Hiya folks,

surprise... I decided to update the epilogue already, instead of letting you wait. I tried to tie up all open plots and might have given you a little fluffiness to make up for the angst in the last chapters...
Well - read for yourself.


You make me believe in soulmates

Lexa had taken her back in her arms and had kissed her. "I can't believe this." For the second time this night she'd lifted Clarke up and had turned around in a small circle with her tightly in her arms.

"You're the best thing that has ever happened to me, Clarke Griffin."

"You're an idiot, but you're my idiot, Lexa Woods."

They kissed again and again. Forgiving and reassuring each other of their feelings. Lexa set her back on the ground but kept her arms wrapped secured around Clarke, resting her head on the blonde's shoulder, nose buried in her neck, breathing in deeply, longingly, having missed her scent like air.

"Are you sure about this?" She whispered, pressing a kiss against the sensitive skin she found under her lips.

"We need to talk. Like really talk." Clarke pushed her head off her shoulder, locking eyes. "I've done things which weren't exactly ethical either, I'm really sorry and want to explain myself to you too. Anya told me how it all happened, but I really want to hear, how you've been and how you'd managed considering she told me you never wanted to do it to start with." She said whilst losing herself in the soothing, trusting green an inch away from her. "But to answer your question, I've never been surer about anything, than I am, about you and me." She kissed her softly to emphasize her words further.

"We have a 12 hour flight next Monday. Think that gives us enough time to talk?" Lexa suggested with a teasing smile on her face.

"And what are your plans between now and Monday?" Clarke sucked in her bottom lip, flirting back unashamedly.

"Making up for all the lost time." She let her tongue slowly travel over the bottom lip still deliciously trapped between the blonde's teeth, before she added in a breathy whisper. "And by making up, I mean thoroughly making out and more."

Clarke finally released the flesh and smirked suggestively. "I like your thinking. Let's get out of here." They finally stepped out of each other's embraces and linked their fingers together, when Raven and Octavia popped up from their right.

"Hi lovebirds." Raven said, smiling. "Um, Lexa. Do you have a minute?" She looked apologetically at the brunette, who nodded slightly. "Listen, I'm really sorry for slapping you and jumping to conclusions." She offered her hand and waited with a sincere look for Lexa to react. The brunette's eyes danced from Raven's face to the offered hand and back up, before she smiled warmly and closed her fingers around the outstretched limb.

"You didn't know better. I'd had slapped you too." Lexa accepted the apology and offered her own at the same time. "I'm sorry for everything I've put you through."

"It's not really us you have put through some shit." Octavia stepped out of the shadow of Raven and hugged Lexa, apologising as well. "I'm sorry too."

"Really guys. You don't need to be sorry. You're great friends and besides being devastated and broken, I felt consoled knowing Clarke was with you."

"Lexa." Clarke pulled her into her side, resting her hand possessively around her waist and nuzzled her head into the crock of the brunette's neck. "Can we not talk about this for now?"

"We don't have to talk at all." Lexa replied, pushing her index finger under Clarke's chin to lift it, before taking the blonde's lips once more between hers. "Mmmm." Clarke moaned and immediately deepened the kiss.

"Hey PG13 if possible."

Reluctantly Lexa let go of Clarke's lips and faced the intruder.

"Anya!" Raven exclaimed happily upon seeing Lexa's blonde friend strolling over. "Long time no see." She grinned.

"No shit. I can't wait for some Reyes-free time." Anya shoved the other woman playfully.

"You love having me around." Raven shoved back.

"Um, someone mind telling me how you two became best friends?" Lexa asked confused. Last time she'd witnessed any interaction between Clarke's friends and Anya had been at the gallery opening a month ago and to say the atmosphere had been that cosy would be a blatant lie.

"Well, you've been MIA and someone had to pick up the broken pieces for you and fix it." Anya explained nonchalantly and shrugged.

"After your article was published Raven and I went to see you, to ask, if your words were finally the truth, and Anya here explained everything to us and later to Clarke." Octavia explained further.

Lexa's eyes wandered from the small brunette over to her friend with her mouth slightly open and her eyes full of gratitude. "You did that for me?"

"Well, don't sweat it. It was nothing really. Clarke was the one who made me realise I had to open my mouth. She can be quite convincing even when she's not speaking at all-" Anya explained, before her breath was pressed out of her lungs when Lexa flung herself into her arms. "Thank you so much." She said over and over again, whilst Anya just mumbled "of course" and "no worries".

"You ok?" Raven stepped closer to Clarke, who had her gaze fixed on her girlfriend's form in her best friend's arms.

"Yeah. I am. Finally." Clarke nodded, quickly wiping away a stray tear. "I can't thank you guys enough." She said, and then wrapped her arms around both Octavia and Raven and squeezed as tightly as she could manage.

"It looks like congratulations are in order?" A deep, warm voice interfered the hugging and all five women looked up to the source of the interruption.

"Mr Wallace?" Lexa, Anya and Clarke said in unison at the same time and quickly looked at each other when Lexa asked, "You know Mr Wallace?"

"May I explain the situation?" He interrupted and stopped further questioning. When all attention was back on him, he lifted his hand and gestured for the group to follow him out of the room.

"First of all, Ms Woods, I'm pleased you've listened to Ms Rivers and used the chance to unravel the unfortunate web which had been spun around you and for detangling the lies, which had kept it in place for way too long." He then turned to Clarke and her friends, who came to a stop behind the blonde and continued. "I own Nib&Scroll. It is part of the Weather Corp Company." The blonde nodded in understanding, but her face showed pure confusion. He led them to an elevator, which took them up the building, whilst everyone exchanged curious or perplexed looks with each other. When they stepped out of the lift he turned and looked alternatingly between Lexa and Clarke for a moment.

"Now Ms Woods." He finally focused on Lexa, whilst handing her a set of keys and gesturing to a closed frosted glass door. "Will you do me the honour?" Lexa puzzlingly eyed the keys in her hand, but nodded and walked the short distance to the glass panel, unlocking it, and carefully pushing the entrance open to reveal a large office space, with desks for at least 10 people. Mr Wallace walked past a stunned Lexa and gestured for everyone to follow. The women strolled slowly down the short corridor to another office. "Ms Griffin." He finally addressed Clarke. "At this moment I'd like to thank you for your creativity." The artist furrowed her brows entering the small room behind Lexa, when a surprised gasp left her throat. The brunette followed her line of sight and her gaze fell onto two canvasses, hung close to each other on the opposite wall of the window. Both women turned back to the old man with more questions in their eyes, than words on their tongues.

"What?"

"How?"

"It was for here?"

"What is this?"

"Ms Woods, Ms Griffin. Let me, please." He gestured for them to sit down on the small couch to give room for the rest of the group to enter, whilst perching one leg on the edge of the desk. "I met Ms Griffin a couple years back, when she had only just started working for Markus Kane, a lifelong and very good friend of mine. She'd proven her incredible talent within a short amount of time and I quickly thought of myself as her biggest admirer. I've known Ms Woods for some months now, but only personally for about two weeks. However, she had impressed me with her dedication to the magazine and her eagerness for well-researched journalism. To say I was awestruck by both of these gifted women would be an understatement. When I was informed of the abusive misuse of authority, I felt compelled to set things right. I encouraged one to write her side of the story and I commissioned the other to create new pieces of art. Both things, I believed, would help them in some way. To ensure a hopefully bright future, I took it upon myself to offer both a secure job. Ms Woods is the new editor of the new subcategory of the Nib&Scroll magazine 'Modern Poetry and Fiction' and Ms Griffin has recently signed the purchase and sale agreement to her very own gallery."

"Please don't tell me you've blackmailed Mr Kane into selling me the gallery because you wanted to make me happy?" Clarke deadpanned, half in jest and half seriously.

"No, don't worry. Markus wanted out anyway, but I made it happen as quickly as possible."

"The paintings -?" Lexa whispered into Clarke's ear, stopping mid-sentence as the blonde started nodding, but was silenced by Mr Wallace.

"Original Griffin Art for Ms Woods' new office. I'll hope this fuels your creativity and helps you further come to terms with what happened." Mr Wallace finally stood up and offered his hand first to Lexa and then to Clarke. "I'm incredibly happy the two of you have been able to find a way back to each other. I appreciate you as single individuals, but I'm excited to see what you two can achieve by being together."

"Thank you Mr Wallace." Lexa said gratefully, but was waved away when he made his way out of her office.

"That's nothing. You two offer beautiful words and paintings, which make me happy in turn. Oh and Ms Griffin? I heard you're off for some time?" Clarke nodded, confused at how he knew about it, and opened her mouth to explain her last minute booking. "No worries. Enjoy the time and finish the commission when you're back." With that he walked off leaving the five alone.

"I love this." Lexa pointed to the canvasses on the wall, caressing them with her eyes, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

"Well I wasn't aware I'd be doing the work for your new office. He didn't let me see the space, so I went with instinct."

Lexa blinked more tears away and looked back at Clarke. "You bought the gallery?"

The blonde smiled warmly, lifted one eyebrow suggestively and purred. "You're now an editor?" They stared at each other, eyes flickering over features both had craved and missed for so long.

"Well you guys have loads to talk about, but can we go back to the party?" Octavia interrupted.

"Yeah, you have even more time together in the next weeks to talk about all this, when we're not with you. Let's celebrate the end of a nightmare." Raven piped up as well.

"Yeah Woods. You owe me a happy night for a change." Anya chimed in finally.

"I second that." Clarke laughed and affectionately caressed Lexa's cheek.

"Let's party then."

They returned to the celebration and enjoyed dancing the night away. Raven had called the rest of Clarke's friends and after they went through the story again, Lexa pulled Clarke away. The music changed to a slow piano piece and Clarke let herself be wrapped into Lexa's warm body, swaying from left to right, feeling their heartbeats syncing again.

"I'm incredibly sorry." Lexa mumbled close to the blonde's ear. "I hope one day I can make it up to you."

Clarke lifted her head off Lexa's shoulder and smiled at her lovingly. "Darling, there's nothing we can do to change the past weeks. I've hurt you too and I'm so sorry about it." Her eyes flickered over Lexa's and she continued softly. "We can only promise to not repeat history and hurt each other again."

"Sounds like you're thinking about a future for us." Lexa asked hopefully.

"I love you. Always have. Even in the darkest hour, when I'd read the first article I couldn't stop missing you, so much it literally tore me apart." Clarke answered honestly, pushing up to kiss her, but was stopped with a finger against her lips.

"I can't imagine being without you ever again. Your eyes are my sun I want to wake up to and your voice is my moon I want to be guided by. I love you so much." Lexa breathed out and added in a very quiet voice, only for Clarke to hear. "Be my girlfriend. Once again."

Clarke chuckled at the familiarity of the words and nudged Lexa's nose with hers, before answering, "Always", and kissing her softly.


Almost two weeks after they'd left their home, Clarke found herself relaxing at a secluded beach somewhere at the Mediterranean Sea. She smiled and recalled the past two weeks.

They had travelled from Ton DC to Barcelona and had explored everything their colourful guide had advertised as a 'must see'. They went to the see La Sagrada Familia, wandered Las Ramblas leisurely, got lost in the gothic quarter of the city with its labyrinthine streets and had hiked up the Montjuic hill. Clarke hadn't needed much persuasion to get them to explore the art the city had to offer. They enjoyed the Picasso museum and Gaudi's modernist park, with Clarke launching into her vast knowledge of both artists, leaving Lexa more than once perplexed and enthralled. One evening they'd visited the Magic Fountain of Montjuic just in time to see the beautiful show of water, light and music. They had cuddled up and had whispered sweet nothings to each other, whilst watching the spectacle in front of them. It had been a fairy-tale experience.

After five days they'd left Barcelona to fly to Corsica, a mountainous Mediterranean island. Lexa had convinced her blonde lover to visit this beautiful place due to the breathtaking landscape from ocean and beach, over picturesque villages and lively towns, to the striking mountain chain commanding the core of the island. Clarke had laughed at Lexa's nerdy side and had made fun of her, but when they'd ventured out into the wilderness of the island she had quietly admitted that it was majestic and incredible.

They'd spent another three nights on the island before deciding to fly further to Rome. After adventurous days in the capital of Italy, both had craved some downtime and had travelled to Skiathos in the Aegean Sea belonging to the Greek archipelago. Both had been drawn to the island because of its tranquillity, small fishing villages and underwhelming tourism.

Clarke sighed and looked up into the sky, whilst waiting for her girlfriend, who had gone to get drinks. They had rented a car and a small vacation home at a private beach and were self-sufficiently taking care of their needs. It was perfect. 'Lexa was perfect', Clarke thought and turned around on the blanket spread out over the warm white sand, resting her head on her arms and closing her eyes.

After taking a little time to talk about the month they'd spent separately and the things that had led to the four week split, the relaxed, natural flow of their relationship before the 'big bang' had returned and they enjoyed every second in each other's company. Clarke had never thought she would be happy spending so long with only one person. She was even more surprised that although most of their time, she had only Lexa to talk to, as they were visiting places where English wasn't the local language, she never once had felt bored or tired, quite the opposite. She was just musing about what exactly intrigued her most about her girlfriend, when she felt cold fingers tracing down the warm skin over her spine. She moaned at the sensation and tried to turn, when she was stopped by a raspy voice close to her ear. "Don't move." She nodded and felt her body awaken suddenly and forcefully. Lexa had that effect on her. She let her head fall back down on her arms and sighed in content.

Lexa had been back for a few moments, enjoying the view of her stunning girlfriend basking in the sun before she joined her on the blanket. Although they had a private beach, which was not visibly accessible for anyone, Clarke wore one of her tiny bikinis. When Lexa came closer she saw a sensual smile playing around the blonde lips, which affected her in a way that she bit back a moan. Her eyes were dancing over the sexy body and she slowly discarded the cold water bottle into the sand and lowered herself onto the blanket before letting herself experience the mind-blowing sensation of hot skin under cold fingertips. She heard Clarke moan and bit down hard on her lips being completely addicted to the sound. She crawled closer and leaned over the tantalising form when she felt her moving, to whisper her command into willing ears. Upon satisfyingly seeing Clarke's obedience, Lexa slowly removed the bikini top and pressed lingering kisses starting from Clarke's neck all the way down to the small of her back. Lexa then licked her way back up, collecting little drops of sweat, which had gathered in the depth of the valley of Clarke's spine. Another longer moan filled the air and Lexa's body was on fire. She pushed off and turned Clarke on her back, removing the top completely and discarding it. She leaned over her girlfriend to shade her from the sun and started kissing her, deepening the kiss almost instantly when she felt Clarke opening her mouth slightly. Lexa broke the kiss to give them a chance for air, when she quietly admitted. "I want you." Clarke's pupils widened the same instant her hips bucked into Lexa, whilst she let out a needy groan and managed past her rapid panting an "I need you." Lexa didn't waste any more time and stripped her of her skimpy pants and settled between Clarke's legs to give her what she needed and to happily accept what she gave her in return. All of it. She took her into her mouth and moaned when the taste hit her senses. She'd never tire of Clarke's unique, maddening flavour. She worked her relentlessly and let her reach the edge numerous times, before pulling her away again. She enjoyed seeing Clarke writhing in pleasure and screaming out in pure need for release. She abandoned her favourite spot to crawl up the tantalizing body, when she heard her huffing out in frustration. "Lex, if you…" Clarke panted heavily, feeling her girlfriend's fingers entering her deeply, stimulating her in her all the right places, just not for long enough. "I swear, if you don't let me…" She was silenced with a searing kiss and swallowed a long moan, when she felt herself building up again. "Please just let me cum." She begged when Lexa had released her mouth and sinfully attacked her nipples. Clarke felt the skilful tongue stop moving at her plea and the mouth, which was driving her crazy, formed a big grin against her sensitive skin. "You want to cum?" She heard and eagerly nodded, pressing her centre against Lexa's hand, grinding down on the fingers inside her. "Then cum baby." Lexa demanded and increased the pace and quickly moved back between her legs to suck Clarke deeply into her mouth. It took a nanosecond for the blonde to process what was happening, before she exploded and screamed out her pleasure. "Fuck." Lexa guided her slowly down from her high and licked her clean, humming in delight at the sweet wetness.

"Fuck." Clarke repeated. "You just made me see stars." She chuckled, and pulled Lexa up her body. She needed her closer. Lexa wrapped her arms around and turned them so she was spooning Clarke. "Worth it, or?" She teased and softly bit the blonde's ear.

"Mmm… you're worth it." She pressed her back into the brunette's body and grinned at the responsiveness of her. "You're overdressed for the occasion, babe." Clarke whispered and Lexa moved her hand over still hard nipples and sprawled it out flat over the naked belly to press her further into her lap, grinding purposefully against the naked ass. "And what occasion are we talking?" She moaned breathlessly, faking innocence. "My revenge." Clarke rasped calmly, barely satisfied arousal obvious in her voice, and Lexa tried to suppress a moan at the indication of lustful punishment. "Shit." She gasped when she felt Clarke sneaking her hand between them and cupping her sex through her shorts. "Definitely overdressed. Let me help you." Clarke finally rolled out of Lexa's weakened embrace and moved to straddle her. Lexa's hands shot up to cup the tempting full breasts in front of her face, when Clarke pushed them off her body and made Lexa sit up, to remove her shirt and kissed her passionately whilst unclasping the bra. She let her hands skilfully roam over Lexa's exposed skin moving the brunette slowly backwards and once more lifting eager hands away from her naked body. "Don't move." She reused the words Lexa had spoken earlier and received a drawled moan, which got sucked in when her warm tongue made contact with a pert nipple.

"Mmmmm… shit this feels so good." Lexa breathed out and pushed her body more into her girlfriend's seeking the warmth of her skin. Clarke deliberately played slowly with each bud, sucked them into her mouth, licked them and softly bit down on them. She then slid her naked hips over Lexa's lap and pressed her wet core down onto the brunette's stomach, eliciting a primeval growl which she swallowed feverishly with her own mouth, moaning at the electrifying contact of their tongues. Their kissing became desperate and Clarke felt Lexa writhing under her, when she repeatedly moved her core back and forth over the hot skin of her lover's trained abdomen. She pressed down further, enjoying the friction and repeated the motion whilst returning her attention to Lexa's breasts. It didn't take long for Lexa moan's to increase, feeling the release building up inside of her, with each contact of Clarke's slick centre with her now oversensitive skin. She shuddered at the persistent licking and sucking of her nipples and before she could say any more words, the orgasm washed over her. Clarke felt her stiffen underneath her and realised at the same it happened, what had happened. She kept her movement going but slowed down her attacks on Lexa's breasts to eventually release the slightly abused flesh with a questioning look. "Did you just?"

The brunette, still panting heavily, turned her head and nodded. "Never happened before." She admitted shyly, but Clarke turned her head to make her look at her and whispered. "That was amazing. I didn't realise that was even possible."

Lexa laughed out shortly, raised an eyebrow whilst lifting her head and looked down her body at Clarke's hips still pressed flat against her stomach. "Did you not see yourself just then? I'd been close already after I'd fucked you and if you had remotely felt what I'd just felt, you would have cum too."

"Maybe." Clarke conceded with a smug grin. "But." She lifted her finger and traced it along Lexa's jaw, down her neck and over a still rock-hard peak. "However awesome and utterly hot that was, you've deprived me of what's mine." Lexa inhaled to counter, but Clarke quickly put her hand over the brunette's mouth, effectively stopping her from talking. "I usually get what I want, Lexa." She rasped with an even deeper voice and slipped off the tanned body and pulled down the lose fitting shorts together with her pants and only stopped shortly to take in Lexa's body, dripping, wet and wanting. She slowed down her rough movements and deliciously spread Lexa's legs before settling between them and finally lapping up her girlfriend's juices. With nowhere to be and no one to see they spent the rest of the day loving each other again and again.


They'd spend a few more days in Greece, before they'd travelled back to Spain and had cruised along the coast for another week. Their vacation had come to an end after three weeks abroad. It was their last evening and they were currently enjoying a bottle of red wine and the sunset over a mountain in the distance. They sat close with Lexa's arms around Clarke, who leaned against the brunette's front. She was humming a soothing melody, whilst Lexa caressed her arm. It was peaceful and both wished it didn't have to end.

"Lexa?" Clarke said turning to face her lover who'd looked at her in return, waiting for her to speak her mind. "I was thinking about home."

"Yeah?" Lexa asked unsure of what was on the blonde's mind. "What about home?"

"Are you happy?"

Lexa furrowed her brows and moved her head back. "I am incredibly happy, but what has that to do with home?"

"Well the thought of not being able to wake up next to you each morning and fall asleep in your arms makes me sad." Clarke admitted bashfully.

Lexa smiled lovingly and pulled her closer. "I know. I'll miss you awfully."

"What would you say if I asked you to move in with me?" Clarke all but whispered the last words, and Lexa had to strain her ears to get them at all.

"You want us to live together?" Upon a shy nod, Lexa went on. "Where?"

"I don't know. What do you think about it in general?" She mumbled under her breath.

Lexa was quiet for a moment, considering her options. She had been living with Anya for a couple of years now and they lived well together. It had taken them a while to get along with all their quirks and obsessions. Clarke and she were only reunited for three weeks after barely knowing each other and spending a month heartbrokenly apart. "Don't you think it's too early for us to move in with each other?" She finally asked tentatively.

"You don't want to, that's ok." Clarke replied, refusing to show her disappointment.

"Clarke, it's not that I don't want to." Lexa pushed her up to be able to face her properly and continued. "I love being with you. Anytime, any day and any night." She kissed her softly. "I just don't know if I'm brave enough to take the next step so quickly." She resumed and looked at Clarke, whose eyes widened in realisation.

"You worry we'll end up like you and your ex?"

Lexa shook her head adamantly upon hearing the slight irritation in Clarke's voice. "I do trust you." She whispered less than convincingly.

"You trust me I won't, but you worry I might cheat on you?" Clarke understood.

"Once bitten, twice shy." She mumbled.

"Lexa, look at me." The blonde waited for her girlfriend to look up again. "I can't promise we'll never fight. I can't promise we'll never hurt. But I can promise I won't hurt you by cheating on you." Lexa's intense eyes bored into her very soul, but Clarke didn't waver, voice strong and emphatic. "I promise."

"I want to believe. I really do." Lexa inhaled slowly and held her breath for a moment, before exhaling and speaking at the same time. "But can we wait a little longer?"

Clarke's eyes wandered over her features, searching for something. Lexa worried her bottom lip between her teeth and kept silent. They stared at each other for some time, before Clarke started to slowly nod. "Ok." Lexa smiled gratefully. "On one condition though." Clarke added and the smile froze a little on lush lips.

"What is it you want?" Lexa asked restrained.

"You have to promise me something in return."

"Fair enough. What?"

"No more secrets."

"I promise." Lexa replied quickly and leaned in. "I promise, I'll never keep anything from you." Clarke closed the distance and soft lips moved against each other in a well-choreographed dance, only interrupted by small smiles and excited moans.


When they had arrived back, their old lives and routines had swept them up quickly and efficiently and made them appreciate each moment they had together without pressing for changes.

Clarke had been busy with finishing the commission for Lexa's office. It had taken her a month and several fits of rage when the paintings hadn't come out as perfectly as she had wanted them to. Lexa had tried to rationalize, had honestly promised that she loved all of them, but it had been to no avail. Clarke had set her mind on perfection in her own eyes and no one could stray her off of that notion. In the end she had delivered artwork, which had blown everyone's mind and truly needed new words to describe the intensity and beauty and depth of them.

Lexa had been so proud of each painting and hadn't been shy about telling everyone who Clarke Griffin was to her. With the re-decorating of the magazine's office, press attention for her work had come along and the blonde artist had found herself more often on various art papers. New commissions and orders had flooded her studio and had postponed all plans for the redesign of the gallery. It had been almost four months later, when Clarke had started to decline orders for new projects to finally focus on her gallery.

It had then taken another 3 months for all the changes to happen. Clarke had re-designed the gallery completely, including the move of non load-bearing walls to create some smaller spaces, which resembled differently styled living rooms. She had a modern version with quirky furniture, a temporary type and a romantic one. All rooms displayed either art by local artists or herself, which fit to the theme. The former main show room with the beams and the couches remained, but with freshly painted walls and new sofas.

In the meantime, Lexa had started work as an editor and had found it rewarding but very demanding. Modern poetry and fiction had been a wide ranged topic and they had created a section as a stepping-stone for unpublished writers. Some authors who had submitted their work had been eager to implement her suggestions and had been keen to explain their thoughts, but some had been a pain in the ass and Lexa had considered blacklisting them. In addition to her work with laymen writers, she'd had to guide her own team. Lexa loved it though. She enjoyed it the most when she came back to her office following fruitful discussions, to sit down and recline in her chair, getting lost in the painting Clarke had made for her walls. She still marvelled at the instinct her girlfriend had displayed by choosing to use two canvases and letting the colours flow into each other.

One month after her vacation she had received a copy of an email from another magazine asking to confirm a former colleague's letter of recommendation. Lexa had had a field day taking apart the lies in said document and pointing out the reasons why this woman had been a former employee at Nib&Scroll. Needless to say Nia Izard hadn't been able to find a job anywhere close to the distributing area of her former magazine. The last Lexa had heard, she had moved to the other side of the country. The further away the better. Lexa and Anya had celebrated hard and heavy and it had ended with Clarke picking them up. That was the same night they'd found out that Raven and Anya were a thing. A happy thing, they had confirmed later, but hadn't wanted to label it any more specifically.

Their lives had become more hectic and stressed until it peaked at the day of the reopening of the gallery.


"Clarke, relax. They won't start without you." Lexa nervously played with the item in the pocket of her tailored suit pants, whilst staring at her absolutely stunningly gorgeous girlfriend in a tight red dress, currently busying herself with applying make-up.

"I know, I just… What if people don't like it?" The blonde answered restlessly.

"Why wouldn't they like it? It's a great concept, and it absolutely makes sense to combine the two." The brunette reassured, when Clarke groaned loudly. "The sooner you open, the earlier you'll see for yourself." Lexa added and stepped behind her, making eye contact through the mirror. "You look positively edible." She whispered and kissed the teasing neck in front of her.

"Please don't start anything baby." She turned in her arms and pressed a lingering kiss to the corner of her girlfriend's mouth. "I can't focus."

"You don't have to. I'll do the focusing for you." She shifted and pressed her lips onto full red inked ones, smudging the lipstick in the progress. Clarke moaned, but leaned back out of Lexa's reach. "Not happening. I've just showered and gotten myself into this little number, you're not taking me out of it just yet."

"Fine." The brunette pouted and let go of her girlfriend's waist.

"God! Now I have to reapply the lipstick." Clarke huffed out in faked annoyance.

"You better not wear any. I can't be held responsible with you in that, how did you phrase it so eloquently, 'little number', and I wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of all those people."

"Smooth Woods. Get your cute little ass out of here so I can get ready." Clarke kissed her once more and cleaned her mouth of lipstick residue. "Oh before I forget, did you pick up the flowers?"

"Did I…" Lexa stopped leaving the room and turned deliberately slowly back to face Clarke. "You're asking me now…" She locked at her watch. "One hour before the reopening of the former gallery 'ArkArt', now 'Art Café', if I've picked up the floral arrangements, which had had to be collected in the morning, to then have been transported back to the gallery to decorate it for the evening?" Lexa stated cockily, with her trademark half smile on display.

"Thank you." Clarke smiled and kissed her again.

"You're welcome. I'll leave you to get ready."

"Give me another ten."

They arrived on time at the gallery, where Raven, Anya and Octavia already waited to get started with the last tasks.

"I called Monty. They're on their way over with the food." Raven informed them and pulled Anya along.

"I'll set up the coffee and tea machines." Octavia stated and went to the bar.

"What do you want me to do honey?" Lexa took Clarke's coat and purse and waited to see if she was needed anywhere.

"Distract me." The blonde whispered.

"I wanted to earlier but you wouldn't let me take you out of that dress."

"I've changed my mind."

"Babe, you're just nervous. It'll be alright." Lexa tried to soothe the artist's nerves. Truth was she was nervous herself, nervous on behalf of Clarke and her success. She wanted this evening to be a highlight in Clarke's life. "Just relax. Shall we walk through each room and check everything again?" She offered as a distraction.

"Uuugh, ok. Are you sure, you don't want to sneak out?" Clarke grinned mischievously at her girlfriend, but followed her lead over to the showroom.

"Come here." Lexa reeled her into her arms and pressed their body's flush against one another. "Have I told you, that I'm so incredibly proud of you?"

Clarke smiled but shook her head. "Not today."

"Right." She grinned. "Well I am. You amaze me every day. I'm in awe of your talent and aroused by your limitless energy." The brunette admitted.

"Are you aroused right now?"

"What do you think?"

"Clarke? Can you come over? Jas and Monty are here." Raven's voice boomed through the gallery and both women groaned in irritation.

"One sec." Clarke hollered over her shoulder and turned back to lean once more against Lexa. "I'm not done with you." She closed the remaining distance and kissed her deeply, before leaning back and whispering. "Thanks for all your help. This wouldn't have been possible without your support."

Lexa smiled sincerely, touched by Clarke's gratitude. "You're welcome." She whispered back and returned the intimate gesture. They parted but remained connected in a tight embrace, seeing the love for the other clearly written all over their faces.

"I love you."

"I'm so in love with you."

"CLARKE!"

"God damnit." She groaned, and gave Lexa a peck on the lips before wriggling out of her arms. "YES, I'm coming." She yelled back, winking at the obvious innuendo. "Sorry baby. Later?"

"Definitely."

Lexa decided to help Clarke by checking each styled gallery room, sorting the flowers to perfection, picking up some stray petals before she finally joined the others.

Everything was set and ready, Clarke asked for her friend's attention. "So, before hell hopefully breaks loose, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your unlimited time and creative input over the last couple of months. I know I haven't been easy to be around." She looked at Lexa and grinned naughtily. "I'll make it up to you." Lexa blushed slightly and lowered her head, hiding an equally dirty grin on her face.

"TMI Griffin." Raven interrupted with a laugh.

"Yeah, spare us, will ya." Anya chimed in, whilst the others nodded their agreement.

"Right, right. Never mind. Thank you guys. I'm incredibly blessed having you as my friends. You mean the world to me." She stated and raised her glass. "To the best friends, new friend and girlfriend one could possibly ask for."

"Hear! Hear!"

"Welcome."

"Anything for you."


The gallery opening was a huge success. Everyone they knew and everyone who liked art came and stopped by to have a look. Clarke received lots of compliments and grinned like a Cheshire cat almost all night long. Most of the people were already gone, just a few Clarke knew a little better were still lingering, enjoying the cosy atmosphere.

She was just talking to a befriended artist, when the door opened again and Raven and Octavia looked like they had seen a ghost, whilst Anya shared a confused look with Lexa, who didn't seem puzzled at all. Clarke turned in her arms to face the newcomer and a similar shocked expression flooded her features.

"Mom?" She managed, her voice suddenly hoarse with emotions.

"Clarke." The older woman hesitantly stepped closer to her daughter, opening her arms for a hug, when Clarke had started to shake her head, eyes swimming in unshed tears.

Anya leaned over to Raven and whispered, "I guess you weren't in on it either? That's Clarke's mother?" Raven nodded silently, jaw clenching in annoyance and linked her hands with Anya, looking for an anchor to hold her anger back.

"You don't get to do that. You don't get to come here and pretend you care." Clarke said, tears starting to fall out of her eyes.

Lexa circled around and took her girlfriend's hand in hers. "I invited her."

"Why?" Clarke choked. "Why would you? I didn't ask you to."

Lexa reached out to wipe away some of the tears, which had escaped, and pressed her mouth against the moist cheek. "I contacted her, because I couldn't stand seeing you sad, whenever we talked about your mom. I know you miss her even though you might say differently at the moment." She led Clarke over to her mom and smiled warmly at the older woman. "Clarke, I met up with your mom a few days ago and talked to her about what had happened between you. I gave her the chance to explain her side of things and I learned that she's just as sad without you as you are without her. Did I overstep a boundary by inviting her here today? Maybe, but I did it with good intentions. Please give her a chance?"

Clarke shuddered, breathing in slowly not taking her gaze off of her mother's face. She saw guilt and worry and sorrow and heartbreak in her eyes and the tiny cold part of her heart Lexa hadn't been able to warm up, crumbled and she nodded. "Ok." She turned towards her conversational partner and friends and added, "Please excuse me for a few minutes," and led her out of the backdoor into the little backyard.

"Clarke, I'm so grateful for having the chance to see you."

"What do you want?" She asked, emotions running rampant in her blue eyes.

"I want to apologise for abandoning you when you needed me the most."

"Raven and Octavia tried to talk to you ages ago. Why now?"

"I've only just come to terms with my past. After your father had died, I couldn't look at you because you're so alike. You have always been your father's image and I couldn't bear the pain." She released a sob and her trembling hands reached out once more. "I accepted a job in DC and I thought I could start over, but I couldn't forget. A few months back I finally went to get help and I learned how to deal with the loss of the love of my life." Clarke's eyes widened at the admission, and she too suddenly understood how heartbroken, devastated and utterly destroyed her mom must have been. She had only been apart from Lexa for one month, knowing she was alive, and it had shattered her to the core.

"Mom." Clarke stepped closer and took the offered hand into her warm ones. "I understand now, but you should have told me."

"I could not bring myself to talk to anyone and you were so broken too."

"I was broken more than necessary, because you rejected me and made me feel like I lost both my parents at the same time."

They looked at each other, tears streaming down their faces, hands clutching each other's.

"How can I ever make this up to you?"

"Love me unconditionally and be there when I need you." Clarke replied, tears running down her face.

"I love you so much. You're my daughter. My only family and I am so, so proud of you." Abby smiled through tears for the first time since entering the gallery and Lexa, Raven, Anya and Octavia released the breaths they had held in, having watched the scene from afar.

"Fucking hell, that was intense." Raven muttered, still watching her friend coming to terms with her mother. "You've got some ovaries of steel to get yourself involved in this." She said nudging Lexa.

"I wanted to give Clarke her mother back." She said softly, peeling her eyes off of her girlfriend to face her friend. "This was supposed to be hard, but I'm confident they'll find a way back into each other's lives. I've promised Clarke to help her heal, haven't I?" She asked rhetorically.

"You're too good for this world." Anya stepped over to her friend and hugged her. "Too good, but we love you anyway." She joked and released Lexa when she saw Clarke and her mother enter the gallery again. Clarke stopped in front of Lexa looking in awe at her lover.

"You did this for me?"

"I know how much it still hurts you." Lexa replied in a soft voice, gauging the reaction. She was still unsure whether this plan had been a good or a bad idea.

"You know me better than anyone. Hell, I think you know me better than I do. I didn't realise how much I've missed her."

"I take it the talk went well?" Lexa asked tentatively when Clarke stepped into her arms.

"Thank you." She breathed against the brunette's neck. "Thank you for being you."

"Can't be anyone but me. You don't have to thank me. Just keep in mind how grateful you feel right now, whenever I screw up next time. " Lexa joked to lighten the heavy atmosphere. They were in each other's arms, when Abby turned with a soft smile to address the two other people she had known for so long and had let down as well.

"I'm so sorry girls for my actions. You were absolutely right and I should have listened to you."

"You should have." Raven answered, arms folded in front of her chest.

"I know you meant well, but I simply couldn't get myself to see beyond my pain."

"Abby, it's really not us you have to apologise to." Octavia turned around with a confused face. "I've got déjà-vu. I'm sure I recently said that to someone else." She grinned at Lexa, who threw her a warning look.

"Let's not start with that again. It's in the past, just like this is with my mom." Clarke pointed out. "I feel a dinner is in order with lots of food and long talks to catch up?"

"Um, before you invite everyone to your place, I'd like to ask you something." Lexa started and all of a sudden her calm demeanour fell and gave way to nervousness.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." The brunette started, quickly exchanging a glance with Anya who nodded encouragingly at her, walking over to Raven and put her arm around the woman. "I." She started and stopped again to collect her thoughts. "Do you remember our last evening in Europe?" She waited for Clarke to search for the memory and smiled, when a nostalgic curtain glazed her eyes and she nodded with a loving smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"You'd asked me a question." Lexa lowered her head a little to level her eyes with Clarke's before she spoke up again. "Do you also remember what you had asked me?"

She nodded slowly, understanding seeping into her features, but the restraint to believe what was happening was obvious with the hesitant reaction.

"Do you want to ask me again?"

"I think I'd asked you if you wanted to move in with me." Clarke whispered carefully, hopeful eyes fixed on her girlfriend's warm ones in front of her. "Do you want to move in with me?"

"No." Lexa breathed out, as she watched confusion cloud over Clarke's features. She searched for something in her pant's pocket before continuing. "I want you to move in with me." Clarke quickly glanced over at Anya, before feeling Lexa's fingers on her chin softly turning her back to her. "Anya would move into your apartment, if you're happy with coming to me."

"You guys talked about this?" The blonde faced her partner's best friend.

"Yeah, we thought it'd be the best solution. You guys can have the bigger place and I'll be lodging at your former abode until I might or might not decide to move further." She said, pulling Raven closer into her side, smiling a little at the other woman.

"It's cool Clarke. You've got so much more room at Lexa's and you don't have to search for anything new now that you're probably hyper busy with the gallery café." Octavia pointed out sensibly.

"Besides, it's closer to mine." Raven grinned at Clarke, whose smile widened.

"That's true." She finally said and watched Lexa lifting her hand towards her.

"Please move in with me?" She repeated and slowly opened her fist to reveal a single key. Clarke's eyes were focused on Lexa's. She recalled the reason why they hadn't taken the next step already. Lexa had been worried about Clarke cheating on her as soon as she had allowed herself to revel in the added security a shared apartment brought along.

"I love you." She said quietly, and accepted the key. "Only you."

"I know. I love you too." Lexa placed a reassuring kiss against Clarke's lips and added after a moment. "So much."

"So? Dinner in a few weeks at Clarke and Lexa's place?" Abby asked, clasping her hands in joy at her daughter's bliss.

"Can we shorten it to Clexa's place?" Raven chimed.

They looked at each other and smiled. "That actually has a really nice ring to it." Clarke laughed.

"Yeah, Clexa it is then. Now and forever."

The end.


Writing this story had been a fun experience. I loved all your feedback and reveled weekly in your responses in form of story alerts or subscriptions. I've read this before and have to agree whole-heartily 'Reviews are like crack. You simply can't get enough of it/them.' In this sense - thanks for feeding the monster in me and supporting my addiction.

Additionally, I'd like to thank my girlfriend for her constant support and patience and for proofing my chapters. Love you.

The next story is almost ready to get online - check back with me in a couple of days.

Thanks again and I hope you'll give my future work a try as well. Cheers, J