Between Our Love

Between Our Love

Chapter 13 - universe in bloom, meet me in the garden I planted for you

Clarke's lips curve. She hasn't opened her eyes yet, and doesn't need to, to know they're both drowsily enveloped by the glowing fairy lights around them. It must be early, for it to be dark enough the Christmas lights are showing beyond her eyelids. And if it's that early, then there's no reason they need to get up yet.

Clarke shifts and turns to lie on her other side, and even in her sleep, Lexa follows. She turns in Clarke's arms, automatically stretches her arm out so Clarke can curl up to her, resting her head on her chest. Her heart beats steadily under Clarke's ear, lulling her back to sleep.

When she wakes again, it's far lighter in the room, and the birds beyond the window are more active. Clarke's ear burns, half numb from hours of resting atop Lexa's chest, but she pays it little mind. She stretches instead, body unfurling like a cat, and cracks her eyes open when Lexa shifts to do the same, though her eyes have yet to open. When her body settles and her arm tightens around Clarke again, Clarke lets her eyes drift shut again, too warm and comfortable to consider getting up yet.

She doesn’t get to fall back asleep again. She fully wakes to the sensation of fluttering in her belly. Bacon doesn't seem to want to sleep in as late as they do. A smile touches Clarke's lips, and she adjusts as Lexa yawns and stretches once again before melting back down into the mattress. Clarke nuzzles into her neck and absently strokes whatever her hand rests on. She vaguely registers the quiet rumble of Lexa’s throat as she hums in approval, or maybe pleasure, as Clarke drifts her touch along her hip. Lexa's skin is warm through the thin, sleep-worn fabric of her t-shirt.

She grows somnolent again, her strokes slowing, but Lexa rolls over before she can drift off again. When Bacon kicks insistently again, Clarke huffs, amused, and cracks her eye open to focus on the sleepy fondness written across Lexa's face.

"Good morning from us both."

Lexa hums, shifting her hand from Clarke's stomach, resting her arm on the curve of Clarke's hip instead. Fingertips graze the sensitive skin at the small of Clarke's back, and she has to swallow down the purr that tries to rumble up her throat.

"Good morning," Lexa returns, and Clarke has approximately one second to admire the way long lashes rise and fall over the silvery green of Lexa's eyes before they suddenly grow much closer. Clarke's heart lodges itself in her throat and she remains carefully still as Lexa brushes full lips over the center of her forehead, and then her temple, before brushing over the curve of her cheek.

She can't do anything but look at Lexa, for a moment. Marveling over how at peace she makes her feel. How ridiculously safe and warm it is, like they're in their own little world. Clarke loves it.

She loves it, and hopes desperately that she makes Lexa feel the same way. By the way Lexa looks at her when she leans in to trace the exact same trail of kisses over Lexa's face, she thinks maybe she does.

Lexa's gaze lingers on her, soft and glowing with affection. "Good morning."

Clarke can't help it; it pulls a chuckle out of her, one that coaxes Lexa's smile to grow. "You said that already."

Lexa's arm tightens around her, hand splaying at the small of her back. "It bears repeating."

Here are some gif hints as to what happens 😌

Between Our Love

Chapter 12 - jealous of the rain

“Don’t talk about the what-ifs.” Lexa just looks at her. “Do what-ifs scare you?” Clarke looks back at her. Maybe her hand would be shaking, if Lexa wasn't holding it so tightly. Her other hand is. She pushes it beneath her thigh, trapping it between her body and the couch cushion. “Sometimes they do.”

These are definitely all addressed, so yay 😌 (tho I’ll say one of these is switched around… just can’t say which cause that’s def spoilery 😄).

What are you imagining is going to happen next?

Anything you’re hoping for?

Any guesses or theories you’d like to share?

I’ll mark this with a read more since it’s spoilery

//

Lexa’s eyes snap open as she jolts awake to a flash of blinding light, the whole house shaking as thunder crashes in the night and her heart crashes in her chest. She sits up in bed, blankets pooling around her. It’s storming hard outside, rain pelting the roof, tree branches scratching at the window as the wind howls. A glance at the alarm clock shows it’s a quarter past four in the morning.

Lexa calms just seconds later, when soft hands smooth over the skin of her stomach. Then her heart stutters again, as she realizes those hands are on the bare skin of her stomach.

Clarke is clearly half asleep, instinctively reaching out to soothe her. Lexa relaxes, exhaling as she settles back onto the mattress, lifting an arm so Clarke is free to shift closer. She nuzzles her head onto Lexa’s chest, throwing a leg over Lexa’s. The hard swell of her belly presses into the side of Lexa’s, and her hand remains just under the hem of Lexa’s shirt, fingers drifting over skin in a mindless pattern.

Lexa swallows thickly as her eyes flutter closed, arms gentle but snug around Clarke, and absently strokes Clarke’s forearm that’s slung across her waist. There’s an ache, simmering in the pit of her stomach. A type of longing that’s been mostly hibernating for months.

Just the storm, she dismisses in her head. They’ve always had this effect on her. Something about them just wakes her up— literally and figuratively. It’s fine.

She releases a shaky breath and tries to let the sleepy, gentle touches on her hip carry her back to slumber, but it’s not working. She is, unfortunately, wide awake, even long after Clarke’s hand has stilled and she’s slipped into deep, steady breaths barely short of a snore. Another glance at the clock shows Lexa has been lying awake for over forty minutes. She bites back a groan. This is not how she wanted to start the day, but she might as well get on with it, because clearly she’s not going to be falling back asleep anytime soon.

As carefully as possible, she extricates herself from Clarke’s arms—pressing her lips together when Clarke’s hand drags across her stomach, fingers grazing the strip of skin just above the waistband of her sleep shorts—and gently tucking the blanket up around her. Clarke turns in her sleep, curling around Lexa’s pillow. Lexa takes a second to just look at her, at how her hair is lit up white gold when lightning flashes and the light spills in through the window, to illuminate half of the room. Lexa’s stomach turns with the sound of thunder.

You know what? She needs to do the safest thing possible to work off this energy.

Between Our Love

Chapter 11 - stones and starlight

Clarke’s gaze shifts from the strokes of graphite to the girl beyond the edge of the sketchbook, languidly stretching, arms above her head, before she’s even opened her eyes. Yeah, the drawings never come close to capturing the grace of the real thing.

Even when the real thing has messy bed-head and sleepy eyes as she blinks at Clarke as though surprised to see her there. Clarke snaps her sketchbook shut and looks at her, lips pressed together again in a vain attempt to curb the soft smile curving her lips. It doesn’t matter, really—not since Lexa’s lips are curving too, and she’s ducking her head into the pillow almost bashfully.

“Good morning,” she says, voice still a sleepy rasp. “How long have you been up?”

“Not long,” Clarke says, though a glance at the clock tells her she’s been sketching for over half an hour. She doesn’t correct herself, and stands to slip the sketchbook in a random drawer. “You want some breakfast?”

Lexa’s noncommittal hum has Clarke huffing as she turns to face her. She knows Lexa. She’s hungry, she’s always hungry—but she doesn’t want to get out of bed. By Lexa’s lips tugging up into a grin, she’s fully aware Clarke is reading her like a book, but she knows Clarke, too. She pointedly pats the mattress beside her.

They both giggle when Clarke immediately flops into bed. Lexa shifts back a little bit to make room, but they still share the same pillow, faces inches apart. Lexa’s eyes are a lovely pale shade of green this morning.

They avert after a moment, Lexa turning to burrow her face into the pillow again. Clarke snorts, and after a beat, Lexa’s muffled voice says, “I’m still sleepy.”

Clarke laughs quietly. “This is late for you, you’re usually up for a run by now.”

“What time is it?”

“Eight thirty.”

Lexa makes a sound somewhere between a grunt and a groan, and Clarke’s amusement grows, especially when Lexa finally lifts her head to turn to face her again. The fine baby hairs around Lexa’s hairline are fluffy and wild from the pillow; her eyes are so green right now, flecks of gold visible and glowing in the pale sunlight streaming through the blinds.

Clarke’s smile is as soft as the way she brushes errant hair out of Lexa’s face. “How are you doing?”

Between Our Love ~ Clexa Surrogacy AU

Between Our Love ~ Clexa Surrogacy AU