Fiona helped Chibs place the three duffel bags he'd taken with him from Charming; full of clothing, shoes, and a few precious photographs. Most of what remained in the crappy little house he'd been renting in Charming would be hauled off by a moving company he'd hired before he left and shipped to Fiona's home address.
Things like furniture and dishes would be donated to charity. There were only a few things Chibs cared enough about to bring along with him to his new life; his motorcycle for one; the two seater. The one seater Dyna had already been sold to a young lad who'd responded to an ad Chibs had placed in the Charming newspaper.
He found himself wanting to hold on to the two seater Harley easily imagining himself riding it in Ireland Fiona on the back of it her arms tight around his waist.
When Fiona and he had first started going steady Chibs had drove them around on the old red Panhead Harley he'd owned back then; the two of them speeding down the street and out along the countryside Fiona holding to tight to him.
His Fiona was the only woman he'd ever allowed on the back of his bike. The backseat was meant for his woman and he refused to let any croweaters even think about touching his backseat through out the years Fiona and he had spent apart.
He hoped that now that his beloved Fi and he were reunited that they could ride just like they used to all those years ago.
Chibs had requested for the moving company to take the boxes he'd left filled with his laptop, several of his favorite novels, a few photo albums, and his records.
Chibs knew he really wouldn't need very much from his old life in Charming. His life in Belfast would be with Fiona and Kerrianne in their home. Their home would become his home for the rest of his days.
He settled down into the passengers seat of Fiona's old blue nineteen sixties Humber Sceptre his body melting into the soft seat. The car was a classic; it had once belonged to Fiona's grandmother and though she had the money for something a little more modern she'd never been able to part with the old car.
Chibs turned to look at Fiona as she climbed into the drivers side and started the car quick to flip on the heat.
Chibs was easily mesmerized by the sight of her as she pulled the soft gray scarf she'd been wearing around her hair down around her neck, revealing those gorgeous wild curls of hers that Chibs had always loved so.
With age her dark locks had developed little hints of gray. She'd allowed her hair to keep one dramatic streak of gray around the right upper side of her curls.
Chibs found her all the more beautiful with the gray. He knew his wife wasn't the type to not let vanity take control of her life. She wore her grays proudly and it looked so elegant on her.
Fiona never wanted to be one of those women who clung to signs of youth. She felt that age showed a life lived and showing that age demonstrated that she was content with that life.
Fiona spoke as she pulled the car back out onto the muddy road more than ready to leave the countryside and head back into the city. "Ya should get some sleep lovey. Ya look all worn."
Chibs smiled at her knowing that she was right. He was exhausted. He had barely slept at all on the flight over; his mind too full of worries and excitement.
He was tempted to blurt out the first thought that ran through his drowsy jet lagged mind: That he was afraid to close his eyes because he didn't want to wake up and realize that this had all been a dream. He didn't want to open his eyes and discover that he was back in SAMCRO's clubhouse without his wife.
He held that thought back though his eyes watching her hands as she drove. He felt his heart sink as he stared at her left ring finger seeing that it was bare.
Chibs hated knowing that Jimmy O'Phelan had taken Fiona's wedding ring and engagement ring tossing them away out in the trash like they were nothing.
Fiona would never tell anyone how she'd locked herself up in the bathroom turned on the shower and sobbed when those precious rings had been ripped away from her.
She had never let Jimmy O' see her cry over the loss. She hadn't wanted to give him the satisfaction of knowing that it had hurt her.
Fiona had never let Jimmy O'Phelan see her pain. She never allowed him to know just how much he'd broken her.
Jimmy had forced her to wear a silver band on her finger after he'd married her in a non legal ceremony.
Though by law she'd still been Fiona Larkin Telford, to everyone in her life she'd from then on been referred to as Fiona O'Phelan.
Chibs quickly came to the realization that he wanted to buy his Fiona a new engagement ring and new wedding band. He would buy a wedding band as well.
Perhaps they could have a small ceremony to recommit themselves to one another. It would be a sign of a new start for the two of them; their new life.
He knew deep down inside though that a new better bigger ring would never replace that engagement band he'd bought for Fiona all those years ago.
He closed his eyes his mind drifting back to the day he'd proposed. As he drifted off into a light slumber his mind went back to when he was only twenty three and full of hope and promise.
Fiona let out a heavy huff as she pulled young Filip Telford along through the grassy emerald fields. He was always such a grump when it came to being out in the great outdoors.
Filip was such a city boy. He'd grown up in Glasgow Scotland roaming the rough streets of his neighborhood with a pack of local children; raising hell.
Then he'd moved on to Belfast Ireland with his ma. Anne Telford had looked for a better life moving his sister and he into a tiny apartment right down the street from Fiona Larkin and her family.
Fiona Larkin had grown up in Belfast of course surrounded by her father her mother and her three younger brothers.
They were third generation IRA on her da's side. Her ma was first generation. Lorna had been brought into the cause by Daniel. Daniel Larkin was raising his children to be warriors for the cause; strong and loyal.
Fiona's grandfather though had felt that his only granddaughter needed to see more of their beloved Ireland than the city. He had taken Fiona out to the country and she had learned to appreciate it's beauty.
Fiona would never tell anyone but her dream was to one day have a little cottage out in the countryside.
She knew that her loyalties belonged to the IRA and she would gladly die fighting for the cause. She hoped though that she would make it to old age and from there she would find a peaceful life with hopefully a free Ireland.
She could picture it all in her mind; a cozy little cottage with a big vegetable garden in the back and a hen coop.
She imagined herself as a tiny old woman living off the land, waking up to the sound of a rooster each morning, drinking her morning tea and eating fresh eggs and fresh peppers and tomatoes.
As Fiona had fallen in love with Filip Telford she had found herself picturing him there in that cottage with her as well, as a grouchy old man reading the morning paper and drinking his tea with her.
Fiona had been surprised when Filip had picked her up from her parents little shop a picnic basket and red tartan blanket in hand.
He had taken the day off of work at the garage he'd been working at as a mechanic. He had kept his surprise a secret for weeks now planning it when Fiona was out of the couple's tiny apartment.
They had taken Fiona's old car out of the city knowing that it would have more room for all the supplies for a perfect picnic.
Fiona had allowed Filip to drive her car though he drove far too fast and far too recklessly for her. He was more accustomed to riding his Harley than driving a car.
The young couple laid back on the tartan blanket thankful that the day was warm and dry. It was a rarity in on the Emerald Isle.
Filip smiled down at Fiona her face youthful and still holding a bit of baby-fat. Her hair was as dark as the night sky and her eyes were a deep chocolate that he adored.
She was the most gorgeous woman he'd ever laid eyes on. Twenty two year old Fiona was his queen fully and completely.
He knew that people in their lives could often be judgmental. Being an interracial couple in the early nineties wasn't a walk in the park. People said nasty things and more often than not Filip found himself delivering black eyes and kicks.
Small minded people weren't Fiona and his only critics though. Fiona's father Daniel Larkin didn't like the young scrappy Scot romancing his only daughter.
Filip Telford would never be more than a street rat from Glasgow in Daniel's eyes.
Daniel felt that Fiona's childhood friend Jimmy O'Phelan was a more appropriate match for his daughter.
Daniel believed that a true born Irish man was a better choice to lead the next generation of Larkin's on into the cause.
Fiona was Daniel's little princess. And truthfully she was his favorite child; she had been raised under his watchful eye.
Jimmy O' and his father were loyal warriors for the IRA and Daniel trusted Jimmy more than the Scot who'd only just joined the cause after hearing Fiona's tales and patriotism to the idea of a free Ireland.
Jimmy O's father and Daniel Larkin had spent a long while now planning their childrens future together. Now it seemed that this future would never happen.
It angered Daniel to know Jimmy O's father Peter didn't seem to care that his would be daughter in law wasn't falling in line. At least young Jimmy cared. Daniel still held hope that Jimmy would be able to win Fiona's heart.
Daniel didn't believe that Filip was truly dedicated to the cause. He felt that the young man's Scottish blood would always hold him back from being a good strong warrior.
Filip hated the way Daniel looked at him as though he was rotten garbage that had gotten on Daniel's leather shoes.
Filip was just thankful that young strong-strong-willed Fiona ignored her father's disapproval. She knew that her heart belonged to that scrappy Scot and she didn't care what anyone said.
She had fallen for him the second he'd caught her sight. He was so handsome; tall and strong with wiry muscles. She loved his dark expressive eyes and his brown hair. She loved the light traces of freckles along his shoulders and his back. She even loved the silly anarchy symbol he'd gotten inked onto his arm after a drunken night on the town.
His face was smooth and free of those scars that Jimmy O'Phelan would one day gift him with.
Fiona and her Filip were oblivious to their fate. For now they were two young lovers lying out in a field underneath the shade of a thick Ash Tree.
Filip ran his through Fiona's curls and along her cheek unable to get enough of the feel of her silken skin. She turned leaning against his touch slow and languorous as she soaked up his touch. "Ya spoil me sweet boy."
"Aye and yer worth every second of it my love." Filip replied reaching down to pluck another bitter sweet blackberry from the container he'd brought along with them and placing it in Fiona's mouth.
She let out a soft giggle as she ate the berry. He had packed all her favorite foods; blueberries and blackberries, thick slices of soda bread, smooth cheeses, dark chocolate, and of course a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey.
They'd been lying here for a while now enjoying the food and drink soaking up one another's company.
It was like heaven to Fiona. She felt as though she could lie here with Filip and pretend that all those who judged their relationship didn't exist. It was as though they were in their own world; just the two of them and the beauty of the countryside.
Filip frowned his stomach rolling as he dared to ask. "Yer da didn't throw too much of a fit when ya left righ?...I heard yellin."
The smile fell from her lips as she spoke. "He was a bit upset...he wanted me to watch the shop, but ma talked to him...reminded him I'm a grown woman now."
He nodded his head thankful for Lorna Larkin. The woman was kind enough to him. She didn't let her husband's opinions of the young Scot taint her treatment of him.
Lorna was smart enough to realize that Fiona was an adult; in her early twenties now. She knew that if Daniel and she pushed Filip away that Fiona would leave them. She would go off with Filip and never speak to them again.
So Lorna had excused Fiona from her cashier job at the Larkin family's small Sweets and Baked Goods Shop and had let Fiona go have a day away from it all.
Fiona spotted the irritation in Filip's eyes at the thought of he father. She reached up smoothing back his shaggy dark locks as she spoke. "Ya know I don't care what my da says love. I don't care what he thinks of ya. I know who ya are."
She paused pressing her lips to his as she spoke again. "Yer the strong sweet lad I fell fer when I was jus seventeen. I loved ya from the second we said hello."
The pair grinned remembering their first meeting. Filip had been out on the playground at the apartments they both lived in. He'd been watching his little sister Cait play out on the swings knowing that his mother Anne didn't trust the ten year old girl to be out on her own outdoors.
The neighborhood was filled with gangs and danger. Anne Telford trusted her teenage boy to watch his sister knowing that he'd always been the child's father figure.
After her husband Arthur had left the family eight years ago Filip had become the man of the house.
Fiona had walked up to Filip and sat on the bench beside him as her little brothers played. Fiona had just said hello and jumped right into talking to Filip. From that moment on he was hers.
She and he had talked for hours. Fiona was such an extravert full of energy, jokes and stories. She had found it easy to talk to the young Scottish neighbor.
From that day on they'd spent every afternoon sitting out on that playground telling stories to one another and falling in love with each word.
Fiona pressed a deep kiss to his lips as she spoke again. "I plan on spendin the rest of my days by yer side gra mo chroi."
Filip took Fiona by surprise as he sat up reaching for his thick black leather motorcycle jacket. She watched him reach into the pocket of his jacket a look of confusion on her face.
Filip kept the blue velvet box hidden from sight placing it behind him as he laid back down. He had picked the ring box going for a steely blue velvet box over a traditional black box or a more romantic red box.
The stormy blue was Fiona's favorite color and Filip hoped she would notice that he'd remembered.
"What are ya up to love?" Fiona asked a smile spreading across her face though her eyes remained serious.
He grinned at her leaning in and rubbing his nose against hers in an Eskimo Kiss. He spoke his voice soft and filled with utter adoration. "Yer the smartest woman I know love...yer the most passionate and courageous woman I've ever met. I loved ya from the second ya talked to me on that playground...I still remember what ya were wearin. Ya were wearin that big gray sweater ya loved over that gray skirt of yers...the knee length one that ya wore on our firs date. And ya had on those combat boots ya used ta run round in even though it made yer ma complain. Ya were the firs real friend I made in Belfast and yer still my best friend."
He paused reaching for the box placing it in between them. Fiona stared down at her eyes growing wide as he spoke again. "Yer the only woman other than my ma and my sister whose ever told me when ya thought I was full of shite...ya never even stop to think before ya tell me off...and I love that bout ya. Ya say what ya think and ya don't care if it bothers anyone."
Fiona chuckled her hand reaching up to caress his cheek as she responded to this. "Most people think that's one of my worse traits lovey."
He grinned at this a soft laugh escaping his throat. "Aye...I don't care though. I love yer temper Fi. Yer headstrong and I know we butt heads sometimes...I wouldn't trade it for anythin on the planet though. Yer stubborn and it's the sexiest thing on the planet. I know that yer da doesn't think I'm good nough fer ya...I know a lot of people don't think we should be together. I don't care about any of that shite though...I love ya Fiona Larkin. Bein with ya makes me feel like the luckiest lad in all of Ireland. I want to grow old with ya. I want to spend every second of our lives together makin ya laugh and makin ya feel beautiful. I wanta wake up in yer arms and fall asleep tangled up beside ya."
He paused taking a deep breath as he opened the velvet box revealing the ring inside. "Which is why I'd be a fool if I didn't ask ya this...Fiona Paige Larkin will ya be my wife?"
He felt his heart drop as he noticed the tears in Fiona's eyes. Was she about to tell him no? Was it the ring?
He knew that the ring wasn't impressive at all. It was a tiny chip of a diamond resting on a thin gold band.
He had saved and scrapped together the money to buy it. He felt guilty knowing that he couldn't afford more. He could barely pay his half of their rent though. They struggled to survive and there was no place for an extravagant ring in their budget.
His fears faded from his mind as Fiona spoke her tears being revealed as tears of joy. "Aye...Yes. Yes I'll marry you."
He wasted no time to slip the ring on her finger their lips colliding against one anothers.
A year later after a lot of planning and scrapping together the cash Filip Telford and Fiona Larkin would marry in a small ceremony without the Larkin family's disapproval.
And on Filip's thirty first birthday Fiona would come to him with news that she was carrying their first and only child.
Four years after that they would lose their family to a jealous angry man.
Chibs awoke from his slumber Fiona shaking his arm her voice soft and amused. "Hey snorey we're home."
Chibs blinked the sleep from his eyes ignoring her playful jab at his habit of snoring when he got into a good deep sleep.
He let his eyes study his new home. It was a two story duplex. There were a few of them on this street and Chibs couldn't help but to love how cheerful it all looked despite the foggy weather. There were rose bushes along the driveway and tall trees planted in the back yard. This particular building only held two homes.
Fiona spoke as they left her car and retrieved his bags from the trunk. "Kerrianne and I have been livin here since Jimmy O' left Ireland...Saoirse O'Connell lives in the flat next door."
Chibs smiled hearing this familiar name. "Our Saoirse?"
"See fer yerself." Fiona replied as the front door to the flat on the right opened revealing a young pale brunette woman.
Chibs was ambushed by a hug as the young woman left her house. She spoke her voice light and excited. "Uncle Filip. Yer home."
Chibs grinned down at the girl as she released him from her hold. "Aye I am lass...It's been so long."
"Almost four years now. I haven't seen ya since ya and tha lads from Charming left Belfast...since Padriac...since I lost him." Saoirse replied her full lips pulling into a tight smile.
She stared up at Chibs her wide dark eyes filled with total admiration for the man.
Chibs wasn't actually Saoirse O'Connell's biological uncle nor was Fiona her biological aunt.
Fiona and Filip Telford were Saoirse's godparents.
Saoirse's father Ian O'Connell had grown up with Fiona's mother. Ian was quite fond of young Fiona Larkin and Filip Telford so it was no surprise when the man had made Fiona and Chibs his only child's godparents.
And it had been a good thing Ian had written this all out on paper.
Ian O'Connell had met a tragic end soon after Jimmy O'Phelan had taken power.
Jimmy had said that the man's death had been a sad accident, but everyone knew the truth.
Ian had been one of Jimmy's biggest critics. He had seen Jimmy for who he really was; a flat out criminal who used the cause to gain his own desires.
Ian was faithful to the cause so faithful that he'd named his daughter Saoirse. The old traditional name meant freedom in Irish Gaelic.
Fiona had taken in little Saoirse soon after her father had died. The young girl's mother had died in childbirth and her biological uncle was an old drunk barely able to raise his own son. So Fiona had been all she'd had.
Jimmy O'Phelan hadn't been too welcoming to little Saoirse, but he'd tolerated the child. He knew that it wouldn't look very good him denying a faithful IRA soldier's young orphaned daughter.
Chibs studied the girl his stomach dropping when he noticed just how gaunt she looked. The past four years had been hard on her.
The silver chain she wore around her neck and the golden skull biker ring hanging from it told the story behind her sorrow.
Saoirse had loved Chibs' nephew Padriac Telford with every cell in her body. He had been her first love and she couldn't help but to think at times that he would be her last.
It had been so easy for her to fall madly in love with Padriac. The young witty Scottish biker had swept Saoirse right off her feet.
Padriac had been so handsome; tall and funny and tough. He had romanced her so easily.
She still wore a crow for the man; inked into her right wrist. She had become his old lady the second she'd turned nineteen.
Padriac's death had haunted her and Fiona and Kerrianne were the only thing that had kept her going since Padriac had died.
Fiona had pulled Saoirse out of bed after she'd spent almost a month in bed drugged up out of her mind on pills.
Saoirse knew that without her beloved Auntie Fi she would have never survived the loss of her true love.
Fiona was so proud of Saoirse. She saw the young woman as a second daughter.
Saoirse had grown into a truly stunning woman with dark long brown hair that held little hints of red in it, a larger upturned nose, an oval face, with wide downward turned dark eyes and a bright wide smile.
Chibs felt ashamed as he spoke his voice soft and sorrowful. "I'm sorry I couldn't be ere to bury our Paddy. I know ya loved him so much Sha. And I know he loved ya."
Saoirse gave him a small smile the little nickname Chibs had given her when she was just a young girl providing her some comfort. "I know Filip...Pad was...he was everythin to me. He loved ya so much...He was always talkin bout how ya used to bring he and his ma sweets and take him out fer rides on yer bike. He wanted ta be jus like ya...He died a hero, protectin his brothers and yers. I'm proud to have loved him. I'll never stop lovin him."
Chibs pressed a kiss to the girl's cheek his heart heavy with grief.
He felt a stab straight through his heart as Saoirse pulled away from him her eyes damp with tears. "I'll leave ya and Fi ta get settled in...I'm righ next door if ya ever need anythin."
And with that she pulled away trotting back to her house and shutting the door behind her.
Fiona spoke shaking her head at the closed door. "She's better than she was a few months ago..She misses him."
Chibs nodded his head cursing himself for not remaining in Belfast when SAMCRO had left almost four years earlier.
He should have been here for his family.
He didn't have time to even mention this as he spotted her coming down the road; his baby.
Kerrianne looked up from the ground her eyes growing wide as she spotted her father.
She yanked her earbuds from her years shoving them and her Ipod into her purple messengers bag before she made a run towards him.
Chibs lifted the girl up holding her close as he spoke. "I've missed ya so lass. How big ya've grown."
This little statement was true. Kerrianne had just turned eighteen and she'd grown a little taller and a little fuller.
Her hair was still just as long but she now wore it pilled high on her head in a messy updo. She wore her school uniform; a plain red knee length skirt and a white long sleeved blouse.
She was in her final year of schooling and hopefully next year she would move on to a good university.
Kerrianne spoke her voice bubbly and light. "Yer home."
"Aye and I'm never leavin again baby girl. I love ya so much." Chibs replied lowering the girl down to the ground finally.
Kerrianne took his hand pulling him towards the house as she spoke her voice still so full of excitement. "Come see tha house da. We got a cat."
Fiona smiled as Kerrianne pulled her father along the two of them practically running toward their home.
She let out a sigh realizing she'd been left with the bags just typical.
Fiona placed Chibs' bags right in the doorway before she made her way across the duplexs' shared yard.
She knocked on her goddaughters door speaking up her voice firm. "Open up dear."
Saoirse cracked the door peeking out at her Auntie Fi, her eyes full of tears. "I know what yer goin to say...be strong."
"I'm not goin to say that. I know ya know to stay strong...yer trying Saoirse. I know that. Yer in pain but I know ya understand Padriac would want ya to stay strong...I hate tha ask but I need a favor." Fiona remarked giving the young woman a sad smile.
Though Saoirse was a grown woman of twenty six now, Fiona still sometimes saw that little girl who'd been brought into Jimmy O' compound after her da's funeral.
"Aye what is it?" Saoirse asked doing her best to wipe at her eyes.
She hated crying in front of anyone. Fiona had always raised her to be strong. Fiona was the only mother figure Saoirse had ever known, given that her own ma had died giving birth to her.
Fiona pulled the sheet of paper Chibs had given her from her pocket handing it to Saoirse. "I need yer cousin Nate ta find this lad...We need ta bring him here. He's Filip's friend and he's in danger love. We'll need ya to let him stay with ya till he gets off his feet. I know it's a bit ta ask of ya, but yer the only one I think Chibs would trust ta do this fer us."
Fiona knew that Nathan O'Connell would be the perfect man to find and extract Juice from Charming. Nate was a IRA follower and he was loyal to his cousin Saoirse. If Saoirse asked him to do something he did it without question.
Saoirse nodded her head without even missing a beat. "I would do anythin fer ya and Filip auntie. Ya know yer the only family I have. I'll call Nate tonight and tell him that this has ta be done quickly and discreetly."
Fiona gave the young woman hug Saoirse sinking against her. Saoirse closed her eyes soaking up Fiona's comfort.
She wasn't lying she loved her godparents and would walk the end of the earth for them.
If Fiona and Chibs needed her to play babysitter and hostess to this Juice Ortiz then she would do it without question.
She just hoped that this wasn't a decision she'd live to regret.
Reviews? Constructive Criticism?
Saoirse is pronounced sear + sha and it's Irish Gaelic for freedom. I picture her is looking a little like Anne Hathaway.
Sorry to the person who thought Kerrianne and Juice were going to hook up, They aren't sorry.
Gra Mo Chori= (Irish Gaelic) Love of My heart.
I hope you're still enjoying this and I hope I'm keeping the characters true to form. Thanks for your support.