a/n sorry for the delay you know life is a lil bit too busy
The only window in the room sat high up in the corner and streamed young light over the foot of the bed. Clarke was a creature of the morning. Her body sought out the first light of the day and it instantly recharged her. As the light crept up the blankets, it touched the single toe that had found itself peeking out. That was enough, though. The warmth traveled up her body and through her arms until they stretched up above her head. Unlike most mornings, that movement was difficult because of another body tangled with her own. She rapidly blinked the sleep out of her eyes and smiled at the beautiful woman next to her who was sprawled out on their back. Even in sleep, Lexa looked tense. Clarke was convinced that her body was used to being on alert that it didn't know how to relax. She really wished that there was something she could do, a way she could touch her that would take away that rigidness. But at the same time, she knew that was what made her, her.
She was taken out of her thoughts by the dull ache in her neck. She sat up slightly on her elbow, and rubbed circles over the muscles. If she had known what the night before was going to entail, she would have ate banana or stretched at least. She spent several minutes sitting in silence before it started to get to her.
"Lexa," she whispered, hovering near brown curls. "Lexa," she repeated a little louder.
The sleeping bear was not happy. There was a slight groan followed by, "Shhhh…go back to sleep." Lexa rolled onto her stomach, clutching the pillow with both arms. Clarke was wide awake, though. She sat herself up farther on her elbow and scanned her lover in the light. It was much different when there was light and time to appreciate. She ran her hand over Lexa's exposed back, her fingers tracing over each muscle. It was like looking at art work. Each detail was unique and told a story. Just like when she went to exhibits, her teeth grabbed at her bottom lip as she began studying the mosaic flesh. It was littered with white scars, random freckles, and a life time of challenges.
Even though she knew Lexa wanted to sleep, she couldn't help herself from asking, "What are these from?" Her thumb rubbed over a particularly long mark running along the top of the brunette's hip.
"You're going to have to be more specific,' Lexa mumbled, eyes still closed.
"These scars."
Lexa looked over her shoulder where Clarke had her hand. "That would be a soccer cleat from a very unpleasant Columbia soccer player." Brown hair snuggled back into the pillow while Clarke leaned over and kissed the mark. She dragged her fingers along it and moved on to a series of hexagons that sat along her spine.
"And this?" Lexa knew where she was just from her soft hands.
"Damir and I were fighting at the cabin upstate and I fell on a radiator." Clarke repeated her motion again, kissing the scar and finding another one. She learned about the softball bat that had a knick in the top and left gashes along Lexa's bicep every time she swung. She learned about Nat the cat Lexa had growing up that would claw into her shoulder when there was a storm outside. One day, she escaped out the window because no one would ever close it. Clarke learned that her left ear had a small scar across it from an earring coming out, which is why she didn't have her ears pierced anymore. There were a dozen small marks from more cleats and finger nails during soccer, a few unfortunate run-ins with some doors, and even a piñata accident.
She kissed every mark and absorbed the story that went with it. There was one mark left that made her smile devilishly. "…and what about this one?" She leaned down and kissed right at the base of Lexa's neck, causing the woman to wince slightly. The mark was still very fresh.
"I'm pretty sure that one was from you." Lexa gave up the notion of going back to sleep so she flipped herself onto her back, Clarke still hovering over her. She smiled at the mess of blonde hair that looked suspiciously like her girlfriend. She used the hand that wasn't asleep to brush some of it behind Clarke's ear and then leaned up to kiss her. It was supposed to be quick but she couldn't help herself. She pushed herself up further to where they were both sitting up. Lexa's hands began roaming more but Clarke stopped them.
"Wait…" She was barely able to breathe out.
"Is something wrong?" Lexa asked worried, looking into blue eyes.
Clarke held the back of her neck and rubbed circles into the muscles there. "I need a Gatorade or something because I am exhausted." Lexa snorted to herself. She leaned back to reach something on the night table. Clarke just stared like a teen boy at her fully nude chest at complete extension. Lexa's abs were at full attention and Clarke couldn't resist reaching out and touching them. Lexa hadn't quite reached what she was looking for but she leaned her head back and raised her eyebrows to Clarke's actions. "I thought you said you were thirsty," she said in her most sultry voice. She flexed her stomach while she pulled herself back to the middle of the bed, Clarke's hands not moving.
"Here." Lexa opened a blue bottle of Gatorade. Clarke reluctantly removed her hands and took the drink graciously.
"When do you get this?" Lexa didn't usually have a sports drink stock pile in her room.
Lexa scooted back down, leaning against the head board. "After you passed out," she said nonchalantly.
Clarke coughed into her drink, eyes going red as she tried to catch her breath. She screwed the cap onto the bottle aggressively. "You mean fell asleep."
"No, I think I mean passed out." She grabbed the bottle out of Clarke's hand and took a drink. She released a satisfying sigh and wiped the dribble that had escaped her mouth with the back of her arm. "Some people would have said feinted…"
"I did not feint," Clarke held up her finger.
"Really?" Lexa furrowed her eyebrows. "Because I remember one second I was doing that one thing with my hand and then you were…well you were very happy…and then you were no longer among the awake." Before Lexa knew what was happening, Clarke was straddling her and pinning her arms down.
"Take it back!" She tried to hold her down but it was proving difficult.
Lexa leaned up into Clarke's face. "Never!" Clarke squeezed harder on her wrists.
"Take…it…back." For a second, Lexa wasn't sure if Clarke was being serious or not. She stared at her trying to get a read on the situation. Then, she saw a slight glint as Clarke's pupils dilated. She knew this was just a game.
"Make me." Clarke didn't need any other prompting and leaned in further to Lexa's neck. She kissed it gently until she got to the spot from the night before. She breathed out on it slowly, hot breath causing Lexa to squirm in pleasure and pain. It was apparently the reaction Clarke wanted because she sat up again, hands still holding Lexa down.
"Any last words?" She husked.
"Yeah…" Lexa used the moment of cockiness to her advantage and wrapped her legs around Clarke's waist, using the momentum to flip them over. In one more movement she had both of Clarke's arms above her head, holding them with just one hand. She leaned in to Clarke's ear and whispered, "…stop pretending you're a top." Lexa continued to kiss down her neck while Clarke haphazardly threw the bottle out of the bed. Later she would regret not knowing where it was.
They barely were able to put themselves together in time to pick Anya up at Becky's. It was half past ten when they finally pulled up. It was a cute neighborhood across the river in New Jersey that had a row of copy and pasted white town houses with small patches of green and honest to goodness white picket fences. Clarke was on the lookout for the house number because not only did they look the same but all of them had similar mini vans parked in the drive way.
"I kind of like it out here, it's much more peaceful." Lexa gave her an incredulous look.
"Well, the mayor of New York can't exactly live in New Jersey," she laughed.
Clarke knocked her in the shoulder for being a smartass. "I just meant neighborhoods like this. Where there is grass and air and you can let your dog run free. Sandy has been with Gustus for two weeks because he couldn't stand being cooped up." She pointed ahead at the drive way with a silver Nissan in it. "I'm just saying living in the city is great when you're single or even just with your partner…but it's hard with…other things." She wanted to say kids and a family but they hadn't quite addressed the fact that that is what they were. They were about to pick up a little girl who called them both mom but they hadn't even made their relationship public. Clarke knew they were serious and that this was all very real but she wanted some validation from Lexa. She wanted to know that no matter what they were in this together for the long run.
Lexa could sense that Clarke was going through scenarios in her head that hadn't happened yet. It was part of who Clarke was. She got an idea in her mind and you couldn't convince her otherwise. She put the car in park and turned towards Clarke. "Soon, or one day, or something we can live in a place where we can have a hoard of dogs…or children running around."
"Promise?" Clarke tried to make her voice sound like it was a joke but in her heart she needed Lexa to mean it with all her heart.
Lexa put out her pinky finger. "Promise." Clarke wrapped their fingers together and tugged her in for a kiss. As they parted and unbuckled their seat belts, Lexa gave her a quick reminder, "You realize that if we add more to this we are never going to be alone against let alone ever have sex again?"
Clarke shrugged her shoulders. "I'm going to need a month to recover from last night anyways so I say good riddance." She got out of the car and walked around to Lexa's side opening the door. Lexa's face was a mix of pouting and sadness. "Oh please, knock that face off, we always have the office."
"I like your thinking Ms. Griffin." She grabbed at her sides and tickled her slightly as they wobbled together towards the door. Before they had a chance to knock, the door swung open to a very excited short blonde and three women giving them knowing looks. Anya wrapped them both in a hug that nearly sent them all spiraling to the floor.
"Squish, I'm going to need some oxygen back." Clarke peeled the girl off of her and stepped inside. "I guess this means you had fun?" Anya's face was a glow and she went off a mile a minute about what they did. Clarke nodded enthusiastically even though tie dying t-shirts wasn't really ground breaking. "Okay..okay," Clarke stopped her as she started to go off about the movie they watched. "Get your stuff and you can tell us all about on the way back home."
"Gotcha!" She ran off like a streak of lightening and left the five women standing together again.
"Thank you so much for having her, she obviously had a great time." Becky smiled at her but it wasn't like a you're welcome any time it was more of I know what you did last summer. After a few awkward moments, Lexa excused herself to help Anya, leaving Clarke to fend for herself.
As soon as she turned the corner, Karen walked into Clarke's space. "Okay spill!"
"Excuse me?" Becky got closer to, hands grabbing at Clarke's.
"Come on honey. Bleary eyes, tangled hair, yesterday's shirt and not to mention that shiner on your neck." Clarke adjusted her shirt up trying to cover what they saw. Unfortunately, her shirt couldn't cover her face that was getting exponentially redder by the second.
"Sweetie, no!" Karen grabbed the other free hand and pulled her into the living room. "Don't be embarrassed. Why do you think we do these sleepovers? Jesus, half of us wouldn't get laid without this crap. Between PTO, soccer, kids, and work there just isn't time." She leaned in closer and whispered, "I swear I haven't had an honest to god orgasm in a year." The other women concurred.
"We are happy for you and don't think we didn't see your little PDA in the car. You guys are so cute and innocent. I just want to wrap you up and put ya on my mantle."
"Karen." Becky looked at her incredulously. "We don't say things like that out loud."
"Right." Karen confirmed. "Anyways, was it amazing? I need to know. Please let us poor devoid housewives live vicariously through you."
Clarke was becoming a little uncomfortable but she knew it was all in good fun. They were gluts for gossip and them being interested in her life was like getting an invitation to the cool kid's table. "You want the truth?" They nodded excitedly. "Best sex of my life. I literally feinted." Their eyes became saucers and someone let out a literal gasp. Lexa chose this moment to come back in with all of Anya's stuff packed and ready to go. The women turned back to her, eyes almost predatory. She wasn't sure what was happening.
"Ready to go?" She asked slowly, trying to look away from the intense stares.
"Yes!" Clarke pushed past them to the door, saying her thank yous quickly. "Do you need any help?" Lexa was carrying the sleeping bag, back pack, and soccer bag.
"No I think my hands can manage it."
"I bet they can." Karen mumbled to the girls, causing them all to laugh. Clarke grabbed Lexa's arm and led her out the door adding a don't ask as they got in the car. Anya talked the entire way home about the spectacular evening. Apparently, watching scary movies until five in the morning is super fun. When they got home, the all nighter caught up with all of them and they crashed on the couch while watching the morning news.
Lexa was the first to wake up at five and put some more blankets over the sleeping blondes who were huddled together. She grabbed her keys and left a note that she was going to get pizza for dinner. The drive to her favorite spot was quiet and peaceful, something she hadn't had a lot of in a while. The twenty minute journey felt like hours as her mind raced through her life. In such a short period of time, she had changed more than in her entire life. As the light flickered from red to green, she decided that change wasn't the best word for it. She wasn't a different person. She didn't wake up one day in a new body. All the parts of her deep down that had the capacity for this life and these emotions had never been brought out before. There was a key to unlock it and she thought it was lost a long time ago.
Even when it was just her and Clarke, they never had found the ability to move past the uncertainty and come together. She had resigned herself to the idea that Clarke wasn't the right fit. She was wrong. Clarke was only half of what her soul needed. The other half came in the shape of a firey kid with a heart of gold. Separated, Clarke and Anya were just pieces of matter floating through space but together they became Lexa's entire universe. They unlocked the life she never knew she wanted but now could never give up. That morning, she hadn't woken up in a different body, but she was different. Complete. Whole.
Her arms became riddled with goosebumps as she contemplated what would have happened if she had never gone to the pier that day. It was unthinkable. One second changes your life. That concept had always been negative for her. In one second, her parents died. In one second, Costia's car was hit. In one second, cancer took her mother. In one second, Damir never came home. All of these seconds had made the future unbearable but without them she may have never come to the one second where she jumped unknowingly into merky water to save a girl whose time card matched her own.
She put her car in park and walked into the pizzeria, wiping the few tears that threatened to come out. Walking up to the counter, she hit the bell. "One second." A man yelled from the back. She smiled to herself at the sign from a higher power. She shook away all of the contemplation and focused back on the task at hand, bringing her girls some greasy goodness.
"Miss Woods." A familiar voice drifted into her left ear. She turned and recognized the shorter black woman as the head of Cage's team. She searched her brain for her name. It was something sporty. Ashley. Ali. The woman walked closer and Lexa finally reached it.
"Jay," she said pleasantly. "How are you?" She reached out a hand and the woman shook it.
"I'm doing well. Taking some food back to homestead?" The owner had come to the counter. He recognized Lexa and walked to the back to get her order.
"Yep. Nothing says lazy Sunday like pizza in your pajamas for dinner." They both laughed.
"How's campaigning, Cage still running you ragged?" Lexa handed the register boy her card and turned back to the woman.
Jay rocked on her heels, obviously frustrated. "I could get him President Obama here to endorse him and he wouldn't be happy. I'm about ten seconds from voting for you too."
"It can't be that bad."
"No?" She walked closer and leaned against the counter. "He called me at three this morning asking about a numbers update. They don't even get posted until Monday…Then, he called me incompetent and questioned the legitimacy of my degree. I have an MBA and a masters from Columbia."
At this comment, Lexa took a step back. "Wait, you went to Columbia?" She threw her hands in the air dramatically. "I'm sorry but I don't think I can be seen talking to you. My NYU folks would have me stripped of my degree."
"I knew you went there but I wasn't going to say anything because I thought we could be amicable, apparently I was wrong." She cocked her head to the side and winked.
"I thought it was bad that you worked for Cage but this is wholly intolerable. Sir…" she signaled to the cashier. "…I don't think I can be in the same establishment as this woman you are going to have to pick her and me." The boy was petrified not sure if she was serious or not.
"Ummm…" he stuttered.
Jay threw her hands up as well and walked in front of Lexa to the counter. She urged the boy to come closer with her finger. "I work for the future mayor of New York, so you best know where your bread is buttered."
Lexa pushed her away slightly. "…and I am the future mayor of New York." They both waited for his response but when he looked like he was about to cry, they laughed together. "We are just joking kid," Lexa quickly added. "Here." She gave him her card again. "I will even pay for hers to show my sincerity." He looked at her concerned but took the card anyways. Lexa put it back in her wallet as he went to get Jay's pizza as well.
"You didn't have to do that."
"Consider it a peace offering." She put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "Or better yet consider it a condolence for having to work for such a tool of a boss." They shared one last laugh before they both grabbed their pies to leave. Lexa unlocked her car and saw that the woman was headed back up town in heels. "Do you want a ride?" She offered.
"It's not a conflict of interest?" She asked flirtily. She didn't wait for a response before opening the handle to the passenger side.
"I won't tell if you won't." Lexa added as she pulled out into the street. They moved slowly through the ten blocks back to the campaign headquarters. She pulled off into an alley and put the car in park.
"Here ya go." She turned to wave the woman off but was surprised when she leaned in. Before lips could meet their destination, Lexa pushed at her shoulders. "Woah, no. I'm sorry if I gave off some indication that this was more than a kind gesture but I am in a relationship."
Jay was completely embarrassed. "Oh my god, I am so sorry. I thought there was a vibe or something." Lexa felt bad and put a hand on her shoulder.
"You are very beautiful and funny even though you make horrible choices in schools but I'm in something that is very serious and I would never want to compromise that." Jay nodded in understanding.
"She's a lucky girl," she commented opening the door.
Lexa couldn't help the smile forming on her mouth. "I'm the lucky one."
She watched as the woman safely made it to the door. She really did feel bad for the girl. It was bad enough to work in politics. It was ten times worse when you don't support the person you are campaigning for.
She drove off back to the loft and debated whether or not to tell Clarke about the incident that just occurred. All signs pointed towards yes but she wanted to do it after she fed the beast. It didn't take ten seconds from walking off the elevator until she was attacked by hungry hands. They tore the box from her hand and swooped into the kitchen for napkins, finding plates too much of a hassle.
"I'm guessing you are famished?" Lexa said, hand still in the air holding an invisible pizza.
"Starving, mom." "Yes, babe." They both said in unison.
Lexa walked into the kitchen and grabbed a slice for herself along with drinks that the animals forgot. She climbed over the pain supplies they still had out and sat down and watched whole slices disappear in seconds. "You know breathing is a thing humans do?"
Anya mumbled through a mouthful of cheese, "Bur err so huhgra."
"Want to swallow and try that again?" Anya took a large gulp and grabbed the water to chug some of it too.
"We were so hungry." She added dramatically, "We thought you left us here to starve."
Clarke shook her head to agree. "What took so long?" she asked.
"I'll tell you in a minute." They finished up their food and Anya put on a movie while Clarke and Lexa brought the empty box and glasses into the kitchen.
"What did you want to tell me?" She opened the trash bag and folded the empty box into it.
Lexa turned on the sink and ran water through the glasses. "I ran into Cage's campaign manager."
"Jay?" Clarke added.
"Yes." Lexa turned off the water and leaned against the counter. "She was also getting some food and we were talking and joking around. I ended up giving her a ride back to Cage's office." She stopped talking trying to word it best.
"Okay?"
"I think she got confused over our interaction and she kind of tried to kiss me." Before Clarke could react Lexa started vomiting words. "She didn't even get past the dash and I pushed her away and I was telling her no and that she misunderstood. I promise it was absolutely nothing." Clarke let her finish a long string of ways of saying that nothing happened.
"Lexa, I trust you. I'm not happy that she didn't realize you were in a relationship because we are still keeping this more private but I'm not upset."
"Really? Because I already ordered flowers and ice cream." Clarke walked over to her and grabber her hand lacing their fingers together and bringing them up to chest level.
"I…" she kissed her hand. "…trust…" she kissed her cheek. "..you…" she kissed her lips.
Lexa grinned into the last kiss. "Can you repeat that again, I didn't quite get it?"
"Parental Units you're going to miss the beginning!" Clarke dragged their hands down the steps onto the couch where they wedged themselves on either side of the girl.
"Where's the popcorn?" She asked.
"You just ate," Lexa sad in disbelief. Anya pouted her lip and Lexa peeled off the couch back to the kitchen to get the kid's order.
The week was surprisingly slow. They fell into a new routine of school, work, and soccer. As November came closer, Lexa had to go to more events. They finally got Sandy back from Gustus and from the outside they looked just like a nuclear family. This was very true on Wednesday night when Clarke got an email from the school.
Anya and Lexa were headed to the elevator to go to soccer practice. Before they made it all the way Clarke shouted after her, "Anya!" She walked towards the girl, ipad in hand. Anya knew the tone wasn't promising so she turned around slowly, trying not to look guilty of anything.
"Ummm…yes ma?"
"Where do you think you're going?" Clarke placed the device on the counter and folded her arms.
Anya pointed her thumb over her shoulder saying, "soccer practice?"
"Last time I checked you were a student athlete, not an athlete student." Lexa took a few steps away from Anya knowing she did not want to pick sides in this debate.
"I am." Anya didn't know if it was a trick question.
"Your C+ in math would say otherwise." Anya's eyes became saucers. She thought she had time before the next report card to bring the grade up before they would say.
"I…um…you see…what actually happened…umm…" Anya looked to Lexa for help who was conveniently looking at the ceiling. "I'll study tomorrow," she conceded.
Clarke half laughed to herself. "You're funny. No, you'll be studying with me tonight while your mom goes to practice."
"That's not fair!"
Clarke walked up closer and took her soccer bag and put it on the counter. "If you get a B on the test Friday you can go to the game Saturday." There was no room for argument in her voice.
"Sis au ai." Help me. Anya pleaded with Lexa.
"Nou na ge yu." She cannot help you.
Lexa and Anya were both stunned by Clarke's sudden language skills. "You're not the only one who has been learning things." She raised her eyebrows, cockily. "Now, you go get to practice and you come with me we have about eight million long division problems to do."
Lexa reluctantly left. Anya made as much noise as possible walking into her room, grabbing her back pack and throwing it on the table. She got out her math books and nearly threw it off the table when she slid it out. Clarke expected this but she still had to steel her face a bit to not crack for the kid.
She pulled up a seat and began scanning over the homework, praying she still remembered all of the rules. "Okay, let's start with this first problem."
They spent three straight hours doing math until Clarke couldn't even tell the difference between a numerator and denominator and what happens when you cross multiply them. As they were cleaning up, Lexa walked through the door with ice cream. Anya took hers and turned to Clarke. "May I be excused now?" She asked with attitude. Clarke nodded and she went to her room, still slightly pouty.
Clarke took hers as well and propped her feet on the chair. Lexa set her cup down and began massaging Clarke's shoulders. "That was rather strict of you."
She rolled her head back resting on Lexa's left arm. "I read in this yahoo article that apparently parenting is more than just arts and crafts, eating, and playing. You have to like punish them and make them learn too."
"The audacity!" Lexa squeezed harder. "Here I thought it was all sunshine and rainbows." Clarke didn't respond, drifting off until hands left her shoulders. Lexa sat down across from her. "That was amazing tonight. You are a good parent." Clarke beamed.
"Those are words I never thought someone would say to me." She stood up and patted Lexa's leg. "I'm going to go check on her."
She knocked on the door and it peeled open. Anya was sitting on her bed feeding the dog some of her pistachio. "Can I come in?" The girl nodded.
She sat on the edge of the bed and straightened out the sheets out of habit. "I'm sorry if you think it wasn't fair to make you stay home tonight." Anya didn't look at her, continuing to focus her attention on the dog. "School is really important and it wouldn't be good to sacrifice your education for a game."
After a few moments of silence Anya finally conceded. "I know…I'm sorry I was rude." She finally made eye contact with Clarke. "You were just doing what's best for me, that's what moms do."
Clarke smiled at the comment but wanted to mess with the kid. "You know I didn't punish you yet for giving me attitude."
"What?! I already missed practice," Anya pleaded. Clarke stood up and walked farther up the bed and grabbed the ice cream and put it on the night stand.
"I think this is going to cost you…" She put her hand to her chin. "Twenty seconds of bear hug." Before Anya could move away, Clarke was already on top of her tickling and squeezing all the air out. She picked her up and started counting backwards.
"Mom!" Anya screamed out. "Save me!"
"Eighteen…seventeen…sixteen…" Clarke was counting unbearably slow still holding her for dear life. Lexa came to the door and just leaned on it, not helping at all.
"Sorry kid, that bear is way too big for me to handle."
"Ma, I think she just called you fat." Clarke cocked her head towards Lexa and raised an eyebrow.
"Are you calling me fat?" Lexa put her hands up as Clarke walked closer, child still in hand.
Lexa backed up slowly and tried to find a safe spot for the ice cream. "Clarke be rational here. It's the kid you want." Anya and Clarke gave each other a look before, the taller one set her down and they both ran after the brunette. Anya grabbed her feet and they all toppled on to the carpet.
"I brought you treats!" She yelled. Clarke pinned her with her legs while they both began tickling her. "Stop please, I'm going to pee my pants." They didn't relent though. Insult was added to injury as a wet snout began to rub at her face too.
Clarke leaned in really close to her ear to where Anya couldn't hear her. "who's a top now," she whispered tauntingly. They continued tickling her until Lexa finally conceded.
"You are…you are. Please, just let me live." They unpinned her and helped her up. "This whole tag team thing you got going on has to stop. You're killing me smalls."
"She started it." Anya pointed to Clarke.
"Well I'm ending it. Go to bed..." Anya dragged her feet up the stairs. "…March! And don't forget to brush your teeth." The dog followed after and she waited until she heard water running and a door shut before moving from her position on the floor.
"That was a short talk, I'm guessing she isn't mad."
Clarke dragged her over to the couch and nuzzled into her side. "Not at all because that's what mom's do." She put the last part in quotes. They turned on the tv and instantly regretted it. The gossip channel had a banner running on the bottom with Lexa's name in it.
"What did that just say?" Clarke reached for the remote and turned it up.
"This just in, it may seem that Mayoral Candidate, Bachelorette and Billionaire Lexa Woods is not only off the market but in the enemy camp." A picture of Jay getting into her car at the pizza place pulled up on the screen next to the reporter. "Pictured her is the campaign manager for Cage Wallace along with Miss Woods. This alone might not seem definitive but sources inside the restaurant said the two women were very flirty with one another. Another source at Wallace's office said he saw the two kissing as one woman got out of the car." The image kept on zooming in on each of their faces while the reporter droned on about body language.
Lexa looked over at Clarke who seemed frustrated more than angry. Her and Lexa barely ever went out in the same care together to in town things for this exact reason yet the one time she is with someone else it gets blown up into this.
"I'm sorry Clarke, I didn't know there were cameras or giving someone a ride would turn into this."
"It's fine," Clarke lied. "At least she's pretty and smart, right?" They both continued to watch what the reporter had to say.
"We are now accepting calls on our hotline. What do you think? Is Lexa's dalliance in enemy territory okay or could she just be using this woman for intel for the campaign?"
Lexa leaned back into the couch. "Well that's insulting."
"First caller what do you have to say? 'Hi my name is Melanie and I think that Miss Woods has a long game with this one. She's a pretty gal there should be plenty of people besides someone who works for your opponent. It just doesn't sit right for me'." Clarke squeezed Lexa's leg and she felt her pulse pick up.
"Hello Caller what are your thoughts? 'My name is Joe and I don't think we need lesbos in office anyway-' sorry Joe it seems we got disconnected."
"Nothing like a bigot commenting on my personal life too."
"My name is Karen and I'm actually not from inside New York." Lexa and Clarke both perked up recognizing the voice. "I would just like to say I don't think it is any of your business to speculate who Le…Miss Woods is in a relationship with. Furthermore, you have a picture of two women in a car together and are jumping to the conclusion of a relationship. I drove around today with my friend Becky all day, does that mean we are also sleeping together? I think that would be a hard blow to our husbands. I just think you should be worried about your own personal life and dare I say three divorces before you go commenting on someone elses." Karen hung up before the woman could comment.
Clarke clapped her hands together. "Remind me to get her a really nice bottle of wine on Saturday."
They sat through two or three more callers all of which had varying opinions on the subject. It was getting ridiculous. "I can't watch this anymore. It's bad enough I can't talk about our relationship but for them to pair you up with all these people, it just sucks."
Lexa bit her lip, finally having enough. She got up and walked to the counter where her phone was sitting. "What are you doing?" Clarke asked.
"Ending this," she said vaguely. She squinted her eyes at the number on the screen and began dialing.
"Yes we have a caller on the line."
"Hi, this is Lexa Woods." It was strange hearing her voice on the tv. "As in the Lexa Woods, you are currently debating about." The woman's face went white on the screen. She composed herself quickly though.
"Ummm…okay Miss Woods, would you like to comment on the situation?"
"Yes I would. The woman in the picture is in fact a member of Cage Wallace's team and a friend of mine, nothing more." She was about to hang up but Melanie got in another question.
"So you are not in a relationship with a campaign manager?"
"That's not what I said." Clarke started to walk towards her, grabbing at the phone. "I said I wasn't in a relationship with his campaign manager." She quickly climbed around the couch out of reach.
"But you are confirming you are in a relationship?"
Lexa smiled at Clarke like she was the thing she was the most proud of. "Yes I am. I am in a relationship with the most beautiful and amazing woman in the world. Her name is Clarke Griffin…and if that name rings a bell it's because she is my campaign manager…and the CEO of my company…and my best friend. So, if you don't want me sleeping on the couch tonight you should take down all of that crap about me and the enemy." She hung up the phone and tossed it on the couch.
"What did you just do?" Clarke asked dumbfounded.
Lexa grabbed her hands. "You're mine and I'm yours and we are together. We should never have to question that…and I really don't want to ever turn the tv on again and see myself in a romantic picture that you aren't in."
Clarke pushed her back to sit on the couch and stood between her legs, hands grasping at the base of her neck. "God I lo…" she let the last word out as a gasp not really saying it at all. "You are really special." She leaned down and kissed her hard. "But tomorrow is going to be a PR nightmare."
Lexa swept her up in a bridal carry. "Then we better get a good night's sleep."