Chapter 3

A/N: Sorry about the delay folks, got caught up in... life I guess. Here is a quick short chapter.

After a few more coffees, all Clarke was able to find out about Lexa was that she was a loner, loved her pet dog Luna, was fiercely loyal to her friends, especially one named Anya. This frustrated Clarke to quite a degree. No matter what she tried, Lexa just nodded or raised an eyebrow, shrugged in a way that made Clarke want to pull out her own hair or Lexa just remained silent. But Clarke wasn't the one to back down so easily.

Clarke let out a sigh after she had just finished talking about her art teacher, who was now holding an exhibition in the art gallery nearby. Octavia was chugging down her coffee, texting and nodding every now and then at Clarke. Clarke rolled her eyes at Octavia's attention span and glanced at Lexa who appeared to be in a deep thought. Sudden lack of noise made Lexa stop whatever she was thinking and look up from her coffee cup. She found Clarke's piercing eyes looking at her.

"Oh umm sorry, what were you saying?" Lexa asked.

Clarke took a second, "nothing too important, are you ok?" She asked softly.

Lexa shrugged as usual, "it's nothing Clarke".

Clarke sighed inwardly but kept her silence.

"Hey Lex, what happened to that fancy plant you wouldn't let me touch? Locked in some safe vault or something?" Octavia bemused as she turned towards Clarke and continued.

"This one here got a plant from her grandma and was guarding it like it was made of diamonds or something." Octavia laughed.

Clarke's face was red, so unlike her fair skin and eyes almost ready to bulge out. She looked at Lexa, "From your grandma?"

Lexa sighed and nodded.

"It's fine Octavia, just need to change the pot".

"Why? Wasn't that the one your grandma... " Octavia stopped as she received a stern glare from Lexa. "Fine.. I won't ask.."

"Anyways... catch you guys later? Lincoln just won't shut up" Octavia smiled dreamily as she read Lincoln's text and almost rushed out of the café.

Lexa watched Octavia leave and looked back at Clarke, who looked like she just murdered someone's puppy.

"It's fine Clarke, really.." Lexa urged.

Clarke shook her head, barely keeping her emotions in, "No.. tell me about the plant."

Lexa took a breath and nodded.

"A few years ago, my grandma went to Spain. She found this rare little plant called Paeonia broteri . My grandma used to run a nursery, where she liked making flower pots by her hand and then painting them. She loved her plants and traveled a lot collecting different species.

Clarke nodded as she listened, her heart sinking deeper with each word.

"This particular plant is a rare one and takes quite a lot of time to grow and bloom. But I have seen the flowers Clarke, they are so beautiful" Lexa said with her eyes glistening.

Clarke was on the verge of crying but she kept it in, just barely.

Lexa looked at Clarke's face and stopped abruptly.

"Hey.. Clark.. Look the plant is fine ok? It's at a nursery, I just didn't have time to pick it up. I will though this weekend."

Clarke nodded a few times. Her eyes looking down at the table. "You said your grandma used to run a nursery. She doesn't anymore?" Clark whispered.

Lexa bit her bottom lip, pondering whether she should tell Clarke or not. "She... she passed away last year.."

Tears rolled down Clarke's cheek. She tried to wipe them away, failing miserably.

Lexa cursed herself as she moved closer to Clarke. "Hey.. looks it's fine.. really.." She took Clarke's hand in hers and just held it. She wasn't good at consoling but she just couldn't bare the look on Clarke's face.

"I am really.."

"Stop saying it Clarke, I know you are. It was just an accident."

Clarke nodded.

"This exhibition you were talking about earlier, is it open today?" Lexa changed the topic and she was glad after seeing Clarke's eyes sparkle a little.

"Yess.. You are interested in art?" Clarke wondered.

"I am interested in going with you... and I just need a change.. of sorts.." Lexa tried to cover up the slip up.

Clarke smiled brightly and nodded.

A/N 2: Next one will be about their sort of date/spending time together. As you can see this is a slow burner. Tell me what you think please?