Summary: Non-canon, Drama/Romance, hopefully with some Action/Adventure thrown in. Bellarke, Linctavia and probably more once I get going. :D
Rated M – for adult themes.
Disclaimer: Just borrowing The 100, not for profit!
The Homestead
Chapter 9 – Bellamy
Farming was not just honest work, Bellamy had come to realise, it was good for the soul.
Never in his wildest dreams on the Ark could he have imagined himself as he was now – squinting the sweat from his eyes and flicking it from his long locks as he thrust his makeshift shovel into the ground and turned the damp, dark soil over. Dirt caked his pant legs and clung to the wet skin on his hands, arms, chest and face. He loved the smell of the freshly dug earth, but he couldn't describe it. He'd never ever seen dirt on the Ark let alone smelt it.
Bellamy was by himself out in the open field, but he didn't mind. In fact, he seemed to prefer it these days. The others who had been working on the winter planting detail with him had finished for the day and wandered off to the homestead to catch up with their friends and family members who had arrived for the new work rotation.
After each Gathering Day the work systems and rosters were assessed and a new rotation of personnel, both Trikru and Skaikru, were assigned positions at the homestead. The council tried to share out the responsibilities and time spent on duty, but it also took into consideration the fact that certain people were specialised in certain areas. They also rostered in downtime.
Aside from all this planning there were a few regulars who lived at the ranch now. Most of them were Bellamy's people - Monty, Jasper, Harper, Miller and Murphy – to name just a few of the kids from the first dropship. Then there were the extras – Raven, Nyko and his cousin Cora, a few other Trikru and of course Lincoln, who did not technically live at the homestead but on the outskirts of the forest with Octavia.
Bellamy smiled a soft wide smile that slowly crept up the side of his face at the thought of his little sister.
He shunted the shovel upright into the dirt and leant against it for a second, recalling an image from earlier in the day of Octavia and Lincoln exiting the clinic with Jackson – everyone all smiles. Lincoln had shaken the young Doctor's hand with such spirit, that Bellamy almost laughed. It was obvious they had received good news about the results from Abby. He was pleased and relieved for them both.
"Thought you'd still be out here," Lincoln had walked up the rows of ploughed earth so quietly that Bellamy hadn't even noticed him. His soldier's senses were slipping.
"I'm done," he said picking up the shovel and placing it on the wooden cart with the rest of the planting tools. "Give me a hand with this?" he gestured to his friend.
Without speaking they took a handle each and pulled the cart laden with heavy earth moving tools up the field, past the quarters and into the open work shed.
"Time to eat," Bellamy took his shirt out from the backside hem of his pants where it was loosely tucked. He wiped the grit from his face and torso, shook the dirt off the shirt and pulled it over his head.
Lincoln stood in front of him partly blocking his way to the homestead. "O wanted you to know that Abby's results came back clear."
Bellamy grinned. He couldn't hide his excitement, even from Lincoln.
"Great," he said, "let's celebrate." He stepped forward but Lincoln stopped him by shifting further into his path.
"There's something I need to ask you first."
"Okay." Bellamy put his hand on his hips and waited.
"I know you had your customs on the Ark, and we have ours here."
Bellamy raised an eyebrow.
"Sometimes our ideals differ, but not when it comes to loyalty." Lincoln's tone was serious, but Bellamy sensed something else in his voice – something he couldn't quite pick.
"You're right… but what exactly are you asking me?"
Lincoln sniffed and cleared his throat, looking Bellamy directly in the eye.
"I'm asking for your permission to pledge my loyalty… and my love… for your sister."
Bellamy was stunned. "Pledge your loyalty…" he stammered. "As in… wed?"
Lincoln nodded.
"Octavia… and the baby… are my people now Bellamy. I don't ever want her to feel like she doesn't belong again. And I want my son to know that he has a place on this earth. O knows how I feel, but pledging my loyalty in ceremony means everybody else knows it too. It sends a message – that they are my responsibility now."
Bellamy clenched his jaw and steeled his eyes to try and stop them from watering - if only Lincoln knew the weight of those words – how they had shaped and directed his life since the moment his sister was born.
He inhaled sharply through his nose and ran his hand through his hair before looking up at his friend - his brother, with a mixture of admiration and regret.
He should have been happy. He was happy. It was just…
It was moments like this that awoke the sleeping demon in him – that devilish, self-doubting voice that reminded him of all the mistakes he'd made, the people he'd hurt and the lives he was accountable for. In this instance it whispered wickedly of all the wrong choices he'd made in regards to the man standing before him, asking permission to marry his sister.
He had tortured Lincoln. And yet here he was… showing Bellamy the upmost respect, knowing him and honouring his family. Bellamy looked down to the ground, fighting desperately to subdue the devil in his ear.
Keeping that demon on a leash was going to be a lifelong lesson for Bellamy, but he had one person alone to thank for making him aware of it and helping him rope it in, and that was his little sister Octavia.
He owed her his life.
"You're killing yourself!" Octavia was furious.
"I think you're… over exaggerating- ah!" Bellamy winced as he tried to sit up, his breath escaping him.
Nyko grinned. He was not helping the situation.
"You have to take him off detail," Octavia barked at the healer.
"Not… gonna happen", Bellamy supported his bandaged ribs with one arm and dropped his feet to the floor.
It was hard to talk. It was even harder to move.
"Perhaps you can help in the kitchen for the rest of the rotation," Nyko implored with a bemused raised eyebrow.
"Nyko, this is not a joke." Octavia could barely control her rage. "People die from pneumonia - especially if they don't get rest! How can you sanction this?"
What had started out as a simple injury – three fractured ribs after a tumble down a steep gully whilst on a hunting trip, had become seriously complicated - probably because of his stubbornness. After the fall, Bellamy had stipulated that he would keep working, that there was too much to do and not enough hands to help out. So… he had continued on lumber detail where he was already stationed.
None of them had ever felled trees before and there were more mishaps than Bellamy would have liked to admit. Hence, it was a pretty risky work duty and only highly competent crew were assigned. He had been working beside Fae, a feisty Trikru girl on his detail, when the cedar they were cutting with Miller came crashing in her direction. Without any hesitation Bellamy dove for the girl, pushing her and himself out of harm's way in the last second.
He saved her life, but the impact of their bodies and the ensuing tree branch whiplash to his chest caused the ribs to break. The aching was immense, and it probably didn't help matters that Fae insisted she thank him for saving her life, later that night. He could have said no. But something inside him actually craved the pain.
And then he had gone out in the rain and the dark and the cold to fix a roof above one of the sleeping quarters, because he couldn't have his people getting sick.
Never mind catching pneumonia himself.
Nyko looked sheepish. But none of this was his fault. Bellamy had disregarded his advice on every occasion, including two days ago when he got the infection.
"O… don't take it out… on Nyko… I.. didn't listen." Bellamy braced himself after the effort.
He was expecting an onslaught from Octavia. Instead she looked at him, almost with… was it pity?
"You're blind, Bell. Everybody can see what you're doing, but you. We get it. Throwing yourself into building this homestead helps you forget. It's a distraction. But what's the point if you end up killing yourself? Those kids out there, they look to you. Is this the kind of example you want to set? That disregarding your own life will make your problems go away?"
She turned on her heels and headed for the door, disgusted.
"This place could be so much more than just a distraction, Bell. But you're missing all of it, all the good we're creating every day; you're shutting it out by working yourself into the ground and screwing around. You have to let go, big brother." Her cheeks were laced with tears as she walked back to him and spoke quietly and with more persistence. "You have to let go of her."
A/N: Please, please, please review – I'd love to hear what you think about this chapter. I think I found my mojo again – it's easy to do when you're focusing on the Blake siblings! They have such great dynamics! Thank-you for all the follows/faves and for reading.