A/N: I'm sorry for the long break everyone but school and work is stressful but I just got out of Spring semester and should be clear to write a bit more over the summer. If you have stuck with this story for this long, I really appreciate it.
This chapter has been a long time coming and I hope it is worth the wait. ENJOY!
~TGF
Part 25: Epilogue
"Clarke, is this really a good idea? How are you going to explain this to your parents?"
Clarke didn't know how to answer that question. It had been a week since their lunch meeting and things were going well. Every day she learned something new about Lexa, sometimes they contradicted things she already knew but all of it added up to a woman that Clarke found more than endearing.
In that short week, they had been on two official dates and were just returning to Clarke's apartment from the third. It was the night before Clarke was meant to leave with Bellamy and Octavia to head home for Christmas vacation, yet she wanted more than anything not to leave Lexa.
The idea had been rolling around in her mind the entire night and once Lexa had promised to help her pack for her trip, she had burst out with the question.
"I mean, my parents aren't a huge problem, I promise. We don't have to tell them we're together, even though we technically aren't. I just…I would rather not screw this up by leaving all of the sudden."
"Don't you think it's weird that I'd be meeting your parents and we've only been seeing each other for a week?" Lexa's eyebrows shot up her forehead as she waved the t-shirt around in her hand to accentuate her point. "Not that I don't like you, I do. But do we really want to fly halfway across the country together?"
Clarke crossed her arms over her chest, the nerves that had been eating away at her for most of the night finally fraying completely. "Just forget I said anything," she turned back to the closet and focused on picking out more shirts she was going to bring with her instead of Lexa.
She felt Lexa watching her, her senses completely in tune with everything the other woman was doing, even when her eyes weren't focused on her. It was uncanny how well they could read each other and even more so how right it felt to spend every moment together.
Clarke continued to pack, waiting for Lexa to speak or not say anything at all, which would be answer enough. But after a moment, she felt a hand on her arm, "Clarke, I'm not saying no, I'm just trying to make sure you fully thought this out." She was nudged lightly to face Lexa, whose eyes were focused on her, open and so green it made Clarke physically ache.
"I have, it's only for a week and a half, we'd be staying with my parents and they've always been the type to take in strays—not that you're a stray, but I'm sure they'll welcome you with open arms."
Lexa chuckled, "I'll go."
"Really?"
"Really? What could go wrong, right?"
Five years later
"Clarke, I don't think I should go with you."
"Lexa, you're being absolutely ridiculous. My parents love you," Clarke stopped packing her suitcase and noticed the peevish look on her wife's face. She sighed and stepped around the bed into Lexa's space, flashing her a reassuring smile.
Lexa still had a deer caught in the headlights expression on her face. They had decided on a trip back to Clarke's hometown for the holidays, which wasn't out of the ordinary, considering Lexa's family wasn't the most welcoming.
"Your mom has not always loved me, she hated me for the longest time when you were in college—since she caught us having sex when I was there the first time. I mean, I got you pregnant, Clarke."
"You can't get me pregnant, Lexa. We made an adult decision and it took a lot of money." Clarke rolled her eyes at the other woman, wrapping her arms around her waist when she realized she wasn't reassuring her. "Lexa, you're my wife, we were bound to have kids eventually. Not to mention that my mom knows we've been trying and she's completely okay with it."
"Yeah, but-"
"Shh," Clarke tapped at the brunette's collarbone before lightly brushing her fingertips over it and along the tense line of her shoulder. "You're coming with me, like every other year and we're going to tell my parents that we're pregnant."
"We've only been married two years, they're going to think it's too early." Lexa tried again. She didn't have doubts about having kids with Clarke, far from it. She knew they were in a good spot and that she'd found the love of her life. She had been certain she wanted to marry Clarke mere months into their relationship, it was just that the Griffin family was so tight-knitted that there had always been this sense of unworthiness.
Lexa hadn't grown up in the most accepting or loving family and that was definitely her problem. She had been hesitant when it came to taking the next step in their relationship, sometimes being dragged along by Clarke or arguing with her until she realized that she was being an idiot.
"My grandparents may think it's too early, my mom may think I'm too young. Since when have you been so concerned with what other people think?" Clarke took a step forward, snaking her arms around Lexa's trim waist and pulling her closer.
The brunette unconsciously rested her arms around Clarke's neck, playing with loose strands of her hair, "Your family isn't other people, babe. Their opinions matter the most when it comes to this stuff."
"Lex, we're going to be fine. You have my entire family wrapped around your finger, sometimes I don't think you realize that. I love you and they want me happy no matter what. Having a family with you is going to be amazing. We've gone through a lot to get this far, Woods. Don't overthink things."
Lexa felt the soothing rasp of Clarke's voice against the crook of her neck, it was soft and sweet. The tension melted from her body and she leaned forward into her wife's embrace, pressing a soft kiss to Clarke's forehead. "It's Griffin-Woods to you."
She felt Clarke smile against her skin before light kisses were peppered along the column of her throat. She chuckled at the sensation before lightly digging her fingers into the blonde's hips and tickling her.
Clarke shrieked and shoved Lexa away, "You're a nerd. Now help me pack."
The brunette whined, "Come back."
"I'll come back when we get to my mom's."
Lexa groaned obnoxiously, "You know how much I hate canoodling at your mother's after the first time. Can't we just, I dunno, take one for the road?"
Clarke laughed, a full one that came from deep within her chest and burst forth suddenly, "Did you just call having sex with me canoodling?"
"The mommy talk is already starting and you aren't even showing," Lexa blushed, covering her face with her hand and chuckling slightly at herself. Things were going to start changing fast for them and they both knew it, but she wasn't sure they were very prepared for it to happen.
The blonde rolled her eyes and siddled back up to her wife. She nudged the woman's hands from her face and leaned in close. A grin was plastered across her face and her eyes sparkled with so much adoration it made Lexa's heart skip a beat, "You are adorable." The words warmed Lexa's stomach as their lips connected and it seemed that the packing would have to wait.
"Lexa!" Jake came nearly running out of the house to wrap the brunette in a bear hug.
"What the hell, dad? I'm standing right here!"
Jake boomed with laughter, letting go of Lexa and turning to Clarke, "I had to greet my favorite daughter first, she is new to the family still."
"Excuse me? Your favorite?"
Jake had enough sense to look sorry as he wrapped his actual daughter in a hug, "I didn't have to raise her, she needs extra love, you've had almost 30 years of it."
Clarke scoffed but didn't comment on it, "Where's mom?"
"Where is mom always?"
"The office," both Clarke and Lexa announced in sync.
"Exactly, but Marcus, Thelonius and Bellamy and John are already inside. I think Raven and Octavia are heading over too, Wells is running late, something about Rachel being sick. Of course, I have to go get your grandparents before your mom is off, but I'll wait as long as I have to." Jake listed off as he reached in the trunk of their rental to grab out their bags with Lexa's help.
Octavia and Raven had moved back home together after graduation, they were engaged but had yet to pick a wedding date. It was something that Clarke hoped would either be soon or in a year, because she didn't want to end up looking like a whale.
They made their way inside, where they put all of their belongings in Clarke's old bedroom and went back downstairs to greet everyone that had already arrived. Bellamy and John's sons, Beck and Henry, were sitting in the living room, quietly playing with Legos strew across the floor. Beck, 2, was gnawing on one while Henry, 4, attempted to build a castle without his little brother getting in the way.
Bellamy and John had adopted Henry only two years before, while they were already in the process of getting a surrogate for Beck, who had Bellamy's curls. Within the span of nine months they had officially adopted Henry and were welcoming Beck into the world. It had been a whirlwind, but they managed.
Lexa and Clarke settled down on the couch together, snuggled close with the brunette's arm around Clarke's shoulders. They caught up with Thelonious and Marcus, both of who were retired and traveling the world together as best friends do. It was quiet and warm, the familiar scent of Lexa and her home had her lulled into a half-asleep state until the front door opened and a little heathen jumped on her.
Wells and his wife, Rachel, had a daughter named Callie, who was hell on wheels and never seemed to stop. She was only seven but was smarter than she sometimes acted, getting herself into trouble frequently.
"Auntie Cwarke! Get uuuuup," the little girl groaned, grabbing at Clarke's arm wrapped around Lexa's torso.
"I'm up, Cal, I'm up. How are you, munchin?" Clarke pulled the girl into her lap and squished her in between herself and Lexa.
"I lost three teeth," she held up three fingers, "Look!" she opened her mouth to show her before continuing on about school and how her life was progressing, seeming to think that everything was so interesting.
After that, Raven and Octavia showed up, which meant Clarke really had to wake up. Then Jake left to get his in-laws and minutes after they arrived back, Abby was home. All of this led to more greeting and exchanging of hugs. The house grew louder and more stifling until the back door was opened and everyone filed onto the enclosed porch.
All three kids ended up playing in the yard, Raven watching them—though probably trying to convince Callie to do something that would get them in trouble.
"She's going to get herself hurt or in trouble," Octavia grumbled to Clarke, watching the four of them in the yard.
"Ugh, I know, she's such a little heathen, I don't know how Wells and Rachel are handling it. Beck and Henry are so quiet."
"I meant Raven, but yeah." They both laughed.
"So have you guys picked a date, yet?"
Octavia leaned over, her hand resting on Clarke's arm and a smile breaking across her face, "Yes and a location, we're going to announce it at dinner tonight."
"Thank god! I thought you guys would be eternally engaged," Clarke grabbed Octavia's hand. "I'm so excited for you."
"Want me to tell you first?" Octavia whispered conspiratorially.
"Of course," Clarke leaned in to listen.
Lexa ended up wandering outside after a brief talk with Abby and approached Raven, who was lying in the hammock with little Beck on her chest while Rachel tried to teach Henry how to catch a ball. She looked a little cold, her cheeks a little pale and nose tinged with red. The weather was rather mild for Thanksgiving in the north, but Lexa appreciated it, her blood having grown thin with all the Florida warmth.
"How you doing, Woods—sorry, Griffin-Woods?" Raven chuckled and let Beck grab her fingers and grinned when she wiggled them. "That's so weird, marriage. I think Octavia wants my name when we get married. We haven't talked about it yet."
"I'm fine," Lexa maneuvered her way into the hammock, lounging backwards with her legs on either side of Raven. "How are you? You sound a little stressed."
"There's just so much to talk about, dates, locations, dresses, flowers, cakes and last names. It's like…my job but ten times harder because I don't have a manual or science to back me up. Octavia and I argue more about our wedding than anything else," Raven grumbled, Beck having grown interested with the metal nub on the string of her hoodie and he began chewing on it.
Lexa laughed at the irritated expression on her friend's face, "Pretty sure I slept on the couch at least twice because I didn't agree on something. Don't worry."
"Up!" Henry called, sitting in the grass just below Lexa and reaching upward towards her. Lexa leaned over, reached down and scooped the little boy up into her arms. He snuggled close, a cold nose pressed into the crook of Lexa's neck and a mop of dark curly hair pressed into her face.
Lexa brushed a hand down his back, "You okay, little man?"
"Soft," his hand brushed Lexa's jacket and he settled all of his weight on her, closing his eyes.
Raven chuckled from the other side of the hammock. "So any luck with the pregnancy stuff?"
"Ahhh, I shouldn't have told you about that." Lexa rolled her eyes, passively rubbing her hand along Henry's back.
"Oh come on, you have to talk to someone." Raven rolled her eyes. "Octavia and I still call godparents, I'm just saying."
"Well, you will be in July."
"What?" Raven jerked upward, a grin spreading across her face. "She's really…?"
"Yes, Clarke is pregnant. We were supposed to tell everyone at dinner."
Raven hummed, "That's amazing. I'm so happy for you guys…wait." She froze, "Is this going to make Octavia want kids? We're just now selecting dates…"
"Woah, Reyes. Calm down," Lexa nudged her leg with her foot. "She's not gonna want kids now."
"LEXA!" Octavia was leaning out of the porch door, concern etched into her features as she waved frantically at Lexa.
The brunette gently, but quickly, withdrew from Henry and gave Raven a fearful look. Her stomach dropped, instantly assuming something was very wrong. She ran to the porch and shoved past Octavia in her haste. "What's wrong? Where's Clarke?" She searched the porch quickly to find that her wife was gone.
"She went to the bathroom. I don't….I don't know."
Lexa's heart thrummed in her chest, blood buzzing with adrenaline as she hurried into the house, nearly running straight into Bellamy, who she quickly rushed passed.
"Clarke? What's going on?" Abby's voice rose from the guest bathroom down the hall, which was blocked off by Jake and Marcus' large forms. Lexa wedged herself in between them and shouldered past Abby into the depths of the bathroom.
Clarke sat on the floor, head basically in the toilet as she threw up.
"Clarke? Baby? Are you okay?" Lexa got down on her knees, her fingers brushing along Clarke's leg as she settled behind her.
Once the blonde stopped and settled back into Lexa's front, chest heaving and body shaking, she grasped Lexa's wrist to ground herself. It was mere moments before Abby was looming over them. Lexa's fingers brushing soothingly through blonde locks and scratching gently at her scalp.
"What is going on?"
"Mom," Clarke twisted and brushed a shaky hand over her forehead. "Could you give us a minute? Just shut the door, we'll be out soon."
"Wait, but-Clarke, what's going on? Maybe I should check you out? Are you sick?"
"I'm not sick, I'm fine," Clarke heaved herself way from Lexa and slowly got to her feet. She gently coaxed her mother out of the restroom and shut the door on everyone's curious looks standing outside.
Clarke turned and rested her weight heavily on the door.
"Baby? Are you okay?" Lexa stood and gently brushed a stray blonde lock from Clarke's face.
"Yeah, I just don't feel good. This kid is not having a good time right now." She sucked in a deep breath.
Lexa chuckled and rubbed a soothing hand over Clarke's stomach, planting a gentle kiss on the crook of her neck. "So I think we need to tell your mom, now."
"We could just tell her I'm sick," Clarke chuckled.
"I thought you were the one that wanted to tell her. Now I have to convince you," Lexa placed a couple more gentle kisses along Clarke's neck. They remained silent for a few more moments before Lexa spoke again, "You ready?"
Clarke hummed, and Lexa pulled away from her just enough for the two of them to slip out of the door. Abby and Jake were the only two standing outside. Abby paced back and forth, arms crossed over her chest while she bit at her thumb nervously. The moment she saw Clarke she rushed forward, "What's going on, Clarke?"
"Nothing, mom."
"Nothing? How can it be nothing? You come home and then throw up unexpectedly in my bathroom? What's going on Clarke? You have me worried to death." Abby grasped firmly at Clarke's bicep.
"Nothing bad is happening, mom. I just…morning sickness, even though it isn't the morning."
"Morning sickness?" Jake piped up.
"What do you mean?" Abby squeezed tighter and Clarke had to grasp her wrist firmly to get her to let go.
"I'm pregnant, mom."
"I knew it!" Came Octavia's screech of joy from around the corner. She jumped into the fray and zigzagged her way into hugging Clarke tightly. "I call god mother!"
"Hey! What about me?" Raven shouted, "I'm her favorite."
"Excuse me, I'm her favorite!" Bellamy shouted, "I call god father."
"Be quiet guys," Lexa interrupted, "God parents aren't the most important thing right now, but Clarke and I have already made a decision."
"It is me, right? Tia Raven is gonna be the best god mother ever to that munchkin." Raven waggled her eyebrows.
"You're pregnant? I thought you guys were waiting before you tried again…the hormone treatments need at least six months to fully take effect. Didn't Jackson tell you that?" Abby blinked and held on to Clarke's hand once Octavia let go.
"Yeah, but I wanted to try again sooner rather than later…so I did and it took."
"How long?"
"Six weeks."
Jake squeezed his way in between the two women, whooping loudly and picking Clarke up in a bear hug, "I'm gonna be a grandpa?"
"Yes, Jake," Lexa laughed, "Can you please put my wife down? She looks like she's turning green again."
After a brief talk reassuring Abby that she was okay and was keeping up with vitamins and books on having children, the rest of the family was able to get their congratulations in. Of course, Clarke's grandparents shook their head with slight disapproval but nonetheless embraced Clarke and Lexa with well wishes and promises of spoiling their future great-grandchild.
Murphy asked how they had done it, Raven kept insisting on who the godparents would be and Octavia joked that it was offensive they stole her and Raven's thunder for the wedding dates before proceeding to announce them.
When they settled down for dinner, the room was abuzz with talk and shouts from adults and squeals of joy from children. Lexa's hand slid over Clarke's thigh suddenly and blue met green. For a brief moment all they could see was each other, love and affection evident in forest green eyes. Clarke's hand interlocked with Lexa's before she leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
"I love you so much."
"I love you," Lexa breathed, placing a gentle kiss on the tip of Clarke's nose.