Hey all, this chapter was a bit of a struggle. There's lots I needed to bridge to prep for the next portion of the story. WARNING: THIS IS A RATED M CHAPTER. I haven't added that in the past with violence, language or…..other stuff, but I want to make it clear. To my faithful reviewers…ShinyGorram, Sissylks…I don't have enough words for how much I appreciate your words and support for the last few chapters. Keep the comments coming people! They drive me to post bester and faster! I love hearing what you think of this little world in my mind….and on that note…

Disclaimer: I STILL don't own anything, all rights to CW

Chapter XXVIII

They managed to complete Indra's pyre just in time it seemed. The storm that had been threatening for the last couple days finally struck with its full force shortly after the fire had died out and everything had been cleaned up. It had now been going strong for four days with no signs of letting up.

The wind whipped the trees and branches around with ferocious strength, bending them, as if to test their ability to bend and move to its will, while still managing to stay together. The rain lashed out, coming in sheets with such speed and force, it would knock you down and have you soaked to the bone within seconds while, feeling like you were slowly being stripped of a layer or two at the same time. If it was just those two, Clarke wouldn't have been too worried, but the fierce electrical storms that struck in tandem with the storms caused serious electrical issues, even with the T'Owvie living on the planet for hundreds of years and troubleshooting issues in the off season.

The only good thing about it was, it basically kept Krass and his supposed army where he was, and gave everyone in Haven a chance to plan and prep for the inevitable onslaught that he promised. Not to mention it kept Octavia like a trapped animal, stalking the caves, trying to find a way out to get her revenge.

In the midst of all of the meetings, prep and constant electrical issues, Clarke enjoyed moments just watching Jordan learn and grow, experiencing life, on an actual planet, with others and a whole new race of people. His child-like wonder and enthusiasm seemed to infect all around him, except for Octavia who he learned in the first few hours to steer clear of, and it seemed after such heart ache and loss to be a welcomed distraction by all in their group. She also spent time with Murphy and Emori, revelling in their joy of being back together. Emori seemed to soften the darkness in Murphy somehow, letting him show a different side, a thoughtful and caring side, that he seemed to reserve for her and Jordan especially which was a welcome distraction between long strategy meetings.

Clarke had just gotten out of, yet another of such strategy meetings, and her head was fuzzy with all the information and random scenarios they had been going over as a group, and she felt like she needed some place and quiet to compose herself before heading back to the house to meet up with Madi and Jordan. He had naturally slid into a place in their little family, and had taken on a brotherly role with Madi, and as a result had started to spend the majority of his time at their house in the evenings with her.

Clarke sighed and walked up the steep side of the cavern towards the back corner where there was a small, hidden passageway that she had discovered after she away from everyone early in the morning after Indra's pyre. It was steep with a sharp curve, descending to a small outcrop, under a larger overhang of the solid rock above so it was protected from the onslaught of the storms, while it looked out over a small valley and expanse of green forest.

As she rounded the corner to the outcrop, she noticed a figure already present and paused, her breath catching in debate as to whether she should continue or turn around and go back to the house. While she paused, the figure turned in the dim light towards her as if instinctively noticing there was someone present regardless of her soundless approach.

"Come child. You found favorite spot?" Archon's voice said clear over the wind and rain of the storm, thrashing the forest below in the valley.

Clarke hesitated for only a moment and then move forward, "I'm sorry, I didn't know this was your spot." She mumbled, disappointed that she wasn't going to get there alone time she was hoping for to gather her thoughts.

She must have frowned, as Archon chuckled slightly, "Alone, you can soon. Trek hard for old bones." She said, seeming to read Clarke's thoughts clearly.

Clarke smiled and noticed that Archon had found a decent sized boulder from somewhere and was perched on it, just far enough back to not get wet if the wind shifted, but close enough to still have the violent breeze whip the edges of her skirts around her feet. She briefly wondered just how old those bones were as she eyed the size of the boulder.

The silence stretched out between them amicably and despite her earlier disappointments, Clarke felt herself relaxing and her mind calming as she watched the rippling movement the wind had on the treetops, like waves on an ocean.

"You shoulder much, so young." Archon said turning her head a little to give Clarke a studying look, then turning her attention back to the storm with a small sigh. "This not fresh start you wanted." She added to the wind so quietly Clarke almost missed it.

Clarke decided to sit on the slightly damp earth beside Archon and stared at her hands in her lap for a moment, "No. Not really. But I'm not sure if I deserve one." She responded to her own surprise at her honesty.

Archon's gaze never faltered as she stared out over the trees, but she reached a withered and wrinkled hand over, gently placing it on Clarke's shoulder. "All deserve peace, child." She said, causing tears to well in Clarke's eyes.

She felt Archon shift on her stone to turn and face her, while she kept a firm, but soft grip on her shoulder, "You not beyond forgiveness, though more struggle, I fear, gain peace we seek." And she stood with a small groan and sad smile, adding, "You give much, all, maybe for people."

Clarke opened her mouth to respond with confusion playing across her features, but Archon chuckled again before turning away and starting to walk slowly towards the path, "Blessed, we are, you give for us. Place always have with us here." She said over her shoulder, cutting off any further conversation before she turned the corner out of sight.

Clarke sat for a couple more minutes slightly stunned at the encounter before she shifted from sitting in the dirt to the stone Archon managed to, somehow, place there. She turned Archon's words over in her mind as she watched the wind slowly increase as the electrical storm in the distance inched it's way closer. Did Archon really think she was going to give everything to save all of them again, while offering her a place for her and, by extension her people, within Haven? She wondered if they all could finally have the peace, the sense of community and belonging they had been looking for within this group.

With a sigh she realized that the storm was blocking out any significant light at this point and figured it was her cue to head back to the house. Madi and Bellamy would be wondering where she had gotten too if she wasn't home soon and she got up, walking slowly, her mind continuing to chew on Archon's words about forgiveness and the struggles ahead.

It didn't take long for her to get back to her residence and as she placed her hand on the door, she could already hear Jordan and Madi in a heated debate over some kind of system the T'Owvie were trying to modify to stabilize their power grid and she couldn't help but smile as she entered.

Bellamy was in the kitchen preparing a meal, as he seemed to have a much better knack for it than any of them, and Madi and Jordan were on the couch, both waving thier arms as they talked over each other's arguments in animated conversation. Bellamy looked up at Clarke as she crossed the room and joined him behind the counter in the galley area.

He instinctively leaned into her as his hands were busy washing the dirt from some tuber root vegetables, while some sort of meat and sauce bubbled away happily on the cooking element, making Clarkes stomach growl with hunger loudly. He planted a quick kiss on her cheek, something he had been doing more of lately, causing her to blush reflexively in sudden shyness.

"You okay?" he said in low tones as he moved back, focus again on the vegetables he was washing off, before transferring them to a towel and shutting off the water. He turned his full gaze on her then and she was hit with his dark brown eyes, full of concern, studying her face.

Bellamy watched her school her facial expression with a quick, minute shake of her head before she smiled a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I'm fine. Really." She said, putting her conversation on the back thought as she watched Bellamy's face cloud over with disbelief in her words.

He knew she was lying, but it didn't seem like she was in a place where he could push her for answers, when he heard her stomach growl again loudly and he couldn't help but smirk at her with a lopsided grin, "Suppers almost ready. Why don't you go wash up and change? You are covered in mud in the back." He said, giving her a little push out of the galley area while pointing at the dirt trail she left behind as she moved.

"Sorry," she said looking chagrin at the dirt on the floor, "I will be quick." She added, laughing lightly at his attempt to shoo her out of the kitchen with a broom, in a mock display of frustration, and she made her way to the stairs, pausing to plant a quick kiss to the top of Madi's head as she argued a new point while Jordan scowled at her words.

This was the way the last few evenings had gone since the storms had block them in, with only the addition of Octavia coming in late at night and leaving again early in the morning. Clarke knew that Bellamy was worried about his sister's state of mind, but she left him be with it until he was ready to talk to her about things. As she changed her clothes, she felt both peace and anxiety about the 'normal' routine her life had settled into the last couple of days. It seemed like a false sense of safety and community that they were living, and she had come to realize she desperately wanted it to be true, as Archon's words had offered. It also felt like something that was sure to be ripped away from her very soon with this war coming with Krass and she was trying very hard to not put hope in this idealistic life she was living.

She didn't realize she had paused after dressing, lost in her thoughts until she was startled by Bellamy's hand on her shoulder, her instincts quickly taking over, as she snatched the hand, quickly putting his wrist into a lock that dropped him to his knees before she even had a chance to register what she was doing.

"Oh, my God, Bellamy, I'm sorry!" She said instantly letting go of him with a shame filled, apologetic expression on her face.

His surprise was just as quickly wiped away and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as her gingerly rubbed the offended wrist, "You know," he started, desperately trying to keep his features schooled, "if you wanted me on my knees, all you had to do was ask." He said in a low tone, eyes flashing with his teasing.

Clarke blinked twice as she registered his words and her shame disappeared, replaced with mock offence, watching him try, and fail at keeping a straight face. "Bellamy!" She hissed, playing along, enjoying the moment, "There are children present!" She rebuked him playfully back in a low tone as to not be heard by the pair still arguing on the main level.

He finally broke and smiled his cocky grin at her, "It would be a shame to waste the good meal I have gotten ready too." He stated getting up and offering her a hand as she grinned back. His face clouded for a moment as she reached for his hand, "Seriously though, is everything alright?" He asked pulling her to her feet and wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her close.

Clarke sighed and wrapped one of her arms reflexively around his waist and the other over his shoulder gripping him tight, suddenly over taking by a need to have him close. "Yeah." She whispered and squeezed her eyes shut, inhaling his scent, and letting his warmth seep to her very core. "It is for now." She said more to herself than in answer to his question.

Bellamy sighed and almost didn't catch her last words even as he felt her speak into his chest and he tightened his arms for a moment. He knew he had the same worries with the coming battle and felt like this life they had could easily be yanked out from under him at any moment. That caused him more than one sleepless moment over the last few nights.

"Um, Bellamy? I think something is burning." Madi yelled from the main level breaking the moment between him and Clarke abruptly with Bellamy lurching away, swearing, "Shit!" And rushing back down the stairs as Clarke couldn't help but smile again and shake her head.

Conversation over supper was relatively superficial after yet another full day of planning and prepping for the impending war, both Madi and Jordan picking up on the under tones of tension as he kept his stream of chatter to a surprising minimum for most of the rest of the evening till it was close to the time he usually left to go back to the suite he now shared with Shaw and a couple others as Murph and Emori had managed a small one room residence just down from where Echo and Miller were.

Jordan pulled Clarke aside as Madi assisted Bellamy with cleaning up the dishes and food. "Um, I wanted to ask you something." Jordan started, his voice low as he focused intently on picking at a thread on the pillow in his lap.

Clarke managed not to roll her eyes out of impatience as she waited for him to ask his question, and he finally took a breath and met her gaze, "Can Madi stay with Shaw and I tonight?" He rushed out quickly.

Of all the things she had thought he might ask, this definitely didn't even make the list and she pause a moment, mouth open and closing as she ran it over in her mind. Before she could form and answer he rushed on. "We have been asked to help with a new electrical system and they want to start early and Shaw already set up a room for her and I wanted to keep going over some programming and electrical stuff and..." He rambled on rapid fire.

Clarke held up her hand to stop him and sighed. "Madi?" She said raising her voice eyeing her out of her side vision as she flinched a little, and sheepishly turned towards her.

"Yeah Clarke?" She said wearily, knowing exactly what had just transpired between Jordan and Clarke and cringing just a little at her tone.

"Why would you do that to Jordan?" She asked as his head snapped up and his dumbfounded gaze bounced back between her and Madi. She turned her head to give Madi a withering motherly look and noticed Bellamy's shoulders shaking with silent laughter at the scene as he stood at the sink, back to them.

"Well, I, it's just, I figured he would have a better chance of getting a yes from you. Unless you are in a meeting you don't seem to like me out of your sight." Madi said hanging her head at being caught and called out in from on Jordan for putting him in the line of fire. She had lowered her voice slightly with the last of her words considering they weren't really fair since just loosing Indra, but she was feeling smothered.

Clarke huffed a moment and squinted her eyes at Madi in frustration before turning back to Jordan, "I know you aren't a kid, but you just got played. Next time you tell her she can ask me something herself, okay?" Clarke said as he realized she wasn't mad at him and he nodded furiously trying to still figure out just what happened.

Clarke leveled her gaze back to Madi again feeling slightly guilty over keeping her on a short leash, but still not wanting to let go what Madi had done, "As for you, I expect next time you will ask me yourself for something you would like? Instead of coercing someone into doing the dirty work for you?" And she took note of Bellamy's silent laughter again as he stood behind her.

Clarke sighed in resignation and showed she was relenting, "Fine, but I expect that you find me at lunch in the hall so we can connect, AND..." She said holding up her hand as both Jordan and Madi beamed at her, "You are NOT to go outside the perimeter. PERIOD." She said forcefully, getting her point across.

Madi bounced over to Clarke and hugged her, grinning from ear to ear, "Thanks Clarke, and I promise, we won't go outside the perimeter." Madi vowed vehemently as Jordan nodded vigorously.

Clarke then allowed herself to chuckle for a moment at her utter child-like behaviour as she bounded off to get her already packed bag and Jordan stood, "Thanks Clarke." He said sheepishly as he waited for Madi to come back.

Clarke's face clouded for a moment and she lowered her voice slightly, "You stay by her side. She will keep you safe." She said as his eyes widened and he nodded his promise as Madi bounded up. She may be young, but Indra had trained her well and she had the Commanders knowledge to draw on. Jordan didn't have any of that to keep him safe.

"See you tomorrow." She said, grinning and hugged Clarke, waving at Bellamy who had finished up in the kitchen.

They left in a flurry of renewed debate over another system, the door shutting on Jordan's scoffing protest to a suggestion Madi made about bypassing some system she felt was redundant and Clarke shook her head, trying to ease the tension in her chest of letting Madi out of her sight.

Bellamy slid an arm over her shoulders and she leaned into his chest as they looked at the door and he sighed, "Ah, kids." He said quietly, leaning down to speak into her hair.

Clarke hugged her arms around her middle as he turned her back to the couch and guiding her to sit. She watched him move back to the kitchen, pouring them some of the spicy hot drink, and return with hand her a cup and settle on the couch beside her.

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping their drinks before he shifted to look at Clarke who was lost in thought, "So, are you going to tell me how you are really doing?" He said, reading her thoughts far too easily.

Clarke smiled into her cup and shook her head slightly, marveling once again at how after so many years he still seemed to know her so well. She looked up with a sigh, "We are standing at the edge of a coming storm and I don't know if we can or will win." She said resting her head to the side on his arm that was draped over the back of the couch.

"Hmmmm." Was his low rumbling reply as he watched her eyes flutter closed for a moment as he felt the warm heat from her cheek where she rested it on his arm. "All we can do is plan." He added quietly, not wanting to move, but wishing he could set his mug down and run his hands through her hair.

Clarke smiled slightly and a small laugh bubbled up and she fixed her blue eyes on him, "And our plans always go so well..." She said with dark humor, eyeing him as a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. It felt like there was more at stake this time and they needed to be as ready as possible.

He shifted, setting down his cup and reaching for her empty one, setting it beside his then drawing her close into his side with a happy, rumbling sigh. She felt so warm next to him, and it seemed to slowly push away all his anxiety, and calm his tumbling thoughts, sharpening his senses to how her shampoo seemed to hover around her like a pleasant cloud. How she seemed to fit into his side no matter if they were standing or sitting or...

Clarke closed her eyes and splayed her one hand over his lower chest as she listened to his heart beat below her cheek and noticed how it picked up its pace slightly as they lay on the couch. She couldn't seem to help herself and she worked her hand slowly up the soft material of his shirt to the collar, and to the warm, bare skin of his neck. She felt his heart rate slam into her cheek with every beat as he tilted his head to bury his face in her hair.

She shifted a little and slid out from her warm, nested spot and standing, reached a hand out to him in silent request as she searched his dark eyes, watching the pupils expand, and cheeks flush as he reached for her, standing up as well.

He let her lead him silently to the stairs and up to the loft, only turning to look at him when they reached the side of the bed. She was golden fire to him, blue eyes shining, slightly hooded with intent, and his heart picked up at a thundering pace.

Clarke wanted to tell him so many things before this looming war over took them, but it didn't seem right. It didn't seem right to say the words that meant so much when things were so uncertain. So, she focused on just showing him for the time being and slowly hooked her fingers under the hem of his shirt and lifted, letting her fingers train over his smooth skin.

Last time his ribs were still sporting an ugly bruise across his left side, but now, there was no sign of any injury and she marveled at the smoothness of his skin. He lifted his arms with that damn grin on his face. She started off hating that cocky, all knowing grin of his, but came to love how it made his eyes dance and come alive, full of teasing. Now it spurred her on, as she discarded the shirt to the floor and slowly trailed her fingers down his chest, over the smooth muscles of his stomach.

He let his eyes flutter closed, reveling in the feeling of her feathering touch, working a path of pure fire and heat down his chest to the waist band of his pants. He opened his eyes as his breathing started to quicken and he felt his whole body ignite with a deep heat, radiating from just below where her hands fumbled with his belt and he stepped forward, grasping her wrists and pulling her to him, needing to have her body against his.

She slammed suddenly in to a solid wall of masculinity and muscle, causing her to squeak in surprise as he trapped her wrists at her sides. Her head came up instinctively in response and immediately his mouth crashed into hers, wiping any thought away of how she wanted to show him slowly how she felt as every nerve and sense sparked and fired. She felt the heat pool low, her stomach tightening in anticipation of what was to come as his lips clashed against hers, tongues darting and dancing.

Bellamy let go of her wrist long enough to pull her shirt off in one fluid motion, then captured her mouth again, their tongues moving together, soft moans and short gasps of air the only sound in the room. Sliding his hands around her waist along the edge of her pants, he reached lower, grabbing her thighs and lifting her up in one fluid motion, her legs wrapping around his waist instinctively. He could feel the heat and dampness against the bare skin of his stomach as he strode the last couple of feet over to the bed, laying her down gently beneath him.

The beds sheet felt suddenly cool against her skin compared to the radiant heat of the man hovering above her and she felt him still for a moment causing her to open her eyes as she panted, to find him staring at her. His breathing coming in gasps as he hovered above her face, breath mingling with hers and his eyes searching, contemplating something that she couldn't quite figure out and she reached up to smooth a few strands away from his face, watching his eyes close as he leaned his cheek into her hand.

She seemed like a golden angel below him, cheeks flushed with arousal, lips swollen from his assault on them. He had so many dreams on the ring of her eyes studying his face as they were now, but they would eventually fade into the mist of waking, leaving his heart empty and aching. On occasion he had woken with her name on his lips, which had caused some uncomfortable moments and inevitable resentment between him and Echo. For a moment he worried this was another dream, and that she would fade away again until her hand reached up, its heat warming his cheek, causing his eyes to close.

After that, there was no thought other than the desperate need that was building between them and Bellamy let himself be swept away in the moment, hands moving on their own to rid them both of the last of their clothing. Shifting himself, to settle between her legs, he felt that damp heat brush over him momentarily, causing his breathing to hitch, hands clenching in her hair, pulling her head back to expose her neck. Slowly, painfully, he moved down her body feeling her shift and writhe under him, encouraging him further in his memorization of every inch of her skin with his mouth as her hands found his hair, guiding him lower to his prize.

Clarke could barely think as Bellamy seemed to consume her in every way as she felt him kiss and lick his way down her body. She could smell his scent on the pillow that cushioned her head, feel his hands working down her sides, soft, but yet rough at the same time, while his mouth teased her with flashes of small bites, and soothing licks, all the while his heaviness pressing promisingly against her leg. She wanted more, her body wanted more, and as a result her hands found their way into his hair, gently encouraging his actions to move lower to where her need was gathering with a shocking force.

Bellamy reached the source of her insistency and paused to look up her milky white skin to find her piercing blue eyes, clouded with lust, looking intently down at him, her bottom lip caught between her teeth in silent anticipation of the coming sensation of his mouth on her. He smiled, then moved to tease the crease of her inner thigh with his tongue and whiskers at the same time causing her to buck against his mouth, wiggling to try to angle herself to meet her folds with his tongue, while he shifted his hands to grip her hip bones, holding her in place.

"Ahhhh...Bellamy...no...more...please...don't...tease..." Clarke found herself pleading between ragged breaths, as he held her still, inching around in a slow circle, deliberately avoiding where she was breathlessly begging him to be. She felt his low growling chuckle at her words just before she felt his grip release on her hips and his mouth move, rewarding her with his hot tongue plunging inside her, causing her hips to arch to meet him.

She was wet and ready and it was all he could do to maintain control of himself as her hips slammed into his mouth, delving his tongue deep inside, while she moaned. She was so close that he could feel her muscles starting to quake, but he didn't want her to peak just yet. His body was begging to replace his tongue to the point it was throbbing painfully, so he moved away to her dismayed gasp and used her moisture to trail a path back up her body till he hovered over her again.

His eyes were all she could see, all she could focus on as she felt his hard tip tease her folds open and she wanted to move, burying him inside her, but the look in his eyes stayed her movement. His eyes were darks pools of lust, begging for more, begging for her to be his, to feel what he was feeling, flashing with uncertainty as he hesitated at her opening. In that moment she knew that waiting to say something anymore wasn't the right choice as heard him hesitantly say her name and faulter in the moment.

"Clarke..." Bellamy started, voice rough and thick with emotion, "I...do you..." He fumbled, body screaming at him to stop talking and thrust home, until he saw it in her eyes too. He saw the recognition of what he was trying to say, and the tears that welled up, spilling silently down the sides of her flushed face.

Clarke couldn't help the tears that started as all the emotions and sensations collapsed on her in that moment, and her breathing hitched. "I love you." She whispered watching his eyes change from uncertainty to awe, "I loved you while you were my best friend, I have loved you as we fought and were apart, and I...I think...I will always love you."

It felt like his heart stopped in his chest for a moment and he almost didn't believe he heard her right, or at all for a split second and he felt his mouth open and close in surprise at the depth of sincerity in her bright, tear-filled eyes. He blinked a couple times and found his voice, low, whispering the words he had wanted to say since she walked away from him at Camp Jaha, "I love you too. It's always been you, Clarke."

With those words he sealed their affirmation with the lightest of kisses as he felt her legs wrap around his hips. She tilted her hips, and in one swift movement she buried him deep inside her, fusing them together, causing them to both gasp against each other's mouths at the sensation, while his body took over.

Clarke didn't think it would have been possible for the moment to build further, but as they moved together, she felt it peak, her body letting go to the sensation but him moving inside her, back arching against his weight as her muscles stroked him in progressively intensifying waves, pushing him to join her in release at the same time.

His arms tighten around her with one final thrust, her name on his lips as her buried his mouth in her neck, and stars burst behind his closed eyes at the sheer intensity of the feeling. She clung to him as they rode out the wave of pleasure together, lost in the bliss they shared, panting as the last shivers washed over them and Bellamy eased his weight down on her as she wrapped her arms tightly around him, legs moving back to the bed to quiver from excursion.

Clarke held him, nestled on top of her, head tucked in by her neck, breath tickling her skin as they tried to slow their breathing and pounding heart rates, stroking his sweat dampened hair. She marveled at how his words seemed to shift something inside of her, as if something she never knew she was missing clicked into place. She felt whole for the first time since, well, since never, and she basked in the warm glow it created inside of her.

"Mmmmm," Bellamy mumbled against the skin of her neck, causing a shiver to shudder through her, and making him aware he was still deeply engaged inside of her. "I need to shift." He finally said with a tone of disappointment.

Clarke suddenly became aware of his absence from inside her as he moved to tuck her in against him while she tried to hold off the urge to dozed from the flood of endorphins and the warmth his body provided against her. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes to help move so she was cradled in his arms at his side as he covered them both with the blanket.

He smoothed her hair and planted a kiss on the top of her head, "Good-night...Princess." He said quietly, almost hesitantly. He felt sleep starting to over-take him as he listened to her breathing evening out, and felt he body slowly getting heavier next to him as she drifted off. "I love you." He said in a low voice, trying out the words again with a slight grin.

Clarke smiled against his chest as she heard him speak and felt the three words rumble through his chest, "I love you too." She answered back, smile still lingering on her lips as sleep called to her.