A/n - Hey guys :) So, I got my tattoo today, I love it but it has made my whole arm ache consistently since I got it, but I didn't update yesterday and there is no way I would miss two days in a row. I am building towards an event and then a future plotline after that but I am waiting on timing so I get to write these moments which I absolutely love doing and I find my hands just typing away with me barely aware of what's being written until I've done it. So, I hope you like this chapter, and please let me know what you think! :)

"Thank goodness we have the day to ourselves." Clarke groaned as they walked through the town, Lexa's hands clasped in hers.

Lexa laughed at her as she paused at a stall, fishing around in her pocket for a few coins to purchase some freshly cooked meat from a vendor who bowed low to the Commander as he passed over the food. "I thought you enjoyed having your mother in Polis Clarke." She smiled as she offered out the meat.

Clarke shook her head, "No, I do. It's just, she never leaves me alone, ever."

"She loves you Clarke, and she knows that after this time is over she will be going back to Arkadia, whilst you will be staying here, with me." Lexa grinned happily, pulling Clarke further along, down towards the lake which had become a quiet place for the two of them when the thousands of voices they listened to daily became too much.

The path down to the lakeside was winding and uneven, but their feet walked it instinctively, knowing the route by heart after the many times they had travelled it.

"Maybe you should be spending this day with her as well." Lexa said after a long moment, "After all, your time with her is limited."

"No." Clarke said firmly, spinning round so she was walking backwards as their feet hit the fishermen's decking at the edge of the lake, "You are too good to me, this morning I asked you what you wanted to do with the day and you said to come down to the lake. I've barely seen you since Skaikru arrived, you've been wrapped up in managing the affairs of the coalition whilst I've been trying to make decisions for my people. Today is ours."

Kicking off her boots, Lexa sat down on the edge of the wooden platform, letting her feet dangle into the water as the sun reflected off the top and shimmered in her green eyes. "You have no idea how much I love you."

Joining her, Clarke grinned and leaned in until their faces where inches apart, "I think I might have an idea."

"Maybe you do." Lexa smiled, moving forwards to capture Clarke's lips with her own, cupping her cheek with her hand.

"Of course," Clarke said contemplatively, "You could be wrong with that."

As confusion passed over Lexa's face, Clarke smirked and shoved with all her body weight, causing Lexa to topple into the water as her balance was thrown up.

Gasping, Lexa burst up out of the water, coughing as she caught hold of the edge of the decking. Without missing a beat, she caught hold of Clarke's leg and pulled back herself to bring Clarke straight after her. But Clarke clung to the edge, screeching as she clawed her way back onto dry land, rolling onto her back as Lexa lost her grip.

"Nice try." Clarke gloated, leaning down to offer her hand to Lexa, "Now don't double cross me Commander, I will not be impressed. I won that fair and square."

Lexa took the offered hand, allowing Clarke to pull her from the water, "That was unfair Clarke, now I am soaked through and winter is almost upon us, are you trying to cause me to freeze to death?" She pouted.

Clarke just shook her head, the smile not dropping from her face, "This is the warmest day we've had in months and you always boast that you don't feel the cold as much as other people. Plus..." She chuckled, reaching into the bag she had brought with her before throwing a blanket over Lexa's shoulders, "I have no intention of letting you get cold even if you claim that you can't."

Pulling the thick woven material round her shoulders, Lexa let herself fall backwards so she was laying peacefully, looking up at the clear blue sky, "How long is your mother staying afterwards?"

"Not long." Clarke answered, lying down beside her, "As with everything, my people have a particular idea of how things should go and she will respect our customs and withdraw back to Arkadia within days, maybe less."

"So we have another three days of your people invading our home?" Lexa laughed jokingly.

Clarke knocked into her shoulder lightly, "It's hardly an invasion if you invite them in Lexa, do I need to find you a copy of a dictionary?"

At Lexa's confused expression, Clarke quickly tried to come up with a definition for the word dictionary, "A book of words."

"Clarke all books have words." Lexa argued back, not understanding what she meant.

"It's a book that tells you what words mean." Clarke clarified quickly, "Although I can't believe that you haven't come across one."

Even lying right next to her, Clarke missed the words that Lexa mumbled quietly, turning her head, she gave the other girl a questioning look.

Clearing her throat quietly, Lexa gave Clarke a sheepish grin, "I prefer books of stories, like fairy tales."

Clarke smiled once she heard what Lexa had been saying, "The Commander of the Thirteen Clans read children's books in her spare time?" Leaning her head against Lexa's shoulder, she sighed softly. "What's your favorite story then Lexa?"

Lexa shifted so she could wrap her arm around Clarke, holding her close, "I have read the story of Beauty and the Beast many times."

"Because it's about getting to know someone before judging them?" Clarke asked quietly.

"In a perfect world that's what we would all do. Instead you are the Commander of Death and I'm the Commander of the Blood. Very few will ever see us as we are." Lexa said tiredly.

Clarke shook her head slightly, "I don't believe that, you are so kind and open with your people. Every day they get to know you better. You command their respect, but you are Lexa as well as Heda to them."

Lexa tilted her head to the side as she thought about it, "Titus would turn in his grave if he could see the way I rule my people now. He believe in a system of respect born out of fear."

Clarke hummed softly in the back of her throat, "Well you cut his head off so I'm pretty sure you should just discount his opinion entirely at this point."

Laughing, Lexa twisted slightly to place a kiss on the top of Clarke's head, "I suppose that I should."