Clarke was certain that a literal pound of glitter was spread across her duvet after her and Ellie's afternoon together. She'd lacked the ability to challenge the girl when Ellie claimed that glitter was magic and made everything better; she certainly hadn't expected Nyko and Niylah to supply the cutie with so much of it, which earned them a playful glare when Niylah came in to survey the damage and take Ellie back home for dinner and homework.

Of course, they'd left without cleaning up the glitter, leaving Lincoln to hold down the fort while Nyko drove the family home, and leaving her bed a sparkling vortex of blankets and covers. She did what she could to shake some of it off, knowing the rest of her people would be arriving soon and probably didn't want to have to do a cavity scan to ensure they were free of glitter after visiting.

Honestly, she wished USCHO had better coverage for women's hockey, their spotty updates ending midway through the second, leaving her wondering how the game had ended, and who was on the ice for a few of the goals. Still, she was sure Raven or Anya would be more than happy to walk her through what she'd missed, even if it was frustrating not being able to even catch it live.

The sound of her front door opening had her ears perking up, only hearing footsteps until the door shut, when a number of voices immediately broke the silence.

"Oh my god it's happening..."

"Was that who I thought it was?"

"Do we have a body bag? I think we're gonna..."

"Everybody stay calm..."

"Oh my god she's gonna kill her, I'll be accomplice to a murder..."

"For real, though, do we have a body bag in this building?"

"What the hell are we gonna do?"

"Stay fucking calm! We're gonna stay calm, that's what..."

Clarke felt a pit searing a pit into her stomach as she heard Octavia, Raven, and Lincoln arguing in loud whispers out by the entrance; she knew her friends could be a bit dramatic, but she hadn't heard any laughter to follow the talk of body bags. That made it all a little unsettling.

Her bedroom door opening just enough for Lexa to peek her head through gave her some semblance of relief, but she could see the clear worry across the brunette's face. "Hey. May I come in?"

Clarke waved Lexa in, feeling a little disappointed that the bedroom door was shut behind her. "What's going on?"

"Nothing you have to worry about. Anya's just...having a talk with a certain someone." Lexa answered, a strange intensity flashing across her face for a moment, letting Clarke take an educated guess as to who was outside.

It was hard to imagine Caris would be told where she lived, which complicated matters further given the antics on Lexa's birthday, but she could definitely imagine Anya giving Caris a piece of her mind, and everyone else maybe being a little concerned about the possibility of murder.

Of course, Clarke knew Anya wouldn't kill a teammate, no matter how angry Anya was at Caris, which immediately helped her relax. "Well then, I'm not worried. I trust her." She said as she gestured Lexa closer. "Why don't you come catch me up on the game, babe?"

Lexa rounded to the far side of the bed, giving the sparkling duvet a curious look before lifting and slipping in under it. "Glitter?"

"Ellie wanted to heal me with magic." Clarke explained, reaching around Lexa's nearest arm and gently tugging her closer. "Gonna be hell to clean up, but I'll let Nyko and Niylah handle that since they were the ones who bought her the big bag of it."

The feeling up Lexa hesitantly curling up beside her immediately had her body tingling with warmth, wishing she could turn her head more and look at her crush. Touch, sound, and smell would have to do for now.

"Before I begin, I will say that I can only be honest, Clarke. I won't exaggerate when I talk about the game." Lexa stated, which she was happy to hear, knowing Lexa would focus on the key details for her. Clarke lifted her free arm have gave a thumbs up, prompting Lexa to continue. "Okay, so in the first period, we more or less got off to a quick start because of a high stick from Monroe about two minutes in. From there..."

Clarke listened to the tale of the game, how the Huskies mercilessly outshot her Eagles across the first two periods, breaking out to a solid lead late in the second. How the Eagles fought back in the third, taking and holding possession for much of it through a few powerplays, but only managing to get within one. A hard-fought effort by the Eagles, but not enough to experience or skill down the middle to contain the Huskies, particularly in the neutral zone or during breakouts.

It always hurt knowing her teammates were disappointed, but there were some good signs of improvement, at least from Lexa's vantage point. Perhaps some more trial by fire hardship would prepare the rest of the squad for tournament season a little better.

Lexa was just about to answer a question on how often Maya cheated off the post when there was a knock at the bedroom door, followed by Octavia slipping in looking positively conflicted, right eyebrow twitching in clear anger.

"O, hey, what's up?" She asked carefully, keeping her eyes fixed on her roommate as Octavia marched over to her dresser and took a few deep, steadying breaths staring into her mirror. It was a little confusing, but more concerning than anything, even knowing Octavia's hair-trigger temper.

"Your mom's here."

The air in her lungs dissipated, body slumping deeper into her pillows at the revelation, suddenly unsure what the think or do with herself, a long dormant sense of yearning mixing with a renewed sense of betrayal, all covered in a fresh coat of exhaustion.

"She wants to see you. Anya set her straight with some ground rules if you want to, you know, talk. But if you want her gone, I'll happily see she gets back on her way to Virginia." Octavia continued, each word escaping like teeth being pulled, her roommate distinctly cracking her knuckles. It was pretty clear where O stood in the matter of handling the potential confrontation.

Clarke reached down and took Lexa's hand, giving it a squeeze. "You were slick. I get why you were evasive, but I could have used some warning." She noted firmly, even if she understood their motivations.

Clearly, they'd encountered her mother, who Clarke had repeatedly discussed with her friends, particularly regarding her abandonment. Anya was fiercely loyal to a fault, so of course she'd bar her mom from entry, and of course the others would see the predictable fury in Anya's eyes and get worried about murder.

Not that Anya would kill her mom. Anya wouldn't take the risk of hurting her, nor of condemning Abby without her having a say in the matter. Her best friend was scary, but predictable in that sense, even if this was scaled up compared to other instances.

Honestly, she'd never expected to see her mom again. With how they left things, how explicit her mother had been about her desire for Clarke to leave and never come back, something like a sports injury didn't seem in the realm of events that could change that sentiment.

So maybe she was curious.

Still, she was stronger now, more resourceful, and surrounded by so much love that even if her heart still had a vulnerable spot or two left for her mother to squeeze, she'd have all the help she needed to heal from it.

"I want everyone in the room." She spoke, immediately reassured by Lexa squeezing her hand, by Octavia's resolute nod. "She may be my birth mother, but I'm a grown woman now. I have a family here. Anything she wants to say to me, she can say it with you all here to hear it."

It was a bit of a risky play, especially if Nyko had returned, but she needed to do this for herself. She needed to stand firm and show that she had who and what she needed in her life.

"I'll gather the forces." Octavia said, quickly slipping out of the room, leaving her and Lexa along for the moment.

Lexa's other hand combed through her hair at a languid pace, and Clarke fought both a wince and the instinct to lean into the gentle touch. "You're a strong woman, Clarke. You can do this...but if you need me, I will be here by your side for as long as you'll allow. We'll all be."

Clarke swallowed back the piercing tension in her throat and gave Lexa's hand another squeeze. "Thank you."

Octavia was the first one back in, taking her place at the dresser again, Lincoln taking up position over by the window. Raven came next, settling in at the nearer side of the bed by the headboard, Nyko joining in and taking up a spot by the door to the ensuite. A few seconds later, Anya came in, stone-faced and intensely on edge, leading a familiar face into her room.

It'd only been a few months, but they hadn't been kind to her mother. If her mom had looked exhausted and on the edge of falling apart back in the summer, that same woman looked like she'd passed that threshold weeks and weeks ago, Abby's blood-shot eyes taking in the familiar sight of the master bedroom for the first time in years.

"Anya, can you come in here with me?" She asked as she patted the spot to her side, her voice immediately grabbing both Anya and her mother's attention. Clarke shifted her attention to the latter. "I can't really move my head well without it hurting, so you need to sit at the end of the bed."

Her best friend quickly made her way to the bedside, pausing as she was about to rest atop the duvet. "Glitter?"

"Ellie cast a healing spell on me." Clarke explained succinctly, earning a few laughs around the room as Anya decided to get under the covers instead.

Anya shot Nyko a pointed look, immediately getting his hands up in defense. "You don't need to tell me twice that I'm in charge of clean-up." He stated, earning a satisfied nod from her best friend.

Her mother, after giving a hesitant glance around the room, settled in at the foot of the bed, shooting her a pleading expression. "Clarke...can we not just talk mother to daughter?"

Hearing the request had the taste of bile building at the back of her throat, but she pushed past that minor nausea, knowing she had to be strong. Clarke swallowed, taking a few seconds to muster enough steel into her voice to set the tone for the next few minutes.

She didn't expect their conversation to be very long, even if she wouldn't force it to be brief. "You gave up that right when you told me I wasn't your daughter, and that you needed me to leave and not come back."

Her mom let out a disbelieving huff, tongue tracing the bottom of her teeth in that familiar quirk of embarrassment. "I said that no daughter of mine does the work you did."

"And yet, here I am. Still doing the thing that strips me of being your daughter." Clarke stated calmly and quickly, wanting to keep her mother on her heels.

Clarke watched Nyko push off the bathroom door, taking a step closer to the bed. "Abby...you disowned her?" He asked, and while she couldn't quite see the expression on his face or see in detail any of his body language, she could hear the horror dripping from each syllable.

It was a good start.

"No, I didn't." Her mom replied, a bit too testily for Clarke's liking. If her mom came to apologize, it wasn't a good start.

"Not legally. That could have taken away some of her leverage over me, so it's nothing official. And it's not like my job's the whole reason, since you fought to keep me from grieving dad's death in any sort of healthy way, and lashed out at me when I did things the right way for me." Clarke explained, jaw setting to the side when her mom rested a hand on her foot.

"I'm your mother. You're just a kid...I know how to handle these things better." Her mother argued with a frayed shred of confidence that couldn't nearly pass as believable.

Clarke pulled her foot away, wincing at the flash of pain from instinctively going to shake her head. "No. You don't." She grit out, waiting for the pain to pass before she continued. "I'm not your patient. I'm a girl who lost her father, and who had a hugely different relationship to him than you. Maybe his music, his love of hockey...maybe those hurt you since they weren't a part of your life, but they helped me heal, because they reminded me of everything he taught me, of all our time together, all the ways he helped me grow. And any time I tried to heal, you sold my equipment, or locked all the music stuff in storage, you kept the trust from me unless I gave up hockey and music and did exactly as you wanted. That's not healthy."

"And selling your body is?!" Abby cried out in frustration, only to bloom red and shoot a worried glance at Nyko.

Clarke heard the subtle sound of him leaning back against that bathroom door. "You think I was born yesterday? Girl in her late teens happens to befriend a lot of men in their twenties to fifties, inviting them up to her apartment? I'm not an idiot, Abby." Nyko let out, sounding more aggravated than she'd heard from him in years. Honestly, Clarke thought she'd been sort of sneaky about it, but apparently not. Still, it was a wonderful surprise to know Nyko seemed to be on her side in the matter. "I thought you were just rebelling, Clarke. Niylah thought so, too, so I figured I'd keep a look-out and make sure you didn't get into any trouble. Make sure you're safe. I didn't think you were holding the goddamn college account hostage, Abby! Jake put his blood, sweat, and tears into that for her!"

"Exactly! I couldn't have her wasting it on a school that would throw too many distractions at her! Clarke needed to focus, and she wasn't, so I held it back until she understood that she had to take her career seriously." Her mom explained, shifting focus between her and Nyko. "You're still not taking your path to med school seriously, Clarke!"

"I'm starting my second semester of undergrad. I'm still really early in, but my grades last semester were at or near the top of my class. I always made sure I could balance my course-load with hockey and work. I'd say that's serious enough." She shot back with a scoff. "Besides, again if I would have gone to Columbia, you wouldn't have said I was unfocused. They don't have a hockey program, and I'd be far away from this condo, so you'd be too happy to send me on my way."

"Studying to be a surgeon takes a tremendous amount of time and effort, Clarke. You can't split your attention and expect to be a serious candidate for a good med school." Her mom countered, offering up the same tired argument from before.

Honestly, the conversation was quickly tiring her out, but she knew it'd have to run its course at this point. With Anya tensing beside her, and Lexa running a thumb over her knuckles, and all the rest of her family shooting her reassuring looks or giving her mom the stink-eye, she at least knew she had their support to draw strength from.

"Did you ever think I might be going into medicine for different reasons then wanting to be like you? I just want to help people. Maybe I don't even want to be a surgeon. Infectious diseases, oncology, endocrinology...all fields I could see myself getting into instead." Clarke noted, doing what she could to ignore her mom's utter shock as soon as the notion of not being a surgeon slipped out.

Her mother reached for her foot again, but Clarke pulled it away in time, arching an eyebrow at her. "Clarke, you'll get eaten alive if you don't go into residency with the right mindset. If you don't aim high, if you're not competitive, you'll never get to where you want to be."

"Pretty sure a doctor's a doctor, and that people don't settle for studying AIDS when they couldn't cut it as a brain surgeon." Octavia chimed in, earning a quick nod from Raven.

"Yeah, failed aerospace engineers don't settle for civil engineering, it doesn't work that way. People go into the fields they're interested in, it's not a competition. It doesn't matter if you're a heart surgeon or cardiologist, you're helping someone's heart." Raven added, leaving Clarke thankful she had so many smart, empathetic friends.

"I didn't come here to fight." Her mom countered weakly, frame slumping as she took a deep breath. "I came here to see if you're alright, Clarke."

Clarke gestured to all of her chosen family, fixing her mother with a firm stare. "My family's taken good care of me. I'm healing up, and my life here in Boston up until now's been pretty great. I have people who love me unconditionally, people who I love so, so much. I've been enjoying most of my classes and my profs. I have a great hockey team, and I'm on my way to earning an invite to the national team selection camp. I'm doing alright."

"However, as any parent will tell you, it's only natural to want the best for their children." Anya chimed in, voice low and stern. "Clarke's struggled enough this year. It's not your job to make life harder for her out of spite."

Her mom let out a tired sigh, frame posturing up slightly, only to slump back a little after a second or two of apparent reconsideration. "Clarke, if you stop working...and you commit to my alma-mater for medical school...then I'll pay the remainder of your schooling for your undergrad."

"No." Clarke shot back simply, and she could feel most of the eyes in the room turning focus to her as her mother stared back stunned. "I'm an adult, I can be trusted with my own decisions. This whole thing started because you couldn't trust me to make the right decisions for my life, or sometimes even couldn't handle my decisions. Whether it was my ways of grieving dad, or choosing school, or my hobbies and passions, or my future career options...everything had to be on your terms, with no argument or negotiations from me. Big change from you and dad raising me to be a responsible young woman that you trusted to know what she wanted and needed in life."

"Clarke..." her mom started, but she needed her mother, even the rest in the room, to understand.

"Listen, you and dad raised me to make a case for what I wanted, and if I was convincing and covered my bases, then I'd get your backing. I remember when I was seven and told you I wanted to be a doctor. I made my case, brief as it was, and you two started the fund for my education. When dad's work needed him to work at one of their offices, I made the pitch for Boston, making my case for wanting to go to BC. You two accepted it, and within a year, dad bought a condo in the city that he meant for me to live in when I went to school. It is why he left it in his will." Clarke stated, those old memories flooding her body with emotion, but she knew she had to continue, to not show weakness. "I already made my case. But since you kicked me out, I've rebuilt my life, handled my finances, excelled in class and on the ice, and got into the best shape of my life. I'd say I've made my case...again...that I've earned your trust with this. This doesn't work for me unless you trust me like dad did, like you used to."

Feeling a headache coming on, and knowing she'd said her piece, Clarke let herself sink a bit into her backrest of pillows, holding Anya and Lexa closer as she settled in. "We can't have what we had, but we can start again. I'd like to call you my mom again. I'd like to have you in my life again. I want to love you again. You may be my mother, but I'm in charge of my life. You have to trust me with that."

Her mother looked, above all else, pained. As her words had spilled out, her mom seemed more affected, struck even, and the call-backs to her childhood had definitely brought tears to the woman's eyes. But the tiny embers of defiance, of pride, burning in her mother's eyes told her that what she said hadn't sunk in entirely yet, if it ever would.

"That's your decision? You'd let me walk away over this?" Her mom asked, her sincere disbelief tearing through the silence of the bedroom.

"I didn't tell you to leave, but if that's what you want then I can't stop you. All I'm saying is if you want to be in my life, you'd have to admit you were wrong about what you did to me, and change your ways to where you could actually support me. Everything that led to you kicking me out, that would need to go. That's the bare minimum...otherwise, yeah, I can't have you in my life. I need people who love me, care for me, and trust me." Clarke answered, letting out a heavy sigh as her mother stared back, not appearing to be convinced. "Look, just go home. Think about it. You know where to find me if you make up your mind."

In a blink, Anya was moving to get up, but Clarke was quick, looping an arm around her best friend's and pulling her back down. "Nyko, can you show her out, please?" She asked, knowing she'd probably have to talk with him and Niylah about a few things, but at least he was defending her.

Jason's eyes were still on her mom, but he nodded nonetheless, waiting with a hand outstretched to Abby as her mom just blinked at her.

"Clarke..."

"The land line's still the same number from when Dad was here." She interrupted, not wanting to hear her mom prolong the discussion, knowing her mom's feet were planted right now, that it might take time to get her to decide not to die on that proverbial hill.

Still, she'd explicitly put the ball in her mom's court. It wasn't like she was forcing her to leave. Her mom could turn around and agree to what Clarke needed of her, she could treat her like an adult and start building their foundation again tonight if she really wanted to. If her mom wanted to love and accept her, the option was there,

Her mom had made her walk away months ago. It was only right to make her mom do the same if she wasn't ready to love her again, if she wasn't ready to treat her like a person again.

Even if it hurt to watch her mother sluggishly get up off the bed, her body filled with relief, knowing the situation was over, at least for now, and that she'd be able to take a breath again.

Her mom stopped by the door, halfway turning around to face her, eyes shining and full of yearning. "Clarke...please, just come home..."

Clarke swallowed and gave Anya and Lexa a gentle squeeze. "I already am." She noted, unable to hide the sadness in knowing the gap between them was greater than the physical distance. At least, for now. "Have a safe flight back."

She watched her mom hesitate as Nyko went to lead her out, eyes pleading with her for something. What, she could only imagine, but it didn't really matter right then. She'd said her piece, made her demands. It was up to her mother to earn that forgiveness and earn a place in her life again.

As soon as the door shut, she was pretty sure everyone else in the room let out a collective sigh, something she would have laughed at if she wasn't still coming down from that tense, confrontational mindset and the fact that her mom had left her again.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry, Clarke." Lincoln spoke, breaking the silence before it stretched on too long.

"Yeah, you deserved a lot better than that." Raven agreed, Clarke watching the genius slowly kneading away at Anya's shoulders, though it did nothing to soothe her best friend's tense frame.

"I'm gonna order some food, because if I don't do something, I..." Octavia started, only to shake her head and march out of the bedroom, Lincoln in hot pursuit.

Clarke was pretty sure 'I would have punched her in the face...repeatedly' was what was left unsaid, knowing O. She didn't really blame her, even if she wouldn't have wanted that fate for her mom.

There was still a chance, after all. A chance her mom could come around.

"Are you okay?" Lexa asked, curling up a little tighter against her; the lack of hesitation in Lexa's affection had her heart blooming and thinking that maybe there was some silver lining to the way the evening started after all.

"Not really, but I will be." She said, holding Lexa close with one arm and cupping Anya's cheek with the other. "I won't let this ruin our plans tonight. And thank you for behaving, Anya."

Anya let out a sharp huff. "She broke every rule. Literally everything I told her not to do, she did."

"That...sounds exactly like my mom. At least, how she's been the past few years." Clarke agreed, giving her legs a stretch now that there wasn't anyone in the way anymore. "I'm sorry, babe. Feel free to pretend the heavy bag is my mother tomorrow at the gym."

She felt Anya nod against her, knowing that her best friend probably wanted to do a lot worse, but wouldn't. She was thankful for her restraint.

"If it makes it any better, we could watch one of those movies you like first, tonight? Like Pacific Rim? Or John Wick?" Raven asked, Clarke quickly giving the thumbs up for that. Something a little higher-octane to start things off would be good. After the day she'd had, she could use it.

"Sounds good, love. Let's go make sure Octavia's getting the food right." Anya noted, leaning in to press a quick kiss to Clarke's cheek before getting out from under the covers and following Raven out of the bedroom.

As soon as the door was closed, Clarke expected some sort of silence to stretch on throughout the room with her and Lexa alone. However, when Lexa smoothly straddled her hips, she couldn't help but gape. And maybe if her hands instinctively came to rest at Lexa's hips, it wasn't her fault or anything, either.

"Is there anything I can do to make it better?" Lexa asked, voice soft and low as she brushed a few tendrils of hair from Clarke's face.

If not for that, feeling Lexa's digits brush against her forehead as they trembled, she might not have put all the pieces together in time to keep from doing something reckless.

"Lexa...honey...all I need is this, you nestled up close to me." She let out, voice straining a little at the low level of oxygen in her lungs from being straddled by her long-time crush. "In the future, there's a lot of things I'd like to do with you in this position, but tonight? I just want to be with you. Hold you close. Have our first real date."

Lexa's eyes darted off to the side, teeth gnawing at her lower lip in a way that didn't exactly inspire confidence that Lexa was on the same page. "I'm sorry, I...I don't know why I thought..." Lexa started, moving to get off Clarke's lap.

If it wasn't for how embarrassed Lexa looked, she might have been fine with it but she didn't want to send mixed signals, so she held Lexa in place, or at least enough for the brunette to stay put after her first attempt. "Lexa, it was a good idea. I can't move my head much without it hurting, and I miss seeing you. I got so used to seeing you around the winter break that camping out on Anya's bed, stealing glances at you playing your games, was something I might have taken for granted. I know Anya teases you for playing some space battle thingamajig, but it always makes you smile, so it can't be all bad. You...you have such a beautiful smile, Lexa."

Lexa let out a quiet laugh, her eyes slowly fluttering close, her head tilting down as the edges of her lips curled up into a shy smile. Mixed with the fresh rosy tiny at her cheeks, Clarke felt refreshed at the sight, not truly having known how deeply she'd missed that side of Lexa.

She brought her left hand back to her chest to feel her heart thrumming along. "Oh, wow. You've got my little bisexual heart fluttering away there, babe."

Lexa's laugh this time was sharper, louder, a bit of amusement clear as she rolled her eyes, but more than a little doubt. "Okay..."

Not feeling the slightly dismissive tone, Clarke took Lexa's hand and pressed it back down over her heart, immediately stilling Lexa, those deep green eyes growing wide at the sensation. Whether it was from touching her chest or feeling the rapid pace of her heart, Clarke couldn't be sure, but she'd take the opportunity nonetheless.

"I'm a simple girl, Lexa. I'm not complicated. When I'm near you, I get excited. When I see you smile, my heart starts training for a marathon. And it might need to, since I really hope this works out, which would mean a lot of smiles down the road." She explained carefully, holding eye contact with Lexa's wide, unblinking gaze. "But we need to go at the right pace. We can't jump a bunch of steps we're not ready to take. I want us both to have a nice night tonight, but we need to be comfortable. If you're not ready for anything, that's fine by me. I'm just happy to spend time with you. Cuddling would be great. Anything past that? A bonus."

"And if..." Lexa started, only to bite back her words. Clarke brushed a thumb over Lexa's knuckles, eyebrows lifting in question, which thankfully had her crush taking in a deep breath and continuing her thought. "And if I want to kiss you goodnight?"

Lexa's eyes immediately went wide, gaze averting to focus intensely on Clarke's chest, more than certainly feeling her heart jump a little at the mention of a kiss. "That's usually a second date thing for me, but I..." Clarke let the laughter bubbling up in her chest air out, wincing a little at the movements as she slightly shook, but the whole idea of restraint on her part was a little ridiculous. "...god, you don't need permission to kiss me. If you wanted to, if you felt up for it...that would be the proverbial cherry on top. But only if you were ready to."

"And if...for the next little while...I wanted to stay right where I am?" Lexa asked, the tint of her blush deepening slightly, hand reaching back to pull away the hair elastic and let her hair down.

Clarke knew she was probably drooling, but any mortal would with Lexa so close, looking so gorgeous. "You'd make me a very happy girl." She answered easily, happy Lexa felt comfortable where she was without expectations. "So tell me, what other places are nice around here in the spring-time?"

"May I know why you're asking?" Lexa said, leaning closer, propping herself up with an arm, the hand on Clarke's chest trailing down to gently splay across her stomach.

"Well, there's this outdoorsy girl I'm into who's pretty much the best nature guide. And maybe I want to see the best of these places and find out if they can be as stunningly beautiful as she is." Clarke answered, drawing giggle from the girl atop her, catching a glance of Lexa's broad grin before a curtain of hair hid it from her.

"There are sights she couldn't possibly match up to, Clarke. I promise you." Lexa let out softly, her quiet voice just loud enough to reach her ears.

Clarke couldn't help her smile as she reached out and guided Lexa to lay atop her, relief blooming in her chest at the brunette's happy sigh, a soft cheek nuzzling into her collarbone. "I think I'll have to see it to believe it, if it's all the same to you."

With Lexa in her arms, she could keep the buzzing, resurfaced emotions from earlier at bay, and that was entirely fantastic as far as Clarke was concerned. She had a fun night ahead of her, and she wasn't going to allow her mother's indecision and pride spoil that.


Raven may have seen Pacific Rim, like, twelve times, but there was a certain quality to watching it with a girlfriend. Or, at least, there seemed to be; everything felt new and exciting again, and when Anya started mumbling lines out loud, and she mimicked the dialogue from other characters, maybe it was the most fun she'd had watching a movie in a long time.

She'd also taken in the movie from a slightly different perspective; she'd watched it once with a boyfriend she'd briefly dated, and she'd been curled up in his arms for the whole thing. It had been a solid enough date, and she'd enjoyed it enough, but there was something about holding Anya in her arms that was irreplaceable. And while yeah, Anya was a bit taller than her, Clarke's bed was more than long enough for Anya to stretch out and cuddle up between her legs, head resting on Raven's chest as they bounced dialogue back and forth.

It was a pretty sweet deal, and while the domestic life had never held much appeal to her in the past, there was definite appeal and charm to the idea of having a lot more moments like this with her girlfriend.

"You know, Mako, all those years I spent living in the past...I never really thought about the future..." Raven voiced, giving her best gruff Charlie Hunnam impression as she rubbed gently at Anya's stomach. "...'til now. I never did have very good timing."

Anya tilted her head back and to the side, giving Raven an easy angle to lean down for a kiss, letting her lips linger against Anya's as her girlfriend's fingers ghosted a trail down her cheek. "Very convincing, love."

"Mmmh, well, you know I have many talents." She laughed, the hand on Anya's stomach playfully dipping lower. Not that she'd actually do anything, but it was fun to play around.

"Raven, behave, there are children present!" Anya whispered firmly, giving Raven's hand a light smack and returning it to where it was.

Of course, despite the action on screen, apparently everyone in the room heard Anya, a gleeful laugh blurting out of Clarke, Lexa pulling her face out of her blonde's hair to shoot a frustrated look at the two of them. "Anya, I'm a legal adult."

"Do or do you not consider me a second mother figure?" Anya shot back with a cheeky grin that immediately had Raven's head filling up with jokes and one-liners. Certainly for later, though, when they were alone.

Lexa let out a frustrated sigh. "You know I do." The brunette let out softly, arms wrapping a little tighter around Clarke. It was a sweet enough admission to give anyone a cavity,

"Then Raven will keep her shenanigans to something fit for PG thirteen classification, won't you love?" Anya asked, tilting her head back for another kiss, and even if she had a bit of leverage in the moment, she was a goddamn sucker for the woman in her arms. She couldn't possible deny her, as she brought their lips together again.

"I'll behave then. I mean, these impressionable young women need quality role models." Raven shot back, earning a grin from her girlfriend as Clarke let out a groan.

"Raven, we're the same age." Clarke chimed in, and by the look on her friend's face, she knew that proverbial train had already left the station.

"I'm just saying, Anya's a mom, and I've graduated University. We need to set a good example for you kids. Besides, I think I'm entirely capable of, like, being the cool step-mom...are you feeling the connection, Lexa? Because I'm feelin' a connection here." Raven asked playfully, barely able to contain her laughter as Lexa's face twisted into a grimace.

"I'm feeling something." Lexa grumbled, ducking her face into Clarke's hair for the time being.

Anya shook with laughter, which was definitely the important part of her antics, but it felt nice that Anya also held a hand over the one Raven had on her stomach, quietly letting her know that she was entirely content with how they were set up. "You're so good with children. Bonding already."

"Well, I was a child once, so I've got some experience, but I like to think I'm young at heart. Makes me hip with the youths." Raven added, holding Anya close as her girlfriend rolled a little onto her side, light airy laughter escaping her that did nothing short of steal her breath.

She'd rarely seen Anya so carefree, and maybe it was a result of all the massively stressful moments across the past day and a bit, but she wasn't about to waste a second of it, doing all she could to put this evening to memory. She'd never get enough of seeing that bright smile, hearing that joyful laughter, feeling an angel of a woman cuddling close in her arms.

As much as she was loving the group session, she couldn't wait until Clarke and Lexa exiled them to the living room, knowing Octavia wouldn't be back for a few more hours. It'd give her plenty of time to be a little more expressive of how Anya made her feel, and after such a turbulent twenty-four hours, she figured it'd be best to be clear about that, even if her mind was still putting the pieces together.

"Mmmn, I'm sure your kinship with 'the youths' runs quite deep, love, I'm proud of you. But shush, they're about to fight the kaiju." Anya noted smoothly as her laughter subsided, the tall blonde giving her hand a squeeze and letting out a happy hum as she settled back in against her.

Raven pressed a kiss to the top of Anya's head and took in the final battle for Earth; as often as she'd seen the film, she could never really get tired of a big mechanical robot punching and slicing up giant monsters. It was just impossible not to get excited about.

Still, all good things come to an end, and the credits were rolling soon enough, letting Raven reach back and turn the bedside light on. "I think that's our cue to wrest control of the larger portion of the condo, angel. Gotta strike while we've got the chance."

"A sound strategy as always, Raven." Anya noted as she stretched out, turning in Raven's arms enough to press a lingering kiss to her shoulder. "Why don't you start the coup? I'll be there to fortify our position in a minute."

Raven laughed as she flipped up the duvet and got out of bed, grabbing up Clarke's portable stereo on a whim. She made her way to the door, but hovered there for a moment as she glanced back at the bed, watching Anya give hugs and forehead kisses to Clarke and Lexa.

Her angel was a bit of a sharp contrast at times, nearly pummeling Abby earlier, and now being a gooey marshmallow of a person with the duo in there. It definitely spoke to the many layers Anya had to her, and Raven wanted to intimately know each and every one.

Deciding to make the most of her brief window, Raven made her way out to the kitchen and set up the stereo on the countertop, releasing the brake on the island and pushing it off to the side, clearing a good amount of space. A half minute later, and she had two tequila sunrises poured out from the bottle she'd stashed away at the back of the fridge earlier. Maybe she needed a hint more courage than she was feeling at the moment.

Raven heard the click of the bedroom door a few seconds after, Anya stepping closer, teary eyes searching for and finding her. "What are you up to?" Anya asked, after wiping at her face, hesitantly making her way into the kitchen.

She held out a drink, Anya taking it and holding it up to her nose for a sniff, giving an approving nod. "Thought we could use something tasty to help unwind after the last day." She answered, brushing away the rest of Anya's tears with her thumb. "Those happy or sad tears, angel?"

Anya let out a heavy sigh and shrugged, taking a small sip. "No idea. Lexa's grown up so fast...and Clarke...I don't like being away from her right now, but I'm happy she's on a date."

"Hey, it's just a few hours, and it's not like they'll be going skydiving. They're gonna cuddle up and watch some sappy movie, probably. You'll get to tease Clarke for crying and make sure Lexa's handling the situation well when ten forty-five rolls around." She said, holding eye contact with Anya, hoping she was at least a little reassuring. Thankfully, Anya cracked a smile, which was better than nothing. "Besides, it gives us a little while to enjoy ourselves."

"Yes, with alcoholic orange juice." Anya shot back, her small smile growing into a grin.

Raven stepped back and connected her phone to Clarke's stereo, going through her menu to find the right playlist, smiling when one of the songs she'd researched started it off. She knew Anya loved the retro stuff, all that cheesy pop, and there'd been a huge swell of new 'synthwave' musicians that took on that old sound, so she figured she'd put some of the more cheesy, slower tracks she'd found in with ones she knew Anya would love.

"Drinks and dancing." Raven corrected, letting out a laugh at the stunned expression on her girlfriend's face. "What? A nerd like me can't know how to dance?"

Anya shook her head, more to shake off her shock than disagreement, it seemed. "I've just...it's been so long since I danced with anyone who wasn't learning from me, or who I wasn't learning from." Anya clarified, her brow furrowing slightly as she peered past her shoulder. "What is this?"

"It's, uh...well, I figured you might like it? A bunch of people love that kind of music you love, and decided to make new stuff that's a lot like it. I thought maybe you might like it, or something." Raven stumbled out, suddenly losing her cool, knowing music could be a make or break thing, but even small missteps could be embarrassing.

Anya stepped closer, deep into her personal bubble, those deep amber eyes offering the warmth of summer in the dead of winter. "I can't say definitively from such a small sample, but...I approve nonetheless, love." Anya noted lowly, taking a sip of her drink and placing it on the counter behind Raven.

"Yeah?" She asked, earning an immediate laugh as Anya pressed up against her, choking off her follow-up in her throat as Anya's nose grazed a path down hers.

"I'm not usually a fan of surprises, but you constantly find ways to make me smile." Anya murmured, the sheer proximity stealing Raven's breath and forcing her eyelids shut in anticipation.

She almost expected Anya to tease her and walk away, but then those soft lips were pillowing her top lip, Anya's hand quickly knitting in her hair and pulling her close as she tasted Raven. Her heart-rate spiked as she wrapped her arms around Anya, holding on for dear life as she tried to keep up, Anya constantly changing angles, alternating between languid whirlwinds and brief fluttering pecks.

By the time Anya pulled away, an amused sparkle in her soft eyes, Raven's heart was as full and strengthened as her lungs were empty and straining. Maybe it was a little embarrassing to gasp and suck in some heavy breaths after a brief make-out session, but damn.

Anya lifted a thumb to Raven's face and wiped at where her lipstick probably smeared. "Remember to breathe, love. As much as kissing you into consciousness is an appealing concept, I don't want you to faint on me."

"Sorry, it's just..." Raven started, taking another breath to try and stabilize enough to speak clearly, if not with much calm. "It's just you taste so sweet it kinda hurts a little from the sugar rush."

Anya let out a disbelieving laugh as she moved to turn away and out of Raven's arms, but she held her girlfriend close. "You're just fishing, now. Or tasting that orange juice."

"No way, Anya. You're my angel...I happily take the fire and brimstone along with the sweet fluffy goodness. I love everything you throw my way." She corrected, knowing Anya usually melted at the term of endearment, but her girlfriend just went tense as she spoke instead. Raven leaned her head to catch Anya's freshly averted gaze. "Hey, look, if this is about the l-word..."

"I attacked Clarke's mother today. I...I couldn't protect Clarke, either. I'm not good. I'm not sweet." Anya let out, all hesitant and saturated with self-flagellation. Honestly, she couldn't be tremendously surprised, given Anya's personality and what she knew of her history.

Raven let go of her girlfriend, her heart nearly splitting in half at how Anya's face fell at the loss of contact. Even if it was a split second, it was long enough for Raven to know she was making the right call, lifting Anya up by her thighs and spinning her around to set her on the counter.

"Listen to the song, angel. Even bad girls know good love. But you're not bad...you've got a protective streak that can take a turn into vengeance pretty damn quickly, but your laugh also lights up my world, your kisses are the sweetest experience I've ever had, and you have the kindest biggest damn heart I've known." Raven asserted, lifting Anya's chin with a finger, forcing those doubt-filled amber eyes to meet her own. "So you're tough. So you're intimidating. So you can be a little violent. Who cares? You never do anything without good reason."

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions, Raven." Anya muttered, completely missing her point.

"Well, I'll drive my Torino down that road, pick you up, and drive you back to good if you need it. But you don't. I guaran-fucking-tee Clarke would have fallen apart without you there with her in front of her mom. You've been her rock for a bit, but it's not your job to take responsibility for everyone all the time. She's not your kid, Anya, you're her best friend. And she has other friends who can share that weight, family that can share it. I know she feels safe around you. And I know I feel safe with you, my sweet, good girl." Raven ranted, maybe losing her calm a little somewhere in there, but she needed her girlfriend to understand, and to stop beating herself up so much.

Anya's head dipped forward, lithe hand reaching out and playing a little with the collar of her top. "You really believe that?"

Raven pressed her fingertips to the bottom of Anya's jaw, tilting her head to where she could lean up and bring her girlfriend into a kiss, needing some more sweetness from Anya first before she spoke again.

"I'll believe enough for the both of us for now if I have to, but I swear, angel...you're amazing. I'm falling hard for you, and a big part of that is your ridiculous capacity for love." She added, pressing a quick chaste kiss to her lips before stepping away. "But I gotta say, I'm pretty sure I'd be done for if you could show me some dancing skills."

Anya predictably rolled her eyes even as her lips bloomed into a bright smile. "If I'm to be merciful as an angel, does that mean going in for the kill here, or letting you off light?"

"Finish her..." Raven mimicked the Mortal Kombat announcer, drawing another beautifully airy laugh from Anya, who got off the counter and took a long gulp of her drink.

"As you wish, love..."


The notion of missed opportunities were something Clarke had been a little stuck on ever since her father passed and changed her life drastically. Most days since that turning point, she'd entertained at least a few thoughts each day about what could have been, what ought to have been, what connections she'd lost out on.

It often made Clarke feel like she was on a knife's edge, impulse on one side and patience on the other, constantly pushing her to re-evaluate her goals and decisions whenever she found herself in a situation with a lot of potential.

Maybe that was why she'd chosen Before Sunset, of all films, as their last movie of the night. The series exhibited a certain grace, with the original film showing two strangers making a passionate one-night connection, only for the sequel to show them nine years later, weary and less trustful, less hopeful. Sure, she'd watched before Sunset a dozen times, knowing at the end, there's a glimmer of hope that they decide to try and make it work and recapture that flame from the embers that were left, but Clarke felt that both likely would have been better off if they'd remained, if they'd tried to find a way to make it work from them start instead of leaving Vienna to be a single-night affair.

She wasn't usually one to take pages from films to use in her daily life, but it allowed her a certain patience, not wanting to let time go to waste, knowing it was never a very reliable thing to have. Despite her impulsive nature, she fought for patience, knowing she and Lexa had a spark, a connection, and that if would have to be nurtured if she wanted anything to come of it. It wasn't often she came across people she clicked with romantically, so there really wasn't a reason to let go, hoping she could work with Lexa to get to where they could be together.

Tonight had been a step in that direction, and with Lexa holding her the same way she'd held Lexa last time around, Clarke couldn't help but think there was a quiet sort of progress in that.

She could tell whenever Lexa would get nervous, or when some troubling thought would cross her mind; like last time, she'd go tense, and with Clarke in her arms, she'd feel it. Which also gave her opportunities to offer some feedback, like rubbing a hand over the knit pair around her waist, or bring a hand back to comb through Lexa's hair.

"I don't know whether to be sad or happy for them." Lexa mused, propping her chin on Clarke's shoulder. "Like, they're slowly rekindling whatever they had, but...he has to leave soon. What's the point?"

"What if he doesn't go?" Clarke asked, drawing a confused hum from her date. "In the first movie, they accepted the idea that they'd have to leave each other and go their separate ways, that it could pretty much just be two strangers passing in the night. And look what happened. Now it's nine years later, and he's got a plane to catch, and a more complicated life to get back to, same with her. But do they have to accept that's how it has to be?"

Lexa's head dipped down, after a few seconds, soft lips pressing idly against the back ridge of her shoulder. "They could stay together anyways."

"They could, maybe. They can't rewrite history, but they don't have to accept the paths they're on. It might be more complicated than when they were younger, but they can start something new. Find out if they'd fit. Hold onto their connection and refuse to let go until they've given themselves a fair shot." Clarke continued, feeling a little sheepish at maybe projecting the tiniest amount, if only just with that last bit.

"And...what if she needs a little more time than he does?" Lexa asked, soft words washing across the expanse of her neck.

Clarke hoped that was Lexa doing a little projecting of her own, but even if it wasn't the case, the answer was simple. "Then he waits for her. He knows he wanted to be with her back then, and he does now, and he'll wait until she's ready. They have all the time they need to figure it out together. To see if she's ready to love again."

"I think it'd be nice if they did." Lexa noted, taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling through her nose as she settled her chin back against Clarke's shoulder. "I'm not usually one for hetero stuff, but still. I'm rooting for them."

Clarke carefully pulled one of Lexa's hands away from her waist and brought it up to her face, pressing a kiss to her wrist, her palm, and her knuckles. "I think they'll make it." She added, putting the soft hand back where it was, waiting for her date to knit both hands together again before sinking back a bit more into Lexa. "You're really comfy."

"Oh, um. Well...I'm glad you think so." Lexa responded, nuzzling her cheek against her neck and sending a wave of warmth and affection through her body. Clarke watched the screen fade to black as the credits rolled, but Lexa didn't seem to notice or care, so neither did she.

"Know so." Clarke corrected, slowly and carefully angling her head a bit to the side to expose more of her neck while minimizing her pain. "I'm sorry our first date wasn't too exciting. I promise I'll find something more interesting in the future."

Lexa's nose trailed a slow path up her neck, hot puffs of breath wafting again her nape. "Life can be hectic and complicated as it is. I...I like how peaceful it is whenever I'm around you. I like how safe you make me feel. Tonight has been wonderful, Clarke."

Hearing she helped Lexa feel safe made the whole night entirely worth it if it wasn't already, thrilled to know she and Lexa were clearly getting closer, that it took strength for Lexa to admit that. "Well, when my neck heals up enough, maybe we can watch some horror movies? Or maybe I could give you a massage after a game, and order in?"

For a moment, Lexa seemed to still behind her, that physical stillness thankfully lacking tension. T was almost concerning, but then Lexa just re-worked her grip and carefully tangled their legs, wrapping Clarke up more snugly. "Maybe...both?"

"Oooh, ambitious. But yeah, that sounds like a good time to me." Clarke answered with a happy grin, feeling excited about the fact that Lexa felt comfortable and confident enough to commit to another date. "I know we'll eventually get the call to go head to head against Raven and Anya on trivia night, but I figure we can wait until we get a few dates under our belt before we go all double-date, right?"

Clarke felt Lexa nod against her shoulder. "Agreed. Not to mention, we'll need to study up for that so we don't get embarrassed."

"Oh ye of little fai..."

The impact of her door slamming open against the wall had words catching in her throat as Octavia marched into the bedroom with a teasing smile. "Alright assbutts, it's past curfew, time to clean up and hit the fucking hay."

Clarke rolled her eyes, but before she knew it, Lexa was pulled up and off the bed, and Raven was carefully getting her to her feet as well. Raven, who definitely smelled like she'd gotten into some alcohol, which had Clarke feeling a little curious.

Lexa and Octavia apparently washed up as a set, though made quick work of the ensuite, letting Clarke and Raven slip in not long after.

She's just finished brushing her teeth when a thought crossed her admittedly tired mind. "So you're drunk." Clarke noted, drawing an easy nod from her friend. "Did you get Anya drunk, too?"

Raven smiled, laughter bubbling up and out of her throat. "Ab-so-lutely."

Clarke bit back her own laughter, even if she knew she'd probably have an amusing encounter with Anya once she left the ensuite. "She's a lot more candid drunk."

"You can say that again." Raven laughed, a subtle blush tinting at her cheeks. "She's excited to see you again. You should prob'ly just tell her you love her and, like positive stuff."

She nodded, knowing that Anya was hard-headed, and despite her repeated efforts, hadn't managed to convince her best friend that she wasn't at fault for everything. "Sounds good. You two have a good night otherwise?"

Raven grinned like she'd won a damn prize. "She kissed me. We danced. Kinda told her I love her, and it went over decently, all things considered."

"Well, I'm proud of you. I'm glad you two make each other happy." Clarke said as she finished a brief skincare regimen. "Do you want to stay here and help Anya clean up, or should I?"

"Nah, I already helped her out in the kitchen. She didn't want to 'impose' or whatever. I don't understand, but her adorable ass is ready for bed, anyways." Raven countered, leaving Clarke wondering exactly what Anya was getting up to in the bedroom.

She didn't have to wait long, Raven finishing up shortly, the both of them opening the door enough to peek out.

Anya, it seemed was trying to braid Lexa's hair, though her head was dipping forward and jolting back, the older woman clearly fighting sleep. Raven let out this utterly soft, happy sigh at the sight; her and Anya were too adorable for their own good sometimes.

She made her way out of the ensuite, immediately gathering the attention of the remaining trio.

"So I call dibs on the side of the bed farthest from the window." Octavia piped up immediately, confusing her a little, having thought her roommate would have taken the much roomier couch, since it pulled out to a bed of its own.

"And I gotta get some sunlight in the morning, so Anya and I are claiming the side by the window. You and Lexa can take the middle, Clarkey." Raven added, quickly rounding the bed and slipping under the covers.

She shook her head, knowing her bed would be a little crowded with three side by side. Five? That would be mayhem. Still, she appreciated her friends all wanting to be here for her, so she carefully crawled her way from the foot of the bed to the head, carving herself out a spot in the middle beside Lexa.

Immediately, Lexa turned on her side to face her, and Anya's arms wrapped around her waist. "Clarke...Clarke I need to tell you...I need to..." Anya started, words coming slow and deliberate, as if Anya needed to focus really hard not to slur her words or keep track of what she wanted to say.

"Shhh, babe. It's late and you've had a long day." Clarke let out, earning an immediate huff against her shoulder as Anya squeezed her tighter. "I love you so much, okay? You can tell me in the morning, you know I need my rest."

"You...you're incredibly right. Are your pillows alright? Are they too soft?" Anya asked as she felt Raven gently pull her best friend away. "Raven, what if her pillows are too soft?"

"My pillows are perfect, Anya. Don't worry, I'm cozy and safe, okay?" Clarke added, reaching out to run a hand through her best friend's hair in hopes of reassuring her.

"Okaaay, as long as you're sure." Anya let out after a lengthy yawn. "Love you, little one. Love you, Clarke."

"Love you, Anya." Clarke and Lexa chimed in at the same time.

"Sweet dreams, Octavia." Anya continued, voice getting muffled as she curled up atop Raven.

Octavia, of course, just chuckled. "You too, mama bear."

If the room wasn't so quiet, even with Lexa gently bringing a leg across Clarke's, entwining their bodies as much as they could with Clarke on her back, she might not have heard the soft words a few inches away.

"Love you, Raven."

Clarke knew Raven was much too discreet to not whisper her response into Anya's ear, but her heart jumped for joy in her chest at the uncensored admission, ecstatic that her best friend and beloved teammate had found love together. It gave her hope that with Octavia finding love, and Raven, that maybe she would end up in a similar place with Lexa.

It was a very pleasant thought.

A hand gently massaging at her neck reminded Clarke of a few words said earlier that evening, the massaging soon followed by another hand gently tilting her to face her nearest bedmate, Lexa's eyes shining with hope in the dark.

Clarke smiled and pushed past any pain as she leaned closer, meeting Lexa halfway into a soft, simple kiss. Nothing like what they'd shared last time, but this one felt pure, right, like it was the start of something instead of a farewell wrapped up in unspoken desires.

"Goodnight, Lexa." She murmured, smiling against the brunette's lips, offering a parting pack before she pulled away.

"Goodnight, Clarke." Lexa whispered in turn, settling her pretty head onto Clarke's collarbone and wrapping her leg tightly across her thighs.

Sleeping on her back was always a little annoying and difficult, but with so many friends nearby, and with a warm and comfy Lexa curled up with her, Clarke was out like a light in seconds, her last thought being what kind of experience waking up might be like with the five of them.

Time would tell soon enough.


A/N: So I hoped to get this out earlier, but I decided to fill out some of the sections with fluff because I can, and I wanted to. I hope you all enjoyed it!