable with its peaceful streets and nice people.

"Mrs Griffin, we can't tell you where Clarke is. I think you need to leave this city before anyone recognises you."

Abby frowned, looking so uncomfortable. But she nodded despite this and then turned around to leave. Raven and Murphy saw her go and they stayed quiet.

"You know that she'll get the information from someone," Murphy said but a shout from the conference room made then hurry back up the hall.

"Look, we'll call them as soon as we get out of this meeting. Maybe, she won't be able to learn anything until then."

Raven followed him in the room but her stomach was in knots. Abby Griffin was a lot smarter than that.

Abby squinted against the sun as she drove into the small town. It was a nice little place, she guessed. There were all those trees and bushes and no traffic. She didn't see why Clarke would want to live there though.

After finally working off her debt in many different cities, finding her daughter was the main thing on Abby's mind. This town was the only name she had from an old friend from Ark and Murphy and Reyes had been no help. Abby thought Clarke would go to city or overseas; she guessed not.

Abby drove down Washington's Creek's main street until she could spot a parking space near the school. She stopped the car and got out, hoping that people would not recognise her face. It had been years since the scandal at Ark but that did not mean that people didn't talk.

The town seemed busy as the high school had just let out while kids were running around in baseball gear. The street had pretty shops and restaurants while there were fresh flowers along the road. This town was completely different from the city. That was probably why Clarke lived here.

Abby brushed down her jeans and started walking. She had no idea where Clarke was but perhaps someone could give her an address or even where she worked. Abby needed to make it up to her daughter after so long. Or even just see her face. She had long ago realised that Clarke should have been more important than any business, Jake's family pride or not.

Voices from the baseball diamond near the school caught her ear. She walked towards it carefully. Years of being treated like criminal by other business had made her weary of people. There were high school kids running laps and much younger children playing in their uniforms. The bleachers had people dotted around them but one made Abby's jaw drop.

What was Kane doing here?! The last she had heard of him he was giving a press conference about Blake seven years ago.

She stood there in shock for a moment before marching towards him. He has to know where her daughter was. Kane spotted her and he almost did a double take.

"Abby Griffin?" he said in shock and Abby almost laughed at his face.

"Yes," she said breathlessly, "Can we please get rid of the pleasantries and just get to the point. I was told that Clarke is here. You are here. That means that you must known where Clarke is."

Kane paused, his sunglasses on the top of his head. He looked healthy and happy, with a small smile. "I see you haven't changed much. Sit down."

Abby froze in surprise but sat down anyway with hesitation. The baseball teams kept shouting to each other and laughing. Abby liked the red and white uniforms but her mind was busy.

"Look, do you or do you not know about Clarke?"

Kane raised an eyebrow and replied, "Do you think that running about and storming up to Clarke is a good thing? Slow down with your mission for a second Abby. Think first."

Abby glanced at him, up and down for a moment. There was something different about him. He seemed more relaxed in some way.

"You're not even going to ask what I've been up to?" he asked pleasantly.

Abby scoffed but Kane's face didn't change. "I thought you were for hire by government orders?"

Abby shrugged. "I did my time. They said I can do whatever I want now...starting a company is not on the list."

Kane snorted and smiled widely. "I'm glad to hear it. Romulus is kicking ass in Ark these days. They've even opened new offices. Blake and Griffin got turned into apartments."

Abby frowned but Kane kept talking. "They ripped down the offices and put up new buildings. People threw parties when the demolition ball hit the first wall."

Abby could imagine that. "We really hurt a lot of people, didn't we?" she said softly, "Or I did."

"You were trying to hold onto the past Abby. We were all clutching to that legacy that our parents had grinded into our brains; the good thing that our kids didn't follow our example."

Abby chewed her lip for a moment and asked, "How is Bellamy? And Octavia?"

Kane grinned and sat back against his seat. He crossed his legs on the bench. "They're good. Bellamy went into teaching and Octavia got a grant to continue with her ancient language studies. She's the youngest in her field-and the best I think anyway."

Abby's mind could see the defiant faces of the Blakes-of the boy her daughter told her she loved.

"Clarke said...seven years ago, Clarke told me-."

"That she and Bellamy are in love? Yah, I saw it first hand," Kane interrupted. He sent her a hard look. "They are, Abby; the kind of love that people strive for. Do not even think of trying to break it because you think you know better."

Abby swallowed and her brain struggled to keep up. Her daughter-Jake's daughter- was in love with a Blake. The one man she had to stay away from was the man who probably helped her with Romulus and made her coffee every morning.

"Oh God," she said, "They're married, aren't they?"

Kane chucked and nodded. "Yup, about six years now. Once they were free of Ark, they didn't want to wait around. It was a beautiful wedding."

Abby held back a strangled sob and any tears that were burning her eyes. "Who-did anyone walk her down the aisle?"

Kane paused but then replied, "No. Clarke did it herself. You know her—she is stronger than people she is. Once she saw Bellamy, nothing else mattered."

Abby sighed and sucked in some air.

That was that. Her daughter was happily married to a man she loved. After so long and after so many mistakes, Abby wouldn't be able to say anything against it. She couldn't—not if she wanted Clarke in her life again.

"Alright," she said, "Ok. I mean, I'm sure Bellamy is a... lovely young man."

Kane snorted. "Don't hurt yourself there."

Abby sent him a scowl but he only grinned. "It's for the best. We need to leave behind any prejudice we have of each other. There's one main reason why that is more important than any business or success."

"And what is that?"

"Number 5 out there is our grandson."

Abby froze but then her head snapped around to search the baseball field. The small children who had been running around the diamond were heading towards the exit. A small boy with a bright number 5 on his back was picking up the spare baseballs.

His blonde hair was tucked under a hat and his white uniform was streaked with dirt and mud. His tongue was stuck out in concentration as he tried to carry too many baseballs. Three of them dropped from his arms and he cast a careful look around before kicking them towards the couch's bag. Abby pressed a hand to her mouth as she watched him.

"Oh my God..."

"That's him; with his mom's looks but his dad's eyes. And Bellamy's knack for getting into trouble."

The boy finished helping and then scurried towards the exit. Kane stood up to meet him and the kid practically bounced into his arms. "Did you watch the whole time, Grandpa?" he asked with excitement, "I played really well and this time, I didn't even knock anybody out!"

Kane laughed and flicked the peak of the cap. "That's wonderful—I'm glad you stopped hitting the ball where other people are standing."

The kid shrugged. "Maybe people just stopped standing where my ball is landing. I yelled "FOUR" and everything."

"That's in golf kiddo."

"Whatever."

The boy's dark eyes turned to Abby and she inhaled sharply. Those were trademark Blake eyes, along with the freckles that dotted his cheeks. "Abby, this is Jake. Jake Blake."

Abby nearly passed out.

Jake just looked happy. "Yah, my name rhymes! Cool huh?"

Abby nodded and stood up with more nerves than she had in years.

"Jake, this is Abby. She's a friend of mine."

Abby blinked and bit the inside of her mouth. Clarke had not told Jake about his grandmother. She supposed that was understandable.

"Abby is here to visit me and your parents. Do you think we should go tell Dad?"

Jake jumped up and down, his hat nearly falling off. "Yes, yes." He turned to Abby and said proudly, "My Dad is a history teacher. He knows everything that happened ever."

Kane laughed and let Jake lead them to the school. Abby stared at her grandson the entire time, still in shock. The three of them walked across grass and through the front doors of the high school. After school clubs were busy in a few rooms and bright posters were on every wall.

"Jake knows this school like his own home," Kane said and Abby smiled at the small boy.

"He's so much like Clarke," she muttered, "Except for those eyes of course."

All of sudden, Bellamy Blake walked through a classroom door. He had a leather bag slung across his shoulder and he was looking at his phone. "Dad!" Jake called and sprinted to meet him.

Bellamy's gaze shot up and a smile appeared on his face. "Hey kiddo," he said and scooped up Jake into his arms. "How was baseball?" he asked and Jake shrugged.

"It was great. I made a new friend."

Bellamy glanced up to meet Abby's gaze. She watched as his arm tightened around his son slightly. She saw that familiar protective stance that had once belonged to her and her husband. In fact, she used to get that look whenever she saw him and his family.

"Bellamy, it's alright," Kane said, "She just needed to see Clarke. It has been seven years."

Bellamy's jaw tightened and Jake looked confused. "Are you ok Dad?" he whispered and Bellamy managed a smile.

"I'm fine. Mom is staying a bit later today to finish her work so we'll just head home ok? Should we go say hi?"

Jake nodded and as soon as Bellamy set him down, he ran off down the hall. Bellamy paused and stared at Abby. "Whatever Clarke says, goes. If she wants you gone, you go. If she wants to talk to you, you can come to the house."

Abby nodded and watched as Bellamy hurried after Jake. Abby let out a heavy breath and looked to Kane. He seemed to be a bit uncomfortable at having to defend her to Bellamy but she was grateful.

"Thank you," she muttered and he just grunted.

"You deserve a chance after so long."

The posters caught Abby's eye and she looked at them in interest. They all seemed a bit familiar. "Clarke's influence. The children think she's one of the best art teachers they've had."

Abby felt like crying again. Clarke had always loved art. Medicine and business had been things she had been good at. But art was her passion. It always had been.

Footsteps echoed down the hall and Abby turned to see Bellamy and Jake coming towards them. Bellamy looked calmer and he nodded to her.

"Clarke says we can have dinner. I guess, you better come with us."

Abby felt a relief flow through her; at least she had a chance.

Their house was stunning. It was simple yet spacious. The decor was beautiful inside and out. What really left an impression on Abby was the homely feeling when she stepped inside. The house was lived in and warm, with toys and books dotted around the bookshelves and tables.

Bellamy had ushered Jake into the bathroom to clean up while Kane unpacked the car in order not the make conversation. Abby folded her arms and stood awkwardly in the living room.

The photos stood out along the walls and Abby found herself looking at each one. There was Clarke, smiling happily. There was one of her and Bellamy at the beach, another of them at their engagement party. God, she looked at him like he made up every constellation in the sky. How had she not seen it?

She gasped slightly when she saw their wedding photo, and this time it was Bellamy who looking at his wife in awe. There were pictures of their friends, of Kane and Octavia. On the living room walls were photos of Jake as a baby and as a toddler. He was sandwiched in between his parents in one photo that had been taken on the couch.

Abby reached out and touched the frame. Her daughter had another life that she knew nothing about—that she had had no hand in making.

Jake's footsteps-loud and bouncing—made her turn around. He hurried into the room, clean but holding his baseball mitt and ball.

"Dad is going to teach me how to throw without hitting another person or a window...I hit a lot of windows."

Abby smiled at him and laughed. "Well that's alright. It's part of learning."

Jake beamed at her and she loved him in an instant.

Bellamy came up behind him and tapped his son on the shoulder. "Alright buddy, let's head outside to the yard."

Jake hummed and looked at Abby. "Will you watch? I'm getting much better."

Abby glanced at Bellamy who just shrugged. "I can see out the window as I talk to your Grandpa?"

Jake grinned and hopped out the door to the yard. Bellamy stood there for a moment and Abby stared. "I'm not trying to hurt her," she said suddenly and felt awful about it. Why was she defending herself to a Blake? Well, he was her son in law...

Abby looked away and Bellamy went to leave. "It's not me that you have to convince," he said and then went outside.

"No, Jake!" he shouted, "We said that next door's garden gnomes are not targets! I don't care what Uncle Jasper said."

Abby laughed just as Kane entered the house. He gave her an encouraging smile. "You've made it this far. How about you help with lunch?"

Abby nodded and went through the motions of cutting sandwiches and pouring lemonade. She watched as Jake threw the ball to Bellamy and back and as Kane moved effortlessly around the home.

"You must visit a lot," she said as Kane closed the door to the fridge. He smiled and placed the cold fruit on the counter. "Well, I work in Romulus during the week but weekends are spent here. I have a little place near the lake."

Abby took the fruit and prepared them, waving to Jake out the window when he called her name. It made her wonder if what she missed out on in the past seven years. She could have been making lunch for her grandson, not making business deals for other companies.

The front door opened and Abby looked up with some fear. Clarke came through the door, carrying her bags and a baby seat. A small baby girl wriggled around in the seat, playing with a small toy. Kane jumped away from counter.

"Here, Clarke. Let me." She smiled at him and he took the bags. She set the baby seat down on the coffee table and then turned to her mother with a calm expression. Clarke seemed older, more mature.

"Marcus could you tell Bellamy and Jake to come inside now, please?" she asked.

Kane took his escape quite quickly. Abby stood there at the counter, looking at the baby seat and her daughter. Clarke seemed the same somehow yet so different from the girl who had left Ark.

"Hi Mom," Clarke said softly and Abby wanted to just hug her tightly.

Jake however, had other ideas. "Fia is home! Fia is home!" he exclaimed as he ran into the house and at the baby seat.

Clarke caught him before he barrelled into it but Jake just kept smiling at the little baby. "Hey Fia, guess what? I saw a frog today and it was huge. I wanted to catch and show you but Grandpa said I couldn't."

Clarke laughed and said to her son, "Honey, her name is Sophia. Ph can make an f sound sometimes but that doesn't make it an f."

Jake raised an eyebrow at her. "Mom, I trying to tell a story; this is no time for grammar classes."

The baby only laughed at her brother, which he took as a great victory. Bellamy had joined them in the kitchen and he made eye contact with Clarke. She titled her head at him and he got her message.

"Alright, you two. Time to wash hands before lunch," he said, going over to pick up Sophia from her seat. She giggled when she saw him and Jake bounced around Bellamy as he led them to the bathroom.

Kane refused to come back into the kitchen—the yard was suddenly fascinating.

Abby walked out to stand in front of the counter. Clarke glanced at her and then gestured towards the couch. "You can sit down. I won't actually bite."

Abby laughed slightly before moving. "You did when you were Jake's age."

Clarke smiled and sat down beside her mother. "Well, he hasn't done that yet. Although, he did throw his toy truck at another child at the park once. In fairness the other kid started it."

They sat there quietly for a moment, then tension of their last meeting weighing on them. Finally Abby said, "Clarke I need to apologise for what happened all those-."

"It's fine Mom."

"Clarke I slapped you. I hit you and shouldn't have."

Clarke nodded. Her trousers were covered paint and there was a smudge of charcoal on her face. Yet, she was finally teaching something that she loved.

"I have to say sorry too," Clarke replied. "I betrayed you and everything you had worked for. I just...I was sick of being treated like this trophy and nothing else. I was good at my job and I wanted to show you that. And we were hurting the city. After so long Ark needed something other than Blake or Griffin."

"I never meant to treat you like that. I was so caught up with the business that I didn't see anything else."

Clarke sighed and ran a hand through her hair. They could hear Bellamy in the bathroom with Jake and Sophia while Kane was still outside. Abby fidgeted for a moment and frowned at Clarke. "I-you seem very calm about all this...I was under the impression that..."

Clarke shrugged and looked back at the bathroom. "After Griffin and Blake fell, Kane admitted that he was Bellamy's real father. Bellamy was so calm about it all; he accepted it without bitterness or regret. Neither of them wanted to fight over something when they could let it go."

Her face softened and she added, "I spent the last seven years wondering if you were doing ok. And I think we should stop wondering."

Abby felt her chest fill with such pride for her daughter that she thought she would cry again.

Clarke bit her lip and then said, "I'm not saying that we can just forget everything. I can't, not yet. But, Jake is having birthday party this weekend and I think I would like you to come."

Abby nodded quickly. Jake hurried through the hallway and jumped onto the back of the couch. He looked between them and then said, "Hey Mom, can Grandpa's friend stay for dinner tonight?"

Clarke frowned but nodded. "Uh,yah. And her name is Abby. She's my friend too."

Jake grinned at them and jumped off the couch, not seeing the emotional looks on their faces.

Clarke had painted her studio a bright yellow. The double doors were still there but one pane was coloured in thanks to Jake and some paint. Her canvases and materials were stacked up while the walls were lined with shelves. It was her own space, like Bellamy's office and she loved it. Even as Raven, Murphy and the boys were all packed into their home, the studio was peaceful.

Clarke stood by one of her paintings, a landscape of their back garden. She bit her lip slightly with arms folded. Abby had left the house earlier that afternoon to the hotel. They had parted with a smile and Abby swore to be at Jake's party the next morning.

The door opened and Clarke looked to see Bellamy walking towards her. She smiled and accepted the kiss he pressed to her mouth. "What are you worried about?" he asked softly, as he wrapped both arms around her waist.

She leaned back against his chest and sighed. "Not worried. Just feeling very reflective. After seven years, my past walked into my house and apologised. Made me see how much everything has changed." Bellamy grinned against her skin as he kissed her neck. "I'll say. But for good right?" "Of course," she replied with a squeeze to his hands.

"I think my mom was little thrown by meeting her grandchildren without warning."

Bellamy chuckled. "Yah, that might have been a little much for her on the same day she was trying to reunited with you."

There was a surge in voices from downstairs now that the door was open. Raven and Miller appeared to cheating on a game of cards and the others were not too pleased. As long as they didn't give too much sugar to Jake or wake up Sophia, Clarke did not care that much.

Instead Clarke turned around in her husband's arms and sighed. Even after seven years, two kids, a new job and countless early morning wake ups, Clarke still couldn't believe they were married.

"Thank you," she said after a small moment.

"For what?" he asked with serious confusion.

Clarke glanced around at the studio. "Everything. Thank you for convincing me to take over the business during one weekend, for being by my side through that hard year. Not mention loving me and giving me this future."

Bellamy smiled and brushed away some dried paint from her chin. "You played a big part in that Clarke. We did this together. Anything we want..."

There was suddenly a crash and shattering of sometime breakable. Silence followed after until Jake shouted out, "Uncle Jasper did it."

There was a shocked gasp and then an "Oh my God, you traitor."

Bellamy winced and looked back at her. "Freedom to choose our own future appears to be a bit louder than we first thought."

Clarke wrapped an arm around his waist as they walked to the door. "Yah, but he is very cute though."

"True, he gets it from my side."

"You wish."

They exited the studio and walked down the stairs, even as their son tried to hide his chocolate moustache and broken pieces of a plate.