AN: Hey guys, sorry for the wait. Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

Liam

Liam opened his eyes to darkness.

For a long, disorienting moment, he wasn't sure he had opened them at all. He blinked once, twice, but it made no difference - he couldn't see anything. It was only when he tried to rub his eyes that he realized his hands were bound tightly before him.

"What the hell…" he croaked; a shaky breath left him as he tried to swallow the panic rising like bile in his mouth. He tugged at the bindings, but they wouldn't budge, simply digging painfully into the skin around his wrists.

No. Stop. Think! Panic won't help.

He took a deep steadying breath and forced himself to sit up slowly, wary of hitting his head on something in the dark, but when he reached around, he couldn't feel anything. There was nothing around him to tell him where he was, and other than the distant hum of the Ark, there was no sign of anyone else nearby.

"Hello?" he called out tentatively. "Is anyone there?"

Nothing.

Is that good or bad? He couldn't decide.

He slowly pushed himself to his feet, keeping his bound hands out in front of him, before shuffling forward until his fingertips brushed the closest wall. Slowly, he moved along its length, tracing the outline of the room. It was small, no more than a few paces wide in any direction. And except for the bench in the corner, it was completely empty.

A storage room of some kind? There were hundreds of rooms this size on the Ark. It didn't tell him anything.

He shuffled back to the bench and sat down heavily, pressing his hands to his face, trying to stop himself from panicking and hoping the situation wasn't as dire as it seemed.

You're locked in a pitch-black room and your hands are bound. How is this not dire? A bubble of hysteria welled in his chest. He forced himself to breathe.

Stop. What do you know? What do you remember?

He remembered… standing in the hall... he turned when someone spoke behind him… Then… nothing.

Someone had knocked him out and put him in here. And there was a good chance nobody knew he was missing.

You saw Grandma! She'll notice you're gone. He thought, before recalling how he left her. At the sickening guilt that welled within him, he dug his fingers into his hair until he felt the sharp sting along his scalp. What he had said was unforgivable when all she had done was show how much she cared. Even if she knew something about Alex, he didn't actually believe she would withhold it just to spite him. The expression on her face when he had turned away told him as much. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. She won't be looking for you. Why would she? She thinks you're out here sulking like an ungrateful child.

Helplessness began clawing up his throat, followed by the furious pounding of his heart in his chest. Focus. What else? He closed his eyes, trying to pretend the darkness was a matter of his own choosing. What else do you know?

He forced himself to note how he was feeling. He wasn't very hungry, so he couldn't have been there for very long. And other than a headache, he didn't feel injured.

But who had knocked him out? Why? And why now?

It was clear someone wanted him out of the way. Why else knock him out and place him in this room. But why him? He knew unrest on the Ark was boiling just underneath the surface. But what did he have to do with it? Why attack him at all?

A thought suddenly occurred to him. This isn't the first time you've been attacked. The thought had his head snapping up in realization. You were attacked before you went into a coma, and now it's only been a couple of weeks since you woke up and someone has locked you up and out of the way again? There's no way that's a coincidence. A chill swept through him at the thought that he might be the target.

Someone thought he knew something.

But I don't remember anything! He gritted his teeth. His lack of ability to recall what had triggered the first attack reached a new level of frustration.

Alex. The guards. Alex… the guards?

'He was crouched behind some crates, desperately trying to stay out of sight. Short, shallow breaths escaped him even though he covered his mouth with his hand. On the other side of the crates, not even ten feet away, three people stood talking in hushed voices. They didn't know he was there.

"If we take out Jaha and Kane now, we could have command of Operations and the Council by the end of the day," a man said.

His ears perked up at the mention of his dad. Take him out? Were they talking about killing him? I need to tell him. He needs to know he's in danger! Despite his thoughts, he couldn't force his legs to move. He felt frozen in place.

"No. This needs to happen quietly," a woman replied. From the tone of her voice, she was the one in control. "No one should suspect anything or it will make it difficult to regain control. We take them out one at a time."

They were talking about taking over the Ark. About killing his dad. About killing Jaha. Who were these people? He needed to see, needed to know who was talking about mutiny. Shifting onto his feet, he slowly leaned forward to peer around the crate, his hand rested on the cool surface.

Standing not far from him, her back facing him was a blonde woman. Across from her were a man and a woman dressed in guard uniforms.

The guards are in on this?

"But if we strike fast-" a second woman with a lighter voice replied.

"I said no. We do this when I say so. Pike, I want you to keep close to Kane. When I give the signal, you will—"

The crate Liam was leaning on shifted, and a smaller box that had rested precariously on top slipped off and came crashing to the ground, the sound echoing loudly in the space around him. He froze as the voices died and the blonde woman whirled around to face him, her cold eyes locking with his own.

For a moment, nobody seemed to move.

Shit, shit, shit. They knew he was here!

When the blond woman spoke, the air seemed to chill around him, sending a cool shiver down his spine.

"Deal with him."

He didn't wait around to find out anything more. Scrambling out from behind the crates, he bolted down the corridor, taking the first sharp turn he made it to, the sound of two pairs of footsteps echoing loudly on the metal grating behind as they chased him.

Shit! I need to get to dad! Someone was going to hurt him!

The flash of memory speared through his head like a metal bolt. Gasping, he lurched forward, gagging and heaving, only slightly thankful when nothing came up his throat except burning bile.

The guards attacked me! Alex was just in the wrong place at the wrong time! The confirmation that he was right, and that Alex wasn't at fault wasn't as satisfying as it should have been when his next thought was, they know you overheard the first time and are making sure you're out of the way this time. Someone is going after dad and Chancellor Jaha. And they are doing it now! Dad's in trouble and he might not know!

The sickly feeling of fear surged through him at the thought, and he surged back to his feet. You need to get out of here!

"Help! Is anyone there?!" he called out as loud as his voice would allow him. "Please! I need help!"

Nothing but silence answered him.

Desperation filled him and he returned to the wall, his hands shaking as he carefully traced his fingers along the surface, looking for any signs of a door or vent.

"Come on, come on. There has to be a way out of here!" he muttered to himself. But after circling the room several times, he threw himself back down onto the bench with a cry of fear and frustration.

Nothing.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Turning, he banged his hands on the nearest wall. Once. Twice. Until the sear of pain across his knuckles forced him to stop.

"Please! Somebody help me!"

But there was no answer.

No one could hear him scream.

Marcus

The Unity Day ceremony was going to start soon.

Standing at the back of the ceremony hall, Marcus sighed as he scanned the area once more, looking for the familiar head of shaggy hair amongst the gathering crowd.

Liam was late. Which wasn't particularly concerning, but his son had told him only just this morning he would be there today, that he wanted to pay his respects for those who had given their lives so that the rest of them could live.

Every year, the people of the Ark gathered to remember the trials and hardships that their people faced while building the Ark, while acknowledging the determination and teamwork that it had taken to overcome it all; the sacrifices that their people made to get them all here.

And now it's all falling apart. He couldn't help the bitter thought; the memories of everything that had happened during the past months were never far from his thoughts. The tensions on the Ark had only grown since Abby's announcement about the failing life support systems, and the culling of so many of their own had only further fanned the flames of distrust.

It was necessary. Three hundred for the lives of twelve-hundred. It was the only way to keep going, he told himself, repeating the excuse that felt like a condemnation. But it didn't matter how many times he repeated it, acid guilt still flowed through his veins. His only consolation was that Liam was awake, a light of hope amidst the pain. After so long, after giving up all hope, his son had opened his eyes again. It was a miracle in a way he couldn't begin to describe, and one that he wasn't sure he deserved. But he would take it. He would do everything he could to protect him, to make sure his son survived. Even if he hated himself for the decisions he made to do so.

Marcus took a deep breath and sighed softly to himself. Does it really surprise you he's not here? Since he had woken, Liam was different. An anxiousness had replaced the confidence that he once had. Marcus had seen it in the way Liam jumped whenever his approach had caught him off guard. The flinches when he raised a hand to grab a glass from the cupboard. The momentary unguarded horror that flooded his son's eyes.

Am I failing him? He could do what he could to protect Liam from the world around them. But he couldn't protect him from the demons inside his own head.

It didn't help that the unanswered questions haunted his son's footsteps. Liam kept searching for answers that wouldn't come. Answers that weren't there.

He'll keep looking and keep asking until he gets the answers he needs. He gets that from you, Sara.

The sudden thought of his long-gone wife sent a jolt of pain and regret through him, and he rubbed his chest absently, staring into the growing crowd, but not seeing them. For a moment, he allowed himself to remember - the way her eyes crinkled as she laughed, the way she used to hold his head in her lap and run her fingers through his hair while they talked. When he had been at his weakest, she had been his support and his moral compass. She hadn't been afraid to challenge him to be a better person.

But how can I be better when there is no right answer? No right decision? He wished he could ask her, tell her about the challenges they faced and the decisions he'd had to make to keep them all alive.

No… she would hate to see what you have become, what our family has become. He knew he'd failed her, had failed to live up to the man she had known. I made the best choices I could. But he knew it wasn't enough. I was a much better man when you were here, Sara. I needed your strength, and I needed your guidance. What do I tell Liam? How do I tell him the truth?

Liam would keep digging and digging and digging until he found the answers he needed. And sooner or later, Marcus would have to be the one to give it to him. He was the only one who could.

And Alex…

He shook his head to clear his thoughts. He couldn't go there. Not now. Not yet.

"Looking for someone?" someone asked from behind him.

Turning towards them, Marcus found Diana Sydney coming to stand beside him. He kept his expression neutral even as dislike permeated his thoughts. He had never been fond of her, and now that she had taken Abby's position on the Council, she was making waves he wasn't sure he liked. But she had always been kind to his face, so he could return the favour.

He gave her a tight smile. "My son. He was supposed to meet me here. But I haven't seen him yet."

"Oh, that's a shame. I would hate for him to miss the ceremony." She looked around the room, though her gaze never quite landed on anything, before turning back to him. Reaching out, she touched cool fingers to his hand in a gesture that he guessed was meant to be comforting, but came across as condescending. "I hope he's alright. Would you like me to send someone out to look for him?"

He casually pulled his hand away from her touch and grasped his hands behind his back, uncomfortable with the casual way she touched him. But before he could give her an answer, he caught sight of his mother standing on the far side of the hall, talking to a member of her church.

His eyes met Diana's stony gaze and he forced himself to smile once more. "No. Thank you," he said shortly. "That won't be necessary. If you'll excuse me…" he trailed off, before turning and walking away.

"I hope you find him," Diana's voice came from behind him. "I would hate for something to happen to him after he only just woke up."

He forced himself to keep walking, but as he approached his mother, he couldn't shake the feeling that Diana's words sparked in him. What if something's wrong? What if something happened to Liam? No. You can't think like that. Liam is fine.

His mother saw him approach and bowed out of her conversation before making her way to his side.

"Marcus," Vera smiled, reaching out to caress his cheek, the same way she had done since he was a little boy.

"Mom," he greeted, giving her a warm smile as he ducked away from her hand, but reaching up to grasp her fingers with his own. Unlike Diana's cool touch, his mother's hands were comforting.

"Have you seen Liam? He was supposed to meet me here," he said.

She sighed, her gaze falling away from his own. "I did. He was at home for a bit."

He frowned at her expression. "What's wrong? Did something happen?" His mother would have sought him out if anything had happened to Liam, so whatever it was couldn't have been bad.

Vera licked her lips, suddenly looking unsure. Looking around, she grabbed his elbow and guided him over to a more secluded corner, where they could talk more privately. It did nothing to ease the sinking feeling in his gut.

"Mom, what happened?" he demanded, keeping his voice low. "Where's Liam?"

She hesitated before answering. "I, uh, went to say hello - you know I haven't seen him since he woke up. And he - he was asking questions."

Marcus closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Questions about what?" he asked, already suspecting the answer.

"About Alex."

He exhaled heavily, bringing his hands up to rub his face. Why can't he just leave it alone? The thought pained him.

But he already knew the answer.

Alex.

Just like Liam, Alex had known something was off, too. And she had dug and dug and dug until she had the answers that had ruined all their lives.

"I didn't tell him anything," his mother reassured him quickly. "But Marcus… you have to tell him something, and soon. He's not going to stop."

Marcus sighed. "I know, I know."

She reached out a hand and grasped his upper arm, her grip surprising despite her size. It felt grounding. Reassuring. "You have to tell him the truth before he finds out on his own," she repeated firmly, although her voice was soft. "If he finds out on his own, he'll never forgive you. If he finds out on his own, you risk losing him forever."

Marcus swallowed hard.

"And you don't want to lose your son." She gave him a sad smile. "Believe me, I only know too well."

Panic crept up his throat. "But how?" he blurted out. "How am I supposed to tell him anything? How am I supposed to explain what happened?" His voice wavered and dropped. "I wouldn't even know where to start."

"Start when it all began... At the beginning." A small smile crossed her face, telling him she knew exactly how cheesy her words were. Then her smile faded away. "But now is the time to come clean." She reached out and clutched his hands. "Earth is giving us all a fresh start. This is your chance to make things right. To correct mistakes made along the way." She eyed him knowingly before turning to face the entrance to the room, where Jaha was leading the flag bearers through the door. The ceremony would begin soon. "Think about what Sarah would have wanted. They both deserve to know the truth."

At the mention of Sara, an iron band wrapped around his heart and squeezed.

What Sara would have wanted… How could I have been so blind?

His mother was right. He owed it to Sara to do better.

Liam deserved more.

Alex deserved more.

But it would have to wait. The ceremony was about to begin.

Alex

Bellamy kept his promise about doing gun training the following day, and after rounding up a group of delinquents, he and Nate led them out and away from the dropship.

He had chosen a well-rounded group. People who Bellamy could rely on in a pinch. There were the level-headed guys like Connor, Derek, Jones, and Drew, who had been following Bellamy's lead since the beginning. They weren't surprising. Neither were Monroe and Sterling, who were fairly quiet and kept to themselves but had no problem helping where they could and had been eager to help guard the camp.

The ones that surprised her most were Harper and Jasper. Neither of them seemed like ones for fighting and even though Jasper put on a brave face, he was obviously still rattled after being attacked by the Grounders. She wasn't sure what Bellamy's reasoning for giving Jasper a gun was, except that maybe Bellamy thought it could give Jasper back some of his courage.

Harper on the other hand, had always struck Alex as kind and soft spoken. She was always helping out where she could and seemed to have no problem watching the younger delinquents. There didn't seem to be a violent bone in the other girl's body.

I guess the more people who know how to use them safely, the better, she shrugged to herself.

Walking in the middle of the group, Alex found her gaze landing on Bellamy, who was up at the front of the group with Nate. He moved swiftly over the forest floor; his footsteps confident. It was a warm day and he had decided to get rid of his jacket he usually wore while he carried the guns, leaving him in his blue t-shirt. Sweat had darkened his shirt down his back and it clung to him in all the right places. All in all, not a bad sight.

Alex couldn't help but wonder if the guns had given him focus. It was only yesterday he had been contemplating leaving them all behind, so something had changed. Maybe now he saw the opportunity the guns brought, the edge they could give them against the Grounders.

And against the Ark…

The guns made her uneasy. Even though it gave them some protection, she knew that if there was a confrontation between them and the Grounders, the chance for peace would be further than ever. The guns left no room to talk, not even the thought of it.

Her and Finn would need to tread carefully if they were going to make this work. They needed to find a way to interact with the Grounders in a way that wouldn't provoke an attack, to show them that they were at least willing to try. The last thing they needed was a show of force.

But she would be stupid if she didn't see the value in having weapons to defend themselves with. She might not agree with it, but the situation with Myles and the fact that they hadn't been able to get a hold of Liam had her itching to do something. She needed to stay busy, to keep her mind on the things she had some semblance of control over. She would have to trust that Kane would be watching out for Liam. And if there was one thing she trusted Kane to do, it was keeping an eye on Liam.

Speaking of…

Her thoughts drifted back to this morning, when she had seen Bellamy head into the communications tent with Clarke for what she guessed was his conversation with Jaha. He had made no mention of it, though she really hadn't had a chance to talk to him.

Curiosity got the best of her and she sped up, passing by Connor, Derek and Nate until she fell in step with Bellamy up at the front. His gaze was focused up ahead, clearly lost in his own thoughts.

This close she could hear him breathing more heavily than usual, and see the beads of sweat that dotted his forehead and trickled down his neck. She knew the guns weren't light, and he must have been carrying six of them. "Need a hand?"

He must have not heard her approach, because his head snapped around to look at her.

She raised her eyebrows expectantly, only for him to narrow his eyes at her.

"No," he huffed, looking offended at the offer.

She shrugged, "Just offering." She knew there was no way he was going to hand over something heavy, not when he was in front of other guys.

"Hey! What about me?" Nate's voice called out from behind them. Alex shot him a smirk over her shoulder before flipping him off and turning back to Bellamy.

She cocked her head to look up at him. "Sooo, how'd it go?"

"How did what go?" he asked.

"Don't play dumb. Your conversation with Jaha?" She rolled her eyes in response. "I saw you leaving the communications tent with Clarke this morning," she added as if to clarify.

He inhaled sharply enough that she almost expected him to snap at her. Instead he blew out a long breath between his lips and shrugged. "About as good as it could be for coming face to face with the guy I shot."

"That well, huh?" She winced in sympathy.

He was quiet for a moment as they ducked under some logs before speaking again. "He gave me a pardon," he admitted quietly, keeping his voice low to keep the conversation between them.

Her face lit up in pleasant surprise and she shot him a grin, reaching out a hand to tap his shoulder. "That's great!" She faltered when he grimaced. "Isn't it?"

"It feels a bit like making a deal with the devil."

She gave him an amused look. "I mean. You win some. You lose some. A pardon is better than no pardon and I think getting a pardon from the guy you shot counts as a win." Her smile dropped. "Not everyone is going to get that chance, Bellamy," she added softly.

His dark eyes met hers. "You guys were sent here to die, that sounds like a pardon to me. Besides, we'll see how true to his word Jaha is once they actually arrive."

"True, there is nothing stopping them from rounding us all up once they land."

His lips curved up into a smirk. "Except now we have guns."

"Now we have guns," she sighed.

They walked in silence for a bit and Alex listened to the crunch of the tree litter beneath their feet and the chatter of the others following behind them.

"I told Jaha about Shumway," Bellamy suddenly said, his gaze focused up ahead. "He's going to look into it."

Her head snapped up to look at him. "You told him?" For some reason the thought had never crossed her mind. And she hadn't expected Bellamy to use his conversation with Jaha to pass on the information about their suspicions about Shumway.

"You're surprised?" he smirked at her, thankfully not looking offended.

"No! I mean, yeah. Kinda?" She shrugged with a sheepish look. "I guess, I didn't expect you to think about it while you were getting your pardon?"

"It's important to you," he said simply. "And it's good for them to know that there might be something else going on."

It's important to you. She stared up at him for a long second before reaching out and touching his forearm lightly. "Thanks Bellamy. That means a lot," she told him softly, giving him a smile.

"Told you I got your back, didn't I?" he shot her a quick smile.

She tilted her head at him, narrowing her eyes in amused suspicion. "You did?"

"Maybe not." He shrugged and flashed her a smile. "But it wouldn't be a lie."

Taken off guard, she slowed slightly to allow him to walk ahead, her body warming as his words sank in.

Frowning at the back of his head, she allowed a small smile to cross her lips.

At some point they arrived at what must have been a predetermined area because both Bellamy and Nate stopped and unslung the guns from their shoulders to lean them against the trunk of a large tree. They each kept a gun slung across their shoulders.

"Alright, listen up!" Bellamy barked out, drawing the group's attention. Alex was impressed how fast the group reacted, quickly quieting down and turning to face him. "Welcome to training!" He paced before them for a second before continuing. He held up his gun. "I've chosen you guys to be here to learn how to safely use these weapons. These rifles give us hope, give us a chance to change the tide and fight back against the Grounders who seem to have no problem killing us whenever they feel like it!"

A few of the others nodded their agreement, and Drew and Connor even whooped in excitement. Alex shifted on her feet at the back of the group, her hands firmly wedged in her jacket.

"I'm hoping you will all join me. We will be the start of Earth's new Guard. And we will defend our people."

Alex had to admit, Bellamy had a way with words. He was passionate when he spoke and had a way of getting a rise out of the crowds. Not that she was surprised, he had been calling the shots since they had landed.

"But first things first. These are not toys," Bellamy continued, his expression serious as he met each of their gazes in turn. She raised her brow when he met her gaze and he returned it with a slight flick of his eyebrow before moving on. "If I catch any of you playing around with them, or using them unsafely, you lose the right to carry them. Got it?" After he received confirmations from everyone, he nodded at Nate, who stepped forward with his own rifle.

Once Nate ran them through an explanation of how to safely use and handle the rifles, the group lined up and faced the same direction, aiming at some targets that had been set up a ways from where they were standing. To give them something to aim at, they had perched crossed sticks along various tree trunks.

"Take it slow," Bellamy said as they set up. "We have limited ammo to practice with. Once you're out, you're out, and practice is over. Go see Raven in camp to get more."

Keeping the muzzle pointed away from everyone, Alex examined the rifle in her hands, taking in the familiar weight even though it had been a long time since she had held one. She took note of the safety switch and the magazine release, taking care to keep her fingers away from the trigger. A wave of nostalgia washed over her as she handled the gun. Memories resurfaced of Mr. Miller teaching her, Liam and Nate about how to safely handle guns.

Shrugging herself out of her jacket, she let it drop to the floor next to her before bringing the gun up to her shoulder and quickly finding her target. Focusing in, she tried to relax, ignoring the chatter and sounds of movements as the others set up around her.

"Breathe slowly. Find your target then squeeze the trigger. Don't pull it." Bellamy's voice came from behind her.

She snorted, her lips quirking up in amusement but didn't turn to face him. "Any other wisdom to share, oh wise one?"

He huffed a laugh behind her and she felt more than she heard him step up behind her, his chest brushing the fabric of her shirt along her back. She swallowed hard.

When his fingers came in contact with the skin of her upper arm, her skin sizzled, her senses coming alive and all they could seem to focus on was Bellamy and his touch. His fingers were slightly cool as they trailed down the skin of her arm to her elbow, leaving goosebumps in their wake. She forced herself not to shiver as she struggled to not to notice him behind her; everything he did, from the rustling of his clothes as he shifted, to the sounds of his steady breathing, seemed magnified.

He leaned forward, his lips coming to the edge of her ear. She could feel the ghost of his breath caress her ear. "Keep your arm tucked down, smart-ass," he said, gently pushing her elbow down until it was tucked into her side. But his hand didn't leave, instead he traced small circles on the inside of her arm. "It makes you a smaller target."

She wanted to groan. How could he get her so worked up over something so small?

All he did was touch your arm, for god's-sake!

"When you're ready, you can fire," he added.

"I would, if you didn't keep distracting me," she said, her voice tight.

"Oh? Sorry." She could hear the smirk in his voice, and knew he knew exactly what he had been doing. When he pulled away to take a few steps back, she immediately missed the feeling of his skin on hers.

She took a deep breath and refocused on the objective at hand. Except now that she knew he was watching, a flicker of nervousness shot through her. Doing her best to push the feeling away, she took a steadying breath, focusing on the distant targets.

Ignore him. Don't let him distract you, she told herself. You can do this.

She exhaled slowly and squeezed the trigger.

The deafening crack of gun fire pieced the air as the target at the end of her sight exploded into splitters of wood. Her head snapped up in surprise to stare at the space the target had once been.

She had hit the target?

She had hit the target!

"Ha! You see that?" She whirled around to face Bellamy, with an excited smile on her face as she pointed in the direction of the target.

Bellamy's eyebrows had jumped up and he let out a small exhale of surprise as he saw what she had done. When his eyes returned to hers, he took in her excited expression with a warm one of his own, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Whoo! Nice shot, Alex!" Jasper said, giving her a double thumbs up as he, Harper and Monroe went by behind them.

Alex shot Jasper a wide grin in reply before turning back to Bellamy. "So, how was that?"

His eyes had narrowed at her. "I thought you said you had never fired a gun before."

"I haven't!" She laughed at his suspicious look. "You can ask Nate if you want." She waved a hand in the direction Nate was standing with Derek and Connor.

"You're either really lucky or a ridiculously good shot," Bellamy replied dryly, before nodding towards the targets. "And I'm betting you're just lucky. Do it again."

She grinned at the challenge in his voice. "What do I get if I do it again?" she asked playfully, a daring tone entering her voice.

His dark eyes snapped back to hers and he held her gaze with a new intensity. Tilting his head slightly, he took in her expression and she wondered what he saw.

She held her ground as he stepped towards her, but found herself looking up to meet his gaze once they were chest to chest. This time when he reached out the tips of his fingers grazed along her cheek. Her breath hitched when his thumb grazed the skin just below her bottom lip. She couldn't stop herself from licking her lip and felt a pleased thrill when his gaze dropped to her mouth.

"Whatever you want," he said, voice husky. He leaned towards her until there were only a couple of inches between their mouths. She knew what she wanted and her mouth went dry at the thought of him between her legs. Bellamy took a short breath before adding, "But, a better question is - what do I get if you miss?"

Her lips tugged into a grin at his challenge. "Whatever you want," she echoed his own words back to him.

His eyes darkened and he made a sound in the back of his throat that she liked. Burning need flared through her and her toes curled in her boots as liquid heat to pool dangerously low in her belly.

Fucking hell.

He swallowed hard before answering. "Careful, Evans. Don't make promises you can't keep." His voice was hoarser than before.

"I don't break my promises," she said firmly. "And I'm not afraid of a challenge."

"Oh really?" His lips twitched. "I guess we'll find out, won't we." He waved a hand towards the target before taking a couple of steps away, allowing her to breathe again. "Make your shot." He raised his eyebrows at her expectantly, crossing his arms over his chest.

Her eyes locked back onto her target with renewed determination, and she brought her rifle back up to her shoulder, taking aim.

Can't lose this. Not to Blake.

She took a deep breath, before exhaling slowly and squeezing the trigger. The rifle jolted against her shoulder as the shot rang out in the air around them.

Nothing happened. The target remained intact. She had missed.

She had lost the bet!

"Fuck," she hissed, lowering the rifle. "Fuck. Fuck."

Bellamy actually laughed behind her. She cringed, unable to bring herself to turn around to face him.

He stepped towards her again, a satisfied look on his face and brought his lips to her ear. "I'm going to claim my prize someday, Evans," he said, keeping his voice low so the others couldn't hear him. "Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But someday, when you least expect it. And remember what you said - my choice." As he pulled back, his lips barely brushed the rim of her ear.

Her breath caught in her throat. Memories flashed through her mind: his lips searing against hers, his fingers gripped her hips tightly, the way he pressed himself against her, his hips rolling against hers.

"Oh, get a room, you two," Nate snapped playfully as he walked by, carrying two extra guns as he headed over to Harper and Jasper. "If you want to fuck, go fuck. If you aren't - well, then fuck off. I'm trying to teach these people how to not kill themselves or each other." He shooed them with a hand and kept walking.

Bellamy barked out a laugh as he fully pulled away, before sending her a wink and turning to walk away.

All Alex could do was groan out loud and swipe a hand over her face as her cheeks reddened, before making a face at Nate's back.

AN: How was that? You guys got a few different POV's this time around along with some Alex and Bellamy flirtatiousness (should be more next chapter!). Let me know what you thought!