Christmas Presents
Song : Something About December by Christina Perry
After Lexa’s little breakdown Clarke and her had taken a nap together, soon rejoined with Ayden who had awoken alone in the guest room, to be in shape for tonight’s dinner. After all, Santa was coming to Lexa’s loft on this very special night!
Lights around the tree
Mama’s whistling
Takes me back again
There’s something bout’ December
The girls began to arrange the living-room, trying to calculate how many chairs they would need. Monty, Jasper, Harper, Emori, Maya and Murphy wouldn’t be there; they were celebrating Christmas with other friends from work, knowing it would have been too many people for Clarke to handle; they hadn’t seen her yet anyways.
The only problem was that Bellamy; Raven, Octavia and Lincoln would be there, Clarke trusted them and she had already seen them since “the incident”, but Bellamy was going to be there too and Clarke had no idea how to handle him. She was hoping Bellamy would be nice, but with him, there was no way to be sure. He did listen to Clarke’s wishes for him not to approach her too soon though, and he had respected that, but Clarke knew all too well how he could respond to Ayden and Lexa’s interaction. Those two were great together, but the thing was Bellamy had always considered himself like a kind of second father to Ayden.
Not by pretension or because he wished to be with Clarke, but because since Ayden’s birth Finn hadn’t really been there for her or the child, so Bellamy had helped Clarke many times, to educate her son and take care of him . Clarke was sure he was going to blow things up when he saw how Lexa interacted with Ayden.
That was making her nervous, and of course Lexa sensed it.
“Clarke, is everything ok?” Lexa carefully asked, not sure if she had read the tension in the blonde well or if it was something her mind had made up.
“Yeah” Clarke sighed, “I’m just a little worried about Bellamy”.
“Octavia’s older brother” Lexa stated, recognizing the name, “the cop”.
Clarke nodded, and Lexa wondered why this guy Bellamy could bring trouble. Who was he to Clarke? A friend? A good friend? An ex boyfriend? Someone who wished to date Clarke but could never because of Finn?
Lexa’s brain was hurting from all this thinking. Besides she didn’t know how to think about someone wishing to be with Clarke. It was making her kind of... jealous? Lexa shook her head because she couldn’t be jealous. Clarke’s wasn’t hers, or anyone’s actually. But the kiss... The kiss they had shared an hour ago, what did it meant?
Of course Lexa knew they were both totally NOT ready to be with each other, or even start something. Clarke was still waiting for Finn’s trial so it was not the right time, but Lexa couldn’t stop her mind to wonder if, maybe, the kiss was more than a reassuring kiss.
And as the girls were dressing the table, they could not stop throwing little smiles at each other and steal quick looks. Maybe this was the beginning of something....?
We’re hanging mistletoe
And hoping that it snows
I close my eyes and then
I can still remember
How to get back, home
Anya and Raven were still in the mall, looking for decorations; Anya was beginning to huff, Raven was literally dragging her to every shop she would see.
“Come on Anya, move your lazy ass!” Raven shouted, “You have a disabled leg or what?” Raven added with a smirk on her face, and Anya couldn’t do anything but smile at the girl.
Let all your memories
Hold you close
No matter where you are
You're not alone
Because the ones you love
Are never far if Christmas is in your heart
Anya didn't have many friends. She was not pushing friends down, like Lexa would sometimes do, but Anya had a strong personality, and it was sometimes too much to handle for some people. But apparently, Raven was handling it very well. She was pushing every one of Anya’s buttons, and Anya had to say, she was admiring the girl in some way -she would rather die than repeat that to Raven, though-, because Raven was so... Raven. Anya chuckled while looking at the brunette, clapping her hands in front of every Christmas decorations like a kid. This girl was a total mystery to Anya; she had never heard her complain; about anything. She didn’t know how she could be like this, but Raven was a ball of energy, joy and good Ora as well as bad and lame jokes.
“Anya!” Raven shouted again, taking Anya out of her thoughts, quickly going to Raven.
“Look, what about we take those?” Raven asked, showing Anya some glass Christmas balls.
“But there’re simple” Anya raised her brow; those balls were really simple, and it was absolutely not Raven’s style to be simple.
Of course the brunette had a smirk rising on her face. “You’ll see later. We are taking those”, Raven answered, already heading towards someone to pay.
Anya chuckled again, and almost face-palmed herself for chuckling this much over Raven. What was going on with her?
Once outside the shop, but still in the mall, Raven suddenly tugged at Anya’s sleeve, showing her something with her –beautiful- finger.
“Anya look, Santa is here!” Raven said with a big smile on her face, making Anya laugh at the girl, “Come on we are going to take a picture with him!” Raven added.
If Anya had laughed, she was certainly not laughing right now, as Raven was dragging her towards the guy dressed as Santa. “Raven come on, we can’t...” Anya tried to protest, her eyes widening when she saw that Raven was dead serious about taking a picture.
“COME ON, it will be fun!” Raven insisted, tugging Anya even harder. Anya sighed, and a minute later, she was sat on the guy’s lap next to Raven. How the fuck did I find myself in this position? Anya asked herself, and then Raven laughed at something the man had said, Anya told herself it wasn’t so bad after all.
“Anya smile, you big party popper!” Raven said, laughing at her.
And Anya genuinely smiled as Raven was such a funny woman to be around. A few minutes later they were both laughing their asses off, making weird positions with Santa and the people around them. Soon the entire mall was filled with laughter and smiles on everyone's faces.
Who really needs a gift
When love is meant to give
I can still recall
Carry with me always
Every Christmas dream
They live in you and me
In the Blakes’ apartment, Lincoln, Octavia and Bellamy were getting ready to go to Lexa’s. Actually, Octavia and Lincoln were, Bellamy was just pacing in the living-room, his brain fuming from hard reflexion.
“Bell for god’s sake will you please just STOP?” Octavia snapped at her brother.
The man huffed and dropped himself onto the couch. Clearly, something was going on in his mind. “What is it?” Octavia asked.
“Clarke should be here for Christmas” Bellamy huffed again, “we should be celebrating Christmas here instead of being at a stranger’s place”.
Octavia suddenly took him by the collar of his shirt, locking her eyes into his. “Listen to me very carefully big brother; there’s a reason why Clarke trusts Lexa more than us. I don’t know why, but this is how things are for now. So either you accept it and come with us to see Ayden and Clarke, or you keep your head stuck in your ass and stay here.”
Bellamy swallowed, because now that his sister was in Indra’s special team, she was getting scarier every day and the man wasn’t sure he could still win in a fight against his younger sister. He tried to remove himself from her embrace, but Octavia tightened her grip on his collar.
“I’m not done. If over there, you do or say ANYTHING misplaced, I will throw you out of the house myself. Clarke makes her own decisions. You won’t impose your thoughts on her way of dealing with all that shit.”
“I got it, O” Bellamy said, lightly pushing his sister off of him.
Octavia nodded, and disappeared into the bathroom to apply her make-up. Still on the couch, Bellamy sighed, readjusting his shirt. Lincoln; ready to go, sat down near him.
“You saw Clarke” Bellamy said, “Is it really better for her to be with Lexa?” he asked, still unsure if it really was a good thing for Clarke.
“I think so” Lincoln said, a sympathetic smile on his face, “She’s different over there, you know?” Lincoln added, “Without the weight of responsibilities and stuff. It suits her. I think Ayden is happier too”.
Bellamy nodded, he knew all too well how hard it was to carry the responsibilities Clarke had carried from day 1. It wasn’t fair, to let Clarke carry everything; but sadly, she was the best at it so far.
“So she’ll never come back?” Bellamy then asked. He wasn’t a stupid guy; he figured there was a chance Clarke would not come back to live with them but the thought of that was already breaking his heart. Clarke was his best friend; he was a kind of hot-headed guy, and when things got tough Clarke had always been there to take over. He couldn’t loose her.
“I never said that. Maybe she’ll come back, maybe not, but either way, it’s her decision to make” Lincoln answered, sighing at the same time as Bellamy. Even Lincoln knew how much they were relaying on the blonde.
“Ok guys, ready to go?” Octavia asked, heading out of the bathroom. The boys nodded and got into Lincoln’s car.
Clarke was smiling at her phone’s screen.
Jasper: Merry Christmas to all of you, love ya all!!
Monty: the guy is already drunk don’t pay attention guys
Jasper: Am not
Harper: You totally are
Murphy: Monty did his moonshine again
Raven: Oh I see why Jasper is drunk now
Jasper: Am not, stop it evry one of yu
Octavia: dude you’re not writing well, you’re drunk
Octavia: It’s not even six pm!
Clarke chucked; she couldn’t blame Jasper for being drunk so soon though; Monty’s moonshine was really bad. When the plane had crashed, she had even used it as disinfectant to take care of a wound not to mention to sterilize everything.
Maya: Don’t worry ‘bout Jasper, I’ll handle him
Emori: You’re the only one who knows how!
Octavia: Agree with Emori
Clarke laughed this time, because it was totally true; Maya was the ONLY one able to reason with Jasper; one day, she had even made him wash the dishes, something he had never done in front of the others. Needless to say they had stayed voiceless for a few seconds watching him doing it like it was nothing.
Clarke’s laugh had drained Lexa’s attention. “Why are you laughing?” Lexa asked, curious.
“My friends are idiots” Clarke chuckled, turning the screen a little so Lexa –who had got closer to the blonde - could see the conversation.
Clarke: Leave Jasper in peace, it’s Christmas night after all!
Jasper: Clarke I love yu, I hope you’ll marry me one daay
Maya: behave... ;)
Monty: Merry Christmas to Ayden and you Clarke, hope we’ll see you soon!
Clarke: thanks, you too Monty, and soon I promise!
Clarke’s last text made Lexa smile, because Clarke was talking a lot more to her friends, and that was a huge step forwards. Besides, if Clarke was talking more and more to her friends, it meant she would open herself more to Lexa too, and Lexa couldn’t wait.
Octavia: Clarke we’re on the way
Clarke: okay!
Bellamy: I made a chocolate cake, your favourite
Lexa raised a brow at this; she didn’t know Clarke’s favourite cake was a chocolate one. Was it not weird to eat a cake at Christmas? Then, she saw Clarke smile at her phone, and this brought a hint of jealousy to Lexa; she would have to watch this man carefully. Just to be sure he didn’t hurt Clarke of course. (Of course she wasn’t fooling anyone, was she?)
The front door shot open, and Lexa frowned because it was far too soon for Octavia, Bellamy and Lincoln to be here. Then, she saw Raven and Anya entering the loft, what she saw left her in complete shock; Anya and Raven were laughing their asses off, and there was no doubt that if they could roll themselves on the floor laughing, they totally would. Raven was showing something on her phone to Anya, whilst trying not to drop the things she was carrying whilst laughing even more.
Clarke and Lexa were now starring at them like they were aliens; the two girls seemed oblivious to the public stood in the loft, watching them. Finally, Ayden kicked in ; “Hey, why are you laughing aunty Raven?”
Raven and Anya got out of their bubble, and Raven slowly approached Ayden, wearing a smirk on her face. “We met Santa, in the mall” she whispered to the kid, as if it was a big secret.
Ayden’s eyes widened as his mouth was shaped into a “o” form. “No way!!”
“Yes way!” Anya said, taking Raven’s phone and showing the pictures they had taken to the boy. They made Clarke and Lexa burst into laughers, they would never have imagined Raven and Anya together, taking pictures with Santa Claus.
“But if he was here to take pictures with you, he’s going to be late to drop gifts!” Ayden pouted.
“Oh no he won’t”, Raven said, “because he has a magic sleigh” she added, still whispering. Ayden nodded, and went to help Anya unpack the decorations out of their bags.
Clarke raised a brow at Raven, the Christmas balls she had bought seemed too simple, and Clarke was kind of expecting them to explode or something.
“Don’t worry Princess!” Raven shouted while helping Ayden and Anya, “nothing dangerous!”
Lexa then raised a brow at Clarke. “Princess?”
Clarke waved her off, annoyed by the fact that Raven had called her that, “long story”.
Lexa didn’t insist. She had learnt not to. Clarke would tell her when she was ready, and there was no rush. Lexa was ok with taking it slow.
The door bell rang, Lexa got up to open the door to Octavia, Lincoln and Bellamy. Octavia had a big smile on her face as Ayden was coming to greet her; something he hadn’t done for a long time.
“Otavia, Raven said she saw Santa!” The boy said, raising his arms for Octavia to pick him up. The kid was five, he still had trouble pronouncing Octavia’s name properly, but it was kind of sweet.
“Oh she did?” Octavia raised a brow, while Raven was showing her the pictures of Anya and her sitting on Santa’s lap.
Octavia was kind of amused, because despite Raven’s funny facade, she could see right through her; the mechanic had a thing for Anya, that was so obvious it was hurting Octavia’s eyes.
Lincoln went to help Lexa get the food ready, and the moment Clarke feared the most happened. Bellamy was standing right in front of her, starring at her. Not in a bad way; it was more like he was testing the water. In the kitchen, Lexa was tense too and was keeping a very close eye on the boy. She had to say, he was pretty good-looking. And muscular.
Bellamy took a step forward towards the blonde, still testing her to see if she would run away or not. But Clarke wasn’t moving; she was still waiting for Bellamy’s reaction. Would he get mad at her? Would he scream?
But to her surprise, he didn’t do any of that. He closed the distance between them, and pulled her into a big hug. Clarke was startled at first, as everyone's eyes were on them, but then she reciprocated the hug, burying her nose into his neck. Lexa stiffened a little, because she wasn’t totally comfortable with Bellamy being that close. What if it was making Clarke uncomfortable? What if the blonde panics? Lexa shook her head as Clarke seemed fine. In fact, she was even looking like she needed it, and Lexa was jealous, for not being able to do that herself.
“Stop killing my brother with your eyes” Octavia whispered to Lexa, and Lexa almost dropped the knife she was holding on the floor.
“I am not” Lexa murmured back.
“Yeah” Octavia smirked, of course she didn’t believe Lexa, “don’t worry, if he hurts Clarke, I'll be the first one on the punching him in the face list”.
Octavia went to talk with Raven, and Lexa couldn’t do anything but smile at the girl’s words. Lexa wasn’t really at ease here, with all of these strangers, but it was making Clarke happy. For Clarke, she could handle being around anyone. Even this Bellamy guy.
The two of them were still hugging. “I’ve missed you, Princess” Bellamy whispered in her ear, and Clarke smiled in his neck, a relieved tear rolling down her cheek. Bellamy was the brother she never had. He was the father she no longer had, and the best friend she could ever have wished for. Bellamy tightened his hold on her, feeling Clarke’s tears on his skin.
“Don’t worry, everything is going to be ok” he murmured again while slowly stroking her back. Clarke lightly nodded, relieved he didn’t go mad. But then, she felt something tugging at her sleeve and broke the hug.
Ayden was looking at them with watery eyes.
“Why you crying, Mommy?” he asked, his lower lip shaking, “it’s Christmas, you can’t cry!”
Bellamy and Clarke laughed, and the black-haired boy lifted him in his arms. “She doesn’t cry, look, those are happy tears because we are together again!” Bellamy told the kid, while Clarke was nodding at his words.
Ayden then smiled, clapping his hands. He would still like Lexa better, but he loved Bellamy too. After all, Bellamy was more of a father to him than Finn! Bellamy had never raised his voice to him, or hit him the way Finn did. Bellamy had never hurt his mommy. That was made him a good guy, right?
“Ok people, time to open gifts!” Raven then said, bringing the attention back on the Christmas tree, where herself and Anya had discretely put the gifts under.
Ayden’s eyes widened while he was moving in Bellamy’s arms so he would drop him to the floor, “yeeeees Santa came! I didn’t even see him!”
Everyone laughed at the boy who was running towards the Christmas tree. “Careful Ayden” Octavia said, “You can only open the ones with your name on!"
Ayden frankly nodded, already looking for gifts with his name on. Then, Raven did something, and the Christmas tree was suddenly full of light; she had put small light bulb on the glass Christmas balls, now lighting the room with green, red and golden lights.
Everyone clapped, it was super pretty and beautiful and Christmas magic was finally embracing them all.
Ayden had already opened one of his gifts; it was a police car, a small replica from the real one Bellamy had when he was on duty. The boy shrieked when he saw the car, and ran towards Anya to show her his present. “Look Anya look, this way we can do car races together!” he said excitedly while Anya was laughing. The kid thanked Bellamy for asking Santa to bring this to him, and went back to open more gifts.
Octavia then approached Clarke with Raven, and the both of them had big smirks on their faces. Clarke raised a brow as those two were surely up to no good.
Octavia then handed Clarke a gift she had hid behind her back. “This is from Raven and I” Octavia said, “I know it matters a lot to you”.
Clarke’s eyes widened, but she hadn’t expected the girls to offer her something. She carefully took the present and unwrapped it; tears immediately formed in her eyes when she saw what the present was. They had gotten her a full case with drawing pens, the same ones her father had first gotten her when she started to draw.
“I... Thank you, I...” Clarke stuttered, not knowing what to say.
“Oh come here you sap” Raven laughed, bringing Clarke into a girl hug with Octavia. The girls laughed at how Raven was hiding her own tears in her watery brown eyes.
“Thank you” Clarke whispered in their embrace, feeling like she really had people to support her, “but I’ve got nothing to offer you...”
Clarke was feeling bad, because she hadn’t gotten the girls anything.
“You allowed us to see you. It was our gift” Raven said, dead serious. Clarke nodded, and then broke the hug, Clarke with stars in her eyes at the pens she had received.
Let all your memories
Hold you close
No matter where you are
You're not alone
Because the ones you love
Are never far
If Christmas is in your heart
Then Lincoln offered Octavia his gift; it was a beautiful bracelet with a phrase engraved it; ge smak daun, gyon op nodotaim. Octavia soon had tears in her eyes too; this was her and Lincoln’s phrase; get knocked down, get back up, something he had told her when she was having a hard time, a phrase she had said back to him when he wanted to quit everything.
Bellamy then gave Octavia a jacket for her training; it wasn’t any jacket, it was Bellamy’s, the first jacket he had worn whilst in the police, and the one he had worn when he swore his loyalty to her and to always stand by her side, no matter what.
Bellamy and Lincoln had offered Clarke some canvas to go with Raven and Octavia’s gift. Anya had offered her cousin a new case for work, because Lexa’s was now very old and used, Lexa had gotten her the travel bag Anya had always wanted. Octavia had gotten her brother some t-shirts. Ayden had gotten multiple toys, no one had wanted to go back to Finn and Clarke’s house to take the few toys he had there. New life, new toys, right?
The boy was now fully dressed as some superhero, sparring with Octavia, both holding plastic swords. It was really funny to watch them, and suddenly everyone was shouting encouragements at them.
Then, they eat all together, making jokes and laughing, all in joy and happiness. Even Clarke was fully laughing, but sat next to her; Lexa could see that sometimes Clarke’s smile wasn’t reaching her ears. There was still a lot of darkness in the blonde, Lexa kept her eyes on the girl all night, searching for the moment it would all become too much for the her.
Slowly the meal came to an end, it was time for everyone to go back home. Raven and Octavia were saying goodbye to Anya and Ayden, and Bellamy used the opportunity to get close to Clarke.
“Hey Princess” he said. Clarke smiled back, waiting for him to talk.
“We cleaned your apartment, back in Arcadia. You can come back to live in it now” he said with a tiny smile.
Clarke gritted her teeth, because she knew this moment would come. “Bellamy listen I...” she started, but Bellamy didn’t let her finish her sentence.
“I know Clarke, I wasn’t saying you should come back now, I just wanted you to know that when you’re ready, we are ready over there too; to have you back” he said again, a genuine smile on his face.
Clarke smiled back, relieved he didn’t try to convince or force her to go back and live in Arcadia. “Thanks, Bell” she murmured, hugging him.
“Anything, Princess” he answered back, reciprocating the hug.
Lexa had watched the entire thing, almost jumping in when she had seen Clarke clench her teeth. But then, she had seen her smile and hug the boy, and Lexa had relaxed herself. Clarke was ok. Lexa could accept the boy’s presence because at the end of the day, Clarke would still be here, with Ayden, in her loft. Not with Bellamy. Not with any of them. Just Lexa, Clarke and Ayden.
Finally, everyone left and surprisingly Lexa saw Anya and Raven getting into Anya’s car together. Those two were definitely up to something and it was weird, Anya didn’t like to have friends. She would rather spend her life alone than with people around her, but with Raven, she was different. She looked different. Lexa smiled, thinking of her cousin being all smiley.
Clarke picked up Ayden from the couch, where he had fallen asleep while the adults were finishing conversations and headed to the door, she hesitated with the boy on her arms. What was she supposed to do? Put him into Lexa’s bedroom? Into the spare room?
Lexa saw the hesitation, and gestured for Clarke to put the sleeping boy in her own bedroom. They had slept together for a while now, why would that change?
Lexa was washing the dishes as Clarke came back from the bedroom. The blonde leaned on the counter, simply watching Lexa. “What?” Lexa asked, raising her brow at the blonde while wiping her hands.
“Nothing”, Clarke smiled back. There was something about Lexa though, something she couldn’t explain. “Thank you for doing this tonight” Clarke gestured at the room to Lexa, “it felt good to see them”.
Lexa nodded with a smile. “You’re welcome”.
Lexa held out her hand for Clarke to take, the blonde raising her brows at her but taking the hand in hers, letting Lexa guide her towards a console in the living-room. Lexa let go of Clarke’s hand –who was soon missing the brunette’s- to pick up a small present from it, and handed it to Clarke.
“I got something for you” Lexa said, answering at the silent question Clarke was asking with her surprised eyes. The blonde took the gift and unwrapped the box; a tear fell on her cheek when she saw what it was. Lexa had given her a key and Clarke knew all to well which door it would open; Lexa’s. I love you, Clarke’s heart was screaming.
“You must be tired of waiting for me to come back every day” Lexa began to explain, rambling a little, “so now you can go do shopping or take a walk with Ayden when I’m at work or...” but Lexa didn’t finish her sentence because Clarke was running away from her heading for the bedroom.
“Clarke,” Lexa called her, suddenly panicked, why was Clarke running away, what had she done?, “Clarke please come ba...” And Lexa didn’t finish this sentence either, because Clarke was back in the living-room, something wrapped in her hands.
“I got something for you too” Clarke then smiled. Lexa took the present, tearing the decorated paper off. Her eyes widened. It was a frame, with a picture in it. But not just any picture, it was THEIR pictures; the first one they had taken, Ayden Clarke and her, after the dance party, the one Lexa had on her wallpaper for her phone. Lexa slowly pressed her fingers on the glass, not knowing what to say. They had both taken a great step in each other’s direction. Clarke was kind of officially living here, and Lexa was fully accepted into the family of three.
“Clarke, I...” Lexa began, feeling overwhelmed by her emotions for the blonde.
“I know” Clarke whispered back, taking a step closer to the brunette.
Lexa didn’t dare to move, because she knew well not to scare the girl away. Clarke took away the frame, putting in on the console next to Clarke’s new key, and put her hand on Lexa’s cheek, slowly drawing circles on it. Clarke then leaned forward, putting her lips on Lexa’s.
The brunette didn’t wait to reciprocate this time, and when they broke the kiss, they were smiling at each other like idiots. “Merry Christmas, Lexa” Clarke whispered before Lexa was kissing Clarke again.
“Come on” Lexa said, taking Clarke’s hand in hers, and leading her towards their bedroom for a much needed night sleep.
Lights around the tree
Mama's whistling
Takes me back again
There's something bout' December
Let all your memories
Hold you close
No matter where you are
You're not alone
Because the ones you love
Are never far
If Christmas is in your heart