Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Today, Clarke is coming out of a 5-year gap, the first time since the most tragic life experience she ever had. It’s not that she was very torn, just when you are in the process of divorce, willy-nilly you start to think about the future. A few times ago, she lived a happy family life. They were the perfect couple, it seemed their relationship was so strong that nothing could break them. And here she is standing in the bathroom alone, squeezing toothpaste out of a tube.

They met at university. The blonde studied at the Faculty of Philology, and the second at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. Their first meeting happened in the lobby of the campus, young Woods made herself strong coffee and brought a croissant, it was her daily ritual, a light snack before brainstorming. She sat at a table in the corner, a picture of the coast of Santorini was cheerful from above, there were a lot of students around, usually, it’s quiet here, but today someone apparently had a party and most of the guests came from other campuses.

And so, the culprit of all this entered the door, a spectacular blonde, a loud, defiant, self-confident beauty, a girl who won the heart of Woods at first sight. In the company of no less loud Raven Reyes and other classmate Octavia Blake, sister of graduate student Bellamy Blake, university handsome and main heartthrob. Everyone around began to greet them and clink glasses with them. Reyes was the soberest, holding Octavia's arm to make sure she didn't do anything crazy or collapse right there on the floor, and Clarke was still able to move around on her own. She was having fun and didn’t care at all that in the morning she needed to be in class, that she would be reprimanded for absenteeism, just didn’t care, alcoholic euphoria won her mind. All this time, Lexa did not take her eyes off her and Clarke noticed this.

"Hey, you! Yeah! With book!" The girl approached Woods and addressed her as if with a mockery.

Lexa got nervous and looked down at the floor, by which point Raven and Octavia had arrived.

"Come on…" Drunk Blake, took a croissant from the table and bit off half of it, seeing the laughing expressions on her friends' faces, she almost choked. “Having fun, though?”

"Could you leave me alone; I'd like to just read." Lexa politely asked the girls, but her request only caused laughter.

"Alright, let's go, there's nothing to do here."

“Wait, Raven, take your time. I wonder why the hell is she staring at me like that?” Clarke continued.

“You just walked in so spectacularly… I noticed.” Woods blushed visibly and mentally scolded herself for what she had blurted out. This proposal caused even more laughter from the opponents.

"Do you like me? My boobs, huh…" The blonde straightened her bust, which was gorgeous. Truth. Any guy in this uni wants to touch them or fuck that damn Griffin, now Lexa has joined them. "I'm sorry baby, I'm not a lesbian." Clarke turned on her heel and walked away, wiggling her hips as the other students "BOOs".

Overwhelmed by the sting of public humiliation, Lexa made a hasty retreat from the cafeteria. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, a sensation she hadn't felt so acutely before. The incident, seemingly minor to an outsider, felt monumental to her; it wasn't just the laughter of her peers echoing in her ears, but the realization that she was vulnerable in a way she had never allowed herself to be. Tears, unbidden and unwanted, blurred her vision as she fled, her heart pounding not just from the rush of her escape but from the shock of being so openly demeaned by Clarke, of all people. No one had ever made her feel so exposed, so diminished. The incident wasn't just a blow to her pride; it was a reminder of how deeply words could cut, especially when they came from someone she liked.

It was always a complicated topic, especially when she perceived her orientation and realized that she liked girls. Woods hid this for a long time, because people are cruel, if you are different from the masses, if you have other preferences, you are an outcast. At school, she had to lie to everyone and even date a guy so she wouldn't get bullied. The family soon found out anyway, and accepted the news calmly, they guessed. The mother said that no matter who Lexa likes, they still love her for who she is.

Lexa treaded softly along the winding path, her steps echoing quietly against the cobblestone. The courtyard was a place of tranquility amidst the campus bustle, dotted with ancient oaks and maples that cast a mosaic of light and shadow onto the ground. Benches, worn by time and weather, offered rest to students, but Lexa found solace under the monument to Plato, a testament to wisdom and contemplation amidst the greenery. As she settled beside the stoic statue, she brushed away tears, a stark contrast to the facade of strength and seriousness she usually presented.

“That’s it, my friend… I even can’t look at her; you look at Her Majesty!” The stone philosopher did not answer, but he was an excellent listener. "Yes. Her boobs are great, but that doesn't mean, she can be such a bitch!" It was like a monologue of a madman. "And don't look at me like that! You’re maybe wiser, but I’m not going to change my mind about her!”

Raven broke through the crowd, to the cheering Clarke. She danced, raising one arm, swinging her hips from side to side, to the cheers of the standing students around her.

“You are in vain with her like that. She seems pretty." Step-sister served a glass of beer to a friend and settled down to dance nearby.

"She's nice, yeah... But not fun. Sitting coffee drinking in the middle of such a party! Even with a book!”

“Obviously… Sick or what?” The younger Blake joined.

“And your brother? Where is he? I actually invited him too.” The blonde turned to her friend.

"He's got an important class tomorrow…" Significant oohs and aahs followed the twirling brunette back.

"Oh Gosh… This idiot starts to think!"

Not the best part of her biography, but youth is youth. Clarke spat her toothpaste down the sink, washing the rest of her face, wondering what the flashback was about. She washed her face with micellar water and carried out her daily ritual, as her ex-wife used to say, "all sorts of masks, creams, and some other garbage…". She lined her eyes with a liner and tinted her eyelashes, this make-up always emphasized her bright blue eyes, which seemed to become even larger. The blonde looked at herself in the mirror and smiled defiantly.

“Well, Mrs. Woods. You're almost official, Griffin again. You can also make up your lips brighter. She used her favorite purple lipstick from Max Factor, shade 825. It turned out quite bright, but not defiant. "Thar`s all that you need, babe."

Clarke stepped out of the bathroom, where breakfast awaited her. Her son is just a gentleman... Fluffy pancakes with wedges and cream, are their favorite family breakfast, especially for Aden.

"Good morning, mom." The high and handsome guy turned from his seat and was a little surprised, the last time his mother looked like this was at her cousin Ontari's graduation. "You look… awesome."

"Thank you, dear." Clarke took his face and looked into green eyes, sometimes it seemed to her that she could drown in them. She never loved anyone as much as her son. “You too… My beloved boy.”

“Maaaaam.” He tried to escape from her kiss, but it was too late, he could only roll eyes and wipe the lipstick off his cheek.

“What? And when you started treating me as if I were your fan girl, whose love you don't share?”

Aden Woods. True love's child, Lexa, and Clarke. He took all the best from his parents, at the same time he was like one and the second mother. Tall, curly blond with deep green eyes and such a wise and serious look beyond his years. The main handsome man of the district, schools, girls follow him in droves, there is something so attractive in him, he is like a magnet, like Clark's mother, but at the same time as serious and reasonable as Lex's mother.

“Well, mom. Are you ready for your first lesson?"

“Given that this is my first lesson after a huge gap, I am worried but generally confident.”

“Why did you choose this particular school?” The question was quite logical.

"How is that why?" Clarke smiled in her usual way. “It is not far from our home, and there is a comfortable atmosphere for me. Aunt Harper is a nurse there, have you forgotten?”

"I remember. This is my school too.” Aden took a bite of his pancake and stared at his companion. “Comfortable atmosphere you say? Doesn't it bother you that mom works there too?"

"WHAT!?" The blonde spat out her tea. “She worked at Triston!”

"Yes. But in September she transferred.” The son looked at her as if it was such a well-known fact that there was nowhere to go.

“Why am I only finding out about this now? Why Harper didn’t tell me?” Clarke clenched her fist and was ready to release a couple of unflattering expressions towards her friend, but she realized that she was to blame. "The day promises to be interesting…"

“By the way, today I’m going to mom Lexa for two weeks, remember?”

Aden lived alternately with each of the parents so as not to offend either one or the other, and they understood this, with all the arguments that happened between them, most of all they wanted their son to feel comfortable with each of them and did not want to lose connection with him.

"Certainly." She smiled, picked up her thermos of coffee, and headed out the door. "Don't forget to call me when you get to school."

“I will be where you are. We will meet…"

“Oh, right! I've already forgotten." The blonde shrugged and walked away.

"Mom is such a mom…"

"Lex, just don't worry too much." The sound from the car's dynamic echoed in Lexa’s eras.

"Do not worry? Gaia! My ex got a job at my school!” She answered angrily to her sister

“Calm down, don`t think about it, it isn`t the problem… Don't you know Clarke? Surely she even won`t notice you."

"Anya! She will be in the next class. Directly against me!” Lexa stormed on her eldest sister.

“Whoa, Lex! Calm down a little, none of us are guilty in this…”

“Shit…” The brunette rubbed her sweaty forehead. “I’m sorry, girls… You’re absolutely right, I shouldn’t.”

Her family certainly supported her, and each of her siblings tried to help. Lately, Lexa hadn't been herself, and they all understood why the once calm and reasonable sister had become so abrupt and irritable.

Students, passing by the car looked sideways at their mathematics teacher, who gesticulated sharply and almost screamed while driving. Lexa's emotions were understandable… Understandable only to her and her interlocutors, the sisters who tried to listen and support, not everyone, of course, succeeded.

"Maybe it's for the best?" Luna's voice silenced everyone. "I mean… Maybe you can reconcile."

Everyone just went silent. Gaia sighed into the phone, Anya burst into laughter, and Lexa tried not to burst into anger again. What a family. But Lexa did not have time to say anything, Lincoln, her older brother, and part-time physical education teacher, knocked on the car window.

"Lady." He called, smiling through all his teeth, “Are you going to go out? The bell in 15 minutes." Lexa showed him the direction where to go. “Are you the one who sent me the fuck out of here?”

The girl passing by laughed and immediately covered her mouth with her hand, the parents following behind looked at these two, which angered the woman even more. She quickly ended the conversation and abruptly got out of the car, by one of her murderous glances one can understand that Lincoln was in trouble and everyone in general.

“Mr. Woods, are you an idiot? Or are you pretending?" The brunette hissed at her brother. “There are a lot of our students around! In addition to being familiar at work, you also swear! Around our students!"

“I'm sorry, Miss, but I don't see anyone here but us. And anyway, what about you? Not yourself, because of Clarke?”

“God, why am I doing this!?” Lexa raised her hands to the sky and walked in front of the entrance to the school. "First girls, now you!"

“Oh, are you complaining? Are you complaining? I hasten to remind you that I have four sisters, FOUR” Link followed, “I endured this nightmare all my life. First you and the other gang of ladies in our house, including mom…”

“I think she would be glad to hear it, from her only son.”  

“Shut up, Lexa.” She laughed at her brother's irritation. “Then Octavia bore me a daughter. But I'm not shaking! I thought at least I would be lucky with my nephews, but no! My sisters gave birth to girls too. I have two nieces..." 

"I gave birth to a son!" Lexa objected.

“Technically, Clarke delivered him…”

“Technically, if I hear that bullshit again, I'll knock your teeth out. Aden is my son as much as Clarke’s.”

"Brrrruh. You’re so cruel. But still… I won't be surprised if Robin gives me granddaughters.” The verbal fight between the siblings continued right up to the door of the school.

"Are you out of your mind, idiot!? She's 17!"

"I agree... too early." He made a serious face. "Maybe next year." Lexa hit her brother over the head with her bag while he laughed like crazy.

“And he is complying about how hard it is for him with his sisters…”

Chapter Text

Madi's situation is reminiscent of Harry Potter's, with the cruel twist that although she has parents, they neglect her just as much as Harry's relatives, if not worse. Her mother considers her an unwanted child, and her disdain for her stems from Madi's resemblance to her father, a man she deeply hates. In this innocent face, she sees the enemy, and this fuels Simone's inability to love her own child, treating her with indifference and contempt, emphasizing the sad irony in the girl's life, despite the fact that she has a biological family.    

She is just a beauty, with dark curly hair that frames a girl’s face, enhancing her large gray-blue eyes that seem to reflect a depth beyond her years. The lips are, naturally angular, and add a distinctiveness to her expression, complemented by a small, upturned nose. Despite her undeniable pretty, her mother fails to see the loveliness in her.

When Russell entered Simone and Madi's lives, their world split into two stark realities. Simone found a new partner, and together they welcomed Josephine, a year and a half younger sister, into a home filled with love and attention—a contrast starkly different from Madi's experience. Deprived of parental affection, she grew up without the warmth of hugs, the celebration of birthdays, or the comfort of being consoled when hurt. Russell, unable to see the girl as his own, often blamed and punished her for any misdeeds, real or imagined, frequently resorting to harsh discipline. Josephine, basking in their parents' undivided affection, sometimes contributed to her troubles. This created a painful existence for Madi, where love and acceptance were just out of reach, highlighting the profound impact of familial neglect and favoritism on a child's heart. 

Despite her persistent attempts to gain even the slightest acknowledgment or affection from her mother, Madi consistently found herself facing disappointment. She came to the heartbreaking realization that no matter what she did, it would never be enough to earn the love she so desperately sought. Eventually, wearied by the continuous rejection and feeling utterly unworthy, she reached a point of resignation, ceasing her efforts entirely. This realization was not just a moment of giving up but a profound acceptance of her solitary struggle within her own family.

Madi was jolted awake early by a sharp knock on the door, her heart racing. It was her mother, she needed the girl to go to the store for milk, as her sister wanted cereal for breakfast. Therefore, the woman decided to take an hour of sleep from her eldest daughter.

"Wake up! How much can you sleep? Rise!" Simone's voice showed no hint of warmth.

Startled, she scrambled up, her head colliding with the window sill in her haste. She winced, the pain throbbing sharply. What a morning…

Simone barged in. "What's the matter? Decided to start the day with drama?"

"No…" girl's voice was a mere whisper, laden with the wish for a tenderness she had never known.

“Well, get up!” Simone’s impatience sliced through the air.

"Mum…" Madi began, hoping for a sliver of sympathy.

"What!?" A woman snapped, her patience thin.

"I hit my head." At that moment, she yearned for the affection freely given to Josephine – a comforting hug, a soothing kiss, anything.

But the response was brisk and devoid of empathy. "God, what a fuss! What do you expect me to do? Get up now and do as you're told, or would you rather I involve Russell? Do you need another reason for the belt?"

"No! I'll go...”

A small closet, 2x4, more aptly described as a mop closet, is what Madi calls her room. The green wallpaper, aged and peeling from dampness, and the linoleum, punctured in places, speak to the room's neglect. Yet, within this confined space, under the window lies a mattress, her makeshift bed, with a lamp placed directly on the floor for light and a cramped desk at its foot. This space, although limited, is uniquely hers—a stark change from sharing with Josephine, which always led to conflicts, that coasted to her punishments. In this room, Madi's creativity flourishes; her drawings adorn the walls, transforming the space into a gallery of her imagination amidst the chaos.

She was already used to this attitude; every day, absolutely every day, the girl was guilty of something, she was punished for something, and when Russell was in a bad mood, he could hit, push, or yell at her for no reason. She tried to avoid it all, hide, leave the house and not return until late at night. But even the darkness outside couldn't match the darkness she felt within her own home.

Her life was a series of walking on eggshells, trying to remain invisible in the very place she should have stood out. Madi learned early that her presence was barely tolerated, her needs secondary, her existence a mere afterthought to those who should have cherished her most.

She hurriedly put on blue sweatpants and a gray hoodie, pulled on black worn sneakers, and ran out of the room. Simone left the money for her in the hallway, she took it and quickly walked to the store. On the street at the end of October, wet asphalt after a night shower, puddles, mud, slush. The girl went out without a jacket and, as luck would have it, it started to rain, she pulled on the hood of her hoodie and ran as fast as possible.

When she returned home, she was soaking wet. Mom did not let her go beyond the threshold and forced her to undress right there, so as not to trample. The girl obediently took off everything but her T-shirt and underpants and went to her so-called room, her sanctuary of solitude, which was filled with a silent longing for a different reality. Here, amidst the sketches that adorned her walls, she dared to dream of a life far removed from the harshness of her own.

Entered, she turned on the light and opened the second drawer of the dresser, it was the only one intact, all the others were broken, and Madi did not have enough clothes to use all of them. So, she took out dark blue raincoat pants, just right for this weather, and a new gray sweatshirt, had only three, and changed them once a week. Even basic things like clothes and a place at the table were not available for her. There were only three chairs at the quadrant table, in general, she didn’t eat with everyone, Simone never cooked four portions, always three.

In the morning kitchen, the family gathered for breakfast, an everyday scene with an underlying tension. Russell, engrossed in the morning's headlines, occasionally took sips from his steaming mug of coffee. Josephine, absorbed in the endless scroll of Instagram, barely acknowledged the world around her until Madi entered. Her eyes flicked up, seizing an opportunity for a dig at her sister's expense.

“Wow, Mads, raiding the charity bin again for those pants?” she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.

Madi, accustomed to her sister's barbs, didn't even pause in her steps, attempting to brush off the comment. Josie, not satisfied with the lack of reaction, pressed on, seeking their father's support. "Dad, seriously, can't we get her some decent clothes? It's embarrassing. What will my friends say at school?"

His patience snapped. He slammed his newspaper down, his attention now fully on his stepdaughter. “This is what you're wearing to new school?” he barked, his tone laced with contempt. “You’re a walking joke, Madi.”

“I don’t have anything else,” She whispered shaky, bracing herself for the incoming storm.

“And where’s the outfit from yesterday?” Russell’s anger rose, each word sharp as a knife.

“It got wet,” The girl responded, her voice so low it was almost lost in the tension that filled the room. "I had to run to the store earlier, and it started pouring," She tried to explain, wishing she could disappear into the floor.

Man's response was swift and sharp, "An umbrella, Madi. Ever heard of it? Honestly, sometimes I wonder if knocking some sense into you is the only way to clear that head of yours!" His hand moved in a threatening gesture, and she flinched away instinctively, fear flickering in her eyes but she tried to mask it with an expression of indifference.

Simone took three bowls, filled them with dry breakfast, and ordered Madi to serve the milk. The girl began pouring it into plates and approaching each family member individually. When it was Russell's turn, she took a step to fill his bowl but was caught by her sister's sneaky foot, which knocked her balance out from her. She fell, spilling milk all over the kitchen, and especially on her stepfather.

His face turned a shade of red, his eyes narrowing into slits as he surveyed the damage, his shirt ruined, his mood soured "What the fuck!” He raised on the feet.

"I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," Madi, sprawled on the floor, looked up in horror at the realization of what she had done and what was coming next.

"You are a clumsy bastard! Can't you do anything right?" Russell berated, his anger escalating beyond reason. Fear gripped her as she couldn't move.

Josephine, seizing the moment to deepen her sister’s troubles, wailed even louder. "Look at my dress, idiot!"

Russell, blinded by his fury and the need to assign blame, grabbed Madi by the arm, his grip iron-tight. "I'll teach you how to be more careful, you asking for that all morning!" he screamed, dragging her away from the kitchen, from the spilled coffee that had become the catalyst for his unleashed rage.

“No! No, please! I didn't want anything bad!” She writhed, trying to run away from him, but his grip was stronger, it didn’t work out and she began to beg.

“Shut up! Or I’ll kill you right here!” He just needed the slightest reason to take out his anger on a stepdaughter.

“It wasn’t my fault! Please… No!” Her eyes already were full of tears; she knew that could not escape this fate.

Russell pushed Madi into the room and closed the door behind them. “Do you see this belt? It looks like it wasn't made to hold my pants, but to beat your ass!” He was hovering over her like a storm cloud, striking with lightning.

“Don’t! Please don’t. I didn't do anything bad... It was an accident.”

She stepped back, but he kept coming and swinging as if he was looking for the perfect position to strike so that it would hurt. And he did, the girl rested against the desk, and he turned her around, laying her to face on it, and began to flog. Strike after strike, even though her clothes, left marks on her skin. Madi's cries for mercy, Russell's harsh reprimands, and the sound of a belt cutting through the air. The punishment was severe, disproportionate to the mistake. 

She rolled to the floor on her knees as he loosened the grip. Calmly putting the belt back on while Madi left a puddle of tears on the floor. “You are lucky that we need to be at school in an hour. Next time, I won’t leave a wet spot from you…” The stepfather took off his spoiled shirt and threw it in the girl's face with an order. “After school, you'll wash it, with your hands. And if there's even a tiny stain... You know what I'll do to you.” Slamming the door of the small room, he left and his wife entered.

“Go wash up. It’s time to go.” Her voice sounded as indifferent and cold as possible as if she was not a mother at all if nothing terrible happened a few minutes ago. “Hey! Stop suffering. To the exit.”  She snapped fingers as talking to a dog, trying to draw attention to herself.

“Why? … Why do you always do this to me?” Her voice cracked. “What did I do to deserve this? I just fell… I fell…” She was choking with tears. “You don’t love me… Never loved me.”

“Stop it immediately! Got up! Wipe your snot and go to the car!” Simone grabbed her by the collar of her sweatshirt and dragged her out.

Madi obediently stood up on shaky legs, and it hurt like hell.  Russell had a heavy hand, and if he hit her, there were always scars or bruises. She moved from foot to foot, enduring the burning sensation and pain after the punishment. And no one cared about her feelings, what was going on in her heart. And the realization of how painful it was that no one could ever protect her, that she seemed doomed to be a scapegoat in this family. 

Chapter Text

Russell drove the car, looking in the rearview mirror on the seat where Madi was sitting. The girl was still sobbing, wiping her tears with the long sleeve of her sweatshirt, and this irritated him very much. They had to show up at the new school any minute, and they had to look like a normal, happy family so that no one would find fault.

After all, they decided to transfer the girl to another school due to the fact that she appeared now and then with bruises or did not appear at all. Academic performance was lame: there were no higher than C and D. And not because Madi was dumb or not gifted, on the contrary, she was very gifted, it just wasn’t about mathematics or history. She is a very creative person - instead of formulas and solving problems, she likes to draw, instead of reading boring stories about Napoleon or the Great Civil War - she likes to write poetry, instead of chemical reactions and experiments - she wants to look out the window and watch clouds, birds flying in the sky and imagine what flies with them. But one snarky comment from a teacher or a push from a classmate brings her to the ground, slamming hard as if her plane had made an off-road landing, bringing Madi back to a gray reality where there is a boring class, stupid classmates forever bullying her. Freak… This nickname does not leave her, like tripping from classmates at pauses between classes, bullying, and stealing a briefcase, which then ends up in a trash can.

Simone made her make-up by opening a visor with a mirror over her, she absolutely did not care what happened between her husband and daughter, if Russell considered it necessary to punish, then it was it, she deserved it. In fact, they were good parents, but only for Josephine. Usually, in the circle of acquaintances or friends, there was no mention of the existence of another child, they liked their family without Madi, she didn’t fit in there, and those who knew, supposed that she was backward or underdeveloped, that’s why they hide her from everyone.

"I swear! If I hear even one more sound from you, I won't leave a wet spot from you!" - Russell stopped at a traffic light a block from the new school. "Simone! Calm down your damn daughter or I'll do it myself!"

The girl held her breath, trying to calm down, choking on tears in order to make as few sounds as possible and not annoy anyone else, because today she no longer wanted to be beaten. The woman irritably closed her mascara and turned around from her seat.

"Stop it, right now. Hold a napkin", - she handed her a pack of dry napkins. "Wipe at last your snot and get ready. You should look like a normal teenager from the normal, happy family that we are. Everything will be okay. Can I rely on you?" - Simone stroked her knee, this gesture was for her the highest manifestation of love for Madi, she was ready to do everything in the world for the sake of just one gentle touch of her mother.

Madi was obediently, gradually calming down, she liked it when she communicated with her like that, calmly, without getting nervous, when a mother was heard in her voice, and not an indifferent woman. Such moments were rare, and the girl appreciated them. 

"Yes. I will try my best, mom, I promise." - She calmed down, only slightly red eyes and wet cilia betraying her.

"See. You just don't have to yell at her all the time." - Simone turned to her husband.

“Uh-huh… As long as I don’t bark at both of you, nothing will change.”

The black car pulled up to the school parking lot, Russell turned off the engine and turned back into the back seat.

"We arrived. I hope you remember the way from home because you will return yourself and come accordingly, too, no one is going to pay for the bus, we already spent a lot of money to stuff you into this school in the middle of the semester, you should be grateful to us for that." - Madi nodded her head and pretended to listen carefully to the stepfather, and silently tried to recreate the way home, because she didn’t remember anything, damn it.

"Hey! Are you ignoring me again!?" - The man screamed, pulling her out of her thoughts. "How it pisses me off! This wind in the head instead of the brain!" - He swung for a hit, but Simone stopped his hand.

"Stop! Take it easy. We are already in place, if one of the teachers or other parents sees, we will again have to change schools." - She let go of Russell's hand and turned to her daughter. “And you, be kind, listen carefully to what your father says, and show at least a drop of respect."

After a few seconds of silence, the girl answered. "He's not my father."

"Motherfucker! You see!" - He screamed again. "What respect are we talking about!? She has only the wind in her head, it flew into one ear and out of the other!"

No. Madi did not want conflicts or take on the wrath of her stepfather, Russell simply never was and never will be her father. She has a dad, only one, or rather had. He died five years ago, and they had a nice relationship, but in addition to the daughter of the first woman, Sean had another family, a wife, and two sons, they were 3 and 4 years younger than the girl. She loved it when dad took her away for the weekend, only there she was truly happy.

"Are you doing this on purpose?" - Simone was getting angry too. "How long it'll be? You're testing our patience all the way. You better stop." - She turned away, took her bag, and got out of the car first.

"I’ll talk to you at home again." - Russell waved his finger threateningly and left.

“Of course you will…” The girl sighed heavily and also got out of the car.

They looked like an ordinary family, mom, dad, and their daughter. The man put his hand on the girl's shoulder, embracing, which both did not like, this play in front of the audience, was unbearable. They walked through the parking lot, following a bunch of cars, parents dropping their kids, coming teenagers, and teachers. While walking, Madi heard some woman screaming loudly from her car, and the man who was waiting for her cursed, willy-nilly, she laughed, quickly covering her mouth with a hand, which caused a stern look from “parents”.

"Is it so funny? Huh?" - The man asked her sternly. “You will bring me today to a handle. I swear, just one more trick…" - Simone did not say anything, just gave her a dirty look and simply walked on.

After a fairly loud skirmish between siblings, Lexa and Lincoln entered the school continuing to argue.

"...Are you serious now? Are we your siblings to blame that you can't get over your ex? In my opinion, it's all about you, Lex."

"In my opinion, Lincoln, you're in trouble." The confident, always mocking tone came from behind him.

"Shit." - He recognizes this voice from a thousand, in front of him was his former sister-in-law. "Clarke, heeeeeey." - Lincoln looked at his sister, red as a tomato, ready to tear him to pieces, and not for that phrase said in the presence of Clarke, but for that curse… Which again caused laughter from the same girl who entered the school in parallel with them.

Lexa just couldn't believe it. A terrible sense of “déjà vu”, like she was back in her freshman year at university and getting bogged down again at the sight of that blonde. She looked fifteen years younger today. And this make-up… These eyes, when made up, seem even more blue and big. In addition, the brunette wanted to fall through the ground, her brother had just, once again, dishonored her in front of a student, in front of parents, and even managed to in front of Clarke. Finally, she was pulled out of her thoughts by the director's voice.

"So everyone is already assembled, excellent" - Titus Flame, left the corridor and greeted each "new one". “Nice to meet you, I am the director of this wonderful school." - He held out his hand for a shake. "...nice to meet you, so glad… Woods, what are you doing here? Are you late for class?" The director was a little confused.

"No, sir." - Lincoln replied quickly.

"Then what are you doing here?"

"To…. to… to welcome our new colleague." - He pointed to Clarke. "And the student is… New… Such a nice girl… Athletic, we will make a champion out of her." - The physical education teacher patted Madi's shoulder, which made her look at him like he was crazy.

Lexa's eyes read the running line “Help! I don't know this guy, he's just standing next to me. I have nothing to do with him.”

"Mr. Woods." - Flame looked at him very seriously. "Firstly, the girl will not go to your lessons, because she is in a special group. Secondly, you already have a lesson with the tenth grade, they are waiting for their teacher. Thirdly, after the lessons, today, we will discuss the duties of teachers in our educational institution."

"Understood not a fool, would be a fool would not understand." - Lincoln was already in a hurry to leave, and Madi could not contain her laughter again, this teacher was so funny and cool, for the first time she regretted that could not go to physical education classes. But only everyone else did not share this delight.

"Mister Woods!" - The director has already raised his voice.

"Already gone." - The man jogged down the corridor.

"Please forgive me for this incident…" - Mr. Flame, turned to Russell and Simone, who seemed to be indignant, not only from the teacher but also from Madi's behavior.

"You will also forgive us; we will have an educational conversation at home. Necessarily." - Stepfather squeezed the girl's collar and looked at her very sternly, from which she cringed and immediately drooped, this did not go unnoticed by Clarke and Lexa.

“I don’t think it’s worth it, she has nothing to do with it." - The brunette stood up for the new student. "She is not to blame for the fact that some teachers do not know how to observe subordination and work ethics…"

"Miss Woods, and what's wrong with you today? Everything has been clear with your brother for a long time, why are you not in class yet? Or did you also decide to greet a new colleague?"

"Mr. Flame, first of all, I apologize for being late. Secondly, I have my second class today, so I'm fortunately free to give a new student a tour of the school." - Lexa, by hook or by crook, tried to get rid of Clarke's company, so as not to intersect with her, not to talk, so she wanted to take care of a new girl.

"Don't need. You'll still have time to get acquainted with Madison. From today she is in your eighth grade. I will conduct a tour and at the same time talk with her parents." - He waved his hand, inviting the family to follow him. “And you can greet Miss Griffin

"Wow, the day has begun…" - Woods sighed and looked at her ex-wife standing beside her. "Surprises don't end… Griffin. The new one is in my class. What's next?" - She looked up at the ceiling.

Clarke stood leaning against the railing of the stairs at the entrance and smiled with all thirty-two teeth. She was both flattered and amused by Lincoln's words and was so touched by her reddened face of Lexa and unbearable grumbling. This raccoon never knew how to hide her emotions, everything was always written on her face, tears of happiness, grief, laughter, embarrassment, the brunette could never hide from her. And she loved it and loves it to this day.  

But truth be told, Clarke was still crazy about Lexa too. As always, an ironed shirt, formal trousers, a jacket with ¾ sleeves, hair gathered in a high ponytail, from under the wrist, a tattoo with the name of the blonde and the date of their wedding peeked out, and just above the tattoo with the name of their son and his date of birth, circled to the sign of infinity. The same as hers, before these tattoos meant the whole world for both of them, but now it's all in the past, except for the son. But none of them dared to remove them.

"Get that nasty smile off your face and follow me." - The brunette said shortly, and went forward.

"Ugh, how rude. I didn't think you had such a hazing here…"

They walked past the classrooms, where lessons were already in full swing, past the lockers, Lexa quickly showed with her hand where the canteen was, led to the teacher's room, where there was no one now, and led to the second floor, to their offices.

"It's nice here." - Clarke said casually. "Nice school, considering that this is not a private one." – Lexa couldn’t bear it anymore, she was angry and upset at the same time.

"How long it'll be, Clarke? Listen. I don't want to talk to you or have nice little talks, I'm completely indifferent to how you feel. You are just my nightmare. I never thought that you could be such a mean person to come to work where I'm, during our damn divorce proceedings." - For all this time that they were together, she exploded for the first time, but could not scream, so she hissed while straining so that a vein appeared on her forehead.

"Listen you too, Woods." - The blonde was also not going to be silent. "I went to work where decided, where I wanted, and you have absolutely nothing to do with it, don’t flatter yourself. I understand that you still cannot forget me, it's difficult, I understand. And yes… There is only one culprit in our divorce - YOU, because it was YOU who cheated on me, with your bosom friend Costia, so it's not yet clear which of us is the meanest person in the world."

"Are you going to discuss our private life in front of the entire school? Is that how you want to find out the relationship between us? I think not. Neither do I." - The brunette turned her back to Clarke and slammed the door to her office.

Finding herself in an own empty classroom, where the only ones who looked at her were portraits of famous physicists and mathematicians, Lexa gave vent to her emotions. Salty tears flowed from bright green eyes, rolling down ruddy cheeks, circling plump lips. Yes, she made a mistake, drunk, perhaps the biggest mistake of her life. And after all, they had, one might say, an ideal family. They have been together for more than 15 years, the son was soon to go to college, they could still live, love, travel together, make up for what they did not have time to do, and most importantly, together. But one night changed everything.

… "Well, that's all." – The principal gave a full tour of the school, showed everything, and finally brought the girl and her parents to the class.

The scariest moment. Madi hated that feeling of anxiety, every time you had to go to a new school, meet new people, there was this feeling. She wanted to run away, hide, so that no one could find her, would not get her. What are the new teachers like? Who are all these people?

The teenager divided people into three types: some didn’t care, those who were normal, even approached to talk at breaks, but there are only a few. Then were these, that didn’t care, and the last type, and the most terrible, who constantly mocks and offends, such should be avoided. It could be both teachers and classmates, often of course the second ones. 

"Madi, if you're ready, you can go into the classroom, the teacher and the guys are waiting for you." - Titus pushed the girl forward, but she was in no particular hurry to enter.

"Something is wrong?" - He asked in amazement.

"I need some time." - She answered worryingly, looking at Simone and Russell.

"Madi, do not invent. Come in." – the mother tried to solve the problem until her husband lost his temper right there.

"Come on, don't be shy. Forward." - Stepfather helped, or rather pushed the girl into the classroom.

As Madi burst into the classroom without so much as a knock, the air crackled with a mix of surprise and amusement. Whispers rippled through the room like a wave, drawing glances from her new classmates and a disapproving scowl from the history teacher, Mr. Jaha. His furrowed brow spoke volumes as he addressed the girl standing awkwardly in the doorway.

"Good morning," he began, his tone tinged with restrained irritation. "I'm Wells Jaha, your history teacher."

Madi nodded hesitantly, clutching her backpack as if it were a lifeline, her eyes flitting nervously around the room.

"Would you care to introduce yourself?" The teacher prompted, his gaze sweeping over the divided class – some curious, others indifferent, and a few already preparing to make her first day a living nightmare.

With a shaky breath, she attempted to speak. "I'm Madi," she managed to speak barely above a whisper.

"How old are you, sweetie?" A voice rang out from the back of the room, followed by a chorus of snickers that rippled through the classroom like a sinister melody.

"Here we go..." - The girl said to herself under her breath while turning away. Her heart sank as she braced herself for what was to come. She knew the drill – always the youngest, the smallest, the easiest target.

Mr. Jaha calmed the class down and gestured for her to continue.

"Since you're so interested, I'm 13."

"Haha, little weirdo. How did you even get here, kiddo?" Another voice chimed in.

The teacher’s patience wore thin as he raised his voice to regain control of the class. "That's enough!" he snapped, his words echoing with authority.

"In a month, I'll be fourteen," She replied, her voice steady despite the tremble in her hands.

"Wonderful, Madi. Nice to meet you and welcome to history class. We are now going through the topic "US Constitution", sit down in any free seat, wherever you want."

The teacher continued the lesson, and the teenager went to the back of the class, there was a place behind the fourth desk in the middle, but the girl who was already sitting there put her bag on a chair nearby, showing all the appearance that she was not going to share the place. Well, she went further and went through the same refusal with other people until she spotted the very last desk by the window, where there was no one.

"Fine," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible above the din of the classroom. "Just another day."

Chapter Text

The history lesson did not impress Madi, from the first minutes of her stay in a new class, she wanted to escape and not even from the teacher’s boring stories about the constitution and the Florence Convention, but rather from whispering and laughter behind her back. For some reason, everyone considered it their duty to throw a piece of paper at her or whisper about her clothes. An irreversible process, it turns out, started even before the appearance of the girl in the new school. Her sister, a year younger, also studied here, respectively, in the class that Madi got, there were friends of Josephine, and they had already heard and warned by. From the moment the new girl crossed the threshold of the class, everyone knew how to behave and what to do.

She opened the textbook on the page indicated by the teacher, pretended to be very interested and she carefully looked into the book, in fact, Madi opened her sketchbook, where there were her drawings, poems and just notes, such as a diary. And she beginning to draw, what she thought about, what she felt, it turned out by itself, everything around became muffled, while she enthusiastically left her traces on paper. The cover of the notebook itself was wrinkled, worn out, it was all written over, in addition to this, there were a bunch of additional leaves torn from other notebooks, with sketches, other poetry of her own writing.

In a couple of seconds, there was already an image on an empty sheet, a man with wings. Madi drew every line, every bend of the right wing, she enthusiastically stroked the shadows with a pencil lead, she didn’t care what was written on the board, in twenty minutes of the lesson, the sketch turned into a drawing. It was a girl, with long hair, sitting on the ground, behind her were large wings, in one of which an arrow stuck out, as well as several behind her back. It remained to leave a signature, Madi did this on each of her creations, gave a name. 

"Coraline…" - The girl muttered, right at the moment when Mr. Jaha approached her, as he had already noticed something wrong at the last desk.

"Coraline?" - The teacher looked at Madi, even more with interest than indignation or disdain. – “I don’t remember such politicians of our country at the end of the 19th century.” He took the drawing in his hands to look at it while the rest of the class giggled and whispered.

"You're right. There were none…” She replied without looking up from her desk.

"Yes? And who signed the ratification anyway?” Wells was sure that the girl would not answer the question.

"Benjamin Franklin. Well, I mean, not himself, there were also Joe Jay… And Madison?

"Were you there too?" - Mr. Jaha decided that it would be a funny joke.

"James Madison." - The girl answered briefly and decided not to say anything else, so as not to become a laughingstock from the very first day, but who was she deceiving? She has already become one.

"Wow." Wells smiled and folded his arms across his chest. - "Did you listen?"

To be honest, it was only the fact that at the beginning of the lesson that she really listened to the topic that saved her, but after five minutes of talking about the war for independence and all these people she did not understand, Madi became bored.

The bell rang, salvation, it seemed to her.

"Your homework is to read the seventh paragraph and be ready for the Constitution test."

"But we've only just begun!" - The guys were indignant at such an early independent work.

“Well, I just see that some of you have already mastered the material well enough that you allow yourself to do things more important than history.” The teacher shifted his gaze to Madi, who was ready to burn with shame and guilt in front of her new classmates, who already seemed to hate her, even those who seemed to be positive.

"But that's not fair!" - In the class, indignation flared up.

"I do not know anything. Madison isn't the only one at fault. Grace, for example, you were on your phone the whole lesson.” - Jaha turned to the girl who was most indignant. “It looks like Kim Kardashian’s Instagram is more interesting.” - Having shamed one, he returned to Madi. "Today I won't give you an "F" for class work, but this is the first and last time." He took the drawing and went to his desk. "And this, I'll give to your curator, Ms. Woods will figure out what to do with it." 

The fact that the girl was disappointed is to say nothing. She tossed her textbook and notebook into her backpack, slung it over her shoulder, and left the office. The teenager was ready to burst into tears right on the spot. Again… Again, the same thing is repeated, from the very first day she screwed up in front of the teacher, in front of all her classmates. Because of her, the whole class suffered, which means that now she will suffer, because no one will leave it just like that. He also took away the drawing… And will pass it around to show everyone. It's so personal, Madi never shared her works with anyone, even in her last school she managed to avoid such situations. But no one cares who and when were interested in the personal boundaries of the students?

The next lesson was literature, the only thing she liked at school. She had always loved reading books, another of the few hobbies she could afford. It happened that the girl ran away from the house for a long time to the backyard, where she hid, behind the barn with a book in her hands, in order to avoid housework or contact with her stepfather.

Thanks to books, during the summer holidays, she often managed to avoid cleaning, cooking, or other tasks that Russell thought out for her. Parents could pick up Josephine and leave somewhere for a couple of days, whether it was grandparents or just camping with friends, Madi was never taken with them, the girl was not torn as well, on the contrary, she enjoyed her loneliness and quietly took books to read from stepfather's library. 

For Clarke, it was also the very first day of teaching, and although leaving the house and on the way to school she had a clear lesson plan, and she was confident in herself and her own abilities, after talking with Lexa and meeting with the first class, which she will have to work, her self-esteem and attitude have fallen.

The first thing that caught her eye was two boys, Eaton and Tom, the two main jokers, Griffin immediately understood with these you need to keep your ear in sharp and not only your ear. Then Grace entered the classroom with her friends, she was also not from ordinary children. The girl was dressed in not cheap clothes, plus everything defiant enough for her age, the skirt was quite above the knees, and the jacket with a v-neck, added extravagance to the image beyond her age with bright makeup and jewelry. Other girls look almost same. Most of all, Grace's manner of speaking was annoying, from the threshold she had already put on the “crown” and showed with her whole appearance that neither the new teacher nor her subject were held in high esteem by this girl. 

"And this is our new teacher?" - Grace deliberately spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear, including Clarke, who was simply shocked by such obscene behavior on the part of a young girl.

“Clarke Griffin, your new English and Literature teacher. Nice to meet you." - She looked up from the textbook to the student, this gesture immediately characterized her as the not simple teacher, who can be mocked and disrupted lessons.

Grace looked at her with some sarcasm, realizing that she had nothing more to say, she turned to her friends and they sat down at their desks.

"New one… again." - the teenager muttered.

"New new one!" Tom laughed, followed by Eaton.

"Brilliant… Jerk." - Said one of Grace's friends.

“I hope she won't be the same flawed loser as this one…” - At that moment, Madi entered the classroom.

Clarke wanted to answer, it was a direct insult, inappropriate behavior, but after seeing the girl enter the classroom, she turned all her attention to her. Madi heard everything, these words hurt, her lower abdomen felt sick, there was a desire to run away in tears. She always didn’t understand why she was always treated so badly? The girl asked this question literally every day, after each bullying, after each blow, whether it was her stepfather, mother, sister or classmates.

But she did not want to give the opportunity to enjoy her offenders, so she swallowed a lump in her throat and went to her place. The blonde's heart also pricked, those eyes that shone, just about ready to break down and let out tears, reminded her of one girl, with the same big and bright eyes.

The day after the high-profile party, Clarke came to the neighboring campus to visit her sister-friend Raven, although it was a cover, she actually came to meet again with that mysterious brunette who had been on her mind all last night and today. Reyes met her right in the lobby.

"Hey Clarky! Have you come for a hangover?”

“No. After yesterday, I'm tied up! - The blonde laughed, coming up to hug her friend.

"Then why are you here?" Raven asked.

“Missed you. Can't I visit you?"

"Don't make me laugh, Griffin. You and just come to me without any reason.. What do you need in a place where only "geeks" are shuffled? She spoke sarcastically, raising her right eyebrow.

"I'm serious, Ray." - The blonde started, but then something went wrong. “So… Is everyone hanging out here?”

"So. Understandably." Raven crossed her arms over her chest. “Her name is Alexandria Woods, she lives in room 329, she is a sophomore, very smart, she is praised by her professors, plays football on the varsity team, likes to read a lot… What else? Look like that's it…"

"I love you!" Clarke rushed over to Reyes and kissed her on the cheek.

“Yeah. She loves me, run already." - Raven looked at the blonde, and she herself went to visit Octavia, who lived in another wing of their campus.

Clarke ran up the stairs, forgetting that she hates to walk, no matter how far, whether it's the 3rd or 9th floor, the blonde has always preferred the elevator. With a quick step, passing a long corridor along which the rooms stretched, she looked for number 329 with her eyes. Found it.

She raised her hand in her fist to knock, but stopped to think what to say to her and under what pretext she decided to come to the one whom she had harshly rejected yesterday. The blonde bit her lower lip in thought, but was interrupted by a sharply open door from behind which the same brunette ran out with a sports bag on her shoulder. Noticing who was standing in front of her door, she was surprised at first and opened her eyes wide, which already were seemed large and protruding.

"What do you want?"

“Oh… Hey… I was just passing by. And… "- Clarke hesitated, it was much more difficult to start communication when sober, especially with such a beauty, she even blushed a little.

"Are you lost?" - Lexa asked quite a logical question, since the interlocutor could not connect two words.

"No. I just wanted…” The blonde blushed even more and scratched her forehead.

In fact, in ordinary life, far from parties and her "cool" environment, Clarke Griffin was the most ordinary girl, without antlers, well-mannered enough, without too much pathos.

"I just wanted to apologize." She pulled herself together and finally continued, “I’m really ashamed… I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that, especially…”

"Insult?" - Lexa helped her a little because she wanted to listen to the blonde as soon as possible and leave, she was in a hurry.

"Yes! I didn't mean to offend you or any way. In general, here.

"It's all?"

"Yes. Thats all."

"Fine. I can go." - The brunette turned towards the stairs, but Clarke did not like this answer.

"Wait what?" - Griffin was indignant, she was so bursting here, and Woods just leaves. "Is that all you're going to tell me?"

Clarke shouted after her, but Lexa only walked forward without looking back, but this did not stop the blonde, she quickly followed her.

“Listen, I actually apologized here! And you just ignored!”

“Listen, yesterday you were completely drunk with your girlfriends and decided to make fun of me. You know, it’s not very pleasant to communicate with a person who just yesterday called me a lesbian and then also made it clear that you were not interested in me and you wanted to shit on me!”

Tears sparkled in her eyes, she closed her eyes so as not to burst into tears right in front of this upstart.

Lexa turned around again and went down the stairs, but the stubborn blonde again did not stop.

"Hey. Stop. Alexandria!" - This made the brunette stop, rarely anyone called her by her full name, and how does this stranger even know. "I am really sorry. When I drink, I say a lot of superfluous things, for which I am very ashamed later...” - She looked away. - "Please forgive me. And until you accept my most sincere apologies, I will not leave you behind. Because if you don’t, I will die of constant remorse for hurting and offenning such a beauty.”

After saying that, Lexa's heart melted, the blonde looked so cute and embarrassed. She raised her head to the top floor, where a girl was hanging from the railing and smiled sarcastically at her, after pausing for a few seconds, she answered anyway.

"Okay. Apologies are accepted."

"Hooray! She spoke to me!" Clarke ran down the stairs after Lexa, who was still trying to leave.

"Clarke Griffin." - She held out her hand for a shake, and the brunette answered.

"Lexa."

“Where are you going tonight? Don't you have to do your homework?"

"And what about you?"

"I need to too, but I wanted to hang out with you."

"So hey. The fact that I accepted your apology does not mean that we will now hang out or be friends. Do you understand?" - Now Lexa led this game.

"It's clear. But I'll still go with you because I'm bored and I hate doing a lot of homework. But you're interesting and i wanna be with you."

"No, you won't." - She tried to be proud and independent, but it did not come out convincingly.

"I'm already going with you."

"You won't leave me alone, will you?" Clarke nodded in response.

Lexa rolled her eyes, realizing that it was useless to talk about something with this Griffin, she would not leave anyway, and the brunette didn’t mind, Woods had already fallen in love and put her pride to hell, because she liked this childish blondee.

“By the way, I love chocolate ice cream, and you? Do you eat ice cream at all? You seem to be an athlete… Can you athletes have sweets? ....... "

Memories dispelled the call to the lesson. All the children were already in the class and ready to get acquainted with the new teacher of language and literature. Clarke looked around at all the kids, put on her glasses, and cleared her throat.

"Good morning everyone." She smiled nervously.
In her head, everything was much easier, it seemed to her that she was ready for the first lesson and acquaintance with such a different contingent. Even more unsettling was that the kids kept staring at her like that, it reminded her of her first day of high school like she was a teenager.

"My name is Clarke Griffin." - Continued. “As you already understood, I will be your teacher for this year. Now I'd like to get to know you guys a little. If it’s not difficult for you, take turns saying your name and tell us a little about yourself.” - The blonde decided to start the lesson in this way, and then it will be what will be.

The teenagers on a chain called their names and said a few words about themselves. Everyone wanted to show their best side, someone talked about their hobbies, someone about success in sports, someone about their performance in grades, and some ignored the “about yourself” item.

Clarke was pleasantly surprised when the guys willingly began to share their achievements with her or just talk nicely, she definitely expected the worst. And she was also surprised by how different all the children were, even despite some of the persons who showed themselves during the break, she definitely got a good class.

The closer the queue came to Madi, the more she began to get nervous and fidget with her fingers. She did not know what to answer, the teenager never shared her hobbies with anyone, and no one was particularly interested. When the girl sitting in front of her finished showing off her vocal talent, everyone turned to look at her. It was interesting for someone to draw out at least a word from this silent newcomer, but some were already preparing their dumbest jokes. There was a moment of silence, Madi did not know whether to tell her or not, she was about to start, but some incomprehensible fear again fettered her chest. Clarke saw the girl's stiffness and decided to help her.

"What about you?" - She smiled in an attempt to win over the student, so that she would relax a little.

The class was already whispering and laughing.

"What is your name?" - Griffin cautiously tried to push.

"Madi…" - The girl stuttered. "I... Madison Wolfe… That's it."

"Thank you Madison, nice to meet you." - Clarke decided not to disturb the girl anymore and just continued the lesson.

She squeezed out only five words, but it was like stress, seemed as defending a laboratory work in physics.

“So guys… This month, you and I will be reading and deconstructing George Orwell's book, Animal Farm. Have you ever heard of this author or work?”

Teens, one after another, denied, and could not answer the question.

"It's OK. It's okay, we're just going to read this book. So let me start with a short biography of the author…”

After meeting the children, the blonde felt her confidence. She turned out to be an excellent storyteller, the students listened to her very carefully, Clarke was able to win over even the most violent, but Madi liked it the most, the girl looked directly into the teacher's mouth, did not take her eyes off her, she was already eager to come home and start reading.

“So we chtted with you a lot, it’s already the end of the lesson.” Miss Griffin looked at her smart watch on the wrist. "Your homework will be to read the first two chapters and in the next lesson we will continue our discussion." - She smiled pleased with herself, the fact that she succeeded, the first step wasn't the hardest.

Much to Madi's regret, the bell rang from the second lesson of the day. She did not want to leave, the atmosphere of literature and philosophical thought suited her more than stupid math… Where she was to meet her curator, who had probably already received a denunciation from Mister Jaha.

Chapter Text

The math lesson is over. Madi expected the worst, she sat as quietly as she could, listened to Miss Woods and tried to take part in the lesson, somehow solving equations, often incorrectly of course, but most importantly, she liked it, the teacher came up to her sometimes, checked and, if something wrong, explained the problem one more time.

It was the first semester of teaching in this school for Lexa, and she was already one of the most beloved teachers here. An individual approach to each student is her credo. She was quite strict, but fair, and was respected for this, Woods supported her students and, if they didn’t understand something, she always explained it again, so in those classes in which she taught her subject, everyone, without exception, understood math, even the least successful ones.

In general, this year was hard for her. The life changed in one day, turned her on 360 degrees and took in absolutely another direction. She already used to be a headteacher, in a couple of years she could get the position of principal, but the faith prepared her a different way. Divorce, loss of current position, transfer to new school, a level lower than the one she worked in before, and the cherry on the top, she was given a class to curate. Eighth grade, not even tenth, where was her son. And she took it as a challenge, and started, all over again, with only one thing warming her heart: she was with Aden.

Madi, as always, was the last one to leave the class and Lexa took a moment to talk to her in private, without witnesses, since she already knew what happened in the first lesson, the gossip of the children quickly reached the curator.

"Hold up please." - She gently stopped the girl by the elbow.

This moment was here. Madi had hoped she might slip past without having to face this conversation. Perhaps Miss Woods had forgotten or decided not to bring it up. She kept her head down, eyes fixed on her scuffed shoes, avoiding any contact that might trigger the discussion. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest, a familiar echo of anxiety that seemed to accompany her in every silent hallway and empty classroom. The weight of constant expectation and the fear of inevitable punishment hung over her like a dark cloud, even in the safety of school.

"Sit down." - The teacher pointed to the first desk, and she leaned on her own table, directly opposite the girl. “First of all, how could you screw up like that on your first day?”

After a few tense seconds, Madi timidly looked up. Tears had already begun to well in her eyes, and despite her efforts to remain composed, her leg shook uncontrollably. Even her hand resting on her knee did little to steady it. This day had become one of her worst, filled with an overwhelming amount of stress she hadn't felt in a long time. Her morning had started with a whip from her stepfather, followed by her peers mocking her drawing in class, and now, potentially more reprimands from Miss Woods, the teacher that she began to like so quickly.

"Hey, it's okay. I just wanted to understand what happened in the History class with Mr. Jaha," Lexa reassured her, aiming to lighten the mood, not expecting her words to deepen Madi's distress.

"You're going to call my parents, aren't you?" Madi's voice trembled, conditioned to expect the worst — a misstep at school often meant punishment at home.

Sometimes, the fear of going home was so overwhelming that she would linger in the streets, hiding as long as she could. This dread was especially potent after school meetings that spotlighted her classroom doodles or poor grades, events that always guaranteed a harsh punishment at home. On those nights, she arrived home late, hoping her stepfather would be too tired or disinterested to remember the promised consequences. But these hopes were seldom realized, leaving her in a perpetual state of anxiety, longing for a day when she could feel safe, untouched, and unharmed.

"No, of course not. Why would I do that over something so trivial?" Lexa's reassurance brought a brief moment of relief.

"But Mr. Jaha mentioned you'd decide on a punishment…" Madi dabbed at her eyes, the fear momentarily subsiding. "It's not like we're in the 19th century to be hitting hands with a ruler, right?"

Lexa laughed at the innocent joke, realizing that she managed to win over this shy girl. "Madi," She said as moved a chair closer and sat next to the girl. "I'm not here to be your enemy or a strict teacher who's quick to call your parents. I'm here as a friend who wants to help. Please tell me everything, just as it happened. without holding anything back."

Madi hesitated, unaccustomed to such an open dialogue with a teacher. In her previous experience, discussions like this were unheard of, and she feared that opening up could somehow backfire on her.

"You can trust me," Lexa encouraged gently. "I need to know the truth to protect you. It's better I hear the worst from you directly."

Here's the revised version of your passage, with simplified language and more emphasis on Madi's feelings:

"I didn't do anything wrong, I swear. I don't know why Mr. Jaha was so upset with me..." Madi began, her voice steady but her eyes already shimmering with unshed tears. She explained that she had tried to answer his questions correctly. She looked to Miss Woods, who nodded encouragingly for her to continue. "I know I should have just listened and taken notes," she admitted.

"That's good that you understand," Miss Woods replied, her expression stern but concerned.

"It still isn't fair though..." Madi's voice trailed off as tears started to well up again.

"What exactly isn't fair?" Lexa prompted gently.

Feeling a rare comfort in the teacher’s presence, she felt compelled to share more. "They took my drawing. Mr. Jaha made a big show of it in front of everyone, and then he even set a test that made everyone upset with me. It's been the worst first day ever," she sobbed, burying her face in her hands.

"Hey… Madi, stop it." - Lexa felt deja vu, only in the place of this girl, once there was herself, just as quiet and vulnerable.

The woman ran her hand down the girl’s back and lifted to look at her. “The day has just begun, one little failure can't ruin everything. It's so cool. New friends, interesting acquaintances. But Madi wasn't ready to be cheered up yet.. “Listen… I totally screwed up today, only in front of the principal… I’m probably going to be reprimanded at the end of this day. But as you can see, I'm fine."

"But I thought your brother would be." - Madi, puzzled, glanced up at Lexa, who had turned a shade red, suppressing a laugh.

"Why do you think he's my brother?"

"Well, you're both named Woods, and you don’t look like you could be father and daughter, but to be honest, don’t even look like brother and sister."

Lexa smiled, leaning back slightly. "Not alike at all, huh?"

"Yeah... Wait, he’s not your dad, is he?"

"Of course not!" They both laughed, the tension easing.

Lexa's approach was always personal, which helped her connect with her students. "I’ll make sure you get your drawing back, and I’m sure the others aren’t really mad at you. There’s no need for tears; today still holds more for you," she reassured, squeezing teen’s hand gently.

The girl sniffled, feeling a mix of relief and trust. "I promise," Lexa added firmly, "No one's calling your parents, and there won't be any punishment. But let's try to keep the drawing during lesson time to a minimum, okay?" She smiled, watching Madi nod and wipe her eyes.

"Okay," She agreed, finally smiling back, her mood lightening.

Lexa observed her closely; these eyes were strikingly large and expressive, a vivid reflection of her emotions. The innocence and openness in her gaze, framed by remarkably long lashes, gave her a vulnerable, almost ethereal appearance. Her face, untouched by makeup, retained a childlike purity that made her stand out among her peers.

"Can I go now?" Madi interrupted her contemplative silence.

"Sure thing. Just remember what we talked about."

"Got it!" She was already at the door, eager to leave the room.

"Such a character, Madi," Lexa chuckled to herself, shaking her head in fond exasperation. "Truly one of a kind."

Clarke was already in the staff room when the bell rang, she had a pause, free time, in which she could take a breath and drink coffee in peace. It seemed to her that only she was free during the third lesson, so she was already prepared to enjoy being alone. Taking a hot coffee pot, poured her favorite drink, added some cream to soften the taste, and threw in a spoonful of sugar, she lifted her nose to the cup and let in the volatile aroma of roasted cocoa beans. There is no better rest for her than lonely gatherings with coffee and a book, only one thing, she used to do this, at home on the terrace, overlooking the garden.  

It was a kind of meditation, a search for inspiration. Before the divorce, Clarke devoted herself more to creativity, she had her home studio in their house with Lexa, a separate room on the ground floor, where there was everything from easels of different sizes to paints. Whatever was there: oil paints, gouache, watercolor, tempera… Canvases from small to large, and of course a bunch of paintings, stood on the floor, hung on the walls, they no longer had a place. Once they wanted to open their own gallery because Lexa believed that her wife was always worthy to exhibit at art events or even museums and have her admirers. But now these arts lying around her closet in her one-room rental apartment.

However, her solitude was interrupted when Lexa began discussing class discipline with their colleague Wells Jaha outside. “I'll definitely talk to them, thanks,” Lexa responded with a polite nod, pushing open the door to the staff room. She caught sight of Clarke and, unable to suppress her reaction, rolled her eyes before stepping inside.

"Yes, but that's not everything!" Jaha exclaimed, hinting at more pressing matters. Woods, already anticipating the usual grievances he aired, felt her annoyance grow—especially with her ex-wife also present.

"And here's this." Jaha handed her a crumpled piece of paper.

"What is it?" She asked, unfolding the paper cautiously.

As the drawing revealed itself, Lexa's frustration faded, replaced by awe. The artwork was stunning, this girl is gifted. She couldn't look away, captivated by the skill evident in the strokes.

Clarke, an artist herself, was equally captivated by the drawing. Coming up behind Lexa, she leaned in to get a better look at the crumpled paper, finding the artist's name, "Coraline," in a tiny, almost illegible script. It was hard for her to believe that such a detailed piece was the work of a 13-year-old girl, that was so shy and almost invisible during her class.

"Exactly. I took this from our new girl, Madison," He said indignantly, emphasizing the supposed disruption. "She did this instead of paying attention to my lecture on history, which, as you know, is very important."

Lexa looked at him, frustration evident. "So what?"

"In what sense?" Jaha responded, clearly not expecting her challenge.

"Directly. Did the girl disrupt your class?" Lexa pressed.

"No, but..."

"Was Madison rude, or unable to answer questions about the lesson?" She continued, not letting him evade.

He hesitated, "Well, she did answer my questions correctly..."

"There's no reason to punish her on her very first day, especially just for this," She interjected sharply. "And certainly no reason to embarrass her in front of everyone or mishandle her artwork."

Clarke chimed in, still examining the drawing, "Why you crumpled it? Maybe she put her heart in it. Consider she might be struggling to fit in at a new school." Her support was unexpected but welcome, softening Lexa's mood significantly. "Thanks, Clarke," Lexa acknowledged, appreciative of the backup.

"Mr Jaha…"

"Miss Griffin, I'm Wells, in an informal setting, you can call me that." - The man grinned, he clearly liked the new teacher, he would not mind getting to know her better.

"Clarke, very nice." She held out her hand to introduce herself and smiled a little too. "So that's what I mean, Madi is very shy, these are my observations, she tries to hide from everyone all the time and that's fine, for now we should just watch her and not push, time will tell what kind of student she is."

"Okey! You're probably right…" - Jaha folded his arms over his chest and admitted his defeat. "But its first and last time. If she keeps doing this, I'll have to talk to her parents."

"Give me this drawing, please." Lexa took the sheet and carefully put it in her bag.

She poured herself a cup of coffee too, picked up a chocolate croissant she had bought earlier that morning, and sat down at the table across from Clarke. The man did the same, only along the way talking nicely with the new teacher.

"Clarke, could you be a psychologist?" he joked, impressed by her insights.

"Well, if I was, I would probably never have been a school teacher. So no, why do you think so?" She chuckled.

"You seem very insightful, like you've had parenting experience," he observed.

"Yes, I have," She replied warmly, though Lexa felt a twinge of discomfort at their exchange.

"Really? You have a teenager?" Mr. Jaha asked, surprised.

"Yes, my son is 16," The blonde explained, but quickly shifted topics as she noticed her ex-wife growing irritation.

The man looked at his watch and prepared to leave. "Clear. Look, I gotta go, next class is tenth grade, you know, almost grown-up teenagers are even worse." - They laughed, Wells tore a piece of paper from his notebook, which he always carried with him, and scribbled with a pencil, his phone. “Here, this is my number, if you need any help or questions, I’m always ready.”

Clarke blushed a little, but she was still pleased that someone liked her as a woman.

"Thanks. I will definitely call." - She still smiled embarrassedly and followed him by eyes.

But Lexa was just furious. Yes, she was jealous, and how. She choked on her food when the man handed Clarke, goddamn, her Clarke, that fucking phone stub.

"Are you completely out of your mind?" she burst out, her voice tinged with disbelief and anger.

"Sorry what?" - The blonde was roughly pulled out of her thoughts.

“What the fuck was that? You've only known him for a fucking 10 minutes, and have you already got his phone number?"

“Excuse me!? Miss Woods did you forget where are you? Watch your mouth. And yes, I took the phone number. And this should not concern you in any way, because I am already a free woman, you see? There is no ring." - She extended her hand and pointed to her ring finger.

“Are you kidding? Anyways… The ring never stopped you. While I was working, you always had fun with someone." - Resentment and jealousy spoke ahead of Lexa herself, in a fit of anger she did not even realize how much she could hurt.

"Take your awful words back. Right now." - Clarke was ready to burst into tears right on the spot from what she heard.

"Does truth hurts?" Lexa shot back, stung by her own words.

“How low you fall… I never cheated on you, and you know it very well. I have never given you the slightest reason to doubt this, because I was caring and loving wife. But you… You didn't appreciate it… And now you're going to talk to me about fidelity? I don’t want to have anything to do with you anymore, don’t talk to me, don’t greet me, we are absolutely strangers to each other.” - She wiped away a tear and left without even finishing her coffee.

"Fuck!" Lexa dropped her saucer, which shattered all over the floor of the staff room.

Chapter Text

Madi entered the house with great hope that no one was there, her parents were going to visit friends, so the girl decided that she was free for the rest of the day.

Usually Simone and Russell took their youngest daughter and went away for the day, returning late at night. And if this happened, then Madi was left to herself, which means it was the best day of the month. No one got her, she did not have to hide all over the house from her stepfather to do her favorite drawing or just relax.

Stepping over the threshold of the house, without taking off her shoes, she went to her room, she couldn’t bear to read the new book that Miss Griffin asked to read at home, besides this, of course, there was also a lot of homework, but Madi never really paid attention to other subjects, read the book all day that's what she likes more, in any case, she was ready for at least one subject, so she was not considered a F-student.

The teenager threw her briefcase into a corner near her "mattress-bed", sat down, opened Orwell's novel and began to explore the new world of satire and fantasies of the author. But her idyll was interrupted by her sister, who burst into her little room.

"What are you doing here?" - Josephine has never been particularly tactful or restrained, especially in relation to her sister, so knocking before the entrance or just calmly entering someone else's room was a problem for her. Like father...

"Reading." - Madi did not even look up from her book, which annoyed younger sister.

“Is there nothing else to do? My parents left, they didn’t take me with them.”

"What a shame…"

"What?"

"Oh, did I say that out loud?"

"Don't yell at me here. I stayed at home, which means you, as the eldest, should look after me. I am hungry."

“Are you 5 years old? The refrigerator is located in the same place as the microwave - in the kitchen, so go and warm up yourself food!” - Madi was already starting to get annoyed, Russell and Simone left, pushing Josie on her, mockery.

"There's nothing there, mom left money, go to the store and buy something, and then cook."

Josephine always pumped her rights when she was alone with Madi, she felt her impunity in front of parents, knowing that she was always the priority and that if Madi tried to defend herself or somehow resist, then she would not succeed, and even if she did, then dad will quickly deal with her.

"I'm not going anywhere! If you need it, go yourself! Get away from me and close the door on the other side!”

“You asked for it, I’m calling my dad. Apparently you didn’t have enough in the morning… "

Josie was a year and a half younger, but at times she gave the impression that she was older. It was so annoying and humiliating, Madi was simply powerless in such situations, all she had to do was obediently follow the instructions of her younger sister, otherwise she would have problems. Every time she tried to defend her boundaries, someone broke them, over time the girl simply stopped doing it, this explained her passivity and allowing others to mock herself.

"Okay. Stop." - Closing the book and carefully placing it under her pillow, she stood up from her seat. “What do you want for dinner?”

"Pasta with chicken and coke."

"Are you kidding? I can't cook meat! And what the crap coke, mom won't let you drink it and if she finds out that I bought it for you, we're both dead.”

"You'll dead, idiot. Either way, you will be punished. And if you don’t buy it for me, I’ll figure out what to say to her, for example, about your today’s drawing on history.”

Madi just couldn't stand it anymore, she took the money from the table, slammed the door behind her and went to the store. And after all, she knew that she would still have to fulfill all the requirements of Josephine, she had no rights in this house to her opinion or even just a normal existence, she felt like a servant, maybe even furniture that you can lean on, sit on your head or even kick…

Clarke was standing by the meat fridge picking out something for dinner, she was surprised when Madi walked up to her without noticing her. In the hands of the teenager was a pack of spaghetti, a can of cola and a package of chewy candies. The woman waited a bit and watched what the girl would do.

And Madi was not up to it, she looked at all these containers, pieces of meat and did not understand what to choose, Clarke noticed this.

"Help you, girl?"  - The elder laughed.

"I dont know." - Madi continued to pay no attention to anyone.

“What did your mom ask you to buy? What was she going to cook?" - Griffin continued.

“Mom, nothing… But I need chicken for pasta - but what part? I dont know."

"Madi, are you cooking?" - The blonde was pleasantly surprised.

"Yes a little." - The girl smiled slightly. "Wait, how do you know me?" - She turned her head and saw her teacher. "Oh, hi."

"Hi. What a meetimg." - The woman did not want to ask much questions about the already embarrassed teenager, but simply helped to decide. "For pasta, you'd better take the breast, it's quicker and easier to cook." - She smiled and handed the package straight to the girl's hands.

Clarke herself was a fan of cooking, she often experimented in the kitchen, the household quite liked her dishes, and Italian cuisine was the exact profile of a blonde.

"Thanks a lot." - Madi thanked and quickly went to the cashier.

"You are welcome." - Griffin said after her. "Madi, wait!" - She saw the pasta that the youngest had forgotten in the hustle and bustle right in the middle of the refrigerator.

The girl turned around in fright, she was always frightened if someone shouted her name, it seemed to her that they would swear at her now, instinctively she stepped back, throwing everything she had out of her hands. But when she realized that everything was in order, she began to frantically pick up the spilled from the floor. A can of soda popped open, and the sweet liquid filled everything around, the candies in the wrappers got soaked and were scattered throughout the department, and the seller also came and began to threaten her with a fine and calling the police. But Clarke didn't let him go too far.

“Why are you yelling at her!? It was an accident. She is not a thief." - The teacher immediately stood up for the girl.

“Look what she did! Who will pay for all this?"

“It's none of your business! Go to your workplace!" - The worker snorted in annoyance and left, and the woman ran up to the teenager and began to help collect everything.

“God, what happened? I didn't want to scare you like that. You just forgot your pasta…”

"I don't know… I just…" - Madi's hands trembled a bit and she didn't know what to say.

The girl just stopped and sat on her knees, in complete despair, looking at all this porridge of sweets and soda, and her clothes were dirty as well. If her parents only find out that not only did she not buy food, but she also routed the store...

“I don’t have money to pay for the damage… And the fine… What have I done? They'll just kill me at home." - She burst into tears, covering her face with her hands, it really was her worst day.

“Hey, hey, hey, no. It's all right, nothing bad happened. I'll pay for it and buy you new products. I'm guilty of everything."

She was serious, didn't want Madi to be hurt because of her. The woman lifted her from the tiled floor, but she just crouched in place, the child panicked and frightened, it was obvious.

“But I can’t take money from you…”

"It's not even discussed."

Clarke didn't know any other way to soothe children's tears other than hugs, so she just wrapped her in arms. Madi was very embarrassed, but in the hands of the blonde it was so warm and calm that she allowed herself to stand like that for several seconds.

"Do not worry. I'll take care of everything." - This is the second person today who wants to sincerely help her, it was so unusual and surprising. “Go outside, and please,” - Clarke specifically emphasized, “don't go anywhere. I'll sort it out at the checkout and then we'll talk some more, okay?"

"Good." - Madi, for the umpteenth time already today, wiped her eyes with her hoodie sleeve and obediently proceeded to the exit.

The blonde went to the checkout, looked very sternly at the seller, who punched through her purchases and grumbled about the incident. He kept grumbling and grumbling, who will wash the floor and pay…

"I will pay." - Griffin snapped, to which she heard a snort again, and then a rough tone.

"Your $312."

"What!?"

"48 for your products and 260 fine."

“And another 4 bucks for what?” - Not that this money played a big role for the blonde, it was even more interesting what they would go for.

"This is my compensation for cleaning and extra work that this little bastard threw me."

"Sorry!?" - Clarke was indignant, as if it was her child who was screwed. “What right do you have to say that? Choke on that money!” She threw $320 at him and left without taking the change.

Coming out, the blonde looked around looking for Madi, she was worried that the girl still left without waiting for her or was afraid of the consequences, but fortunately this was not the case. The girl was sitting on the curb at the exit of the parking lot, arms wrapped around herself with her head resting on her knees.

And the street was quite cool, in Michigan it was already the beginning of November, no one went out without jackets, and some, especially freezing, already walked in hats and gloves. And she was wearing light nylon pants and an ordinary hoodie, not even insulated, but this was not the only thing that alarmed Clarke, the phrase said during the fright that she would be killed at home.

This was not just a wake-up call. Still, the teacher seemed strange to the girl's behavior, at school, even when meeting in the store. She had never met such closed children, but Madi seemed to her even more downtrodden and intimidated than just an introvert. At the very least, her fear to utter a word or her inability to defend her own borders was alarming. Willy-nilly, Griffin began to think about domestic violence.

"That's where you are." - The teacher went to the place where her student was, and she quickly got to her feet. "Where are your outerwear?"

"I thought it wasn't cold outside." - Her voice was already a little hoarse from being out in the cold for so long, and since the city was next to a bay, it was also humid, which meant twice as cool as a typical American city. The wind, at this time of the year, was always very unpleasant and prickly, pierced through the clothes.

"And I don't live far away, so it's fine." She cleared her throat.

“This is as irresponsible as possible, Madi. Now is not the month of May, when you can safely leave the house so lightly dressed. - Her teacher scolded, while with a stern expression on her face, well, or as she considered strict, because in fact the blonde only took care of the girl, like a mother, and did not want her to get sick.

But Clarke decided not to continue, because Madi was already upset, and she, as a mother, did not like that either. The woman did not like it when Aiden was upset or even more crying, she always tried to avoid such situations. But it was completely unclear to her how to behave with the girl, because, as you know, they are more emotional, what acted on her son did not suit the vulnerable Madi.

“Okay... It's okay. Don’t get upset more.” - The woman brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. "Hold this." - She handed her a bag of groceries.

"Thanks. Here, take it, I'll pay you." - The girl handed her all her money that she only had, in addition to what her mother left, she added all her savings, which is about three dollars in kopecks.

Clarke looked at the red, shaking hand, took it in her hands and squeezed it into a fist. "Not. I won't take them."

“But this is all I have, please…”

“That's why I won't. Madi, sun, I am to blame for what happened, I scared you, because of me you fell, and I have to pay." - The blonde continued to speak, not letting go of the girl's cold hand.

The teacher was so kind to her, she spoke to her so gently, she took all the blame when she could just pretend that nothing happened and leave her to figure it out on her own, but Miss Griffin did not, she supported, helped and even regretted, and now warms her hands.

"Thanks. I'm so grateful to you." - The girl said it so timidly that Clarke's heart skipped a beat.

"Nothing, you have nothing to thank me for." - The woman squeezed her hand again.

"Can I go now?"

"Yes. Yes, of course, run home quickly. And be sure to drink hot tea when you arrive!” - She instructed her, not though letting a small hand.

The woman straightened the belt on her coat, cream-colored, took out the car keys from her purse and headed towards her, looking at how behind the view of other cars and people, in the beginning rain, the small figure of her student was hidden.

Lexa sat in a bar and poured alcohol into herself, sorting through her memories, she wanted to forget, she felt so helpless and miserable, it seemed to her that every day her life was being destroyed. And this feeling had no end, the woman burned with love for her ex-wife, burned with shame in front of her. Clarke didn't deserve to be treated like this. Clarke is the love of her life, a woman is a gift of fate, the best thing that has happened to her in the last 17 years.

The brunette ran her cigarette over the ashtray, extinguishing it and drawing patterns with the ashes, until she nearly burned her fingers. Lexa has not smoked for a long time, the last time was ten years ago, but apparently today was such a bad day that her bad habits woke up again.

She took a last sip of her whiskey, reached into her bag for her phone to call a taxi, but instead she stumbled upon that drawing of her new student again.

Girl with wounded wings. This is what at the moment could characterize Lexa, her state of mind, herself. The woman folded the piece of paper and put it back in her bag until the whole bar saw her tears, she quickly left. As soon as she was on the street, she managed to take a deep breath and give free rein to her emotions, she choked on her own tears, it seemed to her that the whole world was collapsing around her, that there was not enough air, that this was the end, but a familiar voice pulled her out of this state.

"Lexa! Where are you!" - It was her older sister, Anya, who looked very frightened. "What happened to you? God, come here." - She pulled the brunette into her arms.

It was the same as before, when they were still children. The hugs of the older sister seemed to save from any grief and failure. Anya has always been a support for Lexa, the most faithful friend, the one to whom a woman could come in the most difficult moment of her life, not that the rest of the family was not ready or did not want to help her, but there was always a special connection between these two.

“You scared me terribly. You don’t answer the phone, you didn’t warn, you left somewhere. Who does that, Lex? I'm worried about you." - The older woman put her in the car and sat next to her, only in the driver's seat.

The car started and pulled out of the parking lot of the bar. There was deathly silence in the cabin, only occasionally sobbing Lexa. She didn't even look up at her sister. The elder decided to break this silence.

"Maybe we should talk?" - Anya braked and pulled over to the side of the road.

"About what?"

“Lexa, I'm tired, honestly. I love you, you are my sister, and I cannot look at how you suffer and slowly destroy yourself."

“Where did you get it from? I'm working, I'm doing great."

“That's why I find you in the middle of the night in a bar, alone. Precisely because everything is fine with you in life, you have moved away from the whole family, okay from the family, you even stopped sharing with me." - Tears welled up in the woman's eyes. “You are avoiding all of us, avoiding our help. What the hell is wrong with you?"

“Anya, please, I…”

“No, Lexa, I'm asking you, talk to me! Share, all I ask is to be frank with me, as before... As it has always been."

The younger one rubbed her eyes, looked up at her older sister, a look full of despair.

"I love her. I can't live and breathe without her."

Anya just remained silent and looked at Lexa.

“She was my world... But she apparently doesn’t care anymore. Clarke lives on peacefully without me, she is fine without me! And I can see it. Today Wells hit on her! And she didn't even raise an eyebrow, as if I was no more. As if our past means nothing!”

"I'm sure it's not."

“No, Anya, we had another fight today, right in the staff room. And she said that we are strangers... She wants to forget me. And... I understand her, because in a fit of anger, I always say such nasty things... I have to quit, I can't find myself, when i see her, when I... I can’t…"

"Sister, what are you talking about?" - Anya put her hand on the sobbing woman's shoulder. “If you love her, you shouldn't do this. Any relationship can be fixed... No matter how terrible it may be."

"She does not love me." Lexa stated. “And it makes me want to die. I want to kill myself!"

"Stop, stop! That's it... Hush, hush...” - The eldest again tightly hugged her sister, running her hand over the back of her head. "I'm near. I will always be with you, no matter what happens. And if just try to do something with yourself, I'll kill you.”

“More than anything, I was afraid of losing my life when Aden was born, my life seemed to me not so valuable anymore, I swore that I would give it if needed. But when I lost Clarke, I lost it. I lost my life…”

Chapter Text

Lexa was standing in the school parking lot, piling up the kids from her class. There was a school trip scheduled for today, several classes were going, and naturally, each had one teacher assigned to it. Woods, without further ado, took her kids, eighth grade. Wells got the tenth, where Aden went. And yes, Clarke was going, too, but she was just the second teacher, teamed up with Jaha. They hadn't gotten along badly over the past month, but to Griffin the man was just a friend, nothing more, but Wells wanted more than nice conversations and coffee at recess.

Mrs. Flint, the physics teacher, was on Lexa's team, which Lexa was not happy about. Because she was truly annoyed by this woman, she was the kind of teacher who thinks they are always right and their subject is the most important and without it life is not possible at all. Since many of the children were in a trusting relationship with Miss Woods, she knew many stories about failed tests, piles of homework, and humiliation at the board.

"Good morning, Lexa." - The one said hello. "Do you have any lists of the kids who are going on the bus with us?"

"Morning, Dash." - The math teacher squeezed out. "Yeah. Here you go." - She pulled a clipboard out of her backpack.

And yet Flint was not an "old-school" teacher, she was young enough, she was about 28, but of course she had such a temper… There was complete silence in her classes, and no one dared to make a sound. If someone did not do their homework, she would give out ruthless F's, and always put down poisonous comments. Even among her fellow teachers, she had a reputation as a bitch.

Dash began to read the list, naming each one and commenting on this or that child. She was already annoyed, which meant the trip might not have been as much fun as everyone wanted it to be.

"... So, who do we have here… Thomas Jackson and Ethan Harrison are on their way, too. Well, good luck to us…" - Flint took a deep breath and handed the clipboard back to Lexa, who was already glaring at her colleague. Not five minutes after this woman's appearance, she was already seething inside.

"Guys, attention please!" - Lexa raised her hand and called out to her group of kids, but was not heard by anyone. "My beloved eighth grade!" - She raised her voice, which made her tone seem angry, which was far from it, but even those who weren't on her list were paying attention.

The kids began to cluster around their favorite teacher, they were glad they were going with her, because Miss Woods was always a fun bus ride away. In general,

both Lexa and the students loved school trips; they spent time in an informal setting with their mentor, who was truly cool.

On the bus where Miss Woods was, there was always great music, everyone took turns playing their favorite song, a playlist negotiated a week in advance. They could talk and laugh together loudly, could play catch-up at the bus stops, and it was all led by Lexa, who didn't seem to have grown up since she was a teenager herself. She allowed things that the other teachers didn't and yet she took part in many things herself. The children adored her, and the other teachers were jealous and did not understand why this upstart was so appreciated by the principal and the students.

"Well. Are you ready, kids!?" - Lexa asked cheerfully, and the children knew the right answer.

"Aye-aye CAPITAN!" - the students shouted together, attracting the attention of all the other people in the parking lot.

"Then get on the bus!" - The woman waved, and the horde of twenty people followed her.

Clarke smiled sweetly at this; she'd never seen Lexa at work, or rather interacting with other kids, by the way. Blondie thought the scene was cute, and the kids were literally thrilled, which wasn't the case with the teenagers in her group. But she didn't dwell on it, because her son was going with her, and it was an excuse to spend time with him and it warmed her heart.

"Come on baby, hurry up. We're about to miss everything!" - Clarke prodded her wife, who was barely dragging her legs behind her. "Now which one of us is an athlete, huh?"- The blonde teased.

"I can't take it anymore! Clarke wait a bit, you're not allowed at all…"- The brunette tried to object, but couldn't, her wife had already parried.

"It's okay. I feel fine, stop patronizing me so much."

"But honey…"

"Lexa, I'm pregnant, not terminally ill!"

Woods looked at her beloved with an ironic smile and tired eyes. Yes, she was pregnant, her wife now carrying under her heart the fruit of their love. This baby had not yet been born, but it was already so beloved and desired that it would be the envy of anyone already born. Lexa was so much looking forward to her firstborn that she was ready to carry Clarke in her arms.

"That's what worries me. You're nine months pregnant, you've walked almost 13 kilometers, and you still feel great."- She walked over and put her palm to Clarke's rounded belly. "My sweet boy... How are you doing there?" - After a moment, the women felt a jolt. "You're high-fiving me!" It was nice and easy for the brunette, but the blonde was clearly not thrilled with such a strong kick from the inside.

"Ouch!"-She crouched down a little.

"What is it!? Don't tell me you're in labor!"- Woods was already in a panic.

"Calm down! It's okay, it's just that I have a feeling our son will be a karate fighter…"

While Lexa was cooing sweetly with the tummy that held her baby, Octavia and Lincoln were already coming up behind her, just as squeezed as lemons. Who, too, were rather shocked by Clarke's activity; if her wife was still keeping up with her, they were at least a mile and a half behind.

 "Griffin!"- Octavia called out to her best friend and wanted to say something, but her throat was so dry that she paused and took the water bottle from her boyfriend. After taking a few sips to Lincoln's indignation, she got drunk, handed the half-empty container back and went back to where she wanted to start. "Griffin, I certainly knew that pregnant women have superpowers, but I didn't think that with a belly like that you'd be galloping through the woods like a mountain doe!"- The girl exhaled at the last word and crouched down on a rock beside Lexa, who was also tired but holding on.

"I'm the only one here, by the way, apparently, who's worried about not being late for family dinner."

"Naturally! You're the one who wants to eat the most!" - Said Lincoln, and everyone laughed.

The blonde was angry at first and, to the best of her ability, went as fast as she could to bang the guy, but once again he was not confused, and couldn't resist teasing.

"That's not fair! There are two of you! Lexa, help me!" - Clarke laughed this time, too.

"Fools!"

She was torn from these pleasant memories by Aden, who came up behind her, a little startled. The boy gently touched her back, and the woman flinched. "Ma…" - He wanted to say, but corrected himself in time. "Miss Griffin, we have to go."

"Yes, I'll be right with you…"

They rode into the woods again… All together, only it wasn't like that time.

Clarke looked back to the other bus again, sadness poured into her, they hadn't spoken in a month, they hadn't even said hello, and even though their classes were right across from each other, the women saw each other every day, but they hadn't even spoken a word. It was unbearable for both of them, each suffering, but both too supercilious to admit the truth to themselves.

She climbed the stairs to the bus and joined Wells, who was counting the children and writing everything down on his clipboard. The blonde stood beside him, glancing at his clipboard and at the kids. When her colleague was finished, Clarke asked for a moment's attention and began explaining the rules the students were to follow for the next 24 hours.

"Okay guys, you know we're going to Nature Preserve. So rule number 1, while touring the area, don't take even one step away from the group, because the forest is enormous, you can get lost in it. Rule number 2 no alcohol or other prohibited items. We made a commitment to your parents to bring you back in the same condition as when we took you back."

Some of the boys laughed and didn't take the new teacher's words seriously. Clarke seemed to be respected only by her son, Jaha and a couple of other girls, and the rest just didn't care. So Wells' stern gaze and firm voice came to the rescue.

"Mr. Davis." - He turned to the noisiest guy. "Don't take this as a joke… We're warning you now. All of you." - The history teacher had already looked up at all the boys. "If you get caught doing something like this, or if you find any forbidden things, you won't just be punished, in addition to getting everyone else sent home early besides you, you'll have to deal personally with the principal and maybe even get expelled." - The man was so serious that a chill ran down even Griffin's spine. "That's why you shouldn't laugh."

The guys fell silent, which was embarrassing.

"But I hope that doesn't happen, and we all have a great time." - Clarke let out a nervous chuckle, and the guys laughed awkwardly, too. "Rule number three, have fun! Well? Let's hit the road."

The doors of the bus closed, the blonde sat in the first seat by the window, and after a while, after dealing with organizational matters, Jaha joined her and took the seat next to her. And immediately he began to get annoyed. It wasn't that Clarke couldn't stand him, it was just that from the beginning. Wells had completely different intentions from her. He wanted to hook up with her, and for the blonde, friendship was the priority. She liked chatting with him on various topics, she could really strike up an interesting conversation with him, the man was not lacking in intelligence and charm. Sometimes their views and beliefs did not find common ground, and they could spend several hours arguing, but that did not prevent their communication in any way.

"You know, we're going to an amazing place…" - Jaha began. "My father told me that there's an oak tree there that's over 500 years old. If you make a wish, it's sure to be come true."

Clarke laughed softly, but agreed. "I don't know if it's oak or not, but the place is really amazing..."

"What do you mean?"

“It’s both amazing and funny… I almost gave birth there.”

"What's right under the oak tree?"

The woman laughed again, but Aden was not amused. Now the whole bus could hear his birth story, he blushed. And with a look he begged his mother not to do it, but it was too late, she looked at him, then at Wells, and began…

They were surrounded by a forest. They were left to nature. Fresh air, peaceful surroundings, and family close by, the perfect time for pregnant women. Well, that's what Clarke thought, at least she thought it was a great idea to go to the woods for a picnic in her last month. And the way Lexa pleaded with her… It was no use, she had it all figured out.

A week before this "crusade," the blonde had even been offered a cruise to the Caribbean islands, not to mention the alternative of a picnic in the park or by the river. But soon everyone gave up, even Abby gave up trying to change her daughter's mind, and instead gathered to go camping with everyone else, because as a doctor she guessed what might happen.

Lincoln and Marcus were playing volleyball not far from the clearing where Clarke, Indra, and Abby were sitting on big plaids. Lexa and Octavia busied themselves with snacks and drinks while Raven and Luna tried to get cell service while standing on the roof of their rented pickup truck.

"Doesn't catch a damn thing!"- Cursed one of the girls. "Shit…"

"No nerves Reyes, everything's under control. I'll get it now," Luna pulled a satellite dish out of the trunk and climbed back on the roof to her friend. "Here, try it with this."

"Wow. Thank you." - She took the device and tried to connect through her computer. "And where did you get this from?"

"I just forgot to tell you."- The girl smiled sweetly and sat down next to her.

Luna was in love with Raven, five years her senior, and everyone knew it. Clarke realized this at one of family dinners, when the younger Woods blushed every now and then at the sight of the always cheerful and feisty Raven. She wanted to be like her in everything she did, and Luna became interested in physics, went to the same college and the same major, all to be closer to her.

"She's so cute." - Clarke emphasized, looking at her half-sister and Lexa's little sister.

"Yeah, she just needs to work up some courage…"

The blonde laughed and looked up at her wife. "Look who's talking!"

"What!? I told you my feelings right away!"

"Yeah…"

"Except if someone hadn't acted like a bitch, maybe I would have done it even earlier…" - Woods got up, kissed Clarke on the cheek, and went to play ball with the boys.

Indra and Abby left, too, only for food and drink, since it was already lunchtime. It was warm outside that day, as it was for the beginning of April, but overall the weather was awe-inspiring for something beautiful. Walks, socializing with people dear to her heart, but most of all the blonde now wanted to paint.

She pulled out her "just in case" bag and more, a sketchbook and a crayon. Clarke felt happy, a little heart was beating inside her, and she wanted to draw just that. She and Lexa had already pondered many times what he would be like, what he would look like, what kind of character he would have, what he would love.

Griffin leaned against the tree behind her and closed her eyes. She imagined, reproducing every detail, his hair, a little curled, she chalked up a cocky smirk, his eyes showing his sharp mind and poised disposition.

Clarke pressed her lips together as she looked at this masterpiece, and signed it, in her calligraphic handwriting, "Aden Woods.” They hadn't decided on a name yet; they'd been arguing about it for three months. Lexa wanted to call her son Arthur, after the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, but the blonde did not like this idea, she wanted for her firstborn a quieter and less complicated name, for example, Ethan or maybe Jake, like her father. Why Clarke signed her drawing that way was unclear to her, but she hoped that it would carry over into real life.

"We did it! YEEEEEEEEAAAA!" - Shouts of joy came from the huge machine.

Raven and Luna managed to connect the Internet and achieve a little communication for everyone. The others greeted them with applause and congratulations as the girls spent three hours getting it done. They were jumping and laughing, Raven doing a funny victory dance while Luna twirled on the roof until she almost collapsed, the older one noticed when the girl almost fell and picked her up by the arm and then pulled her to herself, her posture was as if they were about to kiss. Reyes wrapped her arms around the younger girl's waist as she held onto her neck, at which point a spark flashed between them as their eyes met.

"Well done, girls!" - Indra decided to interrupt this awkward moment for both of them, the girls disengaged, but still kept looking at each other and smiling awkwardly. "Raven, darling, could you give me a hand here?" - Abby called out to her daughter, too.

"Okay, Mom!" - the girl ran to her foster mother and began picking up paper plates of hot dogs and carrying them to their place, where her half-sister was just sitting. The brown-haired girl smiled broadly, in her usual manner.

"How's my little nephew? Are you hungry? Auntie Raven's here with the yummy stuff!"

"Oooh food!" - Lincoln went over and got his own burger, too. "Yummy, say kid?" - He, too, was addressing the unborn baby.

"I'm certainly pleased that you're all interested in our son and love him so much already, but you don't want to talk to me." - Clarke said with feigned resentment.

"Come on, do you really think we don't care about you?" - Octavia began. - "We're running around with you like a to care for as for the apple of one's eye, but you…"

Clarke didn't let her finish, covering her mouth with another hot dog. "I'm just kidding, O! Don't be a jerk… Here, has another sausage!" - Her friend almost choked, but after taking a bite, she took the bun from Clarke and began to feed it to her.

A small fight ensued, in which everyone got involved Lexa naturally took her wife's side, and threw a piece of lettuce at Blake, but accidentally hit Lincoln He couldn't stand it any longer and threw a banana peel at his sister in return Luna and Raven supported the frenzy by throwing berries at everyone, all the while amusing little Ontari, who was sitting in Anya's arms.

"Kids… I'm begging you…" - Indra tried to stop it, but Marcus and Gustus had already poured beer over each other… She and Abby just had to get up and walk away from the madhouse.

Clarke was having as much fun as anyone, up to a point. When she felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, at first she thought it was just the baby pushing, but it wouldn't be anything if the pain started to grow.

"Clarke?" - Raven was the first one to notice anything amiss. - "Everything okay?"

"Sunshine?" - Lexa became abruptly nervous, and gently rubbed her back while the blonde tried to figure out what was wrong. - "Are you in?"- Her lips began to quiver in her smile because she seemed to get it all.

"It's okay, guys."- Griffin smiled at everyone and added. "I'm just in labor..."

Everyone began to fidget abruptly as Clarke leaned against a tree and tried to hold back from screaming. She was going into labor. While the people around her were panicking, she decided to take matters into her own hands, because the prospect of giving birth in the woods was not good for her.

"So that's it!" - She shouted and everyone stopped abruptly and looked at her. - "Lincoln! Get behind the wheel! Mom come in the car with me!"

"Am I driving?" - Link, confused

"Jesus! Aden! Please! Could you not hurt so much!?"

"You heard her! Get in the car!" - Abby tugged at the stalled boy's shoulder, then took her daughter under her elbows and helped her into the car.

"Wait! What about me?" - Lexa bulged her eyes in her usual manner; she was very nervous.

"Go with them in the car, all tears after!" - Anya shoved her sister into the front seat and closed the door. - "Lincoln, drive carefully and as fast as you can! Clarke the main thing is to breathe and remember that labor isn't fatal and the pain will pass!" - Peeking through the ajar window, the older woman handed out instructions. - "Abby, good luck!"

"God, I'm going to give birth myself…"- Lincoln cried, he even broke into a sweat, but he got a slap on the wrist from Lexa and quickly moved on.

It had been ten hours since they'd arrived at the hospital. Lexa was pacing the hallway and couldn't find her place, and Abby tried to calm her down, but she didn't succeed.

"Gosh, how many times do I have to tell you that first birth is always a long time! It's normal!"

"Abby, then why is she yelling like that!?"

"And you think to yourself! If you did an AI, you would be there right now in exactly the same way!"

"Lexa, giving birth actually hurts!" - Added Anya, who had already arrived with everyone else by then. Ontari had only been born a year and a half ago, so the woman had not yet forgotten what it was like. 

"Thank you, I've already figured it out! God, why, why, why we did it... She's suffering so much now..."- Woods, nervous and desperate, began to wail.

But all the arguing was interrupted by a distinct scream that came from behind the birthing room door. It was a baby, their baby had come into the world. A second later the doctor came out and solemnly announced the birth of a boy. In an instant, everyone experienced incredible joy and relief. Abby brushed a tear of joy from her cheek, and everyone else embraced and did a joyful dance. Lincoln was the most excited about the announcement that it was a boy after all. Lexa, on the other hand, was stumped; she seemed happy, but something didn't seem right.

More than anything, she wanted to see Clarke and apologize for the fact that her idea of having a child had been so painful.

"Where's the father? Wanna see your son?” - Asked the doctor. "She's for him!" - Anya pushed her sister into the delivery room and the nurse accompanied her with an understanding look.

When Lexa came in the first thing she saw her beloved, she was exhausted tired, but she smiled widely and cried at the same time, and when she saw her also laughed, but the brunette did not understand, the woman had just gone through such torture and still happy.

"Look who's here to see us…" - The blonde rocked the little crying bundle in her arms. "It's your other mommy…" - She cooed softly. "Come here, love." - Called her.

Lexa walked over to the bed and sat on its edge. Clarke had betrayed their baby. He was so small and defenseless, to her he was the most beautiful and sweetest, Woods felt a rush of love so strong it was impossible to describe with words, tears flowed from her eyes. His arms were so small, he wagged them around and grunted sweetly in her arms.

"So, Aden?" - She turned to her wife. "I love it… Aden Woods." - She was crying, and gently kissing his tiny forehead, a moment of true happiness, that they remembered for whole life.

Chapter Text

November 26th. Her birthday. Madi is 14 years old. Usually kids are waiting for this, the only day of the year, only yours, for you and in honor of you. Parents devote themselves to the birthday kid, create a celebration and fill this day with the brightest, funniest and most wonderful events. Opening presents is the most wonderful feeling for any child, but not for her. November 26 is not a big day, it is the most mediocre and ordinary. Often the weather leaves much to be desired, cloudy, rain, swamp... But, it would seem, you might think, how can this overshadow a birthday? In her life are a number of people who can do it, without any problems.

For all 14 years, Madi has never had a gift, but what is there a gift, congratulations, there was no celebration itself. Even Thanksgiving was higher in importance than her birthday. During this time, the girl got used to the fact that they don’t give her presents, in general, for any high days, all this always passes her by, the only thing they can give her is blows and insults.

She always looked with envy at her sister when she peeped under the Christmas tree at Christmas and found there her pile of gifts, for any, she always had everything she wanted and even more. While Madi had to sit in her room, not stick out and not spoil the holiday for anyone... She did not understand, simply could not even allow the thought of why they treat her like that, why they don’t like her, why is she worse than her sister?

As a child, maybe she got a toy or clothes that Josephine did not like, or sometimes their mother decided to give her at least something, when maternal instinct towards the girl temporarily woke up in her, and she might even feel sorry for a child. But over time, the older she got, the more Simone moved away from her. It's not that she was ever very close to Madi, it's just that the woman never hid that she didn't like her daughter. Russell was never kind to her at all, she was not even a stepdaughter for him, just someone else's child, whom he was forced to endure and educate, in general he did not care about her. Josie is their joy, pride, greatest love, parents rushed with her like a golden egg, from birth, while Madi was left to herself, thrown out of life.

There were, of course, happy moments when Madi’s father took her for the weekend, it was once a month. There she could feel herself in the center of attention, at least for one person, to be part of a family, important and necessary for someone. But soon this was gone, Sean died. When she was only 10 years old and her brothers even younger. Sarah, his wife, was always glad to the girl, and wanted to continue to take care of her even after the death of husband, but Russell did not allow it.

Sarah and Sean were the only people in the world she could go to and complain about cruel stepfather and indifferent mother, who also often offended her. Dad always stood up for her, swore at Simone, and once even stuffed Russell's face, which he remembered forever and to this day curses his wife's ex-boyfriend. They even applied to custody to take the girl out of there, but it never came to court. Sean died, it was an accident, two cars collided head-on, he was driving tired after work. And as the examination later showed, fell asleep at the wheel.

And stepfather’s hands were untied that night... He cut off all contact with that family, and since he occupies a high-ranking position in the police, and isn’t the last person in the city, Captain Lightbourne, threw the widowed Sarah with two children out of the city, and turned the life of his stepdaughter into hell.

She woke up very early today, not because she was looking forward to the day, but because she was cold. Sleeping on the floor in late fall and covering with a thin blanket over is a so-so idea, although she doesn’t have much choice, as her stepfather said, “Either you sleep on the street, or here.” - Girl didn't dare to ask for anything again.

It was dark, the sun had not yet risen, so she had to turn on the light. Madi stood up quietly. Touched her leg with her thin fingers, it was icy, however, like her hands, but they were a little warmer, since she could warm them with her breath. She looked into the collapsing chest of drawers, it opened with such a creak that it seemed to that she would wake everyone now, and then would definitely be punished. She took out two pairs of socks and an extra sweater, putting it all on herself, wrapped herself in a blanket and curled up on her mattress, to fill up, but didn’t manage to fall asleep again.

Madi simply indulged in thoughts and dreams, opening her sketchbook. "How would she like to spend the day?" She asked herself this question. And her answer was written in the corner of the sheet "With love." Figures of people began to appear on paper, gathered around a small table on which there was the same miniature cake, with the thinnest pencil, the girl brought out 14 candles. Having finished drawing, she stopped, pushing the drawing away from her, examining it.

“Happy birthday, Madi…” - You could hear sadness in her voice, because it is unlikely that anyone else would say such a thing or wish her well today.

A persistent knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts. Morning begins... It was mom, for a second Madi hoped that she would congratulate her and call her for breakfast, but it immediately evaporated when the woman called in her usual and instructive tone, there was not even a hint that she was glad or remembered that what a day today.

The sleepy girl entered the kitchen, where everyone was already sitting and waiting. Not her, no. The breakfast she has to cook for them. Russell had a nice conversation with his daughter, about school, that they are going to visit their grandparents today and he will pick up Josie early today. His hand gently stroked daughter's hand lying on the table next to her, and Simone kissed her on the top of her head. Every time Madi witnessed these sweet moments filled with love, her heart was squeezed painfully, and a lump became in her throat. She wanted the same. To be a loved child, eating breakfast at the same table, getting affection from mom, complaining about problems at school and getting support from family. But her reality is different. The girl from the very beginning of her life was thrown to the mercy of fate, deprived of all this, only because her father was not a good man for her mother. And to some extent, even he left her, went to another woman, gave birth to new children. She always felt abandoned and so alone, this feeling ate her from the inside, she was a mistake, a huge problem for everyone, but not a child...

Seeing his stepdaughter, Russell's face changed, his smile twisted into a strict, and in some places frightening physiognomy.

“You sleep for a long time. Did you look at the time? Where is our breakfast? - The stepfather had not yet screamed, but he was already angry.

"Now… I'll cook. A couple of minutes." - The girl answered timidly, she did not want problems since the morning, she preferred to obey everything today and not argue.

"It should have been on the table by now." He looked her up and down and snorted derisively.

Madi took the frying pan, the eggs from the fridge, the bacon and everything she needed for the scrambled eggs. Throwing all the ingredients on the device, she began to prepare coffee for Russell, who was already grumbling at her, he was never very patient.

“It stinks of burning. You're going to burn everything now!" - He shouted, the more he strained his stepdaughter, so everything fell out of her hands today.

"God! Get out of here!” Simone pushed her aside and finished cooking herself. “Why did fate reward me with such a useless creature?” She divided the food into plates and placed it on the table.

“Shit! Where the hell is my coffee!?”

And it just spent... Pouring out of the cezve on the stove and a little on the floor. Madi, tried to quickly wipe and eliminate everything before her stepfather turned to her, but she did not have time.

“Fuck! You're a moron!"

The stepfather began to annoy more and more, and the girl was far from being an early riser, she, like any child, at half past six in the morning wanted to sleep, and not serve impatient relatives, Madi could not stand the tension, reproaches and discontent rained down on her from all sides, she just tired.

“Because I can’t do everything at the same time!” She screamed and immediately realized what she had done.

Russell rose abruptly from the table. It was scary, always... To look into those bloodshot eyes, to watch his hands, because at any moment a hit could follow. And it wasn’t even it that hurt the most, major pain thing was to hear insults, to realize that no one would protect her, to look at the indifferent expression on her mother’s face.

"You. Ungrateful bastard, dare to raise your voice at me?" He tugged at the collar of her sweatshirt. "I'm going to beat the shit out of you now!"

“Sorry! I... I... will clean everything! Don't beat me, please! I'm sorry…” - Madi covered her face with her hands, but the first blow landed in her stomach, which made her twist and grab her right side, but then the girl received an insidious slap in the face.

"You little one! Not obedient! Complete rubbish!" - Russell pushed and hit the girl wherever just he wants to, and she could only cover herself with her hands. “And bastards like you cannot be fixed! You just have to be killed!"

Lightbourne was ready to beat her endlessly like that. He didn't care, didn't feel sorry for her, Madi wasn't his daughter. Sometimes he was too cruel in his punishments towards her that even Simone asked to stop.

"Enough!" - Mom intervened after a certain amount... "Don't beat her today... She should go with the class."

"What? With what class and where? - Stepfather continued to hold her sweatshirt by the collar, while Madi recover and catch her breath.

"She's going on a school trip today, to Nature Preserve." - She explained.

“Why am I only finding out about this now!?” Russell pulled the sobbing girl even closer to him.

"She did not know." The woman continued. “Her teacher called me two days ago. I agreed, and have already paid for everything.”

“First of all, why the hell are you putting me in front of a fact? And secondly, she doesn't deserve it!"

"Maybe not. But we're going to your parents' house for the weekend, so I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to drop her off somewhere…” They spoke as if she wasn't even here at all.

“The trip is too good for her, don't you think? She doesn't deserve to go." - The stepfather stood his ground. “Did she fix her grades? No. Does she treat us with respect? Certainly not! My answer is she's not going anywhere!"

Madi herself was not thrilled with the idea, at least because she would have to spend two days in the company of people with whom she had a strained relationship. She was not bullied, no, Lexa would never allow this, but they did not like her and openly showed it. Could say she was ignored, and this sometimes worse than mockery, she could not find a place to stumble, no one wanted to deal with her, sit at the table at lunch, as if she was something contagious. In addition to feeling terribly lonely all the time, inferiority complexes and other terrible feelings caused by such an attitude were added.

“Then what are you suggesting!? We are leaving for a two days! Leave her at home? If the neighbors see, they will call guardianship! This Margaret, who lives across the house from us, already asks a lot of unnecessary questions! - The man thought.

"Can I stay at home?" - Madi asked very quietly, but to which she received a very harsh and loud answer from both adults.

"Shut up! Nobody asks you at all! Stay silent and wait." - Mom cut it off.

"Fine. She will go, but before she goes to get ready, she will clean up everything that has done here. - Stepfather pointed to a dirty stove and spilled coffee on the countertop. “You have five minutes. If you don’t have time, blame yourself…”- He, like a delinquent dog, poked the girl with a nose to the table. "Five. minutes. When I get back, want to see the order and the table top polished to a shine." - Leaving, he hit her on the bottom with a towel, from which Madi closed her eyes and shrank, not that it hurt her too much, she was scared, had already received a portion of strong blows today, so each new one, albeit weak, brought fear and anxiety.

Her hands were shaking, but she cleaned up, did everything as quickly as possible in order to be in time before the arrival of her stepfather, because he was not joking, she wouldn’t be dishonored if didn’t do it. Hearing the upstairs door close and footsteps on the stairs, the girl accelerated even more, all she had to do was wipe the countertop. After removing the last of the coffee stains, she placed the rag by the sink and sighed nervously.

"I'm already here." - Madi turned and saw a man right behind her, he looked around the whole kitchen and checked for some kind of flaw to find fault, but found nothing. “Managed to…” - Russell, calmly put on a belt, and then leaned down to the level of the girl's eyes. "We're leaving soon. Go to your room and stay out of my sight. If I see somewhere, you will regret it.” - His physiognomy, voice and gestures inspired fear, the girl's body was simply paralyzed, she stood still and could not move. "What are you waiting for, get out!"

Madi ran to her room, tears streaming down her cheeks as she walked. Running inside, she fell to her knees and cried, as quietly as she could, even though she wanted to scream. Hopelessness devoured her, from year to year, it only got worse, it seemed she could not be happy, no one would ever love her. Injustice pressed her against the wall, leaving no space for retreat, life took her by the throat and squeezed so hard that she was running out of oxygen. At these moments, she would like to completely disappear, the world is cruel and unbearable for her. Madi has repeatedly wanted to end it all, do anything, but she is too weak for this, dying is even worse...

Simone entered the room without knocking, she held something in hands and looked at crying daughter, it annoyed her always. “Wear this today so that later I don’t get calls from school and they don’t tell me that you are like a ragged one.” The woman handed to her black jeans and a navy blue padded vest, Josephine's old clothes.

“Mom… I don’t want to go…”

"You'll go. And it's not even up for discussion." - She was unshakable. “If you think that you have the right to vote, you are deeply mistaken. Get dressed and go out, we are waiting only for you.”

"But it's my birthday..."

“And what should I do now? Nobody cares, Madi." With these words she left.

In the bus was quite noisy. All the guys concentrated in the front seats, there were also Miss Woods and Flint. They talked to each other and just had a great time. The Championship of Stories, that's what it was called, Lexa came up with this last year, a nice way to lighten the mood and just have a good laugh with the guys. Now Ethan was telling his funny life story, and this guy had something to share.

Lexa laughed along with the rest of the students, even the bore Flint joined them, the guys kept talking about some incidental or not very incidents from life. The woman looked at the faces, each of her students was special, had their own talent, potential, and this warmed her heart, work, probably the only thing that saved her from loneliness. The teacher turned around and fixed her eyes on Madi. The girl was sitting completely alone at the very back of the bus, she looked so drooping and sad. Woods left the rest of the children and went to the last seats, her student looked out the window, not even noticing that someone approached her, the woman sat down in an empty seat nearby.

"Hey..." Lexa greeted her softly, trying not to scare, but she didn't hear an answer. “You are alone here, aren’t you bored?” - The woman continued, but in response, silence again. "Madi..." She softly touched her shoulder.

"I can hear you." - The girl finally raised her eyes, but this look ... As if into the void.

"Then why don't you answer?"

“I don’t want to… I’m fine on my own.”

"You look sad."

Lexa tried to continue the dialogue, Madi looked so lonely, the teacher was well aware that her new student did not develop social relations, she really wanted to help, but girl continually pushed everyone away from herself. For the past month, Miss Woods has been trying to help Madi adapt, but to no avail, the girl was sitting in her shell and did not want to go out, there must have been reasons for this, and she is definitely determined to find out what was the matter.

“Did something happen to you? Maybe there are problems at home?

"I'm fine." - This phrase sounded even more with irritation than just an answer.

In this behavior and look, Lexa recognized herself again. They were so similar, both quiet, incredibly shy and closed off from the world. She knows how it is to be afraid to take a step towards something new, it is always scary. And suddenly someone will offend her? Shutting yourself off from the world is easier than accepting painful slaps. And both of them are so lonely, the woman really wanted to help this girl, it was just obvious that something was going wrong in her life, and it was also clear that she needed help, but the problem was that Madi did not want to accept it.

Lexa began to suspect something for a long time. Two weeks ago, the girl came to school with a rather deep cut on her arm, when she was asked about it, she nervously began to make excuses and say that she just fell, everyone believed it, of course. But if it were the only one. In just a month of studying at a new school, Madi had already managed to “get sick” twice, and this was very alarming, but for some reason only Lexa and, oddly enough, Clarke.

"If you want to talk, I'm here." Woods gently squeezed her hand, showing that she understands and really cares about her. 

Chapter Text

The drive to the National Forest was exactly an hour. Three school buses pulled up to the hotel, and schoolchildren began to leave at the same time and crowd. Divided into groups, who is friends with whom. Aden was in the company of his friends, Jordan and Hope, they have known each other since childhood. An Asian guy, the son of Aunt Harper and Uncle Monty, Clarke's mom's best friends, and a short-haired girl, the daughter of police chief Charmaine Diyoza. The guys have been friends almost since kindergarten age and to this day they prefer to stick together.

“Well, what's going on here ... Patience to your mothers”  Said Hope, her arms were crossed over her chest and her gaze darted from one person to another.

“Yeah…”  Aden took a deep breath and looked at Lexa first.

Then there was the eighth grade, everything was a little more complicated there, because children are children. Chaos began, the students dispersed throughout the parking lot, in search of adventure on their asses. Lexa was desperately trying to control herself and keep from screaming, but it seemed like it was necessary to calm down this swarm.

"Eighth grade! Attention guys!"  Nobody wanted to listen to her, and the partner disappeared somewhere. "Kids! Oh my God!"  Woods was already starting to blush with anger, Clarke noticed this too, she wanted to help, because if her ex-wife loses her temper completely, the trip will be ruined by everyone without exception.

The blonde went to the parking lot and collected the children, first of all she took Madi and another boy - Luka, they were the only ones who stood calmly near the bus and did not run anywhere. When Lexa saw at least two students near her, she felt a little better, the teacher ordered them to stand still and not go anywhere so that the rest could join. But then a very loud engine horn made everyone stop talking and turn around. It was Griffin, she took advantage of the courtesy of her driver, the woman got out of the cab, raised her hand, thus drawing attention to herself.

"Attention! Eighth grade, please come to your curator, Miss Woods, she is standing right in the middle of the parking lot and waiting for you! I want to see that in 2 minutes everyone will be assembled, because we need to check into a hotel!”  The guys obeyed and were already heading to their teacher, who looked at Clarke with gratitude in her eyes.

The woman nodded to her and gave a slight smile. The one Lexa missed, whom she had not seen for a long time, her heart trembled and warmth spread over her chest, and her eyes began to water. There was a feeling of a team, as before.

Having settled all the children on the floors with grief, Lexa breathed a sigh of relief, only one key remained in her hand, and that was her room. After walking down the corridor for the last time and making sure that all her students were in order, she headed to the elevator. She pressed the call button and while she waited, she decided to once again review the list of routes and activities that they had for these two, her eyes moved from side to side, quite quickly, this was one of Woods' skills, she reads very quickly, the woman was able to perceive information at 2x speed, it always surprised those who got to know her, but households have long been accustomed to watching videos on YouTube at the speed of light. This also saves time, why listen to a boring speaker for 30 minutes, if you can watch everything in 15 and learn all the material in the same way.

"It'll be fun, huh?" Behind her, a painfully familiar voice was heard, deep, rather low, but at the same time so sonorous.

"Clarke?" She slowly turned around and stood a little discouraged by the fact that the blonde spoke to her.

Her cheeks reddened from the emotions that boiled up inside her. Lexa didn't really hope that Griffin would interact with her during this trip. Her heart began to jump out of her chest, as if they were students again and the blonde was rolling up to her, for a moment she became that timid teenager who could not even utter a word at the sight of her object of adoration. Looking into those blue eyes, she wanted to dissolve, kiss Clarke right now and pull her into a hug, but she couldn't, because that's not how it works.

"Are you okay, babe?" The woman touched her shoulder.

"Sorry, what?" She could hear the pounding in her ears, she definitely heard the last word.

"I'm asking, are you okay, Lex? Cuz you don't look so…” At that moment the elevator pulled up, and the brunette hurried into it, but did not calculate that Clarke was going to follow her.

Woods hurriedly pressed the button for her floor and leaned against the wall, waiting for her ex-wife to do the same. But instead, she just pressed the button to close the doors.

"Me too on the fourth." She stood opposite and insistently decided to continue the conversation. “Did you really want to run away from me? You look sickly and tired, I just wanted to ask and maybe help, no other thoughts.”

“I'm just… I'm just tired, these kids exhausted me today…” Woods decided to lie, although it was not far from the truth. In part, students are really not controlled today, there was a feeling that it was not children who came to the natural zoo, but vice versa...

"Oh, understood. By the way, well done, I have never seen you at work before.  Hearing praise addressed to her, and even from this blonde, Lexa smiled awkwardly, but at the same time she felt herself not so depressed, more inspired. "No, it’s true! You're just cool, that's why all the students love you so much. You are not like the others, everything is possible with you.”

“And sometimes it hurts me myself…” She said it in a whisper, but Griffin still caught what was said. "Thanks anyway, Clarke."  The green forest met the blue ocean, their eyes fixed on each other, they would have stood like that for a long time if the elevator doors had not opened and the sound signal announced their arrival at destination. "Looks like we've arrived." The brunette stated and was the first to break contact.

It was too painful to look at her and realize that this woman is no longer hers. There are no more of them, there is only she alone and memories. Clarke felt the same way, but still she had the courage to speak up. It was always like this, the blonde initiator, more open, while Lexa was the timidity and tender flower in the world, although from the outside it seemed everything was exactly the opposite.

Having reached the door with the number 453, the woman stopped. Taking out the key, she inserted it into the keyhole, the first turn was easy, but then everything got stuck, it did not turn back and forth. At that point, she already gave up, leaning her forehead against the door, sighing deeply, trying to keep all her emotions to herself.

A warm hand touched her back, she touched it again and again her body seemed to be pierced by an electric current, but there was no strength to retreat. She wanted to completely fall into the arms of these hands, breathe in the smell of these white hair, they always smelled so sweet ... This anti-stress has always been a salvation for Lexa, a gentle hand, like a compress on a wound, everything seemed so unimportant when she was around.

"Can I help you?"  Lexa simply nodded and moved away from the door, like a child tired of failure.

The blonde pulled the doors towards her and opened the room with a flick of her wrist. "OK it's all over Now…"

"Thanks, Clarke." The math teacher hurried to enter, but she was stopped again.

"Let me take your guys today." It was an unexpected proposal. "Rest, you need to sleep, you're just very pale."

"You don't have to, I can handle it..."

"No, Lexa. Please don’t refuse… I just want to help.”

Woods dropped her gaze to the floor. Doesn't she really care about her? So it's not as bad as she thought.

"I can handle. Even with Flint." Lexa chuckled at the last sentence.

"Even Titus can't handle her... But I believe in you." The brunette smiled tiredly and looked up at her ex-wife again. "Thanks Clarke..."

"You've told me that a thousand times today." Griffin smiled too, her most enchanting smile. “Relax today. If that I'm in the next room." She pointed to the door next to her, and they each went their separate ways.

Closing the door behind her, a body pierced with pain, from which it was impossible to stand on her feet, stomach twisted, she turned white in a few seconds, sweat appeared on her forehead, and she couldn’t move, Lexa seemed to be paralyzed. A second before, she was already in the toilet. Vomited for two minutes, during which time a lot of thoughts and memories flashed through her head, everything was in a fog, the brunette did not understand what was happening and where she was. Wiping her mouth with her fingers, the woman leaned away from the toilet and pressed the flush button. Leaning her head back while closing her eyes, she rested her back against the cool bathroom and took a deep breath.

Lexa opened her eyes at the loud knock on the door. Her head was bursting after yesterday, she had a good drink with beer, she also mixed it with shots, and then God knows what else. Flushing behind her, the brunette tried to get to her feet, but it turned out that not all the alcohol had disappeared by morning, so she hit the back of her head on the bathroom, which made her head hurt even more.

"Fuck!" She sat down, but the knock on the door became even more insistent. “Yes, what is there!? Who really needed me there at 4 in the morning!?

Without waiting for permission to enter, Clarke stood in the doorway. Angry and upset. The eyes were red. She cried and didn't sleep all night. But when Lexa is drunk, her mountains are knee-deep, it doesn't matter to everything and everyone.

“I hasten to remind you that your son needed you first of all.”  The blonde did not begin to find out what was the matter, everything was so clear. For the past two months, once every other time, she finds her wife in this state. And neither one nor the other could find a reasonable explanation for this. Their marriage was cracking at the seams, it was visible to the naked eye.

"Yes. And you!? You don't need me..."

“Lexa, don’t yell at the whole house. Everyone is still sleeping."

"You did not answer my question! I knew it… You don’t care, you only think about yourself…”

“Are you thinking of anyone? You come home in the morning in a deranged state. And what am I supposed to think? Where have you been? With whom? You don't answer the phone. Lexa… What the fuck?” Eyes watered. “Yes, this year was not the best for us ... I admit that over the past few years our relationship has not been the same as before, and I understand that everyone copes with stress in different ways, but why are you leaving? We just need to talk…”

“Do we really have anything to talk about, huh? You never listen to me. All you're doing is complaining about me... As if I'm the one to blame for her death."  The words escaped by themselves, this topic is a taboo, which they swore never to raise directly again, but during each quarrel it slipped and brought even more pain to both.

"We'll talk when you're sober." With tears in her eyes and a broken voice, Clarke ran away.

“Fuck…” Lexa slammed her fist on the tile, causing it to crack and a trickle of blood seeping out of her hand.

It was very painful to remember. It all happened three years ago... They lost a child. When Aden was 10 years old, he began to insistently ask for a sister, because everyone around had them, and he was alone, they say, life is boring. He managed to persuade his mothers, after two unsuccessful attempts at artificial insemination, Clarke still managed to get pregnant. It was an incredible happiness for her to be pregnant again, the blonde always wanted more children, but while her son was small, they did not dare, because Aden was still that Armageddon, and they definitely would not have coped with two of these. But now the boy has grown up and has become more independent and reasonable, you can give birth to another one, especially if the son himself asked.

The news of Clarke's second pregnancy caused genuine delight among the whole family, it seemed that people around were happier than their parents themselves, and when the ultrasound showed that there would be a girl in the fourth month, Lexa was in seventh heaven. After all, this is her dream, the family she always wanted. It's been an incredible six months...

But then something happened that traumatized and broke all three, without exception. Clarke had a miscarriage, in which she herself almost died from blood loss. Of course, Woods blamed herself for everything that she was not around, for the fact that she then provoked that quarrel, from scratch. This all led to the loss of their baby. And then a huge snowball knocked down their family, scattering them in different directions.

Grief did not unite, unfortunately, but only alienated, divided. Everyone experienced in their own way. Clarke went into art and began to constantly draw and disappear in her home studio, with paints and canvas. Lexa at work, with students, colleagues, and then with one special ... Lexa's betrayal was the second blow to their family.

Five minutes later, Lexa quietly entered their bedroom. She looked at the bed where Clarke was lying, but a noticeable trembling and quiet sobs betrayed that she was not sleeping. The brunette walked over to the right side of the bed and knelt right in front of the blonde's tear-stained face.

“Forgive me…” She whispered, but the wife only turned on the other side, her back to her. "Baby, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." Tried to touch her, but Clarke wouldn't let her close. “I'm an idiot, and you know perfectly well that I'm a jerk and there are no excuses for me. But I ask you…”

“Just answer me…” The blonde stood up from her seat, she looked so hurt and just killed by those words. "How much can you mock me?" She whispered because she didn't want to scream, and it was too hard to speak in a normal voice. “I try so hard to forget about it, just move on… But you remind me of it every chance you get, why? You were with her again... I know. I know everything.”

"Clarke..."

"No! Go away, I beg you ... You hurt me too much. If you don't want me anymore, if you don't need me. Go away ... " This is what she was afraid to hear, these words.

"Do you want a divorce?"

At that moment, Aden was standing outside the door, he heard everything, from the very beginning, the boy, unable to bear all the horror and pain from what he heard, ran away in tears. Their son was drawn into this, not of his own free will, and he was traumatized the most ... First, the loss of his sister, whom he so wanted and waited for, and then endless scandals at home, and ultimately a divorce. The most terrible and painful event for any child, and most importantly, that he is not to blame, but feels all this heavy burden on himself.

Returning to reality, Lexa barely made it to her bed. She just lay down and looked at the ceiling, the feelings were the most terrible. After all the meanness and mistakes that she made, Clarke finds the strength to be kind to her, still takes care and even helps. Lexa felt unworthy of this woman, not worthy of this life, for the past year she just wants to disappear. She doesn't live, she just exists. But today she definitely decided for herself that she would return the location of this woman so that it would not become her. Yes. Anya is right, they both love each other and the brunette will fight for her love.

Chapter Text

The Forest. One of the most dangerous, but at the same time amazing places. When you find yourself in these areas, you can lose your head. Surrounded by tall trees, beautiful views, and the uniqueness of nature, it's impossible not to fall in love with this place. Once here among the pine forest and classmates, Madi no longer felt so alone. Be that as it may, on this birthday, she was lucky to be far from her stepfather, and it was no longer as sad as in the morning. At least he won't get to her here.

It was even fun. Some of the guys were quite nice and friendly. Two friends, Luka and Rex, had known each other since elementary school. All the way on the bus, they sat not far from her, and just like Madi, they didn't really delve into what was happening in the front seats. They talked about their favorite rock bands and which guitar was better - Fender or Gibson. They were probably the only ones in the class who hadn't given up trying not only to make friends, but also to talk to her. During all the turmoil in the parking lot, Luka stayed by her side, and they even exchanged a couple of phrases, to which the boy pretended to be surprised, "Oh my God, she spoke to me!" And then he added, "You're cute. Stop being afraid of us, we just want to be friends with you." These words made the girl think - maybe it was worth the risk. No one forced her to open her soul and tell the most secret secrets.

And now, she was in her hotel room with other girls. She was lucky with her neighbors - they were Vic and Louise, although everyone just called her Lou. Victoria was not a tall girl, with not very long, but not short blonde hair. Her bangs reached her green fox eyes, almost covering them. But Lou was her complete opposite - a tall, brown-eyed, brown-haired woman, with sunken cheeks, a smooth nose, and plump lips. Her facial features were more model-like than pretty. The girls were like Yin and Yang - not only in terms of appearance, but also in character. Even their hobbies were completely different. Vic was a purposeful and hot person. She played the guitar and dreamed of creating her own group, with which she would certainly achieve worldwide success. Louise was a balanced, calm athlete. With her height of 175 centimeters at 15 years old, she already played in the first team for the school basketball team, being the youngest. And that didn't stop them from being best friends.

The girls accepted Madi neutrally, unlike Grace, who immediately declared that she did not want to live in the same room with this freak Wolf. They even offered to choose a bed first. But that was it. They not only ignored her, but they simply did not even know what to talk about with her and how to behave. Therefore, immediately after checking in, they went to the room with their other classmates, leaving the girl alone. It didn't bother her at all, on the contrary.

Madi didn't have much things with her, only what she managed to grab and throw into her backpack. They didn't leave her room key either, so she had to sit there and wait for Vic and Lou to return. Sitting on her bed, cross-legged in front of her, the girl took out her sketchbook, pencil, and sighed with relief; she thought she had forgotten it. So carried away by drawing, Madi lost track of time and completely forgot that lunch was at 12. Glancing at the clock that hung right above the door, the girl hastily threw everything on the bed. 12:42... Here she will be in trouble for being late, no one here will stand on ceremony with her. Leave without lunch and everything. While she was fiddling with her shoes, someone knocked. Turning around, Madi found Miss Griffin at the door, who did not look angry or displeased with her at all.

“Madi, everyone is already having lunch, except for you. Is everything okay? Are you feeling well?” There was a hint of concern in Clarke’s voice.

Madi glanced at her sketchbook lying open on the bed, displaying an unfinished drawing. “I’m just here… lost in thought,” she replied, feeling embarrassed that her teacher had already seen her work.

“It’s okay,” Clarke smiled at her. “When you draw, it's like you're immersed in your own world. It's a great way to forget about everything else.”

The teen relaxed a little, feeling understood by her favorite teacher. “Yes, I've been daydreaming,” she admitted, rubbing her neck and laughing awkwardly.

For Clarke, it was a challenge to get Madi to open up. In class, the girl was quiet and reserved, and it was difficult to connect with her. But after reading Madi’s essay, Clarke realized how intelligent and articulate she was. She decided to assign Madi a special task – to write an essay on each chapter they studied. In return, Clarke didn't question her in class and made sure she felt comfortable. Over time, Madi began to willingly participate in class and even opened up to Clarke more.

“Let's go,” Clarke held out her hand to Madi and gestured for her to follow.

For a moment, Madi hesitated to show too much emotion, but the kindness and sincerity of her teacher won her over. The two of them entered the dining room together, with Clarke's arm around Madi’s shoulders. Clarke shared that she too used to draw, and even had her own studio, while Madi talked about her own drawings. This was one of the first times Madi had communicated so freely with anyone, let alone a teacher.

The dining room was busier than ever, with schoolchildren from Norton on an excursion. Madi became nervous and overwhelmed by the crowded space, feeling unsure of where to join. Miss Griffin noticed her discomfort and came to her rescue.

“Come on, I know where there's still room,” Clarke handed Madi a tray of food and led her to a table where Aden, Jordan, and Hope were sitting.

The tenth graders appeared self-confident and slightly annoyed at having a younger student join them. Hope scanned Madi up and down, raising one eyebrow before returning to her meal, indifferent. The guys looked at Clarke with questioning expressions.

"Guys, this is Madi," Clarke introduced the girl to the group. "I hope you don't mind if she sits with you, there are no seats left."

"Of course not," Aden smiled. "Really, guys?" He glanced at his friends and then back at his mother, who appeared grateful.

Hope began to speak, but was interrupted by Jordan, who exclaimed, "Sit down, Madi! I'm Jordan, by the way." He grinned and pulled out the chair next to him.

Madi placed her tray on the table and sat in the offered seat. Clarke thanked the group and moved on, feeling relieved. Aden seemed kind and Jordan was friendly, allowing girl to relax.

"What grade are you in, Madi? We haven't seen you before," Hope spoke up, addressing the younger girl for the first time.

"I'm in the eighth," Madi responded softly.

"So you're new?" Hope asked.

Madi shook her head, feeling embarrassed, and continued her meal. She was even a little afraid of Hope, who came across as strict and impatient, reminding her of Russell in some way.

Grace was sitting at the next table with her retinue, discussing why Madi was even placed in their school. Aden Woods was the school's celebrity, but he was not thrilled about it. He was more of a quiet, handsome boy than an athlete or charmer. Moreover, when it was revealed that he was the son of a teacher, everything escalated. He often became the target of bullying due to all the attention he received. Girls from seventh to eleventh grade dreamt of him talking to them or asking them out on a date. Therefore, when Grace thought that Madi had a crush on Aden, jealousy began to take over. But it wasn't true, actually. Madi was not popular, rather, she was treated negatively. Essentially, everyone bullied her. And Grace decided not to miss the opportunity to mock her, because of it.

"Hey, weirdo! What did you forget here?" she said loudly enough for many in the cafeteria to notice, but not enough for the teachers to hear. Madi just silently continued to eat. "Haven't you been put in a psychiatric hospital yet?"

Hope squinted at her, waiting for Madi to answer and stand up for herself. Jordan only looked at Grace questioningly, not understanding who she was calling a freak. But Aden noticed how the younger girl's leg began to twitch nervously and how her ears turned red.

"Why are you silent? Did you swallow your tongue with food?" the other schoolchildren laughed at Grace's comments, and then picked up a wave of hate. From nearby tables, mockery was heard, such as "They don't even feed this fool at home..." or "The dumbass can't even talk." It turned into a play where Madi played the main role, but the audience did not like it. They began to boo her and throw rotten tomatoes.

Madi remained silent, drooping and hiding her face behind her hair. Again. It was happening again. No matter how hard she tried, no matter what she did or how she behaved, people would always mock her. She was ready to burst into tears right there, but she just couldn't. Not with the whole school watching. If she showed her weakness, they would bite her, and they would definitely not leave her alone.

"Are you listening, fool? You don't belong here." Tears glistened in her eyes.

Jordan was the first to stand up for her. He rose from his chair, about to speak up, but Hope stopped him with her hand and forced him to sit back down. Meanwhile, a section of the dining room chanted her nickname, and Madi was kicked out. This time, she couldn't take it anymore. She abruptly left the table and bolted through the second exit, which opened onto the street. Aden was so shocked by everything that he also stood up.

"What's wrong with all of you?" Aden was outraged and felt sorry for the girl. "Did she do anything to you? Why are you treating her like this?" He almost shouted at Grace, who was no longer laughing. The teachers began to disperse the eighth graders to their respective places.

"Why are you all silent?" Aden addressed the group, but nobody listened except for his friends at the table with him.

"Wow..." Hope could only manage a single word. "This is super bullying."

"This is disgusting!" Woods rose from his seat and quickly made his way to the exit.

"Where are you going?" Jordan called out.

"Can't you guess?" Woods replied before disappearing behind the door.

Madi sat by the lake, surrounded by a pine forest. Tears flowed uncontrollably down her cheeks, and she couldn't help but weep. Pulling her knees close to her chest, the girl gazed at her reflection in the water. Her long, curly hair hung down in front of her, and tears dripped from her sunken cheeks, creating ripples in the pool around her image.

"Why?" she sobbed, turning away and wiping her eyes. "What's wrong with me?"

"Hey, are you okay?" Aden looked at Madi with concern and asked.

Madi shook her head, tears still streaming down her face. "No, not at all. They were so cruel to me… Why?” She said, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

"Sorry," Aden said sympathetically. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Madi nodded, grateful that someone had shown her a modicum of sympathy. They sat down on the nearest log, and the girl poured her heart out to Aden. She told him about the bullying she faced during her time at the new school and how it escalated on her birthday.

Aden listened intently, nodding and offering words of comfort. “I'm sorry you had to go through this. You don't deserve this." He said.

Madi looked at the boy, grateful for his kindness. “Thank you…” she said. "Really, you're so kind to me."

Aden smiled. "Certainly. Friends stick together, right?"

Madi looked at him in surprise. "Do you want to be my friend?"

Aden saw the surprise on the girl's face and felt her hesitation. He knew she had a hard time trusting people, especially after what had happened before. But he also saw the loneliness in her eyes, and it touched him to the core.

"Hey…" He said softly, gently touching her hand. “I know we just met, but I can tell that you are going through a difficult time. And I don't want you to have to go through this alone." The guy knew what he was talking about, he recently went through a similar thing after his moms divorced.

Madi blinked back her tears and nodded slowly. "Thank you." She whispered. "I... I don't have any friends."

Aden's heart broke at her words. "Well, now you know," he said with a reassuring smile. "I'll be your friend".

Madi's lips trembled, and a slight smile appeared on her face. "True?" She asked a little louder than a whisper.

Aden nodded. "True." he confirmed.

Madi looked at him with a newfound sense of hope. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but somehow, with Aden by her side, she felt like she could face anything.

As they got ready to leave, Aden realized something. "Wait, where did we come from?"

Madi looked around, realizing that they were surrounded by trees, and had no idea which path was the right one. "I don't know" She said, starting to panic.

Aden tried to remain calm. "It's okay, we'll figure it out. Let's start walking and looking, maybe we'll understand something."

They began to walk, but after a few minutes it became clear that they were hopelessly lost. As they went deeper into the forest, they heard some rustling. This made it even scarier.

"I thought it couldn't get any worse…" Madi muttered.

But the rustle did not stop and it was already clear that something big and terrible was approaching them.

"What was it?" Madi whispered. The girl was shaking with fear, her eyes filled with horror. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as it approached them.

Aden's eyes widened. "Don't know. Stay behind me."

Suddenly, a massive brown bear stepped out from behind a tree, keeping its eyes on them. The two children froze in horror, not knowing what to do next.

The bear took a step towards them, and Aden knew they had to move quickly. "Don't move, Madi," he whispered, trying to keep his voice steady. "Don't move your muscles."

He slowly reached for the ground, looking for something to use as a weapon. His hand closed on the heavy stone, and he slowly lifted it, trying not to make sudden movements.

The bear was getting closer and Aden knew he only had one chance. He took a deep breath and threw the stone with all his might, hitting the bear right in the head.

The huge beast staggered, giving the children enough time to turn around and run in the opposite direction. Branches lashed their faces and clung to their clothes, leaving scratches and bruises. Madi screamed in pain as a sharp branch cut her cheek, but Aden continued to drag her along, not stopping until they broke out into a small clearing.

They collapsed to the ground, gasping and choking. The girl sobbed uncontrollably, her whole body shaking with fear.

"We have to keep moving," Aden said in a hoarse voice. "We can't stay here."

Madi nodded, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "But where?" She asked a little louder than a whisper.

The boy looked around, trying to get his bearings. "I'm not sure," he confessed. “But we can't give up. We have to keep trying to find a way out of here."

With that, they got up and started walking again, their hearts heavy with fear and uncertainty. But they knew they had to keep going no matter what.

But there was already growing anxiety in the camp. As the sun began to set over the camp, Hope and Jordan reported the incident to Clarke, who in turn quickly ran to Lexa's room. The brunette had just woken up; she was still feeling overwhelmed when she heard a knock on the door. She got up and went to open it, guessing who it might be.

"Clarke, what's going on?" Lexa asked with concern in her voice.

"Aden and Madi," Clarke said, her voice trembling slightly. "They are gone."

Lexa's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean they're gone?"

"They went into the woods and didn't come back," Clarke explained. "Hope and Jordan just told me."

Lexa's eyes widened in fear. "We must find them."

"I know," Clarke said, her voice determined. "I'm going to pack our things and then we can join the search party."

Lexa nodded, already heading to the chest of drawers to get dressed. "I'll pack my things too. We will need all the help we can get."

Women rushed around the room, gathering. Tension was in the air, and both women were too excited to say anything to each other. But as they grabbed their bags and headed out of the hotel, Lexa grabbed the blonde's arm.

"Clarke, I know it wasn't easy between us," Lexa said, her voice softening. "But we need to work together to find our son."

Clarke nodded, her eyes meeting Lexa's. “I know and I'm sorry. We'll find them, I promise."

The two women joined the search party in an attempt to find the children before it was too late. As they made their way into the forest, they called out their names, hoping for an answer. Both were terrified of what could happen to the children.

"I'm sorry..." Lexa began. “I’m sorry that you had to go through so much because of me…”

The blonde looked up at her ex-wife, unable to find an answer. “I’m also really sorry that you and I broke up like this… And… And now is a bit of a bad time.” The woman cut off and went further in search, running away from this conversation.

Lexa's words echoed in Clarke's head as they walked deeper into the woods. The woman experienced a mixture of emotions - anger, sadness, pain and confusion, she had always loved Lexa, and the betrayal deeply hurt her.

But as they searched for their son, Clarke felt a pang of something else—a flash of love she thought she had lost. She pushed that feeling away, not wanting to deal with him right now.

As they continued to search, calling out the children's names, Clarke felt a lump rise in her throat. The fear of losing Aden was overwhelming and it was all she could do to keep moving forward.

"I don't want to talk about it right now," Clarke finally said, breaking the silence between them. "Let's just find the kids."

Lexa nodded, understanding the pain in her ex-wife's voice. She was afraid too, afraid of losing her only son and afraid of losing Clarke forever.

As they walked, their eyes scanned the forest for any sign of the children's presence. They called out their names, their voices rang through the trees. It was getting darker and they hoped they would be found soon.

Finally heard a faint rustle in the distance. They quickened their pace, following the sound, until they saw two kids coming out from behind the trees, exhausted and frightened. The women immediately rushed to their son and hugged him tightly, showering him with kisses with tears of relief. Aden felt the overwhelming love of his mothers, but he couldn't help but notice Madi's forlorn and sad expression.

When the two women focused on their son, the girl felt invisible, as if no one cared about her, just like at home. She looked down at her feet, feeling small and insignificant, but then Clarke noticed her.

"Oh my God, honey, are you okay?" Clarke asked, her eyes full of concern as she sat down next to the girl. Lexa quickly joined her and the two women embraced her warmly, letting her know that she was not alone.

Madi felt a surge of emotion as the two women embraced her in a way she had never experienced before. She felt loved and needed, and tears rolled down her cheeks. Clarke and Lexa looked at each other, their own emotions running high, also because they themselves felt guilty about what had happened.

"We're sorry..." Clarke whispered. “It's over… You're safe…” The woman pulled her closer, taking her away from Lexa, rocking the girl in her arms.

She then examined both children for serious injuries. The blonde stared at the scratch on Madi's face while her son told them what had happened.

"We were walking and then we heard something behind us," Aden said, his voice still trembling from the experience. “It was a huge brown bear and it was heading straight for us. I grabbed a stone and threw it, hitting him in the head. This gave us enough time to escape."

Clarke listened to her son's story, impressed by his bravery. She then turned her attention to Madi, who was sitting quietly next to her.

"Let me take a look at your face," the blonde said softly as she reached out to touch the girl's cheek.

Madi flinched at the touch, but Clarke was gentle as she studied her face. " You have scratches and bruises," she said. “But nothing serious. We will cleanse them and apply ointment.”

The teenager silently nodded, still in shock from the experience. She couldn't believe that Clarke and Lexa had finally found them and that they were now tending to her wounds. For the first time in her life, Madi felt that someone truly cared about her. She looked at the faces of the people who had come to help her and felt grateful and relieved.

Chapter Text

Overall, the excursion went smoothly, except for the absence of Aidan and Madi, as Wells put it. As the school bus rumbled down the road, the students and teachers who had been on the trip chattered and chuckled about the various activities they had enjoyed over the past few days. Miss Flint scowled and grumbled about the chilly and uncomfortable campsite, while Jaha attempted to infuse some positivity into the conversation by sharing fascinating historical anecdotes about the area. By the way, after what had happened, Clarke had switched seats with Flint to be closer to Madi, partly because she was worried about their last conversation, and partly because Woods wanted their son to ride on the same bus with her, since she was taking him to her this week.

Meanwhile, the students chatted away, exchanging stories about their hikes, treks, and the wildlife they had spotted. The group of friends who had spent most of the trip together exploring the forest snickered and reminisced about the pranks they had played on each other. The other students gossiped about the sing-alongs by the fire, the s'mores they had made, and the games they had played.

At the front of the bus, the driver and attendants conversed quietly among themselves, discussing the logistics of the trip and patting each other on the back for a job well done. All the while, the bus hummed along, returning to civilization and the students' homes.

As they journeyed, the sun began to dip, drenching the sky with warm hues. The students prepared themselves for the long ride, chatting and dozing as the bus made its way back to school. They might have been drained and somewhat weary after a few days in the woods, but their spirits remained high, and they felt grateful for the cherished memories they had made. Although it was supposed to be dark by the time they arrived home, due to the extended preparations and organizing, they departed in the afternoon instead of the morning. Thus, they wouldn't arrive until evening, and since winter was drawing near, with fewer daylight hours, it would already be dark.

Towards the rear of the bus, the atmosphere was far from cheerful and straightforward. Aden was slumped over, his eyes drooping and his body limp as he leaned heavily against Lexa's shoulder. She could feel the exhaustion radiating off of him, and her heart ached at the thought of what he had endured over the past few days. Meanwhile, Clarke sat quietly in her seat, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery outside. Lexa felt guilty for bringing up the conversation with Clarke during such a terrible moment for both of them. Her mind was consumed with regret and embarrassment, and she could feel her cheeks burning with shame.

Madi sat quietly near them, staring out the window as the scenery passed by in a blur. Her mind was racing with thoughts, and she couldn't shake the feeling of fear and panic that had consumed her during the ordeal in the woods. As the bus made its way through the winding roads, Madi felt a sharp pain in her chest, a tightness that seemed to squeeze the air out of her lungs. She tried to breathe slowly, to calm herself down, but the memories of the forest kept flooding back.

She felt so alone, so abandoned. And now she was heading back to a house where she was unwanted, where she was just a burden to her stepfather and a nuisance to her mother. Also, she couldn't believe she had been so foolish as to run away like that, putting herself and Aden in danger. If it hadn't been for Clarke and Lexa, they might not have made it out alive. Madi shuddered at the thought and hugged herself tightly.

Madi felt tears prick at her eyes, but she blinked them away quickly. She couldn't let anyone see her cry, especially not Miss Griffin. She didn't want to burden the kind woman with her problems. But Clarke seemed to sense her distress, and she leaned over to speak to Madi in a gentle voice.

"Hey… Are you okay?" Clarke asked, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder.

Madi nodded, trying to force a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired."

Clarke didn't seem convinced, but she didn't press the issue.

"Okay, just let me know if you need anything," Clarke said, giving Madi's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before sitting back in her seat.

Madi felt a lump form in her throat, grateful for teacher's concern but also overwhelmed by her own emotions. She didn't know how she was going to face her problems at home. But didn't want to burden Clarke with her troubles, not when she had already been so kind to her.

As the bus rumbled on, Madi leaned her head against the window and stared out at the passing scenery. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the landscape. The beauty of it all was lost on her, though, as her mind raced with worries and doubts.

Clarke glanced over at Madi from time to time, concerned but not wanting to intrude on the girl's thoughts. She knew from experience how hard it could be to deal with personal problems, and she didn't want to make things worse for Madi by pushing her to talk about it.

Instead, Clarke pulled out her notebook and started jotting down some ideas for her upcoming English lesson. Writing had always been a way for her to clear her mind and organize her thoughts, and she hoped it might help her focus and find some peace in the midst of the chaos of the day.

The bus continued down the road, the blonde kept stealing glances at Madi, hoping that the girl was okay and that she could find some comfort in the journey home. She knew that sometimes just having someone there, even if they didn't say anything, could make all the difference in the world.

They pulled up to the school, students began to gather their belongings and chatter excitedly about the weekend trip they had just returned from. Madi sat quietly, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery outside the window, feeling a sense of foreboding. She knew that no one was coming to pick her up, despite her pleas to her stepfather.

As the other students filed out of the bus, girl gathered her bag and stepped outside into the cool evening air. She looked around, hoping to see her mother's car, but it was nowhere in sight. Madi's heart sank. She knew what this meant: she was going to have to walk home, alone in the dark.

Madi watched as her classmates got into their cars and drove off, one by one. She felt like an outsider, like she didn't belong. It was a terrible feeling, and she didn't know how to deal with it. As the last car drove away, teen began to feel tears welling up in her eyes. She tried to hold them back, but it was no use. Girl let out a small sob, feeling utterly alone and abandoned.

Clarke, who had been standing nearby, noticed Madi's distress and approached her. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. The girl looked up at her, eyes red and puffy from crying. "I'm fine," she said, trying to sound convincing. But Clarke knew better.

"Madi, what's wrong?" Clarke asked, her voice gentle.

She sniffled and wiped her tears away, feeling embarrassed that her teacher had seen her like this. "N-nothing," she said, trying to compose herself.

"It doesn't look like nothing," Clarke said, crouching down to Madi's level. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Madi hesitated for a moment, but the kind look on Clarke's face made her feel like she could trust her. “Nobody come to pick me up…” She said, her voice shaking.

Clarke's face softened even more. "I'm so sorry, dear." She said, placing a comforting hand on girl's back.

“It’s ok…” Madi said whipping her tears by hand. “I’ll just go home by myself, don’t worry. I used to” This words broke teacher’s heart.

Clarke could see the fear in girl's eyes, and she knew that she couldn't let her go home alone. "Madi, do you want me to drive you home?" she asked, hoping to offer some kind of help.

Madi shook her head, the fear evident on her face. "No, no, it's okay, I'll just walk," she said, her voice trembling.

Clarke knew that Madi was afraid of something, but she couldn’t understand. She saw the terror in the girl's eyes, and it broke her heart. "Madi, it's not safe for you to walk home alone in the dark. Please, let me take you home," she said, hoping to convince her.

Madi was stubborn. "No, I can't. He'll be angry if sees me with you," she said, her voice shaking.

But who will be angry? Clarke sighed, knowing that she couldn't force girl to accept her offer. But she also knew that she couldn't just leave her alone. "Madi, can I at least walk you part of the way?" she asked, hoping to compromise.

The teen looked hesitant, but after a moment, she nodded. "Okay, I guess that's okay," she said, her voice small.

Saying goodbye to her last with her son and ex-wife, Clarke smiled at girl and led the way, walking slowly down the quiet street.

As they walked, Clarke tried to make small talk with Madi, hoping to take her mind off of her fears. They talked about the trip they had just been on, and Clarke told Madi about some of her own adventures when she was a teenager.

The girl listened, seeming to relax a little bit as they walked. But Clarke could still sense the fear in her, and it worried her. She wished that she could do more to help, but she didn't know what else to do.

As they approached Madi's house, the girl grew more and more anxious. "I should go now," she said, her voice shaking.

Clarke nodded, not wanting to push her. "Okay, Madi. Just be safe, okay?" she said, giving her a little hug.

Madi was taken aback when Clarke hugged her. She hadn't expected it and was a little embarrassed by the display of affection. She wasn't used to receiving hugs from anyone, let alone a teacher. But at the same time, she felt comforted by the gesture. It was like Clarke was saying, without words, that she cared about her and was there for her.

Madi leaned into the hug, feeling the warmth of Clarke's embrace. For a moment, she forgot about all of her worries and fears. It was like nothing else in the world mattered except for that moment, where she was being held by someone who genuinely cared about her.

The girl nodded, her eyes filling with tears again. "Thank you, Ms. Griffin," she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for everything…” She didn’t want to go from this warm arms, but she has to.

Clarke smiled at her. "Do you want me to come in with you?" she asked. "Just to make sure everything's okay?"

The blonde felt a mix of worry and relief as she held the girl close, glad that she could provide some comfort to her distressed student. But she knew that kid still needed to get home, and it wasn't safe for her to walk alone in the dark.

This touched Madi so much that she let the teacher walk her through. The brain knew that she could be in trouble, in particular because Russell did not allow this, no outsider should know where they live and how. But the heart so wanted to receive a little more attention and affection. An absolute stranger took care of her, as no one had ever done this.  

She felt a knot form in her stomach as she looked at the darkened house. She knew her parents were often late getting home, but this was unusual. The teacher put her hand on the girl's shoulder, her face filled with bother.

"Don't worry, we'll figure something out," Miss Griffin said, trying to reassure her. "Do you have a key or a way to get in?"

Madi shook her head. "No, my parents usually leave the door unlocked, but it's strange that they're not here yet."

“Can you call your mom or someone?” Woman suggested her an option, but then noticed that something wrong. “Madi, do you have phone?”

The girl looked at the ground, the teacher saw her blush, but then answered without raising her head. “No…” She mumbled.

“Damn.” Clarke bit her lip, thinking. She can’t leave child alone, but also didn't want to intrude on her parents' privacy. "How about to go back to my apartment?" she suggested. "You can stay with me for the night." The woman looked not only resolute, but in her eyes one could see anger and incomprehension. She tore a page out of her notebook and, leaning on the closed door, began to write a note.

"Dear Mrs. and Mr. Lightbourne,

I hope this note finds you well. I'm sorry to inform you that Madi is staying with me for the night as no one was home when we arrived. Please don't worry; she's safe with me. I'll make sure to bring her to school tomorrow, and we can discuss any concerns you may have then.

Sincerely,

Clarke Griffin"

"I’ll leave this note here," Clarke said softly. "Hopefully they'll see it and call me. We'll figure out what's going on soon, I promise."

Madi felt grateful for her teacher's kindness but also a little embarrassed. She didn't want to impose on Clarke, and didn't want her to get in trouble with Russell. But she didn't have any other options, so she nodded her head in agreement.

Madi wiped her eyes and nodded. "Okay," she said quietly. "Thank you."

They started walking back to the school parking lot, and as they walked, the blonde tried to make small talk to ease the tension. “So, which music do you prefer?”

As they came closer to the woman's car, Madi and Clarke chatted about school and their interests. They talked about music and movies, and Griffin even showed girl some of her favorite albums. Madi was surprised to find that they had some common interests, and she felt like she was getting to know her teacher on a more personal level.

Madi's smile widened, and for the first time that day, she felt a glimmer of happiness. She was grateful for teacher's kindness and for the offer to spend night with her. Maybe things weren't so bad after all.

As they reached the school parking lot, Clarke took out her car keys and unlocked the doors of her vehicle. "Hop in," she said, gesturing for Madi to get into the passenger seat.

Madi climbed in, feeling so grateful for the warmth of the car on the chilly evening. She buckled her seatbelt and leaned back in the seat, closing her eyes. It felt good to be in a safe place, with someone who cared about her.

As they drove to Clarke's apartment, the teacher explained that she had some extra clothes that Madi could borrow, in case she needed anything. She also offered to make some hot chocolate for them to enjoy while they watched a movie.

Madi was touched by woman's thoughtfulness and kindness. She couldn't believe how lucky she was to have such a caring teacher. As they pulled up to the apartment complex, Clarke parked the car and turned to Madi. "Here we are," she said, smiling.

They got out of the car and made their way up to her apartment. The teacher unlocked the door and gestured for Madi to enter. "Make yourself at home," she said.

Girl looked around the apartment, taking in the cozy furnishings and warm decor. It felt like a home, and she was grateful to be there.

"I don't have an extra bed, but you can sleep on the couch. It's pretty comfortable," Clarke said, trying to be reassuring.

Madi smiled weakly. "Thank you, Miss Griffin," she said, still feeling a little embarrassed about the whole situation. She looked around the apartment, noticing the pictures and paintings on the walls. "You have a nice place," she said, trying to make conversation.

Clarke smiled. "Thanks. I like to decorate. It helps me feel more at home."

The girl nodded, feeling a little more relaxed. After a few minutes of chatting, Clarke excused herself to use the bathroom. While she was gone, Madi looked around the apartment some more, trying to distract herself from her worries.

"Would you like some hot chocolate?" After a few minutes Clarke came back and asked, smiling gently. "I always make some when I need to feel better."

Madi nodded, a small smile forming on her face. She appreciated the teacher's efforts to make her feel comfortable. Clarke disappeared into the kitchen, and girl could hear the sound of pots and pans clattering. The smell of chocolate filled the air, and Madi's mouth watered.

Clarke came back with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. They sat on the couch and sipped their drinks, Madi feeling a sense of warmth and comfort that she had never experienced before. She couldn't believe how kind Miss Griffin was, and how much she cared about her well-being.

As they chatted, Madi began to open up to her favorite teacher. She talked about her fears and worries, about feeling like she didn't fit in at school, and how she missed her real mother. Clarke listened attentively, offering words of comfort and encouragement.

Madi felt a sense of trust and comfort with Clarke that she had never felt with anyone else. She knew that no matter what happened, she would be there for her, and that thought gave her a sense of peace.

"Feeling better?" Clarke asked.

Madi nodded, taking a sip of the hot chocolate. It was rich and creamy, and it warmed her from the inside out. "Thank you," she said, smiling.

Clarke smiled back, and they spent the rest of the evening watching a movie and chatting. Madi felt like she was part of a family, and she could felt these warmth and love that woman had shown her. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to Madi.

After finishing the hot chocolate, the girl felt her body go limp, her eyelids began to get heavy. Clarke looked at the half-asleep child and simply laid her on the couch and gently covered her with a blanket.

“Good night, Madi,” said Clarke gently stroking the girl's hair. “Don’t worry, you are safe here.” She added it, because felt that she needed to tell this.

The girl did not answer, as she was already almost asleep, but, making her way through the foggy thoughts, she managed to squeeze out a quiet "Uh-huh..."

Warmth spread over Clarke's soul, she sat a little longer, but then quietly got up and went to her room, leaving the sweetly sleeping girl.

Meanwhile Aden stumbled into Lexa's house, feeling drained and emotionally exhausted. The events of the day had taken their toll, and he was grateful to finally be able to sit down and relax. Lexa watched him carefully, noting the way he leaned heavily against the doorframe and the way his shoulders slumped.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle and concerned.

The boy didn't answer right away, instead closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He was physically and mentally spent, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to put up a facade of strength for much longer.

"I don't know," he finally replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "I feel like I've been through a war."

Lexa nodded understandingly, moving to stand next to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder, offering him what little comfort she could.

"I'm so sorry, baby…" she said. "I wish I could take away your worries."

Aden shook his head, his eyes still closed. "It's not your fault. I just... I need a break."

Lexa nodded again, stepping away from him to give him some space. She understood all too well the toll that trauma could take on a person, and she knew that Aden needed time to process what had happened.

As Aden collapsed onto the couch, Lexa's thoughts turned to Clarke. She couldn't help but wonder what her ex-wife was doing at that very moment, and whether she was safe and happy. Despite their tumultuous past, Lexa couldn't help but feel a lingering affection for Clarke, and she found herself wishing that things could have been different between them.

But then she shook her head, forcing herself to focus on the present. She had a son in her house who needed her support, and she couldn't afford to let her thoughts wander.

"Do you want something to eat?" she asked her boy, hoping to distract him from his troubles.

Aden shook his head. "I'm not hungry. I just want to rest."

Lexa nodded, taking a seat on the armchair opposite him. She watched him for a moment, taking in the way his chest rose and fell with each labored breath. She couldn't imagine what he had been through, but she knew that she wanted to be there for him in whatever way she could.

"I'm here for you," she said quietly. "Whatever you need, just let me know."

Aden looked up at her, his eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you, mom…" he said.

“Just tell me what worrying you?” the woman tried to talk with him. “How did you end up in the middle of the forest and why?”

Aden sighed and looked down at his hands, unsure of where to start. "It's a long story," he said finally.

Lexa leaned forward, her expression one of concern. "I'm listening," she said.

Aden took a deep breath and looked down at his hands. "Madi was being bullied," he said quietly. "During lunch, Grace from your class and some of the other kids were saying mean things to her and making fun of her. She couldn't take it anymore and ran away. I followed her, and that's how we ended up in the forest."

Lexa's expression turned to one of anger and concern. Now everything became clear to her. Why is the girl always so reserved and shy. The guys bullied her... She could guess, not that she could, she was obliged. Aden saw his mother begin to blush, which means that she is angry.

"I had no idea," she said, her voice tight with anger. "As her class curator, I should have been more vigilant. I will talk to Grace and the other kids who participated in this bullying. This behavior is unacceptable, and I won't tolerate it in my class."

Aden nodded, relieved to hear that his mother would take action. "Thank you, mom," he said.

Lexa took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "What about Madi? How is she doing now?"

Aden shrugged. "I think she's still upset," he said. "But we talked about it in the forest, and I offered to be her friend. She seemed to appreciate it."

Lexa smiled at her son. "I'm proud of you for standing up for Madi and being there for her. That takes a lot of courage. Also the bear… You are so brave son..."

Aden smiled back, feeling a sense of warmth and pride in his chest. He was glad to have made a difference in someone's life, even if it was just one person. And he knew that with his mother's support, he could continue to help others in whatever way he could.

"You're both lucky to be alive," then she added softly.

Aden nodded. "I know," he said. "I just... I can't stop thinking about what could have happened. If I hadn't been there, or if I hadn't been able to scare off the bear... I don't even want to think about it."

Lexa squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "But you were there," she said. "And you did scare off the bear. You saved Madi's life, Aden. You should be proud of yourself."

Aden looked up at her, tears welling in his eyes. "I'm just so tired," he said. "Physically, and emotionally. It's been a long journey."

Lexa nodded in understanding. "I know," she said. "And I'm sure you're in a lot of pain. Let me go get you some painkillers and a cold pack for those bruises."

As she rose to leave the room, Aden reached out and grabbed her hand. "Thanks, mom," he said. "For everything."

“I love you.” She said. “And always here for you.” Lexa landed a kiss on the boy’s forehead and gone, leaving the son to rest.

As the night wore on, Lexa and Aden settled into a comfortable silence. Aden eventually dozed off, his head resting against the back of the couch, while Lexa watched him sleep form her open room. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the sight of him, knowing that he had been through so much and that there was still so much more for him to face.

But she also felt a glimmer of hope. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was doing something good for someone else. And that felt like a step in the right direction.

Chapter Text

Costia appeared in her life as abruptly and unexpectedly as a new position. Woods was in her tenth year as a high school math teacher, but she recently received a long-awaited promotion. The woman has always been in good standing with the leadership of the school, so when the former head teacher retired, no one had any doubts who would take her place. Young, smart, resourceful and this list of epithets can be replenished indefinitely.

Clarke was truly happy for Lexa when she received her long-awaited promotion. She knew how much it meant to her wife, how many years of hard work and dedication had led up to this moment. Clarke had supported Lexa throughout her career, and she was proud of her accomplishments. But even though she was happy for her, something inside her couldn't let her fully celebrate the moment.

Ever since the miscarriage, Clarke had been struggling to come to terms with what had happened. She felt lost, numb, and disconnected from everything around her. The grief was like a heavy weight on her shoulders, and she couldn't shake it off. She tried to put on a brave face for Lexa, but the pain was always there, lurking just beneath the surface.

Lexa noticed that something was wrong with Clarke, but she didn't know how to help her. She wanted to share her happiness with her wife, but it felt like there was an invisible wall between them. She didn't understand why Clarke couldn't be more enthusiastic about her promotion. She felt hurt and frustrated that her wife couldn't share in her joy.

Clarke stood in the kitchen, watching as Lexa packed her bag for the first day at her new job. She was thrilled for Lexa's promotion and excited to see her wife take on new challenges, but there was still something holding her back from being truly happy.

"I'm so proud of you, Lex," Clarke said, forcing a smile. "This is going to be great for you."

Lexa looked up at her, and there was a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "It's just great for me? What about us?"

Clarke's smile faltered. "Of course it's great for us, I'm just--"

"You're just what?" Lexa cut in, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. "I thought this was something we could celebrate together. But it seems like you're still stuck in the past."

Clarke's eyes welled up with tears. "I can't just forget what happened, Lexa. We lost our baby. I'm still grieving."

Lexa sighed and set her bag down. "I know, and I'm not asking you to forget. But I can't keep walking on eggshells around you, waiting for you to snap out of it."

Clarke felt a pang of guilt. She knew Lexa was right, but she couldn't help how she felt. "I'm sorry, Lexa. I'm trying, I really am."

Lexa took a step towards her and cupped her face in her hands. "I know you are, and I love you for that. But we can't keep living like this. We need to find a way to move forward, together."

Clarke nodded, and they shared a brief kiss before Lexa picked up her bag again. "I have to go, but we'll talk more when I get back."

As she watched Lexa leave, Clarke couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She knew they needed to find a way to move forward, but it seemed like they were still stuck in the same place they had been since the miscarriage.

Clarke went back inside the house, but she didn't feel any better. She knew that her grief over losing the baby was still affecting her, but she couldn't seem to shake it off. She tried to focus on her art, but everything she created felt empty and hollow.

Blonde's mind was a jumble of conflicting emotions. She was happy for Lexa's success, proud of her wife for achieving such a significant milestone in her career, and yet, she couldn't shake the sadness that lingered in her heart.

Part of her couldn't help but think about how different things would be if they had their daughter with them. The baby they lost was supposed to be the culmination of all their dreams, the start of their new family. Clarke knew she should be grateful for what they had, for the son they raised together, but it was hard to ignore the constant ache in her heart.

She tried to distract herself by going to her home studio and painting, but everything she created felt dark and sad. She couldn't seem to find the inspiration she needed to create something beautiful, and her mind kept wandering back to the loss of their baby. She felt like she was stuck in a never-ending cycle of grief, and it was starting to take a toll on her mental health.

As she stared at the canvas in front of her, Clarke felt a wave of frustration wash over her. She wanted so badly to be happy and to move on from the tragedy they had faced, but it seemed impossible. She couldn't help but feel like she was failing as a wife and as a mother, and it was starting to affect every aspect of her life.

Clarke put down her paintbrush and rested her head in her hands, feeling defeated. She didn't know what to do or where to turn, and she was starting to lose hope that things would ever get better.

One of her first orders was to find a replacement for the retired history teacher, Mrs. Goodwin. She approached this task very responsibly, in particular, because it was the very first in her new post. Lexa went through about fifty resumes, of which she selected only five people and personally interviewed each one, but only one person fit this role perfectly. Ms. Costia Evans, with over five years of experience in a private school, is self-confident, highly interview-oriented, and most enthusiastic about working at the school.

Naughty blonde, quickly settled into a new place. It was not difficult for her to establish contact with students and even with colleagues. Her sonorous and slightly squeaky voice touched many, and her almond-shaped green eyes were always cheerful and playful. Not surprisingly, she also attracted Lexa like a magnet. The brunette was not going through the best time, often went gloomy and depressed, she and Clarke were moving away from each other more and more.

Costia walked into the interview room with confidence, a smile on her lips and a twinkle in her eye. She was impressed with the school's reputation, and knew that this was an opportunity she couldn't afford to miss. As she greeted Lexa, she felt a spark of attraction between them.

The brunette, for her part, was trying to maintain a professional demeanor, but she couldn't help but feel drawn to the younger woman. Costia's enthusiasm for the job was contagious, and Lexa found herself impressed with her credentials and her interview skills. As they talked, Lexa noticed that young woman was easy to talk to and had a great sense of humor, and found herself laughing more than she had in a long time.

Lexa sat across from Costia in her office, going through her resume and asking a few standard questions.

"So, Ms. Evans, what made you interested in this position?" Lexa asked.

Costia smiled, "I've heard nothing but good things about this school and I'm excited to be a part of it. Also, I'm passionate about teaching history and I think it's important for students to understand the past to create a better future."

Lexa nodded, "Very true. How do you handle difficult students or situations in the classroom?"

Costia replied confidently, "I believe in establishing a positive relationship with students and creating a safe and supportive environment in the classroom. However, when it comes to difficult situations, I always approach them calmly and rationally and try to work with the student to find a solution that benefits everyone."

Lexa smiled, impressed with Costia's answer. As they continued the interview, Costia couldn't help but notice the way Lexa's eyes lingered on her a little longer than necessary, and how the new head teacher seemed to be searching for any excuse to keep the interview going. The attraction was mutual, and the first sparks of something more than a professional relationship began to slip through.

As the interview drew to a close, Lexa knew that she had found the perfect candidate for the job. She offered the position to Costia, who was thrilled to accept. Lexa felt a sense of relief knowing that she had made a good decision for the school, but also couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement at the thought of seeing Costia again.

Over the next few weeks, as Costia settled into her new role, Lexa found herself thinking about her more and more. She was drawn to Costia's energy and her positive outlook on life, and found that being around her made her feel happier and more alive. She tried to push these thoughts aside, knowing that she was married and that it wasn't fair to Clarke to have these feelings. But the more she tried to ignore them, the stronger they became.

As the evening wore on, Lexa was busy working on reports and other paperwork in her office, long after the rest of the school had emptied out. She was so absorbed in her work that she almost didn't hear the soft knock on her door. Looking up, she saw Costia standing there, looking every bit as stunning as ever.

"Ms. Evans, what brings you here so late?" Lexa asked, trying to hide the flutter in her heart.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," Costia said, stepping into the office and closing the door behind her. "I was hoping to get your permission to open a new history class for the kids who are interested. I have a lot of ideas, and I think it could be really great for them."

Lexa listened carefully, nodding and taking notes as Costia spoke. As she did, she couldn't help but notice how her eyes sparkled in the soft light, and how her lips curved into a gentle smile. Suddenly, Lexa realized that she was very attracted to Costia, and it wasn't just because of her ideas for the class.

Lexa leaned back in her chair, her eyes fixed on Costia as the blonde walked closer to her desk. She listened to her proposal and nodded, impressed with her passion and dedication to the students.

"That sounds like a great idea," Lexa said, smiling. "I'm glad to see you're so enthusiastic about teaching. You've been a great addition to our team, Costia."

Costia blushed at the compliment, and for a moment, their eyes locked in a meaningful stare. Lexa felt a jolt of electricity pass between them, and she couldn't help but feel drawn to the blonde's charm and energy.

"Thank you, Lexa," Costia said, still blushing. "I'm really enjoying working here. And I have to admit, it's nice having such a wonderful boss to work with."

Lexa felt her heart skip a beat at the comment, and she couldn't help but feel a flutter in her stomach. She knew she was married to Clarke, but something about Costia was stirring up feelings she thought she had buried long ago.

As they continued to discuss the new history class, Costia couldn't help but feel a deep sense of loneliness. "I'm so glad to be here, working with you," she said, her voice soft and slightly trembling. "Honestly, I don't really want to go home sometimes. It's just me and my cat there, and it can feel pretty empty."

Lexa's heart went out to Costia, and she reached out to take her hand. "I'm sorry to hear that," she said, looking into Costia's eyes. "You know, I'm always here if you need someone to talk to. And if you ever need a break from the loneliness, we can always go out for dinner or a drink together."

Costia smiled at Lexa, feeling a warmth spreading through her chest. "That sounds great," she said. "I'd love to spend more time with you."

As they continued to talk, Lexa found herself getting lost in Costia's eyes, and before she knew it, they were leaning towards each other. Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss, and for a moment, all thoughts of Clarke and their problems faded away.

But as quickly as it started, Lexa pulled away, feeling guilty and confused. She knew what she did was wrong, but at the same time, she couldn't deny the feelings she had for Costia. She was in love again, and it scared her.

"I'm sorry, Costia," Lexa said, looking away. "I shouldn't have done that. I'm married, and I love my wife."

Costia looked at her with a mixture of disappointment and understanding. "I know, Lexa. I didn't mean to push you. I just felt a connection between us, and I couldn't help myself."

They both sat in silence for a moment, both feeling the weight of the moment. But despite the guilt and confusion, Lexa couldn't shake the feeling that she had just experienced something special. Something that would change everything.

As Lexa arrived home, Clarke greeted her with a smile, excited to see her after a long day at work. She asked about Lexa's day, hoping to start a conversation and ease the tension between them.

But Lexa couldn't bring herself to engage in the conversation. Her mind was still reeling from the kiss with Costia. She felt guilty and conflicted, torn between her love for Clarke and her growing feelings for someone else.

Clarke tried to lift Lexa's spirits, telling her about all the things she had planned for the weekend and how they could spend time together as a family. But the more Clarke talked, the more Lexa felt like she was deceiving her.

She couldn't bear to tell Clarke the truth, to admit that she had cheated on her. So she listened to Clarke's plans and pretended to be enthusiastic, all the while feeling like a fraud.

As the night went on and Clarke fell asleep, Lexa lay awake, wrestling with her guilt and her growing feelings for Costia. She knew that she couldn't keep this a secret forever, but for now, she was too afraid to face the consequences of her actions.

Clarke and Lexa tried to make it work, but the distance between them only seemed to grow. Clarke could sense that something was wrong, but Lexa couldn't bring herself to tell her the truth. She was torn between her feelings for Kostya and her guilt over betraying Clarke.

At home, Clarke did her best to keep up a positive front, hoping that things would get better. She suggested they take a weekend trip to the beach, but Lexa was hesitant, knowing that it would only be a temporary escape from their problems.

Despite Clarke's efforts to fix things, she could feel that their relationship was slipping away. She tried to talk to Lexa about what was going on, but Lexa only gave her short, evasive answers.

One evening, as they were getting ready for bed, Clarke could no longer take the tension. She sat Lexa down and asked her what was going on. At first, Lexa tried to avoid the question, but eventually, she broke down and confessed everything.

Clarke sat down on the edge of the bed, watching Lexa as she changed into her pajamas. She took a deep breath and said, "Can we talk?"

Lexa turned to face her, sensing the seriousness in Clarke's voice. "Of course," she said, sitting down next to Clarke.

"I can't help but feel like something is wrong," Clarke said, her voice cracking. "You've been distant lately, and I can feel the tension between us."

Lexa sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I'm sorry, Clarke. I've just been going through a lot lately," she said, avoiding Clarke's gaze.

"What's going on?" Clarke asked, her heart racing.

Lexa took a deep breath and looked Clarke in the eyes. "I've been seeing someone else," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Clarke's heart sank, and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. "Who?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

"Costia," Lexa said, looking down at her hands. "It started out as just a friendship, but then...it turned into something more."

Clarke's heart broke at the admission. "How long has this been going on?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"A few weeks," Lexa said, reaching out to take Clarke's hand. "I'm so sorry, Clarke. I never meant to hurt you."

Clarke pulled her hand away, feeling a mix of anger and hurt. "How could you do this to me?" she asked, her voice rising.

"I don't know," Lexa said, tears forming in her eyes. "I just...I couldn't help the way I felt."

Clarke took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "I don't know what to say, Lexa," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I love you, but I can't force you to stay with me if you don't want to."

Lexa reached out to take Clarke's hand again, but Clarke pulled away. "I need some time to think," she said, standing up and walking out of the room.

As Clarke lay in bed that night, tears streaming down her face, she knew that their relationship was over. It was a painful realization, but she also knew that it was the first step towards healing and moving on. After such a soul, Clarke completely fell to the bottom. This betrayal...

As the memories flooded back, Lexa felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She had been so selfish, thinking only of herself and her own desires, without any regard for the person who had loved her unconditionally.  

Lexa lay in bed and remembered... She tossed and turned and could not sleep, feeling mental anguish. How dare she? How could she do this to Clarke? And now even think about getting her back... In the end, nothing worked out with Costia, because she was quite self-centered and not ready for family life. After some time, Lexa caught Costia cheating. And she felt all the pain that she brought to her most beloved Clarke ...

She got out of bed and walked over to the window, looking out at the quiet streets of their small town. The stars shone brightly in the clear sky, and she could hear the sound of crickets in the distance. In the silence, she could hear her own thoughts, and they were not kind. She felt like she had destroyed everything that she had built with Clarke, and she didn't know how to fix it. She didn't want to lose her, but she didn't know how to regain her trust.

Lexa sat on the couch in her living room, staring blankly at the wall in front of her. It had been eight months since she started dating Costia, and yet she felt like they were growing further apart with each passing day. She couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when things started to change between them.

The sound of the front door opening brought her back to reality. Costia walked in, her eyes scanning the room before they landed on Lexa. "Hey," she said, trying to sound cheerful.

"Hey," Lexa replied, her tone flat.

Costia frowned. "What's wrong?"

Lexa sighed. "I feel like we're not as close as we used to be."

“Again…” The younger woman sight. “Lexa, hoe many time I need you to tell, that I can’t be always with you! I’m not even your wife!”

“What are you talking about!?” Lexa rushed from the couch. “We both working, and someone even more! But I always have time to come from work at the time and spend it with my love one, and you don’t!”

Their argument started over something small, but it quickly escalated into a full-blown fight. Costia accused Lexa of being distant and unloving, while Lexa blamed Costia for not trying hard enough to build a relationship with Aden.

"You're always so busy with work," Lexa spat out. "You don't have time for anything else. Not even for Aden."

"I'm doing everything I can!" Costia retorted. "I've tried to connect with him, but he's just not interested. And as for you, you're always so cold towards me. How am I supposed to feel loved?"

“You are such a selfish!” The brunette wanted to calm down, but something inside her was broke up, as always when she’s angry.

“Well, I do not. One of us is selfish, but it's definitely not me!” Lexa froze for a moment, stunned by the accusation. “Do you think I'm completely dumb and don't understand that you still love Clarke? I don't see how you look at her when we pick up your son? Or that you even called her in a dream...”

Lexa's face turned red with anger at the mention of Clarke's name. She had tried to bury her feelings for the blonde deep down, but it seemed that Costia had seen right through her. "You have no right to say that!" she spat out. "I love you, not her. And besides, she's with someone else now."

Costia's eyes narrowed at Lexa's words. "You love me? You certainly have a funny way of showing it. You've become so distant lately, always working late and avoiding spending time with me and Aden. And let's not forget the way you treated me when I suggested we start a family."

"That's not fair," Lexa protested. "I just don't think we're ready for that kind of commitment yet. And as for Aden, you know how much I love him, and how much he loves Clarke. I just don't want to push him into a relationship with someone who isn't ready to be a parent."

Costia shook her head in disbelief. "You're just making excuses, Lexa. The truth is, you've lost interest in us. And I think I know why." She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing. "It's because of Clarke. You've never gotten over her, have you?"

Lexa's fists clenched at her sides. She had hoped that Costia wouldn't bring up Clarke, but it seemed that the brunette was determined to get to the root of their problems. "I told you, it's not about Clarke. This is about us, and our relationship. We need to work on things together."

Costia let out a bitter laugh. "Work on things? How can we work on things when you're not even willing to admit the truth? You're still in love with her, Lexa. And until you can face that fact, there's no hope for us."

The tension in the room was palpable as the two women faced each other, both unwilling to back down. Lexa knew that Costia was right, deep down. She still loved Clarke, and it was tearing her apart. But she couldn't admit that to Costia, not when they were already on the brink of falling apart.

"I need some time to think," Lexa finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm going to go for a walk."

Costia nodded silently, not trusting herself to speak. She watched as Lexa grabbed her coat and headed out the door, feeling a sense of despair wash over her. She didn't know if their relationship could survive this latest fight, but she was willing to try if Lexa would only admit the truth.

That fateful night, Lexa drowned her sorrows in alcohol and her anger towards Costia reached a boiling point. The argument had been brutal, leaving both women emotionally drained and bitter. When Lexa woke up the next morning, groggy and disoriented, she realized that Costia and all her belongings were gone. The apartment felt empty and cold, just like Lexa's heart. The woman she thought she loved had disappeared as quickly and unexpectedly as she had appeared in Lexa's life, leaving behind nothing but a gaping hole and shattered dreams.

Chapter Text

Clarke awoke to the sound of her phone alarm, slowly opening her eyes to the morning light streaming into her small studio apartment. As she stretched and yawned, a sense of calm washed over her, knowing that she wasn't alone. Madi was sleeping on the couch, and for the first time in a long time, Clarke felt like she was making a difference in someone's life.

Sitting up, Clarke rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath, thinking about the day ahead. She had a few classes to teach at the high school and planned to spend the evening working on her art. Although her studio was just a small corner of the apartment, it was her favorite place in the world, where she had a few paintings in progress that she was excited to work on.

After getting out of bed, Clarke made her way to the kitchen, where she quietly prepared breakfast. She hummed a tune as she prepared oatmeal with chocolate and raspberries, her son's favorite breakfast. She missed him terribly, and cooking his favorite meal gave her a sense of comfort. As she stirred the pot, she couldn't help but think about the events of the previous day. She was still worried about Madi and hoped that she would open up to her soon. Clarke didn't want to push too hard, but she also didn't want Madi to feel like she was alone.

The scent of the warm oatmeal filled the air, and Clarke turned off the stove, satisfied with the meal she had prepared. She poured the oatmeal into two bowls and walked over to the couch where Madi was still sleeping. She gently nudged her and motioned for her to come to the kitchen. "Hey… Good morning, sleepyhead," she greeted her warmly, stroking Madi's head. "I made breakfast for us."

Madi stirred, sweetly rubbing her eyes and slowly sitting up. Clarke smiled as she noticed the girl's mix of confusion and wonder. "Where am I?" Madi asked groggily.

"You're at my apartment. You fell asleep on the couch last night, remember?" Clarke replied.

Madi nodded slowly, still taking in her surroundings. Clarke noticed the confused look on Madi's face and asked, "Is everything okay?"

Madi hesitated for a moment before answering. "Yeah, I'm just not used to nice things," she said quietly.

Clarke furrowed her brows, sensing there was more to Madi's response than she let on. "Doesn't your mother make you breakfast and wake you up in the morning?" she asked gently.

Madi shook her head, and Clarke's heart sank at the thought of Madi having to take care of herself at such a young age. She couldn't imagine what the girl had gone through, but it only made her more determined to protect and care for her. "Well, I'm here now," she said, placing a hand on Madi's shoulder. "And you deserve nice things."

Madi quickly changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on her home life. "What are you making for breakfast?" she asked, trying to hide her discomfort. Clarke smiled, glad for the change in topic. "Oatmeal with chocolate and raspberries. It's a recipe my son loves."

As they ate their breakfast, Clarke tried to make small talk with Madi, asking about her interests. "So, what are you interested in? Do you like art, music, sports?" she asked, hoping to get to know the girl better.

Madi shrugged her shoulders. "I don't really have any hobbies," she replied softly.

Clarke frowned slightly. "Everyone has something they enjoy doing. What about drawing or painting? You have a natural talent for it."

Madi's eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know that?" she asked.

"I've seen some of your drawings in class and also during our trip. They're really good," Clarke said with a smile.

Madi blushed, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. No one had ever complimented her before, especially not on her art. "I do like drawing," she admitted.

"You know, Madi, you are incredibly talented," Clarke said, trying to encourage the girl. "I've seen your work, and it's really impressive."

Madi blushed, looking down at her hands. "Thanks," she muttered.

"Don't sell yourself short, darling," Clarke said firmly. "You have a lot of potential, and I believe in you. You can achieve anything you set your mind to."

Madi looked up at her, her eyes wide with surprise. She had never had anyone believe in her before, not even her own family.

"And we should definitely do some art together sometime. I love to paint and draw too," Clarke said excitedly.

Madi smiled shyly. "That would be nice," she said softly.

After breakfast, Clarke and Madi headed to the school together. As they walked through the parking lot, Madi turned to Clarke and asked, "Are you nervous about teaching your classes?"

The blonde teacher smiled reassuringly. "Not really. I've been teaching for a few years now, so it's pretty routine for me. Plus, I have you to look forward to seeing in class!"

Madi grinned at the compliment. "I'm looking forward to it too. You're my favorite teacher," she said, her eyes shining.

Clarke chuckled. "Well, I hope I live up to that title." The woman looked at the girl and added “You are my favorite student as well” She smiled widely.

Feelings were seething inside the girl; she did not know how to react to these words. No one ever told her that she was someone’s favorite. Awkwardness interrupted the first bell, which meant the students and teachers should have been in the classroom by now. They kindly said goodbye and each went their own way.

Madi walked hesitantly through the crowded halls of her new school, feeling like an outsider in a sea of confident and self-assured students. She knew that they had all been attending this school for years and had a head start on her. As she entered her classroom, doubts lingered in her mind. Would she ever be able to catch up to them? The thought made her anxious.

Clarke's words from earlier echoed in her mind. "You're so talented and smart." Madi tried to hold onto those words, to believe that they were true, but it wasn't easy. She had spent too many years being told that she was stupid and worthless.

Miss Woods, had always prided herself on creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for all of her students. So when she found out that Madi, one of her quieter students, was being bullied by some of the other students in the class, she knew that she had to take immediate action.

Before classes started, Lexa asked Grace, Tomas, Ethan, Derek, and Madi to come to her classroom. As soon as they arrived, Lexa looked sternly at the students involved in the bullying behavior.

"Listen up, everyone," she said, her voice carrying through the room. "I've been hearing reports of bullying in this class, and I want to make it very clear that I will not tolerate this kind of behavior. It's not just unacceptable, it's also illegal."

Lexa's tone had changed, becoming even more stern and intimidating. It was clear that she was not going to allow any excuses or lies from the students. Turning her attention to the students involved in the bullying, Lexa continued, "Grace, Tomas, Ethan, and Derek, you four were also involved in this behavior. You may not have realized the harm you were causing, but that doesn't excuse your actions. You should be ashamed of yourselves."

The four students looked down, avoiding teacher's gaze. They knew they had done wrong and now they had to face the consequences of their actions. Madi looked up at Lexa, feeling grateful for the teacher's support and kindness. But Grace’s expression was so mean and militant, the girl was afraid about what to expect next.

"Remember once and forever, I’ll never accept such things in my class," Lexa continued, her eyes sweeping across the children. "You need to take a long, hard look at yourselves and think about the kind of people you want to be. Do you want to be the kind of people who make others feel small and powerless? Or do you want to be the kind of people who lift others up and help them succeed?"

There was a long moment of silence in the classroom, broken only by the sound of Lexa's steady breathing. She waited, letting her words hang in the air.

"I expect all of you to treat each other with kindness and respect," she said finally. "If I hear of any more bullying behavior in this class, there will be serious consequences. Is that clear?"

Miss Wood's words were firm and clear, leaving no room for negotiation. She demanded that each of the students apologize to Madi. The students shifted uncomfortably in their seats, but no one wanted to do it wholeheartedly. Lexa's stern expression didn't waver as she waited for the students to comply. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Derek spoke up.

"Madi, I'm sorry for what we did. We shouldn't have treated you that way," he said, looking down at his feet.

Ethan and Tomas mumbled their apologies, sounding insincere, as if they were merely appeasing the teacher. Grace, however, didn't apologize at all. Instead, she sat with her arms crossed over her chest, glaring at everyone in the room. Lexa, noticed her behavior and spoke up.

"Grace, I expect an apology from you as well," The woman said, her voice laced with authority.

Girl huffed and rolled her eyes, but eventually muttered a half-hearted apology to Madi. Lexa shook her head in approval.

"Now, I want all of you to remember this moment and the lesson that comes with it."

Lexa made a mental note to keep a closer eye on the students involved in the incident, ensuring that no further incidents occurred. "You can go.”

Madi felt a mix of emotions as she heard the half-hearted apologies from her classmates. She was grateful that they were finally acknowledging their wrongdoing and apologizing to her, yet their apologies felt forced, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of vulnerability and insecurity. The thought of facing her classmates again made her anxious.

Madi's fear lingered, wondering if the bullying would persist despite the teacher's warning. She feared that Grace and her cohorts would hold a grudge against her for speaking up and getting them in trouble. Despite the conversation ending, uneasiness still weighed heavily on her mind.

"Well, well fink... You brought this on yourself. If you think that the teachers will save you from me, then you are very mistaken," Grace sneered, pressing Madi harder against the wall and tightening her grip around her neck. "I'll always get you. Got it, bitch?"

The girl felt powerless. Her physical weaknesses often made her the subject of mockery. Standing a head shorter than all the girls in her class and even shorter than her younger sister, she was also underweight for her age and height. Thus, it was effortless for Grace to pin her against the wall, leaving her immobile.

Suddenly, steps coming from behind caused Grace to release Madi and flee. Gasping for breath, tears welled up in Madi's eyes as she collapsed to the floor. She clutched her throat, struggling to regain her composure. Nothing is over, for her hellish school days are just beginning.

But, the lessons went without any problems, as did lunch. No one else touched or mocked Madi. It is not yet clear what was worse, bullying or total disregard. After talking with Miss Woods, Grace and her company spread dirty rumors about the girl throughout the class, and now everyone began to shun her. Even those who during the trip showed sympathy for her stopped doing it. Vic, Lou even Rex and Luca. Now she is not just a weirdo, but also a scammer.

Frustrated in the corridor after school, she was met by Clarke. There was not a drop left of the morning good mood of the girl. Madi walked with a blank look right past her, without even saying hello.

"Madi, hey." The woman stopped her by taking her forearm. "How was your day?" She asked in the hope of a positive answer.

“No way…” The teenager mumbled without even looking up at her beloved teacher.

"Do you want to talk about it?" The blonde asked.

"No. I'm tired, just let me go home." Finally, Madi answered, her eyes wet again.

Clarke's heart ached seeing her in this state again. She knew that the girl was going through a tough time and wished she could do more to help her.

"Okay, I won't keep you then," Miss Griffin said, letting go of girl's arm. "But if you ever need to talk, I'm here for you. And you are not alone, Madi."

The girl nodded and began to walk away, but then turned back to the teacher.

"Ms. Griffin, why do they hate me?" She asked, her voice shaking. "What did I do wrong?"

Clarke felt a lump form in her throat. She wished she had the answers to give to her, to make everything okay again.

"You didn't do anything wrong, honey," Clarke said softly. "Sometimes people are cruel for no reason at all. But that doesn't mean you're any less of a person. You're kind, smart, and you have a good heart."

Madi sniffled and wiped her eyes.

Clarke gave her a comfort smile. "Can we still talk? I see you feel so bad and I just want to help, come with me to my office?”

Madi felt like a burden to her teacher, but she slowly came closer to the blonde. Right now, she wanted hugs so much, like last night. Maybe talking to Miss Griffin would make her feel better. She followed her to the office, where Clarke offered her a seat and a cup of hot chocolate. Madi sipped it slowly, feeling the warmth spread through her body.

"Would you like to tell me what happened today?" Clarke asked gently.

Madi shrugged, feeling a lump form in her throat. She tried to push back the tears but they came anyway, spilling down her cheeks. The girl told Clarke about Grace and the boys bullying her, and how everyone in the class was now avoiding her.

“I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Madi," Clarke said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “But I want you to know that you're not alone. I'm here for you as well as Miss Woods…” The woman hugged girl so tight. “It’s okey…”

Madi buried her face in Clarke's shoulder and let out a sob. It felt good to have someone to lean on, someone who cared. Clarke held her for a few moments, then pulled away to look at her.

"I want you to know that this will pass," She said. "It may not feel like it right now, but things will get better. And no matter what, you have people who care about you and are here to support you."

Madi nodded, wiping away her tears with a tissue. She felt a little better, but still overwhelmed. “I’m just so tiered today…” The girl looked up at her with tear-streaked eyes. “Can I go?”

“Sure...” Clarke didn't want to let Madi go, but she knew that the girl needed space and time to process everything that had happened. She gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand. "Of course, sweetie. Take all the time you need. And remember, I'm always here for you."

She gave the teacher a small hug before making her way out of the office. As she walked down the hallway, she couldn't help but feel grateful for having someone like Clarke in her life. Even though she was just her teacher, she had become a source of comfort and support in a world that often felt cold and lonely.

As Clarke walked into the teachers' room, she noticed Lexa sitting at her desk grading papers. The brunette looked up and smiled at her, and the blonde returned the gesture. Griffin made her way over desk and leaned against it, her gaze flickering over the papers she was grading.

"How was your day?" Clarke asked, her eyes still fixed on the papers.

"It was fine," Lexa replied, looking up at the woman with a small smile. "Had a tough conversation with my students about bullying though. It's disheartening to see how much it's still prevalent in our schools."

Clarke nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Madi had a rough day today. It seems like everyone's turned against her."

Lexa's expression softened at the mention of Madi. "How's she doing?"

"Not great," The blonde admitted. "I'm worried about her. It's like she's all alone in the world."

"I know the feeling," Lexa said softly, her eyes meeting Clarke's. "But she's lucky to have someone like you looking out for her."

Clarke felt her cheeks flush at the compliment, and she looked away briefly before meeting Lexa's gaze again. "Thanks, Lexa. That means a lot coming from you."

There was a moment of silence between them, and Clarke could feel the tension building. It was like they were both aware of the chemistry between them, but neither knew what to do about it.

“But we must to protect her, like from everyone. You know cruel kids could be, but Madi is so special.”  Something changed in Clarke, when she talked about the girl, it was clear that the woman became attached to her. “She has such a kind and gentle soul… We can't let someone to insult her.”

Finally, Lexa cleared her throat and stood up from her desk. "I absolutely agree with you. I won't let that happen again.”

Clarke nodded, feeling a twinge of relief at the thought of Lexa supporting her. "Thank you.”

The brunette walked over to her ex-wife and placed a hand on her arm, sending a jolt of electricity through the blonde. They both felt it, and their eyes locked for a moment before Lexa spoke again.

"Hey, how about we go grab some coffee together? We can catch up and talk about school things more if you want." It was a little bit awkward.

Clarke's heart skipped a beat at the invitation. She had missed Lexa more than she cared to admit, and the idea of spending time with her was both exciting and terrifying. But she pushed those thoughts aside and smiled. "That sounds great."

They both gathered their things and headed out of the school, the tension between them palpable. As they walked, they caught up on each other's lives, talking about work and family and everything in between. But underneath it all, there was still an unspoken attraction that simmered just beneath the surface.

At the coffee shop, they ordered their drinks and found a table in the corner. As they sipped their coffee, Lexa leaned in close to Clarke, her eyes fixed on the blonde's face.

"I've missed you, Clarke," she said softly. "I know things didn't end well between us, but I still care about you. And I can't help but feel like there's still something here between us." Woods worked up the courage to say it.

Clarke's heart raced at the words, and she felt a surge of longing wash over her. But she knew she had to be careful. They were ex-wives, and there was a reason they had split up. But still, the temptation was strong.

“Lexa… I… I can’t…”

Woods placed a gentle hand over blonde's, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I understand, Clarke. I know I hurt you, and I'm sorry. I was so foolish and I made the biggest mistake in my life.”

Clarke looked up at Lexa, tears forming in her eyes. "I just don't know if I can trust you again," she whispered. "You broke my heart, Lexa."

"I know," She said, her voice soft and remorseful. "And I can't take back what I did. But I'm asking for your forgiveness. I want to make things right between us, if you'll let me."

Griffin took a deep breath, feeling torn. She didn't want to give in to her feelings for Lexa again, but the brunette's words were like a balm to her wounded heart. She knew she still loved her ex-wife, no matter how hard she tried to deny it.

"I need some time to think," Clarke said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I appreciate your apology, Lexa. And I forgive you."

“Just let me into your life again... I won't insist, annoy... Let me be your friend.”

Clarke looked up at Lexa, her eyes filled with tears. "I would like that," she said softly. "I miss having you in my life."

They both sat in silence for a few moments, lost in their thoughts and emotions. Clarke felt a sense of relief and hope wash over her. Maybe there was a chance for them to start over, to rekindle their love. But for now, they would take it slow, and see where their friendship led them.

Chapter Text

The morning turned out surprisingly calm. Madi, of course, didn't have time for breakfast, but she grabbed the leftover sandwich from the table. There was still about an hour before classes started, and she arrived very early. So she had time to do her math homework that she had postponed last night. Well, she didn't like those formulas and equations, what could she do?

The school is a fairly large place. A three-story red brick building divided into two parts: for the high school, where they studied from the fifth to the ninth grade, and for the middle school, from the tenth to the eleventh grade. In front of it, there is a parking lot with quite a few spaces. Usually, closer to the main entrance, there are cars of the teachers, then separate places are allocated for parents, and a little further is a large area for school buses, which every morning arrive packed with students. The flower bed with decorative bushes is divided by a staircase. There, usually, the bravest kids ride their skateboards and test their fate. The football field in Polis High School is not that big, but it's enough for the team to practice, and sometimes even Lincoln conducts physical education classes there in the spring.

Madi studied in the second building, where the bleachers were located. There was no better place to hide from everyone. It was a bit dirty, of course, but it didn't bother her. The girl looked around the iron structure and crawled under the bleachers, choosing the strongest beam to sit on. First of all, she finally decided to open the textbook that Miss Woods gave her. This manual was designed for self-learning - the student had to solve equations or problems at home, memorizing the formula or theorem in the process. Lexa didn't give too much boring homework, but always asked strictly if there was any. It was impossible to come to her class unprepared, because it was simply shameful, no one wanted to disappoint such a cool teacher. Moreover, Madi had already exhausted her supply of indulgences... Coming to class without homework twice was still forgivable, but further than that, it could affect her grades.

It seemed to be working out, with her brain strained, the girl divided and multiplied, counted and hoped that everything would be correct. For her, math was torture. And the rumbling in her stomach didn't allow her to fully concentrate on the task. Madi, of course, had gotten used to the feeling of hunger a long time ago and didn't pay attention to it until her stomach started to twist in pain. But if she had to choose between discriminant equations and anything else, there was no doubt that she would choose seond one. Even if this is not reflected in the future with not the best outcome for her.

"Okay, then I have to eat..." She happily closed her notebook and pulled out her sandwich. The smell was amazing. Of course, her mother had made it, and her food was the most delicious in the world, but the girl usually didn't get any. Today, she was lucky enough to grab some without anyone noticing. It was risky, considering she was still being punished for spending the night at Miss Griffin's and receiving a note from her. Luckily, her mother found it and didn't show Russell, or else she wouldn't have been able to sit for a month.

Taking a bite, the girl leaned back and closed her eyes in pleasure. With chicken and processed cheese, it was her favorite combination. "I love it..." She was used to talking to herself; many people thought she was strange, but in reality, she always felt more comfortable alone.

While Madi was enjoying her breakfast, a small and agile lump ran up to her. At first, she didn't understand what kind of animal it was. It was so white and fluffy, rubbing against her leg. "Who are you?" she asked sweetly, smiling and reaching out to pet her new fluffy friend.

Looking down, the girl saw a kitten. It looked so cute, its white fur not quite clean, apparently the baby was living alone on the street. Its eyes were different colors, one blue and the other green, and in combination with its pink nose, they gave its gaze a certain slyness. But it was completely innocent and so sweet. Animals were her weakness; if she had her way, Madi would take all the cats, dogs, and birds home.

"And you're a crafty little guy... You conquered me with your cuteness just to steal my breakfast?" The girl teased the kitten, waving the sandwich back and forth as it followed the food. "Yes, my friend... I figured you out. Your grand plan failed." She chuckled and petted the kitten.

But still, Madi gave half of her food to this innocent creature. The new friend eagerly began to break down its prey into molecules and atoms while its caregiver opened her math textbook again.

"Now, it's time to work." She scratched the little rascal's head.

That was all about Madi... Kind to the point of absurdity. Even if she felt bad or hadn't eaten enough, she would still give everything she had to make someone else feel good. Her naivety and kindness always worked against her. Many simply take advantage of it, and then it hurts. How many times has she been burned already...

The bell rang across the entire school grounds, signaling that it was time to leave their hiding place and head to Mordor. Madi closed her book on her knees and placed it in her old, worn backpack. Her little friend also jumped up from his spot...

Lexa leaned against the car, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach as she waited for Clarke to arrive. They'd arranged to meet in the school parking lot before first period, and she couldn't help but feel nervous. After last night's coffee, the brunette finally realized that she had dissolved back into that playful smile and blue eyes. In her immodest opinion, everything about Clarke was perfect. From the blond, slightly curly hair, to the dimple on her chin. And that mole above her lip made her even more attractive. 

Clarke had texted her last night that he wanted to meet her before class, and Lexa hadn't hesitated to say yes. She felt like a teenager, head over heels in love with her crush. When she saw that the message came from Griffin, she blushed and began giggling stupidly. So today, Woods arrived at work earlier than usual. 

The parking lot was almost empty, but Lexa spotted Clarke's car a mile away. As she approached it, she couldn't help but feel excited to see her. 

"I'm late... I'm sorry." The blond girl opened the window and smiled innocently at her.

Lexa wouldn't have liked that before, because she didn't like being late and didn't like anyone being late; she and Clarke often had conflicts on that score. But that had been before. Today, Woods was looking at the bright side of their relationship and didn't want to reopen the bridge that was about to, start coming together again. 

"It's okay." She smiled, too. "Park, we've got at least ten more minutes." 

Griffin obeyed her ex-wife's instructions and left her car in its strictly assigned spot. 

"Guess what, I overslept." Stepping out of the car, Clarke spoke up. "Didn't even hear my alarm clock..." 

"Even after that much coffee?" 

"Yeah... I open my eyes and it's 7:42. I thought I'd be there by the end of first period." You could hear the concern and even a little irritation in her voice. 

"Well, the important thing is that you made it and you can relax and take your time now."

Clarke was grateful for Lexa's words of encouragement, and she smiled at her. "Thank you..." 

At that moment, Lexa felt a rush of emotion run through her veins. Seeing Clarke like this, after what was happening between them, was like a dream come true. She wanted to hug her and never let her go again. The butterflies in her stomach were fluttering faster than ever and her heart was beating so loud that she was afraid Clarke would hear it.

As they stood there, immersed in their thoughts, Lexa noticed that the blonde was looking at her. She turned to face her, and their eyes met in a deep, meaningful gaze. At that moment, she felt a connection to her that she hadn't felt before. It was as if they were the only two people in the world, and nothing else mattered.

Lexa's desire to kiss Clarke grew stronger by the second. Unable to resist the temptation any longer, she leaned closer to her. Clarke's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't pull away. Now their faces were only a few inches apart, and Lexa could feel her ex-wife's breath on her lips.

Everything froze for a moment, and Lexa heard her own heart leap out of her chest. She saw the consternation and excitement in blondes eyes and knew she felt the same way herself.

But just as their lips made contact, a second bell rang, ruining the moment. Lexa pulled away, feeling embarrassed and disappointed that they had been interrupted. They giggled awkwardly, feeling like teenagers again.

"Lexa, I... I'm sorry." Clarke said quickly and ran off at a loss.

"Yeah..." Lexa replied, seeing Clarke off with a glance.

As they walked away from each other, Lexa couldn't help but think about what might have been if they hadn't been interrupted. She knew there was still chemistry between them, and the fact that they were ex-wives only made it harder. But all she could think about in that moment was how much she wanted to be with her again.

Madi entered the classroom and took a deep breath. She knew math wasn't her strong suit, but she had to do her best to keep up with her grades. As she approached her seat, which was the last desk by the window, she noticed her classmates whispering and slanting glances. She was as uncomfortable as ever. It was Grace, who passed by on purpose, who added fuel to the fire.

"Do you even change your clothes, dummy?" The blond girl, said it loud enough to get the attention of the whole class. "Are you deaf?" She turned again to Madi, who was starting to blush.

Her palms were sweating, she just didn't know how to act, what to answer, how to defend herself. She had never known how to do that. The girl felt the familiar pain of loneliness in her chest, as if she was the only one in this world everyone could kick. 

"Well, if you don't have money for a normal sweatshirt, at least wash this one sometimes." Grace, tugged at the sleeve of Madi's sweatshirt. 

The clothes really weren't fresh, plus sitting under the bleachers had added to the dust and dirt. She wished she could just disappear, or at least find a way to stand up for herself. But every time she tried, it only made her feel worse. She felt a lump in her throat, trying to hold back the tears, not wanting to give her tormentors the pleasure of seeing her break down. Taking a deep breath, Madi tried to calm her nerves, and forced herself to look away from Grace. But she wouldn't let up. 

The offending woman, began dusting her clothes with her hand. From the outside it looked like Grace was helping and dusting, but really she was just slapping Madi's arm with force. This shocked everyone watching, and especially Miss Woods, who entered the classroom at that moment. 

Lexa couldn't believe her eyes, the scene shook her to the core. It was the first time she'd ever seen anything like it. Madi just sat there and let out a lonely tear while the other girl beat her and didn't seem to have any intention of stopping. But what upset her most was the inaction of the other kids in her class; no one wanted to stand up for the weaker one. 

"You've got mud on your face, too." She had already swung for the next punch, but it didn't work.

"That's enough!" The woman came sharply toward Grace and grabbed her hand, which was already swinging for the next punch. "What do you think you're doing!?" Shouted Lexa.

The math teacher shifted her gaze to Madi. Her heart began to prick at the sight of the pain and vulnerability in the girl's eyes. She could see that she was trying her best to keep her composure, trying not to break down in front of her classmates. Lexa knew the feeling all too well because she too had been bullied when she was younger. She took a deep breath and leaned over to Madi's desk.

"Hey," Miss Woods said quietly, trying to get her attention. "Are you okay?" 

The girl looked at her, her eyes still full of tears. She hesitated for a moment before nodding her head, unable to speak. Lexa stroked Madi's hand, squeezing it lightly. 

"You were out of line today." The teacher never let go of Grace's hand. 

"What? I was just helping her shake off her clothes!" The blond girl fought back and lied as she went. 

"That's what you're going to tell him. We had a conversation yesterday, apparently you don't get it nicely, then I'll have to take extreme measures." The woman looked very angry.

The whole class sat quietly, no one dared to make a sound. "I didn't expect... I'm disappointed, in all of you." The teacher shifted her gaze to Grace again. "You're going to the principal's office right now, and you better get there before I do."

She went, followed by Lexa, who also walked out of the classroom with Madi, soothingly holding her back. As they walked down the hall, the teacher tried to say a few words of comfort to her.

"Don't worry, dear. You don't deserve to be treated that way. No one deserves it. We'll talk to the principal and make sure it doesn't happen again."

"Don't..." The girl whispered.

"Excuse me what?" 

They stopped. Lexa couldn't believe her ears, could this child's will be so broken. 

"Madi, you can't do this... You have to stand up for yourself." 

"No. It will only get worse!" The girl screamed unable to hold back her tears. 

"Madi..." Miss Woods grabbed her wrists, trying to hold her back. 

"No!" 

Madi broke free and ran away. At the screams came Clarke, who was not far from them. She walked over to a stunned Lexa, who was still trying to comprehend what had just happened to her student.

"What's the matter?" Asked the blonde, noticing the chagrin on her ex-wife's face.

"Madi, she's being bullied again..." Woods replied in a shaky voice. 

"Grace again?" Clarke asked sternly, to which she received an affirmative response. 

"She won't get away with it this time." Already more confident, Lexa said. "But we have to find Madi first." 

"I'll take care of that, I don't have class right now, and you go see Titus." 

"Okay." The brunette nodded and looked at Griffin appreciatively.

They split up. Clarke walked quickly through the school, checking every corner and room looking for Madi. She checked the bathroom, the utility room, and even the storage room. Nothing, not even the slightest hint that the girl might be here somewhere.

An incomprehensible fear enveloped her, at the mere thought that something might happen to her student, that she might be hurt or scared. The blonde couldn't explain those feelings for her, that desire to protect her. It was as if Madi had become more than just a beloved student to her already. 

She paused for a moment, scratching her forehead, a thought occurred to her. Clarke went to the checkroom, grabbed her coat, and walked out of the school building. Where would she go if she were Madi. Someplace where they definitely wouldn't be looking and wouldn't even think she was there. There were several of those, the fire exit, the back entrance for the janitors, and the bleachers. 

Clarke decided to check the latter first. She walked to the back of the school and down the hill to the athletic field. As she approached the bleachers, she saw a small figure sitting hunched over with her knees pressed to her chest. It was Madi.

The woman quickened her pace, relief gripping her as she approached the girl. She knelt beside her and placed her hand gently on her back.

"Honey..." The teenager looked up at her with tear-stained cheeks, her eyes red and puffy. She was shivering all over, for it was the middle of December outside. 

The weather was cold and fresh, with a light snowfall covering the ground. Clarke noticed right away that Madi was dressed too lightly, wearing only a light sweatshirt, and a broken zipper, too. She could see the goosebumps on her arms and felt a pang of guilt for not finding it sooner. 

"You're absolutely freezing." The teacher took off her own coat and threw it over the girl's shoulders, trying to keep her warm. 

"I just want it all to be over..." Madi whispered, squeezing her cries. 

"I know." Clarke pulled her to her, and continued. "We will, but first we have to get back to Miss Woods." 

"No, please... Just leave me here." 

"No way." The woman said confidently, leaving the girl no shadow of hope of being left alone. "Come with me, please--if you don't want to go to Mr. Flame's office, fine. We won't insist, but at least come with me." 

The whole time the teacher was talking, the girl was shaking her head and refusing to accept any conditions. 

Clarke no longer knew how to speak or what to do. It was clear that Madi was in no mood for dialogue or any kind of compromise. Now she was just a child who was in a lot of pain and misery and needed someone to just be there for her. 

"I understand," Clarke began. "You're in a lot of pain and hurt right now... And you feel like you're all alone in the whole world, but you're not." She hugged Madi from behind and continued. "If you really think I'm going to leave you here, you're wrong. I'll be here for you as long as you need me." 

Madi was impressed. No one had ever spoken to her like that, with such care and sympathy. This was a new experience for her, and she didn't know how to react. The teacher's words hit her hard, and you could see on her face that she was even more upset. 

"I'm...I'm sorry," the girl squeezed out between sobs. "I didn't mean to cause so much trouble. I just... I didn't know what to do."

Clarke held her tighter, letting her cry. She knew Madi needed to let her emotions out. After a few minutes, the sobs began to subside, and she sobbed, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of the woman's coat.

"Fine," she said quietly, a little louder than a whisper. "I'll go."

The teacher smiled in relief. The teenager still seemed indecisive, but the woman put her arm around her shoulders and helped her stand up, leading her back to the school building. 

"Let's go to my classroom..."

On the way to her literature class, Clarke texted Lexa that they would be at her place. All the way there, she was wondering how to talk in a way that wouldn't further traumatize Madi. After all, the clothes weren't the only standout factor in this child's disadvantage, but also the extreme closeness, the constant fear in her eyes, and even the skipping of school and not doing her homework. Children who are doing well and are cared for properly don't behave this way, much less become victims of bullying. 

When they walked in, Clarke sat the girl down at her desk and sat next to her. She turned to the girl and said in a low voice.

"Can I see your hand?"

"No." Abruptly the teenager replied, then nervously added: "It just doesn't hurt anymore." 

The blonde was wary again. And the girl began to close again, but this time she had to push all the way down, as brutal as it sounded. The teacher seemed to find the focal point of the problem.

"I know you don't want to show me this, but I want to make sure you're okay," Clarke said softly, trying to reason with her.

Madi shook her head, lowering her eyes. "I'm fine, really."

The woman sighed heavily. Clarke hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gently lifted Madi's sleeve. She felt a shiver run down the girl's body and noticed her flinch. The teacher bit her lower lip, analyzing what she just saw. And it wasn't even the hand that Grace had injured.

"Honey... Are you...?" Clarke felt the girl's legs shake nervously, and she herself went pale. "Madi, don't be afraid please... You can tell me anything." 

"About what?" She tried to keep her composure, but she could feel her cold sweat protruding. 

"About anything that's bothering you," Clarke replied softly, trying to make her voice sound calm and reassuring.
 
"I've noticed that you've seemed upset and scared lately. Is there something going on at school or maybe at home that you want to talk about?" The woman tried to gently lead the child into this conversation. 

"There's nothing going on at home. It's just...school. I'm fine at home." 

Griffin frowned, Madi repeated twice, the same thing. It looked like memorized text, her eyes were blank as if the girl was looking through her, and her voice trembled. She couldn't take it anymore. 

"Madi, are you getting beaten up at home?" Not wanting to beat around the bush anymore, Clarke asked a direct question that took the girl by surprise. 

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Clarke crouching quietly closer, and the tension in Madi's body grew even greater. 

"Is that your stepfather?" 

She could feel the girl's heart pounding frantically and a cold sweat forming on her forehead. And then the blonde realized that she couldn't back down; she felt terrible about the pressure on the child, but there was no other way. 

"No..." She whispered, pulling away from the teacher.

"Madi... I want to help you, please..." Clarke almost begged her. "I just don't see any other options." She said firmly and realized she'd gone too far. The girl was trembling. "Just tell me. Are you getting beaten up at home?"

And then the platinum finally broke through, tears rolled in hail from Madi's eyes and she covered her face with her hands making a crying sound. She squeezed her knees as tightly as she could, hugging herself in parallel. Clarke didn't need words; it was obvious from that reaction. Just hugged her and cradled her, letting her cry. She knew it had taken a lot of courage for the girl to finally admit the truth, and Griffin was going to reassure her that she was safe and getting support.  

"You're a very brave girl, Madi..." She kissed the back of her head softly.

Clarke's heart was just torn apart. She couldn't imagine how this was possible, and she was angry and frustrated that she hadn't noticed the signs sooner, couldn't shake the guilt that she hadn't done more to protect this child.

Madi's sobs didn't subside, and at one point began to turn hysterical. Clarke gently pulled away, still holding the girl in her arms.
 
"Madi, we have to do something. I'll talk to the principal, and..." She tried to keep her voice steady. "We're not just going to let this go."

"No! Please don't do this to the principal! Don't, just don't do this!" The girl went down on her knees hugging Clarke's legs.

At that moment her heart skipped a few beats. She knelt down beside her, placing her hands on Madi's shoulders, trying to comfort her. 

"Sweetheart, I know you're scared... But..." The woman didn't know what words to choose. "I won't leave you in trouble, do you hear? I won't leave you." The teacher took the girl's wet cheeks in her hands. "Trust me, please..." Clarke was already beginning to cry herself. 

Madi shook her head vigorously. "No, please, I don't want anyone to know. Russell will be very angry. He'll beat me up even more." She choked a little. 

"No... He won't do that because we'll call the police and he'll go to jail." 

"Russell's a police captain... Do you want me to tell you how it's going to be?" 

The question discouraged Clarke, and she gulped. "How?"

"He won't even be vetted, you'll be dismissed as unfit for duty and fined for slander, and I'll... and I'll be punished even harsher than usual and sit without food and water for a week locked in my room." 

"Honey... That's not..." The blonde simply had no words. 

"If you really care about me... Please don't do anything. I just want to... I just..." Madi broke down into tears again.  

Clarke was digesting everything she had just heard. She was creeped out by the realization that Madi had endured this abuse for a long time and that she was only now finding out about it. She also felt helpless, not knowing how to help her student without making it worse for her.

"It's happened before, hasn't it?" Asked the teacher in a trembling voice.

The question was rhetorical. Madi simply looked away from the window, her lips shaking, just as her whole body was. 

"And your mother? What's she..." There was no answer again. 

Permission? How is that possible? Clarke, as a mother, could find no excuse for this woman... She felt a rush of anger, but knew that now was not the time to express it. 

"I promise you I won't tell anyone yet." 

The blonde wiped away her tears. "But, I want you to promise me something too..." She looked into Madi's eyes. "Whatever happens, whatever it is, you'll call me, okay?" The teacher ripped a piece of paper out of her notebook and quickly scribbled down her phone number. "You can call me any time of the day or night, whenever you want. Just do it, okay?"

Madi looked at Clarke, her eyes still full of tears. She took the piece of paper with the teacher's phone number and squeezed it tightly in her hand.

"I promise..." She whispered. "Thank you, Miss Griffin."

The girl nodded, and Clarke gave her one last hug before letting her go. As she walked out of the classroom, the woman slumped back in her chair, feeling the weight of the situation weigh on her shoulders. She knew she couldn't just sit back and do nothing, but at the same time she didn't want to put the child in danger.

Chapter Text

The school corridors buzzed with excitement as the students prepared for the long-awaited Christmas. It was the last day before the holidays, and Clarke found herself lost in a mixture of emotions. She glanced at her watch and realized that her lesson with the eighth graders would soon be over.

When her eyes fell on Madi, who was sitting quietly in the back of the classroom, the woman felt a surge of warmth and sadness. She couldn't help but think of the difficulties the girl faced and the gravity of their shared secret. It hurt her to see how hard it was for her.

As the last minutes of the lesson wore on, Clarke couldn't help but want to talk to Madi one more time before the break. She decided to end the lesson a few minutes early and turned to the students.

"Well that's it guys. Before we say goodbye, I want to say a few words. This semester has been full of ups and downs, but I want you all to know how proud I am of each of you. You worked hard and showed great resilience. It was a pleasure to work with you, thank you, guys.” The teacher smiled and added, "See you after the holidays and Merry Christmas!"

The students exchanged smiles and looked at each other, appreciating the recognition. When the bell rang announcing the end of the school day, the guys eagerly packed their things and said goodbye. Clarke watched them leave one by one, her mind still full of thoughts of Madi. She decided to wait a bit for the class to be empty before approaching her. When the last student disappeared through the door, the blonde went to her desk and sat next to the girl, who, as always, took the longest time to pack her bag.

"Hey…" Clarke touched her. "How are you?"

Madi flinched a little in surprise, but then relaxed and looked at her favorite teacher, smiling at her with the corners of her lips. Several weeks had passed since that conversation, and Miss Griffin was still keeping her promise. For the girl, this was an important indicator that she could be trusted. They began to communicate more, which could not but please Clarke, Madi opened up to her, but still kept her distance at arm's length.

"Everything is fine." She answered.

"Glad to hear that." The woman placed a reassuring hand on the teen's shoulder, squeezing it slightly.

Clarke didn't dare ask how things were going at home. Willy-nilly, she noticed new bruises on the girl and each time reproached herself for not telling anyone and doing nothing. She took a deep breath, realizing that too much pressure might push Madi away. Therefore, she carefully chose her words, wanting to provide support and not go too deep.

"You know, Madi, it's the holidays, and I wanted to ask how you feel about it." Clarke said softly, her voice filled with genuine concern.

The girl hesitated for a moment, her eyes darted to the side, and then returned to meet the teacher's gaze. "I don't really like holidays." She quietly confessed. "It's just...complicated."

"I see..." The woman nodded, understanding the weight of the girl's words.

Madi thought, her expression turned distant. "Yes, this is not the best time for me."

Sensing the teenager's reluctance to share details, Clarke decided to take a different approach. "Maybe the Christmas presents will make you change your mind." The woman took out a box in a festive wrapper from behind her back.

The girl couldn't figure out how to react. For a long time no, one gave her gifts. She was afraid of this feeling. Madi's heart skipped a beat as Clarke handed her a gift wrapped in colorful holiday paper. Conflicting emotions bubbled through her, battling between gratitude and apprehension. It was unusual for her to receive gifts, especially those that carried the potential for joy and happiness.

Her hands trembled slightly as she held out the box, her gaze fixed on the neatly knotted bow. Part of her soul wanted to open the box to find out what was inside and let herself feel the warmth of the holiday spirit. But another part of her, cautious and wary, held her back, afraid to let hope seep in.

"Come on Madi. This is for you." Clarke encouraged, her voice soft and understanding.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, the teenager carefully untied the bow, enjoying every deliberate movement. She removed the wrapping paper, revealing a small but beautifully packaged box underneath. Her heart fluttered with anticipation and anxiety as she lifted the lid.

Inside, wrapped in tissue paper, Madi discovered a treasure trove of artistic possibilities. In front of her lay a new album, its untouched pages ready for her imagination to fill. The cover, adorned with bright colors and artistic motifs, hinted at the creativity within.

"You've already made up all your sketchbook, so I thought this one would be nice, it's a little bigger and more practical. I have one just like it, by the way." Clarke smiled. "I usually use it to make sketches for future paintings."

There were oil crayons nearby, their smooth texture promising bold and vibrant color strokes. Her fingers tingled with excitement as she imagined the possibilities of mixing and layering shades, creating vibrant masterpieces that would breathe life into her world.

"And that should add some color to your beautiful work."

And behind the oil crayons lay a set of graphite pencils, each carefully marked for hardness and thickness. Madi was struck by their diversity: from the softest and darkest to thin and graceful lines. She already imagined what complex details she would bring to life, what shadows and textures she would accurately convey.

“And with this, it will be easier for you to achieve accuracy and proper contouring.”

Picking up the art supplies, the girl felt her emotions rise inside her. This gift symbolized the recognition and approval of her artistic passion. It was a tangible reminder that her work matters, that her talent deserves to be developed and celebrated.

With a trembling voice, Madi managed to say through her tears, “Thank you, Miss Griffin. This... this means so much to me. I do not even know what to say."

The teacher smiled warmly, her heart overflowing with love for the undeniably talented girl standing in front of her. “You don't have to say anything, Madi. Just promise me one thing - promise me that you will continue to create, that you will allow your creativity to be a reflection of who you are. Your talent is a gift to the world and I can't wait to see what you create."

After a moment, Clarke felt the girl's thin arms wrap around her waist. Surprised by the sudden hug, she felt tenderness in her heart. She returned the embrace by gently wrapping her arms around Madi, giving her comfort and support in this intimate moment. They stood like that for a while, huddled together, and their silent embrace conveyed more than words could convey. Clarke knew the gesture was indicative of the bond they had created, a bond that transcended the classroom. In this simple act of affection, she promised herself that she would continue to be by her side, providing her with a safe space where she could find comfort and support.

Finally, they pulled away from each other, their eyes meeting with shared understanding. Clarke gently wiped the remaining tears from her student's cheeks, a reassuring smile adorning her lips. “Remember, Madi, you will never be alone. I am always with you."

The teen nodded, gratitude and vulnerability mixed in her eyes. "Thank you, Miss Griffin. I am very grateful for everything you have done for me.”

There was a hint of emotion in the teacher's voice as she replied, “No matter what happens, you can always call me. Any time of the day or night."

"Uh-huh." The girl nodded softly.

"Merry Christmas, sweetheart," Clarke whispered, her voice filled with warmth and sincerity. "I hope this holiday brings you the joy, peace and love you deserve."

Madi looked at her, a mixture of sadness and hope flickering in her eyes. "Thank you, Miss Griffin. And... I hope you have a wonderful Christmas too.”

With one last look at each other, they parted ways, Clarke watching the girl as she left the classroom, the weight of parting felt in her steps.

As Lexa parked her car in front of her childhood home, she turned to Aden, who was in the passenger seat. The soft hum of the engine filled the silence between them, and a mixture of excitement and nostalgia crept into the woman's heart. She looked at her son and smiled warmly.

"Aden, we've arrived," she said, her voice tinged with anticipation. “It has been a long time since we celebrated Christmas with the whole family. Are you ready?"

The last time was four years ago. Lexa and Clarke were still happily married, and their son didn't know more sadness than not being allowed to play video games after 9:00 p.m. And after the divorce, the brunette kept her distance from everyone, including the siblings, for more than a year.

Aden looked at his mother, and there was a hint of sorrow in his eyes. He couldn't help remembering the last Christmas they had spent as a family. The joy and laughter that filled the house now seemed like a distant memory. He longed for those carefree days when his parents were still together, when his mother Clarke was with them.

"I'm ready, mom," Aden replied, trying to keep the wistful note out of his voice. “But I can't help but miss mama. I wish she was here too."

Lexa's heart sank as she realized her son's longing. She knew how much the guy loves his second mom. As much as she hated to admit it, their bond with Clarke was special, not like she had with him. They've been through a lot as a family, and the absence of a parent was deeply felt, especially on days like Christmas.

"I know, son," Lexa said softly, her voice full of understanding. “I miss her too. Everything has changed, and sometimes life leads us in different ways. But we still love you just as much, and you know that nothing will ever change about you, we will always be there for you.”

The boy nodded, his eyes a mixture of sadness and acceptance. “I know, mom. It's just... it's different now."

As they walked to the front door of the house, Lexa held her son's hand tightly, their steps in sync. They entered the house, greeted by the familiar sounds and smells of Christmas. The warmth of the family gathering enveloped them, and the brunette realized that, despite the absence of one of the parents, their family ties remain strong.

Indra was the first to meet them, she hugged her daughter and grandson tightly on the threshold and invited them to the house, where everyone had already gathered. Lexa's siblings Anya, Luna, Gaia and Lincoln, along with their partners and children, welcomed them with open arms. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and excitement as the cousins reunited and shared stories of the past year while helping set the table.

"I'm glad you're here with us." Gaia came over and gently hugged her.

"Me too." Lexa answered while looking at all the other family members. "Thank you all for putting up with me again." She smiled.

“Yeah, overall, it’s not difficult for us.” Lincoln said and immediately caught a disapproving look from the sisters. “Well, we are a crazy family! We're all a bit of that."

"You're not doing better now..." Anya came over and placed her hand on Lexa's shoulder. "You've always been my pain in the neck, but you're my favorite little pain in the neck." She laughed and turned to the rest of the younger sisters, “No offense guys. So whether you like it or not, we will never leave you alone.”

Lexa couldn't help but smile at her siblings' playful jokes. Their lightness eased the tension in her heart, reminding her of the unique bond they shared. Despite their differences, they were united by deep love and an unbreakable bond.

Gaia nodded, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “We wouldn't want it to be otherwise. We embrace madness and chaos. It's what makes us who we are."

As the party began and laughter filled the air, Lexa found herself lost in a wave of memories of her past with Clarke. The flickering of the Christmas lights seemed to reflect the flicker of nostalgia in her eyes. She remembered the moments they shared as a couple, the tender hugs, whispered promises, and the love that had once blossomed between them. They were each other's support, their love a beacon of hope in a world that often seemed uncertain. But somewhere along the way she lost her way, making a mistake. And their once unbreakable bond was severed.

Feeling a heavy heart and a prickly desire to cry like a child, she went out into the backyard. That was hard. For almost two years, Lexa pulled away from her family. She didn't enjoy interacting with her younger sister, Luna, because she was married to Raven, Clarke's half-sister. Her brother was married to her ex-wife's best friend, which also created a kind of barrier in their communication.

Although nothing fundamentally changed in the relationship between the siblings, they all loved Lexa and always respected her choice. But the woman felt guilty not only before her wife, but also before them. It seemed to her that it was she who split everyone into two camps, but in reality everyone just continued to live their lives without really focusing on what happened.

Lexa went out into the backyard and sat down on one of her father's folding chairs. Literally in one sip, she finished her wine and put the glass under her feet. Tears rolled down her cheeks so easily and quickly that at some point a quiet moan escaped her lips. When the brunette bowed her head down, steps were heard from behind, before she had time to fully straighten up, she was in an embrace.

"Mommy?" Lexa sobbed.

Indra hugged her daughter tightly, her strong arms giving her comfort and reassurance. She knew that Lexa carried a heavy burden, and her maternal instinct kicked in, prompting her to offer wisdom and support.

"My dear..." The woman spoke softly, her voice filled with compassion. “I see that you are having a hard time and your heart is hurting… Just talk to me.” She took her daughter's hand in hers and sat down beside her.

"I'm a terrible person, mom... I'm so bad..."

Indra tightly held her daughter's hand, her touch expressed both sympathy and strength. She looked into Lexa's tear-filled eyes, and her own filled with a mixture of love and understanding.

"My child, you are not a terrible person," the woman said softly, her voice unwavering. “You made a mistake and you deeply regret it. But mistakes don't define us. What really matters, is how we learn and develop from them.”

Lexa's voice shook as she spoke, her words laced with guilt and remorse. “I hurt the person I love the most, Mom. I betrayed Clarke's trust, and I can't forgive myself for that. How could I be so stupid? How could I let something like this happen?”

Indra listened attentively, her presence a sure anchor for her daughter in the midst of a storm of emotions. She understood the weight of Lexa's regret and the pain it caused her.

"My dear Lexa, love can be both beautiful and complicated," Indra replied, her voice filled with motherly wisdom. “We all make mistakes in our relationships and sometimes we lose sight of what really matters. It takes great strength to admit your mistakes and ask for forgiveness."

Lexa's tears flowed freely, her voice choked with emotion. “I just wish I could turn back time and undo the pain I caused. I miss her so much, Mom. I miss our love, our life together. I took it all for granted, and now I feel like it's all slipping away."

Indra wrapped her arms around Lexa, pulling her closer, offering the comfort only a mother could give. “Regrets are a heavy burden, my child. But remember, time can heal wounds and mend broken hearts. It won't be easy, and it will take time and effort on both sides. But if you truly love Clarke, if you're willing to admit your mistakes and work to repair the broken trust, there's hope for reconciliation."

Indra looked deeply into her daughter's eyes, her gaze full of unwavering support. “And only time will tell, my dear. The road to forgiveness is a personal journey for both you and Clarke. It will require patience, understanding and sincere repentance on your part. The most important thing is to be honest with yourself and with her.”

Lexa nodded, her tears slowly fading as hope ignited in her. "Thank you, mommy. I needed to hear it. You know, I thought you were all disappointed in me, that I let you down.”

The woman hugged her daughter tightly, their hugs symbolizing love, understanding and unwavering support. “You have always been our little “social disaster”, but at the same time the most responsible and empathic…” Indra chuckled. "And that never stopped us from loving you very much." Mother's voice softened as she continued. “We are not disappointed in you. We are here to support you during this difficult time, as always."

Her mother's words echoed in her heart, and Lexa took a deep breath, finding new determination and a glimmer of hope. She knew the road to redemption and reconciliation would not be easy, but armed with the love, remorse, and unwavering support of her family, she was ready to embark on a path of healing, hoping to find her way back to the love she had lost.

Clarke sat alone in her apartment, the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree illuminating the room. She didn't feel too bad; yes, her current life was a little different from what she was used to, but she didn't mind taking time for herself. Aden was with Lexa this holiday and it was a bit sad, but overall Clarke was open to new things.

Sipping hot cocoa, the blonde reflected on the past and the choices that had brought her to this moment. Divorce from Lexa was a painful and difficult decision, but at the same time necessary for both of them. They tried to mend their relationship, to overcome the loss and grief that consumed them after the miscarriage, but the burden of their shared grief became too heavy.

Being in the silence of the house, she enjoyed solitude. It was a chance to rediscover herself outside of being a wife and mother. Clarke has always been creative and has found solace and self-expression in art. Now standing in front of a blank canvas, for the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to plunge into the world of creativity. Clarke succumbed to her artistic instinct, with each stroke of her brush she poured her emotions onto the canvas, allowing herself to feel and heal.

She began with a simple sketch of a figure standing alone in a vast landscape. The figure symbolized loneliness, her posture was slightly stooped, and her shoulders were slightly hunched, as if the weight of the whole world lay on them. The background depicted a vast and desolate scene, with barren trees and a sky filled with muted colors, conveying a sense of emptiness and isolation.

As Clarke added more and more detail to the drawing, she included elements of silence and patience. The figure's face had a serene expression, eyes open, staring at her in contemplation. Around the figure, she painted gentle puffs of mist, representing the silence that envelops loneliness. The mist seemed to embrace the figure, creating a sense of calm and stillness.

Stepping back, the blonde came out of her trance, she immediately realized who she had drawn. Dark curly hair, thin figure, light blue, piercing eyes. Madi seemed to be the only one she could think of right now. The girl did not leave her head for the second week. Inside Clarke, an intense desire raged to see her, to talk to her, to protect her ...

Her thoughts were interrupted by a phone call. It was understandable that he was unexpected, but it was even more unexpected to see the name of the caller - Wells. A new colleague, even after the trip, did not leave hope to get to know Clark better. Not that the blonde was against it, on the contrary, she even liked the idea of a relationship with him, it just wasn't the right time for it. After waiting three more vibrations, the woman picked up the phone.

"Yes?"

"….."

"Wells, this is quite unexpected, I... I don't know." Clarke spoke while smiling like a girl.

"…….."

“Well, I think I’m free on Saturday, can we at five?”

"……."

"Great, see you later." The blonde put down the phone.

When Clarke hung up, a wave of excitement and uncertainty washed over her. What if it's a mistake? And it's too early for a new relationship, because the wounds after the divorce were still fresh. But on the other hand, didn't she deserve it? Finally, to be happy, to do what she wants, she is a free, beautiful woman, worthy of attention and love.

Taking a deep breath, Clarke stepped out of her apartment, the cool winter air refreshing her skin. The twinkling lights of Christmas decorations lit up the streets, creating a warm and festive glow. As she walked, her thoughts tossed between the drawing, Madi, and her upcoming meeting with Wells. And so, with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation, the woman stepped forward into the unknown, eager to discover the intertwined paths of love and holiday season magic that awaited her.

Chapter Text

Clarke's heart fluttered with anticipation as she stood at the entrance to the Christmas market, waiting for Wells to join her. The sweet aroma of freshly baked bread hung in the air, cheerful melodies of festive music sounded, and multi-colored lights adorned the festive counters. It was the perfect setting for a cozy Christmas date.

The blonde shifted from one foot to the other, trying to keep her body warm. As Wells approached, his eyes lit up with a warm smile.

"Hey! Sorry, I'm a little late." The man scratched his forehead awkwardly.

"Hey." Clarke smiled sweetly. “It’s okay, I just came here myself two minutes ago.”

The sight of him made her heart skip a beat. He was dressed in an elegant black coat that emphasized his tall, confident stature, it hugged his figure, creating a stylish and sophisticated look. A bright red scarf wrapped tightly around the neck completed the look.

When the man held out his hand, Clarke couldn't help but notice the finesse of his leather gloves. They gave elegance to his costume and further emphasized his refined demeanor. His hands were strong and skillful, which testified to his strength and character.

"Well, let's go?" Wells asked, his voice filled with confidence and warmth.

She placed her hand in his, feeling the soft warmth of his touch. A smile spread across Clarke's face and she nodded as she met his eyes. "Certainly."

Their first stop was a charming coffee shop adorned with twinkling lights. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee beans hung in the air, beckoning them closer. Clarke and Wells ordered their favorite drinks and made themselves comfortable in the bustling market. They sipped the warming drink, feeling the pleasant warmth seep through their fingers, and carried on a casual conversation.

“I can’t drink very strong coffee, my maximum is cappuccino.” The blonde admitted. “I generally prefer tea.”

"This is interesting." Wells looked up. “But I can’t live without coffee. I can drink 5 cups a day.”

"Wow, that's a lot..." Clarke expressed genuine concern. “You can also catch a heart attack.”

Wells smiled mischievously. “Well, I like to think it's an extra load on the heart. It keeps him alert, you know? You can't let him relax!"

Clarke snorted at Wells' witty response. “I guess your heart gets a full cardio workout thanks to coffee!”

Their laughter mingled with the happy sounds around them. Clarke couldn't help but feel at ease with Wells, something she hadn't felt in a long time. It was a nice affection. When the coffee was finished, the woman offered to see the various stalls and attractions at the fair. They walked hand in hand, plunging into the festive atmosphere, admiring the intricate handmade jewelry, tasting delicious delicacies, jokingly exchanging opinions and trying their luck in carnival games.

In the midst of this joyful chaos, Clarke noticed a small stall nestled in a quiet corner of the market. It displayed beautiful postcards and hand-painted artwork, each exuding creativity and charm. The blonde's eyes lit up with delight as she approached the kiosk: the bright exhibits rekindled her passion for art.

"Madi would definitely love that." She said almost in a whisper.

"Your son?" Wells asked again, since he didn't quite understand the name.

The woman was so carried away that she even stopped following what she was saying. "Aden doesn't really like art, he would like to run around in basketball or play video games, just like his mother..." Clarke turned to her interlocutor.

"I'm sorry, you probably meant to say dad?" The man smiled awkwardly, bringing the woman back to reality.

"No, you heard it right." Clarke said and turned away to look at another painting.

The woman did not want to reveal the details of her personal life, at least not so early. In addition, this information is not only hers, but also Lexa and their son. Clarke didn't want to get Aden in trouble for anyone at school to find out that his teachers were his two ex-wives and part-time parents.

Wells nodded, sensing that his companion had deliberately taken the conversation in a different direction. He respected her boundaries and did not go into this topic anymore. Instead, he focused on the present moment, enjoying the Christmas market together.

As they continued to explore the stalls, Clarke became intrigued, discovering a small bookstore nestled in a small corner of the Christmas market. The shelves were filled with beautifully illustrated books on the arts, from painting to sculpture, from photography to graphic design.

Her eyes fell on a fascinating book that featured the work of famous artists throughout human history. The pages of the book were decorated with vibrant images that capture the essence of various artistic styles and techniques. Clarke couldn't help but feel that this book would be incredibly interesting for Madi and inspire her to explore new artistic horizons.

She'll be delighted... Clarke mused, her eyes fixed on the book.

Welles raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in his expression. "ABOUT? And who is this lucky recipient?

The blonde smiled, a warm gleam in her eyes. “This is for one of my students, Madi. She is interested in creativity, you should have seen how she draws ... "

Wells was a little perplexed. "I already saw." The man remembered that very first day of this student in their school. “She’s certainly done well, but do you really encourage it?”

"What are you talking about?" Clarke was taken aback.

“Just Madi, does nothing but draw. No matter how I look, she either looks at the birds in the window or draws in her sketchbook. The man tensed and continued. "And I'm not the only teacher who talks about it, Flint can't do anything to her either..."

“Maybe you shouldn’t do anything with her?” The blonde said, her voice clear of irritation. "Let's be frank with Flint in class, and you would fall asleep..."

“Don’t think that I have a biased attitude towards her, it’s just that she even manages not to do her homework at the headmaster’s lesson.”

“I don’t know, I personally don’t have any problems with her and neither does Woods.” Clarke replied. “I always say that the problem is not the child. Because if Titus were a little kinder and your lessons more interesting, Madi wouldn't act like this."

Jaha chuckled. “Maybe you're right…” The man didn't want this to turn into a conflict.

Clarke paused for a moment, considering her answer. “Madi is not just a student. She is special to me and I want to show her that her talent is recognized and appreciated. It's a way for me to make her happy."

"If I didn't know it was our student, I would have thought you were talking about your daughter." Wells emphasized and smiled awkwardly. “You, like a bear, rushed to protect her.”

The blonde thought about the words of the companion and added in a barely audible voice. “I wish she were my daughter…”

After the miscarriage, Clarke thought for a long time and dreamed about what her daughter would look like. I imagined her, painted in my paintings. No wonder why the woman was so attached to Madi.

As the evening drew to a close, they found themselves outside Clarke's house, the soft glow of Christmas lights illuminating their faces. There was anticipation and hesitation in the air.

Welles, sensing a connection between them, leaned forward slightly, looking for a sign with his eyes. But the blonde, heart pounding with emotion, pulled away gently, creating a small distance between them.

" I... I had a really good time tonight," Clarke said softly, a hint of vulnerability in her voice. "But I need time, Wells." The wounds inflicted on her by the divorce are still healing, and it is difficult for her to fully open up and accept someone new into her life so quickly.

The man looked at her with understanding in his eyes, and his smile faded slightly. “I understand, Clarke. It is important that you have the time you need and prioritize recovery. I don't want to rush things or push you into something you're not ready for yet."

Listening to his words, the blonde felt relief and regret. She appreciated his understanding, but a part of her soul couldn't help but wonder about the unresolved feelings she still had for Lexa. She tacitly acknowledged that she needed to deal with her own emotions and deal with her past before fully accepting a new relationship.

"Thank you..." Clarke whispered, her voice full of sincerity. “You are a wonderful person, Wells, and I was very pleased to get to know you better. Let's not rush things and see where this leads, okay?"

He nodded, hope flashing in his eyes. “I would like that, Clarke. I appreciate your sincerity, and I like you as a woman, but if you are not ready, then I will not insist.

With a bittersweet smile, they embraced tenderly. Clarke felt relieved and anticipated as they said goodnight to each other, their steps parting.

When Clarke entered her apartment, a sense of calm swept over her. She took off her beige coat, hung it on her shoulders and began to pull off her boots.

“Well, I was today ...” The blonde said to herself.

The apartment was not big, but cozy. Everything is in a logical and practical sequence: a small hallway led to the kitchen-dining room, after a meter and a half a living room with a sofa and a TV, opposite the toilet, and to the right of the closet built into the wall is a small room with a double bed and a beautiful view of the city. It was there that her easel and all the unfinished canvases stood.

The first thing Clarke retired to her bed, such a long walk tired her. She hasn't been chosen in a long time. The woman took out her phone from the back pocket of her jeans and began to check, no one called or wrote. Great.

The blonde stretched on the bed and unlocked her smartphone again and entered the gallery. When you don't know what to do, this is the first thing that comes to mind. She leafed through the photographs, some made her happy, some bewildered how it was possible to photograph her like that, and there were those from which it pricked her chest. Here they are with Lexa on vacation in Hawaii, exactly three years before the divorce. In swimsuits and with cocktails, posing. For the first time in several years, only the two of us got out. Like yesterday...

Clarke put down her phone and fixed her eyes on the ceiling. Thoughts swarming in my head, how to live on? Is she ready to start over from scratch? The son is almost an adult, she has a job, a roof over her head too, and now a potential partner has appeared. And for some reason she felt uneasy, uncomfortable, she lacked something, or rather someone. Wells is good, it is interesting to talk with him, to laugh, but he is not the one she needs. And this is a fact.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by a soft knock on the door. At first, Clarke thought that she imagined, she rose on her elbows and began to listen, like nothing. But then another one followed, a little louder. The woman got up reluctantly and walked towards the front door.

“God, who needs me at midnight!?” The blonde said with annoyance, loud enough for a potential visitor to feel her displeasure. "Who is this?" There was no answer.

For decency, she asked again, and then came to the conclusion that it was some teenagers who decided to play a trick on her and turned to leave, but as soon as she turned around and a soft knock was heard from behind the door.

"Are they bullying?" Clarke hissed and slammed the door open in front of her. "What!?" What she saw shocked her.

Or rather, who. This is Madi. Her appearance was not so much shocking as scary. The girl stood in front of her without outerwear and shoes, shaking from the cold, her eye was broken, and blood mixed with tears dried on her face. What happened? Who could do this to her?

Clarke's heart sank as she saw the sight before her. The shock and fear in Madi's eyes pierced her soul. It seemed that time stood still, and the woman did not have time to comprehend the horrifying reality that appeared before her.

Without thinking, she pulled the girl towards her. With trembling hands, she instinctively grabbed and pressed the injured and fragile body of the child to her own. She could feel Madi's rapid heartbeat against her chest, her shallow breathing mingled with soft sobs.

"Honey, what happened?" The woman gently pushed a strand of bloody hair away from the girl's red-blue eye.

Madi's voice trembled as she tried to speak through her tears. “I... I was good. It's not my fault, but he... he was so angry. He... he beat me like that... Miss G... Griffin, it's not my fault...'

Clarke's heart shattered into a million pieces when she heard those words. The knowledge that Madi had endured such pain and abuse sent waves of anger and helplessness through Clarke's veins. She wanted to wipe this bastard off the face of the earth, trample him to powder.

"Baby, sit here." The blonde helped her sit down on an ottoman next to a shelf for outerwear.

The woman quickly closed the door and knelt across from Madi, examining her for other injuries. "Tell me where it hurts?"

The girl just hugged herself and cried. The events of tonight replayed in my head.

Madi didn't want to go home. Because she knew that no one was waiting for her there. The girl tried to go the longest way in order to delay the meeting with her stepfather and mother as long as possible. Lights were on in the windows of neighboring houses, families gathered at the table for dinner, opened gifts and simply enjoyed the holidays and each other's company.

As she walked down the street, thoughts swirled in her head: she felt alone in this world, she had no one to turn to and no one to protect her. Russell was cruel to her, and she knew that he didn't care what to cling to, for him to beat his stepdaughter is comparable to stress relief. And the mother, who has always been indifferent to her, as always, does nothing to intervene.

Madi's heart was heavy with fear and longing. The girl could not understand why no one cares about her, why she is always an outcast and a target for offenders. She hoped things would get better after the school trip, but the rumors and ridicule only seemed to get worse. In the morning, when she woke up in the teacher's house, she again had hope, but by the end of the day everything was back to normal. Since then, she has simply returned to reality, where she drags out her miserable existence. I just stopped dreaming or hoping for something good for myself.

As she turned the corner and saw her house in the distance, Madi's steps slowed. She took a deep breath and prepared herself for what was to come. But no matter how hard she tried to prepare, fear and horror still did not leave her heart. She wished there was someone to turn to, someone to help her get out of this nightmare.

The cold weather made her shudder, and the yellow sunset bathed the quiet street in a gloomy light. The wind whistled in her ears, and she pulled her coat tighter. P looked up at the sky and saw the stars begin to twinkle and wondered if anyone could hear her silent cries for help.

Finally, the girl came to the front door and hesitated for a moment before entering. As soon as she opened the door, she was immediately greeted by the angry voice of her stepfather. Her heart sank and she braced herself for the worst.

Upon entering, she heard her mother's comment, "Finally!" wafted from the living room. There was annoyance in her voice.

The girl deliberately slowly, as soon as she could, took off her shoes and outerwear. Russell, as always, was impatient, and when he was angry, it was doubly unpleasant.

"What are you doing over there! Come here now! Fast!" He called from the living room.

Madi hung up her jacket with trembling hands. "I'm on my way." She said in a broken voice.

She walked slowly towards the living room, her heart pounding in her chest. When the girl entered the room, the cold air hit her face and she shuddered. Then she saw Russell sitting on the couch, his face twisted into a vicious grin. Sitting next to him was her mother, with her usual expression of indifference.

"What the hell is this?" The man was so angry that he squeezed out words that almost turned into a scream.

With trembling hands, Madi took her new pencils, she didn't know how to answer. But she took every precaution, hid her new things under the mattress and lost them among the things in the chest of drawers. Nobody usually cleans her room, for sure Josephine saw how she draws in a new sketchbook and told about everything. At the moment, she just wanted to disappear.

"I'm asking you!" Screaming, Russell slammed his hand on the table, causing the girl, frightened, to take a sharp step back, tightly clasping the art supplies with her hands.

Looking at her stepfather, Madi felt tears well up in her eyes. She knew what would happen next. The man stood up and walked over to her, his breath smelling of cigarettes. He grabbed her hand, squeezed it tightly and pulled her to him.

Without waiting for an answer from his stepdaughter, he again tried to make his voice calmer. "Where did you get it?" Russell spat out, his eyes full of venom.

Madi tried to keep her voice even. "This is a gift..."

"From whom? Who can give you a gift, even so expensive!?” Russell demanded to know.

"Mm... m. my... my teacher." Madi stammered, feeling small and helpless.

"Which teacher?" Russell laughed and jerked her sharply again. "You stole it." He squeezed her hand so hard it turned white.

Madi felt tears flow from her eyes like a river. "I didn't do anything wrong, I swear... I didn't steal anything, it's... it's a gift." She whispered pleadingly.

"Of course she didn't." The mother answered, her voice cold and devoid of any emotion. “You never do anything wrong, do you? You are always the perfect angel."

Madi felt herself being suffocated. She knew what would happen next. She prepared for blows, insults and humiliation. It was a routine that had become too familiar to her. Russell took out all his anger and frustration on her, and her mother sat and watched as if she didn't care.

"Is that what we taught you, Madi?" He taunted her, delaying the most unpleasant moment in order to enjoy the fact that the girl was afraid of him.

“I swear… I didn’t do it; I didn’t steal anything…”

"You know perfectly well what punishment awaits you." Russell looked at her with his most cruel gaze. "Tell me Madi, which one?" He moved closer and closer to her until he was right above her. "Today I let you choose..." Stepfather leaned in to her ear, and she felt how big and strong he was compared to her. "Belt or wire?"

"No... I'm sorry... Please..."

Russell cut her off with a cruel laugh. “This time it's not just about apologizing, girl. So what do you choose?"

Madi stepped back until she was right up against the wall. “Don’t, please… Mom…” The girl called Simone in hope, but she only got up from her spot and leave. “Mommy, no! Don't leave me with him! Please, Mommy!"

"Shut up!" That was her answer. “You knew what the consequences of your actions would be! Do you think I will protect you?" The woman approached them. “I don’t need a daughter like you. You are my biggest shame and mistake. I regret your existence every day fucking day of my life!"

The girl felt everything inside her collapse. She had already heard such phrases about abortion and that she was as miserable as her father. But what was said now completely destroyed her. At one point, it became unbearably painful for her, and then it just didn’t matter. It was as if a knife had been thrust into his chest, leaving emptiness and destruction in it.

At that moment, Madi felt an all-consuming sense of betrayal. It was a betrayal of the deepest nature that pierced her to the core. She still hoped that maybe this time her mother would stand up for her, that she would see the truth and protect her from Russell's cruelty. But those hopes were shattered and she felt abandoned and completely alone again.

As the memories unfolded, Clarke tightened her grip on the girl, as if she could shield her from a haunting past.

"I'm sorry, sweetie," the blonde whispered through her choking sobs, gently wiping tears from the child's sunken cheeks. "You didn't deserve this... You're not guilty of anything."

Madi clung to the woman, her small frame trembling. "Do you...do you believe me, Miss Griffin?" The girl did not notice how she already found herself in the living room on the lap of the teacher.

"Of course I believe you." Clarke replied with unwavering support, she took the girl's face in her hands. “I believe every word you say. No one should hurt you, and you are not to blame for anything. Did you hear me?" She kissed her and pulled her close again and let her be just a little baby. "You're safe now…"

The woman gently rocked Madi back and forth, just like she would do with her own child. She wanted to convey all the love, comfort, and tenderness that she could muster, hoping to provide some solace for the girl's shattered soul.

"How do you feel about taking a hot bath?" Clarke offered softly.

Madi raised her head, uncertain and vulnerable in her eyes, but she silently nodded in agreement.

"I'll help you, okay?" Clarke reassured her and led her towards the bathroom.

The girl could hardly move her legs, she held on to the woman and limped.

The blonde turned on the water, adjusting the temperature, warm enough to be comfortable, but not too hot to be uncomfortable.

As the water filled the tub, Clarke helped Madi undress, and with each piece of clothing removed, the woman's heart ached more and more. She saw bruises and scars all over her body, it seemed that there was not a single area without blue marks.

Her knees were shattered, her skin discolored from the brute force of the violence. There were black bruises on her thighs and buttocks, evidence of the severe beatings she had been subjected to. As Clarke carefully helped her take off her sweater, she felt sick from the deep bleeding scratches on Madi's shoulders and back, some of which were still on her clothes. The girl winced in pain as her hoodie was removed, showing the extent of the damage. Scars of unimaginable cruelty were visible on every inch of the girl's delicate skin, and Clarke could not understand how someone could inflict such pain on an innocent child.

Besides, the girl's painful thinness instilled terror in her eyes. Madi did not look at all for 14 years, but for 12 with a stretch. Behind baggy clothes and shoes two sizes larger, her lagging behind her peers was not so noticeable. Her ribs and spine literally bulged out, and her arms and legs were so thin that it was hard to imagine how she was even supported by them.

"Honey, I'm here to take care of you." Clarke whispered softly as she helped Madi into the warm bath. The girl flinched slightly at the touch, still unaccustomed to being gently touched and taken care of.

When she settled into the water, the teacher took a washcloth and began to gently wash her wounds. She treated her so delicately, as if Madi were a fragile piece of glass that could break at any moment.

"You're safe now..." Clarke whispered as she continued to cleanse her skin. "I won't let anyone hurt you again. I promise."

Madi nodded, her eyes meeting Clarke's, and in that moment she felt an overwhelming surge of emotion. It was as if a dam had burst inside her, and she could not contain the flood of feelings that flooded over her. The realization that someone cared about her, that someone wanted to protect her and love her unconditionally, was almost unbearable.

As tears streamed down Madi's cheeks, Clarke put everything down and pulled her close to her, kissing the top of her head gently. "This won't happen again..." Clarke, hugging Madi tightly to her. "I'm here for you and I'm not going anywhere. You can trust me, okay?"

The girl nodded. For most of her life she had been invisible, unloved and abandoned, but now, in the arms of this woman, she felt seen, cherished and appreciated.

When the water began to cool, the blonde gently helped the teenager out of the tub, wrapped her in a soft towel, and escorted her into the bedroom. The girl's body was exhausted, and she felt vulnerable relief. But as Clarke tucked her into bed, the woman's presence gave her a sense of security she'd never felt before.

"Miss Griffin?" Madi's voice was barely audible, and the woman leaned closer to hear her.

"Baby, you can call me Clarke..." She brushed a strand of damp hair out of the girl's face.

A small, shy smile played at the corners of Madi's lips. For the first time in her life, she was offered such familiar and warm communication. "Clarke..." She whispered, and the sound of her own voice saying the woman's name brought a surge of comfort and intimacy to her that she had craved all her life. "Can you stay with me for the night?" Madi's eyes looked pleadingly at her teacher, her voice sounded uncertain and anxious.

"Of course I'll stay here." Clarke answered without hesitation as she sat on the edge of the bed. “I will be there for you when you need me. Always…"

When the woman lay down next to her, wrapping her arms around her, the girl felt warmth spread in her heart. For the first time in a long time, Madi closed her eyes and allowed herself to sleep, feeling safe and loved. Her forehead touched Clarke's, her body went limp, nothing else hurt, and she fell asleep, sniffing sweetly.

"Sleep well, little one..."

As soon as the blonde felt the calm and warm breath of the girl on her neck, she very carefully and quietly got out of bed and went to her room, closing the door behind her.

The fact that she managed to calm and put the child to sleep after this already seemed like a victory, but it was also clear that she needed to act and she needed help. Soon, Madi's disappearance will be noticed at home and her stepfather will not like it. So Clarke took her phone from the bedside table and dialed the number of the only person she could trust.

"Clarke? What's the matter?" there was concern on the other line. "Why are you calling so late? Don't be silent... What's the matter?"

"Lexa...

Chapter Text

The winter night was chilly, and the police station was bustling with officers coming and going, performing their duties, and responding to various calls. Among them was Russell Lightbourne, a high-ranking officer known for his connections and influence in the city. Many respected and idolized him, saying what an honest, decent policeman, a wonderful family man, and just a good-natured person, but few knew what he was.

Russell, like a chameleon, changed the color of his skin depending on the situation. Such a reputation was quite difficult to achieve. He had to play for the audience, smile in the face of people whom he simply could not stand, and suck up to the authorities, who did not put him in anything. To get a promotion, he had to crush his ego, kiss his boss's ass.

The stepdaughter was the perfect scapegoat for him. Madi was just a little girl who no one could protect, and she herself could not do anything to him. He was okay with her at first, even after the birth of his own daughter. Of course, the separation between Josephine and Madi was felt on his part, but the stepdaughter for him was his wife's child, who had to be endured.

But the girl grew up, began to understand more, and ask many unnecessary questions. By the age of 7, Madi reappeared in her and Simone's life, Sean, who began to undermine his paternal authority. And Russell was not so much jealous of his stepdaughter as of Simone when she took her away for the weekend. He and Sean Wolfe had their own old scores.

It all started with the police academy, which was based on the territory of the Arcadia County Law University. Russell Lightbourne was an ordinary freshman. A tall and thin nerd, from childhood he dreamed of becoming the guardian of order and being a valiant sheriff of his hometown.

He went through all the circles of hell at the academy. The first day of his stay there was a severe awakening for him. He quickly realized that he was not adapted to physical exertion and exhausting training. While the others seemed to be doing their jobs without difficulty, Russell struggled to stay on his feet. The obstacle course, shooting training, and combat exercises became his worst nightmares.

His fellow students, strong and self-confident, nicknamed him "Weakling" and "Rusty", ridiculing his lack of physical fitness. He became the butt of jokes and ridicule, and even the instructors could not hide their disappointment at his "success." Dreams of the heroic role of the sheriff began to crumble, replaced by a desperate desire to survive in the academy.

As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, Russell's self-esteem plummeted. He felt like an outcast, a failure in the eyes of everyone. But there was one beautiful ray of hope and light that illuminated every minute of his stay there - Simone Rose.

A modest and sweet first-year student of the Faculty of Law, and one could write poems about her beauty. Her warm hazel eyes, sparkling with kindness and intelligence, knew how to make those around her feel comfortable and at ease in her presence. The smile was contagious, she radiated a sincere warmth that lit up the room and lifted the spirits of those around her.

With a medium height, she had a graceful and slender figure, and her movements were always elegant and collected. Her light brown hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, thinly framing her face. Simone had a natural beauty and did not need makeup and jewelry to shine. With this, she captivated the heart of a young cadet.

In addition to appearance, the girl was gifted with an even more charming character. She had an unshakable sense of empathy and compassion, always ready to listen and support anyone who needs it. Sincere concern for others made her a natural peacemaker, she had an innate ability to bring harmony even in the most stressful situations.

Amid the difficulties Russell faced at the academy, Simone became a beacon of hope for him. She did not notice his physical shortcomings, but, on the contrary, recognized his intelligence and determination. Unlike others who ridiculed him, she encouraged him to embrace his strengths and not depend on limitations.

They quickly became best friends, but nothing more. Her heart belonged to another - Sean Wolfe. He was the so-called "bad boy" on campus and had a charm that was hard to resist. His dark curly hair and piercing blue eyes left a trail of broken hearts in his wake. Unlike Russell, Sean was confident and had an air of mystery that drew people in.

Russell did not like this, Simone preferred the smart, caring, and loving him, some scumbag in a leather jacket with beautiful eyes and abs. Sean was never known for being faithful, on campus he had a reputation as an enviable bachelor, but in fact, he was an ordinary womanizer, taking advantage of the naivety of young freshmen.

It was not surprising that the girl fell for his hook. As Simone and Sean's relationship blossomed, a noticeable rift began to develop between her and Russell. Once inseparable best friends have moved away from each other, and Simone seems to have changed. She became more cold and distant, immersed in Sean's world and his rebellious lifestyle. Her laugh, once so infectious and warm, took on a touch of arrogance that Russell had never noticed before.

On one such beautiful day, they finally parted in different directions.

“Listen, sometimes it happens that people stop understanding each other and stop their communication…” The girl began.

"That's if they stop, but as you can see, I'm still your best friend and I'm going to be forever."

"Russell, you don't understand...

“No, it’s you who apparently doesn’t understand who you contacted. Did he fool you?" With resentment in his voice, said Lightbourne.

"What? How dare you!?” She screamed

“You don’t see anyone but your Sean! Look who you've become! What are you wearing!? I don’t understand where my Simone has gone, I’m good, dear ... ” His eyes watered when he said this. "You think I'm blind and deaf? Every second says that the love of your life fucks a new freshman every day!”

Simone's eyes flashed with anger, resentment, and distrust. She couldn't believe what she'd heard from her best friend, someone she'd once trusted. The slap that followed was quick and sharp, a physical manifestation of the emotional distance that had developed between them.

Russell stood there, dazed, holding his injured cheek. He did not expect such a furious reaction from Simone, but deep down he knew that he deserved it. He crossed the line, and now he will have to answer for his words.

"You have no right to judge me, Russell," said the girl, her voice trembling with excitement. “It’s not up to you to decide who I love and how I live. Sean is not the person you think he is and I won't let you tarnish what we have with your unfounded accusations." She turned on her heels, slamming the door behind her, leaving him alone in the room.

After this incident, respecting Simone's wishes, Russell decided to back off and give her freedom. This decision was not easy for him, he felt overwhelmed and depressed. With a heavy heart, he stepped into the shadows, healing his wounded pride and shattered friendships.

Months passed, and the tension between Russell and Sean continued to simmer. The enmity between them became palpable, but Simone did not notice the growing gap.

One fateful day, during one of the university events, the tension reached its limit. A crowd gathered, and Russell found himself surrounded by his peers, including the love of his life, who still didn't understand anything about the brewing storm.

Sean, with his usual arrogance, approached Russell in front of everyone. The crowd, feeling the tension, gathered, wanting to witness the confrontation. Wolfe's intentions were obvious - he wanted to publicly humiliate his rival and assert his superiority.

"Well, well, look who decided to show up," Sean chuckled, looking at Lightbourne with his piercing gray-blue eyes. “I thought you had abandoned your cop dreams, Rusty. Even you realized that you were not made for this.

The surrounding students exchanged glances, and Russell's face turned red with embarrassment and anger. He knew that a fellow student was trying to provoke him, but this time he couldn't just walk away. Resentment and disappointment accumulated in him for too long.

"You're just pathetic, Sean," Russell replied, his voice trembling with mixed emotions. “You only do what you manipulate people and use them for your selfish purposes. But I won't fall for your games anymore."

The crowd gasped, stunned by the sudden intensity of the confrontation. Simone, who was among the audience, felt the tension but did not yet know the full depth of the enmity between them.

Sean's expression darkened as he stepped closer to Russell, a venomous note in his voice. “You're just jealous because you can't have what I have. Simone chose me, not you. You were never good enough for her."

Lightbourne clenched his fists, trying to contain his emotions. He knew that Sean's words were intended to provoke him, but they hurt him deeply nonetheless. The pain of losing Simone and the humiliation he endured at the police academy resurfaced, fueling his anger.

Without waiting for an answer, Sean took another step forward and pushed Russell, causing him to back away. The crowd roared again, now realizing that confrontation was brewing.

"Get out of here, loser," Wolfe hissed loudly enough for everyone to hear. "You're just a pathetic shadow trying to imitate real men like me."

At that moment, Russell felt an overwhelming mixture of anger, shame, and sadness. He wanted to fight back, to defend himself, but he knew that would only aggravate the situation. With a heavy heart, he turned and walked away, resigning his pride.

After graduating from university, the life of young people took an unexpected turn. They were inseparable at the university, and many believed that they were destined for a joint future. And they started it, moving together to Polis. Sean got a job at the police station, and Simone began an internship at a law firm.

Life went on as it should for young people. Work walks in the evenings, and dreams of a wonderful future before going to bed. After half a year of hard work and night shifts, Sean got a job in the narcotics department. He was happy and made plans for a successful career in this structure.

Russell was also transferred there at the same time. Two eternal rivals met again. In the bustling halls of Polis Police Station, Sean, and Russell's paths crossed again. Both of them had come a long way since their university days, and the wounds of the past seemed like distant memories. Sean, now an experienced and confident officer, and Russell worked his way up the ranks, constantly striving to prove himself.

Their meeting was tense, but Sean held out an olive branch, willing to leave the feud behind. He approached Russell, his face was a mask of calm.

"Lightbourne, long time no see." Sean held out his hand.

"Wolfe." Russell looked at him warily.

Despite the peaceful gesture of a former classmate, Lightbourne still held a grudge. He shook Sean's hand, but the grip was firm, a silent declaration that the wounds of the past had not fully healed.

“Look, I know things weren’t easy between us back then. But now we are adults, and we are on the same team. Let's leave what was between us in the past and focus on work.

"I think we can try." He squeezed out the answer himself and went to his workplace.

Simone was pleasantly surprised to see her university friend again and it seemed that all grievances and misunderstandings were in the past. She was also passionate about her work and aspired to change the world for the better.

As the workday wore on, the tension between Sean and Russell seemed to ease a little. They began to work together on various cases, and although they were far from friends, they managed to maintain a professional level.

However, Russell's heart still burned with a thirst for revenge. He couldn't shake the feeling that Sean had taken everything from him: the love of his life, his self-confidence. The bitterness that had accumulated inside him pushed him to look for an opportunity to settle accounts with him.

And now he finally got lucky. He found Sean with another woman, right in the patrol car. It was his partner Sarah. As it turned out, this fling has been going on since Wolf transferred to their department. Russell's anger knew no bounds, more and more he wanted to trample the life of a colleague to smithereens.

Simone's world is turned upside down when she finds out she's pregnant. She stood and held the test in trembling hands, she was overwhelmed by a wave of conflicting emotions. Joy, fear, uncertainty - it was all too strong. Her heart pounded in her chest as she thought about the life growing inside her.

But unlike the usual happiness and excitement that accompanies such news, Simone experienced an overwhelming sense of fear. She knew that the child's father was Sean, the man who once held her heart in his hands and then broke it with his betrayal.

Feeling lost and desperate, the woman turned to the only person who was always there for her, Russell. She told him about the affair she discovered, and her voice broke when she talked about her husband's infidelity.

Russell's heart sank as he saw the pain in Simone's eyes. He hoped that maybe after Sean showed himself in all his glory, she would look at him differently. But deep down he knew that his love for her was still unrequited, and in her eyes, he was just a friend.

Instead of resenting Simone's unborn child, Russell offered her his unwavering support. He assured her that he would be by her side no matter what decision she made about the pregnancy. It hurt him to know that she would never love him the way he loved her, but he couldn't bear to see her suffer.

Weeks passed, and Simone's pregnancy weighed on her like an unbearable burden. She couldn't shake the constant reminder of Sean's betrayal as she stared at her growing belly. The love she once felt for him turned into deep resentment and regret. And the worst thing is that she hated this child.

Even the news that it would be a girl did not please her, in the depths of her soul, Simone hoped that this child would die, simply not survive. She felt terrible, knowing that she wished her own child dead. This led her to depression.

Stress and mental pain affected the health of the pregnant woman, and she went into premature labor. Doctors in a panic rushed to save her and the child. Despite their best efforts, on November 26, 2009, Madi was born prematurely. The tiny fighter was born a month earlier than expected.

As soon as Simone looked at her daughter, she was overwhelmed by a wave of conflicting emotions. She couldn't deny the baby's striking resemblance to Sean - the same piercing blue eyes and dark curly hair. It was a cruel reminder of the man who betrayed her and broke her heart.

When the doctors placed the fragile child in her arms, Simone couldn't bring herself to feel the overwhelming love and connection she had expected. Instead, she felt a deep sense of detachment and resentment. The weight of the past and the pain of the present blocked her from any possibility of maternal affection.

Guilt sank in her heart as she looked down at the tiny bundle in her arms. Madi was innocent, she was just a victim of the circumstances that brought her into this world. Yet Simone could not find the strength to love the child who represented everything she hated.

A month later, the tiny fighter, as the nurses called her in the children's intensive care unit, got stronger. They were discharged and returned to their small apartment, which was already empty, as Sean packed his things and went to live with another woman.

Simone was not ready for such a life, it was difficult for her both physically and mentally. She had to swing her little daughter in her arms day and night, she constantly cried and demanded round-the-clock attention.

Russell was there during this difficult time. He helped her put the baby to bed, changed her clothes, and supported the woman as best he could. Not that he had any particular interest in Madi or attached to her, no. He disliked this little girl, just like Simone, she looked too much like her father.

"As unbearable as your dad!" One day, Simone screamed in an attempt to calm a screaming baby.

She threw the three-month-old Madi into the crib and left the room, slamming the door behind her. This scene was caught by Russell when he came to visit them. The man silently entered their room and took the baby in his arms, he didn’t know how to deal with babies, he just began to coo and make faces. After a couple of minutes, she calmed down and smiled sweetly at him.

Russell smiled involuntarily, looking at this little miracle. “Just amazing, copypaste…” The more the girl grew, the more clearly Sean's features appeared in her. “Come on, go to sleep, and I’ll take care of your mom for now, okay?” He put her back in the crib and went to the kitchen, where Simone was crying from helplessness.

In the kitchen, Simone sat at the table, her head resting on her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks. She felt overwhelmed and exhausted, not knowing how she could take care of Madi and herself.

Russell quietly approached her, pulled up a chair, and sat down beside her, putting his hand on her back. "Simone," he said softly. "I see how hard it is for you, let's just talk?"

She looked up at him, her eyes full of pain and vulnerability. “I don't know how to do it, Russell. I don't know how to be a mother. And I can't help but see Sean's face every time I look at her. She annoys me! I want to kill her!"

Russell gently wiped his tears away with his thumb. “Simone, I know this is incredibly hard for you, but you are not alone. I will be there at every step, I will support you and help you in any way I can.”

Simone looked into his eyes, and at that moment she saw in them such a depth of love and understanding that she had not noticed before. "Russell, you've been my rock through it all," she whispered, her voice trembling. “You never condemned me or turned your back on me. You were always there, helping me and supporting me, even when I pushed you away. I don't know what I would do without you."

Russell's heart raced with excitement, and he took her hand in his. "Simone, I've loved you for so long," he confessed, his voice full of sincerity. “Even when we were just friends, I loved you with all my heart. I am ready to be with you always, to support you in everything, to protect you ... "

Simone looked at him with new eyes, full of love and appreciation for the man who had been by her side throughout this. At that moment, she realized that the love she had been looking for all this time was right in front of her, in the face of her faithful and caring friend.

And as they sat hand in hand, Simone felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She realized that she would not have to go through this path alone, that she had a person who truly loves and cares for her, and that together they can create a wonderful and loving family.

Without a word, she leaned forward and kissed Russell, a soft and tender kiss that spoke of the love and gratitude she felt for him. And in this simple yet profound gesture, their hearts intertwined, beginning a new chapter in their lives. 

Russell flinched at the tsunami of memories flooding through him. Before his eyes was a five-year-old dossier dated January 2, 2018, the murder of Officer Sean Wolfe.

He was interrupted from his thoughts by his wife's phone call. She ran away...

Chapter Text

Lexa came as fast as she could. Clarke's call in the middle of the night was no joke. Her voice trembled so much that the brunette gathered herself without thinking and was in the car in five minutes. Even if they were ex-wives, even if everything was not so smooth in their relationship - she will come at the first call of this woman.

On the way to Griffin's house, she felt anxious, unable to understand what could have caused such an alarm call. When the car was parked, her heart raced with excitement. She ran down the stairs and knocked on the door. The blonde opened it and stood in front of her with tear-stained cheeks and red eyes that showed relief and sadness at the same time. Without saying a word, Lexa pulled her into a tight hug, knowing that sometimes words weren't enough to ease a situation like this.

"Clarke what happened?" Finally, she asked gently, not letting go of her embrace. "What's the trouble?" The worry in her voice was obvious.

The blonde hesitated for a moment before letting Woods into the apartment. She closed the door behind her and went out into the vestibule.

"Something bad happened..." Clarke began, switching to a whisper. "Madi..." She burst into tears again.

"Madi?" Lexa was surprised. "What is our student here for?"

Griffin took a deep breath and continued, "She came to me tonight. I found her at my door, beaten and bruised... Terrified."

The brunette's eyes widened in shock and horror. "Oh my God..." Fear gripped her and she jumped up. "Who did it? Where is she?" Lexa started to enter, but was stopped.

"She's sleeping, don't... You'll scare her even more."

"Are we going to solve this issue here?" The question was quite logical, given that it was two o'clock in the morning...

"Just quiet..."

They entered the apartment, the brunette without thinking approached the sofa on which the girl was sleeping. She was so small, defenseless, so vulnerable... On her face there were visible traces of beatings, seeing which it was scary to think about what she had to go through. "What monster could do such a thing to a child, especially one as sincere and kind as Madi..." Lexa thought.

"Let's go to my room..."

Clarke gave herself time to gather her thoughts before she spoke about what had happened. Lexa's initial concern quickly turned to anger as she listened to the story. She couldn't believe that Griffin had kept this from her - Madi was suffering and she had been in the dark all this time. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Lexa tried hard not to scream.

"I didn't know what to do," the woman admitted. "I wanted to protect her, figure out the best course of action before involving anyone else. Her stepfather is just a terrible person, I didn't want to hurt the little one even more..."

Lexa took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger that was bubbling up inside her. She knew her ex-wife well enough to know that she always took on too much. "I had a right to know." Her voice was firm. "I'm the class teacher, the one directly responsible for her and her life at school. First of all, you should have told me about everything."

"You don't understand... He's a big lump in the police, he has connections everywhere. The child told me such things that I just feared for her life!"

Madi shifted on the couch when she heard the loud and boisterous noises coming from the next room. Gray-blue eyes widened in a mixture of confusion and fear as the surrounding reality hit her. She was scared that Russell had come after her.

The girl stood up slowly and quietly, her movements were careful, each of them painfully reminded of her physical condition. When she got closer to the door, silhouettes of two adults could be seen through the glass. Their appearance, which was very close, caused a flow of emotions in her.

Tears began to roll down her face, born of a deep sense of powerlessness and betrayal. She trusted again, let her guard down, and now she feared the worst had happened. Her breath hitched in her throat as she choked on sobs, the pain in her chest instantly moving further down into her stomach as she fell to her knees and coughed violently.

Hearing that, Clarke rushed to the girl. But when she approached, she pushed her away, trying to crawl back. Her every movement caused excruciating pain and made her suffocate from her own cough. Red drops of blood were visible on the floor.

At that moment, Ms. Griffin's heart beat faster, fear replacing her initial concern. "Madi!" - she exclaimed, anxiety in her voice.

The teacher carefully tried to stop the crawling girl, realizing that her every sharp movement would cause even more damage.

"Sunny, please calm down..." Clarke said. "Don't move, please."

"No! Go away!" Suppressing a cough, the girl shouted. "You promised me… He's here… Russell's here!" The horror was an unhealed, open wound, her belief that her stepfather was somewhere nearby led to panic.

"No, sunshine, no… He's not here. You're safe," Clarke whispered soothingly, holding out her hand, which was pushed away again.

"He's here... I know it... he always finds me," whimpered the little one, whose body was shaking uncontrollably. Madi curled up on the floor, covering her head with her hands as if to protect herself from the blows. "Don't beat me, please... Please don't..."

The women exchanged looks of despair, not believing their eyes. What had to be done with the child to bring it to this point? Lexa was now fully aware of Clarke's fears as to why she had remained silent in an attempt to protect Madi.

Clarke's soul was torn by what she heard, she dropped to her knees next to the frightened child. "Baby, no one is going to hurt you. Sweetheart..."

The blonde slowly reached out her hand again, allowing Madi to feel the warmth and care. She gently picked her up from the floor, hugging her to comfort her. But the girl still trembled and covered her head like a little kitten.

Lexa stood opposite with her hand over her mouth, holding back her own emotions.

"She needs a doctor, urgently. I think she has a fever..."

The teacher did not loosen her embrace, gently stroking her hair. "We are here, dear. No one will harm you," she assured, pressing her lips to the girl's forehead, confirming the presence of a high temperature.

"Is your mother on duty today?"

"Yes, she should be in the hospital now." Pulling her phone out of her back pocket, the woman dialed Dr. Abigail Griffin.

"I don't want to go to the hospital! You don't need a doctor, no, no, no…” Madi stirred again in Clarke's arms.

"Shhhh, baby, it's okay. Don't be afraid, everything will be fine." At this moment, the feedback was answered. "Hello… Mom."

"I'll talk." Lexa picked up the phone and walked away.

Madi's sobs subsided little by little, but she still shivered. The teacher hugged her even tighter, wrapping her fragile body in a protective cocoon.

"Everything will be fine, my little one," she whispered and felt the girl clinging to her, clutching her clothes with her hands like a lifeline. "I'm here and I won't let you go."

As the tremors in her body gradually subsided, the woman felt this, a small opening in the protective walls that Medi had built around her. "I know, kitty… I know… This world has been very cruel to you…" she continued, sympathy in her tone. "But things will be different from now on. I promise you that."

Saying this, Clarke choked back her sobs, her heart aching wildly at the thought of how cruel this world was, and that such a beautiful, kind, and talented child had become its hostage. That everyone around her was so indifferent, no one even tried to help her, on the contrary, they made the life of this girl even more unbearable, full of pain and suffering. She was ignored, mocked, insulted, beaten... But no one protected her, no one even hugged her, no one ever loved.

“I will take you away from them…” She was as determined as ever. "I will do everything that depends on me and even more, and they will pay for everything..."

"It's not possible…" Madi whispered softly. "No one ever wanted me, and neither you do... You just feel sorry for me, and that's all."

"You're wrong." - she said firmly, gently cupping the girl's face with her palms, forcing her to look into her eyes. "I don't just feel sorry for you. I really care about you, more than you can possibly understand right now."

Her eyes, filled with years of pain and rejection, searched the woman's face for any signs of insincerity. "But why? Why do you care about me all of a sudden?" she asked, her voice a fragile whisper. "Nobody likes me... Nobody loves me. I'm so pitiful, ugly, weak... I'm just a laughingstock...' She went through what she thought were flaws, while nervously biting the sleeve of her sweater.

"Madi…" Clarke interrupted softly, wiping the tears from the teenager's cheeks with her thumbs. "Don't say that, you're not like that at all... Look at you, you're like a flower..." The blonde soothingly combed her hair and spoke gently. "Your eyes are so big and beautiful like the pure crystal sky... Your hair is so thick and long... I love you and I need you... I really need you."

Her chest tightened again, no one had ever said something like that to her. They only harassed, convinced for years otherwise . "Do you really think so?" asked the girl so quietly and uncertainly, as if she was afraid to believe it.

"Sure… You’re a gift to this world." Griffin pressed her lips in a gentle kiss to her hot temples then whispered in girl’s ear. "I will become the best mother for you, of course if you want it..."

"I would really like that." Madi said in a low whisper, still couldn’t believe in this words, that she always wanted to hear.

A fever was raging inside of her, her skin hot to the touch, a stark contrast to the chills that periodically shot through every muscle, causing her to shiver despite the warmth of the room. Beneath her clothes, the bruises and injuries from the beatings she had suffered constantly throbbed in pain. Every movement, even the slightest, brought pain.

"Now, kitty." Saying this, Clarke looked at the door, waiting for Lexa. "We will go to the hospital and help you, my mom is an excellent doctor."

"I'm scared... I don't want..."

"I know you're scared, little one, but you won't be alone. I will be by your side every step of the way."

The girl's gaze, filled with a mixture of fear and trust, fell on the woman. The thought of the hospital was scary, but the promise of not being alone was a little comforting. "Will it hurt?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"No, they'll do everything they can to make sure you don't feel any more pain," Clarke explained, patting her back soothingly. "Everything will be fine…"

At this time, Woods appeared at the door "We're leaving." She said decisively. "My car is right under the house."

Griffin gently helped the teenager to her feet, but it quickly became apparent that Madi didn't have the strength to walk. Her legs wobbled unsteadily. Seeing this, Lexa quickly approached her. With a careful but quick movement, she picked up the fragile girl in her arms. The lightness of her body was striking, she was like a feather, and this would not be a compliment, but rather a cause for concern.

Holding her close, Lexa could feel the girl's heartbeat racing against her chest, a rhythmic echo of fear and vulnerability. Her head rested softly on the woman's shoulder, and her breathing was shallow and uneven both from pain and from anxiety about the unknown that awaited ahead.

Madi's visits to hospitals were infrequent, and each of them was etched in her memory with a mixture of unpleasant and bad memories. Her last one, three years ago, took place under terrible circumstances. She "fell down the stairs", which resulted in a severe concussion. It was one of those rare occasions when Simone, fearing that Russell could cause her irreparable harm, took her daughter to a medical examination herself.

However, a private clinic or a well-equipped hospital was never an option for her. She ended up in a run-down hospital on the outskirts of Polis, where the standard of medicine and patient care was appallingly low. The environment was bleak, the facilities old, a stark contrast to the care she desperately needed.

Nurses, overworked and desensitized, often showed indifference, and their relationships sometimes bordered on callousness. The lack of compassion made an indelible impression on her, imprinting in her young mind a deep fear of medical institutions.

This case instilled in her deep anxiety about hospitals. Just the thought of returning to such a place brought back memories of cold, uncaring hands and sharp injections administered with a clinical detachment that hurt both emotionally and physically.

Clarke understood everything, so she tried to cheer her up as much as she could. "Everything will be fine, I'm here..."

"We are here." Lexa added. "Every step of the way, Madi."

Dr. Abigail Griffin, Clarke's mother, met them in the emergency room. Her professional demeanor changed to deep concern when she saw the condition of the newly arrived patient. "I knew that the girl was injured, but I did not expect..." - she stopped when her eyes saw her fragile figure.

"It is bad, mom," answered the daughter. "That's why we're here."

Dr. Griffin quickly mastered herself, her medical training showed. "Sure," she replied, her tone business-like now. "Jackson, put the poor child on the gurney, she's barely standing!" A woman turned to her subordinate.

Madi clung to the blonde, her fear growing in the unfamiliar environment. "Clarke, please… don't leave me," she begged, barely audible.

The woman looked at her mother and she gave non-verbal consent, but then added. "Only in the inspection room, hardly any further..."

As Dr. Griffin began her examination, the extent of the injuries became apparent. Her experienced hands carefully manipulated the areas around the bruises, assessing the extent of the damage with a clinical eye. The grimace of pain on Madi’s face with every touch made her emotional, Abby looked focused on the outside, but still her eyes showed pity for the girl.

Aware of the need for clearer vision, Dr. Jackson, her protégé, quickly arranged for an X-ray. The results confirmed their suspicions: a broken rib leading to a pneumothorax and a crack in the hip. These images were more than clinical evidence; they were a stark revelation of the physical abuse this child had suffered.

Jackson went on to point out Madi's delayed responses to questions, which is a clear sign of cognitive impairment. Her eyes struggled to focus, the world seemed blurry, adding to her disorientation and fear.

"Can you follow my finger with your eyes, Madi?" Dr. Jackson asked softly. When she tried to do this, her eyes flickered, unable to clearly track the movement - a warning sign.

Short-term memory loss was evident as the girl tried to recall recent events. Simple questions about the day of the week seemed to puzzle her for a moment, her brows furrowed in concentration.

“My head hurts, really… My ears are whistling, please stop…” She mumbled, fighting the fear and nausea.

The doctors exchanged glances, and Abby took Clarke away to talk. In a quiet corner of the hallway, away from Madi's worried gaze, she shared a critical assessment.

"Her condition is more serious than we first thought," the elder Griffin began, "The pneumothorax caused by a broken rib is putting pressure on her lung. It is imperative that surgery be performed to relieve this pressure and prevent further complications."

The woman felt that a knot had formed in her stomach. "Operation?" she repeated, and the word was heavy with excitement.

"Yes, it's necessary to repair the damage and ensure proper expansion of her lungs," the doctor explained. "As for the femur, we'll deal with it after we stabilize the chest. She will have to go through a lot…”

Clarke nodded, considering the information. "What about the police? And custody?" - she asked, considering the legal consequences of the situation.

"We have to report it given the nature of her injuries. It's standard procedure in cases of suspected abuse," said the elder Griffin. "But this is not just a suspicion, it's pure child abuse and direct evidence!"

"We will deal with the police and guardianship authorities in the morning."

"I will prepare the team. We must act quickly."

Alone in the hallway, Clarke took a deep breath to calm her nerves. The upcoming operation loomed large, a terrifying prospect that paled only in comparison to the thought of a confrontation with the authorities - one that may have been influenced by Russell's connections. But her determination was unquestionable: she would do anything to protect Madi.

Returning, the blonde smiled soothingly. "You're in the best hands. I'll be here waiting for you, sunshine." She ran her hand over the girl's tear-soaked cheek.

“No… I don't want to, no. Don't go, don't go away from me... You promised...'' The teenager clutched the woman with her hands and begged inconsolably. But in a second she weakened and closed her eyes falling on the couch. Jackson injected her with a sedative before anesthesia.

Clarke felt a wave of emotion wash over her as the door to the operating room closed, separating Madi from her. She leaned against the cold wall of the hospital corridor, a whirlwind of "what ifs" and decisions swirling in her head.

Memories of her own past, of the child she had lost, flooded her mind. The miscarriage, a painful scar on her heart, left a void she never thought she could fill. And here she was, feeling a surge of protection and love for this girl that was as overwhelming as it was unexpected. It was as if her maternal instincts, dormant and distressed, had awakened with cruel purpose.

If Clarke ever had a daughter, she realized, she would have wanted her to be like Madi. Brave despite her fears, resilient in the face of unimaginable hardships. Madi, with her soft and gentle nature and her hidden strength, had stirred something deep within Clarke. A bond had formed, unspoken but as real as if it had been forged by blood.

But the fear of losing her to the system, to a scoundrel like Russell, was gnawing at her inside. The thought of sending the teenager back to that hell was unbearable. Clarke's jaw clenched at the prospect. No, she won't let that happen. She will fight with all her powers, legal and emotional, to ensure the child's safety, to give her the life she deserves, a life filled with love and care, away from the shadow of violence. She will be there for her, will be the mother she needs.  

Her train of thought was interrupted by Lexa handing her a cup of hot cocoa. "You don't drink coffee so late." She smiled. "But the night promises to be long." Sitting next to her, she sipped her coffee and looked ahead, not daring to look her ex in the eye. Fifteen years of marriage and three more to go, and she still, like a girl, is awkward next to her...

"Thank you for being here for me." Said the blonde, who also tasted her hot drink.

"Always..." Receiving thanks is nice, but it's even nicer when it's expressed by a person dear to you. "Aden told me at Christmas that he misses the way we used to spend it."

Clarke smiled sadly. "Yeah, me too…Griffin-Woods Christmas was always the most epic." She leaned her head towards the mountain and gave in to pleasant memories. "Remember when Lincoln dressed up as the Grinch and scared the kids?"

"Not only did he scare them, he also knocked over the Christmas tree, and caused mayhem in my parents' house when Ontari, defending the presents, rushed to fight him." They both laughed.

"And Aden was crying so hard in my arms that the neighbors came running."

"But next year, by Christmas, he was a decent boy."

"He's always been, my little polite boy… He's sixteen now." The blonde sighed. "Recently, we have completely distanced ourselves from each other. Because I was so long inside myself, with my problems, I didn't notice how my baby turned from a boy into a man."

"You are not guilty of this, you are not guilty of anything at all. I wasn't around when you needed me so much." Woods wiped away a tear. "Instead of supporting, I betrayed you…" She lowered her head, looking at her shoes.

Clarke didn't answer. But you could see how her cheekbones were moving, her expression was full of despair. She is still in pain.

"I'm sorry." Lexa said and still dared to look into those unearthly beauty blue eyes.

"We've discussed this before Lexa…I forgive you." She wiped her cheeks with her thumb. "But I just have one question… Why?"

She had no answer, preferring to sink through the ground in shame.

"What was between us... As much as I loved you, more than anything in the world... You were my universe, I don't understand... Why?" For the first time in a long time, Clarke dared to say these words. "And yes, damn it, I still love you! No matter how much I want to forget you, no matter how much I try to hate you, replace you, I can't..."

It sat inside for so long, and when it came out it left her completely powerless. Lexa's heart skipped a beat as she listened, the raw honesty in her words resonated deeply. She reached out timidly, it hesitated in the air before finally resting on the blonde's shoulder. The touch was light, but it carried the weight of unspoken apologies, regret, and love that never faded.

"I'm sorry," Lexa repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've asked myself that question a thousand times. I don't have an answer that will ever be good enough..." But she remembered her mother's words and continued. "I made mistakes that I cannot correct. But my love for you, Clarke, was always true… And still is.”

Their tears flowed freely as they looked at each other. At that moment, they both felt this burning impulse of passion and love. Clarke was the first to push the boundaries, running her hand into Woods' black hair with a light and gentle movement and gently kissing her warm and soft lips. She couldn't resist the way her body responded to Lexa. This moment was so emotionally strong, so passionate that it seemed they were drowning in the abyss of feelings.

The brunette stepped back and asked. "Do you really want this?"

"Yes…"