Her Step Brother

Where Do We Go From Here?

When Clarke woke up, she decided to shower before even going downstairs. After she was showered, her damp hair in a pony tail, she woke Bellamy up.

"Today's going to be a bad one. Want to grab a shower?"

He stretched, nodding. As he went to shower, Clarke nervously cleaned and straightened up her room. Anything to keep her occupied.

Thankfully Bellamy didn't take too long. He came back in the room, dressing quickly. Together, they finally went downstairs. The air in the house was thick and tense but they made themselves a cup of coffee before they sat once again on the couch, waiting.

Abby looked exhausted, looking as if she didn't sleep at all. Marcus didn't look much better.

"I think the biggest issue I have," Abby started. "Is that you lied, Clarke. Even if you lied by omission, you've been lying. When we talked that night, you said Finn was the only one you were with."

Clarke shook her head. "I'm actually positive that I said he was the only one I with at Dad's. And, yes, I know, that's not good enough, it's still true. When we had the birth control talk, I meant what I said."

"That you might find someone in school or college? Because it seems you found Bellamy."

She rolled her eyes at her mother. "Mom, I know I didn't tell you. I know that this is a huge deal, okay? But, I did mean that, to a degree. When Bellamy and I got into that fight and ended things, I made sure I brought up the fact that you would probably disown both of us. That on holidays, we couldn't bring anyone over."

"And that all changed because he showed up with flowers?" Marcus asked.

"Does it look we've had a chance to discuss that?" Bellamy asked.

Abby ran her hands through her hair. "I never imagined this happening," she muttered. "We can't just allow you two to be together like that. If you were dating any one else, it would be like that, too. You're seventeen, you shouldn't be allowed to live with a boy."

"But, this is home to both of you," Marcus interjected. "We wouldn't and couldn't tell either of you that you can't stay here. No matter what, as strange at is, we are all family."

"If we were thirty and thirty two, would it be less weird?" Clarke asked. "Would you care then?"

"I think that age doesn't matter," Abby answered. "In this situation, I don't think anything is right. Age isn't the biggest thing. But, I still stand by what I said about the two of you not living together. I wouldn't allow you to sleep with anyone under my roof with my knowledge."

"So, until I move out, Bellamy can't crash here? With his own father?" Clarke demanded.

"No, but your father does get every other holiday."

"Is this a joke?" Clarke scoffed. "Basically, you're banning us from seeing one another?"

"Bellamy can stay when he wants to," Marcus came in firm.

Abby turned to her husband. "And they're allowed to sleep with one another?" She was losing it again.

"If the other option is kicking one of the curb, yes," Marcus sighed. "Also, they're young and have been sleeping together right under our noses!"

"That doesn't mean we should give them a pass! Do you really see no issue with this?" Abby demanded. "I said 'no'!"

"Stop!" Clarke shouted. "Are you two really going to go at each other over us? I'm turning eighteen in a few days. What I just move? Would that help you two sleep better at night?"

"No! It absolutely would not!" Abby stood.

"Well, I'm not going to sit here and have you two fight about it! You're blaming this all on Bellamy, hinting or being outright with your blame. Acting like he shouldn't be welcomed here, and it's bullshit! You cannot pin this on him. Because he's the guy? Because he's older? No reason is a good reason. I am old enough to know better and to make my own decisions! We both slept together, he didn't urge me or anything else. We can't help the fact that we are attracted to one another. What's done is done. What has started has started. You two aren't going to lose your shit and strain your marriage over this! No reason for a second divorce!"

Abby took a deep breath, facing her daughter. "Does your father know about this?"

"That's what you got from ehat I said? Are you serious?" Clarke was appalled.

"No! But, I need to know. Does he know about this?"

"No."

"Hmm." Abby crossed her arms. "Marcus and I aren't getting divorced over this. And, I apologize, Bellamy. I did put most of this on you, and that's wrong."

Bellamy just inclined his head to acknowledge her.

"But, I'm still not okay with this. Now, every time you say you're with Raven, I'm going to wonder if you're with Bellamy."

"I don't think your opinion matters," Clarke said, her voice low.

"With all due respect," Bellamy added.

"And what exactly does that mean?" Abby demanded.

"Clarke will be eighteen in a few days. An adult. And, we aren't actually related. You didn't adopt me, Dad didn't adopt her. We didn't grow up as siblings, we didn't think of each other that way. Hell, over night you two dropped the huge bomb that you guys were dating and getting married. The two of you hid your relationship for months or longer from us. Maybe if we had know from the beginning, we would never have started what we stared. We wouldn't known you were together and we wouldn't have crossed those lines."

"We didn't tell you out of respect for your feelings," Abby spoke, her voice much softer. "Your mother had just passed a few years ago and Clarke and her father have always been so close, we just didn't want to upset you."

"Until he put a ring in it," Clarke pointed out. "Then, you had no problem combining our households without a second thought of how we felt about it."

Marcus scratched his neck. "You're right. You both have very good points. And, we do, too. But, where do we go from here?"