𝟐.𝟏𝟏

──── 「WILL YOU EVER STOPDOING THIS TO ME」 ────

     I had decided to listen to Sam, making my way towards Clarke, just wanting to make sure she wasn't drowning in her thoughts. I knew she knew she had done the right thing, recalling what little Octavia and Lincoln had told me about what Finn had been up for. OF what could've happened to Sam if the Commander hadn't refused to take her instead of Finn.

- "You still think this truce is a bad idea, don't you?"

- "I think we are wasting time with politics while our friends are in trouble."

- "We need their army to get to Mount Weather and you know it."

- "Their army has been getting their ass kicked by Mount Weather forever; what we need is an inside man. Someone to be our eyes and ears."

- "Forget it, it's too dangerous."

- "Clarke, if you could make it out I can make it in."

- "I said no."

- "Since I don't take orders from you, I'm gonna need a better reason."

- "I'll give you two." –she looked at me- "I can't lose you too." –she paused as I looked at her. Maybe Sam's right- "And do you honestly think Sam wouldn't do something about it?"

- "About what?"

- "About you going in; she'll completely oppose."

- "Good thing I don't take orders from her either."

- "She'd follow you, Bellamy, even if you were going straight to hell. She's just as stubborn as you are if not even more." –she focused her eyes ahead of her again- "We'll get them out. We'll find a way."

After that, we didn't interchange another word until we stopped at night to rest and get some sleep. We all camped together, even though it was clear there were two sides: ours and the Grounders', but obviously Sam and Clarke couldn't give it a second thought and they both set their packs closer to the Grounders.

- "Sam, Clarke, it's safer on our side."

- "We need to trust them, Bellamy." –Clarke was quick to answer- "There are no more sides."

- "If you need protection, Bell, you can stay with me." –Sam chuckled as Clarke laid down on her sleeping bag, squatting down to get her own stuff out of her pack.

- "You're always so quick to joke around and I truly don't mind it but right now..."

- "I know." –she looked up at me as I left my bag next to hers- "But we are on our way to get our truce; I'm not asking you to trust them right away, but trust us."

- "Us?"

- "Clarke and I." –she sat down looking at the fire, opposite to which was Clarke with her back to us, Sam's voice turning to a whisper- "She's made a deal with the Commander and I have mine."

- "You haven't told her?"

- "No."

- "Who knows then?"

- "Well, you obviously." –I gave her a look as I sat beside her- "Yeah, yeah, I still need to explain everything but you count as one so shut up. Lincoln and Octavia because I went to ask Lincoln's opinion since he's a Grounder and stuff so it made sense. And Murphy."

- "Murphy?"

- "He knew straight away something was up when we went to the dropship and I didn't have a fire weapon."

- "I see."

- "He's more perceptive than you give him credit for."

- "If you like him, he has to have something." –I grinned at her and she rolled her eyes- "So..." –I got comfortable on the floor next to her- "Tell me about it."

- "Alright." –she laid down next to me on her stomach, resting her head on her hand- "I feel like I'm repeating myself for the billion time now. So, turns out the Grounders..."

- "What?" -I furrowed my eyebrows for she had stopped speaking just as she started her story.

- "Uh, I never thought about this but you are about to hate this part." -she smiled to herself.

- "I got the feeling I'm not going to like any of it."

- "Whatever. The Grounders do know who most of us are, like our abilities and stuff; which, if you think about it for a second and please do, makes sense... they'd want to get the strengths and weaknesses of their potential enemies."

- "Just because it is logical doesn't mean I feel better about it."

- "I know, just hear me out."

She gave me a pleading look as she sat up and I nodded at her, so she continued telling me all about the Commander's offer. She explained to me the reasons why she thought she needed the 'special' training and I understood it all as I saw how her eyes sparkled with the eagerness to learn, to become better, and she wanted to do it all to protect us because she had given herself that job and there was nothing anyone could do to change her mind on that.

So I knew that, even if she was saying she was just asking for my opinion, she sounded more like she was asking for my permission in a way. She wanted to do it and she was going to, regardless of what any of us could think about it, but she was also making sure I knew it before it happened and that I understood why she was doing it. I appreciated it, the fact that she chose to check in with me before doing what we both already knew she was dying to do.

- "Honestly, Sam, I'm not even sure why you're checking with me first. You're free to do whatever the hell you want."

- "Really? Again, Bellamy?" -she sighed rolling her eyes- "I care about you and I don't want me training with the Grounders -that you hate so much- breaking us apart, can't you understand that?" –she furrowed her eyebrows and locked her eyes on the trees in front of her, clenching her jaw.

- "Sam..." –I started, sitting up and taking her chin in my hand so that she'd look at me, relaxing her jaw- "There's not a single thing in this world that could make me want to be away from you, I love you and I trust you and I respect you. I know you'll always end up doing whatever the hell you want and I feel privileged you're asking for my opinion. I would never ban you from doing what you think is right. If you truly want to do this and you feel like it's the right thing to do then I'm all in for it."

She didn't say anything right away but I knew she was processing my words.

- "Ugh, you're the best." –she hugged me and I chuckled- "I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders now."

- "It's not like you'd have turned it down if I hadn't agreed."

- "That's true, but I would have been thinking of you each time and I would have learned nothing and probably just get hurt badly, so thank you."

- "You're so dramatic."

- "I am, but the truth is knowing that you're not okay with it while I was at it would have not been ideal. I care about what we have more than I care to admit and more than you know, so just trust me to check in on you every time something like this comes up."

- "I'm flattered." –I kissed her forehead- "Now let's get some rest. When was the last time you actually slept?"

- "An actual full night of sleep? I guess the night you saved my ass."

- "How are you even standing?"

- "Well, right now I'm leaning on you so it's pretty easy." –she chuckled against my chest- "But don't lie to me, I'm sure you haven't slept for a while either. It's not like we've been on vacation anyway... I doubt anyone has had a good rest in a long time."

- "You're probably right." –I agreed, lying back down and pulling her with me- "So let's rest as much as we can now."

- "Like this? My pleasure, man."

I shook my head but I couldn't stop a smile from creeping onto my face. We slept like we did every time we were together: me lying on my back with one arm holding her as she rested her head on my chest and placed one of her hands over my heart. Only this time I intertwined our fingers together.

     As I woke up the next morning and I opened my eyes, I realized I had rolled over and was now facing the fire. Good thing it extinguished. I felt Bellamy stretching beside me at the same time I felt a light pressure on my hand; Bellamy's fingers were intertwined with mine and he was squeezing them lightly.

- "I may need that back." –he declared with a smirk on his face as I faced him again.

- "I could use it too." –I answered quickly equaling his smirk.

- "Are you always this eager in the morning?"

- "You tell me."

He laughed lightly and shook his head.

- "Guys, time to leave." –Octavia came next to us – "Come on!"

- "I might be eager but she sure as hell is energetic." –I laughed standing up and stretching up my arms.

- "Why would I want to leave when the view is so good from down here." –Bellamy kept his smirk as he rested his head on his palm.

- "You've seen me with fewer clothes and better rested so I think you are lacking some good rest yourself."

- "What a way to ruin the mood."

- "The mood is always like this with you." –I winked at him as he stood up- "I could never ruin it."

- "That might be a possibility."

We got our things all packed up again and, after walking for another hour or so, we arrived at the village. I tensed as I remembered the last time I was there. Maybe me coming was not that good of an idea. Lexa and Gustus got down from their horses and he came to us with another Grounder with a bucket.

- "Weapons." –he ordered looking at us and focusing his gaze on me.

Not awkward or uncomfortable at all, alright. Good.

- "We need to disarm before we enter." –Lincoln was quick to explain as he handed his weapons.

After all of us had handed in our weapons and Raven was stripped of hers, we entered the village following them. Clarke was the first to go in, followed by Kane, Abby, and Bellamy as I stayed behind; Octavia and Lincoln probably realized what I was thinking and both gave me light smiles of reassurance. Soon enough, the people of the village started screaming in Trigedasleng; I understood the word 'Heda' and I knew they were welcoming her.

After a couple of seconds, and probably after we were seen, the tones became more aggressive and hostile, most definitely threats against us. We love a warm welcome over here. A Grounder stood in front of Lexa and spoke to her, stopping her from walking her way. Lexa made a sign to Gustus and he knocked the Grounder with a simple strike to the chin, then he pinned him to the ground and started punching him repeatedly until he started bleeding. I looked at Lincoln but he shook his head, as if knowing what I was thinking, so I remained still.

- "Commander, stop him. Please." –Clarke pleaded moving next to her- "They'll blame us for this too."

Lexa looked at her and then spoke, and Gustus immediately stopped.

- "The Sky People march with us now. Anyone who tries to stop that will pay with their life."

Lexa informed, or more so, threatened, the Grounders and kept marching; no one dared to say a thing. We arrived at the center of the village where there was already a pile prepared with the bodies of the innocent killed under it. Finn's body was placed over it and, once everything was ready, Lexa spoke in their language; luckily Lincoln translated for us.

- "People of Tondc. In fire we cleanse the pain of the past."

Lexa was then handed a torch to set the fire but she stopped and looked over at us. I made eye contact with her and then I looked at Clarke before looking back down.

- "Clarke."

I raised my eyes to see Lexa handing the torch to Clarke. The Grounders seemed impatient as if they didn't like Lexa's gesture, but she didn't seem to care. Clarke approached Lexa, took the torch, and looked at the pile before very slowly approaching the fire to the branches that started burning immediately.

- "Yu gonplei ste odon." –Clarke recited before starting the fire.

And with that, it was done. We stood there for quite a while but eventually, everyone started to leave. Clarke stood with Lexa until the fire stopped as we looked from afar. I watched Raven sat on the ground wiping away her tears and all I wanted to do was hug her and tell her everything was going to be alright, but it wasn't.

After Lexa and Clarke finished talking, we were taken to a massive room to lunch together, so that the truce would commence. Octavia and Lincoln had sat at the end of the table and I moved to sit next to Octavia. Clarke was to be sat in front of Lexa so Abby stood to her left and next to me. Bellamy sat on Clarke's right next to Kane and then Raven at the other end of the table.

- "Please." –Kane spoke, standing up and offering Lexa a bottle with, I assumed, some type of alcohol- "Accept this gift, Commander. We drink this on special occasions; I believe this qualifies."

- "Thank you," -Lexa nodded and Gustus took it to handed it to her- "Marcus of the Sky People."

- "You're welcome, Lexa Kom Trikru." –he pronounced as best as he could- "Just don't drink too much of it."

- "Clarke," -Lexa was quick to face her- "let us drink together."

- "It would be my pleasure."

Lexa served the liquid in two different glasses and handed one to Clarke.

- "Heda." –Gustus spoke- "Allow me."

Lexa handed him her cup and he took a sip, I guessed to check if it was poisoned which was utterly stupid to think since Clarke was drinking too, but I wasn't about to complain, so I just rolled my eyes. Since nothing happened, he handed her back the cup and Lexa spoke.

- "Tonight, we celebrate our newfound peace. Tomorrow, we plan our war." -Finally- "To those we've lost." –Lexa raised her glass- "And to those we shall soon find."

Lexa and Clarke were both about to drink when Gustus fell over the table and started coughing. He then looked over at us and fell back on the ground.

- "Poison."

- "What the fuck?"

I couldn't help but curse as I watched the scene before me, Clarke's glass landing on the floor, the liquid spreading to our feet. Indra stood up, screaming it had been us, pointing her sword to us.

- "It wasn't us." –Clarke yelled looking at Lexa- "You have to know it wasn't us."

Lexa screamed to Nyko in their language, as I moved to where Clarke and Bellamy were standing.

- "Can we stop to think for a second?" -Indra looked at me with fire in her eyes and screamed to her people. Guess not. Some started to leave the room and others to approach us- "Why would we give poison to Lexa if Clarke was going to drink too? Indra, listen to me, it makes no sense."

I tried to reason, facing her but she was too enraged to even care for my words as her guards started searching us. Clarke kept trying to reason with Lexa, but she shook her head.

- "Gustus warned me about you but I didn't listen."

- "Lexa, please."

- "Tell me something, Clarke." –Lexa stood in front of her- "When you plunged the knife into the heart of the boy you loved did you not with that it was mine?"

Clarke didn't answer.

- "Heda." –a grounder called, showing her a vial from Raven's backpack.

- "That's not mine." –Raven was quick to answer as the Grounder gave it to Lexa- "I'm telling you, that's not mine... he put it there when he searched me."

- "No Sky Person leaves this room."

     I couldn't understand what was happening. Poison? Raven? No, it didn't make any sense.

- "Do something." –Octavia tells Lincoln.

- "Indra."

Lincoln speaks to her in their language and points at us. Indra answers him and closes the door after her. Yeah, that may not work.

After a while in there, we all separated. Kane and my mom started to think of something to do to get us out, Lincoln and Octavia were talking on a corner of the room, Bellamy was looking around the walls to see if we could make it out through one of them, Sam was sat on the table thinking, and Raven was going through her pack. Maybe...

- "Raven." –I approach her- "I need to know the truth."

- "I'd step back if I was you."

- "You wanted me to kill Lexa yesterday. If you tried to poison her, I need to know."

Next thing I know, my face hurts a lot and my nose is bleeding: Raven hit me. Sam is the first to come to us and looks at me worried.

- "You're the only murderer here." –Raven tells me as I look up at her again.

- "Raven." –Sam speaks- "We all are."

I see Finn on the other side of the room and I zoom out.

- "Leave me alone." –I speak to him- "You gave me no choice. Why did you turn yourself in?"

I stop seeing him and I realize everyone's looking at me now.

- "Baby." –my mom speaks.

She tries to reach me but I move away. This is starting to become a problem.

     After what had just happened, we are all even more concerned about Clarke than we probably were before. Octavia and Lincoln sat back together as Clarke and her mom spoke about their issues on the other side of the room. Kane moved to Raven and me as Sam watched over us from the opposite wall.

- "Raven, we need to know."

- "You too think it was me?" –Raven screamed- "Do you all think it was me?"

- "No." –Sam spoke calmly from the other side.

- "You..." –Raven looked at her, her voice full of anger.

- "I know you don't like me much right now." –Sam started, approaching us slowly- "But I know you're not that stupid, Raven. If you had poisoned Lexa, or tried to, you wouldn't have kept the vial with you where anyone could easily find it. You may be angry, but even now you're still more intelligent than most of us, even when we are trying our best."

Raven's look was now a little softer than before but Sam still kept her distance.

- "Who would want Lexa dead?"

- "Too many to count." –Lincoln answered Kane- "Allying with you was a risk, especially after what happened here."

- "So, it had to be someone trying to break the alliance." –Octavia concluded.

At that moment, the doors opened and Niko entered followed by Indra and a couple more Grounders. Lincoln pushed Octavia behind him and I pushed her behind me too as Sam moved in front of Raven. Clarke and Abby stood up and came with us.

- "How's Gustus?"

- "Gustus will live."

Nyko answered Lincoln before Indra said something in their language; Lincoln started to ask what was going on when the two Grounders moved towards Raven.

- "She didn't poison anyone."

- "I argued for all of you to die." –Indra eyed me- "But the Commander is merciful. She wants only one."

- "She's innocent!"

- "I don't care." –Indra didn't bother looking at Lincoln- "They move, they bleed."

The Grounders took Raven and started to take her to the door. Sam took my face in her hands and gave me a kiss on the corner of my lips. I stood still, in shock, not understanding anything as she whispered 'I love you' in my ear.

- "Wait." –Sam moved away from me and stood in front of Indra- "You said Lexa wants only one of us because she is merciful."

- "Lucky for you."

- "Alright." –she took a deep breath- "Leave Raven, she's innocent."

- "I'm not..."

- "I haven't finished, Indra." –Sam challenged her- "You want one of us. Take me."

She placed her hands together in front of her. And now I understood.

- "Sam, no!" –I yelled trying to get to her but Kane forced me back- "Sam!"

- "You only need one and I'm offering myself." –Sam ignored me, keeping on bargaining with Indra- "I won't resist, I won't put up a fight and I won't cause a scene, I'll even admit it was me if you leave them all alone."

Indra looked at the guards and nodded at them. They let Raven go and she practically collapsed in Octavia's arms as the guards moved towards Sam.

- "You have great potential and you're throwing it away because you lack survival instinct." –Indra looked at Sam disappointed.

- "You're wrong. I do have the impulse to run away, I just choose to ignore it and save those who deserve to live." –Sam glanced at Raven before turning back to Indra- "Same way you would throw yourself in front of Lexa if she were in danger."

- "Sam, please no." –Raven tried to move after her but the guards stopped her.

- "It's done."

Indra looked at her, leaving no room for discussion. As promised, Sam didn't oppose as one of the guards pushed her somewhat carefully to the exit, which was weird, considering how they have taken Raven the first time.

- "The rest of you are free." –Indra moved towards the door but then stopped and turned around- "When Samantha is dead, so is the alliance. You should run."

- "Wao, the faith of me not dying immediately is overwhelming around here." –I heard Sam say from behind the guards who were now pushing her upstairs, her joking tone should have made me feel better but, somehow, it made me feel even worse, trying to get rid of Kane- "Thank you, Indra."

Once they were out, Raven collapsed on the ground and started crying.

- "She's saved me even though all I have done is blame her for Finn's death." –she mumbled in between sobs- "She thought I hated her and even then, she is giving her life for me."

- "There must be something we can do." –Clarke spoke- "We all know it wasn't us."

- "What are they going to do to her?" –Octavia asked Lincoln.

- "Death by cuts. Each person in the village will have their time with a knife to cut once as deep as they want. Once that's done, Lexa will put her sword through her heart if she survives that long."

- "She can't die just like this!"

- "Bellamy..."

- "No." -I pushed Kane away from me- "She's always so ready to die for us, we should be doing the same. I'm not losing her. I'll take the blame for her."

I stormed outside the room. Once I was outside, I followed the noise until I found everyone. I was paralyzed the moment I saw her: Sam had been tied up to a post with her hands above her head, restraining her from making any move; the Grounders were surrounding her as Indra stood on one side and Lexa and Gustus in front of her. She didn't look afraid and I was glad because I don't think I could have handled that. The rest came after me and Octavia hugged me, as tears filled both our eyes and rage ran wild through our hearts.

Lexa approached Sam with a knife; I could see Sam's lips moving but I couldn't hear her. It was driving me mad. There had to be something I could do. Lexa rose the knife and slashed Sam's arm; I could tell it hadn't been deep or long, Sam's eyes glued to the Commander, not making a single sound.

- "We have to do something." –I growled, getting rid of Octavia and pushing through the crowd as I felt the panic running through my veins.

- "There's nothing we can do." –Kane stopped me, again- "You'll only get us all killed."

- "Lincoln. Talk to them, please." –Octavia begged as Lincoln held her in his arms- "Sam can't die like this."

Lexa moved away from Sam and Indra moved up to her, raising Sam's t-shirt and cutting through her stomach, slower and longer than Lexa. Sam closed her eyes, clenched her jaw, and her fits above her head. I could only see red, pushing Kane away from me, getting rid of his hands pulling me away from Sam.

- "You can talk to them, these are your people." –Octavia tried to get rid of Lincoln.

- "Not anymore."

- "You're no longer safe here, my friend. I'll do my best to make sure you get away. Then, you'll be on your own." –Nyko told Lincoln and looked at Octavia- "I'm sorry it is her. I may not know her but I was there when she tried to save my people and for that, I'll always be grateful."

- "Then do something!" –Octavia yelled- "Sam's my family. It's not her fault she's dumb enough to try to save everyone but herself."

- "She'll give you as much time as she can to leave and get as far as possible, she promised. Once she's dead, you'll all be in danger here. You have to leave, now."

Abby left us to go look for Clarke and Lincoln took Octavia in his arms, ready to get her out of here while Kane pushed me back.

- "I'm not leaving without her."

- "Bellamy Blake." –Kane called after me- "You'll get yourself killed."

- "If she dies, I'm as good as dead."

- "You'll start another war."

- "I'd rather die than watch her die. I'm not giving up on her." -I turned my eyes to where Sam was- "I'll die with her if it comes to it."

Why can you stop being dumb reckless, Sam? Do I have to tie you up to me so you'll stop and stay fucking safe for once? I sighed trying to clear my mind. Alright, there has to be a way. It wasn't us. Bellamy, think, you can't let her die. Sam had just let out a painful scream as the cuts got deeper. Gustus took a sip from Lexa's cup. But we didn't poison the liquid. Then, it hit me. Ugh, the stupid cup. I turned around only to almost crash with Clarke.

- "I know how to save, Sam." –we spoke at the same time- "The cup."

Clarke ran up to Lexa, screaming at them to stop as I asked Nyko for the bottle. The Grounders tried to stop us but Lexa commanded them to let us get to her. I watched as a Grounder moved the knife away from Sam's leg, having been just about to stab her. My heart ached horribly inside my chest.

- "It wasn't us." –I spoke unable to contain myself, looking at Lexa- "We can prove it."

- "One of your people tried to kill you, Lexa."

Before anyone said anything else, I took the bottle from Nyko and drank from it. It was awful booze but that was it. Nothing happened as I expected.

- "Explain."

- "The poison wasn't in the bottle."

- "It was in your cup." –Clarke developed as they didn't seem to fully understand me.

Gustus whispered something to Lexa. And then, it hit me.

- "It was you." –I confronted him- "He tested the cup, he searched Raven."

- "Gustus would never harm me."

- "You weren't the target." –I explained- "The alliance was."

- "We didn't do this, and you know it."

Lexa turned to face Gustus and spoke in their language. Gustus looked at me, at Clarke, and then at Sam before facing Lexa again.

- "This alliance would cost you your life, Heda." –he confessed- "I could not let that happen."

- "This treachery will cost you yours."

Lexa's voice was almost a whisper before she spoke in their language. Guards soon surrounded Gustus so I took that as my cue to get Sam. I ran up to her, my heart beating faster than ever before as I saw the cuts up close: her clothes were soaking the blood, sticking to her body, her head hung forward and eyes closed but her chest kept moving so I knew she was still alive.

- "Sam, Sam. I'm here, love." –I cupped her face with my hands- "Will you ever stop doing this to me?"

- "Bell." –she coughed as I ran my thumbs over her cheeks- "I'm sorry I dropped your blood all over the ground."

- "You're so fucking stupid, Sam." –I kissed her forehead, my words only loud enough for her to hear- "You're so stupid..."

Abby and Kane were next to us, cutting the ropes that were keeping Sam still, and, as soon as they were loose, she started to collapse, but I quickly took her in my arms as she cried in pain.

- "I need to start taking care of some of the deeper cuts." –Abby informed me as she moved for the med kid she always carried with her- "Keep her still and don't touch her wounds."

I took her to one side of the plaza and sat down laying her next to me, with her head on my lap. I had promised myself to never be covered in Sam's blood again and yet, there we stood. I hated it. I hated everything about it. I hated that if it had taken me another second, she could have been dead as the Grounders got more vicious each turn. Abby had instructed me to not touch her wounds, giving me a wet cloth to clean her face and put over her forehead. Octavia, Lincoln, and Raven were soon with us.

- "Ugh, Sam. I swear I only want to kill you right now. You need to stop being so fucking dumb." –Octavia spoke with tears in her eyes- "I don't... I can't lose you, you idiot, you're my family. Think twice before acting alright!"

- "I love you too, O."

- "I hate you." –Octavia smiled as Sam did- "I'd give you a hug but Abby said not to touch you."

- "You sure are someone to keep an eye on, Sam." –Lincoln spoke next- "I'm glad you're still alive, Octavia was losing it. Bellamy too." –he ended as I gave him a look.

- "I'm sure you'd have taken good care of her."

- "Losing a sister, a loved one is not something easy to get over, Sam. I hope you know that."

- "Sam..." –Raven whispered, kneeling in front of us, guilt written all over her face- "I... I don't know what to say."

- "It's fine, Raven. You've suffered enough already. I'm just glad you're okay."

- "No. It's not." –Raven shook her head, taking Sam's hand in hers, seeing Sam squeezing it- "Even after how bad I've treated you lately, you stepped in for me and risked dying for me."

- "And I'd do it again."

- "You saved me." –Raven started tearing up, kissing Sam's forehead before she rested hers over it, rubbing Sam's cheeks and staying like that for a moment, wishing I could give them some space; I knew Raven and Sam were close, and I knew Raven was suffering and having my theories about their history, it didn't totally surprise me when Raven pressed her lips over Sam's but it did ignite something inside me I didn't like- "I'm sorry for being such a horrible friend."

- "You're not a horrible friend." -Sam's hand found Raven's again, who moved back as Sam opened her eyes- "Mourning is hard and I deliberately posed myself as someone to force your anger toward because I was terrified you'd direct it to yourself. I love you, Raven, and I hate seeing you suffer."

- "I'm so sorry, Sam."

- "I'm sure we'll figure something out for you to make it up to me."

- "Deal." -Raven chuckled, wiping away her tears- "But, next time, put me back in my place instead of almost dying for me."

- "I'll try."

- "Okay." -Raven squeezed Sam's hand again before she faced towards where Sam had been tied a couple of minutes prior and where Gustus was now- "That's what would have happened to Finn, right?"

We all knew she didn't need confirmation so we stood there in silence, Lincoln with his arm over my sister's shoulders as they stood beside us, Raven sat in front of us with Sam's hand still on hers, the three of them looking at the spectacle in front of us but not directly. Sam had closed her eyes again, looking down at her and her fingers interlaced with Raven's. Maybe it was too late. Maybe I had been stupid not to tell Sam how I felt. I ran my thumb over her cheek, her eyes opening and immediately landing on mine, a warmth I only felt around her spreading through my chest.

- "You called me stupid." -she whispered, raising an eyebrow at me as I chuckled- "That's not nice."

- "You're so stupid, Sam." -I shook my head, unable to fight the smile on my lips- "So, so stupid, love."