I woke up sprawled out on the bed, alone. Tig had gone off with Clay earlier that morning, leaving me alone at the clubhouse. I stared at my hand which had turned a nice shade of purple and was a size bigger than last night. It was sore but, worth it. I threw on some fresh clothes that I had brought and went out to the garage. Chibs was sitting there alone, staring at some papers in his hands, "Hey good lookin," I said, walking over to him. He quickly threw folded the papers and threw them inside his vest.

"Hey darlin'," he said, standing up and pulling me close, "How's the hand?"

"It's okay, looks worse than it really is," I heard him sniff and looked up at him, "Feeling okay," I asked, feeling his forehead, "You look a little pale."

"I'm okay," he said, "You eat?"

"Not yet," I said, "Not much around here except hamburger buns and beer."

"C'mon," Chibs said, tossing me a helmet, "Let's get some breakfast."

"Can you ride," I asked, touching the back of his head.

"I can always ride," Chibs said, "Can you hang on?"

"Always," I said.

I hadn't been on a bike in a long time. I hadn't expected that it would be Chibs toting me around town. We parked and walked into the old diner in the middle of Charming. The waitress obviously knew Chibs, I watched her pull down her shirt and push up her boobs as she walked over. Our breakfasts came out quickly, "Okay, Chibs," I said, buttering my toast, "What's going on? I can tell…"

"Just shit, darlin'," he said, shoving a forkful of pancake into his mouth, "Just shit."

"Fine," I said, flicking an egg in his direction, "Be that way."

"Hey missy," he said, pointing his fork at me, "Watch yourself."

We talked about the party last night for a little bit when Chibs paused and was staring at me, "What?" I asked, wiping the corners of my mouth.

"You know," Chibs smiled, "I remember when you were yay high running around the garage with Jackie-boy and Opie. Now look at you, all grown up, Tig's old lady and Gemma's right hand."

I smiled at Chibs, "Things don't always work out the way you expect them."

"Yeah," Chibs said leaning forward and squeezing my hand, "They do, kid. They do."

We spent the rest of the day riding around town, stopping by my house to get some more clothes, stocking up on cigarettes at the gas station. We rode back into the garage parking lot a few hours after lunch. Tig came running out the followed by Jax and Opie, "Where the fuck have you been," Tig yelled, stomping up to me, "I've been trying to call you all day." He put his hands on my face, turning it , from side to side, inspecting me for damage. Opie and Jax came on either side of Tig, both looked at me with furrowed eyebrows.

"She was with me, boys," Chibs said, patting Opie on the shoulder and walked toward the garage, running a hand through his hair.

Jax pointed a finger at me, "Don't ever do that again," he said, turning around walking back to the clubhouse.

Opie followed him without a word. "You can't just leave baby," Tig said, grabbing my hand and walking toward the clubhouse, "I don't care who you go with," he said, "As long as I know… Charming isn't safe anymore."

"I'm sorry," I said, walking into the clubhouse. Tara was with Jax and Lyla was with Opie. Clay seemed lost in thought, he rested his hands on the bar, he looked empty without Gemma next to him. Tara was holding Abel, who I immediately went over and took from her, "He's gotten so big," I said, holding him, he smiled and wrapped his fingers in my hair. I walked back over to Tig and stood by him, holding Abel.

All the guys seemed to focus their attention on Clay, who was staring at the floor, deep in thought, "What's the plan, Clay," Tig asked.

"Lock down," Clay said, "Everyone is going to come here. Unser, Nomads… anyone connected. Anyone that could get hurt because of us. I don't care how old or how young."

Tig's arm found its way around me and pulled me close to him. I worried about David, being caught in the middle of all of this. Clay's speech continued, "Second, we need to bring in all personal stocks of guns," he said, "Keep a couple for protection but, we're gonna need the rest," Clay paused and his shoulders sagged, "Get to work."

The guys dispersed in silence, I followed Tig to his room, "What can I do?" I asked, leaning against the door, watching Tig pull guns from places around the room.

"Go with the girls," Tig said, pulling a rather menacing gun out of the top of his closet, "Help her," Tig's face was focused and stern, he never took his eyes off the guns he was handling.

I nodded, grabbed my purse and turned to walk out the door. "Gracie," Tig said, still looking at his gun, "Come here."

I walked over to Tig, he set the gun down and looked at me, "Be careful," he said, resting his hands on my hips, "Let me know, wherever you go and whoever you're with."

"I will," I said, kissing him, "Don't worry, sergeant."

Tara, Lyla and I went to the store, followed by Piney and Half-Sack, and started to get the long list of things the clubhouse was going to need, mostly toilet paper and liquor. It was dark when we got back to the clubhouse, Tara's and my car were stocked to the brim. The guys were all in the garage, inspecting the pile of guns they had on the floor. Lyla walked towards the guys but, I caught her arm and swung the door closed, "That's not us," I said, walking back to the bar and putting away the numerous bottles of booze, "We wait for them."

I realized, as I put things away, that I was turning into Gemma more and more every day. The way I talked to the Crow Eaters, the guys. I knew the rules and ropes. I had been totally submerged in club since Donna's death. I hadn't realized it until now but, it connected me to a club in such a way that, I could never go back. I could never leave. I hadn't realized how much I needed Tig. He could never tell me that he loved me and I would be okay. I knew.

I ordered a few pizzas for dinner for everyone. Piney and Half-Sack met the delivery kid at the entrance to the parking lot. Poor kid was probably terrified. I think the guys in the garage smelled the food and came out to eat. Jax stood next to me, holding Abel. I handed him a plate of pizza, "Those all the guns we have?" I asked. Lyla heard me and stared, thinking I was breaking the rules.

"From here," Jax said, "Everyone is getting their stuff from home tomorrow… you got anything?"

"No," I said, taking a bite out of a slice of pepperoni, "Only the one Tig gave me."

"You're in the right place, Gracie," Jax said, smiling, "It might not seem like it but, you are."

"I know," I said, staring at Tig.

Everyone went their separate ways after they had finished eating. Tig and I stayed at the clubhouse again. It had been a few weeks since we had gotten back together. I crawled into bed with Tig. I rested my head on his shoulder and looked up at him. He was tired, already half asleep, "What are you thinking about?" he said, turning his head so his lips rested on my forehead.

I smiled, "You."

Tig grinned, "What a coincidence," he said, "I'm thinking about me, too."

"You would," I said, slapping him with the back of my hand, "Fuck…" I said, "That wasn't a bright idea," I held my hand that was now throbbing.

"If you weren't so violent your hand would feel better," Tig said, laughing.

We fell asleep that night, making fun of each other like we used too. It felt good to be happy, it made me forget about everything.