Chapter 11
Bellamy is the first one into the bunker, followed closely by Clarke. She told Madi to stay with Lexa and Harper because it might not be safe inside. Really, she needs to give her friends a brief explanation, before they meet her little girl. Especially with her mom. God how was she going to explain this to her mom? Octavia stands in front of, war makeup covering most of her face, and reaches out to shake her hand.
“I have to tell you something, but first where’s my mom? And Marcus?” Clarkes asks in a hushed voice.
“I’ll tell her, Clarke, go find your mom.” Bellamy tells her.
“Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?” Octavia demands. Clarke looks up at a small noise behind the fence. She finally sees her mom. A small cry escapes from the back of her throat. With all the rubble covering the entrance to the bunker, she honestly believed she would never see her mom again. She walks over to her, her feet moving before her mind catches up, and feels like she is floating. She grabs the holes in the fence, and Abby sets her hands atop her own. Tears flowed down her mom's cheeks, and Clarke can feel her own threatening to fall. She finally understands everything her mom has ever done. She would do just about anything for Madi. A parent's love for their child, after all, is unmatched.
“I love you,” Clarke cries.
“I love you too,” Abby responds, holding back another sob.
“I have to tell you something,” Clarke whispers. Abby nods. She has a lot to fill her in on too. Clarke turns around as more people slide down the ropes.
“Who the hell are you?” Octavia asks.
“We’re here to rescue you.” Diyoza responds.
“We have an understanding, O,” Bellamy explains.
“I take it you’re his sister,” Diyoza assumes.
“Yes, sorry, Octavia, Colonel Diyoza.” Bellamy introduces.
“Oh well congrats!” Diyoza says with a small smirk.
“What the hell does that mean?” Octavia questions.
“Oh she doesn’t know, well shit, I’ll go.” Diyoza says, laughing and walks away.
“Is there somewhere we can talk?”
“Wait really?” Octavia asks in shock. Abby, however, is already hugging Clarke.
Octavia brought them to a small office where privacy could be guaranteed.
“When can I meet her?” Abby asks, practically jumping up and down. Clarke has never seen her so excited; her mom is usually fairly calm, no matter the situation.
“She’s outside.” Clarke answers.
“So you two,” Octavia smirks.
“I didn’t even know you two were together.” Abby says, now hugging Bellamy as well.
“We’re not,” Clarke says, embarrassed. She never wanted to have this conversation with her mom. She has carefully avoided the topic with her mom since she was fifteen and had her first boyfriend. She’s an adult now, she can do this. “Or ever really.” Octavia laughs until Abby turns to her, and she pretends it was just a cough.
“I see,” she says all but glaring at Bellamy. Octavia keeps grinning, clearly amused with the awkwardness of the situation.
“Well do you want to meet her? She’s just outside with Lexa, she can bring her down.” Clarke says, trying to deflect.
“Lexa?” Octavia asks. “ I didn’t know you two were still-” Clarke cuts her off with a look and small shake of her head.
“Am I missing something?” Abby asks, looking back and forth between Octavia and Clarke.
The door opens, and Madi and Lexa arrive.
“Oh my gosh,” Abby says, dropping to her knees. “Hi honey,” Clarke looks up at Lexa, embarrassed. Her mother has never acted like this. “I’m your grandma, your mommy’s mommy.” Madi sneaks closer to her mom.
“It’s okay baby, go say hi to grandma.” Clarke tells her. Madi steps forward into Abby’s hug. She looks up at Octavia over her grandma’s shoulder. She sinks her face further into it.
“Hey kid,” Octavia says with a nod of her head.
“It’s okay little one, it’s just Auntie O. She’s wearing cool makeup, right?” Clarke encourages. “She’s never seen anyone with the…” Clarke gestures to her face.
“It’s just part of the style, kid. It’s me under here, Auntie O.” Octavia explains, with a look to Clarke making sure she got the name right.
“You’re my daddy’s sister?” Madi asks in a quiet voice. Clarke isn’t used to Madi being so shy, she must be freaked out with Octavia’s war makeup.
“Still not used to you being a daddy, big brother.” Octavia laughs. “So weird.” Madi looks up at her, still waiting for an answer. “Yes, I’m your daddy’s sister.” Octavia confirmed.
“Cool,” Madi says, finally smiling up at her Auntie O. Octavia, as well, relents and drops her hardened persona, and gives Madi a genuine smile.
“She’s cute,” Octavia says to Clarke. She smiles and nods, she knows, Madi is very cute. “She looks like me.” Octavia says confidently.
“I think she looks like me,” Abby says.
“No I just see me,” Octavia challenges. Clarke notices an obvious change in Abby’s demeanor.
“Yes, Blodreina.” Abby relents.
“No, I didn’t mean, well whatever I win.” Octavia responds.
“Blod what? What did you say?” Clarke asks.
“The Red Queen,” Lexa translates for her. Lexa’s relaxed body language quickly changes to being on high alert.
“Are we going to talk about the fighting pits?” Bellamy asks, turning back into big brother mode. Clarke, clears her throat and gestures subtly to Madi. “Right the child.” Madi scrunches her face. She’s a big girl, already a full hand.
“We’ll just go then,” Abby says, taking Madi’s hand and walking out together.
“Wonkru,” Lexa repeats after Octavia finishes explaining the bunkers situation. In a way it was a similar concept to the coalition with the expectation of being that Lexa allowed the people to keep their kru’s and traditions. It was an important part of the coalition, the continuation of traditions and cultures. Even though Lexa is Heda, she is still trikru, completely. It’s her way of assuring her people that they have not been taken over by a dictator. “The fighting pit is not leadership, Octavia. It’s a fear tactic that breeds mistrust in you, Blodreina.” Lexa says almost taunting. “A very wise person once told me that life should be about more than just surviving, and that’s what this so-called wonkru is, survival.”
“I remember that you also used fear and killings, Heda,” Octavia provokes. “You tried to have me killed after the missiles in Ton D.C. You have wanted all of us dead at some point.”
“These are my people!” Lexa shouts.
“Not anymore.” Octavia challenges.
“Alright, alright that’s enough,” Clarke intervenes, stepping in between the two. “We have to be united, for our people, but also to show we’re strong against the Eligius prisoners.” Octavia and Lexa step away from each other, agreeing with Clarke.
The people will stand with me anyway, Lexa thinks. She’s Heda, afterall.