Okay here is it is! Let me know what you guys think! Thank you to the few people that followed just based off the prologue I hope I don't disappoint! Any guesses as to why she calls herself Rio now?

"Welcome to Charming." Rio read aloud as she drove into town in her Nova. It was one of the few things she had held onto during her time away. She could never sell it though she had many offers. The memories of her and Piney restoring it were too precious to let go of. It was one of the few memories she had with him that didn't involve him being shit faced drunk.

The town remained the same as when she had left except for a few stores that were now closed and boarded up. As she drove down main street her chest began to tighten at the thought of seeing her brother for the first time in eight years. The time she had spent away had been difficult, but Rio had insisted that she would not return. Her pride drove her away from her family and her shame kept her in hiding. Turning down Opie's road two Harleys were automatically visible in his driveway.

"Of course." She mumbled as she parked in the road a house down from her brothers. Growing up the club had always been there for the two of them. The men had looked out for them and the old ladies stepped in where Mary had failed, but Rio knew that the club was also what tore her family apart. The battle between her pride and the love she had for the MC was part of the reason she had run. She wanted to love them and lean on them, but if she had there would have been no freedom for her. She would have fallen in line with the rest of the ladies that surrounded the club. Charming and the Son's where a vortex that was nearly impossible to escape.

Flicking her cigarette into the street she marched up his driveway and towards the front door, afraid that if she didn't get it over she would tuck tail and run back to her shitty apartment to hide. Just as Rio reached her fist out the door swung open to show her mother staring at her.

"Mary…" Rio spoke as she looked at the sidewalk below her. No one could make her feel as small or pathetic as her mother could.

"Just like you to show up at a time like this. Always wanna be part of the drama." Mary spat her words like venom as she looked her eldest child up and down.

"You do know you called me, right? I'm surprised that you decided to show at all. It's nice of you to show up for one of your kids."

Ope had always been Mary's favorite which is why she only took him when she dipped out of town. Rio was too much like her father. Mary couldn't stand to look in her daughter's eyes and see her ex-husband staring back at her.

"Where's Ope?" She spat as she marched past Mary and looked around the house.

"Out back with Jax and the kids."

Rio marched out the back door and rushed towards her brother. He sat with his shoulders hanging low. He looked so defeated sitting there next to Jax. As the door closed he turned around and met her eyes. The sadness in his eyes made her heart drop as she hurried towards him. Standing up he matched her pace as he marched towards her. They embraced hard as the tower of a man leaned down to hold her small frame. Immediately tears started to flow from both and Rio held him close. His large frame shook against her as he let out silent sobs. Finally, he pulled away and stared down at her.

"How'd you know?"

"Mommy dearest called me." Rio answered with a sad smile. "Bub, what happened?" All Mary had told her was that Donna was murdered. Her mother never was one for details.

"She got shot…some asshole shot her in the back of the head." He spoke quietly for the kid's sake. "She died because of me River, they whoever it was they were targeting me."

Rio placed her hand on his shoulder trying to comfort him. "Ope, you can't blame yourself."

"What the hell do you know? My wife was gunned down on her way to the store because of this life I chose to live. You haven't even been around. You don't know how everything's gone to shit."

Rio knew he had a right to be angry with her. She had been selfish when she left, but he had no idea why she never contacted him or why she never came to visit. In time she may be able to tell him, but for now he had every right to despise her for abandoning him and her family in Charming.

"Just leave, I don't know why you bothered coming anyway." As he walked over towards the kids she could feel the bile rising in her throat. His anger was understandable, but it didn't make the words hurt any less. A hand on her shoulder brought her back to reality.

"Come on darlin', lets talk out front." Following Jax through the house and past her mother's curious eyes all Rio wanted was a beer and to go back into hiding. It was easier to disappear and not deal with all the pain.

"You still smoke?" He asked as they made their way out of the front door handing his pack to her.

"Yeah thanks." Rio wasn't just an alcoholic, she was an addict. She was addicted to sex, alcohol, cigarettes. Everything she had picked up in the past had followed her through her life. It was the reason she had never took pills or tried any hard drugs. It would have been the end of her.

"He missed you, that's all. We've all missed you River."

She huffed hearing her name being spoken. It had been a long time since someone had called her by her real name. "Please call me Rio. I hate being called River, but I know he's angry Jax. I'm sorry but I had my reasons for staying away. I regret leaving all together."

"We are all runnin' from something darlin' just give him time. He's gotta get his head straight." Jax pulled her into a hug as he saw her eyes start to well up with tears. He had no idea at the time how much truth his words held. She was most definitely running.

"Go see your old man, he's probably missed you the most."

"You know where I can find the old bastard?" she spoke softly wiping the tears from her cheeks and stepping back from Jax.

"Cabin or the clubhouse. It's still kinda early, he might be sober enough to hold a conversation."

"He's that bad huh?" Rio asked thinking back to all her fathers drunken nights. Usually he had waited till noon to start but she was sure it had only gotten worse since she left.

"Just go see for yourself." Jax said tossing his cigarette and mounting his bike. He hadn't changed since she had left. He was a little rougher around the edges but still sure of himself and as charming as ever. He winked and her as he backed out of the driveway and Rio couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.

He had shamelessly flirted with her when they were kids. He always told her that he was into older women. Ope hated it, but it always made Rio laugh. She looked at Jax as a child though there was only a two-year difference between the two of them. They had always gone back and forth joking but nothing ever happened between them it was just a fun game they liked to play. When Jax met Tara, everything changed. He became obsessed much to Gemma and Rio's dismay. Though Rio had never had romantic feelings for him she did care deeply about him. They had all grown up together and then suddenly as soon as Tara Knowles showed up it was like the Jackson they knew had disappeared. It was good to see that he was back winking at her and smirking liked he always had.

Rio glanced back up at Ope's house as she heard Jax's bike rumble in the distance. As she walked back towards her car she contemplated just getting in and driving back to her shitty apartment and hiding away again. Would Ope ever forgive her? Would her father be able to look at her again? All the doubts Rio was having were pushing her to leave, but she couldn't. These people all loved her, surely, they would want her around? Surely Ope needed her?

The Nova rumbled as it started, and she pushed it into first to take off towards the clubhouse. Seeing Piney would be difficult but there was one person she could not wait to hug again. Mama Gem always made everything better for her, so she prayed that the queen of SAMCRO would be there when she arrived.