In His Arms

Chapter 9

Sleep.

Sleep.

Why can't I sleep?!

No, why won't you let me sleep!

I poke my finger at my stomach, where Madi was going nuts. She was continually kicking my belly button and the skin around it, and I was starting to get really bad lower back pain. The pain in my stomach also comes in waves, so much that I think they are contractions at times. But then I laugh and remind myself that I am only 7 and a half months pregnant, the time when the braxton hicks contractions can start.

No matter what, I am not comfortable. First I'm too hot, then I'm too cold, then all I want to do is lie down, then lying down hurts too much and I want to walk. Wait, a walk sounds good. Let's go for a walk.

I had already peeled my body away from Bellamy's asleep one earlier because I couldn't decide what to do, so now I just had to let him know what I was doing. I slowly trudge my way up the stairs and into our room. I already had some clothes in my wardrobe, but right now I wanted to stay in my pjamas. I grab my oversized cardi and throw it over my shoulders, then grab my boots and Bellamy's jacket.

"Bell..." I say, gently rubbing his shoulder. He stirs and looks to me, all confused with sleep. "I can't sleep," I tell him softly, "So I am going to take a walk around camp to make me tired." Bell lifts his head from his pillow and wipes the side of his face, the new confusedness in his face funny enough to make me giggle a little. "What time is it?" He asks groggily, sitting himself up fully now. I push him back down and glance at my watch, "4:48. Go back to sleep, I'll be back soon." I kiss him lightly and leave the room, not giving him a chance to come with me, because the minute the cold air would hit his skin, he'd realise that I was in pain and would make me go to my mum even though I know it's just my body preparing me for labour.

I walk out from our house and make my way slowly around the village, stopping every so often as another braxton-hicks contraction hits me. They were quite far apart, so I think they are going, but then again they hadn't been close together in the first place.

"Clarke? What are you doing awake?" Kane calls, his footsteps approaching mine. I glance over my shoulder and turn to face my mothers boyfriend, who had a confused smile on his face. "I couldn't sleep. Someone is restless tonight, so I thought a walk around camp would chill us both out so I could sleep." I say, resting my hands on my large bump. Kane smiles to me sweetly and nods his head, tucking his arms behind his back.

"Are you sure that's all?" He asks, leaning forward as if he was telling me a secret. I nod my head and absent-mindedly run my hand over the top of my bump. He pulls back and gives a small nod of his head. "Alright then. Be sure you don't leave these walls, ok? And don't be out here too much later. It is nearly sunrise and you need sleep." Wait, IT'S NEARLY SUNRISE!?

I glance down to my watch and gasp, "I didn't realise it was this early. Late. Whatever you want to call it! I'll head back now. Thanks Kane." I turn on my heel and waddle slowly towards the house, hoping to not get stopped by anyone else-

"Clarke?" Octavia calls, skipping out of the Ark. Fuck. I'm done for. She is going to know something's not right. "You alright?" She asks, embracing me happily. I smile at her and nod my head, dragging my hand through my knotty hair. "Yeah. I'm alright. Are you on your way to your shift?" "Yeah. Bellamy, Lincoln and I all have conjoined shifts this morning. I start now and finish at 9, so I'll drop in shortly after my shift."

Oh fuck. Here comes another wave of pain....... No, no, no, no!

The thing is, I'm not trying to let them not know I was in pain. It's just that my best friends are worry warts and will go to extreme lengths to make sure I'm fine. It's sweet really, but when they undermine my medical expertise and make me see my mother it can really piss me off sometimes.