Part 2
Clarke began to run. She tripped on the rocks but did not slow down. Lexa saw her at that moment too and dropped the firewood she was carrying. She ran to meet Clarke. They crashed into each other. Their hands all over one another to make sure each was real. Lips met lips in a searing, crashing kiss. Clarke pulled away just long enough to ask, "How are you here? You died so long ago."
"I'm not sure, exactly. We think since I lived in the chip and it was in you and Madi, I did not die as others did. My consciousness survived. Emori, Murphy, Jackson and Miller think that is why I had the chance to transcend. Emori died too. They put her chip in Murphy and when Transcendence came, she had the choice as well." Lexa kissed Clarke again. Clarke melted into Lexa's strong arms. This was the woman she loved. This was her one and only. And she had a second chance. She wouldn't mess this chance up or waste any time.
"Are there more people that didn't choose to transcend?" Clarke asked, looking around, wondering if there were more people that had not chosen to transcend.
"Not in our group. This is it," Lexa answered.
Clarke ran her hands over Lexa's face, memorizing each line. She noted that no time had passed for her. Lexa was the age she had been when she died. Where they once had been the same age, or nearly, Clarke knew she was now more than a few years older.
Lexa just looked back, a small contented smile playing on her lips. She leaned in and kissed Clarke again.
After a few minutes a voice broke them apart.
"Clarke, Lexa, not meaning to butt in here, but we - as a group - need to make a plan. There are a few things to decide. Then if you guys want to disappear into the woods for a while, no one will mind," Raven interrupted with a knowing smile.
"Raven is right. There are decisions to be made," Lexa agreed, immediately falling back into Commander mode. Clark noticed the change right away.
"Lexa, you don't have to be the Commander here. You can just be Lexa. Neither of us owes any more to our people." Clarke said softly, imploringly, eyebrows raised.
Lexa looked astonished at this thought. Clarke was right. They, of course, would be part of the decisions, but neither had to be leaders of their people anymore. In point of fact, only three of the people in the group were originally grounders. They could finally just be with each other. Lexa smiled. Just a small smile at first, but it grew, and with it, Clarke's smile also grew. Both women knew what the other was thinking without one word being said aloud. What they had wished so long ago had finally come true.
'Maybe someday you and I will owe nothing more to our people,' Clarke had wished aloud.
'I hope so. May we meet again,' Lexa had replied.
Then, they had been together for the first time. And for the last time, they both believed.
Hand in hand, the women made their way over to the group milling about. No one said anything, but it was obvious the happiness everyone felt looking upon Lexa and Clarke finally getting to be together.
Raven was the first to speak. "Water, food and shelter. We know we don't have to worry about other people, but there still may be things out there we need to protect ourselves from. Who will do what?"
Everyone naturally looked toward Lexa and Clarke. They both smiled enigmatically but neither spoke up to take charge. They just waited for the others to speak.
Echo spoke up first, "Octavia and I will go hunt. I suppose Levitt can tag along if he would like." She added.
"I will be of no use hunting. Not yet, anyways. I can help around here with whatever needs done," Levitt replied, unscathed by Echo's bluntness.
"I can find some plants that are safe to eat," Jackson added next. Miller entwined their fingers to show he planned to go with Jackson.
"I am sure there are still items in the bunker that can help us. Containers for water, cooking, and so much more. I can go down and see what I can find." Gaia added.
"I will go with her," both Madi and Indra chimed in, then smiled at each other.
"The rest of us can work on designing our encampment here and what we want and need. For a time, we can hole up in the bunker. I don't think we want to live there forever." She said as she glanced at Octavia. "So, we will design our homes up here. We can scavenge a lot from the bunker," Raven was naturally taking on the leadership role since Clarke and Lexa were making it clear neither planned to.
"Lexa and I will also go hunt," Clarke added as the group was about to disperse.
"Uh-huh…" a voice muttered. Clarke blushed. Lexa just smiled widely, unashamed of what the others might be thinking. She took Clarke by the hand and led her away.
For a time, the two just walked silently hand-in-hand. Neither felt the need to speak. They followed a wider game trail for a quarter of a mile in silence, often glancing at each other. Finally, Clarke broke the silence.
"I love you, Lexa."
"I know. You told me in the City of Light."
"That was really you? I thought maybe it was all in my mind."
"It was in your mind," Lexa chucked, "but I was there in your mind to protect you."
"I think I fell in love with you practically the first moment I saw you. It just took me awhile to realize it. I have had plenty of time to consider it since then," Clarke admitted.
"You stood up to me. No one stood up to me. I was drawn to you," Lexa admitted. "It is why I didn't have you killed so many times when everyone around me wanted you dead. And then you saved me from the pauna…" Lexa shook her head, remembering with a smirk.
Clarke stopped walking, pulling Lexa to a stop as well. Lexa turned to face her. Clarke lifted her hand to Lexa's face. Lexa closed her eyes, leaned into the touch, and sighed. Her lips parted and her tongue came out to wet them in anticipation. Clarke leaned in slowly, brushing her lips against Lexa's neck, following her jawline and then lips met lips in a scorching kiss.
Lexa dug her hands into Clarke's hips and pulled her as close as she could. Clarke's hands found their way onto the back of Lexa's head to pull her lips even closer. Neither woman had any intention to ever come up for air again.
Lexa steered Clarke into a tree, pushing her tightly against it. Clarke's thigh found its way between Lexa's legs and Lexa gasped into her mouth. Their breathing grew more and more rapid. Lexa pushed the leather jacket off Clarke's shoulders and down her arms. She reached under the shirt and slowly pushed it up and off. Clarke pulled Lexa's shirt off next, trailing kisses down her shoulder, her collarbone, the top of each breast, before meeting her lips again.
"I can't wait any longer Clarke. I love you with all my heart, all my soul, all my being. Make love to me," Lexa whispered.
Slowly, they worked their way down to the ground, onto a mound of soft moss. Lexa on her back, Clarke straddling her hips. Clarke leaned down, kissing Lexa again before beginning her foray down.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Clarke nestled into Lexa's arms. Both she and Lexa were breathing rapidly, coming down from the highest peak. Clarke rested her head on Lexa's shoulder, one arm wrapped around her waist and a leg thrown over Lexa's.
This moment was perfect. There didn't have to be an end. Neither had to leave due to a kill order. Neither was dead from being shot. They had forever to finally just be happy. Forever to worship each other. There were no more debts to their people forcing them apart. There was just one people now, and not many of those to boot.
"We may need to build our house a bit farther away from the others," Lexa mused.
"What? Why?" Clarke asked, confused.
"You, my love, are not quiet."
Clarke blushed bright red from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. "You weren't so quiet yourself Commander."
Lexa just grinned in a satisfied manner, no shame, no embarrassment, and kissed the top of Clarke's head. "I couldn't help but scream that third time. I have never in my life felt anything like that before, whatever you did."
Clarke smiled, "Never, hmmm?" She bit the side of her bottom lip between her teeth to keep from saying more.
"We should probably go back soon. We have been out here for hours. They may come looking for us." Lexa said grudgingly.
"Without something to show for the time we have been gone?"
"They all know we weren't really hunting…" Lexa grinned.
Clarke sighed. She didn't want to ever leave this spot or the safety and security of Lexa's embrace. She just wanted to fall asleep. "Can't we take a nap first?"
Lexa laughed, "No, because neither of us will wake before tomorrow morning. And we don't know how cold it will get. And we don't have the proper provisions or blankets, for that matter. Let's go find a place in the bunker to call ours until we can build a home. Something we can both be happy in and away from the others!"
"And do we have to go to sleep?"
Lexa just smirked knowingly and reached for their clothes.
They returned to the encampment empty-handed. While there were many knowing- smirks, but no one said anything. They probably thought Lexa would hurt anyone that said anything, even in jest. There was a fire going, two large rabbit-like creatures were being turned on a spit and some root vegetables were roasting on a rock just inside the fire ring.
"Well done Echo and Octavia," Lexa praised the pair. "You did better than us. We didn't see any game while we were out."
"Thank you," Echo replied.
"Just a hint, you have to be…quiet… to sneak up on game," Octavia said. She, of course, wasn't afraid of Lexa and liked to embarrass people. Her prickly personality enjoyed it. Transcendence had certainly not changed that. Clarke glared. Others did their best to stifle their laughter. Lexa pretended not to hear.
"We are going to the bunker to find a place to call home until our encampment is ready above ground," Clark told those that were nearby. "It is starting to get dark and we don't really know what has survived out there."
"Level 5 has some nice rooms, larger ones meant for families. You will have a bit more space. Plus, Raven thinks she might be able to reroute the wiring to get enough power to power one level. 5 can house us all without us needing to be packed in like… like something packed in," Octavia told them.
"Thanks, O, we will go look at the rooms on level 5," Clarke said.
"I will bring some food down once it is ready," Echo told them. "I'll be sure to knock," she added.
The two women ignored that last jab and thanked Echo before heading toward the bunker. They walked down until they found level 5. The rooms that had already been chosen were obvious as their doors were close. Those with their doors open were still an option.
Clarke and Lexa went to the last room on the hall and walked in the open door. It was a larger room. The furniture was scattered, knocked over, and some broken, but they could fix a lot. It had a bathroom off to the left and two bedrooms in the back. The common room was kitchen and living area.
They checked out the two bedrooms. One had a larger bed than the other. They chose that as their bedroom. They looked through the clothes. Looked for blankets. Set the furniture that needed repair in the second bedroom closet. The smaller room would work well for Madi. They righted any furniture that would pass muster, at least for the time being. All in all, they salvaged three chairs, a table, and a large bench-like seat, but softer. It would have to do for now. It would be their home. Neither had terrible memories of the bunker like some members of the group.
"I am going to go find Madi, quickly, and let her know which rooms are ours. The other bedroom will work well for her," Clarke told Lexa.
"Of course, Clarke." Lexa nodded as Clarke strode away.
Clarke found Madi with Gaia and Indra by the fire. She sat down next to her and wrapped her in a hug. "Lexa and I chose the rooms at the end of the hall on level 5. There is a second bedroom just for you. Do you want to come see?"
"Is it okay if I stay with Gaia and Indra, just for a little while?" Madi asked.
"What? Why?" Clarke asked, confused, looking to Gaia and Indra. Both women studiously looked everywhere but at Clarke.
"To give you and Lexa… time," Madi explained with a blush. She knew the strong feelings between Clarke and the Commander. Lexa had made her aware of the feelings while in her head. More than once…
It dawned on Clarke after a second and she, too, blushed. "Madi, you are my child and I won't do anything too embarrassing. I promise."
"I know, Clarke. I just think Lexa would appreciate some alone-time with you before she has a step-kid to deal with. It won't be forever or anything. Just a week, or maybe two."
"Are you sure? We are safe in this place so I can't see the harm, but I don't want you to ever feel unwelcome just because I have Lexa now, too. I will always choose you. You are my child," Clarke explained earnestly.
"I know. It is just a week or two. Like a… what is it called… a honey…" Madi's face scrunched up trying to remember what it was called.
"A honeymoon?" Clarke laughed. "We didn't just get married."
"No, but…" Madi did not want to finish the thought or sentence.
"Thank you, Madi. You are very thoughtful. You can stay with Gaia and Indra, but only so we can really make a great room for you. The bed isn't all that great and it looks incredibly uncomfortable. I am sure we can find items to really make the rooms feel like home!" Clarke declared. She hugged her daughter once more and caught Gaia's eyes. Gaia smiled reassuringly. It would be okay.
"Tomorrow, you and I are going to go hunting. Just the two of us, like old times," Clarke said.
"Sure, that sounds good." Madi agreed.
With that, Clarke rose and went back towards the bunker.
To be continued