After taking Octavia back to her room to rest, Bellamy decides to talk with Clarke. He finds her in the library, she is sitting on a footstool immersed in a book on ancient history. She lifts her head from her book and smiles at him, he sits down next to her.
- I know about Octavia and the baby.
Clarke sighs with relief, it's about time, she was finding it harder and harder to hide it from Bellamy.
- Did she finally tell you?
Bellamy pouts before answering.
- No not really, I saw her outside preparing the herbs, and all of a sudden it was as if she was absent, she put a hand on her belly and I started to understand.
- I'm sorry I didn't tell you Bellamy, but I had promised Octavia to keep it a secret and I didn't want to complicate things any more than they already were. It was a shock when she found out she was pregnant, and the fact that she was sick most of the time didn't help. She didn't want to tell anyone, probably for fear that others would judge her or ask her what happened with the anomaly. Stress is bad for the baby so I didn't tell you. I'm sorry.
- I don't blame you Clarke. I just wish I could have been there for her when she needed me.
- She still needs you, Bell, and she will when the baby comes.
- I hope so. How's she doing? I mean medically?
- Better, that nausea seems to have subsided, her iron levels are very low, but with more meat or fish it should stabilize. The ultrasound didn't reveal any problems with the baby, which is a good sign.
- I will make sure she eats better. He pauses and continues. You know, she and Lincoln were really happy in the anomaly, they had just gotten married, and I'm sure they would have started a family quickly if they had stayed there. As proof, I would be an uncle in a few months. We had decided to leave Floukru to build our own camp, Lincoln, Octavia, Harper, Monty, Jasper, Miller, you and me. We wanted to live in peace, and trade with other clans. Arkadia was horrible, the last news we had from it was not good, Pike was holding the camp, and his hatred for the grounders was still there. Your mother, Kane, Jackson, Miller's father and a few others left for Polis, Roan decided to take them in and protect them. And you and I, he hesitates for a moment and continues, we got very close, we spent a lot of time together.
Clarke listens carefully to Bellamy, she opens her mouth like a goldfish and closes it again. It takes him several minutes before understanding and assimilating all this information.
- Is that why you broke up with Echo ?
- I didn't know where I stood. I know you're not that Clarke, I'm not asking you to be. But being with her has opened my eyes. I've loved you Clarke, for years, leaving you on Earth alone has been a heartbreaker. Echo helped me cope, I loved her, but I know that now it's not the case.
It came out of the blue, he didn't expect to reveal his feelings to her. Clarke puts a hand on hers and shakes it in a burst of affection.
- Thank you for telling me the truth. But I need some time to think about all that.
He leaves the room, after that day, determined to support his little sister as best he can.
The next morning when Octavia comes out of her room she is surprised to see her brother moving his things into the room next door.
- Bell what do you make? she asks in surprise.
- I'm moving in here, I want to be close to you and I could help you with the baby.
Although delighted, Octavia doesn't want her brother to feel obliged.
- That's really nice of you. But you don't have to, I can handle it.
- I know, but it makes me happy and then I'll be the only uncle, so I want to be sure to ensure and claim with pride my status. He said with a broad smile. Did you sleep well? he asks hesitantly. I
he doesn't want to cover for her, and he doesn't want her to think he doesn't trust her to take care of his child. But it's a novelty for him and for everyone else to have a pregnant woman in their midst. He takes her in his arms and kisses her on the forehead, she wraps her arms around him and puts her head on his chest, he missed this moment of tenderness between brother and sister.
- I think it's time I told everyone. I have more and more difficulty in hiding my belly. She says by laughing and by placing a hand on it which reveals the curve of this one.
- I finish putting away my things and I join you in the dining room. I will be with you if you need support.
- Thank you.
Everyone is having lunch when Octavia arrives, Clarke gives her a big smile and invites her to sit next to her. Octavia begins to eat, a kind of deer stew with vegetables, even if the meat is still painful, she forces herself, her baby needs it and she doesn't want to put it in danger. Bellamy joins them, he sits down in front of his sister, she looks at him and he sends her all the courage he can. She clears her throat to attract the attention of her comrades and finishes by this hesitant launch.
- I have something to tell you. Something that I hide you since several weeks. She inhales deeply, closes her eyes, blows out, opens them again. I am pregnant, almost 5 months. It happened in the anomaly, Lincoln is the father.
She sits down, everyone is in shock. Indra looks at her with obvious astonishment on her face, but also understanding, now she understands why Octavia didn't want to train with her anymore. Murphy is about to make a nasty comment, but Emori elbows him right before. She may not understand everything Octavia had to do in the bunker or how she became Bloodreina, but she seems out of sorts enough without Murphy adding to it, he can be particularly hurtful when he wants to be. Miller congratulates her and seems genuinely happy for her. Raven and Echo say nothing, but smile at her. Gaia's eyes widen and she can't get over the shock of this revelation. When the meal is over, Indra asks to speak to Octavia, and they stay alone in the room while the others go about their business or finish cleaning up.
- I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Are you mad at me?
- No, I'm relieved that you're not sick. Lincoln would be proud of you, he would be happy to be a father, it was one of his wishes. Indra said as she took her mentee's hand and squeezed it. How are you feeling?
A tear runs down her face, she is happy that Indra takes it so well. She considers her as a mother.
- Better, the nausea is mostly gone, I still have some, but nothing like before. Yesterday I could feel the baby move for the first time. It was really strange.
- Is Jackson taking care of you?
- Yes and Clarke too, they have both been very present and helpful. I don't know how I can thank them for everything they did for me.
They remain a moment in silence before Octavia decides to find Clarke. She's ready to find out what sex her baby is.
She finds her outside, sitting on a tree trunk, looking deep in thought. She sits down next to her.
- Hey, am I bothering you?
- No, I was just thinking. How are you doing? Jackson told me you smelled the baby.
- Yeah, since yesterday. He says it'll be more distinct soon. Actually, I want to ask you something. Now that everyone knows, I think it's time for me to project, and I want to know the sex of the baby.
Clarke smiles broadly.
- A boy.
Octavia starts to cry, with joy and a little sadness, she wishes Lincoln were with her.
- I hope he gets her eyes. she says between sobs. I miss him so much Clarke, every day I think of him. I feel like my heart has been fixed.
For the first time since all these years, she can finally let the tears flow, the war is finished, she is not obliged anymore to be strong all the time. Clarke takes her in his arms and tries to comfort her as well as she can. She understands, more than Octavia can know, that she misses Lexa every moment. The few moments they spent together remain in her memory, sometimes her memories give her a warm feeling and sometimes it tears her heart apart. Now Lexa is gone, she's not coming back, so she can afford to love again. Bellamy's words are still in her mind, and even though he can never replace Lexa, and she will never love him as much, she knows deep down that some feelings were born between them over time. Yet God she hated and despised him when they first arrived. Yet she got to know him, to understand him and discover the real him.
Clarke looks at her, her sobs have finally calmed down. She grabs the chain around Octavia's neck, pulls the ring off and puts it on Octavia's ring finger.
- You should wear it, it's what he would want. No matter what others think, this baby is a chance to keep a connection with Lincoln, and this ring will show everyone how much you loved each other and were happy together.