Before You Go

A/N - So. I know I haven't posted in a while. Honestly, I just lost all interest in this show and this ship when J*son completely ruined it. So this is now the finale for this fic. I had more planned, but just don't have the motivation to write it. I might come back some day and write a Part Two, make it a series, but for now I'm done. Thank you all so much for sticking with me through this, I appreciate it more than you can possibly know.

This is dedicated to Abby, Mena, Naiara, and all my amazing readersoh and also m31amanda for guessing last chapter's song!!

True to his word, Murphy ensures Clarke doesn't have to see Abby. Instead, the next day he and Raven (that's a terrifying duo, Clarke had thought) left after they all had breakfast and came back 40 minutes later with news. Jake's funeral is next Saturday at the local church. It'll be small, just family and friends. Since Jake had only ended up settling down a two hour drive away, it's going to be in Trikru. He grew up here, had a whole life here. He only lived in Shadow Valley for seven years. So anyone from there that wanted to come to the funeral is going to drive up and pay their respects. The thought of meeting and talking to people from Jake's new life makes Clarke feel sick to her stomach and she swallows hard.

"You don't have to deal with them, Princess," Bellamy says quietly, squeezing her hand. They're all sitting in the living room, the Blakes flanking Clarke with Jonty sharing the armchair, Raven beside Octavia and Murphy pacing in front of the coffee table as he explains everything. "We're all going to be there and you don't have to do anything you don't want to." Clarke just nods, staring at her and Bellamy's intertwined hands.

"I-" Clarke sighs, closing her eyes. "I feel like I should be more upset. Like I should be crying or angry or something. But... I don't. I just feel numb." She meets Bellamy's gaze, eyes glassy with tears. "Does that make me a horrible person?"

"No," Octavia says firmly, jaw set. "He left you, Clarke. For ten years. You don't owe him anything."

"He's still my dad, O," Clarke whispers.

"Of course he is. But he's also a dick who left you alone with your mom. He didn't even try to reach out! I don't even know why you're going to his funeral!"

"Octavia," Bellamy cuts in, his voice hard. Octavia snaps her mouth shut, but the fire burns behind her eyes. Jake hurt Clarke in one of the worst ways possible, and as far as Octavia's concerned he's been dead for ten years already. Bellamy shakes his head and looks to Clarke. "She's right. Blunt, but right. You don't have to go to the funeral, and you certainly don't owe him anything." But Clarke shakes her head.

"No, I do. I have to go. Not for him, for me," she says, her voice firm. She doesn't have to explain why. They all know. Clarke never got closure when Jake left. She never heard from him again after that night. She needs this.

"Ok but if Abby even looks at you I'm pushing her into the empty grave," Octavia states matter-of-factly, earning a quiet laugh from Clarke.

"I'm gonna go let all our professors know what's going on and that we won't be back to class til next week," Monty says, standing up.

"Oh, no, you don't have to do that. You guys should all go back, I can't ask you to miss a whole week for me. I'll be fine-"

"Yeah right. We're not going anywhere. I'll help you, Monty," Raven offers, rolling her eyes at Clarke.

"But-"

"No buts," Octavia interrupts sternly. "We're all here for you, and if you think you're getting rid of us then you really haven't been paying attention babe. I'll go make popcorn." Octavia pats Clarke's knee before going to the kitchen, leaving no room for argument.