"We've all been through so much that it's hard to recognize hope even when it's right in front of us."

— Eric Jackson, "Bitter Harvest"

Kane secured the towel around his waist before opening the glass door of the shower. He reached for the cane that leaned against the wall and gingerly made his way toward the sink. He wiped the fog off of the mirror and took a good look at himself. His chest, shoulders, and arms were covered in scars, some thin, others large and jagged. A pain shot through his knee and he looked down, raising the towel enough to reveal the two scars above the knee. He leaned heavily on the cane to take the pressure off.

There was a soft knock on the door. It opened and Abby popped her head in. Their eyes met in the mirror. She said, "The patients are about to be released from Medical. Do you want to talk to the three from Farm Station?"

He considered it before answering, "I should."

Abby pushed her way into the bathroom and placed a hand on his shoulder, her fingers careful to avoid the scars. "They've changed a lot since the Rebellion. They're just kids."

"I know that, but it doesn't change what they did."

Abby nodded and walked to the door which she left ajar. "Benja and Madi made breakfast."

He smiled and lumbered into the bedroom where he dressed and pulled the brace over his knee. He slowly made his way down the stairs, through the living room, and into the kitchen where Clarke sat at the table with the two young Grounders. Abby handed each of them a stack of pancakes and, when Kane sat down next to Madi, she handed him one as well. Kane looked down at the food and noticed berries mixed in.

"Em ste os | They are good," Madi said. But when Clarke cleared her throat she tried again. "They…"

"Are," Clarke prompted.

"They are good," Madi said, a small smile on her face. Clarke patted her hand and they all settled into a conversation about their days ahead: Abby would be in Medical, as usual; Clarke was to go meet Lexa and Roan with Bellamy for a trade negotiation; Benja would spend the morning at school; and Madi would spend her time with Octavia, working on her gonasleng.

Benja was clearing the plates from the table when Madi asked, "Abi, yu na don fyucha? | Abby, will you have a baby?" Everyone looked at her. Marcus looked at Abby's stomach and, for the first time, noticed the small bump there.

Abby nodded and ran her hand affectionately over her bump. Madi asked, "Chon? | Which?"

"Taim na tel op | Time will tell," Marcus replied with a smile. "Yu na gonasleng granplei kom Okteivia nau. | You have an English lesson with Octavia now."

Begrudgingly, Madi got to her feet and Benja followed her out the door. Clarke gave Marcus and Abby a look before slinging a bag over her shoulder and following them. Kane walked over to Abby and placed a hand on her stomach. "I hadn't noticed."

"You've had a lot on your mind," Abby said, smiling. She placed her hand over his and asked, "Which do you want?"

"I just want them to be healthy and happy."

"Then let's make this a better world for them to grow up in."

Abby watched Marcus from a distance as he spoke with Mark, Masayo, and Brenda. She could hear his calm voice, relieved that he was going easy on them. She turned back to the Jordans. It had been a week of recovery and both of them looked as healthy as she remembered them. The Nightblood had done its job.

"How do you feel?" Abby asked, glancing over their blood work one last time.

"Great, considering," Jaime said.

Janine added, "We can't thank you enough."

"It's the Commander that you should thank," Abby said. "And the other Nightbloods." Jaime and Janine looked at each other. Abby added, "I think Jasper has a lot to catch you up on."

"Do you know were he is?" Janine asked.

"He should be in the chemistry lab," she said. "It's just down the hall."

"If you don't mind, we would like to resume our old posts," Jaime said, helping his wife out of bed.

"Of course," Abby replied. "Matossi is the chief of chemistry, you can report to him."

Jaime nodded. "Allan's a friend, we should have no problems."

Abby smiled. "Then, you two are free to go."

They both shook hands with her and left the room. Abby looked at Kara, Geoff, and Ethan's empty beds — all three had been cleared the day before — before walking over to Caspian and Jin across the room. Both had healed nicely, but Jin had a nasty burn on his arm that just wasn't healing. Abby gave Caspian the green light to return to the kitchens where he would work alongside Sami Helm. She turned to Jin and said, "I can clear you so long as you take it easy and come back for regular checkups on that burn."

Jin nodded. "Who do I report to?"

Abby checked his chart and saw that he was an environmental scientist. "Bennett Albright."

"I liked Jake better," Jin said quietly.

Abby frowned. "Bennett's a good man. He's done a lot for us since coming to the Ground."

"I don't doubt it, he was always resourceful," Jin nodded. He rose from the bed and said, "Thank you, Doctor Griffin."

"Just take it easy," Abby reminded him as he walked toward the door. He raised his hand in goodbye.

The only sound in the room was Kane's muffled conversation with the three kids from Farm Station. He seemed to be wrapping it up as he said, "You will all return to your previous posts. But you must remember that this is a changed world. The Grounders are our allies. I will not tolerate disobedience."

Masayo and Brenda nodded while Mark said, "Yes, sir."

"Brenda, report to Sinclair; Mark, to Matossi; and Masayo, to Albright."

All three of the kids stood up and left. Kane let out a sigh. Abby walked over to him and said, "That seemed to go well."

"They've changed," Kane said, nodding. "It seems that being saved by a Grounder helped."

"Madi is extraordinary."

Kane nodded again. "She is."

They lapsed into silence and Abby returned to fill out the rest of her medical reports. Kane watched her from the chair. She looked up at him after some time and asked, "Don't you have something to do?"

"For the first time in a long time, no, I don't," he said in disbelief.

Kane found himself wandering camp in the hours that followed his meeting. He passed Kara and Monty working on the irrigation system, Rebecca assisting Hannah Green in the planting of new herbs, the Guards running drills, and Gwen teaching Benja, Reese Lemkin, Cara Costa, Oswin Gottlieb, Parish Helm, and Harry Hill about the different plants that were already growing in the garden. He winked at Benja when their eyes met and the boy smiled before giving his teacher his full attention. In the distance, he saw Madi with Octavia at the stables. He considered going over there, but decided not to interrupt Madi's time with someone who was fluent in her language.

Kane ended up on his porch, War and Peace open in his hands. The hours waned on as he continued through the story that he hadn't read in so long. He was startled out of his own peace when a bell started ringing. It took him a moment to realize that it was the dinner bell. He set the book down on the porch swing and made his way to the square where dozens of tables had been set up under a newly constructed roof. Madi and Benja were sitting with the other children. Since Clarke was still in Gray with Bellamy and Abby was still in Medical, Kane grabbed a plate of food and walked over to Thomas Nelson, Jackson, and the newborn, Orion. He walked over to them and was greeted with smiles from the family as he sat down. Jackson was giving baby Orion an informal medical check-up.

Kane asked, "Where's Eleanor?"

"She's resting; there have been a lot of sleepless nights over the past week," Thomas said as he looked at Kane. He had significant bags under his eyes, but he was smiling. "Are you looking forward to that part of your future?"

Kane laughed. "I have a while before we're there."

"How much longer?" Thomas asked.

"6 months," Kane said automatically.

"It passes quickly," Thomas said as Jackson handed Orion back to him. He asked the doctor, "All healthy?"

"Of course, but I want to be cautious. He is the first baby born for us on the Ground," Jackson said. He looked at Kane and added, "We will do the same for your child."

"I appreciate that; given our ages, there may be some problems."

Jackson considered it as Thomas bounced Orion gently on his knee. "Abby is very healthy and so are you. I don't think that there should be too many problems. However, we should be prepared for an early birth as well as false contractions."

"I'm still worried about everything. What if Ontari comes back? What is the missing citizens come back?" Kane asked as he pushed food around on his plate. He had never wanted to admit his fears, but sitting with a doctor and a new father made him feel more at ease about confessing his concerns.

"Don't be," Thomas said, "it will all turn out fine."

Kane began, "But—"

Jackson cut him off, "You have nothing to worry about, Kane. Abby is in good hands. Ontari's army cannot get here. We are at peace. I know it's hard for us to admit that, but we are at the point where I feel we can."

"As for the missing citizens, the guards are combing the area for any trace of what happened to them," Thomas added.

Kane nodded. "Maybe you're right."

Jackson smiled as he stood. "I should go make the rounds." He reached across the table and clapped Kane on the shoulder. "Try not to worry, Chancellor."

"Thanks," Kane said as the doctor headed across the park to the administrative building. He glanced over to Thomas and Orion and found the baby looking at him. Thomas noticed and asked, "Do you want to hold him?" Kane faltered, but Thomas smiled. "You'll be fine."

He stood up and walked around the table to sit next to Kane. Orion was still staring at him and Thomas offered his son to Kane. Kane awkwardly took the boy, making sure to support the boy's head in his elbow. Orion stared up at him and smiled.

"See," Thomas said, "it's not that hard."

"I really don't know if I'm ready."

"I don't think anyone is, honestly, but you learn as you go," Thomas said with a shrug. He looked at the way Kane was holding Orion and said, "But, look, you're a natural. You have nothing to worry about."

Kane had to admit that holding the baby made him feel relieved. He had been so worried about holding his own baby that it gave him anxiety. He had never held a baby before, but it wasn't as scary as he had imagined. However, he knew that holding the baby was just the tip of the iceberg. He was truly terrified of the prospect of caring for another human being who was completely helpless. He had to keep reminding himself that Abby already had a child and that Benja had been in his life for three and a half months. Raising a ten-year-old was a lot different than raising an infant.

Orion reached over and grabbed his finger. It shocked Kane out of reverie. He smiled at the baby and looked at Thomas, who checked his watch. He said, "I have a shift in fifteen minutes. I should take him back to Eleanor."

Kane nodded and handed Orion carefully back to his father. Thomas shouldered his bag and said, "You'll be fine, Kane, don't worry too much about it all."

"Thanks, Thomas."