"Clarke, it's your mother, call me when you get a moment… I just need to talk to you." Abby Griffin was pacing the hallway in front of the master bedroom, exasperated at the fact she had already left two voicemails for her daughter earlier this week and had yet to get a response. The stress of work coupled with a mother's worry for her daughter's well being was beginning to show, and she was hoping, albeit a bit guilty at the thought,that Clarke could hear that in the tone of her voice. "Clarke, please. It's important that you call me back as soon as you're able…" she paused, one hand trying to rub the strain of the day from her temple. "I love you, and hope to hear from you soon sweetheart."
Abby Griffin went to her bedroom, paced back and forth a few more times, ideas rushing through her head, and began to plan, either she'd hear from Clarke soon, or she'd get her answers in person. She opened her mostly unused Instagram account, and looked at the face of her daughter, smiling and laughing in a way she'd not seen before both Wells and Jake had passed.
Bellamy was stuck between a rock and a hard place; on one hand, he could attempt to maintain a long distance relationship with Clarke, if she desired, or he could put his pride and his heart on the line and have a more meaningful discussion about their relationship. The time was ticking, there was only about two weeks left until Clarke would need to pack up and return to her life away from Arcadia. He'd been distracted most of the night, and was grateful that majority of his shift was quiet, there had only been two calls to dispatch.
"Trouble in paradise?" Miller asked as they turned down another empty residential block, families tucked in for bed, all is quiet and peaceful lending even more time for the restless energy that is stirring under Bellamy's skin. There was a visible tension held in his friend's posture and a sadness to his eyes that had been absent for the duration of the summer.
Bellamy chewed on his lower lip, unwilling to burden his closest friends with his own romantic woes, but Miller was his best friend, had been for years and if anyone other than Octavia could read him like a book, it was Miller. "Not really trouble, just…" he ran his hands over his face, an aggravated sigh emerging from his lips, "she's leaving town soon and I can't bring myself to want to let her go without asking her what this thing between us really is."
Nathan Miller wasn't the most verbose of their little ragtag group, but that just made him more observant than most. Octavia had recently expressed to him that she was delighted that Bell had found someone he meshed with, having been forever single since his high school sweetheart Gina left for bigger and better opportunities in a bigger city than Mount Weather across the county. It hurt to see everyone Bell loved be separated from him, first his mother, then Gina, and now Miller seriously hoped that fate wouldn't do the same with Clarke. His own boyfriend, Monty, tried to offer him reassurances that Bellamy was in good hands.
"Bell, you really need to talk to her. You can't keep it inside, trying to harden your heart to not feel the hurt. I love you man, but I can't keep riding herd on Murphy if he sees you moping about heartbroken. I know we've only known her for a few months, but Clarke doesn't seem like the type to play games. At least give yourself a chance?"
Clarke looked up from the paperwork she was finalizing, the irony of such being that filling out form after form took longer than it had to see and fix the child's sprained wrist. The medical shows on television always skip over the glamour that is paperwork, and just once could she completely use up a pen without losing it? She ran her fingers through her hair grimacing as she snagged onto a tangle with the pen, while muttering a curse under her breath.
"And that's why I keep my hair short."
Clarke couldn't keep the laughter in as she turned to face Lincoln, cheeky grin on his face as he walked up to the administrative counter, resting one elbow on the counter, causing the teenaged intern to become so flushed Clarke would have been concerned about a rash.
"Have you given anymore thought to the topic of our previous conversation?" Lincoln asked of her, still oblivious to their audience.
"I have, it's been… I've finally come to a decision. I think I have to do what's best for me." She paused, chewing on her lower lip, "You've been so supportive, I'm lucky to have you for a friend."
Before they could continue their conversation, a familiar voice called out from behind Clarke, one she didn't think she'd hear from in person.
"Clarke?"
It was her mother.
Bellamy was restless.
He was grateful that night's patrol was uneventful, he'd kept weighing Miller's words over again in his head. He dropped his duffel as soon as he walked in, the lights in the house off save for the one above the sink signaling no one was home. Gus padded over to him, sniffing at his pants and letting out a whine for affection. Bellamy squat down to pepper kisses and scratches to appease the dog, "lovies" the girls called it. "Hey bud, how's my best bud? I know, I missed you too."
Making their way to the kitchen, Gus' nails clicking on the hardwood floor behind him, the pace increasing when Bellamy approached the fridge. He opened it, grabbing a bottle of Monty and Jasper's latest creation, and the remaining can of wet food for Gus.
"Guess it's just you and me tonight, huh bud? Want some special dinner?" Gus loved his wet food, and proceeded to do what Octavia had affectionately dubbed the dinner dance all the way to his bowl. Bellamy leaned back against the kitchen counter, popped the top off the bottle, before raising it to his lips with an exhausted sigh.
Leaving Gus to happily slurp away at his meal, Bellamy walked to the bookshelf in the living room, reaching to the top shelf for a well worn copy of The Iliad. Gina had given it to him, the day after he'd taken her to the museum in Mount Weather. It was such a corny date, but she'd been so encouraging of his interest, he wanted to share that with her.
He moved the copy out of his bedroom two weeks after they broke up, the summer after graduation seven years ago. He'd been crushed when Gina told him she loved him, but she couldn't stay in Arcadia anymore, she need to do more and start afresh somewhere else where the possibilities were endless. And so, with a parting hug and wistful goodbye, they went their separate ways. He never heard from her again.
He ran his hands over the cover and the bindings, so lost in thought he didn't hear the front door open and close. "How do I ask her to stay, when everyone else has left me?" he muttered, one hand running through his hair in frustration.
"Did you say something?"
Bellamy jumped, the book dropping to the floor with a resounding thud in the silence, he turned around to look at. Clarke, a sheepish smile on her face barely visible in the dark.
"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to startle you, I thought you were asleep since the lights were still out." She said as she put down her purse and keys, and flicking on the light with a practiced ease that screamed of familiarity before continuing on, the flush on her cheeks rising as she excitedly continued.
"I have so much to tell you! You'll never guess what happened today at the end of my shift. My mother, that sneak, walked into the office while I was speaking with Lincoln. How she managed to find me here, I'm not sure if I should be pleased or upset about it, but anyway, she's here and wanted to talk to me about school and interning in the fall. Which is great because I can't wait to tell you the news… I've been accepted to Mount Weather University's med school for the upcoming semester! It certainly helped that I've got excellent grades and references," Clarke begins to ramble on in her excitement, hands gesturing wildly.
Bellamy's trying to process what that sentence could potentially mean for them and he's unintentionally tuned her out until she calls his attention.
"Bellamy? So can I?" Clarke's looking up at him, the excitement has since turned into uncertainty at his continued silence.
"Congratulations!" He sputters quickly, "That's great news. How'd your mom take it?"
"Great, actually. I was worried she'd be upset, but she's had some time to think things through." Clarke moves to sit on the couch, plopping herself down in a way that just screams exhaustion. "She even offered to lease an apartment for me in the city but I told her I was thinking of commuting in. Although that kinda depends on you."
"On me? Why?"
"Well, I didn't want to just assume you'd let me live here once the semester started, but I figured if not here I could always look at Raven's old apartment complex. I like the town, the people are nice. Niko's a great boss. And well, I was also kinda hoping we could see where this-" she gestures between the two of them- "goes?"
"You want to stay here? While commuting to MW? Live and work here?" Bellamy asks, receiving a nod from Clarke at each question. "Yes, you can stay, here, with me."
Clarke reaches for his hand, pulling him to sit beside her, leaning her head against his shoulder. It's nice, just sitting there with him.
"You know, uh," Bellamy starts," I was actually working on asking if you wanted to try the long distance relationship thing. I was so sure you were gonna be leaving here, but I didn't want to just have it end."
"Me either. You know how you just connect with someone? Like two pieces of a puzzle that just fit together? That's us." Clarke smiles when he gives their interlocked hands a reassuring squeeze.
"Besides, I think my mom might have a little crush on Kane. She's already mentioned something about looking for either a house or land nearby so she can come visit me whenever possible. When I left her at Wick's bar they were still talking."
"Think she'll transplant permanently?" Bellamy asked, already imagining his boss trying to find out more about his girlfriend's mother.
"It's possible? I think she might invest in the moonshine though, she liked the kick. The guys are ecstatic at the idea." She let out a jaw cracking yawn, before standing and pulling Bellamy to his feet.
"Guess it's bedtime for both of us." Bellamy glanced at his watch, confirming that it was very, very early in the morning.
"Bed...mmm... Sounds perfect." She remarked as she dragged him to her room, the idea of spending the night cuddled up with her boyfriend on a regular basis put another smile on her face, know tonight wouldn't be their last cozily tucked itself in the corner of her mind as she drifted off to sleep.
Morning dawned bright and early in the Blake household as Octavia bounced into the bed accompanied by a equally excited Gus waking the occupants from their slumber in a less than graceful manner. "Guys, y'all'll never guess what happened last night!" She shouted as she bounced on her knees pulling the covers off Bellamy and Clarke.
"Stop it, O," Clarke pleaded as she shoved the pillow over her own face, "it's too early."
Bellamy throws his pillow at his sister before promptly announcing that she's been out voted and needs to make breakfast and fix coffee before anymore conversation occurs.
"Fine. Fine. But y'all better hurry up." Octavia says pointing at him before flicking her fingers back and forth from them to the kitchen as she flounces from the room.
"Ugh."
"She's your sister." Clarke responds as she climbs out of bed, trudging her way to the bathroom to freshen up.
They've arrived in the kitchen to a fresh pot of coffee, fruit and bagels.
"Okay, so last night…" Octavia rushes into the tale of the drama at the bar but Clarke tunes it out while watching the siblings with one another. She lifts her cup of coffee to her lips, imaging mornings with Bellamy, breakfast and laughter everyday in the her future. I could get used to this.
a/n: I'm sorry it took almost a year to post this, the original chapter never really felt right. I've been sitting on this chapter and the epilogue for quite some time. Fandom drama and what I'd assumed to be lack of interest kept me away. But thank you to the user that messaged me and gave me the motivation to return to toys chapter and make it feel right. I hope you enjoy it.
Happy holidays y'all, epilogue to be posted soon.
