Woohoo! Look at me go! Another update! :D I'm so sorry I've not been more faithful with this guys! I've had an interesting past two months… I don't want to bore you with all of the gory details, but I will give you a bit of advice for all of the ladies out there. Never put up with any man who puts down your writing, or your love to read for that matter! The things we hold closest to our hearts are what make us who we are and if he can't accept that then he doesn't deserve you. Ok, rant over… lol Enjoy the chapter y'all! :D

Chapter 22

After bringing in the New Year Clarke could tell that something was bothering Bellamy, and whatever it was must be catching because the kids had started mimicking his strange behavior.

She was barely allowed to go to the bathroom by herself! She'd had to sit and chat with Bellamy through the door as she shaved her legs one night. She had gone upstairs to take a nice long soak in the bath, and after settling in- surrounded by lavender scented bubbles- she heard his voice through the door.

"You ok in there, Princess," he called, and she could just picture him hovering at the door with his ear pressed against it.

"I'm fine, Bell, just trying to get a little peace and quiet," Clarke chuckled, hoping he'd take a hint.

"Oh, ok. I'll just be on the bed if you need me."

Then she heard the TV come on, some weird history special about Alexander the Great. Part of her found it endearing, but a very minute part of her wanted to sink beneath the bubbles in aggravation.

Now she lay on the couch, Bellamy massaging her feet while the boys and Octavia quietly pieced together a puzzle on the coffee table. Clarke had declared that she was going to commandeer the living room and watch a Hallmark movie. She'd expected them to scatter, each going to their own thing…

She had been very wrong. One after one they'd all congregated around her. She didn't mind that they wanted to be with her, but what she did mind was the constancy of it. She felt that she had no time to herself, and she was almost glad that they would all be out of the house tomorrow.

Clarke was just about to get up and make some coffee in the kitchen, knowing Bellamy was bound to follow, when the door opened. Raven and Wick came in stomping the mud from their shoes as they shed coats and scarves.

"Is it movie night," Raven called, her cheeks ruddy from the cold.

"Yes it is, why don't you help me with the coffee and hot cocoa in the kitchen," Clarke yelled, scrambling from the couch.

Raven shared a bemused look with Wick before falling her friend, leaning her hip against the counter as a smirk stole over her lips.

"He's hovering isn't he," Raven chuckled.

"Yes," Clarke moaned, "He sits outside the door while I shower, Rae! I can't even pee in peace!"

Raven doubled over, gasping for breath as she laughed, "You've got to be kidding me!"

"I wish I was, but-" Clarke started to say when Bellamy walked in.

Raven looked like she was about to explode, her eyes twinkling as she quickly coughed to cover her laughing fit. Clarke rolled her eyes, turning back to the coffee pot.

"Bellamy, I think they've got it handled," Wick said, right on his heels, "I don't think we'll be much help."

Bellamy looked sheepish, but sat down in one of the stools anyway.

"I love you, Bell, but you're driving me crazy," Clarke said, turning around to face him.

"What am I doing," he asked, utterly confused.

"You are right next to me all the time, and I love being near you- but I'm worried. I have no idea why you suddenly seem to think I can't be alone for one second. You've even got the kids spooked," Clarke said, her arms spread wide in pleading.

Bellamy sighed, "I don't want to go back to work and leave you alone."

"I'll be fine," she told him, "I'm safe here."

"And you were safe the last time he came here," Bellamy bellowed.

"Shhh," Clarke hissed, "This is different."

"Oh and why exactly is this time different," Bellamy growled, stepping closer.

"You're here 24/7 Bellamy, hovering like a raging Grizzly! Even Finn's not dumb enough to try anything," Clarke said.

"But what about when I'm not here," Bellamy asked, fear clearly written in his dark eyes.

"You're just a phone call away, as is Raven and Wick and Kane or my mother," Clarke reasoned, "I'm safe, Bell."

"I can't take the chance," he said with a shake of his head, "I'm not going through that again Clarke."

"I know you're scared, baby," Clarke said, her hands moving up and down his strong arms in a comforting gesture, "But you can't put our lives on hold. You have to go back to work and the kids have to go back to school, and in another week I'll be back to my old routine too. It's going to be ok."

Bellamy relaxed against her, his weight pressing her back into the counter. She didn't mind though, he needed this. His face was buried in her neck, his body bowed to wrap around hers as her hands moved up and down his spine.

"Promise me you won't take any chances," he whispered.

"I promise," Clarke agreed, "I'll call you if anything suspicious happens."

100100100100100100100

Clarke waved as Bellamy and the kids pulled away in his truck. He'd been hesitant to leave that morning, but she'd shoved him out the door with a kiss and thermos of coffee.

"Trust me," she whispered.

"You aren't the problem," he replied, clenching his jaw.

Now she sat alone on the couch, flipping through the channels with a mug of hot cocoa warming her hands. Her fuzzy socks kept her toes toasty, and Bellamy's sweatshirt gave some much-needed comfort.

She missed him more than she thought she would, him and his constant hovering. She shook her head, settling in to watch her favorite cooking show. She'd just taken a sip of her cocoa when a scratching noise sounded at the window.

Clarke whirled to stare at the window, her heart hammering in her chest. She calmed slightly when she saw the bird staring back at her, but it took several minutes for her heart to return to a normal rhythm.

Her hands were shaking so bad she couldn't hold the mug, so she set it aside and thought about calling Bellamy. It was ten o'clock, his planning period, but she didn't want to scare him because she knew her voice would give her away.

"Get a grip Griffin," she murmured to herself, forcing her attention back to the television.

She'd just gotten settled in again, cuddled up with a blanket over her shoulders, when she heard a crash upstairs. She jumped, throwing the afghan off as she gripped her phone.

Clarke looked around for the baseball bat. Then another crash sounded and she was trying to remember where Bellamy said he put his pistol. She had started dialing his number when she heard feet on the stairs, her gaze meeting Finn's frenzied blue eyes.

"Hello, Princess," he smiled, sending a shiver down her spine.

"What are you doing here, Finn," Clarke asked, even though she knew the answer.

"We've had this discussion, Clarke. You're mine. You pledged yourself to me," he said, toying with the gun in his hands.

"We were young Finn, and I might have pledged myself to you but you didn't remain faithful to those vows," Clarke said.

"I made a mistake, Clarke. One little mistake, but you ruined our lives. We could've been happy if you wouldn't have made such a mess of things," Finn snapped.

"I'm the one who made a mess," Clarke argued, "You're the one who beat me black and blue after I found out what you really were!"

"You had to learn your lesson. It didn't have to be that way; you brought those consequences upon yourself."

He took the final step, only ten feet from her now. Clarke wanted to run, but she knew she would never be fast enough. She chanced a glance down at her phone, and decided that it was her only hope.

She had dialed and was bringing the phone up to her ear when he grabbed her. His fingers closed around her wrist in a vice lick grip as he pulled the phone from her hand.

"Calling your watchdog, I see," Finn hissed, "Well he's not going to do you any good his time."

Then he caught sight of the ring on her finger, his features contorting with rage.

"You're not going to do this to me, Clarke," he said shaking his head, "I'm not going to let this happen."

Clarke struggled against his grip, "What about your son? Are you going to deprive him of his mother?!"

"For all I know that kid isn't even mine," Finn snarled, "You, on the other hand, are mine."

Just then a knock sounded at the door, and Clarke hoped beyond hope that it was Bellamy. She looked at Finn to find him glaring at the entryway, his face twitching.

"Go answer it," he said, "Get rid of whoever it is."

Clarke scurried to the door, opening it to find Raven standing on the other side.

"Hey, Bellamy told me to come check on you. He said he thought he missed a call from you. He didn't want to hover, so he sent me," Raven said, trying to squeeze passed Clarke and glaring when she couldn't," What are you doing?"

"You need to leave, Raven," Clarke said, her eyes begging her friend to understand.

"I'm not leaving Clarke, I have to call him back and let him talk to you," Raven said as she finally pushed her way into the house- stopping short when she saw Finn.

"Well, well, well," Finn mocked, "If it isn't my little whore? How are you Raven?"

"You," Raven growled, "Do you have any idea how much hurt you've caused this family?"

"We're a family now, are we," Finn chuckled.

"Not you scumbag," she snarled, "You lost that right a long time ago."

"Well I'm taking back what's mine, but sadly I can't have any witnesses," Finn said, "So I guess that means you have to die."

"No," Clarke yelled, jumping between Raven and Finn's gun, "Don't hurt her, Finn, please."

"You see, here's the thing Princess," Finn began, waving his gun for emphasis, "Your friend has placed me in an interesting position. I can't let Blake have what's mine, so my only alternative is to kill you both. So choose Clarke. Do I just kill her, or do I kill you both?"

Clarke looked at Raven, "Just kill me, Finn. I'm the one you want to punish. Let Raven go. She's suffered enough because of us."

"Clarke, no," Raven begged, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Us," Finn whispered, "I like the sound of that. You know Clarke, we might not have been much in life, but I guarantee we'll be remembered in death."

At this, Clarke felt her heart shatter in her chest. She felt his fingers close entwine with hers, and all she wanted was to be able to see Bellamy and her kids one last time.

She looked at Raven where she stood frozen in fear, and Clarke smiled. At least she'd been able to save her best friend.

"Take care of them for me," she whispered, her eyes stinging with her tears.

"No, Clarke," Raven sobbed, "They need you."

"Tell them I love them," Clarke said as Finn raised the gun.

She closed her eyes waiting. Her mind filled with images of those she loved, finally settling on Bellamy's smiling face as the gun went off…

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Please don't hate me for the cliffhanger! ;)