Chapter 15

"Honey, can we talk?" Clarke took her head off the pillow and turned to face her mother, before hiding it again. Abby sighed. "Look, I know today didn't go as you expected, but-"

"Today? These last few months didn't go as I expected at all and it was all because of your stupid fiancée!" Clarke said, finally getting up. "Do you realize my senior year is ruined? I should've been worrying about college and prom dresses, not this!"

Abby sat on the bed, next to her daughter. "I'm sorry, Clarke. I'm the one to blame. I've failed as a mother." Clarke stared at her mother surprised. Never, in her 18 years of life, had Abby admitted she was wrong. "What I heard today, about Bellamy and Octavia, it broke my heart and I felt horrible with the way I've handled your relationship with them. They've been carrying a terrible burden with them and I couldn't see that. I could only see what Marcus wanted me to see. Oh god, you father would have been so disappointed with me." She said letting the tears fall down her face.

"He would." Clarke agreed. "But he would also remind you that we are all human and make mistakes."

Abby let out a laugh in between her tears. "He would, wouldn't he? I know I should've done this before, but I'll talk to-"

"It's okay, mum. Roan is already preparing an appeal and we'll get Octavia back one way or another." Clarke said, giving her mother a weak smile. "I need to rest now, okay? My head hurts."

"Oh, sure, sweetie. I'll see you tomorrow." Abby got up and walked to the door, but turned to look at her daughter. "You love him, don't you?"

Clarke smiled. "More than I ever thought I could."

On Sunday night Clarke was lying on her bed, trying to get some sleep, when her phone buzzed. She wanted to ignore it, but decided not to. If nerves were getting the best of her, who knows what they were doing to the others.

I need you. Three little words, that might no seem much, but they meant the word to her. Without thinking twice, she got out of bed, dressed quickly and exited the house as quietly as she could.

When she got to Bellamy's house, the lights were off, but she walked to the door and knocked. Bellamy opened the door almost immediately and they stood there at the entrance, just staring at each other. The air was filled with electricity and longing, but neither of them dared to make the first move.

After what felt like a lifetime, Bellamy darted forward, holding her face and crashing his lips to hers.

"We're not going to win." Bellamy whispered to her as she fixed his tie on Monday morning. They were all inside the courtroom waiting for the judge to come out and Bellamy looked like the walking dead.

Clarke had spend the night, only leaving when the sun came out to go home and change. When they met at court, Bellamy was too nervous for her to bring what had happened the night before up in conversation and so she focused on keeping him calm. Octavia had arrived a few moments ago with Mr. and Mrs. Prince and ran to her brother. They had shared a long hug, before she left to sit down on the other side with the Princes.

"Even if we lose this battle, we'll have others." Clarke told Bellamy.

Bellamy grabbed her hand softly. "I was horrible to you. How are you still here?"

Clarke gave him a soft smile. "I love you. That doesn't change." It didn't, despite everything, Clarke fell in love with Bellamy more and more everyday. She had promised to get out of his live after the trial was over, but she still had hope that, with Octavia coming home, he would ask her to stay. "I should go take a seat."

"No. Stay here with me." He begged and Clarke looked over his shoulder to Roan, who nodded in agreement.

"I'm not going anywhere." They took their places and she glanced behind herself to Raven, who gave her thumbs up, and Murphy, who rolled his eyes but his smile didn't fool anyone. She noticed Abby sitting next to Jackson and they shared a smile. Bellamy also caught Abby's eye and, after a moment of hesitation, she gave him an encouraging smile too.

"All rise. Department One of the Superior Court is now in session. Judge William presiding. Please be seated."

"I've got to be honest with you." The judge started. "When I left here on Thursday, I was completely lost about what to do." He confessed, looking between Bellamy and Octavia. "Bellamy," he called, "you are the kind of man I want my daughter to marry. You're kind, responsible and a gentle soul. I'm sorry life hasn't been kind to you. I really hope the future shines brightly on you. And Octavia," the girl sat up straighter in her seat. "I admire you for you happiness and bravery, even with everything you have endured all your young life. I actually owe both of you an apology. The system failed you both as it keeps failing hundreds of children across our country. If the system worked better, you wouldn't be so scared to ask us for help and maybe - just maybe - your lives would've been easier and much better."

"That is a good sign, right?" Clarke heard Jasper whisper to Harper.

"Unfortunately, I can't, in good consciousness, let you two live alone. You both have a brilliant future ahead of you. I feel it in my bones. If I gave Bellamy Octavia's guardianship, he would become a full time parent and forget himself. I do not wish for that to happen." Clarke was in shock. Why the hell was the judge being so condescending? If he wasn't allowing the Blakes to be together, why was he dragging this out with empty words and fake apologies? "I was going to do it. Last time we were together, you convinced me to give you a chance. However, I got a call on Friday that changed everything and will solve the situation. Trust me. You'll like this."

They awaited patiently for the decision, despite the tension they all felt. They already knew they were coming back to fight again, they just wanted this trial to be over with so they could regroup and plan their strategy.

"I hereby grant custody of Octavia Blake to Doctor Abigail Griffin." Nothing in the world could've prepared them from this outcome. Clarke's head snapped back to her mother, who was trying to hide her smile. She heard the judge saying that Bellamy would keep his visitation rights and ending the session, but she couldn't care less. What the hell had her mother done?

When Clarke noticed everyone was getting up, she jumped to her feet. "Mom?"

"I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you, but the Judge had not made a decision and I didn't want to give you hope." Abby said.

"He was going to give Octavia's custody to me!" Bellamy practically shouted, but Abby waived him away.

"That's what he says now to look good, but when I came to meet him on Friday his plans were very different." Octavia joined the group and stared at Abby. "I needed to help you. I was so unfair to all of you and I did nothing when they took Octavia away. I just needed to make sure they didn't send her away."

"So, I'm going to live with you?" Octavia asked.

"Yes, you are." Abby said with a smile. "You both are." She completed turning to Bellamy. He opened his mouth to complain, but she stopped him. "You can keep working and help with the bills if you want. But the point was for you and Octavia to be together and now you can. I do have a condition though." Abby added with a stern look. "You have to go back to school and graduate."

They all stared at Bellamy who looked like he was about to burst. It took him a while, but he finally grinned. "Deal." The group cheered as Abby and Bellamy shared a quick hug. He then let go off her to hold his sister, who started crying in relief.

"We're together." She said in between sobs.

"I told you I would fix it."

"Technically, Abby fixed it."

"Really? Are you going-?"

Ignoring the bickering, Clarke turned to her mother. "You did this for me?"

"I've failed you so many times over the last few years. I wasn't going to fail you on this. I love you, sweetie." Clarke launched herself into her mother's arms hugging her tightly. Maybe this could also be a fresh start for them too.

"I love you too, Mom."

"Party at the Dropship tonight! Everyone is invited!" Raven said, holding her phone. She had just been sharing the good news with her uncle. "That includes you, Mrs Griffin."

Abby beamed at the teenager. "Please, Raven, I've told you. Call me Aunt Abby."

Clarke laughed watching Murphy and Miller's drunk dancing while Jackson was trying to make them behave. Sinclair had given up trying to control the party and had even let Monty and Jasper behind the bar, serving drinks to costumers, while he watched from close by. Abby was in a deep conversation with Harper, who had the life-long dream of becoming a nurse.

"Hey there!" Octavia said sitting next to Clarke while Raven sat on the other side.

"Hey."

"Where is my brother?"

"I'm not sure."

Raven grinned. "I thought you two would be all over each other."

Clarke sighed. "Its not that easy."

"Of course it is! You love him, he loves you. Be together, be happy."

"I promised that I would get out his life after this was all over, O."

"Well, that won't be easy now, will it?" Raven asked in an ironic tone.

"You definitely have to talk. I'm back. There is no reason for you guys to hate each other. Just apologize and make up." Clarke wished things were as easy as Octavia was suggesting, but after they got out of court, Bellamy hadn't looked at her once and she was sure he was going to avoid her forever.

"It's easy! I'll start." Raven turned to Clarke. "I'm sorry I was mean to you after O was taken."

Clarke smiled and decided to join the game. She looked at Octavia. "I'm sorry I told Kane about everything and caused this mess."

O grinned. "Raven, I'm sorry I told Wick you had hairy nipples so he wouldn't ask you out again." Clarke laughed at the girl's confession.

"YOU DID WHAT?"

"I had to help Murphy! He is like an annoying cousin that I secretly love, but can't tell him that or else he would be so full of himself."

"Octavia Blake!"

"Remember, little bird. This is an apology circle. You have to forgive me. We were trying to make a point so that Clarke goes back to being my sister-in-law." Clarke shook her head at their fight, while Raven stared daggers at Octavia.

"Hi girls." Bellamy said approaching the trio. "Can we talk?" He asked Clarke, who, after receiving a nudge to her ribs, she nodded.

"Hey Raven, isn't that your boyfriend? The stupid drunk trying to get naked on the bar-top?" Raven's head snapped up, noticing Murphy fighting to get his shirt off.

"Oh god!" She screamed. "I don't think I have singles!" With that, she ran in his direction with Octavia closely behind.

Bellamy laughed, shaking his head. "I've missed this." Clarke tried to talk, but no sound came out. This was the moment she had feared. He was going to tell her to keep to her promise and get out of his life. She was gonna lose him forever and she was not sure she could take it. "So... Your mother wants me to sell my house." Well, that was unexpected.

"What?!"

"Yeah, she says I might get good money and I have no use for it now." He explained. "I don't think I'm going to do it though."

"Oh." That was all Clarke said.

"I don't think I can live with you..."

"Bellamy."

He held his hand up. "Let me finish. I don't think I can live with you and not have a place where it can be just the both of us." Clarke stared at him dumbfounded. "I know I said I didn't want to see you again, but... I love you, Clarke. I'm not sure I can be in you life and not be your boyfriend." Bellamy smiled and held out his hand. "I'll just keep the house. We'll have a place to have some alone time and - who knows? - maybe move in there later."

Clarke watched his face closely. There was no anger or pain in it, just peace. "I though you hated me."

He shook his head. "I could never hate you."

"I promised you that I would get out of your life and you wanted that." She said pulling away. "You're just saying this because we got Octavia back."

Bellamy rolled his eyes and grabbed her wrist, pulling her close again. "Can't you see, Clarke? I can't stay away form you. You are my heart, my soul, my everything. I remember the first time we met. I was so attracted to you it pained me, but I thought a guy like me could never have a chance with a girl like you. But I got to know you and you were warm and kind and honest." He chuckled. "I was really mad at you – furious – and I really tried to hate you. I kept comparing you to Echo. But then Murphy reminded me that you are nothing like her, that you love me and that you were fighting harder than anyone – even me – to bring Octavia home. I mean, you could have just kept Roan to yourself, cash in your favour whenever you needed it for yourself. But no. You called him for me, you made him help me, you studied the laws and found the witnesses. You were unstoppable. And, to quote Murphy, why would you do that if you didn't really love me?"

"Murphy said that?" She asked surprised, looking at the boy that was currently trying to kiss his girlfriend without his shirt on and pants undone in the middle of a crowded bar. "Why did he say that?"

"Well, apparently you are my soulmate and he becomes your best friend by extension, so he need to protect and make sure you are happy too." Clarke's chest filled with affection for Murphy. It was hard for them to become friends, mostly because Murphy was not a very warm and nice person, but over the last few months he had become more friendly towards her. He had saved her from Gina, invited her to Mount Weather, taken her to an Imagine Dragon's concert and was the first person to give her a chance when she was trying to reach Bellamy. Deep down, Murphy did care for her and she couldn't stop thinking that he was like an annoying big brother, who got on her nerves, but deep down would stop at nothing to make sure she was happy.

"You should sell the house. It has too many bad memories." She said and his smile disappeared. "We can use the money to buy a new one and fill it with better memories and positive energy. Maybe we can save for a few years and buy a bigger one. We'll need more rooms – because Octavia will be there all the time, so will Murphy – and a big backyard with a swing. I always wanted-" But Bellamy never knew what she was going to say because he crashed her lips onto hers.

She could hear the cheers around them, but it didn't matter, not any more. Bellamy had forgiven her, he loved her and was planning a future with her. Everything was behind their backs and they could now think about the future. Octavia was going to be in good hands and that meant Bellamy could go to college with her. Clarke knew he had been accepted into some, but hadn't told anyone because he never thought he would be able to attend. Maybe he would sell the house and they would by an apartment near the campus. One day, he would ask her to marry him and she would say yes. One day, she would walk around with a big belly and scream at him due to the pain of child birth. One day, they would be sitting on the porch of their house, holding hands and looking back at their lives. One day, they would have it all. Now, all that mattered was that he loved her and she loved him.

Bellamy pulled away and looked at her with a big smile. "We can do whatever we want, Princess." Oh god, she'd missed him calling her that.

Clarke moved to kiss him again when her phone started to ring. She pulled it out. "It's Roan. He must be lost. I can't hear him in here. I'm going to take this outside."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"No, I'll be right back." She gave him a small peck and walked towards the door, answering her phone. "Hey Roan."

"Hey. I'm leaving my office. I'll be there in half hour."

"Don't worry. I think no one is ready to leave yet." Clarke said, thinking about how everyone inside seemed ready to celebrate all night long, even her mother.

"Great! Save some alcohol for me!"

"Will do. Drive safely. Roan..." She called before he could hang up. "Thank you."

"No problem, kiddo. Anything for Jake's girl." And he ended the call.

Clarke placed the phone in her pocket and took a deep breath. For the first time in weeks she felt like she could breathe. Everything was as it should be. Her senior year hadn't gone exactly as she'd planned. She broke up with Finn, went to court, got into fights at school and screamed at her principal for being an asshole, but in the end it had all worked out. Even with all the tears and suffering, she wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

"Hey there beautiful." She spun around to find Finn a few steps from her.

"Go away." Her hands started to shake remembering their last encounter and she turned to enter the bar.

Suddenly, Finn's hands were on her and he started to drag her towards the alley. "Where do you think you're going? We didn't finish our conversation." He pressed her against the wall and Clarke struggled to get free. "Just stay quiet and be a nice little girl."

"Let me go! HELP!" She screamed, in vein as it was well past midnight and there wasn't anyone on the street and everyone she knew was inside the bar. The music was loud and easily muffled her pleads for help.

Finn ripped her blouse open and crashed his lips to hers. In a last effort to save herself, Clarke bit down on his lips, but he just pulled back a few inches. "You bitch!" He shouted, slapping her across the face and throwing her to the cold floor. "I'm gonna fuck you and you're going to love it! You're going to scream my name!" He then straddled her, trapping her underneath him. She tried to slap his hands away from her body, but he managed to grab both her wrists with just one hand while he used the other one to fondle her breasts.

Clarke felt the tears run down her face, her cheek throbbing from Finn had hit her and the bile in her mouth. "BELLAMY! HELP!" She knew he couldn't hear her. She was done. Finn had already broken her once and she knew he would do it again.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! STOP SAYING HIS NAME!" He yelled at her, his voice laced with venom. His hand went to her throat and squeezed it. "IT'S MY NAME YOU SHOULD SCREAM!" Clarke started to gasp for air, unable to scream any more, and her eyes fluttered close. This is how it would end. In a dark alley, alone and broken. She took her mind to a few minutes ago and remembered how she was so full hope with an amazing future ahead of her. She held on to Bellamy's voice, saying he loved her, and she felt peaceful. Bellamy's love was all she needed. She would see her father soon, she would hug him again, tell him everything about this wonderful man she'd met and the unstoppable friends she'd met; she would tell him Abby was strong and would move on, because she wasn't alone any more. She had Octavia and Bellamy and they would take care of her.

She opened her eyes and moved them from Finn's face to the sky. It was a beautiful night. She closed them again.

Suddenly, the pressure on her throat disappeared and she took a deep breath. Two big, strong hands cradled her face. "Princess? Open your eyes, please." She knew that voice. She loved that voice. Very slowly, she did has she was asked and opened her eyes. "There you go. Take small breaths. You're okay now." Had Bellamy been this gorgeous all this time? "Hold her." He told someone and Clarke almost screamed when he let her go and was replaced by Octavia.

"Are you hurt? Did he do something to you?" She could hear her friend's worried voice, but couldn't answer.

Clarke searched for Bellamy and saw him standing over Finn. Murphy was also there, a murderous look on his face, and then Raven came into view, taking in the scene in front of her before running towards Clarke. "Clarke! Octavia! What happened?"

Bellamy grabbed Finn by the collar of his shirt and held him up. "I told you I would kill if you touched her again." Clarke tried to break free of her friends. Bellamy couldn't go to jail. She needed him.

"Not if I kill you first." Finn managed to get out, while Octavia and Raven helped her up. Bellamy's sister placed a jacket on her friend's shoulders, but Clarke only had eyes for her boyfriend.

"You know what, Collins? You're going to jail and you're going to rot there. I'll make sure of that." To their surprise, Finn gave Bellamy a wicked grin, his face full of blood.

Clarke heard a swift sound and Bellamy let go of Finn. "NO!" Murphy screamed, taking a step towards his friend, but, before he could reach him, Bellamy fell to the floor.

"Told you." Finn said, before turning and running away.

Everything started to move in slow motion. Clarke noticed the knife on Bellamy's abdomen, the blood starting to spread on his blue shirt; the three girls screamed at the same time and ran to him. Kneeling at his side, Clarke ripped his shirt open to get a better look at the wound. Octavia grabbed her brother's head, begging him to stay awake, the tears falling down her face. Murphy had his hands on his head, trying to figure out what to do, and Raven out pulled her phone with shaking hands.

"GO GET MY MOTHER! QUICK!" Clarke yelled, trying to stop the bleeding with her own hands. She couldn't take the blade out as she could risk damaging it further.

Murphy got up and ran to the bar, while Raven started to pace around, crying and shouting at her phone.

"Cla- Clarke." Bellamy called and Octavia moved to the side to let her look at his face.

"I'm here. I'm here." She assured. "You're going to be okay."

"You have to-"

"No, no promises, no goodbyes. My Mom is coming. Everything is going to be okay." She turned back to wound, but there was blood everywhere. She tried to wipe it off with her hands unsuccessfully.

"BELL? BELL! OPEN YOUR EYES! PLEASE! OPEN YOU EYES!" Octavia's screams pulled her away from her task and she moved closer to his head. Clarke grabbed his face, leaving blood all over it.

"BELL! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME! BELLAMY!" She begged and his eyes fluttered open, but closed again.

"Oh my god!" Abby came running, quickly followed by Sinclair and the others. Harper let out a blood curling scream and Jasper had to be supported by Miller.

"I tried to stop the bleeding, but I can't move the knife." Clarke explained between sobs, still holding Bellamy's head in her hands.

"You did good. You did good." Abby said, kneeling next to Bellamy and inspecting his wound. "Did someone call an ambulance?"

"I did!" Raven said with a shaky voice.

"He's not breathing." Clarke felt her world stop. No, no, no. He couldn't die. "Jackson, I need your help!" Jackson ran to Abby. "You know CPR, right?" He nodded. "Great. Start chest compressions. "Clarke, sweetie, you have to let us work."

Someone pulled her from Bellamy and she sat on the floor, watching as her mother tried to save the love of her life. All around her were screams and cries. But that didn't matter. If Bellamy was gone, nothing mattered anymore.

Hey awesome nerds,

Sorry it took me so long to post this. Hope you like it.

Love,

Jane