TWO
"Bonnie." She bit her lip at the sound of her name coming from one of the porn star's mouth. She met the woman's eyes in the reflection of the dressing table mirror, taking in the school girl outfit.
"Ima." Bonnie tried to sound indifference by the woman's presents but the smile on the porn star's lips told her that she was indeed unsuccessful. With the slight satisfaction, Ima carried on to the other side of the room to her dressing table.
"Don't let her get to you." A sign of relief escaped her as Lyla came to her side. "She's just looking for trouble." Ima was always hunting for something that she should keep her nose out of. "Luann is asking for you." Without a second word, Bonnie wrapped her dressing gown around herself and headed out to the stage where Luann was sure to be.
"You asked for me?" Bonnie's eyes flickered to the pair of Sons standing in front of her boss, Juice and Chibs. She knew the Sons, hanging around the club every once and awhile but her time was usually spent with Gemma or Luann to really get to know the boys unless it was one of the family dinners.
"Baby, Juice wants to speak to you." Luann placed a kiss on her forehead before heading over to one of the stages to direct.
Bonnie turned her attention to the two men, Juices eyes were bouncing around the joint while the Scotsman chewed the tooth pick that was placed in between his lips. "There is some trouble stirring around CaraCara, it's only simple precautions. Their trying to hit off some of Luann's girls, including you cause of your relationship with her. So if you have any problems, you come see us." Club business, the words ran through her mind, need to know bases, the words Gemma always used with her.
"Will you be keeping an eye on Luann?" A lump formed in her throat at the idea of the woman getting hurt, she had become a mother figure in her eyes since her own mother pasted away from cancer when she was young. "Because you know, she'll probably get lost in her own work and-"
"Don't worry lass, we have it covered." Bonnie's eyes flickered from Juice to Chibs, his accent making her heart thump that little bit harder as she tried to think of the faults with their plan, she couldn't deal with losing more family.
"Jax said you already have his number." She nodded her head to Juice's statement, the relationship with Gemma brought Jackson and Bonnie together, if anything Jax was more of a brother to her than Matthew.
"You'll be staying here." It wasn't a question, Juice kept looking over to the couch near the latest film confirming it. "Well enjoy the show, I've got work to do." She merely left the two Sons' to their own devices as she headed back to her dressing table.
Bonnie bit her lip, the black fine liner pencil poked at the edge of her eye as the phone sitting on the table rang loudly. Banging the pencil on the dresser harder than necessary, she fished through her handbag in search of the phone. "What?"
"Miss Gipps?" The worried female voice sobered Bonnie.
"What can I do for you?"
"I'm Martha Kade, the nurse at The Sun Child Care. Ethan Gipps needs to be picked up after stirring up a couple of kids."
"Pardon?"
"You are Bonnie Gipps, the emergency number for Ethan."
"Yes, I'll be there in a few minutes." Stripping the gown off, replacing it with jeans and a button up shirt, she made her way towards the couch where the two Sons' sat eating. "Luann?"
Luann dragged her eyes from the movie, hearing the tone of the woman's voice. "Darling, what's the matter?"
"You think I could have a sick day?" At the arch of Luann's perfect eyebrow, Bonnie went straight to the point. "Family emergency."
"Go pick him up, dinner at my place."
"Will do." Kissing her cheek, Bonnie hitched her handbag over her shoulder, making her way towards the door.
"Bonnie." Walking backwards she turned to Luann, the nudge of her head made Bonnie stop as Chibs stood up from the couch, throwing the packet of chips at Juice's chest. She gave Luann a quick glare to show her dislike to been baby sat and continued on her way outside without waiting for the Scotsman.
Finding the plain car key, she unlocked the scratched green car, the borrowed car that Luann had given her until Teller-Morrow called to pick up her car, which should be any day soon. Opening the vehicle, she reached over and popped the passenger lock, letting Chibs in. She rolled her eyes as he muttered under his breath about riding bitch. She ignored him, putting the key into the car engine to make it come alive.
Half an hour later, Bonnie looked in the rear-view mirror at her nephew in the backseat. Ethan was happily talking to Chibs and she hadn't mentioned a word about school but she needed to know what made her sweet boy turn violent. "Why?"
"I don't know." Ethan's voice whined, she almost cast a glance in the Scots' direction but decided against.
"There has to be a reason." Silence filled the car, making her feel even more uncomfortable about the subject in front of one of the Sons'. "Were the other boys hurting you?"
"Yes." Stopping at the red light, she turned to Ethan. "He was saying things." Nodding her head, she turned to the green light and continued to drive.
"Did he deserve the punch?"
"Yes." He sounded hopeful, like Bonnie was going to let him off the hook for the behaviour.
"What things did he say?" She was met with silence once again.
"He talked about….Mum." The tiny voice made her chest squeezed tightly, it was a subject they rarely touched. "Why did she leave?" Relief hit her as she pulled into the driveway but it didn't make the questions disappear.
"How about we get inside and I'll make us a hot chocolate to drink on the couch?" She turned around to see Ethan opening his mouth. "And I'll answer your questions there." He finally nodded his head before exiting the car, running to the house.
Once inside the house, Bonnie started moving around the kitchen, her eyes flashing to Ethan sitting on the couch waiting. "Can I grab you a beer?" Bonnie grabbed two mugs down from the shelf as Chibs sat on the stool at the island that separated the lounge room and kitchen.
"One of those hot chocolates sounds good lass." She couldn't help the smile from reaching her lips as he used the word lass again. She placed another mug next to the two ready ones as the jug whistled.
After pouring the hot water into the mugs, she pushed one in Chibs direction. She grabbed the two remaining mugs and sat down on the couch next to the younger boy, handing him his drink.
"Does she love me?" Bonnie put an arm around Ethan, pulling his back to her side as she tried to work out an answer. Her eyes flickered to the island where the Scotsman was seated on a stool with his mug placed next to him.
"How could someone not love you?" She placed a kiss on his neck. "You're funny, adorable and smart. You're one of the best things in my life, I would never let you go." She continued to place kisses and raspberries against his skin at each word, bringing laughter to his lips.
"And Mum's just on a holiday." A very long holiday at that.
"Go get ready for Luann's tonight." She playfully patted the boy on the bum, making a thrilling laugh escape him as he run down the hallway to the shared bedroom of the boys.
"You did well." The Scottish accent filled the silence in the room, making Bonnie stare at the Son sitting in her kitchen. The strangers comment was...nice, it gave her some peace knowing that maybe she was doing the right thing for her boys.
The drive to Luann's house wasn't indifferent. Ethan was his usually self, happily chatting to the Chibs as he listened with just as much as excitement. A question did run through her mind, did Chibs have his own children? It was a passing thought as she watched him act with Ethan.
Ethan didn't waste any time getting out of the car as it stopped in Luann's driveway, he run into the house without a backwards glance. The sound of laughter drifted out the front door to the adults getting out of the car, Ethan had found his little brother.
As the two car doors slammed closed, Bonnie turned to face Chibs who was already watching her. "Thanks for today." She gave him a small smile as she grew nervous at his silence.
"That's no problem lass."
"Chibs! You want to stay for dinner, plenty for you." Luann stood in the doorway, looking everything like a celebrity from a TV show.
"I'm right thanks Luann." Chibs waved a hand in her direction before turning to the van packed beside the path, Bonnie hadn't taken noticed it as she drove in. "See ya lather lass." She sent Chibs a smile and walked her way to the doorway.
"You could use a good Scots man around the house." Luann gave her a cheeky smile while nodding to the moving to van going down the street.
She felt the heat rise up her neck at the woman's comment. "Dinner ready?"
"Served and waiting." The blonde moved away from the door, letting Bonnie enter. She damned Luann to hell every time she mention needing a man, Bonnie had spent a couple of nights with some of the Sons but nothing serious ever come from it.
Bonnie almost passed the lounge room without a glance until she noticed the empty beer bottle sitting on the side table. Don't get her wrong, Bonnie knew Luann does some crazy shit, it was part of the porn business but Luann didn't drink and she never allowed it in the house, so the bottle sitting on the table meant Luann was sharing company with a man, and her man was still sitting in jail.
"Bon Bon." She chewed her bottom lip, feeling an unnatural panic swift through her, leaving an unpleasant taste in her mouth as she finally moved to the kitchen and pulling a smile at Conan calling her. Taking the seat between her boys, she joined her hands ready to pray, casting a glance over the table at the woman.
