Chapter 18

An:/ Hey guys! Sorry for the really long wait! I hope you all enjoy this final chapter and I understand some of you might be a little disappointed with the end but hopefully its good enough for you! All comments welcome as I began writing this fic to improve my own skills and would love any kind of feedback! I hope you enjoy but if not let me know why and I will try to improve if there's a next time!

Minutes seemed like hours as Clarke stood over the screen watching Cage laugh. Finn was strapped back onto the table face gaunt and pale, whilst Lexa was contained by Emerson. There was no way out of this where her friends and family were safe and alive unless she made a move and killed hundreds more innocent lives. There were children scared, clutching onto their parents and loved ones, waiting out the alarms. Well at least that was what she was imagining. She couldn't bare to look at the other screen as her best friend risked his life doing who knows what with the ex-president. Bellamy still had some leverage.

Her only focus was on her wife. The woman who betrayed her and put her in this situation in the first place. None of this would have happened if she had just trusted her. Clarke had sacrificed so much for this alliance, including her heart. What had Lexa?

"This would be so much easier if we could just hear what is being said!" Clarke yelled suddenly making Monty jump as his focus was on trying to figure out how to kill all these people.

Like Clarke, Monty's focus was not one hundred percent. He still hadn't been able to locate Jasper and had no idea where they might be. Not even a hint of still being alive. Not to mention the oblivious hormonal pregnant woman stood beside him.

Monty knew that if he didn't figure out the filter soon Clarke would leave to sort it out herself. Then he'd definitely be dead.

If not by the mountains drill, then the Commanders sword.

Cage was pacing on the spot, smiling as he thought about his next step. The Commander trapped in Emersons hold glaring as best she could with the amount of dark blood slowly seeping out.

Suddenly his radio began to buzz as multiple people tried to get in contact. Nodding to one of his men to hand it over he waited for them to realise static was the only information passed.

"Sir, Dante is in the dining room on level 5. One of the ark teenagers has him hostage. What are your orders?"

Cage couldn't hold in his laugh. He'd done it. The Commander was here alone, which meant that her people were still under the allusion of a cease fire. He has managed to kill two birds with one stone. All that was left was getting his father back safe.

"Do as they say for now. We'll play a little game of cat and mouse. Just don't let them leave the mountain." The radio clicked to signal they heard the order and Cage swirled round to play his own little game. "Now, let's have some fun shall we. Commander seeing as you're our guest how about you help me make a decision. The ex-boyfriend or the mother-in-law? Who do we drill into next?"

The room was silent as both Abby and Finn realised the small chance of either getting out of this alive. Not unless Lexa managed to escape and kill all the soldiers in the room before collapsing. Let alone just trying to get out of Emersons choke hold.

Finn was looking paler every second he was strapped to the table, holding in his groans of pain so that he could pay attention to the conversation.

Lexa just glared. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of an answer either way Clarke would be devastated but she knew no matter who she picked Cage would target the one Clarke actually loved.

Cage couldn't stand the silence. It was deafening. "Speak now or all three of you go on a table." Still there was no reaction. Lexa knew no matter what he did she wouldn't break. She just needed to buy some time. Emersons hold was relaxing as he presumed the brunette could no longer fight, taking it as a sign of weakness from her wounds.

Soon she'd be out and blood would have blood. She was just glad no one had looked at her wounds too closely. The mountain men were so obsessed with blood, she knew hers would cause some heads to turn.

They also weren't smart enough to realise that although she was a small young woman, the brunette was stronger than all these posturing men.

Cage soon set his sights on Abby, watching the emotions flicker across her face. Yet the doctor hadn't taken her eyes of the Commander, she was waiting for the moment Lexa turned on her and it was written all over her face. Cage could see there was bad blood between the two and it was understandable considering the arrangement made with the annoying blonde that started all this.

Smirking once again he'd made his decision. "The boy it is. I suppose he is already on the table and I'll be doing you a favour by the looks of it. Taking out the competition after all. Wouldn't want Clarkie to ask for a divorce now would we? Babies do cause those kind of troubles in a relationship don't they?"

Lexa couldn't hold in the growl, she didn't want to discuss Clarkes situation unless it was with her, safe in their tent. She began to struggle for a minute, until her body finally slumped completely in Emersons hold. Soon it would be over.

"Not to worry. Soon we will be released from the confines of the prison and I'll be sure to visit your precious wife. After all, you broke our arrangement. You won't be leaving here alive and who else is going to stop me?" Cage couldn't help but gloat. He'd won.

Silence filled the room as the small brunette finally seemed to truly give up. Her head fell to her chest, her blood soaked locks covering any facial features as she seemed to shake. It took a few seconds for everyone to realise that the Commander of all the grounders wasn't weeping but was actually chuckling. Lexa knew all she needed was time for the young asian boy in the room with the picture screens to do his job. She may even be able to lull Cage and Emerson into a false sense of security.

What was once a silent chamber with only groans of pain as sounds was now filled with laughter. Finn lay on the table unable to understand was was going on began to struggle again. The Commander seemed to be having some kind of mental breakdown, leaving him to save them all.

He had a child and a beautiful blonde to save.

In the sudden struggle guards were distracted in trying to calm the boy down and Lexa snapped. Throwing her head back, Emersons nose crunched and his hold completely fell. Lexa was free and had her sights set on one target, she took a step forward ready to attack, when a jolt was sent straight through her body. Electricity sounded throughout the room and Lexa dropped in and out of conscious.

Cage finally got a true look at the brunette as she fell into the only light source in the room. Her black blood on view for everyone to see.

Acting fast Cage demanded she be switched with the boy, now laughing himself as the Commander just did.

"Oh now this is interesting. I wish Dr Singh was still alive to see this. Its black! What a marvel!"

Lexa knew that time had suddenly run out. Her hand had been shown and Cage now had a royal flush.

"Now I apologise for the musical chairs but it appears our dear Commander has some explaining to do." Cage still couldn't quite believe what he was seeing.

"Take a sample of blood and marrow but keep her alive. We need to run a few tests first. Make sure that it's not some disease instead of a cure like those from space."

Clarke was watching live as the room seemed to shift once Lexa attacked once more. Cage was now laughing and waving his hands around excited at his new discovery. She watched as a nameless guard helped Emerson to strap her wife down on the table replacing Finn. It was almost like Cage knew she was here watching. All her family and friends being switched around like a game of pass the parcel. Although rather than a prize, the winner would be drained of all their blood and marrow and thrown down a trash chute.

Clarke may be angry and betrayed but no one deserves a fate like that. Not Finn or Abby and certainly not Lexa. All three have betrayed her trust at one point in her life. After all everyone always did eventually but that doesn't mean she didn't love them.

"Monty, we don't have much time. If Lexa dies we all do. Her people don't know that she's here and I'm supposed to be locked away in her tent. I need that filter offline now!"

Monty nodded along realising the time for stalling the blonde was over. "I still need some time."

"I'll get you time." Clarke whispered as she finally saw the radio lying on the floor. "Carl Emerson, Mount Weather security detail, come in."

"Who is this?" The small room was silent as everyone listened for a response but Lexa knew and she couldn't believe her luck. Her wife had somehow escaped her personal guards.

"You know who it is." All Monty needed was a few more minutes she could distract them long enough for it to all be over. "Give the radio to the president."

"This is President Wallace." Cage didn't know if this next development would fall in his favour but he needed to stay the course. He nodded to the scientists to continue with their extraction of the Commanders blood.

"We have your father as I'm sure you're aware. If you don't let my people go, we will kill him." Clarke bluffed. She knew there was no way to let Bellamy know and she wouldn't want to take away his only leverage of staying alive.

"You won't do it." He had to call her bluff there was no other way.

"You don't know me very well. This ends now. Release my people."

"I can't do that. It would mean the end of our people. None of us has a choice here, Clarke." It was the truth either way one group would die whilst the other survived. It was survival of the fittest.

"Neither did I. Listen to me very carefully. I will not stop until my people are free." Clarke took a breath realising she could at least give him a choice to do the right thing and save everyone. "If you don't let them go… I will irradiate level 5. Cage, listen to me. I don't want anyone else to die. Stop the drilling, and we can talk. There must be a way to get us all out of this."

"Emerson." Cage was seething and it appeared Clarke had given up enough information to realise exactly where she was.

"Sir?"

"They're watching us from the command center." He stated looking up straight into the cameras. "Go kill them all."

"Yes, Sir."

"Emerson is coming for us." Clarke realised as she watched the cameras showing the direction he was sprinting too. "Monty, can you do it yet? Can you irradiate the level?"

"Wait a second, Clarke. We need to think about this. There are kids in there…" Monty pleaded knowing that Clarke was stubborn but had a big heart. Maybe not everyone had to die.

"I know." Clarke really wished she didn't but it seemed there truly was no other way.

"And people who helped us."

"Then please give me a better idea!" Her patience was wearing thin and she could see her wife wreathing in pain as the drill began to enter her leg.

"No. Please. Hey! You don't have to do this." Abby protested as she saw her daughter-in-law strapped to the table holding in her grunts of agony. "Stop! No one has to die for bone marrow. We can donate it. We can donate it."

Cage simply ignored her and continued to look straight at the camera.

"Don't hurt her! Hey, we can donate it!" Finn joined in now, realising no one would survive even if they made it out of the mountain without the brunette, as much as it pained him to know.

"That'll never happen." Cage scowled.

"I can. I can make it happen with her help. We can all survive." Abby saw the smallest of openings. She almost, almost, felt bad for the young man. After all he was trying to do the same thing as them. Save his people.

"We can't. Proceed with the drilling." Just like that his peoples fate was decided.

"Clarke, if we do this, there is no going back." He only hoped the stress and guilt wouldn't affect her or the baby. He knew that there was no hope of the Commander saving the day now. He was their only hope now. Jasper would have Maya safe by now and Bellamy was still in danger stood in the dining room. He swiftly finished the last few digits of code and then the room went silent.

"Why are you stopping?" Clarke scolded.

"Because I did it." Monty whispered. He'd done all he could. "All we have to do... is pull this. Hatches and vents will open, and the scrubbers reverse, pulling in outside air."

"Emersons here and he's gonna blow the door."

"I have to save them." She whispered with one hand on the lever and one on the bundle she didn't know she was carrying. Her stomach was in turmoil and once again she felt the urge to throw up. Taking a deep breath Clarke whispered a final "i'm sorry" and pulled the lever down.

Alarms began blaring throughout the compound as bodies began to flee across the screens whilst boils and burns slowly made their way across skin. Next bodies were dropping and Cage was left in a room alone with his prisoners as his friends and fellow soldiers dropped one by one.

It seemed that everyone from the Ark was holding their breath not quite realising what was going on around them. Finn had collapsed onto the floor along with the now dead soldier that was holding him back after switching him with the Commander. Seeing this as his chance he stood ready to end the president once and for all. He knew Clarke was here and he had to see her, there was only one man in his way.

Screaming with rage he moved for the president ready to be the hero Clarke had once thought him to be. Praying that this would redeem himself in her eyes so they could be together again, only to stop suddenly with a jolt as a loud familiar sound rang out through the room. Everyone else tied to the walls could only watch as his body slowly became cold and his last breath escaped.

Clarke couldn't hold in the tears. Her hand still clamped tight around the lever as she looked at the screens in horror of what she'd done.

Bodies lay everywhere over the screens burns scorched across any showing skin. It was over but so was any hope of her sanity.

All she could focus on was the small screen showing her wife. She had to get to her. She could also see Finn lying down free, in the corner of the screen. No understanding as to why he was just lay there while the rest of their people remained chained to the walls like cattle waiting to be slaughtered.

Jumping up from her chair and ignoring Monty's frantic mumblings to remain seated and calm, Clarke pushed open the heavy doors and ran.

The hallways all looked the same in this damn mountain and Clarke struggled to find her way to the small chamber where the last of her family lay. She couldn't think about seeing her wife again. Clarke saved Lexas life, sure, but that didn't mean she forgave her. Maybe she simply wanted to be the one to kill her.

After sprinting down multiple hallways, eventually the dead guards bodies lead her to the final door. She was shocked to see at least a dozen bodies lying in the hallway. Intestines were hanging out of slashed stomaches and even some severed heads lay where they must have rolled, leaving trails of blood splattered. Clarke couldn't imagine how her beautiful wife could've caused such a display of violence with what seemed on the screen to only be minor injuries to herself.

Maybe she didn't abandon her after all.

Taking a deep breath to compose herself, Clarke tried to clear her mind of the genocide she committed 5 minutes prior and focus on why she did it. Opening the door helped.

The stench hit her first. It smelled like the smoke hut when they first landed and all the food they had collected was burned to the ground. Then came the metallic smell of blood. The blonde could almost taste it infecting the air.

Next, came the groans of both pain and relief as the prisoners realised who came through the doorway. Flashbacks of when Clarke first escaped the mountain with Anya flashed into her mind. Thousands of grounders, Trikru to Azgeda, locked in dog cages weak from being bled but still vicious enough to scream.

Clearing her mind once more, the blonde princess finally looked around the room. Running to her wife she unlocked her first avoiding eye contact before moving on to her mother. It wasn't until Abby was released that she realised her mother wasn't looking back at her but at the body lay in the corner, completely still.

Finn lay dead. A single bullet to the head. Cage had escaped.

Clarke couldn't stay in the room much longer, releasing Raven and one other to help everyone else escape, she took one look in her wife's direction to assess her injuries and then fled the room to check on Bellamy.

Abby turned at the sudden movement then looked back to the Commander who had her head down in despair. Realising there was more to Clarkes condition than had been let on Abby strolled over slowly to check on the brunettes wounds and have a chat.

As the silence over took Abby work, Lexa heaved a sigh before whispering. "She doesn't know yet."

That was all the information Abby needed to understand. Nodding her head she continued to bandage up the Leader of the known world.

"You should talk to her, and soon, she's impulsive that one. Gets it from her father."

Meanwhile Bellamy was in shock. Jasper had come to collect Dante and take him to a safe spot until they decided what to do with him.

The room was filled with bodies. He needed to escape. He felted claustrophobic. In that moment he wondered if this how his sister felt her whole life. Trapped.

Shaking out of his stupor Bellamy finally started to take his first steps out of the dining room, leaving behind the already decaying bodies. With his mind blank he didn't notice the living body ahead of him; the two bodies crashing together to the floor and limbs flailing in the air.

"Bellamy!" Clarke couldn't contain her tears anymore. Grabbing hold of her friend to check that he was alive and well. Safe. "I'm so sorry. I didn't- there was-" Taking a deep breath the blonde shuddered once more as she thought about the words she needed to say. "I killed them all. The children. Maya."

The tears continued to fall as Clarke pulled herself as close as possible to the brunette in front of her. She couldn't bear to look into his eyes, knowing he'd see a monster in her place. The events of the day finally truly catching up to her and her emotions were all over the place. She thought she could at least wait till she was alone. Breakdown when no one was watching but the moment she saw Bellamy she had no chance.

Meanwhile Bellamy was confused as to why the blonde was even here. He'd assumed that Monty pulled the lever as instructed by the Commander. He'd never thought that Clarke would come here alone and save everyone. Although he should have predicted it with her track record.

Quick to reduce the guilt and pain that he could feel wracking sobs through his body, he pulled the younger girl away to look at her as he explained.

20 minutes earlier…

'Mister Jordan if you believe the Commander is going to let one of ours survive you are surely mistaken. They're savages and she is their leader. The only reason I am currently alive is to be tortured to death in front of her people. The don't know the meaning of the word mercy. All they know is blood and death. Ask Bellamy here. He has spent enough time with them. Just look at your friend here.' He ended looking at Octavia in absolute disgust.

Bellamy couldn't disagree as Jasper looked over in panic. He was paranoid about the grounders as is. Let alone adding on Dante's upcoming execution.

Octavia was ready to speak up and defend Trikru until she realised they were no longer her people. They threw her away just like the Arkers. They no longer deserved her loyalty. 'The president unfortunately is right.' She was already considered a traitor might as well make it worth it. 'We need a plan. Maya needs a suit or at least a safe place in case of a radiation leak.'

'There's going to be more than a leak if the Commander fails… She ordered Monty to destroy the mountain if she fails…' Bellamy informed finally. He knew they were wasting time but he also knew his friends wouldn't move until they were all safe. 'Mr President, I know you care for your people… we need your help again…'

Bellamy knew he was taking a risk but it was their only chance of keeping their souls intact afterwards. He knew that Monty would do as ordered. He'd already had his own bone marrow stolen. He knew the agonising pain everyone would be feeling. The people living in this mountain were in danger. The children in this mountain were in danger.

'Not everyone is going to survive the night. You know that, I know that. The Commander has ordered one of ours to eradicate the mountain if she can't stop your son. You know him. He won't give up. Even at the cost of everyone in this mountain. We don't have much time and it could happen in any second. You can help. Your people matter to you. I know that. Save the few that you can. The children. This place was built for the president of the old world. You know there's got to be something we can do.' Bellamy was pleading at this point. He purposely avoided looking back terrified of the look of realisation on Mayas face. This could be her last few moments whilst the President and his wretched son could breathe the air unfiltered. It wasn't fair. Life wasn't fair.

Dante stood there glaring. However, unlike Bellamy, Dante stared straight into Mayas eyes. The two maunon stood staring at each other for a few seconds but Maya would not back down. She knew that she could die in any second and that didn't bother her half as much as the idea of the children she'd help in the infirmary dying. Radiation burning through your body is excruciating. She remembers enough from the few days prior when Cage released the outside air to trick Jasper. She didn't want to die knowing the children were feeling the same pain she was.

The ex-president looking exhausted and frail. Maya thought that with the Arkers bone marrow he should look a lot healthier than the rest now but she could tell that he was just as worried as she was.

Taking a deep shaky breath Dante looked away back towards Bellamy. He'd made his decision.

His Son, for his people. That was the real decision.

'There's a panic room in my office. It has its own completely separate filter system. It should be big enough to fit the children in there' Dante had decided. He will bear it, so that his people survive. For his people.

Bellamy couldn't help but smile as he recapped how as the Commander occupied Cage, their group used Bellamy holding Dante hostage as a way to get all the children and those helping them out of the dining room to safety.

Clarke was so relieved that she couldn't help but break down in tears. Bellamy had saved them. He had saved a small part of her soul that had just been shattered to dust with the decision she had made. Bellamy had saved Clarke.

The two friends embraced each other with tears flowing like a river, part relief and part sadness.

The Commander stood awkwardly to the side trying to hold in her jealousy. Clarke hadn't even looked in her direction yet, but she was giving everyone else she saw hugs.

"You knew that we would kill them all didn't you?" The sky princess questioned looking straight into her best friends eyes.

Bellamy couldn't help but look guilty as his answer. He knew that Clarke must feel terrible and he didn't want to make her feel any worse, after all she saved them all.

"I knew that you would do whatever it took to save us. Your family. You may be a grounder Queen but you're still our princess and you saved us." He hoped that she understood.

"Well you saved me." Clarke replied, sweeping him in for another strong hug.

Releasing an awkward cough, hoping to get Clarkes attention, Lexa only gained Bellamy's and deciding to go with it she asked where Dante was.

"He's safe, tied up with Jasper and now probably Monty keeping watch. They were able to get Maya and everyone else that helped us and the children into the panic room." Bellamy replied all back to business. "They will need donations of bone marrow but that shouldn't take more than two days to administer."

"Thank you Belomi kom Skaikru. Without you none of this would be possible and now my people can have justice." Lexa offered her arm as a peace offering.

Bellamy knew that the Commander risked everything by coming back to help save them all. He took her arm, happy to know that there was still a chance for his people to finally live. He just hoped Clarke would realise her wife truly loved her. She obviously wasn't happy with the deal and her wife in general.

He was right Clarke was not happy.

Hours later Clarke had helped her mother oversee the bone marrow extraction of willing donors, mainly from the 44 remaining delinquents. She knew that unlike the rest of her people she couldn't go back to the Sky camp. Although Lexa has given her space for the past few hours, she still hovered in the area, as if waiting for her to run.

Lincoln informed the Commander that he bumped into Cage on his way over and he was no more so they knew the area was safe and there was no longer a target on Clarkes back. That wasn't what was worrying the commander.

In actuality, the brunette was terrified her wife was overworking herself and might harm herself or the baby, she still had no idea about.

Clarke also couldn't understand why her mother kept insisting she take a break or sit down. She just committed genocide. She was sure a few more hours of actually saving lives would be better than a rest.

No, by tomorrow morning Clarke would have disappeared in the surrounding forest for a self imposed exile. She would not return to her wife, she couldn't, not after what they both had done. Clarke needed time to heal and she felt Lexa needed to take a look at whether Clarke was the one she truly wanted to be with.

Knowing that Lexa wouldn't have it any other way as night drew close Clarke began to stumble back to their shared tent. The blonde kept reminding herself that it was only for one last night and then she would be gone. However, that did not mean she would allow Lexa to share her bed. As she began to pull off her bloodied clothes she once more began to feel nauseous. Images of the past 24 hours filled her mind and tears began to flow down her face. She couldn't bear it, the voices in her head begging for mercy. Yet they all stopped when she felt familiar arms around her lifting her up into the furs covering the bed.

Lexa couldn't help but worry over her wife, the blonde was shuddering over the furs as if she was freezing but she knew it was the quilt that was wracking her queens body.

'Clarke I need to tell you something, please just look at me hodnes' She pleaded as the blonde stopped crying once more.

'Go away.' Was the only reply she got but that wasn't going to stop what needed to be said.

'I'm sorry hodnes but what I did. I did for you.'

'You did nothing for me!' Clarke exploded. 'You chose head over heart remember. You chose you're people and I was not included in that!'

'You had everything to do with that. Why do you think I went back to that damn mountain. I realise I made a mistake. I went about it all wrong and I should have spoken to you but there wasn't enough time.' Lexa tried to keep her voice calm. She didn't want to argue with the blonde but if that was the only way she would look at her then so be it.

'You could have told me you just didn't want me to stop you. You made me look like an idiot and then had you're guards drag me away and hold me prisoner. I am your wife yet you treated me like your property!' Clarke's eyes were red as she screamed at the woman she stupidly loved still.

'Hodnes I am sorry. I was only trying to protect you. I needed you to be saf-'

'I was safe!' Clarke interrupted. 'You just didn't want me to get in the way more like! I am just as capable as any other Arker that was out on that field last night! You just didn't trust me!' Clarke couldn't understand why her wife didn't admit that she thought her to be weak.

'You were not in my way and I know that you can handle yourself but the circumstances changed and it's not just you that I have to worry about anymore.' Lexa tried to explain hoping Clarke would understand.

'Of course because you have your people! How could I forget you will always chose your people?!'

'Thats not what I meant Clarke. I just- Ah I don't know how to tell you. I found out- I mean Emerson told me…' Now that Lexa had the chance she couldn't find the words to explain.

'Told you what? What could he have possibly said to make you go back on your vows huh?' Clarke was finally staring at Lexa and seeing the tired girl underneath; her wife. Not the woman who betrayed her yet she couldn't quite remove that image completely.

'He told me that you are pregnant. That you have been since you were first in the mountain. I had to protect you and the baby. You are my wife and that makes it my responsibility to protect you and the child.' Lexa held her breath as she watched multiple reactions cross her wife's face.

'I'm- that…' Clarke needed to take a breath and really take in her wife's words. 'Thats why you took the deal?'

'Emerson threatened to shoot you. I know the baby isn't mine but you are my wife and I hoped that would make the baby ours…I know I should have spoken to you but I found out your mother had been taken and had to leave. I promise I will never do anything like that again.I just want another chance. Ai hod yu in.' Lexa whispered as she finally explained what had been distracting her throughout the whole battle.

Her people may think her weak when they find out the truth but if she managed to protect her wife and still have her in her life then it was all worth it. All she needed was to hear Clarke tell her they still had a would work for it. She'd do anything Clarke asked of her if she only had a chance.

'Please say something back.'

Clarke stared back into the eyes of her wife understanding so much more into why people had been staring at her and keeping a close eye on her throughout the battle with monty and the aftermath with her mother.

'You told monty before me? You told my mother before me?!' She exclaimed as it was the only thing she could focus on right now.

'Technically Cage told you mother… but you probably didn't want to hear about him…' Lexa mumbled sheepishly hoping that Clarkes tone of voice was more towards humour than anger.

It was a good start to their road to healing but as the blonde began to chuckle Lexa knew there was hope that they would be fine and live to raise this child as their own. The brunette still had a lot of begging and grovelling to do to make up for her mistake but she knew they would get there eventually.