The Slowest Burn - Bellarke

Season 2 AU- nightmares

*if Clarke had stayed at Arkadia with Bellamy, and how the pair would have grieved together*

*trigger warning: insomnia, post traumatic stress disorder and night terrors*

Clarke shot out of bed, letting her feet be cooled by the concrete floors of Arkadia.

It had been almost a week since Mount Weather, but every night she still saw it, over and over as if it was printed on her eyelids. She heard them screaming, felt Bellamy's hand on hers, both of the pushing down the lever that would end hundreds of lives.

She crawled out of her bunk. It was so strange being back in the Ark. They had been on the ground so long she almost forgot what the inside of it looked like.

She padded into the hall. It was almost completely silent, aside from one small child crying in a distant room.

Clarke closed her eyes. She could still hear them screaming.

She walked along the hall, trying to calm herself. Her whole body shuddered.

She had almost left, but Bellamy had convinced her to stay.

Bellamy.

If anyone knew what she was going through, it was him.

She walked down the hall and took a left. She knew exactly where Bellamy's room was by now.

She had found herself there almost every night since amount Weather.

Most of the time, he was sitting up waiting for her, with a bottle of moonshine and a sad smile.

Usually, once Clarke had had enough to drink she'd return back to sleep and let the alcohol quell the night terrors.

Tonight however was different, Bellamy's door was open, as always but when she went inside she saw he was asleep.

She smiled.

At least someone was getting some rest.

She moved forward, thinking about her decision to stay.

She looked down at Bellamy, so peaceful in sleep.

She knew he had nightmares too.

She knew that they were in this together.

She didn't think she could have done it alone.

If she had left, she had come running back the second the night terrors started.

She remembered Bellamy's voice, his eyes, pleading with her to stay.

As she looked down at the boy she knew she made the right decision.

She reached out and stroked his hair once. She shouldn't wake him.

Maybe if he had a good sleep for once, maybe it was worth it.

Clarke was turning to leave when she heard Bellamy screaming.