Finished editing this today so I decided to spread the Christmas spirit and good cheer. Off topic- I've been watching Gordon Ramsey all morning on BBCA. He is infinitely hotter when he isn't screaming obscenities on Hell's Kitchen. Not to mention how sweet he is with the kiddos on his "Ultimate Christmas" program. Enjoy and happy holidays! Don't forget to leave some feedback!
The Second Annual St. Thomas Hospital Children's Fair was in full swing. As small towns typically do, everyone turned out in support. The four Hillstrands were enjoying themselves immensely, Amy just happy to be around family again. Luanne Delaney was working at the SAMCRO booth with Gemma when she caught sight of the group. She nudged Gemma with her elbow, "H-e-l-l-o Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome!" Gemma glanced up in the direction Luanne was looking, "Mmmhmm, I can appreciate that," she seconded.
"Gemma! You're an Old Lady…" Luanne teasingly accused.
"Yeah, and so are you," reminded Gemma just as lighthearted.
"The difference is, my Old Man has been in Stockton a long time. I haven't gotten laid in years…. Looking at that, hell look at all three of them, I need some serious alone time. Who are they?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out. And how the Doc is involved," she said under her breath. Gemma was suspicious by nature and necessity. There were few people she truly trusted and though she liked the new doctor, her trust only extended so far. The men reminded her a great deal of her guys, good hearts, but with a rough exterior. There was a serious problem if the doctor was bringing in a new crew. This was a one-club town and that was and would always be SAMCRO. She stepped from behind the booth and purposefully made her way to the group.
Johnathan let out a whistle as he eyed the leggy matriarch striding their way. Dressed in her trademark knee high boots, skinny jeans and tight jacket, Gemma Teller always turned heads. Amy turned to look in the direction of John's gaze and elbowed him in the ribs, "Down boy. You don't want to get tangled up in that."
He took a second look at the miles of legs and gave a lopsided grin, "Yeah, I do."
"No. You don't. First she's married. Secondly she's the SAMCRO queen. And third, she would eat you alive and spit out your carcass."
"Great, now you've just egged him on," muttered Andy.
"Hey!" cried John indignantly, "I don't do married. Give me some credit." John's romantic conquests were family legends, and his taste in women sometimes the butt of family jokes.
"Hi Doc! Who's your friends?" greeted Gemma cooly.
"Hello Gemma. Decided that what this quiet little town needed was a gang. It's too tame around here," Amy quipped.
Gemma pursed her lips and crossed her arms across her chest, "Not a good time to be a smart ass Doc."
"Lady you're up shit creek then. Amy here popped out a smart ass," retorted Neal.
Amy rolled her eyes, "I was born a smart ass cause everybody in the Hillstrand family is a smart ass. It's in our genetic code."
"Yeah we are," chuckled Andy. "Hi. I'm Andy Hillstrand, and these are my brothers, John and Neal."
"Gemma, meet my uncles."
"My first husbands name was John," commented Gemma saucily.
"Is that right? How could he leave a smokin' woman such as yourself?" flirted John. Amy and Andy groaned in unison, Neal chuckled.
"He died. Hit by a semi truck," smirked Gemma.
John gulped. Amy huffed, "Good lord. Uncle John, she's married again so cool it with the flirting."
John flashed Gemma a trademark smile, "He's a lucky man."
Gemma leaned into his personal space, "You have no idea how lucky…"
Amy groaned and latched onto John's arm, "Let's go Casanova. Gemma, always a pleasure."
Amy and her uncles continued on through the fair. They stopped when they hit a wall of SAMCRO cuts lined up around the Charming Police Department's booth. "What the hell?" she muttered. She elbowed her way in and burst out laughing at what she saw.
There was contest between the various booths to see who could raise the most money for the hospital. Charming PD had hit upon a sure fire winner. In addition to fingerprinting children they had set up a "Hit the Deputy with a pie" station. For five dollars you were given a whipped cream pie and the opportunity to catapult it at Hale. The department was savvy enough to place Hale barely within range of a well-aimed shot and the bikers were lined up to administer a little good-natured payback. Presently at bat was Jax who had laid down a fifty-dollar bill without a second thought. With an evil grin he let the first pie fly. His brothers erupted in laughter as his throw went wide of its mark. Hale sat on his stool smirking barely able to keep from roasting the VP. After three more horrible attempts everyone had tears streaming and Amy finally had to let a snarky comment out, "Hells bells Teller, do you need to step up to the kid's line?"
"You think you could do better?" countered Jax.
"With my eyes closed," boasted Amy.
"A'ight then. Put your money where your mouth is," challenged Jax.
Amy smirked, "Never challenge a Hillstrand. Fifty buck says I hit Hale with my first shot."
"Your on," Jax sneered and crossed his arms.
Amy made a great show of licking her finger and finding the wind direction then picking up some dirt and watching it drift in the wind. "Any day now Doc," jibed Jax. Amy picked up one of Jax's remaining pies, closed her eyes and pitched it at David. The wet smack of the pie landing dead on was drowned out by the hoots and laughter of the audience.
"Yeah crabcake!" cheered her uncles.
Amy smiled cheekily and thrust out her hand, "Pay up." Jax frowned and handed her the money. She turned and put the money in the booth donation jar. Amy turned to go just as Tig added his two cents, "Yeah, but can you do it twice?"
Amy spun on the spot picked up a pie and hit her mark again. "And she can do that EVERY time," bragged Andy throwing an arm over Amy's shoulder.
"Who are you cowboy?" asked the SAA hotly, eyeing Andy's trademark cowboy hat and boots.
Andy held his hands up and looked around, "It's not obvious?"
Juice started laughing, "A doctor, a cowboy, and a fisherman walk down the street…this is the rest of the Hillstrand clan."
"Hardly," scoffed Neal, "We're the tip of the iceberg."
"Or the outer bands of a hurricane," added John.
"Hurricane Hillstrand…has a nice ring to it, very suitable," chuckled Amy.
The crowd had attracted Gemma's attention and she sauntered over to investigate. "Well hell," she muttered. "Between the Cara Cara carwash and "Cream the Cop" we don't have a chance of winning the booth contest."
"You didn't play to your assets Gemma," explained Amy.
"Do tell," Gemma spat. She was not a cordial loser.
"Isn't it obvious? You should have set up an old fashioned kissing booth and charged the townies to kiss Jax," cackled Amy.
Gemma cracked a grin when Bobby elbowed Jax, "Can't charge for free water." Jax rolled his eyes but accepted the ribbing in the nature in which it was intended.
Amy nodded at Bobby, "This is Phil's buddy Bobby."
John guffawed loudly, "Oh, I've heard stories about those escapades."
Bobby laughed, " Good times, good times. So what is ol' Phil up to these days?" A few stories were swapped before the group broke up with plans to meet up again to share a few drinks and more stories.
"These guys aren't so bad," said John with reproach. He was surprised that his niece would be so close-minded.
"No they aren't," agreed Amy. "If what you see is what you get, it would be hunky dory. Just wait and watch." Across the street Amy saw Opie walking with his kids. "That's Donna's family," she said nodding their direction. "Kenny's a huge Time Bandit fan." The Hillstrands crossed the street, "Hey Opie! Wait up!" called Amy. Opie turned and his perpetually stoic face softened as he saw who was with her. The kids were busy looking at some carnival toys that were being sold by a street vendor and were oblivious to the newcomers. John reached out and tapped Kenny on the shoulder, "Hey little man, can you tell me where I can get some ice cream around here?"
Kenny turned slowly surprised anyone would ask him for directions and his eyes grew wide when he recognized who was speaking to him. He threw himself against Amy in a hug, "Dad look! It's Captain John and Captain Deckhand! Dr. Hillstrand? How did you get 'em to come visit me?"
Amy laughed, "They were in the neighborhood and I knew they would want to meet their biggest fan."
"I am! Did you bring the boat too?" The grownups hid their smiles. "No," said Andy. "Lake Charming isn't deep enough for the Bandit." A crowd began gathering as word spread who was with Dr. Hillstrand and the guys spend a while signing autographs and taking pictures.
Late that night as the family sat out on the patio around the fire pit talk turned to the business. "So how are things going with Scotty on board?" asked Amy innocently. She new the rest of the crew wasn't thrilled with the addition but family came first and they knew it. She wanted to know where her uncles stood on the subject.
Neal grimaced and John avoided looking at her. "Not our first choice of Hillstrands to take over the boat," answered Andy.
Amy's shoulders slumped, she felt lower that shit. She always knew that let the family business down when she chose a different career path, but having her uncles affirm that it really cut her deep. "Whoa crabcake," backtracked Andy. "I think you misunderstand something. Yes we always thought you would take the reins when you were younger. But you chose a different path. We are prouder than hell with who you are, never doubt that."
"And we appreciate that you were upfront with us. When you made your decision, you stuck with it. None of that on the boat off the boat crap" added John
"Lord knows that we need a respectable Hillstrand in the family," grinned Neal.
Sleep had finally descended upon the house when the ringing of the phone interrupted the sounds of snoring. After answering Amy quickly threw on some clothes and grabbed her kit. Coming down the stairs John yawned and stopped her, "What's up?"
"Those good ol' boys you like so much need some bullets removed," said Amy flatly. "Go back to sleep uncle John. I'll see you in the morning."
"It is morning!" he called after her.
As her car pulled away John woke his brothers, "Come on guys. We're gonna go check up on things." He quickly explained what he knew and the brothers piled up into their rental car and headed to Teller-Morrow Automotives.