Chibs allowed Kerrianne to drag him around the house and show him every nook and cranny of his new home. It was all so gorgeous full of soft colors. He could tell that Fiona had done the decorating. The home was filled with her favorite colors; soft ivories, powder and steely blues, soft grays, and light delicate purples.
The home was modestly decorated but it felt so welcoming. There were plenty of photographs and candles and lots of little trinkets. Fiona had always loved the little porcelain deers that had once belonged to her grandmother and she'd taken a habit of decorating her home with little white and pink deer figurines.
Fiona had always had a soft spot for deer and fawn. She loved anything to do with the forest and nature. Her grandparents had taught her a lot about wildlife; plants, animals, and such. She had carried this love into adulthood.
Chibs chuckled as his daughter drug him into her bedroom her voice filled with excitement. "This is my room da. Saoirse helped me decorate. She took me shopping and bought me posters and this bed. She takes me shopping all the time. She got me makeup and new perfume for Christmas last year...she takes me clothes shoppin too. Ma always tries ta dress me like a dork...Saroise has better taste."
Chibs resisted the urge to scrunch his nose up at the mention of makeup and perfume. His baby girl was way too young for that kind of thing...wasn't she?
He let out a heavy sigh realizing that Kerrianne wasn't too young. She was eighteen now; a grown woman technically by law at least.
God he'd been away for so long hadn't he? She had grown up so fast and he'd missed it all.
He took a deep breath reminding himself that it wasn't too late. He still had time to grow closer to his little love. He had no one to keep her from him now; no SAMCRO, no Jimmy O', none of his damn loyalty or pride.
He bit the inside of his cheek resisting the urge to say anything about Kerrianne wearing make up. He didn't want to start out their first day together nagging the girl.
He studied Kerrianne's room every inch of it so beautiful and perfect. Her white iron twin bed was covered with a cheerful green and blue quilt and the sheets and pillow cases were a peacock-blue.
Kerrianne had always loved the color blue and the color green even when she was just a wee toddler. Chibs smiled at the thought. His baby girl was so tough. She had never wanted to be a girly girl; just like her ma in that way.
He could remember how she'd always reached for toy cars and robots shunning the dolls her grandmother had given her. She was such a tomboy.
He knew that wasn't so true now of course; it was clear from the makeup, jewelry and the feminine clothing that his little girl had grown into a lady.
There were a few posters on the walls; Adele, Amy Winehouse, and Beyonce. He twisted his mouth a bit at this. He hadn't listened to any of these artists...well he had listened to Amy Winehouse and he was pretty impressed with her, but he'd die from embarrassment if anyone knew that.
He stared at the white wooden dresser and the white vanity table. It was a typical teenage girl's bedroom filled with necklaces and rings and candles. There was a bright red butterfly kite hanging over the dresser and beaded plastic purple and yellow curtains on the window over the white linen curtains.
Chibs walked over to the dresser picking up a familiar stuffed light brown bear wearing a little yellow sweater. "Ya kept this babygirl?"
"Aye I keep all yer gifts da." Kerrianne replied as though the question was ridiculous."
He gave his daughter a soft smile his heart singing at this little comment. "I worried ya'd think the bear was a bad birthday gift...I mean it was fer yer sixteenth birthday love. That's why I put that Itunes card with that gift. I thought ya'd think ya were too old fer a stuffed animal."
Kerrianne walked up beside him allowing him to hug her as he placed the bear back on the dresser. She spoke her face muffled by her father's chest. "I love all yer gifts da...I did love the Itunes card too though."
He tried not to frown as Kerrianne went over to her bed picking up a fat gray tabby cat. She lifted it up the cat going limp in her hold and staring up at Chibs it's blue eyes staring at him dumbly. "This is Tonks. Tonks this is Da."
"Ya named the cat Tonks?" Chibs blurted out raising an eyebrow at the strange name.
She let out a huff as she placed the cat on the ground only to have it let out a whimpy sounding meow before it waddled from the room. "Aye. She's named after Nymphadora Tonks da."
"Nypmawho?" Chibs blurted out the name not ringing a bell.
"She's a character from Harry Potter da...she was Remus Lupis' wife and she's one of the best characters ever." Kerrianne exclaimed shaking her head as her father continued to stare at her blankly.
He shook his head shrugging his shoulder a little embarrassed that he had no idea what his daughter was talking about. He'd heard of the books; Juice had gone to see the movies and had talked about it, but he'd tuned out the man's geeking out over it. "Never read the books love."
She dropped her jaw staring up at her father aghast to hear this. "What?...What about the movies?"
"I havent' had the time Kerri...Aint they jus kids books." He replied not really seeing the big deal.
Kerrianne let out another gasp even more stunned by this comment. She made her way over to the little bookshelf by her bed pulling the first book in the series from the shelf and shoving in her dad's hands. "Read the book da. It's more than jus a kids book. It's amazin. I can' believe ya never read it."
He chuckled staring down at the book in his hands. It wasn't too terribly thick. He guessed he could read it if it meant that much to his daughter.
He stared at the open door as Fiona leaned against the door frame smiling at the two most precious people in her world. "Are ya two havin fun?"
Chibs held up the book chuckling a bit. "Aye our daughter's givin me a readin assignment."
"Aye. She's practicin fer her future." Fiona responded chuckling.
Kerrianne spoke up a shy smile on her face. "I'm goin to be a school teacher like Aunt Cait. I wanta teach literature...or creative writin. I don't know which yet."
Chibs swelled up with pride upon hearing this. He was so thankful that his Kerrianne wanted a normal life for herself. He had longed feared that the girl would get caught up in her parents demons. He had even feared that Kerrianne would find herself hooked up with some biker as an old lady.
He wanted more for his girl. He knew of course that she might find herself in the IRA. Kerrianne had been raised around the cause. She understood the importance of fighting for a free Ireland. Her ma was a strong IRA warrior after all.
Chibs knew of course that if she did find herself involved somehow that there was nothing he could do about it. Kids had to make their own mistakes and choices. He just prayed that she stayed safe.
More than anything he wanted his girl to be happy with her life. He wanted her safe from danger just like any other parent on this earth.
He pressed a kiss to his daughter's cheek his voice revealing just how proud he was. "Ya will be a great teacher lass. Yer the smartest girl I know."
Kerrianne smiled up at her father feeling just like a little girl all over again. She was so thankful that he was here. She had missed him so much.
She reluctantly pulled away from him as she spoke up. "I better get started on dinner."
"Do ya have any homework?" Fiona blurted out knowing that even if her daughter was technically an adult she wasn't going to get out of keeping up with her school work.
"Ma it's Friday." Kerrianne replied not rolling her eyes until she was out of sight.
Fiona let out a huff shaking her head a bit at this comment. "She has yer attitude."
Chibs gave his wife a grin making his way over to her and embracing her as he spoke. "I think I remember a certain seventeen year old lass ya may know who had a mouth like that as well."
She twisted her lips trying not to smile at this statement. He was right of course she had been a hellion as a teenager. "Aye that's true...I didn't talk back to my ma too often though. She woulda spanked my arse so hard I couldn't walk fer a week. I guess we should count our blessings. Kerrianne could take after us fully."
"Aye she could. Ya remember that time we snuck out and went to that wee bar to watch that rock band. We both got shitefaced and fell asleep at that park under those trees wrapped up in our leather jackets. Yer da almost killed me when I brought ya back the next mornin." he remembered laughing. He hadn't thought of that night in so long. Before it was always so painful to remember.
"Aye I remember. He almost fell over dead when he saw that dress I was wearin. That wine red mini dress ya liked on me. I wore it with my combat boots and those huge gold hoop earrings...My ma hated it when I wore those earrings. She said they were goin to stretch out me ears. She thought I wore my makeup too dark too...oh and she hated yer Harley. She was convinced ya were goin to wind up killin me on that thing. She bout died when ya got me that helmet and that leather jacket fer Christmas. She told me ya were turnin me into some biker babe." Fiona recalled laughing as well.
She paused an affectionate nostalgic smile on her face as she reached up to smooth back his salt and pepper locks. "We were so wild Filip. We thought we'd be young and free forever."
He pressed a kiss to her lips as he spoke. "Now we're old and free."
Fiona gave him a playful shove a smirk on her face. "Who are ya callin old lovey?"
He shook his head laughing so hard. He had missed this playfulness they'd always shared with one another. It was so nice to feel this way again. He'd been afraid they'd lost that side of their relationship after all the horrors they'd experienced. "Jus me love. Yer still jus as young as ya always were."
He was unable to stop himself from speaking up as she lead him out of their daughters room downstairs to the living room. "Do ya still have that dress...jus wonderin?"
Fiona let out a huff. "Ya ruined that dress fer me forever when ya got me pregnant with Kerrianne. My arse was never the same."
"It looks wonderful to me Fi." Chibs remarked taking in the view of her tight backside as she walked in front of him down the dark wooden spiral staircase leading down to the big open living room and dining area.
The tiny kitchen was located beside the dining area and the door to the downstairs bathroom was connected to the living room.
The upstairs bathroom was located in between Fiona's and Kerrianne's bedrooms. There was a tiny office beside Kerrianne's room that Fiona kept her laptop and all the important files she owned; Kerrianne's birth certificate and such.
The home was so nice. Fiona and Saoirse had purchased the duplex with money from Jimmy O's life insurance.
It had seemed the best way to spend the money of a man that had caused them nothing but sorrow over the years.
Fiona and Saoirse had opened their own business within the last year. It was a tiny bakery located in between a bookstore and a pub. It was called Sweet Cakes.
It worked out wonderfully given that both women had a soft spot for baking and Fiona had always been good with bookkeeping.
Saoirse did most of the baking and cake decorating and Fiona did most of the office work and dealing with the clients. It had given both women a sense of peace after the pains they'd endured.
Neither woman had ever pictured that they would have something so simple in their lives. The bakery was going great and they'd had fun with it.
Fiona was still involved IRA of course, but it didn't take over her life like it had with Jimmy O'.
She felt comfortable realizing that she was able to provide a sense of normalcy for her daughter and herself.
Fiona smiled shaking her head at the comment about her butt. "Hush you. There's a lot of time fer ya to get re-familiar with that part of me later."
Chibs stifled a yawn as he spoke reluctant to actually admit this. "I may be too tired fer that tonight love. This jetlag is getting to me."
"Aye that's why yer goin to sit back and relax while Kerri and I make us some dinner. We got all the time in the world to make love." Fiona pointed out as she practically shoved Chibs onto the light blue sectional sofa.
He let out another yawn smiling up at his gorgeous Fi. "Ya girls are goin to spoil me."
Fiona bent down pressing a lingering kiss to his lips as she spoke. "Aye we are sweet boy..for the rest of yer life."
He grinned up at her feeling so blessed to finally be back home; where he belonged.
It seemed as though his life made sense for the first time in years.
He laid back against the soft sofa his eyes closing as he thought of how much his Kerrianne had grown. He could remember when she was just a wee baby. It seemed just like it was yesterday.
Filip awoke to the sound of a baby crying over the white plastic baby monitor beside Fiona's and his small queen sized bed. He yawned blinking the sleep from his eyes as he became aware of his surroundings.
Kerrianne had only been home for a few months now and she had cost her parents more than a few nights of rest.
He stared over at his exhausted wife not surprised that she was still sleeping deeply despite their daughter's tears.
He pressed a kiss to Fiona's shoulder over the thin yellow strap of her nightgown. He spoke up knowing that she needed her rest. She'd worn herself down so much over these past few days. He'd been kept out almost all night for the past week or so by doing little jobs for the IRA. "I'll get her love. Ya sleep. We got milk ya pumped in the fridge if I need it."
He chuckled softly as Fiona mumbled something in her sleep that sounded like Okay love you.
He pulled himself from their soft warm bed shoving the heavy brown quilt off his body. He walked out of the room and down the hall to Kerrianne's tiny nursery.
He flipped on the lights as he entered the room blinking a bit as he adjusted his eyes to the light and the abundance of purple from the curtains to the butterfly shaped rug on the floor.
Fiona hadn't wanted to decorate the baby's room too traditionally in pinks. So lilac had been the color of choice.
The nursery was cheerful but so tiny. Kerrianne's white crib sat underneath a mobile with tiny little swallow birds hanging from it. The mobile played Rock a Bye Baby in a soft pleasant tune.
The sweet blue and green cloth mobile had been a gift from Fiona's mother. Though Fi's father was still locked in disapproval over his daughter's marriage to Filip, Lenore Larkin had been a bit more forgiving especially once her only daughter had become pregnant.
There was a white wooden dresser stuffed on the other side of the room and a shelf hanging over it with a little carousal shaped music box, stuffed animals, and the baby monitor.
The wooden changing table had been shoved out into the hall because there was no room for it in the nursery.
Filip's and Fiona's small modest apartment had been stuffed with baby things; a stroller, a high chair, a bouncy seat, a playpen, and so many toys blankets and books.
It was clear their little Kerrianne would be spoiled beyond belief despite her parent's sad financial situation.
They had wanted to name their girl after his mother but the name Carrie had kept popping up in their heads. So they decided to go with a combination of their favorite name as well as his mother's name: Kerrianne. Kerrianne Joan Telford.
They'd picked the middle name Joan for the Joan of Arc. Fiona had wanted to name their girl after the historical French warrior she'd always looked up to since learning about her in school as a girl. She looked up to the solider as a hero of sorts.
Filip's mother and sister had really provided for his new family and the young couple was thankful for this. They wouldn't have been able to make it without the Telford family providing them with baby gear.
Filip leaned over the crib smiling down at his sobbing daughter. She was lying on her colorful crib bedding; a white cheerful bedding with little zoo animals all over it; elephants, lions, zebras, and bears.
He picked her up carefully her face almost as pink as the pink and white striped fleece onsie she was wearing. Her dark hair was already just as curly as her mothers hair and her eyes were just as dark. She had Filip's nose though and his lips. Her skin was a soft golden tone a perfect mixture of her mother's darker skin and her father's pale skin.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead as he spoke his voice soft. "Hey love. What's wrong huh?"
Filip sat down on the wooden rocking chair they'd barely managed to stuff into the room as he began to rock the girl. She felt dry and he knew Fiona had just fed her a few hours ago.
She was just fussy he told himself. He spoke to her his voice picking up the cutesy light tone he only reserved for his little girl. "That's enough of that sweet love. Da's got ya now. Ya can stop that fussin."
He stared down at her as she continued to whine mostly out of frustration now. Her tears had dried. Fiona was always pointing out to him that their daughter fussed because he knew her da would come running. The little girl had Filip wrapped around her tiny fingers.
Filip was still so stunned that he had made someone so beautiful. Kerrianne was truly stunning. He couldn't wait to watch her grow into what would no doubt be a stunning young woman just like her mother.
He began to sing to her an old traditional tune. It was called A Stor Mo Chori. It was a traditional ballad written Brian O'Higgens who was heavily involved in the IRA and the 1916 Rising. Fiona had taught Filip the song and he'd always loved it.
A Stor Mo Chroi, when you're far away
From the home that you'll soon be leaving,
Sure it's many a time by night and by day
That your heart will be sorely grieving.
For the stranger's land may be bright and fair,
And rich in all treasures golden.
You'll pine, I know, for the long, long ago
And the heart that is never olden.
A Stor Mo Chroi, in the stranger's land
There's plenty of wealth and wailing.
Though gems adorn the rich and grand
There are faces with hunger paling.
The road may be weary, and hard to tread
And the lights of the city blind you.
Oh turn, A Stor, to old Erin's shore
And the ones you have left behind you.
A Stor Mo Chroi, when the evening's mist
O'er mountain and meadow is falling,
Oh turn, A Stor, from the throng and list
And maybe you'll hear me calling.
For the sound of a voice that you seldom hear
For somebody's speedy return.
Aroon, aroon, Won't you come back soon
To the one who really loves you.
By the time Filip had finished the old song Kerrianne was fast asleep finally quiet. He continued to hold her long after she was asleep unwilling to put her down just yet.
He spoke his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm goin to be the best da I can baby girl. I didn't have tha best da but I promise ya I'll be better than him. I love ya so much."
Little did Filip know that only four years later Jimmy O'Phelan would take his baby girl and his Fiona from him leaving him a nasty Glasgow grin to remember him by.
Saoirse sat on her worn down black sofa a bottle of Guinness sitting beside her as she stared down at her cell phone. She'd changed out of the soft green dress she'd been wearing earlier and into one of her late boyfriend's old shirts.
As much as she loved her dear cousin Nate O'Donnell she had never enjoyed speaking on the phone with him especially when she was feeling down.
Seeing her godfather had been hard on her. Chibs looked so much like her Padriac. They had the same eyes that held a little mischievous glint to it, the same tall lanky frame, the same smile.
Seeing Chibs made her miss Padriac all the more. She had loved Padriac Telford more than anything in this world.
He had been her first love, her first kiss, the man she had lost her virginity to.
She knew no one would believe it but Padriac had been so sweet. He wasn't the bad boy biker that he looked like, yes he was tough and he would kick the shit out of someone when they deserved it. But he was compassionate and intelligent and so romantic.
Despite the wild life Padriac had chosen for himself he had remained faithful to Saoirse. His own father had cheated on his mother and Padriac never wanted to be like the man. When he loved Saoirse he loved her deeply.
Burying Padriac's ashes had destroyed her. He had died so suddenly and so violently.
One minute he'd been there and then he was gone. He had left that morning kissing her after they'd had their morning breakfast. He'd left for club business and had never come home again.
Padriac and Saoirse had been talking about getting married and starting a family before he'd died. He had proposed to her years before but they had wanted to wait until they had a bit more money to start their family and have a nice wedding.
They'd had a life planned out full of joy and promise and it had been ripped away in one violent second.
Padriac's mother Cait had been hysterical when it came time to bury her only child. She blamed Chibs and the life he had lead her son into.
Saoirse hadn't spoken to the woman since the funeral. She couldn't bear to look in Cait's eyes. She felt that Cait blamed her in a way; for tolerating her son's lifestyle, for supporting his place in SAMBEL.
Saoirse could remember how Cait had glared down at the black crow inked into her would be daughter in law's wrist when Saoirse had attempted to hug her.
Fiona had scolded Cait of course for shoving Saoirse away, but it had only resulted in Cait storming from the cemetery.
Cait hadn't spoken to any of them in years and Saoirse wasn't surprised. Padriac had been all his mother had in this world; her only child, her life.
Saoirse took a gulp from her beer so tempted to fall back into old habits. She was tempted to go out onto the streets to find those pills that had kept her knocked out free of her grief; codeine had been her drug of choice until Fiona had flushed the pills down the toilet and cleaned her up.
She'd had a prescription for the drug left over from when she'd broken her arms a year before Padriac had died. She had taken the drugs after Padriac's funeral and soon it had become an everyday thing. She had let the drugs take control of her life easing her pain.
Soon she'd been doctor shopping getting prescriptions for Codeine and from Codeine she'd gone to Dilaudid. She hadn't found out until later that Dilaudid was often called drugstore heroin. She could see why it was called that. The drug knocked you out leaving you numb to the world around you. You might start taking the pills but you would always go to snorting the powder and then you would go to the needle. You would always go to the needle.
Saoirse shook the desire for the drugs from her mind knowing that she had come too far to fall back into old habits.
Fiona had told her goddaughter that if she ever caught her shooting up or popping pills then she would personally kick her ass into next week.
She took a deep breath remembering what Fiona was always telling her Padriac wouldn't want this fer ya love. He wouldn't want ya killin yer soul with these damn pills.
She dialed her cousin's number deciding that it was time to just get this done and over with. She spoke her voice firm as Nate answered his end. "I need a favor cousin."
"Aye what is it dearie?" Nate replied a little tipsy from his nightly trip to the bar.
Saoirse shook her head rolling her eyes at her drunk of a cousin. "I need ya to find a lad fer me. Fer Filip Telford. The lad's name is Juan Carlos Ortiz...he goes by Juice. We need ya to bring the lad here to Belfast, safe and sound. Not a hair on his head is ta be hurt. I mean it Nate. He's in danger in California and we gotta save him."
She swallowed the lump in her throat as she explained what had to be done.
This stress was worth it, she reminded herself.
This was for her family.
Juice Ortiz sat on the scratchy motel bed his mind spinning. He had fucked up he knew it.
What was he supposed to do though? He had fallen back on old habits helping the Queen of SAMCRO just like he'd been taught to be by SAMCRO.
Gemma had taken him to this motel telling him it would work until they could get him to Wendy's empty apartment.
He would only be in this motel for another night or so.
His mind kept on going back to Tara lying dead on her kitchen floor in a puddle of her blood and dirty dish water. He kept thinking of Roosevelt, that he'd had to kill the man.
It was just another dead body on his conscience.
When did his life come to this?
One minute it had been about brotherhood and loyalty and the next minute his life had been filled with death, betrayal, and regrets.
Jax wanted him dead. The club President saw Juice as a traitor, a rat that had to be exterminated.
Juice didn't want to die, but he was so tired. So damn tired.
He grabbed ahold of his gun as a heavy knock fell upon his door.
He ran for the closed door peering through the peep hole out into the dark night, his heart slamming in his chest. He let out an anxious breath as he spotted a huge man standing peering back at him.
The man was stocky with red hair and a spread of freckles across his face. He wore a heavy wool coat over a pair of dark jeans and dress shirt.
Was he here to kill him, Juice wondered. Was he some hitman hired by the club? Was he an agent here to arrest him for all the sins he'd commited?
Juice opened the gun just a crack holding up the gun to the man's head. "Who the fuck are you?"
The man raised an eyebrow seemingly unaffected by the gun to his head. He spoke his voice all too calm. "I'm here to help ya laddie."
Juice widened his eyes a bit thrown off by the accent; Irish? What did an Irish man want with him? Was this some IRA gun shit?
"I doubt that." Juice spat out digging the gun against the man's meaty forehead.
The man too Juice my shock chuckling a bit as he spoke. "I'm here as a friend laddie. I'm here ta save yer life. Yer a lucky man."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Juice blurted out his voice frantic and full of fear.
Was this bastard crazy? He was laughing with a gun to his head?
The man gave him a cool smile saying the one name that would change everything running through Juice's head. "Fiona Larkin."
"What's Chibs' old lady want with me?" Juice stated his stomach rolling.
"She and her husband want ta save yer life laddie. Like I said I'm tossin ya a lifeline. I'll pull out me phone and ya can talk to him yerself if that's what it takes."
Juice nodded his head his mind going a mile a second. This was almost too good to be true. Had he fallen asleep and was having some weird stress induced dream?
He dug the gun against the man's head as he spoke. "If you pull a gun out you'll be dead before you have a chance to shoot."
The man smirked at this threat. "Aye that's a good thing I'm jus pullin out a phone then."
Juice widened his eyes as the man dialed his cell phone before handing it over to him.
Juice felt his heart drop as he heard a familiar voice on the other end. "Hey Juicey."
Reviews? Constructive Criticism?
A Stor Mo Chori translates to O Treasure of My Heart. And as I explained it's an old ballad. Look it up the history about it is pretty interesting.