AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey Y'all

I'm back!

I'm sorry about being M.I.A. the last few weeks. Among evacuation for Hurricane Dorian, family emergencies, weddings, work and MAJOR writer's block, I'm finally here with a new update. This chapter is mainly a filler with some Bellarke fluff since everything is starting to settle down in the delinquents' camp after Mount Weather. PM me if y'all have any ideas or things that y'all want to see happen in this story. I'm always open for suggestions.

As always, drop a review and let me know what you think.

and I really appreciate y'all's patience; so, without further ado...

...chapter sixteen

enjoy:)

Tonight, the camp was alive. The bonfire roared in the middle of the camp four grounders who stood watch at the request of the commander. Polis was overflowing with grounders and delinquents.

Clarke looked out of the window and smiled as she watched some of her friends and grounders dance around a bonfire below.

They were celebrating. They deserved to celebrate.

This night was important.

They were making history.

Skaikru was joining the coalition as the Thirteenth Clan. They would finally be at peace.

She felt strong arms wrap around her, knowing good and well whose they belonged to. She continued to stare out of the window. His head rested on her shoulder as he looked out as well.

"They look happy."

"That's because they're not being hunted or tortured," Clarke stated.

"They deserve it. They deserve happiness."

She turned around and buried her face in Bellamy's chest. He tightened his embrace.

"What's wrong?" He could tell something was bothering her.

"It's just— Do I even deserve happiness after what I've done?"

"What we've done," Bellamy said, reiterating that it wasn't only her, "and yes, I believe we do. We've made impossible choices and sacrifices to be where we are today. We deserve happiness just as much as they do."

He kissed the top of her head before grabbing her hand. He lead her towards their bed.

"Lay down," Bellamy ordered. Clarke laughed at his failed attempt at seriousness. He lightly pushed her back. She tried to stand up, but he stood in front of her.

"Bellamy, I've got to get ready for the ceremony soon," she said.

"Exactly, we're going to have a long night, and you need as much rest as you can get especially if you're carrying our child. So, you're going to lay down and close your eyes while I talk to the baby."

"Fine," Clarke huffed. She did need to get ready soon, but she couldn't help but succumb to Bellamy's overprotectiveness. Frankly, it was adorable when it was about the her and the baby, but it was slightly frustrating when she or Octavia couldn't go about their day freely.

Clarke climbed into the bed with her head on the pillow. Bellamy laid on his chest, propping his head up with his arms. His face was near her belly, and he began to talk.

"Hey, Little Princess,"

"Really?" She interrupted. Clarke thought it would be a boy; he thought it would be a girl. Bellamy didn't have to look at her face to know that she was rolling her eyes.

"Yes, the baby is a she; now, be quiet and let me talk," Bellamy said. Clarke only laughed.

"It could very well be a boy too,you know."

"As I was saying, before your mother rudely interrupted us, it's me, your daddy. I thought you should know tonight's a pretty big night for us; so, go easy on your mom. She's becoming our official haiplana— that means queen in Trig, but you'll learn that when you're older. She'll still always be a princess, and even though haiplana is just a title when it comes to our people and a role to the other grounders, she'll be the best one in the Kongeda."

Clarke smiled as she listened to him talk. It made her heart flutter.

She was still trying to understand the grounders' system of government. The commander, along with an ambassador from each clan, resided in Polis. The leader of the clans were known as the kings and queens. She wasn't fit to be queen, and she didn't want to. Her people were a democracy. Although, she opposed the title, she agreed when Lexa told her that it would only be before the eyes of the Coalition and that they could run the camp as Clarke and her people saw fit. She and Bellamy would still remain the co-leaders of the delinquent camp, just as they decided to do all those months ago.

She was pulled from her thoughts by a knock on the doors.

Bellamy jumped up and made his way to the door. When he opened it, a grounder woman stood, announcing she and a few other women were there to prepare Clarke for the ceremony.
He took their hint, kissed Clarke on the cheek and left to find his sister.

When he exited the building, he searched through out the multitude of people. Music played, and people danced around the fire. They all celebrated the Coalition and Skaikru. However, only a select few would be permitted to attend the ceremony due to Queen Nia of Azgeda's opposition to Skaikru's joining the Coalition.

The short list of attendees was filled by the commander, the ambassadors, the seda, clan leaders, necessary guards, Clarke, and two other Skaikru guests.

Bellamy and Clarke's closest friends came to Polis to celebrate with them, but Octavia would be the only one allowed into the ceremony along with her brother. The remaining delinquents stayed behind at the camp to celebrate there.

Bellamy's eyes zeroed in on his sister as he walked swiftly towards her.

"O."

"Bellamy, hey, is it time?" His sister spun around and looked up at him.

"Almost. Are you all ready?" He asked. She nodded.

"Yeah, but I'm going to just add that Monty and Jasper aren't in the right state to attend even if they were allowed in," she said, watching the look of confusion on his face, "Monty made moonshine."

"Oh," he said nodding as soon as it clicked. If Monty and Jasper brought moonshine to Polis, he could only assume the condition of everyone back at camp, "I'm going to go back up. Clarke's getting ready right now. We've got to be there in about 30 minutes. Are coming with me now or later?"

"I'll come with you. Let me tell Lincoln 'bye'," she answered.

Clarke took a deep breath before the double doors open. All eyes fell on her as she stepped forward. The voice of the woman singing was loud enough to be heard throughout the street, she thought. She raised her hand to her belly as she walked towards the front of the room. She was beyond nervous, but she refused to show any signs of it and walked with a straight face and her head held high.

The ceremony went by much more quickly than she expected and much more smoothly than they had all anticipated.

The commander assisted the Skaikru haiplana to her knees as well as rising to her feet, and Clarke gladly accepted her help. Lexa yelled something in her native tongue before the rest of the room shouted the same phrase and clapped.

Clarke's eyes met Bellamy's eyes in the room full of Grounders, and the co-leaders both shared a beaming smiles. They were finally at peace with the grounders.