Chapter 32
"Oh my God, he's here." Clarke held a letter in his shaking hand.
"Well, open it." Lexa smiled at her encouragingly.
"What if I fail?"
"Nothing will change if you don't open it." The brunette stepped behind the blonde and hugged her. "Do you want me to open it for you?"
The addressed thought for a moment and then shook her head. She had trouble opening the letter, again and again she had to reach for it, her hands failing her. She felt her heart beating wildly, her breathing was faster and shallower.
"Okay, the moment of truth has come."
Quickly they skimmed the lines and then burst into jubilation, ending up crying and laughing with happiness in each other's arms.
"I have done it! I passed!"
She quickly reached for the phone and began dialing a number before pausing and faltering.
"What's wrong?"
"I was just about to call my mom."
The brunette realized and before a tear could steal from the corner of Clarke's eye, she was already with her, hugging her tightly.
"I can't tell her anymore..." The blonde cried, she couldn't hold back her emotions anymore. Together they went to the floor, not for a moment letting go of the doctor she now officially was. She leaned against the strong shoulders of her friend. For a while they said nothing and just held each other.
"Shh. It's going to be okay Clarke. And you can tell. Marcus, Octavia, Raven, Lincoln..."
But the trembling did not subside. Lexa wondered what else she could do when an idea struck her. She grabbed two jackets, the car keys and Clarke, who just let herself be pulled along. They drove through the city streets, stopping along the way to buy flowers.
The sky was clear, the air fresh and cool. They finally parked in front of an iron gate and that's when the blonde realized where they were.
She smiled slightly, her red and puffy eyes looking up at green ones. "The cemetery? Don't you think that's a bit much of a cliché?"
The addressed shrugged her shoulders. "Tell me something else that helps, and we'll do it. Otherwise, get out of the car."
Lexa accompanied her as far as the headstone, after which she withdrew, giving Clarke the space she needed.
She roamed the beautifully landscaped garden and leaned against a retaining wall. She fixed her gaze on the lush green of the trees in front of her and thought back to her late mother whom she missed so much, her father whom she had never met, and her sister who was finally an active part of her life again. She thought back over the last few years and wondered what the future held for her. She took several deep breaths in and out. Her chest was light and heavy at the same time. Light when she thought of Clarke, heavy when she remembered her parents. In this way, an infinite amount of time passed and at the same time only a few moments.
At some point she went back to Clarke. She was sitting in front of the grave, her tears had dried.
Lexa sat down with her and they both fell silent. They had never minded the silence because it was never empty, but full of love.
"Lexa?"
"Yes?"
"I'm not very good at this sort of thing, and maybe it's totally inappropriate, but I've been thinking about it for a while."
The brunette's curiosity grew. She knew she wouldn't have to worry, no matter what came next.
Clarke held out a key to her and the actress raised an eyebrow.
"I know you already have one and it's more of a symbol...but I'd be happy for you to move in permanently and stay. If you'd rather live somewhere else we can, then we'll find something together, but I don't want you to ever leave. Actually, I've wanted to ask you this for a long time, but every time I've lost my courage. But today I just realized how good you are to me, how much you understand me and how much I want you in my life, even though we said your moving in would only be temporary..." The blonde looked at her questioningly.
First she got a smile in reply, then a kiss and finally a happy yes.
Three months later
"What do you think?" Clarke turned back and forth in front of the mirror, looking at herself.
Lexa looked her up and down and smiled wryly.
"You look incredibly sexy, even though you're wearing way too much in my eyes, I'd love to eat you up right now." She raised her eyebrows as if she were just imagining Clarke naked.
"Lexa... I've never seen you like this." The blonde began to smirk and lowered her head slightly in embarrassment.
"There, you see what this dress does to me." The brunette came closer and spread kisses all over Clarke's face, neck and shoulders. She stroked her body and immediately she got goosebumps.
"Um Lexa..."
"Mhm, I know, we have to go. The maid of honor can't be late," her voice was rough and her intentions clear. "I'll only stop if we pick up where we left off now after the wedding."
Clarke returned her caresses. "You really don't have to persuade me to do that. After all, I'll be seeing you in your dress all day today. Believe me, I won't need any foreplay."
The two women giggled and went on their way.
Lexa looked around the property, now visibly nervous, no more shared laughter.
Clarke looked at her.
"You don't have to worry, you've thought of everything."
"I was so happy when they invited me, especially after everything I threw at Octavia, I don't want to be the reason this day is ruined."
"I know how paparazzi can be. They're super annoying, but that's what you booked the security men for. They check everyone going in and out and if anyone approaches the party who doesn't belong, they'll take care of them too. They knew what they were doing when they invited both of us, and besides, that incident is long forgotten. They like you, just like Raven, Kane, and everyone else, so don't worry about it. Okay?"
She took a deep breath.
"Yeah, actually I should know, after all, the last few times we met together were really fun and relaxed."
Clarke reached for her hand, squeezed it once tightly, and then just didn't let go. Lexa gave her a loving look and gave her a tender smile.
"Thank you."
The addressed merely returned the smile and nodded.
"Would you like me to escort you to your seat yet? I should go check on O`. Maybe she needs my help."
Lexa nodded and so they proceeded to the largest of the tents.
Because Octavia and Lincoln were not the typical couple, they were not married in a church, but in a beautiful garden where there was one large and several small white tents, overlooking the sea. This made security a bit more complicated and required more security -men, but it was worth the money.
The celebration was kept small and familiar. Only the closest friends and Clarke and Bellamy as witnesses, since the two were the closest to what they had left of their own family. The blonde escorted Lexa to her seat in the front row and then went to check on Octavia, asking how she was doing and seeing if everything was going as planned. She finally found her in one of the separate tents. In typical O` fashion, she was not wearing a white dress but a black one and had never looked so happy as she did now.
"You look beautiful, Lincoln is really lucky."
They gave each other a smile.
"Well, so am I. Oh Clarke, I'm so excited."
The latter reached for the black-haired girl's hands and squeezed them.
"It's only natural, even if you don't have to be. Today is going to be the best day of your life. You're going to marry the man you love and you're going to spend your lives together until you get old and wizened, your dentures are in a jar next to you on the nightstand, and you have to puree your food."
Octavia started laughing out loud and suddenly seemed much more relaxed.
She wiped a tear of laughter from her eye.
"I just love you Clarke, even though you almost ruined my makeup."
"I love you too." She smacked her bottom. "And now it's time to get married."
The doctor moved to her position, with Bellamy standing next to her, and hooked up with him.
"You look good."
The young man smiled from that compliment.
"Thanks, so do you."
"I'm so happy for them that they've found happiness."
"We have, too," was his reply.
She hugged her best friend.
"You know that I love you right? That you are my best friend and brother? "
He nodded and took her tightly in his arms.
"I love you too, little sister" he said and then kissed her on the forehead.
After the actual act, Clarke and Lexa went to the table where Lincoln and Octavia would also be sitting and began greeting everyone. First Marcus, who sat right next to them and seemed a little lost and incredibly moved at the same time. He and Abigail hadn't been together long, but he had seen Octavia and Lincoln regularly and as much as he had taken them to his heart, they had done the same and without him, something would have been missing from the wedding.
"Oh my God Reyes, you look hot," Lexa exclaimed and instantly Clarke gave her a sideways glance and jabbed her in the side with his elbow.
Raven started laughing and stood up. "I know Lexi. Can I just retort."
"Did I end up in the wrong movie?" the blonde wanted to know.
"Oh Clarke," her friend walked over to her, "you know I find it incredibly sexy when you pretend to be jealous, right?"
"Get a room," came the Latina now, laughing.
"You may be quiet, Reyes, don't you have your own escort? Take care of him instead of hitting on mine."
The woman addressed laughed and raised her hands. "She's the one who started it, not me." She received a punch on the shoulder from Clarke and a hearty laugh.
Lexa kissed her friend and hugged her to her. She whispered softly in her ear.
"To me, there's no one hotter looking than you, and as soon as we get home, I'm going to prove it to you. Again and again."
Clarke blushed.
"Eeew, Lexa, what did you whisper in her ear to make her take on that look?" Raven raised her hands. "Wait, I don't even want to know, too much private stuff."
The whole table started laughing.
"Since when are you a prude?" her companion wanted to know.
"I'm not at all, but every friendship has its limits." Raven made such a disgusted face that renewed laughter broke out. She sat down next to her companion, Kyle Wick. They had met in rehab, he was an engineer and had at least as big a mouth as Reyes herself, and together they were now tinkering and teasing each other. This was not going to be boring, guaranteed.
Next in line were Bellamy and Echo, Clarke and Lexa walked up to the two and hugged them.
"I'm so happy to finally meet you, Bellamy has told me so much about you." The blonde was so happy for him, he seemed happier than ever.
The addressed smiled.
"I'm also happy to see you all sometime and not just hear about you."
The two had only been a couple for a short time. Echo had found him attractive from the start, and then when she had watched him in training and recognized his qualities, she had not only wanted him on her team, but also to go on a date with him. At first he had rejected her advances, but after he and Clarke remained friends, he had given her a chance and taken her out. Now the two were incredibly happy.
The last of the bunch was Anya. Lexa had been able to persuade her, after several attempts, to pay for her flight so that she could visit her and Clarke. On this occasion she had met Lincoln, Octavia and all the others. The joy of seeing Anya again was indescribable.
When the bride and groom finally joined them, the mood became more and more boisterous, the alcohol flowed and the day began to draw to a close.
As Lexa and Clarke looked at all their friends, their laughter echoing around the room, they could hardly believe their luck. They had found their home.