There's a little surprise in this chapter guys based on a little bit of show speculation! Enjoy!

Chapter 43

Clarke walked hand in hand with Bellamy into the shop. The men looked up from their tasks, smiling at the couple.

"I think congratulations may be in order", Miller asked as he approached.

"Yep, I finally said yes", Bellamy replied with a wry grin.

Clarke chuckled, swatting his arm playfully as he reached out to shake Miller's hand.

"Congrats Boss, and Mrs. Boss", Miller said grinning.

"Thank you, Miller", Clarke said as she hugged her fiancé's best friend.

She left the two men as they walked towards a sharp looking sports car, shaking her head as she made her way to the office. She stood just inside the doorway, her gaze sweeping the filthy little room. If this was to be her new domain, then she was going to have to spruce it up a bit.

Of course any sprucing would have to wait until after the wedding, she really didn't have the time at the moment. She sat down in the leather chair, bending to pull the account book from the bottom drawer.

She popped up when she heard the door swing open, smiling when John Murphy came forward with a steaming cup of coffee.

"Awww, thanks John", she said smiling as she took the proffered cup.

"Your welcome. I heard from Miller that somebody got engaged", the man smirked.

"You heard correct", Clarke said with a wink as she leaned back in her chair.

"Well, congratulations Boss", Murphy said before turning to go.

Clarke sat up, quickly placing her coffee on the desk before calling out to the redheaded man.

"Murphy, wait. I just wanted to thank you for all of your help. If it weren't for all of you, Bell and I probably wouldn't even be here. You're all invited to the wedding, and I expect to see you there John", she finished with a warm smile.

She watched as the man shifted nervously from foot to foot, his eyes downcast. When he looked up, his smile was genuine and his eyes shone with friendly affection.

"Thanks Boss."

"Technically I'm not the boss anymore", Clarke said, her smile never faltering.

"You'll always be the boss, Clarke, even the Rebel King knows that", Murphy said before turning to go.

Clarke stared after him before sitting down with a shake of her head. She sipped her coffee, a thoughtful smile curving her lips.

John Murphy walked back out onto the shop floor, warmth blooming in his chest. Clarke Griffin was the first person to see him as anything but a good for nothing nobody. She treated him like a human being, and he would always feel indebted by her kindness.

He moved back to the car he'd been working on, bending to pick up a wrench. Just as he was about to pop the hood, someone walked into the Silver Fox. Ever since the Rebel's Princess had been working at the shop, he and the other guys had grown more wary of abrupt visitors.

Murphy turned quickly, wrench still in hand, to find DA Kane standing awkwardly in the large shop opening. He watched the man as he came towards him, his hand shoved in his pockets and a panicky expression on his face.

"Anything I can help you with", John asked, wiping his hands on the grease rag he'd pulled from his pocket.

"Uh, I'm looking for…", the man said, stopping suddenly his eyes darting to the ceiling.

"Boss is in the office and the Rebel's got his head stuck under the hood of a Camaro", Murphy offered.

"Uh, thanks. I'll…", Kane said gesturing to the office.

"I'll tell her you're here", John said, the man's nervous jittering making him uneasy.

He led the way to the office, Kane close on his heels. He knocked, waiting until he heard her, "Yeah? It's open!", before sticking his head in the door.

"Kane's here."

"Ok, show him in", Clarke said with a nod of her head.

She watched as Kane entered, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. She gestured to one of the chairs, taking her own seat as he took one across from her.

"Thanks, John, I can handle it from here", the blonde said with a gracious smile.

Clarke caught Murphy's nod as he made his way from the office, closing the door with a quiet click behind him. She turned back to Kane, taking in the man's panicky movements with a curious frown.

"Is there something I can do for you District Attorney", she asked, leaning forward, her forearms resting on the scarred wood surface of the desk.

"Uh, I have something I need to say, but I'm not sure how", he said, his voice shaking slightly.

Fear squeezed Clarke's heart, "Is it about Ferrerra or Cage? Has something happened?"

Kane quickly recovered, "Oh no, nothing like that! This is something I should have told him long ago, but I didn't know how."

"Told who what", Clarke asked in confusion.

"Bellamy", the DA sighed.

Clarke gulped, clasping her hands together tightly before nodding for him to continue.

"I was young and foolish. I married Aurora Blake fresh out of college. She was beautiful; dark curls just like Bellamy's and dark eyes I could drown in. When Bellamy was born I was ecstatic, I was a young lawyer and doing well. However, I was soon convinced by a mentor that my family would only pull me down. I left them when Bellamy was a little over two, and before Octavia was born. I didn't even know about her, Aurora didn't tell me. I kept up with my son, trying to help in any way that I could. When his mother died I made sure that they could stay together and that they wouldn't get tossed into the system. I could have come forward then, but I was a coward. Seeing him, spending time with him, has made me realize that I don't want to miss another moment in my children's lives", Kane finished, his head hung in shame.

Clarke blinked rapidly, her mind wandering to how Bellamy would react.

"Why tell me", she asked.

"You love him, and know him best. I was hoping you could help me find the best way to tell him."

"Kane, there is no right way to tell him. Bell is all about family and when he realizes what you've done he's not going to be happy. However, his anger flares hot and vengeful, but it cools quickly. I'll help you, but I'm not doing this for you- I'm doing this for him because he deserves to know."

Clarke rose from her seat, "I'll go get him. You just stay there."

She made her way to the back of the shop, not able to contain her smile when she saw Bellamy leaning into the cavernous expanse of a Camaro. His shirt had been discarded in favor of a black tank. She cleared her throat, her smile widening when he looked up.

His black curls stuck out in all directions, and a smudge of grease rested above one of his dark eyebrows.

"Something funny, Princess", he asked gruffly as he closed the hood, turning to lean against the front of the car.

She rolled her eyes, he knew the affect he had on her and he was trying to goad a blush out of her. Two could play at that game.

Clarke walked up to him slowly, her eyes flicking from his lips to his brown eyes. She tilted her head as she invaded his personal space, one finger trailing down his shirtfront and coming to stop in the middle of his chest.

"Not a thing, Blake", she said saucily.

A little grin curved her lips as his eyes darkened, and then he was kissing her. Warmth spread through her body as his arms came around her. He smelled of grease and cologne, smelled of home.

She smiled against his lips, her hands moving to tangle in his curls. They were damp with sweat and silky soft. Oh how she loved this man!

Suddenly a throat cleared. Clarke felt a growl rumble in Bellamy's chest at the interruption, and a chuckle echoed in her throat. He pulled back, resting his forehead against her own.

The look he gave her made her feel beautiful and cherished. She could see every emotion, his passion, desire, and love. Emotions she was sure were reflected in her own eyes.

"What do you want, Miller", Bellamy asked, his voice hoarse.

"Uh, Kane's in the office. Says he needs to talk to both of you."

"Oh crap", Clarke exclaimed, "I'd forgotten about that."

She grabbed Bellamy's hand, trying to prepare herself for the emotional eruption that was about to occur. She led him back to the office, hoping that he would understand.

She could still remember a conversation they'd had long ago, his words filled with pain echoing in her mind.

Clarke sat on the couch, her sketchbook laying open in her lap and her father's face staring back at her. She sighed, a tear cascading down her cheek, dripping off her chin, and staining the paper.

She felt a presence beside her, but didn't bother to look up. She could feel him, the warmth from his body seeping into her side. A little sob escaped, constricting her throat as she buried her face in his shoulder.

"Sometimes I wish I'd never known him, then maybe this would be easier."

Clarke felt his quick intake of breath, the way it hitched in his chest. Then one of his hands tilted her chin, bringing her gaze up to meet his own.

"Believe me, you don't wish that Princess", he said, his eyes filled with quiet despair.

Clarke sighed, "I'm sorry, Bell. That was wrong. I know it's been hard on you never knowing your father."

"Never knowing him isn't the hard part. It's wondering if I was the reason he left. Maybe he didn't want me, and if I had never come along then my mother could have lived a long happy life with the man she loved instead of dying alone and shamed."

Clarke framed his face with her hands, her pale skin standing out in bright contrast against his bronze complexion.

"Listen to me, Bellamy Blake. Anyone who doesn't want you, doesn't deserve you. For as long as I have known you, you have been the most amazing person. Never blame yourself for your father's selfish actions", she finished quietly.

She could see the uncertainty in his dark eyes, and the sight caused her heart to melt. She hated the man that'd done this to him, made him doubt his worth- made him feel guilty for his mother's downfall.

Bellamy sighed, his hot breath drifting over her face and ruffling the tiny curls that fell across her forehead.

"I always felt guilty because I wasn't enough. I couldn't pull her out of that abyss, that dark cavern he left her in. I tried to be a good son, tried to help her in any way I could", he said brokenly.

Clarke caressed his cheek, pain welling in her chest at his declaration.

"Bell, your mother made her own choices. It was her decision to turn to drugs and alcohol instead of seeing the two amazing little blessings that man left her with. She was the one who had it all, she just couldn't see past her pain."

Clarke swiped at one lone tear that fell down his cheek, brushing it away gently with a soft smile. She wrapped him in a fierce hug, pulling him close and vowing to never let him go- to never make him doubt what he meant to her.

"Thank you, Princess", he whispered against her neck.

"Any time, Bell", she murmured.

Clarke followed Bellamy into the office, ready to help him pick up the pieces. Whatever Kane's admission brought, she would be there to hold the man she loved- to let him know that he meant more to her than anyone else she'd ever known, and that one man's selfishness would never change that.

Thanks for reading! Please review! They help keep this girl going! :)