Chapter XX
Lexa has never been sentimental about anniversaries. She doesn't celebrate her birthday and the one anniversary that ever did hold meaning to her was of the devastating kind, the day Costia was no more. It was the one day each year she ceremoniously let memories of a specific event consume her, like a compulsion she never were able to shake off.
Until Clarke.
February 5th is a day of utmost importance to Lexa because that's the day she met Clarke. It's been a bumpy ride, one that eventually put back together the pieces of her shattered heart, one she wouldn't trade for anything.
May 5th is another milestone Lexa wants to always bring attention to because it's the day she finally stopped fighting the past and gave Clarke her heart, it's the day of their first kiss. May 5th is in two months and Lexa is planning something special for Clarke on that day because she has something important she wants to ask her.
"So, are we going inside or what?" Anya says, leaning up against the shop window, her arms folded over her chest. When Lexa looks at her she's met with Anya's lifted eyebrow; that impatient one she only ever uses around her. Maybe it's a big sister thing, she's not sure, maybe it's a little sister thing that makes her immune towards it because she really doesn't care.
Looking back at the display of rings in front of her, there's one in particular that keeps calling for her attention. It's a simple white gold ring with a tiny green stone carved into it. She knows Clarke doesn't want extravagant and big, but she thinks the green stone is symbolic because she knows Clarke loves her eye color.
"Sis!" The impatient one whines.
Lexa nods, mostly to herself, because yeah she wants that one. They walk inside and Lexa pulls out her notepad but Anya interrupts her. "She wants to see the ring with the green stone from the window display." Lexa glares at Anya who gives her the big sister knows best look in return.
"I'll see what I can do." The man behind the counter smiles at both of them before picking up the ring Lexa wants. He hands it to her and she carefully takes it with two fingers, thumb and index, holding it up to study it against the bright shop light.
"She'll love it," Anya says sneaking a peek over Lexa's shoulder. Lexa knows she will, but Anya's approval means a lot to her so she smiles back at Anya nodding her agreement.
"When?" Anya asks.
"May Fifth."
"That's in two months... Why the fifth?"
Lexa smiles inwardly not planning on explaining Anya what the date means.
"Oookaaay... May Fifth. How?"
Lexa shrugs. She doesn't know yet. She only knows she'll ask her with actual words coming out of her mouth and that she'll make sure Clarke gets a special day she won't forget anytime soon.
"What? You're just gonna wing it?" Anya looks at her with a raised eyebrow.
"No."
"You're frustrating, you know that?" The impatient one says.
Lexa shrugs again, her little sister grin in place.
"Do you at least know where?"
"The park."
"Well, that makes sense," Anya nods.
It does, Lexa thinks, because that's where they met and it's been a consistent partner in crime in the development of their relationship. They often walk by this secluded corner of the park where there's an old stone gazebo hidden between low hanging trees, and if the weather allows it they sometimes sit there to eat lunch. Lexa has noticed that Clarke often uses it in her drawings from the park and she likes to imagine Clarke immortalizing her proposal in this place in her sketchbook. Lexa herself wouldn't mind adding that particular one to the book Clarke gave her last month.
"Let me know if there's anything I can help you with?" Anya says as they leave the shop.
Lexa runs her thumb over the royal blue velvet box getting used to the weight of it in her hand. Then she hands it to Anya.
"Oh, you want me to hide it from Clarke?"
Lexa nods.
She also makes Anya promise not to tell Raven anything because she doesn't want Clarke to be the only one out of the loop.
*
"Hey, you're awake. I'm sorry, did I wake you?" Clarke whispers as she snuggles closer to Lexa.
"No," Lexa whispers against her lips. She's been busy smiling like an idiot thinking about the tiny box in Anya's possession but she can't tell Clarke that.
"You oka--"
Lexa surges forward swallowing the rest of Clarke's words in a kiss that makes Clarke forget how tired she is after her twelve hour shift. She straddles Clarke without breaking the kiss and Clarke's hands slide under Lexa's tank top like so many times before.
As Lexa feels Clarke's nails scrape torturously slow down her spine, she wonders if it would feel any different under the weight of a ring, if maybe it would make this any more intense than it already is.
She wonders if the warmth from kissing Clarke's scar would linger on her lips for longer.
Or when Clarke entangles her fingers in Lexa's hair, tugging harder than usual, encouraging Lexa to leave a love bite on the inside of her thigh, would the weight of the ring make it hurt less? Or more? Or just... better?
Would the ring make Clarke say her name differently?
Would the ring perhaps make the stars behind her eyelids shine brighter, longer?
Would it make her music sound better?
*
Six weeks to go and Lexa walks through the house with a secretive smile on her lips. She takes a seat next to Clarke by the high kitchen table leaning in to place a happy kiss on her cheek.
"Love you," she grins.
"Love you too," Clarke hums, her eyes glued to the sketchbook in front of her.
Lexa recognizes the early strikes that eventually will turn into the gazebo and her mind immediately conjures up images of Clarke sitting right here, sketching masterpieces in the golden evening light with a ring on her finger.
Lexa is certain that this world doesn't hold a woman more beautiful than Clarke. She is also certain that Clarke grows more beautiful every day. She wonders if a ring on her finger will double her beauty. It's more like tenfold, she decides. She swivels once on the high chair grinning like an idiot, still stuck in her daydream.
"Why are you being weird?" Clarke puts down her pencil and turns to face Lexa.
"Because you," Lexa says and she watches Clarke struggle between smiling like a lovestruck teenager and trying to hide it behind a suspicious glare.
"What are you up to, girlfriend of mine," Clarke wonders out loud.
Lexa's mind is its own boss today. It hears the word girlfriend and imagines how it'll sound like saying fiancée or maybe even wife. It's a thought that both excites her and scares her, because she's ninety-nine percent sure Clarke will say yes, but that one last percent is really loud sometimes. Mostly though, Lexa wishes May Fifth would come sooner so she can trade her daydreams with real life and a ring on Clarke's finger.
"Jesus... You're not even listening, are you," Clarke raises an eyebrow.
Lexa shakes her head, still grinning.
"You're up to something, I can tell," Clarke says.
Lexa shrugs as if saying 'maybe' because she's a terrible liar and it's vague enough. Clarke scrunches one eye, sizing her up. She slides off her chair, all smirks and seductive eyes as she gently squeezes herself between Lexa's thighs. Lexa's mind is imagining a future Clarke saying, "Tell me, wifey," and her jaw falls slack as Clarke grabs her by the neck pulling her into a kiss. She almost forgets to kiss her back, only brought back to this world by the moan escaping her own throat. When Lexa pulls at Clarke's shirt and bites gently on her lower lip, Clarke pushes Lexa back, clearly flustered by the intensity.
"Okay, I was going to play dirty and trick you into telling me whatever you're hiding, but I kinda don't care right now." Clarke says, a bit aloof and slightly out of breath.
Lexa smirks cockily at Clarke who rolls her eyes at her before pulling a beaming Lexa to the bedroom.
*
Four weeks to go and Lexa is facing maybe the hardest part of this plan of hers.
She kisses Clarke goodbye before the sun gets up and leaves one of her 'Love, I'll be home before dinner' notes on her pillow hoping Clarke won't start digging into the cover up story she and Anya has constructed.
Five hours later she tells Mitchell to wait in the car as she goes to knock on Abby and Jake's front door. Lexa is nervous, like, sweaty palms and a dry throat nervous as she waits anxiously for someone to open the door. Did she get the date wrong?
The door swings open and Jake attacks her with a brilliant smile and one of his bear hugs.
"Jake... At least let the poor girl come inside before you tackle her," Abby scolds him.
"Alright alright," he says, letting her go. Lexa can't help the smile that grows on her lips. It's really good to see both of them again.
"So... To what do we owe this pleasure?" Jake says as they take a seat in the living room.
Lexa spent the entire car ride up here planning what she wanted to say. She thought about making it short and quick, using her voice. She thought maybe she needed a backup plan in case she got too nervous, so she wrote a page long letter that she ended up tearing to pieces.
Lexa is not good with words, not vocally, not written. If there was a way to play it out on the piano she would've. But no.
She looks at Jake, then at Abby. She opens her mouth wanting to say 'I love Clarke and I want to make her as happy as she makes me for the rest of my life' but nothing comes out.
She expected this to happen.
That's why she also had a second backup plan. Plan C.
She pulls the royal blue velvet box from her pocket and runs her thumb across it once before opening it. She then places it on the coffee table so Abby and Jake can see the content. She watches as they look at it, eyes wide and for so, so long, way too long for Lexa's poor heart to handle.
Then Abby squeals.
She squals and Jake's brilliant grin morphs into diamonds on a string.
"Can I hug her now?" Jake asks his wife.
"After me!" Abby pulls Lexa to her feet and into a hug. Lexa swears Abby is sobbing but it doesn't matter because Jake is hugging them both now and it feels almost like home, only missing Clarke to make it perfect.
When Abby wipes Lexa's cheeks she realizes she's crying a little too.
"What is it with you women and crying all the time," Jake says.
"Oh shut up Jake, go make us some tea and be nice," Abby scolds him through her smile. Lexa thinks maybe she sees him wipe his cheeks too as he walks past her towards the kitchen.
"It's a beautiful ring, Lexa. Clarke likes simple things, she's gonna love it." Abby says, picking it up to study it better.
Lexa still hasn't said a word and for some odd reason she doesn't feel bad about it. This went a lot better than she thought it would.
"So, Lexa," Jake says as he comes back with three cups of tea. "When are you... popping the question, as they say?"
"May Fifth." There it is, her voice.
"Special date? Anniversary?" Abby asks.
Lexa nods.
"You have it all planned out?" Jake asks.
Lexa shakes her head.
"Don't worry, Lexa," Abby says, "I know my daughter and while she loves surprises she's not much for grand gestures. You could just flash that ring like you did for us and she'll know. I don't doubt she'll say yes."
"I agree," Jake says.
Lexa nods timidly. She never did ask them for their blessing but by the looks of it she doesn't have to.
*
Three weeks to go and luckily Clarke is not home.
"Uh, I found this on the top shelf in the closet and judging by the design I'm guessing it's not yours, but I need to make sure." Raven mumbles as she places the royal blue velvet box in front of Anya.
"How did you--"
"Anya!"
"It's not mine, Rae." Anya says, watching her girlfriend struggle with something, not quite understanding what it's about.
"Whose is it?"
Anya can't decide if Raven is angry because she's keeping a secret from her or if she's hurt because she thinks she's lying. She bites her lip thoughtfully. She promised Lexa not to tell Raven. She promised Raven to never lie to her or keep secrets from her.
"Anya..." Raven pleads and then Anya knows that Raven's trust issues are making her insecure, and it's breaking her heart. Just then Lexa walks into the kitchen and stops midway when she sees the familiar box on the table.
"I'm holding-- It's not--" Anya stutters. She doesn't know how to fix this. If she keeps her promise to Lexa she'll hurt Raven and vice versa.
Lexa realizes what's going on. Anya only ever looks this broken when she did something to hurt Raven and she doesn't want to be the reason that any of them is hurting, so she comes clean.
"It's mine," Lexa says taking a seat next to Anya. She reaches for the notepad to better explain herself.
"What?" Raven whispers, confusion painted in her eyes.
'I made Anya promise not to tell you. Not to keep it from you, but because I want Clarke to have her best friend on her side - hopefully oblivious like her - when I do ask her. I'm sorry Raven, I didn't anticipate this situation. I'd have told you if I knew. Please don't be mad at Anya.'
"Rae..." Anya puts her hand on Raven's across the table. "I'm so sorry. I never thought you finding it would lead to this, I'm sorry--"
"Babe, shut up." Raven interrupts her. "Just... Let me hate myself a little, alright? I know I have trust issues and I know I sometimes take it out on you. So don't apologize for this. I understand why you didn't tell me."
"And you!" She looks at Lexa. "Now that I know I kinda hate myself for not figuring it out. This ring is so you and Clarke. When are you asking her?"
"May Fifth."
"The kiss-a-versary?" Raven grins.
"The what?" Anya blinks.
"Clarke says they have two anniversaries. One for when they first met and one for when they kissed the first time. Don't ask me why I remember things like that but February Fifth and May Fifth."
Anya looks at Lexa who blushes under her gaze. It's true, it's not something she and Clarke has talked about but she counts two anniversaries too.
"That's the grossest thing I've ever heard, little sis," she grins.
"Hey! Anyone home?" Clarke's voice echoes from the hall.
Anya grabs the royal blue velvet box, Raven grabs the notepad, and they run past Clarke towards their room to get rid of the evidence.
"Hey Clarke," they mumble as they close the door behind them.
"What's up with them?" Clark says, greeting Lexa with a soft kiss.
Lexa shrugs, hoping Clarke can't hear the rapid thumping of her heart.
*
Two weeks to go and Lexa almost slips up.
She's beginning to panic a little because she still hasn't come up with a plan except for park, gazebo, flash the ring and say marry me. When it comes to feelings Lexa is intuitive, more so than anything else, which means that she goes with whatever feels right in the moment. Making plans about these things doesn't come natural to her.
She's panicking a little because this needs a plan and she doesn't have one. She lets her fingers wander mindlessly along ivory keys. She presses her eyes shut trying to mute that one percent that yells unbearably loud right now.
Okay. Okay okay okay. Think.
Lexa starts with the basics.
She needs to tell Clarke things, important things, things Clarke will want to remember for all time. She needs to tell Clarke. Talk, speak, say things out loud. She needs to find a way to say a whole lot of things with very few words, and that's a master level conundrum she doesn't know how to solve.
If she were to figure out how to voice her thoughts, she still needs to find the right words.
That's the problem. Clarke is the best thing that's ever happened to her, and what she feels when she's around Clarke is so intense that words aren't ever enough to describe it. Maybe Abby is right. Maybe she doesn't need words.
She needs to clear her mind.
She positions her hands on the piano and plays Clarke's Song, just the snippet that sounds like snowflakes.
And then she knows.
She'll keep it simple because Clarke speaks her language, she'll understand.
She'll take Clarke on a walk in the park and conveniently pull her towards the gazebo. It'll be early May so the Japanese cherry trees will treat them with their pink beauty along the dirt gravel road. She'll patiently wait as Clarke stops to admire them before she conveniently guides Clarke to their destination.
If the situation allows it she'll start with a kiss because Lexa best knows how to tell Clarke she loves her with a kiss.
Then she'll pull out that one note she brought with her, the one with the words 'Love, all I am is yours to have' and an arrow pointing upwards. When Clarke does look up Lexa will have the ring ready as she says 'marry me' and if she's really feeling it she'll add a 'Clarke' at the end for good measure because she knows Clarke loves the way she says her name.
It could work.
Satisfied with the possible plan, Lexa let's her mind drift back to the piano. She continues playing Clarke's song while daydreaming about how Clarke might respond when two arms slide around her torso. A husky voice next her ear says, "Hey gorgeous, we're alone tonight and I've got a surprise for you."
Lexa's delicate snowflakes develops into a clumsy avalanche cascading along the piano keys when Clarke seductively sucks on her earlobe. She abruptly closes the piano lid and rises to look at Clarke who is wearing very little clothes. Very little, as in just a loose white button-up, one of Lexa's loose white button-ups, and by the looks of it she may or may not be wearing anything underneath it.
Clarke smiles mischievously when she sees Lexa's eyes roam down her body. She pushes Lexa back down onto the piano bench, a commanding palm against her chest. She then moves to straddle her, the bench is sturdy, it'll hold her. Lexa is completely at her mercy. Her hands find Clarke's waist and her wide eyes follow Clarke's fingers as they slow dance down the column of buttons, popping one button at a time, silently revealing more and more of her cleavage. Tauntingly slow. If Lexa had any control left she'd help Clarke speed up the process. On second thought, she likes watching. Maybe tauntingly slow is just the right pace.
Yes.
Yes it is.
"Hey," Clarke whispers, running a thumb over Lexa's lips, something Lexa always translates into a 'Say my name'.
"Clarke," she breathes and she watches her favorite smile, the soft one only meant for her, tug on Clarke's lips.
"Look at me," Clarke commands.
Lexa forces her eyes upwards until they find her favorite oceans. They hold a storm tonight and Lexa can't help it, she wants to chase that storm until it sweeps her up.
Clarke pops another button still holding Lexa's gaze.
"Do you like it?" She asks.
Lexa looks down and ohmygod Clarke is wearing lingerie. Like, a very delicate set of royal blue lingerie. Lexa never thought much of lingerie because it's the woman in it she wants to see. But this is see-through and it does something really nice to Clarke's cleavage and Clarke is wearing Lexa's button-up which always drives Lexa mad.
Her mind is crashing.
She's a passenger without a safety belt.
It's royal blue like the velvet box currently in Anya's possession. Lexa's mind autopilots right into a haze of another one of her daydreams. This exact moment but with a ring on Clarke's finger.
"I take that as a yes," Clarke husks, popping another button.
Lexa feels the M form on her lips and it's only because Clarke pulls her into a kiss, swallowing the letters about to form into words, that Lexa doesn't propose to her right then and there. She welcomes the distraction. She lifts Clarke up, legs linking around her waist as she carries Clarke to their bedroom, hastily rushing down the hall, clumsily trying to hold on to Clarke's lips.
Two more weeks. How hard can it be?
*
One week to go and Raven almost ruins everything.
On this last weekend of April, Spring has generously provided them with sunlight warm enough to have an afternoon barbecue outside on the terrace. Everyone is here, Octavia, Lincoln, Bellamy and Niylah. Raven is still bossing everyone around only letting Clarke help with the food while the sisters set up the table. Evidently, it's a law of nature and no one even considers defying it.
"Hey Rae, I was just telling Niylah about that remote car you made in high school, do you still have it?" Octavia asks.
"Pfft, of course I do." Raven says.
"Is that what that monster on the top shelf is?" Anya asks.
'What do you mean monster," Raven glares at Anya. "That thing is badass. I attached a webcam on it and we used it to spy on Bellamy," Raven snickers, meeting Octavia's hand in a high-five.
"They were so cruel to me, Niylah!" Bellamy complains and Niylah laughs at his adopted whiney face.
"Does it still work?" Clarke asks.
"Of course it still works, Clarke. I made it," she deadpans.
"Oooh, can I get it?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Top shelf?" Clarke asks as she walks towards Raven's room.
"Yeah," Raven says distractedly.
"Uh, I'll get it, Clarke," Anya says, shooting daggers at Raven before catching up with Clarke.
"What... Oh," Raven's eyes widen as she remembers what's also hidden on that top shelf.
"No that's okay, I can get it," Clarke says.
"Clarke!" Lexa calls out as she comes running from behind Anya.
"Yeah?" Clarke says and as she turns around, Lexa engulfs her in a kiss that may be a bit too inappropriate considering everyone is watching. Anya groans by the sight as she rushes past them to pick up the remote car from the shelf before Clarke may resume her mission.
Someone wolf-whistles.
That someone is Raven.
The rest are chuckling awkwardly.
Clarke and Lexa doesn't hear it, in fact, Anya has to punch Lexa's shoulder on her way back to break off the kiss.
"Okay..." Clarke sighs, clinging to the fabric of Lexa's shirt to steady herself. "Once I'm able to feel my legs again, I swear, I'm gonna find out what you and Anya are up to."
Lexa knows she's a terrible liar, she won't even deny it. Clarke has caught her and Anya hunched over secret plans at the kitchen table more than once this past week, and Anya has been the one to run off with whatever piece of paper they'd been looking at.
Lexa won't even try the ’I don't know what you're talking about’ look. It's useless. Clarke has evidence and plenty of it. So instead Lexa winks at her, and when Clarke raises one eyebrow Lexa shrugs, plants a soft kiss on her cheek and then walks away.
"Smooth," Raven whispers as Lexa takes a seat by the table again.
"You two are so frustrating. I'll find out! Mark my words!" Clarke looks between the two sisters.
Then Anya winks at her.
There are two things about Clarke that saves Lexa in this moment. One, Clarke truly believes they're both in on it - not just Lexa - and two, Clarke always gets like this the second she thinks someone has a surprise planned for her.
It's part of the game.
In all fairness, Clarke is totally oblivious and for that Lexa is grateful.
*
Lexa wakes up Wednesday morning, mentally crossing off another day which means four more days to go.
She lets herself enjoy this moment, Clarke sleeping halfway on top of her, head heavy against her chest and a leg entangled in between Lexa's. Clarke is snoring a little, she sometimes does in this position, and Lexa can feel moisture between Clarke's cheek and her own skin which means she's also drooling a little. Lexa can't help the daydreaming, this very same scenario but with a ring on Clarke's finger. Lexa places her hand over Clarke's, gently as to not wake her up. She tries to imagine what it would feel like, the edges of the ring against the palm of her hand.
She can't wait to find out.
*
Three more days to go and Lexa has to find a new hiding spot for the royal blue velvet box because Anya caught Clarke about to walk into her room. Clarke insists that she wasn't snooping, but no one believes her.
Not even Raven.
They all have valid reason not to believe her because she pouts like she always does when she tries to cover up her mischievous ideas. As much as Lexa finds it adorable, it's not something she dares take lightly now she's so close. She then decides it's for the better if she takes the velvet box with her when she's not home. That’s why she she'll take it with her to work come tomorrow.
*
Two more days to go and Lexa waits for Clarke to leave for work before securing the royal blue velvet box in her jeans pocket. She knows Clarke will be the first one home this afternoon so she'll have to think of a plan to hide it somewhere once she's home too.
As for now, the box is safe with her, away from Clarke.
Except it isn't.
Today of all days, Clarke decides she'd rather go hang out at the Kids Center waiting for Lexa to finish up so they can walk home together.
Lexa just finished her last piano lesson of the day and is now sitting at a table going through some paperwork with Niylah.
"Hey, am I interrupting?" Clarke asks, only halfway through the door.
"Oh, hey Clarke," Niylah greets her, "come take a seat, we're almost done."
Lexa's hand automatically goes to her pocket to check that the box is still there and Clarke takes a seat next to her, greeting her with a kiss to her cheek.
Clarke pulls out her sketchbook and Lexa has a really hard time concentrating on what Niylah tells her because out of the corner of her eye she sees Clarke working on the details for her gazebo drawing. Clarke concentrates so hard that she bites her lip and Lexa probably shouldn't be picturing her in that royal blue lingerie set--
"Okay, Lexa. I see what's going on. Go home, I'll mail you the rest," Niylah says, winking at her when Lexa finally does meet her eyes.
Lexa blushes and signs 'Sorry' to which Niylah laughs.
"Enjoy the weekend, see you Monday." Niylah packs her things and waves at them before leaving the Kids Center.
"Clarke?"
"Mh?" Clarke says distractedly and it makes Lexa smile.
"Home?" she asks.
"Yeah, can we go through the park? I can't get this area here right." Clarke points to a spot on her sketch and Lexa can't see anything except it's a masterpiece, but she'll gladly follow Clarke to the ends of the world so why not the gazebo, the ring in her pocket, two days before The Big Day.
Lexa rises from her seat, grateful she's wearing a hoodie today. It's long enough to hide the lump in her pocket. She just needs to position herself strategically to minimize the chances of Clarke feeling it. It's easy enough as long as they walk hands entwined.
"I love these trees," Clarke says, stopping in her tracks to admire them. Lexa can't help but think that this is exactly how she pictures Sunday will go. She lets Clarke set the pace and waits patiently for her to stop smiling like an idiot at the trees. She waits patiently for Clarke to look back at her, and when she does, she's met by a slight tint of red cheeks and shy eyes.
Lexa questions her with a raised eyebrow.
"Sometimes you look at me like I put the sun in the sky and it always leaves me flustered," she admits.
Lexa wants to tell Clarke that she is the sun in the sky. Instead she closes the distance, brushes a few loose strands of golden hair behind Clarke's ear and steals a gentle kiss from Clarke's lips. She doesn't break the kiss before Clarke smiles against her lips.
"Come on," she says as she tugs Lexa towards the gazebo. "I need about fifteen minutes, is that okay?"
Lexa nods. She can have two hours if she wants, all of eternity even.
Clarke finds a spot in the grass that gives her the perfect view of the gazebo while Lexa lies down next to her, her hands behind her head. Lexa's mind wanders again. This moment right now is so perfect that she's afraid she won't be able to reproduce it in two days. There's Clarke, the cherry trees and the Gazebo, and it's like the air around her hums her favorite tune. For a split second she considers to ignore the date and do it right now. She's got all she needs right here, the ring included.
"Lexa?"
"Mh?"
"You're doing it again." Clarke blushes.
Lexa leans on her elbow and cups Clarke's cheek. She brushes her thumb against her cheekbone and watches her eyelashes flutter a few times before pulling her into a kiss.
Because gravity.
Clarke's lips have never been softer, never tasted better, and Lexa's heart has never thumbed harder in her ribcage. She doesn't ever want it to stop and that's how she knows.
May Third sounds like a perfect third anniversary date, she thinks, so she breaks the kiss and and steals one last gentle peck before straightening up into a sitting position. She wiggles the royal blue velvet box out of her pocket and she hears Clarke's barely there gasp when she flips open the box.
"Marry me," Lexa says as she watches Clarke's eyes widen.
"Lex..." Clarke whispers.
"Clarke." Lexa copies.
"Say it again."
"Clarke." Lexa smiles.
"Not that, Lex." Clarke smiles too.
"Marry me."
"Yes," Clarke whispers.
Lexa grins as Clarke peels her eyes off the ring to meet Lexa's eyes.
"Yes," Clarke repeats a little louder before leaning forward to capture Lexa's lips.
Lexa feels Clarke smiling against her lips, thinking this is even better than she'd imagined. She tastes the salt on her lips and she knows at least some of it is from her own tears. Breaking the kiss she realizes Clarke is crying too. She wipes the tears from Clarke's cheeks with her free hand before taking the ring from its box. She bites her lip trying to control the excessive energy flowing through her body as she slides the ring onto Clarke's finger.
"It's beautiful, Lex. I love the green stone," Clarke says.
Lexa beams proudly, happily, like Clarke is not only the sun in the sky, but the moon and the stars too.
"Ohmygod... Is that what you hid in Anya's closet?"
Lexa nods.
"Okay... Alright." Clarke grins and she's even more beautiful than Lexa thought she'd be with that ring on her finger. "Now what... fiancée of mine?"
Lexa leans in to steal another kiss from her fiancée's lips; they taste better with a ring on her finger too.
Lexa pulls out her notepad.
'First you call your parents, they want to know your answer. Then we celebrate.'
"You went to see my parents?"
Lexa nods and then Clarke starts crying again and Lexa doesn't know why, but Clarke assures her they're happy tears. Lexa helps Clarke up from the grass and they stroll through the park on their way home, entangled hands and bright smiles. She likes how she can feel Clarke's ring against her skin and her heart is almost bursting at the seams.
May Third is definitely the better date for a proposal.
*
Clarke opens the front door with her left hand beaming at the sight of her gorgeous engagement ring on her finger. She finds her way back to Lexa's waiting hand immediately pulling her down the hall and into the kitchen where Raven is busy bossing Anya around. Clarke leans her front against the high kitchen table trying her best to keep a straight face. Lexa knows she can't hide her grin, so she slides her arms around Clarke's waist and hides most of her face in her favorite golden locks.
"Something is wrong with Lexa and Clarke," Anya says, watching the two in front of her.
"What? Oh hey, didn't here you come in." Raven says, distracted by her latest cooking experiment.
"Because we're ninjas," Clarke jokes.
"Rae, they're being weird," Anya smirks. She figured it out and Lexa knows it.
"Babe, what are you talking about?"
"I think Lexa got the dates wrong. It's not May Fifth today."
Raven turns around to look at them for the first time, surprise written on her face. "Please somebody confirm before I say something I shouldn't."
Clarke puts both her hands on the table in front of her and when Raven sees the ring she squeals before pulling both of them into a joined hug. Anya hugs them too, congratulating them, but in a more composed manner.
"Lex! What happened to the kiss-a-versary date?" Raven wants to know.
"Rae, please stop calling it that." Clarke tries to scold her but the bright smile on her face ruins it.
"Third is better," Lexa shrugs nonchalantly.
"I think so too," Clarke says. "Fiancée of mine, please answer all of Raven's lame questions while I call mom and dad."
Clarke cups Lexa's cheek to pull her into a gentle kiss. She likes to see the ring against Lexa's skin, the green stone making Lexa's eyes shine brighter. She walks out onto the terrace and dials her mom.
"Hey honey, what's up?"
"Oh nothing, Lexa told me to call you to let you know I said yes," Clarke underplays it on purpose because she knows her mom.
"What? She already asked you?" Abby squeals.
"Yeah." Clarke can't hold her straight face anymore. Telling her mom about this feels incredibly good.
"Congratulations, honey. We're happy for you. Both of you."
"Thank you, mom."
"Tell me all about it and don't skip any details."
For almost an hour, Clarke sits on the terrace talking to her mom about the proposal and catching up on what everyone has been doing since the last time they saw each other. Before ending the call, Abby promises she and Jake will come down to visit them soon so they can celebrate properly.
After Clarke hangs up, she takes a moment to digest the past couple of hours. Lexa is her fiancée. She's Lexa's fiancée too. She runs a thumb across the green stone realizing that she'd already promised herself to Lexa forever before the proposal, maybe not officially, but that doesn't mean it isn't true. She doesn't need the ring to know that Lexa is hers forever, but she certainly doesn't mind the visual reminder on her finger.
For the first time in her life Clarke is finally ready to give herself completely to another person. Clarke watches the three women in the kitchen, the only word that really sums them up is family. She watches Raven lean into Anya who automatically supports Raven's weight off her bad leg without even thinking about it, and that's when Clarke realizes she's ready to let Raven go. She sighs, looking at her ring again. Chances are she won't live in this house for too long but whatever happens she'll make sure Lexa gets her grand piano.
Clarke is pulled out of her thoughts when Lexa knocks on the doorframe letting her presence be known. Clarke looks up at her with tears in her eyes and Lexa moves to cup her cheeks. One tear trickle down her cheek and Lexa kisses it away, looking at her with concerned eyes.
"They're happy tears," she explains.
"Love you," Lexa murmurs against her lips.
"Love you too, Lex."
Lexa takes Clarke's left hand in hers and smiles at the ring and Clarke thinks that maybe Lexa likes the visual reminder too.
"Say it," Clarke commands, a soft smile lingering on her lips.
"Clarke," Lexa grins.
"Not that."
"Marry me."
"Yes, please."