Authors Note::

Hello! And welcome to How To Save A Life (HTSAL for short!) To start things off I just want to say thank you for clicking on my story, seriously, you could have chosen from thousands and thousands and you chose mine, so thank you! Now onto business.

This story while an SOA story, it will be loosely following the timeline from the time of Donna's death and on. This story is NOT about Jax and all of his misadventures (at least not directly) this is a Kozik story, so I will be taking a lot of liberties as he was only in a handful of episodes (which really in my opinion is a crying shame) I will be staying true to most major character deaths (there are a couple that I'm still debating on.)

Also, I am only human which makes me fallible, so there is a good chance that I miss things or make mistakes, please, please, please TELL me when I do (nicely please) I do not mind constructive criticism, in fact I welcome it because how else am I going to get any better.

Oh and given the rating on this, just be aware that this story is going to cover violence, alcohol and drugs, sex, adult themes and language! Consider yourself warned!

I think that about covers it.

Oh wait, I don't own SOA, this is purely for entertainment purposes and all that jazz. So please don't sue me Mr. Sutter.

On with the show.

Happy Reading.

And if you're feeling generous leave a review!

Chapter One: You Always End Up Going Home

"Where we love is home-home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."-Oliver Wendell Holmes, SR.

-XX-

The sign reads 'Charming, Our Name Says It All', and as someone who lived her entire life up until four years ago in the confines of this small town nestled in the San Joaquin Valley, I once would have agreed. That is before the phone ringing at two in the morning dragged me from sleep.

'Grace-Ann, Donna's dead…' the shaking voice uttering those two catastrophic words in my ear had my stomach somersaulting the whole drive home; more than once during the three hour drive I had to pull over to empty my stomach.

I have spent so much time away, so much time growing and becoming someone so different from the wide eyed eighteen-year-old who not so much moved but ran as fast as she could at the first chance she got, that I'm not sure I can cross the city limit line.

Someone once told me that you always end up going home. It may have been my Dad, or perhaps it was a song I heard somewhere, I can never remember. I just remember promising myself I'd never come back. Not because I don't love Charming, or my family, but because I know this place is going to end up killing everyone I have ever loved, and it looks like it's already started.

-XX-

I sit on the hood of my SUV, legs crossed as tears roll steadily down my cheeks and I know I won't be alone for long. I was expected back thirty minutes ago, and as if on cue I hear the steady roar of a bike drawing close. I can't bring myself to move, so I keep on staring and crying, trying to draw on some sort of strength, but I've yet to find any to speak of.

"Luann's going crazy looking for you," Jax's familiar voice breaks up the silence as he settles next to me, a hand landing on my knee and giving a soft squeeze.

"Luann has my number, she could have called," I say shaking my head, "you know, other than just to tell me someone has died."

"Come on Gracie, you know your Mom is trying the best that she can," he offers holding his cigarette out to me and taking it I can't help but be hit by the memory that it was Jax Teller who snuck me my first cigarette when I was just shy of fifteen and curious. It was also Jax who held my hair when I smoked myself green and puked for half a night, in fact he was a lot of firsts for me, all mostly innocent despite what most of Charming would like to believe. The truth is I harbored a crush on Jax for all of two seconds, before realizing that he was, and always will be, the big brother I always wanted.

"Jax, I'm a grown up now," I say letting out a stream of smoke before turning my face to him, "Luann is about as capable of being my Mom as I am of taking up the family business and selling my pussy."

"Jesus Grace-Ann, really?" he sounds so put off by the idea and blushes so sweetly I can't help but laugh, just a little.

"Am I wrong?" I demand and when he makes no comment to the contrary I know that I'm right.

-XX-

My chest tightens as I pull into TM, and the stab of annoyance upon seeing the flashy red sports car with the license plate that reads XXX Diva is unavoidable. Things with Luann and I have been on rocky ground for four years and all signs point to them just getting worse.

My hands tighten on the steering wheel as I seriously contemplate just turning back around and leaving, but the rumble of Jax's bike tells me turning back isn't an option so with a final deep breath I open the door. I make it two steps before my name is sailing on the air.

"Gracie, is that you, hey guys, Gracie's home!" the excited voice echoes loudly through the yard and lifting my face I see one of my favorite faces.

"Uncle Chibs," I murmur and then my feet are carrying me quickly until I'm in his arms.

"Hey sweet girl, it's okay," his voice is soft as he lifts me from my feet. I bury my face in his neck holding on as tightly as I can until he settles me back on my feet. He cups my face in his hands brushing at my tears and taking a careful breath I shake my head.

"I'm such a baby, I know…"

"Have you seen your Mom yet?" he asks with an arm around my shoulder as he leads me towards the clubhouse.

"No. I came straight here."

"She misses you, you know…"

My feet plant firmly just outside of the clubhouse doors and I can't help the anger that bubbles up.

"What is it with you boys suddenly coming to Luann's defense?" I demand and when he just shrugs a shoulder at me I know I have to just accept it. Luann Delaney has always drawn respect from the club, mostly because of who she happens to be married to, my father, Big Otto Delaney.

Big Otto has been faithfully doing time for the club, what was supposed to be a five-year term has stretched so far at this point that I know the only way I will see him outside of Stockton State Prison walls will be when we're burying him.

"Gracie? Earth to Gracie…" his hand waves in front of my face and offering a small smile I let him lead the way.

-XX-

The clubhouse is just how I remember it. Loud. Chaotic. Pulsing with life as voices and smoke mingle in the air. I sit in the furthest corner seat at the shining bar nursing a beer as I watch. It never ceases to amaze me the way people come together when they are struck by tragedy. I've seen just about everyone, even people from the furthest charters have made their way home to Charming to pay respects to a slain 'old lady' and offer any and all support to their brother Opie.

Opie. I have yet to see him but from what I've gathered he's not much in the mood for seeing people. Not even his own kids as Mary has stepped in to try and help, as has Piney, and Jax. I sigh draining the last of my beer and turning to set the bottle down I see her.

Her long hair is pulled up and away from her face and she looks less then pleased as she pushes through the crowd towards me.

"Are you fucking kidding me? I find out from some crow eater that you're here, drinking, can't even pick up your phone to call me," Luann's voice carries over the music and with a roll of my eyes I motion for another beer.

"Well I would have called, but I figured you were a bit busy with your dick suckers…" I say which earns me a slap that snaps my head to the side and makes my ears ring. I shake my hair back off my shoulders, and lift my bottle in a toast, "hi Mom. I missed you too."