A/N: This chapter was supposed to be a lot longer and a lot more things were going to go down in it, but I've had this first part written for a long while now, and I also have more stuff written... but because I've taken such a long time to post, I decided to split the original plan for this chapter into two, which is why this one won't be very long and is mostly veryyyyy fluffy. Like, brace yourselves for the fluff.

But that also means that all the angst I had planned for this one, is going to end up in the second half of this chapter aka next chapter, so... take that as you will.

"This doesn't make any sense." Clarke said, following Roan as he led her into the woods.

It had been two days since Nia had sent out messengers to Arkadia. Word should have reached Kane and her mother by now, but other than another attack on one of Nia's villages, there's been nothing to indicate any changes. Clarke feared that Nia would take their silence as them refusing her offer.

"Maybe they're taking their time and weighing their options." Roan stopped moving, looking at her.

"No. They— they have to know that aligning with the Ice Nation is the right move. With the majority of the other clans on our side, we already outnumber Lexa."

"It's not always about making the right moves."

Clarke shook her head, picking at a piece of bark that was coming off of the tree next to her.

"It is when you're in charge."

"Hey." He said gently, putting his hand on top of hers, and waiting for her to look at him. "I'm on your side. I promise you, I'll do whatever it takes to keep your mom, your friends, and your people alive."

His fingers ran along the scar on her palm.

"We're in this together."

She smiled up at him.

Together. It wasn't exactly a foreign concept to her. Before Roan, Bellamy had been her main support system. Her center. Her together.

Part of her was afraid of that changing and allowing someone to matter to her as much as him and Lexa did…as much as Finn and Wells had… and yet, her heart had opened for Roan. Allowed him in. And once you're in, there's no easy way out.

Not without it hurting.

"Together." She nodded, taking hold of his hand.

They continued moving between the trees, and Clarke wondered where exactly he was taking her. He refused to tell her when she had asked, insisting that it be a surprise.

They moved quickly, their feet sinking into the snow with each step. The air was cold, as usual, despite how close the sun felt that day. It's light peeked through the branches, and Clarke savored that temporary feeling of warmth that it offered when that light hit her skin.

Within in a few minutes, they had stopped in front of what looked like a tiny cottage. It was similar to the homes she passed every day through the main village, yet— a little bigger, a little nicer, but humble all the same.

"How long has this been here?" Clarke asked, letting go of Roan's hand so she could take a closer look.

"We started building it just after you and I were married."

"You helped build this?" She turned to look at him, surprised that he had been able to keep his work a secret.

He smiled, nodding slightly, before taking a step towards the door.

"Want to see the inside?"

She nodded excitedly, unable to keep the smile off her face as she stepped toward him. She opened the door, and the first thing she noticed was the bed in the far left corner.

It was draped in furs and handmade pillows that must have taken hours to make. Next her eyes found a small desk, that had been placed directly under one of the windows and a fireplace on the wall directly opposite the bed. A pile of wood was already waiting to be burned.

She moved further in, noticing the empty shelves and table that were just to her right, and another room beyond that.

She made her way over to it, discovering a nice size tub, similar to the one she had been using in her and Roan's room, only bigger. There were several buckets lined up against the wall.

"There's a well nearby," Roan said, noticing her staring. "And we made a fire pit just outside, to heat the water. Which means it won't take too much work to fill the tub. Actually, the well is one of our main reasons for building it here. That, and the privacy."

"It's… really beautiful, Roan."

"It's your's." He replied.

"What?"

"Well… ours… if you…if that's…" He ran a hand awkwardly through his hair and she was sure she had never seen him so nervous before.

"You mean… you built this place…. so we could live here?" Clarke asked.

"Well, not just me. A lot of people volunteered to help. They wanted you to feel more at home here, and I knew that if I waited for my mother to have people start building it, it might never happen."

She stared at him for a moment, before closing the space between them and wrapping her arms around his neck. She sank deeper into that hug the second his arms were around her and found a calmness in the feel of his heartbeat against her cheek.
"I love you." She said quietly.

"I love you, too." It was the first time she had heard him say it.

She slid her hands from his neck to his face and reached up to kiss him.

"Thank you." She mumbled against his mouth, before kissing him over and over again.

Once they were back outside, she was almost sad to leave without having gotten the chance to use the bed.

"When do we move in?" She looked up at him.

"I'll have our things brought their tomorrow. After that, it's up to you…but…" He paused. "Lexa will be here any day now. Her last attack was only a few villages away. That either means that there will be two more attacks before she reaches us, or she's aiming to surprise us by not attacking those villages at all. I've talked to my mother about it, and our warriors are ready."

Clarke knew how hard it was for him to bring up Lexa, especially during their quieter moments. Moments where he wanted it to be just about the two of them.

"So you're saying it might not be the best time for us to have our own place."

He gave her a sad smile.

"Come on." She said, tugging his hand. "Moving into a new home on the brink of a War sounds exactly like something that would happen to us. I say we go for it."

Roan pulled her toward him, placing his arm around her shoulder before they started walking back to the village.

"Ain't we a pair?"

"There." Octavia called to the others. "That's our way in."

Bellamy moved to next to his sister at the edge of their makeshift camp, spotting a few small groups of Azgeda warriors making their way to an entrance through the side of what looked to be the main village.

"They're hurt." He said, noticing the blood.

"Probably survivors from the Commander's attacks. That, or she let them live to send a message. Either way, I expect her to be at their front door by nightfall." There was a hint of pride in Indra's voice.

"Alright. Let's not waste any more time." Miller already had a tight grip on his gun, but Octavia moved her hand against his chest, stopping him in place.

"If they see you with that thing, it's game over."

"There's no way in hell we're not bringing our guns."

"She didn't say to not bring them. We just have to try and not make it so obvious." Bellamy tossed his sniper into a nearby bush. "Though, there's no way I'll be able to hide that on me."

Miller nodded, tucking his gun behind his back and covering it with his shirt. Harper and Monty did the same, and Bryan tossed his next to Bellamy's.

Octavia pulled her sword, wincing slightly as she began to cut her own arm.

"What the hell are you doing?" Bellamy reached for her out of habit.

"Looking injured." She said, giving herself one more cut before handing the sword over to Harper.

Once the group looked the part and Octavia's sword was back where it belonged, Indra urged them to move quickly.

"Are you going to be okay?" Bellamy asked her and she nodded once.

"I'm needed by my Commander's side."

Octavia reached out her arm, and Indra took it. Bellamy had seen this particular goodbye a few times between grounders. It seemed similar to 'May We Meet Again' without the words.

"Stay close." Was all Bellamy said before the group moved toward the Ice Nation, leaving Indra behind.

Monty pretended to limp, Bellamy and Miller on each side, falsely supporting him. Harper held her arm tightly to her body and Bryan's expression was one of exhaustion— which wasn't too far from the truth. Octavia stood in the front, eyes on the three people in front of them who were talking to the guards.

She moved faster, hoping they would be distracted enough to let them by without a word.

"Wait." The one man said in Trigedasleng, moving away from the others to look them over.

It was obvious he didn't recognize them— but with an army so big, and smaller villages apart from this one, it would make sense that he wouldn't know everyone.

"We need a healer." Octavia did their language justice. "Or my friend here is going to lose his leg."

He eyed them for another moment, before nodding and letting them continue on.

Having been camped outside for approximately twelve or so hours, the inside of Azgeda was a welcomed sight.
Bellamy stilled, taking in his surroundings. Somewhere in here, Clarke was waiting for him. For Lexa. For one, or both of them, to take her away from this place…

And if she was still alive— God, help them, she better still be alive— then he would do whatever he has to do to get her back.

Because saving each other is what they do.