As promised, here's the absolute final chapter to this you enjoy the ending. I couldn't resist...
Two years later – New Year's Eve
Lexa is nervously biting her nails. She's planned today excessively and hopes it'll be perfect. She isn't worried for the outcome. She is fairly certain she knows how Clarke will react, but she's unsure if the way she's chosen to do it, is what her girlfriend likes. They haven't really talked about it, their lives were too busy, but Lexa doesn't want to wait and prod her to learn what her fantasy is. It has been pushed into motion with everyone involved hopefully knowing their tasks.
Her phone rings and stirs her effectively out of the trance-like state she is in. 'Let's get the show started,' Lexa thinks after she fumbled for her mobile and sees her girlfriend's name on the screen. "Hey babe." She greets cheerily, her heart is beating quicker at what she is about to do.
"Lex? Where are you? We have to be at Raven's in half an hour." Clarke informs her with an impatient voice.
"Yeah um, I won't be there on time." She lies, crossing her fingers behind her back.
"What do you mean? Where the hell are you?"
"I'm stuck."
"Why?"
"The car broke down."
"Why didn't you call earlier?"
"It just happened."
"Where are you? I'll come and get you."
"I took your car."
She hears Clarke sighing and hopes once more she's doing the right thing.
"Hang on, Raven's calling on the landline." She says to Lexa and picks up the house phone. "Hey Ray."
"Yes, um, Lexa offered to store some champagne in your fridge to cheer the new year." Raven says without a greeting, sounding out of breath and in a hurry. Lexa smiles at the improvised acting talent of their friend. "I just called to remind you to bring it along."
"Ok. Hold on." Clarke answers and walks over to the fridge. "Lex, where did you put the champagne?" She asks into the mobile in her other hand when she couldn't find it.
"I've put them in the garage." Lexa explains.
"Ok. Hey Ray. Can you give me a lift? Lexa is stuck somewhere and needs to be picked up. The car isn't working. If we take the bottles with us, we can go to yours straight away."
Lexa grins. Crucial step one has been taken. Thank god for Clarke's strategic but predictable brain.
"Yeah sure." Raven confirms with a smile. "Be there in ten."
If Clarke is suspicious why the host of this year's New Year's Eve party has time to come around spontaneously, she doesn't voice it. She hangs up and focuses on her girlfriend once more. "So, care to tell me where you are?"
"I'm at the service station ten miles south of Rockfield." Lexa closes her eyes and prays Clarke won't ask what she is doing there.
"Ok. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"I'm sorry babe."
"Don't be. Not your fault the car decides to break down today." Clarke exhales once more. "I should've had it checked."
"I know. Bad timing." Lexa says and offers to take it into the garage the next working day.
"Yeah, be better. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Ok. Love you." Lexa breathes.
"Love you too." Clarke hangs up and Lexa walks back to the car, which functions impeccably, to get going. She has to prepare the last part of her plan.
"I don't even know what she's doing out there?" Clarke huffs in annoyance.
"You didn't ask her?" Raven tries hard not to laugh. She knows Lexa has worried the blonde would ask her, but she seems to have forgotten.
"No. Damnit. I'm so sorry. I hope we're back in time for the party. I'll help you set everything up as soon as we're back."
"Don't sweat it. It's almost done."
"Slow down. The exit is coming up." Clarke instructs; a hand motion accompanies her words. Raven leaves the highway and drives to where Lexa has told her to and parks the car.
"I can't see the car." Clarke opens the door and steps out. "Or her… Do you see her?"
"No I don't." Raven leaves her car grinning and joins Clarke. "What's that?" She squinted at the nearby bench.
"I don't care. Someone has forgotten something. Where the hell is she?" Clarke doesn't look up, already searching her bag for her cell phone, whilst Raven walks off towards the seats, hoping her friend would follow her at some point.
"She isn't picking up the phone." Clarke says angrily as she stops behind Raven glaring at her mobile.
"Hey." The brunette pointed to the letter, held down by a stone. "Um, it has your name on it."
"What?" Clarke whips around so quickly Raven stumbles back a little. "How?" She looks down on the table and reads her name in big bold letters. "What?" She repeats flabbergasted.
"Open it?"
Clarke looks around for signs of a joke, but she can't see any. "Do you think Lexa left it?"
"She did say she was here, didn't she?" Raven points out, hiding her grin. "Open it." She says once more.
With shaking hands Clarke grabs the envelope, tears it open and finds a note, recognising the handwriting immediately.
Clarke,
I know you are utterly confused at the moment, but this ordeal will make sense soon. You might have realised by now, I'm not here anymore. Just to take the pressure off of you – the car is fine. Don't worry, but do you know where you are?
Look around. I have described the place to you more than two years ago.
Clarke looks up and takes in her surroundings for the first time. She sees the diner in the distance and remembers Lexa telling her about it.
"This is where Lexa stayed the night when she first heard me singing on the radio." Clarke whispers to Raven who nods.
Exactly, this is where you mesmerized me with your heartbreakingly beautiful lyrics. It is the beginning of us and the start of me saying thank you for everything.
"What does she mean the start?" Clarke looks at her friend who shrugs and motions for her to read on. "Don't ask Raven, she won't tell you." The blonde reads out loud. "What is she talking about?" Clarke huffs, but reads the last lines.
Throw away your scepticism and come with me on a ride into our past. Here's your clue for the next stop.
'It was a warm night full of surprise, when I, for the first time ever, looked into your eyes.'
I hope you'll like it. I'll see you soon. I love you. Lexa
"Is this a treasure hunt?" Clarke looks for an answer to Raven, who simply nods with a grin, before asking. "Where do you think she wants us to go next?"
"Um, wait." Clarke reads the hint again and smiles. "To the Ark?" She looks up and bites her lips in apprehension. "Right?"
"If you say so. I don't know." Raven shrugs with an apologetic half smile.
"Sure you don't." Clarke says sceptically.
They walk back to the car and return to Rockfield where they arrive a few minutes later. Clarke walks into her restaurant and looks around, a little lost at what to do next. "And now?" She turns to one of her waitresses. "Hey Sophie, has Lexa left something here for me?"
The woman smiles at hearing her name and walks closer. "Lexa said you'd know where to look."
Clarke takes out the slip of paper and reads it once more. "Oh." She exclaims a second later and darts past the rows of tables to the one where Lexa had sat that night. Sure enough, she finds another letter.
Well done baby.
You are, where I lost my heart to you. One look into your beautiful eyes and I was a goner.
Do you remember the night? You stopped at the table to greet me, and as soon as I heard your voice I knew who you were. I considered, for a nanosecond, to pretend to be mute so I could study you without you knowing who I was. History went differently though and I'm incredibly happy it did.
Clarke laughs and turns to Raven. "Do you remember that night Lexa stopped by the first time?"
"Yeah, smooth you had told her to come over."
"I did no such thing. I merely advertised the place." Clarke blushes.
"So?" Raven points to the letter and the blonde continues reading.
Your next stop was my first sanctuary in a very long time. We have made quite a few memories there, which I treasure and keep safe. I'm sure you know where to go?
"Um, no I'm not sure." She muses over Lexa's question.
"What do you think she means?" Sophie asks having followed her boss as per Lexa's instruction.
"The old house?" Clarke guesses, tilting her head to the left, studying the note. "I too have some things I'm fond of remembering when thinking of the place."
"You settled on your old house?" Sophie clarifies and the blonde nods. "Very well." She then hands her a key. "The new owners are out tonight. Lexa said, you should lock the door once you're done and drop the key through the post slot."
"Kelly is in this as well?" Clarke's mouth drops open in disbelief. They had bonded with the woman who had bought the house and formed a close friendship throughout the few months since the move.
"I don't know. I'm just saying what Lexa told me to say." Sophie relates and pushes the key into the baffled woman's hand.
"This is crazy. Why did she go through all this trouble? A kiss and a thank you would have been enough. I have to thank her just as much." Clarke murmurs on her way out, missing the exchanged thumbs up between Raven and Sophie. They made their way quickly over to the small house and Clarke tentatively opened the front door and stepped inside, spotting a letter on the little unit in the entrance hall.
Welcome in our old home. Although, we both decided to move elsewhere, this house has a special place in my heart. Do you remember what happened at the exact spot you're standing in at the moment?
Clarke blushes and shyly looks over her shoulder at Raven who can't hide her phone quickly enough. "What are you doing?" She lowers her hand onto her hips. "Have you been taping this the whole time?" She asks accusingly.
"Read on princess and ignore me." Raven lifts her mobile up again, filming a scowling Clarke. "Come on Clarkey, we don't have all night. I have a party to host." She pushes her on.
We kissed for the first time and you blew my mind. I knew I had fallen in love with you, but this kiss, made it true and sealed the deal deeper than I could have imagined. I had never felt anything as remotely intense before you and I. You are my soulmate, Clarke.
She smiles at the last words. She had said them to Lexa that night.
Your next stop is really, really, close by. Think about what happened next and you should know where to go.
"Oh my god." Clarke grins. "We kissed here and had sex in the living room the same night." She exclaims, having forgotten the camera trained at her face.
"TMI Clarke, but go ahead." Raven laughs behind the lens.
They walk into the next room and a letter sat teasingly on Kelly's couch. She picks it up still grinning at the memory.
That was a short journey, but that night wasn't. My god… I'm still positively reeling from the memory, although we had plenty of repeats. ;-)
Clarke laughs out loud and nods along.
You are the most beautiful, alluring, ravishing and magnificent woman I've ever laid my eyes on and I'm beyond humbled and touched to be able to call you mine. You refilled emptiness in my heart and as promised you never took it away from me. You are my everything.
Clarke wipes a stray tear away and smiles softly at Lexa's words.
So your next stop brings you even further back into the past. Good and bad memories are linked to there. We had our first official appearance as a couple at that place. Where do I want you to go now?
"I know it Ray." She faces the other woman rolling her eyes at seeing the mobile still pointing at her. "Stop it. You're annoying." She scowls. "Take me to my mom's house."
"Your wish is my command."
She knocks at her mother's door with giddiness.
"Hey Clarke." She opens the door with a big grin.
"So." Her daughter starts. "Apparently everyone close to me has been involved in Lexa's game, I'm sure you know why I'm here?"
"I do. Come in. Hi Raven."
"Where is it mom?"
"Well, I'm not making it that easy. Think of the night and you should know."
Clarke scratches her head in thought. "We had dinner and then settled on the couch." She looks at her mother with squinted eyes. "Is it at one of the two?"
"Maybe…"
Clarke walks into the kitchen and finds it empty. She huffs and turns to the living room. She remembers they had shared her mother's loveseat and she inches closer to it and smiles when she sees the envelope.
Well done. This is the spot my life changed significantly for the better. Your mom and I made you understand that love is enough to move on from something that has been working so far. Love is enough to start over. Love is enough to be the driving force to explore new paths.
I'm incredibly thankful to Abby for her unwavering support without even knowing me. She told me a couple of months ago, she had been convinced you and I were meant to be together, after learning of how we met.
Clarke looks at her mother. "Do you know what she has written?"
"Of course not. It's not for me."
Clarke reads it out loud and Abby puts one hand over her heart and sighs moved by the words. "She's the best." She says.
"She is." Clarke subconsciously caresses the words on the paper.
"Alright Griffin one and two. Get it together, we have a party to attend to." Raven interrupts the silence.
"Shut up, Ray." Clarke growls. "This is more exciting than any party." She says, and reads on.
Give your mom a kiss on the cheek from me and get going to where I took you on our first official date.
"She wants me to go to the cinema." The blonde says and walks towards her mother and delivers the kiss. "From Lexa." She says then kisses her mom's other cheek. "From me." She smiles. "I'll see you at Raven's."
"Yes darling. See you later."
"Do you remember which movie you watched?" Raven asks her, camera fixed once more on Clarke.
"Um, I didn't really pay much attention to the movie." The blonde says, grinning naughtily.
"Fair enough."
"I think it was called 'The book of love' or something." She mused.
A few moments later an employee approaches them. "Excuse me?" Clarke looks at her questioningly. "Are you Ms Griffin?"
"Yes."
Upon the positive reply the woman hands her another envelope and retreats again.
You probably won't believe it, but I was very nervous on our first date. A healthy and strong relationship isn't built only on sexual compatibility. Communication is just as important and I worried we wouldn't find topics to talk about, but you proved me wrong. Even in a place where one isn't supposed to talk, we found plenty of things to discuss. Some thoughts were even exchanged without words at all. I had the best time although I don't remember what happened in the movie. Do you?
"Oh my god." Raven laughed again. "You guys need to watch the movie again." She says into the camera after having read over Clarke's shoulder.
"Excuse you." The blonde huffs out. "This isn't for you to know. Take your traitor's eyes off my letter."
"Why am I a traitor?"
"Because, you Raven Reyes, are suppose to be there for me and not working for Lexa."
"Well, look around darling. I am here for you."
"You know what I mean." Clarke pouts.
"Ok, stop being childish and read on."
That evening showed me how great we fit. You balance my imperfectness and I feel great with you on my arm. :-)
"Lexa…" Clarke says looking up and into the camera. "You are perfectly imperfect and I love everything about you."
"Nicely put Griffin." Raven mumbles.
"Shush."
We are almost done, which is good, because I'm waiting for you.
A few months after we became one, we made another big decision which changed my life once more. Go to where the change is still proudly displayed.
"Uuuuhm…"
"What is it? Stumped?"
"Go to where the change is still proudly displayed?"
"Which change is she talking about?"
Clarke stops in her movements and stars into nothing, thinking. 'Another big change in Lexa's life', she muses and it clicks.
"Oh yes, I know. I bet she means her truck. We still have 'The Ark' advertised on it."
"Where is her truck?"
"I didn't see it at the restaurant. Did you?"
Raven shakes her head, watching the blonde intensely through her camera.
"There's a bigger parking lot close to the house." Clarke thinks out loud.
"Where you live now?"
"Yeah. Maybe it's there? Can I call her?"
"She didn't offer a phone-a-friend-lifeline."
"Damnit."
"Take a risk?"
"I don't know where else she would park it."
They spot Lexa's truck immediately. The big container sporting the beautifully designed logo as well as a letter attached to the door handle of the container.
Clarke,
You made all my dreams come true. I have a beautiful girlfriend, a warm and safe home and a flourishing business thanks to you. I've never felt more settled and comfortable in my own skin. I never felt I've achieved more in my whole life. You are the love of my life.
Clarke swallows hard, tears pooling in her eyes.
"Raven?"
"Yes Clarke?"
"Is this what I think it is?"
"What do you think it is?"
Clarke looks at her best friend who smiles softly at her. "Why don't you read on?" Raven whispers after a while. She is welling up herself.
Clarke releases a trembling sigh and looks down on the letter in her shaking hands. There is just one line left and it makes her heart beating so quickly she fears it may burst due to overexertion.
Come home now.
"Ray… is this what I think it is?" Clarke repeats her words, her voice barely above a whisper. Instead of an answer Raven pushes her towards their house at the other side of the parking lot. The Christmas lights are softly pulling her in like a magnet and she arrives at her front door without realising she has moved, a letter is pinned to it.
Clarke,
You have just revisited all the major spots of our history. From the very beginning with a song, to our first shared home. I'm planning on making a lot more memories, starting now.
Clarke opens their door and enters the hall, which is illuminated by a million candles, rose petals on the floor pointing towards the kitchen. She follows them on autopilot. She could not name or sort or make sense of her thoughts. Her voice has left her and her heart is still beating crazily. When she enters the kitchen, the backdoor to their garden is open and she slips through into the softly glimmering night.
She spots her instantly; eyes finding the other, capturing them in a steady lock. Lexa stands in the middle of the lawn, she's wearing a short dress, her hair is openly flowing over her shoulder and she looks like a goddess. Clarke shakes her head in disbelief and grins when she walks towards her.
"My love." Lexa starts, taking one of the blonde's hands into her own, when she was close enough. "I've craved you from the moment I heard your voice. I needed you forever with me the moment I laid my eyes on you. I wanted you for the rest of my life the moment I kissed you. I love you more than anything in this world and I want to make you happy and care for you until my last breath." Lexa drops down on one knee and takes a box from the lawn, opens it and holds it up. "Clarke, will you marry me?" They have not once lost eye contact and both have tears softly sliding down their cheeks.
Clarke swallows a sob and starts nodding with a big smile on her face.
"Is that a 'yes'?" Lexa asks tentatively.
"Yes. A million times yes!" Clarke pulls her up and crashes their lips together. Only then does she hear the cheers and clapping from people and when she breaks the kiss to look around she sees all their friends and her mother in her backyard.
"How long have you been planning this?" She turns back to Lexa who cradles her in her arms.
"A while. You liked it?"
"It was perfect. Just like you."
They kiss again. And again. And again until a throat is cleared close by. Raven looks at the couple with a wide smile.
"So Clarke, after you've driven around with the champagne, would you do us the honours and open it for the toast?"
The blonde blushes. "Oh wow. I didn't realise."
"You weren't suppose to."
They open the bottles and share the beverage and Clarke sees Kelly and her kids standing next to her father's friend Kane. She spots her staff and local people from the town. Everyone is smiling at her and she feels utterly content in the arms of her fiancé, in their home surrounded by people that love, support and respect her and Lexa.
"Thanks to everybody who made it possible for me to ask Clarke this way. You guys are awesome and the best friends we could ask for." Lexa kisses Clarke softly. "Thanks baby for wanting to marry me. I love you."
"I love you." Clarke breathes back.
"Hear, hear. Cheers to the most beautiful couple." Raven calls out and everyone joins in her celebratory joy.
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"Happy new year my life."
"Happy new year my future."
This is my last post for 2016. I'll be back in spring with brand new Clexa adventures. In the meantime, I might post the odd one shot I've written or if you've got prompts you think I'm the right writer for - hit me with'em.
I wish you all a prosperous, healthy, dream coming true 2017. Please stay safe wherever you are. Jaansche