Sarah Winston shifted in her seat trying her best to smile and remain optimistic as she stared at her former boss Gretchen Norris. This was for the best Sarah silently reminded herself; she needed a fresh start.

She knew that there was no place like home to make the fresh start she so desperately needed.

Gretchen frowned concern clear in her dark be-spectated eyes. "Are you sure Sarah? What you're doing sounds stressful, a big move like that...and stress really isn't great for you considering...You know you always have a place with me. I have that apartment out back behind my place...It would be the perfect place for you to start over. I can even let you live rent free till you can get yourself sorted out. You'd have plenty of room there...I could get you set up with a good daycare and you could start working here again. I'll put you in a hostess spot. You can sit on a stool up front and rest your feet when you aren't sitting customers."

Sarah tried to give Gretchen a small hesitant smile as she reached up shoving back a strand of her long light auburn locks. The smile came out weak though guilt clouding her mind.

She felt so guilty leaving the woman. She adored Gretchen so much. The woman never failed to lend Sarah a helping hand when she needed it the most. Gretchen would probably bend over backwards if it meant helping Sarah out.

Sarah spoke hoping that she sounded more confident than she felt. "I'm sure Gretch. I feel like this move will be good for me. I have family and friends back in California. I just feel like Charming would be more stable for me than Nashville...It'll be a fresh start for me. I'll be with family and friends. That's just what I need right now. I love you for what you're offering, but it's too much. I need to make my own path in life...it's not just my life anymore. I have to think about what's best. For the little one."

Sarah reached down absentmindedly rubbing her small bud of a tummy the action being the only thing that calmed her lately when her mind began to run far too fast for her.

This move was for the best she reminded herself. Yes it was a bit scary being back in a place she hadn't seen in three years, but she would be with family.

She needed her family now more than ever.

"Is this move because of Carson? Because you know that that I would help you with a restraining order Sarah. Bill and I won't let him hurt you ever again sweetheart." Gretchen blurted out her brow furrowing farther as she reached out and took Sarah's pale hand in hers.

Sarah shook her head a tight smile on her face as she gave Gretchen's thin hand a squeeze. She had no doubt that Gretchen and Gretchen's long-time boyfriend Bill would do whatever it took to keep Sarah's ex far away from her. "No, no it's nothing like that at all. I haven't even seen him since I told him about the baby...he doesn't want anything to do with me or this kid. I want nothing to do with him either. I won't be seeing him ever again trust me. Besides you know Jenny would kill him if he ever tried to touch me again."

Gretchen sighed knowing that Sarah wasn't joking about the last part. Jenny Winston was a force to be reckoned with when it came to her older sister.

In the years that Gretchen had known the two women she had seen Jenny protect Sarah time and time again, almost to the point of over-protection.

To be honest Gretchen was stunned that Jenny hadn't slaughtered Carson with her bare hands the second she'd discovered just what he'd done to Sarah; the infidelity and the beatings he'd inflicted upon Sarah.

Carson had once worked as a busboy for the little Italian restaurant Gretchen and Bill owned, but Bill had fired him once it had become clear that Carson was lazy and immature.

Sarah took a small sip of her Sprite quickly changing the subject away from her jackass of an ex-boyfriend. "I've already called my uncle and he's going to help me out as much as he can. He's going to get me an apartment and get me set up with an office job in the garage he works at. I'm really looking forward to it. I think it's going to be a good move. Charming is a nice little town...it's a good place to raise a kid in. It's got a real old Americana feel to it, little mom and pop shops and community gardens. Every one knows every one pretty much...I was always happy there...I only left because I didn't want Jenny to come to Tennessee all alone.. I mean she was only eighteen. She needed me."

Gretchen nodded her head silently praying that Sarah was right about this. In the years that Sarah had worked at Gretchen's Italian restaurant The Mangiare Inn, Gretchen and her boyfriend Bill had come to adore Sarah.

They had never had any children of their own and had always found themselves treating their more faithful employees like family. Sarah had quickly become almost like a daughter to them.

She had shown up three years ago holding a newspaper classified ad showing waitress job the restaurant had been advertising. Though Sarah had never waited tables before in her life Gretchen had decided to give her a chance.

Sarah had learned how to wait tables quickly and had been so enthusiastic about the job. She was a favorite of many of the restaurant's patrons and she'd gotten the large tips to prove it.

Sarah had shown such a noticeable passion for cooking and learning the restaurant business, and Bill and Gretchen had both enjoyed teaching her everything they knew.

Both Bill and Gretchen had spent many days passing on old recipes to Sarah and showing her her way around the kitchen. They had taught her what they knew about managing a restaurant. They taught her about managing the finances, ordering supplies, managing customers, and keeping the place popular.

They trusted Sarah. She was a good employee; loyal and hardworking. It was a lot considering most of their waitresses and workstaff came and went as they pleased and didn't take the job very seriously.

Gretchen was sad to see Sarah go. She knew Bill would be just as heartbroken.

That was partly why he'd conveniently gone out to take a lunch break right before Sarah had shown up for lunch.

Bill loved the girl. Gretchen could remember how heartbroken he'd been when he had found out that Gretchen and he couldn't have children. It was him; his body just wasn't made to create children.

He looked at Sarah like she was the daughter he'd never had. He didn't want her to go. Gretchen knew that much. His heart was broken.

Gretchen's heart was broken as well. Sarah reminded her of herself when she was a young woman; shy but so sweet. Gretchen also saw a darker side of herself in Sarah; an abused woman trying to make a fresh start for herself.

Gretchen had escaped a marriage from hell running from New York to Nashville to hide from her ex.

The baby had been the only bright spot of Sarah's relationship with Carson. Gretchen considered the unborn baby her grandchild.

She had already begun to dream of helping Sarah prepare for the baby; being a mother figure to Sarah and grandparent of sorts to the baby.

Gretchen gave Sarah's hand another squeeze as she spoke. "If you ever need anything you know you can call Bill or me, day or night. It doesn't matter how late or how early it is, If you need anything don't hesitate to call us. I want you to stay in contact."

"I know. Of course I'll keep you updated on everything." Sarah replied pulling her hand away from Gretchen's.

Gretchen was quick to speak again a small excited smile appearing on her face as the frown disappeared. "I'm going to come visit you as soon as the munchkin gets here. I'll be sure to get Bill to give me his credit card. Auntie Gretchen has a lot of spoiling planned."

Sarah laughed at this so thankful for Gretchen and Bill both. They were both so dear to her and she knew that she would miss them so much. "I'm looking forward to it. I've already got an idea of what I want to do for the nursery. I'm thinking that I want to do a Winnie the Pooh theme, old fashioned Winnie the Pooh not the newer stuff...it'll work rather it's a boy or a girl."

Gretchen grinned nodding her head. "That's a wonderful idea. You already know I am going to get the munchkin one stuffed animal of every Winnie the Pooh character in existence."

Sarah chuckled at this not doubting Gretchen's words.

The pregnancy had been a shock to Sarah. It most definitely had not been planned.

Sarah's boyfriend Carson and she had been dating for about two years. It wasn't a happy relationship by any means. Carson tended to have a nasty temper and a tendency to sleep with just about every woman who crossed his path.

Carson was a struggling musician; a singer. He fancied himself to be the next big thing in rock music. He couldn't manage to keep his band together though.

His ego often got in the way of musical harmony within the band he had started up with an old college roommate.

When he was out of the band his drinking started up, and when his drinking started up he lost his temper. He lost his temper with Sarah, and when that temper went his fists threw in Sarah's direction.

Sarah tried to break up with him of course. She tried to dump him more than once. But Carson always had a way of worming himself back into Sarah's good graces.

Anytime Sarah told him it was through, he came around with flowers and promises to become the man Sarah deserved.

The last breakup had been the worse. Sarah had attended one of Carson's bands gigs excited for a night out. She had always loved watching her boyfriend perform.

What she had found backstage had angered her though; Carson standing back in the dressing room his head thrown back as an unfamiliar woman stood knelt down in front of him pleasuring him.

Sarah had of course freaked out, telling him it was through.

Little did she know though Carson had left her with a gift the last time they'd had sex.

She had decided to keep the baby after all it wasn't it's fault that it's dad was such a rotten asshole.

From the second Sarah had seen the positive pregnancy test she loved her baby. As far as she was concerned this baby would never know just how hateful it's father was. Sarah would protect it and love it. She would give her child all she had.

Sarah was excited to become a mother, though it was unplanned and honestly a little frightening.

She had called her Uncle Piney Winston the week before and had made plans to go back to her hometown of Charming. Piney had promised her to get her set up with a decent apartment and help her start her life over.

Sarah was looking forward to this new start at life. She was going to do whatever it took to make it work.

All that was left to do was go home and pack up as much as she could. She'd already asked Gretchen to pack up her things for her and ship them.

This would be a new start Sarah reminded herself; a new life.

Jenny Winston let out a tired huff as she made her way up the staircase leading up to her and her sister's tiny two bedroom apartment.

She silently wondered why they'd chosen to rent an apartment on the top floor of a three story apartment building again?

Tonight the climb up the staircase seemed especially treacherous to Jenny. Her feet ached despite the fact that she'd put on a cushy pair of black flats. The all too tall clear platform shoes she had to wear at work were of course the cause to Jenny's foot pain. She was perfectly aware of this fact.

Ones feet hurt like the devil after shaking your ass in six inch platforms all night and giving lapdances to drunken fools.

Though Jenny had no shame about her job she had never once in a thousand years had she ever thought that she would become a stripper. It seemed that this was the turn her life had taken though.

Jenny had come out to Nashville to be a star; a country music star to be exact. She had dreams of playing at the Grand Ole Opry for as long as she could remember.

She wanted to be like Loretta Lynn and June Carter Cash. She loved country music. Piney had introduced to her when she was just a kid and it had been love at first listen.

Jenny had the talent. She could sing. She could play guitar. She could even play the piano. People often noticed that Jenny had a knack for learning just about any instrument she got her hands on.

But it took more than talent to land a record deal in this town.

Jenny had tried of course. She had booked gigs at shitty little bars across town. She had tried hard to get a proper agent. She had even tried to send a few of her tapes to radio stations around town.

But her big break hadn't come. And after more than a few greasy agents had tried to get into her pants, Jenny had all but left her dreams of music stardom behind.

She had taken a job where she knew she could make big bucks in just a few hours work; stripping.

It wasn't glamorous of course, but it paid quite nicely. It helped keep Jenny and her big sister in a decent apartment and it helped keep food on the table.

Jenny was willing to put up with the work if it meant taking care of Sarah. She knew Sarah needed her.

Jenny entered the apartment her eyes heavy and her brain aching from the perfumey body glitter she always slathered on before taking the stage at the strip club.

All she wanted right now was to get a good night's sleep, or well what was left of the night.

She was stunned as she entered the apartment to find Sarah wide awake. It wasn't that Sarah was awake that shocked her. Sarah had been having trouble sleeping; worrying herself over her baby.

It was what Sarah was doing that was so shocking; packing, clearly packing boxes to move.

Sarah widened her eyes looking almost like a little girl who had been caught shoving her hand into a cookie jar. She dropped the book she'd been holding into a big cardboard box already labeled living room as she spoke. "Hi."

"Hi? That's it, hi? What are you doing?" Jenny blurted out still stunned by the image in front of her.

Sarah ran her hand through her hair her mind in knots. She had been planning how this conversation should go in her head for a week now.

She had been packing the boxes in her room since she'd talked to Piney. She was planning on telling Jenny that she was moving back to Charming of cousre. She hadn't figured out just when she should tell her though.

"I'm moving back home." Sarah blurted out feeling like a rotten sister for keeping this a secret for a week.

Jenny dropped her bag on the floor her brow furrowing. She stepped forward her arms crossing over her chest. "Back home? As in Charming?"

Sarah gave her sister a sheepish smile nodding her head. "Yeah...I talked to Piney about it already. He is going to help me get on my feet as much as he can, and Gemma will help too. It's a good idea; going home. I want the baby to have family around."

"I'm family." Jenny blurted out knowing she sounded like a pouting child right now.

She felt betrayed though. Sarah had been planning this move for a while. It was clear that she'd been planning things; the box was an obvious indicator of this.

Sarah sighed knowing she should have expected this reaction. Jenny was protective. Jenny and she had grown up knowing that all they had was one another, it had pushed on into adulthood.

Jenny took it too far sometimes though. She didn't mean it. Jenny was more scared of being alone than she liked to admit. Sarah could see it in her eyes sometimes.

Jenny stpped forward again her eyes growing a darker blue as her mind clouded with rage. "Is this move because of that bastard Carson? Did he contact you? I swear to God if he hurt you I'll kill him."

"No. It's not him, honest. I just want something more for this baby. I want it to grow up around family and friends. I want it to go to Scoops Ice Cream Parlor like we did when we were kids. I want to take it to Charming Gardens and show it how to plant tomatoes and roses like Gemma used to take us to do. I want it to have a good childhood." Sarah explained not shocked by her little sister's anger.

She could remember how Jenny had found her bruised and bloodied for the first time after Carson lost his temper. Jenny had gotten the gun Piney had given her when she left Charming and had rushed into the room where Carson was napping hungover. She had put the gun to his forehead and told him to get the hell out.

Carson had disappeared for a month or two after that. He'd shown up at the park he knew Sarah liked to go to and dropped down to his knees begging her forgiveness. He'd gotten therapy he claimed; therapy to deal with his anger. He had quit drinking he'd claimed.

Sarah had believed him. It was nice for a little while. It was the honeymoon period. Then he got mean again; belittling her for not doing the laundry the way he liked or not making his eggs runny. He started cheating on her again. He stayed out all night drinking. He was horrible to Sarah.

Sarah hadn't thought she deserved more. Carson just had problems she told herself. She told herself he needed her. His past was so nasty, she tried to tell herself. He'd been thorough such horrible things when he was a boy, she tried to say when slapped her.

Then Sarah had gone to one of Carson's band's shows one night. She'd walked backstage with the Red Bull she knew Carson always wanted before a show. She had walked into the dressing room and had found Carson with his head thrown back in pleasure a waitress Sarah worked with a while back on her knees giving him a blowjob.

Sarah had thrown his Red Bull at the wall. She had told him to go fuck himself sideways and had left.

Something had just snapped in her.

Sarah spoke again trying to ease her baby sister's obvious annoyance. "I know you don't like Charming Jen. I know you hate it. I don't though. It's home to me. I've been so homesick lately. I want my baby to know the home I love. I want him or her to have a better childhood than we had."

"Oh because SAMCRO is such a place for a happy childhood." Jenny remarked her jaw growing tight.

It wasn't just that Jenny hated Charming. It was SAMCRO that really got to her. Her relationship with the club was complicated at best. Of course Jenny could remember spending her weekends at the clubhouse with Sarah.

Sarah had taken to the Sons like a duck to water. She played pool with Bobby and Clay. She sat at Gemma's side reading books about gardening. She let Tig take her for rides on his motorcycle. She hung out with Jax and Opie at the garage helping them fix old bikes.

Jenny didn't have any issues with the Sons per say. In fact she loved the guys. They had always been wonderful to her; like a bunch of uncles. It was just that they were always so overprotective; so determined to always stick their noses into Jenny's business.

And then there was Gemma. Gemma and Jenny have never been able to see eye to eye. Jenny couldn't help but to see the manipulative side of Gemma; the side of her that shoved her nose where it didn't belong no matter how many times you told her to back off. Gemma was always trying to control every one around her and Jenny didn't fall into Gemma's plans for her.

Jenny saw the club for what it truly was. Her mind always flashed up the moments when the peace faded. Jenny saw the violence, the fallen Sons, the druguse, the croweaters being treated like garbage by some of the guys.

The thought of Sarah wanting to raise her kid in that world make Jenny feel sick.

Sarah sighed knowing that she and Jenny had never agreed on SAMCRO. Sarah saw a family that loved her, friends that made her laugh, people who had her back.

Jenny just saw the love the guys had for her of course. They'd always been good to her; loving. She couldn't deny that. She loved them. When she looked past that though she just saw how suffocating the club could truly be. Jenny felt that she couldn't live the life she wanted as long as she was under SAMCRO's thumb.

"I know how you feel. This is my choice though Jenny. I want my little boy or girl to grow up with the people I love. It doesn't mean I love you any less. It doesn't mean you aren't this kid's aunt. I just need to do this okay. I need you to have my back on this. We promised we would always have each other's backs Jenny. Keep the promise." Sarah pleaded trying to explain how she felt.

Jenny closed her eyes her stomach and her heart sinking; The Promise.

She let her mind wander far back into their childhood, back to the promise she had made to Sarah.

Jenny entered the dim hospital room at Saint Thomas the cold cola the nurse had given her the money to buy sweating in her hot little hand.

She wished Uncle Piney would come back from the clubhouse. She knew his club needed him right now, that was what he said.

The nurses and the nuns that frequented Saint Thomas' childrens floor had promised to keep an eye on Sarah and she. Jenny felt lonely though.

She was just glad her mom wasn't here anymore. Uncle Piney had sent her away to go get help.

Sarah and she would be living with Uncle Piney for now on.

She could remember how mad Uncle Piney had looked when mom had wandered into Sarah's hospital room whiskey on her breath.

He had taken her arm roughly leading her staggering outside into the hall. Both Jenny and Sarah heard the yelling. The hospital security came and Piney finally stopped yelling. Mom left and Piney came back and apologized for being so mad.

Jenny understood just why he was mad. She didn't like it when mom drank either. It smelled bad and tasted worse.

She felt her stomach drop as she looked at her big sister Sarah. Her heart was fixed; the hole was sealed, but Sarah was so weak still. The doctors said she had a long road ahead of her.

The doctors called Sarah's heart condition a Ventricular Septal Defect. Usually it was noticed soon after birth, but given Matilda Winston's often sporadic parenting skills the defect hadn't been noticed until a year ago.

Sarah had mostly just been considered a sickly girl; fragile, seemingly always tired, and she was so rarely hungry. The problem had been noticed when Piney finally got Matilda to take Sarah to a doctor. Of course he'd had to go to the doctors appointments with Matilda to insure the money would be used to take Sarah to Saint Thomas and not for anything else. The doctor had noticed a heart murmur and an xray, an echo-cardiogram, and a few other tests had determined that the problem was much more serious. There was a hole in Sarah's heart.

Doctors had decided to operate and close it. They were shocked that the hole hadn't been discovered sooner. There of course was the option of just letting a cardiologist keep an eye on the condition and not operate, but Piney had been the one who had pushed for the operation.

He had believed that it would give Sarah a better chance at living a long happy life. Both Gemma and he'd taken over caring for Sarah as Matilda found herself once again relapsing.

It was risky of course; the heart was the life force of one's body pumping blood all over the body. The doctor had been the best in his field though; Piney had made sure of it.

The surgery had been a success and Sarah was destined for a long life the doctor had said.

Sarah looked pale and washed out in the hospital bed surrounded by white and the pale blue of the hospital gown. Her red hair had been fishtail braided to the side when Gemma had come to visit earlier. Her nails were devoid of polish which was unusual for the fifteen year old. The only jewelry she wore was a simple golden cross around her neck. The iv in her thin hand made the scene all the more dreary.

Jenny sat on the recliner beside the bed her short legs not reaching the store. She opened her soda taking a swig. The sound of the soda can's metal tab was flipped clinking against the metal can awoke Sarah.

She blinked for a moment turning her head to lock her eyes on Jenny. She was surprised that the little girl was still here. She had expected that Gemma would have picked her up by now. Gemma had been keeping her at night and Sarah would go stay at Clay and Gemma's house until Piney got his house ready for Jenny and she.

Jenny spoke up tilting her head to the side. "Do you want a sip?"

"No, thanks." Sarah spoke her voice more of a croak.

She reached out with a shaking hand pulling her glass of water from the hospital table tray. She took sip the lukewarm water doing little to clear her throat.

Jenny took no notice of her sister's dry throat only noticing how sleepy she looked. "did you have a bad dream?"

Sarah gave the girl a small smile thankful that her younger sister still maintained some innocence despite how bad things had been these past few years. "No. I'm fine."

"Can I lie with you?" Jenny pleaded placing her soda down on the table.

Sarah scooted aside ignoring the pain and weakness in her body. Jenny gently crawled into bed with her placing her head on the pillow beside Sarah her tiny arm encircling Sarah's waist.

This was often the way they slept at home. They shared a room and though had their own beds Jenny often crawled into bed with her sister feeling safer there.

Sadly Sarah had found herself being more of a mom to Jenny than Matilda. She had protected Jenny from Matilda's drunken friends and rotten boyfriends. She had made sure Jenny was fed and clothed. She had made sure Jenny did her homework. She made sure Jenny went to school.

Since Sarah's illness though Jenny had found herself becoming the stronger of the siblings.

Sarah being sick scared her but she knew that if she was scared then Sarah must be really afraid. So Jenny had promised herself that she wouldn't let Sarah be afraid anymore.

Sarah spoke her eyes growing heavy knowing very well that Jenny had taken on a lot of heavy things for someone her age. "I'm always going to look out for you Jen. I will always have your back okay. I promise. I love you kid."

Jenny nodded her head just as sleepy. "I love you too Sarah. I',m gonna take care of you too forever and ever. I promise."

Piney arrived thirty minutes later to find the girls fast asleep the tv on the Looney Toons still.

He didn't remove Jenny from the bed. She looked comfortable. The sisters need each other.

Jenny opened her eyes her stomach rolling. She knew Sarah was right. I'll always have your back okay. I'm gonna take care of you forever and ever.

Jenny twisted her lips irritation still swirling with in her as it hit her that Sarah couldn't do this all alone. Sarah needed her.

She approached her sister holding her hands up in surrender. "Fine. I'm going with you."

Sarah sighed shaking her head. "You hate Charming."

"Yeah I do. But you aren't doing this alone. I can call the club and quit, it's not like I'm the first stripper to run off ever." Jenny remarked giving Sarah a hug.

The girls were going home.

Jenny kept her eyes locked on the dark road crossing into the California border from Nevada.

Jenny had taken the tips she'd been gathering rented a Uhaul and Sarah had taken the cash she'd been saving up and rented a red SUV. They'd hooked the small Uhaul up to the SUV and had hit the road.

It had been a long trip so far. The girls had been taking turns driving and sleeping in motels that Jenny deemed as safe.

Jenny still hated the idea of going back to her hometown. When she was a teenager she'd thought that the second she turned eighteen she'd leave town for Nashville become a huge star and never go home.

She shook her head realizing that she had been such a little fool.

She flipped off the heat taking a peek at Sarah as she slept curled up in the passengers seat.

Jenny felt her stomach roll as she realized that Sarah's blouse revealed just a hint of the scar in the center of her chest right between her breasts; a sign of the heart operation.

Jenny knew that it was a rare occurrence for the scar to be spotted. Sarah was insecure about it.

It had started in high school; kids were mean. Carson had made the insecurity worse though; telling her the scar was ugly, that it had ruined her body, that no man would ever want her because of it.

Sarah tended to cover the scar up her blouses too ashamed to let anyone see it.

Jenny turned her eyes back to the road once again telling herself that this was for the best; Sarah needed her. The baby would need her aunt. Jenny had to protect Sarah from SAMCRO.

She knew Sarah didn't see the danger, but that was Sarah's biggest flaw. She was too trusting; naive at times. She was too compassionate, too soft.

Jenny was tough in places Sarah couldn't be. Jenny knew that the world was ugly. It was a horrible craphole at times and you couldn't throw your heart around like a party favor.

Jenny knew that in this life you had to be a bitch sometimes. You had to protect yourself and if that meant hurting a few feelings than so be it.

She took a deep breath repeatedly telling herself that this was meant to be; going back to Charming.

She just wished he believed it.

Sarah was lost in her own dreamworld; well it was actually more of a memory than a dream. The dream was about the day she realized that she had to step up and get the hell out of Nashville.

Sarah walked into Flanagan's bar the place always dim and loud. She rolled her eyes her stomach bubbling as a hefty man who smelled like a mixture of body odor and cigarettes practically knocked her over as he made his way out the door right as she entered.

She shoved past him thankful that she didn't vomit thanks to the stench of him.

She smoothed down her dress instantly regretting wearing it. It was just that everything felt tight lately.

She wasn't looking forward to this, but it had to happen. Carson had to know.

No she sure as hell didn't want him in this baby's life, but she knew that she didn't want her son or daughter one day asking her about daddy and her having to tell him or her that daddy didn't even know about them.

Sarah had taken her own pistol shoving it in her purse knowing that if Carson crossed a line she could at least aim it at him.

She had'nt seen him since they'd broken up. She was thankful that he hadn't come to her job at the restaurant nor the apartment.

Sarah didn't return his suave smile as she spotted him at a table in the corner of the room. She had one goal; tell him and get out.

She had once found Carson and attractive man; he was tall, not too muscular, not too skinny. His dark hair had been shaved to a buzzcut, his light green eyes were misleadingly quite pretty.

He was wearing a Led Zepplin t-shirt, a pair of ripped old blue jeans, and old gray converse.

He looked so harmless, but Sarah knew better.

She reluctantly sat down across from her keeping her purse close.

Carson was the first to speak the shiteating smile still on his face. "Hey sugar can I get you a beer or some hotwings?"

Sarah tightened her jaw her blood running cold. He scared her, his voice scared her even. "No, This won't take long...and don't call me sugar."

Carson reached out placing a falsely reassuring hand on hers as he spoke. "Babe don't be like that come on. I said I was sorry. Francesca was a mistake Sarah bear. I've been so stressed and she got to me at a bad moment. I'm gonna try this time. We just need some time together. We can take a fun trip together just me and you. We could go up to Dollywood. You love Dollywood."

Sarah shook her head yanking her hand back her anger threatening to spill out. She took a deep breath pushing it away. "I don't want to go to Dollywood with you. I don't want to go anywhere. This isn't the first time you've cheated and I know it won't be the last. I'm not here for this."

Carson frowned becoming frustrated. He had been sure that Sarah was saving him the trouble of reeling her back in. He'd assumed she was crawling back to him.

He knew that he was the only man who would ever love her or put up with her insane little sister. It was annoying that she wasn't taking him back like she should.

Sarah spoke again spilling it all out. "I'm pregnant."

Carson widened his eyes not expecting this at all. He shook his head his voice picking up that cruel tone Sarah was all too familiar with. "Sure. Are you sure it's even mine?"

"Are you fucking kidding me? It's yours Carson." Sarah spat out knowing she shouldn't be shocked he'd be such an asshole about this.

Carson rolled his eyes shaking his head. "Are you sure it's not Jake's huh? Fatass was really into you."

Sarah gritted her teeth at this comment. Jake was one of Carson's ex bandmates. He was a heavier guy who was the lead singer.

Jake had taken sympathy on her a few times buying her a beer or something to eat when Carson made her order a salad. He even took care of her buying her orange juice once when she was sick and Carson hadn't wanted to take care of her because he was afraid of germs. Jake had tried to talk her into leaving Carson when the band broke up. He'd seen that Carson was an abusive ass.

Jake was just a friend. She hadn't seen him since last summer though.

"It's yours." She stated finding it hard not to throw his beer in his face.

Carson shook his head again leaning back. "So what? You want money huh? You want to saddle me down with child support shit?"

Sarah took a deep breath her stomach lurching. "No I don't want anything from you Carson. I just had to tell you to ease my conscious about this all. I don't want anything from you at all. I am going to take care of this baby on my own. It's mine, not yours."

She barely had time to get the sentence out before Carson stood up fishing his walled out and tossing a few 100 dollar bills on the table a cruel smile on his face as he spoke. "Go take care of it you stupid bitch."

Sarah felt sick as it hit her that he was talking about abortion. She had always considered herself pro choice, but the whole point of pro choice was the choice part of it.

She wanted this baby no matter who it's dad was. It was her choice not a man who didn't want the baby at all.

Sarah let out a shaky breath as he stormed off and out of her life.

She placed a hand over her belly just realizing now that her hands were shaking. She spoke her voice soft and gentle. "I've got you little one. Mommy has you. He's never going to see you ever. I promise. I'm going to protect you sweet baby, little pooh bear."

It was in this moment that Sarah realized she had to grow a pair. Her baby needed a mom who didn't let anyone hurt her. Her baby deserved a mom who made good choices.

Her baby deserved a mom who was nothing like Sarah's own mother Matilda. Matilda would have chased after Carson. Matilda wouldn't have thought about what was best for the life inside of her.

Sarah wasn't Matilda.

Sarah knew that her baby deserved more than Jenny or she had ever had.

Sarah knew the first step to giving her little one everything was to get the hell out of Nashville. It was time to go home, to Charming California.

I know you are all going to take turns sneaking into my home and smothering me in my sleep for starting another freaking story. I'm so sorry the plotbunnies are on attack though. This will be a slow work in progress but I pray that you will all stick it out and enjoy this fic. This will be a Chibs/OC and a Happy/oc story.

Leave me some reviews and tell me what you think. Or you know yell at me for starting another story.

Mangiare= (Italian) Eating