Well, welcome to my first real Clexa fic. I hope you all enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 1 – Hello

"Hey! Clarke!"

The blonde turned her head at the sound of her name. There were a number of people around, but she didn't have to look around to know who'd called out to her. A moment later, the clanging coming from her right had stopped and she looked over to find Finn with his hand raised in greeting and a smile on his face.

"I'm surprised to see you down here this early," Finn commented as Clarke walked toward him.

"My mom needed my help with a patient," Clarke replied.

Finn nodded his head. "She still with Mr. Lombardo?"

"Yeah, but it's not looking good," Clarke replied. "She wanted me to bring a few things to make him more comfortable."

"Fun way to start your morning, huh?" Finn asked, giving her a small smile as he leaned his shoulder against the wooden beam he was standing next to.

"Oh yeah," Clarke said, taking a few steps forward, enjoying the feeling of the warmth that was emanating from the shop Finn worked in. "I don't know why I don't start every morning like this."

"I'm actually glad you came by," Finn remarked. "I have something for you."

Finn pushed off the beam, disappearing into the shop, and Clarke followed him inside a few moments later. Even though the shop was fairly open, the moment she crossed the threshold, she felt like she'd been hit with a wall of heat. And like every other time she'd walked into the blacksmith shop, she wondered how Finn could tolerate working in there.

"Here," Finn said. "I didn't have time to really wrap it or anything. I had to make it after Mr. Lott left and I just finished it last night." He shrugged and then smiled at her. "Happy birthday, Clarke."

He extended his hand, revealing a small, metal pendant at the end of a chain, sitting in the palm of his hand. She reached out and picked up it, brushing his rough skin with her fingertips as they closed around the black disk. When she looked closer, though, she realized it wasn't entirely black. There were streaks of different shades of blue, mimicking the night sky.

"What do you think?" Finn asked.

"I—"

"Why is it so cold out there? Oh—Clarke."

"Hi, Raven," Clarke said.

"I didn't know you were here," Raven said, glancing at Finn for a moment before looking back at Clarke.

"I was just giving Clarke her birthday present," Finn said.

"I thought Mr. Lott said you couldn't do that anymore," Raven replied.

"How's he going to know?" Finn asked.

"I should go," Clarke said before Raven could respond. "I told Wells I would see him this morning. Thank you for the gift, Finn."

"Are you coming to the pub tonight?" Finn asked.

Clarke shrugged. "I haven't decided yet."

"C'mon," Finn replied. "You gotta come."

"She's a big girl, Finn," Raven said. "If she doesn't want to come, she doesn't have to."

"Well, everyone's going to be there," Finn said, looking at Clarke. "You should try to stop by."

Clarke nodded. "I'll think about it."

"Later, Clarke," Raven said.

"Stay warm out there," Clarke replied before shifting her gaze again. "Thank you again."

Clarke turned on her heel and began walking down the lane again, heading toward the entrance of the Ark. She could tell the salespeople were eager for her to come over, but she continued on without stopping at any of the booths. She did take a moment to glance at the newly hung, blank canvas at the back of one of the shops, but she still didn't slow her stride as she passed by. She knew it was there specifically for her since most in Arkadia couldn't afford the luxury and those who could weren't interested, but she was already running late and didn't have time to stop.

"You're out early."

"So are you," Clarke remarked, looking over at Bellamy, who was standing guard next to the large doors that led into the Ark.

"Late, actually," Bellamy replied. "That asshole Murphy didn't show up for his shift and I had to cover for him." Bellamy clenched his jaw and shook his head. "You coming to the pub tonight?"

"I haven't decided yet," Clarke said, stopping a few feet away from him.

"It's your birthday; you have to come," Bellamy replied. "Unless you plan on spending it at home with your parents."

"Remarkably, I don't have any plans," Clarke said.

"Well, then, you should come out with your friends," Bellamy replied.

"We'll see," Clarke said with a light shrug of her shoulders before continuing toward the Ark entrance.

"You should really learn to have a little fun, Princess!" Bellamy called after her.

"I know how to have fun," Clarke mumbled to herself.

"Hello, Clarke."

"Hello, Chancellor," Clarke greeted before noticing her father by Chancellor Jaha's side. "Dad, what are you doing here? I thought you were at work."

"I'll let you two talk," Jaha said, clasping his hands behind his back, and walking out of the room.

"What does he want us to talk about?" Clarke asked, not liking how ominous it sounded.

"I have to go away for a few days, maybe a week," Jake said, putting his hands on her shoulders. "He thinks there's something that can help me with the project I've been working on. There are some people he wants me to talk to."

"Does mom know you're going?" Clarke asked.

"Thelonious just told me about it, so I haven't had a chance to talk to her yet, but she knows how important this is," Jake replied. "For all of us. You don't need to worry, though; I'll have a team with me. He's even sending four guards."

The fact that the Chancellor thought her father needed four guards wasn't exactly comforting to hear. She knew it was dangerous outside the walls of Arkadia. She'd heard the same stories as everyone else and they all boiled down to one thing: venture too far away and you were likely to never be seen again.

"Don't worry; I'll be back before you know it," Jake said, smiling at her.

"Promise?" Clarke asked.

"I promise," Jake replied. "Now, do you know where your mother is? Is she still with Mr. Lombardo?"

Clarke nodded. "She doesn't think it's going to be much longer, though."

"Alright," Jake said, running his hand through his hair. "I'm going to go to work for a little bit to take care of a few things before I leave, and then I'll be home to pack some things. Maybe your mom will be home by then."

"Do you want me to say anything to her if I see her first?" Clarke asked.

"No," her father replied. "I should be the one to talk to her. You know how your mom worries." Jake sighed. "It's just too bad I have to leave today of all days, but I promise I'll make it up to you as soon I get back."

"It's fine," Clarke replied. "Like you said, it's important."

"Jake, can I talk to you a second?" Chancellor Jaha asked, appearing in the doorway.

"I should find Wells," Clarke said. "I told him I would be here already."

"He should be in his room," Jaha said.

"Thank you," Clarke replied before looking at her dad. "I'll see you at home."

Clarke glanced at the Chancellor and then back at her father before heading toward the staircase. She hated the idea of him leaving Arkadia and wished there was something she could do about it, but she knew there would be no talking him out of going. Not if he thought it was important for the community.

"Hey, Wells," Clarke said when she arrived at his open door.

"There you are," Wells said. "I was wondering if you were ever going to come by."

"I'm sorry." Clarke apologized. "My mom needed me to drop off some supplies before I came over."

"It's okay," Wells replied. "Did you see your dad?"

"Yeah," Clarke said. "He told me he's going away for a few days."

Wells nodded. "My dad told me last night. Don't worry; I'm sure he'll be fine."

"I hope so," Clarke replied. "He didn't happen to say where he was going, did he?"

"No, but I did see a map," Wells said. "I didn't recognize the area, though. I don't think it was nearby."

"That's not very comforting," Clarke replied.

"I'm sorry," Wells said, furrowing his brows. "But my dad wouldn't send him if he thought it was dangerous."

Clarke didn't know if she agreed with him, but she didn't say anything. Her father was going whether she liked it or not, so there was no use dwelling on it.

"Is that new?" Wells asked, pointing at Clarke's necklace, pulling her out of her thoughts. "I don't think I've seen it before."

"Yeah," Clarke said, looking away. "It was a birthday present."

"Let me guess," Wells replied, and she could hear the exasperation in his voice. "Finn gave it to you."

Clarke nodded. "I ran into him in the market on the way here."

"I wonder what Raven would think about that," Wells said.

"She was there, actually," Clarke replied, turning to look at Wells.

"Oh," Wells said with a frown, clearly not expecting that answer.

"They were asking if I was going to go to the pub tonight," Clarke stated.

"What did you tell them?" Wells asked.

"I told them I hadn't decided what I was doing," Clarke replied. "What do you think, though? Do you feel like a drink tonight?"

As Clarke walked down the candlelit lane, she could already hear the noise coming from the pub. It was usually the loudest area in Arkadia and the only place the guards didn't attempt to enforce the noise laws. It wasn't some place Clarke frequented often, but her dad was gone, her mom was still with her patient, and Clarke really didn't feel like spending her birthday all alone, and since most of her friends were going to be there, she figured it wouldn't hurt to go. Plus, it would be a good distraction from wondering if her dad was okay.

He had left right after lunch, coming home to pack what he needed for his trip. She'd tried asking him more about where he was going, but he had either been unable or unwilling to give her any details. From something he'd said, she guessed he was going south, but beyond that, she knew nothing other than the fact that they were traveling by horseback, which was something that was rarely allowed. In fact, she couldn't remember the last time it happened.

"Hey, Princess."

Clarke stopped, rolling her eyes at the nickname, and turned around to look at Bellamy. "Are you ever going to stop calling me that?"

"You decided to go after all, huh?" Bellamy asked, nodding down the street, ignoring her question.

"I told you I hadn't decided yet," Clarke said.

"It's not the first time I've heard that and you never showed," Bellamy replied. "In fact, I can't remember the last time you came. It makes me wish I wasn't on duty tonight."

"I thought you were coming," Clarke said, wondering why he was trying to get her to go if he wasn't even going to be there.

"I was, but Miller and Monroe both have that flu that's been going around," Bellamy replied. "And since I'm one of the few that your mom hasn't ordered to stay in bed, I get to pull a double again. Lucky me, right? What are the chances I could fake having a fever and get a vacation from wall duty the next few nights?"

"Probably not very good," Clarke replied.

"Still could be worth a try," Bellamy said with a shrug of his shoulder. "Have fun, Princess. Oh, and do me a favor and keep an eye on Octavia," Bellamy added as Clarke started to turn to walk away. "She said she's going to stay home tonight, but I know she's going to be there."

Clarke nodded and Bellamy gave her a nod back, smiling slightly before turning and heading toward his post. She normally wouldn't have agreed, but she knew how important Bellamy's sister was to him; with the Blake's mom gone, Octavia was all he really had left. That didn't mean she was going to stop Octavia from having fun, but she would keep an eye on her as Bellamy had asked.

She could hear Bellamy's boots on the stone path as she began walking in the opposite direction. Just as the sound of his footsteps died out, though, she thought she heard another set of footsteps coming from the alley to her right. However, whenever she looked down the small path, she couldn't see anyone even though she felt like she was being watched.

"Bellamy?" Clarke called out, wondering if he had come back around for some reason, but there was no answer.

Clarke figured it was just her imagination playing tricks on her, so she slowly turned, and with one last glance toward the darkened alley, she began walking again. It wasn't until she was standing in front of the pub that the feeling of being watched finally passed, though she didn't see another person along the way. Not that she was overly worried; one scream and she could have multiple guards there within moments.

"You came!" Monty said when he opened the pub door and saw her.

"You're leaving?" Clarke asked.

"I'm coming right back," Monty replied. "Jasper forgot his jacket at my house and somehow he convinced me to go get it for him." Monty shook his head and then gave her a smile. "I'll be back in a few minutes; don't have too much fun without me."

Clarke returned his smile and walked through the door when he held it open for her. The noise in the pub was almost deafening, but the first floor was where the bar was, so it was always packed. Thankfully, when she walked up to the second floor it was a little less crowded, but the noise quickly grew when there were several calls of, "Clarke!"

"You came," Finn said when Clarke walked over to the long table where he and a dozen others were sitting at.

"Why does everyone sound so surprised?" Clarke asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "I can have fun, you know?"

"I know," Finn replied. "In theory."

Clarke huffed. "I'm going to need a drink."

"Well, then, bottoms up," Raven said, sliding her drink toward Clarke, and smirking.

"Come on," Raven said, grabbing Finn's hand. "I want to dance." Finn sighed, but Raven pulled him to his feet. "Don't give me that; you're dancing with me."

Raven grabbed Finn's shirt and pulled him forward, causing Jasper to make a whipping motion with his hand. Monty and Octavia both laughed, and Clarke smiled slightly as she looked down, wrapping her hands around her glass of beer.

"What do you think the chances are that that girl in the corner would dance with me?" Jasper asked.

"You won't know unless you ask," Monty replied.

"Come with me," Jasper said.

"Why?" Monty asked back. "Do you need me to ask her for you?"

"No," Jasper replied. "I need you to ask her friend so she'll be more likely to dance with me"

"Her friend isn't my type," Monty stated.

"Just one dance," Jasper replied.

"You boys are so pathetic," Octavia said as she stood up. "Just go over there and ask them."

"I'll owe you one," Jasper said, looking at Monty.

"You already owe me at least fifty," Monty replied.

"Well, then, I'll owe you fifty-one," Jasper said.

"Fine," Monty replied, sighing. "But one of these days you're going to have to pay on that debt."

Jasper happily jumped up, but Monty didn't look nearly as thrilled. His shoulders were slightly hunched as he followed his best friend over to the two girls in the corner, and he stood back as Jasper animatedly talked to the two.

"So, did my brother ask you tell him if you saw me here?" Octavia asked, pulling Clarke's attention away from Jasper and Monty.

"No," Clarke replied.

"Really?" Octavia asked.

"Really," Clarke replied. "And even if he did, I'm not here to stop you from having fun."

"Well, in that case, I'm going to get us both another drink," Octavia said with a smile.

Clarke glanced at her glass, which was almost completely full. "That's really not necessary."

"You're getting it anyway," Octavia replied.

Octavia passed behind her and walked toward the stairs, leaving Clarke alone at the table. With everyone gone, Clarke thought about slipping out unnoticed, but just as she started to move her chair back, she heard a voice say, "You're rather popular."

"So popular I drive everyone else away," Clarke joked, looking at the brunette who'd spoken to her.

"The whole room sang to you," the brunette said.

"Oh, that," Clarke replied, still embarrassed by everyone singing to her for her birthday. "I think they just want a reason to celebrate."

The brunette nodded. "And what are they celebrating?"

"It's my birthday," Clarke replied. "I'm eighteen today."

As the girl took Octavia's vacated seat, Clarke took a better look at her, realizing she had never seen her before. And she was certain she would remember this girl. Arkadia wasn't that big of a place, after all.

"I don't think we've met before," Clarke said. "Are you from one of the farms?"

The brunette nodded. "My name is Lexa."

"I'm Clarke," she replied. "Do you come to the city very often?"

"No," Lexa replied.

"I didn't think I'd seen you around before," Clarke remarked.

She didn't know most of the families who worked the farmland outside the walls of Arkadia. Their children didn't usually attend school with the rest of them since they were needed to work, and they usually couldn't afford to come to the market like the rest of the citizens. They did come into town from time to time, though, and Lexa didn't really look like any of the farmers she'd seen in the past.

"Your friends appear to be enjoying themselves," Lexa commented.

"Yeah," Clarke agreed, following her gaze, and watching Jasper and Monty dancing with the two girls with Finn and Raven nearby. "They do."

"Is there a reason you're sitting over here and not over there with them?" Lexa asked.

"Coming here isn't really my thing," Clarke admitted. "I just didn't want to be alone tonight."

"Why isn't it your thing?" Lexa asked.

Clarke shrugged. "I guess I'm just not one for overcrowded rooms with bad music. I guess I usually like to stay home."

"I see your point," Lexa replied. "But it does have its advantages."

"Oh yeah?" Clarke asked, raising her eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Like being able to dance," Lexa said, standing up, and offering her hand to Clarke.

Clarke's first instinct was to decline the offer and she opened her mouth to do just that. Before saying anything, though, she paused for a second, wondering what it could hurt. After all, all her friends were out there having fun, so after a moment, she gave Lexa a smile and said, "Alright. One dance."

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