Major decisions
“Auntie Lexa! Auntie Lexa!”
Lexa turned her attention away from her conversation with Kelley, spotting Kellan waving at her from the little girl’s spot on her mother’s shoulders. Grinning, Lexa bounded over to the Morgan-Heath family, scooping the little girl into her arms.
“Munchkin!” she said, hugging the little girl tightly.
“Auntie Lexa! Look it!” Kellan yelled excitedly, holding up the gold medal that was draped around her neck.
Lexa smiled, picking up the medal. “Wow! This is great!” she said, Alex and Tobin laughing as Kellan continued to hold the gold medal up.
The team was currently at the victory party, gold medals displayed around their necks. Lexa was waiting for Clarke to arrive with the rest of her family, anxious to hold the girl in her arms again after what they had exchanged after the game earlier.
Lexa was happy—she knew she was happy, she and her teammates had just won an Olympic gold medal, after all.
But the knowledge that she was in love with Clarke, and that Clarke loved her back—it made everything seem like more.
More happier, more brighter, more everything—just more.
Being in love with Clarke felt like more—a feeling Lexa would never get tired of, and one that she could only imagine would grow stronger as time went on.
“Alexandria!”
Lexa turned once more to see her grandparents standing with Anya. Clarke and the Blakes were with Raven and Octavia a few feet away. Tobin scooped Kellan out of Lexa’s arms, nodding her head as Lexa waved and made a beeline for her family.
“Nona! Gramps!” she said, reaching them in record time and being wrapped up in a hug from her grandpa.
“You did so wonderfully, Lexa,” Gustus said, releasing her. He reached out and pulled Anya in next, praising her as Indra grasped Lexa’s forearm.
“Alexandria, you should be proud of how you played today,” Indra said, the corner of her mouth upturned slightly.
Lexa grinned back at her grandma, before pulling the older woman into a hug. She smiled wider as Indra returned the embrace, patting Lexa on the back a few times. “I am proud of you, Alexandria,” Indra said.
“Thanks, Nona,” she said, taking a step back.
“Go on,” Gustus said to her, gesturing to where Clarke was currently jumping up and down with Octavia and Raven a few feet away. “Go see your girl.”
Lexa grinned, saluting her grandpa before speeding away. She came up behind the group, wrapping her arms around Clarke’s waist as her girlfriend let out a startled yelp. Clarke turned around, blue eyes shining as she looped her arms around Lexa’s neck.
“Babe! Oh my god, you were so amazing!” Clarke exclaimed, smiling widely at the soccer player.
Lexa just grinned before leaning closer, capturing Clarke’s lips with her own. Despite being in a room full of people, Lexa wrapped her arms tighter around the other girl, deepening the kiss.
It had been too long since she had held Clarke in her arms, since she had kissed her.
That, plus the fact that she had told Clarke she loves her, and Clarke had said it in return, meant Lexa was feeling especially giddy.
Lexa felt Clarke cup the back of her neck, and she moved her hands from Clarke’s waist to the small of her back, softly rubbing the other girl’s skin through the shirt Clarke was wearing. She pulled back slightly, rubbing her nose against Clarke’s before switching the angle, capturing Clarke’s bottom lip between both of her own. She felt Clarke’s lips mold against hers, before her girlfriend’s lips suddenly upturned into a smile, a breathless laugh against Lexa’s mouth.
“Hi,” Lexa breathed out, pulling away so she could look at Clarke.
Clarke grinned back, tangling her fingers in Lexa’s hair. “Hi,” she said back.
“I missed you,” Lexa said.
“I love you,” Clarke replied.
Lexa laughed, rolling her eyes, but with a giddy smile on her face. Her heart soared as she heard those words from Clarke—she was certain she would never tire of hearing them.
“I love you too,” Lexa said softly, leaning in closer.
The smile that lit up Clarke’s face was one of Lexa’s favorite sights, giving her butterflies in her stomach and a warm, fuzzy feeling in her chest. Clarke gave Lexa another quick kiss before stepping away.
“You should go celebrate with your team,” Clarke said, gesturing to where some of her teammates were gathering, getting drinks.
Lexa wrapped her arm around Clarke’s waist, pulling the other girl in closer to her side. “I want to celebrate with you,” she said, before pulling Clarke over to where the Morgan-Heath family was dancing on the dance floor.
“Clarke! Hi Clarke! Look it!” Kellan shouted, waving and holding up her gold medal, stomping her feet as she danced with her moms.
Clarke laughed, eyes lighting up as she held her hand up for a high five, which Kellan enthusiastically slapped with her own.
“That’s amazing!” Clarke said, before giving Tobin and Alex a hug. “Congrats you guys!”
“Thanks!” Alex yelled over the music, Tobin nodding her head.
“I’m going to get Alex a drink!” Tobin said loudly, stepping off of the dance floor. “Do you guys want anything?”
Lexa stepped up next to Tobin, putting her hand on Clarke’s arm. “I’ll get you something,” she said, Clarke grinning and nodding at her. Lexa turned, following Tobin to the bar.
“So that was some congratulatory kiss!” Tobin said as they waited by the bar for their drinks. The two of them leaned against the bar, looking out onto the dance floor.
Lexa smiled, laughing as she watched Alex, Kellan and Clarke doing a wave with their arms, hands connected.
“I told her I love her!” Lexa said back, eyes never leaving her girlfriend, who was now attempting to do the robot with Kellan.
“Whoa! That’s huge!” Tobin said, handing Lexa a drink. “What’d she say?”
“She told me she loves me too,” Lexa said, finally breaking her stare from the dance floor as Tobin patted her on the back.
“Well isn’t that something,” Tobin said, smiling at the younger player.
“It’s everything,” Lexa responded.
Tobin simply laughed, nodding her head. “Yeah, I know the feeling,” Tobin said, looking at Alex and Kellan dancing together, the little girl’s hands in the air as she bounced up and down to the music.
Lexa and Tobin made their way back to the dance floor where Anya, Raven and Octavia had joined the dancing trio, all of them laughing and egging Kelley on, who was attempting to moon walk in the small dance circle they had started.
“Come on Commander! Show us those smooth moves!” Raven yelled, nudging Lexa into the circle.
Surrounded by her best friends—the people she loved the most, Lexa felt invincible. Especially when Clarke—beautiful, wonderful, Clarke, whom she loves, and who loves her in return—looked at her with those bright, shining blue eyes—Lexa felt infinite.
All that was left to do was break out her best running man.
(Which she absolutely nailed, no matter what Clarke said, thank you very much.)
* *
“DC, Boston, Columbia, Seattle…damn Griff, you’re a hot commodity!” Raven said, scanning over the list again.
The two were sitting in their apartment, waiting for Octavia to come back from training so they could go get dinner.
Clarke chuckled, shaking her head at her friend.
“I’m serious Clarke! These are some great offers!” Raven continued, waving the pro and con lists around. “Are you leaning towards one?”
Clarke just shrugged, pouring herself a glass of water. She sat down on the couch next to Raven, leaning back into the cushions. “I don’t know…I mean, I think I know but I’m not sure?” she answered, scratching her head.
Raven rolled her eyes, nudging Clarke in the shoulder. “Well when you decide let me know. If we’re moving I’m gonna have to mentally prepare myself for packing up everything,” she said.
Clarke just hummed as Raven rested her head against the doctor’s shoulder.
“What does Lexa think?” Raven asked.
“She said it doesn’t matter to her,” Clarke said. “She’s pretty adamant that I make this decision on my own.”
“That’s nice of her,” Raven commented. “She wants to make sure you do what you really want to do.”
“Well she did make some good points,” Clarke replied. “She said anywhere I choose, she would still be spending half the year in KC. So during the off season she can just move to where I’m going to be.”
“That girl would follow you anywhere,” Raven teased.
Clarke smiled softly, thinking about her girlfriend.
Lexa was training hard with FCKC as the month of September came to a close, the NWSL semifinals happening during the upcoming weekend. Clarke knew how determined Lexa was to win another championship.
“Sup bitches?” Octavia’s voice rang out through the apartment. Clarke and Raven both turned to look over the back of the couch where Octavia was standing in the doorway, plopping her training bag on the floor. “What are we talking about?”
“Everybody wants a piece of Griff and she’s torn about who to choose,” Raven responded.
Octavia plopped down on the couch, squeezing herself in between Clarke and Raven. Turning, she rested her head on Raven’s lap and her legs on Clarke’s.
“Why don’t you do that Friends thing?” Octavia asked, humming as Clarke started to massage her calves.
“I thought that only works if you’re choosing between two things,” Raven commented.
“And I don’t think I should leave such a major decision up to a game,” Clarke added.
“It worked in Friends,” Octavia grumbled, crossing her arms.
“Too bad our life isn’t like Friends,” Clarke quipped back.
“Aww, O,” Raven cooed, pinching her friend’s cheek. “Did no one tell you life was gonna be this way?”
“You guys are the worst,” Octavia muttered, standing up and stretching her arms above her head. “I’m gonna shower and then we can go get food.”
“Hurry up,” Raven said. “You smell.”
“That’s the smell of victory,” Octavia retorted over her shoulder, already walking towards the bathroom. “We’re going to kick your girlfriend’s ass this weekend, Clarke.”
“Either way I get to see her this weekend,” Clarke called back, smiling at the thought of seeing Lexa. FCKC was traveling to DC to take on the Spirit in the semifinals, and Clarke was counting down the days until she and Lexa could be together again.
“Woo! Clexa lives on!” Raven shouted, raising her arm in triumph.
Clarke turned her head to stare at her friend.
“Why are you the way that you are?” Clarke asked.
“You mean amazing?” Raven asked. “Don’t worry Clarke, you’re not so bad yourself.”
Clarke rolled her eyes, ignoring Raven’s outstretched arms that were attempting to wrap the doctor up in a hug.
“Clarke? Clarke! Just let me love you!” Raven continued as Clarke disappeared down the hallway.
* *
“Good game, O,” Lexa said, hugging her friend.
“Yeah, yeah,” Octavia grumbled, though she returned the hug. “Next year, you’re mine Woods.”
Lexa let out a laugh, patting the younger girl on her back. “Keep telling yourself that,” she said, releasing her friend.
Octavia gave her a smile before the two went their separate ways—Octavia towards the home locker room and Lexa towards the visitor’s side.
FCKC had beaten the Spirit 3-1 in the semifinal game of the NWSL playoffs, with two goals coming from Lexa herself.
Lexa hurriedly took her dirty clothes off before hustling to the showers. She washed off quickly, throwing on some clean clothes before rushing out of the locker room, her teammates hollering after her as she went.
“See ya later, Commander Heart Eyes!” she heard her teammates echo, and she just grinned wider as she got closer to the exit, knowing who was waiting for her on the other side.
“Clarke,” she said, finding the blonde doctor leaning against the wall opposite the locker room. Lexa rushed over to the other girl, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend and burying her face in the doctor’s neck.
“Hi babe,” Clarke greeted her, returning the embrace.
The two held on to one another, reveling in simply being in the same place—something they wouldn’t take for granted, especially since they knew just how often they were forced to be apart for their careers. Lexa leaned back, smiling at Clarke before giving the other girl a soft kiss.
“Great game,” Clarke said once the two broke apart. “Congrats. Those goals were amazing.”
Lexa linked their hands together, pulling Clarke closer as the two started down the hallway to the parking lot.
“Thanks,” Lexa replied, swinging their arms back and forth. “I’m not gonna lie, I was a little worried when Octavia scored that goal in the first ten minutes.”
Clarke laughed, nudging the soccer player with her shoulder. “Couldn’t tell,” she said. “You were in full Commander mode.”
“Well, best me I can be, or whatever,” Lexa replied, shrugging her shoulders.
Lexa stopped in front of Clarke’s car, waiting until her girlfriend unlocked the door before opening the driver’s side for the other girl. Clarke simply rolled her eyes, but rewarded Lexa with a kiss on the cheek before sliding into the seat. Lexa jogged over to the other side of the car and slid into the passenger’s seat. Clarke started the car, grinning as the radio started up and a familiar song came blaring out of the speakers.
“Oh god,” Lexa groaned, but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth.
“I don’t mind spending every day, out on your corner in the pouring rain,” Clarke sang, turning the radio up.
“Don’t make me, Clarke,” Lexa whined as her girlfriend ignored her, singing louder.
“Look for the girl with the broken smile, ask her if she wants to stay awhile,” Clarke’s voice rang out.
The soccer player simply sighed, but knew it was just a matter of time before she caved—Clarke was shooting her that smile, the one that made the butterflies in her stomach flap harder.
“And she wiiiiill be looooved, and she wiiiill be loooooved,” Lexa sang along, being rewarded with a small cheer from Clarke.
* *
“Eat my dust, bitch!”
“Ha! Green shell coming at ya!”
“What? Noooo. No no no.”
“Andddd winner winner chicken dinner! Yeah!”
Clarke watched fondly from the doorway as Raven covered her face, groaning while Octavia did a happy dance, controller in hand. She had come home from her shift at the hospital to the two of them playing Mario Kart, hearing the competitive voices of her friends as she was unlocking the front door before she even entered the apartment.
“Hey guys,” Clarke cut in, interrupted Octavia’s taunting as she continued to dance around the couch while Raven scowled.
“Griff! You want next game?” Octavia asked, plopping back down on the couch next to Raven.
Clarke shook her head, pushing off of the doorway and coming to stand in front of her two friends. “No thanks. I actually have something I want to tell you guys,” she said, fiddling with her keys.
Raven and Octavia put their controllers down immediately, giving Clarke their full attention.
“You decided?” Raven asked.
Clarke nodded her head, and the two leaned forward in anticipation.
“I want to go home,” Clarke said.
The room was silent for a beat before Octavia broke it.
“Home home?” she asked.
Clarke nodded her head.
“We’re going back to Seattle?” Raven asked, voice rising in excitement.
Clarke nodded her head again, face breaking out in a grin. “We’re going back home,” she confirmed. “Seattle.”
“Hell yeah!” Raven cheered, jumping up from the couch and wrapping her friend in a hug. “Oh my god! Mama B and Mama G are going to be so happy!”
Clarke laughed, returning Raven’s hug enthusiastically. Octavia stood up, wrapping her arms around the two as well.
“Congrats Clarke,” Octavia said happily, smiling softly at her friend.
“O, I know that we’ll be leaving you here…” Clarke said, eyebrows furrowing.
She knew that picking somewhere other than DC meant that Octavia would be on her own for half the year during the regular season with the Spirit. It would be the first time the three of them weren’t going to be within walking distance of one another, and Clarke couldn’t help but feel bad for leaving Octavia on her own as she and Raven moved back to their hometown.
“Don’t even worry about that Griff,” Octavia said, hugging her friends tighter. “I’ll be joining you in Seattle during the off season. It’ll be fine.” She released her friends, the three of them plopping down on the couch. “I’ll just live with a teammate during the season here. I expect my own room at your place in Seattle though.”
“It’ll be waiting for you when the season is over,” Raven promised, nodding her head.
Octavia grinned, leaning over and giving Raven a kiss on the cheek. “It better be,” she said, nudging Clarke with her shoulder. “So, what made you decide on Seattle?”
Clarke smiled, shrugging her shoulders. “They have a great orthopedic program—one of the best in the world,” she answered. “It was definitely one of my top choices, even before I knew that I had passed my boards.”
“I thought you weren’t sure if you wanted to work with your mom?” Raven asked.
Clarke shook her head. “I wasn’t,” she said. “But then I realized that not going to Seattle despite it being one of the best fits for me just because my mom was the chief there was essentially me doing the very thing I wanted to avoid—choosing where I end up based on my mother.”
“Well, Mama G is going to be so psyched,” Octavia said, grinning. Abby was never exactly subtle about wanting Clarke to move back home.
“We should celebrate!” Raven announced. She slapped Clarke and Raven on their thighs before standing up. “Let’s go get some ice cream.”
Clarke and Octavia looked at each other before grinning, getting up from the couch as well.
“Your treat,” the two said to Raven at the same time.
* *
Clarke Griffin2hrs ago
Hey babe, call me when you get a chance. I have big news! Have a great day. Love you.
Lexa grinned while reading the message before grabbing her towel and heading towards the ice baths. She slowly lowered herself down into the ice cold water, shivering as she adjusted to the cold before deciding to facetime Clarke instead, hoping to catch the doctor during a break.
“Lexa!” Clarke said, her smiling face appearing on Lexa’s phone screen.
“Hi Clarke,” Lexa said, still shivering slightly.
“Are you ok?” Clarke asked, eyebrows furrowing in concern.
“Yeah, yeah,” Lexa said, waving her hand dismissively. “Just currently freezing my ass off in an ice bath.”
Clarke laughed, making Lexa smile. “Such dedication,” she said. “What a professional. Facetiming your girlfriend during recovery.”
“You said to call you!” Lexa argued, though the grin remained on her face. She was always in a good mood when she got to talk to Clarke, and despite being in an ice bath, now was no exception.
“I meant when you weren’t busy, obviously,” Clarke replied.
“I missed your face,” Lexa responded, fist pumping triumphantly when she made Clarke laugh again. “Yes! I am on a roll today!”
“You’re trouble,” Clarke said, shaking her head.
Lexa just shrugged. “So what did you want to tell me?” she asked, switching the phone to her other hand.
“I decided where I’m gonna go!” Clarke said excitedly.
Lexa felt her heart beat a little faster at those words.
She knew that Clarke was considering a few different hospitals, and they had all made some really great offers to the doctor. Lexa had made sure to let Clarke know that she would support her decision no matter what, especially since she would be away for half the year during the NWSL season.
Still, there was one Lexa preferred Clarke chose above the rest—she didn’t voice it, though.
She never would have.
She wanted Clarke to make this decision on her own, without factoring in Lexa—this was Clarke’s future, her career. And while Lexa was going to be a big part of Clarke future, she didn’t want the doctor regretting her decision because she based it on what Lexa wanted.
“So where will I be living for half the year?” Lexa asked playfully, hoping to hide how nervous she actually was about Clarke’s answer.
Clarke smiled, bright and wide. “Seattle,” she answered.
“What?” Lexa asked, eyes widening.
“Seattle,” Clarke repeated, Lexa’s smile growing as the word sunk in. “I’m going home, babe.”
“Seattle!” Lexa exclaimed. “That’s amazing, baby! Oh wow! I’m so happy for you!”
Clarke laughed happily at Lexa’s response. “My mom was so excited, babe. You should have seen her face when I told her,” Clarke continued. “I facetimed her, and I swear she was starting to cry.”
“This is really, really amazing, Clarke,” Lexa said, smiling softly at her girlfriend.
“Yeah?” Clarke asked, grinning.
Lexa nodded her head in confirmation, matching Clarke’s grin.
“Huh? Now? Ok,” Clarke said, her face turned to speak to whoever had showed up. “Sorry babe, I’ve got to do a consult. I’ll talk to you later?”
“Definitely,” Lexa replied. “I love you, Clarke. Congratulations. I’m so happy for you.”
“I love you too,” Clarke responded with a soft smile, before waving and ending the call.
Lexa put her phone down on top of her towel next to the tub, closing her eyes.
She thought about the conversation she just had with her girlfriend—the excitement that tinged Clarke’s voice when she said she was going home, how bright her girlfriend’s blue eyes were shining at the declaration.
A tiny seed of thought had been planted in Lexa’s brain ever since she had found out Clarke was seriously considering the offer from Seattle, and now that she knew Clarke had accepted, the seed was starting to flourish and grow.
She grabbed her phone again before dialing her cousin’s number.
“Sup loser?” Anya answered.
“It’s Seattle,” Lexa blurted out.
“And a hello to you too, Lexa,” Anya said dryly. “I’m great, thanks for asking.”
“Sorry,” Lexa replied. “Hi. Great. I’m glad. Listen,” she continued. “Clarke chose Seattle.”
The phone was silent, causing Lexa to wonder if her cousin had heard her. “Anya? Are you there?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Anya responded. “I’m here. Seattle?”
“Seattle,” Lexa confirmed.
“So does that mean…” Anya trailed off, referring back to an earlier conversation the two of them had on the flight back from the Olympics.
Lexa let out a deep breath, smiling as she thought about Clarke, and her future, and how those two were starting to be one in the same.
“Yeah, yeah it does,” Lexa said, grinning.
“And this is what you want? You’re certain?” Anya asked.
“Yes,” Lexa answered immediately, no doubt in her voice. “This is what I want.”
Anya was silent for another beat, before her voice filtered through the phone once more. “Well then congrats, Lex,” Anya said, genuine happiness in her voice. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, Anya,” Lexa replied, closing her eyes. “I am really happy.”
“Well, I’m about to head out to meet the Morgan-Heaths at the park,” Anya said. “Apparently Kellan is insisting she needs to practice on quote, a real goalkeeper, not on her moms who don’t even play goalkeeper, unquote."
Lexa laughed, thinking about Kellan’s declaration a week ago when she said she wanted to be “just like Mama and score the goals!”, Alex beaming with pride while Tobin rolled her eyes, though she too had a smile on her face.
“Call me later,” Anya continued.
“Have fun,” Lexa said. “Bye.”
Lexa sank back into the tub, waiting for the timer to go off. Ten minutes later, Lexa shot out of the tub, grabbing her phone and wrapping her towel around her shoulders.
Lexa walked towards the locker room, a determined look on her face.
She, too, had made a major decision.
Now, she just had to put it into action.