Hey, guys!

I'm officially in Mexico, but I'm constantly on the move between 3 different locations, with not much time to write. I'm also super sorry to everyone who commented on the last chapter that I didn't respond to. I will try to get around to it!

Anyways, new chapter! Can't say when the next one will be :(

Gold Dust Woman

" Rulers make bad lovers,

You better put your kingdom up for sale. "

~ Gold Dust Woman, Fleetwood Mac ~

Adelaide was about to close up the parlour when Opie roared up on his bike. She had been distraught all day, worrying over Chibs and the general threat towards her men. Gramma J had been more than happy to accommodate when she'd asked for an extra shift so as to keep busy. The redhead was near dead on her feet, but very satisfied. This exhausted, she would be bale to sleep.

But now Opie was charging into the parlour with all the grace of a raging bull, and Adelaide only had moments to prepare for what she knew would be bad news.

"They all got fucking arrested."

Her heart dropped and then lifted in the same second. Arrested. Arrested meant not dead, and she gasped, releasing a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding.

Opie was pacing in front of the bar. "Stupid. Jax and Clay, this shit between them—it's all stupid and look at the shit it got them into. Fuck!" He slammed his hand onto the bar and she flinched back instinctively.

He was too angry to notice.

Adelaide took a calming breath. "Would you like some coffee, Opie?"

He stared at her for a second, and then another, as if trying to comprehend something as mundane as coffee when all his brothers had been arrested. Then he copied her deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, sure."

As she put the pot on, he slid onto one of the stools, slouching onto the counter and leaning his head in his hands. It looked like she wasn't the only one who had passed the limit of exhaustion hours back.

They stayed in companionable silence until the coffee was ready, and she served it with the amount of cream and sugar she knew he liked. There was a small, upwards twitch to his lips when he noticed, and some of the tension and negativity melted away. "Thanks, Allie."

"You're welcome." She wiped down the counter and leaned on it across from him. "So, what happened?"

Opie shook his head, taking a testing sip of his coffee. "Retaliation for Chibs. We thought it would be an Aryan meeting—was a goddamn church dinner. Jax had planned something with Hale, Clay started firing, sheriffs showed up. Turned into a right shit-show."

Adelaide sighed, resting her check on the cool counter. "What happens next, now?"

Opie scoffed, resting a hand on top of her head and stroking her hair absently. "Fuck if I know. They try to get protection in jail."

"And if they don't."

"We don't see them again."

"Yikes."

"Yeah."

She closed her eyes under his ministrations, listening as he sipped his coffee. "What about at the garage? A garage can't function without employees."

"Always a businesswoman." When she opened her eyes, his were crinkled in the corners with a near invisible smile.

She returned it. "It suits me, I think."

"Mhm," he took another swallow. "We have employees who aren't members. Work'll just be slow until we get them back out."

"That is not lucrative."

He nodded silent agreement, finishing his coffee. "Your car isn't here; who dropped you off?"

"Tara, on her way to the hospital."

Opie scoffed again. "Her and Gemma shot the shit out of some pornstar's car today."

"Nothing like mother-daughter bonding."

He did laugh at that, a harsh sound that seemed almost reluctant to leave his throat. "You want a ride home, Allie?"

She glanced at the clock. Her shift technically didn't end for another five minutes, but no one was here and she knew Gramma J wouldn't mind. "That would be lovely. Let me just lock up."

Opie waited patiently outside as she finished wiping everything down and turning off the machines. When the lock clicked behind her, he was ready on his bike. She settled behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning her cheek against the back of his shoulders. He was warm and smelled good, and while it wasn't the comfort of Chibs or Tig or Jax, it was a comfort borne of quiet amusement and secret smiles and grief-given consolation.

Someone must have told him of her love riding, or maybe he simply deduced it from her love of driving, but what should have been a seven-minute ride was thirty minutes, down highways and under stars, and when they finally reached the garage she was wind-swept with cheeks glowing from satisfaction and exhilaration.

Opie followed her into the clubhouse and her apartment, closing the door behind them and sinking tiredly into her chair. She smiled in soft amusement and wandered into the bathroom. He was still there when she exited twenty minutes later in her satin nightclothes and night robe.

She crawled onto her bed, collapsing almost bonelessly into the mattress. "Are you staying?" it was muffled by blankets.

He thought for a moment then shook his head. "Nah. Gotta head back to the kids."

Adelaide nodded and closed her eyes. There was another few moments of silence before Opie asked, "It was Weston's men, wasn't it?"

Her eyes opened slowly and she blinked at him in confusion. He gestured her legs, where they all knew scars now lined her skin. Understanding dawned, and she nodded. "Yes."

He shook his head. "Fuck, Allie. These guys are really trynna make us bleed."

"Wounds can be cauterized and blood clotted."

He stared at her for a second, then snorted. "That was oddly poetic and kinda comforting."

She offered a weak, tired smile, and Opie stood, brushing his hand over her hair again. "I'll see you, Allie."

She hummed softly in the back of her throat. "Goodnight, Opie. Please don't do anything rash; I don't think I can handle losing access to any more of you."

Because the hospital wouldn't let her see Chibs, and now the rest of her friends had been arrested and taken to jail, where she wouldn't dare go for fear of her face being recognized by whatever corrupt government officials her father had on his payroll.

Opie nodded, pressing a kiss to her forehead and leaving silently.

###

Queenie watched Lyla with a small scowl. Adelaide elbowed her friend gently. "Why are you glowering such, habibti?"

The crow-eater sighed, her face softening. "I just don't like them."

"The pornstars?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Queenie shrugged, face twitching in another brief scowl. "They're just so conniving and deceitful."

Adelaide hummed in the back of her throat. "Lyla seems to be better than her coworkers."

Queenie arched her brows, unconvinced. "Why are you suddenly sticking up for the poor whores?"

Adelaide laughed and shook her head. "I always defend those unless they prove they are unworthy of it."

"And Lyla is worthy? Miss Double-Penetration?"

"I do believe that title was gifted to the seemingly rabid Ima."

Queenie laughed. "Gotta love Gemma and her nicknames. But, fair enough. Lyla is worthy?"

"Yes," Adelaide thought for a moment, eyes soft and distant, grabbing at something between memory and present. "She makes Opie smile when she comes."

"Uh, huh," Queenie muttered. "So, do you."

"Yes," Adelaide conceded with a tip of her head. "But I don't hold the whisper possibilities of a future the way she does for him."

Queenie was quiet then, studying her redheaded friend. "How do you stay so damn loving to a world that has treated you so badly?"

Adelaide blinked then, her brow furrowing as she considered her answer. It was a long few moments, but Queenie was patient. Finally, she smiled, small and soft and secretive, wise beyond years.

"If I were to give back to the world all the negative it has given me, I would simply be putting worse into it. But if I choose to only give back the positive, all the love and happiness and love that it's given me, I can make the world a better place, one person at a time. Sometimes, even with something as simple as a smile."

Queenie shook her head then. "You're somethin' else, hun."

Adelaide grinned. "Good?"

"Yeah, good."

"Good."

They laughed together, and a sliver of dark and pain that had been lingering within Adelaide lifted suddenly, leaving her and dissipating.

###

Adelaide waited until Tara had left the garage. It wouldn't due to fuel the woman's possessive side when tensions were already so high amongst club family.

She had kept an eye on the garage whilst welcoming back each club member. Tig had grabbed her and held her so tightly she couldn't breathe properly, but she let him. Especially when she felt tears on her neck, hot and silent. She loved him and she had missed him, and if he needed her as comfort, she would give willingly.

Bobby held her, too, but not for nearly as long. Juice gave her a kiss and a smile, and Clay a quick hair-ruffle. It was as affectionate as he'd been towards her, ever, and she returned it with a bright smile.

But the whole time she was watching the garage, tracking when Tara went in and when Tara came out, and when Tara spoke quietly and dejectedly with Gemma, and when Tara left. And then she excused herself quietly and made her way to the garage, feeling and ignoring Gemma's knowing gaze on her back.

Jax was fiddling with one of the worse cars that had been brought in, facing away from the door. He tensed when he heard her approach. "I told you to go him, Tara. Abel needs someone there tonight, and I'm not in the right mind."

Adelaide stopped a ways back. "I'm not Tara, but I will also leave, if you wish." As she spoke, though, he was turning, moving, scooping her into his arms.

"I smelled you," was the only explanation he gave. He pulled her close, holding her against his body and cradling her head to his chest. His nose buried in her hair and he inhaled. "God, I missed you, Allie."

She hugged him back, choosing to ignore the painful lump in her stomach the way she had ignored Gemma's gaze. She was not the other woman. She did not get involved in other's relationships. She would not bring that pain to someone else.

But right now—

Right now, she had missed him, too.

Right now, she inhaled his scent the way he did hers.

Right now, she simply listened to his heartbeat, and wondered if it was possible to love two people at once.

Her sweet Luna, whose love was tattooed onto her chest was waiting, hoping, healing from her father's brutal attack. Adelaide had promised to come back to her, to get her out, away from where her father could hurt her.

But Jax was here, surrounding her with his heat and offering her everything he was the best way he knew how. And she could feel her heart beating in time with his.

Yes, she decided, she could love two people at once, and it was only painful because she couldn't have one of them.

So, she stepped away after a few minutes, giving him a hopeful smile. "You won't send me away?"

Jax scoffed and shook his head. "Never." He turned back to the car, and she moved to settle cross-legged on one of the large toolboxes.

She indicated his bruised face. "What happened?"

"Fight."

"I deduced such. I was requesting after details."

Blue eyes met hers briefly, flashing with exasperated amusement. "Clay and I. I don't think I can stay here much longer."

Adelaide blinked and swallowed. "Oh?"

Something must have caught in her voice, because Jax looked up. "You're leaving, too," he reminded.

She nodded. "I am aware."

His features softened with the whispers of a smile. "Would you want to come with me? Run away together, that sort of thing?"

They both knew he said it as a joke, but they also both felt the underlying emotion beneath his words. So, Adelaide giggled and shook her head. "Ever the Casanova, trying to seduce unsuspecting women and kidnap them."

"Nah, babe, if I kidnapped you, I wouldn't let you go."

"I'm rather good at escape."

It was nice to be back to their effortless flirting. She had missed this almost as much as she had missed him. It felt as if some pieces of life were getting back to 'easy.'

Jax just smirked, and she had the odd feeling that no matter how far she ran, he'd come after her. It was an oddly reassuring notion.

"So," she steered the conversation back on track, "why did you and Clay fight?"

Jax scoffed and returned to the car. "ATF is digging up shit again."

Adelaide sighed. "Last time someone ended up dead."

Jax's head jerked up to stare at her. "What do you know?"

His voice was suddenly low and dangerous, and she realized that Tig was the only one she'd showed that she knew the truth about Donna's death. She stared him down fearlessly, though.

"I knew of the suspicions of Opie, and I saw Tig leave the same time Donna and Opie did. And when I went to the crash site, I saw ATF Agent Stahl." She could have also mentioned Tig crying into her shoulder, but she wouldn't.

That was his moment of vulnerability he'd given her, a moment of ultimate trust and love, and she would not betray him.

Jax knew there was more, she could tell, but he accepted her answer with a tilt of his head and went back to working on the car.

"What is ATF looking for now?" She wouldn't stop pressing for information until he told her to.

He shrugged a shoulder. "They want our IRA supplier."

"Guns."

"Yes."

"You aren't supposed to tell me that."

"You aren't supposed to know Tig killed Donna."

A smile curled on her lips. "Touché." She tucked her hands under her legs. "So, Agent Stahl is back on the hunt?"

"Yeah," Jax used a bit more force with a wrench than was required, "and instigated a whole fucking fight with me and Clay. Like we needed anymore shit to come between us. And I'm losing Opie to him."

Adelaide grimaced sympathetically. "It'll work out as it should, love." Because what else could she say?

Jax sighed and set the wrench to the side. "I can't tell Tara any of this. She wants happy and hopeful and that kind of shit."

"I do, too," Adelaide reminded him.

Jax conceded with a small snort of laughter. "But you don't make me feel guilty when I bring up the real, dark shit that goes on in this life."

Adelaide was quiet for a moment, considering. "Perhaps, your darkness doesn't bother me the way it does Tara because I have darkness of my own." Jax eyed her skeptically, and she elaborated. "Yes, Tara has been arrested a few times and comes from a rather backwater town—no offense—but she has not known pain the way we have."

Jax's brow furrowed. "Explain." Adelaide arched a brow, and he added with a sigh, "Please."

She smiled briefly. "I am speaking of pain, sweet one. We have both known tremendous amounts, and suffered it mostly alone."

"You've never killed anyone, though," Jax argued.

Adelaide leveled him with a solemn look. "Yes. I have."

The man, the barn, the knife. Yes, she had killed before.

Jax blinked. "Oh, right. It's different, though."

Adelaide sighed, sliding gracefully off her perch on the toolbox. "Jax," she turned his chin so they were eye-to-eye, "I am trying to say that perhaps Tara makes you feel bad about your darkness because she doesn't know how to cope with it. I do. I have experienced my own, very similar to yours. I know where it comes from and what causes it. I may be prudish and naïve to much of the world, but not to pain."

She paused, dropping her gaze to the floor, and her voice to nearly inaudible. "That, I know intimately well."

Jax set down his tools and pulled her to him again. She didn't realize she was crying until he carefully brushed away tears with his thumb.

"What's wrong?"

She choked down a sob. "I killed a man."

"You did."

She nodded. "I did."

He once again cradled her head to his chest, resting his cheek on top of her hair. "It's okay."

"It's not."

"It will be."

Luna—

She had once said she'd kill someone to protect her Luna.

She'd never considered she'd have to kill someone to protect herself.

She'd never considered she'd find comfort in the arms of a convicted outlaw who smelled of cigarettes and sweat and blood.

Blood.

They both had it on their hands.

She pressed as close to him as she could. "I killed a man."

Jax gently rubbed her head, repeating, "You did."

Darkness and blood.

When Gemma came to the garage to see why both Jax and Adelaide hadn't made an appearance back at the clubhouse, she found her son settled on the floor against the wall, the redhead curled in his lap, sobbing into his shoulder.

###

Adelaide was visiting Chibs when the door opened and another lady walked in. She was older, in her forties or fifties, and beautiful, with dark curls and warm skin. She stopped short when she saw the young redhead curled in the chair beside Chibs's bed.

"Who are you?"

Adelaide immediately noted the thick Irish accent. "Stahl wants our IRA supplier." She smiled, friendly and nonthreatening. "Adelaide Jazra. Who are you?"

"Fiona." The woman took another step further into the room. "Why are you here?"

"I'm his friend," Adelaide blinked innocently. "Why are you here?"

"I'm his wife."

"Oh," she had to stop herself from saying a few things that would certainly not make the situation better. "The doctor says he should be gaining consciousness soon."

Fiona eyed her, clearly sizing up the girl. "You're his friend?"

"Yes," Adelaide nodded.

"You share a bed with him?"

"Taking your question at face value, the answer would be yes, but since it's safe to assume you're asking if we have sex, the answer is no." Adelaide couldn't help the amusement in her voice. "We honestly are just friends, Miss Fiona."

The Irishwoman slowly moved to the other chair in the corner of the room. "Has he ever mentioned me?"

Adelaide shook her head. "I'm afraid not."

The older lady sighed then, the sound resigned and somewhat sad. "As expected. He probably thought he'd never see me again."

Adelaide tipped her head curiously. "Why's that?"

Fiona eyed her again. "That's not a story you need to know."

The redhead shrugged and stood. "I should be going. I have work soon." She picked up her purse, bending down to press a kiss to her sweet silver's forehead before moving to the door. "Have a good day, Miss Fiona."

###

Adelaide was more wary about the family dinner she was currently helping prepare for than she was excited. The tensions between Jax and Clay had been so high recently, and the other members had almost split into factions, following either president or vice.

Tara still turned her nose up at Lyla, Gemma still did her best to avoid Clay, and Opie was barely talking to Jax.

It was a wonderful recipe for a disastrous night. She did her part in preparations, though. The food smelled delicious, and it was comforting to be in a kitchen cooking. Gemma offered small touches of silent, subtle affection, and Queenie and Zay had also been invited to this one.

The drama was unavoidable, however.

When Tara stormed in, throwing insults first to Gemma, then to Lyla, Adelaide sank into resignation. Jax and Clay began yelling, almost painfully loud. As if that weren't enough, Hale came in, announcing news of LuAnn's murder. He appraised Adelaide, asking silently if she was okay. She nodded once; she was good.

When he left, the arguing began. Lyla looked as if she were going to cry. Tara was utterly murderous, and Gemma overwhelmed. Adelaide wanted to sink into the corner and cover her ears and close her eyes until it was over.

The crash of ceramic breaking snapped everyone to silence. Gemma stood by the table trembling. Most of the men had the grace to look ashamed or remorseful, but Jax and Clay both stood stubborn in their arguments.

Adelaide was the first to move. "You should go sit down, Miss Gemma. I'll clean this up."

Lyla came to her side, adding quietly, "I'll help, too."

Jax looked at Tara, as if expecting her to offer aid, also. The doctor just scowled and spun on her heel, storming out. Jax cursed viciously, following after.

When Adelaide and Lyla had loaded their arms with all the broken ceramic they could carry, they made their escapes into the kitchen. Lyla glanced at Adelaide. "Thanks." Her voice was still soft.

The redhead looked at her curiously. "What for?"

"Not being like Tara." Lyla couldn't keep the scorn from her voice. Adelaide didn't blame her.

"It is never my place to judge a person for doing what it takes to survive."

Lyla scoffed. "Everyone judges the skinny girls who take dicks up the ass."

"Well," Adelaide washed roast juice off her hands, using the running water as a cover for their conversation, "I recently killed a man. If you'd like to get into an argument as to who has further violated societal morals, I'd say I win."

A small smile twitched on Lyla's lips. "We should get back out there."

Adelaide nodded sagely. "Into the battlefield we go."

It seemed, even in times of chaos and pain, small comforts could be found.

I love the scene with Adelaide and Jax. Honestly, I kept rereading it over and over.

Lots of love to you guys for being so patient with my intemperate schedule!

Read, review.

Kisses!

P.S. I went digging in the dregs of the forgotten and the thrown-out of my stories, and found a Harry Potter (Dramione) one that's mostly complete, and that I'll be posting later today, if that's your thing and you want to check it out :)