Hey babes! Back again with a new chapter! Definitely meant to get this one posted on the 31st, but life happens, as it does, and I completely spaced. So you're getting it now.

Enjoy!

*December 31, 2020*

Making her way up the front steps of the Blake household, Clarke uses her key to let herself in and then nudges the door closed behind her. She shrugs out of her jacket and toes off her shoes, putting them both away in the proper places, and then heads for the stairs.

"Clarke? Is that you?"

Clarke turns at the kind voice, smiling at Aurora sitting comfortably in one of the chairs in the living room, an old book propped open in her lap. "Hey, yeah, it's me."

Aurora smiles back. "How are you feeling?" She motions with her head to Clarke's stomach, her eyebrows raising slightly.

Clarke looks down, running a hand over her taut stomach, her smile widening. She looks up at Aurora again, glad that she decided to tell her about the baby when she did. "We're doing great, thanks. So far everything is just as it should be. No problems or anything to be concerned about."

"Oh, that's great to hear. Only a few months left to go, right?"

Clarke nods. "Right after school gets out, hopefully. So fingers crossed everything continues to go well."

"I'm sure it will. You're young and healthy, I'm sure everything will be just fine."

Clarke smiles at the woman. "Thanks. I'm uh, I'm gonna head upstairs," she says, gesturing over her shoulder.

Aurora nods. "Of course. Don't let me keep you."

Clarke throws the woman one last smile and then turns to quickly make her way to Bellamy's room. She passes Octavia's bedroom on the way, laughing quietly at the pop music coming from the other side of the door, music that almost every kid Octavia's age is listening to at any given opportunity. Not really her taste, but then again, it's not geared toward her age group.

When she reaches Bellamy's room, she finds the door already propped open by the doorstop she'd painted for him when she was in the first grade; not some of her best work, if she's being honest with herself. But Bellamy had been beyond excited when she gave it to him for his birthday that same year and has used it religiously since then.

Stepping into the room, she immediately crosses to the bed where Bellamy's lying on his back reading a book; like mother like son. "Hi," she speaks, getting his attention as she falls next to him, bouncing a little.

He turns his head toward her and smiles. "Hi."

"You know, I can't believe you still have that doorstop," she comments, scooting over on the mattress so she can rest her head on his chest and drape an arm across his torso. It takes her a moment to get comfortable with her belly. "That thing is one of the worst things I've ever made."

"Well, I happen to like it a lot," he tells her matter-of-factly, setting his book face down on his chest. "You made it, so it's very special to me."

She snorts. "Yeah, okay. That thing is, in no way, a good example of the kind of artist I am now."

"Maybe not, but it shows how far you've come as an artist when you compare it to your stuff now. It'll be my prop for when I'm telling Little Bean about how amazingly talented you are. Speaking of which, I hope they inherit your skills. It'll be fun to have two beautiful and talented artists in the family. But, even if she doesn't inherit your artistic skills, we will love her all the same."

Clarke nods. "Yes, we will. Even if she is a boy."

"She's going to be a girl, but okay."

"Let's not worry about that right now, though," Clarke tells him, shifting to get a little more comfortable. "I didn't come over here to discuss the possible sex of the baby."

"Then why did you?" he asks. "Not that I'm complaining, because I love having you here."

Clarke sits up a little on her elbow, looking down at Bellamy. "I came to ask if you're still coming over to celebrate New Year's with me and Marcus."

"I usually do, don't I?"

Clarke tilts her head. "Yeah, you do. I don't know why I was questioning if you would."

He chuckles. "Neither do I. But guess what?"

"What?"

Bellamy grins. "It'll be our first New Year's that we get to celebrate as a couple. The first of many, I hope."

Clarke matches his grin. "I hope so too. And I'm assuming I can count on you to kiss me at midnight?"

"Absolutely."

"Good." She leans down to peck his lips quickly and then lies back down to curl herself around him as best she can, letting out a breath. "Read to me?" she asks, her eyes closing.

"What would you like me to read?"

Clarke lets out a small, content sigh as she listens for a moment to the steady beating of Bellamy's heart beneath her ear. "I don't care. I'm tired right now and just want to take a nap. Falling asleep to your voice sounds like the perfect way to do so."

He chuckles. "Alright. I'll just continue with what I was reading when you got here, then. Is that okay?"

She nods against him, already feeling herself starting to slowly succumb to sleep. "Mm-hmm. Sounds great." She drifts off to the low rumble of Bellamy's voice as he continues his reading. She can't wait for him to read books to Little Bean as often as possible once they're born. It's definitely going to be something that's just for the two of them. And she is perfectly okay with it.

.

.

.

A loud knock at the front door pulls Clarke's attention away from the TV in the living room where just one of many New Year's celebrations across the globe is being broadcast. A grin takes over her face when she checks the time on her phone, and then she's up out of her chair and walking to the door.

As soon as she has the front door open, she pulls Bellamy down into a tight hug. "Hi."

"Hi," he says, hugging her back just as tightly with a quiet chuckle. "Happy almost New Year's."

"Same to you." She smiles at Octavia when she and Bellamy break apart, taking in the young girl's attire; pajamas, slip-on Converse, a party hat, and funny glasses. "Hey, O. You look like you're ready for a party."

"I'm so excited," Octavia says with a grin.

Bellamy gives her a look. "She's determined that she's gonna stay up, but I managed to convince her to put on her pajamas just in case."

Clarke nods in understanding. "Ah. Well, it wouldn't be a Blake-Griffin party if it didn't end in an impromptu sleepover, now would it?"

Bellamy shakes his head with a smile. "No, it would not."

"Hey, O, did you bring any extra party hats and funny glasses?"

Octavia nods and jostles the backpack she's wearing. "Yep."

"Sweet. Do you wanna go see if you can convince Marcus to wear some? He's in the living room."

Octavia glances between her and Bellamy, narrowing her eyes at them. "You two just wanna kiss, don't you?"

Bellamy rolls his eyes and grabs Octavia by the shoulders, turning her in the direction of the living room. "Go."

Octavia grumbles under her breath, something about teenagers and being gross all the time, and then makes her way toward the living room, her backpack bouncing against her as she goes.

Once the young girl is out of sight, Clarke turns back to her boyfriend and steps closer to him, slowly winding her arms up around his neck. She smiles when his arms snake around her waist, pulling her as close as her small bump will let her get. Clarke lets out a breath, tilting her head back to rest her chin on Bellamy's chest. "That's better."

Bellamy smiles. "I completely agree. Now I can greet you properly." He dips his head and captures her lips in a sweet, slow kiss.

Clarke kisses him back eagerly, rising on her toes just a little so neither of them strains their necks too badly. When they eventually pull apart, she rests her forehead against his, her eyes still closed. "We should probably get in the living room before Marcus or Octavia comes to get us."

"Yeah, you're probably right." He pecks her lips quickly and then unwinds his arms from around her, instead grabbing her hand to pull her through the house. "Hello, Marcus," he greets her stepdad with a smile as soon as they enter the living room.

Marcus smiles brightly at them both and nods. "Bellamy, good to see you again. How's the holiday break been treating you so far?"

"Can't complain," Bellamy responds with a small shrug, moving toward one of the empty chairs.

Clarke follows right behind him, plopping herself into his lap as soon as he sits down, and turning sideways so she's facing the TV. She drapes one arm over his shoulders to keep herself steady as she shifts a little, smiling when one of his arms circles her back and his other hand lands on her thigh.

Bellamy just raises a brow at her. "Comfortable?"

She smiles and nods. "Mm-hmm. Best spot in the house, right here."

"Well, I guess that's nice to know."

"When's the ball gonna drop?" Octavia asks from her place next to Marcus. "That's the best part."

"You have to be patient," Marcus replies gently. "It's not quite midnight yet."

Octavia frowns, crossing her arms over her chest as she leans back. "I hate waiting."

"Well, then life is gonna suck for you, O," Bellamy says to his sister. "Because life is full of waiting for things to happen. Yeah, some of it you can make happen, but there are some things that you just have to wait for."

"That's dumb."

Clarke laughs quietly as she runs her fingers through the hair at the nape of Bellamy's neck. "You know it's pointless to try and get existential with her. She never wants to listen."

"I think it's mostly because I'm her big brother. I'm sure she'd listen if it were anybody else."

Clarke rolls her eyes. "She worships you and the ground you walk on, Bellamy. I know you know that.

He smiles up at her. "I know I love you."

Clarke smiles back. "I love you too. Very much. Me and Little Bean are very lucky to have you."

"I'm the lucky one."

Smile still on her face, Clarke lets her body relax further against Bellamy's, listening to the sound of Marcus engaging Octavia in conversation. What exactly it is they're talking about, she's not entirely sure, but at least Octavia seems remotely interested. Hopefully, it'll keep her occupied and entertained until it's time for the countdown to truly start. If the young girl can stay awake long enough to see the countdown, that is.

Given how exhausted she's been getting lately, Clarke's honestly a little surprised with herself, and that she's been able to stay up as late as she has so far. Though, she's sure it won't take too long after midnight hits for her to completely pass out.

But for the time being, she's content to just stay curled up in Bellamy's lap the best she can be, listening to and watching the celebration unfold. They've never had anything quite as extravagant as what's being shown on TV in their neck of the woods, but it certainly would be exciting to go to a party like that. Maybe one day they can take a trip and go to some kind of New Year's Eve party. They can leave Little Bean with Aurora and go enjoy themselves. But, of course, they have to get through the rest of the pregnancy first. And then the birth.

It's all happening so soon, too. The first part of her pregnancy seems to have just flown by and now she's about to be in the actual year when her baby is going to be born. It's a bit nerve-wracking. But she's excited all the same. She can't wait to meet her baby.

"Guys!" Octavia exclaims excitedly a few moments later. "The ball's finally dropping! It's almost midnight! Told you I could make it, Bell."

Bellamy chuckles. "Yeah, I guess you did, O. Still wanna have a sleepover with Clarke?"

"Duh."

Clarke shifts in Bellamy's lap so she's sitting up a little more, her eyes fixed on the screen as the giant crystal-like ball slowly descends its pole. The echoes of the partiers on the screen mix with Octavia's shouting as she bounces on her knees on the couch.

And then, just as it happens every year when the ball touches down, the celebrations explode.

Clarke turns as soon as the clock strikes midnight and smiles sweetly at her boyfriend. "Happy New Year, Bellamy."

He smiles back. "Happy New Year, Clarke." He stretches up and presses his lips to hers, bringing one hand up to gently caress her cheek.

When they pull away, Clarke smiles and then slides down so she can rest her head on Bellamy's shoulder, placing both of her hands on her belly. "This is going to be a great year for us."

One of Bellamy's hands rests over the top of hers, their fingers intertwining together as he presses a kiss to her forehead. "It absolutely is."

So? What did you think? Let me know in a review down below. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Until next time,
Jellybean96 out!