Disclaimer: I do not own Sons of Anarchy.
Rate "M" for language and, of course, smut. You have been warned.
A/N: pattiglolt1: It's a small world. I follow you on Twitter. You rock!
Jolene was sitting cross-legged in the middle of her bed, surrounded by piles of papers, notebooks, and textbooks. She had a couple of pens and pencils sticking haphazardly out of her ponytail as she crouched over the open textbook in her lap, pink highlighter in one hand while she chewed on the thumbnail of the other, deep in thought. She looked a frazzled, hot mess, and Jax thought she was the most beautiful thing in the world.
He had been standing unnoticed in the doorway of her bedroom, just watching her for several minutes. Seeing how engrossed she was in her studies, Jax contemplated leaving her alone, but the selfish, man-in-love half of him couldn't just walk away. They've barely spent any quality alone-time together since she started school in September, and even though she always made herself available for some quick and dirty lovin', either here or at the Clubhouse—emphasis on the quick—Jax missed just laying with her cradled against his side, her head on his chest while they talked. Jolene was the first woman he had intimacy with on both a physical and mental level. She was smart and made him laugh, and when it came to his old lady, quickie, pants-around-his-ankles sex, while always very good, was never enough.
Deciding that his reason for seeking her out when he knew she'd be busy studying for midterms was just as important, Jax stepped one foot into her room as he cleared his throat. Her head snapping up from her book, she threw him a devastatingly beautiful smile that made her already-bright green eyes sparkle.
"Hey, baby," She quickly tossed her books to the side and kneeled on the bed as Jax approached and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her in for a kiss. Snaking her arms under his cut and up his back, Jolene held onto him as Jax poured every ounce of his frustration, longing, and relief in seeing her again into his kiss. Finally pulling away from their embrace, Jax pressed his forehead against hers. "I miss you, too." Jolene smiled, a little breathless.
"You could tell, huh?" Jax gave her a sexy smirk as she ran her hands up over his arms and cupped his face.
"I can always tell." Jolene started. "Every time I see you lately, you have this sad, almost pissed off look on your face."
"Yeah, I do cuz I fuckin miss you, Jo." He said emphatically. "I know you're busy, darlin', but I need you to take a quick ride with me."
Jolene narrowed her eyes at the urgency in his voice. "Is something wrong?"
"Everything's fine," Jax laughed a little self-consciously. He could hear the melodrama in his own voice and then the realization hit him like a punch in the gut. Jolene had the power to bring him to his fuckin' knees. "I just want your opinion on something, but you have to see it first."
Jolene gave him a curious, sideways look. "What is it?"
"Can't tell ya. You have to see it."
"Okay," Jolene said cautiously. "I could use a break, but give me a few to freshen up, ok?"
"You look beautiful," He smiled as he pulled the pens and pencils out of her hair and dropped them on the bed.
For the past week, Jolene had left her room only to take exams and barely had any time for anything other than studying, sleeping, and taking quick showers. He must really be missing her if he could look at her and say that with a straight face.
"Five minutes," Jolene promised, dropping a quick peck on his lips. Jumping off the bed, she ran into her bathroom.
Unsure of what he was up to, Jolene was surprised when, instead of taking to the highway, Jax weaved his way through Charming before turning his bike onto a tree-lined cul-de-sac on the other side of town. About half way up the block, Jax turned into the driveway of a sand-colored house with a terra cotta-tiled roof. Jolene jumped off the bike, wondering who they had come to see.
"What do you think?" Jax asked, a sheepish smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"About what?" Jolene gave him a confused look. Jax pointed a gloved finger at the single-story house. "What do I think about the house?" She asked and he nodded.
Pulling off her helmet, Jolene turned towards the house, giving it a quick once over. It was a beautiful little house, with a 2-car garage, and well-maintained lawn in a neighborhood of other similar little houses with equally well-maintained lawns.
Jolene turned to Jax. "What is this about, Jax? Why are we here?"
Jax got off his bike and placed his helmet on the handlebars. Grabbing hers, he set it on the seat.
"Let's go inside, darlin'." He pulled off his gloves and put his hand in hers, urging her to follow him to the front door. Pulling a set of keys out of his jeans' pocket, Jax proceeded to unlock and throw open the door. "Ladies first," He smiled.
Jolene's heart was trying to pound its way out of her body, her eyes wide as she entered the house, a million thoughts assaulting her all at once.
"I've missed you, Jo. A lot." Jax started, startling Jolene as she walked through the hall and into the living room of the vacant house. "I know you're probably tired of hearing that. I know I'm tired of saying it, but between school and the Club, we barely get to see each other anymore and it's driving me crazy." He leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest, as he watched Jolene stop at the glass patio door, her forehead leaning against it as she listened to him. "I understand that you can't get shit done at the Clubhouse, but if you're pulling all-niters while hittin' the books, I prefer you did it right next to me rather than clear across town at your dad's. I don't care about what keeps us busy and apart during the day, but I want us under the same roof at night, darlin'. No matter how shitty my day, I wanna know that I can look forward to my old lady falling asleep in my arms."
Turning to face Jax, Jolene wasn't sure she could speak. "So what are you saying, Jax? This house, it's for us?" She asked with a catch in her throat. "You want us living together?" She wasn't sure whether she should cry or laugh out loud with joy.
Jax shook his head. "I'm saying I want us building a life together, Jolene and I know the Clubhouse is not the place to start. If you don't like it here," He waved his hand, indicating the house. "I'll keep looking. Wherever it is, I just want you with me."
Jolene turned away from Jax again, her hand over her mouth. Had there been any furniture, she was sure she would have collapsed into a chair by now. Oh my God, she thought. She hadn't seen this coming. "My dad's gonna flip the fuck out!" She said out loud, but mostly to herself.
Hearing her, Jax smiled. "Is that a yes?"
"Do you even have to ask?" Jolene turned and ran to Jax, throwing her arms around his neck. Jax hugged her tightly, inhaling the fresh raspberry-vanilla scent of her hair that he had been craving every night since they've been apart, never realizing how comforting it was until she wasn't there. "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into." She teased, her wide eyes searching his face.
"Me?" Jax gave her a half grin. "You just took the words right out of my mouth." Who was he kidding? Her crazy ass was made for him. He dipped his head and kissed her softly at first. Her sweet, moist mouth urging him on, Jax buried his hands in her hair and held her steady as his mouth devoured hers hungrily.
"When do we move in?" With her hands against the hard, muscled planes of his torso beneath his cut, Jolene managed to break away long enough to ask.
Jax chuckled. "You haven't even seen the rest of the house yet, darlin'."
"Okay," Jolene grinned suggestively. "But show me the bedroom first."
Deciding to keep the house between the two of them until it was actually theirs, Jax managed to close on the house without it appearing in the Charming Gazette or on the 6 o'clock news. By the time midterms were over and Jolene was off for the Thanksgiving break, they had finished their furniture shopping in Stockton and now Jolene was spending much of her free time at their new home cleaning and waiting for deliveries and for cable and telephone to be installed. With the holiday tomorrow, they would have to wait until next week to have the re-tiling of the master bathroom finished. If all went according to plan, they would be under the same roof before the end of the first week of December, just in time for Jolene to return to school.
Jax, minus his cut, was helping the delivery men bring inside the living room set, the last pieces of furniture scheduled to arrive. Jolene was standing by the front door enjoying the view as his muscles flexed with his every movement as he helped carry in the couch. Quirking an eyebrow, Jolene followed them inside and looked the couch over, stopping Jax on his way back outside.
"Baby, they delivered the wrong couch." Jolene said, feeling bad that they were going to have to carry the heavy piece back to the truck.
"Jo, isn't this the one you originally wanted?"
"Yeah, but we agreed it was way too expensive and we went with the cheaper set instead, remember?"
Jax was shaking his head. "I remember, but I didn't agree to cheap out on you, darlin'. I told you that whatever you wanted was fine by me. You're not working with a budget, Jo." He said, pulling her into his arms when she frowned.
"No." Jolene was shaking her head. As a full-time student, the only work she'd been doing was for course credits. "There has to be a budget, Jax. I'm not bringing in any money and I feel guilty spending so much on a couch."
"That's your stubborn Morrow pride talkin'." Jax teased. "I'm not hurtin' for money, Jolene. If you want it and I can give it to you then guess what, I'm gonna give it to you and you can take that to mean anything you want, darlin'." He said, flashing her a lascivious grin.
Jolene was about to open her mouth again, but Jax stopped her, his face serious. "I love you, Jo and I want to take care of my old lady, so just let me, a'ight? Just don't expect any Christmas presents this year." He winked at her.
Jolene laughed. "So the couch is staying?"
"Only if that's what you really want, babe."
"I do want." Jolene scrunched up her nose, still feeling guilty.
"Good, cuz I wasn't moving that heavy piece of shit again anyway." He teased on his way back outside.
Jolene was about to follow him when her cell phone rang. Running to the kitchen counter, she winced as she picked it up. Gemma. "Shit!" Jolene cursed before answering the call.
"Before you start yelling at me, I'm on my way." Jolene insisted as she gathered her car keys and purse and started for the door.
"Damn it, Jolene! Do you realize how many people are coming over for Thanksgiving tomorrow? If it wasn't for Bobby, I'd be just about ready to slit my own goddamn throat and Clay just pulled him off KP duty, so get your ass over here now!"
"I'm on my way," Jolene repeated as she headed to the driveway towards her car. Passing by Jax, he reached out and grabbed her arm.
"You okay?" He asked, concerned that she had gone from happy to flustered in mere minutes.
"I just have to stop by the supermarket first." Jolene spoke into the phone, holding it away from her ear as Gemma proceeded to hurl obscenities at her. Covering the mouth piece, Jolene pecked Jax on the lips. "I'm fine. It's Gemma. I forgot she was expecting me about an hour ago."
"Gimme the phone." Jax demanded, his jaw tight.
"No, Jax, it's okay, really." She kissed him again, holding the phone out of his reach. "If she knows I'm with you, she's gonna start asking questions. Just make sure you lock up when you're done, ok?" She whispered.
Signing off with Gemma, Jolene threw her pre-pay into her bag and her bag onto the passenger seat as she slid behind the wheel of the Mustang. Leaning into her open window, Jax kissed her forehead. "Just remember that I can hear you screeching your tires from a mile away." He warned, afraid that in her haste to not further disappoint Gemma she'd drive like a fuckin' lunatic.
Jolene tugged on his chin hair playfully. "What's that you say? You wanna sleep on our new and expensive couch?" She teased.
Jax shook his head and smiled. "There's only one thing I'm riding in that house, darlin', and it ain't no damn couch."
After leaving Jax at the house, Jolene spent the next eight hours on her feet in Gemma's kitchen being her little bitch. She peeled potatoes, chopped vegetables, made pie crusts from scratch, polished silverware, and among other things, spent a mind-numbing amount of time wrapping little cocktail weenies in pastry dough and making deviled eggs. Luann, as usual, showed up after all the hard work was done and occupied her time pouring herself one glass of wine after another, all while recounting her exciting day filming boy-on-girl-on-boy at Cara Cara.
Jax came for her around midnight, only to be shown the door by Gemma as she insisted she needed Jolene bright and early and wasn't letting her go anywhere. Not one to take no for an answer, after Jolene gave him the heads up that she was calling it a night, Jax had climbed the trellis on the side of the house and entered her bedroom through the window she always left conveniently open.
The next day, as Gemma directed her kitchen crew, including Donna, Bobby's wife Precious, and Bobby, on the finishing touches to the meal, Jolene did a last once-around the dining room table, making sure the napkins were folded properly and every piece of silverware was perfectly aligned. Pulling out one of the chairs, Jolene plopped down, exhausted, and ready for a nap.
"Hey, come on," Gemma called to her. "Get up. We still have food to get on the table."
"I love you, Gem, but you've had me up since the crack of dawn and I'm about to collapse."
"Well, that's what you get for sneaking Jax into your bedroom last night." Gemma said to a chorus of catcalls and whistles coming from the kitchen.
"Jesus, absolutely nothing slips past your radar, does it?" Jolene asked, slightly embarrassed, as she pushed herself up from the table.
"I don't know. You tell me." Gemma replied, her eyes narrowed and her hands on her hip.
Her peep toed pumps momentarily cemented to the floor in shock, Jolene quickly recovered. "What do you need me to do?" She asked, avoiding eye contact as she readjusted the neckline of her figure-hugging wrap dress.
Approaching Jolene with squinty eyes and her arms crossed, Gemma got way into Jolene's personal space. "I need you to tell me what the hell you and Jax are up to."
"You mean aside from him sneaking into my room last night?" Jolene tried to deflect with snarkiness.
"Oh, please! Do you honestly think I believe last night was the first time? You gotta give me a little more credit than that, baby girl."
"Then I don't know what you're talking about." Jolene replied, hating that Gemma, with her need to know everything, had pushed her to lie. She was going find out the truth soon enough.
After taking several pies out of the oven and putting them on cooling racks on the counter, Jolene seized the opportunity while Gemma's back was turned and slipped out of the kitchen. The entire Club, with the exception of Kyle, were scattered across the living room. Some football game was playing virtually ignored on Clay's wall-mounted big screen TV as they drank and gave each other a hard time. Jax, pulling a straight face, was giving Juice a hard time, telling him he would be sitting at the kiddie table with Bobby's grade school-aged boys, Milo, Aaron, and Tiki.
Never quite sure if his sponsor was joking or not, Juice turned to Chibs. "Is he serious? Am I really sitting at the kids' table?" He whispered.
"Be happy he upgraded you, Prospect." Chibs played along. "He was gonna have you sit on the back porch, but it looks like rain and, even then, it took some convincing ."
The room was alive with boisterous laughter and loud booming voices as Jolene entered. Catching her by surprise, Jax, who was sitting on the sofa's armrest by the door, grabbed Jolene by the waist and pulled her onto his lap.
"I haven't seen you since this morning, darlin'. What kind of a holiday is it if everything I'm thankful for has been avoiding me all day?" He nipped at her lips.
Jolene smiled. "Am I really all you're thankful for, Teller or are you just trying for a quickie before dinner?" She teased as she ran her hands through his soft, golden hair.
Jax raised an eyebrow. "Dessert before dinner. I like the sound of that."
"I'm sure you do," Jolene cooed. "But with you, quickies are rarely just that and we're bound to get busted by Mother Gemma."
Jax moaned as he put his head on her shoulder and buried his face in her perfumed neck. "Darlin', for future reference, mentioning sex and my mother in the same breath is a surefire boner-killer."
"I'm sorry," Jolene giggled as she fought to keep his hand from pulling on the neckline of her dress for a peek at her cleavage.
Burying his hands in the black curls cascading down her back, Jax pulled her in for a kiss. "You ready for tonight?" He almost whispered against her lips as Jolene continued kissing him.
Jolene suddenly pulled back. "I don't think we can put it off much longer. Gemma suspects something and had me virtually cornered in the kitchen. She looked like she was contemplating water-boarding me." She kidded.
Jax chuckled. "Don't put it past her. She hates being kept out of the loop."
"Maybe we should have said something sooner." Jolene reasoned, her stomach suddenly doing back flips.
Jax was shaking his head. "Really? You wanted my mother involved in the process, bitching and second guessing you every step of the way?"
Jolene made a face. "Geez, not if you're gonna put it like that. She's been operating on military mode all week and it's just Thanksgiving."
"My point exactly." Jax placed a gentle kiss on the side of her face. "I'm not gonna lie, darlin'. If I know your dad and my mom, it'll be like pulling off a band-aid on an open, festering wound. It's gonna hurt like fuck, but it's a done deal. You belong with me."
Gemma was smiling as she finally took a seat to Clay's left. She looked down the long table, happy that it was filled with those that mattered most, her family. With Clay at the head of the table, Big Otto sat at the other end with Luann to his left. Bobby, Precious, Tig, Juice, and Piney were sitting on Gemma's side of the table, with Jolene, Jax, Chibs, Opie, and Donna seated to Clay's right. The levity and raucousness had transferred to the table from the living room and everyone was having a great time, even though it seemed at times one had to yell in order to heard by the person seated next to them.
Pouring gravy onto her mashed potatoes as everyone dug into the mounds of food on their plates, Gemma watched from the corner of her eye as Jax and Jolene whispered to each other, at one point, causing Jolene to turn beet red as she tried to hide behind her napkin. Pulling her towards him with his hand on the back of her neck, Jax dropped a light kiss on her temple as he tried not to laugh. Gemma had hearing that rivaled a bat's, but with the noise level turned up to 11, she couldn't even concentrate long enough to read their lips and decipher what they were talking about.
Looking up and catching Gemma watching them, Jax smiled to himself. Yeah, it was time.
"I took your advice, Mom." Jax started, loud enough to be heard across the table by his mother. Taking a sip of his beer, he threw a slight wink at Jolene, who had nervously been taking small bites of food all throughout dinner. Jolene was afraid that a public announcement of such magnitude might be interpreted as a slap in the face by Clay and Gemma, but Jax was right. They had the right to share their happy news with everyone however they saw fit. "I finally got my own place." He continued.
Gemma's fork stopped in mid-air as Clay, who had been only half listening, dropped his cutlery on the table and folded his hands in front of him.
"An apartment?" Gemma asked cautiously as she too put her fork down. She fought the urge to move Clay's knife and fork out of his reach. She could now see what was coming a mile away.
"No," Jax replied casually as he wiped his mouth with a linen napkin. "I went the whole nine and bought a house."
"Congratulations, Jackie Boy!" Chibs happily patted his friend on his back and quickly went back to the business at hand of putting a hurting on his second helping of turkey and sweet potatoes.
"Thanks," Jax nodded at all his brothers as they raised their beers and glasses and congratulated him. All except Clay, who was giving him a look that said he was contemplating the best place to depose of a body.
"A house?" Gemma started, trying to keep her composure. Why was this the first she was hearing about it? "That's great, Jackson. I told you eventually you'd get tired of living at the Clubhouse and want a real home." She continued while looking at Jolene, who seemed to be begging Bobby with her big eyes from across the table for moral support.
"It's not the first time you've been right, Mom and I'm sure it won't be the last." Jax flashed Gemma with a smile that always got him out of trouble as a kid. Grabbing Jolene's trembling hand underneath the table, Jax continued, "I am ready for a real home."
Sensing the sudden tension as Jax and Clay locked eyes, with Clay practically daring Jax to say what he knew was coming next, the table suddenly grew quiet.
Clay turned to Jolene, who had stopped eating and was now batting around chunks of turkey with her fork from one side of her plate to the other. "So when are you moving out?" He asked, the snarl on his face making it almost impossible to see his lips move as he spoke.
Jolene put her fork down, looked up, and straight into her father's eyes. "First week in December." She replied confidently.
"The hell you are!" Clay slammed his hands on the table, instantly regretting it as pain shot through his arthritic mitts. The pain was only bound to get worse after he got done with Jax. "Let's take this outside." He demanded, pointing at Jax as he pushed himself away from the table.
Jax, with nostrils flared, was on his feet in an instant.
"Whoa, brothers." Bobby quickly stood up and went to stand between them. "Take it easy. There's no reason to take it to that level."
Standing up, her legs trembling with anger, not fear, Jolene addressed her dad. "Can we talk first, you and me, before you take anyone outside, for Chrissakes?" She threw her napkin on her plate and stormed out of the dining room.
Turning to Gemma angrily, Clay glared at her. "Am I gonna have to kill your fuckin' bird?"
Eyes wide, Gemma shot up from the table. "I didn't know shit, Clay, but if you plan on murdering my son, you're gonna have to get in fuckin' line!" Turning to Jax, Gemma pointed at the back door. "Outside!"
With his usual cool swagger, Jax headed towards the back door with Gemma close behind as Clay stomped out of the dining room in search of his daughter.
Stepping out into the cool night air, Jax lit a cigarette as he went down the porch steps.
"Where the fuck are you going?" Gemma called out, her hands on her hips as she stood at the top of the stairs.
"If you're gonna chew my ass off, I'd prefer if you didn't do it within earshot of my Club." Jax said calmly.
Pulling her long, flowing skirt up slightly, Gemma gingerly climbed down the porch stairs in her stiletto boots.
Diving right in, Gemma confronted Jax. "Where do the two of you get off keeping something this big from Clay?"
Jax raised his blonde eyebrows. "From Clay? Really, that's what you're going with?" Jax asked sarcastically. "How about it's no one's fuckin' business what we do? Last time I checked, Jolene and I were both adults."
"Oh that's rich!" Gemma started. "That dead turkey on my table was alive way longer than Jolene's been an adult, asshole! You really think Clay has moved on from the fact that you were banging his underage daughter until just a few months ago, behind everyone's back?"
"Why are you bringing up shit that doesn't matter anymore? Is that all you got, cheap shots at me about how this whole thing started?" Jax asked angrily.
"Of course it matters—" Gemma started, but Jax interjected.
"Bullshit! It only matters to you because it's all you've got. You don't give a shit about the effect this is gonna have on Clay. This is about you, Mom. The Queen Bee just can't bring herself to admit that she's pissed off that she missed out on an opportunity to stick herself into a situation that doesn't concern anyone but Jolene and me."
"How can you say that, Jackson? Of course it concerns me. I'm your mother."
"Yeah, and as my mother I thought you'd at least be happy that I'm taking responsibility for my old lady. I love her and I want to start building a life with Jolene. That is all you or Clay need to know."
Exasperated, Gemma ran her hands through her hair. "I told Jolene that this kind of bullshit would not be tolerated, Jax."
"What!" Jax was incredulous. "When the fuck did you tell Jolene that?"
"We had a long talk the day Lowell ended up in the hospital. I told her Clay and I had certain expectations for the two of you. She finishes college first, marriage, then children. Moving in together was never part of the equation. All I need is for you to tell me that you knocked her up, too."
Jax threw his cigarette down and ran his hands over his face, trying to keep a cool head. "Put aside all this mother/son bullshit, Gemma." He started, his voice low and slightly menacing, taking Gemma by complete surprise. "I'm talking to you now as a patch to a member's old lady. You watch what you say to Jolene because it is not your job to educate her. She's with me and she deserves the same respect that you or any other member's old lady gets to enjoy. She's no longer subservient to you and does not answer to you or her father, you got that? You may be the Queen of Charming, but in my Clubhouse, in the home I'm creating with Jolene, you are just another old lady." Jax finished and walked around Gemma and started climbing the stairs.
"Jackson, come back here." Gemma called out, her mind refusing to process the things Jax had said and the venom with which he had said them.
Jax was shaking his head. "I'm done talkin' to Clay's old lady. Now if you wanna talk to me like my mother, you can start by saying that you're happy for us because hearing you say that would mean a lot. Otherwise, you've got nothing to say that I wanna hear." He said before opening the back door and stepping back into the house, leaving Gemma alone in the dark with her thoughts.
Walking into the living room, Clay grabbed Jolene by the arm and pulled her towards the front door.
"Where are we going?" Jolene wasn't sure if she should put up a struggle or not.
"If you're gonna tear into me like I know you will, I'd rather the Club didn't hear it." Clay led them out onto the front porch and closed the door behind him.
Jolene watched with her arms crossed as Clay pulled a cigar out of the front pocket of his cut and plopped himself down onto one of the cushioned lounge chairs in front of the living room window.
"So where's the reactive nut-job that called Jax out?" Jolene asked. Clay looked at her as he calmly lit his cigar and took several puffs.
"You help with dinner tonight?" He asked, sitting back in his chair, one leg resting by the ankle on his knee. "I'm impressed. You helped put out quite a spread, baby girl."
Jolene was looking at him like lightening bolts had just shot out of his ass. This is the straw that broke the camel's back, Jolene thought. Her father had finally lost his mind and, like he had always warned Jolene, she had caused it.
"Dad, you're killing me here." Jolene said as she took a seat in the lounge chair opposite him. "I can't tear into you if you're just gonna sit there, all passive and shit, handing out compliments."
"What do you want me to say, Jolene?" Clay started. "Between the dining room and here, reality hit me like a fuckin' ton of bricks. You're Jax Teller's old lady and there ain't shit I can do to keep you from moving out."
"But you're not happy with it?" Jolene asked.
"Of course I'm not. You're my little girl, Jolene." Clay replied. "Someday, and please tell me it's not any time soon, when you have kids of your own, you'll know exactly what I'm feeling."
"So this has nothing to do with you not being ok with Jax and I being together?"
"No, I don't have a problem with you two being together." Clay assured her, not entirely convincing, but at least he was making the effort.
"Then what the frack, Dad?" Jolene started. "You've been acting all weird since Indian Hills."
"Oh you think?" Clay asked sarcastically, but stopped himself from bringing up the Kyle incident. None of that bullshit ever got back to Jolene, especially after the ass whupping both Jax and Jolene had dished out on that run. They made quite a team, those two.
If he was honest with himself, he didn't buy into what Kyle was trying to sell, planting the seed of doubt regarding Jax's feelings for his daughter. It was painfully obvious to Clay that Jax loved Jolene and everyday she was with him, she was less and less his baby girl and more Jax's old lady. Pretty soon, there would be nothing left for him. That day was coming soon enough. Why the need to take her away all at once by moving her out in less than a week?
"As your father, sweetheart, I had a different set of expectations for you." Clay looked Jolene straight in the eyes. "You're a smart girl with so much to offer, not just to the Club or your old man, but to the fuckin' world. I just don't want you ending up like Donna."
"You mean happy like Donna? You don't want me to be happy?" Jolene asked sarcastically.
"No, smartass. That's not what I mean and you know it." Clay replied. "She's barely legal to drink and she's already tied down and knocked up with twins, working a shitty job at a shitty diner for shitty pay. Is that what you want for yourself?"
"Dad, I'm going to school. I want to teach. Nothing will change except our living arrangements."
"Bullshit! Next thing you know, he'll have you pumping out rugrats and you'll forget all about school."
"That's not gonna happen." Jolene assured him.
"How do you know that?" Clay asked.
"First of all, I'm on birth control."
Clay winced, running his free hand over his face. "Goddamn it, Jolene! I don't need to know that shit."
"Well, you brought it up, Dad. And believe it or not, Jax is pretty old-fashioned when it comes to the order of how things happen. Marriage first, then, way, way down the road, kids." Jolene explained.
"Old-fashioned? There's nothing old-fashioned about shacking up with my kid." Clay nearly hollered as what Jolene said sunk in. "Wait a second. Back up. You've talked about marriage?" Clay asked, his eyes wide.
"We do have actual conversations, you know. It's not a sex free-for-all all the time. We've talked about marriage, kids, the whole deal, but it's not in our five-year plan."
"You have a five-year plan?" Clay sputtered. Fuck, even at his age he didn't have five-year plan. She didn't think it was possible, but his eyes got wider and she was grateful he was sitting down.
"Of course! Dad, what do you think is going on here? We love each other and we're planning a life together. We're not playing house and this is not an infatuation I'll outgrow. I am in this for the long haul and so is Jax." Jolene assured him. "Marriage and kids are not even a blip on our radar yet. Jax has the Club he's throwing himself into 100% and I have school and hopefully a future teaching right here in Charming. We just want to be together, Dad. Living at the Clubhouse long-term sucks ass. I want you to be happy about this. I need you to be happy about this. Why can't you just be happy about this?" She asked, exasperated.
"It scares me, Jolene, alright? This is new to you and Jax. I've never seen him take it to this level before with anyone. How sure are you that he's committed to being with you and just you cuz I couldn't take it if he did anything to hurt you?"
"What makes you think he's gonna hurt me?" Jolene asked, afraid there was something her father knew that he wasn't telling her. Just as quickly, she snapped out of it. "No, he's not. You know why? Because I'm confident in the love he has for me and because there's no me without him."
"You never gave yourself a chance to be you without him." Clay argued. "You got involved way too young, sweetheart. There's a whole world out there you didn't give yourself the chance to discover."
"This is my whole world, Daddy. You, my family, Jax, Charming. If I wanna see the rest of the world, all I have to do is jump on the back of my old man's bike and hit the road. The Life is my life, Dad."
Clay chuckled to himself bitterly. Bobby had been right. His passive/aggressive efforts to keep Jax on the road, hoping that Jolene would get tired of waiting and that Jax would fall back into his pussy-chasing ways, had backfired. Instead of the road and the distance pulling them apart, Clay had pushed them to find a way to stay connected. Clay looked at Jolene for what felt like an eternity as he mindlessly chewed on his cigar. Suddenly pushing himself up from his seat, Clay stopped to drop a kiss on the top of her head.
"I hope you made some apple pie, too. I hate that pumpkin shit." He said as he went back inside.
Jolene wasn't prepared for the feeling of devastation that overcame her as she realized that her father had resigned himself to giving her up, never acknowledging that he was happy for her. With her head held high, Jax Teller's old lady let her tears fall as she quietly mourned the end of her reign as daddy's little girl.
Thanksgiving dinner was essentially over for Jax the moment he saw Jolene return to the dining room. Her eyes were red and it was obvious she had been crying and now he wanted nothing more than to just grab her and go. Without giving her a chance to sit down, that's exactly what he did. Bobby, always the cool head, tried to convince him to stay, reasoning that leaving would make the gap between Jolene and her father and Jax and his mother only that much wider. Jax knew he was right, but he was tired of living under the conditions set by Clay and Gemma with regards to Jolene. In spite of how old she was when they initially hooked up, Jolene was now an adult and had a level head on her shoulders. Jolene knew better than anyone what she wanted. She wanted to finish school and she wanted a career, but more importantly, she wanted him. Clay and Gemma were just going to have to learn to accept and respect the new boundaries that were now in place.
For the next few days, things were tense around the Clubhouse between Jax and Clay. Jolene had practically taken up residence in Jax's dorm, returning home only when she was sure Clay and Gemma were out of the house to pack up her room. Jax had given her a detailed account of his confrontation with his mother and, if Jolene knew Gemma, it would be best to stay out of her path for the time being. Nothing came between Gemma and her son.
With the tile work in the master bath finally completed on Monday, Jax and Jolene made plans to finally and officially move in on Tuesday. For moving day, Big Otto insisted on assembling a crew of his brothers, including Tig, Opie, Chibs, and Juice to help. With only a cargo van full of boxes and bins left to move, Jax knew that the gesture was more a show of support and he appreciated that.
Juice volunteered to hook up all the electronics, including surround sound, computers, and just because a Son was never too careful, he upgraded their alarm system as a housewarming gift. Jax enjoyed giving Juice a hard time. The young Puerto Rican made it so easy sometimes to get goofed on, but Jax knew he had not made a mistake when he had asked Juice to prospect. In recent months, he had proven himself an asset to SAMCRO and Jax was sure that when the time came, he would be getting his top rocker. That didn't mean that he was going to ease up on him, though. Between Jax and Tig, they just had too much fun fuckin' with him.
Opie and Donna were the first to show up in the early afternoon, bringing "soda pop for Jolene and adult beverages for everyone else", Opie teased. Looking at her now, Opie had a hard time reconciling the Jolene he had grown up with and the young woman who had made an honest man out of his best friend. He had to remind himself that Jolene was still only 18 because sometimes she seemed more mature than Jax himself.
After the rest of the moving crew had arrived, Jolene and Donna went to work unpacking and arranging the kitchen, while the first order of business for the Club wasn't unloading the van, but cracking into the first of many beers. Jolene smiled as she watched them lounging in the backyard on the patio furniture. She was sure they would be ten sheets to the wind before any of those boxes made it into the house. Watching Jax, animated and happy as he talked, causing the guys to bust out laughing with Otto almost bent double, gave Jolene a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to hold onto that feeling because, as he looked at her through the patio door and flashed her a beautiful smile, it really felt like they were home.
It was late afternoon by the time they finally started moving the boxes in. Taking a break from unpacking while a pregnant and tired Donna snoozed on a chaise in the backyard, Jolene went outside to direct the traffic of boxes entering the house. Like a moth to a flame, Jolene's gaze was repeatedly drawn to a shirtless, slightly sweaty Jax each time he made a pass through the house. Sometimes Jolene did feel like the hormonal teenager Gemma accused her of being.
"Found another box for the kitchen, babe." He said as he carried the box past her.
"Aw, shit. Just when I thought I was done with the damn kitchen." Jolene followed him inside.
Dropping the box on the kitchen table, Jax grabbed Jolene and pushed her against the wall next to the fridge.
"I see how you've been looking at me, darlin'." Jax smiled, one hand urging her chin up so he could nip at her bottom lip, while Jolene fought to keep his other hand from finding its way under her t-shirt. "You need to stop playing hard to get and just give it up to me."
"Oh my God. You're either drunk or really full of yourself, Teller." Jolene smiled, running her hands seductively over his muscled chest before pushing him away.
"A little of both, darlin', but that doesn't mean you don't like what you see." Jax smiled. "I'm not a piece of meat. I have feelings, you know." He kidded.
"Oh poor you. Then maybe you should put your shirt back on cuz I'm not the only one eyeballing ya." Jolene said as she dodged him around the table, trying to stay out of his reach. "You have all our female neighbors in a tizzy and I'm too tired to kick ass right now."
"Really?" Jax asked with a cocky grin plastered on his handsome face. "How about you? Do I have you in a tizzy?"
"I get wet just lookin' at ya, baby." She teased.
"See, now that's what I like to hear." Jax smiled, grabbing Jolene and pressing her against the counter, his chest to her back, as he bit her ear.
"Hey, hey Jackie Boy!" Chibs called out as he walked past the kitchen on his way to retrieve another box. "Let lil luvvie go, we got a shitload left to do! You can christen the kitchen counter after we leave."
"Should I tell him we've already properly christened every room in this house?" Jax teased.
"We haven't though. The plumber finished installing the new shower fixtures this morning." Jolene advised.
Jax raised his eyebrows. "Then we have a date, darlin'. Meet me in the shower after all these cock-blocking assholes take off." He kissed the side of her face.
"That'll never happen if you guys keep drinking a beer for every box you bring in." Jolene laughed as she broke away from Jax and practically ran back outside.
With impeccable timing, Bobby was pulling up to the house just as Jolene hit the front lawn.
"Well, look who finally decided to show up." Big Otto smirked as he put the box he was carrying down in front of Bobby. "You can finish bringing in the boxes left in van."
"Think again, brother." Bobby replied as he pulled a large sack from the back of his bike. Strolling up to Jolene, he put his arm around her shoulders to give her a hug. "Hey, Kit. I know how much you love my organic blueberry muffins and banana bread. I thought they would be a nice treat for your first breakfast in your new home."
"Awww, that's so thoughtful. You're the greatest, Uncle Elvis." Jolene enthusiastically grabbed the bag of baked goods.
"I also figured it would get me a free pass from lifting jack." Bobby said with a big shit-eating grin on his face.
"They most certainly do." Jolene replied happily, planting a big kiss on his bearded cheek.
"That's not fair. You can't play favorites. How come your old man doesn't get a pass?" Jax teased, as he came up from behind and tried to snatch the bag of baked goods out of her hand.
"Fair? Look at what you get to push up on at night! That's not fair!" Tig bellowed. "Some fuckin' guys have all the luck and the balls to complain."
"I save my best rewards for you, baby." Jolene smiled, wiggling her eyebrows at him as she turned and took her goody bag inside.
Watching Jolene walk off, Bobby smiled. "I still can't believe it, brother. Jax Teller, the Pussy Whisperer. The James T. Kirk of the MC World buying a house and settling down. The world must be coming to an end."
"Nah, brother, the world's not coming to an end." Jax smiled as he too watched her walk into the house. "She is my world."
Holy shit! Bobby would never believe it if he wasn't seeing it with his own eyes. Jax was in deep.
Bobby clapped him on the back, drawing Jax's attention back. "Well, just in case, and I know I've said this before, but don't hurt my Kit or I'm gonna have to kill ya."
Tig smirked. "Trust me, Bobby, you won't get the chance. Doll face will fuck him up all by herself." Holding up his phone, Tig laughed. "The bitch can fight and I've got the video right here to prove it."
Jax turned to Tig and glared. "You've got video of my old lady?"
"Of course I do, bro. That Indian Hills smack down was epic." Tig replied.
"Gimme that!" Jax snatched the phone out of his hand, tempted to smash his face with it.
"I may not say this often, but Tig's right." Big Otto started. "Chibs may have given you pointers for fight night, but he actually taught Jo how to fight. She's still gonna need help disposing of the body and that's where we come in."
"You know I get it, right?" Jax smirked, knowing that with his Club, his old lady would always be in good hands.
Jolene was bringing out several empty boxes and dropping them in the open garage where Juice was breaking them down and setting them aside for recycling when Gemma pulled up in her black Cadillac. Jolene walked to the curb, her eyes darting down the street, as Jax watched from the front door, prepared to step in if his mother was here to cause his old lady grief. Surprising both Jolene and Jax, Gemma stepped out of her car with a big grin and approached Jolene, wrapping her arms around the young woman for a hug.
"Hey, sweetheart, how's it going?" Gemma asked pleasantly as she brushed several wayward locks of silky black hair out of Jolene's face.
Instead of being alarmed by Gemma's obvious contriteness, Jolene felt tears spring to her eyes. "Much better now that you're here." She smiled, overwhelmed that Gemma was seemingly letting go of her anger and hurt at being kept in the dark and had shown up on one of the happiest days of her life. Gazing down the block again, Jolene shook her head. "Dad not coming?"
Gemma shook her head sadly. "I tried, baby girl, but he just needs a minute to process everything, get it all right in his head. He'll come around."
"Hey, mom." Jax greeted as he approached the two most important women in his life. Reaching for her son, Gemma gave him a quick kiss and a tight hug. "I'm glad you're here." He smiled, as Gemma held his face in one hand.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world, baby." Gemma smiled. "I thought you might be too busy to think about food, so I picked up some burgers and whatnot from Nicky's on my way. Could you please bring it all inside before it stinks up my car?" She asked Jax.
Jax smiled. "Thanks, Mom." He squeezed her arm, the gesture and the look in his eyes thanking her for more than just the food.
Gemma wrapped her arm around Jolene's shoulders as they headed up the walkway. "Nice." She said appreciatively as they approached the house. "You all moved in?"
"Yeah. It took the guys all afternoon to move in enough boxes to fit in the van, but they've made quick work of putting some furniture together." Jolene explained. "Donna and I haven't made a dent in the unpacking and it's a holy mess in there, but hopefully it'll start to look somewhat normal before Christmas."
"Well, that's where I come in. Organizing is my thing. If you want my help, I'm happy to give it. I can even get some croweaters over here to lend a hand, too." Gemma offered.
"I would love your help, Gem. I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed by the mess, but I draw the line at croweaters in my home, if you don't mind." Jolene replied.
"Not at all." Gemma smiled, knowing she couldn't really blame her as through the years Jolene had witnessed Jax go through each and every croweater and sweetbutt, more than once.
It was getting late and Gemma was in the zone when it came to unpacking and organizing and was making real progress. Jolene, on the other hand, was running on fumes. After Opie and Donna had gone home, Jax convinced Jolene to call it a night and sent her off to take a shower while he went about getting rid of his brothers. He practically had to draw a picture that he wanted to get laid before his mother finally got the hint and took off. Jolene was in the hot and steamy shower by the time Jax had locked up for the night.
Stripping off his clothes as he made his way through their new bedroom, he entered the master bathroom. Jolene's eyes were closed and her head back as the water ran through her luxurious hair when he opened the shower door and stepped in. Slipping her arms around his lean waist, she pulled Jax towards her and under the water.
"Oh Jesus!" Jax groaned, his eyes closing against his will as the heat penetrated his sore, tight muscles. "Feels good, darlin'."
"Yes it does." Jolene smiled. Holding her face in his hands, Jax dipped his head and kissed her, taking his time to taste and explore her with his tongue. Breaking away, Jax turned her to face the wall, her ass rubbing up against his semi-erection as Jax gently but firmly massaged the tension out of her shoulders, the hot water a cascade over them. "That feels so good," Jolene moaned, her head falling to the side, giving Jax free reign on her neck.
"You like that?" He nibbled on her exposed throat. Jolene nodded, her eyes closed. Jax pushed her into the wall, forcing Jolene to whimper as he continued nibbling on her neck, his hands on her tits. Gasping for breath, Jolene put her hands over her head and grabbed onto his hair as Jax sucked a bruise into the sensitive area just below her ear. Mindlessly, she started grinding her ass against his erection, forcing a groan to escape his lips and a satisfied smile to dance on Jolene's. His breathing quickened and was hot against her ear as his hands fell to her hips, pulling her towards him as he rubbed his cock between her cheeks. Feeling the slow burn between her legs burst into a blazing hot fire, Jolene moaned as she grabbed hold of one of his hands.
"Touch me, please." She begged. Not quite sure she had actually said the words out loud until she felt him brush against her clit, Jolene nearly cried out as she twitched beneath his touch.
"More?" He breathed against her ear. Smiling against her neck as she nodded, desperate to finally feel him filling her and quenching her fire. Jolene gasped as Jax entered her with his fingers instead, stroking her slick, moist folds, causing her to thrust against his hand.
"Fuck, Jax! Please!" She begged. Feeling her tighten slightly around his fingers, Jax pulled out. "No!" Jolene cried out, her want and need frustrating and overwhelming her.
Taken by surprise as Jax buried his length deep into her, Jolene gasped, too breathless to speak, her cheek pressed against the shower wall. "Is that what you wanted?" He demanded, the hairs of his goatee tickling her as he kissed her face. Jolene nodded, biting her bottom lip as she whimpered. "Say it."
"Shit, yes! Yes!" She moaned as Jax quickened his pace. Reaching behind her, Jolene grabbed onto his ass as his muscles flexed and relaxed under her touch with his every movement. Gently biting into her shoulder to keep himself from crying out, Jolene pushed herself against him, meeting him thrust for thrust.
"Fuck!" Jax groaned against her ear. The hot water washed over them like a waterfall as they pounded into each other frenetically.
"Harder, Jax! Please, baby, harder!" Jolene begged, the need for release heavy in her voice. Jax groaned as he gripped her hips and pushed himself further and further inside her, flesh slapping against flesh. Jolene grasped at the slick wall above her head in an attempt to stay upright as her legs turned into wet noodles. Feeling her tighten around him as she came, Jax growled, his heart pounding against his ribcage. His balls seized up as his orgasm came in violent spurts that left him almost breathless when he was done.
Pulling out, Jax turned Jolene towards him, their arms instantly wrapping around each other. "Welcome home, darlin'." Jax almost whispered, his cheek pressed against her head.
"Welcome home, baby."
Jax pulled into the T-M lot and stopped in front of the office, where Jolene jumped off the back of his bike. Gemma was standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips and a smirk on her face. Jolene was late even though she was the one that had asked Gemma to meet her at T-M an hour earlier than usual so they could hit the stores for some closet organizers.
"I know last night was your first time in your new home, but you are over an hour late." She directed at Jolene. "Forget how to use a phone?"
"Ma, back off," Jax said defensively. "Jo's had a rough morning."
Gemma was shaking her head. "I wasn't asking for details on your sex life, Jackson."
"That's not what he means," Jolene angrily ripped her helmet off her head. "I nearly burned the house down while making breakfast this morning."
"What?" Gemma couldn't keep the shocked laughter out of her voice.
Jax grabbed a still-upset Jolene by the waist and pulled her towards him. "It wasn't that big a deal, darlin'." He started.
"Really?" Jolene asked doubtfully. "The neighbors heard the explosion and called the fire department. How embarrassing was that?"
Jax knew that laughing would guarantee that he'd be riding the couch for the foreseeable future, so he fought hard to contain the smile that was threatening to spread across his face. "That was an overreaction on their part, darlin'. They must have thought we were cooking meth or something."
In spite of herself, Jolene felt the corners of her mouth tug into an almost-smile. "That's not funny, Jax." Jolene managed to pout even as he was wrapping his arms around her. "You realize we could be homeless right now and it would be all my fault, right?"
"What happened?" Gemma was incredulous.
"Grease fire," Jax replied, making faces at Gemma over Jolene's shoulder for her to keep a lid on it. He didn't want Gemma making the situation worse for his old lady.
Jolene pulled away and kissed Jax tenderly on the lips as she stroked the hair on his jawline. "I just wanted our first morning together to be special." She started.
"I know," Jax comforted her. "And it was." He said, giving her a knowing wink. Gemma hadn't been far off about the sex. That early morning blow job had to be the best wake-up call of his life!
"I swear I didn't know throwing water on burning grease would cause it to explode like that." Jolene said in her defense.
"You learn from experience, sweetheart." Jax smiled sweetly. Jesus, who was this man standing before her, Gemma thought, and what the hell did he do with my son? "No damage a coat of paint won't fix and I'll get Juice right on it." He said referring to the scorched ceiling above the sink where Jolene had thrown the burning pan of bacon grease. He could probably laugh about it now, even though he knew that would be a really bad idea, but she had scared the shit out of him. The damage to his old lady could have been a lot worse. Fuck the house.
"All things considered, how was breakfast?" Gemma teased.
Jax narrowed his eyes at his mother. "Best I've had in a long time." He replied and it wasn't a lie. Jax had to comfort his teary-eyed old lady somehow and what better way than making her cum on the kitchen counter. He was more than willing to overlook the fact that she had nearly burnt down the house making bacon because her other skills in the kitchen were what had him wrapped around her pinky, not her cooking. There was always take-out.
Not that Jolene was a bad cook because, as Jax quickly learned, she wasn't. Once she started school again, she had managed to set a routine that allowed them to spend time together in the mornings before they went their separate ways. Some days those times included having breakfast together. Other days, especially after Jax crawled into bed at dawn after working on Club-related business all night, those times included Jolene climbing on top him and making love to him long and slow before she headed off to school and Jax passed out from sheer exhaustion. Those days were nice, but his absolute favorite were the days when they had time for both, like this morning. Not only had he initiated their early morning romp, but he had managed to make her breakfast as well. This had surprised the shit out of her too, which was an added bonus. Jax loved seeing her smile and although he had no doubt in his mind that she was happy here with him, he could sense her sadness over being estranged from her father since Thanksgiving.
"You know Lowell's out of rehab, right?" Jax asked as he stabbed his scrambled eggs with his fork. "He's back at the garage." He said before shoving the forkful into his mouth.
Jolene, who was digging through her messenger bag, stopped and looked up at Jax with wide eyes. "No one told me this. When did he get out?"
"Last week." Jax replied after taking a drink from his coffee mug. "He returned to T-M on Monday. Maybe you should stop by the garage and see how he's doing. You'd make his day. After all, you did save his life." He smiled at her.
"I didn't save his life, Jax. All I did was call 9-1-1." Jolene said, a little uncomfortable.
"You'd think different if you heard him tell the story." Jax put his fork down and folded his hands over his plate. "He was seizing and may have seemed unresponsive, Jo, but he knew you were there. He heard you talking to him while you waited for the ambulance. Couldn't see even though his eyes were wide open, but he felt you holding his hand and he heard your voice. He said he held onto the sound of your voice for as long as he could until he couldn't any more. He calls you his Guardian Angel. I'd kick his ass, but he's been through enough. I'll wait 'til he's at least 90 days sober." He kidded.
Jolene smiled. "I'll have to give him a call."
"Why not just stop by the garage afterschool?" Jax asked, trying to avoid naming the elephant in the room.
"I'd rather not." Jolene picked up her plate and coffee mug and headed to the sink.
"Can't keep hiding from your dad, Jo." Jax replied, losing the battle and finally naming the elephant Clay.
"I'm not hiding." Jolene responded as she leaned against the counter with her arms crossed over her chest. "I just got tired of him ignoring me every time I went to the garage or set foot in the Clubhouse."
"Well, now that you've stopped trying, he's become a real asshole." Jax got up from the table and approached Jolene, placing his hands on her waist. "I'm going into Oakland with Clay today, Jo. We're dropping some merch off for LaRoy, but we should be back at the Clubhouse by the time you get back from Stockton. Just drop by and say hi."
Jolene narrowed her eyes at Jax. "Did he put you up to this?" She asked and Jax contemplated lying only because he heard a glimmer of hope in her voice.
He was tempted, but he didn't. "No." Jax replied simply. "He's as stubborn as you are. This apple and the tree bullshit is very fitting when it comes to describing you two." Jolene jabbed him in the gut as he pulled her in for a kiss.
"I'll think about it." Jolene replied as Jax held her close, his arms wrapped around her neck. "I have study group tonight, though so I can't hang around waiting for him to acknowledge that I exist."
"Understood, but trust me," Jax said as the front doorbell rang. "I think he's ready to talk." He let her go and went to answer the door.
Jolene picked up Jax's breakfast dishes and was about to wipe down the table as Jax opened the door.
"Hey," She heard him greet their too-early-for-a visit visitor. "Am I late? I thought we were meeting at Bluebird."
Jolene's heart skipped a beat as their visitor responded. "No, not at all." Clay replied. "I just thought it made sense if I picked you up on the way. If you're not ready, I can wait in the truck."
"No." Jolene said abruptly as she nearly clung to the kitchen doorway for support. Both Jax and Clay turned to look at her. "Come in, Dad. Jax still has to take a shower. I can make you some coffee while you wait."
Clay smiled as he removed his sunglasses. "I'd love some coffee." He said as he entered the foyer.
"I won't be long." Jax said as he closed the door.
"Take your time." Both Clay and Jolene replied in unison. Smiling at each other, Jolene practically ran into her father's open arms.
Yep, Jax smiled to himself as he headed back to their bedroom. It's scary how alike those two really are.
A/N: I am two-third's of the way through writing Charming's Worst Kept Secret and I want to thank all of you for staying on board. Just when you thought that everyone was going to live happily ever after, this third and final section of the story will be darker, more intense, and quite bumpy for certain members and their loved ones. It also jumps ahead 3 years into the future. I hope that you continue to stick around as my goal is to keep you on the edge of your seat. I've got nothing over the genius that is Kurt Sutter, but I do have a few twists up my sleeve. I don't know how close I plan on sticking to canon and the story continues to be AU, but certain familiar situations will come into play.
I want to thank all of you who have added me to your alerts. I'm particularly flattered to have been added to your favorite author or favorite story alerts. Each chapter has been a labor of love and a special thanks again to all of you who have taken the time to review each chapter. Those reviews are a big part of the process as they let me know how I am doing and how invested readers are in the story. The more detailed the review, the more helpful it is to me, so please KEEP REVIEWING!
As always, thanks for reading!