Hey babes! It's certainly been a while, but I'm back again with a new fic for you all! I've had this one sitting completed in a fold for quite a while, but just now got around to fine-tuning it so I can post. In this one, things in the finale eps of s5 play out a little differently (i don't really know how so don't ask) which leads to them not having to go to another planet, they get to stay on earth.

Enjoy!


Standing with his arms crossed casually over his chest near the medical center, Bellamy watches with a smile on his face as the scene before him unfolds. People of all ages are milling around the large open area, having lively conversations and helping each other complete their daily chores around the camp to make sure it continues to thrive as it has been. They need everyone involved to do their part to make sure everything continues to run smoothly.

They've definitely come a long way since they all returned to the surface after six years away, whether from deep under the ground or from high up in the sky.

Those first few months really took their toll on everybody when they came back, no one was used to being on solid ground or having fresh air. No one truly wanted to fight again for their survival, though there was still quite a bit of contention, which, of course, led to fighting. But now that they've gotten through it all, they get to live. They get to truly build lasting relationships and have families and think about the future without any ounce of dread or worry looming over them.

They've lost people, of course. But they're all trying not to let it weigh them down like it had after they arrived on earth for the first time, a moment that feels like a lifetime ago.

But things are better now. Things are different, different than they were before, but in a good way. The few communities they've built up are thriving, and it didn't take long before people slowly began to start exploring other parts of the world, to see what became of it all after Praimfaya.

After they all got back to the surface, not everyone had wanted to stay, many wanted to go off and build their own communities in other parts, some of the animosity between Grounders and Skaikru still bubbling right under the surface, even after six years of living underground together. The added tension from the remaining members of the Eligius crew didn't help matters. But everyone was free to stay or go as they pleased.

In his own little community, it mainly consists of the people he knows and loves; the majority of the people from the Ark, as well as a few Grounders that grew close to some of Skaikru while down in the bunker. A few Eligius members stuck around too. Even with all the responsibility on his shoulders as one of the leaders of the camp (they're no longer adhering to the Grounders' former way of leadership), he's probably the happiest he's ever been in his life.

A smile creeps onto his lips when he catches sight of the main reason for his happiness standing in the center of the campsite by the large fire they use for various needs and activities. The pink and orange sunset illuminates her blonde hair from behind, the red streaks she once had now long gone, the length getting closer to what it was when they first met all those years ago. Her face is set in deep concentration, stoking the large fire in front of her with one hand while the other rests underneath her rounded belly.

"Doctor said to take it easy," he calls out to her.

"I am a doctor," she remarks, not looking up at him.

He pushes off the wall of the building behind him and strides over to her. "But you're not the only doctor here, Princess," he reminds her. He stops next to her and crosses his arms over his chest again. "I'm pretty sure your mother doesn't want anything to happen to you or her grandchild."

"Everything will be fine, Bellamy."

"Ours is only the second baby conceived and born after Praimfaya, Clarke. Monty and Harper were lucky with Jordan, but there's still no telling what could happen to our baby because of the current environment. Things still aren't one hundred percent around here."

She stops poking at the fire and sets aside the stick she'd been using, turning fully to face him. "Listen to me when I say that our baby is going to be just fine. And even if they have some kind of physical abnormality when he or she is born, that's not going to keep us from loving them."

He sighs, his shoulders slumping just a little. "I know that. I'm just worried about what others will say. The last thing I want is for our kid to get ridiculed growing up because of something they couldn't control."

She smiles softly, taking one of his hands in hers and giving it a squeeze. "And if it comes down to that, I know you'll go all Papa Bear on whoever messes with them."

He scoffs. "Like you won't go all Mama Bear?"

She rolls her eyes. "I think it's safe to say that this kid is going to be pretty well protected. Between us, Madi, and my mom alone, this kid is set. Then you add Raven, Octavia, Monty, Harper, Murphy—"

"Well, Murphy might be a bit reluctant at first," he tells her with an amused smile at the thought of Murphy awkwardly handling an infant. It had taken nearly a year before he would willingly hold Jordan for any length of time.

Clarke snorts. "He definitely will be." She takes a deep breath and then turns back toward the fire, leaning casually against him as they watch the flames crack and pop. "My point is, our kid will be fine. Tell me about work?"

Bellamy sighs, his arms instinctively sliding around her waist so that his hands can rest on her belly. "It was fine. Patrol was easy enough, nothing to worry about there, thank goodness."

"Thank goodness, indeed," Clarke remarks. "Personally, I don't think it's entirely necessary to still have a Guard when no one's at war with each other anymore, but I'm glad everything went okay."

"Yes, Clarke, I'm well aware of your stance on it. But the Guard isn't just about that, and you know it. There's still the natural wildlife we have to deal with."

"No, I know. I guess it just sometimes reminds me of darker times."

He presses a kiss to the top of her head. "Trust me, I know. Luckily today I was mostly just continuing to make sure Miller is ready to take over as temporary Lead for when the baby comes."

"Bellamy…"

He nods. "I know, I know. You've told me before that I don't need to stop Guard duties when the baby comes. But I want to be there for the both of you, Clarke, as much as I can. You can't stop me from being there. Miller will be fine."

"I know he will. But you love leading the Guard."

"But I love you and this baby a lot more. You two will always be some of the most important people in the world to me. Nothing is ever going to change that."

She smiles. "And I love you too."

The two of them just stand there smiling at each other for he doesn't even know how long. It's super cheesy and cliché and probably something out of one of those old movies from before the first apocalypse, but he definitely gets lost in her eyes. He doesn't mind it, though. He's so completely in love with her.

"Clarke!"

Bellamy laughs under his breath when he catches the look of annoyance on Clarke's face through the glow of the fire. He reluctantly tears his gaze away from her and smiles at the other source of his never-ending happiness.

At sixteen years old, Madi has become more and more beautiful with each day that passes, as well as more headstrong, much to Clarke's dismay. He and Madi bonded fairly quickly after they dealt with the latest issues of trying to survive, something he's eternally grateful for seeing as he all but wormed his way into Clarke and Madi's makeshift little family.

He knows that the two of them share a special bond after spending six years alone together that no one else can really even begin to understand, but he likes to think that he and Madi share a similar bond. It's not that hard to see why when they're both always concerned with Clarke's well-being, especially as of late.

"Clarke, your mom said you shouldn't be up on your feet if you can avoid it."

Clarke shrugs. "Someone needed to stoke the fire."

"That's what everyone else is for," Madi retorts, grabbing the long stick Clarke had been using earlier. "There are plenty of people around the camp who can stoke the fire. You don't have to be one of them."

"I'm fine, Madi."

"Clarke…"

"Madi."

He watches as the two women lock eyes and share a silent conversation, all sorts of different words and emotions passing between them just with a look. People say that he and Clarke have always been the exact same way since day one almost a decade ago.

Eventually, Clarke sighs and throws her hands up. "Fine. I'll stop stoking the fire. But I'm not going to bed yet. It's not even that late."

"I'll keep you company out here, Princess," he tells her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and guiding her over to one of the chairs that's near the fire.

Basic woodworking was one of the first of many skills taught to those who didn't know it once they really started getting settled in. They used it to make cabins for families, and larger buildings for various needs and purposes, as well as chairs for sitting around the campfire. They're not the most comfortable surfaces in existence, but they manage well enough.

"So how are you really feeling?" he asks Clarke as he helps her sit in the chair and put her feet up on one of the stools that had been made as well.

"I'm fine, Bellamy, really."

"You're pregnant, Clarke. It's okay to admit it if you're tired or worn out. No one expects you to be operating at one hundred percent right now."

She sighs. "I know that. I just…"

He watches as she struggles to find the right words, knowing that she still finds it difficult to be so open and vulnerable after everything she's been through.

He rests a gentle hand on her shoulder, drawing her attention, and smiles softly. "Hey, I know. But none of us want you to push yourself too hard, okay?" He squats down next to her and looks her directly in the eyes. "We don't have very long left until this little one is here." He smiles and rubs his hand affectionately across her stomach. "So please promise me you'll try to take it a little easier until then."

She smiles back at him. "I promise. But don't think this means that I'll be sitting out of progress meetings."

He leans forward and presses a kiss to her forehead. "They wouldn't be the same without you."

Standing up straight, he drags one of the other chairs closer and settles himself in it, draping one arm across Clarke's shoulders. She instinctively leans into his touch and he drops a kiss on her head.

Leaning back in his seat with his best girl at his side, he can't help the small smile that creeps onto his face. There are very few things he truly enjoys doing these days, but sitting in the comfortable, welcoming silence with the woman he loves, watching the fire crackle and spark in front of them is absolutely one of those things. It's made even better knowing that she's carrying their first child. He can't wait until the moment they can sit like this with their baby cuddled up with them, warmed by the fire and their parent's love. It'll be perfect.

"What do you think they'll be like?"

He turns his head toward her. "Who?"

She shifts in her seat and looks up at him. "The baby," she clarifies. "What do you think they'll be like?"

He takes a deep breath. "I think...they'll be very stubborn like their mother."

"Or hard-headed like their father," she counters.

He smiles. "Or they'll be the perfect mix of the both of us and drive everyone here crazy with how much trouble they get into. Complete with my rugged good looks, of course, if it's a boy."

She laughs. "Oh, of course."

"And if it's a girl, obviously they'll be just as beautiful as their mother."

She rolls her eyes at him. "Shut up."

"Can you both shut up?" Madi calls out to them from her place by the fire.

They both turn to look at her, seeing her with her nose turned up, though he can see the slight amusement in her eyes.

"Seriously, you guys are disgusting."

"Were they always like this?" the blonde boy now standing next to Madi asks.

She glances at him. "Worse. I didn't actually know them before Praimfaya, but Raven said that they always acted like a married couple before they even admitted their feelings to themselves. It was always 'Where's Bellamy?' 'Where's Clarke?' 'Not without Bellamy.' 'We have to go back for Clarke.' Constantly. And that was just in the first few months of knowing each other."

The boy gives a quick whistle with wide eyes. "Wow."

"I know."

Bellamy rolls his eyes at the comments from the teenager, knowing full well what everyone in the community says about him and Clarke. Most of it coming from their own friends.

"Don't you two have somewhere else to be right now?" he calls out to them.

Madi nods once at him. "Yes, we do." She looks at the boy next to her. "Ethan, are you still in?"

He smiles. "Yeah, of course."

"Great, let's go." She immediately grabs hold of his hand and begins dragging him toward another area of the camp.

"Be careful, you two," Clarke calls after them.

Madi waves her off over her shoulder as they keep moving.

Bellamy just chuckles quietly to himself.

"Those two together are going to send me to an early grave."

He whips his head toward Clarke with furrowed brows. "What are you talking about? Madi and Ethan?"

She shrugs. "Yeah." She watches him for a moment before sighing. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed what's going on between them. It's so obvious Ethan has a thing for her."

His breath catches and his eyes go wide at the thought. "What?"

She rolls her eyes at him. "Oh, come on, you had to have seen the way he looks at her and follows her no matter what."

He shakes his head. "No, I haven't. Because he doesn't look at her that way. And she doesn't look at him any particular way either. She's sixteen, Clarke."

"Yeah, I know she is. And it's not that big of a deal, okay? I wasn't much older than her when I met you and started falling. Granted, it took six years for it to actually go anywhere what with the world ending and all."

"And praying that there's no apocalypse that forces everyone apart again, they'll be able to spend a lot of time together, alone, and I don't think I like that. What exactly are they doing? Where are they going? Did they tell you? Is anyone else going to be there?" He moves to stand from his chair when Clarke's hand on his arm stops him. He looks down at her.

She smiles softly. "You're cute when you worry. But you need to stop. We both know Madi can more than take care of herself. And Ethan is a respectful kid and he really cares about Madi and won't let anything happen to her. So there's nothing to worry about."

He sighs and falls back in his seat. "Saying there's nothing to worry about doesn't mean I'm not going to worry, Clarke."

"I know. So I'm going to help you take your mind off of it."

"How?"

"With this." She smiles, grabbing his hand and placing it on the side of her stomach.

He can't help the smile that slowly grows on his face at the small, quick thuds against his palm that happen almost immediately after he rests his hand on Clarke's stomach. "That's never going to get old," he breathes out.

"Maybe not for you," she says. "But for me, it got old real fast when our child is constantly kicking my internal organs around."

"They just want some attention," he says with the dopey smile he knows is on his face, rubbing his hand against her skin.

"And they'll get all the attention they could ever want once they're born. Raven and Octavia are probably going to spoil them like crazy."

"Oh, they definitely will. I'm a little scared, honestly."

"Well don't be." She takes a deep breath before shifting in her seat.

His brows furrow slightly. "You okay?"

She nods. "Yeah. I just forgot how uncomfortable these chairs are."

"Then maybe we should find you somewhere more comfortable to sit."

"There is nowhere more comfortable to sit, Bellamy. I think this is supposed to be as comfortable as we can get for now. I think I'm going to go to our bunk so I can sleep."

He smirks. "I thought you said you didn't want to go to bed."

She rolls her eyes. "Shut up, my entire body hurts and it's all your fault, so don't go getting all smirky."

"Smirky, Princess, really? Is that even a real word?"

She shrugs. "I don't know. Carrying your child has made it so I can never think straight."

"Sure, blame me."

"Well, it is your fault."

"Pretty sure it takes two to make a baby, Clarke."

She rolls her eyes at him again and he can't help but laugh quietly.

He takes a deep breath and stands from his seat. "Alright, come on." He holds his hand out to her. "Let me help you get to bed."

She sighs and takes his hand, allowing him to help her get up out of the chair.

He wraps an arm around her waist, helping to support her as they slowly make their way across the camp toward their shared bunk. He shoots a few pointed glares at some of the camp residents that approach them, mouths open, ready to speak. The last thing Clarke needs at the moment is more problems to solve when she's clearly exhausted. He knows she'll probably reprimand him for it later, saying that their people need her, but their baby also needs her to stay well.

Helping her into their bed, he pulls the blanket up over her and tucks it around her body. He brushes some hair back out of her face and drops a kiss to her forehead.

He turns to leave when he feels her hand wrap around his wrist.

"Stay," she whispers.

"I'll be back," he promises. "I just need to check on a few things around the camp and then you have me all to yourself for the rest of the night." He gives her a soft smile.

She smiles back, dropping her hand. She breathes in deeply as her eyes slowly start to close, her body relaxing into the bed. "Okay. Love you."

"Love you too, Princess."


So? What did you think? Let me know in a review down below. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Until next time,
Jellybean96 out!