A/N: I'm posting even though I don't have the next chapter written which I normally don't do. I'm having real writers block lately. Hopefully I get through it soon.

On another note, I did build the Griffin's house in the Sims to use as a reference for this fanfic. Pictures posted on my tumblr which is Jaywriter. jaywriter . tumblr post / 170920914205 / clarkes-house-in-my-fanfic (minus spaces)

Chapter 15

"Are you sure you're okay with me coming?" Lexa asked again. She wanted to be absolutely sure even though she knew she was driving Clarke a little nuts. "You don't want it to be just you and her when you tell her? You two haven't spent any real time alone together while I've been here."

Clarke groaned, but she wasn't really upset, she knew Lexa was just trying to be considerate. "I'm sure. You'll go back home soon and I'll have plenty of mother-daughter time with Avery. I want to spend all the time I can with you while you're here."

Before Lexa could respond, Avery came bounding down the stairs and stopped in front of them. "You're coming with us to get ice cream, right Lexa?"

Clarke raised her eyebrow at Lexa as if to say, 'see she wants you there too.' She wrapped an arm around Lexa's shoulders and pulled her towards the door. "Of course she's coming."

"Yay," Avery screamed as she raced past the two women and to the garage. She climbed into her grandmother's car, not really giving Clarke a choice on which vehicle to take. She knew Avery was still avoiding her grandfather's truck, and that was fine with her, she wouldn't push.

The whole drive to the ice cream parlor was filled with Avery's chatter, for such a bookworm, the girl was also very social, most especially with her family and friends.

For a Sunday night the ice cream place wasn't terribly busy and Clarke was able to easily find a parking place. Avery jumped out of her seat and moved as quickly as she could towards the door but stopped there. Clarke and Lexa moved at a slower pace, with their fingers entwined.

Clarke held the door open for their little group, but never let go of Lexa's hand. Avery rushed to get in line, and pressed her face close to the glass as she searched through all the flavors. "What's it going to be this time, little one?" Clarke asked her daughter. "Vanilla or Strawberry."

"Bubble gum!" Avery all but shouted.

That made Clarke pause. She hadn't known her daughter had even tried that particular flavor, much less become her favorite. "When did you try bubble gum?"

"Grandpa brought me on the first day of school and told me he thought I'd like it."

There were so many small things Clarke had missed out on, but knowing her father was responsible for this one made it a little easier. There'd never be a day she wouldn't miss him, but each little reminder of his influence would make it bearable.

"You should try it, mom" the girl suggested.

"Eh, I think I'll stick to my usual."

Avery turned her blue eyes on Lexa. "How about you, Lexa?"

Lexa smiled down at her, trying not to let those eyes persuade her. "Sorry, I'm a Rocky Road kind of girl."

"Ugh, you two are so boring," Avery rolled her eyes. "Can I get two scoops, please?"

Clarke knew she shouldn't let her, but she planned to get two, herself, so how could she really deny her child the same pleasure. "Okay, but do not tell your grandmother. You know how she feels about you having that much sugar this late at night."

"Deal."

Once the line was gone and it was their turn to order, Clarke took notice of who the guy on the other side of the counter was and couldn't believe it. She wasn't sure how to feel about it either. A part of her didn't want to even talk to him, the other part felt just a littlest bit of pleasure at how far he'd obviously made it in life.

"What can I get for you?" Clarke heard him ask, but he was looking down into the freezer.

"Two scoop of bubble gum in a cup, please," Avery ordered, unaware of her mother's inner turmoil going on.

Lexa, however, was fully aware that something was up. She knew it the second Clarke's hand tightened around hers. Her eyes always seemed to be looking straight at the guy who was probably around their age, but she wasn't really seeing him, she was lost in her own head. Lexa looked the guy over and when her eyes landed on his name tag, she suddenly understood.

The young man finished up Avery's order and handed it down to her and then turned to the couple. "And for you two?" he asked before taking note of who was standing there. "Oh, hey, Clarke. Long time no see."

"Yeah, you too, Finn," Clarke spoke hesitantly. "How's it going?" She didn't really want to know but she didn't want to be rude either.

"It's going pretty great. Don't let the uniform fool you. This is my shop," he bragged.

Clarke looked around the small building and tried to see why he would be so proud, but she couldn't see it. She knew the ice cream was good from her father and daughter, but the building itself was pretty drab. "You own it?"

"Well, no. My father does. But I'm the manager and he's not really around, so it's basically mine."

She remembered Finn's dad and he wasn't a small business owner type person. He was the CEO of a major company. Somehow, she had a gut feeling that he bought this place just so Finn would have a job.

"So, how about you? What do you do?"

Was he seriously trying to make small talk? Like nothing had happened between them. She remembered the last time she'd actually talked to him. She had been well into her pregnancy by then and full of hormones. He'd tried to hit on her again and she'd let him have it. The conversation turned explosive, before she'd finally turned and walked away. "I'm a doctor, working through my surgical residency."

Apparently, he wasn't expecting to hear that. Did he think she just gave up the dream she had been working towards since middle school?

"Oh, that's great," the jealousy wasn't hidden in his voice. Clearly, he had been hoping he could impress her with his accomplishments, but it didn't work. "So, what happened to your kid?"

"You mean the one standing right there?" she pointed down at Avery.

"Oh, I didn't realize. I've seen her in here sometimes but always with an older guy."

Clarke was pretty sure Finn had met her father when they were dating, so is he just an idiot, or that forgetful? "That would have been my father."

"That's why he looked familiar." Finn smacked himself on the forehead. "So, you back home for good?"

Lexa didn't like the look in his eyes. There was just something slimy in the way he looked at Clarke. And he obviously hadn't yet noticed their hands. "Look, Finn, was it?" He nodded his head. "Why don't you quit trying to pick my girlfriend up and take our orders before our girl's ice cream melts."

Warmth filled Clarke's chest for two reasons. One, because Lexa was coming to her aid and putting Finn in his place. And two, because she had used the word 'our' in reference to Avery. She knew Lexa was doing it to make a point with Finn, but still it made her heart swell with love. Maybe someday that 'our' would be followed with 'daughter.' Though she was glad she hadn't used it now and potentially confused Avery.

"Oh, yeah, sure," Finn said quietly.

"Can I get one scoop of mint chocolate chip and one scoop of chocolate in a cup." Clarke turned to Lexa. "What do you want, babe?" She already knew but she wanted to put on a little show for her ex.

Lexa could see where this was going and unlocked their fingers so she could put an arm around Clarke's waist. She placed a kiss just above Clarke's ear. "Surprise me."

"Two scoops of rocky road, in a sugar cone for Lexa," Clarke finished. Finn didn't need to know that, that was exactly what Lexa would have ordered for herself.

He rang them up without much incident after that and the found an empty booth to sit in. Avery sat on one side, and Lexa and Clarke on the other. They sat dangerously close together just to send even more of a message to Finn.

"What is with the cups?" Lexa asks teasingly when she took notice of the other two's order. "Who doesn't like cones?"

"We don't," Clarke and Avery responded with well-practiced ease. They had obviously been asked this question on multiple occasions.

"Okay, then," Lexa held her hands up in surrender.

They ate for a few minutes in silence before Clarke decided to broach the subject they came here to discuss. "So, Avery, I wanted to talk to you about something."

Avery looked up at her mother and then at Lexa and then at Clarke again. "Are you two getting married?" she asked excitedly.

"Oh, my gosh kid, stop," Clarke groaned but in a teasing way. She loved that Avery was so excited about them. But it was going to make what she did have to say a bit harder hear. "Maybe someday, but I'll let you know."

"Fine," Avery grumbled and took another bite of her treat.

"Remember when you asked about a sleepover in DC?" Avery nodded. "Well, that won't be happening because you won't be visiting me in DC."

Avery dropped her spoon and looked at her mother with the saddest face. "Why not? Did I do something wrong? Why can't I visit you?"

Clarke realized then she'd gone about this the wrong way. "You won't need to. What would you say if I moved back home?"

The look on Avery's face changed in an instant to one of pure excitement. "Are you serious? You're not going back to DC. You are staying for good?"

"Well I might go back to pack up and maybe some visits but yes, I'm staying here for good."

Avery jumped out of the booth and around the table, so she could wrap her arms around her mother. "I get to see you every day and not on camera!" she squealed.

"I think she likes the idea," Lexa smiled at the two of them.

"She'll get tired of me soon," Clarke whispered to Lexa.

"Are you moving here too?" Avery asked Lexa. They could hear the joy in her voice at the very idea. They hated to deflate it.

"Unfortunately not, kiddo. At least not yet," Lexa told her sadly.

"Why not? Don't you want to be with us?"

They shuffled around until Avery was sitting between them, it was a tight fit but it gave the young girl the comfort she needed. Lexa wrapped an arm around her and hugged her close. "I want nothing more. I promise you that. I just can't right now is all."

"Remember what I told you about Lexa's job? How she was a cop?" Clarke picked up.

Avery nodded her head that was tucked into Lexa's side. "She wants to be a detective."

"That's right," Clarke told her. "She's put a lot of work into becoming one and she's so close. If she moved here right now, it might delay that."

"I promise though, just as soon as I can, I'll move out here with you two."

"You mean it?"

Lexa smiled. "Of course, I do. I love your mom," Lexa turned her smile to Clarke. "And I love you, too."

Avery wrapped herself even closer to Lexa. "I love you, too, Lexa."

"I'll still be here for another week though."

"That's right. And I was thinking once school was out, you and I could go out to DC for a visit and to pack up all my stuff," Clarke offered.

"What about grandma?"

Clarke sighed. That was the big question. "Well we'll have to see. You still have a month and a half or so left of school. Maybe by then grandma will be walking, or at least won't need someone around as much." Clarke leaned down to whisper in Avery's ear, "just between you and me, I think Uncle Derek might be moving here too, even if he doesn't know it yet."

"Would he live with us, too?"

Clarke shook her head. "Probably not, but I'm sure he wouldn't be far away." She'd seen those looks in her uncle's eye when they'd talked. He missed being around family. With his sister in the condition she was in, she was positive it was only a matter of time before he announced he was staying too.

The conversation after that was much lighter and filled with teasing. By the time they made it home, Clarke sent Avery straight up to bed. Luckily for her, Avery was tired enough she didn't even protest.

The house was quiet, so her mother had probably already turned in for the night, or at least locked herself away. Clarke still wasn't sure what to do about that. She wanted to let her mother grieve, but she didn't want her to isolate herself either.

Later as she laid in bed, wrapped up in Lexa's arms, she looked over her shoulder and whispered to her. "I really love you, you know that?"

Lexa smiled and loosened her hold so Clarke could move onto her back. "I do know that. I love you, too. But what's with the sudden declaration?"

"I always worried that someday I'd find someone I never wanted to let go of, but that that person would not want Avery. Then I found you and I know I don't even have to be worried."

Lexa gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "No, you never need to worry. She's a really good kid. And she reminds me so much of her mother."

"I do gotta ask one question though. Did you want kids, I mean before all this?"

Lexa gave the question some serious thought. "It's not something I ever really gave much thought to. But I could see it. I can definitely see myself being happy with you and Avery."

"What about more kids? Maybe someday."

Lexa smiled down at Clarke and gave her another. "With you, I could see anything. If you want more, I'm game. We should probably get married first though."

"Was that a proposal?"

"When I propose, you won't need to ask that question," Lexa gave her a confident smirk.

Clarke wanted to rebut that maybe she'd propose first, but decided against. She was enjoying that look on Lexa's face. If she had to wait for Lexa to propose, then she'd wait forever, so long as she got to spend the rest of her life looking into those gorgeous eyes.