Chapter 34
Over the course of the next few weeks Clarke grew irritable wanting to help around camp but knowing she was on bed rest 24/7 apart from the occasional bath. She knew she was tense and crabbier than usual so she made sure Lexa was spending more time at her camp away from Clarke. Though Lexa dismissed this at first, Clarke's continuous moaning eventually won her over and Lexa began spending the majority of her time at Tondc, making sure she returned every evening to care for Clarke. The sky girl had said this was not needed but Lexa spent the time there just as much for herself as she did for her girlfriend; she couldn't imagine sleeping in her own tent without Clarke by her side.
Today was different though, and Clarke awoke next to Lexa who had a mischievous grin on her face. "You're still here Lex? I thought you'd be at your camp?" Clarke rolled to nuzzle the neck of the commander who lay next to her. The warrior groaned with pleasure as Clarke ran kisses along her pulse point before moving to look at her face. "Why are you smiling like that?" She narrowed her eyes trying to figure out what the brunette was hiding.
"Your mother and I talked yesterday." Clarke's breath hitched at the mention of Abigail; she knew Lexa wasn't fond of her mother and to be fair she couldn't blame her in the slightest; her mother was at times a total bitch.
"What did she say? I swear I will-"
"All is well, your mother was not angered. She just wished to inform me that because of how quickly you are healing, today we can start your rehabilitation training. Which means if you would like to, we can go on a short walk around camp to start the morning."
Clarke squealed at the news before pulling her girlfriend in to kiss her. "Finally, I'm going mad in here Lex, I hate it."
Lexa smiled sympathetically at her. Over the weeks she thought she would find watching Clarke get easier as she healed but instead found herself worrying more as the frustration and depression took over from being stuck in the damn tent. Though all of Clarke's friends made a great effort to constantly keep her entertained; Clarke was a leader, and being confined to the tent was not something any leader- let alone the strong minded blonde- would appreciate. "I understand Clarke. So if you would like some help with getting dressed, we can be on our way."
Clarke squealed once more and tightly hugged Lexa before putting on her top and standing so Lexa could help with her trousers and shoes. Lexa cautiously braced her girlfriend; holding her arms with much more strength then was needed. The blonde met the warriors gaze before smiling reassuringly. "I'm fine babe. I'm totally ready for this." The warrior forced a smile and watched through worried eyes as the girl took her first few steps, wincing only slightly. "See, all good!" Clarke feigned a slight grimace of a smile. She was in quite a bit of pain but she wouldn't let Lexa know this; although the warrior was tough Clarke knew how much she cared for her and with care comes fear and worry; something Lexa- as a commander- shouldn't have to deal with.
Clarke wrapped her arm around her girlfriends waist before slowly hobbling out the tent. "So, where do you wish to go?" Lexa smiled as Clarke's eyes widened in awe of the camp she was about to explore for the first time in weeks.
"Can we head to Raven in the mechanics section? It's not too far and I haven't seen her in a few days. I know she's probably busy working with you guys on making new lines of defense but she's stopped by everyday up until then so I'm just a little worried I pissed her off when I was in a mood." Clarke let her memory trace over how grumpy she had been with her friends over the past week. She knew they were just trying to help by coming in to tell her stories of what was happening, but really it just ended up making Clarke angry at the fact she wasn't there to deal with it and help out.
"If that is what you wish Sky girl." Lexa began to lead her to Raven, making sure her warriors kept close by her side in case Clarke ran out of energy and needed to be carried. A small ripple of laughter coursed through her at the idea; she knew Clarke would never admit to being tired in the first place- let alone let one of the guards carry her like a child.
Clarke's pace was slow and it angered her. She knew this was her first time walking about but she couldn't help but feel totally pathetic as she clutched onto the brunettes hip, moving sluggishly alongside her. She would not let this bring her mood down though; she was walking after all. Seeing sights other than her tents walls was thrilling in itself. Clarke tried not to laugh as she walked and took notice of her people; though their camp had only been working alongside the grounders for a short period of time, her people seemed to have taken it upon themselves to dress slightly more like them as though it would make them tougher. Many of the women wore their hair lose with plaits running throughout, and a few of the men seemed to have grown beards in hope it would make their manliness more apparent to their new comrades.
Clarke stopped and waited for Lexa to re-position her arm before moving into the mech lab ahead of her; quickly stopping to let her jaw drop as she willed her eyes not to take in the scene before her. "RAVEN WHAT THE FUCK?"
Raven detached her lips from the woman in front of her and spun around; her eyes huge with shock, fear wrenching at the pit of her stomach. "Clarke I can explai-"
"Holy shit. Holy FUCKING SHIT RAVEN. YOU'RE SCREWING MY GOD DAMN MOTHER?" Clarke closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. There had to be a perfectly valid reason for why Raven was quite enthusiastically sticking her tongue down her mothers throat.
"It's not what it looks like!" Raven looked back to Abigail who was adjusting her top while watching on in complete shock. "Okay maybe it's slightly what it looks like..."
"I can't fucking believe this." Clarke turned to face Lexa, whose eyes were huge and her jaw practically on the floor.
"Well, I cannot say I foresaw this development Clarke."
The blonde rested her head against her girlfriends shoulder. "Take me back please. I suddenly feel very tired." Lexa nodded and wrapped her arm back around the girls waist.
"Clarke, can we talk? I can explain!" This time it was Abigail's voice that sounded the air as she moved forward to grasp her daughters arm. "Please."
Clarke closed her eyes tightly and attempted to calm her breathing. "You get two minutes. Two." She narrowed her gaze at Raven before turning it back on her mother. "Well?" She prompted; Lexa trying to bite back the happiness she felt seeing her girlfriend all powerful and striking fear into the heart of Abigail Griffin.
"It only started a few days ago. Raven was helping me out to make some braces for those who lost some mobility after the fight against the Mountain Men. We were already fairly close but I never realized my attraction towards her until we spent a couple late nights working and talking." Clarke gagged slightly. "Clarke do not do that! I am still your mother and though I realize pursuing a relationship with your friend isn't perhaps your favorite thing to see happening, we are both happy Clarke and we don't intend on stopping this just because you're a bit uncomfortable."
"A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE? Mom, Raven's HALF YOUR AGE. AND FEMALE. Now I'm not one to judge but here I was under the impression you liked men, usually around the same age as you. So I'M SORRY, if me being 'a little uncomfortable' with the situation is making you sad." Clarke turned to face her very guilty looking friend. "And since when did you have a thing for my mom? Like, I have only been in that tent for a few weeks right? Or was I unconscious for years without knowing because HOLY FUCKING SHIT, this has come out of nowhere." Lexa rubbed small circles at the base of her girlfriend's back in attempt to calm her slightly before moving her to sit down on top of a low desk. Clarke ran her fingers through her hair and sighed loudly as her body shook with rage.
"Look Clarke, for what it's worth, I tried to ignore my feelings for Abi for a while, I liked your mom before we came down to earth Clarke, I just didn't tell you in case it freaked you out."
Abigail pursed her lips trying to hide the smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth; hearing this for the first time. "Clarke honey, what me and Raven have..." Abigail threaded her fingers through Raven's, the sight of which caused the blonde to dramatically roll her eyes and groan. "Clarke stop. I haven't felt this way about anybody since your father, I know it's not ideal and I am fully aware of the fact you're probably shocked to see me with a woman... I'm equally shocked. But me and Raven we just... We just get each other. We make each other so happy Clarke."
Clarke scrunched her face up and narrowed her eyes at her friend before muttering "I'm sure you do."
Raven bit her lip and shook her head. "Abi she's never going to accept it there's no point in trying."
"You do not get to be the angry one here Raven!" Clarke sat up to walk towards her. "You're meant to be my best friend Raven, then I find out you're doing it with my mom?"
"We're not doing it Clarke, I wanted to tell you before it went that far."
Clarke laughed bitterly. "Oh great, thanks for considering how I would feel in all of this."
Raven scoffed and before walking to exit the room. "You know what, I stuck by you when people judged your relationship. I'm happy Clarke. I haven't been happy since Finn." Her eyes began to tear up at the thought of her past love. "I thought you would understand that."
Clarke's mouth fell open slightly at the broken girl before her. "Raven-"
"No, do you know what; don't worry. I think I'm going to go to Tondc for a bit. Abi I'll see you later." Raven turned shortly after a tear fell down her cheek, walking away as anger took over her.
Abigail folded her arms and moved her gaze to the floor. "You know she was being honest? We hadn't even kissed until just now. We'd discussed it and she wanted to talk with you first... we wanted to talk with you first."
Clarke inhaled a jagged breath suddenly feeling slightly bad for how she'd treated Raven. "Mom, she's half your age."
Abigail sat on the desk and ran her hands through her hair. "I know the age difference Clarke. It's one of the reasons I denied my feelings for so long, but were both adults and decided to just give it a try."
"And if it ends?" Clarke was now wrapped in Lexa's arms; letting the warrior comfort her.
"If it ends then things will be no different to before it began. We all have to work together so we wouldn't let it make things awkward, she is still your friend and I, your mother, so we know we would still have to communicate regularly should things go bad."
Clarke took in a deep breath before sighing loudly. "Fine. You can pursue this, but so help me God if you hurt Raven. She is like a sister to me and I will not see her in pain Mom." Abigail nodded. She would ask her whether she was going to give the same talk with Raven but she figured it wasn't her place to question. "When is Raven returning? I should probably speak with her."
"We were meant to be spending the evening together so I would presume she would be returning before dark."
Clarke rolled her eyes and let Lexa help her to the door. "I am still not okay with this." Clarke gestured to the desk where she caught the two making out. "I will have to burn this from my memory."
"At least you didn't hear us... or see us, making love." Abigail shuddered at the memory.
"Ew Mom! We're never talking of this. EVER."
"It is Agreed." Lexa and Abigail spoke simultaneously as the warrior led her girlfriend out of the room and back to her tent.
When they approached the tents Clarke haltered before entering her own; seeing the flap to Raven and Octavia's was open. "I'm just gonna go see O for a bit, she can walk me back."
Lexa smiled and walked her to the other tent before kissing her on the cheek. "I shall see you at dark. I have matters to attend to for the day."
Clarke drew Lexa in towards her and inhaled her scent; committing it to memory once more before she left. "See you then." Lexa quickly took Clarke's bottom lip between her own before turning on her heel to leave.
The blonde took a deep breath before pulling the slightly open tent door to the side to enter. She stopped dead seeing Raven in tears with Octavia holding the girl in a tight embrace.
Octavia scowled at the girl upon seeing her enter. "Whatever it is you did Clarke, fix it." Octavia waited for Raven to give her the all okay nod before getting up to leave; stopping when she felt Clarke's grip on her arm.
"You can stay ." Octavia slowly nodded before taking a seat beside her teary friend.
Clarke Sat down in front of them before taking another deep inhale. "I'm not saying I'm happy with it- because I'm not- but I am not going to stop it from happening. You deserve to be happy and if my mom is the one to do that for you then so be it."
Octavia's jaw dropped as she moved her gaze quickly between the girls. "What does she mean her mom makes you happy?"
Raven smiled slightly at Clarke. It was more of an acceptance then she had ever seen happening. "Thank you."
Clarke smiled before bringing Raven in for a tight hug. "Do not let her hurt you though; my mother can be an asshole."
Clearing her throat loudly; Octavia raised a hand. "Just a quick question guys... WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK IS GOING ON?"
The girls- now both very tearful- chuckled between sobs. "I'm kind of seeing Abi." Raven watched as her friend's jaw dropped so low she feared it may have been dislocated.
"You're banging Clarke's mom?!" Clarke shot the girl a look of annoyance as she raised her hand to high five the brunette.
"Do not high five her! Why are you high fiving her?"
"Because Momma G is extremely good looking. I mean if I were the slightest bit into women I would totally-"
Clarke violently shoved her friend over while grunting. "My mom is not hot!"
Rubbing her shoulder and scowling at her friend; Octavia sat back up. "Um, she kind of is."
"Ugh!" Clarke shook her head as she looked at the two girls beaming before her but suddenly felt herself joining them in their smiles as she thought how lucky she was. Her entire time on The Arc she had wanted siblings, she had wanted to be on the earth and in love, and here she was, with the two girls she considered blood, a girlfriend who she was so deeply in love with, and she was sitting on the earth; feeling the ground beneath her and surrounded by beauty.
Note from author: So I've been toying with the idea of throwing in this scene for a while after some requests on tumblr, and then asked around to see what friends thought and they all liked the idea too. Let me know what you guys think, I hope I did it justice. For anyone who doesn't ship the couple all I will say is don't worry too much about it, Abi being Abi in my story... it won't be lasting long.
As always i'm on tumblr (maybeeyoullsaveme) if you wanna shoot any questions regarding stuff I've left out or want clarified. I'm also on Archive of Our Own under the same name (EmilyWritesStuff).