An announcement was sound in the guardsmen's radios. It spoke of the group's arrival to camp. Wick hurried up to the gate the minute he heard. As much as he wanted to see Raven, his intentions this time were a hundred percent pure, he thought Bellamy needs to know about his sister.

They looked tired and wear down. Bellamy walked in first, followed by the blonde behind him, both eager to see what was going on.

Wick grabbed the black haired man by the arm. "One sec bro." They all saw the serious face, the usually upbeat engineer, was displaying and paid close attention, "the grounders brought someone with them. I believe it was the main reason they came, a chance for peace."

"Spit it out Wick." Clarke said, not in a mood to listen to his thoughts about politics.

"They brought Octavia."

Bellamy's face, that for the past few hours migrated between boredom and aloofness, stiffened. "Where is she?"

"Medical."

He left running towards his sister, followed by Monty.

"You coming to see her?" Raven asked the sky princess after finding her place next to Wick.

"Later."

Raven nodded in understanding and walked with Wick after their other friends. Clarke just stood there, looking at them, smiling to herself. She felt relieved and happy. She took one second to relax before she had to go and face the fresh hell that was probably waiting for her in the mess hall.

As she was approaching the dining room her scattered thoughts became more centered, from considering the pros and cons of a peace agreement and wondering why now after all these months, she began to think about the grounders, well, more specifically about the grounders' commander. She began to walk slower, dreading the meeting to come. 50 meters before arriving she came to a complete halt. She felt ridiculous. She was a kid by all accounts, but still, they all looked up to her, they all trusted her, and the blonde trusted herself, everything she did was for the sole purpose of protecting her people. Except of one exception. She was now sitting on the ground, trying to calm herself, if it wasn't for the only thing she has done for herself, she would be able to just walk in there and act like the princess she is. However, she kissed Lexa, she felt something for Lexa, and she kept it from her people. One last breath. She stood on her feet, straighten her shirt and walked forward with a look of confident.

The mess hall was full. People were sitting rather quietly, sky people with sky people, chatting lightly. The only table with mixed company was the main table in the center of the room, where Lexa, her warriors, Kane, Abby, Justin and a few other high ranked people were sitting.

Lexa was eating silently, she was playing with her food, looking uninterested. Clarke stopped. She didn't want the commander to have such an effect on her, and if that's not possible, then she settled for not letting the commander know she has such an effect on her. Lexa suddenly lifted her head from the plate locking eyes with Clarke. It was only for a second. It was only a second for the rest of the people in the room. It was another second of pain for Jasper, another second of guilt for Kane and another second of not worrying about where there next breath will come for Abby. For Clarke, for Lexa, it was three months in one second. It was the fear and the pain, it was looking in the eyes of the ally they lost. for just a second, they could feel it all, they could break apart and rebuild in the following second, they could be themselves. Clarke broke eye contact first, going towards the table.

"Dear." Her mother greeted getting up to hug her.

"Hey mom." Clarke whispered, letting herself sinking in for a minute more, just relaxing.

She turned to Lexa. "Commander."

"Clarke." The grounder said back.

When it was clear to Kane that no more words will pass between the pair he cleared his throat and added dumbly, "Clarke, there's rabbit stew, come join us."

The sky princess looked between her mother, to Kane, avoiding Lexa's intense gaze on her in fear of breaking in the middle of the mess hall, with all her people looking at her, trusting her to save them.

"Thank you but I've had a long day, I'd rather go and take a long shower."

The chancellor nodded his head, "come by my office later tonight, we're having a meeting." He added before the blonde was out of hearing range. She turned around for a second nodding quickly before leaving.

Her body desperately screamed for a shower, but she ignored it and walked to the medic, eager to find Octavia. As she walked in she saw the older Blake sitting by her bed looking five years older with painful concern on his face. He looked up as he heard her come inside, and was pleading with his eyes for her to fix everything. She physically hurt for the boy and so she walked around quietly and sat next to him, whispering softly. "Go eat." She tried. "Shower." Again. "Sleep. Anything. Take a short break, I am here."

He dismissed her easily, returning his gaze to the young girl lying in front of them. She squeezed his hand once and looked at him with a piercing look, clearly not joking. He looked at her once more and then at Clarke and left the room for no more than thirty minutes as it would later be known to all.

"He worries."

"Can you blame him?" Clarke asked with a soft tone, looking to the door. If Octavia was picking up on anything, she didn't show it.

"Hey, don't take his side until you have the chance to hear the all story."

Clarke's gaze shifted from where Bellamy last stood to the girl in front of her. She really needed to get her priority straight. This is Octavia Blake, the overly confident, reckless, crazy person who's been there from day one, who gone through hell and back with her, who no matter what awful things she knew and thought about Clarke, always kept faith in the blonde. Octavia was the only thing that was supposed to matter now.

"I'll be the judge of that. Do share."

"So we left. We didn't feel like we belong here, and I knew you were safe." The girl straightened up a bit, signaling Clarke to not dare to interrupt her with a murdering gaze. "We wanted to start our own thing. A few days ago he left. For the past month or so, he was talking about returning here, to help you, we fought about it a lot." She closed her eyes for a second, fighting those memories. "I followed him. I saw him eat, I saw him drink, I even saw some guys from the ice nation attacking him. I tried to help him, b-but I was too late. They took his body with them, leaving a few guys behind to hand me the same faith. Some Trikru walked by, they saved me." She smiled a bitter smile, as if excepting her faith, of not belonging, as if excepting Lincoln's death, as if giving up.

"We'll find his body, we'll bring you peace. I promise"

Octavia just shot her another bitter look. "You can try." She then closed her eyes. She said all there was to say.

Clarke sat there in silent. Not daring to leave the girl alone. She waited patiently until Bellamy had returned looking as bad as earlier, only with an added scent of soap to his appearance.

She got up quickly. Not wanting to feel this bitter, Clarke decided she wasn't going to play nice anymore. She gave Bellamy's hand a squeeze and left the room towards Kane's office.

The chancellor was the only one in the room at her arrival, and was so caught up in the paper in his hand, he initially didn't notice her. She cleared her throat lightly and smiled at him reassuringly.

"I don't need to tell you have much a peace agreement is important to us right? I mean, our people live each day with the uncertainty that-"

"Yes, Kane, I do know." She cut his nervous rambling and sat down smiling, "after radiating 300 men, I think I can handle a few grounders."

Kane was taken aback by her cold and cynical self, and was about to comment on such when Lexa had entered the office. He shot one look towards Clarke and then welcomed the commander with a smile.

The grounder sat in front of the two sky people. Her face clean from any war paint and her hair floating down in small curls, she was wearing tight pants and a long blouse as usual, but her armor was nowhere to be seen. It was a side of Lexa that Clarke has never seen. Lexa could easily pass as one of the sky teenagers, she looked delicate and soft. Clarke wondered why the mighty commander wanted to reveal that side of herself now. Maybe it was to show her humanity, which aside of Clarke, no sky people got to see.

"I appreciate you are willing to listen to us." The brunette began.

"Well, considering our only other option is to go up in flame by your army, you're welcome." It was uncalled for, Clarke knew, but she was done keeping things inside. Maybe she should have visited Octavia after the meeting.

Both Lexa and Kane looked to Clarke, Kane showing visible signs of being displeased with the girl, and Lexa, of course, showing nothing.

"I do not wish to do that." The commander began, looking for Clarke's avoiding eyes. "I have bigger threats, the ice nation."

"I heard." Clarke shook her head in agreement.

"You heard what?"

"Octavia. It was them. They also, t-they also killed Lincoln."

That did it. That broke through Lexa's mask. "How do you know that?" She asked in a defeated look.

"She told me." Clarke needed to say something, anything. "We'll stand by you."

Lexa's eyes shot to Clarke's and for the second time that evening it was showing too much. Clarke looked at her reassuringly.

"We will sure do." Kane added.

"I would want you to become the thirteen clan. We shall return to Polis with first light, where you'll knell in front of me and vow to me. Then, I will accept your people as my own, and we will be ready for war."

"If you ever betray me again."

"I won't."

And there it was, a small silent agreement, which they sealed with their eyes.

Without a single word Clarke got up and left the office, needing to get away from there.

A hot shower. That is exactly what Clarke had needed. She peeled the sweaty, dusty clothes from her body and hoped for a long relaxing shower. She felt energized. She felt as if there is a purpose. Most of all, she thought about how not angry she felt. The blonde realized that Lexa was the only thing separating her from 'just surviving'. She realized that with all the uncertainty, the danger and the pain Lexa has brought upon her, she also brought laugh, companionship, challenges and peace of mind to the girl. Lexa made her feel, made her live.

She was half dressed when she heard a light knock on her door. Assuming it was Bellamy seeking refuge after the long day he had, she considered undressing but decided against it, thinking he may need consolation. "Just a sec." She pulled a black sweater over her head and red socks to her feet. Glancing one look at her mirror, she decided to undo the messy bun on top of her head and change the buggy gray sweatpants to tight yoga pants. She hoped he wouldn't want to speak. She was a firm believer in the 'sleep it off' technique.

"Lexa." Clarke said surprised.

"Clarke." She nodded her head towards her. "Can we speak?"

"S-sure." She whispered, moving to the side, letting the girl inside.

Lexa looked very confident. She scanned the small room quickly. There was nothing there besides a small bed and a chair. At first, the sky girl thought about drawing on the walls and decorating it with flowers, but she never got around to do it. The commander took a sit on the wooden chair, and Clarke quickly copied, sitting opposite of her on the bed.

"Well, the last time I saw you, I had betrayed you. I knew where we stood before that moment." She stopped for a second, as if contemplating to say more. The next part was said in a much softer voice. "I knew where we stood in our alliance." Clarke's heart jumped in her chest, beating faster now, their kiss on her mind. The grounder cleared her throat and continued just as professionally as before. "I came in here in the hopes we could move on, to build a safe future for our children."

Clarke simply nodded. She got up, hoping the commander will understand and leave the room, it was getting harder and harder for Clarke to be in such a close proximity to Lexa. At least before she knew where the ball was. It laid safe and sound at hers side of the court, waiting for when she was ready to take the next step. But now, there were hundreds of balls, on fire, flying in the air. She needed Lexa to leave so she could slow down and think. When the brunette didn't show any signs of leaving, she added, "we can move on Lexa."

"Good." She said, a small smile grazing her lips. She quickly got up and walked towards the door.

"Lexa." Clarke couldn't let her leave just yet. The grounder stopped in her track, waiting to hear what was left to say. "I would have done the same. At Mount Weather." After a few seconds and lack of answer from Lexa, the blonde added, "just thought you should know."

"Thank you." Lexa said, and left the room.

Hey guys.

Thank you for reading, reviewing and following.
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Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
As always, let me know what you think.

Yours truly,
Spencer.