Nightfall approached rather quickly. I was suprised because for me, it felt like time wasn't moving fast enough. Gemma left with Unser shortly after Jax and the club left to go see her father since he was barely hanging on to what life he had left. Believe me, I tried striking up conversations with the old ladies of SAMCRO. The conversation would be strong for a solid twenty minutes. After that, there was just awkward silence, and they would excuse themselves to check on their children. Truthfully, I think the color of my skin had something to do with the lack of interaction. I was the only black one there.

"Okay buddy, lift your arms up."

I brought Abel to one of the bedrooms Lyla said we could use for the kids. I made sure before I let Abel and Thomas anywhere near this room, I found out if this bed was used for "work." She laughed it off, and said of couse not. She was a mother herself, and would never let her child sleep in a bed that was covered in come. You can say that is sort of conforting.

Abel lifted his arms up like I asked him to. I pulled his fresh yellow shirt over his head. He pushed his arms through the two arm holes while I pulled down the hem properly.

"Alicia, is daddy coming back soon?"

After he was fully dressed in his pajamas, Abel climbed into the king size bed. I lifted his legs slightly, and pulled the blankets from under his legs to on top of them. Abel laid himself further under the blankets and looked up at me, waiting for me to answer the question.

"Yes, buddy. He will probably be right next to you when you wake up. Okay?"

He nodded. I leaned down, and planted a kiss on top of his head.

"Are you going to read to me?"

Fuck. I was in such a rush to pack up our belongings, I completely forgot about Abel's beloved book.

"Aww Abel, I forgot the book."

"I didn't. I put it in your bag when we were in the car," he smiled wide at me. I couldn't help, but smile back at him.

I walked over to the corner where I had our bags. I crouched down and pulled out my back bag from the small pile, looked at Abel.

"Which pocket is it in?"

"The first one."

I unzipped the first large pocket of my bag. Sure enough, there it was. It laid on top of my clothes perfectly.

"You think of everything."

"I know."

I snickered at his remark, and closed up the open pocket. I held the book to my chest as I got under the covers next to him, pulling the covers up to my waist.

"Alicia, before you read, can I ask you something?"

Abel's chin rested on my arm, and he looked up at me with eyes full of curiousity.

"Sure, you can ask me anything."

"Can you stop smoking?"

"What?"

That question completely threw me off. I never thought I would be asked to stop smoking.

"I saw on tv smoking can make you go to heaven. I don't want you to go to heaven like my mommy did."

I sat up in the bed, and looked down at Abel in shock. He pushed the blankets back and sat up as well.

"You know what Abel, I'll stop smoking. Just for you and Thomas."

"Really?"

"Yes. Don't worry, I'm not going to heaven. I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

He threw his arms around my neck, making me laugh. His arms pulled my neck closer to his face, and he gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Okay, handsome. You have to get some sleep. "

Abel released the lock of his arms, and scooted himself further into bed. I moved the blankets back, and got out of the bed.

"Night, Alicia."

I touched the top of his nose with the top of my pointer finger.

"Night, Abel."

I closed the bedroom door, so the voices from outside his temporary room won't disturb him. As I walked down the long hallway, Brooke came into view. Thomas was in her arms squirming and crying. The poor kid has been like this all day. Brooke and I traded off every couple of hours, hoping one of us can get him to eat and sleep. He wasn't having it.

"Hey, do you want me to take over?"

Brooke turned around, and smiled at me.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. You look as exhasuted as he does. Go get some sleep."

"Okay. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Good night."

"Good night."

She handed me Thomas, and gave me the fresh bottle she made for him. Brooke went down the hallway of bedrooms. I sat down on one of the free couches, and moved Thomas on my lap.

"Okay, little man. It's me and you now."

I grazed the bottle's nipple on his quivering lip. He has to be hungry. After moving it a few times against his mouth, his hands grasped both sides of the bottle. He helped me guide to the bottle to his mouth, and began to eat.

I rested one of my hands over Thomas's. I used my other hand to wipe away the fresh tears that fell down his face.

The warehouse door opened, making everyone look up in the direction of the door. Jax and the rest of the club strolled in.

A huge smile stretched across all of our anxious faces.

Quinn broke away from walking behind the club and, made his way to me. I sat up even straighter, wondering what this handsome club member wanted to talk to me about.

He bent down a few feet away from Thomas and me.

"Hey."

I put my finger to my mouth.

"Shh. He's finally starting to go to sleep."

Quinn looked at his president's son. Thomas was fighting to keep his eyes open. But, his body was winning the battle.

"What's up, Quinn?", I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He took off his black hat, revealing his blonde locks fully for the first time. He looked down, and his hands twisted his hat in his hand.

"You have to excuse me, I haven't done this in ten years."

"Do what? You're starting to worry me."

He looked up from the hat in his hands and looked me in the eyes.

"Alicia Moore, would you do me the honor of going on a date with me?"

"On one condition."

"Absolutely."

"Can I know what your first name is?"

"It's Rane."

"Rane. Rane Quinn, I would love to. Just let me know the time and place so I can make myself cute for you."

"You're not cute."

"I'm not? That hurts, Quinn," I playfully responded, placing my hand against my chest.

"You're beautiful."

"Awww, thank you."

"Hey. Hey, Jax. You listening to me?", Rat asked.

Jax pulled his eyes away from Quinn and Alicia, and back at Rat.

"Yeah, brutha. Of course."

"Then, what did I just say?"

"You said everything was good here," he replied, hitting the side of his face.

"Not even close. "

After Quinn and I talked for a bit, I put Thomas in his travel crib. I felt a strong hand on my back. I stood up straight and turned to my right side.

"How'd it go, Pres?"

"Good."

"You're a terrible liar. I'm about to go outside, and smoke. You wanna join me?"

"Why won't you smoke in here?"

"There's children all over the place. They don't need to inhale my cigarette fumes."

He smiled and nodded his head.

I reached in my jacket by the front door, and pulled out my Newports. Jax held open the door for me as we stepped out of the clubhouse.

"Thanks. You happen to have your lighter?"

Jax reached into his pocket, and lit the lighter, holding it to my cigarette.

" I plan on smoking as much as possible tonight?"

"Ha, why?"

"I promised Abel I would quit starting tomorrow. I must warn you, you will be his next target."

Jax hit the fresh pack of smokes against his hand three times. He pulled the plastic off of the pack, and let the plastic fall to his feet. He lit his own cigarette, and put it to his mouth.

"Probably. But, smoking is one of the things that keep me sane."

"How did today go for you guys?"

Jax leaned against the warehouse wall, and his head fell back.

He just shook his head.

"Will you ever tell me what goes on in the club?"

"No."

"Why not? I won't judge you. You know I'm a great listener."

He lifted his head and looked at me with disbelief.

"Trust me, you would have no problem judging me."

I moved closer to him. His upper body tensed.

"Try me."

He pushed himself off of the wall with his foot that was against the warehouse. Jax dropped his cigarette on the ground, and put out the short butt with his sneaker. He blew out the smoke he held in his lungs and took my hand. He lifted it to his mouth and kissed the top of my hand.

"You see me as a good man. I want to keep it that way."