What If (Season 5 AU)

Chapter 7

"Will we make it in time?" Augustus's voice lifts from the silence. No one had said a word since the radio call.

Monty looks at him and places a hand on his shoulder; poor kid has been through so much in such a short amount of time

"Don't worry, Augustus. Your mom and dad will be fine. When we get there you can give them the biggest hug ever. Okay?" Augy smiles at this and tugs on Madi's jacket.

"You're really quiet." She chuckles at this and sticks her tongue out at him.

"I'm just driving, Augy. How else will we get to see Clarke and your dad?"

"You know... you can call her mom too. She won't be mad." Madi stiffens at this and the other adults glance at each other before looking at Madi.

"Hey, where's that book she always keeps in the rover?" She changes the subject. Augy gets distracted by her diversion and looks around.

The others look around as well, getting Madi's hint. The subject was personal, quiet, and not something she wants to talk about. Maybe reading to Augustus would distract him from worry and talking a bit too much.

"There it is!" He points before sitting beside Echo. She closes her eyes and sighs deeply. "Can you read it to me? Mom and Madi always do but..."

"You can't read yet?" Augy shakes his head.

"I mean he is only five. He can't read that advanced.." Harper chuckles. Clearly Echo is surprised by the little boy's request, and taken off by his presence, but there's nothing she could do about it.

With a sigh she takes The Iilliad from him and goes to the marked page to read. Augustus leans on her arm to read along, try and learn the words as she goes, and before they know it he starts to fall asleep.

Echo glances at him before shutting the book, sighing from relief.

"See? He's not so bad." Monty jokes. Echo glares but smirks nonetheless.

~~~

Minutes turn into hours as the sun rises again. The rover glides across the sand with ease, sounding loud in the quiet of the desert.

As Clarke stands in the desert with the others from Wonkru, the distinctive sound grasps her attention. She turns her head to look up and sees the rover heading there way. A smile blooms across her face as she runs to meet up with them, telling Wonkru to stay back.

As the rover door opens, Madi runs out and embraces Clarke tightly. She chuckles and pulls her adoptive daughter close, kissing her forehead lightly. One child safe, now for the next. Clarke looks over Madi's head and sees Harper carrying Augustus, then setting him down and waking him up. The little boy rubs his eyes and looks to where Harper is pointing, and then he takes off.

"Mommy!" He yells, making Clarke grin.

She gets down on one knee with her arms open wide to embrace her son. She wraps his arms tightly around Augustus and swirls him around a few times. He giggles and holds her tighter. She places fervent kisses all over him until he squeaks and tries to wiggle away. Madi laughs and Augy chases her around as revenge.

Clarke watches them and places a hand over her lips as she laughs at her children. Their situation may not be ideal, but it warms her heart to know that the kids are safe and still as happy as ever.

But Clarke's own happiness doesn't last for too long. Bellamy comes from behind her and walks past to greet the others, and before she knows it Echo pushes past, glares at Clarke, and kisses Bellamy forcefully.

Clarke is taken back and quickly looks away. She shouldn't be surprised or hurt, it's been years, and yet it does. She turns away and looks to see Madi looking at Bellamy then runs to Augustus to distract him. All his life he's wanted to meet his dad and see him with his mom, it would break his little heart to see what had happened. Clarke nods discreetly towards her daughter before walking in the direction of the tents, but she doesn't get too far; a hand from behind grabs her arm and causes her to stop.

"Clarke. We need to talk." She sighs and turns to face Bellamy, the man she had loved for a lifetime, the father of her child, and yet she can't stand to look at him.

"Yeah sure. But not right now." She pulls away and starts walking quickly towards Augy and Madi. Bellamy sighs and calls out to her again, running after her.

"Hey." But she ignores him. "Clarke!"

She keeps a groans to herself and turns his way, her expression neutral.

"Look, Bellamy, I don't have time to talk right now. I just got my kids back and I need to make sure they're okay." He nods and watches her walk away, but not before deciding against his better judgment and following her.

Clarke senses him behind her but doesn't turn around. There was no point in telling him off when she knew Augustus would want to see his father again.

With a heavy heart she goes forward and ignores the feeling of Bellamy being close to her.

When they find Augy and Madi they were sitting in the sand reading a book Clarke had found and kept in the rover. (In case of long trips so the kids had something to keep them from being bored)

The two children look up to see Clarke and instantly run to her. Madi hugs her while Augustus squeezes her legs. He rambles on and on about what happened in shadow valley and meeting spacekru, as well as meeting his dad. Clarke smiles at this and leans on one knee again to be at his level. The sun was bright so his freckles we're more apparent than usual. Augy may have Clarke's hair and eyes, but his curly hair, tanned skin, and freckles we're all from Bellamy.

"So I take it you enjoyed meeting your dad, huh?" The little boy nods frantically and glances at him over his mother's shoulder, seeing him standing afar from them. Clarke notices and sighs. "Go on. It's okay." Augustus leaps away and runs towards Bellamy, making the man stare in wonder and laugh.

Bellamy leans down and picks Augy up. He laughs and throws his arms around his father neck, finally being hugged by him. Bellamy closes his eyes and holds the boy tight. He may have not known he existed while he was on the ring, but now that he does nothing could stop him from the urge to love and keep Augustus, and Madi, safe.

Madi takes Clarke's hand and they walk over to the boys. Clarke is hesitant but Madi smiles in reassurance and pulls her along.

"Hey little man." They hear Bellamy say. Augy laughs and stands beside his mom once set down. "Nice to finally meet you. For real this time."

Augustus laughs and starts to ramble again about how he knew who his dad was, the stories Clarke had told, and all the drawing she did so he knew what his dad looked like. At hearing this information, Bellamy looks at Clarke, but she doesn't look at him. Her arms are crossed over her chest as she looks at the ground. She does smile at her son, however, before realizing there is black splotched on his shoulder.

"Augy, come here." She says, and the boy listens. Clarke bends down and lifts his sleeve to see a small cut, and her heart drops.

"The branch did it, mommy. When me and Madi were hiding from the bad guys."

Madi nods in confirmation, saying the branches and thorns had nicked them a bit while hiding. Clarke sighs and takes the little boys hand.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up and that cut looked at." Augustus nods and follows her, but looks back at Bellamy.

"Can daddy come with us?"

Clarke closes her eyes momentarily before weighing. "Sure sweety."

Augy runs to Bellamy and grabs his hand. He pulls him up along and stops to hold his mother's hand as well. Clarke on his left and Bellamy on his right. Augustus smiles and talks the whole way to the medical tent, making Madi laugh knowingly. Augy loves to talk.