Once Anya had calmed down a bit she returned to the group. The three girls were deep in a conversation about Lexa, the house and everything that had happened the last year. Clarke was sitting somberly listening to her friends recount every bad decision Lexa made and why she did it, slowly the three different parts of the story were fitting together. What they didn't know was that the story wouldn't end there. Anya overheard Clarke comment on the fact that Lexa, the girl who got her to finally chase her dreams of being an artist never even got to see her first show.
"Clarke, you need to see something. Alone." Anya said while grabbing her hand. She went to the light switches, flipping two switches, one turned on the back patio lights, and the other turned on the lights that lined the path to the boat house. "I'll be right back babe." Anya threw back to Raven.
Anya with Clarke still in tow was nearly dragging the girl to the boat house. In reality, Anya was just really excited for Clarke to see what was ahead of them.
"What did Lexa get me a boat or something? That's something she'd do, grand gestures were always her thing?" Clarke tried to laugh it off, a little uncomfortable with being alone with Anya based on their history.
"You haven't seen grand gesture yet Clarke, just wait." Anya said, hoping she didn't reveal anything. "I mean, minus this whole house."
Once in the boat house Anya flipped a switch turning on the lights. There was in fact a boat, but that isn't what Anya pulled Clarke in here for.
"I knew it, of course... A boat." Clarke said emphatically.
"You really think I'd walk all the way over here for a fucking boat? Come on, we need to go upstairs."
"Listen Anya, I don't think Rae would be very happy about you brining me to another bedroom, I mean, they do call me the sex ad-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence."
"Do I need to close my eyes or something? Is it a puppy? Oh my god, is it a secret lair?"
Clarke's guesses were making Anya chuckle the both of them still slightly tipsy even after the recent sobering conversation.
"Shut up, don't close your eyes, just get up the damn stairs."
Anya let Clarke lead the way, not wanting to hinder her view once at the top of the stairs. Clarke was mumbling obscenities at Anya under her breath for having to climb the spiral stairs in such a state. Once at the top Clarke's mumbling abruptly stopped. She was silent for what seemed like 5 minutes before she finally moved from the top step to the landing of the second story. The room was completely white with a dark black wooden floor. Clarke eyed the space in awe. The room was basically a huge personal gallery. On the left were photographs hanging on the wall, to the right were paintings, probably 10-15 from what Clarke could tell. The part of the room that drew her the most was near the balcony doors. There was a long half wall that separated the space from the viewing area. Clarke moved quickly past the framed photographs and painting surly from some super expensive, high class artist. The floor in the space near the balcony changed from wooden floors to white tile. There was a long table in the middle with paints, canvases, brushes, anything you could think of, there were also pastels and charcoal pencils. Near the doors were 3 large easels with blank canvases on them. To the left of the table was a large stack of various picture frames. Clarke hadn't said a word yet, instead just roamed around the sectioned off room trying to take everything in. To the right she saw a door to what looked to be an added room in the corner of the large space. Clarke moved towards the door opening it to find a dark room full of cameras, lenses, and different chemicals surly for developing photographs. Something finally clicked for Clarke, Lexa had always loved taking pictures in college, but when she opened Woods she never had the time.
"Is she taking pictures again?" Clarke asked.
"Take a look at those pictures you walked past." Was all Anya provided.
Clarke made her way to the beginning of the images all the way at the start of the room near the stairs. She had a thing about seeing exhibits from the entrance point first. The first picture was a simple sunset, but something was familiar about the picture Clarke couldn't put her finger on it.
"Where is this?" Clarke asked Anya hoping she'd know the answer.
"Think Clarke."
"I don't-" suddenly Clarke had a quick flashback to her and Lexa, this is where Lexa asked Clarke to be her girlfriend, that's why is was so familiar, the picture taken from where they sat afterwards. It was clearly taken at the same time of day from her memory. "Where she asked me to be her girlfriend.."
"Keep going Clarke, I'll give you some time. We'll be on the patio."
"Thank you Anya... For everything, for showing me this..." Clarke said softly. Anya gave a simple 'mhmm' and made her way back to the two waiting girls.
Clarke continued down the photographs, searching her memory for each image. The second photograph was a close up of Clarke's smile, this must have been taken without Clarke's knowledge and Lexa had saved it all these years. The next a perspective view of the brick archway to their first apartment, it was taken from the view Clarke and Lexa had when sat together signing over the new lease. The pictures went on that way, all taken from a view of where Clarke and Lexa had been. The pictures were eternalizing their simple moments together. Clarke realized all these pictures had been taken recently due to subtle changes or aging in the area. The only older picture was that of Clarke's smile. Clarke was overwhelmed. Lexa had taken so much time, had thought of every moment to take these picture and they were beautiful. Their love was beautiful, their relationship was beautiful. Clarke took a second to catch her breath before making her way to the paintings. Once she saw the first one she took a step back to look at the rest, they were all Clarke's. The first three from her first exhibit, the rest from other exhibits she had headlined at. Lexa had at least one from every exhibit Clarke had done in the last 15 months.
"Holy shit..." Clarke said to herself.
Clarke didn't realize anyone come in until Octavia put her arm around her.
"Are these all yours? I remember that one from your first exhibit." Octavia asked
"Yeah, how did she get all of these? How did she even know I was showing? They all sold before the exhibits were over." Clarke responded. She thought back trying to remember if Matt had told her about any of the buyers, most of whom she had met at her showings. "Wait, shit, O... Remember how there was that anonymous buyer at the first show? Matt did a private showing for them, I thought it was just some uppity guy who didn't want to be bothered by the crowd. Oh my god, I have to talk to Anya. Fuck, I have to talk to Matt. O... She was there... She still came, every exhibit, she was there."
"Clarke... You remember the last exhibit? Matt acted like he knew Lexa, it was weird, I was so pissed I didn't even see the connection."
Clarke looked at her with her mouth gaping open. She didn't know what to think, or say, all she knew was she needed to talk to Anya. Clarke made her way at a quick pace down the stairs to the patio where Anya and Raven we're currently making out.
"She was there, wasn't she? She knows Matt." Clarke asked pointedly.
"Damn Clarke, what a fucking cock block." Raven said before Anya could respond.
"Tell me Anya, was it her? The 'anonymous' buyer?" Clarke asked throwing up fake quotation marks.
"Clarke, chill, what are you talking about?" Raven asked, Anya hadn't said a word.
"Rae, go look. Octavia is still in there, Anya and I need to talk." Clarke didn't give Raven the option before moving to sit next to the older blonde. Raven was nervous leaving an unpredictable Clarke with her girlfriend.
"Just give us a minute baby, it's okay." Anya comforted her.
Raven sighed as she got up from Anya's lap, making her way down the path to the boat house. Once out of ear shot Anya began her explanation, she didn't realize Clarke would figure out everything that quickly.
"Yes, Lexa knows Matt. But that part of the story you need to talk to her or your fiancé about. Clearly, both of them were keeping it from you not just Lexa. And to your other questions, yes, Matt did private showings for Lexa for every exhibit you had. Lexa would fly back from where ever she was for the day, meet Matt at the gallery and see your work. And yes, she always bought at least one piece."
"How did she..? Why would Matt not tell me?"
"Clarke, I didn't realize you'd figure it all out this quick, and frankly, I don't know the details between Matt and Lexa, you need to talk to them about that."
"Why did you show me? I mean, she could have kept this secret forever.." Clarke asked.
"Because when you sounded so mad that Lexa never went to your first exhibit.. You needed to know Clarke. She was always there, no matter what was going on with Nia or Finn, she made her way back to you, even though she couldn't tell you about it."
"She's still in love with me? Isn't she? I mean, I know she is, but it's just... why now? Why is she showing me all of this now? Now that I'm engaged?"
"Clarke, you need to talk to Lexa, about everything. I can't tell her story for her, but one thing I can tell you is that she didn't have a choice. All of this, it's happening now because it couldn't have happened earlier." Anya said before getting up and uncharacteristically bringing Clarke in for a hug. "She has never stopped loving you Clarke, her love for you is what kept her going after everything, it's what still keeps her going. She'll never stop loving you."
Clarke and Anya stayed that way for a few moments, Clarke silently crying into Anya's shoulder. The group retired early that night, hoping to make the rest of the weekend less emotional, maybe this time away was exactly what Clarke needed.
Lexa was in the middle of a meeting when she got the text from Anya. It was cryptic but meaningful knowing her cousin. She wasn't sure what to think but waited for a reply that never came. She went on about the rest of her day. The speech she gave was much better received the second time around. Her employees were sad, but still respected Lexa to act accordingly.
That night Lexa made a call to Raven to check over how she felt about the contract and if she had picked her tech team.
"Hey, you were the talk of the town last night." Raven answered.
"How so? Good morning by the way."
"Clarke saw your sanctum. She also figured out you know Matt."
"Anya..." Lexa sighed. "She showed her the gallery didn't she?"
"Yeah she did. Clarke lost it, like 300 different emotions, oh and get this, Anya and her hugged!" Raven said louder than a whisper, causing Anya to wake up next to her.
"Babe, is that Lexa?" Anya asked sleepily. "Don't tell her about Clarke seeing the gallery."
"Too late honey." Raven smiled at her girlfriend.
"Tell Anya we'll be having a nice sit down when I return." Lexa said loud enough for Anya to hear through the speaker.
"Ooh you're in trouble!" Raven called to Anya.
"Shit.." Anya replied he face falling in the pillow.
"Okay, she's sleeping or dead or something. What's up Lex?"
"Just calling to see how you feel about the contract and to see if you've chosen your team."
"Oh fuck, I'm sorry I haven't even looked at it yet. Can I text you later this morning, I promise I'll go through it right after we're off the phone."
"Ugh, that's unlike you Rae, but fine, just let me know. How's Clarke?"
"I know, I'm sorry, and the reason I haven't been able to read it is Clarke, she's been all over the place, one second I think she's ready to leave Matt and the next she's looking at wedding magazines."
"Oh.. Well just-um.. Watch out for her Rae."
"Lex... She read the letter. She um, she thought you were trying to tell her it's okay to be with Matt. Is that what you really wanted to say?"
Raven heard a choke from Lexa across the line. "Um, I mean, yes. If he makes her happy that's what I want, I want her to be happy Rae."
"I know you do, but she can't see that you're what makes her happy. Ugh you know how damn stubborn she is."
"I can't show her something she doesn't want to see... You know that Raven. I left, you said it yourself. I broke her, I broke us, I can't just come back expecting she'll leave her fiancé to be with me. I've accepted that. I just truly want her to be happy."
"Okay babe, but just so you know, I'm totally team Lexa."
"Don't say that... Matt did nothing wrong. Plus, you need to support Clarke regardless of what she chooses, or who she chooses."
"Ugh, I know, Matt really is great, but damn I just miss the old days. I miss you guys together, we always had so much fun. And don't get me wrong Matt is fun and adventurous and stuff, but it's just so.. So vanilla I guess. He's such a good guy that he won't call out Clarke when she's being a psycho or like when she's clearly fucking wrong, like I swear, they've never had a fight in their whole relationship. It's just, I don't know."
"Whatever is meant to be will be. I gotta get some sleep now, and read the damn contract. Please?" Lexa didn't want to hear any more about how amazing Matt was.
"Oh right, it's like 2am there or something right? Night Lex. Love you!"
"Love you too. Bye Raven."
Raven made her way to the kitchen to start breakfast with her contract in hand. Clarke was up already, she had started pancakes, an image Raven thought she'd never see.
"Couldn't sleep? I don't think I've ever seen you up this early, let alone cooking." Raven asked, grabbing the cup of coffee Clarke held out for her. "Thanks."
"Yeah, I don't know. Just been thinking a lot. I feel like I go between hating Lexa and loving her like every hour."
"You can feel both, you know...? I mean that's why you fell for her originally wasn't it? Because she could hold her own with you? Tell you when you were wrong, make you crazy?"
"Yeah, I mean one of the first things she said to me was that I was wrong for going to med school when my passion was art. Of course being Lexa, she said it so it seemed like everything I had planned out for myself was some big lie. God, she used to drive me nuts."
"She does do that doesn't she?" Raven said laughing.
"Whatcha got there?" Clarke asked eyeing the packet of paper Raven had brought down with her.
"Oh, it's my new contract. Lexa told me to read it over days ago but I totally forgot then she yelled at me on the phone just now because I hadn't read it." Raven laughed out. "Typical Lexa."
"New contract?"
"Yeah, I won't be staying at Woods, we both know Nia would have me gutted first thing when she takes over."
"So what's the contract for then?"
"New job Lexa is giving me, I really don't even know what it, she just told me to read the contract."
"Well you better get to it then, you can't keep Miss Woods waiting." Clarke laughed as she returned to flipping her pancakes.
Raven went to the barstool at the island to begin reading over the contract in front of her. She only got 3 lines in before she looked up to Clarke is shock.
"Oh my god..." Raven exclaimed.
"What? What's wrong?" Clarke said looking around the kitchen.
"She's making me part owner of this new company. Actually she making me the proprietary owner at 51% ownership."
"Wait, what?" Clarke was seriously confused by the admission. "You're a tech person, you're not a financial guru like her..."
"It's not a financial firm, it's a tech company. Mecha Technology. Clarke, she's giving me a company!"
"Wait, giving it to you? Don't you have to like pay some sort of something for ownership like I'm pretty sure that's a law somewhere?"
"Look, it's paid for. I owe $10.00." Raven pointed out the remaining balance owed for ownership of Mecha Technology showing remaining balance of $10.00 the above line showing a deposit of $49,990.00 to the $50,000.00 buy in amount.
"Holy shit... Keep reading. Tell me more. What the hell is going on?"
Raven continued reading through the contract stopping after a few pages to address the eagerly awaiting Clarke.
"Well come on, what does it say?!" Clarke asked impatiently.
"Clarke... She's been planning this for at least two years. This was always her plan. There no doubt." Raven was in complete shock of what she had read this far.
"What are you talking about?"
"Remember a couple years ago when I came home pissed because Lexa turned down a proposal for that app I created for the firm? You know the one that tracked each account and gave suggestions based on market fluctuation and stuff?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Well when I showed her how I could make the app and everything she told me to scrap everything I had done at work, she actually was kind of a bitch about it. Told me not to ever use company funds again for anything related to it." Raven was trying to fill in the blanks as she spoke. "She, she had to know that she'd eventually end up selling Woods… That's why she told me not to use company property to make it. She was protecting it, and me."
"I don't get it...?"
"Clarke, if I made the app with Woods Consolidated funds or property whoever was in control of the company would have full ownership of it. It's the law."
"Okay... And? You scrapped the app 2 years ago, why's it matter now?"
"That's it, about a month before she left Lexa asked me if I had any progress on it, if I figured out how to fix the bugs that I originally encountered. By that time I had, I didn't work on it a ton, but it was a fun project to clear my mind after work. She tried it out and told me a couple issues with the formulas and stuff and told me to keep working on it. She even made sure to say 'but not at Woods'. Well, when Lexa left I was so pissed and just needed to get my stress out and I just kept going and creating different programs revolving around the same app, I did the original one, then modified it for student loans and payback rates then did a third for IRA loans and 401k tracking. I never thought about it again until like 6 months after Lexa left, she held a conference call with Indra and I and asked how the app was coming. I told her how I finalized it, then made two others, she told me to send the apps to her personal email account and that was the last I heard about it."
"And...?"
"And... That's what Mecha Technology is, it's my apps Clarke. All three of them."
"So Lexa created a company, to sell your apps? Wouldn't it be easier to just buy them from you? Pay you like royalties or something?"
"Yes, it's going to sell my apps if I agree but that's the other thing, I'll be able to create anything else I want technology wise. I can make whatever apps I want, and look here, the budget for creation is set at 750,000.00 per year. I mean it says contingent on me, since I'm the owner. But Clarke, this is my dream..."
"Wow..." Clarke was in shock, just as Raven was. "I'm so happy for you Raven. This is amazing."
"I own my own fucking company if I agree Clarke! Oh my god, I love Lexa."
"You love who?!" Anya said as she made her way into the kitchen.
"Lexa, I love her. Did you know about this?" Raven asked Anya.
"Uh kinda, just that she was going to get you a job once she sold the company to Nia."
"I own a fucking company Anya.. A fucking tech company that Lexa created."
"Oh yeah, I remember her saying something like that. It's great isn't it?" Anya was still sleepy so grabbed Ravens untouched coffee and started taking a sip.
"Hey, how do I get ahold of her? We need to talk.. Please Raven?" Clarke asked pleadingly.
Raven looked to Anya for advice. "It's fine Rae." Anya answered.
Raven gave Lexa's phone number to Clarke to which Clarke went up to the room she was staying in and proceeded to make the call. It had been about a week since she had spoken to Lexa. She knew it had to be very late in London so she wasn't sure Lexa would answer or not. It rang three times before she heard a sleepy Lexa on the other end.
"Woods." Lexa's standard answer for unknown numbers.
"Lexa? Sorry, I woke you, I'll let you go back to sleep, I'm sorry."
"Clarke? What? No, no I'm good I'm awake." Lexa jumped up at the sound of Clarke's voice.
"Are you sure, I mean it's really okay, I can just call later." Clarke felt bad for waking Lexa during a business trip, she was probably exhausted.
"No, no. I want to talk to you. What's up?"
"Um.. How are you Lexa?"
"Great, now that I can hear your voice."
"Still a cheese ball from thousands of miles away."
"I do have my charm."
"So, you bought Raven a company?" Clarke chuckled as she said it. "I mean, I know you're into grand gestures, but damn Lex.."
"Raven is a very brilliant engineer. The company will pay for itself in a matter of years, maybe even months."
"But you gave her ownership. Why?"
"Because it's her designs and apps and brain that are needed. Plus, if it's her's, no one can get to her.."
"Like Nia?"
"Exactly like that."
"Lex... How do you know Matt? You didn't like make him date me did you?"
"Hah, no Clarke, I didn't make him date you. Matt was one of my first clients at Woods back when I was just starting out. We've known each other for a long time, since his first gallery actually."
"Why didn't anyone tell me? You or him?"
"Well, for starters.. I haven't talked to you for nearly 14 months. As for Matt, you'll need to ask him, I never requested that he hide our relationship, I did however, ask him to not disclose that I was the anonymous buyer. I felt it was better you didn't know."
"Because I would have held on to you.. Right?" Clarke understood why Lexa had done it secretly. She didn't agree with it, but she understood.
"Yeah, and I'm sorry I hid it from you Clarke. You're art is amazing. I'm so proud of all that you've accomplished."
"I just wish you would have been there Lexa. Opening night with me.. I think that's what hurts the most, knowing you were probably standing in the same place as me only a couple hours later. I don't know."
"I know, I'm so sorry Clarke. It doesn't make up for it, but, I am."
"When did you take those photographs? The ones hanging up?"
"Oh, um.. Over the last year. Mostly when I came back to the city for Anya."
"Oh." Clarke responded, not knowing that Lexa had been around for more than just her secret gallery showings. "They're beautiful Lex."
"Thank you... Clarke..?"
"Yeah?"
"Why did you really call? We both know you could have found this out from Anya or Matt."
"I just.. I just wanted to hear your voice, I wanted to hear it from you."
"Okay ba-" Lexa tried to correct herself. "Clarke."
"Old habits right?" Clarke chuckled. "Can I ask you something you probably don't want to answer..?"
"Hah, you can ask me anything Clarke, I told you in my letter, I'm going to be honest with you from now on."
"What-what is it that you really want? I mean, I read your letter and it was supportive and understanding but no holds right now, what do you want? Why did you do all of this? The house? My paintings? Your photos?"
"It's um.. It's not that simple Clarke."
"Of course it is, you're just making it harder than it has to be."
"Clarke.. I want you, I love you and I've never stopped, I never could stop. You are the person I've always imagined my life with. The house for me was cathartic, I mean, I guess somehow I thought it'd bring us back together. Everything else, it's just because I was sad and lonely and I wanted pieces of you with me. And your art, because I promised I'd be by your side for your first gallery event and I couldn't do that. But you just got so much better by losing me, I mean, before you were amazing but now, now you're incredible." Lexa was near tears on the other end of the phone, thinking she's never be able to have this conversation with Clarke. "I don't want to tell you to be with him, I want to tell you to give me another chance, to fight for us, but I can't Clarke. You know that. It's not fair for me to ask that. But what I want is you. It will always be you."
"Lexa... I don't know what to say... I begged to hear those words for so long, but.. I-I needed to hear them a year ago. I needed you so much, I just don't know if I can forget all of this. I've forgiven you, I'll give you that. But.. You're right; Matt fixed what you broke. He put me back together after you shattered every piece of me. And I know your reasoning, that's why I've forgiven you, and I know you hurt too, but I just I don't know Lexa."
"I know Clarke. Just know that I'll always be here. Whenever you need me. I.. I um should go to sleep." Lexa knew Clarke was right, but actually hearing her say it was killing her. She needed to get off the phone before Clarke could hear her sobs.
"I'm sorry Lexa... Goodnight"
With that Lexa ended the call, put her face in the pillow and cried herself to sleep.
"How'd it go?" Raven asked when Clarke walked back into the kitchen.
"It was okay, I think we said everything we needed to. We got everything out. Can we just have fun the rest of the weekend? No Lexa, no Matt, just us four tanning and drinking and forgetting about everything else?"
"No problem babe!" Raven said handing her a mimosa she had just made.
The four girls spend the next two days boating and jet skiing, drinking and just really having fun again with one another.