May we meet again (Clexa)

Chapter 6

It had been a week since Clarke last saw the kids, a week since she'd had a shower, a week of vodka and sleeping pills.

How had it happened that she found everything that made her want to sing out to the Cosmos, that made her want to believe that making wishes on shooting stars worked and as fast as she found it she lost it, and she found it true the saying of you don't realize what you have till you lose it.

She hugged Wonder close to her as tears wrapped themselves around her face, dripping down to her chest.

She had promised Madi to be there always, no matter what happened she'd always be there but here she was alone and with no idea to where the kids had gone too, had it not been for Social Services, they'd be here now, watching Teen Titans, Madi's favorite cartoons.

Her phone rang for the third time since the day had started, she hurriedly pressed answer as her Abby's number displayed on the screen, "Did you find where they're keeping them?"

"Yes, but-"

"Where is it?" Clarke cut Abby off, she had found them. She had to get to them, she pushed Wonder aside and put on her shoes and grabbed her car keys, "Mom, where are they?"

"I can't tell you that."

Clarke fumed, how dare she, what does that even mean? She hadn't seen the kids in a week and her body craved to hold them, hug them, tell them all the stories she should have told them about, about her friends and maybe even about Lexa, but they were gone.

"I don't have time for this, they need me, where are they?"

"No!" Abby shot back, "They don't need you Clarke, not when you probably smell like a brewery, clean yourself up and fight for them, put into action what your mouth hasn't failed to say what you want." Abby snapped, that had definitely shut Clarke up, she dropped her phone and closed her eyes, lying down on the sofa, she dosed off, probably from the three painkillers she had took.

-----

"When can we see her?" Madi asked for the fifth time that day.

"Soon." Abby whispered to the little girl in her lap, it was impossible not to love her. In the week she had the kids, she's bonded with Madi in ways she never could with her own daughter.

"She doesn't want us, why don't you get that in that thick skull of yours!" Aden on the other hand was the opposite, moody, having outbursts and someday would go by without even having caught a glimpse of him.

"Shut up, shut up. She promised." Madi sobbed as she she buried her face in Abby's neck, "She promised." she whispered softly. Abby had wanted to agree with the little girl, but she couldn't, not when she wasn't sure what was going in that messed up mind of the woman she called her daughter.

"Why don't you go get ready for supper."

She watched as the kids got up and went to set up the dinner table, as per ritual in the past week.

She had promised Social Services she'd look after them as long as they didn't come into contact with Clarke, she still had a long road ahead of her before she could see the kids. And it seemed she wasn't willing to put in the work.

Abby received calls from the Social worker everyday to check if they had kept up their agreement and each time, Abby had the same answer, Yes. She just hoped this wouldn't cause irreparable demage to her and her daughter's relationship.

Aden appeared into view, "Are you done with the table?" She asked.

"Not yet, but I wanted to talk with you, alone."

Abby signaled for him to sit down by patting the empty space on the couch for him to sit.

"What's on your mind?" She asked as she switched the tv off. She had forgotten how hard and demanding having kids was, the noise, the constant childish squabbles, the loud tv, but now that she had that feeling all over again, she loved it, loved every minute of it.

How hard would it be having to let them go? She would have to if her daughter does the work required by the state to get the kids back, a few months of rehab, attending therapy and working out the issues of her Lexa's death.

"I want to stay, even if Clarke does get better I want to stay here, if that's alright with you."

"Why?" Abby asked, and she immediately knew that was the wrong question to ask, Aden had trust issues, she established that the day she met him.

The first thing she had noticed was the way Aden was restless and constantly fidgeting. This to her had spelt out that he was trying to stay alert and prepared to defend himself and her sister at all times he was always the protector, it had become his main role in life, to protect and provide for her sister.

"Never mind." Aden said as he got to his feet, but Abby caught hold of his wrist.

"Say it." She whispered softly.

"It's always been Madi and I, always. I've always been my sister's keeper, My sister my responsibility, but I don't want to be anymore, not when I don't have to, don't get me wrong I'd do anything for her, to protect her but I just-"

"You just need to be Aden." He nodded, lowering his head.
He sniffled quietly, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. Abby pulled him into her arms, "You can stay here till you're 80 years old." Aden chuckled through his tears and pulled back.

"Really?"

"Probably not until 80, but for as long as you like, you're family now, kid." Aden. got up, wiping away at his eyes and bowed his head slightly to show his appreciation.

He would never leave Madi, not without knowing she was safe and if Clarke ever got better he knew she would protect her, probably better than he ever could.

She just needed a little push, and he had just the idea to get her to realize what was at stake, them. For the first time in a really long time he found value and worth in himself, as he had always with her sister. Madi was priceless and Clarke had to see that she was worth so much more than the universe as a whole was made of.

After dinner he had retired to his bedroom, he liked it, no loved it, the touch of the bed sheets, his favorite posters were up on the wall, The Avengers. It was all his, not his and Madi's, not his and five other foster kids but his.