It's early Monday evening and Lexa is sitting in the Griffin living room waiting for Clarke to get home. The blonde went back to school today, then had a shift at the AYRC. Clarke had wanted to come straight home after school, but Lexa convinced her to go to the rec since neither one of them had been there in over a week and the kids must miss her. She's glad Clarke listened to her and went but she can't help but miss the girl's company. And although she's been keeping herself busy all day with a project on the blonde's laptop, when she's alone, her mind wanders more and she can't get the images of the events of last week out of her mind. Nia's hearing is tomorrow and Lexa didn't know how she was going to react seeing the woman again.
Suddenly she hears keys in the lock and the front door open. She looks up from her place on the sofa to see Clarke walk in, drop her keys in the bowl beside the door and immediately make her way towards the living room.
"Hey you." Clarke says with a smile, placing her backpack on the floor and sitting beside the brunette.
"Hey."
"How are you feeling?" Clarke gently runs her fingers over Lexa's bruise by her eye. Lexa tries to hide her blush at the contact. She reaches up to grab the blonde's hand from her face. "I'm good, Clarke. Everyday is a little better."
Clarke laces their fingers together. "Good. Do you need anything?"
"No thanks, I'm good. Tell me about your day. How was school and the rec?"
"Both were fine. School is school, ya know. Raven and Octavia said they hope you feel better soon. All the kids at the rec were asking a million questions about you... I told them you were sick. They all miss you."
Lexa smiles softly. "I miss them too."
Clarke lets go of her hand to reach for her backpack and Lexa immediately misses the contact. She pulls out a binder and some of Lexa's books.
"I got your homework. Your teachers said to take your time. And also…" she pauses to open the binder and pulls out a dozen or so folded pieces of constructruction paper. She hands them to Lexa. "These are from some of the kids. They're get well soon cards."
Lexa smiles brightly as she takes the cards. "This is so sweet. This was your idea wasn't it? Was this today's art project you assigned?" She asks raising an eyebrow and smirking. "I can not confirm nor deny that allegation." The blonde responded with a wink.
Lexa takes the girl's hand again and squeezes it. "Well, thank you. For getting my homework and for these."
"You're welcome, Lex."
The stare at each other for a moment. They keep finding themselves in this position of just looking at one another until one of them breaks eye contact. This time it's Clarke who lets out a nervous breath and looks away. "So, uh, how was your day?"
"It was fine. I sat here most of the day and did some work for the fundraiser. Here, look at this."
She grabs Clarke's laptop and turns the screen towards the blonde. Clarke immediately smiles at the screen. It's a beautiful and simple webpage with Charlotte's photo and the details of the fundraiser.
"Wow. This is great." She smiles brightly at Lexa. "You did this?"
Lexa laughs. "Ha, no. Well, not the coding/techy part. I helped plan out the content. Monty, you've met him at the rec, he built the site for me." Clarke nods. "It looks amazing."
"Thanks. I also set up social media pages, check it out."
The two girls scroll through the various webpages and social media pages. Clarke's eyes dart between the computer screen and the brunettes face. Everyday, Clarke finds herself admiring this girl more and more.
Clarke's trance is broken when she sees Lexa's face grimace in pain. "What? What's wrong?"
"I'm ok. Just moved a little too quick. Sometimes sitting hurts. Maybe I should go lay down… ugh, but those stairs do not look fun." she laughs.
Clarke moved the computer to the coffee table and then patted her lap. "Come on. Lay down."
"Clarke…" Lexa says hesitantly.
Clarke rolls her eyes and takes the girl's hand. She gently pulls it until the Lexa gives in and lays her head on the blonde's lap, stretching her legs out on the sofa. Clarke's hand automatically lands in Lexa's hair, lightly running her fingers through it. She can feel Lexa relaxing into her touch and it brings a smile to her face.
They sit there in silence for a few minutes when Clarke notices the brunette biting her bottom lip and a distant look in her eyes.
"What's up?"
Lexa closes her eyes and sighs. "Just thinking about tomorrow." Clarke nods in understanding. Lexa opens her eyes to find Clarke's. "You're coming right?"
Clarke looks down at the girl and smiles. "Of course I am. I'm leaving school at lunch and I'll be at the courthouse by 12:30. It starts at 1 right?" Lexa nods and sighs. "Yeah…"
"Hey. It's going to be ok, Lexa."
Lexa bites her lip again. "I know... I know that." She reaches her hand up and waits for Clarke to lace their fingers. "Thanks. I'm uh, glad you'll be there. I don't think I could go alone. I really don't want to see her… I'm scared Clarke."
Clarke raises their joined hands to her lips and places a gentle kiss on her friends. "I know, Lex. And that's perfectly normal. But it's going to be okay, I promise. Tomorrow will be the last time you'll ever have to see her. Okay?"
Lexa nods. "Okay."
Clarke smiles and sits back more into the sofa, her fingers resuming their place in the brunette curls while the fingers on her other hand are mindlessly being played with by Lexa. "Seriously though Lex, I may need be restrained. It's going to take every ounce of my strength not to jump out of my seat and strangle that woman myself."
That earned a laugh from Lexa and Clarke decides it's her new life's mission to make her laugh as much as possible. "Control yourself there Clarke. We wouldn't want you getting arrested again." Lexa says with a wink.
A voice interrupts them from the kitchen. "Girls, dinner!"
12:42
Lexa's leg is bouncing up and down uncontrollably as she sits in between Mrs. Griffin and Indra. They are sitting outside the courtroom waiting their turn. Lexa feels as if she's going to throw up but resists the urge.
12:45
"Where is Clarke?" She thinks to herself.
She's about to ask Mrs. Griffin to text her when she sees a flash of blonde hair out of the corner of her eye. Soon, Clarke is standing in front of her. "Whew. Sorry, I couldn't find parking."
Mrs. Griffin and Indra stand up to go stand by Mr. Griffin and the prosecuting attorney, giving the girl's a moment. Clarke sits down and takes Lexa's hand.
"Sorry I'm late." She says sincerely.
"It's ok. I'm just glad you're here now."
Clarke feels Lexa's grip tighten slightly. "You ready for this?"
Lexa lets out a deep breath. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"Girl's, let's go." Mr. Griffin yells from the doors.
They stand up and with a reassuring squeeze to her hand, Clarke leads them into the courtroom. As they take their seats, Clarke can feel the brunette shaking. She switches the hand that is holding the other girl's so she can place her arm around her a pull her in closer. Once she feels the girl settle into her, Clarke turns to her mother to listen to the conversation her and her father were having.
Not a minute later she feels the girl in her arms stiffen. Her head turns back around to see the brunette's eyes fixated across the room. She follows her eyes to see that Nia has just entered and is now taking her seat at the defense table. Clarke can feel her blood begin to boil as the woman blatantly stares down Lexa. Clarke tightens her arm around the girl protectively and narrows her eyes at the woman. When Nia's eyes meet her own she lifts Lexa's hand up to lips and kisses it. The woman scoffs and turns her face away from them.
Clarke turns her attention back to the girl in her arm who is once again shaking. She rubs her hand up and down her shoulder, trying to offer comfort. Eventually she feels Lexa lay her head on her shoulder and Clarke instinctively rests her head on top of the brunette's.
"Don't worry. We got this." Clarke silently whispers.
The trial didn't last long and the jury came back with the verdict quickly - 40 years in jail with no chance of parole. The quick sentencing didn't come as a surprise to her. After Lexa took the stand and recalled her story of the abuse she endured for over year, Clarke had looked at the jury and could tell Nia had no chance. She found herself beaming with pride. Lexa had been so great and confident on that stand. Clarke doesn't think she's ever met a stronger person.
But, as happy as she was with the outcome, Clarke couldn't deny how hard it was to hear the details of Lexa's abuse again. Her heart broke for her and she couldn't help the tears that fell from her face. Her mother had held her hand throughout, her own tears threatening to fall. Clarke just couldn't understand how anyone would want to hurt Lexa. Why this beautiful, caring person was dealt such a shitty life? Why did she always have to suffer?
It was when the sentence was read, and Clarke felt the girl in her arms relax that she stopped asking herself these questions. She sensed an ease and a calm in the girl that she never has before. Finally, something went right for the brunette beauty. Sure there were still going to be obstacles ahead and life is never easy. But for now, Lexa was free. And that filled Clarke's heart with more joy than anything money could buy.