A/N: Hey guys. I am so sorry about yesterday not having an update. I am currently in the last few weeks of college and really struggling to keep on top of things so I am so grateful to everyone who is so patient with me and leaves such lovely comments, I love you all. I say it a lot, but it's really true, and you have no idea how much you have gotten me through guys! So yeah, if updates are sometimes missed I am so sorry, I just need to get past the 14th of June (my last exam) and then it's all good. But trying to get there is like climbing a mountain blindfolded right now haha. Anyway, basically, thank you all for being amazing, and I hope you like this chapter! xxx
Even leaving first thing the next morning, they didn't arrive in Trikru lands until late that night, finding them closer to Arkadia than Polis when they finally worked out where they where after Lexa managed to get them lost in the dark.
Clarke sighed as she spied the road that led down to her people's camp, "You said you needed to check on them before winter anyway, maybe we should just spend the night in Arkadia and then ride to Polis in the morning."
Lexa opened her mouth to argue but they all shook their heads at her, "You got us lost," Raven laughed, "You don't get to vote on this."
"Ai laik Heda." She grumbled under her breath, just rolling her eyes when Clarke asked her what she had said, "The paths all look the same in the dark, I have never made the journey back from Azgeda at night."
Ontari chuckled and clicked her tongue at her horse to signal it to head towards the Skaikru camp, "One night here will be fine. If we ride to Polis now we won't get back until the entire city is asleep. It's a half days ride at least."
So they headed for Arkadia, riding up to the gates, with Clarke flagging down one of the sentries to get them to open up and let them in.
"Clarke!" Abby cried out excitedly as she caught sight of her daughter, having just been heading across the camp to deliver some medicine to one of her patients that wasn't staying in the med bay. Running across the camp, she threw her arms around Clarke and hugged her fiercely, "What's wrong? Has something happened?" She asked worriedly, leaning back to look at Clarke's face, having not heard word that they would be arriving.
"Nothing's wrong mom, I promise. Someone, just got us a little lost on the way back to Polis." Clarke laughed, with a pointed look towards Lexa who just narrowed her eyes slightly in annoyance.
Abby chuckled as she caught sight of Lexa's expression before looking back to Clarke in confusion, "On the way back? Where have you been?"
"Azgeda." Ontari answered as she jumped down from her horse, offering a hand to Raven to help her do the same. "There was an avalanche and Lexa offered assistance to Roan."
Clarke nodded, "We went ahead to look at what was going on, and then a group of Trikru followed us to help, they're all still there now."
"I got to blow stuff up." Raven chipped in, which Abby just nodded at, not really expecting anything different from the mechanic who had an affinity for explosives and using them for every task possible.
"I suppose you will all want to get some sleep then." Abby smiled, clapping her hands together, noticing how they all looked as though they were about to fall asleep standing up, "Lexa I assume you will be sharing Clarke's room? And Ontari, I'm sure I can find a spare bed for you to crash in."
"Actually," Raven interrupted her, taking hold of Ontari's hand and pulling her forwards, "Ontari will be in my room." She smiled nervously, holding up their joined hands so Abby could see the ring gleaming on Ontari's finger.
Abby stared at it for a moment as she wrapped her head around what she was being told and then, without warning, bounded forwards to wrap them both up in a tight hug. "I'm so happy for both of you." She said fiercely as she clung to them.
When she moved back after a long moment, there were grateful tears in Raven's eyes and pure surprise written across Ontari's.
Jokingly, Clarke shook her head, "That's not how you reacted to our engagement, I was worried you were going to chase Lexa around Polis with a pitchfork."
"Raven's more sensible than you, I trust her to look after herself." Abby teased right back without missing a beat.
It brought a grin to Lexa's face when Clarke just stuck her tongue out childishly in response. A few short weeks ago, that statement would have been met with anger and hostility, but now they were at the point where they could make light of the previous tension between them and her future mother in law.
Clarke smiled as she started moving towards her room, that Abby had made sure would always be available whenever she returned, followed by Raven and Ontari who would be staying in the same building. As the five of them reached the corridor that they would be splitting up at Abby hugged Clarke once more, "Will you be staying long?"
Lexa answered, after Clarke shot her a questioning look, "We weren't meant to come here at all, but now that we are, it might be worth me going through winter preparations with Kane whilst you two spend some time together."
"I would love that Commander, thank you." Abby said genuinely.
Amused, Lexa shook her head, "I am to marry your daughter Abby, perhaps we should just use names when in private."
"Well then, thank you Lexa. Join me for breakfast in the morning?" She asked the four of them, answered by eager nodding.
"We'd love to mom, thank you." Clarke smiled, dropping a kiss on her cheek before heading down the hall to her room with Lexa in tow, Ontari and Raven doing the same in the opposite direction.
When they closed the door behind them, Lexa dropped onto the narrow bed tiredly after shrugging off her coat, stretching out like a cat without even bothering to take her boots off.
Sighing, Clarke unlaced them for her, pulling them off her feet and tossing them aside before kicking off her own shoes.
"I'm glad you said we could stay for a while."
Lexa hummed softly in acknowledgement, raising her arm so Clarke could slip into her usual position curled against Lexa's body, "You wanted to stay, and Abby wanted to spend time with you. We have the time so why rush back to Polis? Indra and Octavia have everything well in hand I'm sure."
"You say that now." Clarke laughed, "But Octavia has terrible organizational skills."
"I'm sure Lincoln will help her." Lexa said dismissively, but she did feel a flash of worry over exactly how much of her home would be left to come back to if anything actually went wrong, pushing her aside, she shook her head slightly to clear it. "I have faith in them, they will be fine."
Clarke grinned, snuggling closer to Lexa. Many nights she would lie awake for hours to feel the gentle warmth of Lexa's body and to watch the soft rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. Some days it was hard to believe that Lexa was real, that she was there and Clarke's. Sometimes, Clarke would dream that Titus had really taken Lexa's life that day, and those dreams she couldn't handle.
But then she would jolt awake and look to the side to see her strong, beautiful girlfriend lying there, looking so much younger in her sleep. And she would realize how ridiculous and unrealistic her dreams were. Lexa was the Commander, a visionary warrior, it was laughable to think that anything short of a heroic sacrifice would kill her.
Those nights Clarke would lay her hand over Lexa's wrist, falling asleep to the steady beat of her pulse.
Clarke gently traced the curve of Lexa's jaw with her fingers, prompting the other girl to open one eye tiredly and look down at the blonde. "What Clarke?" She asked softly.
"It's nothing," Clarke whispered, "I just love you."
"And I love you." Lexa smiled, pressing a kiss against the top of Clarke's head, "Until the day I die, and then in whatever life comes next."