Hey guys! This is my first FanFic. (for those of you who have already read this, well... I revamped it so that the chapters are longer.) I hope you enjoy this story as much as I do!

Oh and I don't follow the SoA story line that Kurt Sutter created. Or timeline for that matter. I used some of the character from different seasons and whatnot.

Happy reading and please review :)

-Jennifer11

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Sons of Anarchy or anything that Kurt Sutter created.

Charlotte's POV

My hand was clamped tightly over my mouth in a weak attempt to silence my ragged breathing. I pulled my knees up to my chest and prayed that he wouldn't find me. It was torturous to hide in the back of my closet while I listened. The screams and sounds of my mother being hurt made my want to kill the man that I called dad. The only thing that made me hide instead of attack was my fear that he'd kill me. I knew I needed to help my mom but I had tried that the first few times and all it got me was a trip to the hospital. After my third visit to the hospital, my mother told me something that now held me back. "Stop trying to help me. It's just getting you is a bed next to me at the hospital. I want you to be safe. This was MY life that led me here. I'd hate to see my choices hurt you."

After what seems like hours, all I heard was a door slam. I waited to make sure he had left, like he normally does after each 'incident' as my mom put it. I slowly opened the door and crawled out of the closet. I quickly got up and ran into my parents' bedroom. As soon as I made it to the door, I froze. My mom was sprawled on the floor, covered in blood, clothes ripped off, and softly crying. Tears sprang up in my eyes as I rushed to her side and knelt beside her.

"Mom? Please mom, tell me what to do."

Her eyes searched the room before landing on me. "Ch- Char…"

I could hear that my mom was having trouble breathing and must have a few broken ribs.

"Charlotte… You need to find the box in my closet… "

"But… we need to get you to the hospital…"

"You NEED to find it…" She gasped.

"Fine I will." I finally agreed as I pulled out my cellphone and called for an ambulance. I held her hand as dispatch told me the closest ambulance was twenty minutes away. I thought to myself "It's gonna be a long twenty minutes."

I felt a small squeeze and looked down. My mothers' eyes were pleading with me as she whispered "Please Char. The box."

I struggled with the decision but got up and left my mother for a few moments. I opened the closet and couldn't find any boxes at all. After pushing some old clothes aside, buried deep in the very back of the closest was a small shoebox with my name on it. I pulled it out and went back to my mother, whose breathing had gotten shallower. I held her hand, hoping the ambulance would arrive soon.

I clutched the shoebox to my chest as I rode in the ambulance and the paramedics worked on my mother. They informed me that police officers would be meeting us at the hospital and would need to ask me some questions. I nodded but was unable to focus on anything but my mothers' short breaths.

As the paramedics rushed my mom into surgery, I was left to panic alone in the waiting room. I put the small box on the chair next to me as I pulled out my phone and called the one person I felt would be able to help me.

David's POV

I heard my phone ringing and saw who was calling. I quickly answered "Hello? Charlotte?"

"David. I need your help. It's my mom."

I could hear the pain and fear in her voice. "Char, where are you?"

"Modesto Memorial."

"I'll be there as soon as I can."

Charlotte's POV

I hung up and wiped the tears from my eyes as I waited and stared at the box next to me. My curiosity told me to open it but my worry for my mom and what I would find inside the box was stopping me from opening it.

I was lost in my own thoughts and had been in the waiting room for about an hour when I looked up and saw my old friend walk through the door looking for me. I stood up as he walked over to me and wrapped his arms around me.

Tears were drying on my cheeks as I hugged him tightly, afraid I'd breakdown again. He pulled away and looked down at me.

"Have they told you anything?" He asked.

I shook my head. I felt myself shaking as we both sat down. I looked around at the police officers and worried about what would happen next. Before I could say anything else to David, a doctor walked into the room. I gripped his hand as the police officers followed the doctor over to me.

"Miss Smith?"

I simply nodded and stood as the doctor and cops stopped in front of me.

"I'm sorry but your mother…"

I couldn't hear the rest of what she said. I burst into tears and collapsed into David. I couldn't control myself as I fell to the floor. Thoughts were running through my mind as I tried to get a hold of myself. "What do I do now? I can't go home. How will I protect myself from him? Why did she have to die? It's all his fault. I have no one left in this world to turn to."

As my tears stopped, I looked up and found myself alone with David in the waiting room. He simply sat next to me and let the pain run its course while keeping his hand on my shoulder.

I whispered to him "What do I do now?"

He shrugged in silence as I sat up and tried to wipe my tears away. I struggled to catch my breath as I stared at my lap.

"What's in the box?" He prompted me slowly.

I shrugged as I pulled it off the chair and into my lap. "David, I'm afraid to open it."

"It'll be ok. I'm right here."

I bit my lip and nodded as I slowly lifted the lid. I found a letter, some old photos, and necklace. My breath caught in my chest as I saw my name scrawled in my mothers' handwriting on the envelope. I slowly opened the envelope and pulled the letter out.

"Charlotte,

If you're reading this then I'm sorry. I wish that I could stay with you forever and protect you from him. Please know that I love you and I'm sorry.

I'm sorry that I couldn't be strong enough for you. But now you need to be strong for the both of us.

I know life hasn't been fair to you and that you tried to help. I just hope that you never have to go through what I've been through and that you will never be hurt again.

I need to tell you the truth. I couldn't tell you before in fear that when James found out, he'd hurt you more.

James is not your father. Your real father lives in Charming, California. You need to move back there immediately. It's the only place that I know you will be safe. I know that your friend David Hale lives there and is on the police force, but he is not who will keep you safe.

Your fathers name is Piermont Winston. I know you think that your name is Charlotte Smith but you were born Charlotte Winston. James made me change your name after I married him.

I'm sorry and I love you.

Mom"

More tears fell from my eyes as I read the letter. David never took his hand off of my shoulder. He was trying to be supportive, I knew but I couldn't wrap my head around what I just learned. I pulled out the pictures and saw a younger version of my mother sitting on the back of a motorcycle with a man I had never met. The next photo was of my mother and I at the hospital the day I was born. The last one was of the same man holding me at the hospital.

I wiped tears from my eyes as I put everything back into the box and pulled out the necklace. It was a locket and the photos inside were of my mother and the man from the other pictures. I shook my head as if to shake this new information out.

I looked up at David. I had known him for as long as I can remember. When we used to live in Charming, he was my next-door neighbor and had watched me when my mother needed him to. After I moved away, we stayed in touch. He was like a brother to me but over the past couple years I kept some things from him. I never told him that James laid a hand on my mom or me. I was worried that James would find out and kill him. David didn't deserve that.

"David" I whispered "I can't go home."

He nodded, not pressing the situation, and stood "No problem. You're moving in with me."

He held out his hand to help me up. I got up and picked up the box. David slowly led me out of the hospital to a police car. I slid into the passenger seat and before he closed the door I looked up at him. "David… I… thank you."

He nodded and smiled sympathetically before closing the door.

The car ride was silent as David drove us to Charming. As we passed the 'Welcome to Charming' sign, I sighed. "David, did you read the letter?"

He shook his head. "No I wasn't going to do that unless you wanted me to."

I nodded and paused thinking about what to say.

"I need to find my father."

"You mean James?"

"No. He was never a father to me." The tears started back up as I tried to explained to him what had happened. I told him how James hurt my mother repeatedly but left out the parts about him coming after me. I couldn't finish or tell him what the rest of the letter said as the grief took over again.

David lightly touched my hand. "It's ok. You never have to go back to James. I'll help you get back on your feet and settled here in Charming."

I nodded as David led me into his house and to the guest bedroom.

"If you need anything, let me know." He said softly before leaving me to rest.

The next couple of days were tough. I barely left the bedroom that David let me have. I cried, slept, and drank trying to forget about everything.

David finally dragged me out of the room after making me shower. My mothers' funeral was today and David said we'd go to the house and grab my things before going back to Charming for good.

To say that I was nervous would be an understatement. I was worried and nervous that James would be there. David and I arrived at the cemetery and he reassured me he'd be right there if I needed him. I gripped his arm as we sat through the ceremony. James hadn't even shown up. Afterwards, David drove me to my old home and helped me pack things I wanted to keep. As soon as we had finished and were about to walk out the door, a black BMW pulled up and James stepped out. I tensed but tried to keep walking.

James spotted us and hurried over. "Charlotte where are you going?"

I couldn't answer him. I was so scared that I started shaking. David pulled me towards the car and helped me into it.

"Charlotte, please sweetheart stop." James pleaded.

I looked up at him but all I saw was the man who killed my mother. David quickly started the car and drove us back to Charming, making sure that James wasn't following us.

About a week later, I told David I needed to get a job or I'd go crazy. He let me borrow his car so I could go on a job hunt. Being twenty-five and unable to get a decent job when I got out of college, I started bartending. I knew that my looks helped me get better tips than most bartenders but I hated using anything other than my skills to get a job or raise.

My first search for a job in Charming led me to a bar near downtown. I pushed the door open and went over to the bar. When the bartender acknowledged me I asked him if they were hiring. He pointed me over to the owner and told me to ask him.

I went over to the man that was pointed out to me and smiled "Um I was told to ask you if were hiring?" As I asked, he turned to look at me and I noticed his tattoos. I tried not to stare when I saw a swastika on his shoulder and several other offensive tattoos. Knowing that I needed a job badly I ignored his other tattoos.

He nodded. "I could always use some help." He obviously wasn't trying to hide the fact he was checking me out. "You can start tonight." He says as he holds out his hand saying, "You can call me Ern."

I shook his hand "Charlotte."