I walked into the temporary medical tent with my left arm in a sling. It had been seen to hours ago but I was not the one that needed medical attention. I looked down to Clarke who lay sleeping on a cot. Her head was bandaged as well as most of her abdomen. I sighed as I tucked a piece of wet hair behind my ear. I just come from cleaning the blood from my face and hands. It looked like Nyko had cleaned Clarke of blood as well.

"How is she?" I asked as I looked up at our only healer besides the one laying in the cot. His name was Nyko and he was from Polis. I brought him with me in case something like this happened while we were out battling for a year and Clarke was injured. He looked tired and worn out as he was covered in his patients' blood.

"She's strong Heda…that Lion did a number on her…a broken rib, some fractured, a large bump on her head from what I assume was caused when the Lion fell on her. She has deep claw marks that I had to sew on her lower back. She could have easily died." He finished as he sat down next to me for a moment of peace before he had to go check the other patients.

I nodded and sat down next to Clarke as my face became pale. "She saved my life Nyko if it wasn't for her…I wouldn't have been able to defeat the Ice Queen like I did. She took the one thing stopping me from succeeding in something I had only dreamed of as a young second…she has been taking my worries from me since we were children…" I look at him and he was watching me grimly. "If it wasn't for her…I would have been in a lot more trouble as a child." I chuckled and then looked back down at her.

"Do you know when she will wake up?" I took Clarke's hand in my good one and began running a thumb across her knuckles softly.

"I am not sure. She does need rest though. Do not worry, she will wake." He put his hand on my shoulder.

I nodded and dismissed him. He went towards his other patient's which also included Elanna who was sitting up in bed pouting cause she wasn't allowed to move or walk back to Polis. She would be carted with the rest of the injured.

I smiled in amusement when she slapped Nyko's hand away from her bandages and began growling death threats.

I felt a strong grip on my hand and I looked over and Clarke was yawning as she sleepily looked up at me and smiled.

I squeezed her hand and moved closer to her as I smiled a little myself. It's been awhile since any of us could.

"Hello Sky Girl." I whispered. "How are you feeling?"

She softly groaned and she stretched a bit and winced.

"Like a three ton Lion landed on me after going into cardiac arrest from the poison on my arrows?" She put her hand on her ribs. "They feel broken…" she said as she sighed closing her eyes.

"One of them was…a few more fractured…it'll take time to heal. How's your head? Nyko say's you may have hit it when the Lion fell."

She nodded. "It still hurts like hell…everything's semi-dizzy…maybe a slight concussion." She motioned towards my arm. "What about you?"

I lifted my bandaged arm up. "It's okay…He actually just scratched me…the blood on his mouth was the 5 other guards I had with me…" I looked at her sadly.

Clarke squeezed my hand in reassurance.

"I'm honestly just glad it's over and we can go home to Ton DC."

I nodded in relief. "Yes…I think a few days back home will help us all heal…"

Clarke hummed in agreement.

I watched her and then a thought popped into my head.

I let go of her hand and began rummaging around in my pockets.

Clarke looked at me quizzically as I let go of her hand and I smiled in apology. I pulled out a small package wrapped in cloth with a ribbon wrapped around it. I grinned.

"You thought I forgot didn't you?" I asked teasingly.

Clarke's eyes widened comically as her mouth fell open and then tears began to well in her eyes.

"Honestly…I forgot myself…this war has taken a lot from all of us Lexa…" her voice cracked as she slowly took the gift from me and then grabbed my good arm and pulled softly. I moved closer and she kissed me lightly on the cheek.

I felt a flush take over my body and I couldn't help the light feeling that relaxed my face as she began to unwrap it.

Clarke's POV

More tears began to well when I saw what it was. I smiled as my heart began to fill up and beat. It was still there wasn't it? A tear ran down my cheek as I looked at Lexa with mirth in my eyes.

"Oh…Lexa…" I laughed lightly.

It was a necklace. A very well made silver necklace and on the necklace was a thin box like locket that was light and made of silver as well and on it was a gold apple tree with two girls standing next to it holding hands.

My hands were trembling as I ran a finger across the two girls grinning next to the tree.

"Open it." Lexa whispered as she touched my arm.

I saw happiness touch her face and then I looked down again and opened it I gasped out loud as I held a hand to my mouth trying hard not to cry anymore. It was the small Polaroid of all of us…we were all standing there smiling and laughing and I was whisked back to that time when Lexa hung off of me and I couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up.

"Lexa…I gave this to you years ago…" I said I couldn't believe she still had it for all this time. "I can't accept this…" I held it out to her but instead she curled my fingers around it once more and pushed softly against it as she shook her head.

"And I'm giving it back." She said softly as she searched my eyes. "I wanted to give this to you before…but everything that happened I…." she trailed off as a look of pain past her face. "This has gotten me through the war…and the Lion was a close call Clarke…I want this to be yours so you can get through anything that may come your way…Beja Clarke…" She begged me as her hand tightened on mine.

I trembled as I looked into her eyes and down at the locket. "This is the only picture of your mother Lexa…" I said so softly I was afraid she wouldn't hear but she did.

"Yes…but I don't need a picture to remember her and I have you…you have the picture right here." She pressed her finger to the locket and then to my heart.

I closed the locket and my eyes as I squeezed it in my hand. I held it out to her. "Then put it on me." Lexa looked unsure as I watched her but then she took it.

"Okay…"

She got up and went around me as I pulled my hair away from the back of my neck.

She clipped it and I watched as it hung over my heart.

"You win Lexa…" I said.

Lexa's hand rest on my shoulder.

"Just this once though…"

Lexa softly chuckled as she came back around and sat down and then I lay back again. She held my hand as she laid her head on her arm.

"Sleep Clarke…you will need your rest…a few days ride to home." She said softly. I nodded and the next thing I knew. I was out.

Sundown outside the IQ Camp

We all stood there watching the camp burn. It was swallowed by flames that danced in the dying light of the sun. Lexa stood there with her back straight holding herself above everyone else that looked upon her as a leader. I watched from a wooden carriage lying against the rolled up white and grey pelt of the Lion I had shot down. Torches began to be lit around us. I wonder how many versions of the story will get around the villages by tomorrow. I sighed. I was taken away from staring at my best friend when Elanna was put next to me inside the cart. I looked at her and then at her leg.

"You okay?" I asked.

She nodded. "Thank you for saving me Skai Prisa…" she said quietly as she looked down ashamed.

I put my hand on her arm.

"Hey…it wasn't your fault…that guy was a giant…and you can call me Clarke, Elanna…I think you earned it. You saved me from being suffocated by a huge kitty." I chuckled to myself and Elanna gave me a grateful smile.

"Thank you Clarke."

"You are very welcome." I smiled and then scooted down more as I flinched from moving my ribs. Elanna put her hand on my abdomen and my shoulder to help. I sighed in relief.

"Thanks."

She nodded and smiled as she lay next to me.

"Maybe you should make some of this lion pelt as a cloak or a blanket maybe. A rug wouldn't be very helpful come winter.

I hummed in thought. "That sounds like a good idea…" I paused and then smiled. "Can you imagine? Watching me walk out in the pelt of the Lion I killed?" I laughed thinking about it. "I can only imagine the stories and how people will react."

Elanna let out a laugh as well as she shook her head.

"It's a story none of us will soon forget…you were very brave Clarke of the Sky People…" I watched as her eyes danced and sparkled in the torch light as a small smile touched her face.

I nodded. "I was only trying to protect our Commander." I whispered. I was feeling really strange right now. I shifted a little uncomfortably from the way Elanna was looking at me.

I cleared my throat and looked up to see what Lexa was doing and I realized she was looking at Elanna and I. Her eyes danced over both of us before I saw her jaw set and she walked swiftly over her eyes narrowing.

Uh oh…

Elanna saw her as well and I watched as her eyes widened as she watched Lexa walk over. I could tell she was close to growling as she glared at Elanna.

"Don't you have something you could be doing Elanna?" Lexa said quickly and lowly.

I watched as Elanna gulped.

"No Heda…T-the other wagons to Polis are full…A-and…I was told I could not walk back to Polis so I would need to be in the wagon…" she said quieter than I've ever heard her talk. She looked scared.

"I will be the one accompanying Clarke home so you will be riding my horse to Polis when we split ways." Lexa turned after she said that with forced niceties and she yelled Nyko's name.

Nyko came over looking worried as he saw the way Heda was glaring at Elanna.

"I want you to pick her up and take her to my horse. If she cannot walk then she can ride." Lexa said it in such a way that it was a command more than it was a request.

My eye's widened as I watched Nyko pick up Elanna and Elanna waved goodbye to me. I didn't dare wave back as Lexa angrily got in the back of the wagon very unCommander-like since she only had the use of one arm and sat down with a huff crossing her arm under her sling.

I opened my mouth to say something but she looked at me with a glare.

"Don't even think about it." She hissed.

I closed my mouth and sat back quietly. Was someone jealous? I snorted and shook my head at the thought.

Yeah right.

Lexa looked at me and glared.

"What's so funny…Clarke…" She growled out.

My eyes widened at her tone as I put my hands up in surrender.

She was not in a mood to be messed with. I watched her from the corner of my eye as we began to move towards home.

"Nothing Lexa…nothing…"

Lexa hmphed as she turned away and looked towards the forest.

This was going to be a long and agonizing ride home…..

I sighed as I watched the village on fire be swallowed up by the trees around us after a while all I could see was the black smoke coming off of it.

Later through the night I turned back to Lexa who happened to have fallen asleep or at least that's what I assume she's doing with her eyes closed. I didn't blame her.

I heard soft murmuring around us as our guards lazily rode and walked their way home along the trail. The air seemed light and full of relief and relaxed demeanors as there was talk of the Celebration that awaited us at home as well as the families we had been away from. The wagon bumped and wobbled every time we ran over rough terrain but that didn't seem to bother Lexa in the slightest.

I rummaged around next to me till I found a cloak and moved slowly towards her when I got close I pushed up on one arm and threw the cloak around her and lay close to her. She moved to wrap the cloak around me as well and then we were laying our heads against the rolled up lion pelt and I was looking at her face that was slowly becoming less and less worried and more into sleep.

"Goodnight Lexa." I whispered.

She hummed and curled closer to me, I wrapped my arms around her and then her breathing evened out and I laid my chin against her forehead as I fell asleep as well hugging her close.

In a week we would arrive home and I could finally see my mom again…

A week later

"They're back! Heda is back!" I woke up with a groan as I heard a squeaky voice declaring to the camp that we were home.

I opened my eyes and saw us pass through the gates of Ton DC.

Christ…what time was it…

We came to a stop in the middle of camp as everyone began to break down and there was yelling and cheering as loved ones found their families. I sighed as I looked over and Lexa sat stoically on her horse as she looked around from outside the wagon. She had gotten her horse back when we split ways with everyone from Polis and Elanna didn't think twice about being offered a ride from another warrior. Poor Elanna. Nyko surprised us both when he asked to come to Ton DC to be a healer. He had heard about me and my mother and had seen the way I took in patients and wanted to learn. Neither Lexa nor I was going to stop him from bettering himself so he looked around in wonder at Ton DC and walked towards the medical tent.

I tried to lean up but grimaced and let out a squeak when lying in one spot for too long began to pull my stitches and make my side ache. My wounds were still tender even with a week of healing.

"Do you need assistance Clarke?" Lexa asked quietly as she got off her horse to come towards the wagon. Her arm had healed quite nicely. It was now out of its sling and just bandaged. I shook my head and smiled a little.

"It's okay Lex…they got it…" I motioned towards the two warriors that opened the wagon gate and helped me up and carried me towards the medical bay. I looked up and there was my mom standing there right outside of it. She looked tired and frail but as soon as she saw me her eyes filled with light again and she smiled but then frowned again when she saw I was being carried and covered in bandages.

I sheepishly smiled at her as I waved for the men to stop and they did.

"Heyyyyy….Mommmmm…" I trailed off as I watched her frown grow deeper and she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Clarke….Elaine….Griffin….what did I tell you about getting hurt…." She put her hands on her hips and if looks could kill...

I gulped.

"Now…Mom…I can explain…this actually happened a week ago on the last day of the war…I swear! I was fine before that… but then there was a Lion and-"

"A LION!" she screeched out.

I flinched as well as everyone around us. Oh god…here we go…

"YOU WENT UP AGAINST A LION ARE YOU CRAZY!" her voice grew louder and higher as the whole camp stopped to see the exchange.

"Okay Mom…..now see here…it wasn't just a Lion…it was a MUTANT Lion…so really it was way bigger than a-" I was cut off by a loud squawk from my darling mother who I love so much and probably needed to butter up like now…

"Don't you DARE tell me to see here Clarke! SERIOUSLY?! A MUTANT LION?" I felt myself grow smaller and smaller as my mom ranted and raved pacing and throwing up her hands as she talked. "I've been worrying about you for a whole year with letters now and then and you come back looking like THIS!"

I grimaced I could feel the pity from the other villagers as my mom continued on her rant.

"To think you had to leave so suddenly and I could barely think straight back then but THIS! THIS TAKES THE CAKE!" she loudly stated with force. She finally took a breath and I jumped in quickly.

"Can we at least do this inside when I'm laying down?" I reasoned quickly and quietly I didn't want to provoke the sleeping mutant lion inside my mother that's for sure…

She stopped and then glared at me before she looked behind me. A feeling of dread went through me.

Oh god…

"Lexa!" she screeched her name loudly and everyone got quiet.

My mouth fell open as my eyes widened. "Mom…seriously…you don't have to get Lexa involved…she's kind of the Commander around here…"

My mom was having none of it. I heard lazy footsteps.

I turned my head and saw Lexa as well as Anya and Indra walk up slowly without an ounce of emotion across their faces. Anya saw me and smiled a little but Indra was cool as ever and slightly more angry looking.

"Yes Abby?" she questioned.

"What is the meaning of this?! Getting my ONLY daughter caught up in your battles."

And there are her hands on her hips again. Christ.

"Mom seriously…shut up…your literally talking loudly to the one person you shouldn't be talking loudly to…"

I groaned as she put her hand up towards me.

"Seriously is no one listening?" I grumbled out.

They all ignored me and I sighed.

"What exactly happened?" My Mom questioned Lexa and I hung my head.

Lexa stared at my mom for a long time and then motioned for all of us to step into the Med bay. Lexa turned to Anya and Indra and told them she would have a meeting later in the day. They both nodded and left as I was finally put down on a cot. Okay well thrown as the two warriors that had been carrying me scurried out of there as fast as they could. Traitors…..

I groaned again and shifted till I was comfortable. Nyko and everyone inside the tent were alarmed since they could hear the whole conversation outside.

This was getting better and better…..

Christ…someone please help.

My mother was still pacing as her face grew redder and redder as Lexa crossed her arms and stood still as I grimaced and just wanted to hurry up and die because of this situation.

Lexa turned to me as she sat down and began to explain to my mother what happened. I watched my mom's face begin to calm as she listened to Lexa and then Lexa turned to me to continue.

I sighed.

"Okay…well…from where she left off…"

I began to tell my story from where Lexa had last seen me and then I got to where the branch broke beneath me…

Sorry Lexa…I did my best…

I screamed as I fell but then got the air knocked out of me as I landed on my back surprised I hadn't gotten eaten. I coughed and groaned and Maximus suddenly realized I was out of the tree. I yelped and rolled out of the way as his massive paw came down where I had been and his teeth snapped next to my ear. I scrambled quickly under him and his teeth snapped close to my legs. I grabbed onto his belly fur and held on as he thrashed around and moved and swiped underneath himself. He reared up and clawed at his belly where I was and scratched my back. I yelled in agony as I lost my grip and he came back down.

Dust and dirt flew around us as I landed on my stomach and then I unsheathed my sword as I got to my hand's and knee's breathing heavily as I shook because everything hurt. My eyes widened as the Lion came down to try and crush me I quickly flattened out and slammed my hilt into the ground. Maximus roared in pain as my sword stabbed into him like a thorn when he tried to crush me and he immediately stood up and broke the sword to the hilt. I looked at the hilt in horror. That had been my last weapon….I lost my bow somewhere as I fell.

Maximus bucked and roared as he shook his head, the arrows still in his eyes and the sword deep in his belly he pawed at his face as blood still flowed.

I covered my head as more dust and dirt flew onto me and then he stopped moving and tensed up.

Oh no…ohhhhh nonononono fuck. Shit. Wait a second. I tried to scramble out of the way but as I was almost there able to see the light at the end of the tunnel the three ton mutant lion named Maximus landed on me with a loud thumb. There was a crack in my side as I banged my head onto the ground. Everything began to go dark and then I was out for the count.

Mutant lion 1….Clarke….0….

That's the last thing I remembered before I passed out and then the next thing was when I heard voices and footsteps.

"CLARKKKKEEEEEEEEEEEEE."

My eyes widened as I became more aware of my surroundings, I knew that voice! Lexa!

I spit out lion fur as everything was dark and began trying to wiggle around.

"Lexa! I'm in here!" I said. My voice was strained since there was a giant lion lying on my windpipe. When she was still calling my name I knew she didn't hear me.

"Lexa! SOS! Clarke down! I'm under the huge kitty! FOR GOD SAKES WOMAN HALP!"

I think she was able to hear the last cry of help as I began to move around more.

"Clarke!" I heard her say and I sighed in relief. Thank god…I heard a massive horn call and then thundering footsteps. I sighed as I winced in pain when the Lion was moved and I saw Lexa staring at me with tears on her face.

"Clarke…"

I closed my eyes as she held me and I relaxed.

She's safe…we both are…what a relief…

"Jesus Clarke." My mom looked at me again as she stopped pacing. "You could have died…" she sat down in a chair and I sighed in relief as she calmed down a bit.

"Well if you would have let me explain what happened before you let the whole camp know how much you disapproved…I could have told you why I did it…"

My mom nodded as she slumped.

"That story was something else…both of you…I'm really proud and grateful that you had the decency to come back home. I think you both need time to not think about war and battles."

I looked at Lexa and she relaxed in her chair.

"Yes…it's been a long year…"

I nodded in agreement and then lay back on the cot.

"I think I want to sleep for a year…" I said out loud and I heard chuckling from everyone.

"Get some rest Clarke. We will talk when you wake." Lexa said as she got up from her chair.

My mom looked at Lexa and then she nodded as she got up as well to check on everyone that had come home injured.

I looked on a little longer before Lexa came and squeezed my hand.

I looked up at her as she looked down at me.

"Help me up…I want to sleep in my bed…I hate medical cots." I said with distaste.

I saw the smile on her face as she looked at my mom.

"Not sure you're allowed to move on your own Clarke."

I rolled my eyes as I eased myself out of bed.

"Fuck it."

Lexa wrapped her arm around my waist and I put my arm around her shoulder as I leaned my head on her shoulder for a second.

"Ready?"

I nodded and we moved slowly towards the back of the med tent to go the back way so no one would see Lexa helping me walk to our tent.

We got to our home soon enough and when we walked in we stood there for a moment looking around. Everything had been as it was but the blood stains weren't there on the ground anymore. New rugs had been placed and everything looked in order.

I looked at the throne in the middle of the tent and couldn't help the slight flush of pain and sadness wash over me. I was taken back to when I was a kid standing in front of it with Lexa as we were getting chastised for making a herd of wild boar go through the village cause of one of our pranks. Well okay she was more like yelling at us till she was purple…Lexa's mom…she was a powerful chief.

I looked at Lexa and I saw her looking at the throne as well.

"It's been a long year…" I said quietly. She nodded and then we moved to Lexa and I's shared room. Well it was more like my room now since Lexa's home was in Polis.

Our stuff was just as it was when Lexa left accept mine was now closer to what I had at the age I left it in a year ago. Gone were the two small kid beds and a king sized bed was in its place.

"We can share until we clear out a spot in the tent for you…" I said quietly.

"I'd rather just share…shouldn't make it troubling for you and Abby if I were to have a room of my own…"

I looked at her.

"Lexa…this is your home too…it was yours before mine…if you don't want to be alone in a new room then just say so. We will always be together you and I." I whispered quietly.

Lexa couldn't help but turn and pull me into a hug at my words and I held her close. She held me strongly but never used too much force.

"All of this…everything…we'll find a way through it...Your pain is my pain." I said against her ear.

I felt her shiver as she drew in closer and then she let go as she helped me into the bed.

I pulled her closer as she helped me with my boots and she kicked off hers as we got ready for bed.

"Let us sleep until the sun has set Sky Girl…we have a meeting to attend you and I…" she trailed off as she got under the covers and lay next to me.

"Of course Lex." I shifted until I was laying against her shoulder and she automatically curled her arms protectively around me.

"I missed you Lexa…" I breathed across her neck.

She stiffened at my words and then relaxed again.

"It's good to be back Clarke…of the sky people…."

I kissed her cheek before curling closer to her and closing my eyes.

Lexa's POV

I watched a little longer as Clarke slept peacefully against my chest contemplating her words and the warmth that was surrounding me. I shifted closer to her and laid my cheek on her head.

"Goodnight Clarke…" I said quietly to her. I watched her sleep a little longer before I couldn't keep my eyes open and I closed my eyes.

"I love you more than family Clarke…Your all I've thought about….even when Costia was inside my heart…You were there waiting…" I admitted as I felt my heart beat against my chest. Yes…it was still there…

"I'm sorry I can't tell you this to your face when you're actually conscious…Love is weakness….and I cannot have that...the Ice Queen showed me this…I saw the way Elanna was looking at you…do you love her or someone else…these are the questions that keep me up at night…when war wasn't the immediate threat…I don't think I want answers to these questions though…" I closed my eyes as I sighed.

What am I going to do…

That was the last thought I had before I fell into a dreamless sleep.

Clarke's POV

My heart was beating out of my chest as I opened my eyes to look at Lexa in shock as I watched her sleep tiredly. Lexa loves me? Like….the way I love her!? My face grew warm. How had I even been awake for that….oh yeah…because she said my name…that's why…I was almost asleep too but then…wow….holy crap…Lexa WAS jealous over Elanna…oh wow…just…wow…oh…crap…now I can't sleep….shit….

My heart thundered in my chest as I couldn't help the smile that overcame me.

Lexa…love IS weakness…but its strength too…I'll show you this…I promise.

I leaned up and kissed Lexa softly on the cheek before curling closer to her.

This is going to be interesting…now that I know I CAN win Lexa over…I'll start planning later.

I cracked an evil grin. Oh….this….this was going to be fun….

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNNN MUWHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA -innocent eyes- shit just got REALLLLL PAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Oh snappppp. Lmfao okay well now that Clarke knows :P I wonder what she will do with that information. On a side note this was just getting us ready to start the 100 Ark once again…and let me tell you…there will be TONS of new fun and interactive occurrences. Most of it will be the same but thanks to Clarke not being a part of them I will have to fix a few things. On that note…LOVE YOU ALL DON'T HATE ME LMFAO

Artemis out :P