AN: I am so pleased with the views and reviews from you guys! thanks!
Also, I don't own The 100. Still. Onward with the story! R&R!
The rest of the walk back to Camp Jaha is done in a comfortable silence. The anxiety of the group is nearly tangible in the air. We are anxious to return, possibly me more than anyone else.
The familiar clearing is coming into view. There are shouts from guards to open the gates and other indistinguishable things. My heart beats faster. I grip Bellamy's hand a little tighter. He squeezes back in response.
"It's all going to be alright Clarke. They won't so much as look at you the wrong way with me around. Okay?" He states, looking directly into my eyes with an expression of strength and sternness, matching his voice. I only nod to him.
The front of our lines makes it through the gate, and with that, the reunions start. Lincoln and Octavia receive each other with a tight embrace, and some words. Wick picks up Raven Bridal style, and they kiss passionately, making me look to the ground in respect for their moment.
The crowd in front of us disperses as people go back to their tents to settle, and Octavia is weaving through the remaining people, searching for her Brother. We have stayed rooted just inside the entrance. She doesn't see us, and she is getting worried.
"Bellamy! Bell! Where are you? Bellamy?" She shouts, still making her way through. He clears his throat.
"Right here, O. I can see you." Is all he says, but she doesn't need anymore to find him. And me.
"Cl- Clarke?" She asks, and I nod to her question.
"It's me."
"How long before you crush him again?! How long before-" she is cut off
" Stop it O." He commands in a tone that is not to be refused. She is quiet for a little, then she goes on.
"I'm glad you're back, Bell. Really I am. But she doesn't know-"
"She does. I told her everything." He says his voice cracking. I look to him, silently asking if he will be okay, and when he nods, I let go.
The Chancellor has finally emerged from the med bay, scanning for something. Someone. She sees me, and her eyes go wide. She drops the item I cannot distinguish with the distance from her hand and runs to me, as if I am a mirage and will disappear. I meet her half way and we hug quietly. She pulls away to look at me.
"You look well. How-?"
"I was already at Mount Weather, digging graves and burying the dead. I had the same idea. They needed a proper burial. I am not leaving again. My people need me." I say, anticipating her questions. I put my hand on her shoulder.
"Good. I've missed you, Clarke." She says curtly. Raven has been set down by Wick, and is making her way to me. She stops a few feet from where my mother and I are, unsure of whether she should interrupt. I wave her closer, and she comes really close, before enveloping me in a fierce hug.
"Hey stranger. I've missed you. Are you gonna stick around this time? We...need you Clarke." She says, looking over my shoulder. I look in the same direction, where Bellamy stands, arms crossed over his chest as he leans against a wall to a cabin. Raven speaks again, more quietly. At some point, my mother must have went back to her work in the med bay, because I couldn't see her over Raven's shoulder.
"He was a real basket case Clarke. Couldn't do anything without being told. Worked ceaselessly and I don't know when he slept, Clarke." She shakes her head and pulls away from the hug.
"Have you two finally gotten your shit together? Because frankly I'm tired of watching the sexual tension and angst build to near explosion already." She says, wiggling her eyebrows at the end. (Oh Raven, always saying exactly what the fandom wants to hear).
"Raven!" I say my embarrassment showing not only in my cheeks, but in the sharp tone of my voice, which only makes it worse. I straighten myself and clear my throat.
"Yes. We admitted our feelings. And we're together now. We don't care who knows, but we aren't telling people outright. But we are moving slowly. Things are so different now. I don't feel pressured to sleep with him. We do what we want, when we want. It's comfortable." I whisper to her, barely audible at the end. I realize then how much I have missed her company, and being able to confide in her. Finn. She never could have forgiven me for that so quickly. But yet, she seems to have forgiven me completely. I speak my mind.
"How did you-?"
"What? Forgive you? It was easy when you walked away and I didn't know if I would see you again, so I forgave you. Seeing you again didn't bring the hate back. I was afraid it would. But it made me forgive you more openly." She pulls me into another hug.
"Don't be a stranger, okay? Wick and I have a cabin with the others." She nods over to the direction of a small group of cabins and tents, distinctly separate from the rest of camp.
Kane is outside now, making his way over. Raven says something about going back to work, and Bellamy is at my side.
"Clarke. I'm glad you made it back to us. Your skills and knowledge were sorely missed. Your mother was worried for you." He says warmly, taking my hand.
"Thank you. I need to set some things set up right away though. Our peace with the grounders needs to be absolutely secure so we can have aide for the winter." He nods swiftly in agreement, but his eyes portray some soft sadness.
"Chancellor Griffin just doesn't see the importance of sending men to the grounders when we need them here, building shelters. I barely convinced her to let this team go out." He said with a sad note to his voice.
"Preparations for winter will be for nothing if we don't have supplies we need to survive whatever weather this earth has in store for us! Let alone enough food." I am shaking with the fire that boils my blood.
" I know. She just won't even consider it an option until more shelters are finished." Kane states with a huff of frustration.
" Then I will have to make her see reason." I say firmly, squaring my shoulders. Bellamy speaks for the first time since coming over.
"It's almost supper time. She won't talk business after that unless she considers it an emergency. No point in trying until tomorrow." He grumbles in my direction beside him. Kane nods slowly at this, and walks away. Bellamy and I stand there, looking at each other for a bit.
"I'm so happy that you're here Clarke. You're actually here. I- never thought I would see you here again, if at all." He cups my face with one hand, making me look into his brown orbs, the other hand has traveled to me waist, and it holds me close to him. I close the inches between our lips by stepping up onto my tip-toes, and I mirror his shape with my own hands. I take one half of his face in a hand, and hold a hip with the other. Butterflies fill my stomach when he deepens the kiss ever so slightly, his tongue seeking entrance to my mouth. I grant him his wish, and my tongue also ventures into his mouth, feeling the heat there. We pull away from our gentle exploration when we are rabid for breath, and go toward the mess station for food that Bellamy says he usually eats with the other Delinquents. The butterflies were still fluttering the whole way to the mess.