Author's Note: The response to my last chapter was awesome. Thank you for understanding that I need a day off now and then as well as those that promised to stick with me to the end, how every many chapters down the road that ends up being. I did end up writing a one-shot during my day off so check it out - "The Thin Line Between Love and Hate".
Now on with this story….
(BELLAMY)
He didn't know what he had been expecting to find when they got here but whatever it was, it wasn't this.
This was large pieces of metal engulfed in flames. If it had once a ship, there was no trace of that structure. It was like the metal imploded on itself, jagged steel twisted every which way.
The crash had created a crater in the ground that looked to be around at least a 50 feet down and maybe half a mile in length, if not more. The ship must have traveling at an extremely high rate of speed to create such a large impact area.
There was no safe way to get down and they didn't have any rope to lower themselves down so all they could do was watch it burn.
Bellamy heard some of the others in the group calling for survivors but he knew no one could have survived this. They all would've been dead the moment of impact, and if not, the fire and smoke would have killed anyone left alive shortly after.
"We need to go back. There's nothing left here."
"No! There must be someone still alive. We should at check to see if we can save them." Raven glared at him, as if he was to blame for this disaster.
"There's no one here to save Raven! They're all dead!" he tried to gentle his voice seeing that this was clearly affecting her, "And we will be too if we don't get out of here before the Grounders come."
Bellamy could see the conflict clearly displayed on her face. Deep down she knew that there was no one alive but she wanted to hope there was. Maybe she had become closer to Clarke's mom than he realized.
He was saved from having to drag her away when Finn walked over to her and wrapped her in his arms, consoling her. Bellamy didn't hear what was said between the two but whatever it was, it got Raven moving along with the rest of the group.
They moved back at a slower pace than they had left at, the importance of hurrying no longer an issue. It would take them twice as long to get back but for once, Bellamy was grateful for the extra time.
He wasn't in a rush to tell Clarke what they had found. Or rather whom they didn't find.
(CLARKE)
It was agonizing waiting for news of the second drop ship's fate. Deep down, she suspected that it was a lost cause but not knowing for sure, that was the worst.
Octavia had arrived not long after Bellamy had left, true to his word that he would send her.
They spent the next several hours talking, comparing childhood stories about their mothers. Clarke would have thought it would be too painful but it was surprisingly nice, to remember the good times and her mother's love. Octavia seemed to take comfort from her own memories as well.
Clarke told her about the story of when she was a little girl and she had used a marker to draw Earth animals all over the walls. Abby Griffin wasn't pleased about the damage but she had taken the time to tell Clarke about each and every animal.
The story caused her to start tearing up again.
Octavia then told her about how her mother would read stories to her and Bellamy growing up. Her personal favorite stories were about romances between princes and princesses, where the prince would save the princess.
O thought it was romantic but Bellamy would make gagging sounds during the entire story. He would say that the prince was a wimp and the princess should've saved herself.
That made Clarke laugh. That sounded exactly like something Bellamy would say, especially to his little sister, whom he wanted to be strong and independent.
Apparently, he also had thought that the stories where the rebel or peasant won the princess' heart by being a badass were much better.
Clarke was grateful to Octavia for distracting her and giving her comfort in a way not a lot of people would think to do. She felt like maybe she didn't have just Bellamy but a sister in Octavia as well.
The girls spent the rest of the night trading stories back and forth like this. When one told a sad story, the next would tell a happy one.
After awhile, both girls grew sleepy and they curled up in bed. Clarke fell asleep to thoughts of her mom and the good times that they had shared. It was a wonderful way to fall asleep.
(BELLAMY)
It was almost dawn by the time the search team got back to camp. The sun was just breaking through the trees and if his heart wasn't so heavy, he would've enjoyed the view.
It was easy to forgot sometimes about how beautiful their new world was. The feel of the wind drifting through the trees, the smell of fresh rain, or the sounds of chirping birds.
Bellamy took a moment to take comfort in those things before facing his current problem. Telling Clarke that her mom was dead if she'd been on that ship.
He took a side trip to check the communications tent to see if the radio had started working while they've been gone. It was a slim hope of a chance since Monty had already assured them that it wasn't on their side but it was worth a shot for news of Clarke's mom.
When he got there, Bellamy found Monty asleep in the chair. He must have fallen asleep while waiting for contact from the Ark.
He debated waking the boy, knowing that he must be exhausted but needing the information. Besides, that position didn't look exactly comfortable.
"Monty."
The boy woke at the sound of his name and upon seeing Bellamy standing only a few feet away with a grim look on his face, fell out of his seat onto the ground.
He was quickly back on his feet and mumbling his apologies for falling asleep on duty.
"Relax Monty, it's fine. I just wanted to know if the Ark contacted you at all during the night."
"N..no." he cleared his throat. "No contact. I've checked and rechecked everything. It's not us. Something on the Ark caused the dropped connection. Whatever it was, it can't be good."
Bellamy was afraid of that. He had been hoping to have something else to tell Clarke, that maybe her mother was still up on the Ark. And now there was the bigger problem of what else was happening up there.
"Alright. Go get some sleep. Find someone else to replace you here."
Monty looked ready to argue but Bellamy held up a hand, stopping any further arguments. "That wasn't a question Monty. You won't be any good to us if you're dead on your feet. Just...get some rest."
If someone had told him a few weeks ago that he'd spend his time worrying so much about people other than his sister, he would've laughed and then probably punched them. But now, he took the time to make sure everyone was okay.
it was all Clarke's fault.
She made him care about her and like a disease, it spread until he started to care about others as well. Monty, Jasper, Miller, Monroe and it kept going until he worried about the entire camp. Even Finn to a very small degree, though he still didn't much like the guy.
Bellamy made his way back to his and Clarke's tent...wow, it just dawned on him that they were now cohabiting together.
He stopped in his tracks for second to let that sink in. The thought caused an odd feeling in him, one that he hadn't felt for a long time.
Contentment.
Remembering the reason he was out tonight sobered him up and he finished walking to the tent. He paused outside to listen, wanting to know the mood he was heading into so he could be prepared.
When he didn't hear anything, he cautiously headed inside.
The sight that greeted him made his heart expand in his chest. His two loves were lying side by side on the bed, sound asleep. Octavia, his sister and Clarke, his soulmate.
He didn't want to wake them so he sat down next to the bed, content to watch over them.
(CLARKE)
When she woke up, it took her a moment to realize where she was. While she had fallen asleep here before while taking care of Bellamy, it was a different feeling to be here this morning.
The events came back to her in a flash. Saving the Grounder, Bellamy's public kiss, his admission of love and finally, the crashed ship.
It was the last thought that brought the tears back and she sat up, immediately looking for Bellamy.
Clarke found him only a few feet away towards the end of the bed. He was sitting on the ground with his back against the bed and his legs bent. Bellamy had his arms wrapped around his legs and his head was resting on his knees.
He was asleep.
She felt guilty that he had slept that way when he was the one that had gone out to search for the ship while she slept on the bed.
Octavia was still asleep so Clarke slipped from the bed quietly and knelt by Bellamy. She ran her hand through his thick disheveled hair and it woke him. He glanced at her with bleary eyes.
"Hey...you should get in bed and rest. You look exhausted."
"Clarke...your mom..."
"Shhhh...not now. We'll talk later."
She already knew what he was going to tell her by the look in his eyes. They were filled with such pain and understanding but she wasn't ready to hear it out loud right now. So instead, Clarke tugged on his arm and he eventually let her help him up into the bed. She covered him with the blanket and he was asleep within seconds.
It must have been a hard night for him too.
She pulled on her boots and jacket then went outside. There was still plenty of work to do at camp and it was her turn to step up as leader.
I know that there have been several questions about Abby and if she survived. I promise that I will answer them but I'm not the kind of writer that gives instant gratification so I'm afraid you will have to wait. Try not to hate me for it! Anyways, I hope the chapter was satisfactory enough for you all despite the extra day wait. Love you all! Please take an extra moment to review, favorite and/or follow if you haven't already! XoXo ~Becky~