Hello my wonderful readers! What amazing reviews! I have been taking all your reviews into account and have put them into this chapter by making things a little clearer when I shift views. This chapter took me a bit write as I wrote, rewrote, deleted and rewrote it again. I hate bridge chapters so hopefully this one doesn't lag. Keep up the reviews peeps! I love hearing what you all think about where this is going!

Chapter XXIX

Bellamy edged into consciousness as he started to become aware of someone moving around on the main floor. He was warm and comfortable, laying on his side, Clarke nestled in his arms her back snug against his chest, her breathing deep and regular as she stayed in her peaceful sleep. He heard another thud again and his eyes opened to see the lights glowing from the main level. He carefully slipped his arm out from under Clarke and pulled the blanket up over her shoulders as she grumbled in her sleep, rolling on her stomach. He smiled and placed a kiss in her hair and pulled on his soft sleeping pants and a shirt before making his way downstairs to see what was going on.

He reached the top of the stairs and saw Octavia banging around in the kitchen, putting some food together, her face scowling in thought and frustration. "Can I help you find something?" He said just loud enough to be heard, but not so loud as to wake Clarke.

Octavia's head snapped up in surprise and anger, then smoothed to regret as her eyes took in her brother's appearance before they flicked up to the dark loft. "I didn't mean to wake you." She said in a low tone and went back to putting some food on a plate, her actions slower and more careful.

Bellamy sighed and sat on one of the stools at the counter, across from her. "It's okay. I have barely seen you." He finally said after struggling for a moment to find something to say.

Octavia started to eat, eyeing her brother sitting across from her, and she took note of the small changes she hadn't noticed since they saw each other again when he got them out of the bunker. The youthful look was gone in his features, replaced with the hard lines created by years of leadership and the weight of decisions that he had made over the years. Something now was different though, and she took note of how he seemed to have a clam about him and she felt a pang of jealousy.

"So, you and Clarke?" She finally asked, letting her jealousy and her pent-up anger getting the best of her in the moment and she watched his face darken as it did in the bunker when she called him out on his feelings about Clarke.

Bellamy felt his own anger rise at her obvious jab, just jaw tightening and clamping down on his immediate retort. He knew his sister though, and her anger, and he wasn't going to be bated by her into a pointless fight. He just sighed, looking down at his hands for a moment before looking up at her dark features, "O..." He started, tired of the tug-of-war that seemed to be between his sister and Clarke when it came to him.

"Why can't you let it go?" He finally asked, shifting the argument in another direction as he watched her face register confusion, and then flicker back to anger again.

Octavia set down her food and leaned towards him, hands on the counter as she did, "Because she's not worthy." She replied, her voice low and dangerous.

It was Bellamy's turn to be confused as he processed what she said, "Worthy? Worthy of what?" He asked, at a loss as to her train of thought.

"YOU, big brother. She's not worthy of you and this devotion you seemed to blindly give her." She said, almost chastising him.

Bellamy raked his hands through his hair in frustration and then started to chuckle at her protectiveness over him and his heart, even after all they had been through. "God, O," He started, finally looking her with his lopsided grin. "Really? You want to go there?" He almost mocked her with his tone.

Octavia fumed, her anger right below the surface with no way to make herself feel better. It was why she was avoiding everyone and everything right now. She knew she was a powder-keg of emotion and she didn't know what to do with it, so she turned it on Bellamy.

"Yes, I want to go there. You always dismiss me when I go there." She said, nearly hissing at him as she strained not to be yelling at his as he smiled at her.

He got up and walked around the counter, pouring himself a cup of the hot spicy drink as he struggled with how to approach his sister. She was hurt, and angry and lashing out in any way possible. He wanted to tell her it was none of her business and to let it go, but he wanted her to talk, to engage with someone, anyone, and he knew he could weather her storm.

"Fine." He said turning and leveling a serious look at her, "Let's have it out then. Say what you want to say." He relented, almost managing to keep his own frustration at bay, but hearing the edge to his tone.

Octavia knew what he was doing, but she didn't care she needed to fight. "She has strung you along for years, and you keep going back. She left you to die Bell! To die!" Her voice rose as she struggled to keep control over everything inside her.

Bellamy set his cup down and glared at her, her words finally causing his own bitterness to cut through the control he was showing, "And why was I to die O? Who put me in that pit to begin with?!" He growled at her, eyes flashing with the hurt of their past.

Octavia knew she had her fight, fair or not, and she grinned menacingly at him, "You made the choice to poison me. You're own sister!" And she cocked her head to the side daring him to dispute her words.

He clenched his jaw and pressed his lips into a thin line. She knew how to push him, how to play dirty and he was furious with her again for what she had did, who she had become within that bunker, and he knew it wasn't her fault and he took a deep breath, "You weren't my sister in that moment." He began slowly, eyes meeting hers, with such intensity it demanded her silence as her continued.

"You became someone, something else O, Bloodrena. And I didn't recognise the woman in front of me anymore, and she..." he stuttered shaking his head at the memory and stepped towards her, his look softening, "She scared me, and needed to be stopped." He finished, voice lowering, thick with emotion and regret.

The shift in his emotion struck Octavia and she was immediately flooded with regret for picking a fight with him, especially about Clarke. She knew the woman she was forced to become in the bunker was dark and horrible, and a product of the impossible choices that she had faced to keep Wonkru alive, and she hated how she had clung to that horror and seemed to revel in the power it had given her.

"I know she makes you happy." Octavia said quietly, unable to meet his hurt stare anymore and she let her hair fall over her face as she stared intently at her hands.

Bellamy sigh again, the last of his anger ebbing away at her words. "O..." He struggled for the words, "She's my best friend. I love her."

She lifted her head at his words, surprise clear on her face as he actually said it out loud after all this time. Then nodded slowly as if she was giving up on the fight, saying, "I know."

Bellamy stepped closer as he watched her fury melt away, leaving him with his sister again and he put a hand on her arm, "I love you too, you know." his voice cracking slightly on the words as he felt the bitterness and hurt toward her lift off him.

All Octavia could do was nod as she continued to stare at his hand on her arm, tears, springing to her eyes, her heart aching. A breath shuttered through her and she gave into the deep pain inside of her, in one step, closing the gap and wrapping her arms around her brother's waist, clinging to his strength as the tears flowed, damn broken.

Bellamy stood for a moment in shock as Octavia clung to him, before he registered the sobs that wracked her and hey wrapped his arms around her, feeling like she was so small in that moment in his arms and let her cry as he swallowed a lump in his throat as well.

They stayed like that for a few moments as he felt the sobs eased off and she was just sniffling before she moved away, leaving them both slightly awkward. She cleared her throat, wiping the last of the tears off her cheeks, "Um, well, it's late." She said, not meeting his gaze. "Better get back up to Clarke before she thinks you took off." She jabbed, adding a small smile.

"Huh." He chortled back at her attempt as humor and started to make his way to the stairs before stopping at the base. "Will you be here for breakfast?" He asked hopefully, raising an eyebrow in invitation to her as she paused.

She studied him for a minute before answering, she still had the desire to find her fight and get justice, but she knew it would come soon enough, "Yeah, I'll still be here." She finally said with a small smile.

Bellamy nodded and headed up the stairs, feeling a little more at ease knowing she was going to be there in the morning. He padded his way softly over to the bed, and slipped back under the cover, carefully easing back in beside Clarke's warmth, laying on his back.

Clarke rolled over, slipping under his arm, head on his chest, "All sorted?" She asked, voice heavy with sleep.

Bellamy leaned his head down, planting a kiss in her soft, blonde waves as she draped an arm over his waist. "Not completely, but better." He said, voice low and rumbling, as he closed his eyes.

Clarke felt his words vibrate softly against her cheek and she smiled as sleep started to take her again. She knew they had tried to keep their voices down, but she had heard what he had said to Octavia and she felt the warmth of his words spread through her as they had when he first said them.

She gave him a slight squeeze, "Get some sleep." She whispered, letting the sound of his breathing and gentle beating of his heart lull her back into sleep.

Karson groaned as he tried to get his shirt over his head without lifting his left arm to high. The silver nanite paste that they have been using to help heal his wound had made short work of the deep burn, but the muscles were still tight and tender, restricting his movements.

"Here, let me help you." A tentative but firm voice said from the doorway of his medical room. He had been staying in the healing bays so that the paste could be reapplied every few hours to aid in the initial healing, but today he was being allowed to go back to his own residence.

Echo strode into the room and gently helped him get his shirt over his head with a stoic look on her face. She had been coming each morning to check on him since he was sequestered to the healing bay as she found herself having a surprising level of anxiety over his recovery. Neither had made any attempt to address the fact that she was spending all her free time in the spare chair in his room, and she was silently thankful as she didn't want to look too deeply into why she was there.

"Thanks." He mumbled, slightly self-conscious that she was helping him dress and shifted his eyes to focus on putting away the few personal items in his pack, that had showed up at some point from his quarters. "Not sure who to thank for these." He said under his breath, stuffing clothes and toiletries on by one in the pack.

Echo shifted suddenly feeling a little uncomfortable as he kept his back to her, "Umm, I, um, grabbed them for you when we got back." She said quietly as he turned a little to toss her a surprised look. She schooled her emotions again and reached for the bag. "I got this, let's go before they decide to either keep you here or give away your residence to one of us newbies." She added, trying to lighten the mood a little, but failing miserably at a joke.

The caves were humid with the constant storms, the air sticky, making Echo's shirt seem to cling to her skin uncomfortably as they walked slowly towards Karson's residence in awkward silence. As, they rounded the corner, making their way up the edge of the cavern as Bran came out from one of the side paths, slightly out of breath.

"There you are." He said stopping them on their slow trek, "Archon wanted you at the meeting if you are feeling up to it?" He said, his eyes flicking to the bag in Echo's hand causing his eyebrow to raise a little before glancing back up to Karson.

Karson nodded shortly and glanced over at Echo, "Can you..." He started, glancing at the bag and she nodded, walking off at a brisk pace, leaving him with Bran.

They stood for a moment, watching her walk away and Bran cleared his throat as he looked over at Karson, "Huh..." He grunted, followed by a soft chuckle.

Karson turned his attention back to Bran with a questioning look, "What?" He asked watching the other man's eyes dance with humor.

"Oh, nothing. You wanna wait, or…." He said vaguely with a slight smirk on his face and a shake of his head at Karson.

Karson shot Bran a dirty look as he continued to chuckle and turned to start his slow trek back towards the meeting hall, knowing Echo would be more able to catch up before he got there. He scowled at his slow recovery know the coming battle with his father and feeling helpless to contribute. Instead he switched his self-pity to the man walking beside him.

"How are the kids settling in? Any word on Lise?" He asked as they walked.

Bran sighed, "Kids are okay. They love it here to be honest, but they are worried they will never see their mother again. And honestly, I'm starting to worry about that too." He said, fear coloring the last of his statement.

Karson frowned at the thought of his Father hurting so many with his twisted vision. "I'm sorry Bran. I really am." He said as if trying to apologise somehow for his Father's actions.

Bran stopped, turning towards the younger man and placed a supporting hand on his uninjured shoulder as he addressed his apology, "This is not your fault. I am very happy that you are alive and well and got my children to safety. I will owe you for that for the rest of my life."

Karson nodded solemnly at his words and continued to walk, hearing Echos quick steps crunching up the path behind them as they approached the meeting hall and continued in, taking their seats at the head of the hall beside Clarke, Bellamy and Madi.

When everyone had arrived in the hall, Archon called order to the room, and a stillness came over the room as Archon stood, lifting her hands to the crowd and closing her eyes. "Sh'Arj bal T'Owvie kholvader. Abe shalvi rhool va'ek kotsoe." She said in her usual blessing that started any sort of gathering. The words rolling smoothly over the group with a warm and welcoming tone.

Clarke had asked Karson after the very first meeting they were all at in the beginning, what the words meant and he explained that it basically translated as, 'they gathered in the spirit of their ancestors and hoped for guidance to find peace'.

Clarke rarely heard the T'Owvie speak in their own language but it was almost a purring sounding tone that had was chopped up in its pronunciation and she hoped with time she would be able to learn as she had with grounder. But for the time being she settled in for the meeting in her chair beside Karson, eyeing him carefully as she was amazed at his swift recovery.

Clarke had learned that, although Haven had a council, the community decided things as a whole in the end. On the rare occasion there had been opposition to a proposed idea, but for the most part, Clarke had realized that as a whole, most of Haven wanted to stand up and actively oppose Krass and the Colony, but they didn't have the means or the man power to actually do more than maintain their defenses or help others get out of the Colony.

It was decided that a small group would be heading out in two days to scout if Krass had started to move his forces in the direction of Haven or had begun to fortify the Colony's defenses. It was going to be a dangerous trek as the personal shields didn't have the power to last all the way to the Colony, and were dangerous to use in the electrically charged storms.

They eye of the current storm was to pass over in a beneficial path in two days but the group would have to navigate back as the storm ramped up again which added another level of danger to the proposed expedition. The council had tentatively decided on a small scout group already, but they put forth a request for any further willing volunteers so all could have an opportunity to contribute should they want to.

The room had gone silent at that point and business concluded with no other volunteers stepping forward, just in time of the power to flicker and short out as the storm had intensified during their meeting. Archon dismissed the group and all made their way slowly out to their own residences for evening meals, while Clarke and Bellamy lingered with Madi as Jordan approached.

"Clarke, I want to go." Jordan said trying to sound firm as he fidgeted nervously in front of the three sets of eyes that were on him.

"What do you mean, go?" Clarke said slowly, narrowing her eyes at his in scrutiny.

"On the scouting party. I want to go with the group." He said again, as firmly as he could, eyes flicking to Madi as she minutely shook her head at him.

Clarke scoffed, then caught herself as she saw the hurt flash across his face at her response, "Jordan," She started, shaking her head as she spoke and he cut her off.

"Come on Clarke, I can do this. I can help with this." He said, an edge of whine to his tone that caused Madi to frown even further.

Bellamy stepped across the gap and saved Clarke from the rebuke he knew was coming, "Jordan, we need you here for this one." He said gently. "We need your tech skills here to keep the communications going to get us back here safe."

Jordan's face fell at Bellamy's words, his head dropping in disappointment as Bellamy continued, "If it weren't for you and Shaw and Madi, Haven wouldn't have made it through these storms in such good shape. Even Archon told you so. We need that expertise to keep us connected out there. Okay?"

Jordan nodded, lifting his eyes to meet theirs, pride from Bellamy's comments edging through his disappointment. "Okay, but I'm not helpless. I can be out there with you guys." He insisted with a slightly stubborn tone and a look in his eye.

Clarke felt her chest constrict as she immediately recognized the set look in his eye and to his jaw that looked just the way Montey would when he got an idea in his head. Clarke smiled at him, "I know you want out, to be with everyone else, but for now, this is where we need you the most." Clarke said in the most encouraging tone she could.

Jordan nodded again as his gaze shifted back to Madi, "Hey, you want to come over for supper and go through that panel again?" He asked, looking over at Clarke for permission.

"Is that okay Clarke?" Madi said, her look of the Commander slipping away as her face brightened with the excitement of her age.

Clarke smiled, "Yeah, go ahead. Just let me know if it's going to be late." She said, her tone mothering as she bounded off with Jordan. It made her happy to see more moments of Madi's behavior acting her age than as the Commander that she could be. For now, Clarke was happy to let her enjoy that time, because in the next two days, they would be starting a battle.