Chapter 28
Thanksgiving morning Clarke woke up in her old bed at her parents house. Jake had picked up her and Raven up the night before and brought them there. Everyone ran around on Thanksgiving and did their family visiting, but in the early evening they all met at the Griffin residence for a late dinner and to have their family time. Knowing that she still had hours before anyone would arrive, Clarke rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. That was until Raven came limping into her room and flopped down on her bed, shaking her.
“Come on, Clarke,” Raven told her. “Time to get up.”
“Ugh.” Clarke groaned. “Why?”
“The parade is going to start in a little while.” Raven explained quickly.
Clarke looked up into her dark eyes and smiled. No matter how old Raven got, there was just something she loved about waking up and watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade over breakfast. So cute.
“Okay.” Clarke sighed with a small smile as she shuffled out from under her blankets.
“I think someone's making cinnamon rolls,” Raven said as she went to exit the room.
“Don't they always?” Clarke laughed as she slipped into her robe. “You're getting me coffee.”
Raven pouted playfully. “Oh okay.”
As they entered the kitchen they found Jake and Abby having coffee and food already on the table.
“Good morning, girls,” Abby greeted them pleasantly and Jake smiled.
“Morning,” Clarke yawned as she slipped into a chair.
Raven gave them a wave as she made her way to the coffee maker.
Moments later Raven set a cup of coffee on the table in front of Clarke. ”My queen,” she joked and bowed.
Clarke took a sip. “You may go now,” she said waving her hand.
“Imagine that,” Raven grinned as she pulled her out of the chair. “Grab some food. We’re going to watch the parade.”
Clarke sighed, but smiled. This girl.
Abby and Jake just chuckled at them. There was always something good about having them home. Raven had had a room in their house since she was a teenager, she and Clarke might as well be siblings at this point. Though, really that was how Jake and Abby felt about the whole group and why they were always so happy to have them there for Thanksgiving.
The topic of Finn had been discussed the night before and while it disappointed both Abby and Jake greatly, they were proud of the way Clarke and Lexa had handled it. Though Abby did swat Jake on the arm for laughing over how Lexa had dosed Finn and Costia's champagne with laxatives. Clarke didn’t know it, but Jake had taken it upon himself to contact Finn directly later on and tell him that he was not welcome at dinner that night.
A couple of hours later Clarke and Raven were curled up under a blanket in the living room when Abby came through the room.
“Any idea who will be arriving first?” She asked.
“I’ll think Lexa and Anya,” Clarke answered quickly. “There uncle is away, so.”
“Okay, though that is too bad,” Abby said softly. “Don't forget I’ll need your help later in the kitchen.”
“Uh huh,” Clarke nodded, knowing full well that her mother wasn't about to let her touch a thing in the kitchen.
Raven just smirked and kept her eyes on the television.
Before the parade even ended Anya and Lexa were there. They really didn't have anything else to do, so they figured that they would just come early and help. After all, putting together a meal for eleven people was no easy task and unlike Clarke, they could actually cook.
“You’re early,” Clarke said as she pulled Lexa into a tight hug.
“Figured we could help out,” Lexa told her as she gave her a squeeze and dropped a quick kiss on her cheek.
“Well, I will always accept help that is offered.” Abby chimed in from the doorway.
“Unless it's Clarke's.” Raven quipped.
Abby shot Raven a sly wink and returned to the kitchen.
“You can't drop your bag in my room,” Raven suddenly said to Anya.
Lexa and Clarke stared at them for a second as the lightest of pinks flushed Anya cheeks. She nodded and walked away.
“You can dump yours in mine,” Clarke told Lexa. “Not that you have to sleep there or anything. You know there's plenty of space, but this way no one will be tripping on it.”
“Good idea,” Lexa said as she scooped up her bag and followed Anya up the stairs.
Okay. So this was both true and not true. Yes there was plenty of space, but at the same time, Clarke couldn't deny that she wouldn't mind sharing a bed with Lexa for the night. She was amazing to cuddle with and with as crazy as everything had been, having someone to cuddle with, certainly helped her sleep. Perhaps if Lexa's stuff was already there, she would just go with it.
“You could just ask her,” Raven said knowingly. “You know she wouldn't care.”
“I know.” Clarke replied with a small shrug. “So, what's going on with you and Anya?”
“What's going on with you and Lexa?” Raven crossed her arms.
“Not a thing,” Clarke answered quickly.
“Maybe a thing,” Raven responded softly and gave her a look.
That look was all Clarke needed, to know not to press, at least, not right now. So instead, she decided that now was probably a good time to go take a shower and get dressed.
An hour after, she walked into the kitchen to find Lexa, with her sleeves rolled up to her elbows and her hands buried in a sink of soapy water. “This should be your job.” she told her quickly.
“Ah,” Clarke grinned and snapped her fingers. “Looks like you beat me to it.”
“Uh huh.” Lexa glanced at her.
Clarke noticed as Lexa eyed her top, which was currently a large bulky hoodie that belonged to her father. Walking over, she leaned against the counter and looked at her. “It's cold,” she told her softly. Which was true, it being late November and all. “Besides, it's super comfy.”
Lexa nodded and returned her attention to the sink.
As the day ticked on, little by little, all of the members of their group showed up. Some helped in the kitchen, while others watched football and just lounged around snacking and chatting. Truthfully, they all pretty much floated between doing all of the above. Except for Clarke, who eventually found herself banished from the kitchen until after dinner. All and all it was really just a great day. A real family day and Clarke was honestly grateful for it.
Several times Clarke found herself just sitting back and taking in the sight of them all.
Monty and Jasper, making a game of tossing grapes into each other's mouths from opposite ends of the dining room table. Bellamy, Lincoln and her father getting way to engrossed in a touchdown on the television and then celebrating like they were all still back in college. Her mother and Octavia having the most ridiculous debate about the best way to prepare and serve peas. Peas! Not to mention, the sweetest stolen moments that seemed to be happening between Raven and Anya. It warmed her heart to watch it all.
Several times throughout the day her eye would catch Lexa's and Lexa would just grin. She seemed to be taking it all in too.
When they sat down to eat, Jake stood at the head of the table and smiled at them all. “Well,” he began, “here we are again, another year…”
Suddenly Raven stood up and glanced around at them. “I shouldn't be here,” she said quietly.
“Raven,” Clarke made to stand, but Lexa put her hand on her knee.
“Let her speak,” Anya said firmly, her eyes on Raven.
Clarke looked at Raven too. Something very different was showing in her eyes. Clarke sank back into her seat and waited.
Raven took a deep breath. “I shouldn't be here,” she began again. “This isn't the life that I was meant to have. Everyone knows where people like me are supposed to end up. They're not supposed to have college educations or awesome careers or…” her voice trailed off.
Tears welled up in Clarke's eyes. Raven never spoke like this. Never.
“Somehow, I didn't end up where I was supposed to. Somehow, my path crossed paths with these two crazy girls and then everything changed,” Raven’s eyes found Clarke and Octavia before she glanced around the table. “I shouldn’t be here, but I am. I'm here and I have this amazing life, and it's because of all of you,” her eyes suddenly locked with Abby's. "I'm standing here today, because of you," she said as tears slipped from her eyes. "I can walk, because of you.”
Abby quickly brushed a tear of her own off of her cheek as Jake reached out at took her other hand.
Raven swallowed hard. “People talk about Thanksgiving and being thankful and, well, everything that I’m thankful for is right here in this room. All of you - my family.” It was getting visibly harder for her now. “I just wanted you all to know how grateful I am and how much…” her words were lost to a light sob as Anya stood up and hugged her.
In the moments that followed, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. One by one each of them had to get close to her, had to hug her and express their own feelings. It was alright, the food would still be there when they were done. This was more important. This was family.
After dinner everyone dispersed throughout the house, with most going to the kitchen to help clean up. Clarke watched from the doorway as Raven sat on the couch with her parents on either side of her. She had no clue what was being said, it wasn't her business to know. In that moment, all she cared about was the fact that Raven was there with them.
Deciding to leave them in peace, Clarke turned and walked away. As she made her way back to the kitchen she spotted Lexa at the opposite end of the hall, standing in front of a large picture window with her hands cupped behind her back, just staring.
“Hey,” she said softly as she came up next to her, her fingers slipping around her upper arm. “Are you okay?”
Lexa nodded slowly.
Clarke dropped her head onto Lexa’s shoulder. She knew what she was thinking. “I don't know what any of us would have done if we had lost her.”
Lexa shook her head. “I don't know either.”
“I don't think that she realizes how grateful we all are for her too.” Clarke told her.
Lexa shook her head. “She should.”
“She should.” Clarke agreed with a nod.
“What are you grateful for?” Lexa asked, still staring at the window.
“Same as Raven.” Clarke answered quickly. “All of this. Our family.” she took a deep breath. “And you.”
Lexa glanced at her.
“I know we’ve talked, a lot,” Clarke lifted her head as she tightened her grip on Lexa's arm, “but I am so glad that I didn't lose you.”
”You'd never lose me,” Lexa told her softly, “and I’m just as grateful,” she added as she turned, pulling Clarke into a hug and placing a firm and lingering kiss on her temple.
A pang of emotions went off somewhere in Clarke's chest as she pulled Lexa closer and nuzzled into her neck.
At the end of the hall, Jake and Abby stood silent, watching the sweet interaction.
“Do you think they'll ever figure it out?” Abby asked quietly.
"Anything's possible," Jake replied as he slipped his arms around her. “But, they're both pretty stubborn,” he added.
Abby chuckled lightly and just shook her head as she and Jake retreated back down the hallway.
These two dummies.