A/N: And I'm back. Sorry about the long wait, the holidays got busy. I moved myself into the kitchen (I live in my room) so that all temptations were gone and I was forced to write (started Mass Effect series again so I played all day yesterday). Also I made a change back on a previous chapter. Lexa has only been a cop for four, almost five years, not six. (I actually did research on becoming a detective LOL)

Chapter 13

Clarke gave a small wave as the last guest finally left their home. She closed the door tightly before turning and leaning on it, letting out a deep breath. She was glad to have all of that over and done with now. She was grateful to all those that came to offer their condolences, but it was also too much, too soon.

She took a moment to gather herself back together before making her way through the house in search of the rest of her family. She knew that Abby had gone back to her room at the first opportunity, and Clarke took that as her mother wanting to be alone.

Derek too, had seemed to disappear, but she found everyone else that was left in the family room. She couldn't help the large smile that came over her face at the sight of Avery curled up into Lexa on the couch. She was so incredibly happy at the bond those two were forming.

The smile stayed on her face as she made her way over to them and took the empty spot next to them. It stayed there as she felt Avery leave Lexa's side and crawl into her own lap. Even with the move though, she didn't fully separate herself from the other woman, instead she threw her legs across Lexa's lap. Lexa instinctively seemed to lay a comforting hand on top of them.

It only finally left her face when she took notice of the look on her grandmother's face. She could see the questions in the other woman's eyes as she looked between the three of them. She tried to ignore it, however, and just hoped that she wouldn't bring it up.

"That was a nice service," Karlene finally spoke.

Clarke looked at the woman closely, not sure if there was sincerity in her tone. She'd never had much of a relationship with the woman, with either of her grandparents if she was honest. There were few visits between them as she was growing up. When she heard the accusations thrown at her mother, she was grateful she didn't know them all that well, it made things easier. "Yes, it was," she finally agreed.

"I didn't realize your parents had so many friends."

She was fishing for something, Clarke just wasn't sure what it was. "Yeah, everyone loved Dad at work. Mom has made many friends over the years at the hospital. She's been the Head of her department for many years now as well. So, some of them came because they respect her."

"Yes, I'm sure," Karlene practically waved off, like Abby's achievements were no big deal. "I expect things will be changing now, what with her injury and all."

Clarke had never had the urge to punch someone like she did right then. She stayed quiet though and hugged her daughter closer to keep her calm.

"I saw you had a small group show up for you as well. Like this one here," Karlene nodded towards Lexa.

And there it was. Clarke knew what was coming now. She could feel it in her bones. She really didn't want to do this today, of all days. But maybe it was better just to have it all out now. With her father gone, she didn't have to see this woman ever again if she didn't want too.

First, though, she needed to get Avery out of the room. She didn't need to hear the words that would likely be exchanged here soon. "Hey, little one, why don't you go upstairs and get your pajamas on and get ready for bed."

"But it's still early, and it's the weekend," Avery protested.

"I know. I'll be up there in a little bit and we can watch a movie or something alright?" She could see that Avery still wanted to argue, she could even understand it. She knew it wasn't so much the getting ready for bed, it was the going upstairs alone. "Please, for me."

Avery nodded and climbed off their laps. She gave her mother one last look in hopes she'd change her mind, but then headed out of the room. Clarke watched her go and made sure she could hear the girl's footsteps on the stairs before she turned back to her grandmother.

She knew she had nothing to worry about when it came to her grandfather. Chuck Griffin was a fairly laid-back guy who didn't like to make a fuss. At the current moment, she was fairly sure he was also passed out in the recliner. Even if he was awake, he never offered much back up to either party.

"Avery and your friend here seem pretty close."

"She has a name, it's Lexa. And yes, they have grown quite close in recent days because Lexa has been wonderful helping us through this," Clarke tried to hold back her anger. She knew her emotions were on high alert right now because she was grieving but she could only hold back so much.

"Is she a friend from around here?"

Clarke knew she was fishing and it was only a matter of time before she laid all her cards on the table, but if Karlene wanted to take the long way there, she'd appease her. "No, actually. I met her out in D.C. She's a cop, who showed up in my ER a few times, so we decided to get to know each other better."

"She must be a great friend to drop everything and come home with you," Karlene responded like she wasn't curious about the relationship, but Clarke knew better. This was clearly a game of cat and mouse.

"She's not my friend," Clarke stated with nonchalance. She leaned back on the couch and grinned a little to herself. Two could play this game.

"I don't understand." Karlene's tone suggested she really didn't, but she had to know, didn't she?

Clarke took Lexa's hand in her own and entwined their fingers and she sat back up and looked her grandmother square in the eye. "She's my girlfriend."

"I beg your pardon," Karlene spat.

"She's my girlfriend, as in we are dating. My girlfriend who I am totally in love with. And who I wouldn't have been able to get through this without." The last part was softer and towards Lexa. She needed her to get through this. Lexa tightened her own hand around Clarke's in a silent signal that she understood.

"You're joking right? This really isn't the day for jokes, Clarke."

"I'm not joking," Clarke said with fierceness.

"You have to be joking. You are not gay. I mean you had a baby for crying out loud. Even though that shouldn't have happened either," Karlene stated like all of it was fact.

Again, Clarke felt the urge to throw a punch, but instead, she took deep breaths and tried to calm herself. This was why she didn't want Avery around. No one should ever make the girl think she shouldn't exist, that she was some mistake. Not when she was Clarke's world.

"No, I'm not gay," she saw small glimpse of relief in her grandmother's eyes, but she wasn't done yet. "I'm bisexual. Not that it really matters because I know that Lexa is it for me."

"You can't be serious. What are you going to tell your mother? Avery? What would your dad think?"

Clarke wanted to laugh, she really did. This woman was so damn clueless it was ridiculous. "My mom knows and she's happy for me. Dad knew, and he couldn't wait to meet Lexa, he was excited, I'm sad he never got to meet her. And Avery knows, she's known about Lexa since our first date. She keeps saying she wants us to get married."

"That is just ludicrous. That child needs a mother and a father."

Was she serious? Just moments ago, she was stating that Avery shouldn't even exist and now she was deciding what she needed. "Avery has a father. He might be gone, but that doesn't mean he doesn't exist."

"That hardly counts. You can't even know if he would have been around."

The list of people Karlene was insulting today was getting extremely long. Clarke was honestly ready to kick the woman out, but she needed to finish this first. She needed to know that all cards were played before she cut ties permanently. "Actually, I do. I can't say what our life would have been like if Tom had lived, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that he would have loved his daughter and he would have been there for her whenever she needed him. That's just the kind of man he was."

Bringing up Tom wasn't helping her emotions any, but she needed to say this. She needed to talk about him because she never really got the chance too. If she said it all now, then Lexa would hear it too and she could be there for her and Avery. "If Tom had lived, maybe I would have left her with him to raise, because he was one of my best friends and I knew him, and he would have LOVED to have her. Maybe she would have stayed with my parents and he would have her on weekends. Just maybe he would have come with me to school so between the two of us she wouldn't have to be alone and I could actually raise her. I hate that I don't know what could have been. But I do know, he would have been there for her. He would have loved her."

Clarke closed her eyes as a few small tears leaked out. She felt Lexa's hand on her shoulder and leaned into the touch. Everything was okay because Lexa was here.

"I really don't care what you think about me and Lexa. I can give two shits about your opinions of Avery. As long as you keep that to yourself I could give a rat's ass." Clarke stands up and her grandmother follows suit. It's about to go down and they both know it.

"I really wanted to have a relationship with you because you are my grandmother, you are my dad's mother. But time and time again you come into this house and you insult and belittle everything. It's not my mom's fault I got pregnant. It was mine. And it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me because I got Avery out of it. She is so precious and pure. Because of her, Tom's death wasn't as hard as it could have been for those that loved him."

Clarke was far from done, she would not allow Karlene to say a word, even when she knew she wanted too. "Then today, we bury my father, your son, and you have to start shit with me. I am who I am, and you can accept that or not. I really don't care either way. The way I live my life is my choice. The way I raise my daughter is my choice. You have no say and your opinion isn't wanted."

"Clarke…," Karlene started.

"No, I'm done. I want you to leave now. Grandpa can stay if you don't want to wake him, but I want you gone."

"You can't just kick me out. This is my son's house and I have a right to stay."

Oh, the hypocrisy on her was astounding. They could barely get the woman to step foot in this house because she was so judgmental, but then when Clarke wanted her gone, she was fighting to stay.

"Actually, with Dad gone, I own half the house, so yes I can. Either leave or I call the cops, your choice." It was an empty threat because Clarke couldn't call the cops on her own blood, she didn't have it in her no matter how bad her grandmother was, but she hoped it would do the trick.

Clarke was happy it did the trick when her grandmother woke her grandfather up with a few shakes to his shoulder and stated that they were leaving. She couldn't believe he'd slept through all of that, but maybe it was for the best.

Clarke only let out the breath she was holding when she heard the front door shut behind them. "Well that could have gone better," she groaned.

"You warned me about her, but man she's a piece of work," Lexa responded.

"Yeah, she really is."

"She really blamed your mom for you getting pregnant?" Lexa asked. That part of Clarke's speech had stayed with her. Although, it wasn't the only thing. She was curious more about Tom now, but she knew Clarke would talk to her about him more when she was ready.

"She believes a wife's only job should be within the home. She hated that my dad married someone who had a career. So, when I got pregnant I heard them arguing and she said it was my mom's fault. I guess because she wasn't home to baby-sit me day in and day out. I don't know."

"Well, she's gone now. So how about we go upstairs, get in our pjs, and watch a movie like you promised Avery."

"That sounds like a great idea," Clarke smiled. She leaned in and gave Lexa a large kiss full of gratitude. Not only for being there for her tonight and really the last week, but for so easily taking Avery into her heart.

They headed up hand in hand but separated when they made it to the second floor. Lexa went straight to their room to change and Clarke headed towards Avery's room. She found the girl lying on her bed and she looked deep in thought. "Hey, Lexa and I need to change but then we can watch a movie in our room. Maybe have a sleepover. Sound good?"

Avery nodded her head, and slowly got up. She followed her mother to her own room and crawled onto the bed and slid into the middle. Lexa joined her first since she had used the bathroom first and then her mom slid into her other side.

"What should we watch?" Clarke asked, grabbing the remote to the TV that sat across from her bed. She went to turn it on, but stopped when Avery suddenly spoke.

"Would he really have loved me?" Avery quietly asked.

"Who?"

"My dad."

Ah, so Avery had snuck back down stairs. She wondered how much she had heard. She hoped it wasn't to much. This was at least a question she could answer.

"Your dad would have loved you. You already know it was just him and your aunt Trish for a lot of years." Avery nodded her head, she knew that much. "She was his only real family and he loved her a lot, but he always talked about wanting a family someday. He wanted to be a better father than his own father who, let's just say was not a nice guy."

"Why?"

"It doesn't matter. He's gone and forgotten. But he's why I know your dad would have been so happy to hear about you. Just like I didn't care that I was young, he wouldn't have cared either. He would have done whatever he could to make sure he could give you the world."

"Would you have gotten married?" she asked curiously. She knew her parents were friends, but she didn't talk about her dad like she talked about Lexa. And if her dad was alive, what would have happened with Lexa? It was confusing her.

"Probably not," Clarke answered honestly. "I loved your father, he was one of my best friends," she looked across at Lexa and smiled. "I didn't love him like that though. Not the way I love Lexa."

"Okay." Avery thought she understood. "Could he have taught me basketball?"

A bubble of laughter erupted out of Clarke. "No, he could not. He sucked at sports. He was more of a swimmer."

"Oh. Did he surf?"

"Sometimes, but he wasn't very good. He fell off the board more often than not. He was a good diver though, even helped our school make it to the championships."

"I like to swim."

Clarke pulled her daughter into her side and placed a kiss into her hair. "I know you do, bug. You get that from him." Clarke didn't mind swimming occasionally, but it wasn't a huge thing for her, so she felt safe in admitting it was one thing that did come from Tom.

She looked over at Lexa again and saw the softest, most loving expression in her eyes. She knew that Lexa understood. She couldn't say how, she just did. There was no doubt in her mind that Lexa was it for her. They just needed to figure out where to go from her. But that talk could wait until tomorrow.

"Can we watch Princess Diaries?" Avery asked.

"I think that sounds perfect," Clarke agreed. Yes, tonight all that matter was being here with her girls.