I own nothing you recognize. Only original characters and story lines are my own
Chapter Ten
"Hey baby, you packed?" Juice popped his head in the bedroom and I nodded. I'd just packed our bags. Soon we'd be heading to the clubhouse, everyone was on lockdown. Juice came in the room and wrapped his arms around me. "We'll be fine baby. I love you."
"I love you too I just fucking hate lockdowns." He kissed the top of my head and placed his hand flat on my stomach. Espy hated them too since she wasn't as active this morning.
"I know baby but we gotta go, gotta keep everyone safe." I nodded and moved away. I placed my hand to his face and kissed his lips gently. "This bag is packed, bring it downstairs. I'm just gonna go clean out the medicine cabinet, then I'll be ready."
"Ok, go down to the car when you're done and I'll lock up." He kissed me again before he grabbed my bag and his and went downstairs. I went to the medicine cabinet and put everything in the small bag I brought with me. With a sigh I went downstairs and waited while Juice locked up our house hoping that our family would come out of this thing stronger and whole. The nagging churning in my stomach promised a different outcome.
We made it to the clubhouse and some Prospects from the Thief River charter rushed out and took our bags from the back. Juice leaned over and kissed me, telling me it was gonna be ok I nodded and got out of the car. When I went into the clubhouse I saw that there were already tons of people there and soon there would be more. With a deep breath I moved through and found Ma in the kitchen unloading stuff she looked at me with a stern but loving look.
"No standing around darlin', if you're in here you help." I nodded and helped her put the food away before she sent me to the storage room to direct the Prospects in putting the rest of the stuff away. Soon I got tired so I went out and found Happy standing in the corner his dark, alert eyes taking in anything. Sometimes the stoic man provided a solid comfort I couldn't get anywhere else.
"Hey girly." He said as he put a hand on my shoulder. I nodded and he just stood with me as the place started filling up. Eventually Juice came in with the announcement that everyone was there and I breathed a sigh of relief. The sooner everything was over, the sooner we could take stock and go on with our lives. I looked over and saw Ma and immediately felt like a selfish bitch. My discomfort was nothing compared to the hell she'd been through and with a deep breath I stood up straighter and Happy squeezed, the man may have been a stone cold killer but he could read people. Juice came over and pulled me into his arms while an ear piercing whistle came from the back. I looked up the see my Dad standing with Ma and Jax, it had begun.
"I'd like to welcome you all to club reaper, glad you made your reservations in advance. As you can see, we're booked to capacity," Dad said and everyone laughed, most of it nervous. We quieted down and let him continue "You're here because SAMCRO takes care of its own the next few days this club has got some business to handle that could put the people in this club and the people connected to it in some, unfriendly situations. Chances are, nothing is going to happen but, people have already been hurt on my watch," Dad looked from Ma to Chibs and then flitted his eyes to Juice, shit he did care that Juice got hurt. He continued, "and that ain't ever gonna happen again, Nobody gets in without an escort and nobody leaves without one. You got safety concern, you talk to Piney. You got a comfort concern, you talk to my Queen or the princess" Dad turned and nodded toward me while Juice held me tighter and I nodded toward the room. "Under this roof you'll all be safe. I want you to make yourself at home. I love each and every one of ya."
Everyone clapped and Juice squeezed me tightly before he and Hap went to the chapel with everyone else. Ma was sitting at the bar while one of the croweaters poured her coffee. I sat down next to her and she reached over and took my hand. We didn't speak for a while I looked at everyone in the room and while I tended to dislike the croweaters on principal I felt like this was my family crowded in this room. We were all members of the SoA extended family.
"Coffee?" The croweater asked and Ma answered for me.
"Get her some water sweetie." She nodded and I looked at Mom.
"Lockdowns never get easy do they?" I rested my hand on my stomach where Espy had landed a solid kick. Mom moved her hand to the same spot and smiled.
"Nothing's easy baby, at least you have a good man to take care of you." I nodded and took the water the croweater had offered me.
Eventually the chapel cleared out and Juice said something to Jax who nodded and he came up to me and kissed me gently while Mom smiled at us, never taking her hand from where her grandbaby was kicking. He pressed his forehead to mine before he spoke.
"I've gotta go with Jax and Opie, do a bit of educating." He smiled when he said it, "I'll be back soon."
"Be safe baby." I whispered and kissed him before he nodded at Mom and moved out the door to follow Jax and Opie.
"Like I said, good man." She sipped her coffee and I opened the water and took a drink. It didn't settle my nerves like coffee would have but it helped.
Later I was in the corner playing a game of Crazy 8s in the corner with Ellie and Kenny and Hunter, Lyla's son, when Piney got a call and went out. I was interested and watched as he brought in a man who looked like he had no hands. Eventually my eyes made sense of what I saw and I realized that this guy had to be the infamous Chuckie I'd heard about, the chronic masturbator that Tig had adopted like a stray. Apparently he wasn't a bad guy, just looking to belong. Juice came out the back and had a talk with Piney before he took out his cell and walked outside. One of he croweaters got a look at Chuckie's hands and went to the back to get Tara and Mom who were taking care of Abel away from the crowd.
"You guys continue the game I'm gonna see what's up." Ellie nodded and the boys continued looking at their cards while I walked over to Piney who had seated Chuckie at a table by the bar. "Need my help Old Man?"
"Just keep Chuckie company while we wait for everyone." I nodded and sat down in the seat opposite him.
"Hi, I'm Milla, Clay's daughter and Juice's wife." I didn't offer my hand since that would have been cruel.
"I'm Chuckie, I don't think I met this Juice but if he's married to a beauty like you he has to be a good guy." I smiled, this guy was adorable.
Juice came in and stood behind my chair. I introduced him to Chuckie and Juice held out his hand. Chuckie smiled and nodded while I blushed and ducked my head. I loved Juice but sometimes… Eventually Tara and Mom came out the back and I gave up my seat for Mom and was sent in the back to check out our medical supply situation. I was glad I was sent out; I didn't do well with burns. I came out in time to see Tara finishing up Chuckie's hands when Dad walked in. I walked up and he gave me a hug and kept his arm around me protectively
"Go check on the kids ok sweetheart?" Dad whispered and I nodded before I rose on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.
I wound up sitting with Lyla in one of the dorm rooms holding Abel while Ellie read in the corner and a few of the boys played a weird looking game involving cards and some kind of "battle top". I picked one up and examined it while Lyla smiled at me.
"It's called Bakugan, Hunter's obsessed with it. Whatever happened to Pokemon? I understood that shit." I laughed and put the thing back on the pile before I gave Lyla a soft look.
"Thanks for hanging with me Lyla. How're you handling your first lockdown?" I asked as I sat back resting on the headboard.
"A lot of waiting. From what Piney told me I was expecting bullets flying and hostage situations. This is more like a family gathering where the guests can't leave." I looked at her with a new respect. She got it in one, this was a family gathering and we definitely couldn't leave.
"We are your family now sweetheart. You don't know how much I appreciate everything you've done for me in the last couple of months." This time she looked at me with a look that was pure love and respect before she leaned over and kissed my cheek.
"I love you Milla, you're my best friend, my only real friend. Everything I do for you is because I love you and I know that you love me and respect me. You don't know how hard it is to be in this business and get respect. Damn Mills, even if I wasn't with Ope you'd be my family. No matter what goes down I'll be here for you." She took the hand that wasn't holding Abel and squeezed it, while my eyes started to fill up with tears.
"I love you too Lyla, I wanted to hate you for replacing Donna but I can't, what you're doing for Ope…" I took a deep breath, "You'll never replace her but you are good for him and I hope this lasts."
We stayed in the bedroom talking and playing with the kids. Kenny tried to teach me Bakugan and I got lost and wound up screwing up their game. Ellie was quiet and withdrawn and I felt bad because she obviously wanted me to be against Lyla but I couldn't. I owed my life and my baby's to her quick thinking, other than that I simply enjoyed being around her. Despite the calming effect of the children I was getting anxious, I hadn't heard from Juice in a while and Ma said she hadn't seen him when she'd collected Abel earlier. Just as I was getting ready to climb the walls Juice came to the opened door with Opie behind him, he looked nervous but put on a strong front.
"Hey baby, I need to talk to you for a minute." He said and I got off the bed and went with him outside. I noticed there were various groupings outside, my mom and Dad, Jax and Tara, Bobby and his latest piece, Piney and Mary. Juice moved me to a more private corner and gave me a quick kiss.
"It's going down isn't it?" I asked and he pressed his forehead to mine.
"Yeah, our best ten against Weston's best ten. Bare knuckle no holds barred." Once he said it I started shaking my head.
"No fucking way, you just got out of the hospital you have two broken ribs and several still healing stab wounds. You still have two stitches baby. If you get a kidney punch-" I didn't get to continue because he kissed me effectively cutting off my words and breath.
"That's why we have a doctor baby, Tara's agreed to patch me back up. We need to do this baby, we're fighting for Gemma, I'm fighting for you, for our daughter. I want these fucks out of Charming before our baby comes into this world and damn it'll feel good to beat a racist fucker's head in. I promise, listen to me, I promise to come back in one piece." I looked at him and held in my tears.
"You guys have back up right? Lots of violent guys with big guns?" He chuckled and nodded before he kissed me again deeply this time.
"Hey Juice, we've gotta go man." Jax called out and Juice broke the kiss before diving in for a quick kiss, then he did something I didn't expect he knelt on the ground and kissed my stomach.
"Daddy loves you Esperanza Donna, Daddy loves Mommy too. I promise to be back to you and Mommy tonight. Be good and don't kick too hard." As if in retaliation to his words Eapy kicked and he smiled before he rose, gave me a quick peck on the lips and practically ran to his bike.
As they pulled out we moved to watch them and my heart felt like it was beating a million miles a minute as the van pulled out and the gate closed. Chuckie came up behind me and put a reassuring forearm on my shoulder, he had no idea how comforting it was in that moment. Mom drew Tara and Lyla to her with a kiss, to each cheek then like a queen she ordered everyone inside. I moved to her side and she put an arm around my shoulder and kissed my temple as she included Chuckie in our group.
I was a nervous wreck after they left. I snapped at everyone and the only people spared my venom, besides the kids, were Lyla and Chuckie. They just offered silent acceptance while Mom tried to control and Tara tried to fix. My nerves had gone beyond the breaking point and I only trusted myself to sit in the corner with a bottle of water clutching my cell when bikes pulled up. I stood and Lyla came to my side as we went outside. All the men were banged up and I saw Juice get off his bike and clutch his side while Hap gave him a brotherly clap on the shoulder. He saw me and walked fast while Lyla moved to Opie.
"I promised I'd be back." He tried to hug me and I moved away.
"How hurt?" I was amazed I could even form that much of a sentence.
"I think I need my ribs bandaged up again I felt a tear in my back and The asshole managed to get a few good punches to the face. I'm better off than he is anyway. There was blood coming out his ears and I think I made him bite off his tongue." I smiled at that and wrapped my arms around his neck. He moved his arm gingerly around me and held me loosely.
"Let's go get you fixed up." He nodded and followed me into the clubhouse where Tara bandaged him, stitched him up and provided good painkillers. As I looked into his eyes I realized he really was my life, even with Espy to think about I didn't know how I could survive without him. Unfortunately I had to try, those weapons charges weren't going away. With that sad thought I took a deep breath and left the makeshift infirmary. I went outside to breathe the night air. As if in answer to my silent plea Mom came outside and found me followed by Tara and Lyla. In this man's world we were the ones who were supposed to be strong and I'd do my damndest to be strong.