Chapter 30

USC – Sophomore Year

"Ugh, it has been such a long day!" Clarke said as she walked into her apartment. She saw the light on in her room and smiled. "There you are." She couldn't help but take a minute to take in the sight of her girlfriend, hair curly and up in a messy bun, glasses on, laying on her bed reading her textbook. It had to be one of her favourite views.

"Hi pretty girl." Lexa smiled once she looked up from her book to see Clarke starting to change out of her work clothes. "Did you want me to make you something to eat?"

Clarke shook her head as she finished changing into her pajamas and got into bed. "No thanks, I had something at the café. I'm too tired to eat."

Lexa set her book aside so that Clarke could cuddle up right next to her. Leaning over Clarke gave her a soft kiss on the lips before laying her head down on Lexa's shoulder. Once Clarke was comfortable, Lexa wrapped her arm around her girlfriends shoulder and picked her textbook back up. "How was your day, outside of being long?"

Clarke smiled, her eyes closed as she got a little closer to Lexa by putting her leg half over the other woman's. "It was good but I'm more than glad to be home with my beautiful, amazing girlfriend."

"Always such a charmer."

"Don't you know it. How was your day?" Clarke turned her head slightly and kissed Lexa's neck softly.

"Mmm, my day was good but it is so much better now."

Lexa felt Clarke smile against her shoulder. "Do you mind if I turn the TV on?"

"Go for it love. I'll be done with this chapter soon." Lexa kissed the top of Clarke's head as the blonde turned the TV on.

xoxo

An hour later Clarke was mostly asleep on Lexa's chest. Lexa ran her fingertips up and down the blondes back and she couldn't get over how lucky she was to have Clarke in her life.

"You are too cute." Lexa grinned as Clarke ran her fingertips over Lexa's waist. "Sweet dreams beautiful."

"G'night baby." Clarke mumbled and Lexa was sure that it was one of the cutest things ever. Nothing made her smile more than half asleep Clarke, mumbling in her sleep. "I love you." Clarke finished and Lexa was sure that her heart had just stopped.

Even though they had been together eight months, neither of them had taken the leap and said those three little words. Lexa had been scared to be the one to say it first even though she had never loved anyone more in her life. The way she felt about Clarke was unlike anything she had ever felt before.

"I love you too." She replied with a smile, even though she was certain the blonde wouldn't remember this conversation in the morning.

XOXO

New York – One Week Later

"Hi, I'm here to see Lexa Callaway." Clarke smiled at the receptionist in the lobby of the large building, very large building.

"One moment please." Clarke nodded as the receptionist picked up the phone. "Can I get your name please?"

"Clarke Griffin." The receptionist nodded.

"You'll have to check in upstairs, top floor to your left."

"Thank you." Clarke smiled again and she saw the receptionist blush a little. "I still got it." She joked to herself as she moved towards the elevators.

Once upstairs she took in the beauty of office. The walls were lined with incredible paintings and it took her a minute to draw herself away from them and towards the secretary. "Hi, Clarke Griffin here to see Lexa Callaway."

The woman nodded politely. "Please have a seat, Miss. Callaway is currently on a conference call and will be with you as soon as she can.

Clarke thanked the woman before sitting down and looking at her watch, depending on how long this was going to be she might have to leave to get to her shift on time. Thinking it through she pulled out her cell phone and sent the other woman a text message. "Hey stranger, brought you a latte and a chocolate croissant from the Marco's. Your secretary told me on a call so I'll leave it with her, I have to get to work soon

As she was about to get up to hand the cup and bag to the secretary the phone on the desk rang. "Hello," a pause, "yes she is." The secretary replied before putting down the phone.

"Sorry for the wait Miss. Griffin, right this way." The secretary got up as a confused look crossed Clarke's face. She followed the woman around the large wall that sat behind her desk. Once they got close enough to the door Clarke couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as she saw Lexa's name on the door. The secretary knocked softly.

"Come in." The secretary opened the door with a smile to show Lexa sitting in a large leather chair behind a desk. "Thank you Stella." The woman nodded before closing the door behind Clarke. "Well my day just got a lot better." Clarke was about to speak when she heard voices fill the room. "Don't worry, the microphone is muted, they go on like this for hours sometimes, I usually play candy crush or watch a movie. You're looking a lot better than the last time I saw you."

Clarke couldn't help but let out a laugh. "Which is why I'm here." She held up the cup and bag, smiling when she saw Lexa's eyes light up. "I figured I owed you for taking such good care of me. I know I'm a hassle when I'm sick."

"No hassle at all, but I'll still gladly accept. You're actually kind of cute when you're sick." Clarke rolled her eyes even though she was still smiling. "Please, sit. If you have time that it is."

"I do, I just wasn't sure how long your call was going to be." Lexa waved her hand as Clarke sat down and noticing the nameplate sitting on Lexa's desk. Lexa Callaway CEO. "Look how fancy you are."

This time it was Lexa's turn to roll her eyes. "Trust me, I'd rather not have those three little letters after name. I miss being in a court house all day."

Clarke laughed. "Only you would miss something like that."

"It's true, and you won't have to wait to see me again. Stella didn't realize you were a friend."

"You're busy, I understand that."

"Fuck sorry, one second." Lexa sat down the croissant she had just taken out of the bag and hit a button on her phone. Clarke didn't bother trying to keep up with the business jargon she was speaking, it was all a foreign language to her but what it did do is give her some time too look around Lexa's office while the woman's attention was elsewhere.

That's when she noticed it. She stood up and walked over to a painting on the wall next to a large bookcase. This piece was different than the rest in the office. It was a sailboat and Clarke knew the painting well because she had painted it. As she scanned the rest of the room she realized that ever piece of art in the room she had painted or sketched. She stopped as she stood in front of a particular piece.

"You kept them." She spoke quietly as she felt Lexa's presence standing behind her.

"Of course I did. Their by my favourite artist."

Clarke couldn't contain the smile on her face and she had to admit that there were a few stray butterflies flying around in her stomach. "And you had this one framed."

"I told you it was amazing."

"So you've always had these on your office walls?" Clarke turned to look at Lexa's expression only to see the woman slightly blushing.

It took her a minute but Lexa finally nodded in response. "Yeah, they're inspiring on rough days. This was never the career I envisioned so some days are harder than others."

"Do you really not like it?"

Lexa shrugged with a smile. "It has its days. Like today when pretty girls come to visit."

"You are a ball of cheese."

"That I am."

Clarke looked down at her watch. "I guess your day is going to get worse then. I gotta go save lives."

Lexa let out a loud laugh. "That line was so much funnier when it wasn't true but thank you again for stopping by and bringing food."

"Enjoy the rest of your day Lex and we both know that your favourite part was the food" Clarke gave her a quick hug before walking out of the room. Truth be told she still had plenty of time to get to work but the feelings of seeing her art on Lexa's walls was far too much for her to process with Lexa looking far too damn attractive in her business attire.

"You know the way to my heart." Lexa grinned as Clarke waved at her over her shoulder.

XOXO

"What's with that look on your face?" Lexa asked Octavia later that night at their favourite dinner.

"I'm wondering why the hell you're still living in a hotel!"

Lexa laughed and shook her head. "I bought a place but it's not ready yet."

"So in the mean time you're just throwing your money away?"

"I'm not throwing my money away, I'm supporting our economy."

"Why don't you support my economy and move in with Lincoln and I."

Lexa shook her head. "Because I do not want to hear you and Lincoln."

Octavia rolled her eyes. "I had to listen to you and Clarke for how long? Let me tell you the things that I have heard that I can never un-hear."

"That's not a word."

"It is now. So it's settled you can have Clarke's old room."

"Octavia."

"I get it you're some big shot CEO but you look like you haven't slept in awhile, do not argue with me!" With that the woman's phone rang causing her to answer it. "Want to meet Clarke Kent for drinks, her shift was done early so she went to grab drinks with her friends from work."

"Works for me. It's been one hell of a long week."

XOXO

New York – Two Weeks Later

"Holy shit." Octavia almost screamed as she sat down next to Lexa on the couch once Lexa hit the end call button on her phone.

Octavia handed the other brunette a beer as they finally relaxed after a long day of work. "What?" Lexa asked as sipped on the drink Octavia had just handed her.

Octavia looked at Lexa as if Lexa was supposed to understand what it meant. "You're totally into her."

"I beg your pardon?"

Octavia rolled her eyes. "You have a thing for Clarke, friends my ass Lex Luther, I know that look. I lived with it for years."

Lexa looked up at the ceiling. "What look?" Octavia gave her a knowing look. "Okay. yes, I have a thing for Clarke, it's just a crush though but you can't tell her."

Octavia studied her friend for a few minutes. "It's not just a crush is it? Do not lie to me Lexa or I will pick up the phone and call her so fast."

"No, it's not. I thought it was but I think I'm falling for her all over again."

Octavia moved her legs up onto the couch. "Keep talking."

"I don't know O, she's just amazing and it's hard for me to not have feelings for her. I tried not to, I tried to ignore the way my heart fluttered every time she said my name because it's my fault that we aren't together. I ruined it all so who am I to have feelings for her. I don't even know if she even remotely likes me as more than a friend and I couldn't blame her if she never looks at me the same way ever again but I miss it. I think I've always missed it. I promised myself the other night when she was sick that if she ever did change her mind about me, about us that I would do everything in my power to prove to her just how amazing she is. I would never let her go again O, never."

Octavia was shocked, it really wasn't like Lexa to open to anyone like this. "I have to admit, I'm a little stunned even though I think I've known for awhile. What's kind of ironic is that the last time I sat on this couch talking about you and Clarke's relationship she was a sobbing mess in my lap." Lexa looked down with a nod. "You shattered her heart Lexa and then walked way like it meant nothing to you."

"She meant everything to me and I know it doesn't seem that way but I've grown up a lot since the last time Clarke and I were together."

"You both have, she's always been different with you though. Now that you two are friends she seems happier and that makes me happy but I swear if you ever hurt her again it won't matter how much money your family has."

"Octavia if I ever get another chance with her I will not screw it up. The more I get to know her now the harder I fall. She's exactly who she said she's always be and I think she really is the one. I was in a relationship for three years and I never felt the way I feel about that woman now." Lexa looked up at her friend and took a deep breath. "What?"

Octavia shook her head. "I believe you. I can see it in your eyes, I thought I was going crazy the other night at the bar. I used to tell Lincoln that I wanted a love like you and Clarke's, that once in a lifetime, nothing can tear you apart love. Linc and I used to have this saying whenever we argued. What would Clarke and Lexa do? It's surprisingly gotten us through a lot of fights. I've never even said this to Clarke but from what I've seen if fate really does exist it ships the two of you."

"Ships?"

"Yeah you know it likes you as a couple."

Lexa nodded with an odd expression on her face. "Never use that term again, it's weird. Life really does have it's own plan for us though. I swear it's like no matter how hard I tried, I could never fully rid my life of Clarke Griffin."

"Ever think that it's because you weren't supposed to?"

Lexa laughed as Octavia stood up. "Yeah, every time Anya brought it up. Which was a lot."

"What brought all of this on though? You aren't exactly one to spontaneously figure your shit out." Lexa looked around the room before looking back at Octavia.

"We sort of kissed. But it's not what you think."

Octavia couldn't hold it in any longer as she burst into a fit of laughter. "Please, honey Clarke already told me. Remind me to get my money from Anya by the way cause I'm sure you told her."

"You made me go through trying to tell you that when you already knew?"

"Of course I did. Karma is a bitch that keeps on givin'. Way to go Lex, cutest second first date ever."

"It was not a date."

Octavia raised an eyebrow before nodding. "Okay, whatever you say. As if you didn't know I never check my email. Please, I'm smarter than I look."

"I hate you."

XOXO

USC – Sophomore Year

Lexa woke up the next morning with a yawn. She went to reach over and wrap her arms around her girlfriend but the girl wasn't there. Her eyes shot open and she couldn't help but wonder if Clarke had in fact remembered what she had said the night before. Getting out of bed, she threw on one of Clarke's hoodies and made her way out into the kitchen. She sighed in relief as she saw her girlfriend cooking breakfast.

"Morning beautiful. I'm sorry I fell asleep on your last night."

Lexa shook her head with a grin as she wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's waist and kissed the back of her neck. "Mmm, don't apologize you were tired, you deserve sleep babe. Gonna share any of that with me?"

Clarke grinned and leaned back into Lexa's embrace. "I might if you're lucky. You're a little stiff this morning, did you sleep okay?"

"I slept amazing actually." Lexa grinned, trying to hide the fact that her heart was pounding as Clarke turned around in her arms and pulled herself up so that she was sitting on the counter. She placed her arms on Lexa's shoulders and leaned their foreheads together.

"Lex?"

"Hmm? She smiled as Clarke kissed her.

"I love you." Clarke grinned before kissing her again.

Lexa bit her own lip before lightly scratching her fingers up and down Clarke's back. "I didn't think you'd remember saying it."

"I was half asleep but I'll always remember the first time I told the woman of my dreams that I loved her."

Lexa couldn't help the butterflies that swarmed her stomach. "I love you, so much." Another kiss.

"You better, or I won't share my bacon with you."

They both laughed as Lexa reached her hand over to turn the stove off as she leaned forward and captured her girlfriend's lips into a heated kiss. Breakfast would have to wait.

XOXO

Clarke had been having a long week. Work had been hectic, for some reason once the weather got colder people lost all of their common sense. She was glad to be home, healthy and in bed. She had no desire to go anywhere tonight; it was just going to be her, netflix and a bottle of wine. The fact that it was only 4 p.m. did nothing to stop her from getting her night started early.

An hour into her movie Clarke couldn't help but feel a little restless, it had been awhile since she had relieved any sort of frustration, especially since Finn was no good at helping with that. Shrugging to herself she reached over into the bottom drawer of her nightstand, the Avengers still playing in the background.

Ten minutes later she heard her phone start ringing. She was going to ignore it, she was having 'Clarke' time and no one was going to disturb her. Especially since the last time she had tried to have 'Clarke' time she got a call from the hospital that forced her to go in, cutting her time short.

As the phone kept ringing she huffed and reached over to grab her phone. She stopped and steadied her breath before answering. "Hello." She said a little more out of breath than she would have liked.

"Hey, sorry did I catch you at a bad time?"

"Nah, you're fine Lex, what's up."

Lexa grinned on the other end of the line, she knew that sound in Clarke's voice but she didn't plan on letting Clarke know that. It was hard not too when they had been long distance for longer than either of them would have liked. "I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight, I got Rangers tickets."

Yep, Clarke would get out of bed for that.

TBC…