A/N: Alright, so gritty blagh blagh blagh emotional scene coming. I just realized the other day that I'm not sure how far I plan on taking this, or where I'm going with this, so I'm gonna try and figure that out. Not sure if I'm gonna just do their 'love story' and end, or if I'm gonna carry it on through for a while, or if I'll take it up to the show. So it'll probably be a few days before another update while I try and work that out. Feel free to leave your opinion in a review. : )

Also, looking for chapter titles, using lyrics. If you have any suggestions, feel free to let me know in either review or message. If I use your suggestion, I'll mention it in the next chapter. : )


"Uh… Nicole?"

Nicole turned towards the office, and stared at her mother in surprise. "Yeah, mom?" She asked warily.

"Can you come in here for a minute?"

Nick hesitated. "Well, I've gotta get these brake pads to Tig for the van. He's out in the parking with Opie, and they're waiting," She said unsurely. "Can it wait?"

Gemma frowned, and leaned out the door some more, before yelling, "Tig! Come get your own damn parts! My daughter's not a freaking prospect!" Turning back to Nicole, she smiled. "There. Now come on. I wanna talk."

Filip had been watching the whole thing from the other side of the garage. He stood, wiping his greasy hands on his jeans, before heading around the truck he was working on, when Nick shook her head at him, and followed her mother into the small office.

"Um… What's up, mom?"

Gemma sighed. "Well… Look, I know we've never been… close," She said awkwardly, "but I wanted to talk to you about this thing with the Scotty."

"He has a name, mom. It's Filip," Nick said woodenly. "And what about it?"

"Well, he uh… he mentioned to Clay that you two plan on… getting married?" At Nick's stiff nod, Gemma continued, "Are you sure that's what you want?"

Nick looked at her in surprise. "Yeah, of course it is. I love him, mom."

Gemma smiled sadly. "Look, I know we don't have a lot of these… mother-daughter conversations, so uh… just bear with me, alright?"

Nick smiled lazily. "You mean we've never had one?"

"Nicole, I just… I know I haven't been the best mother. And I know that's mostly my fault. But I just… I don't want you making the same mistakes I made, baby."

"What mistakes? Marrying dad?" Nick asked bitterly. "Was that a mistake, mom?"

"No," Gemma said firmly. "I don't regret marrying your dad. I know things were… rough, towards the end, but for the first nine years… I loved him more in those nine years than I love Clay now. But I regret that I gave up so much of my life so early. I was only sixteen when your father and I got married, Nicole. I didn't go to college, I didn't travel the country, I didn't get any of that. I settled into the life of an Old Lady, and that was it. And that's all I'll ever be, baby.

"But you… You're a smart girl, Nicole. Straight A's, high honor roll, and principal's list all through high school… And I know you had your heart set on going to Berkley in the fall. I've seen the scholarships you're getting offers from. You can do anything. Be anything."

Nick was next to tears, as she asked, "Oh, so that's what this is about, mom? Getting me away from the club? Getting rid of the kid you never wanted? Clearing the way for Jackson to be the only Teller kid who means anything in this world?"

Gemma's eyes nearly flew out of her head. "No! No, no, honey, that's not what I meant. But the club isn't going anywhere, Nicole. Filip isn't going anywhere. I'm not saying you can't marry him; hell, I was happy when I found out that you two were together. I'm just saying… There's no need to do it now, is there? Go to college. Get your degree, maybe travel a bit… Do something with your life before you settle down. Because once you're married, that's it, Nicole. There won't be any going to Berkley. There won't be any degrees, any traveling… Your freedom will be gone."

"I love him, mom. I don't care about a degree. Hell, the only reason I was going to college was to get away from you and Clay," Nick said viciously. "I don't need a degree to write. I can write all I want without going to college for it. I love him, and he loves me. I'm not giving anything up.

"You know… You and Clay… you guys never got it, mom," She said angrily, swiping the tears from her eyes. "I don't want to leave the club. I love it as much as you, or Jackson, or Clay. This is my life, mom. This is the only thing I know. All I ever wanted was to meet a Son who would accept me for what I am. For who I am. As long as I can remember, I've wanted to be somebody's Old Lady. That's it. Going to college wasn't about getting away from the club; it was about getting away from you and Clay. It was the only way out that I could see. But now, I've got Filip. And he loves me, mom. It's the first time I've felt loved since dad died."

Gemma was struggling to hold back her own tears as she stared at her daughter. Had she really been that cruel? She knew they'd never been close, but how could Nicole think that her own mother didn't love her?

"Honey, I… I love you," She said emotionally. "I know we're not close, but that doesn't mean I don't love you, baby. I just… you were always so… so different, Nicole. You weren't like your brothers. You weren't like me. You were always a thinker. Just like your dad. Had your nose stuck in a book, or a notepad. I just… I didn't… I don't know how to talk to you. And after your father died, you just… you curled in on yourself. You didn't want anything to do with me."

"Because you were already so wrapped up in Clay, mom! Dad's body wasn't even cold when you moved Clay in! And you just… expected me to go along with it! Every time I'd try to talk about dad, you'd tell me to quit dwelling, and move on! So yeah, after a while, I got the idea that it was all about Clay. I didn't mean anything to you. You were so wrapped up in Clay, and the club, and Jackie being the VP, that I just got tossed under the fucking bus! And now… Now, after a lifetime of ignoring me, you wanna try and play mother with me? Try and give me advice?" Nicole demanded, tears flowing freely down her face now. "You know what, mom? You wanna help me? You really wanna help me? Then let me move out now. I'll stay with Piney 'til Filip finishes up the cabin. You wanna help, that's how you can help. Otherwise… just do what you've been doing the past eighteen years, and stay the hell outta my life!"

Gemma jumped a little as Nicole bolted out, slamming the door behind her. As soon as she was gone, Gemma let the tears fall down her face.