AN: Sorry for the delay! The computer was down for a week. Anyway, here it is!

The light is flickering all over her. From her golden tresses to her weathered boots. She looks like a goddess. I want to drop to my knees and worship every inch of this woman.

She's smiling, openly and fully, the warmth from the fire radiating out of her. We are sitting around the fire pit near the delinquents little ring of shelters, not caring to socialize with the Arkers. I have a cup of moonshine in one hand, and Clarke's hand in the other. The others are telling her the funny things that she missed, Jasper and Monty dramatizing them for her. Everyone is having a good time, laughing at the stories they tell. Raven and Wick tell stories about mishaps in their workshop, and Monty shares tales of near out-right explosions in his lab. I didn't even know about any of these things even transpiring. Damn. She really does have me all wrapped around her little finger.
We chat it up well into the night. after awhile, some of the others have excused themselves for the night. Clarke gets up, and having nothing with her but the pack of medical supplies from Mount Weather, after dispersing which she didn't have anything to stow away, so she never asked where she would be staying.
"Where do I sleep?" She asks as everyone else is about to disperse.
" Ask Bell." Raven pipes up, smirking as she looks between us. At that, the rest of the group leaves us.
"Bellamy?" She questions. I take her hand, and smile.
"Let me show you your castle, princess." She looks confused, but comes with me.

We make our way to the cabin I feverishly built for her while she was gone. I had even put a few things in there for her. We stop at the door.
"All yours, Clarke." I say, gesturing to the door.
"Why would someone -make this- for me?" She steamers, approaching the wooden entry.
"I made it for you. I don't know what possessed me to make it, but it's all done. It was the first one to be finished." I say, a little embarrassed by how I worked tirelessly. All for a girl I didn't know if I would ever see again.
" I can't sleep here alone. I need to share this. Or give it to someone else who needs it..." She says hollowly. I sigh.
" Alright. Let me get some clothes from my tent. I'll be right back. Can you manage lighting a lantern or something for light while I am gone?" I say quickly, only thinking of making her comfortable. She nods.

I grab my things with ease ( because I really don't have all that much, but then again, who does?) and make my way over to the cabin. I knock, for whatever reason, and she tells me to come in. The room is lit softly with a single lantern. She is sitting in the chair by the table, her back to me, combing through her hair with her fingers.
"Thanks for staying with me." She says quietly.
"Anytime, princess." I say softly as she turns toward me, and my breath gets caught in my throat. She is wearing the bare minimum, a tank top and some shorts, and I curse my awkward erection. I haven't had this happen to me in such a long time. So many years, and something as simple as this leaves me with no control. Her skin is a pale gold in this light, and her hair is actually down,not even braided, the curls and waves flowing down her shoulders and back. She is achingly beautiful, and I want her more than I have ever wanted any woman before. I don't want to conquer her like the others, I want to appreciate every inch of her. That would take a lifetime I think to myself as I lick my parted lips. Damn it.
I am just standing here, with a fully visible erection, in front of her, and what's worse? I'm just staring at her with a look of awe on my face...way to look pathetic. I back away, hitting the door with my back.
"I should go... You shouldn't see me like this.." I mumble, shaking my head at her.
" Bellamy! No... I... Want you ... to ...come back ...please?" She asks quickly, tripping over the words as they tumble out. She walks over to me slowly, as if I am a scared animal who will run away.
"No. I... Can't control myself... I'll do something stupid. Things like this just don't work out for me...I can never get it right..." I trail off. I feel so stupid for thinking that this could work. She's Clarke. My eyes sting but I am able to hold back the tears. She cups my face in her hands, making me look down to her.

"They haven't really worked out for me either." She says in my ear, giving me chills.
"But I am willing to take the chance with you." She states,leaning up to kiss my cheek. She leans back to look me in the eyes, asking if I am willing to give this the chance it deserves. I nod slowly.
" Alright princess. We can try... But slowly. Okay?" She nods swiftly
"Alright. Let's get to bed then." I nod to the mattress on the floor. She wordlessly goes over to it, and I strip myself of my shirt and pants, quickly thinking of Murphy and other annoying people to get my dick to go slack again. One thought of Murphy's numb-skull attitude and I am free of my body's reaction to her.
I go over to the bed, and I am glad I brought my blanket along. I get in, and she is already fast asleep.

"BELLAMY! Bellamy! Wake up... Please... Please wake up..." She is screaming, and then sobbing as she shakes me awake. She must have had a nightmare. I spring up, and wrap my arms around her.
"Shh... Shh... I'm alright. It's alright, beautiful. You're gonna be okay. " I soothe, massaging circles into her shoulder with one hand, and pull her into my lap with the other. My hand moves from her shoulder to her hair, smoothing it out. Her sobbing subsides in a few minutes and she turns in my lap, now sitting across my lap, and I support her back with my left arm. I stroke her shoulder with my right hand.
Her face is only inches from mine. She snuggles into the crook of my neck, and I hold her close.
"Did you want to talk about it? " I ask her is a small pause before me
"It was so real...You were dead, and the others were dead, and I think I...killed all of you. There were piles of bodies outside... And my hands were covered in other peoples blood...I wasn't sorry. I just walked away... Why would I do that?" She was distant and clearly horrified by her dream. She shook a little in my arms. I held her tighter.
"None of it was real Clarke. You would never do any of those things. I know because you are caring and you do what you must for your people. They always come first for you. You'll never hurt them." As I say the last words, she looks to me, and her eyes are filled with hope and gratitude. I kiss her forehead, because it just feels like the right thing to do. As I pull away, Clarke smiles, and pulls my lips to hers. The kiss is soft, short and perfect.
"Bellamy?" She asks after pulling away, leaning back into her position in the crook of my neck.
"Mmmm... Yes princess?"
"This is nice. Just being in your arms... Makes me feel safe. But you know exactly how to calm me with words.. Thank you." She sighs at the end.
"I had Octavia and her nightmares to chase away. And besides, it just seemed natural to do all this." I murmur to her. She has her arms around my neck and she watches me.

"What time is it? It can't be time to get up yet. Maybe we should go back to sleep." She says suddenly, disentangling herself from me. I hold on to her.
"That doesn't mean we can't stay close, does it? " I ask innocently, pulling us into a laying position, with her cradled to my chest, my arms wrapped around her tightly. She sighs contently. I smile to myself.
"Well, no...but I do intend on actually sleeping Bell." She says with a firmness.
"I wouldn't dream of interrupting your beauty sleep, princess." I give her some sarcasm to lighten the mood. She shakes her head against my chest. Her fingers curl slightly to the curve of my muscles, and her legs entwine with mine, molding to me.
I rub her back with one hand and pull her close with the other. My lips find themselves planting soft kisses to the top of her head...