A little something I just thought up...
Hope you enjoy!!
There were many days that Lexa had been looking forward to in her daughter’s life. Since the day Xander was born, she’d been the center of Lexa’s universe. Of course, as her family grew, more people were added to that center but…
Xander was her baby.
Xander was the one she’d raised alone for six years.
Xander was the one she’d watched and cared for on her own.
When Clarke came along, Lexa had been slow to realize just how amazing the bond between Xander and the new woman was. But once she’d seen it? Once she understood?
It was beautiful.
There was no one Lexa trusted with Xander more than Clarke. Not a single person.
And then Lexa married Clarke and they added to their little family. First Ryder, then Clio, and finally, little Jack. Xander had been impatient to become an older sister from the time she knew Clarke and Lexa were in love. She took being the big sister naturally.
Ryder, who was eight years her junior, was her little Kork. She was born with blonde hair but it slowly shifts to match Lexa’s chestnut locks and, though her eyes were initially blue like all babies, they slowly shifted to green. Even so, Xander always called her Little Kork. Xander carried her around as often as her mothers would allow. If Xander had had her way, they’d have shared a room.
Clio was much the same, though her bond with Xander wasn’t quite as strong. Still, Xander was there to guide and teach her when it counted. It was Xander who taught Clio to tie her shoes and it was Xander who held little Clio stood up on chubby little legs to walk to for the first time. To be certain, Clio hero-worshipped her eldest sister.
Jack was the little prince of the house. He was doted upon by his three sisters and adored by his mothers. Much to Clarke’s delight, he looks a great deal like Jake Griffin. Xander was twelve when he was born and, much to Clarke’s surprise and Lexa’s delight, she was thrilled to finally have a brother to play with too.
All these thoughts raced through Lexa’s mind as she watched her eldest child dance around the driveway. They were in the driveway, waiting for Clarke to come home with her present.
The squeal Xander released when Clarke turned into the driveway in a brand new pick up truck, one that matched her own in all but color, was otherworldly.
Before Lexa could even open her arms for a hug, Xander was launching herself into her mother’s arms.
Then Lexa heard it, the rumble of a motorcycle that told her Anya was near.
Much to Lexa’s surprise though, Raven pulled into the driveway in Anya’s SUV, packed with their own three children strapped into the backseat. Seconds later, Anya pulled into the drive on a beautiful motorcycle.
“No!” Xander gasped, whirling around to face her aunt. “No way!”
“Yes way!” Anya grinned and swung her leg off the bike.
“Tía’s bike?” Xander asked.
Anya tossed her the keys and shook her head. “Your bike. We figured you’d like to enjoy the fruits of your labors.”
Eyes widening, Lexa stepped forward. “No way. Not happening. She’s sixteen, Anya!”
“You had a bike when you were fourteen.” Anya replied with a lazy shrug.
“You did?” Lexa’s daughter gaped at her. “Like, a real motorcycle?”
Lexa clenched her jaw and glared at her sister. “Trikru is different and you know it. She’s too young for a bike.”
“I’ll teach her to ride it,” Anya offered. She jerked her head toward Clarke who was just climbing out of Xander’s truck. “Clarke can go with us. She doesn’t get her bike out nearly enough.”
“Leave me out of this!” Clarke called back.
“Mama!” Xander squealed and hurried to hug her tightly. “Thank you!”
Clarke smiled and pressed a kiss to her head. “You’re welcome, little one. You need to be safe and follow all the rules.”
“You’ll talk to Mom?” Xander whispered into her shoulder.
“You know I will.” Clarke replied. She winked at her wife and released Xander. She turned to Ryder, the little nearly-8-year-old was bouncing on the balls of her feet. “How about we head inside and get dinner going? You want to help me out?”
Ryder’s head tilted to the side as she studied her mom. “Is Mom gonna yell at you?”
“Probably.” Clarke replied as she held out her hand.
“You gonna sleep in my room?” Ryder asked with a grin.
“Your bed is really comfy,” Clarke said with a shrug.
Lexa sighed before she arched her brow at her wife. “Clarke?”
“Can’t hear you, Lex! I’m going to cook dinner now! ‘Kay, love you!”
*************************
It wasn’t until later that night, after the other children were tucked into bed that Lexa finally had a moment to reflect on her life again. She smiled at the pictures dotting the walls of the bedroom she shared with her wife. A combination of all their family members smiling back at them, or in Ryder’s case making funny faces.
“Mom?” Xander tapped on the door with her knuckle. “Is Mama in here?”
“She’s helping Anya with you bike I think.” Lexa replied as she turned to face her. “Did you need her?”
Xander shook her head and stepped into the room. She looked around and sighed. “I wanted to talk to you actually. Can I… do you have a minute?”
“For you?” Lexa asked with a soft smile. “I have three minutes.”
“That joke stopped being funny when I was seven, Mom.”
“I’m not sorry.”
Silence stretched between them for a solid minute. Finally, Lexa waved a hand at the bed and moved to sit down.
“Come and talk to me, Xander.”
“Okay, yeah. Thanks,” Xander said, moving almost robotically before sinking down on to the bed.
“What’s wrong?” Lexa asked, reaching for Xander’s hand.
Shaking her head, Xander smiled and squeezed her mother’s hand. “Nothing’s wrong. I was just thinking about something and I wanted to talk to you about it.”
“Okay?”
After taking a deep breath, Xander met Lexa’s eyes and said, “I want to change my name.”
“What?”
“I know that I always sign everything Griffin-Woods but that isn’t my name. And now that I’m sixteen and I’ll hopefully be getting my license soon, I want my legal name to match what I call myself. I’m Xander Griffin-Woods.”
For a moment, Lexa only studied her daughter’s face. Then she smiled. “You want to be an official Griffin?”
“I do.” Xander nodded. She took another deep breath before releasing it in a huff. “I know you didn’t want to confuse me when you and Mama got married so you didn’t change my name. I know Mama adopted me on your wedding day. It’s just… I’m sixteen and I think it’s time.”
“Alexandria Emilia Griffin-Woods?” Lexa said with a grin.
To her surprise, Xander shook her head. She squeezed Lexa’s hand again and cleared her throat. “No. I was hoping for Alexandria Emilia Clarke Griffin-Woods?”
“Are you sure?”
“I am. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time.” Xander stood slightly and pulled a packet of papers out of the back pocket of her jeans. She handed them to Lexa. “I’ve got them all filled out. I just need you to sign them. I know you’ll be able to sort the rest of it out. But I’d like to do this. Please?”
Across the room, in the doorway, Clarke cleared her throat. She smiled at her wife and daughter on the bed. “About damn time, Xan. I can’t wait to throw you a ‘Welcome to the Griffin clan’ party!”
