Chapter: Year #1. Month #2.
Synopsis: Abby witnesses first hand Skaikru's disdain for their own Ambassador.
Abby rubbed her forehead in an attempt to stave off a headache that had been brewing all morning as she walked briskly into the cafeteria. Lunch was served over the span of two hours and anyone who didn't get their meal in that timeframe needed to wait until the next. Abby was happy to see some progress in relations between all the clans as they worked side by side; everyone in the bunker given a task to keep them busy and productive. And those who served the meals were no exception.
Nausea roiled through her as she lifted a tray off the turntable and she contemplated putting it back and going without. But it wasn't worth another argument with Marcus about the lack of nutrition she'd been getting by skipping meals. Not feeling sociable and determined to get the meager meal into her system, she veered toward a small table in the corner of the room.
Her musing was interrupted when the father of the boy Marcus saved appeared at her side.
"Hi Doc."
It wasn't unusual for people want to chat with the bunker's head of medical but this man was not the conversational type. And so motherly concern for his son reared to the fore of her thoughts. "Robert. Is something wrong? Matthew?"
He quickly dismissed her concern. "He's doing fine. Thanks to you."
"Marcus saved him, not me."
His lips twisted into a snarl. "Heard you're back with the Chancellor."
Warning signals went off in Abby's head but she decided to take the bait anyway. Best to confront things head on rather than let them stew and do more damage. She and Marcus had learned that lesson more than once. "The break wasn't good for either of us. We've always been stronger together."
He shifted like an agitated animal and continued. "But he's not the Chancellor anymore, is he? Just some lackey for an inexperienced child who for some reason the Grounders look to for leadership."
Abby groaned inwardly. She'd traded one anticipated argument for another, it seemed. "Robert. You have to put this animosity behind you."
"I can't do that."
"Marcus saved your son." He'd be annoyed to discover she was once again defending him but she loved him and it hurt to see his own people hate him so thoroughly. He'd made impossible decisions to save his people. But he had saved them.
"And killed my wife."
Abby rubbed her eyes. Damn Jaha for giving them hope. He'd put Marcus in an impossible situation and he'd paid the price for it ever since. She saw the haunted look in his eyes before they closed every night. Felt him struggle to wake from the nightmares. So many of his demons were not of his own making but he endured them nonetheless. "There was no good decision and you know that."
But the angry father clearly needed to vent and she, at this point, was willing to listen. Her nausea had all but disappeared but she had no interest at all in the food. "We could have taken them. Jaha had a plan."
"And then we'd all be dead, your son included. "
"Or we'd be alive. All of us."
"If you can bring yourself to think really carefully about the available choices, you'll realize that isn't at all true." She forced herself to relax as Robert grew more agitated.
The man's hands clenched at his sides. "Or you could have left the damn door shut."
"Abby?"
Abby closed her eyes. Now was not the time for Marcus to interrupt but there he stood, tray in hand, concern radiating off him in buffering waves she was certain Robert could feel.
Robert whirled, sneered and deliberately knocked the tray out of his hand. With his leg and wrist still healing, Marcus didn't possess his normal reflexes and the tray hit the floor with a loud CLANG.
"Traitor," the man spat and stalked away before Marcus could frame a response.
A few grounders stood but Marcus raised his bandaged wrist and waved them down. One of the servers hurried over to clean up the floor.
"Mind if I join you?"
Marcus slid into the seat opposite her as if nothing had happened. But she could see in his eyes, in the slump of his shoulders, how the incident affected him. A sharp pang rushed through her at the month-long part she'd played in his heartache.
But they'd made amends and she knew, knew, he'd done everything possible, everything right, to save his people. He didn't deserve it. Or if he did, she and Jaha were equally responsible. But it was Marcus that continued to take the brunt of their hate. Probably because Jaha still courted insurrection and had earned their loyalty because of it. That would come back to bite him sooner rather than later. And he would deserve whatever punishment the Council decided to doll out.
She slid her tray to the middle of the table but he waved dismissively at it. "You need to eat."
"So do you. And I'm not hungry." She couldn't eat in front of him when he wasn't going to get anything until the next meal. There were no second helpings of the rationed food. Not yet. Not until they had a routine harvest from Agro.
He reached out and covered her closest hand with his. "Abby, you and the baby need the nutrition."
He used the same argument every time because he knew she couldn't counter it. And she wanted to slap the smug look off his face every time he uttered those words. She opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted as a fight broke out in the center of the room.
Between a lanky skaikru man and a bulky grounder.
Marcus stood, ready to wade between the two when security rushed in; Miller and two grounders, armed with guns and patience worn down by constant conflict.
Abby followed Marcus' gaze away from the main event and disappointingly pursed her lips when she noticed Jaha at a table with a few skaikru men, avidly watching the fistfight.
"Is he still inciting?"
"I don't know." And she didn't. She only had her suspicions. And they couldn't lock him up on that alone.
"The Council is losing patience with the constant conflict." Marcus sighed and Abby didn't envy him his position, both as Skaikru Ambassador and head of the bunker's diversely staffed Guard. "I'm loosing ground trying to convince them not to bring him in without proof."
She nodded, hoping her suspicions were unfounded. "It hasn't been this bad since you announced the contraceptive measures."
"That was uncomfortable in more ways than one," he admitted with a wince and she knew exactly how he felt. They hadn't been on speaking terms at that point.
Abby stood as the guest speaker in a room outfitted with a table large enough to hold the representatives of all twelve clans; a newly formed Council that would administer the soon to be drafted laws that would govern life inside the bunker.
She very carefully avoided Marcus, who, of course, had been chosen by Octavia to continue his role as Skaikru ambassador. Octavia had insisted they were all Won-kru now but she recognized the need for a Council and had chosen one representative from each clan to represent their interests and bring each unique point of view to the table.
Addressing Octavia directly, she was able to keep from meeting his eyes, still furious with his blatant disregard for her wish to be topside when the death wave hit.
There was no reason to beat around the bush. The sooner she delivered her news, the sooner she could get out of Marcus' vicinity. "I have the equipment necessary to replicate the contraceptive chips the Ark used to regulate pregnancy."
Indra, at Octavia's right, wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Such a thing is unnatural."
Abby was disgusted with the fact that they were seemingly back on the Ark again, enacting its very same restrictive measures to 'save' lives. "It's either that or the scrubbers won't be able to compensate for the extra oxygen usage and we'll have to start sacrificing lives."
"Yes, we've already been briefed by the chief engineer," Octavia interrupted, and not for the first time did Abby notice the strain and stress in the young woman's eyes and in the way she refused to say Jaha's name. He was the bunker's most qualified engineer and had been tapped to head up that crucial bunker department. Of course, he'd already given the council a report.
Over the last week, and with incredible reluctance, Abby had begun to admit to herself that her skulls were essential to the last survivors of the human race. But it didn't make Marcus' betrayal sting any less. And she couldn't face him. Could barely look at him, even. Not yet. "Jackson and I are still in the process of evaluating every resident. We can focus on generating baseline health reports on the women for now and council them on the device."
"Bylaws using the practical parts of the Exodus Charter and clan culture are almost complete. Once the Council ratifies them, they'll be posted and an announcement will be made. I want to include the temporary contraceptive measures at the same time."
Abby was impressed with how well spoken and knowledgeable Octavia had become in such a short amount of time. But she had the best possible mentors in Indra – and Marcus. "I'll get you numbers on how many women are already pregnant so we can figure out a solution."
"The number is thirteen."
Abby struggled to keep her surprise in check. It was such a small number. Smaller than she expected. And there was no way they were going to be lucky enough to discover fewer than thirteen women already pregnant.
Octavia glanced to her left and Abby resisted directing her attention to Marcus as he spoke.
"Jaha confirmed he can stretch the scrubbers to accommodate thirteen newborns only."
Abby directed her shock toward Octavia. "There are more women here then men. What if they are already pregnant?" She knew the answer already. And she didn't want to spare him the agony of having to voice it.
Abby refused to look at Marcus as Octavia directed him to continue.
"There are a few options and none of them are ideal."
Her gaze slowly shifted toward Marcus and to his credit, he didn't wilt or shrink from the heat. But he looked exhausted. And defeated. "Obviously."
"Termination or voluntary sacrifice are the only options available at this time."
Abby felt rage bubble up from the pit of her stomach. It was the Ark all over again. And again there was no good choice but dammit she wasn't going down that well-trod road again. "Or Jaha can stretch the scrubbers to accommodate every currently pregnant woman's child," she snapped.
To Marcus credit, he didn't argue. At least something from the Ark had changed. "Get us a final number and we can approach him with the question."
She directed her attention back to Octavia. "Done."
Abby was jolted out of her reverie by the sound of a tray being slid in front of Marcus. Even though the two-hour mealtime had ended and no more food was being served.
Before he could refuse, the grounder held up a hand. "There was extra."
A triumphant grin spread across Abby's face as she put a spoon to her mouth. "Eat up."
But he wasn't looking at her. Abby's gaze tracked his and they both watched as Jaha slipped from the room as the two combatants were detained by the Guard.
Normally, she'd be instantly distracted as he absently rubbed his scruffy chin. Now, she was more concerned than aroused. "He's up to something."
Marcus pushed his tray away and stood to follow Jaha.
A hand darted out to circle his wrist, concern flooding her eyes. "You aren't healthy enough for a fight, Marcus."
"I'm hoping he'll listen to reason." He leaned down, pressed a quick peck to her cheek and glanced at his tray. "Don't waste the food."
Abby watched him limp away with a dread she couldn't quite dismiss. She glanced down at the food and was tempted to push away the tray until her traitorous stomach growled loudly. Rubbing her hand over the growing bulge, she hissed with a conspiratorial whisper, "Siding with your father already, hmm?"
Marcus found Jaha bent over blueprints and schematics atop a long table
in the small engineering office.
"I haven't yet worked out how to stretch the allowance past 13," Jaha said without looking up. "But I will."
Marcus had worked with him for long enough to know that if it could be done, Jaha had the temerity and arrogance to get it done. "I know."
Jaha stood and settled a heavy gaze on his friend. "But that's not why you're here."
"I need you to take on an apprentice."
"Do I get to choose the appropriate applicant?"
"Naturally."
"But?"
"We have a few promising candidates."
The narrowed eyes gave away Jaha's revulsion as he quickly worked out the problem. "And none of them are Skaikru."
"We need more people trained in bunker systems operations. Every other department head has already selected an apprentice as well as an understudy."
"Don't think I'll live the next five years?" The question was a deliberately laced accusation and Marcus didn't take the bait.
"We grew up on a disintegrating Ark, Thelonius. We have to plan for anything."
"I'll take on two and the Council accepts my choices without question."
Marcus kept his surprise in check at the sudden capitulation and instantly responded with a clipped, "Fine."
Jaha didn't even attempt to keep the smug tone out of his voice. "Don't need to vote on it?"
Marcus used every diplomatic skill he'd learned on the ground to keep his desire to choke Jaha in check. Arguing would get him nowhere. "As you are well aware, you have the experience needed to run these systems and without them, everyone in this bunker would be dead. There isn't exactly a choice here. I can make Octavia understand that."
Jaha smugly returned his attention to his blueprints and not for the first time did Marcus really, really hate diplomacy.
Later that evening, snuggled closely in bed after a long, stressful day, Abby comfortingly rubbed Marcus' uninjured hand over the soft swell of her suddenly fluttering abdomen.
Behind her, she delighted in his sudden intake of breath as he felt this very real child growing within her for the first time.
"He's been active all day."
Marcus cuddled closely behind her. Wrapped her more securely in his arms. "That's – Abby, how do you-" He trailed off, his voice an awe-filled emotion that made her heart swell with even deeper love.
She rolled within the circle of his arms and flattened his palm on her little baby bump.
"Clarke sat really high on my ribcage and I had morning sickness the entire time. This one is really low and has reduced my bladder capacity to the size of a pea."
Disbelief crossed his face and she hid a chuckle with a kiss to his parted lips.
"You know what else is different?" She settled her head on his shoulder as her fingers danced down his chest. When they reached the waistband of his shorts and slipped inside, his eyes widened comically.
But he recovered quickly and large, confident hands slid around her backside to pull her closer. His voice was an octave deeper as he whispered against the soft skin of her neck, "Sex has never been a problem for us."
She laughed and continued her languid strokes, excited that the cast had finally been removed from his leg and any residual pain didn't seem to be interfering with the rapidly swelling, velvet heat beneath her hand. "I wasn't interested in sex when I was pregnant with Clarke."
"Oh."
With his help, she shed her well-worn panties and pushed his shorts down just enough to free his heavy, swollen erection.
She swung herself over his narrow hips and rubbed herself against him like a cat in heat as his hands came down on her waist to let her lead.
Leaning over him, she fused her mouth to his as she sank down, taking him in to the hilt in one swift, breath-stealing motion.
She swiveled her hips in short, solid thrusts, desperately chasing that all-so familiar high. Just as it began to coil in the base of her spine, there came a frantic knock at the door.
"Ugh, no," Abby breathed as she quickened her pace.
His fingers slipped between them to tease that tight little bundle of nerves just above where they were joined.
"That's it. Let go, Abby," he panted. The unendingly direct pressure had her vibrating with pleasure as she spiraled into the strongest, quickest release he'd ever given her.
She flattened her hands on his chest and trembled, regretfully unable to sink into his arms and ride out the smaller, residual tremors, come down from the high and feel the burst of heat as he reached his own.
The knocking continued and she slid to his side taking the slick, velvet heat of him in her small hands and applying sweet, solid pressure from base to tip.
Until a hand came down over hers. "It can wait."
Abby was stricken as the knocking became more urgent. She enjoyed watching him come undone beneath her expert touch and didn't want to deny him the pleasure. "Marcus…"
"Later." He removed her hand and pushed her toward the edge of the bed.
"Abby?" Jackson's muffled voice further ruined the mood.
The strain in his eyes gave her pause and she twisted her head toward the door, "Give me a minute!"
Instead of letting her focus on giving him a quick release, he swung his legs over the bed and pulled her upright, searched for her discarded clothing and tossed it at her.
"Later."
Once she'd dressed, still looking thoroughly debauched, she leaned into Marcus' space and kissed him hard. "That's a promise I plan to keep. Now get back to bed unless you want Jackson…"
He flopped onto the mattress with a wince and covered himself before she could finish her thought.
When she pulled open the door, her post-orgasmic high vanished at the panic on Jackson's face.
"Mala is miscarrying,"
The Trikru woman was only five months along.
Abby closed Marcus inside their tiny sanctuary and hurried after Jackson, already steeling herself for an unfortunate outcome.
END
Notes: Would love to have someone beta read the next few chapters if anyone has experience and is interested. Some twists coming up that I want to make sure make sense. Please don't reach out if you just want to read these chapters in advance of everyone else!