Hey guys,

here's the next chapter.
I thought it would be the last but there's coming one more chapter and maybe an epilogue if you want me to write one.

As always thank you for following, favoring and reviewing this story!

The chapter is not edited so I apologize in advance for any mistakes.

Disclaimer: Unfornutaley I own nothing!

Clarke

After an hour without any disturbing noises from giant gorillas that were destroying the forest, the four of them had finally agreed on leaving the cave.
They were all too exhausted from running out of this goddamn scary woods, especially Clarke, but they were rushing nonetheless. They all wanted to get out of there.

After the run that Clarke took from the beast, she could barely stay on her feet but Bellamy, who was still holding her hand, dragged her along. He refused to let her pause.
Every time Clarke slowed down a little, Bellamy pulled her forward again. And Clarke was grateful for that.
She wanted out of those woods and never return. Being chased for miles by a gigantic gorilla in an unknown forest wasn't something she wished anyone.

Bellamy holding her hand was the only thing that held her up right. It gave her the energy to keep going though exhaustion threatened to win the upper hand.
Her pale, small hand in Bellamy's tanned, big one was such a great feeling and gave her strength she needed. This feeling was something she had never felt before. Holding hands with Bellamy for hours was incredible. Wasn't it for Clarke's exhaustion, she would not have managed to hide her grin.

"C'mon, Princess. We've almost reached the mountain." Bellamy pulled on her arm again, remembering her that she can take a pause as soon as they reached Mt. Weather.

Clarke would have never imagined that being back at Mount Weather would fill her with relief.

Lincoln and Octavia were the first to step on the clearing. Both stopping and placing their hands on their thighs, breathing heavily.

They hadn't been running but they had been walking very fast.

Bellamy and Clarke stopped as they reached O and her boyfriend.

Clarke was gasping for air and as soon as they stopped she let herself fall on the ground.

She wanted to let go of Bellamy's hand so he did not have to stand in an uncomfortable position but he refused to let her go as if he was afraid that when he'd let go, she would run away again.

Maybe he really feared that, she thought.

Bellamy knelt down beside her. With his free hand he pushed the strands of hair out of her face to be able to look her in the eye.

"You okay, Princess?" he whispered.

Clarke nodded.

"We should take a break." Bellamy said to Lincoln and his sister, not taking his eyes off of Clarke.

He was cupping her cheek and Clarke relaxed into his touch, her breathing finally calm.

"Bell?" her voice was barley a whisper.

"Yes?" he looked worried.

"I won't run away, I promise! You can let go now." Clarke was serious.

"But I really like holding your hand, Princess." he said with a smirk.

"But I would really like to feel my hand, again." she said with a light smile.

"Oh" he let go. "I am sorry, Princess. Why didn't you say something before?"

"Because I did not want you to let got." Her smile was shy and she wanted to look at the ground out of embarrassment but forced herself to look him in the eye instead. She really liked that he kept using that old nickname for her.

A huge grin plastered Bellamy's face.

"Bell, you look creepy, stop that." Octavia snickered.

Clarke chuckled as she watched Bellamy stick out his tongue at his sister.

Bellamy

Hearing Clarke chuckle while he stuck out his tongue at his rude sister, made his heart skip a beat.

He hadn't heard this sound in a long time and he'd missed it. He'd missed her. Missed how her smile grew wider and her look getting lighter as she continued to watch him and O bicker.

Bellamy needed to stop looking at her like a creep, O was right but he finally had her back. How was he supposed to not stare at her after he thought he'd lost her again.

Next to him, he felt Clarke lay down on the grass. She looked at the sky.

Bellamy lay down next to her, head turned to face her and ignoring O's snickering.

His sister was an annoying brat but Bellamy knew that she was actually happy for him – happy for them.

After a while Clarke's lids flew shut and he heard her whisper,

"Bell? I am tired."

He squeezed her hand. "It's okay, Princess. You can sleep now."

She sighed and soon her features softened.

O, Lincoln and he sat in comfortable silent watching Clarke sleep as suddenly a small figure in a rubber suit appeared at the entrance of Mt. Weather.

They all scoot up immediately, ready to fight.

The person slowly raised her hands as if to show that she wasn't armed and Bellamy finally saw who it was.

"Maya?"

"Is she okay?" Maya asked, pointing at Clarke.

"She's just exhausted." Octavia answered.

Maya nodded.

"I thought that you would rather go home than stay here until she feels better because she really looks knocked out." Maya sounded worried. "Maybe this would help."

Behind her, two other figures in rubber suits appeared, carrying a stretcher. They placed it in front of Maya and than disappeared again.

Bellamy gave her a thankful smile. "Thank you so much."

Maya nodded again. "Get her home safely. I know she's your leader and she does a really great job at that but at the end of the day she's just a girl with too much of a burden to wear."

With that she turned around and walked away.

Lincoln and O got the stretcher and placed them next to Clarke. Bellamy scooped her up in his arms and carefully placed her on the litter. Thankfully she did not wake and Bellamy and Lincoln both lifted one end of the stretcher, making their way back to Camp Jaha.

As they made their way back to the camp Bellamy couldn't stop thinking about what Maya had said and she was right.

Clarke was just a girl with too much responsibility and it didn't help that she refused to let others help her bearing the burden.

Bellamy could also understand why Clarke wouldn't want to let others help her, she wanted to protect them all from getting hurt but he wasn't everyone else. He was Bellamy Blake. He was her co-leader. He was her friend, her partner. He wanted to be everything that she needed. He wanted to help her get through this. Bellamy didn't want to watch her suffer, not anymore. He'd always be there for her and it was about time that Clarke realized that – that she accepted it.

Bellamy sighed.

Clarke wouldn't be Clarke if she'd made it easy for him.

He remembered Lexa and Clarke talking over the walkie-talkie.
He remembered Clarke saying "Very well played, Lexa.".
He remembered how he had the feeling that it was all Lexa's fault that Clarke made her decision to go to Mount Weather.
He remembered how he'd asked Clarke what she meant and how she'd said that they would talk when she was back.
He remembered how she'd called him Bell, knowing that it would calm him so she could talk about something other and he'd forget.
And he did. He'd forgotten until now.

Instead of fighting with her he'd admitted that he'd feelings for her and that those feelings were the reason he was constantly worrying about her and the reason he'd followed her into those goddamn woods.

"What are you thinking so hard about that you look like you want to rip something or someone into pieces?" Clarke's sleepy voice startled him and he stumbled over a stone. Lincoln and Octavia both turned their heads.

"Clarke, you're up." Octavia sounded relieved. "How do you feel."

"Not good. Can we-" she gulped. "Can we please stop, I feel sick."

Bellamy and Lincoln immediately stopped and put down the stretcher. As soon as the stretcher touched the ground, Clarke sat up. Bellamy kneeled beside her.

"You okay?" He asked, carefully placing a hand on her shoulder.

She nodded.

"Yeah, I just didn't expect to be moving when I woke up. I'm a little dizzy but I'm feeling better now."

She tried to get up and Bellamy helped her.

"You sure you can walk?" he was worried, she looked really pale.

"Bellamy, let her walk on her own." his sister's voice was harsh. "She's not a child, stop hovering."

With that Octavia looped her arm through Clarke's and they started walking but after a second Clarke stopped.

"What is it?" O asked.

Clarke looked expectantly at Bellamy. "You didn't answer my question."

Bellamy frowned.

"You had your 'I-want-to-punch-something/someone-look' on your face and I was wondering why."

"You." he answered honestly.

Now it was Clarke's turn to frown. Both girls looked questioningly at him but he shook his head.

"Later."

All of them continued walking eventually, Bellamy and Lincoln still carrying the stretcher. The frown didn't disappear from Clarke's face and Bellamy sighed but remained silent otherwise.

They walked slower now than they had before but it was okay. They were all exhausted and needed it, so naturally no one complained.

As their surroundings became increasingly familiar, Clarke become more and more restless. Octavia noticed, too.

"Hey Clarke, is everything alright?"

Clarke looked startled when O spoke to her but she nodded.

"Yeah, sure." O didn't seem to believe her and stopped, grabbing her arm and forcing Clarke to look at her.

Bellamy wanted to join them but Lincoln stopped him.

"Clarke can do that without you. She may be having a hard time but we all have. Sometimes you have to step back so you won't crush her, okay? Octavia can handle that."

Bellamy sighed, he knew Lincoln was right. Both men watched the women they loved talking.

"Clarke don't lie to me. You're restless. The closer we get to camp the more restless you get. Please tell me what's going on."

Clarke inhaled sharply and her shoulders sunk. She didn't cry but she looked sad, exhausted. Octavia cupped her face and forced her to look her in the eye.

"You're my best friend, talk to me." the worry in her voice couldn't be missed.

Clarke took another trembling breath before she spoke, never leaving his sister's eyes.

"I'm not sure if I can do that, O. I don't know if I can walk in there knowing that everyone's aware of what I did. I know we all killed at some point but what I've done is different, it was pure revenge and it had nothing to do with justice or survival – it was all revenge. And the worst is, I'd do it again. I don't know how any of you can still look at me. I don't deserve your love but I wouldn't trade it if I could. I just don't know how you are still able to love me? Why do you still wanna be my friend?"

Octavia hugged her but pulled away quickly to met her gaze.

"Clarke you're the strongest person I know and you're also the kindest person I know. You always see the good in people. You saved so many lives, you have closed so many wounds. Not just the ones that everyone can see but also the one's that aren't visible for all." she placed her hand over her heart, Clarke's gaze wandered her hand. "You did so much for all of us and if you don't believe me then look at my brother and tell me that he's still the man you first met! Tell me he didn't change! Tell me you can't see what you've done to him! Look at him and tell me that you can't see that he's now the version of himself that he tried to hide from everyone but me! Look at me, look at Jasper, look at Monty, look at Raven, look at all the lives you've saved in so many different ways. Do you really think any of us will sentence you for taking revenge on those bastards? Next time come and ask who wants to join you, most of us would have said yes. You're worth all the love we give you and if you ask me, this love isn't even enough.
And Clarke you don't always have to be the strong leader. It's okay to not always be the leader. You can also be Clarke, the girl that has suffered a lot and that sometimes need a friend's shoulder to lean on, okay? You don't have to hide from anyone but Bellamy. I know my brother sometimes isn't the one you want to talk to, you have other friends too. Friends who care about you and who understand. We are a family, Clarke, don't forget that."

Bellamy was in awe of his sister, he was so proud of her. She'd matured so much since coming to earth and Bellamy was sure that Lincoln was one of reasons for that.

"You're good for her." Bellamy watched the girls hugging while he quietly spoke to Lincoln.

He could feel Lincoln's gaze on him and Bellamy gave him a brief smile before his eyes locked with Clarke's. She was still holding Octavia and her eyes glistened from the tears she tried to suppress.

Bellamy walked over to them and they unravelled their selves from their hug. He threw and arm around Octavia's shoulder and pulled her close, whispering,

"I'm so proud of you, little sister." he dropped a kiss on her head before he released her.

She smiled at him and walked over to a grinning Lincoln. Bellamy turned his attention to Clarke.

"She's right, you know." Bellamy said.

"I know." she paused a moment. "Bellamy? Thanks for coming after me. I'm sorry for running away like this. I was-"

"'S okay, Princess."

She smiled at him and took his hand.

"Let's go."

Bellamy knew he'd do anything for his Princess.

He was glad she was finally ready to go back to Camp Jaha with them.
He knew it wouldn't be easy for her to face the others, especially her mother. But she didn't have to do it alone. She had him and Octavia and Lincoln. They loved her and they'd stand by her side, whatever might happen.
Bellamy was sure he loved her but he knew now was not the time for big confessions so he swallowed it and squeezed her hand as they made their way back to their family.

Thank you so much for reading. Please tell me what you think.

I LOVE YOU!

-K xx