Thanks for all of the reviews, follows, and faves! You guys are AWESOME! :)
Chapter 42
Bellamy stared at Clarke over his coffee cup, her hair was knotted atop her head- small tendrils framing her face. She wore a pair of yoga pants with one of his shop sweatshirts. This look was his favorite because this was what he'd seen every morning for the past five years.
Seeing her relaxed, her fork dangling from her fingers as she laughed at something Octavia said, felt like home. She was his home, so these warm, fuzzy feelings shouldn't have surprised him.
Just then his stare captured her azure gaze, her eyes roving over his features in a tender caress as a smile curved her lips.
"See something you like, Blake", she asked, her voice velvety smooth.
Bellamy coughed, choking on his coffee. The sound of her laughter filled the room, washing over him in waves of delight.
"There's always been something I liked about you, Princess", he smirked, his voice rough from his coughing fit.
He watched as a satisfying blush worked its way up her neck to settle on her cheeks. She smiled, her eyes dancing back to his face before skittering away again. She rose from her place, taking her empty plate in hand before moving to take his own.
As she reached around him, leaning forward, her lips grazing a spot just below his ear as she whispered. "Not so bad yourself, Blake", before pecking him on the cheek and sauntering to the sink.
He grinned, his humor not squelched by the amused glances his sister was shooting his way. Then he heard a crash followed by a gasp from the blonde where she stood at the kitchen sink. He jumped up, and quickly made his way to her side maneuvering expertly around the broken glass.
When Bellamy reached her, the first thing he noticed was the paper towel wrapped around her finger blooming with red.
"Here, let me see", he said reaching for her injured appendage.
She gave it willingly, hissing as he pulled back the napkin. He winced at the oozing slash on her index finger, his eyes flicking from the injury to her pain filled blue orbs.
"Here, sweetheart, come sit down and I'll take care of that", he said softly as he led her back to one of the empty kitchen chairs.
Bellamy gathered the needed supplies from the medicine cabinet, and then made his way back to where she sat. He bent over her finger, gently dabbing away the blood before pouring rubbing alcohol over the oozing cut.
At Clarke's quick intake of breath, he readily apologized. "I'm sorry, Princess, I know that stuff hurts."
She simply placed a hand on his shoulder, her thumb running back and forth across the fabric as she nodded for him to continue.
He put some antibiotic ointment over the cut, and then wrapped it with a Band-Aid. After he'd finished, he placed a tender kiss over the bandaged finger bringing a smile to the blonde's lips.
Lincoln's voice then echoed out in the quiet room, "If you think Clarke's bad, you should've seen the Boss when…"
Bellamy sat at his desk, Miller before him as they discussed the upcoming Grounder meeting.
"I'll take you, Lincoln, Wick, and Mur…", Bellamy said, his words cut off when a commotion sounded from the shop.
Both men got up, running out to find a man holding a knife to Clarke's throat. Bellamy's world slowed, everything happening in slow motion and the man's voice sounding as if it came from miles away.
His vision narrowed until all he saw was Clarke, her eyes shining with terror and her breath hitching as the knife dug deeper into her skin. A small trickle of blood leaked from the tiny cut, running down her throat and staining her shirt.
Bellamy felt his muscles tense, and his hands fisted at his side.
"Let. Her. Go", he growled.
The man chuckled darkly, "I've finally got leverage against the great Rebel! I'm not letting her go until I get what I want."
"Then speak", Bellamy ordered.
"I want you to forfeit your life for hers", the man said, his eyes wild and bright with lunacy.
"No, Bell, don't do it", Clarke cried.
The man tightened his hold painfully around her ribs, causing her to wheeze as her lungs fought to expand.
"Fine, I'll do it. Now, let her go", Bellamy said, his features dark and angry.
"No, please", the blonde said, tears streaming down her cheeks, "Bell, O needs you, I need you", she sobbed.
"Well, I can't stand here and watch you die, Princess, because I need you too", the Rebel replied, his voice crackling with emotion and his angry gaze settling on his enemy.
"Bellamy, look at me", Clarke whispered, continuing when his dark brown eyes were faceted on her face, "I won't let you do this. I love you, Bell."
Then before he could move, she brought the heel of her boot down on her captor's instep. The man howled in pain, the knife falling enough that she could throw her head back- a crack sounding as her skull came in contact with his nose.
The man stumbled back, and Bellamy rushed forward. He grabbed Clarke, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Take him", he yelled, his voice filled with cold rage.
He watched as Lincoln rushed forward, taking hold of the man. "What do you want me to do with him, Boss?"
"Have Murphy drop him off at the police station. Stick something on him, drugs or something stolen, I don't care just make sure they have just cause to lock him up and throw away the key", Bellamy growled.
The Rebel turned back to the woman in his arms, her body quivering and her tears falling earnestly against his neck. He led her into his office, sitting her down in his chair as he knelt before her.
He grabbed the med kit, dabbing a cotton swap with alcohol and gently cleaning the small cut on her neck. After he was sure it was cleaned properly, he held a piece of gauze against the wound to stem the bleeding.
Bellamy looked up to find Clarke's gaze on his face, her eyes identical pools of remorse.
"I'm sorry", she whispered, "I hadn't seen you in a few days since you've been away on shop business. I missed you, so I decided to come to the shop. He grabbed me after I got out of my car, said he would finally take his revenge on the Rebel."
Bellamy took her face in his hands, his thumbs tenderly wiping away her tears.
"Shh, none of this was your fault. That nut job made his choice, one that I'll see he regrets", he said, his eyes glowing with the remnants of his rage.
Then she was in his arms, her face buried against his neck and her hands fisted in his shirt.
"I couldn't let you do it, Bell", she said shakily, her breath ghosting over his skin.
"I know", he whispered against her hair.
"I wasn't lying Bell, I do need you and I love you so much. You're my best friend and I couldn't imagine my life without you. I was so scared he would kill you, and I wouldn't be able to live if that happened", Clarke said, leaning back to gaze into his eyes.
Bellamy was taken aback at her words. He couldn't believe that she, knowing all of the terrible things he'd done, could love him so strongly.
"I love you too, Princess", he said, once again hugging her to his chest.
"We all thought that your brother would murder the guy with his bare hands. I've never seen anyone so angry, but as soon as Clarke was in his arms it was like rational thought returned. After that, the whole crew understood that Clarke Griffin was off limits unless you wanted to suffer the Rebel's wrath", Lincoln finished.
"Why didn't you two ever tell me about that", Octavia asked, her eyes clouded with anger.
"We couldn't, O. I was afraid of how you would react, and I wanted to keep you out of that part of life", Bellamy said quietly.
"What made Clarke different", Octavia asked, her tone more curious now than angry.
"Those blue eyes are hard to lie to, especially when she can read you like a book. I just found myself telling her, and her expression never changed. She didn't treat me any differently, she just came along side and helped me bear the burden and I love her for it", the Rebel said, placing a tender kiss on Clarke's lips.
"I love you too, Bell", she whispered against his lips.
"Now, if you two will do the dishes, I'll escort my beautiful fiancé to our place of business. We have work to do", Bellamy said, rising and pulling Clarke with him.
"Sure, big brother, we'd be happy to", O smiled as she watched them go.
Bellamy followed Clarke to her bedroom, sprawling out on her bed as she moved about the room gathering up her clothes.
"I'm going to go take a shower, I'll be ready to go in about thirty minutes."
"Alright, I'll be here."
Sure enough, thirty minutes later she was back dressed and ready to go. Her hair fell about her shoulders in golden curls and she was wearing a pretty flower print sundress.
She gave a little twirl, her skirt flaring around her legs. "What do you think" she asked, "Work appropriate?"
Bellamy got up, coming to stand before her with a smile curving his lips. "Very appropriate, and anyone who says differently will answer to me", he said huskily.
"Mmm, I like the sound of that. I'll just start wearing my pjs to the shop then", the little blonde said with a giggle as she wrapped her arms around his waist and stared up into his eyes.
"My Princess can do whatever the heck she wants", he said, resting his forehead against hers.
"Well, all your Princess wants to do right now is marry her Rebel", Clarke said, her eyes dancing with the unmistakable light of true love.
Bellamy chuckled, pulling her close, "Patience, sweetheart, the big day will be here before we know it. Now let's go before I decide to run away with you."
The sound of her laughter, muffled against his chest, warmed his heart. He felt her lips, soft and sweet as she pressed a kiss to his neck.
"Well we wouldn't want to deny O the chance to revel in her status as maid of honor, so I guess we should probably to go to work", she said as she stepped away.
Bellamy watched her walk ahead of him, her blue eyes flashing as she threw a grin over her shoulder. It had taken them so long to come to this point, but now that they were here it was like every piece had fallen into place. He would spend forever with the woman before him, and he intended to cherish every moment.
Thanks for reading! Pleas review! I love hearing from you guys! :)