Thanks for all of the reviews, follows, and faves! You guys are simply marvelous! I hope you'll forgive me for only updating one chapter, but this one is way longer than what I usually do! Enjoy! :)
Chapter 47
Clarke sat on the couch, Bellamy's arm wrapped around her shoulders. They were both intent on the documentary currently running on the History Channel. She could hear Octavia rushing around her room, trying to find the perfect outfit for her first time meeting Kane.
"I wish you'd come, Princess", Bellamy said quietly.
She turned to look up at him, not missing the uncertainty in his dark eyes.
"You will be fine. I'm just a phone call away, and you can vent when you get home. I don't want to overwhelm the man with significant others, Lincoln and I will sit this one out."
The room was silent once again, but Clarke could tell that Bellamy hadn't been appeased by her answer. She wanted to go, wanted to sit and hold his hand through the whole exchange, but this was something he had to do on his own.
"There's a difference", he said suddenly.
"What?"
"There's a difference between you and Lincoln, Clarke. You're family, always have been and always will be. I don't think I can make it through this without you", Bellamy said, his words thick with emotion.
Clarke turned to him then, taking his face in her hands as her thumbs rubbed gently back and forth across his skin.
"You can do this Bellamy Blake because I have faith in you. It's only for a little while, and after the first initial meeting then we can have family dinners. However, for this I want it to just be the three of you. You need to just get this over with, and it will get easier from here."
She felt him nod, a silky black curl falling across his forehead. She brushed it away, placing a kiss where it had once rested.
"I love you", she whispered.
"I love you too, Princess", Bellamy said brushing her lips with his own in a chaste kiss.
"I'm ready…Oh, sorry I didn't mean to interrupt", O said as she came careening into the living room.
Bellamy sighed, his breath ghosting across the blonde's cheeks as his eyes opened. Clarke let him go, feeling his hesitation and unwillingness to get up. So she rose from her seat first, reaching down to help him up.
"What are you going to do", he asked.
"I might run down to the shop for a bit. I need to make a few calls about wedding stuff, and I can concentrate better there."
She could see that he was about to object, but she cut him off.
"Not to worry, my love. Miller and Murphy are there so I will be perfectly safe", Clarke said pecking him on the cheek.
She watched them go, the longing look Bellamy threw over his shoulder as he walked out the door almost her undoing.
"That man knows exactly how to tug on my heartstrings", she grumbled as she went into her room to change.
After pulling on a pair of jeans and one of Bell's Silver Fox logo tees, Clarke grabbed her keys and drove to the shop. The garage was fairly quiet, only a few guys left tinkering on their own vehicles.
She waved at Miller as she entered, moving to the office and flipping on the light. She sat down in the leather chair, pulling out her wedding to-do list and dialing the florist.
She wrote down the pricing for the floral arrangements she wanted as well as the bouquets. She made her seating chart, booked a DJ, and made a reservation for their venue.
Clarke had decided that she wanted an outdoor wedding, late in the evening. She'd found the perfect location, a old manor on the outskirts of town. The house would serve as a great place for she and Bellamy to get ready and the grounds would be the perfect backdrop for their big day.
She'd met with the caterer only two days ago, and the woman had assured her that the food would be perfect. The blonde wanted a great reception for their family and friends to thank them for all their love and support.
Clarke closed her wedding binder, and slipped it back into her bag. She looked up in enough time to see Murphy come to lean against the doorframe.
"Hey John", she said with a smile.
"Hey Boss, where's the Rebel", Murphy asked with a smirk.
"He is introducing his father to his sister. Bless his heart; this adds so much stress to his already heavy load. I'm happy for him though."
"You getting ready to head home?"
"Yeah, I think so. I've done all the damage I can do here", the blonde answered.
"I'll walk you to your car", Murphy said seriously.
Clarke smiled to herself. Never would she have guessed that day when she threw Bell's knife at John Murphy's head that he would become her certifiable watchdog. The man didn't let anyone into her office without escorting them there himself. He never let her walk to her car alone, and he always had her coffee ready in the mornings just the way she liked it.
As they walked, she turned to the man beside her. "Thanks John", she said quietly.
"For what, Boss", he asked in confusion.
"For being a good friend, and for taking care of me. I know that these little things you do for me take time out of your busy day, and I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate it. Bell does too, that's why we'd like to give you a little promotion. You'll still be working on cars, but my overprotective fiancé doesn't want me dealing with the other shop managers by myself. That's why I'm asking you if you'd be willing to make rounds with me, and help me with shop relations I guess you'd call it", Clarke finished with a smile.
"Sure, Boss, whatever would help you out", Murphy said with a smile.
"Thank you. You'll be getting a raise in pay for your trouble, I don't want any of my men working for free", the blonde said when she finally reached her car.
She reached for the door handle, but Murphy's hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"Clarke", he said hesitantly.
"Yeah, John", she prompted, watching as a blush bloomed on his cheeks.
"Thanks for trusting me", Murphy said softly, "No one's ever done that before. They don't even know me, and yet they won't give me the time of day. You saw me, knew who I was and what I'd done, but you still put your trust in me. I'll never forget that."
Clarke felt tears gather behind her eyes at his honest declaration. She reached out, and gave his shoulder a light squeeze.
"We all deserve second chances, Murphy, and you made the most of yours. Bell and I will be forever grateful for all of your help and support during the past few months. You're more than just another mechanic, John, you're family."
She watched him nod, wiping at the wet streaks that stained his red face.
"Thanks, Boss. Have a safe drive home", Murphy called as he walked away.
Clarke watched him go, shaking her head with a smile. People were always a surprise, and thankfully John Murphy had been a diamond in the rough. Passed over by so many others until she had decided to give him a chance.
As she drove home, her thoughts turned to Bellamy and she wondered how the dinner with Kane was going. She felt worried anticipation well within her, and wished for her love to be home.
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Bellamy entered the restaurant with Octavia, her nervous energy causing him to become jittery. He wished Clarke would have come, she was his calm and he really needed that at the moment.
However, she had refused, wanting this night to be about he and O. He didn't understand why she couldn't see that this was just as much about her as it was him. She was entangled in every area of his life; there was no corner of his existence that her light hadn't touched.
He looked down at his sister, gauging her reaction as the approached the table where Kane was sitting. He felt her pace slow, and then her hand captured his. He heard her quick intake of breath, and then watched as she held her head high once again moving forward.
Kane stood as the approached, a nervous smile curving his lips.
"Where's Clarke", he asked after they'd all been seated, " I assumed she would be joining us."
"Princess had some wedding planning to do, said she wanted me... err us to do this on our own", Bellamy stammered.
They each picked up a menu, hiding their faces and their thoughts behind the plastic sheathed decorative paper with fancy meals scattered upon each page. The waiter came by a few moments later, and they all ordered.
The table was once again plunged into silence until Octavia spoke.
"Why did you do it", she asked quietly.
Kane looked taken aback for a moment, but recovered quickly to answer, "I was under the mentorship of an older attorney, the former DA. He told me that your mother would only bring me down. She wasn't well connected, and Aurora hated social gatherings. The man convinced me that I would be better on my own, and that your mother would be better off without me. My father wasn't around when I was growing up, and I thought I'd turned out fine, so I saw no reason that you wouldn't as well. It was wrong of me, but I was young and impetuous. I didn't think about the long term consequences of my actions."
"You mean our mother", Octavia spat, "She loved you and you cast her aside like garbage. You left your own children to further your career."
"Octavia, I…"
"No! You don't get to say that you're sorry and then we just become some happy little family. We had to raise ourselves because the woman you left was so broken by your abandonment that she cared nothing for us. She was too lost in her own grief and suffering to give any attention to her children. She drank away our money, never went to one of Bell's football games or any of my dance recitals. You broke her, and we paid the price", Octavia finished harshly.
Bellamy sat there, unable to contradict anything she was saying. His mind had wandered during her speech recalling the worst encounter he'd had with his mother only days before she died.
Bellamy sat at the bottom of the stairs listening as his mother fumbled with the lock on their front door. He could hear her cursing through the wooden door, her words slurred and incoherent.
When she finally got the portal opened, she staggered in her hair mussed and her eyes blurry.
"What're you do'in up", she asked, her tone colored with annoyance.
"Waiting for you, Mom."
"You should be 'sleep."
"I was worried, I wanted to make sure you made it home safely", Bellamy said softly.
"Ha, you're just like him! You don't care about me! I know you count down the days until you get to leave me, leave your sister because you're just like him", she screeched.
"Mom, I'm not going anywhere", the truth of what he'd just said hit him square in the gut, and he couldn't help the thought that he would be stuck with his alcoholic mother forever.
"You're right, you're not going anywhere because you're worthless! Worthless scumbags don't go anywhere."
Bellamy tried to brush off what she'd said, knowing that it was the alcohol talking.
"Come on, Mom. I'll help you upstairs", he said reaching for her arm.
Then out of nowhere, she slapped him hard. One of his hands moved of it's own accord to rest against his stinging cheek, and his eyes widened in shock.
"Don't touch me", his mother garbled as she began to make her way slowly up the stairs before going into her bedroom and slamming the door.
Bellamy stood there, his eyes burning with tears. Was that what she really thought of him? Did his own mother find him worthless?
He ran out to the front porch, sinking down on the front steps. His head dropped into his hands, and he gave a shuddering sigh. He heard footsteps and light laughter, but he didn't raise his head.
Bellamy heard his sister speaking to him, but he didn't raise his head.
"Go inside O, it's past midnight and you have school tomorrow. Be quiet because Mom's asleep."
He heard the echoes of her shoes as she made her way across the porch and into the house. He raised his head then, surprised to see the blonde haired girl standing before him.
"Go away, Princess", he said gruffly.
"No", Clarke answered simply.
"I'm not in the mood, Clarke. Go home!"
"No, not until you tell me what's the matter", the girl said coming closer.
Then she gasped, quickly kneeling before him and taking his face in her hands.
"Did your mother do this to you", she asked softly.
He only nodded, not having the strength to answer.
"What did she say, Bell? What did she tell you?"
Bellamy felt the hurt rush back, and tears began to make glistening trails down his face. He didn't want anyone to know what his mother thought of him, but he found that he needed to see if it was true.
"She said I'm worthless just like my father", he whispered.
Then to his surprise, Clarke wrapped her arms around him pulling him close and rubbing a gentle hand down his spine.
"She's wrong, Bell. You're far from worthless. She's just too blinded by her misery to see it. You've raised yourself and your sister with little help from her. You have worth Bellamy Blake, just ask O or me…", she said trailing off.
"Alright, I'm asking you", he said as he pulled back.
"You are a great football player, you are so smart and you baffle me with all of that historical jargon you're spouting all the time, you're kind and the best big brother, you're a great friend, you're handsome", she finished with a blush.
"So, the Princess thinks I'm handsome, huh", he said regaining some of his swagger.
He grinned when she rolled her eyes, but those same blue orbs stole his breath when her gaze found his own.
"Yes I do, but don't let it go to your head."
They went inside, spending the rest of the night on the couch with a tub of ice cream between them. The next morning she was there to pull him together after he once again had to deal with his mother.
Aurora Blake may have given him life, but it was Clarke Griffin who helped him live. She'd been there through everything, sitting right beside him with a comforting hand and quick wit.
He was pulled from his thoughts when the food arrived, and found that the rest of the meal went surprisingly well. Undoubtedly his sister had spoken her peace, and was ready to move on.
Conversation was light, and Bellamy tried to participate but all he could think about was seeing Clarke. He made it through dessert, quiet as ever, when Octavia spoke.
"Well, I think I'd better get big brother here home to his woman. I think he's going through withdrawals", she said with a smirk.
Bellamy looked up, finding two pairs of eyes staring at him.
"I'm sorry", he said with a smirk, "But what can I say, I love her and being apart from her for even a short time is torture."
"Tell her I said hello, and I look forward to trying her amazing lasagna", Kane said as the parted ways.
Bellamy smiled, assuring the older man that he would do just that before quickly making his way to his truck.
"You've got it bad, Bell", O chortled as he revved the engine.
"I've had it bad since I was sixteen, O. Get with the program."
He drove back to her apartment, his fingers tapping on the steering wheel in agitation at every red light. His heart grew lighter when they finally came to a stop, and he was allowed to jump out- practically sprinting to the building entrance.
Bellamy and Octavia entered the apartment to find music blaring and a certain blonde dancing terribly as she vacuumed the rug in the living room. She turned when she heard the door close, turning off the machine and running into his open arms.
"Ahhh, I missed you", she said hugging him tightly.
"He missed you too", O said wryly.
"Kane says hello, and that he can't wait to try some of your lasagna", Bellamy smiled.
"That was sweet", the blonde replied as she led him to the couch.
After Bellamy was settled beside her, the heat from her body warming his side, he finally began to relax.
"So, how'd it go", Clarke asked the room at large.
Octavia started in, telling all about the way she'd exploded at first but then really enjoyed the rest of the evening with her father.
"He's really nice, and I'm glad I went", the girl finished with a smile.
"What about you, babe?"
Bellamy was too busy toying with the blonde curls that fanned against his chest to hear or care about the conversation going on around him. He looked up, and for the second time that night found that he'd spaced out.
"What", he asked sheepishly, "I wasn't listening."
"That's been the reoccurring theme throughout the evening", Octavia said dryly.
Clarke simply smiled, rubbing his knee, "It's ok, I know you enjoyed yourself even if you stayed in your own little world."
"I missed you, Princess. Maybe I would have been able to pay attention if you'd been there."
"Ha! Like you were paying attention for the last five minutes", O smirked.
"I missed you too, and just so you know you occupy quite a few of my thoughts too Mr. Blake", the blonde said as she kissed him on the jaw.
"Oh, Princess, what would I ever do without you", Bellamy said seriously, pulling her closer.
"The same thing I'd do, searching endlessly for you. "
"You two are so lovey dovey, I'm going to bed", Octavia said with mock disgust.
"I'd better head that way too, O and I have a very big day tomorrow", Clarke said.
Before Bellamy could answer, his sister squealed and jumped for joy.
"Yes! Finally", O yipped before running to her room.
"What was that all about", Bellamy asked in confusion.
"Dress shopping", the blonde answered with dread.
"Can I come", he asked hopefully.
Before his fiancé could answer, Octavia yelled from her room.
"No, you may not!"
"I guess that answers that question", Clarke said with a grin.
"How about we have dinner tomorrow night then, just the two of us and go to that art museum Lincoln was telling us about."
"Sounds marvelous", Clarke said before going up on tiptoe to kiss him.
He wrapped his arms around her, enjoying the way she fit perfectly against him. Soon, he pulled away, resting his forehead against hers.
"You are the best thing that's ever happened to me", he whispered.
"Dido", she replied with a wink.
Thanks for reading! Please leave a review if you got a second to spare! I love hearing from you guys! :)
Martha: Thanks for the review! I'm so glad you enjoyed the flashback, and I love that I could make smile! I can't wait to hear what you thought about the latest chapter! :)
Wright: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed the last update! More Octavia/Clarke interactions are on the way! As well as the bachelor and bachelorette parties! I'll throw in some Bellamy/Miller moments too because I really like their friendship as well! Thanks for the support, and I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the most recent update! :)
To all of my other guest reviewers! Thank you so much for taking the time to review! It really means a lot! :)