Let Me Down | John Murphy

Acceptance

Chapter 32

Nightfall came before we knew it, which was a relief to me. My whole body felt so exhausted by the endless emotional breakdowns that John's lap was the perfect place to rest whilst the others made camp.

"How did you know it was Gustus?" Lincoln asks Bellamy.

I'm not asleep, I'm just resting my eyes.

"He'd do anything for her. To protect her," I find myself opening my eyes just enough to see Bellamy's eyes moving to mine. "I know what that's like."

In this moment, it doesn't matter if we're not on speaking terms. I already know who he's talking about.

Dawn.

She's barely even alive, and Bellamy would do absolutely anything for her.

No matter what I feel regarding Billie and the baby, I know that I can't let my feelings get in the way of what matters most. And that's our daughter. I don't have to love his choice in women, and I certainly don't have to love his actions. But I do have to put Dawn first.

Bellamy is her father. Nothing else matters. If he loves her, and promises to keep protecting her until the day he dies then all the rest is irrelevant.

I've been hurt- correction: still am hurt. But I can't be selfish. Bellamy has as much of a right as I do when it comes to our child.

"It just makes sense," Bellamy says, moving his eyes back onto the fire.

"Look at the thanks he got," Octavia says.

Silence lingers over the camp for a mere second before Raven interrupts.

"Guys."

"What is it?" Bellamy asks.

Okay, now it's time to wake up.

Pulling myself away from a very comfortable lap, I make my way over to Raven.

"Listen to this."

"Forty-seven of us are trapped." A radio was somehow helping us communicate with the ones trapped in Mount Weather. "They've taken Harper."

"Talk to him. Say something," Clarke encourages.

"We don't know how much time we have left," Jasper continues.

"It's repeating," Raven states.

"Please hurry. This is Jasper Jordan."

"They're alive," Octavia says.

"We need help," Jasper states.

"We need to do this now," Bellamy says. "We've got the alliance, now's the time to use it."

"First, we need an inside man," Clarke says, speaking over the recording. "You were right," she turns to Bellamy. "Without someone on the inside to lower their defenses... turn off the acid fog, an army is useless. You should go."

"Isn't that suicide?" I question, which surprises Bellamy as I show my compassionate side.

"Thought you didn't care," Bellamy responds, but I choose not to reply to that comment.

Well, I had that coming.

"It's worth the risk," Clarke says.

Far cry from the girl who fought to protect every criminal since we arrive on earth.

"My map of Mount Weather," Clarke says, handing it over to Bellamy. "Find a way to get on that radio and talk to us."

Clarke hands over the radio and smiles. "Good luck."

When she walks away, Bellamy looks at me.

"Look after Dawn for me. Tell her I love her."

"You're coming back," I remind him, not about to lose another person I care for.

"Quinn-"

Pulling his arm, I drag him away to talk for a moment.

"I know what I said before, and I'm sorry. I do care about you. That's why I was so upset before. Billie has managed to hurt me in ways that I never thought possible, and now to find out she's pregnant with your baby..." I look away trying to compose myself.

"I'm not putting you and Dawn second," Bellamy tells me, picking my face up to look me in the eyes. "You guys mean everything to me."

Don't make me cry, Bellamy Blake.

"Even if you were, I shouldn't have gotten myself into that state. Dawn is our daughter. She's the priority. She's who we should be putting first."

"I couldn't agree more."

"So, you're coming back. Agreed?" I question, raising an eyebrow until he gives in.

He sighs, "agreed."

Throwing my arms around him, I feel relief. Even throughout all our arguing, I still missed him.

"Be safe," I tell him.

"I will," he continues. "And about Billie..."

I watch him pull away, but he doesn't need to continue.

"I'm going to keep an eye on her, too. Don't worry."

"I don't expect you to help, or anything-"

I cut him off. "She's my sister. And whether I like it or not, that baby is family," I state. "That's Dawn's sibling, and your child."

Acceptance from Quinn Brady? What has the world come to?

"I wasn't willing to accept it before, but I'm willing to try now. After all, you and I... we're family. Right?"

"Right," he nods. "Safe travels on your way back to camp."

"Don't die rescuing our people from Mount Weather," I elbow with a laugh.

"Until we meet again," he says.

"Until we meet again."