A/N Thanks so much for the interest in this story! I wrote this chapter to the song Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran. I highly recommend listening to it while reading. Enjoy!

It's time for a proper introduction.

The blonde's heart is racing as her eyes flit from Lexa to the window exposing the current elements. The snow has not slowed and it's going to be hard to drive in a couple of hours. The blonde makes a mental note not to linger long. Finish your drink and then leave!

As she approaches Lexa, the brunette looks up from her conversation and holds her gaze. She lets a small smile fall over her face before graciously bowing out of the discussion she's having. Lexa locks eyes again with the blonde and walks towards the customer she saved from Lincoln.

She knows Lincoln meant no harm. He is a playful flirt and on the rare occasion, he forgets himself. That being said, there is nothing that will change how strongly she feels that all customers are to be treated the way they desire.

Deflecting an unwanted advance is exhausting and not everyone comes to a bar to meet someone. Some people just want a drink and a moment to think. If they're in the mood to carry on, then Lincoln can by all means have some harmless fun.

No touching though. This is a classy establishment with boundaries and standards. End of discussion.

Lexa looks at the her gently with slate green eyes and the blue-eyed blonde feels her heart beat and throb in her throat.

Lexa bows her head slightly in familiar acknowledgement. "Hello again. Everything alright?"

She is very protective of her customers, the blonde thinks to herself. She's confidant that Lexa is like this with everyone, but she finds herself hoping the special treatment is for her and her only.

The feeling bubbles up inside her and bottlenecks at her tongue. "Oh, yes. Hello. Fine. Everything is fine. I, I just wanted to say thank you again. For the drink."

"You're welcome again. For the drink." Lexa's mouth was straight and serious but her eyes were attentive and warm.

"And I wanted to let you know who I am."

Lexa tilted her head curiously with half a smirk. "And who are you?"

Oh my god. You are such an idiot. Pull yourself together, Clarke.

"I'm Clarke." A nervous, steadying smile across her face as she reaches out her hand towards the brunette.

Lexa takes her hand and shakes it slowly and with intention. "Lexa." She says as she dips her head in respect again, hiding the huge grin plastering her face. When she raises her head, the grin is all but gone.

The touch of Lexa's hand sends a hot, exhilarating rush through Clarke's body, so understandably, she doesn't want to let it go. When their contact does break after what feels like minutes, Clarke's hand feels icy, cold, alone.

They stand looking at each other in awkward silence, struggling with wanting to both toe the line and speed right past it.

Hoping to savor this moment for as long as possible, Clarke breaks the quiet with the first discussable subject she can think of: the weather. The subject small talk was built upon.

"I'm surprised it's so crowded given the amount of snow falling. It's going to be treacherous to drive shortly."

Lexa's eyes span around the room and return to meet Clarke's. "Yes. Most that are left either live within walking distance or have a 4x4."

"Do you live within walking distance?" Clarke asks, surprising herself with such forwardness but she is greedy for all the information this woman is willing to feed her.

"I do not. I am in the 4x4 camp." She smiled. "Which camp are you in?"

"4x4."

A small smile comes over Lexa's face. "Well, I hope you don't live far."

"Not too far. About 10 minutes or so."

Lexa nods. "Me too."

The tension between the two women grows every second that passes. They are nervous with one another yet there is an underlying comfort that can clearly be felt.

"I love Christmas." Clarke gushes as her eyes take in the slight touches of the holiday that are peppered around the bar.

"Then you should come to the Christmas party we're having here on the 21st." A silent pleading in her eyes. Lexa adds, "It's an annual tradition and I think you will be very pleased. There will be more Christmas then you know what to do with."

Clarke laughs gently as she catches the silent request. "I would love to. Sounds amazing." Her eyes promising that she will be anywhere Lexa wishes her to be.

The brunette smiles a radiant smile that nearly blinds Clarke. Her heart is still in her throat and beats feverishly to make it's way out, desperate to escape Clarke's body and jump into Lexa's mouth. Wanting to devour the gorgeous, strong, kind, elegant, sexy woman standing in front of her.

Lexa!

Both women startle out of the tense and wonderful moment to turn and see a tall blonde woman waving for Lexa to come over to her.

Lexa gives a nod of understanding and puts her hand up with her pointer finger out, signifying she needs one more minute.

Lexa turns to face the blonde in front of her. "Well, Clarke, looks like it's time for me to leave. It was a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to our paths crossing again. Hopefully that will be in a few weeks."

"Me too. Great meeting you as well. It will be. I'll be there. Here. I'll be here." She shakes her head and smiles, amused at her own ridiculous behavior. Giddy school girl.

They shake hands once more and once more the heat builds up in Clarke's cheeks. Oh sweet, smoldering heat.

After saying goodbye to Lexa, Clarke takes her time making her way back up to the bar. She is in a daze and doesn't want to shake herself out of it just yet. She can't seem to stop smiling and she doesn't want to. It's been a very long time since someone has made her blood rush like this.

Lincoln sees her coming and has her jacket waiting for her. Once she reaches the bar, he anxiously asks, "Did she vouch for me?" Clarke can't help but find his eagerness is endearing at this point.

Before Clarke can answer, she sees Lexa walking towards the door. The tall lanky blonde that called for her has an arm around her waist. Lexa gives the woman a smile and she in turn gives her a kiss on the lips.

Clarke takes this in with a hard, puncturing swallow. Her heart no longer in her throat, it is now at the bottom of her boot, slowly, viscously being crushed into a million, tiny, devastated pieces.

Clarke looks at Lincoln for half a second and then focuses back on Lexa and the mysterious blonde. She's speaking to him but still entranced at the exit. "Oh, no. I'm sorry. I… forgot."

She makes full eye contact with him and directs her eyes back to the door, intending him to follow. "Hey, who is that blonde with Lexa?"

"That's Costia, Lexa's wife."

Fuuuuuck. "Of course it is." She says mostly to herself in a barely audible murmur.

"Have they been married long?" Not like it matters.

"4 years."

Clarke takes a large gulp of her drink to finish it off. She's ready to call it night after that glorious buzz kill. She slinks off the stool, barely motivated to move but manages to land on her feet and get her jacket on.

She turns to Lincoln with a huge sigh of defeat. She is not sure how true her next words are. "See you at the Christmas party."

Lincoln gives her a soft smile. "Yeah. See you there. With your friend?"

"With my friend." She says as she forces the smallest of smiles and tries to hide how deflated she feels. There really is no hiding it. Clarke wears her heart on her sleeve… and her face.

She gives him a generous tip and with her head hanging, makes her way to the door. Why the hell do I care so much? She's nice and all, but shit. Come on, now.

The cold blast that greets her is refreshing and welcome. Her blazing cheeks begin to cool and she is able to take steadier breaths.

Once she is in her truck, she leans her head back to take in the entire night in a few deep, healing breaths. She takes one last deep inhale and after she lets it all it out, she says aloud, "Fuck it."

With that, she turns on the ignition, carefully pulls out into the road and heads home.