Chapter Text
She pushed the heavy apartment door open with her shoulder—stepping inside, she was welcomed by dark silence. The only light, came from the large fish tank.
Lexa made sure the door closed without banging loudly like it often did. She placed her briefcase on the entryway table and walked further into the apartment, shrugging out of her grey blazer and neatly hanging it over the back of a dining chair.
She flicked on the kitchen light and rolled the sleeves of her white button up— to just below her elbows. A plate of spaghetti and meatballs sat on the counter, she fingered a small yellow sticky note next to the now cool plate. She tugged on her tie loosening it as she read the familiar loopy handwriting ‘It was warm at 7’.
She ran a hand over her face wondering for what felt like the 100th time, if she was doing the right thing. The late nights were hard on her, the late nights were hard on all of them, but they were almost over.
She covered the plate of food and tucked it neatly into the fridge and then she wandered quietly around the corner towards the living room. The sight that greeted her stole her breath away, making her insides feel warm and gooey. A lamp illuminated the room and the peaceful sleeping faces of her family.
Clarke lay long ways across the couch, one of their twins lay on her chest, her head buried into the crook of Clarke’s neck. Their other little girl lay at Clarke’s side, safely tucked in one arm. Aden was fast asleep at Clarke’s feet his head resting on the high arm of the couch, his small legs tucked underneath him.
Lexa picked up the copy of the third Harry Potter book that had fallen on the floor. It was a little tradition of theirs to read Harry Potter to Aden each night before bed. She tucked the bookmark into the book and placed it on the coffee table.
A quiet shuffling noise caught her attention and she found big blue eyes staring up at her from the carpet.
“Hey boy,” Lexa greeted the dog. He didn’t lift his head but his tail beat against the carpet a little faster.
“Thanks for watching over them for me boy.” Lexa ruffled the black fur on his head. “How much trouble do you think I’m in?” She asked quietly. The husky whimpered slightly, his eyes shifting from Lexa to Clarke and back again. “Yeah that’s what I thought,” Lexa sighed.
She regarded her slumbering family once more, a soft smile tugging at her lips and warmth swelling in her chest, she was definitely doing the right thing.
She stepped over Remus, who followed her with his eyes. Lexa tucked one arm under Aden’s neck and the other under his legs and lifted. Aden’s head lolled against her shoulder and he murmured something Lexa didn’t catch. His eyes fluttered open and focused momentarily on his mother.
“Ma,” he mumbled.
“Shh my son” Lexa hushed the young boy. She carefully walked down the hall until she reached his room. She shifted her grip slightly, resting some of her son’s weight on her knee so she could free one hand and pull back the starry night bed covers. She placed him down gently and tucked the blankets up under his chin.
“Good night my sweet boy.” She swept a hand through his dusty blonde hair and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
She turned to leave the room, Remus was standing behind her.
“You look after him.” She patted him on the head and watched him curl up on the floor next to Aden’s bed the same way he had done every night since they brought him home. Remus came into their lives shortly after they adopted Aden, the two bonded instantly.
Back in the living room Clarke and the girls slept on. As softly as she could Lexa scooped Amara up from Clarke’s chest. The one year old girl whimpered and fussed in Lexa’s arms. Lexa lifted her higher until she was able to tuck her head under her chin the way she had always liked to. Though the girls were identical twins they were very different. Amara was a sweet Mommy’s girl while Avery was much more hot headed and had always preferred Lexa, her Mama.
Lexa rubbed Amara’s back swaying side to side until she was sure the girl wouldn’t wake. She walked to her and Clarke’s bedroom where the girl’s cribs still were.
She eased Amara down and turned the small girl on her side. She covered her with her pink bunny blanket. She leaned on the edge of the crib for a few moments watching the gentle rise and fall of her daughter’s chest. Lexa reached out and danced her fingers over chubby cheeks.
“Good night my little Lldy bug, hopefully your sister lets us sleep in tomorrow.” Lexa smirked. From day one Amara had slept – well like a baby, whilst her sister had kept them up to all hours. Amara could now sleep through almost anything.
Clarke and Avery still slept soundly together. As if handling a bomb, Lexa lifted Avery from the crook of Clarke’s arm. Lexa held her breath all the way back to her bedroom only letting out breath of air when she had Avery settled under her purple bunny blanket.
Avery rolled back and forth a little, kicking her legs against the mattress her face scrunched up. Lexa quickly patted around the crib until she found Avery’s soft rabbit comforter. She passed it to the fussing child. Avery tucked it under her chin letting out a satisfied sigh, she started sucking on one of the rabbit’s feet.
“Sleep well bumble Bee, sweet dreams.” Lexa didn’t dare to kiss her daughter good night or run her fingers through her hair for fear of setting off the bomb that was Avery.
For the last time Lexa trekked back to the living room rolling her head from side to side trying to release some of the tension in her neck.
She returned to the living room to find Clarke had shifted positions in her sleep. Her wife had stretched out her legs and one arm hung off the edge of the couch. Her golden hair glowed in the dim light of the lamp, her face was relaxed and her lips were slightly parted, she looked like the angel that Lexa thought she was.
Lexa sat down on the edge of the couch. She let her eyes wander over Clarke, she was only wearing one of Lexa’s old basketball jerseys and a pair of Calvin Klein boy shorts.
Lexa brushed a strand of hair from Clarke’s face and tucked it behind her ear.
“Clarke baby, wake up.” She nudged Clarke’s shoulder. Clarke stirred her brows furrowing. “Come on Clarke, come to bed, it’s late” Lexa traced the line of the blonde’s jaw.
“Lexa?” Clarke questioned her voice rough with sleep. “Where are the kids?” She asked blinking heavily.
“They are all in bed, asleep, it’s our turn now, come to bed?” She asked hopefully.
“You’re late”
“I know I’m sorry,” Lexa apologised, intertwining her fingers with Clarke’s, she brought their joined hands to her lips brushing a gentle kiss across Clarke’s knuckles.
“You missed out on reading Harry Potter tonight, again,” Clarke emphasized and pulled her hand from Lexa’s.
“I’m sorry.” She hung her head.
“Go to bed Lexa.” Clarke rolled over on the couch turning her back to Lexa
“Okay.” Lexa stood and with one last longing look at Clarke she left the room, feeling as if she was leaving her heart behind.
Lexa quietly completed her nightly routine. She took of her Rolex placing it neatly on her nightstand. She unravelled her hair from its bun and rubbed at the slightly sore spot on her scalp.
After she showered and brushed her teeth she pulled on one of Clarke’s worn art shirts. It was soft and still smelt faintly of Clarke, which these days meant that sweet baby smell and lavender, from her shampoo.
Lexa settled in the empty bed. After a few minutes of tossing and turning she heard the bedroom door creak open. She expected it to be Aden because some nights he would sneak into their bed if he had a nightmare.
The bed dipped, Lexa new then that it wasn’t Aden it was Clarke. A smile tugged at Lexa’s lips she was relieved to not be spending the night alone. Lexa felt Clarke snuggle up behind her, Clarke wrapped an arm around Lexa’s waist pulling her closer to her front.
“Good night Clarke” Lexa hummed as her eyes drifted closed.
“I’m still mad at you,” Clarke murmured into Lexa’s neck as her hand crept under Lexa’s top to rest on her stomach. “But the couch wasn’t comfy”
“Okay,” Lexa sighed as she finally gave in to exhaustion and fell asleep.
The next morning Clarke lay spread out in the middle of the bed. She stretched all out of her limbs enjoying the pleasant heavy ache in them. The already bright sun streaming through the thick curtains made Clarke wonder what time it was. She normally woke up with the sun, Aden and Avery being early risers.
She rolled over and glanced at the digital clock, holy crap she thought— it was almost nine. Clarke jumped from the bed mumbling crap repetitively under her breath. She stopped still when she saw two empty cribs across the room, what the hell she wondered, panic rose in her chest.
“Aden?” She called for her sun as she rushed from the bedroom.
“We are in here Mom!” His voice echoed through the apartment.
Clarke let out a relieved sigh when she saw Lexa and their three children in the kitchen. Lexa was standing in front of the stove skilfully flipping a pancake. Aden’s legs dangled from the tall stool he sat on, behind the kitchen counter. He was already had a plate in front of him.
“What’s going on? Why aren’t you at work? You should have woken me. Aden’s going to be so late for school” Clarke kissed the twins cheeks which were sticky with honey, they both ignored her for their pancakes. She kissed Aden too and ruffled his bed hair.
“Aden and I decided we could all do with a day together so I thought we’d let you sleep in for a change.” Lexa smiled at Aden.
“Yeah Ma said we could play hooky!” Aden grinned, mouth full of pancakes. Clarke arched an eyebrow at Lexa. Lexa understood the silent message.
“Just this once right Aden?” Lexa confirmed, Aden nodded. She knew Clarke was a stickler for attendance.
“So you’re really not working today Lex?” Clarke asked hopefully. She walked up behind Lexa wrapping her arms around her waist and resting her chin on Lexa’s shoulder. Clarke couldn’t remember the last time Lexa ditched work.
“Yeah, I’ve turned my cell phone off too, I’m all yours.” Lexa lent back into Clarke. She flipped the last pancake onto a plate and turned off the stove. Lexa turned in Clarke’s arms looping her own around the shorter woman’s neck.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so busy lately.” She bumped her nose against Clarke’s in apology.
“I know,” Clarke sighed resting her forehead against Lexa’s. “I just miss you, we all do.” Her arms tightened around Lexa, she didn’t want to let go.
Lexa cupped Clarke’s cheek in one hand gently stroking the smooth skin with her thumb
“I miss all of you too my love but I promise things will return to normal soon.” Lexa pressed a languid kiss to Clarke’s lips
“Good, because I miss this.” Clarke kissed Lexa back sucking gently on her lower lip.
“Eww stop kissing in the kitchen and pass me more pancakes!” Aden complained face scrunched in exaggerated disgust. His parents broke apart laughing.
“So what are we going to do today then if everyone’s playing hooky?” Clarke asked as she took the plate of pancakes Lexa handed her. She planted a sloppy kiss on Lexa’s cheek in thanks.
“Well I would like to officially declare, today family fun Friday!” Lexa pumped a fist into the air. She was excited to be spending the entire day with her family. Of course she was anxious to be missing work but knew her employees could handle everything without her for one day.
“Wahoo!” Aden cheered. Amara clapped her sticky hands together while Avery just shoved another piece of pancake in her mouth.
“And what exactly does family fun day involve?” Clarke asked.
“I thought a trip to the zoo would be a good place to start”
“Yes!” Aden slipped down from the stool and skipped over to his sisters. “Did you hear that sisa’s?” Aden ruffled Avery’s soft brown hair. “We are going to the zoo!” He tickled Amara’s cheek, she giggled.
With a hop in his step he hurried out of the room to get ready for their big day, Remus followed,hot on his heels.
“Aden your plate,” Clarke called loudly after her excited son. He didn’t hear her.
“Leave him be, he’s just excited.” Lexa leaned over the kitchen counter, collecting Aden and Clarke’s plates, putting them in the sink. “After all, it is Family Fun Friday.” Lexa wandered around the counter to stand in front of Clarke.
Clarke rolled her eyes but a smile tugged at her lips. “Well we better get crackin’ then.” She swatted at Lexa’s ass with her hand. “Since someone let me sleep half the day away.”
“You’re welcome by the way.” Lexa took Clarke’s hands in her own and pulled her from the stool.
Clarke stood on the balls of her bare feet and pecked Lexa on the lips. “Thanks babe.”
She let go of Lexa’s hands, bumping Lexa’s hip with her own. She walked over to Amara. The little girl reached up her chubby arms for her mother.
“Mom,” She squealed happily as Clarke picked her up.
“Let’s go get you cleaned up my sticky bug.” Clarke bounced Amara on her hip as they left the room.
“Come on, you too.” Lexa lifted Avery from her own high chair.
“Cake, cake!” Avery cried out arching her back in protest and flailing her arms around. Lexa readjusted her grip lifting the grumpy toddler higher on her hip.
“You have had plenty to eat missy.” Lexa walked towards her bedroom.
“More.” Avery fixed Lexa with a familiar glare, her brows scrunched in a frown over her bright blue eyes. Lexa just laughed poking her daughter’s rosy cheek.