Chapter 18

Clarke blinked and closed her eyes as she heard the loud noises, her skin burned and there was a searing pain just below her right shoulder. She couldn't breath, her skin felt like it was on fire. Her left hand automatically reached for her shoulder but at the same time she felt all the energy leaving her body. She could actually feel her top getting wet and as she glanced down, it was with her blood. Her legs gave up as she slowly descended to the ground. She knew she should do something about the blood, put some pressure on it but it felt like her body couldn't move. It was like she was just a spectator and watching the events unfold. She got really scared and looked up at Lexa. She wanted to tell Lexa what was happening, how scared she was and how she needed help but nothing came out of her mouth. She just stared. All of this realization took only a couple of seconds but to Clarke it felt like everything was happening in slow motion. Her face started getting warm and her vision started blurring. She felt a pair of arms catching her before she fell on the ground. Her eyes moved slowly to Lexa's face. She saw Lexa's lips moving but couldn't make out any of the words. She tried concentrating on Lexa's face more but it was getting hard to do so by the second. By now she could only see the blurry outlines of Lexa's face and soon enough her world spun and she drifted into unconsciousness.

As Clarke slowly came back into the world, she smelled lilies. The scent mixed with the smell of hospital. She couldn't open her eyes easily. It took her a little bit of effort to slowly open them and wait till her vision cleared. Next thing she became aware of was blinding pain in her right side. She grunted but took a deep breath and made sure she didn't try to move at all. She was still not aware of where exactly she was and why. As she got familiar with her surroundings, she saw the IV attached to her left arm, a few monitors beeping. She saw the tiger lilies that she had gifted to Lexa on a table next to her bed. She saw the small image she had drawn of Lexa. As she squinted her eyes, she even saw the small bird which was now hanging onto the branch. This brought a small smile to her lips. Her eyes scanned the room slowly and next she spotted Lexa splayed on a small couch a few feet away. She tried to concentrate on Lexa's form. As she tried to speak, she felt how dry her throat was. Nevertheless, Lexa heard the little noise and opened her eyes quickly as if she was not sleeping at all. Clarke saw Lexa making her way to the bedside in blink of an eye.

"Clarke!" Lexa almost whimpered. Clarke heard the sound and flinched on the inside. It sounded like a distressed child, raw from the inside.

"Clarke.. are you okay?"

All Clarke did was smile softly. Her body was slowly coming back to awareness. She was feeling pain now in every small part of her right side but she tried to hide it and smiled trying to calm Lexa. Lexa tried to get the grip and schooled her features before she smiled and gently caressed Clarke's cheek. There were so many things Lexa wanted to ask and know at that exact moment and Clarke felt like she needed to know more on what was happening. They both stayed silent instead though. Lexa wanted to just hug Clarke tightly but she knew in her current condition, she couldn't do that. Just when she was going to reach across and take Clarke's left hand in her own hands, the door opened behind them. Lexa turned around and saw the older woman she had met earlier followed by the doctor.

As Abby entered the room she saw Lexa, her heart skipped a beat in rage and her eyes fumed as she shot a death glare in Lexa's direction. Lexa quickly got up from the bedside and moved back, allowing the doctor and Clarke's mother to see Clarke. Clarke saw her mother and she was relived but the next moment she saw the look her own mother gave to the love of her life, yes, when she thought about Lexa, she indeed was the love of her life, she was instantly worried. She tried to recollect what exactly happened but the doctor's question brought her mind to a halt and she smiled towards the Doctor, who looked like she had quite a long and rough day but there was a smile on her face as she greeted Clarke. Before the doctor could proceed, Lexa excused herself and walked out of the room, unable to meet anyone else' eyes. Abby slowly tried smiling but she couldn't hide the worry on her face as she saw her daughter injured to this extent. As the doctor finished inspecting her injured shoulder and assured that Clarke would be okay and she just needs to rest, Clarke was just able to nod and thank the doctor. Seeing that the girl probably needed a moment with her mother, the doc declared she would be back later and that Clarke shouldn't move too much for now. As Clarke watched the doctor walk out the room, she turned towards her mother who was now sitting close on her bed.

"Mom? I umm I don't remember what exactly happened."

"Shh... it's okay Clarke just rest for now. You are okay. You have been unconscious for an entire day now, you.. you lost a lot of blood Clarke." Clarke could hear how Abby;s voice wavered.

"Lexa.. she.. is she okay?" Clarke almost whispered as she glanced towards the door and then back to her mother. She saw Abby visibly change and stiffen.

"You mean the girl responsible for my baby to end up in the hospital? She is lucky to be even walking free.. "

and that's when everything started coming back to Clarke. The phone call, her visit to the precinct, her drive with Bellamy to the cabin, the big man at the door, loud noise, everything turning black. She shuddered as she recollected the events in a split second. She took a deep breath. Her uninjured hand reached for her mom's and she caressed it affectionately.

"Mom, it's not like the way you are probably imagining, it wasn't Lexa's fault. Now that I think about it, she might have been trying to keep me away from harm." Clarke shook her head a little in regret, "It was your ever brilliant daughter who decided to just follow her heart instead of her head. I um.. I just had to see her.."

Abby looked a little in surprise at Clarke, "What do you mean? Why would you put yourself in danger for a.."

"She is not a stranger mom.. and not even just my friend.. she is.." Clarke took a deep breath. She hadn't really had to describe what Lexa was to her before. As she was formulating words in her head, Abby replied calmly,

"You love her… don't you?"

Clarke's eyes filled with tears as she just looked up at her mom and nodded.

"You have no idea how much mom."

Abby sighed but smiled, "Knowing you honey, I think I may have an idea. I just.. when I saw you in the state you were. Understand that no mother ever wants to see her children in that state okay. I never ever want you to do something without thinking about the consequences first okay?"

"Mom.. I didn't know what we were walking into, how could I have.."

"Just say yes, Clarke… for me."

Clarke smiled and assured her mother as she held her hand.

"You should rest now Clarke, I will be outside. You can press that button if you need anything. I need to have a little chat with your girlfriend."

Clarke felt her eyelids getting heavy as she whispered, "Mom, please go easy on her, okay?" Abby slowly adjusted the covers and tip toed out of the room. As she closed the door behind her, she saw Lexa sitting on a chair next to the door. As Abby glanced at Lexa, she appeared tired, she still had Clarke's blood on her clothes. Abby flinched a little seeing that, As Lexa became aware of Abby's presence, she quickly stood up.

"Is Clarke okay?" Lexa's voice was small. Abby simply walked to the nearby cooler and brought a glass of cold water to Lexa. As she handed the glass to Lexa, she motioned Lexa to follow her to the lounge area where they had a little more privacy. She sat the trembling girl down and told her to finish the drink. Lexa could feel her heart beating in her chest loudly as she sipped the water. Her dry throat felt a relief as she haven't had time to think about herself as she had waited for hours outside the room. The feeling of guilt overcame her as she remembered Abby's eyes from before. She took a breath to get ready for the onslaught she thought she deserved from the mother, whose child was in the hospital because of her. But as she looked up in Abby's eyes, all she saw was concern and even a hint of love. She was taken aback at the sudden change and before she could speak anything, Abby spoke.

"First thing, Clarke is fine, the blood loss wasn't severe. We don't know much about the damage to her shoulder, but we will know soon."

Abby saw the look on Lexa's face and she smoothed her voice to a more gentle manner.

"I would like to apologize for earlier. Seeing Clarke in such a state, I was quick to blame you. But I don't know the full story yet and Clarke has assured me that as always it was her own stubbornness that landed her in this situation. Also she has warned me to be nice to her girlfriend" Abby chuckled and Lexa visibly relived and chuckled slightly.

Abby took Lexa's hand in her hand and smiled. "She is okay."

Lexa lunged forward and hugged Abby, Abby a little surprised at the girl's action, gently returned her hug and caressed Lexa's back. "I am still sorry Ms. Griffin. It still my fault that she came after me and.."

"Shh.. let's not talk about that. Maybe you should go home and have something to eat". Abby looked down at the blood. "Maybe get a change of clothes".

Lexa wanted to refuse but seeing herself for a moment she realized she needed it. She nodded and slowly stood up. Feeling like maybe this was Abby's way of telling her to go and leave Clarke alone, a shiver of pain went through her body and reflected on her face clearly. Abby realizing what Lexa was going through, quickly added with a smile, "You can come back and stay with her as long as the doctors allow."

Lexa felt like a ton of weight was lifted from her tiny heart and she gave a bright smile to Abby as she hurried to get her stuff and herself in the order. She had to inform the others too, she had totally forgot to call anyone as she had just sat outside the door and felt like her world had collapsed all over again. She sighed as she shook her head to let those thoughts disappear. As she walked out of the hospital, all she had was hope and love slowly filling her heart, maybe this time she wasn't going to get robbed by life again. She had so many things to say to Clarke but she understood that Clarke needed to rest for now. They had rest of their lives to figure out everything.

Few weeks later..

Lexa was sitting on their favorite bench at their special spot watching sunset. She was smiling looking at nothing. She had never felt this much at peace or happy in life again. As she thought about the happiness in her life, she looked down to the golden hair splayed across her lap. The girl who was the reason of her happiness brought another smile to her face. The body on the bench moved a bit, moving even closer to her, blue eyes searched her greens.

"What are you smiling about" Clarke wondered as if she had no clue.

"You.. us.. everything.. I just.. I am so happy, I have never felt this content just sitting and watching a sunset. And I am pretty sure its because of a certain golden haired girl..."

Clarke feigned seriousness and mumbled, "I wonder who she is, I sure have to thank her. Mopey Lexa is not a site I want to watch."

Clarke giggled as Lexa tickled her sides. Lexa was running her hands through Clarke's hair. Both enjoying the silence and serene beauty in front of then and the company of each other even more so. Out of nowhere, Lexa mumbled, "You know what your hair reminds me of, when I was younger I met this girl who almost walked in front of a car."

Clarke's eyes opened widely and she stared at Lexa, who was trying to remember the details.

"She had this big cake or something that she dropped and it was all over her..."

"...red top" Clarke finished. Her voice came out all breathy. That broke Lexa's chain of thought.

"Um yeah.. a bright red top.. wait.. whaat? How do you?" Lexa had trouble getting the words out and just got confused when she thought over.

"You are her" Clarke whispered.

"You mean?" Lexa gasped. Clarke nodded frantically.

Clarke got the words out first.. "Rain"

"Your top.. your hair.. " Lexa replied

"Your eyes.. Jesus.. I knew it. I told Raven.. It was you.. Oh my god.. What are the chances.."

Lexa laughed and shook her head. "I can't even.. "

They both needed a moment to grasp the reality and they needed to talk about what it meant and everything but they both welcomed the distraction when Raven joined them, with her arm around Octavia. "Hey you two.. I see what did you meant when you talked about this place Clarke. I don't think I have ever seen a better spot to make out." Raven just watched the surroundings casually as she made the observation.

Clarke sat up and hugged Lexa from the side, "Maybe it was a mistake telling you about it Raven since you have done nothing but ruined the moment"

"Oh shush, she can whisper sweet nothings in your ear later, we have lots of time. How about we eat something? O here has brought the tastiest sandwiches that you will ever it. Well maybe the 2nd best taste. I say it from last night's experience of course."

That was when Octavia elbowed Raven on her stomach hard. Grunting loudly Raven caressed the spot and moved a bit further away. Chuckling at seeing Octavia's flushed face, she sat down nearby and relaxed. Octavia shook her head but joined Raven.

Lexa sighed happily as she held Clarke close and she gestured between Raven and Octavia. "Tell us about you two. We have been caught up in the crazy that our life is and I apologize but it felt like we completely missed you two, unintentionally I must add. You both look really cute together by the way."

Raven smiled. "Oh don't worry about it, it has been a rough few months. I am just glad that we all are okay. Well more than okay. Let me tell you a story of how we came to be. It starts with what a jealous type of person Octavia is." Raven stated matter-of-factly. This earned her another elbow to the ribs. Everyone laughed except Octavia but she joined soon.

Life was good!

The End!

A/N: Wow.. after almost 2 years, this story comes to an end. I couldn't have dreamed about the response I received and I had promised I would finish the story, as I have. It was quite a learning experience and I am forever grateful for the kind reviews, follows and favorites. This story expresses the little world that I built borrowing the characters from "The 100". Was it the ending you wanted? Did it make you hopeful? Tell me what do you think. I might write a story in the same world, a sequel perhaps. I haven't decided yet. Again, thank you for everything :) Keep smiling.

- FringedOrchid