Disclaimer: I don't own SofA or any of the characters/places in this story, with exception of Nelly. And I've made up names for Donna&Opie's kids, 'cause that's how I roll.

Chapter 2

Opie crossed the narrow street separating their house from the neighbours. Nelly's was smaller than theirs, but well kept. She lived on her own, men coming into her life infrequently, usually divorced dads of the kids she taught in the junior public school Molly and Toby were attending. Opie often wondered why that was the case, why Nelly hasn't settled down, started a family, why she dated those dead-beats. He knew she was smarter than that, but she was no longer the easygoing flower-child he knew in high school. Nowadays, Nelly was quiet and subdued, with a thick wall constantly surrounding her. Many nights, when he came home well after midnight, he glimpsed her sitting in the shadows of her front porch. Always alone. At those times he wondered what happened to Nelly while she was away, to change her so much from the carefree girl he remembered.

As he opened the front gate of Nelly's miniscule front yard, Opie heard his children's laughter drifting through on open window. They were playing dress-up, with Toby being a knight to Molly's princess. The kids loved Nelly and she was always full of fun ideas to occupy their time. In many ways, Opie was grateful that Nelly was there for his family when he couldn't be, when Donna's own family and his mother turned their backs on them. He knocked on the door and walked in without being asked.

"How are my little monkeys?" The kids were happy to see him, even if still a little shy. Toby ran over to give him a big hug, while Molly smiled with her whole mouth and said, "Hi, daddy."

"Everything ok?" Nelly asked after children had ran off to play.

"Yeah, you know, the usual." He tried to make it sound casual. "Donna's packing."
"Shit," Nelly whispered under her breath, so the kids wouldn't hear. "Give her time, Harry. She'll come out of it on the right end."

His old name fell unguarded from her lips again. No one else called him that anymore, not even Donna. Old habits die hard, he figured.

"I don't know, Nelly." Ope shook his head, recalling that she told Donna the same thing. She obviously wished them well, believing they would patch things up.

"You two are a pair of stubborn mules, each pulling in the opposite direction." She whispered, as they watched the kids. "Life is short, Ope. You'd already lost five years. Don't waste any more time."
"You may want to tell her that."

"And you think I don't? Work with her to find the middle ground, you all deserve that."

Easier said than done, thought Opie as he gathered up his kids.

Later that day, Donna looked him in the eye and told him she was ready to rejoin Sam Crow family. He couldn't be happier. Finally his double life was over, but more importantly, it meant that his family would stay intact. He had always loved Donna, never strayed, never had a reason or desire to. Now that she has accepted him whole, loved him whole, it stoked the fire of his devotion. From that day he was a new man, joining his brothers in clear conscience. Still, from time to time, a little voice in the back of his head whispered of risks and dangers of the path he chose. Than all of it came crashing down when the ATF agents visited Donna and threaten their new-found stability.

Nelly watched from the darkness of her porch as Donna, Opie and their two children were loaded into a government-issue black Suburban. Ope wasn't handcuffed, but she could see a stubborn grimness in the set of his jaw, his defiance in the rigid set of his shoulders. Nelly stepped out of the shadows just in time to make eye contact with Donna, who gave her a barely perceptible shake of the head, her face drawn with anxiety in the orange glow of a street light. Nelly was worried sick. The next morning she called up Chief Unser, who she knew was in Sam Crow's pocket, and was told he was off duty. Then Deputy Hale told her politely to get lost. Her fear returned when Jax came around later that day, asking about what she saw. She told him she saw nothing, but the next door neighbour didn't spare the details. Regardless of what she did see that night, Nelly couldn't imagine Opie becoming a turncoat.

As if by some miracle, Donna and her family returned home in the evening. Nelly crossed the street and knocked on their door, eager to be reassured. Opie was already on his way to the club and Donna was putting their kids to bed.

"I was so scared, Nelly. I thought they would lock up Opie and throw away the key."

"What happened?" She had to ask.

Donna stopped what she was doing when she heard Nelly's question and took a step closer, as if afraid to be overheard. "They've asked Opie to testify against the club and offered us witness protection."

Nelly couldn't stop a shocked intake of breath. Considering Donna's doubts and desire for a simple life, she was beginning to think that maybe Opie accepted that offer.

Donna continued unprompted. "I was tempted, believe me, but Opie would never do it. It would kill him. He refused to be bullied into ratting on his brothers. And you know what? I'm proud of him for sticking to his guns. These government goons used us, set us against each other only to get to Sam Crow." Angry words were spewing from Donna's lips, becoming louder as she grew more aggravated. "I'm behind Opie now, all the way, for better or for worse. Uncle Sam can kiss my ass."