Chapter 10Chapter Text
"He's been practicing since you left the cottage and his father hasn't stopped teasing him about it since."
Lexa let out a laugh as she and Anya watched Aden dance with Octavia. "That's only because he's jealous he doesn't have those kinds of moves."
"Why did I want you to be here again?" Gustus asked after taking a sip of his beer.
"Who knows." She shrugged with a laugh as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"I can answer that, to do shots with!" Lincoln grinned as he put his arms around both Anya and Lexa. "Shall we? Octavia is beating me on our shot bet."
Lexa laughed as Anya rolled her eyes. "Why am I not surprised you two have a shot bet on your wedding night?" Lincoln could only grin as they made their way to the bar.
"Four… wait… Clarke, Raven, get your behinds over here." He waved them over before looking at the bartender once again. "Six shots of Blue Label please."
"Holy shit Linc do you know how expensive that stuff is?" Raven asked. "I mean I know it's your wedding and all but that can't be covered by your regular bar rail.
He shrugged with a grin as the bartender came back with the drinks. "It's covered, our lovely Callaway parents know us far to well. Even though we tried to tell them it wasn't necessary Liz had already made the call and paid for it long before we even knew about it." He scowled at Lexa who shook her head innocently.
"I had nothing to do with it, I wasn't even in the country so don't look at me."
The confused look on Lincolns face made everyone want to burst out into laughter but they held it in as he seriously tried to figure it all out. "It seriously wasn't you." He realized as he started looking amongst his friends. "I thought it was you!"
"Sorry buddy, I was away on business when you guys picked the place, just ask your wife she was fuming at me because of the time difference."
He immediately turned and looked at Anya. "Wasn't me, I don't exactly call Liz and Jeff enough. Just ask Liz herself."
"Well then which one of y'all…" He trailed off as he turned and looked behind him at the blonde who was being overly quiet. "It was you!"
Instead of answering verbally Clarke raised her shot glass with a smile. "To Octavia and Lincoln."
"To Octavia and Lincoln." They all said in unison as they downed their shots before breaking apart once again.
"How's my favourite CEO doing?" Lexa turned with a smile on her face as Abby engulfed her in a hug.
"Much better now. How are you?"
Abby smiled as she took a better look at Lexa like a mother making sure her children were taking care of themselves. "Likewise. You look healthy and well kept. Glad to see you aren't working yourself away."
Lexa couldn't help but let out a laugh. "I'm doing my best to not let that happen. Where's Marcus?"
"He got stuck having to work, he made me face time him the ceremony though. How are you parents doing? Is your dad taking it easy?"
"I don't think he knows what easy is but they're doing well. They were sad to miss this, we're all hoping you and Marcus will be gracing New York with your presence sometime soon."
"Only if you're taking me to dinner at that place of 23rdstreet that I can never remember the name of, you know the place with the donuts that have cookie dough in the middle."
The young CEO could only shake her head with a laugh at Abby's request. "Of course, I suppose I should ask you to dance then, so we can start burning off the calories now?"
"About time you asked, I may even let you lead."
"Sometimes I think Abby loves Lexa more than she loves you." Octavia grinned from behind her glass of wine as she and Clarke stood watching Lexa and Abby dance.
"You're telling me, but I guess it's only fair since I have regular conversations and visits with Liz and Jeff."
"One minute you're looking at her like she's the star your world revolves around and the next like you want her to spontaneously combust. You should go talk to her, maybe she can answer the questions we couldn't."
"Stop trying to psycho analyze me, I'm the one that did a psych rotation, not you. We don't need to talk, it's one night and then I won't see her for another however many years until the day Raven settles down."
Octavia rolled her eyes and if it wasn't her wedding day Clarke probably would have made a smart-ass comment but this was the only day that said she couldn't in their unwritten rulebook. "Whatever, all I know is if I hadn't just gotten married I would have tried to get with her."
"You're straight."
"I wouldn't be for her. Successful, beautiful, intelligent, what more could a girl want." Octavia winked as she walked away causing Clarke to breathe deeply and head straight for the bar.
"Who's the guy dancing with Clarke? I know he was in Lincolns wedding party but I never met him." Lexa asked her only real source of information these days.
"That information will cost you. At least a Shirley temple and half your piece of cake, oh, and we have to dance."
Lexa squared her eyes before nodding and shaking her informants hand. "You strike a hard bargain but deal and no more hanging out with Raven and Octavia, they're corrupting you."
Tris grinned as they made their way to the bar to get her a virgin Shirley temple. "Okay, out with the info squirt."
"I don't remember his name I just remember that he flew in from California for the wedding."
"Seriously, that's all you got for me? That is not half a piece of cake worthy Tris."
The girl shrugged as she sipped on her drink through the straw. "Lovely doing business with you Callaway."
Shaking her head Lexa started mumbling to herself as she watched Tris walk away, drink in hand and a massive smile on her face. When she looked back up she saw Clarke and the California guy still dancing still and that's when it hit her as to why the guy seemed so familiar. Memories from years before flooded her mind and all she could do was turn and walk outside, hoping that some fresh air would help take the sting away.
"Is this what your college years were like?"
Clarke turned her head to look at Bellamy as he handed her another drink. "Pretty much except it happened in my apartment or my bar, I could never get rid of it." They were both standing at the bar watching as mostly everyone was on the dance floor dancing to Thriller.
"You should go join them, it's only one night right? That's what you keep saying. Let the past be in the past for one night Clarke, enjoy yourself because even I can see it's killing you not being out there with them."
An hour later most people had left the reception hall, leaving only the bridal party and some family members left. As the music slowed down Clarke found the nerve to finally approach her ex girlfriend.
"Would you like to dance Miss Callaway? We did make her a promise after all, I know it was a long time ago but I think it'd mean the world to her." Lexa nearly choked on her drink as she heard Clarke's voice behind her. "Besides it's getting a little chilly out here."
The drunken side of her wanted to make a smart comment about her boyfriend not liking that but the sober side of her saw the white flag Clarke was attempting to wave. So instead of saying anything, she simply nodded and followed the blonde back inside the building.
"It's only one night then we can go back to pretending we never existed." Clarke said in a tone that Lexa recognized. "It was really sweet of you to teach Aden how to dance."
"It was really nice of you to teach him as well." Lexa let out honestly as she spun Clarke around. They didn't say anything after that, instead they floated across the floor as if they hadn't skipped a bit. Something about being in this place with everyone around them felt surreal. They both caught Octavia and Lincoln smiling at them and it made the awkwardness all the more worth it. In another lifetime it would have been their wedding they were dancing at but life hadn't worked out like that and they had both come to terms with that.
Once the dance was done Lexa excused herself as she made her way back outside. Being so close to Clarke brought up things she wanted to leave buried. She continued to remind herself that it was only one night and that as mad as she was at the other woman it wasn't anything she would let boil over on her friend's day.
"Why? Why didn't you fight for me? For us? Was I just a notch in your belt until you could figure things out with Costia? You could go to California for her but you couldn't for me? You couldn't have at least said goodbye to me at the airport so that I could have looked at you one last time." Clarke was mad, Clarke was really mad, Lexa could hear it in her voice but she could also hear the hurt.
"I don't know Clarke maybe for the same damn reason you couldn't be there for me when my father almost died. Costia actually showed up, I can't say the same for you." There it was, pain. The pain they had both been holding in for years.
"I'm sorry I could never hold a candle to the magnificent Costia. You know what forget it, have a safe flight back to New York." With that Clarke turned and walked away in a fury of blonde waves and emotion.
Taking a deep breath in Lexa looked up to the sky as if it was going to give her answers to questions she hadn't even asked. She kept reminding herself that in another few hours they wouldn't have to see each other again, even though she knew the universe probably had other things to say about it. She was thankful that up until now it had minded its own business in the last couple of years and she wished in that moment that it would stay that way.
"Thanks for everything Lex, you have no idea how much it meant to us, having you here. Please thank your parents for me and tell them I'll call as soon as we get back from our honeymoon."
"Anything for you guys, thank you for having me. It really meant a lot." Lexa wrapped her arms around Octavia and pulled her in for a tight hug.
"Hey O, the limo is here for you guys." Lexa turned her head to see Mr. California looking at her and Octavia.
Octavia nodded. "Thanks Bell, wait have you two been formally introduced yet? With all the flight craziness you guys probably haven't." They both shook their heads 'no'. "Well then, Lexa I'd like to finally introduce you to my clown head of a brother because he doesn't know how to get a proper haircut." Lexa's mouth suddenly went really dry and she wasn't quite sure if she knew how to speak. "Bellamy this is Lexa, yes the Lexa, that Lexa. The queen of all things and ruler of the land." Both Bellamy and Lexa looked at Octavia oddly. "I'm drunk leave me alone and you could own a lot of land if you wanted to." She rolled her eyes at them as Bellamy extended his hand to Lexa.
"It's nice to finally meet you Lexa. I've heard a lot about you, especially how you're able to kick this one's ass when you train. That's impressive."
She nodded and shook his hand a little tighter than she normally would have. "Likewise. I'm glad you could be here, O's told me how crazy your schedule can get."
He smiled and Lexa could tell how happy he was to be there. "It means a lot to her that you're here too."
"We are officially packed and ready to go." Lincoln said as he approached his wife and kissed her cheek.
"To Ibiza or bust." Octavia let out as Lincoln picked her up and headed for the doors, both of them laughing as they went.
"I'm too drunk for this conversation right now Raven." Clarke's head was spinning even though she was lying flat on her back in bed. She couldn't remember the last time she had consumed that much alcohol and she knew that she was definitely going to pay for it.
"It's not really a conversation it's a fact. You need to tell her and be honest with her and tell her that she really shouldn't be as pissed at you as she is."
Clarke finally sat up as she fought the nauseous feeling she got by doing so. "I don't care if she's mad Raven, let her be mad. She can think whatever she wants because Lexa Callaway doesn't deserve for me to care about her emotions."
"You know what, fine Clarke whatever you say. Usually I would be on your side a thousand percent but we're talking about her dad."
"She didn't need me there, she doesn't need to know I was there. She had Costia, it always comes back to Costia so why bother. Who knows the next time I'll see her because it probably won't be until Tris graduates high school, maybe even university so I think I'm good."
All Raven could do was shake her head. She knew that there was no point in arguing with Clarke when they were both drunk and tired. So instead she did something she knew would only drive the blonde crazy. "I'm sure you're dad would love to hear you say that because if it was him, you would have wanted to know someone you cared about was there when you didn't think they were. Before you saying anything, I know you don't remember but she was there for you, yes you were very young but from all the stories I've heard, she didn't want to leave your side back then. Night Griffin." With that Raven left Clarke alone in her room. Sighing she got up to open the window, hoping some fresh air would do her some good.
"You need to tell her, at some point you need to tell her." Anya said as she and Lexa sat outside by the fire, still drunk from all the drinks they had consumed that night. They had somehow managed to change out of their dresses and into sweats.
"Tonight isn't the night. Let her be happy for her best friend."
Anya rolled her eyes. "I'm her best friend and I would be happy if you told her."
"She doesn't need to know, she's clearly moved on with Bellamy and has been since I went out there."
Snapping her head in Lexa's direction, Anya was sure had it not been for the drinks she may have actually gotten up and smacked her best friend upside her head. "Lexa, what is Clarke's number one rule when it comes to dating?"
"I don't know, why are you looking at me like that?" Anya continued to stare at her with a raised eyebrow and pointed glare. "Holy shit, Bellamy is Octavia's brother, absolutely no family members of friends. Anya what the hell did I do?"
"Now you have no excuses as to why you can't tell her everything."
Lexa shook her head. "Except I can't because how am I supposed to say hey Clarke, pretty sure I fucked up our relationship because I thought you got over me in the blink of an eye by getting under Octavia's brother."
"Maybe we need to work on a better way to tell her then." Anya snorted in laughter, especially with home Lexa had managed to say that through a straight face.
Months Later
"Are you sure you don't want something to eat buddy, we've been waiting for awhile?" Lexa asked as she sat in the emergency room with Aden, his arm in a sling.
He raised his enough off her lap enough to say no before laying it back down. All he had wanted was for his aunt to finally see him play soccer and instead of it ended with them singing on the way home, they sat quietly in the emergency room. Waiting. It had started to rain and just before the referee called a stop to the game a kid from the other team slide tackled him causing him.
"Wait here buddy, I'll be back in a minute." Lexa gently stroked his hair as he sat up slightly and watched her make her way to the nurse's station. "I'm so sorry to bother you but I've been waiting with my nephew for quite some time now and he seems to be in a lot of pain. I was just wondering how long it would be until he saw someone that could at least help him out with that. I'm also pretty sure he has a distal radius fracture and he may need stitches."
The nurse gave her an odd look. "Are you a health professional miss?" The nurse was a little snarky and Lexa could see that they were understaffed but nonetheless it took everything in her to not snap at the woman sitting in front of her. She was about ready to give this woman a verbal tongue lashing when someone familiar approached her. "Maya please page whomever is on call from peds."
"But…"
The blonde gave the nurse a glaring look before she picked up the phone and started dialing. "Now I must be losing my mind because I'm pretty sure I'm looking at Lexa Callaway, who I haven't seen in a dogs age."
Smiling Lexa gave the woman who had come to her rescue a quick hug from across the table. "In the flesh, I didn't know you worked here Harper."
"Yeah started here when I got back from New York, which I miss desperately by the way. Anya's no here?" Not that I'm unhappy seeing you or anything."
"She's on duty and so is Gustus, I was at his game with him. I told them not to worry and that I'd take care of it, which is probably better for all involved. You know how Anya is, there'd be beheadings all over the place if she was here."
Harper let out a genuine laugh and a knowing nod. Anya had a tendency to be a slight bit protective when it was called for. "I appreciate that but I have to get back, I'd look after him myself but I'm literally supposed to be in surgery right now. I was running there when I thought I saw you with a murderous look on your face. Text me and let me know how he's doing. The doctor should be down here momentarily."
"Thanks Harps, don't kill anyone." Lexa winked as she went back to sitting with Aden. "What's with that look? Why are you giving me that look?" Lexa asked him as he laid his head on her shoulder.
"Harper is pretty, you should ask her out." Lexa rolled her eyes, even with a broken wrist and nasty cut on his forehead he was still trying to play matchmaker. "She would make a good princess."
Before Lexa had a chance to respond to her nephew the same nurse that Harper had given instructions to approached them. "Right this way, the doctor is on her way down." Nodding, Lexa helped Aden to his feet and around the corner where the nurse let them to an empty bed. "Have a seat, the doctor will be with you soon." With that Lexa helped Aden up and sat in the chair next to the bed.
"Someone called for a consult?" Lexa heard the familiar voice say.
"Bed six Dr. Griffin."
Lexa heard ruffling just outside the partitioned bed. Looking over at her nephew she saw that he now had a smile on his face at his hearing whom it was doctor was going to be. Taking a deep breath, Lexa braced herself.
"How did no one tell me my nephew was down here?" She heard the doctor let out as she threw the curtain open.
"Hey, Auntie Clarke."
"Aden." She smiled at him and gave him a gentle hug. "You should have had texted me ya little goof."
He shrugged as Clarke immediately looked at his wrist. "You remember Auntie Lexie right?"
She looked up at him with a nod. "Yes I do. Hi." She threw in Lexa's direction politely as she set about looking over Aden's injuries. "The kid was like way bigger than me, I swear. Ask Auntie Lex, I even got up after he slide tackled me because I was going to score and win the game. Wasn't I?" He asked with a wince as Clarke peeled the bandage off his forehead and looked at his cut.
"You definitely had him beat big guy."
"Yeah but you came all the way down here to see me play and I just got hurt." Aden frowned.
Standing up she stood next to him without realizing how close she was standing to Clarke as well. "I came down here to spend time with you, regardless of what happened. It wasn't your fault buddy, these things happen. I'm just glad you're still mostly in one piece." She rubbed his back Clarke put his wrist in a splint.
"We're going to need to do some x-rays but I don't think you need stitches. A little glue and you'll be all put back together humpty dumpty."
"Will you be the one to give me the x-ray?" He asked, his nervousness finally showing through.
Clarke gave him a raised expression. "Who else would do it? You really think I would pass up an opportunity to make you squirm? Come on squirt, I'll walk you down there." He got up and looked back at Lexa.
"Go, I'll go see what I can find in the cafeteria. I know you're probably starving, I can hear your stomach growling like a bear from over here."
Aden rolled his eyes at his aunt as Clarke led him down the hall as she threw a small smile in Lexa's direction.
A half hour later Clarke made her way back into the emergency waiting room where Lexa was waiting. "I got him a room and some pain medication. Follow me and I'll take you to him." Lexa nodded as she stood up and followed Clarke.
"I'm sorry they bothered you, they were supposed to call the on call peds doctor." Lexa said softly as they walked the halls of the hospital that Clarke was clearly very familiar with.
"They did, I'm the peds surgeon on call and I'm glad I was. He's going to be just fine, it's a clean break. Do you want me to call Anya and Gus?"
Lexa shook her head still in shock. Clarke had always sworn that she didn't want to be a pediatric surgeon even though Lexa had always told her she'd be great at it and now here she was. "I already called them and told them not to worry and that everything is fine here." Clarke nodded as she pushed the door open to the room Aden was in watching TV.
"Auntie Lex." He smiled as he saw her walk into the room.
"I heard you got something for the pain, feeling a little better?" She asked and he nodded happily. "Good, cafeteria didn't have much but I did manage to get us some ice cream." His eyes lit up and Clarke couldn't help but grin at how happy he was. "Three Oreo sandwiches, one for you, one for me and one for the doctor."
"How did you know it was Auntie Clarke's favourite too?"
She winked at whispered in his ear. "Magic and a lucky guess."
"Thank you for the ice cream, but I'll have to save it for later. For now, I need to get that wrist bandaged up. Pick a colour buddy and make sure you like it cause you're going to be stuck with it for six weeks."
"Black." They all said in unison causing Aden to let out a chuckle. "Once a night blood always a night blood." He said with a proud look on his face.
"Who names a children's sports team the night bloods?" Clarke shook her head as she got to work prepping Aden's wrist.
"The coolest team ever!" Aden let out like it was the simplest question he had ever been asked.
All Lexa could do was smile as she watched Clarke apply the cast to Aden's arm. "Dr. Griffin, I can get an intern to do that." Lexa looked up at the nurse that had entered the room and sat back in the chair waiting for Clarke's response.
"Maya, this is Aden. Aden is my nephew and this is Lexa Callaway, yes that Callaway. So if you think I'm going to have an intern doing this you're very very wrong."
The nurse took a deep breath. "Sorry Dr. Griffin," she let out before leaving the room.
"Why are you giving me that look Aden?"
"We don't like that nurse very much do we?" He asked as he tried to hold still.
"Not so much." Clarke laughed, Aden was always far too perceptive.
Not much else was said as Clarke finished putting setting Aden's cast. "All done, I'll call you tonight and see how you're feeling okay?" He nodded with a somewhat sad expression on his face. "What's wrong is it still really sore?" Clarke asked worriedly, the pain medication should have more than taken care of the pain.
Aden shook his head and Lexa had a feeling she knew why her nephew had a sullen expression on his face. "I just realized that if my cast is black, I can't get anyone to sign it."
Clarke was about to come up with a solution when Lexa pulled a silver sharpie out of her pocket. "I found this at the gift shop while I was wandering around downstairs."
His eyes slightly lit up. "Are you sure that'll work?"
Lexa nodded. "I used to be friends with a really talented artist and she taught me a thing or two. Not how to draw though, that's a lost cause." She laughed, not having the guts to look up and see the expression that was on Clarke's face.
"Will you sign it?" He beamed but without answering Lexa leaned over and whispered in his ear. He nodded frantically as he took the sharpie from his aunt's hand and extended it towards his other aunt. "Actually will you please sign it first Auntie Clarke?"
The blonde doctor grinned from ear to ear as she took the sharpie. "It would be my honour, but I'm not going to sign it. I'm going to write my initials here and I'm going to come visit you soon as actually draw something on it. Is that okay with you?" He nodded before wrapping his arms around her tightly. "Thank you Auntie Clarke, you're the best doctor ever."
"I'm going to remember you said that but for now you're all good to go." Clarke closed the pen and handed it back to Aden before standing up. "Go home and get some rest please or I will make sure Octavia comes over and makes you." Clarke laughed, she wasn't sure if his head could nod any faster.
"Thanks again, I mean, I know it's your job and I know it was for him but I appreciate it regardless." Lexa said softly as she too stood up and grabbed Adens coat.
"Of course, the pain meds should make him drowsy really soon, I'm surprised they haven't knocked him out already. Please have Anya or Gustus call or text me with an update."
"I shall, have a good night Dr. Griffin."
TBC...