Chapter 73: Lexa
We walk into the bar to find almost everyone there, seated in the corner facing the door at a huge table. I lean in and ask Clarke if it would bother her if I had a few drinks since she can't. "Babe, I want you to have a good time, so please don't not drink because of me." I stop by the bar, order a tequila bottle and shot glasses, and Clarke orders a sparkling grape juice.
Once at the table, I pour a round of shots for everyone who wants them. Soon the DJ announces it's time to sign up for karaoke. I get up, sign Clarke and me up. Then down farther, I sign up again. As I'm walking back to the table, I see Dr. Al-Mubarak and who I assume is her partner, walk-in. I walk over to meet them. "Glad you could join us, Dr. Al-Mubarak. Is this Ariel?"
Dr. Al-Mubarak answers, "Please call me Dalia. Yes, this is my partner…uh girlfriend Ariel Castillo. Ariel this is Lexa Trikru. She's the one who is funding the project and paying our salaries. She's also the one who got you tickets to the fights."
"It's nice to meet you, Ariel. So, does this mean you are taking my offer, Dalia?"
Ariel says, "Yes, we would be happy to accept your very generous offer and thank you for the tickets to the fight. However, Dalia also tells me that…um…we can just be ourselves around your group. Is that correct?"
"Of course, please just enjoy yourself and have a good time. I'm buying so order whatever you want. Now let me introduce you to everyone."
They follow me back to the table, "Everyone, this is Dr. Dalia Al-Mubarak and her girlfriend, Dr. Ariel Castillo. They both turn a little pink when I introduce them as girlfriends. I guess they weren't kidding about having to hide their true selves. That must be extremely hard. Soon, they will be moving to San Francisco to help with Abby's research project along with Dr. Anny Stenbeck, who should be here shortly. Dalia, you already know my girlfriend Clarke and her mother, Abby." I point to Ash, "This is my best friend and the agent, Ash, who we spoke about, and this is her wife, Callie." I go around the table, introducing them to everyone, and then ask them what they would like to drink.
Once everyone has their preferred drinks, I make a toast, "To new and old friendships." I can't drink too much because of the fight on Saturday, but I take another shot just as the DJ calls out mine and Clarke's name.
O looks between Clarke and me, "I can't believe that I have been replaced as your karaoke partner. How rude!"
Clarke laughs, "O, you have nothing to worry about. This is a one-time thing, I promise."
"O, go ahead and put our name down. I'll sing with you also."
I hold out my hand to Clarke and say, "You ready, Ya Amar?"
She takes my hand and nods. We walk up on stage. I tell the DJ that we will be singing You're Having My Baby by Paul Anka. He smiles, handing us both microphones then he starts the music. I take Clarke's hand, bringing it to my lips for a kiss, then the music begins. I can't help but smile, staring into her beautiful face as I sing.
You're havin' my baby/What a lovely way of sayin'/How much you love me/Havin' my baby/What a lovely way of sayin'/What you're thinkin' of me/I can see it, face is glowin'/I can see in your eyes/I'm happy you know it Clarke comes in with: That you're havin' my baby Then it's back to me: You're the woman I love/And I love what it's doin' to ya Clarke comes in: Havin' my baby Back to me: You're a woman in love/And I love what's goin' through ya/The need inside you/I see it showin'/Whoa, the seed inside ya/Baby, do you feel it growin'/Are you happy you know it/That you're We both sing: Havin' my baby Now it is Clarke's solo. I'm a woman in love/And I love what it's doin' to me Both of us: Havin' my baby Clarke: I'm a woman in love/And I love what's goin' through me Back to me: Didn't have to keep it/Wouldn't put ya through it/You could have swept it from your life/But you wouldn't do it/No, you wouldn't do it Both of us: And you're havin' my baby Clarke: I'm a woman in love/And I love what it's doin' to me Both: Havin' my baby Clarke: I'm a woman in love/And I love what's goin' through me Me: Havin' my baby (havin' my baby)/What a lovely way of sayin'/How much you love me/Havin' my baby/(havin' my baby) Clarke: I'm a woman in love/And I love what's goin' through me
When we finish the song, I say, "Clarke, I want to thank you for deciding to have my baby. I can't wait to embark on this adventure with you. Thank you for being my baby momma." I take her in my arms, kissing her while the audience erupts in clapping and congratulations.
Clarke
I can't believe we just sang that song. It was amazing and heartwarming. Then at the end, Lexa thanked me for being her baby momma. Now it's time to go back to the table and face the onslaught of questions that is about to start. As we approached the table, Lexa took my hand, whispering, "I'm right here with you, and I love you."
I smiled at her as we sit down at the table. We hadn't gotten sat down before everyone started asking questions at the same time. It was overwhelming, and I inadvertently began squeezing Lexa's hand. Finally, Lexa yells, "Everybody needs to calm down and be quiet. I'm extremely excited to share this news with all of you closest to us. Yes, Clarke and I are having a baby. She will answer your questions, but one question at a time." She looks over at me and nods, letting me know that the floor is mine.
"Alright, I know you all want to know what's going on and I am prepared to tell you, but please let me get through it before you bombard me with questions."
Octavia says, "Clarke, we don't need to know the details. I think that I speak for most of us at least, and we are happy for you as long as you are happy."
"Thanks, O. We are happy and excited."
Jess speaks up, "Just answer one thing, did that asshole Finn have anything to do with this?"
"Unfortunately, yes. But it was my decision to keep it. Lexa and I both wanted to have kids together, just not like this, but sometimes things happen, and we are going to make something good come from something horrible. We also think that we've found a way to replace Finn's DNA with Lexa's, but either way, we are keeping it."
Niko hits the table startling everyone, "Clarke, are you telling me that-that he-he raped you?"
I can feel the tears burning my eyes, threatening to fall, and Lexa wraps her arm around me, giving me the strength to answer him. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. After we broke up, he was pissed even though he was the one that had cheated on me. Do you want to know everything…big brother?"
"No, just one. Lexa, where the hell was you when this happened? Why didn't you stop him?"
Lexa starts to speak, but I cut her off. "What the hell, Niko?"
"What, if she supposedly loves you so much that she's willing to raise the baby with you, why wasn't she there to protect you?"
"While we are asking these types of questions, where the hell was you when I needed you? I wouldn't have been at home alone if you hadn't run off after dad died, but that's in the past, and so is this. Lexa came for me; she was just too late. I don't know how she even knew to come, but she did. She nearly killed him and would've if the cops hadn't shown up. It's not her fault. She tried to take me home, but I wouldn't let her. We weren't even together when it happened, but she came. She was there for me after it happened and has been ever since. I love her."
Lexa says, "I love you too, my beautiful baby momma."
Everyone laughs, and suddenly the tension is gone, and its hugs and congratulations all around. I look at Lexa, and she is smiling from ear to ear. I hear someone ask her, "So, Lexa, what do you have to say about all of this?"
Her reply is, "I'm so fucking excited! We're having a baby. Don't get me wrong, I don't like how it happened, and I will always feel guilty about not being there, but I'm going to love the hell out of this little gummy bear." She then looks at Niko and says, "If you have anything more to say to me, I will be more than happy to have a discussion with you, but not tonight."
When I look over at her, she has the ultrasound picture out and shows it to everyone. The sight makes my heart melt. Ash comes over with a bottle of champagne. She is followed by a waitress with a tray of glasses and a bottle of sparkling juice for me. Ash pours everyone a drink, and then she says, "Bad things often happen to good people, but great people are able to take those bad things and turn them into something good. If there is anyone in this world that can do that on a regular basis, it's Lexa. Clarke, I hate what Finn did to you, but I'm glad to see that you will make the best out of it. I couldn't be happier for the two of you. Congratulations, baby momma." Everybody says here, here, and drinks.
Lexa says, "Thanks for the speech Ash, but I'm the only one allowed to call her my baby momma. Besides, you have your own baby momma." At this, everyone laughs.
Lexa
Well, that went better than expected, except for the tense moment with Niko. Ash made a fabulous toast, and Clarke didn't have to go into many details on what actually happened that night, to which I am grateful. Not long after the toast, the DJ calls O and my name. I kiss Clarke on the cheek before following O up to the stage, where she tells the DJ we will sing Soul by Lee Brice. He starts the music, and I sing the main verses, and O comes in on the chorus.
Your body's got me weak/You're Mozart in the sheets/You make a sinner out of me/I'ma need a priest/And I'll be singing, Holy Mother of Moses/I just wanna buy you roses/Open every door that closes/And kiss you from your head to your toeses/I like your soul, baby/You've got that heart made of gold, baby/I'm gonna love you till I'm old, baby/I just wanna be your baby/I like your soul (I like your soul)/I like your soul (I like your soul)/Don't need to be undressing/To feel like you're impressing/Must have died and gone to heaven/Go on and take me to confession/You've got me singing, Holy Mother of Moses/I just wanna buy you roses/Open every door that closes/And kiss you from your head to your toeses/I like your soul, baby/You've got that heart made of gold, baby/I'm gonna love you till I'm old, baby/I just wanna be your baby/I like your soul (I like your soul)/I like your soul (I like your soul)/Just so you know (Just so you know)/I like your soul, baby/I like your soul, baby/You've got that heart made of gold, baby/I'm gonna love you till I'm old, baby/I just wanna be your baby/I like your soul, baby/You've got that heart made of gold, baby/I'm gonna love you till I'm old, baby/I just wanna be your baby/I like your soul (I like your soul)/I like your soul (I like your soul)
After O and I finish the song, the DJ says he is going to take a break and will be back in twenty minutes. So he puts on some dance music and heads off the stage. I'm glad for the break and a chance to dance with my baby momma. Everyone seems to be having a great time. Even Dalia and Ariel go out on the dance floor, although you can tell they are worried about someone seeing them.
A slow song comes on. I walk over to Clarke and hold out my hand, "May I please have this dance, beautiful lady?"
She takes my hand, and we head out onto the dance floor. I hold her close as she snuggles into my chest the way I love. As we dance, I ask, "Are you okay?"
She replies, "Actually, I'm great. Everyone was amazing, well, except for Niko but I kind of expected something from him. Although I can't believe he tried to blame you."
"Well, I am somewhat to blame. I should have never let you go home by yourself no matter what you said, but it's in the past, and all that matters now is that I have you, and we're going to have a baby. I love you, Clarke Griffin, more than you will ever know."
"I love you too, Lexa Trikru."
When the song ends, we stay out on the dance floor and dance to a few more songs before the DJ returns and continues with the karaoke. Back at the table, everyone is talking and laughing, having a good time. Abby, Dalia, Ariel, and Anny explain the rewriting of the DNA to Niko while everyone else is hanging out in their own conversations. Finally, I sit down and pull Clarke into my lap; Jess starts asking Clarke about how she's feeling and how she feels about having the baby.
As I sit there listening to everyone's conversation, I can't help but think how excited and happy I am. I'm looking around the table and the bar looking at all the couples dancing, laughing, enjoying each other, and I realize that I want to be with Clarke forever, and I don't want to wait to propose to her. I know that I promised her an epic proposal after helping Ash with hers, but I don't want to wait. I want to do it right now. I don't want to wait any longer. I know that we haven't been dating that long. But we've been through a lot together, and we're having a baby together. So it might not be the epic proposal she deserves, but I will make it up to her with an epic wedding.
I'm brought out of my thoughts by Clarke wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing my pulse point. She whispers, "Cielo, love, what's going on in that head of yours? Where did you go just now?"
"What? I'm right here with you, Albi. Sorry I was just thinking about how happy I am right now being here with you and sharing our news with all our friends. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Everything went much better than I expected and now we can just enjoy ourselves. I am getting tired though, maybe we can head back to the hotel."
"Um…sure, give me a few minutes, though, okay." I look over at Ash and motion towards the bar. "Sweetie, I'm going to grab a drink from the bar. Do you want some more juice or something?"
"No, I'm good."