AN: I've had this sat on my desktop for the last month and kept forgetting to post it like the terrible person that I am. So thank you all for your continued patience with me, and here you go!
As Abby left her bedroom to head down the hall towards breakfast, she felt a sudden wave of apprehension, glancing up and down the corridor, she was unable to see anything out of the ordinary but there was an unnatural air of stillness to the living quarters of the Commander's family.
Backing up a few steps, she cracked open the door to Kane's room, and beckoned for him to come out with her.
"What is it?" He questioned quietly as he reached the doorway, peeking out in an attempt to get a look at whatever was spooking her.
Shaking her head slowly, Abby looked around again, "I don't know, but something just doesn't feel right."
Frowning, Kane grabbed his jacket of the hook on the inside of the doorway, and followed her out, moving down the hallway with caution.
As they rounded the corner and arrived at the intersection of corridor's that would lead them to the elevator, they both froze at the same moment.
At the far end of the corridor, was a beautiful, finely crafted cabinet that stood almost six feet tall, the roof of it less than four feet from the high ceiling of the corridor. And on top of that cabinet, was perched the Commander herself, looking for all the word like some kind of giant bird of prey.
Catching sight of the two of them, Lexa raised a finger to her lips, and beckoned for them to slip back around the corner out of sight of the doorway the cabinet was adjacent to.
Doing as they were told, they moved back, peering round just enough to keep an eye on whatever she was up to.
They didn't have long to wait, as after less than a minute, they heard the sounds of muffled talking and then Ontari and Raven exited their bedroom, stepping out into the hall with their arms looped together.
At the same time, the door opposite theirs was flung open as an incredible amount of flour was thrown over them.
Biting her lip in concentration as she added insult to injury, Lexa shifted back, tipping over a large bowl of water which crashed down over the two of them.
Raven and Ontari spluttered, raking their hands over their faces to get the damp clumps of powder out of their eyes as Lexa leapt down, catching hold of Octavia's hand and dashing down the corridor with her best friend in tow, who was cackling manically.
Ontari recovered first, growling as she took off after them, flying down the corridor towards the pair of them.
Pulling on Octavia's hand sharply to reverse their positions, Lexa leapt at Ontari, crashing into her and taking them both to the ground.
Rolling across the floor in a tangled web of thrashing arms and shouted curse words, cheered on by a gleeful Octavia, they were completely unaware of Clarke's arrival who leaned against the wall beside her mother, arms crossed.
"I can't believe this is why she was gone when I woke up." She muttered to herself as she watched Ontari take a sharp elbow to the stomach and gasp for air.
Laughing hesitantly, Abby put her hand on Clarke's shoulder, "You know, we've been thinking that maybe it's time for Kane and I to head back to Arcadia."
Grinning, Clarke turned to face her, "You mean we've scared you off, not what you imagined my married life to be when I was growing up?"
Smiling tenderly, Abby reached her hand up to cup Clarke's face, "No, but it's what I hoped. Maybe not the details, but you're happy, and that's all I ever wanted for you."
Thrown for a second, by the genuine heartfelt reply, Clarke swallowed thickly before wrapping her mom up in a warm hug, "We'll come and see you in Arcadia soon."
Chuckling as Clarke stepped back, Abby rubbed her shoulder lightly, "Maybe not all of you at once."
Separating the two warring nightbloods was a task that required both Clarke and Lincoln working together, and when they got the two of them stood up at opposite ends of the corridor, they were both breathing hard and nursing some stinging bruises.
Ontari and Lexa however, looked ecstatic, grinning at each other down the hall.
As Lexa brushed the back of her hand against her mouth, wiping away the trickle of blood that was making its way down her chin, she nodded at Ontari. "I'm proud of you."
Without another word, she spun on her heel and headed back down the corridor, to clean up and get rid of the traces of flour and blood all over her clothes.
With a dazed looking smile, Ontari turned to do the same, leaning on Raven as she limped back into their room.
Lincoln and Clarke both turned to look at Octavia expectantly, who was leaning against the wall, the excitement having tired her out somewhat.
"What?"
Rolling her eyes, Clarke shook her head, "Firstly, you are still ignoring my orders regarding your health."
"I had to help Lexa." Octavia defended, matter of factly.
"And secondly," Lincoln continued patiently, "What on earth was all that about?"
Grinning, Octavia gestured down the hall, "It was a test, Ontari's final exam as it were."
"A test?" Abby questioned disbelievingly, "You threw flour and water all over her and then ran away."
Octavia shook her head, "We incited her to rage and then had her fight the Commander. Lexa had to know there was a nightblood her equal should the worst come to the worst. With the new procedures set in place, Aden will likely be the one to ascend to leadership, but Ontari will be his right hand. And in times of war she would act with all the authority of a Commander in her own right."
Understanding, Clarke smiled despite herself, but still sighed, "And this had to happen first thing in the morning?"
Shrugging as she started wandering down the corridor towards breakfast, Octavia just chuckled, "It had to be a surprise."
"For her and all of us." Lincoln muttered as he hurried to follow after her.
Catching Clarke's arm, Kane nodded back down the corridor, "And Raven was a victim of this because?"
Shaking her head, Clarke just laughed, "If they had to carry out their plan when Ontari was alone, they'd have been waiting a very long time."