we really are family

[Derrick]

LEXA KOM TRIKRU

There was a reason for some of Skaikru to be in Polis today which was a rare sight indeed. In the olden days those from the Sky were killed, not welcomed. But she had invited a few, Abby Griffin and Marcus Kane to the capital in order to talk to them about something she had decided.

Lexa made the call. A treaty was not going to be enough to protect Skaikru but them joining as the thirteenth clan would. Having told Abby, Kane and Clarke about the change in her plans, she bade them release before the summit that night. They could go anywhere they liked, so long it remained within the boundaries of the city. Here they were safe and protected; beyond the walls they weren't. Come nightfall that was to change and anyone who killed Skaikru for the sake of it would be punished by death. It was that simple. They would become her people and she would never have to make such a wrenching choice like the one at Mount Weather ever again.

She stood overlooking the city from the height of her room at the top of the tower. Polis was bustling with people, her people, children and adults alike and she felt a surge of pride and protectiveness towards all those in her coalition. Especially Trikru and not especially Azgeda. She could care less for the Ice Nation, they were the biggest threat she faced within her alliance. Nia was as slippery as an eel and could not be trusted at all. And yet, and yet, Lexa had let her live. Let her and her clan remain in the coalition so long as they didn't stray. No-one could say the Heda shirked from her duties.

"You're still here." Lexa observed, having not heard Kane leave the room like Abby had done. It was just the pair of them, and Lexa wondered what else the man had to say. She'd come to respect him ever since she had him in her prison. They were so similar and yet vastly different. He understood her, especially when it came to her people and it was through him that she was even willing to give Skaikru two days before that extended into talks of peace if they handed Finn over. "Is there something you'd like to discuss?" Seemed to be the only logical reason for him to remain, not that he might have seen something in her room that would spark memories.


She turned to face him, her face neutral and not betraying any hint of emotion. Some would say she was closed off; she had learned to protect herself and play the game of politics.

blood must have blood

Marcus Kane

[Marcus Kane]

something that was missing til now Marcus knew the if his people were going to survive, they needed to do more then just make peace. They needed to build trade, and worth. They needed to learn how to farm and survive the winter. They needed to learn how to survive on more then guns and bullets which would one day run out. The men from mount weather had functioned on their own, and he wanted to learn what he could from them, but it would take more. Lexa was offering for them to join the grounders. It would give them the protection from others, and help them build the needed enterprises that would bring in the goods they couldn't to keep his people from going hungry. The meeting had just ended, and Marcus hesitated in the room to speak with Lexa leader to leader. He had come to respect the woman, and value her guidance. He was concerned, yes, that she had left them at the gates of mount weather; but he also knew that leaders didn't often have the choice of making everyone happy. He had held the people's favor, and he had lost the people's favor in his time as a leader but he had never stopped fighting for them. Joining the clans would mean she would now do that for his people. She questioned why he was still here, and Marcus looked around the room, stalling for a moment before questioning. "This is an impressive city," he began by admitting, "and the collation that you have built here is unlike any other. You should be proud." But he wanted more information on it. "It is very unlike the tree nation people we have meet before. I am concerned my people will only see the ruthless warriors they fought, and not the world here. As members of the collation, I want to know more about our right, and lands. I need to be able to go back and speak to my people with answer to all they might ask." He was hoping she could fill him in on more. "I would also like learn more about the world here. There is so much that we couldn't have imagined." He gestured around the room walking toward a small table. "I want my people to see the city. I want them to know what we can be if we worked together."

[Derrick]

LEXA KOM TRIKRU

"We live in different worlds and yet we are the same." Lexa mused. She understood his concerns because they were extremely valid in this case. "You have valid concerns. I cannot change how Skaikru views us, only that you've only seen warriors. Will they change their mind if they see our healers, learn from them, see our villages?" Lexa paused in thought. To change their minds about the grounders savagery would require going further. Well if they were to become her people, she had no right to keep them from Polis. So long as they didn't bear weapons or start any wars. Azgeda was going to flip a lid but that was fine. She could deal with them when the time came. She'd done it before.

"You will be given lands large enough to house all of Skaikru, and any of your descendants. It'll have lands suitable for farming, of that I assure you. You will have access to water, to trades with the rest of the clans. I doubt Azgeda will come to your aid but I know Trikru will. It'll be lands near us that you'll be given. If anyone dare attack you, it'll be an attack on all of us and they will be punished." He asked about their rights and that was something she wanted to address. "Though I lead all of you, especially during times of war and I expect to have my orders followed, you still are the leader of your clan. Skaikru do not lose any of their right by joining."

"Having you join my coalition was a plan of short notice. I apologize for not giving you advanced warning. However, once you join I will give Skaikru a week to make the journey into Polis so we can celebrate together. You will become my people - you will have every right to come into the city just like any other." Lexa studied him for a minute. "There is much to learn. Us about you and you about us. Most of what has happened stemmed from not understanding each other. In order to move forward as one, we must be able to understand one another. Ignorance will only serve to divide us all." Divide and destroy. That was what it would do. Lex knew they needed to understand each other before they had any hope of changing their future.

What she was doing though, it was never done before. Grounders stuck with grounders, they didn't make peace with outsiders. They never dreamed of making peace with the mountain men and the sky people had been no different. Except the sky people hadn't been like the mountain men. And what had Lexa done? Betrayed them. It was a miracle some were still here, in Polis rather than decide to ignore the commander completely. Still, together, as one, they could avoid coming to war. If Azgeda tried to overthrow her, they would fail. Skaikru would be safe, the rest of her people would be safe. Her coalition, the peace she had sought, would not crumble into dust.

blood must have blood

Marcus Kane

[Marcus Kane]

something that was missing til now Marcus came to a rest by the small table, and looked down at the items there just as he had finished speaking. Lexa began explaining things to him, words he had wanted to hear. She was being fair to his people, and welcoming. They would have to follow her command, but they would not be without their rights. The choice had already been made, but he still weighted the words in his mind. What it would mean for his people, and what this would give them. Protection. Life here. He had entered the city and stared at it's wonders, and he wanted that hope and build for his own people. He wanted to create something far grander then he had the ability to do alone. It was why he wanted this. They'd gain more then they'd give up. While she spoke he was looking at the object there, and something caught his eye. Marcus stared at it while she spoke, and her voice faded tot he background for a moment. He knew he should not ignore even one of her words, but there on the table was what looked like the remains of a patch, and the tree was sewn into it. The Tree. The one his mother had served so strongly until her death. The one she had died asking him to bring here. The one he had re-planted in her memory. The Tree. Moving to pick it up, he ran his thumb over the patchwork, noticing how old it was. Marcus had once been apart of his mother's religion, before he pulled away from both it and her. He knew that the symbol hadn't originated until the Ark. Looking up at her, he managed to reply to what she had been saying, though he hadn't been aware he was listening. "I agree," he said, but his voice had lost the calm assureness it normally carried. "I will encourage my people to travel here, knowing they will be welcome. Let them see what we can become together, and I believe that we can achieve peace, and more, by helping our peoples unite." "Your people speak highly of you, and you have done nothing but prove their words." He valued that in an ally. If her people had resented her, then why would he become one of them? "Thank you for that." Marcus turned toward her, and held up the patch. "Can I asked how you came of this?" He asked curious as to how she had it. His mind, though logical, couldn't think of how she could have one. He'd not seen one since before the Ark came to Earth.

[Derrick]

LEXA KOM TRIKRU

She allowed the silence, hoping he was weighing over her words, not knowing it was something entirely different. She kept her gaze on him even as he moved about the room, studying the items on the table. Most of what she owned happened to be candles. They were everywhere but Lexa would not apologize for that.

"They will be safe and they will be welcome with open arms." Lexa promised - anyone who attacked Skaikru would face punishment, just the same as she hoped he realized that Skaikru would face punishment if they attacked any of the other clan members. Well, the Skaikru person who attacked, not Skaikru as a whole. "The Spirit of the Commander chose wisely then." She dipped her head, humbled by his words. She knew some of her people were angry, still wanting blood for what happened to them at the mountain. Some were also on the opposite side, where they didn't want to fight. Not all of her people were wanting war.

When he turned, holding the patch with the Tree emblazoned on it, Lexa padded towards him, closing the distance that was once between one another. Though it had been years since she held tightly to that patch as if it offered her comfort in the cold nights, she still viewed it with a bittersweet fondness. Though it was a symbol close to her heart, it didn't interfere with her position as Heda - if anything it was a symbol to fight even when broken because that was exactly what her mother did. She fought when she was broken, according to her village elders. Lexa never met her mother. The woman had given birth to her daughter, had her named before she succumbed to her injuries.

"It was my mother's. She gave it to me before she died." Lexa spoke, and although there was not much of a hint on her fact, her eyes showed exactly how she felt. She had wished to meet the woman who had given her life though she knew that would never be possible. Titus had stressed on the importance of looking ahead and not at those she had lost in her past, especially those she had never met. In this case, her mother's death wouldn't be beneficial for the future. There was nothing to learn there. Aside from small snippets of information from her village, no-one knew anything else about her.

"You know the symbol? What it means?" Lexa asked him. There was no doubt in her mind that it sparked familiarity with him and despite her leader status, she needed to know more. Of course appearing too overeager for the information was not the best so she kept her expression calm even if she had butterflies spinning around in her stomach.

blood must have blood

Marcus Kane

[Marcus Kane]

something that was missing til now "They will be safe and they will be welcome with open arms." That was good news, one that he would be grateful for once he was able to think clearly again. Right now it was still holding onto the patch, and trying to figure out where it had come from. Even her comment on the spirit of the commander didn't distract him, though that topic was one he had often tried to learn more about. Their chain of command and politics fascinated him, and he was always eager to learn more. The way the have blended the survival of the fittest and an almost Ark-ish style had always made him want to see it in action. But the patch, holding the sybol of the last tree was one of meaning for him, and it kept him from taking her opening and trying to learn more from her on her people, and their government style. "It was my mother's. She gave it to me before she died." Her mothers. He could assume that the woman had died before his people came down, since he had not seen or heard anything about the commander's mother. He could be wrong, but logic was one of Marcus' strengths. Which meant that the patch would not have come from anyone recently come to Earth. The tail of thinking could lead him to even assume that meant that it came from one of the ones who 'jumped ship' or tried to take their own life by going to Earth. His eyes closed for a moment, as he tried not to think of the woman he had known, and even had cared for as best as he could in his arrogant youth, that had done it. He opened them, and was surprised to see how much he could see on her face. It wasn't often that Lexa allowed emotion to be shown. Like him, she knew she had to rule with logic and her head. "You know the symbol? What it means?" He swallowed deeply, as his moth had gone dry. "It's a symbol of a religion of my people. From where we are from. Our ancestors had not been on Earth when the bombs went off, and one of the stations had a Tree. It was called the last tree. It gave many hope that one day we would be able to return to Earth." His own mother had clung to the religion, taking up with it during her time with his father who had been totalitarian in his control over his family. When his father was floated, she gave her life over to it. While Marcus had moved away from it. "How did your mother come by it?" He asked, while his thumb still moved over the ridges, feeling the tree sewn in.

[Derrick]

LEXA KOM TRIKRU

Lexa hadn't known the truth behind that symbol, let alone the fact it was a religious symbol. What he was saying made sense, though she didn't know much about their life up in the skies. How hard it must have been to not be on land! Although, she supposed that those were born there had no idea what land was like so they weren't missing out on much. "I'm glad you were able to come back to earth. Even if it hasn't been easy between our people. For that I can only apologize." She had originally thought they were allies of the mountain and Trikru had been quick to attack. Oh how wrong she'd been.

"Were you able to bring the last Tree back to earth?" She was generally curious, hoping that it had survived with them when they came down.

"She had it with her when she was brought into the village. They had asked her why she held it with such fervor and she told them that it was a reminder of the better days of her youth." Lexa remembered the words as though they had been told to her yesterday. She had been angry and upset and threatened to throw the patch into the river until one of her elders told her the story. It had been important to her mother and though she was no longer around, the patch was a reminder that she had live. "Do what you want with it but remember, do not decide when you are angry or all you will feel will be regret." is what the elder had finished up with.

"My mother died when I was born. They say when she came into the village, she was broken and pregnant. She lived long enough to give birth before she succumbed to her injuries. Everything I know about her and that patch is what the village elders told me." He needed to know that she couldn't exactly answer all his questions regarding the tree symbol, not because she didn't want to but because she didn't have the information. She swallowed back the emotion that rose up, the need to know her mother but that in itself was impossible. She was dead. The dead were gone, the living were hungry. Hadn't she said those words back during the peace talks in the village?

"It's the only thing I have of her." Lexa could not finish the sentence: if it's important to you, you can have it but the words just didn't come.

blood must have blood

Marcus Kane

[Marcus Kane]

something that was missing til now "I'm glad you were able to come back to earth. Even if it hasn't been easy between our people. For that I can only apologize." Marcus held up his free hand to stop her words, but not in a command. It was more an act of a friend, who didn't wish to dwell over their shared past mistakes. "We have both made errors, but like any great leader we have learned from them and moved to bring peace between our people. We should not dwell on the past, but look to the future between our people." Which was what he was trying to do now. He felt he had made very many mistakes int he past, having killed over 300 of his own people in attempt to keep others alive. He understood the need to keep her people safe, for he had done the same. He would not hold it against her. "Were you able to bring the last Tree back to earth?" Marcus gave a single nod, but it took him a moment to speak after her question. Mostly because it reminded him of his mother--this whole conversation was reminding him of people he had lost. Not just his mother, but a friend from his childhood whom had also worked with him when he was apart of the religion. "Yes, it was replanted not far from Arkadia when we first landed, though there are some that still go to check on it." He didn't go into detail of him being the one who planted it, and that he often visits it as well, though more to pay respects to the memory of his mother rather then because he was a believer. He listened as she explained about her mother, and he felt his heart beating harder. His mind didn't think the words, but he was beginning to wonder. Who was her mother? He had to have known her. "--she told them that it was a reminder of the better days of her youth." If she had spent time in her youth taking care of the tree, and had gone to Earth . . . he only knew of who person who had both been apart of the religion and had attempted to take their own life by going to Earth during the last almost 30 years. He eyes moved from the patch that he held, and to Lexa's face. He looked at her eyes, and the shape of her face, and thought about the way she was very logical. "It's the only thing I have of her." Because her mother had died coming to Earth while pregnant. He held it out for her to take, knowing that if this was all she had of her mother, then she should keep it close--just like he did with his mother's tree. He understood that. When she reached to take it, his fingers wrapped around her's for a moment, "Do you know her name?" He asked in shaken voice. "I need to know her name." Because the only girl he could think of that both went to Earth, and had been apart of people who took comfort in the tree--was also the woman he had cared for, and if they were indeed the same person . . . . . . then he knew who Lexa's father was, and he wasn't sure how to take that news.

Derrick

[Derrick]

Marcus Kane

Kane was right and she dipped her head in understanding, not at all pertubed by the held up hand. She took it for what it was - friendship not an order considering he was one of the few that seemed to understand and respect her and her tough position. They'd done things they regretted in the name of protecting their people and though many didn't see it that way, it was the truth. All her life, her training had been for her people. Her people came first, their safety and protection and if that meant doing things that they might not agree with then fine. Didn't mean she couldn't feel about the effects, and the mountain was just one of them. Though she regretted it and felt guilt, she had thought it was the best course of action at the time.

Just as the summit and inducting Skaikru into the coalition was the best course of action for their future. Like it or not, they had to share the earth now and some of her people(and she used the term her people lightly) were highly against that. She understood them to a point, and even more so if they were the enemy but they weren't. And if they wanted a future they needed to work together and have peace.

Gently she took the patch, her fingers running along the stitching. It had been years since she paid any close attention to it, but she paid more attention to the fingers that wrapped around hers, her eyes flicking up to stare Kane in the face as if to ask why did he dare grab her in such a manner? The tension that flared in her shoulders abated slightly as her mind shifted, telling her this wasn't a threat and to calm down. Her mind also began to form thoughts regarding their conversation and it was at that moment did she realize that he might know her. In fact she was sure of it, the way he breathed the question in a shaky voice. "Amelia."

There was a pause.

"You knew her didn't you?"

[Marcus Kane]

something that was missing til now Marcus watched her face, waiting for the moment she would confirm what he already was (almost) sure of in his mind. "Amelia," she said, and the room moved slightly turning, almost spinning behind her. "You knew her didn't you?" Knew her. Cared for her. Marcus nodded silently, and took a step backwards, turning to look away from her for a moment, while his hand ran over his face. He hadn't known she was pregnant. She had been apart of the his mother's faith and he had pulled away from it, and in doing so her as well. He hadn't known . . . was that why she did it?! Had he pushed her toward it? The thoughts didn't leave him, even as others took the the louder stance in his mind. He had a daughter. He sucked in a deep breath before turning only his face toward her, not sure what expression was on it any more. His daughter. He had a daughter. "I knew her," he managed to tell his daughter. It was then he realized who she was--the commander. Marcus looked around the room while thinking of what she had build, and he was both so incredibly proud of her, and sad . . . because he couldn't see her do it, and he couldn't have protected her while doing it. He thought of when he first meet her, and she pretended to be an injured or weak girl to learn more about them, he thought about Finn, he replayed everything that had happened in his head, taking on a new light--because no longer was she the commander that he respected and was impressed by . . . but his daughter. He knew he was acting oddly, and he needed to explain. He wanted to explain. One of the biggest regrets in his life was a newest one. When he came to Earth, he realized that he wanted a family. He knew he had given up his chances at having them. First with Aurora, and then Amelia and last Callie. Three women in his past that he cared for. He had 'let them go' when they got too close because he was driven by his career. Because he couldn't open up himself. Now, on the ground he kept wishing he had a child to share things with--a family. And now he had a daughter. One he had missed her childhood, but he knew in that moment, while looking at her, that he would not miss anything else. "I knew her very well, once." His voice was stronger now that he had made his mind. Turning toward her, Marcus stepped closer. "Lexa . . . . I'm your father." He told her, willing to explain if she asked, but right now, he needed to know how she would react to that.

Derrick

[Derrick]

Lexa had to reign in her emotions. Kane knew her mother which meant he could answer the burning questions she had yet that wasn't all. Kane dropped a bombshell that seemed to rock her entire world, shattering what she thought she knew. For a moment she wanted to call him a liar, have him locked up for daring to speak such lies but this was why she let logic rule in place of emotion. It made no sense to be a lie. It wouldn't get him anywhere, in fact it would be more dangerous if people knew because it could very well threaten everything she had built. In turn, it would threaten Skaikru. Most of the clans would not settle for the news(not that she planned on telling them, just the what if).

The words continued to echo in her head and she closed her hand into a fist before reopening it. Her emotions traveled through her, making her unable to stay very still, almost as if she were a live wire ready to crackle. If the words were true, and she suspected nothing less from Kane kom Skaikru, then she had no idea what to do. So many questions buzzed in her mind that she quashed down; some that would bring her no closure and it wasn't closure that she sought out. She could ask if he knew, or why he didn't stop her from jumping to the ground but that solved nothing more than a child's curiosity. It had no bearing on her here and now, what happened happened and she couldn't change the fact.

Her hands, the one that wasn't too balled into a fist, carefully set the patch back down on the table, her eyes glinting, her face trying to remain schooled from her teachings. But the cracks were already appearing, the emotions she struggled to contain all but breaking through. "If you were anyone else, I would have you arrested. I have no reason to believe the words you speak. But I'd like to think I know you, trust you, enough to know you are telling the truth." She spoke after a moment of thought, turning to face him - she noticed he had stepped closer, when had that happened? When she was busy almost drowning in her own thoughts? It was all making sense though and she had to shyly admit that she wanted this.

Lexa had never had proper parents. When she was found to be a Natblida, she was taken by the scouts to see Titus and train under his tutelage. He was the closest thing to a 'parent' that she ever had though teacher was the primary role he played. Second closest was their previous Heda. Her fellow Natblida's were all considered siblings, not parents and so she was very out of her element and had absolutely no idea what to do. How to act. How to feel. And so she stared at him, emotions flicking behind her eyes as she struggled to grasp onto one that wouldn't send her skyrocketing. "I don't know what to say or what to do. Or even how to feel. I've never exactly been in this position, nor have I ever had proper parents."

She swallowed back the emotions threatening to overwelm her. Had this been even a month ago she would have him killed - now she was ready to embrace not only him but the rest of the Sky people. All the more reason why this plan of hers needed to succeed. "My father." She spoke, the words rolling off her tongue pleasantly. "Out of everyone that it could be, I'm glad, and honored, that it's you."

Marcus Kane

[Marcus Kane]

something that was missing til now Marcus watched as she struggled with his information. His fist, the way she put down the patchwork, even her words that seemed a warning, but not threatening. He knew how she felt. A bit. He had never imagined that he would have a daughter, much less find a fully grown one before him. He thought about they'd met once again, and saw Jaha--his friend--hold a knife to her. He had begged Jaha then, but knowing what he did now, he would had tried harder. Not that she seemed to need his protection. Perhaps it was just parental instinct that came forward. Protect her, even when she could do better protecting him. "I don't know what to say or what to do. Or even how to feel. I've never exactly been in this position, nor have I ever had proper parents." Fair enough, "I have never been a proper father before." Or even an unproper one. Or even come close. He had upon occasion thought of children, but they had been more abstract. Children, or the lack of them, had been a regret that he had for a while. "My father." He found his lips tighten, as hint of a sad smile came to his at her words. "Out of everyone that it could be, I'm glad, and honored, that it's you." Kane closed his eyes tightly for a moment, the weight of her words settling over him in a heavy way. He was honored, and greatful. Her honestly could not come easy, and so he would return it with his own. "I was young when I knew your mother. I should have tried harder to keep her with me." He admitted, "And while i will forever regret that I could not have been there to see you grow, I am very proud to see what all you have done." "I have long admired what you have been able to accomplish. I only wish I could have seen you do it." He knew that for a leader, composure was like a sort of power. The more logical you were, and the less emotional, the more power you had in a moment. But he didn't care. Slowly, so not to startle her, he lifted his hand to her shoulder, and leaned forward to pull her into a embrace. He didn't know what would happen from here, but he knew that this changed everything for him. While he would still support his people, he could never just walk away from this.

Derrick