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Chapter 25
Mel hobbled along beside Tarren, his hand gripped tightly in her own. He'd skinned the bear, wrapping the meat in the hide to offer to his tribe when they arrived.
As they crested a hill, her gaze scanned the small encampment down below. Smoke curled lazily from various cook fires, and she could hear the occasional happy shout from her vantage point.
He started down the hill, but she hesitated. The fear that his people wouldn't accept her gnawed at her heart, she couldn't lose him. Her gaze connected with his, and me must have read the apprehension that lurked there because a soft smile curved his lips.
Tarren pulled her to him, mindful of her wounds as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I see your fear, my little bird", he said quietly, nuzzling her neck.
"What if they don't like me", she whispered.
"They will love you just as I do", Tarren replied, his hazel eyes determined as they roved over her features.
"How do you know", Mel asked.
"I just do. Come", he said as he began to lead her down the hill.
She began to walk again, her grip on his hand tightening once more as they neared the small village. Suddenly someone spotted them, and people surrounded them in a happy hum.
Mel looked up at the man beside her, the smile on his face contagious. She turned her attention back to the crowd as they parted to reveal a beautiful older woman walking towards them.
"Hello my son", she said as she wrapped Tarren in her embrace.
Mel recognized the hazel eyes as a mirror of Tarren's, and her hands tangled together as nervous energy surged through her. She thought she would faint when the woman turned to her with a smile.
"Who is this?"
Tarren smiled, his gaze falling lovingly on the woman beside him. "Mother, this is my wife, Melody."
Mel looked at him in surprise, her eyes widening.
"The name suits you, my dear. Thank you for bringing my son back to us", Tarren's mother said as she hugged her tightly.
"I didn't…"
"Nonsense, if it weren't for you my son would still be wandering in solitude. His heart was broken, and only the love of a woman such as yourself could mend it."
"Um, thank you…", Melody stammered.
"You may call me Shara."
"Thank you, Shara", the young woman said as Shara took her hand.
Melody looked back at Tarren as his mother began to lead her throughout the village introducing her to all they passed, the proud smile curving his lips eliciting a small one of her own. Soon they came to a large hut, stopping at the entrance.
Shara wrapped the young woman in her arms, "Welcome home, my daughter."
She watched as her son's wife stared at her in astonishment, her pretty eyes wide and her mouth hanging open.
"Thank you", Melody said softly.
"I hope that in time you will call me Mother, as Tarren does", Shara said, her hand cupping Mel's cheek in a loving gesture of acceptance.
"Certainly, Mother", she said, testing the word on her tongue.
The older woman smiled, "I will leave you, my loves, to settle in and rest yourselves before tonight's feast."
Melody watched the woman go, her gaze soon turning to her husband.
"We're married", she asked.
"Yes, I chose you and you chose me. We are bound for eternity", Tarren whispered as his lips captured her own.
As he pulled away, he grinned down at her, "I told you they would accept you."
"Why do they think that you came back because of me?"
"Because I did. When Adrea was taken from me, I swore to never return to this place. It held too many bad memories. Then I found you, and from the moment I laid eyes on you all I wanted to do was bring you home", he replied.
"Why Melody", she asked.
"We all deserve a fresh start, and the name suits you. You are my Melody, the song that has awakened my heart to love", Tarren whispered.
Her eyes widened, and then she was pulling him to her for another kiss.
"I love you, Tarren", she breathed.
"And I love you, Melody."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bellamy woke up slowly, a gentle hand running through his hair. His eyes fluttered open to find Clarke smiling at him.
"Hey there sleepy head", she whispered.
"Hey Princess", he croaked.
"You were exhausted", she said, worry lacing her words.
"I was held in Mount Weather for the past week, so I didn't get a lot of sleep", Bellamy replied, one hand scrubbing down his face to banish the sleep from his features.
Then he found himself wrapped in his wife's embrace, his face buried in the crook of her neck as she rubbed a hand down his bare back.
"I looked for you."
"I know", he said before changing the subject, "Has your mother been here yet?"
"Yes, you slept right through it. I even reached over to check your pulse once because you didn't even twitch, and we both know that's not normal", she said with a chuckle.
"What did she say", he asked, his voice belying his concern.
"It was just as I expected, everything was fine."
Bellamy gave a sigh of relief, kissing his wife softly.
"I'm so sorry I put you through this, sweetheart", he said, his forehead resting against hers.
"That's the last apology I want to hear from you Bellamy Blake. I understand and I forgive you", Clarke said, a smile blossoming on her face as she kissed him once again.
When she pulled back, he knew that he had one more thing to do.
"I'm going to go check on Bryce", Bellamy said.
Clarke nodded understandingly, watching him go.
He made his way into his son's bedroom, the little boy curled up beneath his bright orange blanket. He picked him up, cradling him against his chest as he moved into the main room and sat down in the rocker.
He swayed back and forth, staring down at his son as the boy's eyes began to open.
"Hey buddy", Bellamy whispered.
Bryce's dark eyes filled with tears, and deep shuddering sobs shook his small frame, words pouring forth in a tormented flood.
"I'm sorry", the little boy said over and over.
"Shhh", Bellamy soothed, holding Bryce closer.
"Please love us again", the little boy pled, his words muffled.
Bellamy pulled back, looking his son in the eye as he reassured him, "I never stopped loving either of you, and I'm not going anywhere. Daddy's stay, Bryce."
The little boy's eyes rounded in surprise, "Daddy's stay?"
"Yes, son they do", Bellamy said with a smile.
"I love you, Daddy", Bryce said, wrapping his little arms around Bellamy's neck.
The Rebel sat in stunned immobility for a moment, before finally hugging his son in return.
"I love you too, my little man", he said tears pricking his eyes.
Bellamy looked up to find Clarke leaning in the doorway of their bedroom, a smile curving her lips. For the first time, they felt truly at peace. They'd been tested by fire, and were stronger for it.
"I love you", she mouthed.
"I love you too", he replied soundlessly.
Thanks for reading! Please review! I love hearing from y'all! :)
Wright: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you liked Lincoln's warning and the little reunion! I hope you like the Bellamy/Bryce resolution! The Mel and Tarren story line was so much fun to write lol I'm glad I changed my mind and decided not to take her out! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the latest chapter! :)