The reviews dropped for the last chapter which didn't do a lot for my motivation BUT I'm enjoying writing this too much at the moment to give up, so even if not many of you are reading, I'll try and update for those who are (-: Pls review and let me know what you think!

Clarke's POV

By the time nightfall came around that afternoon, the bruises on my back felt like someone was repeatedly punching me, every move I made. Unfortunately the day had been filled with little injuries, at least two broken bones, seven deep splinters, countless cuts and contusions and a few headaches and fluey symptoms. Octavia had been extremely helpful, she had taken to the whole healing side, very well. It seemed like she had some sort of natural knack and I was relieved to be able to pass some of the weight onto someone else's shoulders. Raven also came in and offered a hand halfway through the day, offering to help create salves and helping us to come up with ways to effectively store the medicine we had managed to create. I had a feeling she was just trying to escape something, I suspected Finn, as she demanded to be kept busy and happily carried out any tasks that needed doing, even those more unpleasant, such as boiling and cleaning used rags and bandages.

It was so nice to have a sense of comradery between us girls; Bellamy might have his tough, 'heroic', military posse but I was infinitely grateful for the little trio Raven, Octavia and I had coincidentally become.

"I hear we are being treated to some form of meat tonight," Raven said as the three of us climbed out of the drop ship, "The boys were finally successful enough in their hunting endeavours to catch enough food for everyone to have a portion."

"Ah, I could cry." My mouth was watering, having eaten nothing since breakfast that morning, I was in desperate need of a substantial meal. It was also later than I'd thought and most of the camp was deserted, obviously having already had their meal and headed to bed.

"I also heard that Monty finished a new batch of moonshine," Octavia grinned, bumping her hip into mine, "Time for you to have a break and loosen up huh?"

I rolled my eyes, and grabbed a bowl from the small pile that sat beside the fire. Secretly the idea of not having to think too seriously for a moment was incredibly inviting.

Two of the guys who's names I didn't know were carving up the meat with their knives and serving the remaining line of people who were milling around; for a moment I felt as though we were in the Ark, lining up to be served our specific rations, no fear that death could be tomorrow. I smiled as my portion was served and moved to sit on a log a little further away from the fire, waiting for Octavia and Raven to join me.

Unfortunately, someone else took the advantage of me being alone.

"How are you? I heard you were injured?" The concern in Finn's voice, nudged at the defences I'd put up in order to keep him out, knowing he legitimately cared, only made things worse.

I sighed, there was no use in being rude.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking." I tried to keep my voice as level and neutral as possible without sounding offensive.

He nodded, his brown eyes boring into mine, his hand unconsciously shifting the food around in his bowl, "Is there worry that the grounders will attack closer into camp now?"

I shrugged as Raven and Octavia approached, Raven eyeing her boyfriend in something that was almost annoyance, "I guess, but there's always been that possibility."

"Hey," He greeted Raven with a small smile, "Where were you today, I was looking for you."

She half-shrugged, taking her place beside him, looking tense and uncomfortable, "I helped out in the medical bay, I needed a break from making bullets so I left Jasper to it."

He nodded, fidgeting awkwardly as he sat between the three of us, "I'm going to go and talk to Jasper about the grounder stuff, I uh, I'll see you back at the tent Raven."

She sent him a small smile as he left, letting it slip off her face as soon as he turned away. We ate quietly for a few moments before I broke the silence, "Raven, are – are you alright?"

She was silent for a moment, chewing slowly, "I guess, I mean, things are different with Finn," She glanced at me, as if worried she might say the wrong thing, "Obviously, I just, I'm not sure that us being together is the best thing for me right now."

It was strange to be discussing Finn with her and I could tell that Octavia felt mildly uncomfortable to being involved as well, but luckily we managed to have a fairly open discussion, and I realized that Raven in no way blamed me for what had transpired between Finn and I.

"This may not be any of my business," Octavia cut in, sweeping her long hair behind her ear, "But if you're unhappy, maybe you should take a break. It doesn't necessarily mean it's over for good, but it allows you to get your thoughts together."

I glanced over at the younger girl. She had changed so much in the past couple of weeks since we'd been on earth; I mean we all had, but there was something about her, as if her naivety had been worn down, and the woman within her was taking over. She was only a couple of years my junior and I was amazed by her growth and the way she was handling the treacherous situation we'd managed to find ourselves in.

It was strange, how the earth had forced each and every one of us to change in different ways, some for better - I considered the Blake siblings, some for the worse - I considered Charlotte and perhaps Finn. It never would have crossed his mind to betray Raven before Earth, the atmosphere made the mind make strange decisions.

"I have to go and check on your brother," I sighed, rising to my feet and wiping my sticky fingers on my jeans, "Make sure he hasn't accidentally re-injured himself."

"Here, you might need this," Octavia passed me a cup of what I assumed was moonshine, "It'll stop you from chopping his head off."

I laughed, downing the liquid all at once, only cringing slightly as it burned my throat.

Raven raised her eyebrows in my direction, a smile quirking up the corner of her lip, "That'll hit you later,"

I shrugged, passing the cup back, "I hope so."

"Who are you?" Octavia laughed.

"I'm the princess." I grinned, exaggeratedly flipping my hair over my shoulder and marching toward Bellamy Blake's tent.

It didn't hit me until I was a few feet away from his tent that Bellamy might have company. My hand hovered near the flap, weighing up my options; I couldn't hear anything so I prayed it would be just him.

Thankfully the site that greeted me was one empty of slim brunettes. Bellamy lay on his stomach, still fully dressed, his boots still attached to his feet and his jacket still zipped up to his throat, the side of his face buried in what appeared to be my blanket.

"Bellamy." I whispered, crouching beside him and gently shaking his shoulder with my hand.

He didn't budge. I suddenly realized how utterly exhausted he must have been, to fall asleep in his clothes initially and then not even move when I shook him – I knew he was usually a fairly light sleeper.

Feeling guilty, I shook his shoulder a little harder, my fingers finding their way to the cut on his cheek. I assumed he had received it in the tussle, but with the presence of his more serious injuries I hadn't even noticed. I let my finger slide gently over the puckered skin, feeling his cheek move slightly beneath my hand. I pulled my hand away quickly, "Bellamy." I repeated a little louder.

He mumbled slightly, his nose crinkling and air blowing out of his mouth, "What?"

I smiled gently at his determination to remain asleep and the fact that he didn't feel the need to open his eyes.

"I need to check your stitches, I'm sorry," I said softly, resting my hand on his shoulder, "And you should probably take your shoes off."

The corners of his mouth turned up and his cheeks dimpled slightly, eyes fluttering open and settling on me, "Shall I undress for you princess?"

I smiled, "If it'll enable me to check your stitches than yeah."

He exhaled in a half-laugh, and pulled his upper body up so that he was in a sitting position, "Mood ruiner."

Something inside me twisted in response and I shook my head to hide my flushed cheeks.

I realized as he pulled his jacket off, that we were in such close proximity, that I could feel the warmth emanating off his skin, he was so close that I could reach out and press a hand to his chest and still have a crooked elbow.

"Do your worst." He muttered, lifting the edge of his shirt up and wincing slightly when the wound stretched.

I leant forward, running my fingers along the red, puckered line, feeling his eyes burning into my head, "It looks pretty good actually, which is surprising considering you were sleeping on your stomach."

"Yeah I didn't really think that through," He admitted, "I don't even remember really getting into my tent, I just kind of collapsed."

"Too much of Monty's moonshine?" I suggested.

He bumped his shoulder into mine, laughing in a way that made my stomach flip backwards onto itself, "No!"

I grinned back, leaning away.

He seemed to realize what he'd done and a veil seemed to drop over his eyes and he looked away, dropping his shirt, "Well, thanks, am I free to sleep?"

I nodded, the amusement sliding off my face, my hands dropping to my sides.

The atmosphere seemed to change in the room and guilt flickered across his face, "Have your sleeping arrangements improved?"

I smiled wryly, "Nah, I'll be needing my blanket back."

He shook his head, as if he was trying hard to keep a smile off his face, "It's my pillow now," Teasing seemed like a new shirt on him and I decided it suited him.

I shrugged, putting on my best 'this is inevitable' face, "Well I'll just have to take your comfiest blanket with me instead."

This time he let the smile slip across his lips, "I can't let you do that."

I searched for something to say, the way he was looking at me sent my heart into a strange jagged frenzy, I had never seen him smile so much in one setting. It was as if the sleepiness had created a haze around him, one that allowed him to forget the demons that haunted him, for just a moment.

"Seriously Clarke, you can stay here again, there's plenty of room and it'll be bloody freezing in that drop ship, there is something to be said for body heat." The joking tone was gone as he gestured around his tent.

Clarke. Not princess, for once. Clarke

Bellamy's POV

I saw Clarke hesitate and panic flickered through me, what if she thought I was trying to lure here into having sex with me? The idea that she would think of me that way felt like being slapped.

But then she nodded, her eyes flickering around the tent, sending me a small smile, one that cut through the part of me that wanted to remain withdrawn and cold.

"Yeah, that's probably best," She said simply, untying the laces of her boots and placing them near the front of them tent, yanking her thick socks up until they covered the bottoms of her pant leg.

I manoeuvred the blankets so they created a sort of nest, and sent her an apologetic look, "I know it's kind of small but I figure we're better off if we don't skimp on blankets, neither of us needs to get frostbite right now."

"It's okay," She replied softly, tugging her jacket off her shoulders and snuggling into one corner of the blankets, being careful not to lie directly on her bruised back.

I pulled my own boots off and lay down beside her on my back, careful to keep the tiny gap of distance between us as I pulled the spare blankets over the both of us.

Any need to keep myself both physically and emotionally distant from Clarke disappeared as she nestled deeper into the blanket, her knees pressing against my thigh and one of her hands resting on my arm, "Relax Bellamy," She whispered, her breath tickling my ear, "This is purely for warmth."

I let my muscles relax and curled so that our legs were tangled together, my hand moving so that it was resting gently on her lower back, warm radiating through my body.

She sighed in contentment, pressing her cheek into the crook of where my shoulder met my neck, the cool tip of her nose sliding against my collarbone.

Longer chapter + more bellarke? = an earned review, yes ? (; heh if you can spare a sec that'd be awesome fellas xxx