Missing You Every Step Of The Way (Bellarke)

S2 - Always Nearby

The night air was thick with tension as the two clans - Grounders and Sky People - camped together under a moonless sky. The trees provided little coverage for the seemingly endless Grounder Army, who slept under tents made of animals skins and tightly bound branches. Some even slept in the open but purely out of distrust of the other clan they had to share the ground with. Though not many would be sleeping tonight anyway for speculation of the other trying something under cover of darkness.

Clarke hoisted her pack higher over her left shoulder and trudged past a group of Grounders sat drinking and eating. The looks they gave her were not to be messed with, but Clarke turned away unaffected by their stares.

She could feel the gun on her, burning holes into her jacket, as she navigated the uneven ground in the dark before coming to a halt at the top of a small hill. After a brief fight with Bellamy about not wanting to carry a weapon, Clarke had given in. She wasn't sure why at first, but then realised that Bellamy was probably just concerned for her safety in a camp filled with over a thousand Grounders capable of murder in the depths of night, at the flick of Lexa's wrist.

Below her lay the first of the Sky People's tents, one of whom belonged to her mother, who sat in the porch in thought. Across from Abby lay a crackling fire and beyond that, a cluster of Grounder tents illuminated with rich orange hues.

Clarke could only make out three or four Grounders sat near their tents before noticing a figure stood leaning against a tree nearby and realised that it was Bellamy who was stood near Abby; looking warily at the other encampment.

Bellamy wasn't at ease. He was the opposite in fact as he observed the war-clad Grounders and their camp. Knowing that he would be on high alert tonight wasn't what was bothering him. What was, was the fact that one wrong move, one Grounder attack in the middle of the night or even one of their own people wanting to get back at the Grounders for all they'd done, and the alliance would be destroyed. And with it, all hopes of mutual survival.

Though his mind wandered back to Clarke and how she'd somehow already assumed the position of head peacekeeper and Sky People representative, and was bearing the entire weight of this on her shoulders alone. To Bellamy, it didn't seem fair how Clarke was always the one, but he also couldn't think of a better person than her for the job. No one could have kept them alive as long as she had.

The fire in front of him crackled and brought him back to the present. Abby sat a little ways away from him, frowning with worry. Bellamy could tell it was about Clarke so he walked over while wondering where he was going to sleep for the night.

"Hey," he greeted. Bellamy wasn't really sure what to say to Abby considering he'd been close to hating her on many occasions but he kept that to himself for Clarke's sake.

"Honestly, I never thought we'd get here," Abby replied solemnly, staring at the fire as it flickered; a beacon of light in the darkness.

"Me neither," Bellamy sighed in agreement.

"Do you know how Clarke is holding up? I just hate seeing her have to take the brunt of all of this all the time." Abby looked up at Bellamy; her eyes hopeful since she was well aware of how close Bellamy and Clarke were. Maybe he knew something.

"She's doing the best she can, from what I can tell," Bellamy began and felt a little guilty for not being able to take some of the weight off Clarke's shoulders. "Though I think...after Finn... she's taken up the role of leader to block out the past. To focus on the here and now," he spoke honestly, feeling a small sense of pride build up inside him.

Abby nodded, glancing away and knowing that Bellamy was as observant of Clarke as he had seemed in her head. Also, he'd stuck by Clarke even when she'd gone against Abby's wishes and gone off to find Finn and Murphy, which showed some loyalty at least. Reluctantly, Abby admitted to herself that she was glad that someone seemed to be on her daughters' side, even if it was the boy who'd tried to kill Thelonius.