Set Fire to the Rain 9/?
New York, New York
The walls were closing in on Maggie. She couldn't wrap her head around how Bianca could be standing here demanding to see her son after all these. Truthfully she couldn't comprehend her presence here at all. The little brunette had truly believed she would never lay eyes on Christien's mother after the last visit from Reese. She walked briskly willing herself not to hear the sound of Bianca's heels clattering after her.
"Margaret!" Bianca all but shouted as she yanked the smaller woman's arm effectively stopping her and bringing her back against the taller woman's body.
~"shhh you have to stay. Fix this. We can fix it but you can't run away from again!"~
Bianca stood blinking down at petite brunette as she felt a shiver pass through Maggie's body against her hand. They stood toe to toe, a mere inches from each other's personal space. Maggie closed her eyes against the anger in Bianca's eyes willing herself to remain still.
~"Stay, make it stop, please"~
Bianca's swallowed hard, the hand gripping the smaller woman's arm lessoning as she shook her head slightly, Maggie's words breaking through the haze. "You're hurting me"
The brunette flinched.
~"you're hurting me"~
Maggie bit her bottom lip as she shuffled her feet, looking back up into confused chocolate eyes.
"I'm sorry, I… I would never" Bianca stammered, pressing a hand to her forehead.
She told herself Bianca didn't deserve her concern, Maggie wanted to continue to nurse the anger and hate for this woman that she had started years ago. Yet in the moment, watching her shake from uncertainty and memories lost she couldn't bring herself not to react.
"Bianca you need to sit down" she said softly, gently leading the woman to an empty on call room. Flicking the light on, she eased the brunette into a plush chair and placed herself on the small bed across from her. They sat silently as each tried to gather themselves. Maggie decided to end the reprieve.
"I don't understand why you're here?" She said truly sincere, trying to keep the bitter edge out of her voice.
Bianca's head snapped up, dark orbs watching her intently, incredulously. "How could I not be"
Maggie leaned back against the wall, folding her legs Indian style. Slowly she shook her head, tears threatening. "Bianca do you realize how long it's been since you and I have been in each other's presence?"
The brunette nodded mutely. She pinned the little brunette with a long hard glance. "Is that what this is all about Maggie, punishment?" Bianca said raggedly. She had tried to think of every reason the woman would have had to not reveal to her, Christien's existence, yet could only agree upon one.
"Punishment" Maggie said sitting up eyes blinking. "That's what you think?"
Bianca set straighter in her seat. "What else could I think? I mean, is this because I've kept Miranda from you" Bianca swallowed, hating the reaction she saw in the woman. Maggie's body literally jerked from hearing her daughter's name. Cold dark hazel eyes stared at her pointedly, glassy in a effort to keep stubborn tears at baby. When the little brunette spoke again it was with a somewhat shaky voice.
"I wasn't trying to punish you Bianca, Chris is all I had and I" her voice broke with emotion. "I couldn't lose another child" she whispered as a tear slipped down her flushed cheek.
Bianca nodded quietly. Her anger at the loss of time with her child was still there yet she wanted more than anything to understand how they could have gotten to this. She didn't know how to react. She only knew that she hurt, they both hurt.
"Bianca I still don't understand why you're here and why now" Maggie said trying to get her thoughts out. She was confused as hell as to why the brunette suddenly had maternal feelings to her son after so adamantly refusing to even see him years ago. The pain of that rejection had left the young doctor bitter and jaded; she had never been the same afterwards. And yet here she stood talking as if she were just now finding out she had a son?
"Maggie I-"
Beep Beep Beep
Maggie looked down at the pager attached to her scrub bottoms. She looked almost apologetically at the brunette as she hopped off the bed, Bianca rising with her from the chair. "It's a trauma, I have to go" she said quickly yanking open the door and stepping out into the hallway.
Bianca followed. "Maggie we have to discuss this" she said firmly yet softly.
Maggie eyed her suspiciously yet relented. "I know but right now I have a job to do ok" she said as she began to walk briskly towards the door of the emergency room. "You can't come beyond these doors" she said stopping, her hand gently touching the taller woman's hand.
"I'll wait for you" Bianca said stubbornly, which brought an unexpectant smile from the doctor. She felt a warmth spread throughout her just at the vision of it and it surprised her how much she had missed the feeling that Maggie's smile could bring her.
Maggie contemplated the woman standing before her, god she was beautiful. Standing there talking with her instead of shouting had a surprisingly calming effect on the petite brunette. It felt like her damn traitorous heart was giving in, desperate to finally heal after long years of suffering. She blinked up into chocolate eyes, maybe it was time to stop running and deal with things like an adult. Maybe she shouldn't have sent Chris away. Sighing, she resigned herself to the inevitable.
"Bianca, it looks like a shooting between rival gangs has broken out and I could be here hours" Mags said looking though windows as the ambulance approached. "Here, this is my number" she said quickly snatching a pin from her pocket, with a weak apologetic smile she wrote the numbers on the brunette palm. "We both know you would just track me down if I tried to run, obviously" she said stepping back. Bianca blinked at her mutely.
Her touch was still electric
The brunette stared into dark hazel eyes unable to speak. "Ok, but I'll be waiting" she said clearing her throat as the brunette disappeared behind the double doors.
Bianca's hand fluttered to her heart, as her phone rang in her pocket. Withdrawing it she smiled at the name flashing on the screen, Reggie.
Charming, California
Jackson Teller held the little boy he had come to love like his own as tightly as he could. He looked over to Aiden who had whipped his dark glasses down to cover his eyes against the bright light of the sun. Jax set the young boy down and ruffled his dark hair meeting the boy's brown eyes with a warm smile. "Its good to see you fry" he said as she guided the little boy over to his Harley.
"I missed you Uncle Jax" Chris said holding tightly to the older man's hand.
"Jackson!" Anna called as she exited the main building. Aiden, Jax and Chris all turned to see the woman gracefully approach them. Dressed in a pair of fitted slacks and light brown leather jacket, Anna still held that cat like gracefulness, she carried her body as agile as ever with quick reflexes.
"Hey there chief" Jax said pulling her into a hug. "What's going on here?" he motioned towards the little boy as he guided her away.
"It's a mess Jax" Anna sighed. "Can we go somewhere and talk?"
"Of course we can, in fact" he paused hopping on his bike and offering his hand out to her with smile.
"You want me to get on that beast!" she protested with a hidden smile.
"Come on and ex spy afraid of little bike, I don't believe it" he smiled hand still extended.
Anna regarded the young man carefully. When she first met him years ago in Paris he was nothing but trouble and she told Maggie as much. But she had to admit, trouble had never looked so good. With his blond locks now cut close and his goatee cut low he looked quite handsome and less like biker trash. But beyond the blond hair, blue eyes and roguish smile he was still a man capable of dangerous intent. Not that he would ever hurt her niece and great nephew.
"Ok fine" she said as Aiden whooped behind her…she chuckled and hopped on securing herself behind the younger man, her hands wrapped tightly around his slim waist.
"put this on" he said handing her his helmet
"I wanna ride" Christien protested while Aiden held him by his small shoulders.
"I'll take you out later" Jax promised
"Oh you will?" Anna frowned
"Relax Anna I wouldn't let anything happen to him" Jax laughed as he kicked the kick stand back and started the engine which roared to life. "Now hold on… Aiden take Chris back to my place, keys under the mat" he said before he pushed off and he and Anna roared out of the complex.
Aiden watched them go with a smirk on his face. "you hungry little man?" he asked looking down at the boy who just squinted at him through the sun.
"Yeah, can we get a burger?"
"I know a place in town" Juice's voice floated over.
"Sounds good to me brother" Aiden smiled. "We'll take the truck"
Juice regarded little boy, taking in his appearance. Christien was handsome little boy he thought, but he needed a new wardrobe. Dressed in a white Choppers shirt and some jean shorts with a New York Yankees hat to cover that crop of dark hair it made him remember when he had been a kid growing up in NY. "First we have to get the little guy some new gear" he chuckled.
"New gear? Like new stuff?" Chris said animatedly
"Hell yea my man, if you gonna hang with the Samcro we gotta get you dressing better than this" he tapped the brim of the boys hat. "Follow me" he grinned as he started his engine.
Elsewhere
Jax cut the engine off waiting for his passenger to hop off the bike. They were at the commentary, a place he often found himself after his father's death. It was the safest place he knew to talk and be alone. Anna followed him silently. They walked through a weave of gravestones before they came to quiet spot under a tree not a few feet from John Tellers grave.
"So what's going on Anna, is Maggie in trouble" he said sinking down to the base of the tree. He watched the woman carefully for any sign of hesitancy or untruthfully. She was Maggie's guardian and surrogate mother but she was also a very powerful person in her right. The woman had connections deeper than the president and they stretched all over the world as he had witness himself years ago.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~flash back~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So M&M why don't you just call this Bianca up and tell her she's a kid on the way" Jax started again. He was leaning back against the kitchen wall.
Maggie sighed irritably, her hand rubbing her lower back.
"You ok?" he asked suddenly, he was by herself handing pressing on her lower back. He guided her over to the couch. "Mags I'm worried about you"
"Im fine Jackson" she said with a impish grin as he frowned at the use of his full name. "I just don't like talking about Bianca and you know this. Why is this bothering you so much?"
Jax folded his arms across his chest. "Where I come from a man doesn't run from his responsibilities. I don't care what happened, this is literally her kid!" he bellowed
"No!" Maggie snapped. "This is my kid, the moment I decided not to have an abortion he became mine" she exhaled tiredly, her hand rubbing over her swollen belly. She was six months pregnant. "He's all I have" she whispered emotionally.
Jackson moved to her side, tucking a stray honeyed hair behind her ear. "No, not ever again, you saved my life the night I came crashing through your window." He chuckled. "I owe you"
"You don't owe me Jax, we're friends although I never thought I would be friends with a criminal" she teased. "You're better than all that" she reminded him.
He sighed, he heard it all from Tara his longtime girlfriend and ex. "Its in my blood Maggie. My family is in it like the mob. One day Ill be the president of the club. I cant escape it" he said with finality.
"When are you going to go home?" Maggie asked quietly, ignoring the crap in her side.
"Hopefully your Aunt will come through with that safe passage though to Spain, I'll meet up with my boys when I get to New York" he said quietly. " I don't like leaving you here in your condition."
It was Maggie's turn to laugh. "Jax you aren't responsible for my condition"
"Maybe not but it's not right. If you would tell me more about this Bianca person I would dragging her ass right back here" he pouted
"But I won't so you won't be dragging anyone anywhere….Shit!" she gasped doubling over.
"What is it!" he said right by her side in a moment.
"I don't know!" Maggie inhaled, her face was contorted…"OH god! I feel!"
"What! What is it?" Jax voice was three octaves higher.
"I'm bleeding!" Maggie groaned her, hand traveling down to her yoga pants.
Jackson pulled at the material, watching as a track of blood ran down her tan thighs, the air was thick with the smell.
"Jax" Maggie said weakly as she started to lose consciousness
"Mags!" he called out reaching for her cell phone he dialed Robin's number.
"Hold on Mags!" he said cradling her head.
It took Robin all of five minutes to get the small apartment with Anna in tow. Jackson watched in horror as they performed a C section on the small woman. He was responsible to keep Maggie conscious as they hurried toward the hospital.
Robin had the baby in portable incubator checking his vitals. When they made it towards the hospital Jax carried in Maggie's near lifeless body, his hands caked with dried blood. He placed her slightly pale body on the gurney and didn't even notice when Anna was dragging him buy his jacket collar to the exit door.
"Im not leaving" he said eyes red rimmed
"yes you are!" She barked her voice softening in a instance. "Look around Jackson, there are police everywhere. My nephew Aiden will escort you out of France to safe house. I promised Maggie and this is me keeping it" she said fearfully , she hugged him tightly. "I'll contact you and let you know how's she doing, I promise you" she said fiercely before pushing him towards Aiden who was just parking his car.
She kept her promise. She got him out of the country and into America with out one glance from the authorities.
"Jackson are you ok" Anna said touching his face lightly.
He blinked a few times clearing his head. "Yea I was just remembering the night we almost lost her ya know" he said clearing his throat.
"She's fine now Jax or at least I thought she was" came a clipped British reply.
"Why is Christien across the country Anna. Maggie never lets him out her sight. Now all of sudden he's here and she's there?" he asked skeptically.
"I know, she was mess when she called, by the time I got there she had him packed up to go. I think his biological mother wants him back" Anna said gravely. She watched as his eyes snapped with anger.
"She thinks she's gonna take him from Maggie after all this time" he said standing. "Over my dead body!"
"Jackson!"
"Fuck that, over her dead body!" he said pulling his piece from his waist, Anna gasped. She pushed his chest hard.
"So you're killing women now!" she asked angrily. "Does Maggie know about this change! My god! I brought you Chris!" she said turning.
Jax swore under his breath dropping the piece to the ground he caught her in two quick strides. "I don't kill women!"
Anna turned on him angrily. "Well I hope not!"
He ran a frustraded hand over his short blond hair. "I just got angry ok. Maggie doesn't deserve to lose that little boy."
"And she won't, honestly I think it might have something to do with Bianca's family more than Bianca herself." Anna said quietly.
He gave her a hard look.
"Jax I feel you should know despite what Maggie says or how she acts, she is still desperately in love with Bianca. If you ever hurt the woman she would never forgive you" Anna said pointedly. "She might even try to kill you for it and please do not think she wouldn't for one second"
Jax smiled a weak smile. "I know she's loves her. I've always known that. I wouldn't hurt a woman and not Maggie's woman." He sighed, but we can't let her family hurt Maggie either, I'll leave that up to you"
"Naturally, if the Kanes think they're gonna run roughshod over Maggie they have another thing coming." She winked.
Pine Valley, Pa
Kendall was sure she had paced a hole in the carpet by now. Reese was late and she was nervous or anxious to see what the bitch knew. She walked over to the glass vase and whispered. "Are you sure you can hear me, Tad?"
"yes" came a muffled reply. "I've got bugs all over the place"
"Good I don't want any technical difficulties" Kendall hissed.
"There won't be, she's entering the building now! And remember , be subtle!" he groaned
Kendall straightened herself, deciding to seat herself behind Bianca's desk. She took a steadying breath as the door creaked open. Her eyes focused on the tall slender blond woman in her presence. Reese Williams radiated arrogance and self assurance. The woman narrowed her eyes at Kendall and there was nothing but contempt and anger in them.
"Hello Kendall" she practically purred
"Hello Reese" Kendall said in a clipped tone. "Have a seat?"
Reese reluctantly approached the chair offered her in front of what she assumed was her ex wife's desk. Slowly she sat, her legs crossing at the knee. "I'm glad you agreed to hear what I have to say" she said
"That's all I've agreed to do" Kendall reminded her. "If you expect to even get visitations rights to Gabby, what you offering in return will have to be substantial"
The woman actually smirked at her, the brunette had to take a breath just to keep herself from climbing over that desk and punching her in the face.
"I'll think you'll find what I offer to be more than substantial" the blond said evenly
Tiring of this game Kendall sighed and leaned back into the leather chair. "Ok bitch, lets drop all the pretense. You and show me yours and Ill show you mine" she said folding her fingers across her chest. "Just what are you offering?"
There was silence as the blond contemplated her options.
"I'm getting really bored here, Williams." The brunette said deciding to change tactics. "You know I think this is bullshit" she said rising. "I don't think you have anything"
The look on the blonds' face was priceless as she rose quickly. "wait! I can you offer you Bianca's son!" she all but shouted.
Kendall stopped, remember to school her face in one of surprise, shock and disbelief. "Now I know you're lying. Bianca only has two children as you are well aware" Kendall said carefully.
"Oh really, then what's this?" Reese sneered reaching into her briefcase. She pulled out a thick file and tossed it on the desk. The brunette took her place behind the desk and began to flip through it.
She read silently stopping a few time to glance up at the smug look on the blonds face. Finally she put the file down turning her attention to the woman in front of her.
"Well?" Kendall stated, her face a mask of indifference.
"well what?" Reese snapped.
"Well I want to hear it from your goddamn mouth!" Kendall hissed. "From the beginning"
Reese sat back in her chair, unsure. "You have the report"
"From your goddamn mouth " Kendall growled again, in deadly tone
The woman decided not to push her luck.
"Fine," she cleared her voice and stood. She began to pace as she started in quiet voice. "when I met Bianca I was drawn to her and I loved her. I'd never loved a woman before but I loved her"
Kendall looked on skeptically.
"I did Kendall, I wanted to make her dreams come true. She was still so broken over Maggie Stone" the blond nearly spat the words out.
"how did you even know about Maggie" Kendall question, her eyebrow arching.
"I knew" she stammered. "I had Bianca's past lovers researched and I found about Maggie"
Kendall leaned forward on the desk. " Go on"
"Bianca was so hopeful and anxious to forget and for us to work, to be a family" Reese said softly. "I wanted that, I wanted to give her what she didn't have with Maggie. At least that what she led me to believe" she said bitterly.
"what do you mean led to believe" Kendall started
"Kendall! She told me she wanted a family, that she wanted no one but me" the blond said pounding her chest. "But she lied, my private investigator found out that Maggie had a child. At first I was so happy, now Bianca could finally move on from that woman's memory" she sighed.
"But it didn't work out that way?" Kendall pushed
"No it didn't" Reese shook her head. " I wanted to be the one to present the evidence that Maggie had a child to Bianca. I wanted to show her that the woman had moved on without her. Until I realized that kid was my wife's child. "
"How could you be sure" Kendall said in a accusing tone.
"Because as the paperwork has shown, he looked just like her, his birth concedes with the time and place in their relationship not too mention we used the same fertility clinic and do you realize Kendall they keep very clear records of all their patients" Reese said bitterly.
Kendall could only look on amazed at this woman. "So you paid the clinic off to give you Maggie's records?"
"Yup" the blond said with a pop of her lips. "And you know what I found out, my loving wife who I had spent 8 months taking care of during her very difficult pregnancy, wasn't even supposed to carry another child." She laughed maniacally. "I offered to carry our child but she was hell bent that I wouldn't. I never questioned it." She shook her head.
Kendall smiled a cruel smile. "So you're jealous Bianca wanted Maggie to have their child and not you?"
"Of course I am!" she yelled tears filling her eyes. " I loved her and she never loved that way. I was a replacement, she fucking married me and I was a replacement!" Reese cried.
"yea but you made her pay didn't you?" Kendall said disgustedly . "You kept this secret from her, came between Bianca and me with your brilliant idea of having my husband fathering Gabby, and then topped it off with cheating with your ex fiancé all the while planning to sue for custody of Miranda and Gabrielle!"
"It never would have came to that if she had just loved me!" Reese said emotionally
"Oh my god, really!" Kendall said emphatically. "Ok so fine, Bianca didn't' love you like you wanted. But the kid, these paper say, he was sick Reese! How could you not tell Bianca!" Kendall shouted
"I fucking got the blood didn't I!" she yelled back. "He didn't die!" she said plopping down into the chair.
Kendall pressed the bridge of her nose tightly. She couldn't believe this bitch could be this controlling or diabolical; her sister really did have bad taste in women, well most women. "Let's go back to when you first confronted Maggie" she said sighing
"Why do I have to say all this, You have the paper" Reese said suspiciously
"If you want help getting your little brat from Bianca, you spill your guts" Kendall said coldly hating to refer to her niece in such a way, but she had to sell it.
"Maggie got a pang of conscious and actually showed up at Cambias with the kid when he had to be a nearly two. Bianca was pregnant at the time so she wasn't at work as much. When the secretary said Maggie was here, I had her taken Bianca's office. And that's where I saw him for the first time in person." She paused her eyes wistful. "He was so beautiful and I knew if she saw him" the blond voice wavered. "She could never see him" she said finally, her eyes locking with Kendall's.
"So what'd you tell Maggie" Kendall's voice was dead.
"I told her that Bianca knew about the boy, of course she did. Did she really think they could live in the same town and she wouldn't have known? I told her that Bianca didn't want her or the kid, that is was mistake and only family she wanted was with me and then I showed her the sonogram of Gabby and the engagement ring I was planning to give her." The blond said with no remorse.
"And Maggie believed you?" Kendall sighed.
"Of course she did" Reese laughed. "It was clear she was nothing, a intern at a hospital with no known family ties, she was never in Bianca's league and she knew it on some level"
"Maggie is more in Bianca's league than you ever were. At least my sister had enough since to want to procreate with her" Kendall said nastily.
"Whatever, I was protecting my family and it worked. The bitch left and never tried to contact us again"
"Until he got sick"
"yea the little brat got sick, some blood disorder from his premature birth." Reese said nonchalantly. "He was three and Bianca and I were having trouble"
"You mean you were cheating on her" Kendall put in, eyes narrowed
"Maggie called me at Cambias only this time she wanted me to meet with her Aunt, some British woman"
"Anna, Anna Devane"
"Yes, I suppose that was her, the woman hated me that was clear to see from our talk on the phone." Reese said dismissively.
"You do bring it out of people" Kendall said dryly, twirling a pencil around her fingers.
Reese rolled her eyes. "They explained the situation and I knew that British bitch would show up at our door step if I didn't find a way to end it. So I tricked your sister into donating the blood."
"How?"
"I told her that Cambias was contributing to Red Cross and it would a great if she lead by example and donated. Of course a few days later I told her that she had perfect match for a sick little boy, but he would need her blood and bone marrow. But if she didn't donate it would die" she said proudly. "you know how your sister is, she'd never let a child suffer" the blond mocked
"You're a sick bitch" Kendall said quietly.
"I am what your sister made me" said with clarity. "But I didn't let her brat die, she owes me my daughter"
"Bianca's owes you, the woman who ruined her life and kept her child from her?" Kendall said evenly.
"Maggie Stone kept her from her child. I did them both a favor twice! I saved his miserable life. I got Bianca to donate!" Reese said slamming her hand on the desk
"Yeah! And then you what! How did you get Bianca to sign her parental rights over to Maggie!" Kendall said bitterly. "We both know she wouldn't have done it unless you foraged her signature"
"I didn't forage shit! Do you know how much paperwork Bianca signed on the daily? I slipped it in among her Cambias crap. It was actually pretty easy; I took her out drinking and then wham! She signed them" Reese sighed leisurely.
"so what happened Reese, you schemed your way to get rid of all the competition and you and Bianca still didn't work out. Why didn't you say anything ever!" the brunette said incredulously.
The woman regarded her carefully, eyes like a hawk.
"Because she didn't deserve him, she had you and your family, the whole damn town and then turned Zach against me too. She kept my kid from me and made it so I could barely get a job. She ruined my life and I wasn't going to give her back hers. Give her the love of her life on a platter! Never not until I got mine" Reese said sadistically.
You're gonna get your bitch, that I promise you, Kendall thought.
"So there it is, now if she wants information on her son's whereabouts she will get in touch with me when she returns" Reese said rising. "what nothing to say"
"No, I think for once in my life I'm speechless" Kendall sighed as the door closed behind the exiting blond. Placing her head into her hands she began to shake with anger, tears falling down her cheeks. She didn't know how long she sat there, but was vaguely aware of Tad's presence. He wrapped his arms around her .
"We got her Kendall, you did great. That bitch isn't going to get away with what she has done" he said firmly.
She lifted her head from her face, "she already has" she said brokenly, he finger tracing the picture of Christien's face. "Bianca is going to be crushed when she hears this"
"Can you wait for her to get back?"
"No" she shook her head. " I have to go to New York, Bianca's doesn't have all the facts and if she speaks to Maggie without them" she shuddered. "Tomorrow's Miranda's birthday, but I have to leave right now" Kendall said pushing herself from the desk.
She flipped her cell phone open, dialing quickly.
"Hello, this is Ms. Slater. I need the jet fueled and ready to go ASAP. Make flight plan for JFK" she said closing her cell.
"New York?" Tad said quietly
"Yea I have to find my sister. I'll call her just before I take off" she said softly. "Can anything else go wrong?"
Tbc…
