Friday Morning, June 3rd (Chatham, MA)
Clarke woke with a smile.
Before she opened her eyes, before it registered in her brain what day it was, before she remembered all she'd be doing that day, before she even took in the invigorating scent of the ocean spilling in from the windows, Clarke knew the familiar warmth surrounding her.
She knew the body her arms and legs were holding close, she knew the limbs wrapped around her own frame. She knew the subtle scent that was all Anya, and she could feel each puff of breath washing against her collarbone.
The instant she had any semblance of consciousness, she knew she was with Anya, and her lips stretched into a gleeful grin. Call her a sap, but she wasn't remotely ashamed. Especially not after last night.
Just the memory of what happened a few hours ago had Clarke holding Anya closer and kissing the top of her head. Hell, the entire previous day had been a challenge of epic proportions. Clarke had used all her willpower to stay focused on small steps moving toward her main goals, and did her best to enjoy each increment and not just pull out the ring. Honestly, despite her impulsiveness and the voice in the back of her head calling on her to keep stepping it up, Anya made it easier.
From glancing at her flowers every few minutes at lunch, each look bringing an adorable blush to the woman's cheeks, to the breathless awe sent Clarke's way during the admission in Lexa and Costia's living room, to Anya's blissful reverence and sponge-like learning abilities last night in the bedroom, Anya almost made her hope the waiting period would never end.
Still, as she opened her eyes and gazed down at the smiling, sleeping woman in her arms, an urge struck her like lightning, heart thundering away in her chest as she contained the desire to go to her luggage, grab her ring, and propose to Anya that very second.
It was madness, she was sure. But damn if she wasn't all too happy to give into it at the soonest appropriate moment. It wasn't time yet, she knew it'd be way too soon for Anya to accept. The last thing she wanted was to scare away the woman who could make everything feel new again, who could shine a light into her heart and make it grow with every smile sent her way.
Okay, so maybe Anya was special, and made her feel special, and she wanted to be with her for as long as possible. She wanted every morning to be like this, with her and Anya tangled and serene. However, relationships were two-way streets. What exactly Anya felt for her was honestly a mystery, but Clarke was willing to be patient.
Well, as long as she had an idea of where they stood by the time she dropped Anya back home after the wedding.
Anya twisted in her arms a little, bringing her back from her thoughts to the situation at hand. "Shhhh, just sleep, babe." Clarke murmured, pressing another kiss to Anya's head as she rubbed gently at her girlfriend's back.
The subtle motion was startling, and had Clarke seeing the room in new light despite the dim light of the emerging sunrise only just creeping through the windows. My arms are free...my...I'm not wrapped up in sheets...Clarke mused, stunned at not being tied up into one of her sleep burritos. Stranger, as she thought back to the previous morning, she wasn't sure she had been then, either. Oh my god...
It was one thing to be able to fall asleep after waking up. As enduring as that personal trait had been, it was just one. But her self-proclaimed sleep burritos were another, making it now two differences. She was a covers hog of the highest standard. Yet, as she looked around herself, she and Anya were only very loosely surrounded by the covers, Anya's side free of tangles, even.
Unsure what to think about any of that, Clarke just curled up a little tighter with Anya and closed her eyes, focusing on the slow, even breaths of the woman she was deeply falling for. The burrito bit made a little sense, she figured as she drifted towards sleep. Clarke didn't have the greatest circulation and would often get cold at night, so maybe she didn't need her sleep burritos if Anya was there, mimicking the feeling of being surrounded with her arms and body, and her heat keeping Clarke warm. It was still the falling asleep part that got her though.
The list of potential reasons was lengthy, but as she yawned and settled into her girlfriend's arms for the rest of the morning, she decided the interim explanation was that she felt loved and safe enough. Maybe there was a better explanation, but with Anya smiling against her neck, she didn't want to think about it.
When Clarke woke next, Anya was gone again, just like that morning at her mom's. However, as disappointing as that initial feeling was, the warm, delicious aroma wafting in from the kitchen let her know that her girlfriend wasn't far away. Clarke wet her lips as she sat up, immediately stilling in place at the peculiar taste of peaches. Strange...I don't think I fell asleep with lip balm on...I don't think I've worn my peach-flavoured one in a while, either...
Confused but unconcerned, she pulled the covers away and got out of bed, eyes widening at the sight of a bare floor. Apparently, Anya had been awake long enough to sweep up the rose petals. While that got rid of a bit of the residual romance, it also set the stage for a fresh slate, a new day and new opportunities to express her feelings for the woman. She wasn't about to shy away from that.
Clarke made her way out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, a smile curling at her lips at the sight of Anya practically dancing from station to station as she put together wraps and pulled something sweet and fresh out of the oven, slipping in the tray of breakfast burritos right after. Among the noise, Anya didn't notice Clarke close the distance until her arms were coiling around the older woman's waist.
"Oh! Clarke, I thought you were still asleep." Anya noted as she leaned back into the touch, head turning to catch sight of Clarke as she rested her chin on Anya's shoulder. "I was planning on breakfast in bed, but I can't say I'm not happy you're awake."
"Good morning." Clarke hummed, hand lifting to guide Anya into a gentle, languid kiss, reflective of just how much she wanted to savor her girlfriend while she had the chance. As she pulled away, she ran her tongue across her lower lip, taking in the taste of peaches and feeling a bit of alarm at it. "Did...did you try to kiss me awake earlier?"
Clarke's stomach dropped at Anya's laugh, spelling out a disappointing reality. "I tried, but you sleep like the dead, darling."
She let out a lengthy groan as she buried her face in Anya's hair. "I'm sorry, baby. I love that you tried that with me."
Anya turned in her arms, soft warm eyes reeling Clarke in deeper as her girlfriend brushed their noses together. "For what it's worth, I'm a much lighter sleeper. If you were to kiss me awake...well, um...I'm sure it'd be a, uh...very good morning, Clarke."
Clarke took in the deep blush over high cheekbones, the soft brown eyes that were darting around the room, the teeth lightly gnawing on a cute lower lip, the shy downward tilt of her head. Everything about Anya screamed that the woman was nervous and shy about what she'd discussed, and the last thing Clarke wanted was for her girlfriend to feel insecure about how much she was desired.
She didn't give it a second thought before pulling Anya in for another kiss, letting this one linger as she brought their lips together again, and again, putting every shred of yearning and affection into it as she held Anya close and ran a hand through her hair.
"I'm really looking forward to those mornings. I can't think of a better way to start my day than with you in my arms and kissing you awake." Clarke let out breathlessly, willing Anya to hold her gaze as she spoke, needing her girlfriend to understand her sincerity. "You have no idea how much I would love that."
"Really?" Anya asked, the start of a smile shining through as she bit her lip, eyes ever so slightly wider as they glimmered with hope.
"If I..." Clarke started, before cutting off the stream of words that had built up, unsure Anya was ready to hear them. Unsure if she should do more harm than good by speaking them. However, as silence stretched on second by second, taking more and more light from Anya's eyes with it, she couldn't hold it back any longer. Consequences be damned. "If I got to wake you with a kiss every morning, and send you off to sleep every night with my lips on yours...god, I'm not sure I'd ever have a bad day."
Anya stared back at her, eyes growing ever softer by the second, breath hitching just as a timer sounded. Her girlfriend quickly spun out of her arms and made her way to the counter to turn off the timer, slip on oven mitts, and pull the wraps from the oven. "I hope you're hungry...I made wraps, cherry turnovers, and I cut up some peaches."
Clarke watched as Anya ferried everything over to the breakfast bar, pouring out two glasses of juice for the both of them. The woman moved with near surgical efficiency, no effort or time wasted, reminding Clarke of just how her girlfriend came about those skills of hers.
She made her way over to the breakfast bar and took a seat, waiting for Anya to follow suit before taking hold of the woman's hand. "Anya, baby...you don't have to make meals for me. I'd never ask you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable, okay? I don't want you to think you have to do any of this to make me happy or...or earn anything, alright?"
Anya let out a long exhale, turning her hand in Clarke's to squeeze back. "Darling, making meals to earn womanhood and acceptance from my mother, and making meals to satisfy my girlfriend and myself...they are rather different things. Not to mention my mother would abhor this meal. She would chastise me for an hour over the presentation alone, let alone the entire makeup of it and the calorie count. And then there's the fact that the juice is store-bought not fresh, and the fact that she'd say my portion size is double or more than what it should be."
"Anya..." Clarke uttered, more out of instinct than anything, each admission coming as a revelation, not comprehending how the wonderful food before her could have possibly been worthy of any criticism.
"I wouldn't be able to sit for a day if I plated this meal back then, Clarke. Please trust me when I say that anything I cook or bake for us will be because I want to, because it makes me happy. I've spent too much of my life being harmed in order to please others, Clarke...I will not harm myself to earn your favor. Certainly not with a meal." Anya stated slowly, words leaving her girlfriend with careful precision over exactly the message she meant to deliver, the additional gentle pressure of Anya's hand in hers providing all the reassurance the words couldn't give. "Now please, eat up. Rehearsal isn't until much later today, and I'd like to spend some time by the beach with you, if you're interested."
Suddenly, all Clarke could think about was the smell of salt water, the cool ocean breeze, and Anya in a swimsuit with sun glistening off her body.
"Somehow, you keep making the day better and better, babe. I'd love to spend time with you. That we'd be at the beach is just a bonus." Clarke noted with a smile, sinking her fork into a peach slice. Swiftly, she took it into her mouth, savoring it for a moment before swallowing and leaning over to press a messy kiss to Anya's cheek. "Delicious."
Anya rolled her eyes as she took hold of her wrap. "Obviously. I wouldn't botch such a simple meal, Clarke."
"I adore how modest you are, baby." Clarke joked, giving Anya's hand one last squeeze before pulling it away, knowing that as much as she wanted to get through the meal so they could get to the beach, she wanted to truly take the time to enjoy the breakfast Anya made for her that much more. It was an important milestone, and she wasn't going to rush it.
With Anya there to anchor her, Clarke could muster up the patience to just enjoy the simple domesticity of the moment, knowing if all went as she hoped, maybe this would be a regular occurrence in the near future.
And that, well, that was more than enough to take in every detail, not wanting to forget their first breakfast alone as a couple. As far as she was concerned, they had all the time in the world.
Stepping outside was like walking out into a wall of pure heat, the temperature having apparently grown much warmer overnight. Still, it'd be nicer down by the water, so she just carried her end of their cooler, along with the umbrella as they made their way down the walkway to the private beach entrance.
Clarke was happy to follow Anya, feeling a little intrigued at how covered up her girlfriend was given the heat. In all honesty, she'd take her with or without decorations, but between the big black sun hat, and the black cover-up wrap, and the big black sunglasses, she kind of worried that Anya could overheat.
Thus the cooler full of ice and cold beverages. She had to take care of her girl.
It didn't take long to find a good spot to set up once they emerged onto the beach, the cooler winds coming off the ocean offering a lovely reprieve from the smothering heat. As soon as she'd set up the chairs and the umbrella, Clarke was off to the water; she always liked taking a dip into the ocean for a bit before heading back to work on her tan.
It was still early in the year for swimming, but Clarke pushed through the chill and dove in, reveling in the fresh feeling of the salt water, the subtle sting in her nose, and the rush of the undertow pushing her deeper.
Clarke emerged from the water, flipping her hair back to get it out of her face, and turned towards the beach, noticing Anya was still standing by her chair, bag still in hand, staring in her direction. Clarke glanced over her shoulder and, not seeing anything, slowly made her way out of the water, enjoying the cool breeze against her skin.
Anya was stock still, and as she got closer, it was clear that her girlfriend was entirely red faced under the cover of her hat and sunglasses. "Hey, babe, not a fan of the water?"
"I...I'm not what you would call a remarkable swimmer." Anya let out as she plopped down onto the beach chair. "I can swim halfway decently, and can survive in deeper waters...for a time...but I much prefer the sights and sounds and the feel of the beach than the actual water."
Clarke closed the distance until she was looming over her girlfriend, water dripping off of her onto the edge of the brim of Anya's hat. "I guess I can enjoy it enough for the both of us."
Anya's breath caught so sharply that Clarke could practically hear Anya's heart beating in her throat. "Oh I can enjoy it quite well from here, Clarke." Anya said after a moment's delay, those pretty cheekbones still beet red.
"I'm sure you can." Clarke shot back lowly as she brought her forefinger down and lifted Anya's chin a little higher. "You let me know if I can make your time here a bit more enjoyable, okay?"
Anya's head shifted to the side a bit, enough to let her lower her chin and break eye contact. "Clarke...I...this seems rather unbalanced, I apologize."
Truthfully, she needed a moment to fully understand what Anya was referring to, because in her eyes, reality was quite different. Carefully, Clarke brushed Anya's cover up away from her thighs, clearing enough space to plop herself down on her girlfriend's lap.
"Anya, baby..." She started, lifting a hand to caress the gorgeous woman's cheek. "You literally take my breath away. And you honestly look like some Hollywood starlet right now. And that gets my imagination going, and then I...well...imagine things. Not to mention that every time I look at you, I know that you're my girlfriend, and I can kiss you basically whenever."
"Does that...can that apply to me as well?" Anya asked, words stumbling and a little uncertain, making Clarke feel that Anya's face was suddenly much too covered up.
Carefully, she removed her girlfriend's sunglasses and set them atop the cooler. "There you are..." She murmured before leaning forward across the remaining inches to press their lips together. Anya sank into the kiss and in her chair as Clarke adjusted herself on Anya's lap, seated a little tighter against her torso. "Yeah, you can kiss me whenever you want. Maybe not when I'm making a speech at the wedding, even if I'd enjoy it anyways, but literally any other time, I promise."
Anya's mouth opened, as if to ask a question, but then her girlfriend's hands were cupping her face and pulling her into another kiss, and Clarke could only smile into it, thrilled at the initiative and how goddamn good it felt to kiss the woman. Anya clearly felt a lot of things very deeply, and poured so much emotion into each and every bit of affection, and Clarke could just never get enough of that.
"I'm going to take your word on that, darling." Anya whispered as they separated, eyes still shut, cheeks all pretty and pink.
"Please do." Clarke noted in turn, pressing another quick kiss to her girlfriend's lips, then her nose. "Got a feeling I'll never get tired of kissing you, babe."
Anya rolled her eyes, but the infectious grin on her lips was everything. Clarke knew right then that she wanted to find every way possible to create that pure, blissful smile. Kissing was incredible, but she knew there had to be other ways to bring it out, and Clarke had to push those thoughts to the back of her head from all the ideas she was getting.
There'd be time for those in the future. It was a wonderful morning to enjoy the beach.
"So you're not going in the water today? What, you plan on getting some tanning in?" Clarke asked as she readjusted her girlfriend's hat, it having become askew from all the kissing.
"That was the idea. Luckily, I don't burn easy." Anya answered, though her eyes narrowed after a moment, shining playfully. "Will you be a darling and help me with my lotion?"
It was with great reluctance that Clarke lifted off Anya's lap and reached out her hands to her girlfriend. "Not a darling. Your darling. And sure, babe, since you asked so nicely."
She pulled her girlfriend to her feet and quickly unfurled the large beach towel onto the sand, stashing the woman's hat on the cooler and grabbing some sun block while Anya got settled in. Clarke turned around to head back just in time to watch her girlfriend slip off her cover-up and neatly place it on her chair, leaving Anya in a bandeau-style bikini set that had Clarke's legs feeling weak.
Still, she trudged on through the sand to Anya's side, not wanting to waste time when she could be spending it with her girlfriend, or in the water.
"So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?" Anya asked as Clarke got started on the woman's upper back, taking her time in massaging the lotion into her shoulders, wanting Anya to be fully relaxed and comfortable after such an intense week.
"Well, we have a bunch of time before rehearsals, so...I figure I could get some painting done? All I should need is forty five minutes to finish that first one up. Lunch would be good too, I'm sure we'll be hungry when we get back. After I finish painting, maybe some dancing?" Clarke asked, unsure what plans Anya might have already thought up.
Anya's happy hum set her uncertainties at ease. "Sounds like a wonderful afternoon. And I would love to teach you the foxtrot today, Clarke. Perhaps even get you started on the tango, given how well you took to the waltz." Her girlfriend said, letting out another happy hum as Clarke's hands worked at a noticeably tense spot in her upper back. "I think I'll take a nap after lunch."
Clarke's hands stilled on Anya's back. "Did you not sleep well?"
"I slept wonderfully, darling. Naps just tend to make me feel refreshed, and I think I might need that at the rehearsal today." Anya explained, reminding Clarke of what troubles they might run into at the wedding.
It was something she didn't like thinking about, but she didn't blame Anya, not with her history. "Whatever you need, baby." Clarke noted, leaning down to press a kiss to the base of her girlfriend's neck. "Anything at all, I'll make it happen, okay? You rest up for as long as you need."
"You have no idea how much I appreciate that, Clarke." Anya murmured, voice all warm and smooth, as if the woman was a few seconds from zonking out. "Please enjoy yourself in the water, I don't want you to miss out because of me."
"I'll hop back in when I'm done, but not a moment before. Plenty of time for me to enjoy the water and enjoy being with you." She shot back as she worked her way down Anya's torso. "Though I could do both if you came swimming with me."
"Perhaps one day, though I would prefer it being in a pool instead of the ocean, for what it's worth." Anya let out with a happy sigh, body wriggling slightly into Clarke's touch as deft hands worked at the small of her back. "Mmmmh, ohhh that's delightful."
Clarke looked down at where her hands were and made a point to remember that exact spot. "I'll keep that in mind." Clarke noted happily, knowing that information could come in handy somewhere down the line. "You just enjoy this for now. We've got plenty of time."
"I'll definitely be using some of that ample time to take care of you today after dance lessons, I don't want you hurting through rehearsals." Anya said in return, fostering a spark of excitement in Clarke at the thought of another foot and calf massage from Anya. If it went as well as the last time, she was sure she'd end up going through the rehearsal feeling like she was floating on a cloud.
Yeah, between Anya's nap and the post-dance massage, Clarke had a feeling they'd both be ready for whatever come time for rehearsals.
Still, a call to Lexa that afternoon wouldn't hurt.
Clarke stared at her finished painting with pride. Truthfully, she hadn't been sure about how well she'd pull it off, and even though it'd be one for her personal collection instead of a painting to be sold, Clarke had been worried about doing it justice.
Looking at it, from the textures to the colour, it all brought back the emotions she felt that night in the park, watching as Anya looked on into the night, awestruck and gleeful at the fireflies. The light show had always been one of her favourite, most precious things to see, but that night, Anya rose above it, and she'd wanted to do justice to one of those blissful moments.
Anya was radiant. It was only right to keep working until she could capture enough of her essence on canvas, which was why she was running a little behind in her schedule. It was entirely worth it, though...
Honestly, she was surprised upon hearing the faint knock at the front door, having expected the visit long before then. It seemed she wasn't the only one running off schedule.
Clarke left her stool and made her way to the door, swinging it open with a smile. "Lexa, thanks for coming, I know you must be busy."
"Never too busy for you, Clarke." Lexa insisted with a smile as she stepped into the pool house. "Oh wow, that is stunning."
Clarke follow Lexa to the living room area where she'd set up shop to paint, her best friend halting a foot or so from the easel. "Thanks. I honestly couldn't help myself, and she deserved the effort."
Lexa glanced over her shoulder. "Has she seen it?"
"Nah. Kept it under wraps back at mom's, and she's been napping while I painted. I figured I'd show it to her when it was done." Clarke explained, drawing an easy nod from Lexa.
"She'll love it. Might fluster her a bit, but she'll love it, Clarke." Lexa added with the sort of signature certainty she knew to expect from the woman. Clarke only hoped Anya felt the same, and that it wouldn't be too much. "Anyway, when you called earlier, you said you wanted to speak with me about something?"
Clarke gestured to the couch, waiting for Lexa to take a seat before she plopped down beside her, not sure of much except that this was a close-quarters discussion. She took a deep breath before taking hold of Lexa's hand. "I am so proud of you and Costia. You two...you're it, and I'm thrilled for you both, and I want this wedding to be everything you want it to be."
Lexa's cheeks tinged pink as she shot Clarke a smile. "You've always supported me, Clarke. I know that, and I love you, but something tells me this isn't you calling me over to give me the standard well wishes."
She nodded slowly, having wanted to ease into things instead of being a bull in a china shop, but Lexa always was one to see right through her. "You made a promise to Anya, and the wedding is entirely your call, but no matter what happens, I need for you not to let her down. I know what's at stake, but you...you can't break her heart."
Lexa's features twisted in confusion, though the brunette gave a reassuring squeeze of her hand anyway. "Clarke, I love Anya. I've been building towards this for a long time. She's a bridesmaid of mine, she's family to me, it doesn't matter who approves of it or not."
Clarke could feel the residual worries she'd harbored since Anya came out to her begin to dissipate, fading off to the edges of her much calmer mind. "That's...that's good. I was just worried. I know you love her, I just don't want her to get hurt again."
"Like how I hurt her before, you mean." Lexa added, voice calm and free of accusation, even if the green of her eyes shone with a greater intensity. "Clarke, she is my cousin."
"And you outed her, twice." Clarke shot back in a low whisper.
"I was a child, Clarke."
"So was she." Clarke insisted, keeping her voice as quiet as she could despite the emotion creeping into it, not wanting to wake her sleeping beauty. "She's been hurt too much. And I don't blame you for what her parents did to her, at least not anymore, but I'm scared for her. I need her to be happy and safe, Lexa. I need to know she'll be okay, because this is the first time she'll be around all her family and friends at the same time, and that's huge for her. And I need it to be a positive experience, one where she's accepted. She's been living out in the boonies for too long, away from civilization, with no one to visit her or talk to her. That has to change."
Clarke swiftly found herself being pulled into a hug, Lexa's chin resting on her shoulder. "I know, Clarke. You'll hear no disagreements from me or Costia." Lexa noted quietly, but with clear confidence, giving Clarke a final squeeze and letting out a long exhale before leaning back and giving her a good long look. "So, when can we expect the wedding invitations? I'm sure Costia would settle for an engagement party for now."
Clarke felt the blood in her veins turn to ice, freezing her on the spot and leaving her numb for a few moments before her outrage at a certain friend's big mouth broke through her shock. "I'm going to kill Octavia!" She whispered harshly, just barely managing to lower her voice in time.
It was only Lexa's extended silence that had her attention shifting back to her best friend. Her wide-eyed, pale best friend who was staring at her like she'd seen a ghost. "Clarke...I was joking. Don't tell me...you didn't...did you...?"
Honestly, she wasn't sure what kind of relief to feel, given the circumstances. She didn't have to kill Octavia, but she let slip a part of a secret that she could share with her best friend, her confidant.
"I didn't, I'd never invade on you and Costia's wedding like that, but...okay, you have to promise not to get worked up, alright?" Clarke asked, earning an immediate nod from a newly concerned Lexa.
She got up off the couch and headed over to her luggage, pulling out her box she used to house her pens and inks. The ring box had taken up enough space that she had to leave some inks back at her mom's, but it was safely tucked away there.
Carefully, she took it out, hid it in her palm, and walked back to the couch. "You know mom. She's a bit overbearing, thinks she always knows best, always been way too invested in my love life."
"Despite her rough spots, Abby is a lovely mother, Clarke." Lexa shot back, staring at her as if daring her to deny that.
It wasn't that she was disagreeing, she just had to set the stage. "So during our visit there, I find her digging around in the wall safe. And the only time she does that is to do some paperwork, or look at old photos, so I got curious." Clarke started, opening Lexa's nearest hand and placing the box down on her palm. "She gave me this."
Lexa sat there stiffly, eyes glancing back and forth between Clarke and the ring box, confusion creeping in more and more across her features. "It's been days, Clarke. Days."
It was wonderful to have Lexa on the same wavelength, which made it impossible not to hug her, but she did so quickly, not wanting to crush her best friend and the ring in the process. "That's what I told her. And she brought up the inconvenient truths that a lot of my family members got married after, like a weekend spent together, or on a whim. Lots of short relationships leading into engagement, basically. Still, I wasn't even dating Anya at the time, I hadn't even asked her out. So it was jumping the gun, you know?"
"Clarke, absolutely. Anya would have died if you proposed before you asked her to be your girlfriend." Lexa said nodding enthusiastically in agreement.
"Seriously. So we argue, and I'm super set on not using it, and she's just 'Oh Clarke, I just want you to have it when you feel the time is right'. And like, whatever, but...but then the rest of that day was...fuck, it was magical, Lexa. And yesterday was beyond words. I didn't...I didn't know I could feel that much for a person. I didn't know what it was like to kiss someone and feel like I couldn't breathe without her lips on mine. I didn't know..." Clarke started, pushing through the surge of emotion as memories of last night resurfaced, at least until it got to be too much, finding herself choking on her words, tears stinging at her eyes.
Lexa was, once again, on the ball, pulling her in for a tight hug and a kiss to her cheek, shooing away her insecurities over appearing vulnerable. Lexa was safe. She was always safe. "Oh, Clarke, it's okay...take your time, you'll find no judgment here."
She nodded against her best friend's shoulder and focused on her breathing and stilling the storm in her mind. However long that took, Lexa's embrace didn't waver a bit, her best friend only letting go when Clarke moved to shift away. "Lexa, she stepped out of the room to put out the candles, and I missed her. I knew she was close, I could hear her humming to herself, I could see the light fade candle by candle, but I missed her. I'm pretty sure I cried about it. Everything's just been so new, learning as I go with her, and sometimes I feel so lost and unsure what to do, but the one thing that keeps popping up to calm me is the idea that Anya...that we're going to be together. That we have a future together. That we have time."
"You have all the time you need, Clarke. However much that might be." Lexa agreed, rubbing a hand up and down her back, letting her slump a little more into the brunette's embrace.
"That's the thing...you know me...I'm impulsive, and sometimes I rush into things. But when I know what I want, I go after it and make it happen. When I know something's true, I stand by it." Clarke attempted to clarify, but by the slight tilt of Lexa's head against her shoulder she could tell her best friend wasn't quite following. "I woke up today with the distinct urge to wake her up and propose to her. I'm not falling in love with her, Lexa...I am in love with her. She makes me happy, she brings out the passion in me, and she makes me not only want to be romantic, but like...she makes me spontaneously romantic, without even thinking about it. There's so much I want to share in this life with her, so much I want to experience with her, so much I want to learn from her. And I want to marry her...but I know she'll think it's too soon, so I'm doing all I can to hold back, but it's hard. Even if I love taking all these steps with her, I just...I want everything with her."
As she spoke, Lexa's hold of her grew tighter and tighter, despite her best friend hold wrapping one arm around her, the other too busy stroking through Clarke's hair. She just let Lexa process, knowing it was a lot to take in, but she had to share it. She had to.
"Clarke?"
Lexa's voice was strained, thick with emotion, but she wasn't sure what kind. "Yeah?"
"You're in love with Anya." Lexa stated, the hand in Clarke's hair stilling to cradle her head instead.
"Deeply, yeah." She answered, knowing she could have elaborated more, but the truth was simple. She loved Anya. She was, as Octavia so succinctly put it, 'so done for' when it came to the woman.
"You want to propose to her. You want to marry her." Lexa continued, sniffling as she gripped Clarke like a lifeline. "You want to marry Anya."
"I do." Clarke let out, grinning ear to ear as Lexa swayed them from side to side and let out a happy laugh.
"Save those words for the wedding, Clarke." Lexa joked as she pulled away to wipe at the wetness around her eyes. "God, can this weekend get any better?"
Clarke just laughed and curled up against Lexa's side. "You know it will. Tomorrow's going to be amazing, and then your honeymoon...it's definitely getting better." She shot hack happily. "But about Anya...you really think she'd say yes?"
"Clarke, she adores you. Do I think she'd be caught off guard? Yes. A little scared? Absolutely. Maybe she can't answer right away...maybe she'll need time to think it over that's counted in days instead of minutes or hours." Lexa noted slowly, calmly, holding eye contact as she pulled Clarke closer. "Anya is similar to you in that when she knows she wants something, she'll commit to it. Always has, regardless of the danger. So do I think she'll say yes? I have no doubt that, eventually, she'd come back to you, and either tell you or show you how much she'd want that with you."
Clarke could feel the tension in her heart. It felt like an engine about to blow a piston or two, but Lexa's words kept bouncing around in her skull, telling her that her best friend, the person closest to Anya in this life, thought she'd say yes. That there was no doubt.
And that? That had Clarke's imagination kicking into high gear unbidden, dozens of future possibilities flooding her brain and making her yearn that much more for something she'd never quite been sure she'd ever want. Not until Anya.
Now, she couldn't help but thinking about picking up a dog from The Humane Society with her, going on road trips around the country, or maybe traveling overseas. Having a home together, a real home. Celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. Adopting a kid, even, maybe. Dancing together at their wedding.
Dancing. She and Anya were supposed to practice dancing that afternoon.
Clarke took a heavy breath and nodded, startling a little when she felt Lexa wipe at her cheeks. "Some will tell you that there's a perfect time...that a moment will come along where everything falls into place, maybe everything goes as planned, and you get down on one knee. There isn't." Lexa whispered, cupping Clarke's cheek, stroking it with her thumb. "So don't worry about that. Just pay attention to her. Learn when she's ready, and then ask her any time after that. There won't be a perfect time...but that won't make the proposal any less perfect, okay?"
"You're good with this? If I propose to her? You know I won't until you and Costia are off to your honeymoon, but like...you're okay with it?" Clarke asked in rapid succession, having dozens of other questions, but figuring those were the most pertinent.
"I want you both to be happy. I think it'll make you both happy...you and Anya deserve that much." Lexa answered readily, her bright smile prompting a wave of reassurance to ripple through Clarke, knowing Lexa had been through this before, and had good instincts.
"Thanks, it means a lot coming from you. And honestly, it's not like we'd be getting married next week. I'd be perfectly good with a long engagement." Clarke noted, drawing a relieved sigh from Lexa, who pulled her in for another hug.
"You better. And honestly, if you let Cos work her photography magic on your wedding, and maybe let her help set up the engagement party, she'd be over the moon, you have no idea." Lexa added with a soft laugh as she pulled away. "Anyways, speaking of my wife-to-be, I should get back. Some of the other guests will be arriving soon, and I won't leave her alone to deal with them."
Clarke laughed at Lexa's pout, but knew that ultimately, Lexa was still having a good time despite all of the egregious planning. "One more day. And you've got me, and Anya, and Raven and Octavia, and everyone. Don't be afraid to ask us to do some heavy lifting if you need us."
Lexa got off the couch and pulled Clarke up into a parting hug. "I know. I'll see you at rehearsal, Clarke. Take care of my cousin for me."
"You know I will." Clarke shot back with a grin, giving Lexa one last squeeze before stepping away, waving her best friend off as she made her way out of the pool house.
Letting out a lengthy exhale, Clarke went over to the couch, grabbed up the ring box, and stuffed it back in her pen and ink box for safe-keeping. One day...I'll make it happen one day, I just need to be patient...
A feat that was made easier by the knowledge that Anya was sleeping in the bedroom, and needed to be woken up for their dance lessons. As hard as it was to contain her feelings for Anya, to keep from acting on them, Anya made it all so much easier by giving her the chance to act on her feelings in a bevy of smaller ways.
Such as making good on that morning's promise, to an extent.
Ring securely tucked away in her luggage once more, Clarke made her way to the bedroom door, standing there for a moment to take in the sight of her girlfriend. The covers were still perfectly in place, further evidence that Anya was far from a fitful sleeper, something Clarke kind of adored and appreciated, knowing it was more likely her girlfriend had more restful sleep than she herself was prone to.
Clarke made her way to the side of the bed and slowly, carefully crawled up onto it and over to Anya's side, brushing the hair out of her face. It almost felt criminal to wake her up when she was so peaceful, but if Anya wanted to teach her how to dance before the wedding, she'd have to get up.
It really was such a shame.
She pushed aside her reluctance and dipped down, pillowing Anya's upper lip in her kiss, letting it linger until she felt Anya stir beneath her. Clarke pulled away slightly, just enough to graze her nose along Anya's and press another languid, lingering kiss to her girlfriend's lips. She found herself smiling into it when after a few seconds, Anya's arms wrapped around her, lips moving against her after letting a delighted hum escape.
"Please tell me we don't have to leave this bed for the rest of the weekend." Anya let out quietly when Clarke pulled away slightly, voice cracking a little here and there as Anya tangled herself around her, face buried in the younger blonde's neck.
Honestly, Clarke wished she could promise that, even if just for the moment until Anya's storm of emotions settled down. She'd so rarely been one to rush to a partner's aid in moments of vulnerability in the past, but with Anya, it felt like second nature. The easiest thing to comfort and reassure her girlfriend, holding her close and running a hand through her hair to set a rhythm. "I wish we could. Are you okay, baby?"
Anya sniffled and nodded against her. "Just feeling a lot. I apologize."
"You don't have to apologize, it's totally okay to feel that way. Take your time, babe." She said, angling her head enough to press a kiss to Anya's temple. "We can stay like this as long as you need."
"I just..." Anya started up before pressing her face into Clarke's shoulder. "Here you are being wonderful, and bringing childhood dreams of mine to life, and...what exactly can I offer in return?"
Clarke felt frozen in time as she processed Anya's words, having to push through a heavy helping of disbelief and concern before she was able to tilt her head and flutter kisses across her girlfriend's head, needing to buy time to figure out how to respond, not having anticipated that she and Anya weren't on the same page about that.
"Anya...baby..." Clarke let out as she scooted herself under the covers, wanting to be as close as she could for this. "You've given me so much. I'm sorry if I haven't been clear about that with you. So I want you to listen, okay?"
She felt Anya's nose brush against her neck in a nod after a few moments of hesitation, enough for Clarke to feel she could continue. "Growing up, my parents were kind of the dream team for me. They loved each other so deeply, so readily, and it really let me know what a great love looked like. I grew up dreaming I could have that with someone." Clarke started, pausing for a moment to press another kiss to her girlfriend's head. "And when my Mom moved us away from dad, even though it was just because of work, it...soured that for me. I saw what they became. It ruined what I thought they had, and I guess I questioned if love could really be worth it at all. If it wasn't just temporary, something that would eventually blow away and leave you heartbroken and lonely and cold."
"So I figured it just wasn't for me. In a...a shallow sense, I guess, I tried for shreds of love with partners, but nothing ever happened. I never felt more than affection for them. They were there to fill the time and have enjoyable sex with, but outside of that...they didn't really mean much to me. I cared for them as people, not for the relationships I had with them." She continued, hoping her explanation was making sense, even if it was long-winded. "But then you came along."
Clarke wasn't sure whether it was a laugh or a scoff that escaped her girlfriend, but she knew she had to tamp down on any negativity. "Yes you, pretty girl. You caught my attention...and not just your beauty. You were kind and thoughtful. You shared a passion for the arts with me. And I got drawn in by your dry wit and the way your eyes light up when you're happy, especially when you're laughing." Clarke added, giving Anya a lengthy squeeze, peppering soft kisses to her temple again in hopes of lightening the mood. "And you're so strong, and caring, and giving. You make me want to step out of my comfort zone, and you're there to hold my hand every step of the way. I could keep going, but basically, I started to dream again. Of that kind of love my parents had. Of having it with you."
Anya's arms tightened around her, and Clarke could feel wetness against her neck. She could only hope they were happy tears. "And I wasn't so scared of it anymore...I wasn't afraid of getting it only to lose it, because I know if I had it with you, it'd have been worth it. You'll have been worth it all. And I think I can have it with you. I...I know I can. And that's opened so many new doors for me, that's made me so much more confident in this, and sometimes it's scary how much I feel for you, but I know I'm right where I want to be when I'm with you." Clarke clarified, knowing she should probably wind it all down now, and get back to where they needed to go, only hoping Anya had gotten her message loud and clear. "Like, ask me a year ago if I'd ever imagine myself dancing at my wedding? I would have laughed you out of the room. Both for the idea that I'd ever find someone I loved enough to marry, or that I've love someone enough to dance with them at our reception. Especially the notion that I might look good doing it."
"You still have a lot to learn, darling. A lot of practice to go." Anya mumbled against her neck, her words forcing laughter up and out of Clarke's throat even as she waited on pins and needles for some sign of acceptance or rejection, knowing just mentioning a future wedding or insinuating she loved Anya could have been a bit too heavy. "But...if nothing else, I'm thrilled I've helped you come around to the idea of loving partners, Clarke. I'm sure whoever you might marry in the future, you both will have a wonderful time."
Clarke rolled her eyes at the vagueness of Anya's words and pressed another kiss to her girlfriend's head. "Yes, whoever I might marry. And if, down the line, it was a certain entirely lovable writer who I have my heart set on?"
She could feel Anya's hitched breath, the slight tension in her girlfriend's frame. It only lasted a brief moment, though, before Anya melted against her. "Well, that...that is a wonderful thought, darling. I can't say I haven't had a similar dream or two, or that they didn't leave me waking with a full heart. But you would definitely have to be a much more seasoned dancer, Clarke."
"If dancing's the only requirement, baby, then I think you'll find I'm all too happy to bridge that gap." Clarke shifted slightly away from her girlfriend, enough to reposition herself and bring her and Anya face to face, gently bonking her forehead against Anya's. "I want to stay in bed with you. I want to kiss you for hours, but if I want to not embarrass myself, I need some dance lessons. Can you help me with that?"
Anya's eyes fluttered shut as a lazy grin spread across her lips. "For you? Always." Her girlfriend noted, pulling her in for another kiss.
Maybe they spent a few minutes longer than planned in bed. Maybe time just kind of ceased to be important for a bit. Maybe they got a very late start to dancing practice.
But making out with the woman she loved for an hour, and still managing to learn the foxtrot and the basics of the tango? Clarke could never complain.
Not when every step in time with Anya led her ever closer to her goal.
It was nine o'clock and Clarke knew two things for certain. She'd never have to eat again for the rest of her life judging by how full she was, and her feet felt like they were made of eighty percent pain and twenty percent suffering.
Anya hadn't had time to get in her massage earlier, so they'd headed off to rehearsal directly after dancing. She couldn't quite regret anything that day that led to her current agony, and the rehearsals had all gone wonderfully, but she was definitely ready to curl up on the couch with her girlfriend.
As much as she could, she stuck by Anya's side during every step of the rehearsal. Her girlfriend had been registered among Costia's bridesmaids, for political reasons, but was seated at Lexa's side during the rehearsal dinner, and from what she could tell, the woman had a great night. Raven and Octavia, whenever they weren't sneaking off together, were constantly hovering around her as well, which only warmed Clarke's heart more at the show of friendship.
Clarke had noticed some less than pleased stares from around the room at times, but most were polite enough to be generally subtle about it. Only one woman was consistently and bluntly visible about her disapproval, but she was always seated far away from Anya, or with Costia's mother running interference, so thankfully, that issue seemed to resolve itself naturally.
Of course, it was still only the rehearsal, with probably fifteen percent of the wedding attendees at the very most, so the big day was still a bit of an unknown.
Still, Lexa and Costia were happy with how it all went, and Clarke couldn't be more excited for them that all the preparation was finished. It was clear that they were exhausted with all the lead up and just wanted to enjoy their wedding, and Clarke wanted to make sure they had the best day they could. After a year of planning they deserved to relax and enjoy the moment.
And after a long day on ridiculous heels, she deserved some rest too.
Clarke made her way from the washroom out to the backyard, eyes scanning for her girlfriend. She'd left her by the gazebo, but a quick glance told her Anya wasn't there. She didn't have to look for long, finding her down by the dock with Costia.
It took some doing, making her way through the crowd, mumbling greetings, shooting smiles and waves to people trying to pull her away. She was on a mission, and eventually, she made it through the masses and hobbled her way down onto the docks.
"...-times you just are. Listen to your heart, it won't lead you astray, Anya. There's no such th..." Costia spoke, words dying at the sound of Clarke's heels against the docks. Anya, for a brief moment, looked like a deer in the headlights, needing a light shake from Costia to bring her back around. "Hey, just remember what I told you, okay? Everything's gonna work out, I promise."
Anya gave a nod, letting herself be pulled into a lingering hug from the bride-to-be before Costia made her way to Clarke.
"And you...honey, you take care of that southern belle over there, you hear?" Costia asked as she pulled Clarke into a tight hug. "And you'd better let me be your wedding photographer or I'll call a mutiny." The bride-to-be added in a whisper.
"You know I'd only want the best, and that's you. But just focus on your own wedding...even if things work out, it'd be a good chunk of time from now, Cos. Your wedding's tomorrow, don't get ahead of yourself." Clarke shot back playfully, earning a short laugh.
"I don't have to plan anymore, I get to have fun and enjoy myself now. And part of that's being excited for you two. Besides, Lexa won't tell me where she's taking me for our honeymoon, so I need something to gab about, because we promised to let go of our stress and tension when it's all over. You two are a perfect distraction." Costia argued quietly before pulling away and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "You look ready to head home, so why don't you and Anya say your farewells and head back to the pool house?"
"You read my mind, my dogs are barking." Clarke stated, pulling Costia back in for another quick hug. "I love you, Costia. I'll see you tomorrow morning, okay?"
"Love you too. Drive safe, loves!" Costia spoke, heading back up to the party. Clarke offered a parting wave and turned her focus back on Anya.
Anya, who was standing much closer than expected, looking her over with concerned eyes. "You're in pain."
Clarke nodded. "Feet hurt."
The words had only just exited her mouth when she felt Anya lifting her up and carrying her over to the nearby bench by the water, gently placing her down before taking a seat beside her. "I'm sorry, I promised I'd take care of you."
Clarke could see the building guilt and tried to cut it off before it took Anya over, pulling her in for a kiss she'd been waiting well over an hour to give. Thankfully, Anya was immediately receptive, arms wrapping around her, which had Clarke wanting to take the vacant spot on her girlfriend's lap, but that might be a little too forward and inappropriate given the festivities. She settled for nestling into Anya's side as closely as she could.
"And you are taking care of me, see?" Clarke asked, cocking a challenging eyebrow at her girlfriend when they parted.
A challenge that was accepted, given Anya's flat, unimpressed stare. "Hardly. Your feet hurt, Clarke. I didn't give you a foot massage earlier."
"Because I was too busy pulling you into an hour long make-out session, baby. Trust me, I'm feeling a lot better after that kiss. But if you want, you can kiss my feet better?" Clarke asked, wiggling her eyebrows, grinning at her girlfriend's ensuing laughter.
"Perhaps after a bath. I'm sure your feet reek after tonight." Anya shot back with a wry grin of her own.
Clarke almost contested the claim, but on second thought, her feet probably did stink a bit. "And would you be joining me in the tub?"
Anya just rolled her eyes and gave her a light shove. "Clarke! Behave!"
"I'm just saying, there's room for two. And in the name of efficiency..."
"How in heavens would that be efficient?"
"Well, we'd be making use of all the space, all the nooks and crannies, and..."
"Clarke, if we bathed together, we wouldn't get clean for ages, and..."
"I'll have you know I'm a multi-tasker!"
"Oh, I am very aware of that." Anya admitted, cupping Clarke's face with both of her hands and stilling any playful rebuttal she might have thought up. "Tomorrow...when the mayhem is over...but we need our rest tonight."
Clarke let out a heavy sigh, about to whine a bit about not wanting to wait when she spotted a familiar face approaching quickly. "Aden! Hey, buddy!"
Anya's head swung around so quickly Clarke actually worried her girlfriend would get whiplash. "Aden?!"
"Clarke! Anya!" The boy called out happily a moment before practically crashing into both of them, stretching his arms wide in an attempt to hug them both.
"Oh, you've grown so big, let me get a look at you." Anya said, prompting Aden to take a step back, standing tall and proud. "Wow, must be at least four inches since I saw you last. I didn't think I'd get to see you tonight."
"Mom's being an ass, but she's arguing with dad over something, so I slipped away." Aden let out with a smile, one that immediately faltered, Clarke needing to glance at Anya to see it was the unimpressed stare focused in his direction.
"First of all, language. Secondly, mind your manners, young man. She's still your mother, and she treats you well, even if she keeps you from seeing me in person." Anya chided, making Aden immediately sheepish . "But it is wonderful to see you, again, dear. How have you been? Are you doing well in hockey?"
"I've got straight A's, just like I promised you. And hockey's going really well, I got accepted into a really good program at a boarding school in Connecticut, I'm going this fall." Aden claimed proudly, and one quick glance at Anya showed her girlfriend was beaming with pride in return.
Clarke rubbed at Anya's back, piping up when her tearful girlfriend had trouble finding words. "Aden, that's incredible! You must be so thrilled!" Clarke exclaimed, drawing an immediate nod from the boy. "Though speaking of thrilled...Lexa told me something about you having a girlfriend?"
Anya let out a sharp gasp, meaning it was all clearly news to her, the claim confirmed by how red Aden's cheeks grew. "I, uh...well...I mean, you can speak for yourselves! Are you two dating?"
"Absolutely." Clarke shot back with a broad smile, one which only grew when Anya pressed a kiss to her cheek.
"I cherish her." Anya added warmly, arm wrapping around her waist and making Clarke feel like she was made of goo. Aden wasn't a stranger by any means, but Clarke only really saw him once or twice a year, and he was more Anya's family than hers. So seeing Anya expressing her pride in dating her, and Aden's eyes shining in excitement over it, just had Clarke feeling over the moon.
"That's so great! You two will have to come see me play this year, then!" Aden looked so excited at the prospect of the both of them cheering him on that it was literally impossible to say no. She didn't have to even look at Anya to know her girlfriend felt the same.
"We totally will, at least once, right babe?" Clarke asked, stifling the laughter bubbling inside of her at the sound of Anya's sniffle.
"I'd love to see you play hockey, Aden. You send me the details on Discord, and I'll make sure we'll see a few of your games, I promise. We wouldn't miss it for the world." Anya promised, and while Connecticut was a long ways away from North Carolina, Clarke was all too happy to stand firm on that promise. If seeing Aden was important enough to bring Anya to tears over the possibility, then she'd make it happen. Watching the kid play hockey, snuggled up against Anya in the stands, that would be a great bonus.
"I promise I'll score, like, four..." Aden started, voice dying momentarily as his mother's voice rang out across the yard, calling out for him. "I gotta go!"
Aden promptly launched forward, pulling them both into hugs, and then darted off towards the outdoor grill area, the boy quickly picking up some sort of food and tossing it into his mouth. Honestly, even if she was amused by all the antics people went to in order to hang out with Anya, she couldn't wait for it all to be over tomorrow. Anya didn't deserve people coming to her all cloak and dagger-style just for a quick meet-up.
Clarke turned to Anya and curled up a bit more against her. "Hey, we'll see him a few times this year, I promise. And you'll get to see him tomorrow, too, right?"
Anya swallowed hard and nodded. "Right." Anya agreed, voice thick and trembling. "Voice and video chat are worlds apart from seeing him in person. I've missed him so much."
If there was something Clarke's heart couldn't handle it was Anya crying, so when the first tear broke the levee and streamed down her cheek, Clarke leaned up and kissed it away, and then the next, and the next. "Shhh, it's okay, baby. All this exile shit's gonna be over soon. No more sneaking around, no more going without seeing the people you love, okay?"
Anya nodded, nose brushing against Clarke's. "I know. I apologize for making a scene."
Clarke pressed another kiss to Anya's nose. "You don't have to apologize for caring, Anya. I love your big heart."
Anya angled down to press a lingering chaste kiss to Clarke, thumb stroking down her cheek. "Your feet hurt, darling. Let's get you back to the pool house."
Clarke was too distracted by Anya taking hold of her hand to react to the woman getting off the bench and kneeling in front of her, at least not for a few moments, but by then, her heels were off. Anya picked off any remaining dirt or grass and tilted her head up to look at Clarke. "Put these in your bag?"
She nodded and slipped them into her tote; it was a tight fit, but she'd be happy not to have to see those things until the next day.
Still holding her hand, Anya led her up the hill to the rest of the party, thankfully keeping them traveling on the soft grass as much as possible, only taking a brief detour onto a stone walkway to bid Lexa farewell for the night.
"Heading back?" Lexa asked them as they approached, stepping away from a group conversation she'd appeared politely bored of.
"My body wasn't ready for this rehearsal. Feet are gonna be the death of me, Lexa." Clarke let out with a tired grin, doing what she could to hide how much her feet ached.
As if that was even at all possible. Lexa's lips curled into a frown, turning her focus to Anya. "Grab whatever you need from our master bath in the house, whatever you have to for her feet. Go take care of your girl, Anya."
"Hey, I'm right here!" Clarke snarked back with a laugh.
Lexa just rolled her eyes and kissed Clarke's forehead. "Clarke, let Anya take care of you. I need you both rested up for tomorrow."
"Okay, okay. Night, Lexa. See you bright and early, babe." Clarke said, pulling Lexa into a brief hug, handing her of to Anya right after.
"Good night, love. I'll see you in the morning." Anya added as she wrapped her arms around Lexa, the two women lingering in the embrace.
Still, Lexa reluctantly offered a wave and made her way back to the group from before, leaving them a clear path to the car. A clear paved or gravel-covered path, unfortunately. "Come on, let's get to the car."
Anya's amused laugh was what let Clarke prepare herself enough to be swept up in her girlfriend's arms, at least halfway expecting it this time around, even if it did essentially reduce her to a human-shaped puddle.
She shut her eyes, letting the gentle night breeze waft against her as Anya carried her to the car and set her down in the passenger seat. The closer they got to home, the closer she wanted to be with her girlfriend, holding her hand the whole ride home, happily letting Anya carry her into the pool house and into the bathroom.
"Why don't you do your nightly routine? By the time I get back, you can get you set up for a nice soak, and then get straight to bed after." Anya suggested, and while Clarke wasn't a fan of Anya leaving her side at the moment, she figured it was for the best. At her nod, Anya departed, leaving her to clean up and undress.
She did a bit of a rush job, knowing that she, Anya, Lexa, and her half of the bridesmaids would be spending part of the morning at some spa, being pampered, so she could afford to be a bit lax in her skin regimen. She put her hair up into a messy topknot to keep it out of the way, figuring she'd be getting her hair done tomorrow as well, so the hair stylists could deal with it then.
Anya wasn't so long, returning in short order with some bath supplies, a change of clothes, and a hot mug of cocoa for her bath tray. Just by the look in her eyes, she could see Anya wanted to stay, but Clarke had the fortunate ability of hindsight after their make-out session earlier that day.
"I'll see you in a bit?" She asked, prompting a subtly relieved sigh from her girlfriend.
"Please take as long as you need, darling. I'll be in the living room reading if you need me. Call out if you need anything." Anya offered, and Clarke just wanted to grab her and tackle her into the tub and stay there for eternity, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.
"I will." Clarke promised, fingertips guiding the bottom of Anya's chin, bringing them into a quick kiss, not wanting to tempt either of them, but also wanting a bit of sugar before she'd be by herself.
Anya filled the tub and, after another quick kiss, left the bathroom, leaving Clarke to her devices. For the first time all day, she found herself more than a little bit tired of the waiting period. Not that she'd scratch that itch quite yet, but perhaps spending her bath dreaming about a possible future?
Yeah, she could do that.
Clarke felt groggy as she left the bath, needing to be mindful of her footing as she dried herself off. She could hear some noise from the living room, likely the television. Anya had been nearly finished her book, so it'd only make sense to find something else to do after finishing it. She toweled off, slipped into her pajamas, gave herself a little stretch, and then padded to the bedroom door.
As soon as she cracked it open and heard Raven's telltale laughter, she knew Anya had found something else to pass the time for the evening. "Hey! What are you two doing here?" Clarke called out as she stepped out into the living room, bright smile aimed at her close friends.
"What, we can't visit our friends? Pssh, get a grip, Griffin!" Raven shot back with a mock glare.
"I think she was curious as to why you two aren't spending your quality time together...together." Anya clarified, entirely on Clarke's wavelength.
Octavia let out an outraged gasp, even as her face went pink. "Hey, we don't just shack up all the time!"
Clarke rounded the couch and flopped down across Anya's lap, squeezing herself in the tiny space between the armrest and her girlfriend. "What about that weekend right after I got my job at the gallery? Raven and I came to visit you the same weekend, and you spent, like, ninety-percent of it in your bedroom. I basically just played your Xbox all weekend, O."
"Okay, first off, rude. Second thing is that's completely untrue! We only spent...like...uh...sixty-two percent of the weekend in O's bedroom! That's almost a thirty percent difference!" Raven protested with a huff.
"On seven hours of sleep a night, that's still, like, eight additional hours spent shacking up." Clarke argued, just barely stifling a content moan as Anya took hold of her calves and began gently working them over.
"Hear that, O? Eight hours a day! You'd think at least one of them would be impressed by that kind of stamina and creativity to keep it going that often. Shit." Raven snarked, crossing her arms and slumping against Octavia, appearing entirely unimpressed.
Octavia patted Raven's head and rolled her eyes. "I know, they're clearly both idiots."
"Anyways, we were discussing what we might watch ever since they barged in. Octavia's partial to Vikings because after today, she wants to see some blood. Raven wants to watch a horror film called Ghost Storm. I figured if horror and violence was the preferred direction, then perhaps Tucker & Dale versus Evil could work, since it's violent and a lighthearted horror-comedy?" Anya clarified, Clarke needing a few moments to wrap her head around the names of the movies or shows involved, because Anya's hands were heavenly as they slowly worked their way down to her feet.
"Okay, Ghost Storm is totally lighthearted. Sure, it's technically horror, but it's so cheesy and poorly done that it's hilarious!" Raven argued, earning a skeptical stare from Octavia.
"Wait...are you talking about that shitty made for TV movie on SyFy that you made me watch a few months back? Where like, a literal storm of ghosts somehow managed to kill an island full of people or some shit?" Octavia asked warily.
Raven's eyes went wide as she leaned away from her girlfriend. "Whoa, you can't hate on Ghost Storm like that, it's a masterpiece!"
"Oh my god, Raven, it's a terrible movie..."
"The BEST terrible movie..."
"Even the modern remake of The Fog was more fun to watch..."
"Don't you DARE tell me that..."
Octavia promptly covered Raven's mouth up with one hand, and held her down on the loveseat with the other, shooting a bored expression at Clarke and Anya. "We'll do the Tucker and whatever movie then. Unless you have other ideas, Clarke?"
"Nah, I'm good with whatever." She answered, knowing her attention would probably be far away from the screen, anyway. At least for the first little bit, until her feet felt better.
After that, well, the thought of spending a night in with two of her best friends and her girlfriend, all watching a funny movie or two, getting to cuddle up together with Anya? Clarke was pretty sure that was a recipe for a great time.
A/N: Meant to get this out on Halloween, but I got some stressful news and didn't really get a chance to sit down and write. Anywho, I hope you all enjoyed this! I did a quick edit, and I'll do a more thorough one soon enough when I've got the energy.
I hope your weeks are off to a great start!