"We've been at war since we landed." — Bellamy Blake, "Hakeldama"

Abby was prettiest in the morning, when the rays from the sunrise were peeking through the window, bringing the first light of the day into the room. She would burrow deeper into his chest, still lost to sleep. Kane was a light sleeper these days and woke with the sun consistently, but he didn't mind. It allowed him to partake in his favorite part of the day — watching her eyelids flutter as she wrapped her arms tighter around him and pressed her face into his chest.

Sometimes, he would run his hand along her back and gently wake her if it was time for her shift in Medical. Other times, he would just hold her tighter, reveling in the fact that this beautiful, courageous, brilliant woman loved him. Most of the time, like today, he was allowed half an hour before he had to get up and start his day.

There was a soft knock on the door and it opened a minute later when he didn't answer for fear of waking Abby. Clarke walked in, already dressed for the day, and stepped just inside the room. She wasn't bothered to find Marcus shirtless with her mother wrapped tightly around him wearing one of his shirts. She actually had a small smile on her face as her eyes met Kane's.

"A rider just left, he said the armies will arrive early this afternoon. Lexa will want to attend the Council meeting," she said quietly.

He nodded and scratched at his stubble. "Did the rider say where they were setting up camp?"

She shrugged. "Bellamy didn't say."

Kane fought a smile — of course Bellamy would rush here to tell them the news before any of them were awake. "Would you mind finding out for me?"

"I'm on it," she said, turning to the door but Kane called her back.

"When you see Bellamy, tell him I want a word," he said. Her eyebrow raised slightly. He smiled and added, "Don't worry, it's nothing bad."

Her brows pulled together and she waited for further explanation but he didn't give her one. She said, "Fine." Clarke nodded toward her mother's sleeping form and asked quietly, "Were there any nightmares?"

Kane shook his head. "Not this time."

"She's finally getting better, I guess I have you to thank for that." Clarke turned toward the door again and called over her shoulder, "Oh, and just so you know, you have created a monster with that boy and those games."

The door slid shut behind her and Kane absently ran his fingers along Abby's back, smiling to himself. Abby hadn't had a nightmare all week, not since the night after the funeral. Her heavy breathing had woken him — it didn't take much — and he had pulled her onto him, hugging her tight as he rubbed her back, whispering that she was okay. She woke and stared at him before kissing him like she couldn't believe he was actually there.

She had dreamt he was dead, that Pike had killed him before she and Octavia had arrived. She held him tight after waking, refusing to let him go. It took him saying that he was never leaving her again, that he would do anything to come back to her to get her to finally calm down, but she didn't leave him — she remained snuggled against his chest, her legs straddling him, her lips moving against his skin. He held her tightly, whispering that he really was there and she eventually fell asleep in the early hours of the morning. He didn't though, he stayed awake, making sure that she was okay.

He was startled when a hoarse whisper broke the silence in the room, "She's not wrong, Marcus. I don't know what I would do without you."

Kane glanced down and found Abby looking up at him, her head still on his chest. The corner of his mouth pulled up as he said, "Good morning."

She kissed his chest and mumbled, "Good morning, ai niron."

She slid up his body and pressed a kiss against his lips. He gripped her waist and pulled her onto him. She smiled against his lips and deepened the kiss, gripping his hair tightly in her fingers. He slipped his hands under her shirt and tickled his fingers over her sides. She squirmed against him and broke the kiss, brushing his hair gently out of his face.

"Sorry," he whispered, fighting the smile that threatened to take over his face. "But I have to get going."

She kissed him once more and pulled away. As she slid out of bed, she said, "I have to get to Medical anyway."

"Your shift isn't until tonight," he said, frowning at her as he threw off the blanket. He slid out of bed and opened the dresser, glancing over his shoulder at her, awaiting a reply.

He was pulling out a shirt when she finally replied as she stepped into her jeans, "I want to figure out something for Jasper. Nyko and Jackson promised to meet me this morning about him."

He whispered, "Thank you, Abby."

Kane was fully dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed, pulling on his boots, when she climbed across the bed behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She kissed the spot under his ear and said, "Do you want me to take Benja with me?"

He shook his head. "You should focus on Jasper. Nate can watch him, he can try to get a lesson in before the armies get here."

She turned his head to the side and kissed him before resting her head on his shoulder. "I guess our week of normalcy is over?"

"This is normalcy, Abby," he said with a frown. She nodded, her nose brushing his neck. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his skin. She whispered, "It won't always be."

"We can hope," he said, nodding slowly.

"Hope is everything, Marcus," she said as she pulled away. She stood in front of him and reached for his hand. "Let's go."

They exited their bedroom and found Benja on the couch, enthralled by a hundred and thirty-six year old football match between Brazil and Germany. Kane smiled as he walked toward his jacket hanging by the door; he didn't know how many games he had watched with Benja over the last week — after the first one, it was all the boy wanted to do. Kane had managed to find him a decent football in one of the many storerooms that held items from Mount Weather. They had spent the last several nights kicking it around after all of his work was done, Wick or Bellamy joining in sometimes, other times it was some of the other kids and their parents.

Kane needed Abby to be right, he needed there to be a time coming when there were no wars, nothing but peace; a time when they could be a real family. He sat down next to Benja, holding his jacket out to him. The match was only thirty minutes in and it looked like it was all over for Brazil already.

Benja took his jacket without looking away from the projection on the wall, watching Germany dominate the game. He asked, "Weron oso na kamp raun? | Where are we going?"

"Yu na kamp raun kom Neit, nami? | You are going to be with Nate, okay?" Kane said, watching Benja's eyes follow the ball on the video. The boy nodded absently, Kane wondered if he had even heard him.

He glanced at Abby and found a grin on her face as she pulled on her jacket. She met his eyes and gave him a look. "You made him this way."

His brows lowered as he said, "And who suggested I start watching football again?"

Abby just shook her head and said, "You can't blame this on me. You two have watched eleven matches in the last week. It's almost like you don't have a war to plan."

He shrugged. "I'm working on it. And I can't deny the boy his football."

She smiled and said, "Well, it's time to go. Miya, Ben. | Come on, Ben."

He protested, "Ba pleiplei | But the game—"

"Don set raun gon honet yo. Em na set raun kom taim nat. Yu na gonasleng granplei kom Neit nau. | Has waited for a hundred years. It can wait until tonight. You have an English lesson with Nate now." She beckoned him toward her and, begrudgingly, he rose from the couch and walked toward her, shrugging his jacket on. Abby gave Kane a look that seemed to say no more football for him. And as he walked out the door, Benja looked to Kane who nodded, telling him to do as she said.

He reached for the control as the door shut and paused the game before turning it off. He glanced around the room, at the chaos that was a ten year old living in their shared space for two weeks. Kane longed for the day Benja would have his own room to contain the things he had picked up here and there. The boy was gathering many possessions, he had a box in the corner of things he had been given in Polis and by Arkadians.

It was only a minute of silence before the door opened and Clarke walked in followed by Bellamy Blake. She glanced at Kane, at the empty room, before saying, "The armies will be half a mile north of camp."

Kane nodded. His attention turned Bellamy who stood just inside the door; he beckoned him over and Bellamy glanced uncertainly at Clarke before walking over to sit in the chair. Clarke was busying herself with a cup of tea, but Kane knew she was just curious about what he had to say.

Kane leaned forward, his forearms resting on his knees as he looked at Bellamy. He looked nervous and Kane wondered what idea Clarke had put in his head when she told him that he wanted a word. He mentally kicked himself for not just telling her what he had intended.

"Bellamy, do you like your position on the Guard?" Kane asked, keeping his face placid. He was met with a curious look.

"Yes," Bellamy said uncertainly. "I've always wanted to be on the Guard, you know that."

Kane smiled and nodded. "I only meant to ask if you wanted something more. More responsibility, more say in the future of this camp."

It dawned on Bellamy the same instant it did Clarke, as she walked toward them, holding the cup of tea. They shared a look before Bellamy said, "Are you asking what I think you're asking?"

"We have two openings on the Council, I would like for you to fill one of them," Kane said with a nod. "It will show your friends that we respect them and value their input. That we know they have grown since we forced them to come here. And you deserve it, son."

"Thank you, sir," Bellamy said, a small smile pulling at his lips.

"We have one more person to recruit," Kane said, rising from the couch. Bellamy raised an eyebrow in question, glancing back at Clarke, before meeting Kane's eyes again. But Marcus just nodded toward the door and the new councillor was forced to follow without knowing their destination.

Lexa and Roan were sitting around the table with the councillors when Kane arrived. Jack Scanlan sat next to Bellamy, still in shock at Kane's decision to appoint him to the Council. Abby's eyes met Kane's, surprised he hadn't discussed this with her, but it wasn't really her place. It was his decision, he knew she didn't care and would have supported him no matter who he chose.

Kane sat between Abby and Lexa, opening the floor to anything before they started on the war. Sinclair spoke up, "In what little non-war related news we have these days, expanded housing is finished. We've set aside one for the Chancellor and his family. The sign-up list for everyone else goes live after this meeting."

"Thank you," Kane nodded. He forced himself not to look at Abby at the mention of and his family. Instead, he scanned the room, meeting the eyes of the other councillors, asking, "Anything else?"

They glanced at each other, but they all shook their heads. Kane nodded, "Let's move on then. When do we go to war?"

"A few days," Roan said gruffly. "We must consider the logistics of the matter: where we will protect, which villages we will abandon to their own devices, et cetera."

"Any news of Ontari's movements?" Bellamy asked, leaning forward. Kane fought the smirk that pulled at his lips; new members never spoke up in their first meeting, but Bellamy was taking to being on the Council very well, as Kane knew he would.

"She marches toward Arkadia, she wishes death on all Sky People. Her plan is to annihilate you all before you can fight back — it is smart if you think about it." Roan said. Kane's eyes darkened causing Roan to continue, "She is a hundred miles away still. With an army of her size, they don't move very fast. If we leave soon, we can avoid the devastation of this camp."

"How do we do that?" Kane asked.

"We will set up a blockade around Arkadia and leave warriors outside the gates, Ontari will never get close enough," Lexa said, glancing at Roan on one side before turning to Kane on her other. "We believe she will attack Arkadia, Tondc, Polis, or Niagara. Will our people be in danger here from yours?"

Kane shook his head. "Those who posed a threat have left."

Lexa nodded. "I leave several hundred Trikru warriors with Arkadia, they will protect your people while you are gone."

"And where are we going?" Abby asked, eyes narrowing at the commander.

Kane couldn't help but notice the amused smirk that played at Lexa's lips for a moment before it disappeared. She said seriously, "We have enough healers, Abby; your place is with your people."

"My place is with my chancellor," Abby said coolly and Kane hid his smile well. "Where are we going?"

Ignoring the tension rising in Lexa, Roan intervened and said, "Skaikru will come with me. We will draw Ontari's army away from your settlement and the others. If she truly hopes to be the leader of Ice Nation, Niagara is where she will have to go."

"Who is in charge while you are gone, Chancellor?" Bellamy asked, brows knitting together. He knew how it had worked out last time Marcus had left Arkadia, they all did.

Kane said, "We won't bore the Commander and King with our tedious bureaucratic talk. We can discuss it in another meeting."

Bellamy nodded.

"I think that is enough for today," Kane said, glancing around the room. "We have training to get to. Bellamy, Scanlan, gather the guards. We head for the camp with Lexa and Roan."

The two guards nodded and left the room. The other councillors began to trickle out of the room. Abby glanced at Kane before leaving, understanding that he had other business to attend to in private with the Grounder leaders. Roan and Lexa were soon the only two in the room with Kane, still seated next to him.

"Who are you leaving in charge of Arkadia's safety?" Kane asked, looking from one to the other.

"Indra refused," Lexa began, "for obvious reasons."

"It didn't go so well the last time," Kane nodded.

Lexa studied him for a moment, perhaps offended by his offhanded comment. He thought to apologize, but she spoke again, "I've given the honor to Penn."

"Penn?" He asked, exhaling a short breath in surprise. Lexa nodded, eying him curiously. "That's unexpected."

"He proved himself during the war with Mount Weather. He has been a reliable emissary with Skaikru despite…complications with your former people. He will do well as a leader," Lexa commented.

"He will," Kane said.

"We should train," Roan said, rising from his seat. "I suspect your people need it, given how they performed in the battle."

"You lost more people than I did," Kane said, eyes narrowing as he stood.

"That was because of your guns, not your skill, Kane," Roan said harshly, taking a step toward him, rage flaring up on his face. Lexa shoved her chair out from under her and pushed the men away from each other.

"We are not here to fight each other. Go back to camp, Roan," she barked, staring at him hard until he snapped his eyes away from Kane's and looked at her.

"Yes, Commander," he said coolly before leaving the room. Lexa's eyes followed him before turning to Kane who started toward the door.

"Marcus," Lexa said, grasping his forearm tightly in her hand. His eyes flickered to the contact before meeting hers. "For now, we train. But war is coming and lives will be lost. Are you sure you are ready for this?"

Kane gave her a hard look before pulling his arm out of her grip. "You clearly don't know me well enough, Lexa. Death is something I understand very well by now."

"I've seen how it destroys you, are you sure you want Abby going with you?" Lexa asked, eyes flashing with concern as they searched his face. He held her gaze when she looked at him again, his eyes dancing.

"If you know Clarke, you know Abby. No one can make them do anything they don't want to. I can't make Abby stay behind no more than you can make Clarke forgive you." Her eyes grew cold and he added, "I'm not saying she won't, Lexa, maybe this war will do you some good."

She had stormed halfway across the room by the time he called out, "Lexa, I know how you feel about her. Just know, you're not the only one who feels that way about Clarke."

She glanced over her shoulder at him, her eyes shrouded by an emotion he couldn't quite discern. "I know, it was made very clear to me while we waited for Pike."

She was gone before he could respond. He stared at the open door for a few moments before he began to wander back to his quarters. He barely glanced at Clarke and Benja on the couch where they were watching the rest of the Germany and Brazil game. He walked up behind Abby who was busying herself with the kettle and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a kiss to her neck. She tilted her head, exposing more of her neck to him, but he didn't pursue it further.

He rested his chin on her shoulder and whispered, "You don't have to come."

She stiffened in his arms momentarily before turning in his embrace to face him. "You're an idiot if you think I'm going to stay here while you go with Roan to Niagara."

"Then I'm an idiot."

Her face softened and she pursed her lips to hide a smile. "I'm going with you, this is not up for discussion." She leaned forward to press a soft kiss to his lips before pulling back to look him in the eye. "Now, don't you and Clarke have training to get to?"

He nodded, but captured her lips once more, slipping his tongue deep into her mouth. She was forced to swallow her moan with the kids on the couch as her tongue met his. His hands gripped her hips as he pressed her against the cabinet, his body flush against hers. Her hands dove into his hair, pulling him closer.

"You two are disgusting," Clarke said in a monotone from behind them. Kane broke from Abby, redness creeping up his neck. Abby glared at her daughter, upset at her for interrupting them. Clarke held out a rifle for Kane and said, "Let's go already, I'm not letting you get killed in this war because you are distracted."

Kane took the gun and slung it over his shoulder. Clarke walked toward the door as he leaned toward Abby, kissing her cheek. He whispered in her ear, "To be continued."

Don't fret about the end of this one, everyone! Chapter 1 of "Omo Givnes," the sequel to this, is already up and ready for your viewing pleasure!

Reviews are always welcomed and appreciated; I love hearing what you all have to say! Let me know what you thought of this fic overall! :)

It's been a pleasure writing it.

-Lauren