Don't Dream It's Over
“Auntie Raven! Auntie Raven!”
Alexandria ran with her arms wide and flailing as she launched herself into her aunt’s embrace.
“Hey kiddo! How was school? Any punks I gotta take care of?”
“No punks. Jasper said his Daddy’s live together and kiss on the cheek because they wove [love] each other. Do you wove my mommy?”
“Oh uh well.”
Raven had no idea how to answer the question. Alexa has yet to ask about her other parent. Clarke had a whole speech prepared about how her other mommy might not be around, but she has Clarke and her aunties and uncles and grandma. This wasn’t really her place to initiate that conversation though.
Sure, Raven loves Clarke, but not in that way. She understands where Alex is coming from though. Raven and Clarke do live together and they do platonically kiss on the cheek everyday before leaving for work. They’ve been doing it for years, ever since high school actually. But now their affectionate nature has Clarke’s daughter confused.
“Well do you?”
“Of course kiddo. I love both you and your mom very much.”
Alex’s eyes beamed up at her with such awe and adoration.
“Does that mean you’re my other mommy?”
Well fuck this isn’t good. Clarke’s gonna kill Raven when she hears about this.
“No baby. I love your mom but I love her like I love Auntie O. Like a sister. That’s why you call me your auntie. Do you understand?”
“Yeah..”
Alex’s face fell. Lately, Alexandria was really confused. Everyone else had two parents. Two mommies or two daddies or a mommy and a daddy. But she only had one mommy. Some of her friends had two houses because their parents didn’t live together anymore. But they all still had two parents. She loved her mommy so so much. Her mommy is so pretty and nice and smart. She always makes her waffles with strawberries on Sunday mornings and then takes her to the park to play soccer (even though her mom can’t kick the ball for her life). Alex still wonders where her other parent is though. Does she even have one? She’ll have to ask her mom when she gets home.
“Come on if you don’t tell your mom I’ll get you some ice cream before we head off to the shop.”
“With spwinkles?!”
“Sure kiddo.”
///
It’s almost 6pm which means it’s almost closing time. Raven is eager to get home and wait for Clarke to get home to explain to Alexandria’s questions about her “other mommy.” Clarke is such a good mother to her kid. Raven respects the blonde for managing to get her nursing degree while still managing to be a present mother to her daughter.
Raven glances over to see Alexa playing with the toy tool box Raven keeps for her in her office. The girl likes to pretend she’s fixing the cars with her aunt. It’s honestly one of the cutest things Raven has ever seen.
“Hello? Is anyone here?”
That voice sounds awfully familiar to Raven. And then the blonde comes out of the shadows. Oh my god. Anya Woods. Anya Woods is in Raven’s shop. To say that Raven was internally freaking out would be an understatement.
How does she handle this? What does she say? What would Clarke want her to say? Again, Raven is thrown into a situation she has no business being in.
“Anya.”
“Raven Reyes? Wow 7 years did you wonders.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I got a flat tire a block away from your shop. I was hoping you could -”
“No.”
“No?”
“No, I meant what are you doing in Polis. You and your sister picked up and left. No forwarding address. You just left.”
“Oh I see. Maybe I should just go somewhere else.”
“No! Wait!”
Raven couldn’t let the women in front of her leave. Clarke might not want to reach out to the Woods, but she has to give her best friend the chance to make that decision for herself. If the Woods are back in town, Clarke deserves to know. And perhaps, the Woods (one in particular) can give an explanation for what really went down all those years ago.
“I’m not going to give you any answers to your questions Reyes. Not tonight.”
“That’s okay. I’ll get Wick to go tow your car. Just sit in that chair over there, I have to make a call.”
“Let me guess, you’re calling a certain blondie.”
Raven shakes her head, ignoring the question. “I’ll be right back.”
///
“Clarke Griffin speaking.”
“Clarke!! Thank god you picked up.”
“Raven? Is everything okay?? It Alex okay?!”
“Oh yeah. Sorry, didn’t mean to freak you out.”
“Ok then what is it? I’m still on call.”
“Anya Woods just walked into my shop.”
There was a pause in conversation. Clarke didn’t say anything for a good minute. Surely, she was pacing the halls of the hospital with a pit of anger and confusion building in her stomach.
“What did she say Raven.”
“Her tire has a flat. Wick is towing it right now. She’s out front.”
“Where’s Alexandria? Did she see her?”
“No she’s in my office.”
“Good. Keep her there. I’m coming.”
“Wait Clarke. I thought you said you were still on call.”
“I’ll just tell my mother it’s an emergency. The hospital is ten minutes from your shop. I’m leaving right now. Keep Alex in your office Raven.”
“Ok Clarke. Just don’t drive like a madwoman or anything. We aren’t going anywhere.”
Oh Clarke definitely is mad. Let’s see how this ends.