A/N Stage one everyone. We're working out way into the depth of it all. This chapter was a 50/50 depending on how you read it. I wrote it and almost posted it but then I read it again and I wasn't sure on it so I deleted it and re wrote it and now we're here. This is fluffy but along with planning. Enjoy and as always thanks for the support.
Clarke let Octavia go over and find topping for the pizza's they were going to make as she traveled over to the gift and flower section. It might be something small or unknown between the two of them but she remembered the little bear that sat on her dresser that Lexa had bought her so she wouldn't sleep alone so she wanted to find something that might help ease the brunette a little.
"What are you doing?" Clarke heard Octavia come up behind her.
"I'm looking for something." Clarke rolled her eyes knowing Octavia was eyeing her.
"Something like what?" Octavia watched her best friend hunt out things in the stuffed animal area and the flowers.
"I'm looking for something for Lexa maybe to help ease her mind a little and to just make her smile because I love her." Clarke hunting through all the little gifts she could see in the store.
"Did you get everything for the pizza?" Clarke looked back at her best friend who was smiling at her.
"What?" Clarke stood up trying to figure out what Octavia was doing.
"I've just never seen you be so cute with someone. I know you said you loved Finn or you thought you did but you never went out of your way for stuff like this." Octavia hugged her best friend.
"Ohhh stop and no I didn't love Finn or maybe it was just a first type of love thing but with Lexa it's different. Today she finally opened up a little with me regarding everything and it's taking a lot out of her and I just want to be there for her." Clarke turned back around looking for a stuffed animal.
"Okay well I am going to go grab the beer and you hurry up over here before they think we got kidnapped okay." Octavia smacked her best friend in the ass before leaving her.
Clarke dug to the back of the stuffed animals and pulled out this little brown dog that had a heart patch over one eye with pink ears. It was adorable and it reminded her of everyone saying the commander had heart eyes for her. Taking the dog with her she went and found a pin to stick on the dog that said I love you on it and she grabbed a dark and light pink rose hooking them to the dog with a piece of ribbon she stuck them in a little black box so they stood out. Looking at it again she knew it was going to be perfect for Lexa.
"Wow look at my best friend going all out." Clarke jumped hearing Octavia come up behind her again.
"Stop O you scared the shit out of me." Clarke hugged the dog close to her as they headed to the check out.
"Someone special?" Clarke seen the guy ringing up the dog and the things she added onto it.
"Love of her life." Octavia popped up over Clarke's shoulder answering for her before getting a elbow to the stomach.
"Yes someone I love and she just need a little boost in her life right now." Clarke smiled at the guy.
"Well you did a fantastic job I am sure she will love it." Clarke felt Octavia nudged her because she knew it was true. She picked it out pretty perfect for Lexa.
Heading out of the store both girls stopped as the black car drove past them slowly. They both watched it drive down the street before turning around a corner.
"What do you think?" Octavia looked at Clarke.
"I'm not sure but that is why we invited you guys over. I think I might have figured a few things out and in order to prove my theory it's going to take all of us." Clarke turned around not seeing any cars.
"What is your theory?" Octavia was curious.
"Let's get back home and we'll all discuss it as we cook." Clarke sped up her pace even though she had a feeling Gustus was around watching them as well so they were okay.
Lexa sat on the stool listening to Raven talk about her day with Octavia and her driver and new security detail. She couldn't help but laugh that they made both of the guys eat ice cream and walk them down to the bay and at the market place in town.
"Seriously her name for him is now James Bond. She refused to leave him alone till he opened up a bit." Raven laughed at Lexa's face.
"Well I give her props because he barely speaks to me." Lexa took a sip of her beer.
"I think he is afraid of you." Raven nodded seriously at Lexa.
"Do I come off scary?" Lexa was curious.
"Ummm yeah a little bit but more intimidating and powerful than just plain out scary." Lexa listened to Raven's description of herself.
"Interesting." Lexa thought it over.
"Pizza time bitches." Octavia bust through the door seeing both girls jump.
"Awww did we break up your bonding time." Octavia laughed walking over putting the bags on the counter before kissing Raven.
Lexa watched Clarke walk in shutting the door holding a bag and then she headed straight into her bedroom without saying a word to any of them.
"Is she okay?" Lexa looked at Octavia and then back to the bedroom door.
"Yup I think so but you can go check if you want." Octavia started pulling out the toppings for the pizza wondering if Clarke was going to give the gift to her now or later.
Lexa got up from the table grabbing another beer for Clarke as she knocked on the bedroom door not sure if it being shut was a sign to not come in.
"Come in." Clarke yelled turning around to see who actually knocked on her door and it was Lexa.
"You do know you didn't have to knock right." Clarke smiled she had sat the little box with the dog and roses on the stand next to Lexa's side of the bed.
"Well you came back home and just walked straight to the bedroom shutting the door I wasn't sure if everything was okay." Lexa opened the beer hanging it over to Clarke.
"Everything is perfect but come here." Clarke sat on the bed waiting for Lexa to join her.
"What's up." Lexa looked at Clarke seeing her blush a little bit.
"I got you something." Clarke felt a little nervous hoping Lexa liked it.
"Oh really?" Lexa looked at Clarke watching her glance at the night stand and then Lexa spotted the little black box with a brown dog in it. She couldn't stop herself from smiling if she wanted too. Picking it up she smelled the two roses that Clarke had placed in the box along with the little pin that said I love you on it. It was probably the most sweetest and meaningful thing someone had done for her. She could tell that it wasn't planned and that's what made it even better.
"I know it's small but." Clarke was cut off feeling Lexa's lips graze hers. She felt the brunette pull her closer sliding a hand over the side of her neck kissing her again she could feel Lexa smiling into the kiss. Clarke met her lips again letting the kiss last a little longer letting them both feel the meaning of it all.
"Thank you." Lexa whispered with her eyes still closed leaning her forehead against Clarke's.
"I love you." Clarke said it against Lexa's lips before wrapping her arms around the brunette pulling her in for a hug.
"I know you do." Lexa tried to not let the tears fall from her eyes but she couldn't stop it.
"Shhhh don't cry." Clarke pulled back from Lexa wiping her tears away. She tugged the little dog out of the box and lifting him up to Lexa's face.
"What are you going to name him?" Clarke watched Lexa smile and shake her head.
"I have no idea." Lexa laughed.
"I have an idea." Clarke smiled knowing Lexa was going to laugh at her.
"What is that?" Lexa grabbed the dog realizing it smelled like Clarke.
"Did you spray him." Lexa watched Clarke blush.
"I may have but I needed you to be able to hug him and think of me." Clarke pulled the little dog from Lexa turning him to face her.
"Lexa this is commander." Clarke said it with a tone that was suppose to be confident but it came out on a laugh.
"Oh my god really Clarke." Lexa grabbed the dog looking at him with his one little heart patched eye and his pink ears.
"Yup It's how we met Commander Clarke." Clarke watched Lexa laugh and it warmed her heart.
"Um cheeseballs do you want pizza or not?" Octavia popped her head into Clarke's bedroom seeing the two of them on the bed wrapped up in each other looking at the little dog.
"See commander heart eyes." Clarke and Lexa looked up at Octavia who was pointing at Lexa.
"Told you the name fits." Clarke laughed knowing Lexa had rolled her eyes after the door shut.
"Come on let's go before she comes back in here with god knows what." Clarke nudged Lexa before climbing around her.
"Clarke." Lexa stood up grabbing the blondes arm before she made it out of the bedroom door.
"Yeah." Clarke seen that Lexa had tears in her eyes again. Walking back up to her she tilted her chin so their eyes could meet before kissing her again. Proving to her that she was there by her side.
"It's going to be okay come on they care about you too." Clarke grabbed Lexa's hand walking out of the door.
"Okay so we have four different pizza's I already have mine and Raven's in the oven since you two were having a love fest." Octavia pushed two more pizza's at her friends.
"You've done this before right?" Raven looked at Lexa who you could tell she had been crying just a little bit.
"Yeah this was Clarke's and I first date." Lexa laughed thinking about the night.
"Hey that was great night along with this." Clarke stepped up to her record playing putting on my girl by The Temptations.
"Ohhh yesss." Octavia said out loud knowing all three girls were watching her.
"Here we go." Clarke grabbed Lexa's hand leading them over to the toppings as they started picking out what they wanted on their pizza's.
"I got sunnnshine on a cloudy day." everyone jumped hearing Lexa belt out the song.
"Get it girl." Octavia pointed at Lexa and started snapping..
"When it's cold outside I got the month of May." Octavia sang after Lexa spinning around the kitchen.
"I'd guess you'd say what can make me feel this way." Raven sang the next part with all them looking at Clarke next.
"My giirrllll" Clarke turned and pointed at Lexa hearing her two friends kick in and sing the background.
"That was a setup." Lexa pointed at all of them.
"Nope it's the truth." Clarke wrapped her arms around Lexa feeling Octavia come up and hug Lexa as well right along with Raven.
"You're stuck with us commander." Octavia spoke hearing all of them agree.
"Okay enough with trying to make me cry." Lexa laughed feeling them all let her go really quickly.
"Your pizza is done." Clarke opened the oven pulling out Raven and Octavia's pizza's sitting them on the rack next to her oven.
"Yessss food." Octavia slid into the kitchen on her socks.
"You're going to fall on your ass one day doing that." Raven pointed to Octavia before grabbing a plate.
"Our turn, is that all you want?" Clarke looked at Lexa's pizza with just cheese on it.
"Yup. Lexa smiled knowing all of them were looking at her like she was weird.
"Clarke goes all out we know this." Octavia pointed at Clarke's pizza that had like everything on it.
"Oh hush it." Clarke slid their pizza's in the oven.
"So tell us about this theory because I have been waiting and you two have yet to say shit." Octavia finally busted out with what her and Raven had both been thinking.
"Thank you so much for asking nicely." Clarke laughed at her best friend grabbing her extra stools placing them on the other side of the counter for her and Lexa.
"Okay well we first need to check out the other apartment the one that Raven had went too. Last night I guess I stuck it in Clarke's head that maybe we're all missing the obvious." Lexa started the conversation first.
"What is that?" Raven looked at both of them.
"That all of this is Echo and Finn." Clarke spoke grabbing a few new beers.
"We already know it's them." Octavia spoke up between eating her pizza.
"Yeah but we mean like it's them together. They are dating or together or have plotted this whole thing out. The apartment I was in with Echo was way more sophisticated than I have ever expected to see out of Echo." Lexa watched both girls taking in the information.
"So when I looked at the pictures they look exactly like some place Finn would be staying. We all know how he has the taste for finer things." Clarke sat back down after checking their pizzas.
"Okay good point." Raven nodded knowing she had lived with Finn before.
"Okay but what is the point in it all. Like why would they set all of this up to ruin our lives." Octavia still wasn't getting it.
"Well they both like money and since my father went looking for Finn giving him a paycheck and Clarke's mother obviously figured out Echo I think due to the magazines and offered her a paycheck we all know they are money hungry how could they turn that down." Lexa was running through her own head as well.
"Here." Clarke slid a pizza in front of Lexa and she noticed the girl had sliced it up for her.
"Awww cute." Octavia pointed it out.
"Ohhh stop." Clarke sat down blushing.
"So anyways they both want money we already knew that but what makes you think they are involved." Raven asked.
"Well we don't know that for sure but they both are willing to sleep with just about anyone so why not soak up the money and the pleasure and it would also make sense on why they're always one step ahead of us." Lexa added between eating her pizza.
"What is the advantage though." Octavia asked seeing both Lexa and Clarke look at each other.
"Well it's obvious that Echo wants Lexa back and I think she was even more willing to mess around with Raven if meant she was getting her way, but Lexa thinks Finn is in it for getting me back." Clarke watched her friends eyes go wide.
"Excuse me." Raven started to cough on her food grabbing her beer.
"That will never happen." Octavia pointed at Clarke.
"Listen though, the rose and the note left on Clarke's door they were all out of love not hate and the xoxo left on her coffee and who would know her order more than us. It would have to only be him. The person who has been leaving the good notes behind are someone who has to know her personally and we all know Echo is not that clever." Lexa pointed out all the facts.
"The only time Finn loses his temper is around Octavia and that is because she bruised his man ego when she punched him because not only was he stupid for cheating on Clarke but because he got called out and looked stupid in front of Clarke." Lexa added next.
"No offense Raven." Clarke looked at Raven knowing it was a sore spot for both of them.
"I'm okay there was obviously something wrong with our relationship to start with since he turned to you and even I can admit at that time when I met you and seen him he did love you Clarke." Raven added in seeing Lexa grip her beer a little harder.
"I don't even know what to think about all that right now but Echo is never going to believe that Lexa randomly wants her back but with everything going on we're thinking we can get Finn to fall for my side of things and I can get him talking." Clarke watched Octavia knowing it wasn't going to fly.
"Nope fuck that it's not worth it." Octavia stood up in her chair pointing at Clarke.
"O you got to listen to me. We all want this to end and all of us to be happy." Clarke pleaded pointing at the stool for Octavia to sit back down.
"You are the only one who can do this Octavia. No one makes him more angry then you. So we would need you to set him off and Clarke to stand up for him showing him some type of proof that she still cares." Lexa watched all of them think it over.
"You're okay with this?" Raven pointed at Lexa.
"I'm okay with whatever stops all this bullshit once and for all." Lexa nodded knowing she hated some parts of it.
"I don't know how I feel about it." Octavia spoke up looking at Clarke.
"O please I know you hate him for what he did to us. I know you hate the fact that he cheated on Raven with me and then on me with god knows who and then also hit me hard with my father dying. I don't know what he's thinking coming back here for the money and me but we have to figure it all out." Clarke reached across the counter grabbing her best friends hand.
"If he touches or does one thing wrong Clarke I will put his ass into the ground." Octavia warned her best friend.
'Trust me I'll get there before you do." Lexa spoke up.
"I can always just blow their asses up." Raven finally spoke seeing all of them look at her and start laughing.
"What it's true and then we don't have to deal with this." Raven shrugged her shoulders.
" I kind of want the true story behind it all though." Clarke admitted because she actually was curious.
"Ughhh fine I guess I will go along with this but if one thing feels wrong I'm done and I am not going down without putting them both into the ground." Octavia downed the rest of her beer.
"How do we even start this?" Raven wasn't sure what else to say.
"Well first we need to find the apartment and have Raven invite herself in somehow and will have to stage some type of fight between Clarke and myself in front of Finn with Octavia backing me and Clarke backing Finn." Lexa looked between all of them.
"What the hell am I going to do in Echo's place." Raven was confused.
"You need to keep her away from this whole thing so she had no idea what we are attempting to plan because she is smarter than most people I know." Lexa looked between Octavia and Raven seeing them both try and decide if they were okay with it.
"If you touch her I'll kill you." Octavia looked at Raven.
"This is not my plan you will be killing those two." Raven pointed at Clarke and Lexa.
"Stop nothing has to be physical we just need to mess up their games so we can call them out." Clarke butted in.
"Okay I guess we're all in." Raven spoke up with all of them looking at each other.
"Not all of us." Lexa spoke up knowing they all were looking at her.
"Gustus needs to know all of this for the sake of safety." Lexa was the one to down the rest of her beer this time.
"I can take care of that if needed." Clarke grabbed Lexa's hand squeezing it hard.
"We can go with her." Octavia spoke up seeing the pain in Lexa's eyes.
"No I think that is one I need to handle." Lexa spoke up smiling at all of them before getting up to grab another beer and heading out of the front door.
Clarke stood up looking at the two of them waving it off knowing that Lexa needed her own time to process what she just said. Clarke walked to the door opening it up and closing it behind her she leaned back against it seeing Lexa leaning over the side of the balcony. She didn't say anything because she knew Lexa knew it was her.
"You know I have to do it." Lexa spoke up swinging her beer off the edge of the balcony trying to not let her breath hitch.
"I think you have to do what is best for you Lexa." Clarke wasn't sure exactly how Lexa planned on approaching Gustus again.
"If this is going to work we all know he needs to know about it." Lexa looked down on the ground.
'You know that we can do this for you right." Clarke wanted to make sure that Lexa had support.
"I know but I think like you said before this is something I have to do alone." Lexa turned around leaning on the railing now seeing Clarke who was leaning on the door.
"Okay I can wait outside for you then." Clarke watched a very small smile play on Lexa's lips.
"I think I can handle that." Lexa watched Clarke push off the door to stand in front of her.
"Do think this is all true or are we just making it up?" Clarke was curious to what Lexa was thinking.
"I think that we won't know until we find out." Lexa wasn't sure about the plan or idea either.
"Do you want to take a walk with me?" Clarke slid her and up cupping the brunette's face meeting her eyes she could see them shine knowing Lexa was holding back her tears.
"What about those two?" Lexa gestured inside the apartment knowing Clarke could read her.
"I'm sure they can handle themselves." Clarke knew that both her friends would understand if they were gone for a bit.
"You sure?" Lexa looked down and then back up to Clarke.
"Come on." Clarke grabbed Lexa's hand and pulled her a little leading them down the stairs.
Clarke didn't say anything she just walked with Lexa. The night was slightly warm but the sky was clear with just a small breeze. Even with the city lights you could see the stars. She felt Lexa squeeze her hand every now and then like checking to see if she was still there. Glancing up occasionally she could see a few stray tears fall from Lexa's eyes but the girl hadn't spoke so Clarke was just going to let her think in the moment, to enjoy the silence. She knew deep down Lexa wanted to be around her friends but the fresh air was needed too.
"I'm happy it's you." Lexa finally spoke up after walking a little.
"Hmmm." Clarke looked at Lexa.
"I'm happy it's you who is by my side in all of this." Lexa didn't look at Clarke she just kept looking up.
"This is nothing we ever expected Lexa but you letting me be here after everything means more to me then I can ever explain." Clarke squeezed Lexa's hand as they fell into silence again.
Lexa seen a black car sitting about a block and half down on the side of the street. She knew it was Gustus she didn't even have to ask or look it was just known. He had always been around or near by no matter where she was. Right about now she wasn't sure if she was happy or sad about the fact. She felt Clarke shift a little like she knew it was him too.
'It's okay." Lexa spoke up feeling Clarke jump.
"What?" Clarke turned in front of Lexa walking backwards now with both the brunettes hands in hers.
"It's him and we both know it." Lexa looked up again before looking back at Clarke.
"How about you just focus on me." Clarke smiled seeing Lexa looking back at her letting blue meet green she was hoping for now Lexa would just focus on her and leave the car alone.
"You do realize you are going to fall if you keep dragging your feet backwards like that." Lexa could hear Clarke shuffling.
"I'm sure you will catch me." Clarke laughed when she felt Lexa loosen her grip just a little.
"You sure about that?" Lexa couldn't help but love the sound of Clarke laughing it was good for her heart.
"Mmhmm because you love me." Clarke winked at Lexa.
Lexa looked up seeing the grass sticking out of the crack of the sidewalk knowing the second Clarke dragged her feet she was going to hit it and trip. Lexa bit her lip just waiting for it and the second it happened she seen Clarke's eyes go wide before Lexa let the blonde fall on her ass.
"Oops." Lexa bent over seeing Clarke sitting on her ass laughing.
"You jerk." Clarke laid back down on the cement her ass hurt.
"I tried to warn you." Lexa was laughing now.
"You were suppose to catch me." Clarke looked up at Lexa who was grinning ear to ear and she wanted to see that forever.
"How does your ass feel?" Lexa seen Clarke wince a little bit.
"It's okay if anything my pride is hurt." Clarke held her arms up wiggling her fingers.
"Ohhhh so now you want help up too?" Lexa leaned over wiggling her fingers at Clarke.
"Leeexxaaaaaa." Clarke whined on the ground.
"Is that a spider?" Lexa laughed seeing Clarke jump straight up off the ground running to the other side of her.
Clarke searched the ground before looking up and seeing Lexa still laughing at her as she stepped back some looking at the ground again. Seeing the girl smirk she knew there was no spider now.
"You jerk." Clarke stepped up pushing Lexa.
"I got you twice." Lexa smiled grabbing the blonde pulling her into a hug as they wobbled around looking like fools.
"Well now my ass hurts, my pride is bruised and you scared me to death. I think you owe me." Clarke leaned in giving Lexa a quick kiss.
"Ohhhh I owe you huh?" Lexa stuck her nose down into the crook of Clarke's neck smelling her shampoo and perfume.
"You smell amazing." Lexa let out after taking a deep breath she picked Clarke up and spinning her around.
"Let's go home." Clarke let it out with a small laugh as she felt her feet hit the ground with Lexa grabbing her hand.
"Yes let's go home." Lexa liked the sound of Clarke referring to them being together as home. She followed the blonde without looking back because she knew the car wasn't going anywhere.
"Home sweet home." Clarke dug out her keys realizing she didn't have them.
"Locked out?" Lexa looked over Clarke's shoulder.
"Nope but I'm sure they are long gone by now." Clarke pushed her door open knowing it would be unlocked. Listening she heard nothing but she noticed that her kitchen was clean and there was a note on the counter.
Lovers,
I'm sure you two went out for air or maybe a quickie but either way we love you and will see you tomorrow for the first step in ugly plan of yours. Oh and don't worry Raven is carrying me home.
Octavia the best bitch friend ever.
Clarke read the note and couldn't help but laugh it was typical Octavia leaving and note and by the look of her recycling bin she could tell someone may have had a few too many beers. Either way it didn't matter they had a great night and everyone seemed to have enjoy themselves even if they had spent a lot of their time away from her apartment.
"What is so funny?" Lexa asked before taking off her hoodie and sitting down on the couch.
"Octavia and her notes." Clarke turned seeing Lexa sitting on her couch back in just a tank top and shorts. Walking over to her she pulled off her own hoodie and nudged Lexa to lean up so she could crawl in behind her.
"What do you want to watch?" Lexa grabbed the controller
"Anything you want." Clarke grabbed Lexa's shoulders slowly squeezing and massaging them. She heard the girl whine a little before relaxing. Rubbing Lexa's shoulders and her neck while watching repeats of Suits she couldn't help but imagine the brunette being on the show. It fit her style so much even though her heart was so different. Slowly she started to feel the brunette lean a little from being so exhausted.
"Come on commander." Clarke pushed a little sneaking out from behind Lexa hearing the girl get grumpy from the loss of warmth.
"Let's get in bed." Clarke grabbed Lexa's hands pulling her up listening to Lexa groan about how they should have just slept on the couch.
"Yes we could have but my bed is better." Clarke pulled the blankets back tugging off Lexa's tank top and then her shorts she bit her lip wanting to laugh when she watched the brunette throw herself down on the bed curling up Lifting the blanket she pulled it back up over Lexa covering her up she turned walking into the bathroom taking off her shirt and shorts she looked back at Lexa sleeping in her bed. Everything was going to be okay if they could just figure the next steps out.
"Bed." Clarke looked at her bed noticing Lexa hadn't moved but she had spoke.
"I'm coming" Clarke rolled her eyes even though Lexa couldn't see her she flipped off the light walking around her bed she flipped the tv on knowing she wasn't completely tired yet but she would fall asleep eventually.
"Mmmmm." She heard Lexa mumble as she pulled her closer resting her head on her chest she felt the girl wrap herself around her keeping them as close as possible. Rubbing her hand up and down her back she felt Lexa relax again and her breathing go steady. This is how they were meant to be this how she wanted it to be.
"I love you so much." Clarke whispered it knowing the brunette was falling asleep but she wanted to say it anyways.
Lexa was relaxed and half asleep she could feel the warmth of Clarke heat her body and the blondes fingers playing up and down her back had her sighing to herself on how much this is what she wanted forever. She knew tomorrow was going to be a hard day on herself so all she wanted to do was soak up everything Clarke. Hearing the blonde whisper made her smile because Clarke would be that cute person to whisper sweet nothings to her in the middle of the night.
Clarke jumped a little waking up some when she randomly felt Lexa push off her for a second breaking their contact.
"What are you doing?" Clarke watched Lexa roll over grabbing the little brown dog before rolling back to her and tucking him between them.
"I need all of you" Lexa snuggled back up into Clarke gripping her tight with the little dog between them she let herself drift to sleep knowing that not only did she have Clarke but she had her little commander Clarke as well.
A/N Okay so we're another step closer. The next chapter is going to involve a little set up along with some Gustus/Lexa and Clarke/Abby. I can't wait to write it but I have no idea where to start so wish me luck. xoxoxo