A/N: So I'm still going to keep posting here for the time being, but I've read some things about this site no longer really having anyone running it or monitoring it. So if things go south I will likely stop. I do however post on A03 as well so you'll be able to find it there.

Chapter 41

There was a noise coming from the side of the house though, so curiosity got the better of her and she headed that way. Soon she recognized the music she was hearing. She knew this song. When she rounded the side of the house she gasped in surprise.

There stood Lexa, surrounded by flowers. "Lexa?"

The other woman smiled as Clarke got closer, that smirky grin she was known for. When Clarke was almost in reach, Lexa pulled something from her pocket and went down on one knee. "I'm so sorry for what I said that day." There was no question to what she was talking about. "I didn't mean it, there was just so much happening, and I'll tell you all about later. For now, just know I love you more than anything. So, I have to ask. Will you marry me?"

Clarke stood there in stunned silence trying to process what was happening. Lexa was here, she was standing in front of her. And she was proposing. She took a few steps closer until she was standing withing reach of Lexa and fell down on her own knees. She wrapped the other girl in a tight hug, simply happy she was there, that she could touch her again. Pulling back, she gave the other woman a deep kiss.

"Um, is that a yes?" Lexa asked when they pulled apart.

It was then Clarke remembered the ring and look down to see Lexa still held it in her hand. She took Lexa's hand in her own and brought them both up to get a closer look at the ring. It was simple but stunning. She smiled and held out her hand to Lexa so the other girl could put it on her. "Yes."

With almost shaky hands, Lexa took Clarke's hand and slowly pushed the ring down her finger. It fit perfectly, just like she knew it would.

Clarke kissed her again, but then gave her a serious look. "But we still need to talk."

Lexa nodded her head, "I know. We do."

"We should probably go somewhere a little more private. If we go inside though, Avery will freak out that you are here." She saw the smirk on Lexa's face. "What?"

"Avery already knows I'm here."

That would make sense, Clarke thought. Why Avery said the door wasn't for her. "Again, what?"

Lexa laughed. "She was slipping me information so that I would know for sure you were home when I showed up. Couldn't make the big gesture when you were at work. Although now that I think about it, it would have been a little poetic, showing up to your work with flowers."

Clarke smiled, remembering the day Lexa asked her out for the first time. "Yes, it would have. But I'm glad you didn't." Clarke looked around the small side yard, "this is better."

"I do think we should talk though, before I see Avery." She hated that she was putting off the little girl. She'd really missed her. But there was something else she wanted to ask Clarke and she wanted to know the answer before she saw Avery again.

"Let's take a walk. The park down the street is probably empty at this time of day." Clarke stood up and held her hand out to help Lexa up. The two walked in almost complete silence as they walked the couple blocks it took to get to get to the park. There were a few people milling around, but there were a few open benches away from any other visitors.

They both took a minute to settle themselves, smiling at the two toddlers that were playing off in the distance. By the looks of it they were twins and keeping their mom on the run.

"So," Lexa started. "I'll apologize again. I'm so sorry, I had no reason to lash at you like that. And I swear I didn't mean it."

"I wouldn't blame you if you did. I always knew that it would come back to bite me in the ass. I've been waiting for it, honestly," Clarke admitted.

Lexa nodded, because she figured Clarke would feel that way. "Not going to lie, if I had found out under other circumstances, I may have been more upset. Because of everything going on when I did meet her, I never really let myself get mad."

Clarke had already figured that out. Lexa had put aside her own feelings to help her get through her father's death, which only made her love her even more. "I know. You being there for me despite that meant everything."

"You want to know when I forgave you for not telling me?"

She couldn't believe that Lexa had really forgiven her, but she nodded for Lexa to continue. She wanted to know.

"When I went back to D.C. the first time. When I opened the door to your spare room and saw it was Avery's room. I knew in that moment that you were never going to keep it from me forever. You would have told me when you could."

"I did try, so many times."

Lexa reached out and put a hand on Clarke's thigh in comfort. "I know."

"Why did you say what you did then?"

Lexa sighed. "Honestly, it was just one of those you were there, so I took it out on you. It had nothing to do with you though. You know my captain has always been kind of an ass to me." She saw Clarke nod her agreement. "Well, the closer it got to my test, the bigger dick he became. Trying to make me work more hours and do stupid tasks. I think he was trying to derail me."

Clarke had only met the man a couple of times, but he definitely seemed to have a god complex or something. "Oh, babe, I'm so sorry you had to put up with that." She wished Lexa would have told her what was going on, but she knew her girlfriend well enough to know why she hadn't. Clarke liked to fix things and she would have hated that she couldn't fix this for Lexa.

"That day you called, shit basically hit the fan. He told me I had to work on the day of my test. If I didn't, I'd lose my job. Which he can't actually do but fighting with him would have only made it worse. I was pretty much at my breaking point by then."

Lexa paused to take a breath. "I thought about calling so many times to apologize, but I didn't know if it would be enough. Instead, I started making calls to the different precincts here. I had pretty much determined that I was leaving regardless of if I passed or not."

"Most of them said they'd let me know when I got the results, basically meaning if I passed, they'd hire me as a detective, but none of them were willing to give me a shot as an officer if I failed."

But Lexa was here, so what did that mean Clarke wondered. Did she pass, did she quit and just walk away? The answers were coming she knew but her heart ached for what Lexa had been through these last couple of weeks. "So, did you pass? I mean, it doesn't matter what job you have, or any at all to me. I already told you that. I know that's not what you want though."

"You know it's funny, I actually overlooked the precinct closest to your hospital, so they were my last call. I managed to talk to the Chief, Anya Pine, she seemed very no-nonsense, but she was willing to give me a try. She asked me to send her my resume. She'd also somehow managed to hear about that kidnapping case I worked and was impressed I was on that team."

Clarke smiled. She was glad that someone else got to see how awesome her girlfriend really was. As much as Lexa's job scared her, especially in today's world, she knew the other woman was one of the good ones. Truly doing the job because she wanted to help people.

"So anyway, she told me she would give me a job regardless of the outcome. Officer or detective depending on my results. I'm supposed to meet with her on Monday. At which time I'll hopefully be starting as a detective."

It took a moment for Clarke to process what Lexa said, but when she did a giant grin broke out on her face. "You passed! I mean I knew you could do it, but you passed."

Lexa smiled and nodded. "I passed."

"I'm so proud of you!" Clarke squealed and pulled her girlfriend into a tight hug. "You are going to make an amazing detective."

"Thank you! I'm excited, and nervous," Lexa admitted. It was scary enough changing jobs, but she wasn't just changing jobs, she was moving and going to work with completely new people that didn't know her. Although, her old co-workers didn't really bother to get to know her, save a few.

"You'll do great." Clarke took a moment, knowing there was something she needed to tell Lexa about. "There's something I probably need to tell you about though. Nothing to bad I promise." She promised herself not to keep things from Lexa anymore, so she wasn't going to. She went on to tell Lexa all about the incident with Niylah at the bar.

"What the hell was she even thinking?" Lexa wondered aloud when Clarke finished her story.

"I don't have any idea."

"Do I need to flash my badge at her?" Lexa asked, totally not serious, but willing.

Clarke just laughed, "No. It's fine. I won't be working with her soon anyway."

Lexa raised an eyebrow at her. "Why?" she almost drawls.

"Well, I still want your input, but there's an opportunity. There's that clinic that's next to the hospital and one of the doctors is a friend of my mom's. I was talking with her one day and I mentioned that I had been thinking about going into general medicine. That's when she told me one of their doctors was retiring and they'd been looking for a replacement. She told me they'd be more than willing to give me a chance. I'd pretty much be able to make my own hours after I get through my probationary period."

"Clarke, that sounds amazing."

"Almost too good to be true," Clarke admitted. It seemed too easy to leave surgery and move to general medicine. She needed Lexa to help her think this through.

"Maybe, to some degree it is. But if it's something you want, I think you should go for it. I know surgery hasn't been the same for you since your dad died."

"It really hasn't. I don't know if it's surgery itself or just being in that hospital, but I used to be excited to go to work and that feeling is gone now."

"If you think working in the clinic will bring that feeling back, then I'm all for it." There was absolute honesty in Lexa's voice. "I love you for who you are, as long as you are happy, then I am happy."

"So, I guess we will both be starting new jobs," Clarke smiled. It was kind of exciting when she thought about it. So many things changing, but hopefully better for their family now and in the future.

The two women sat in silence for a few minutes, just enjoying their time together. Clarke pulled Lexa into her arms hard when she realized the Lexa was here for good. This wasn't just a visit. "You're here. For good."

"I'm here for good," Lexa agreed. "No more separations."

"I love you," Clarke told her, placing a kiss on her temple. She realized Lexa had said it a couple times already, but she hadn't reciprocated yet.

"Love you, too."

"We should probably head back. If Avery knows you are here, she's probably chomping at the bit to see you."

"We should, I agree. But there's one more thing I want to talk to you about first," Lexa said. She was even more nervous about this one. She'd thought about it a lot though. More so since that traffic stop the week before.

"What is it?"

"I want to adopt Avery. If it's okay with you that is. I mean I'd have to have your permission to do it anyway. I love her too, so much. I mean I hope it's what she wants too, because I wouldn't want to do it if she didn't want me too."

Lexa's ramble showed no signs of stopping, so Clarke stopped her with a kiss. "Are you serious? You want to adopt her?"

"I do," Lexa spoke hesitantly. She couldn't tell if Clarke was happy or upset at the moment.

"Lexa, if you are sure it's what you want, then of course I want you too. I've been hoping for that since the moment you two met, or I guess since we met if I'm honest. But I would never push you. I always knew it was something you would have to want."

"I've been thinking about it a lot, especially in the last few weeks. Knowing I was soon going to be a permanent part of her life made me really think about. Then last week I pulled over a woman who was just trying to get to her daughter who was hurt. I was thinking what it would be like if you got the call, or if I got that call. Then I realized, I wouldn't get that call, not right now because I don't actually have any legal rights. It just didn't sit well with me."

"You'll be her mom, or mama I guess," Clarke amended after she remembered Avery already referring to her as such.

"I know. And I'm ready for that. I want her to be my daughter."

"She already is, you know that right?" Clarke had to ask, because Avery has seen Lexa as her mother pretty much from the beginning. Then, Lexa treated her much like a daughter from the beginning, but she likely didn't realize.

"I know. It scared me at first, I'll admit. I'm not scared anymore. I just want us to be a family. Sooner than later."

That gave Clarke pause. She was so ready for everything with Lexa, marriage, more kids. However, she didn't think Lexa wanted to go that fast. Maybe she was wrong. "Are you saying you want a short engagement?"

Lexa kind of bobbed her head back and forth, giving it some thought. "Not necessarily a short engagement, but not a long one either. More than that I meant I don't want to wait for us to be married to start the adoption process." Protecting Avery was at the forefront of her mind.

"If that's what you want, then it's what I want."

Lexa looked deeply into Clarke's eyes. She wanted the other woman to know she was sure about this, because she was. "It's what I want."

"Then let's go tell Avery."

"You want to tell her now?" Lexa asked. Although, she shouldn't be surprised. She knew Clarke told Avery everything so long as it's appropriate. Telling Avery would make it even more real. It was scary, but she was ready. "Let's go."

The two walked back to the house hand-in-hand. Avery was still where Clarke left her. Which wasn't really surprising since the girl was reading a new book. As soon as she saw the two women enter the room though, she put the book down. "Let me see it!"

"See what?" Clarke was mildly confused.

"The ring!"

'Oh that,' Clarke thought. Lexa said she'd included her in plans to surprise Clarke, but she didn't know Avery knew about the proposal. Clarke held her hand out so Avery could inspect the ring.

"It's perfect! I knew it would be."

Clarke turned to Lexa, "she knew about the ring?"

"I picked it out," Avery exclaimed.

"I may have sent her photos of the ones I was considering," Lexa admitted sheepishly. "I mean she's part of this too, it's only right she was included."

Clarke's heart warmed at that statement. She was so happy she found someone who actually understood that she and Avery were a packaged deal. If someone couldn't accept her then they couldn't accept Clarke either. Lexa didn't just understand, she included Avery as a part of the team. "I love you," she mouthed.

"Does this mean I can call you Mama now?" Avery asked. It only made sense that if Lexa was going to be married to her mom, then she was her mom now too.

"Actually," Clarke started as she went and took a seat next to Avery. Lexa followed and sat on her other side so the girl was sandwiched between them. "How would you feel if Lexa adopted you?"

Avery flipped her head to look at Lexa. "Really? Are you serious?"

"I'm serious. I want to adopt you, if you want that too."

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" She turned fully and threw herself into Lexa, wrapping her arms around her in a tight hug. "You're gonna be my mama!"

Lexa hugged her right back, loving the feeling of having the other girl in her arms. "I am. I love you sweet girl, I hope you know that."

"I love you too, Mama."