It was early on a cold Tuesday morning when the tour bus left the city of Charlotte. The sun had only been up for a few hours, its warm rays covering the city in soft light and melting away the stubborn frost that had accumulated overnight. Gustus had taken it upon himself to herd everyone from the hotel onto the bus, many still bleary-eyed and stumbling. There had been a mad rush to claim beds, and only a handful of the crew had been awake to see the city disappear behind them.

Lexa was standing in the makeshift 'kitchen' of the bus, leaning against a wall bench running along one side of the room. They hadn't much to work with (some old appliances, a few iceboxes and a small seating area squeezed to the side) but the crew had managed to make the area somewhat civilised. Staring out the window with a large mug of steaming hot coffee cupped between her hands, Lexa felt content.

"Good morning."

Lexa turned from the window, a smile tugging at her lips when she saw who it was. "Good morning, Clarke."

Clarke stepped into the kitchen area, stretching her arms over her head with a jaw-cracking yawn.

"I thought you were having a nap," Lexa remarked. Most of the crew had opted to go back to sleep as soon as they were on the bus, with many of them sleeping off hangovers. Lexa hadn't seen anyone else awake yet other than Lincoln and Gustus, their driver.

"And I thought I smelled coffee," Clarke said, her gaze landing on the mug cupped between Lexa's hands. Her eyes lit up. "Is that from your stash or is the bus finally supplied with coffee again?"

"It's from mine but I can make you another cup," Lexa trailed off, watching as Clarke walked over to her. She didn't protest as Clarke took the mug of coffee from her, taking a long sip of the hot liquid.

Letting out a sigh of contentment, Clarke leaned back against the bench next to Lexa, bumping their hips together. "I'm good with sharing yours."

Lexa tried to relax back against the bench, focussing on her breathing. Having Clarke so close to her sent her into a tailspin, even now. She could still feel Clarke's lips against her own.

"How was your nap?" Lexa asked.

"It didn't really happen. I gave up after the third kick," Clarke said. Seeing the confused look Lexa gave her, Clarke smiled. "Raven is a very violent sleeper," she explained.

"Yet you continue to share a bed with her," Lexa pointed out.

"She says it's her defence against my stealing the blankets."

"Are you a blanket hogger, Clarke?"

"Innocent until proven guilty," Clarke quipped.

"So you are a blanket hogger."

"I guess you'll just have to find that out for yourself." There was a teasing lilt to Clarke's voice.

Lexa swallowed. She could feel the tell-tale sign of heat spread across her cheeks as she blushed.

"So what's next after San Antonio?" Clarke asked.

Grateful for the subject change, Lexa shrugged. "Phoenix, Vegas and then Los Angeles."

"Is that your final stop of the tour?"

Lexa gave a small nod of affirmation.

"Then what?" Clarke asked, holding out the mug of coffee to her. Lexa tried not to react when Clarke's fingers brushed against hers.

"I'm not sure yet. Our label will probably want us to start thinking about the next album."

"All work, no play, huh?" Clarke teased.

Lexa smiled at her. "Something like that." She bought the mug up to her lips, inhaling the earthy aroma.

"Did you and Anya used to date?" Clarke asked suddenly.

Lexa choked on her mouthful of coffee. With great difficulty she swallowed, the hot liquid burning her throat on the way down. "What? No, why would you think that?"

"Then are you related?" Clarke pressed, not answering Lexa's question.

Lexa furrowed her eyebrows, "not exactly."

"Sorry," Clarke said, a small smile on her lips. "I don't mean to pry. I'm just trying to understand the," she paused, gesturing with her hands, "dynamic between you two."

"Oh," Lexa said, wondering why Clarke hadn't just asked that to begin with. She idly scratched an itch on her wrist, her gaze moving to her feet and then back up to Clarke. The other woman was still watching her. "We grew up together - in the system," she added, when Clarke still looked confused. Clarke's mouth opened, closed and then opened again.

"You look like a fish," Lexa said dryly as Clarke continued to flounder before her. The remark was answered with a glare.

"I didn't know what to say," Clarke grumbled at her. "I seem to have foot in mouth syndrome when it comes to you."

Lexa laughed under her breath, "I think it's endearing."

Clarke gave her a playful slap on the arm. The contact sent sparks reverberating through Lexa's skin. "Of course you would," Clarke complained. "You're not the one making an ass of herself."

"Oh, I think I've done a fine job of that lately as well," Lexa said. She looked down at her feet, remembering her previous actions. How she had avoided Clarke, going so far as to slam a door in her face. Why Clarke was still standing here, talking with her, Lexa could not understand. The girl, it seemed, never gave up.

"Touché," Clarke said with a wink, reaching out to take the mug of coffee from Lexa and raising it to her lips. After taking a sip of the hot liquid she placed the mug back on the bench they were leaning against.

They stood in silence for a moment, Clarke occasionally stealing glances at the woman beside her. Lexa pretended not to notice. Both of them made to break the silence at the same time.

"What was it like-?"

"Are you feeling-?"

They stopped, staring at one another before breaking off into laughter.

"You go," Clarke gestured at her, a grin still spread across her face.

Lexa shook her head with a smile. "No, you go. Mine wasn't important."

Clarke paused, mindlessly chewing on her bottom lip. She suddenly looked unsure of herself. Just as Lexa was about to ask her if she was okay, Clarke spoke. "What was it like growing up in the system? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she added hurriedly.

"I don't mind," Lexa said. "There were good moments and there were bad moments. I don't really have anything to compare it to."

"What happened to your parents?"

"I was told my mother died not long after I were born," Lexa began, her tone matter of fact. She had said the words so many times that they no longer hurt her. "I was removed from my father's custody when I was young; he was deemed an unfit parent. I don't remember him well."

"Do you have any siblings?" Clarke asked.

Lexa gave a small shrug, "not that I know of."

"What about your dad? Have you ever seen or spoken to him since you were taken away?"

"No," Lexa said with a slight shake of her head. "He died when I was sixteen. Alcohol poisoning," she explained. Looking over at Clarke, she saw that the other woman was staring down at her hands, fingers twisting together.

"That sucks," Clarke said. She looked up, meeting Lexa's eyes.

Lexa smiled wryly at her. "Yeah, I guess. But it wasn't all bad."

"So you met Anya in the system?"

Lexa ducked her chin in a nod. "I was a total brat. Anya knocked some sense into me pretty quick."

At that, Clarke laughed. "That sounds like Anya to me. How long have you known her?"

"Forever," Lexa said. "Or at least that is what it feels like. We met when I was five, Anya was nine."

"Was she with you the whole time?" Clarke asked. She had turned to face Lexa now, her hip leaning against the bench. She was so close Lexa found her eyes constantly dropping down to trace the other woman's lips.

"No," Lexa said. "Anya and I are not relatives so it was not a priority to keep us together."

"That must have been hard," Clarke said softly.

Lexa shrugged, her eyes looking away from Clarke to look straight ahead. "It was what it was." She could feel Clarke staring intently at her; those eyes that had stolen a piece of the sky boring a hole into the side of Lexa's head.

"Did you ever get adopted?" Clarke asked.

As though Clarke had said something funny, Lexa felt a laugh slip from between her lips. She turned to look at Clarke. There was a crease of confusion between Clarke's eyebrows.

"There was not exactly high demand for me, no," Lexa said, lips still tugged up in a grin.

"Ah," Clarke said, comprehension dawning on her face. "That's right; you were a brat."

"I was a brat," Lexa echoed.

"Nice to see some things don't change," Clarke teased.

Lexa huffed, folding her arms across her chest. "Why the twenty questions, anyway?" she asked, not rising to the bait.

"I'm just trying to get all of the juicy gossip on an up and coming musician to sell to the magazines."

When Lexa raised an eyebrow at her, Clarke shrugged innocently. "Gotta fund my love for booze and pretty girls somehow."

Lexa couldn't help the snort that escaped her. "You have interesting priorities."

"Are you going to help fund my priorities or are you going to stand there and judge me?"

With a roll of her eyes Lexa motioned at Clarke with one hand, "what else would you like to know, then? For the magazines, of course."

Clarke was silent for a moment, aimlessly chewing on her bottom lip again. "Favourite colour?"

"Seriously?" Lexa deadpanned. "That's what you want to know?"

"Alright then," Clarke paused before looking up at Lexa through her eyelashes, a playful grin on her lips, "favourite position?"

Lexa inhaled sharply, almost choking on the sudden intake of air. "My- what?"

Clarke was laughing at her. "I was talking about the band. I guess I should add 'dirty-minded' to the list of Lexa traits."

"I think this interview is over," Lexa said shortly, arms still folded across her chest.

Before Clarke could respond they were interrupted by a bleary eyed Jasper, his lips chapped and hair mussed from sleep.

"I hate my life," Jasper groaned in anguish. "I fucking hate it."

"Something wrong, Jasper?" Clarke asked innocently.

He stumbled by them and to the ice box, retrieving a bottle of water. He twisted the cap off and took large gulps from the bottle, water escaping his lips to trickle down his chin. With a loud sigh, he wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. "Please tell me one of you has aspirin."

"Are you not feeling well?" Clarke asked, still feigning ignorance.

Jasper scowled at her.

"Check the medicine box in the driver's cabin," Lexa said, deciding to put the boy out of his misery. Jasper gave her a look of immense gratitude before stumbling off to the front of the bus.

"I cannot believe you actually give him responsibilities," Clarke quipped to Lexa, an incredulous look on her face.

"I'm starting to think the same."

It was only a four hour drive from Charlotte to Atlanta but the bus made a pit stop in Greenville. When Gustus told them they had an hour of free time, Clarke, Octavia and Raven were the first ones to vacate the bus, grateful for the chance to stretch their legs.

"Oh, Greenville, how I love you," Raven slowly stepped down from the bus, a look of relief on her face as she stretched her aching muscles.

"You've been here before?" Octavia asked her in surprise. "When?"

"Yeah, we met five seconds ago. It's the making of a legendary love story."

With a bark of laughter Octavia wrapped her arms around Raven, pulling the other girl against her. "Have I ever told you how much I love you?"

Clarke was standing by the bus, a smile on her face as she watched her two best friends. "You guys are ridiculous."

"Don't be jealous, Griff," Raven tutted, extracting herself from Octavia. "There's plenty of Raven to go around."

"Sorry, Raven. I'll always want you all to myself," Clarke grinned at her.

"Not to interrupt the love-fest, but are you guys hungry?" Octavia asked.

"I'm a growing girl, of course I'm hungry," Raven said. Motioning to the others, she turned away. "Let's get burgers."

"I'm going to marry that girl," Octavia deadpanned before jogging away to catch up to Raven.

Clarke wasn't feeling particularly hungry but she made to follow Octavia and Raven anyway. She stopped when she felt a light touch on her arm. It was Lexa. The other woman gave her a soft smile, the hint of nerves showing in her eyes.

"Would you like to go for a walk with me?" Lexa asked her.

Clarke turned back to Octavia and Raven who had stopped when they saw Lexa. They both gave her the thumbs up. Raven winked at her, eyebrows waggling suggestively. Clarke rolled her eyes. She turned back to Lexa with a smile.

"I would love that," Clarke said.

Lexa's smile grew even wider. "Ok."

Clarke leaned against the bridge rail, staring down at the water below. There were a flock of ducks paddling in the river, now and then ducking their heads below the surface in search of food. The park Lexa had taken to her was beautiful and quiet, most people choosing to stay inside and out of the cold. With her coat and gloves on Clarke found herself not minding the weather. If anything, she enjoyed the bite of the wind and the way it had of turning Lexa's cheeks a shade of pink.

"Making friends?" Lexa asked. She stood next to Clarke, their shoulders touching, as they both watched the ducks below from their vantage point on the wooden bridge.

"Are you jealous?" Clarke shot back teasingly.

Lexa smiled at her. "Do I have reason to be?"

"Maybe you do," Clarke said aloofly, turning her head so as to hide the grin on her face.

Lexa snorted. She turned back to the ducks. "Alright then, which one is it?"

"What?" Clarke asked.

"Which duck to I have to challenge to a fight to the death?"

Clarke laughed. She nudged Lexa's shoulder with her own, "you're a dork."

"This is serious, Clarke. I must win your affections."

"By murdering a poor duck?"

Lexa grinned at her widely, "so you admit I would win this battle?"

"My question still stands," Clarke said dryly.

Shrugging at her, Lexa said, "I have to get rid of the competition."

"But what if I'm a pacifist?" Clarke asked teasingly. "I wouldn't approve of violence."

"Then I will kill it with kindness," Lexa answered immediately, surprising Clarke with a wink.

Clarke shook her head, a soft smile on her lips. "I like this Lexa."

"The duck-murdering Lexa?"

With an exasperated sigh, Clarke said "you're impossible."

"Not true," Lexa said, trying and failing at containing her smile. "I exist, therefore I am possible."

"Keep at it and you're going to see the Lexa-murdering Clarke."

Lexa only laughed at her.

"It's beautiful out here," Clarke said softly. "I wish I had my sketchbook."

"You draw?" Lexa asked her curiously.

Clarke gave a half-shrug, smiling. "I dabble."

"A doctor and an artist. You are full of surprises, Clarke Griffin."

Clarke would never admit it but she loved the way Lexa said her name. "I'm not a doctor yet, you know," she said with a roll of her eyes, the smile still on her face.

"One day you will be," Lexa said.

Clarke nodded. "One day."

"May I ask you a question, Clarke?" Lexa asked.

"Shoot," Clarke said, turning her head so as to give the other woman her full attention.

"What made you want to be a doctor? Art and medicine are two very different passions to have."

Clarke paused for a moment, mulling the question over in her mind. Her fingers began to aimlessly drum against the wooden railing. "I like helping people," she said finally. "I've always known that whatever I want to do in my life, I want to help people. I thought about doing art therapy for a while but medicine seemed the more… practical option."

"Do you enjoy it?"

"I don't know yet. It made Abby pretty happy though."

"Abby is-?"

"My mum," Clarke said.

Lexa nodded, her eyes flickering over Clarke's face. Her gaze was scrutinizing, as though she were dipping into every crack in Clarke's outer shell. Somehow, it didn't make Clarke feel defensive. "I remember; the complicated mother. Is she very different to you?"

"We're probably more alike than I'd ever want to admit, actually."

"Yet you don't get along?"

"No, it's complicated." Clarke hesitated for a moment. She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, teeth gently scraping the soft flesh. Lexa was watching her, waiting patiently. For some reason, it made Clarke appreciate her even more.

"My dad died when I was sixteen too," Clarke finally said. She waited for Lexa's reaction; for those two words to spill from her lips. I'm sorry. Everyone always said them. After her dad had died it was all she had heard. I'm sorry. She hated it. Clarke hadn't wanted their apologies, hadn't wanted them to voice their pity. All she had wanted was her dad back.

"That must have been unbearable," Lexa murmured.

Clarke looked up at Lexa then. She swallowed, a lump lodged in her throat. "It was."

They fell into silence for a moment; Clarke needing to collect herself and Lexa allowing her all the time she needed. Clarke felt a hand touch hers. She looked down to see Lexa's gloved hand covering her own. Somehow, the other woman's touch gave her the strength to keep talking.

"They said it was his heart; that it just gave out. He was at work when it happened. They said he just collapsed. His work called an ambulance but by the time they bought him to the hospital he was already dead."

Clarke felt a soft squeeze as Lexa's hand tightened on hers. She gave a soft sigh.

"Abby, my mum, never let me grieve my own way. I was upset, I was angry, and so I acted out. She thought there was something wrong with me and so she sent me to grief counselling. When that didn't work she shipped me off to boarding school for a year. She thought that a new environment would do me good. I was away from my friends, my family; all of the people I needed." Clarke stared down at their joined hands. "I was all alone."

"That must have been a difficult thing to go through," Lexa said, her voice soft.

"I blamed her for a while," Clarke blurted out, "for my dad dying. She was a doctor and yet she didn't even see the signs. I hated her for it."

"It's not your fault, Clarke. It's normal to seek someone to blame in times of grief."

Clarke laughed, but it sounded bitter. "Yeah, I guess. Still… it took a long time for us to mend our relationship. Even now it's strained."

Lexa didn't respond. When Clarke looked up at her the other woman was staring down at the water, her eyes far away. The ducks were still swimming below them.

"Have you lost someone before? Other than your dad?" Clarke didn't know where the question came from.

"Everyone has lost somebody, Clarke." Lexa was still staring down at the water. Her green eyes followed one duck as it swum in lazy circles below them.

"It sucks."

"It does."

Somewhere out in the park a bird had begun to sing.

Clarke stepped away from the railing, her hand slipping out from beneath Lexa's. She felt restless, as though there were a buzz running through her veins that she needed to shake off. She could still hear the bird singing.

"I just need a reprieve. I just need a moment in my life where I can say 'fuck it' and have fun for a while, you know? I've been so tied up with school and…"

"Is this your moment, Clarke?" Lexa had turned to face her, leaning casually against the railing behind her.

Clarke stared at the woman before her, the woman that was so perfect, so addictive, so beautiful, Clarke was terrified of losing her. Even if they only had days together, Clarke wanted to spend every moment with her.

"Can you do that for me?" The words left her lips in a hushed whisper, only audible to Lexa and the ducks still swimming below them.

Before Clarke even knew what was happening, Lexa was kissing her. Lexa's lips were cold and chapped from the wind, a stark contrast to her hot breath and soft tongue. Clarke's eyes were shut yet she didn't even remember closing them. Her arms found Lexa's waist and she tugged, pulling their hips flush together. Lexa inhaled sharply through her nose, reaching up to tangle one hand in Clarke's hair and press the other against her neck. Clarke was falling, her mind in a constant spin. Lexa's lips against hers. Lexa's tongue inside her mouth. Lexa's hand touching her hair, her neck. She gripped onto the other woman tightly, as though she would fall off the face of the earth if she loosened her hold. In response, Lexa ground their hips together and Clarke gasped. She broke the kiss, heart beating frantically in her chest. Lexa stepped back, giving her space.

"I'm sorry," Clarke said, still breathless. "I think we got a little carried away."

Lexa was flushed, her cheeks somehow pinker than before. This time Clarke knew it wasn't only due to the wind.

"Does this mean I no longer have to challenge that duck suitor of yours?" Lexa asked, her tone completely serious.

Clarke laughed, leaning back against the bridge railing across from the other woman. "While I would love to see you challenge a duck on my behalf, I don't think you have to worry about competition anymore."

Lexa smiled. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by a vibrating noise coming from her jeans. She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and stared down at the screen. "It's Gustus," she informed Clarke.

"Someone's in trouble," Clarke teased.

Lexa ignored her. She pulled off one glove with her teeth and with a swipe of her finger answered the call on speakerphone.

"Leksa, where are you?" Gustus' voice came through the phone, an edge of exasperation to his tone. "Everyone is back at the bus. We are all waiting on you."

Lexa tucked her glove under her arm, freeing her mouth. "I'm on my way back."

"Anya is threatening to leave without you," Gustus responded. There was a pregnant pause and then he asked, "are you with Clarke?"

Lexa hurriedly switched off speakerphone, bringing her cell up to her ear. "Yes, I'm with Clarke. We are headed back now."

Clarke watched her, curious at the woman's reaction. Lexa was silent, Gustus obviously speaking but Clarke couldn't hear him no matter how hard she strained her ears. She pushed herself off from the railing and stepped closer to Lexa, trying to look inconspicuous.

Lexa was nodding and then, as though realising Gustus could not see her, muttered a quick, "yes." She hung up the call and slid her cell back into her jean pocket. Pulling her glove back on, she looked up at Clarke. "What?" She asked suspiciously, seeing the look Clarke was giving her.

Clarke had a million questions racing through her brain. Instead, she asked, "would Anya really leave us behind?"

Lexa snorted. "You, maybe. I, on the other hand, am far too valuable."

Clarke shoved Lexa's shoulder playfully, "rude."

As they walked back across the bridge Clarke felt a tentative touch against her hand. She smiled to herself as Lexa gently intertwined their fingers together.

"Why does Gustus call you Leksa?" Clarke asked, her voice sounding loud in the quiet of the park.

"He says it is a form of endearment," Lexa gave a small shrug. "I think he just doesn't know how to pronounce my name properly."

Clarke laughed. She rolled the other woman's name around in her mouth. "Leksa, Lexa, Leksa, Lexa-"

"Are you done?" Lexa asked her dryly. "With whatever it is that you are doing?"

"You could always shut me up if you wanted to," Clarke teased.

Lexa kissed her.

The band had only been in Atlanta for an hour before word spread of their arrival. A small group of fans had congregated outside of the hotel they were staying, holding signs and chanting the band's name.

Clarke hung back with Octavia, watching the Wanheda trio sign autographs and take pictures. Gustus loomed in the background, an impromptu bodyguard.

Watching Lexa chatting and taking photos with the fans, Clarke found herself smiling. Somehow, the other woman looked different. There was a shine to her face, a light behind her eyes. Clarke liked seeing this version of Lexa.

Octavia was standing next to her, arms folded across her chest. She was muttering under her breath, "-ridiculous, they're all over him."

"What?" Clarke asked. Turning, she was surprised to see the grumpy look on her friend's face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Octavia said shortly. She was glaring daggers in Lincoln's direction.

Clarke looked over at Lincoln, who was surrounded by a group of very affectionate girls, before turning back to Octavia. "You're jealous," Clarke realised. Before she could stop herself, she laughed.

Octavia quickly directed her glare to Clarke. "I don't do jealous, Clarke," she said stiffly.

"Are you here for an autograph, Clarke?" It was Anya. She had taken one last photo with a fan before making her way over to the two girls. Taking one glance at Octavia's cloudy expression, she asked, "what's up with her?"

"Octavia's jealous," Clarke informed her. She yelped at the arm-slap Octavia gave her.

Anya looked between Octavia and Lincoln, noting the number of girls hanging off the drummer. "Relax, Octavia," she said wryly, slinging her arm over the girl's shoulders. "Lincoln only has eyes for you."

As though he had somehow heard her, Lincoln looked up. Capturing Octavia's eye, he smiled at her.

"Yeah," Octavia said, unable to help herself from smiling back. "Yeah, I know that."

The night sky was littered with stars; a dark canvas strewn with pinpoints of light. The city thrummed below; it's noise and light not quite powerful enough to dim the sky above it. The rational side of Lexa's brain was telling her that it was far too cold of a night to be standing outside on her hotel room balcony, especially in bare feet. The other side, the side that enjoyed romantic novels and philosophical poetry a little too much, wasn't quite ready to go back inside. She could get lost out here in the stars.

The buzz of a doorbell dragged Lexa from her reverie. Stepping out from the balcony, she made her way across her hotel room, bare feet padding against the carpet. Opening the door she was surprised to see Clarke standing on the other side.

"Hi," Clarke said softly, smiling at Lexa.

"Hi," Lexa echoed back. She stood there for a moment, her outstretched arm still holding the front door open. "Oh," she said, stepping back. "Would you like to come in?"

"Did I interrupt you?" Clarke asked, stepping by Lexa. She was wearing silk pyjama shorts and a dark navy hoodie. Not very practical for the cold, a voice in the back of Lexa's mind murmured. It was drowned out by the part of Lexa's mind that was thoroughly checking out Clarke's legs.

"Unless stargazing is a very important activity, then no, you didn't interrupt anything," Lexa said, shutting the door and following Clarke into the hotel room.

Clarke turned to smile at Lexa over her shoulder. "Cute," she murmured, her eyes taking in Lexa's bamboo sweatpants and t-shirt.

Lexa felt warmth spread across her cheeks and mentally slapped herself. Was that all it took for her to blush now?

Clarke had turned back away from Lexa and was walking out towards the balcony. Lexa had left the sliding door open and Clarke stepped out onto the balcony, her gaze faced up towards the star-littered sky.

Lexa watched her for a moment, taking in the way Clarke moved across the balcony; the way her back arched slightly as she leaned against the rail, the flex of her calf muscle as she shifted her weight to one leg, the glow of her hair in the moonlight.

"It's a beautiful night," Clarke said as Lexa joined her. They leaned against the rail, both now looking up at the stars.

"It's cold," Lexa pointed out.

"Don't ruin the moment," Clarke admonished her.

"You have goosebumps," Lexa countered, looking down at the raised bumps on Clarke's bare legs.

"Is this just an excuse to look at my legs?" Clarke said, a teasing smile pulling at her lips. When Lexa didn't say anything, Clarke continued, "would you like to warm them up?"

A breathless chuckle left Lexa's lips. "You're teasing me."

"Perhaps," Clarke said, her voice a soft murmur. "Though I wouldn't say no to your hands on my skin."

Feeling her heart beating a crescendo in her chest, Lexa turned her head to face Clarke. The other woman was looking at her, blue eyes darkened to such a deep shade Lexa felt as though she were staring into the night sky. Lexa's gaze dropped to Clarke's lips. She could remember how soft they felt against her own. She wanted to feel that softness again.

"I'm going to kiss you."

"I know."

Lexa didn't remember the moment her hand left the cold balcony rail until she realised her fingers were tangled in Clarke's hair. Her head tilted down and there was a whiff of vanilla and a glimpse of blue eyes and then her lips were on Clarke's.

It was a kiss that sent fire racing through her veins and heat pooling in her stomach, and only the stars were there to see.