The sun had risen slowly over Polis. Clarke was awoken by the bright light spilling in through her window. She sat up slowly, her thoughts drifting to Lexa and Amira. Clarke decided to check on them. Slowly, she made her way out of bed and changed into some more appropriate clothing. Clarke ascended the flight of stairs that led to Lexa's room. The guards outside opened the door before Clarke could even ask. She entered the dark room, lit only by a few remanding candles, and smiled at the sight of Lexa passed out on her bed, hair tousled and one arm dropped lazily off the side of the bed. Clarke made her way to the crib where she was met with vibrant green eyes. She bent down to pick up Amira and cradled the infant in her arms. Clarke moved over to the milk sitting on the table. She carefully poured it into a glass bottle and sat down on the corner of the bed to feed Amira. As she fed the baby, a knock echoed through the room. Clarke's eyes shot to Lexa and she chuckled as Lexa just rolled over and pulled a pillow over her head. Clarke stood to open the door while attempting to balance Amira in her arms. She found Adi standing opposite her.
"You have a baby?" Adi asked, eyeing Clarke up and down.
"Good morning, Adi, nice to see you too. And no, she was left at Lexa's door last night. We're taking care of her." Adi nodded.
"Lexa around? I have to ask her something." Clarke took a step back and chuckled as she looked at Lexa fast asleep. "She loves her sleep, and she is not a morning person, so that doesn't surprise me at all." Adi laughed. Clarke nodded gently, lifting Amira to burp her. "Yesterday was fun. I haven't seen Lexa smile like that in a long time. Too long. The way she looks at you…" Adi trailed off, thinking better of it. "Anyway, I'm just glad you two seem to be getting along."
"We are. It's kind of amazing. To be honest, I never thought we'd be able to be in the same room again, let alone like this, taking care of a child together." Clarke still couldn't really believe it.
"Yeah, you're going to have to explain that one to me at some point." Clarke laughed. "So you two really are good then?" Adi looked almost incredulous.
"I think so. I don't know. After Mount Weather-" Clarke shuddered.
"Look, Clarke, I don't know everything that happened between you two-"
"No one does," Clarke muttered.
"-but I do know that Lexa cares about you. I spent just one day with you both and I could see that. That's big. It doesn't come easily for her." Adi wasn't sure it was her place, but she liked Clarke. She liked seeing the effect she had on the ever stoic Commander.
"I know. It's just hard not knowing if I can trust her again. But I want to. I like it here, with her," Clarke said, her head bowed shyly. Adi smiled.
Then, a loud thump then echoed throughout the room, startling them both. Clarke and Adi turned to look in the direction of the sound and found Lexa slumped on the floor next to the bed. Adi laughed and Lexa gave a sleepy grin before speaking in a low husky voice.
"I hate morning." Adi chuckled.
"You always have." Lexa stood and walked over to the trio, "Lexa, hun, I know you are sleepy, but you should get dressed. I saw Titus getting ready to head up here." Adi explained. Lexa nodded moving to the corner of the opened a door Clarke wasn't even aware existed, and Clarke was shocked by all the clothing it held. Lexa walked in and closed the door. Adi began to mechanically opened all the curtains. Clarke sat herself down on the couch in the corner of the room just to stay out of the way. Lexa emerged from her closet just as the door to her room flew open.
"Heda," Titus greeted. He walked in carrying a single lit candle.
"Titus," Lexa responded, sitting down on her throne. Clarke stood from her spot on the couch and moved toward the crib. She gently changed the infant's diaper as Titus spoke, moving around the room to light candles.
"Heda, why is there a baby in your chambers? Is it Wanheda's?" he asked, eyeing Clarke and the child suspiciously. Both Lexa and Clarke stared at Titus in frustration.
"No, the baby is not Clarke's. She was left at my door last night. I need you to assemble a team to find her home clan," Lexa snapped, a sharp, aggravated edge to her voice. Titus nodded.
"My apologizes, Heda. Wanheda," Titus said, giving his Heda an apologetic look. He was still wary of Clarke, however.
"Dismissed," Lexa ordered, and Titus scurried out of the room. Adi laughed from the corner.
"That man is terrified of you." Adi's laugh faded and her face fell as she started to say what she came here for. "Anyway, Lexa, since you seem to be well, and there doesn't seem to be a Conclave anywhere in the near future, is it alright if I go to the falls for a week or two? I just need to be alone. You know as well as I do what this week is and - I just - I don't really want to be around people. As long as you are okay being without me?" Lexa stood.
"Of course you may. I will be alright. Take whatever you need, and one of the extra horses." Adi smiled and hugged Lexa tightly.
"Mochof. I'll be back soon!" And with that, she disappeared through the door. Clarke still stood at the crib. Lexa moved to join her and gently opened up the trunk. She pulled out a blue jumper, a cream hat resting on top, and handed it to Clarke. Clarke gently changed the baby and Lexa smiled.
"How did you sleep last night?" Clarke asked as she snapped the buttons on the underside of the clothing.
"Alright. Didn't spend much time actually sleeping," Lexa said, leaning back on her bed.
"Why not? Did Amira keep you up?" Clarke questioned, scooping up Amira.
"I never sleep, at least not well," Lexa responded indifferently. Clarke decided not to push any further.
"Amira should lay on her stomach for a while," Clarke recited. It was one thing she remembered her mother telling her about babies. She took a blanket and moved to the middle of the room. Turning in a few circles, Clarke sighed. "Lexa, why do you have so many candles? There is literally no place to safely lay her down." Lexa laughed.
"I like them. They are warm and aesthetically pleasing. I have always kept my abodes filled with them. It makes them feel like a home." Clarke smiled warmly and handed Amira to Lexa. Carefully, she moved into the living room corner and blew out most of the candles on the floor, moving them before laying down the blanket. Lexa came over as well and laid Amira down on her stomach. Amira instantly put her hands underneath her and tried to pull her head up. "She's strong," Lexa commented, sitting down in front of Amira.
"She is. Maybe she will be the Commander one day," Clarke suggested. Lexa shook her head violently.
"I hope not. I want better for her." Clarke's face grew in confusion. "Being the Commander is limiting. Yes, you have power, however you are forced to give up the things important to you. Being the Commander means making impossible decisions that inevitably hurt the ones you care about," Lexa explained, unshed tears threatening to well in her eyes. She quickly blinked them away.
"Okay, so not the Commander, but a warrior for sure," Clarke said, gently helping Amira begin to turn onto her back. Lexa smiled, standing abruptly. Once again, she opened the closet but moved to the back, rummaging through some boxes. "What was Adi talking about when she said the falls?" Clarke asked.
"It's a place the Commander has control of, a ring of waterfalls. I can take you sometime if you wish. It's beautiful," Lexa said.
"I'd like that," Clarke replied softly, thinking best not to ask about why this week was so important. She picked Amira back up. Lexa smiled, walking out of the closet with a small furry looking blob in her hand. Lexa held it out to Amira and Clarke could make out what it was - a type of teddy bear, fashioned from real bear fur.
"It was mine when I was a child. It feels right to pass it on," Lexa said, gently taking Amira from Clarke. Amira yawned and Lexa did the same.
"You need a nap, both of you," Clarke said, laughing. Lexa nodded, laying herself down on the couch and gently holding Amira to her chest. The pair fell quickly asleep. Clarke quietly left the room, walking to her own room to grab her sketchbook and some charcoal. Returning to Lexa's room, Clarke began to draw the pair fast asleep in front of her. Clarke smiled, her mind wandering as she drew. First, she thought of all those that she had lost and those Lexa had lost, at least those Clarke was aware of. Then she thought of a life with Lexa and Amira, a life of peace, a life without war, without fear. One that could only exist in her dreams, sadly.
"Maybe in another life," Clarke whispered into the silent room.
A/N Hope you enjoyed this chapter I always love hearing from you guys so feel free to comment ideas or anything really. Thanks for reading.