Disclaimer: I do not own The 100

Chapter 21

After dinner, Clarke was doing the dishes when Lexa came up behind her and said

"Clarke, can I talk to you for a second"

Clarke was still getting used to hearing Lexa's voice saying her name in that very Lexa way after all this time. It left her lingering on just that one word.

"Sorry.. yea…" Clarke turned around and looked Lexa straight in the eye.

"I had to ask… about Abby…"

"aha" Clarke hummed.

"What does she know… about…"

"Madi? I'm sorry I know I should have asked you first before mentioning anything about Madi to her…"

"No, that's not what I meant" Lexa said, shifting her weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other, her hands now folded across her torso.

"I mean… does she know why I left…?" Lexa said, looking visibly uncomfortable.

"Yes… I… I told her everything…" Clarke said.

Lexa nodded and then stared at the floor.

"She didn't talk to me for months" Clarke continued.

Lexa looked up then. And caught the tears in Clarke's eyes.

Clarke huffed a laugh then. "Rightly so. She was livid that I, her daughter, could make such a big mistake."

"Okay…" Lexa then slowly turned around and was about to walk away

"Lexa wait…"

Lexa stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around.

"I know you're not ready to talk about whatever happened, but I want you to know that I will wait. I will wait for however long it takes…"

"You'd be wasting your time, Clarke" Lexa interrupted and the walked away.

It was noon now. And Abby would be here any minute. Lexa couldn't stop thinking about what this reunion would feel like. When she was young and growing up with Clarke as her closest friend, Abby was like a second mother to her. Lexa would spend so much time over at their home, and Abby cared for her like her very own.

When Clarke and Lexa realized and came out about how they'd fallen in love with each other, it took Abby by surprise. But Abby was never against their relationship. Always rooting for the two of them. Besides the fact that Clarke wanted to move out of home way to early than expected, nothing about Lexa had ever disappointed Abby.

Lexa wondered now, if Abby had any hard feelings towards her, about leaving Clarke. Not being by her side when she was pregnant with their baby, not being there for Aden. But she didn't even know about Aden, she didn't even know Clarke bore a child. She had no clue. She argued in her own head while pacing the floor in the living room.

But that could be what Abby may be upset with her about, that she stayed away long enough to not even know Clarke had their baby.

Just then there was a knock on the door. Lexa froze.

The kids were upstairs. Clarke was in the kitchen. Lexa's eyes got blurry but she saw a whoosh of blonde through the haze. Clarke went to get the door.

Lexa pushed herself ahead to go closer towards the doorway.

Clarke pulled the door open and Lexa watched as Clarke greeted her mom, a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and then she went on to greet a man who had accompanied Abby here.

Then all eyes were on Lexa.

"Abby…" Lexa began to say, looking into the eyes of a woman who was as close to a mother she's ever had.

And before she knew what was happening, she was enveloped in a hug. And a tight one at that. Lexa allowed herself to fully feel this hug, this sign of affection. And in a way it radiated deep into her bones. It was comforting, and fulfilling and overwhelming. She finally wound her frozen hands around Abby too.

"It's been too long" Abby whispered, her voice laboured, she was choking up with tears.

"I'm sorry" Lexa whispered. There was something about the way the Griffin women were able to break you. Lexa wasn't even sure what she was apologizing for. But Abby hugged her tighter if that was even possible. And said softly, so that only she could hear "you're not the one who needs to apologize, Lexa… I…"

They're exchange was interrupted by the sound of two tiny feet running down the stairs and Aden's voice screaming "Grandma's here!"

They both quickly pulled apart and wiped at the tears rolling down their cheeks.

Aden ran into Abby's arms and she carried him up and covered his face in kisses.

"What's my little man been up to?" She asked.

"Grandma, meet my newest friend, Madi" he said as he pointed out to the little girl who was now standing before Lexa, leaning back against her, a little shy seeing that there were new faces in the house.

"Madi…"Abby said as she stepped closer, and leaned down so that she could be about the same height as the little girl.

"Hi… it's nice to finally meet you" Abby said to her

"Hi Abby. It's nice to meet you too." Madi said shyly.

Abby looked up at Lexa and smiled "She's beautiful"

Madi giggled. Lexa smiled proudly.

"Would you like to see what Aden and I have been painting?" Aden asked Abby

"Yes of course. How about I settle in and then you can show me" Abby said.

"Alright" Madi said. Aden wiggled himself out of Abby's arms and grabbed Madi's hand pulling her away saying, come on, let's gather all the paintings together to show Grandma and Marcus"

That brought Lexa's attention to the man in conversation with Clarke.

"I met him 2 years ago. He's a nice man" Abby said to Lexa in explanation.

Lexa looked at Abby. She knew what Jake meant to this family. She'd been with them in their grief. She'd grieved with them too. After all these years, it was good to see Abby finding love again. Jake would be happy too.

"I'm sure he is." Lexa said by way of acknowledgement.

Abby then turned to face Lexa again "We should talk, sometime tonight maybe."

Lexa nodded, "okay…" Lexa's face hardened then "but if it's going to be about Clarke, I'm not sure I'm ready to have that conversation yet"

"It's nothing you wouldn't want to hear" Abby reassured, with a comforting squeeze of her shoulder. Lexa nodded.

"Come, let me introduce you to Marcus"

Later that night, at dinner, their dining table was surrounded. Anya and Raven had come over a little after 6 pm. Abby was more than delighted to meet Anya again. They had only ever met once or twice before. Madi was warming up well to Abby and Kane. It warmed Lexa's heart to see Abby so gentle and warm with her daughter just as she was with Aden. She hoped Abby could become another strong female- figure in Madi's life.

"Woods, you're miles away" came Raven's voice from across the table.

Lexa was brought out of her thoughts then. "Sorry, I was just thinking"

"So Clarke, any plans for your birthday this year" Marcus asked.

"Woah! Your birthday's coming up, is it?" Anya asked.

Lexa almost choked on her food. Almost.

She'd never forgotten. Every year on that particular day, Lexa found herself drowning her sorrows in a few bottles of alcohol. She would make sure Madi never saw this broken side of her by ensuring she was at a friend's sleepover, or out somewhere with Anya.

This year, she'd forgotten. It probably had something to do with the fact that she was still finding it hard to believe she's back here in the same house with Clarke.

"It is. But really, it's no big deal. I really don't want to do anything"

"Bullshit!" came Raven's voice.

"Language!" came Both Abby and Clarke's scolding tone.

"I'm sorry. But all I'm saying is, we can't not celebrate your birthday, Clarke."

"Raven, really. I don't want anything. I'll be more than happy with just dinner here, like this. With family and friends"

"Alright but it needn't be as low key as this. Come on! Let me throw you a party. I'm sure Anya and Lexa will help me out too"

Clarke's eyes hesitantly gazed towards Lexa then. She was lost in thought again.

"Lexa?" Raven asked.

"Sorry what?" Lexa said.

"Help me plan a nice party for Clarke?"

Lexa looked at Clarke then. Her face blank. "Yea sure, why not." she said, still expressionless.

Clarke hated this.

"It can be just us, and maybe we can call Luna."

"And Harper and her boyfriend" Abby added.

"And those friends of yours who run the café near the gallery…" Raven said

"Murphy and Emori?"Clarke asked

"YES!" Raven said.

"I'm sorry, you'll have to excuse me guys, I'm not feeling too well" Lexa interrupted the discussion and got up from her seat.

"Hey, what's wrong Lexa?" Anya asked her, but Lexa walked briskly away upstairs.

Clarke looked upset too.

"I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?" Raven asked, clueless.

Anya reached out to place her hand over Raven's in a comforting gesture. "No, it's not you"