After grabbing two cases of Nightblood serum, Lexa and Clarke crammed into the freight elevator with their familiars. The doors opened on level six, the moment the doors opened someone just outside the doors startled and drew their sword. Geri and Freki growled low and deep enough that Clarke could feel it through her feet as it reverberated through the floor.

"Relax Bell, they're with us." Clarke waved off the man who was preparing to fight for his life.

"Clarke? What the hell!?" Bell asked, clearly bewildered.

"They are gifts from Becca Pramheda." Lexa said casually beside Freki with her arms crossed behind her back proudly.

"From Becca? How? And why aren't they trying to eat you?" Bellamy asked as she sheathed his sword.

"Long story short, Becca's lab made them and our brains are linked to them." Clarke said casually.

"Linked? How!?" Bellamy asked in exasperation.

Clarke flexed her biceps in a bodybuilding pose. "NANITES SON."

"Was that a reference to that stupid video game you've played a million times?" Bellamy asked, voice deadpan.

Clarke gasped, Lexa quirked an eyebrow. "What is a…video game?"

Clarke's eyes widened slightly. "I hadn't realized you and your people wouldn't know anything about digital entertainment! It's difficult to describe without just showing you. It was one of the only forms of entertainment my people had for the last hundred years. Without it we would have likely slaughtered each other decades ago."

"Well it sounds important at least." Lexa said, not really getting it.

"Digital entertainment was our coliseum, a way to placate the masses through entertainment." Bellamy tried to clarify before smirking at Clarke. "You have familiars, you really are a princess now~"

"Ughhhh I didn't even think about that." Clarke said in a defeated tone.

"Was singing involved?~" Bellamy teased.

Geri snapped his jaws with a warning growl.

Bellamy threw his arms up in surrender. "Ok ok, sheesh! So what are their names?"

Clarke smirked, she knew the history nerd was going to love this. "The green eyed ones are mine, they're Geri and Huginn. The blue eyed ones are Lexa's, they're Freki and Muninn."

"Odin's familiars, holy fuck that's cool. But I didn't think you'd even know those names." Bellamy stated.

"Hey just because I'm not a history nerd like you doesn't mean I don't read." Clarke said, crossing her arms.

"Who is Odin?" Lexa asked.

"An ancient mythological God, sometimes called the All Father." Bellamy explained.

"Wait, you're not going to ask who this is?" Clarke asked as she gestured to Lexa.

"She's the second Bearer of the Flame, news travels fast." He bowed deeply. "It's a pleasure to meet you at last Commander, I am General Bellamy Blake."

"Rise General. Octavia must be your sister, she is a fine warrior." Lexa said.

Bellamy rose from his bow and smiled. "She's our best warrior." He said proudly.

"Bell, gather our new people. I have gifts." Clarke said before heading to the common area of the residential level with Lexa and their familiars following.

"You plan to make them Nightbloods." Lexa stated, it wasn't a question.

"I do. They're my people now and they are still at risk from irradiated air. I know you have reservations about them but they're mostly children, give them a chance." Clarke said as they reached the common room and stood side by side with Lexa waiting for the people to gather, their wolf familiars laying down next to them as the ravens perched on their respective shoulders.

The twenty five children and six adults were guided in, Jasper and Maya leading the group of terrified people.

"A-Are those wolves?" Maya asked, clearly terrified.

"Well basically, but don't worry, they won't do anything." Clarke said, trying to calm the group.

"I would like to introduce you all to Commander Lexa, leader of the people on the surface." Clarke gestured to the brunette beside her.

The group looked terrified and, with the guidance of the adults, quickly bowed in supplication. "We're sorry for what our previous people did to yours, most of us didn't know what was happening and those that did tried to stop it." Maya said while bowing.

Lexa stood a bit straighter and narrowed her eyes. "How did you try to stop it?"

"We are not warriors so we tried to convince others that it was wrong and refused treatments for radiation burns, my mother died refusing the treatment…" Maya said as an older man to her side put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

After several silent seconds where only Maya's sniffling could be heard Lexa spoke up. "Very well, I accept you all as innocent."

"I didn't gather you here only to plead your case to the Commander. We have found a way for you all to walk under the sun." Clarke said as she stepped forward and opened the metal case she carried.

"B-But how?" Maya asked as she wiped her tears away.

"Let's just call it a gift from Becca." Clarke said as she readied a vial and the injection gun.

The thirty one Mountain survivors lined up and were injected with the Nightblood serum one at a time.

"Now I'm not sure how long it will take to have an effect so stay on this level for the night and let someone know if you aren't feeling well. When it does take effect you will be much stronger than normal so be careful." Clarke explained before leaving them to Jasper and Maya's care.

Once back in the elevator Clarke turned to Lexa. "Who do you want to make Nightbloods?"

"The guard detachment I brought with me, Anya, and Indra to start. I trust them all with my life." Lexa stated resolutely.

"We will have to be careful how we tell them, we should only say that it is a gift from Becca to those loyal to the Flames. I don't want to lie to them but I also don't want to shatter your people's beliefs. We can begin planting different schools of thought on Becca and the Flame once my people come down." Clarke said after some deliberation.

"But they will still be lies…there is no Spirit or will of the Commanders." Lexa said, unusually somber.

Clarke nodded in understanding. "That is the point of faith Lexa, believing in something despite evidence to the contrary. I don't know if I believe Becca to have been a god, spirit, prophet, or simply an Engineer but I do believe she existed and that without her we wouldn't be here today. If people wish to label her as something that makes it all make sense to them, let them. My people have a sang, 'There are no people we deny, there is no faith we betray.' We were originally from very different lands with very different beliefs, when we came together we vowed to celebrate our differences and never forget them but also to not let them divide us. Remembering and teaching the ways of our ancestors is the sole purpose of my Historians."

Lexa remained silent in contemplation for the rest of the elevator ride.

They reached the entrance of the Mountain where Lexa's guard detachment was busy setting up a temporary camp. Lexa and Clarke strode through the camp side by side with their wolves trailing behind as their ravens flew overhead, warriors stopped what they were doing and openly gawked at the sight. The pair approached Anya, Gustus, and Indra who were overseeing the building of the camp.

"Gather the warriors." Lexa ordered.

Gustus nodded and whistled loudly while raising a hand in the air and making swirling motion with his fist. The warriors gathered in seconds after the signal.

Lexa stood up straighter and clasped her hands behind her back. "We all know that Becca Pramheda tried to bring the survivors of Praimfaya to the Mountain but was betrayed. What we never knew was why bring them here, now we do." She said as she opened the case of Nightblood serum. "A gift from Becca to those loyal to the Flame and its bearers, a way to make new Natblida."

There was a collective, restrained gasp from the assembled. "But the Conclave." Indra said.

"Things are changing. Wanheda has come and there are too many Natblida now for the Conclave. It and more will change in the days to come. Now, step forward those who would serve the Flames and their bearers!" Lexa called out while gesturing them forward.

Anya was the first to approach and kneel reverently in front of the pair to receive the gift of Nightblood.

After giving the serum to all thirty six plus Anya and Indra, Clarke and Lexa let their familiars go hunting for the first time.

Clarke turned to Lexa. "It's getting dark, and I don't know about you but I want to bathe. I'm going to get Madi and check out the bath I saw in the presidential quarters, you're welcome to join us."

Lexa seemed hesitant. "I do not wish to intrude on your time with your daughter."

Clarke waved her off. "Nonsense, join us. I insist."

Lexa gave her a small smile. "Very well."

'I wonder if the familiars want to come or stay out here.' Clarke thought.

She could suddenly see through both her familiars' eyes and her own at the same time, it was a bit jarring at first but the alterations to her brain must have made it possible to focus on three different perspectives at once. Geri and Huginn were eating an elk with Freki and Muninn nearby with their own elk. It was a good thing Clarke was no stranger to gore or she would have gagged immediately. They gave her a sense that they wished to stay in the woods for the night.

"Our familiars seem to wish to stay out here for the night." Clarke said to Lexa.

Lexa raised an eyebrow then made an odd face. "...I see."

After warning the warriors not to harm the animals they headed back inside and retrieved Madi before heading to level 7. Madi kept eyeing Lexa warily. They entered the presidential quarters and marveled. The room was massive and tastefully decorated. There were ancient paintings on the walls of artists long past, Clarke recognized some as Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet. The bed was a California King sized canopy bed with curtains that matched Lexa's sash.

"Say what you want about the guy but he had taste." Clarke said admittedly.

From Clarke's hip Madi tugged on her sleeve to get her attention and spoke in Trig.

"She's asking if this is your and hers room." Lexa translated.

Clarke rubbed Madi's back. "Sha strikon." She turned to Lexa. "Did I say that right?"

Lexa smiled warmly at the blonde. "Sha."

Clarke smiled, her canines gleaming in the artificial light. "Mochof."

Clarke grabbed three towels and white bath robes from a closet. She opened the door to the bathroom and walked inside. The bathroom was no less opulent than the bedroom, it had white marble floors and walls, a large stone tiled shower, a record player, and a massive bath set into the floor in the corner.

Clarke walked up to the bath and flipped on the water, not noticing the confused looks from Madi and Lexa. She headed over to the record player and turned it on, classical music filled the room but didn't echo.

"Ahh, Für Elise by Beethoven, a classic." Clarke said as she closed her eyes, listening to the music.

"The machine is playing this music?" Lexa asked in disbelief.

"Oh sorry, ya it's called a record player. It is a very old form of recording music. It must seem strange, that and the hot water." Clarke said somewhat bashfully.

"It is beautiful…" Lexa said in reverence.

Clarke nodded in agreement. "He was one of the best musicians in history."

Clarke looked down at Madi on her hip to see the girl smiling wide and looking around with her mismatched eyes trying to find the source of the music. Clarke began swaying in time with the music as she smiled down at her daughter.

As Clarke danced with Madi she eventually noticed the loving look in Lexa's eyes. She swung closer to Lexa and pulled her close with her free arm and made her join them in their amateur dance about the bathroom. Lexa was smiling wide and unguarded as she began to sway unaided.

Once the song ended and switched to another Clarke pulled Lexa into a soft kiss before kissing Madi on top of her head. Madi was looking up at Lexa expectantly.

"I think she wants a kiss from you too." Clarke said.

Lexa seemed a bit shocked and looked down at the girl who had seemed so wary of her just earlier that day. Madi was staring with her blue and green eyes without a trace of the fear she had seen earlier. Not willing to disappoint the child another time she leaned down and kissed her on top of her head as well. Madi smiled bright and pulled Lexa closer by her clothes and leaned her head onto her chest.

After undressing and rinsing off in the shower first, they climbed into the warm steaming water of the bath. Madi sat on Clarke's lap while Clarke leaned her head onto Lexa's chest behind her.

Clarke worked her fingers through Madi's mane of hair, trying to wash and untangle it. "I hope you know that I didn't invite you just so you could translate."

"I know, and thank you for inviting me. I will not soon forget tonight." Lexa said in a quiet timbre.

"It doesn't have to be a one time thing." Clarke said hopefully.

"I will keep that in mind." Lexa said with a voice that Clarke could tell she was smiling without looking.

After several minutes, Lexa broke the comfortable silence. "If you don't mind me asking, how did you come to be Commander? Bellamy said that Octavia was the strongest warrior among your people and according to my people's ways that would make her Commander."

"We have a group of priests and priestesses that choose one among the people to be Commander once the previous one dies. They choose based on the merit of our accomplishments as well as our capabilities in leadership, tactics, fighting, and diplomacy. Only they know how to transfer the Flame and are barred from ever becoming Commander. Octavia is definitely the best fighter but she would make an awful Commander, just don't tell her that." Clarke explained with a laugh.

"I was only chosen because I was the best fighter among my siblings, do you believe me to be an awful Commander?" Lexa asked carefully.

"I think the Conclave to be deeply flawed, there is a possibility of a Commander coming to power whose only skill is killing. Your people seriously lucked out with you, you're an amazing leader that loves her people." Clarke answered, missing the quiet exhale of relief from Lexa.

"You really believe that? Even though I had to kill my siblings?" Lexa asked.

"Of course I do, It's easy for anyone to see that you love your people and they you. You aren't the only one that has had to do horrible things." Clarke finished morosely.

"What do you mean?" Lexa asked as she continued to wash Clarke's hair.

Clarke sighed. "Before I came down here my people were under the thumb of a tyrant. Before we overthrew them the Chancellors ruled my people for a hundred years through fear, cruelty, and deceit. Even the smallest crimes were punished with death. The Sardaukar were their personal army and executioners. We were chosen personally by a Chancellor at birth to serve. We are usually chosen from families that the Chancellor considered a threat. We were hostages to our families and our families were hostages to us. A Sardaukar's training is brutal and begins once we can walk…only about half of us survive to see twelve years of age." Clarke took a trembling breath. "I have killed men, women, and children for crimes as small as staying out after curfew or sneaking an extra ration. We've all done things we regret to survive…"

Well muscled arms wrapped around Clarke's waist and pulled her closer, Lexa rested her chin on Clarke's shoulder. "And these 'Chancellors', are they all dead?"

Clarke sighed at the increase in contact and leaned her head against Lexa's. "I believe so. The Chancellor that I usurped fled on an old derelict missile, it is very unlikely that he survived."

"Well if he did, you will have my aid in extracting justice from his flesh." Lexa said with sadistic glee.

Clarke hummed. "Thank you Lexa."

Clarke began to hum along to the music as she finished washing Madi's hair. "This is nice." She breathed out.

"It is." Lexa agreed as she finished with Clarke's hair and quickly did her own.

Clarke looked back over shoulder and smiled. "Next time I'll do yours."

They got out of the bath and toweled off, Clarke wrapping up Madi's wild hair into a towel and draping her in a robe, the ends of it pooling onto the floor.

After putting her own robe on she picked up the giggling girl. "Let's find you something to sleep in, strikon." She turned to Lexa. "Will you join us? Bed's big enough."

"I don't like the idea of sleeping underground, but sure." Lexa agreed hesitantly.

Clarke changed the sheets on the bed, she wasn't about to sleep in the same sheets as President Wallace. Someone must have anticipated that she would be staying here with Madi because in the walk-in closet she found several silk pajamas in her size and Madi's. After changing and helping Madi squirm into hers they all climbed into the bed with Clarke in the middle, Madi clinging to her side and Lexa draping her arm over both of them.

Lexa awoke with a weight on chest, she opened one eye and looked down. Madi had somehow worked her way over Klark and was now clutched onto her. Lexa smiled and ran her hand through the girl's thick hair, in response to the contact Madi nuzzled closer.

Lexa looked to where Klark had her head resting on her shoulder and her arm draped over both Lexa and Madi.

Klark cracked open a sapphire eye. "Waking up to you still here is much better." She said, voice thick with sleep.

"I couldn't move even if I wanted to." Lexa said as she ran her fingers through Madi's hair again.

Klark smiled at the sight. "I never thought I would get to experience something so familial."

Lexa turned her head back to Klark and gave her soft, lingering kiss. "Me either."

They lay like that, basking in each other's presences for a time before Madi stirred.

Bleary mismatched eyes opened and looked up at Lexa. "Nomon?" Madi asked.

"Over here, strikon." Klarke said from her side.

Madi turned her head before resting it back down on Lexa's chest and smiled.

"Sonop Nomon," Madi yawned.

"She says good morning," Lexa translated.

"Sunup strikon," Klark tried.

"Nodotaim, try again, sonop," Lexa encouraged.

"Sonop," Klark tried again and smiled when Lexa nodded.

"We should get up, the rest of my people should be arriving today and I need to contact them before then." Klark said as she propped herself up on her elbows and gave Madi a kiss on her temple.

Clarke was able to get her and Lexa's armor somewhat cleaned with the help of the Mountain survivors. They also donated some clothes for Madi when she told them she had none. Now back in their armor and Madi in a yellow sundress they made their way to the command center to contact the Ark one final time.

Clarke sat at the radio station and pulled Madi onto her lap. "Come in Ark, this is your Commander. Over."

"This is the Ark, Kane speaking. Over."

Madi was looking between Clarke and the speaker with wide eyes.

"I'm here with Commander Lexa, the other Flame bearer." Clarke said while rubbing circles on Madi's back to let her know everything was ok.

"Hello Commander, I can't tell you how much it means to our people that you even exist let alone are helping us. I look forward to meeting you face to face." Kane said.

"As do I." Lexa said stoically.

"What is the status of Operation Exodus?" Clarke questioned.

"We'll be there by nightfall. We were able to pack up all our essential technology and secure the rest on board the Ark for its descent. We were able to locate a suitable drop location for the rest of the Ark, a barren desert a few miles north of Mount Weather, the sand should cushion the impact for retrieval."

Clarke muted the mic and turned to Lexa with a questioning look. "That is the deadzone, it belongs to no clan. It should suffice."

Clarke nodded and unmuted the mic. "Exodus is a go."

"Roger that Commander." Kane said.

"Patch me into Ark wide communications. I love you dad, may we meet again." Clarke said, not noticing Lexa's posture stiffen.

"I love you too Clarke, may we meet again. Patching you into Ark wide communications in 3." Kane said before static sounded over the speakers for a split second.

"People of the Ark, this is your Commander speaking. Today we realize our ancestors' dreams, today we make our final trip to the ground. Safe passage on your journey and may we meet again." Clarke said before turning off the radio.

"What now?" Lexa asked.

"Now let's show some kids the sky for the first time in their lives." Clarke said with a smile.