Thanks for all of the reviews! You guys are the best! This chapter has a big reveal! Hope you guys enjoy it! :)
Chapter 18
A month passed in a flurry of activity for Clarke. Bellamy was busy trying to keep the cabin construction on track, searching for Mel, and advising Kane on the Camp Jaha situation. The poor man had made three trips that week alone to confer with the older man about the doling out of chores and dealing with grumbling among campers.
Clarke helped where she could, but taking care of Bryce had to be her main priority. The little boy had to be fed, educated, and watched constantly. So, she wasn't able to help out as she would have in the past.
Even though it felt like she did very little in her day compared to Bellamy, she was still exhausted by the time she crawled into bed each night. Usually she would whisper a quick goodnight to her husband, give him a quick kiss, and then she was out until the sun came up the next morning.
This particular morning as she rolled out of bed, nausea hit her full force. For the past week she'd struggled with light-headedness and an upset stomach. She was afraid she was coming down with something.
She quickly rushed outside, losing her supper from the night before in the bushes beside the cabin. She wiped her mouth, one hand on the exterior wall to steady her as she fought to stay upright.
Clarke was thankful for Bellamy's crazy schedule because he hadn't yet noticed her illness, and she hoped she could keep it that way. She made her way back into the house to find her husband up and readying for his day.
"Good morning", she said with a smile as she entered their bedroom.
"Morning, Princess", Bellamy said as he pulled her to him.
The minute her chest came in contact his, Clarke yelped. Her breasts were extremely tender; something she hadn't noticed until she'd collided with Bellamy.
He looked at her oddly, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, it must be getting close to that time of the month", she said quietly.
Clarke watched as Bellamy winced, and then gave her a quick kiss before rushing from the cabin. After five months of marriage, her period still made him squeamish. She didn't blame him; she didn't really enjoy her monthly visitor either.
"Wait, you didn't eat breakfast", she called after him belatedly.
"I'll grab something at O's", he yelled back.
Clarke went about her morning routine, getting Bryce up and fixing him breakfast. After they finished their food, the blonde with her sudden love of berry filled oatmeal, they headed for the creek to do laundry.
As Bryce played, Clarke scrubbed at Bellamy's work pants. They'd brought down a boar the night before, and this particular article of clothing was covered in dark, dried splotches.
The smell, as well as the repetitive rocking motion as she scrubbed, soon had the blonde running for a wooded area a few paces away. She retched, her stomach roiling violently and her world spinning.
She could hear Bryce calling for her, but in her present state she couldn't answer him. Soon, a gentle pair of hands pulled her hair from her face and rubbed up and down her back.
When she was finished, she simply sat there shivering on her hands and knees trying to breath through each new wave of nausea.
"Do you feel better", O asked.
Clarke shook her head, "No, I think I'm gonna…"
The blonde dry heaved, gagging again and again.
"Is she… Oh, nope. Not done", Raven said as she came upon the scene.
Finally, the heaving stopped and Clarke stood shakily to her feet. Raven rushed forward to help Octavia support their friend when she would have fallen.
"What is wrong with you", she asked hesitantly.
"Don't know", Clarke croaked.
"Did you eat something or…", O started to ask, but was cut off when Clarke shook her head.
Suddenly Clarke groaned, "I'm so stupid!"
"Why", her two friends asked in unison.
"The nausea, fatigue, cravings, and my period is over a month late", the blonde said, her voice quivering slightly.
"That's great! I can't wait for you to tell Bellamy", O gushed.
Clarke smiled, the thought of her husband's happy grin causing a smile to curve her lips.
"You two have to promise to keep this a secret until I tell him!"
Both women nodded in agreement, huge smiles on their faces.
"I can't believe I'm going to be an aunt again", Octavia said in awe.
"The kid is going to be adorable! I don't see how any of us are going to tell it no", Raven said dryly.
Clarke giggled at her friends' antics, warming to the realization that she and Bellamy were going to be parents.
"I can't wait until he gets home tonight", Clarke said with a sigh.
"Momma", a little voice called.
Clarke turned to find her son staring at her with wide eyes, and she beckoned him forward.
"Are you ok", he asked as he wrapped his scrawny arms around her legs, looking up at her with his dark, serious eyes.
"Yeah, baby, I'm fine", Clarke said as she ran a hand through his dark curls.
With his little mind put at ease, Bryce went back to playing in the creek while the three women talked. They discussed the future, and how much fun it would be for their children to grow up together.
Soon it was time to head back, the afternoon sun beginning to make its descent into the west.
"Come on Bryce, time to go", Clarke called.
She walked hand in hand with her son back to their cabin; listen as he talked about the fish he'd seen in the creek. She was only catching bits and pieces of his story as her mind raced to how she would tell Bellamy her news.
She didn't just want to spring it on him; she wanted it to be romantic and memorable. Her mind was still whirling with happy thoughts when they finally reached their home.
Clarke sent Bryce to his room to play while she started supper. The smell of the meat cooking made her queasy, but the thought of Bellamy's reaction kept her from dwelling on it.
He was home just as the sun was setting, the moon and stars glowing in the darkening sky. She could see his weariness in the slump of his shoulders, but the smile that graced his features was bright and settled her racing heart.
All through supper Clarke fidgeted. She rehearsed what she wanted to say over and over again, her excitement growing by the second.
When everyone was finished, Clarke quickly washed the dishes. Instead of telling Bryce his nightly story, Bellamy spread out a plethora of maps and lists all across the kitchen table, his expression becoming serious.
The blonde watched as her son stared at his hero, disappointment clearly written in his dark brown eyes. She dried her hands, leading him to his bedroom where she helped him ready for bed.
"Momma, is Bewamy mad", the little boy asked as he settled beneath his covers.
Clarke gently brushed an errant black curl off his forehead, her fingers trailing down his cheek as she gazed into his sweet face.
"Bellamy's not mad, sweetheart. He's just busy. He's an important man, and with that comes many responsibilities", Clarke explained.
She watched as the little boy nodded. She could tell that he still didn't understand, so she opted for a different approach.
"How about I handle the story tonight", she said with a smile.
And so, she began. She told of the brave knight that her son loved to hear about, and the beautiful princess. Her hands moved animatedly as she told of their adventures, and the love they had for one another.
When Clarke had finished her tale, Bryce's eyes were growing heavy. She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, tucking the blanket snuggly around him before she rose from her place beside him.
"Goodnight little man", she whispered softly.
"Night, Momma", Bryce said with a contented sigh.
Clarke smiled as she closed his bedroom door, turning to find her husband right where she'd left him. She strolled over, moving to stand just behind him. She bent down and kissed him gently just below his ear.
He didn't respond, instead his gaze remained glued to the papers spread before him. It was unusual, that usually always got his attention. Clarke took the seat across from him, chalking it up to his deep concentration.
"Bellamy", she said finally.
"Hmm", he murmured.
"Do you think we could build another room onto the cabin?"
Clarke waited for his head to pop up, understanding lighting his brown eyes. Instead, his head remained bent over his work.
"Why", he asked distractedly.
"Well, we might need it someday", she answered, again waiting for a reaction.
"Someday is a long way away."
Clarke stared at her husband, taken aback by his shortness.
"Well we talked about…"
"I know, Clarke, but we don't need another mouth to feed right now. A baby would only complicate things", Bellamy said, still not looking at her.
"But…"
"I'm busy. You can go on to bed without me if you'd like", Bellamy said gruffly.
Clarke felt as though she'd been slapped.
"Ok", she said quietly before heading to their bedroom.
She got ready in the dark, silent tears tracking down her cheeks. Despair threatened to choke her, and nausea turned her stomach. She lay down facing the wall, not even acknowledging Bellamy when he came to bed not ten minutes later.
She listened to the rustle of fabric as he readied for bed, the mattress shifting as he lay down beside her. She felt his arms come around her, and she wanted to jerk away but she lay still.
"I'm sorry, Princess", came his voice near her ear, deep and contrite, "I know that with O having a baby, all of you probably have babies on the brain. I just don't think it's good for us right now. I'm so busy, and Camp Jaha's a mess. Not to mention that Mel still hasn't been found."
Clarke nodded, refusing to look at him. The minute he saw her face he would know, and she couldn't bear his disapproval.
"I'm really tired, Bell", she said in a shaky whisper.
Bellamy knew he'd hurt his wife, knew that he shouldn't have been so stilted.
"Ok, goodnight sweetheart", he said as he placed a kiss on her bare shoulder, left exposed by her sleeveless nightgown.
"Goodnight", he barely heard her say.
He had been so busy lately, and he had both camps to deal with now. He felt like he was buckling under the pressure, but he couldn't take that out on Clarke. She didn't deserve that.
As much as he believed that, part of him was still angry with her. She knew that he had a lot on his plate. He didn't have time to build onto their cabin!
When she suddenly stiffened in his arms, he pulled away from her all together. Two could play at that game. If she wanted distance, then distance was what she'd get.
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