4 months later
Clarke and Lexa had officially moved out to the lake house after that night. Lexa had worked from home and Clarke had painted in the studio above the boat house. Lexa, Bellamy and Lincoln had worked for a week straight to set up two of the spare bedrooms for Aden and Lily to their liking. Lily wanted a jungle themed room and Aden a car room.
Clarke and Lexa weren't sure how long Aden and Lily would be with them but they wanted them to be comfortable no matter what. Both children formed an immediate bond with the two girls. Lexa and Aden worked on the Jeep and the Shelby together, and Lily and Clarke baked and painted almost everyday. Even though it was faster than either of them had imagined Clarke and Lexa enjoyed and loved their little family. Octavia, Raven and Anya came out often to spend time with the two children as well as Lincoln and Bellamy when they were able. Everything had fallen into place and 3 months after the death of the children's father Lexa and Clarke officially decided to foster them. Clarke's mom spent more time in New York after finding out she was not just a grandparent but a grandparent of two happy, healthy, amazing children.
About a month after the accident Raven proposed to Anya who of course said yes. Clarke and Raven had gotten out of their lease and Lexa ended up signing over the downtown penthouse to Anya for her and Raven to make home.
Raven had taken Mecha Tech to the next level by creating full desktop programming of the financial apps she created before. The addition of these programs more than doubled the annual revenue projected for Mecha for the first year. As the owner, Raven as well as Indra, decided that since it was the first year they'd put 90% of the additional money back into the company and the remaining 10% would be given as end of year bonuses to the employees.
Bellamy had found himself a new girlfriend, Echo, who the whole group loved and who got along great with Octavia which was a plus for the somewhat broken family.
Octavia and Lincoln had moved in together in New York. Since Lexa was staying out of the public eye most of the time she rarely needed her security team and instead had them take over the security of Mecha. Lincoln still escorted Lexa for large events that the billionaire attended but it wasn't so much work as being there for the girl he viewed as his sister.
Clarke was still showing at Matt's galleries, and things had gotten much less complicated when Matt started dating again. They weren't friends, but their professional relationship was healthy and on the right track.
"Lily, babe, we gotten get you cleaned up and dressed. How do you think Yaya would feel if you came to her party stinky?" Clarke joked with the young girl who she prodded into the bathroom.
"Can we put the good soap in? With the bubbles?" Lily shrieked with excitement. The soap she was referring to was Lexa's body wash that smelled of cucumbers and mint.
"Only a little, now hop in!" Clarke prompted. They were already running late with the set up of the party at the lake house.
Once Clarke got Lily out of the tub and changed into her new dress she went on the hunt for Aden. She didn't realize that she hadn't seen Lexa in over and hour, figuring that she was taking care of the last minute party arrangements. Clarke made her way to the garage where she could normally find Aden fiddling with some car part that Bellamy had shown him.
"Aden? Come on honey we have to get you cleaned up for the party." Clarke prompted from the door of the garage.
"We've been made!" Lexa whispers to the little boy who was underneath the jacked up Shelby.
"Shhh... If we're quiet she'll never know." Aden whispers.
"Oh she'll know, big guy!" Clarke said now standing next to the car.
Lexa and Aden slid out of from under the car. They looked like twins in their attire. Lexa in a white tank top smeared with grease and khaki cargo shorts, Aden in the same top riddled with grease but black cargo shorts.
"Hi babe..." Lexa addressed her girlfriend, knowing she'd be in trouble for being in the garage so long.
"Okay, okay enough with the puppy dog eyes. Upstairs mister, your clothes are on your bed." Clarke prompted the young boy. Once he was through the door to the house Clarke turned back to address Lexa. "And you... Look so very sexy right now baby." Clarke kissed her lips. "But you stink, go shower." Clarke removed all contact swatting Lexa's ass as a prod.
"Fine babe..." Lexa walked off to the house after organizing the tools she and Aden were using.
Clarke made her way back into the house to find Octavia and Lily playing a card game with Bellamy.
"Okay kid, here's the rule. Duces wild." Bellamy said as he laid the cards out. "You wanna get straights or pairs."
"Bellamy! Are you teaching her poker!?" Clarke said from the door. "She's three Bell!"
"She might be young but she's feisty. Isn't that right munchkin?" Octavia said tickling the girl on her lap. "She beat us in 'go fish' and 'war' already."
"Kicked butt!" Lily said excitedly.
"Lily..." Clarke reprimanded. "You've been hanging out with Octavia too much." Clarke laughed as she walked away to her room to finish getting ready.
"Momma, you play with us?" Lily asked sheepishly. It was the first time Clarke had ever been called mom by either of the children. "Please?"
"Of course, Lil." Clarke's smile was from ear to ear. She didn't ever imagine hearing those words from Lily would feel so good.
Octavia finished Clarke's hair as she played Go Fish with Bellamy and Lily. Somehow the 3 year old always won.
"Aden, you all dressed buddy?" Lexa asked knocking on the boys door.
"Um... Can you tell Uncle Bell I need him? Please?" She heard Aden say through the door.
"Sure... is everything okay?" Lexa asked again.
When there wasn't a response Lexa went downstairs to where the group was all playing cards.
"Hey, Uncle Bell, you're needed in Aden's room please." Lexa chided to the older man that was now on his way to his losing his fourth straight game to Lily.
"Uncle Bell? I like the sound of that." Bellamy called out as he made his way up the stairs.
Lexa made herself comfortable next to Clarke and Lily crawled up onto the Lexa's lap.
"Momma!" Lily called out while grabbing both sides of Lexa's face. While Clarke had never been called 'Momma' by Lily, Lexa had been referred to as 'Momma' since a month after they brought the two children home.
"Lily!" Lexa called out with the same enthusiasm. "How can I help you, babe?" Lexa questioned with her face still griped between Lily's hands.
"When is RaeRae here? And Yaya?" Lily had been asking daily when she'd see her two aunts. It had been nearly a month since the two had come to visit. Raven was supremely busy at Mecha and Anya was in the middle of an addition to Trikru so they didn't have many spare days to drive up to the lake house.
"They'll be here soon. Would you like to call Yaya and ask?" Lexa asked the girl pulling out her phone. Lily agreed and continued to let Lexa pull up FaceTime for the young girl.
"Hey Aden, what's up buddy?" Bellamy called from the door of the boy's room.
"Thank goodness you're here!" Aden yelled while pulling the man into the bedroom. Aden was dressed except for his tie, it was knotted in a big mess on his bed. "Can you, um, help with this? Please Uncle Bell?" Aden looked very upset.
"Sure buddy, but you know Lexa can help you tie your tie, too." Bellamy said while unknotting the piece of fabric.
"But I want to surprise her and Clarke..." Aden said solemnly. "I thought I could do it by myself."
"Well, I tell you what, how about I teach you how to do it right now, and we'll keep this between us?" Bellamy asked, wrapping the tie around the boy.
"Thanks!" Aden said. "You're the best Uncle ever!" The boy called merrily looking at himself in the mirror.
"Did I hear 'best uncle ever'?" Lincoln walked through the open door in his suit.
"Uh, I mean, one of the best Uncles ever. Uncle Linc." Aden tried to cover himself.
"That's what I thought buddy!" Lincoln joked with the boy. "Man, we look good don't we boys? How about we go show the girls what they're missing?" Lincoln said straightening Aden's hair and pulling out a pair of sunglasses for the boy and Bellamy. "You remember what to do when we get dressed up buddy?"
"Wait, you forgot the smell good stuff." Aden said.
"Do you think I'd forget the best part of the ensemble?" Lincoln said putting a small dap of cologne on Aden's neck.
"You ready for the debut kid?" Bellamy called opening up his phone to play their 'walk out' song. The last time the three boys got dressed up was for Raven's proposal to Anya and they had started a tradition with Aden that day. Walking out to show off their suits to Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seager.
"Yes!" Aden called. Getting in line in front of Bellamy but behind Lincoln so they could walk down the stairs.
The song started playing as loud as Bellamy's phone would go and the three strut their way down the stairs for their big reveal. Sliding across the floor at the bottom to begin their dance routine.
The girls all stared and cheered as the boys made their way downstairs tossing their sunglasses at their fans. Once the song was finished Aden made his way in front of Lexa and Clarke to show off his suit and tie.
"That was amazing Aden!" Clarke said enthusiastically. "You look so handsome, did you do that all by yourself?"
Aden looked to Bellamy who just nodded to the boy in approval. "Yeah, well Bell helped me with my tie, but he taught me how to tie it so I can do it now." Aden said proudly.
"Well you certainly look handsome!" Lexa told him. "Definitely the best dressed here." She joked laughing at Lincoln and Bellamy who were straightening themselves out after their dance.
"Are you excited to see Raven?" Octavia asked the boy. "She told me she's been helping you on a project."
"Yeah! But I'm not supposed to tell you what it is yet." Aden said with a grin.
"Uh oh.." Clarke looked to Lexa with fake worry.
"Don't worry, Rae said so explosives til I'm older." Aden said honestly.
"Boom!" Lily called from Lexa's lap.
"Hah yeah Lil, boom is bad." Octavia laughed at the girl picking her up from Lexa's lap. "How about I take you two to the kitchen get a snack before Rae and Yaya get here?"
"No cookies!" Clarke called from the couch.
"When will the girls be here?" Lincoln asked from the opposite couch.
"Should be about an hour, everyone else is set to be here in about half an hour." Clarke said.
"Sounds good, do we need to set anything else up?" Bellamy asked.
"No, we should be good. Thanks for all your help guys. Raven really wanted Anya's birthday to be special, hence the black tie." Lexa spoke. "The caterers are going to be here soon, but they can set themselves up."
"So you guys are coming back to the city tomorrow?" Lincoln asked.
"Yeah, we're gonna let Anya and Raven use the house for the weekend and we're going to stay in the pent house for Clarke's exhibit."
"Sounds good, it'll be your first public event with the kids, you nervous?" Bellamy asked.
"I mean, kind of, I just don't want them to go through anything we've had to in the last few years.. But they have loads of Aunts and Uncles who will protect them, so they'll be fine." Clarke said.
"Hell yeah they do." Lincoln joked, clearing the tension in the air.
"We know it's not going to be easy with both of us so much in the public eye, but.. They're our children. We want to show the world how lucky we are." Lexa reiterated.
Just then the doorbell rang. A shrieking Lily and Aden ran out from the kitchen straight to the door.
"Look first!" Lexa called trying to get to the door before the kids.
"Grandma!" Lily yelled as she let her older brother open the door.
"Ahh my two beautiful babies." Abby, Clarke's mother called on her way through the door. She wrapped Lily up into her arm and gave a Aden a hug after she set down Anya's gift by the door. "You look so handsome Aden! And Lily, you are so beautiful." Kissing both on the cheek.
"Hi mom." Clarke said before grabbing a quick hug.
"Hello Abby, we're so happy you could make it." Lexa said arm wrapped around Clarke.
"How are you two? Are the girls here yet?"
"We're good. Tired but good, and no, they'll be here in about 45 minutes. There are drinks in the kitchen. Can I grab you something?" Lexa asked.
The three woman made their way into the kitchen, grabbing drinks for the rest of the group already at the home. The time wore on and more and more people were arriving, the music was playing and the caterers were making their way around with appetizers. Aden and Lily were playing in the living room when they heard the door open again.
"Marco!" A voice called from the front door.
"Polo!" Aden and Lily called out in unison.
"Marco!" The voice now slightly closer called out.
"Polo!" The two children called again until they saw Raven.
"RaeRae!" Lily shrieked running full force into the brunette.
"Ump- Hi babe!" Raven said wrapping her arms around the small girl. "Where's my love big man?!" Raven said looking to Aden with her arms open.
"Hi Aunt Rae. I really missed you." Aden said as he curled himself into his Aunt.
"I missed you too buddy, so so much." Raven said stroking the boys hair. Raven and Aden had an unbreakable bond. She was the first one that Aden had opened up to when they first came home, and since she had been the only one who he let hold her like the child he was. Sure, he'd hug everyone, but he only let himself show vulnerability to Raven. Once Aden's father died he felt like he needed to be the protector of Lily, of everyone, but Raven let him take his guard down when she was around.
"Are you going to be gone for that long again?" Aden asked. Lily had now run off to find Anya leaving the two alone to talk.
"I don't know budd. You know I don't like being away from you anymore than I have to.." Raven said honestly.
"I know..." He said sheepishly.
"What's going on little man? Why you so sad?" Raven prompted, sitting the boy beside her on the couch.
"Do you think I'll forget my mom and dad?" He asked.
"Of course not buddy, remember what we talked about? They're always with you, right here." Raven said pointing to the boys chest. "What brought this up?"
"I called Lexa 'mom' the yesterday and it scared me that I'd forget my real mom." He admitted.
"Oh honey, you'll never forget them. You can call Lexa and Clarke mom or you can call them Lexa and Clarke, that doesn't change what your real mom meant to you." Raven paused trying to word everything correctly. "You know Clarke and Lexa would never make you call them mom, but if you feel like their your moms you can say that too. They love you no matter what, just like me and all your aunts and uncles do."
"Thanks, RaeRae." He said again more confidently. "You think it would make them happy if I called them mom?" Aden asked.
"Only if it makes you happy buddy." Raven said trying not to push the boy into a decision. "Come on little man, let's go join the party. You've gotta say hi to Anya." She said putting her arm around the boys shoulder.
"Okay, where'd she go?" Aden asked thinking to himself. "Marco!" He called out knowing only Anya would respond to their secret greeting.
"Polo!" He heard from the other side of the house.
"Marco!" Raven and Aden called together.
"Polo!" Anya and Lily responded slightly closer.
"Marc-ump" Aden tried to call out before he was picked up by his aunt. "Anya!"
"Hey buddy! Where you been hiding?" Anya asked him while setting him down next to his sister.
"Talking to RaeRae. I missed you, can you do the thing? Pleaseeeee?" Aden begged.
Anya was dressed in a floor length gown, but would still do anything for the two children before her. "Okay, just one time each though, got it?"
Aden and Lily nodded in excitement. Raven took her place behind Anya to lift the boy onto her shoulders where he stood and did a front flip while holding onto Anya's hands that guided him down to the ground softly. Lily did the same maneuver before running off to find Octavia in the crowd. Aden ran off to find Lincoln as well.
"They really love you, you know? They've been asking for both of you everyday." Clarke said from behind the couple.
"C! I've missed you." Raven grabbed her best friend in a bear hug.
"Hey Clarke, thank you so much for all of this, it's amazing." Anya said as she hugged the girl. "We love those kids so much, I just wish we could be here more often."
"How about you guys take them for a few days after your vacation? Aden loves going to the lab with Raven and I'm sure Lily would love whatever you wanted to do." Lexa offered grabbing her sister and Raven in a hug.
"That would be great! Aden and I have been working on a project, we could definitely get it done then." Raven exclaimed.
"Yeah, I could take a couple days off at the bar and take Lil around the city." Anya said.
"Then it's settled. You want to go tell them the good news?" Clarke asked.
"Absolutely" Raven said, making her way through the crowd, greeting everyone as she went.
Aden and Lily made their way to the heated patio to find Octavia and Lincoln where they also found Bellamy and his girlfriend Echo, who the children had never met.
"Hey guys!" Octavia said lifting Lily into her arms and ruffling Aden's hair before he was swept up by Lincoln.
"My man!" Lincoln said as he lifted Aden onto his shoulders.
"Who that?" Lily said pointing her finger into Echo's cheek.
"Lil, what did I say about pointing?" Bellamy reprimanded.
"... Not nice." The young girl responded solemnly. "Sorry."
"It's okay, I'm Echo, Bellamy's girlfriend." Echo told the girl. "It's very nice to meet you Lily, and you as well Aden." Echo was very pretty, beautiful even.
"My man!" Aden held out a low five to Bellamy for his choice in girlfriend.
"He is definitely hanging out with you two too much!" Octavia laughed. "Aden what do you say to Echo?"
"Nice to meet you Miss Echo." Aden stated towards the girl with his hand held out for a shake.
"Just Echo kiddo." Echo responded.
Lily had a frown on her face, to which the group was confused.
"What's up babe?" Octavia asked the girl in her arms.
"I'm Bell's girl." She said shoving her face into Octavia's shoulder.
"Hey, come here munchkin." Bellamy said taking Lily out for Octavia's arms. "You know you'll always be my number one girl, my favorite niece, right?" Lily nodded. "Well Echo here is my girlfriend like Aunt O and Uncle Linc or Momma Lexa and Momma Clarke, right? That's okay isn't it?" Lily slowly nodded her head yes.
"Will you still take us for ice cream?" The girl asked.
"Of course I will! And we can bring Echo too sometimes, right?" Lily nodded happily to her uncle. "But I promise we'll still have Uncle Bell and Lil dates, sound fair babe?" Lily nodded happily again, wiggling out of Bellamy's arms to stand in front of Echo.
"I'm Lily, don't be mean to Uncle Bellamy or you gotta go through me." Lily said as ferociously as her three year old self could muster. The group let out in a loud fit of laughter.
"Who taught you that Lil?" Lincoln asked.
"Auntie Rae" she responded honestly.
"Seems right, well Lily, I tell you what, if I'm mean to your Uncle Bellamy I'll let you hold me down yourself." Echo replied to the little girl. Echo was now kneeling directly in front of Lily so they were face to face. Lily held out her hand for a high five and Echo gave her one back. Just as the laughter was dying down Anya and Raven had made their way out to the group with Lexa and Clarke shortly behind.
"Hey Echo, thanks for coming." Raven got out as she hugged the taller woman.
"Yeah, thanks for making it out here. I really appreciate it." Anya said.
"I wouldn't miss it, even though I got threatened by your niece." Echo laughed out.
"Threatened by who?" Clarke asked as she walked up.
"Lily told me I'd have to go through her if I hurt Bell." Echo laughed out again to which the rest of the group laughed out.
"I did good right RaeRae?" Lily asked holding her arms up to her Aunt.
"Raven?!" Clarke reprimanded. "Of course you'd be the one to teach her that!" Clarke laughed clearly impressed by her daughter.
"Come on babe, it's pretty funny." Lexa shot back defending Raven. "Hey Sweets, I think it's getting close to bedtime." Lexa said to Lily who was mid-yawn on Raven's shoulder.
"RaeRae tuck me in?" Lily asked nose to nose with her aunt. Raven looked to Lexa and Clarke for confirmation, then to Anya to make sure it was okay. "Yaya too." Lily said holding her hand out for Anya. "Night night momma" Lily said kissing Lexa on the cheek when Raven carried her near. "Night night mommy" Lily said kissing Clarke's cheek.
"Where's my sugar?" Octavia called to Lily. Lily wiggled down out of Raven's arms to run to her other aunt.
"Night night Tavi." Lily kisses Octavia's cheek. "Night Belly, night Linc-y" she waved to her uncles. She walked in front of Echo beckoning her to squat down. "Night Echo." Lily said giving the girl a hug.
"Goodnight Lily." The group said to her as she jumped into Anya's arms to be carried to her room.
"I don't have to go to bed yet do I, mom?" Aden asked Lexa from atop Lincoln's shoulders still. Lexa's heart swooned at the young boy calling her mom.
"1 hour bubs but no more sugar, got it?" Lexa said.
"Got it! Thanks!" Aden said turning his attention back to Lincoln. "Is it time yet?" Aden whispered into Lincoln's ear.
"Wait for Anya and Rae. Then it's time." Lincoln responded just as quietly.
Raven and Anya returned about 20 minutes later. Aden hopped off Lincoln's shoulders to the ground before he ran to the boat house.
"Where's he off to?" Clarke asked Lexa quietly.
"Just wait babe." Lexa responded in a whisper.
The DJ cut the music and somehow Lincoln had managed to make it to the stage by then.
"Hey everybody, hope we're all having a good time tonight. Some people are born into family and others are grown into one. I am lucky enough to say that I grew the best family and sisters a guy could ask for. Happy Birthday Anya!" Lincoln spoke through the mic. "May you find as much joy in the next year!"
Soon Aden was seen walking from behind the stage with a large bouquet of flowers to give to his Aunt Anya.
"And speaking of growing into families..." Lincoln said, leaving the stage and now standing in front of Octavia holding his empty hand to hers. "Octavia, we have been through so much together, distance, heartache, everything you could imagine. But every time I was away from you I knew in my heart we'd find each other again. You are my soul mate Octavia Blake, and I will spend every minute of every day showing you how much you mean to me and how much I love you." Lincoln knelt down on one knee, taking the box from Aden like they'd rehearsed. Aden ran back to the stage quickly. "Will you marry me?" Lincoln questioned as the crowd 'ooh'd and ahh'd'.
Octavia was taken aback tears now falling down her face. "Of course, yes, yes, a thousand times yes." Octavia said pulling Lincoln into a big hug and kiss. Aden came back from the stage with an even bigger bouquet of roses for his Aunt. "Thank you bubs." Octavia said to the boy.
"Congratulations to the happy couple!" Bellamy shouted to the crowd. "Here, here" he raised his glass in a toast to which the crowd responded similarly.
"You knew?" Clarke whispered to Lexa kissing her cheek.
"Sure did, who do you think hid the flowers for the ring bearer over there?" Lexa laughed back.
The night was filled with congratulations and happy birthdays for the remained of the night. Bellamy put Aden to bed shortly after the proposal, much to his dislike.
"Hey Uncle Bell?" Aden questioned in a sleepy voice.
"Sup, little man?"
"You think my moms will get married one day?"
Bellamy smiled at the thought. "I'm sure they will buddy. Your moms love each other a whole lot."
"Good." Aden responded as he closed his eyes to fall asleep.