hey hey hey, how's everybody doing? are we still selling unpopped bellarke bottles? i'm still drunk on many popped and clinked clexa bottles. whew! everybody, say thank you alycia debnam carey.

now, read, ponder, and enjoy!

Clarke didn't blame Lexa for a lot of things – well, okay, she used to, but she had learned her lesson now, and she was never repeating the same mistake ever again. But she did blame Lexa for this. She absolutely blamed Lexa for this. If it wasn't because of Lexa, she wouldn't be here.

The princess just had to run her mouth off and bring up fucking Marcus and Finn, while they were having serious talk. Honestly, the woman had all kinds of issues, including not being able to read the room, and Clarke loved her all more for it; truly, she loved everything that Lexa was – she very swiftly learned that cruel lesson the moment she read Wells' text. But that didn't mean she didn't blame the brunette for this.

This being receiving an email and a phone call from the Council the morning after she'd escorted Lexa back to her room. This being a request for her to show up at the Council in the afternoon to have a meeting with them regarding her report. This being her ass sat down in a comfortable chair in a conference room at the other side of town. This being a flaming reminder that despite her love life on the mend, her career was still on the line.

Goddamn Lexa and her mouth.

"I told you everything I know," Clarke said, raising her eyes at the panel facing her, like she was the one on trial.

"Yes, we understand and appreciate your candor," one of them said. "We called you here not to ask you more questions. We have done our investigations and auditing throughout the hospital and even their alma maters, to be honest. We have reached our decision." She raised her brows, still confused as to her purpose here. "We feel that you deserve to hear it from us, after your show of courage in emailing us about the misconduct of Dr. Marcus Kane and Dr. Finn Collins."

Her brows rose higher. "Right," she drawled, still skeptical.

The man started flipping the folders and nodded to himself. "We discovered that it wasn't the first time Mr. Collins has committed an offense as the one you've reported, only no one was as courageous as you to report him, because of his affiliations, as you perhaps well know." She nodded and hummed, unable to help the title they'd used for him. "It also wouldn't be the first time that Dr. Kane has covered up for Mr. Collins."

Yeah, she figured. After her heated discussion with Marcus about what she saw, she could tell that he'd long known about Finn's discretions long before she'd approached him. It was regrettable, given that she'd grown up thinking that Marcus was just like her mother, a hero trying to save lives. There was something to be said about how power could seep into someone's brain and just corrupt them at the snap of its fingers.

"After much consideration, it's decided that Mr. Collins' license will be revoked permanently. He will never practice medicine again – at least not here in Polis," the council member announced, sighing as he spoke it.

A part of her was gratified at the news. Someone as careless and egotistical as Finn Collins should never be allowed to have someone else's life in his hands. But still, a part of her was sad about it, because she knew deep down that Finn could have been a good doctor if he hadn't let his connections get to his head as he had. Then again, it wouldn't be a big loss to the medical community in Polis.

"As for Dr. Kane, despite his track record with Mr. Collins, there's no denying that he's contributed much to the medical community in Polis." Clarke narrowed her eyes at that. "He will be suspended for the next one year. After that, we will reconvene on his status."

It took her a moment to let that sink in. She didn't know what she expected when she wrote that email to the council in the first place, but she supposed this was as best as she could get, so she nodded, clearing her throat. "Okay." Her hands fidgeted on the oak table that separated her from the council members. "Um, right, so is that it?"

That was when the council members started fidgeting themselves, tapping fingers on the table surface or scratching their head or rubbing their nose. They gave each other long looks, skeptical and doubtful. See, she knew it – there was no way they would just call her all the way here for a meeting on their decision about Marcus and Finn. She was too unimportant for that.

A folder was closed shut. And another was pulled forward, flipped open, followed by a hum and a clearing of throat and frown.

"The council received a rather…extraordinary notification two days ago. Just before Princess Lexa's heart attack," the member informed her. Her eyes widened – somehow, she could tell where this was going. "Pending Her Highness' recovery, you, Dr. Griffin, will be appointed Countess of Arkadia," he read out loud, sounding like it was impossible.

Trust her, she knew exactly how he felt. When she first heard about it from Lexa, her heart had pounded and her hands had sweated profusely and she really wanted to run as far away from Polis as possible. Maybe find refuge in New Zealand or wherever.

But she'd promised Lexa that she would stop running, and that promise encompassed even this. And then she'd pushed the information to the back of her mind, making a note to ponder it once Lexa had recovered and her illness would stop looming over their heads. Except, evidently, she wouldn't be given a chance to procrastinate on the matter any longer.

"Now, we certainly don't have the authority to reject it, given that the palace only sent us the notification out of common courtesy. However, we do have the obligation to issue a letter of recommendation as to your suitability for the title to the palace – it's procedure, you see." The council member leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and eyed Clarke carefully. Her throat went dry. "Dr. Griffin, your record speaks for itself; you've gotten glowing recommendations from wherever you left your footprints, from your alma mater to the war hospital in Libya. There have even been times when you were highly recommended to join the committee of this council right here."

"I – what now?" she interrupted before she could stop herself. He blinked. She licked her throats and shook her head. "Sorry, I – that's impossible. I've barely been a proper doctor at Silver Hill for a year."

He smiled in genuine amusement. "And that's exactly why we can't let you be on the committee – not yet. Maybe we'll reconsider in the future."

"Right."

"The thing is, Dr. Griffin, is that you wouldn't be the first doctor in Polis to have that record, but none of your predecessors have ever gotten a noble title before." He took a pause to drink water, and she kind of wanted to slap the glass out of his hand so he could keep talking. "Now, we'd like to reiterate that you have absolutely every right to maintain your privacy; you don't have to tell us if you don't feel comfortable. However, before we proceed with a letter of recommendation, we would very much like to know what makes you so special from the others?"

She blinked rapidly. Never in her life had she ever felt so exposed and speechless, struggling between complete honesty and subtle omission. She thought about her record, and she thought that she really wasn't that special. She was a doctor much like anyone else – the only difference was that she just happened to be there when Lexa was wounded in Libya.

A part of her hated the royal family for putting her on the spot, but then she quickly remembered that she'd made a promise to Lexa the night they'd reconciled. A promise to be understanding towards the royal family and to be as open-minded as possible. A promise to learn the ropes and not jump to conclusions as quickly as she had when she broke up with Lexa.

She clenched her jaw and heaved a sigh through her nose. "I signed an NDA. Two, actually."

"Right, yes, the palace has informed us that the NDAs hold no effect in this office." To prove himself, he slid a piece of paper over to her. And true enough, it stated right there that she was free to speak of whatever she wanted as she saw fit.

She read the words and considered her choices. There was definitely much more to this than a mission in Libya, but the news cycle was already hungry enough the past few days at the news of Lexa's conditions and the king's announcement of a temporary leave of absence. There was no way she would be adding fuel to the fire.

"I…saved Princess Lexa's life," she decided. "Twice. Once in Libya, from which she'd gotten an honorary discharge. Another time here, when she returned from her diplomatic mission to Libya…again." I'm also dating, she added mentally, but it wasn't like she was going to tell them that until she and Lexa had come to an agreement about publicizing their relationship.

All the council members straightened up in their seats at her revelation, all blinking rapidly and gaping at her. The man, obviously the leader by now, adjusted his tie and played with his pen.

"That's certainly…surprising. Would you mind walking us through both times?"

Now, that was just plain want of gossip and curiosity. But that, she could do. As the letter had mentioned, the NDAs she signed had no effect in this office, and she would do anything to shift the focus away from the depth of her relationship with Lexa.

"I need to talk to your parents," she announced as soon as she swept into the room, only to find Lexa asleep and the aforementioned parents lounging on the couch. "Oh, um, good afternoon, Your Majesties," she squeaked out, losing much of her bravado from earlier.

"Afternoon, Dr. Griffin," the king greeted her, relinquishing his wife's hand to stand up. "What is it you'd like to talk about?"

Clarke glanced at the dozing princess, peaceful and obviously tired. She gestured at Lexa, and when he nodded, she strode forward and gently brushed away the strands of hair that had strayed over to the brunette's forehead. Then she leaned down to place a long kiss on the woman's forehead. After having done her duty, she stood upright and faced Lexa's parents, uncaring that she'd just done something pretty brazen in front of them.

"May we speak in private, Your Majesty?" she requested.

"I'll go look for our other daughter to make sure she's not getting herself in trouble," Storme said, standing up from the couch and laying a hand on her husband's arm. "Be nice, Richmond, or you'll sleep on the couch tonight."

"I've been sleeping on the couch," he muttered, pointing at the one they'd just vacated.

She rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean," she said, clicking her tongue. "Coffee, Dr. Griffin?"

"Oh, no, thanks, Your Majesty."

That fell on deaf ears, because Storme just said, "I'll get you some coffee." And then she was out the door, as if she hadn't just asked a question that didn't need to be asked.

"She does that sometimes," Richmond informed Clarke, staring lovingly at the now closed door with a gentle smile tugging on his lips. He turned back to the blonde and raised his brows. "What is it, Dr. Griffin?"

"Please, call me Clarke," she whispered in deferment. Look, she may still be a little angry at him and his wife – she suspected she would always be – but she was smart enough to understand decorum. He was the king, and she was his people; it was simple as that.

He hummed, eyeing her carefully but expressionless. And then he shook his head. "No, I think I'll earn the right to use that name." She couldn't really help but choke at that, frowning at him. "Look, Dr. Griffin, I am not so blinded by my own position to not see that you're unhappy with me and my wife." She opened her mouth to retort, but he stopped her by raising a hand in the air – ah, now she saw where Lexa had gotten that from. "And you have every right to be angry. My own children are angry at me. You all love my daughter, after all."

Simultaneously, they turned to gaze at Lexa. Beautiful, young Lexa. Beautiful, young Lexa who had the tendency to shoulder everything on her shoulders and refuse to 'burden' everyone else with her concerns. Brave, strong Lexa who would do anything to help the others in her vicinity at the cost of her own.

Beautiful, young, brave, and strong Lexa. It was no wonder the world loved her, maybe not as much as her family and Clarke, but they did. It was no wonder Clarke loved her. She didn't she really had a choice. The moment Lexa's eyes opened in a non-descriptive room in a Libyan war hospital, Clarke was a goner. There was absolutely no winning the battle of her feelings.

"I can't take the countship, Your Majesty," she said, looking up from the love of her life to the father of the love of her life.

He raised his brows, momentarily quiet, before he chuckled and caressed his beard. "Lexa told me you'd say something of the sort." He stuffed his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "Well, too bad. You have to take it."

"Your Majesty, there is absolutely no rational reasoning behind the title and it's not –"

"My wife and I will bestow whichever title to whomever we want whenever we see fit. That is our right," he interrupted.

And honestly, she now understood how he succeeded as a monarch. There was a way in which the man carried himself, astute and stern, despite the loving image he had always put out to the public.

Underneath the layer that screamed out friendliness and an eagerness to connect to the people, King Richmond the Second ultimately had a clear understanding of his position in this country and the rest of the world, and he wasn't afraid to wield it, certainly not in front of a puny doctor in love with his daughter.

"Dr. Griffin, I do not know you. I do not know anything about you. None of us do. Lexa has been doing very well in keeping you under wrap," he said, glancing at his daughter with an impressed expression.

And for some reason, she liked hearing that information, even though she'd known about it since the moment they'd started dating. Lexa had told her very clearly that it would be quite some time before the royal family would learn about Clarke as a person, instead of just Clarke as the woman distracting Lexa.

And the reason behind the secrecy was because Lexa had never really had a chance to be private. Not when she was a princess and she had a bodyguard following her around and her face was plastered everywhere on Google, despite the scarcity of it all. Lexa was a considerably obscure figure amidst all the royal families out there, but she was still a public figure regardless.

The last time she wanted to be private, it lasted one year and imploded in her face. She had told Clarke that she didn't want that. She didn't want another good thing imploding in her face before she could prepare for it. This time, she wanted to be prepared.

"I want whatever time I have with you, Clarke Griffin. And as cynical and unromantic as this sounds, I wanna make sure that we'll be with each other in the long run, before I throw the two of us back out into a den of wolves," Lexa had told her one random night, playing with Clarke's fingers and shivering at the cold.

And Clarke loved that. Clarke loved Lexa for it. Clarke loved that Lexa thought about their future and didn't think of her as just a fling.

"But you saved Lexa's life. Twice. That is the one thing I know about you, and it's enough," Richmond declared, holding out one finger in the air. "So my wife and I have decided that you will have this countship. Consider it a gift of gratitude."

"I was doing my job," she whispered.

"People have been awarded titles for less."

"That's them. This is me." She huffed in exasperation and recalled the incredulous look in the council member's eyes earlier. "A countship will just make me…jaded. There will be no checks and balances when I work. I'll not be able to ask for an opinion without them thinking that they have to defer to me because I'm a Countess. It's just not feasible."

He eyed for a long moment, long enough for her to get more uncomfortable, if that was even possible. "Tell me, Dr. Griffin, are you planning on leaving Lexa…again?"

"What? No! I made a mistake –"

"So, you are planning on staying by her side? For better or for worse?"

She did her best to ignore the implications of his words, even though there was already some inclination in her head to drag Raven and Octavia to the nearest jewelry shop. She licked her lips and put her foot down. "If Lexa will let me, then yes."

"You understand she is a princess, right?"

"Trust me, Your Majesty, I'm well aware."

"So, eventually, you will be facing the same things you described earlier, only you'll be facing them as Lexa's girlfriend," he said matter-of-factly, raising his brows as a dare for her to challenge him.

She opened her mouth, ready to retort, but found she had no words for it. Because at the end of the day, the king was right. At the end of the day, there was no way she and Lexa could keep their relationship under wraps until the day they died – that was simply not how thing worked.

Clarke, more than anything, yearned for the day she could hold Lexa's hand in public and not be called out for it. And to do that would mean a compromise – a compromise on her career, more likely. Truthfully, she'd considered it and she'd accepted it, but she supposed she hadn't actually seen the big picture until this mortifying talk with Lexa's father.

"My wife and I don't do things rashly, Dr. Griffin, despite what you might like to think." He held up a hand to stop her from talking…again. "We've come to expect that you'll be part of my family someday in the future – we don't know when, but we're expecting it to happen." He scratched his brows and cleared his throat. "I hate to admit it, but there's a certain requirement that would…ease your entry, for lack of a better word. And right now, you're just a doctor. Yes, a doctor who saved my daughter's life twice, but still just a doctor."

Clarke could hardly believe they were even discussing this right now. She'd barely talked about it with Lexa, what with the turmoil and uncertainty in the early stages of their relationship.

"All we want is for Lexa to be happy, and she won't be if you're not, and you won't be if you have a hard time fitting in because the public decides to flay you alive for bearing no titles that would make you worthy of the royal ensemble." Richmond closed his eyes momentarily, like he was having a headache or something. "I hate this rule just like anyone else, but old-fashioned is old-fashioned and we can't change tradition overnight. To keep with it and to make your life easier, we will bestow you the countship and you will accept it."

"And I don't get a say in it?"

"Dr. Griffin, if you want to marry my daughter –" It really took her entire body's strength to not jerk at the word "– then I suggest you listen to me. I've been a king longer than you've been a doctor, I promise you."

The worst thing was that he didn't even say any of those words with menace of condescension. He was being upfront and completely candid with the woman he was sure would be his daughter's wife. He was preparing her for what was to come, telling her things that Lexa had always been hesitant to talk about because she didn't want to scare Clarke away.

He was being a king, to put it simply. And the king inclined his head, silently allowing some time to truly consider her options, and walked out of the room.

"You don't have to take it."

Clarke didn't want to admit it, but she jumped and barely kept in a squeal at the quiet voice that interrupted the momentary quietness that the king had left her in. She spun around to find Lexa clearly awake, an amused smile tugging at her lips, despite the somberness in her eyes.

Earlier this morning, Wells had informed that the nurses had removed all the wires and tubes inserted into Lexa, leaving only the heart monitor attached. If all went well, the cardiothoracic doctor even told her that Lexa should be able to be discharged in two days. Clarke would have rushed right over to rejoice in the news with her girlfriend if it wasn't for the meeting with the council.

The blonde smiled, glad to see the princess awake, and took a seat on the hardbacked chair that was meant to cause more problems to an individual's back. She didn't hesitate to hold on to Lexa's hand, placing another kiss on her forehead. Her heart only warmed further when Lexa released a satisfied sigh at the show of affection.

"I hate you," Lexa voiced out, her words coming out croaky. Clarke raised her brows in indulgence. "The number of times you've made me wanna fight my family for you – unmatched," she continued complaining, rolling her eyes upwards. "You're a dangerous woman, Dr. Clarke Griffin. I should have known the moment you smiled at me way back when."

Clarke heaved a chuckle. "Look who's talking," she whispered in response. "I was about ready to commit treason and take on the entire royal family for putting you in danger, woman."

Lexa grinned at that. "But you're gonna marry me anyway?"

The blonde's heart pounded again. At this rate, she was more susceptible to die of a heart attack than Lexa ever would. "Well, if I'm gonna be a Countess, I might as well," she replied.

The brilliant grin that had never failed in lighting up Clarke's day…dimmed, and Clarke regretted bringing it up. Weakly but surely, the brunette lifted their clasped hands and made sure to press a reassuring kiss on Clarke's skin, humming to herself.

"You don't have to take it," she repeated. "I'm serious." She looked Clarke in the eyes. "It's a big responsibility and you don't have to take it."

"Are you saying I'm not responsible?"

"I'm saying you don't have to take it," Lexa retorted just as quickly, without the humor that Clarke was trying to inject into the situation. "I want you. That's all. I think – I think you're all I've ever wanted my whole life, countship or not."

"Your father said it'll make things easier and –"

"I'll make things work." Clarke frowned, not really understanding. "You can just go do your thing. I'll figure it out. I'll work things out for us. I always do, Clarke."

In that moment, Clarke wanted to cry again. God, she didn't know how many times she would cry over this woman – and she was sure she would cry many times more over this woman – but she didn't hate it. It meant that this woman loved her, and she loved this woman right back. It meant that they were real, realer than anything Clarke had ever had before.

"Just because you always do doesn't mean you have to, Lexa," she admonished gently, smiling at the patient. "I told you that I'll win you back, and I will. And the first step in that is to convince you that I am in this with you, come hell or high water. We do things together now. And yeah, I might still have a lot to learn, but if taking a stupid countship will smooth things out for us, then so be it."

Lexa furrowed her brows. "But your career and –"

"It'll still be there." Clarke inhaled deeply and leaned back in her chair, but their fingers remained tangled. "My record speaks for itself. I am a good doctor. An excellent doctor. Countship or not, my skills are still there." She shrugged. "Besides, everything will come to a head eventually, as your father said. You're stuck with me, and if that means a shit ton of publicity and surveillance, then so be it."

"Are you sure?"

"Lexa, I was only ever scared that I'll lose you, that's all." She heaved a shuddering breath. "And I did for awhile there. I don't plan on that ever happening again." She patted Lexa's knee under the blanket. "I'm a big girl, Lexa. I can handle it."

It took a long while, just them staring at one another – one doubtful and one reassuring. But eventually, the frown on Lexa's face disappeared, replaced by a satisfied smile and a beautiful glint in her beautiful eyes.

"Clarke Griffin, I've met a lot of women in my life –"

"I don't wanna know."

"– some of them wonderful and some of them downright devious –"

"I said I don't wanna know, Lexa."

"– but you are undoubtedly the best of them all."

"I don't like to be compared to other women, Woods," Clarke sniped, mock glaring at her girlfriend.

Lexa laughed and abruptly whimpered. Clarke clicked her tongue and laid her free hand across the woman's chest, rubbing it gently to soothe the aftereffects of the surgery that would probably stay awhile longer. Good god, she really had been an idiot to think she could ever let this go.

you may think that lexa's dad is being a harsh, but he's being a king.

HAHAHA BELLAMY'S DEAD AND LEXA IS LOVE OF CLARKE'S LIFE I AM EUPHORIC