An eternity passed since Peri left the room in fetch of the gorgeous blonde whom Raven craved to see most in the world at that moment. The sexy, courageous, spirited, beautiful, biker. No. Leader. No. Werewolf.

I wonder if her fur is blonde…

The echoes of hurried footsteps sounded down the hallway, breaking Raven from her thoughts as the steps grew louder, marched closer and closer until they landed on the other side of the entryway. Raven's eyes darted to the shadow beneath the door, holding her breath as she waited for whom she hoped was on the other side to push it open already.

For a moment, time froze. Then, the door flung open to (finally) reveal the woman Raven had been waiting for.

Anya.

The air ripped from Raven's lungs just at the sight of the other woman in the doorway. Instantaneously, that fierce amber gaze found Raven's, locking on to her and never faltering as Anya rushed further into the room.

Raven's heart leapt to her throat and pounded harder than ever before, a series of beeps on a monitor somewhere behind her increasing slightly, but she paid no intention. Hear muscles tensed against emotion—and immobility. She wanted nothing more than to bolt from that damn hospital bed and rush into Anya's arms.

For a second, she tried to, her torso twisting forward only to be met with a familiar screeching searing burst of pain from the lacerations on her chest. But Raven fell so transfixed at the sight of her sexy biker lover that the pain instantly sunk with the cyclone of jubilation swirling in her chest.

Raven beamed again at the teary-eyed Anya hurrying toward the bed, the echo of her boots reaching Raven's ears as she reached a hand toward Anya. Silently she willed with every fibre of her being that Anya would move faster, to close the space between them already, to finally end the crime of their being apart.

A single tear the size of a pearl trickled down Raven's cheek when strong, warm, familiar fingers finally interlaced with her trembling outstretched hand.

"Raven," Anya breathed. Her throaty whisper came out a croak as if emotion tore at her throat from every direction.

As Anya slowed to a halt beside the bed, her other hand rose to gently cup Raven's non-bruised cheek. A thousand questions flitted across Anya's face before finally, finally, she leaned down to capture Raven's lips with her own.

Another tear escaped as Raven whimpered into Anya's mouth, she couldn't stop the sound as their lips pressed passionately, hungrily, and frantically together. Neither's mouth sought dominance, the act occurring for no reason other than to demonstrate the pure innate need of communicating their love for each other.

Eventually, their need for air broke them apart. But Raven wasted no time gulping only what she needed before returning for more of Anya's intoxicating kiss, sliding her tongue into the mix this time as a new arousing wave of need rolled through her body. A desperate sensation of needing to rejoin her heart's desire, its other half. A need to return home. Because that's what Anya was.

Anya was home.

A wandering hand slipped its way behind Raven's neck, then another over her hip before bringing their bodies together in a close tight hug. The embrace was everything Raven had wanted, and desperately she wished she could have revelled in it forever. But unfortunately, Anya's body against hers made Raven squirm and gasp in agony.

"Oh shit, sorry," Anya said quickly, jerking away instantly but remaining in arm's reach.

Raven smiled as a weak hand moved to cup Anya's cheek. "It's okay, and you're forgiven. I've missed you too. So damn much."

Anya sighed in relief before moving close again to capture Raven's bashed lips with her own. She was sure to be extremely gentle this time.

When the long kiss ended, Anya hovered overhead, looking down at Raven, not saying anything. For a moment, the two women studied the other, Anya undoubtedly analyzing the dark bruises that covered the left half of Raven's face, which must have been the cause of the pained expression to pass Anya's features.

Raven took in Anya's appearance too. Something seemed off about the ordinarily healthy and lively looking biker. Anya was unusually pale, her eyes dark, sunken, and filled with exhaustion. But before Raven could ask anything, Anya's lips were on hers again.

"Mmmm," Raven moaned into the kiss. This time fluttering her tongue against Anya's, gently pulling away before the kiss could turn into anything further. "I've missed your mouth... a lot."

Anya chuckled, "It missed you too. So… how do you feel about everything? Are you okay with… me?"

Raven already knew exactly what Anya was asking. She was asking if Raven accepted her. Accepted that she was a werewolf.

Raven took a deep breath before meeting Anya's big puppy dog eyes with a slow nod. "Yeah, I'm okay with it. I'm not sure I totally understand everything just yet, but I know I still want you, and that's all that matters to me right now."

Anya beamed with what looked like relief and pure joy, surprise and shock also evident in those hazels as she let out a gasp of disbelief before pressing another quick passionate peck to Raven's mouth.

"You're so incredible, Raven," Anya whispered against her lips before moving away again.

Once she did, something else shimmered in those sad doleful eyes. Guilt, perhaps.

"I'm so sorry, Raven," Anya whispered. "I'm sorry I didn't protect you from all this. From Luna. From everything. I should have been more careful that night we were together. It was my mistake. And I never should have left you alone afterward."

Raven reached for Anya's hand, intertwining their fingers as she shook her head. "None of this was your fault. You— wait… What happened the first night we were together exactly?"

Uncharacteristically, Anya chewed at her bottom lip, not meeting Raven's gaze. "I… infected you. Remember how my lip bled? Once my blood entered your system, your choice was taken away. It doesn't take much."

Raven's brows pinched together in thought. "Oh, so that's how I infected Clarke. And I knew you were bleeding! I thought I had imagined it since your lip was perfectly fine the next morning." Anya gave a weak smile, but the guilty expression hadn't budged an inch from her face. Raven squeezed their fingers tighter in reassurance. "Babe, everything's okay. And I happen to have the most amazing parents in the world." Raven nodded toward the dark red IV bags full of blood. "They gave me my choice back."

Anya shook her head sadly, glancing away only for Raven to catch her cheek with her free hand. Raven gently urged their eyes to meet once more, and she didn't speak again until Anya's orbs locked with her own.

"I mean it, Anya. You did nothing wrong. I wouldn't change a thing about that first night we spent together. It was perfect. And luckily, Lincoln and Gaia were around to keep me safe in the end."

Still looking defeated, Anya gave a slow nod. "I'll be thanking them for the rest of my days."

Raven laughed, "Yeah, I guess we both owe them everything from here on out. We should get them something. What do werewolves like? Peanut butter? Tennis balls?"

Anya's laugh got cut off as heavy doors burst open to reveal Becca and Peri Reyes entering the room. Becca's arms were folded tightly in front of her chest, her glare fierce as she directed it at Anya.

"So," Peri started as she clasped her hands together and looked over Raven and Anya, her gaze falling to their joint hands. "Anya, we understand you are interested in dating our daughter."

"That's what we're calling it!?" Becca sniped.

"Yes," Peri answered firmly, shooting her wife another pointed look. Peri turned back to Anya, "My wife and I would feel better if we got to know you better, Anya. We obviously have some… concerns."

"I'll answer whatever questions you have," Anya assured.

Raven had to bite back a laugh as she noticed Anya's posture had straightened considerably since Peri and Becca had entered the room.

She squeezed the grounder's hand lovingly, drawing the biker's gaze, which Raven returned with a wink of assurance that everything would be okay. The tiniest smile reached Anya's lips before she schooled back her expression to one of seriousness and faced Becca and Peri again.

"Thank you," Peri said. "But as Raven can confirm, we are extremely protective over her with anyone she chooses to be around. So, we'd like to invite you to dinner one night and get to know you better."

Raven's brows raised as she imagined Anya and the two scientists around the dinner table. How on earth was that going to turn out?

Anya swallowed hard before answering, "Of course. I look forward to it."

Becca smirked. It was the first time Raven had ever seen Mama's glare turn from angry to evil like that. "As do I. You can tell us all about your—" she met Peri's gaze before snapping it back to Anya's—"…intentions, with our daughter."

Raven buried her head in her free hand, "Mamaaaa, seriously?"

"I intend to keep her," Anya said with unwavering conviction before meeting Raven's gaze. "For as long as she'll allow me to anyway."

Silence and shock fell over the room. Peri smiled. Becca's expression faltered a moment before raising a brow and giving the werewolf a firm, and unexpected, nod of approval before leaving the room without another word.

Peri pat Raven's arm, "I think I'll leave you two alone now. Anya, we'll be in touch about that dinner. Probably in a few days when Raven is better and can be moved back home. And when we do schedule it, I don't advise missing it or being late for your sake, or you may have to endure the wrath that is my beautiful wife."

With shared laughter, Peri winked then exited the room, the metallic door clanging shut behind her, leaving Raven and Anya alone once more.

"Wow," Raven finally said, breaking the silence. "So, dinner with my parents. That should be… interesting."

But Anya didn't seem to be listening. She was staring down at Raven's injured body even though a thin sheet was covering her.

"Can I see?" Anya asked quietly.

Raven sighed, "Anya…"

"Please," hazels plead with dark browns. For whatever reason, Anya needed to see the extent of the damage.

With a deep breath, Raven lowered the sheet, exposing her completely wrapped torso and battered leg. There were still plenty of bruises peeking outside the bandaged areas, and the odd scratch here and there that was too superficial to need stitches.

Raven felt a little shy at first beneath Anya's inspection once she remembered she wasn't wearing any underwear, but then an odd blanket of comfort fell over her as Anya's gaze continued to roll over her.

"Still interested?" Raven laughed, half-joking half-serious.

Anya's eyes narrowed as they zoned in on Raven, "Oh yeah. I'm interested, achingly so."

Raven pulled the sheet partly over her again before bringing their lips together in a gentle but passionate kiss, Raven deepening it as much as she could without causing too much pain.

"Touch me," Raven breathed against wanting lips.

Excitement rushed through her when Anya complied by sneaking an eager hand beneath the sheet, loving fingers slipping over Raven's thigh, caressing higher and higher until they brushed with her pulsing clit. Anya got right to work, rubbing all the right places.

Raven moaned into her lover, opening her mouth further, allowing Anya to do as she liked. And she did, Anya explored every crevice, a tongue reacquainting itself with lips and tongue and teeth as it desired.

Then, Raven made the mistake of writhing in the bed as Anya pressed into her deeper, "Ow! Oh, fuck that hurt. Damn it!"

Anya ripped her fingers away in panic, "Shit, you okay?"

Raven grit her teeth in pain, her chest screaming in agony. She let out a pained laugh. "Yeah, fine, just… ouch. We're gonna have to figure out another way to get our freak on."

Anya let out a relieved laugh before placing a final kiss on Raven's head. "Maybe I should let you rest?"

"No," Raven said quickly, squeezing Anya's hand tightly. "Please, don't leave. We've been apart long enough. I just… I want you to stay close."

Anya's gaze flickered over Raven one more time before she slowly nodded.

Raven smiled as relief swept through her, then carefully—and painfully rolled onto her side. Anya thankfully took the cue. The grounder quickly shed her jacket to the nearby chair behind her, then slid in behind Raven on the hospital bed, an arm wrapping around Raven's waist to hold her close.

Raven closed her eyes, finally feeling safe enough to relax. Anya's warm aura and sense of protection washing over her.

"Hey, Raven?" Anya whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Will you be my girlfriend now?"

Raven giggled, the act causing her chest injuries to stretch and rage. But she was so full of elation she didn't care.

"Of course, I'll be your girlfriend."

A/N: Thanks so much for sticking with the story this far! I am officially taking a writing break this September to recharge. Story is on Hiatus until October 3rd 2020 at the latest.

Thank you for all your support and understanding.