A/N: Thank you to those who reviewed, followed and added this story to your favorites. All I can say is stick with it and I promise it will get better. It will start canon but start to go AU. I see a completely different future for Clexa, Grounders and the SkyPeople. There are a bunch of direct quotes from episode 3x02. I don't own them, just wish I did lol. Again, after this chapter it will go differently from the show.


3 MONTHS AFTER MOUNT WEATHER

Since the Commander's talk with Bellamy a lot of things changed. The SkyPeople and the Grounders were in a mutual agreement to find Clarke. This had Abbey and Kane visiting Polis more often than most Grounders, and SkyPeople, liked. For now the leaders of Arkadia were willing to overlook the Mount Weather incident. Ever since Bellamy mentioned it to the brunette it was never brought up again. What they didn't know was Lexa went to a bounty hunter convinced would find the newly titled Wanheda. After all he needed something from Lexa so it was no surprise when word got to the Heda that he had found her.

The brunette was in her chambers pacing knowing he was on his way back to the city with Clarke. It had been 3 months since she last saw the blonde. That moment has haunted her since she left. The pain in the Wanheda's eyes tore at the Commander in ways she hasn't felt in a very long time. Knowing shortly they would be face to face had her feeling a roller coaster of emotions. Happiness, scared, pained, and warmth. She had no idea which one was dominant because they all swirled around inside her equally. Lexa was not going to show this in front of her people. Love was a weakness and she swore to never fall in love again. Since Costia she has turned off all feelings keeping everything strictly to strategies and battles. There was something captivating about the blonde; her innocence, strength, knowledge that drew the Heda in. She didn't plan to get close to the SkyCrew Leader but the circumstances around her made it so.

Memories of the two preparing for the battle at the Mountain replayed in her mind. It was in that moment something changed in her. Maybe it was the way she had no fear of threatening the Heda. Clarke stood her ground letting her know if she went after her friend, Octavia that she would tell everyone about the missile. The Commander couldn't help but be intrigued. It wasn't the first time she showed no fear of the leader of the 12 clans. There were many incidents the blonde showed that, however this reason in particular stood out because of the kiss. Lexa remembered it like it was yesterday how she was having an inner argument with herself, her mind and heart at its own battle. The one part of her screaming to grab the woman in front of her and kiss her overwhelmed the brunette. The more logical side, the side she had shown for so long, told her it was a foolish thing to do and not to try. It was in an instant that her heart won and she kissed Clarke. Even though the SkyCrew Leader did return the kiss she let the Commander know she needed time. Something that Lexa never gave her since shortly after that her mind was back in control. It was then she picked her people over the blonde.

Heda ripped open her door and walked past the guards stationed outside it. They immediately followed their leader into the main chamber. Lexa said nothing as she walked right to her throne sitting down with her perfect posture. Indra was on her left and Titus on her right. She sat still not even moving a facial muscle as she waited for the inevitable. A few moments later it was announced that Roan was there with the Wanheda. Lexa could feel the thud of her heart but would not let anyone see the affect the blonde was already having on her. She could hardly accept it herself. She saw Roan come in with who she knew was Clarke but her face was currently covered. The Grounder Leader watched as the bag was lifted off of the Wanheda. She watched as Clarke was trying to focus. Lexa could no longer sit still and sat up as she saw the cuts on the face of the woman before her. A twinge of anger burned through her as she approached them. "My orders were clear that she was not supposed to be harmed!" She spat the words at Roan. He glanced at the girl on her knees next to him before he faced the Commander again, "She didn't come easy." He wasn't going to be intimated by the Heda. He was sure if he had a one on one combat with her it would be him in that throne. Lexa gained control of her emotions, "I'd imagine not." Roan asked for the deal the two had made prior to his capture of the blonde.

Lexa was finally able to tear her eyes off of the beauty before her. "We had a deal until the Ice Nation started to make a move against my orders, against me." It was true, she did unite the 12 clans, but the Ice Nation was the one clan that turned out to be the most difficult. The one clan she always had her eye on knowing Nia wanted to overthrow Lexa. To do so she needed a NightBlood this let the Commander know she had one. For Nia to be as bold as to make a move against her meant someone must be close to her that can be the new leader.

The Prince of Azgeda stood his ground, "That was not me. I had nothing to do with it." It didn't surprise him the young leader would go back on her word. He was no fool and would be quickly creating a backup plan while the Commander barked her orders for him to be placed in a cell. Right then he started planning how he would kill the Heda.

It wasn't until everyone left the room that Lexa had her guards bring Clarke to her feet. She apologized as she took the gag out of Clarke's mouth. She knew whatever the Wanheda was going to say wasn't going to be good. She was watching Clarke's eyes from the moment she was dragged into her chamber. She saw the look of shock at seeing the brunette in front of her again. How it was replaced in an instant with anger. She prepared for the worse and it's exactly what she got as the spit hit her face. The once SkyCrew's Leader words stung as she was being taken out of the room. Screaming how she hated the Commander and wanted to kill her. Lexa was prepared for this but it didn't make it any less painful. This one woman was the only person that could hurt her. She couldn't be in love again. She promised herself long ago not to allow such a weakness into her heart one more time. Her people were her priority not her own longing and desires. For now she would wait to see Clarke. Give her time to accept that Lexa was back in her life. Whether the blonde wanted it or not they were going to have to work together. The Ice Nation was a large Clan in itself. It would take her and the SkyCrew uniting to win the war that was brewing.

1 WEEK LATER

Since Clarke arrived at Polis she had her put into her own bedroom. No one went in there except to bring food. Lexa was busy having meetings with her clan, Abbey and Kane. She let them know Clarke was safe but feral. That the 3 months she spent on her own changed her. Knowing the concern Abbey had for her daughter she assured her that she would let them unite after a week. Lexa was used to making tough decisions she didn't need time to recover but this was new for Clarke. She waited till the next morning to see the blonde again. When she walked into the blonde's room her breathe caught in her throat as she watched Clarke. The Wanheda slowly turned to face the brunette in front of her. Lexa couldn't help but think how beautiful she was. Her blonde hair falling around her face, those brilliant blue eyes, and her sexy body that she couldn't help but undress with her eyes. She needed to focus and it was Clarke's voice that brought her back to their harsh reality.

"What part of I never wanted to see you again was unclear?" The words were as flat as they sounded. She had nothing to say to the Commander. Clarke had no intentions of ever being in her presence again. Thinking of how she fought with her own people to trust Lexa. How she went on a limb for this woman having faith in her that she never should have had.

It was like a thousand bee stings but Lexa pushed through her words, "We have bigger concerns than you and I." As much as she wanted this conversation to be here and now the Ice Nation was nearing Polis. It would take priority for now.

Wanheda only looked amused at this, "We don't have any concerns at all." She hoped there was a dilemma brewing for the Grounder Leader. Maybe she would know how she felt 3 months ago when her people had problems. Instead Lexa quickly deserted them leaving those issues for Clarke to deal with alone.

Choosing to ignore this Lexa pressed on. "I'm hosting a summit with SkyCrew at sundown. You will be reunited with your people." Heda continued ignoring blonde's mundane voice. Now was not the time to get into an emotional battle. She wouldn't allow herself. It was hard to get around it as the blonde kept playing on her emotions, like she normally did.

Now the old SkyCrew Leader was slightly entertained, "All this trouble to capture me just to let me go." She couldn't understand what game Lexa was playing at. She wanted to hate her. She wanted to kill her but seeing her standing there in front of her again. It was a struggle of internal conflict. She wanted to loathe her but could she?

This was an easier answer for Heda, "I went through all this trouble to save you." After everything the two went through she thought Clarke should've known this.

Clarke didn't want to believe that. She didn't want to feel like Lexa cared. It brought the anger inside her to the surface. "You know when I could've used saving, when you ABANDONED ME at Mt. Weather." She emphasized those words in particular.

It was something she didn't think she needed to clarify but for now she would play along. "Clearly you didn't need my help." Clarke survived like she knew she would. She made the choice that leaders have to make. There was no leader that had all simple chooses laid out before them. No leader that could say every move they made was an easy one free of guilt.

This fueled the fire burning inside Clarke, the Commander still not taking responsibility for what could have been. She easily could have died and instead had to make the worst decision she ever made; one that has plagued her since. "Clearly," was all she could say before she turned away from the brunette. She didn't want to even look at her anymore. She was still angry at Lexa but she was angrier at herself for not hating the woman standing there. It was easier to despise her without seeing her. Out of sight out of mind, turned out it was utterly true.

The Commander watched her body language as she spoke. She knew that she was saying these words but not completely meaning everything behind them. She perfected reading through the lines. "It's easier to hate me than to hate yourself." This was something Lexa would accept for now.

Clarke didn't hesitate to respond, "Ohhh, I can do both." That's what she wanted. She knew she would never forgive herself. For allowing harm come to those who tried to help. For destroying Jasper, but it was Lexa who ruined her, a position she wouldn't have been in if this woman truly cared.

The Commander needed to come at this from a different angle. Shed some more light on the topic so Wanheda could see it from her perspective. "What would you have done if their leader offered you the deal? Save your people at the price of mine? What if they would allow those who betrayed them to leave with SkyCrew? What would you do then Clarke?"

"I don't betray my friends." It was an easy answer for Clarke. "I wouldn't have done it to you." She got closer to her as she said this. Letting her know it wasn't just about SkyCrew and the Grounders. It was also about them. Was Lexa just a friend? Before Mt. Weather she started to feel something towards the Grounder Leader. That kiss was on her mind right up till when she ripped her heart out. Before that she thought maybe, when she was ready, there was a future for the two. It was abruptly ended by one stupid move.

Lexa listened to her words; her last statement hit her hard. Side stepping that last comment she focused on the first thing the blonde said, "But you did. You had friends in Mt. Weather." She needed Clarke to see that they weren't different. They are both leaders and did what they had to in order to save their people. These are the decisions they didn't want to make but their hand was forced. For some reason the thought of the blonde hating her was bothering her much more then she'd like to admit.

Clarke couldn't believe that she was comparing the two. How dare her. "Those deaths are on you too." She wanted to make sure Lexa knew that. Not that it would matter but she made sure to say it anway. "The difference is you had no honor and I had no choice." In her eyes they couldn't be more different. Noticing how Lexa ignored her last comment wounded her.

As much as Lexa wanted to continue this conversation to let Clarke know it is not that opposite, it was going nowhere. "It helps no one to dwell on the past and that's not why I'm here. You're right I'm not just letting you go back to your people, I want something more. I want your people to become my people. I'm offering SkyCrew the chance to join my coalition, become the 13th clan. No one would dare move against you because that would be moving against me." Now was the time that they needed to join forces, one the Ice Nation would hesitate to attack. The main issue was worry that some of the other clans would join Nia. If that happened the possibilities were endless. This is why it was imperative for SkyCrew to become part of her coalition. "I need you to bow to me."

The anger dissipated inside the blonde. Her laughter couldn't be contained. This didn't even slightly shock her. Here they were toe to toe arguing and Lexa tells her to bow to her. To literally get on her knees and pledge allegiance to the Grounder Leader, the same one who couldn't even stay and help her. "I would never bow to you." That's when realization hit her, "I made you look bad with Mt. Weather. You want the power of Wanheda then kill me because it's the only way you are getting it." It sickened her it came to this. Three months ago this was not how she pictured the two of them to be. Yet here they were.

For now Lexa wasn't going to push anymore. "Think about it Clarke, it is protection for both our people." With those words she exited the room.

An hour later Clarke was outside on her balcony thinking over the entire conversation the two had earlier. This wasn't the closure she wanted but she still desperately needed. There was truth in the Commander's comments. If the Ice Nation joined with other clans it could have devastating effects on the SkyPeople. Most of the Grounders didn't want to accept them and only did so because of Lexa's truce. Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard movement to her side, turning quickly she saw her captor. This day gets better and better.

Roan watched Clarke before approaching her noticing that she was deep in thought. He had no time to waste the coalition would be happening soon. He needed Clarke to help him with this. She was the Commander of Death now was her chance to prove it. "You need to kill her." He wasted no time getting right to it. Time was not on their side. Every minute was hours.

"Kill who," the blonde couldn't be thinking the same person as him. It would be suicide to kill Lexa inside Polis. How would she even escape such a crime?

"You know who."

Clarke sneered; sure have her kill the Commander so it was her life on the line. "You want her dead; do it yourself." She had no time for this. She turned her back to him to go head inside her room. Stopping only when he grabbed her arm, "I cannot get close to her but you can. I will get you out of here. No harm will come to you Clarke." She thought about it but didn't answer. It was enough for the Prince of Azgeda as he placed the dagger in her hands.

The new titled Wanheda debated this and came to the conclusion she would do it. She would kill Lexa. After all in her own way she killed the blonde. Clarke could not live with the consequences of her actions, the ones that the brunette left her to do. She told the guards outside her room she needed to speak to their Heda. She knew it had to be quick before she lost her new found strength.

When Lexa entered the room it didn't take Clarke long. The dagger was pressed hard against her throat. The Commander focused deep into the blonde's eyes. The pain she saw behind them showed her how severely she did wound her. She could no longer deny that she did put Clarke in this position. She thought the decision wouldn't be hard but the evidence before her showed otherwise. "I'm sorry Clarke." If she was going to die here and now she was going to make sure the blonde knew that.

Those words echoed through Clarke as her eyes stayed on the brunette. The eyes of the woman she was starting to care so genuinely for. What she realized in that moment is if that had been done by anyone else it would have hurt her, but done by this particular woman destroyed her. She slid the knife away. The tears that threatened to spill starting streaming down her face. Clarke turned around not wanting to fall apart in front of Lexa.

Those tears! Those tears melted the Commander instantly. "I never meant to do this to you. To destroy you in this way, you are free to go. Your mother is here I will arrange it." She wouldn't stay in this room another second. It was more than the brunette could bare. She needed to be strong and this woman was her weakness. She froze at the door when she heard Clarke tell her she had a better idea.

The ceremony that followed after was pure perfection. Clarke looked stunning in that dress with her Grounder warrior paint. The whole time Lexa stayed completely in control and professional, strong like a leader needed to be. Never taking her eyes off the beauty before her, it was official. The SkyCrew was the 13th clan and there would be repercussions. For tonight she was going to push it out of her mind as there was one last thing she needed to discuss with Clarke privately. After the coalition was over she pulled Clarke outside alone on the balcony with her. She knew they were far from okay but it was a start. "Later we need to talk."

Hours after she went into Clarke's room. She stood before the blonde dropping to her knees. "I swear fealty to you, Clarke cum Skaikru. I vow to treat your needs as my own and your people as my people." It was her turn to bow. Tears filled Clarke's eyes once more at the gesture she never expected from the woman before her. She grabbed her hand pulling her up. There was a lot these two still needed to discuss but Clarke already felt this was a new beginning.

Breaking the tension Lexa knew she had to let her know her immediate plans. "Rest now Wanheda for tomorrow I will introduce you to the Conclave. Your role, with your mother, is vital. I need you both to find a way to make my blood your blood. A war is coming that I cannot predict. My spirit will choose between you or Aden, you will become a NightBlood."

Clarke's jaw dropped at the Commander's words.