A/N: I keep disappearing on you guys and I'm sorry. I was in the hospital for about a week. Been having some health issues, but as far as the doctors know as of right now, I should be fine.
The next morning I woke up to crying and turned, realizing it was Able. I had allowed Jax to put him in my room, due to the fact that my room was one of the biggest, and he knew I would take care of him. I got up and tossed my hair into a ponytail before picking him up and smiling at him, causing his crying to cease.
"Hey there little guy. Are you hungry?" I asked, putting him onto my hip before making my way out of the room and down the hall and stairs to the kitchen. I put him in the booster seat and kissed his head before making him a bottle. I grabbed the box of cheerios and put some in front of him to tide him over.
Halfway through feeding him Tig, Happy and Jax all walked into the kitchen. Abel smiled and cooed, reaching out to Jax. I laughed, handing him over. I noticed the look on Jax's face and sighed, pointing at him.
"I'm going to shower and get ready. You and I are going to have a talk after, got it big brother?" I said, smirking slightly.
He laughed some and nodded, shooing me away. I rolled my eyes and turned, heading back down the hallway, smiling lightly and nodding at Happy as I went.
An hour later I walked back down the hall and smiled at Abel who was on the floor in the living room playing with some toys. I walked over to my mom and gave her a kiss on the cheek, squeezing her shoulder in a comforting manner. I grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down next to her, watching Abel.
"Good to have him back, huh?" I said, smiling. She nodded, looking over at me and smiling.
"Very good. The newest little prince is safe." She said, causing me to laugh. I looked over at Jax and smiled, watching him interact with Abel.
"I think I'm going to stay in Charming… for good." I said, not looking at her, though I could feel her stare.
"Are you sure baby? I mean, after what happened and everything, I figured you wouldn't want to ever come back and stay." She said.
I looked over at her and sighed, but nodded, smiling a bit.
"Gotta stick around to make sure that one grows up right. Don't wanna miss out on more then I already have." I said. She nodded, smiling, then leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, patting my hand.
"You've grown up baby girl, I'm proud. " She stated, before getting up and walking over to Clay.
I sighed and swallowed then walked over to Jax, nudging him with my boot.
"Come on, time for that talk." I said, smirking. He groaned, getting up and following me outside to a picnic table. I sat down and took out a cigarette, lighting it and then bracing my arms on my legs, looking ahead of us at the mural wall across from where we were.
"I know you're still pissed at me for ditching when I did, and not giving you any explanation what so ever as to why. But… I think I'm ready to tell you now." I said, closing my eyes, and rubbing my forehead with my palm.
"Okay… so why'd you leave?" He asked. I swallowed and looked down at the ground.
"I started falling for this guy I was seeing. Seemed really nice, sweet and it looked like I could trust him. About a month after I packed up and disappeared, he set me up. Turns out he was one of Darby's men, and he was fucking with my head the entire time. Never really gave a shit about me. We were in Oakland and we were just walking around when this van pulled up next to us. He grabbed me and threw me in it. Just like that. You remember how I came home early morning the next day and wouldn't talk for weeks?" I asked, looking at him. He nodded slowly, as if questioning where I was going with this.
"They raped me. Several times, just like what happened to mom. They dropped me back off at my car in Oakland… and I came home. Never told anyone until mom found out about 2 years ago. She finally put two and two together when the fucker ended up dead and I stopped by for that Christmas dinner when I said I had a job close by. I killed 'em Jax. I killed every fucking one of them, and I don't feel the slightest bit upset or regretful of it." I said.
He didn't say anything at all, except pull me closer to him and kiss the top of my head, just holding me. After a while we broke apart and I stood to go back inside. He grabbed my arm and pulled me over to him, hugging me tight to him. I closed my eyes and smiled a bit, truly thankful for him for the first time in a long time.
Later that day I was in my room packing when there was a knock on the door of my room.
"Come in." I said, continuing to pack.
"Can I talk to you?" I heard, I instantly recognized the voice as Happys. I turned and nodded, motioning for him to close the door. He did and came and sat on the bed, causing me to lean against the dresser and look at him.
"So what's up?" I asked, looking at him.
"I'm willing to try." He said, looking at me.
"Try what Hap?" I asked, smirking a bit.
He sighed, running a hand over his bald head and narrowing his eyes at me.
"Dammit Jess, this isn't fucking easy to do. Don't make it harder on me then it already fucking is." He growled, causing me to smile.
"Not trying to do anything except make sure were on the same page here." I said.
"I'm willing to try this me and you thing. I'm not putting a crow on you yet, but I am willing to try this. Meaning you are completely off limits to anyone else." He said standing and looking down at me.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down to me, looking him in the eyes.
"What took you so long?" I asked, smiling then kissing him. I went to pull away when he put his hand on the back of my head, pulling me back to him, his other arm wrapping around my waist, keeping me close. After the kiss ended I looked up at him and smiled.
"So does this mean I get to break faces if a bitch comes near you?" I asked, smirking.
He laughed and shook his head, then became serious.
"Yeah… I guess it does." He said, smiling gently down at me. I smiled and kissed his vest then pulled away, smirking over at him as I went back to packing.
"Good. Now shoo, I have to finish packing. I'll see you outside in a bit." I said, smiling. He growled, grabbing me and bending down, nipping at my jaw.
"You're riding to the plane on my bike." He said as he left. I smiled, shaking my head and finishing up my packing.
I walked outside and handed my bag to my brother, who put it in the back of the car for me. I then turned and looked at Cherry. I smiled and opened my arms, and she ran forward, hugging me tightly. I pulled back and held her face in my hands.
"I still love you, ya know. That was stupid move you pulled, but I forgive you. I'll call you, okay? You take care of yourself." I said, kissing her forehead, and then moving onto Trinity and Maureen, giving both of them hugs as well. After I walked over to the line of bikes to Happy and smiled at him, taking the extra helmet he was handing me. I strapped it on and got on behind him, not missing the look on everyone's faces.
I wrapped my arms around him and smiled, laying my head on his back and closing my eyes as the bikes started up and everyone pulled out.