I own nothing you recognize. All original characters and storylines are my own.

Friends or Enemies

"Enjoy your stay." The flight attendant said brightly as Milla departed the plane at the airport in Belfast. She just nodded in return and gripped her carry on tightly.

She didn't know what to expect as she stepped out with the crowd and saw people hugging and kissing loved ones and staunch, suited, men with signs greeting men and women in rumpled business suits. She knew she was supposed to meet the Old Lady of the Belfast President and a couple of "associates". As she scanned the area she grew nervous. She'd heard that there would be a Son and one of the Old Ladies with but the Son would be in plainclothes. That meant anyone in the sea of faces could be who she was looking for. Just as she was about to break down and call home a handsome boy of about her age started waving.

"Milla! Milla Morrow! Over here darlin'!" Knowing that he couldn't be making the racket for anyone else she went to him and found a petite woman with blonde hair and a gorgeous girl with deep red waiting with him. "I'm Padraic, Chibs' nephew, you can call me Paddy if you like."

He was affable and it was a pleasant contrast to the blond woman's coldness and the redhead's aloofness. He placed an arm across her shoulders and guided her to the baggage claim where her two bags were in the process of circling. Once she and Paddy managed to wrestle her bags off the conveyor belt she turned to the women who hadn't said anything to her.

"I'm sorry that I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Millicent Morrow, but you can call me Milla." She said as she held out her hand and the redhead took it.

"I'm Trinity Ashby and this is my Ma Maureen. You'll be living with us." She said and once she released Milla's hand Milla held it out to Maureen who took her hand and lightly squeezed.

"Good ta' meet ya. Let's go ta the car." She said and Milla nodded before she followed Trinity and Maureen out the door while Paddy kept a comforting arm around her shoulders.

…

Milla's eyes scanned everything as they drove through the damp, industrialized streets. When she thought of Ireland she thought of green hills, castles and beautiful music. Now she saw that the town was ugly and had a pall to it that could only be described as depressing. Her Dad had warned her that it wouldn't be like her Yeats poetry that she loved so much. No Lake Isles to get lost in or Faeries to steal her away. She was about to give up hope and believe that she was making a mistake until they turned toward the docks and she saw that the water, though dark and choppy, held this silver sheen and showed a beauty that the sun would take advantage of.

"Yeah, the water's beautiful. When it's a nice day I'll show ya around the waterfront. There're some nice stores." Trinity said and Milla noticed that her aloofness dissipated. Apparently Milla had passed a test of some kind. Time would tell if she passed with her mother.

"That sounds great." Milla said softly and Trinity smiled softly. At first Trinity didn't know what to make of the petite dark haired woman. She seemed so quiet and shy and in Trinity's experience that meant she was stuck up but now Trinny could see that she was just nervous about being somewhere so far from home and her family. Trinity could understand that and would do what she could to make things easier for her.

…

"Home sweet home." Padraic said as he pulled into an alleyway and Milla looked to see an alley lined with businesses and something that brought a tear to her eye. There was the SAMBEL clubhouse in all of its glory, the reaper a beacon in the dreariness around her. Once Milla got out of the car she found her feet walking toward the clubhouse when Maureen grabbed her arm and guided her away.

"Ya can go ta the clubhouse later darlin'. They're busy right now but Keith is anxious ta meet ya. Come on, we'll unload yer stuff." Maureen said and Milla nodded as she took her carry-on with her and Padraic carried her bags up the steps.

Later she sat on her bed in the house as she sniffled. She was so homesick she felt like she would throw up and even though Paddy and Trinity were friendly she felt like she was a huge burden on Maureen and the thought made her sick. She wanted to go home and have her Mom's stuffed peppers and sit on the arm of her Dad's chair while he puffed a stogie and told her stories about the First Nine. She wanted to be behind the bar with Juice, pouring drinks for Tig while Bobby lost at pool across the room. She wanted to go home; there was nothing else to it.

"Ya ok?" At the sound of the voice Milla's head shot up and Trinity smiled warmly while Milla hastily brushed the tears off her cheeks and used the sleeve of her sweater to wipe off the snot.

"I'm fine." Milla said and Trinity nodded before she tilted her head toward the hallway.

"Come on, ya can unpack later. We've got more people fer ya ta meet." She said and Milla felt her eyes widen. More people? She was already overwhelmed by everything else; she didn't need people to add to it. Even so she got up and followed Trinity to the kitchen where a beautiful, older, black woman was setting a pan on the stove and a sullen young girl was sitting at the table with Maureen.

"Mo, do ya have any onions, I think this needs 'em?" The woman asked Maureen before she turned her head and looked at Milla. She smiled slightly."Hello darlin', ya must be Gemma's girl."

Milla simply looked at the woman, not the least surprised that she knew her heritage. As she stood and debated on the proper way to introduce herself Trinity spoke up.

"Aye, this is Milla Morrow. Milla this is Fiona Larkin and the little grump is Kerrianne." She introduced them and it took everything in Milla's power not to gape at them. The beautiful woman was Chibs' wife and the little girl who looked like the world owed her something was Kerrianne. Now that she had a point of reference she looked both of them over and it made sense in her head. They looked just like the pictures Chibs kept in his cut and on his bedside dresser.

"It's a pleasure Milla." Fiona smiled in a guarded way, but without the uncompromising coldness Maureen presented, then she looked at her daughter. "What d'ya say Kerri?"

"Nice ta meet ya." She said with a bit of snark before she turned to her mother. "Come on Ma, we need ta get home. They're doin the Dr. Who special and I wanna see who they bring on."

"You mind yer tongue missy. We're here ta meet Milla and help Maureen with this recipe, not watch TV." Fiona said and Kerrianne just sulked some more before Milla sat on the chair next to her and smiled.

"Which Doctor's your favorite?" Milla asked the young girl who gave her a surprised look.

"I like the Fourth Doctor." She said, not expecting this outsider to know anything about the show that Kerri labeled as hers.

"So do I, Sarah Jane's also my favorite companion." Milla smiled as the young girl that she barely knew started a very animated conversation about why Sarah Jane was awesome.

While they chatted Fiona looked over at them and felt herself smile slightly. Maybe this girl wouldn't be the disaster Maureen pegged her to be. She was quiet, polite and showed a kindness to Kerri and Trinity that few in their life did. It showed that she had good character and maybe she'd survive. If she didn't get mixed up with the True IRA. Fiona said a silent prayer to that effect before she moved her pot to a different burner. She told Maureen she'd help with the recipe and she'd be damned if she didn't.

…

Later that night Milla was lying in her bed, thinking about her day. It had certainly been eventful and she met the people who would be central to her social circle for the year. So far she liked Paddy, Trinity and Kerrianne. She had no idea what to make of Maureen and Fiona. Maureen scared her with her open dislike of Milla, she was cold and caustic to her. Fiona was aloof and kept a distance between them but wasn't cold or harsh. That was ok because Milla kept her distance from FIona too. She knew enough about FIona's history to be wary of her and feel a healthy disdain. This woman had left Chibs to be with the man that almost killed him. In Milla's book that was unforgivable and disgusting and she wanted nothing to do with it. At the same time she had to be polite and respectful, this woman was IRA to the blood and Milla knew better than to let her negative thoughts show. Respect was the name of the game and she was going to play it.

As she fought to keep her eyes open her phone flashed from its place on the adaptor and she picked it up. She didn't care who was on the other end, as long as they were from Charming or had a patch on their back.

"Hey Mills." The voice on the other end caused Milla's eyes to mist up but she managed to keep her voice free from emotion as she answered.

"Hey Juice, you're up kinda early aren't you?" She asked as the man whose smile brightened her world chuckled.

"I had to open the shop, I thought I'd check on ya before I sweep." Milla smiled at that, here he was a newly patched member and they still had him doing bitchwork. They needed new Prospects. "How was your first day in the Emerald Isle?"

"Good, I miss you all though. I couldn't go in the SAMBEL clubhouse so I'm missing everything more." She felt a tear slip and angrily brushed it away.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be in the clubhouse soon, they can't have royalty there without a party." He said softly before she heard a shout and the sound of metal rubbing against metal. "I have to go but get some sleep and remember we all love you here."

After that he hung up and Milla hugged the phone for a second. God she wanted to be home, she wanted to be in his arms. With a sigh she put the phone back on her nightstand and closed her eyes, trying not to think of Juice's smile. It wouldn't do to dwell on things that would never be.

...

Author's Note: Hello all. This is a new story of mine and will be taking place in the Brath universe. In this universe Milla and Juice aren't together for a looooonnnng time. You can find my exploration of this alternate universe in the stories: Fait Accompli, Brath, The Scars of Your Love and Stand My Ground. I hope you join me on the journey and enjoy the events as I present them. This will be a selection of one shots set within the Brath universe, no specific order, rhyme or reason to them. I guess you could call them deleted scenes. There will be drama, humor and love so I hope you enjoy these looks into the world where Milla and Juice had obstacles in their way to one another.