She drove her convertible along the highway towards home, thinking about the events of the last few days that lead her back to Charming. She looked at her now bare left hand, good riddance she thought, she'd let Paul rule her life long enough. She drove along, getting excited to see her family again, it had been a couple of years since she'd been home.

She took Paul home to meet Opie and her pop, after she'd accepted his proposal, he had turned his nose up at them. They left twenty-four hours after arriving, that's when the control had started. She hadn't been back or spoke to them since, Tara had called her and told her that Donna had been killed. When she told Paul she was going home for the funeral, he put his foot down and told her it was him or her family. Madison, handed him his engagement ring back, packed her bags and left.

She was about to pull into Charming, hoping she'd be welcome home. A black van rammed her from behind, pushing her off the road, she swore under her breathe. She watched as the men, jumped out of the van, walking towards her. Shit, Mayans! Somethings never changed.

They pulled her from the car, smiling at her. "Well..look who we have here! A little SAMCRO Princess returning home."

"What makes you think I'm SAMCRO?"

"I'd know you anywhere Madison Winston."

She didn't recognize the Mayan, and she didn't care, she spat at him, shoving him away. She reached into her car to get her gun, the other Mayan grabbed her pulling her back. She struggled to get away, he had his hands wrapped around her. She was slapped across the face, by the that called her by name. She raised her feet, kicking him, he pulled out a knife, slicing her side. She let out a gasp of pain, the main grinned at her.

"The fun has just started!" She head butted the man holding her, he dropped her, she leaned into her car pulling out her gun, she shot them both, jumping in the car, she drove like her ass was on fire. Heading straight to TM, she pulled into the parking lot.

Several of the club members were standing in front of the clubhouse doors when she slide to a stop. She saw Tig and Chibs sitting on the picnic table. She stumbled from her car, her white shirt now stained red. "Hey guys..a little help?"

Chibs and Tig jumped up as she fell to the ground. "Christ lass? What the hell?" Tig picked her up carrying her into the clubhouse, back to a dorm room. Chibs grabbed his medic kit, following behind him.

"Mayans had a welcome home party for me at the city limits. Might want to send someone to go clean up, I shot them."

"Tig, take the prospect and Happy. I'll take care of Maddie."

She closed her eyes as she felt Chibs rip her shirt away, cleaning her wound, and start to stitch it up. She opened her eyes watching him concentrate om his work. Gemma poked her head in the room. "Baby, what happened?" She sat on the bed looking down at Maddison.

"Mayans welcoming me home, Charming style."

"Why didn't you tell us you were coming? You would have had an escort. Where's your fiancee?"

"As of last night, I'm single."

"What happened baby?"

"Long story. He wasn't a nice guy. Ouch!"

"Sorry, lass!"

"No problem Chibs."

Gemma looked down at her, noticing the bruise on her collar bone. "Dose that bruise have something to do with it?"

"No! He never laid hands on me."

"Then where did that bruise come from?"

"Long story...please not now."

"Take care of our girl Chibs."

"Aye, Gemma."

She watched Gemma walk out of the room, she glanced down, seeing that Chibs was almost done patching her up. "Do you want to tell me about that bruise, lass?"

"Hmmm. nope. Thanks for sewing me up." She got up, kissing him on the cheek. Going to the closet, she pulled out a t-shirt and pulled it on. Chibs crossed his arms staring at her. "You aren't going to mention it to Opie or dad are you?"

"Lass, if he hurt you..."

"It isn't like that..." Opie walked in the door. "Ope!" She walked over hugging her big brother.

"Maddie, what the hell? Bobby said you came in bloody."

"I came home for Donna's funeral."

"Why the hell did you do that for?"

"Ope, please..."

He pushed her away, Maddie knew that this was going to be a rough homecoming, she picked up her bloody shirt and threw it away. She walked out to the main room of the clubhouse, and got a drink. Her pop, had just walked into the bar, he sat down beside her. She looked at him, tears in her eyes, he pulled her into a hug.

"Welcome home baby girl."

'Thanks daddy."

"Where's your fiancee?"

"Back in LA, with my engagement ring. I broke it off, last night."

"What happened Princess?"

"I don't want to talk about it. I'm here to stay for good though."" She laid her head on his shoulder. She saw Tig walk in with a bald member, they walked up to the bar and ordered shots.

"Chibs get you all patched up Maddie?" Tig asked.

Before she could answer, Piney looked at the two of them. "What the hell is he talking about?"

"I got attacked by some Mayans on the way into town. Chibs had to stitch me up. I'm fine dad!"

Tig nooded towards the bald man next to him. "Maddie this is Happy. Happy, this is Piney's daughter and Opie's kid sister."

He just nodded his head at her in greeting, she smiled at him. His dark eyes were intense, and staring at her, she broke the stare first when her dad asked her a question.

Piney looked her up and down. "Does your brother know you're here?"

"He was less then happy to see me but he has a lot going on. I need to find a place to stay, love ya pop." She leaned over and kissed the old man on the cheek. She saw Happy watching her leave, feeling his eyes on her. She walked outside, Opie was sitting on the picnic table, waiting for her.

"I'm sorry, Maddie. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine big brother."

Happy came out of the clubhouse, talking to the person behind him, he bumped into her, practically knocking her down. She clinched her jaw, wincing in pain, his arms went around her waist, to steady her. She slowly turned around, to see who, had their arm around her. She was so close, she could smell his cologne, cigarettes, and whiskey. "Sorry girl. You okay?"

"I'm fine." He released her from his hold, walking off to his bike.

XXX

She ended up staying at Gemma and Clay's, since she was attacked on her way into town, she was allowed to stay in a hotel by herself. She really didn't mind, Gemma had always spoiled her, treating her like the daughter she never had. She prepared herself because she knew, Gemma wouldn't let the mysterious bruise go either.

She was sitting at the table at breakfast the next morning with a piece of toast and a cup of coffee. "Is that all you're eating baby?"

She closed her eyes, old habits, she could eat what she wanted as much as she wanted. "For now. Can I tell you something and you promise you won't tell anyone?"

"Depends on what it is. If it has something to do with that bruise, I can't promise."

"The reason I broke off my engagement was that Paul told me I couldn't come to Donna's funeral. It was either him or my family, I chose my family, it wasn't the first time he's been controlling. He was never physical abusive, just emotionally, verbally, and mentally."

"And the bruise?"

"He slammed me against the wall, to keep me from leaving but I swear it's the only time he's laid hands on me Gemma. Can this just stay between us?"

"Madison..he hurt you."

"He's out of my life now. No need to let anyone know."

"If he shows up here..."

"He won't...I'm not worth his time." She got up from the table, putting her plate and cup in the dishwasher. Gemma watched her go, she could tell that something else was going on in her head.