Abby looked around the small cabin Clarke had been calling home curiously. At her daughters request she sent the two guards back to Arkadia with a message that she was fine and would be returning in the morning.

"This is nice, I can't believe you just found this in the middle of the forest."

"I didn't." Clarke smiled, "I built it myself. When I was in Polis I had some spare time so Lexa arranged for me to speak with the hunters and learn how to live away from the cities. "She said that after my three months on the run as Wanheda that I needed to learn how to do it properly because I was appalling."

Abby gave a soft smile in return, "It sounds as though she cared about you very much."

Clarke swallowed the retort that she still cared about her, knowing that it wouldn't get her anywhere until Abby believed that Lexa was really alive and currently taking a nap outside the front door of her cabin.

"Lexa as the Commander was smart, and unapologetic. But when we were alone…she was warm, and gentle and so open. The phrase wearing your heart on your sleeve was made for her. I always knew what she was thinking." Clarke explained softly, "And she never asked me to apologize for anything I did, she knew that the choices I made were ones I believed to be necessary, her belief in me kept me sane I think."

There was a long silence as both of them thought about was Clarke had just said as Clarke busied herself with cooking a simple stew, making enough for three people and then seconds if anyone was still hungry afterwards.

Abby just sat at the table quietly, mulling it all over, she hadn't particularly liked the Commander, but apparently she had been seeing a completely different person to the one her daughter had.

After tossing a few spices into the pot, Clarke pulled out three uneven bowls and set them on the table.

"Clarke I-" She started sadly, cut off as Clarke's head snapped upwards towards the door as it creaked open.

Seeing the dead Commander stepping through the door was the most surreal experience of her life.

The tall brunette was wearing just a simple pair of pants tied off at the waist and a far too big for her shirt with the long sleeves rolled up to her elbows.

"I am honoured that you set me a plate Clarke." Lexa said teasingly as she let the door swing shut behind her. "I was starting to think that raw animals during the day were the only meals I was going to get for the rest of my life."

"You say that," Clarke smiled, leaning in to give her a soft, tender kiss before waving her hand for Lexa to sit down next to her mom, "But I noticed a suspicious absence of fresh fruit and bread this morning when I woke up."

Lexa just shrugged in answer, "If you don't want wild animals raiding your kitchen then you should train your body to wake up at the slightest noise."

Clarke rolled her eyes, "Or you could just leave a note of what you took so I won't go searching for things and finding them missing."

Shrugging, Lexa just helped herself to a bowl of stew and starting eating. "Your mother looks like she's about to faint."

Suddenly remembering that her mother was in the room with them, Clarke looked up at her worriedly, "Mom I'm so sorry, you ok?"

Abby nodded hesitantly, "I think so, how the hell is this possible?"

Lexa looked up at her and smiled softly, "We don't know, all we know is that I am not dead and I get to protect Clarke with no other responsibilities to sway my judgement."

Quirking her head to the side, Abby stared at Lexa.

"What?" Lexa asked her patiently, aware of the eyes on her as she went back to eating.

"Nothing. I just find it interesting that that's how you choose to describe all this." Abby remarked.

Clarke looked at Lexa herself this time, curious to hear what she was going to say.

Deliberately, Lexa set the spoon down to the side of the plate and looked at Abby seriously, "I did my best to protect Clarke, I made decisions I wouldn't have otherwise. But if it had been all my people or her, I wouldn't have lifted a finger to save her."

Abby began to look enraged but Lexa just waved a hand impatiently. "Don't presume to lecture me on things you know nothing about. One sacrificed for many is a small price to pay, and it is one I would be bound by duty to honour."

"That being said," She breathed out, glancing at Clarke lovingly, "It would have been the hardest thing I ever had to do. The second being the night I left Skaikru in the Mountain because that's what was best for my people."

She looked back at Abby, tapping the point on her stomach were the bullet had hit, "But I died for them, and helped Clarke find the kill switch in the City of Light, my debt to them is paid. And now I am free to do what I want, what I choose, for the first time in my entire life. And I choose to love Clarke, no matter what form that takes, and if one day she finds another who can spend the days with her as well as their nights, I will love her still. Clarke will never be unprotected as long as I am alive."

Abby looked completely taken aback by the sincerity and intensity of what Lexa was saying and her conviction, but it was Clarke who was the most affected, shaking her head fiercely, "Never, that won't happen. I'm never going to leave you."

Lexa gave a low chuckled, "I believe that you mean that now, and it may be the case. But I would never ask you to tie your life to me forever Clarke. If one day you wish to go, then you can do so without guilt."

"You're an idiot." Clarke laughed, pulling Lexa out of her chair and wrapping her arms round her, "We never needed words anyway, so it doesn't matter if for half the time you have four legs and enormous teeth."

"Good." Lexa grinned, with a sigh of relief, "Because I really didn't want you to take me up on that offer anyway."