Authors Note: Last Chapter before our rewrite starts! If you're following along with us with the series we are Season 2 finale (Ep: 2:13) Immediately following this chapter is a note from me, your author.

Walking over to Hale, Lana pressed her lips firmly against his before letting out a sigh. The family was going on lock down as Jax and Clay were preparing the club to go after The League. While Lana was surprised to receive the call from Gemma earlier that morning; she didn't hesitate when the second call came through from Jax. There was a chance her father would be killed today. Jax didn't want her anywhere near that. It remained hard to get lost in her thoughts when Hale pulled her closer to him.

"You going to tell me why Samcro is going into this.. lock.. down?" Lana smiled up at him and shook her head. She didn't doubt that he already knew that answer. "Haven't they hurt you enough?" Hale's words were cold, and they actually made Lana cringe a little. She shook her head and let out a defeated sigh.

"You really want me to answer that?" He didn't, and she knew he didn't.

"No." Hale stared down at her and smiled. No matter what, he was a cop. He was a good cop. Unser had played into Clay's games for years; he wasn't going to do the same with Jax. He wasn't going to turn a blind eye to her. "Marry me."

"Whaa," Lana couldn't even get the words out before he began to kneel down in front of her. She could have put all her money in on Hale and it still wouldn't have made a difference in their lives. There wasn't a future for them. People didn't stay in her life for a reason. Every doubt she could possibly fathom came to mind and she very sadly stood there without saying a single word. The same thing was happening in Hale's mind. The constant battle to keep her safe. The constant battle of keeping her away from Samcro. To show her how she's supposed to be loved. To have someone there that wants her. He may not be very good at it, but he'd learn to be that guy. They could learn to be that for each other.

Her doe-eyed expression matched his and he knew. "Marry me." He repeated his sentiment, but instead of answering - he watched as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "Lana... marry me." She gave him a look and tried her hardest to gather the courage to say what she needed to say. She was having an anxiety attack, or dying. Either way - every thought passed through her mind miles a minute. She couldn't process any of it.

"Juice is waiting for me outside," When she finally spoke - her answer not among the words he was looking for - Hale shoved her bag down off the bed.

"Then let him wait." Hale had never really been angry with her, but this... this was something else. He was livid beyond words. "Did you hear what I asked you! I asked you to marry me. Lana... I won't ask you again." Her eyes met his and while hers filled with tears, his remained hauntingly painful to stare at. She shook her head.

"I have to go." Lana went to grab her bag and saw Juice standing there in the doorway. She had tears in her eyes, and regret in her heart. Reaching up for her arm, Hale pulled her softly to him. "David I..."

"If you walk out that door..." His voice cracked and he didn't even acknowledge Juice clearing his throat - this was them. This was only about them. "If you walk out of that door... we're done." Lana felt a tear fall down her cheek and she wiped it quickly. She moved her hand to his cheek and gave a soft rub against it before turning to walk out of the door with Juice.

Neither Juice nor Lana said a word to each other on the ride over to the Clubhouse. When Juice opened his mouth to talk, or ask to talk rather - she dismissed him with a single finger and walked inside and headed straight for the bar. Her eyes were red from crying on the ride over; so, she pushed her bangs in her face to cover it. She looked around and exchanged 'hello's' and 'how are you's' with other "family" members of the club. Some of the girls she'd recognized from several of Gemma's dinners. Still, given everything that had just happened with Hale; this was where she needed to be. What had happened with Hale would eventually be washed over with what was being set in motion today. Juice nudged her a bit and handed her a beer. "It helps."

"You ain't kidding" Lana whispered before taking the bottle from him and chasing her shot of whiskey with it. All she could see was Hale's face, and it made her sick. Lana pulled out her mothers journal and opened up where she left off earlier in the day. Her words were the only thing that made any sense to her when she was in the hospital - even moreso now. "Humans are creatures of habit. They stay on a familiar path because most are afraid of what could happen if change is involved. I've always been somewhere teetering in the middle. My life at home and my life at the club are constantly tearing me in two. I love Lincoln - but he's forcing me to leave my family behind. He thinks I'm weak. That I'm afraid of everything. I'm not afraid, I'm fearful. I'm fearful that marriage will change me. Gemma says it won't. I'm fearful that marriage will change him. Still, I can't wrap my finger around the impending doom I've been feeling."

There's a loud whistle for quiet in the room and Lana turns in her stool at Tig and then at Clay and Gemma while they walk to the front of the clubhouse. "Everybody! Listen up!"

"ahem. I wanna welcome you all to Club Reaper. I'm glad you made your reservations early, because as you can see we're booked to capacity," Clay joked before standing straight and looked to every single individual in the room. Family. "You're here because you're family. And because Samcro takes care of its own. Next couple of days this club has some business to handle that could put its members and... people connected to us in unfriendly situations." Lana moved off of her bar stool and tried her best to get closer until she was in clear sight of Clay. "Now chances are, nothing's going to happen but uh..." He turns to look at Gemma next to him and then stares directly at Lana. "People have already been hurt on my watch and that ain't ever gonna happen again."

"Nobody leaves. Nobody comes in without an escort. You got a safety concern - you talk to Piney. You got a comfort concern you talk to my queen. Under this roof you'll all be safe." When everybody hoots and hollers, Lana can't help but smile before excusing herself to go say hello to Lyla and Opie. She wasn't used to this. All of this family sticking together stuff. Still, she did her best to make it work.

The guys had left and Gemma had taken her spot at the bar to drink her coffee and find a peace of mind. This was going to be a long couple of days; the club needed her to be at the top of her game. This club needed her to be their queen. Having already known that the guys were going to go after Zobelle - she gave as little information as possible to anybody that asked. She had a knack for telling people very little; and making them seem like they know a lot. Lana spotted the matriarch sitting by herself and sat down next to her. "Hey."

Surprised, Gemma gave a look and replied with the same "Hey." It wasn't that she didn't think Lana would come when she called; she just didn't think she'd stay. Offering her coffee cup up to one of the women pouring it, Gemma arched a brow at Lana as she declined. "Let them do it. You've earned it." Confused Lana shook her head ready to dispute that fact, but Gemma beats her to it. "You helped the club in a big way; we really owe ya one." Lana was annoyed now - more than before. She was almost willing to bet it had a lot to do with the Whiskey.

"Why didn't you come to the hospital?"

"I'm sorry?"

"I was shot," Leaning in she gives a stern look. "By Clay. You didn't even call." All the raven haired woman could think right now was how much of a hypocrite this whole situation was. Gemma. The Club. She was upset, rightfully so. Gemma licked her lips and turned in her bar stool to face Lana. Then glancing up at Tara who joins them.

"Clay said he made that right by you."

"He did."

"So what's the problem?" Gemma asked, almost smirking. Lana really needed to learn to pick her battles.

"My.. problem? Are you... fucking kidding me?" Her eyes swelled again and she could feel her face getting hot. Tara gave a comforting hand to her shoulder and Lana quickly brushed it off. "I just..." Gemma's face softened when she heard the crack in Lana's voice and she pulled her close to her chest comforting her.

"I was so mad at Clay." Gemma confessed. Tara watched the interaction closely. Having already known what Lana thought she heard - and the reality that it could be true made Gemma dangerous. Especially if she knew the truth. Gemma rubbed Lana's back and was actually shocked that she was sobbing in her arms. It felt like dejavu for the older woman and she swallowed hard. "I wanted to see you darlin' but every time I got outside of your room..."

Lana who was painfully upset for numerous reasons started to cry even harder. Gemma continued to do her best at comforting her, before she made a very curious statement. "I kept picturing Jackson... and what it would feel like if it were him. You're like a daughter to me. Your mother led you to us... some kind of divine intervention. You needed this club at this point in your life. God, or whatever you want to believe in. Your purpose was to find us, and we haven't stopped letting you down."

"I know you're mad. Use that anger. Every bit of it. Samcro is not the enemy. It's the glue. The one thing that will always be there to pull you through the ugly shit. I'm sorry. Whatever this is..." Gemma motioned to the tears still running down her cheeks. Giving a soft wipe she lets out a sigh. "It's time to confront the demons babe."

Tara arched a brow at Gemma and leaned back in her seat. If there was one thing she could appreciate, it was that Gemma - as stuck in her ways as she was - could still surprise the shit out of her. Lana pulled away and used the fabric of her shirt to wipe her eyes. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and tried her best to get back to being herself. As much as the situation would allow anyway. She looked at Tara and then at Gemma before clearing her throat.

"I'm going to marry Hale."

After explaining to the women about her situation with Hale that had transpired earlier in the morning - Lana did her best to convince Piney that she had to get out of the clubhouse. He didn't give a shit who was proposing to her, it was dangerous for her to be anywhere outside of that clubhouse. Lana being there; knowing the truth, it was bad news. It felt like they were repeating history here. Gemma came up from behind and gave a pat on Piney's back. "You okay old man?"

He watched Lana interact with the club's family members and how they reacted to her. Maybe he'd had too much whiskey himself - but that wasn't Lana he saw. It never was. It was her mother's ghost. Gemma saw it too. Felt it just as much, if not deeper in the deepest part of her being. She kept getting flashes of her best friend telling her she was marrying a cop. It was like a stab to the heart. Hearing Lana express her feelings towards Hale was another stab to the back. Make people love you and then you leave them. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.

"Strange isn't it?" Piney whispered having noticed Gemma staring at Lana as well.

"What are you getting at old man?" folding her arms across her chest, Gemma indulged the crazy old man.

"Loving her, even after what you did." Piney wasn't talking about Lana but the unease that Gemma expressed told him she understood exactly what he meant by it. He continued to watch Lana for a few minutes before finally giving in and letting her leave.

Hours had passed and Lana found herself several times walking through Hale's home. She occasionally would stare out of the window to let one of the guys Piney made her take know she was okay in there.

Hale's home felt empty and cold. She'd only been proposed to once before, another cop. Her ex. The difference between the two of them was - Hale had never given her a reason to doubt him. He wasn't beating the shit out of her every chance he got. He'd never disappointed her. He was kind. He was unflinchingly good, and sometimes it made her sick. Hale saw her for exactly who she was. Every truth. Every lie. He knew it all. She didn't have any real plan upon coming to his home. She knew he wouldn't be there because of what Samcro had planned on doing tonight. He didn't answer any of her calls throughout the day, which led to her coming over. Still this was... this was what she wanted. When his front door opened, Lana stood quickly and the both of them stared for a moment. He looked lost, and hurt.

"What..." Hale started to speak but Lana quickly cut him off.

"I love you."

"Lana..." Confused, Hale put his gun and badge on the coffee table beside him. He was stuck; frozen in place - especially when she moved towards him and placed her hand against the skin on his arm. He swallowed hard and stood his ground. She couldn't just come in here and think everything was going to be okay. "What do you want?"

Lana's phone started to ring and she set it down next to her. It was probably Gemma asking her to come back, or what ever 'emergency' Samcro felt she needed to be a part of. She made perhaps the biggest statement of their lives by ignoring the call. She was finally putting him first. She stood firm and straightened her posture before speaking.

"You should go," Hale whispered before moving out of the way so she could find the door quicker. "The club needs you." His words stung a bit and she could hear his annoyance in the tone he spoke.

"Ask me again," Lana took a step towards him and kept her eyes on him. "Ask. Me. Again."Hale looked up at her and cleared his throat, and the longer he took the closer she got to him. She was finally standing there in front of him and when he opened his mouth to speak - she interrupted him. "David... marry me." He didn't speak, and she could no longer find the words she needed to in order to articulate what she meant. Not that there was a way to say it any clearer. Just as her lips were grazing softly against hers - he pulled back some.

"No," he whispered, but the words echoed so much in her head that it felt like a scream.

"Whaaat?"The confusion was clear and she almost didn't believe he was acting so upset about this morning when she walked out on him. "David.."

"Clay's your father," He started and his eyes swelled with tears. Lana stared at him in disbelief. He knew; he knew all this time. While the news was still semi-fresh for her - she had to wonder how long he's known and if he was ever going to tell her that he knew. "And... I can't keep you away from Samcro when every single thing that's happened to you since you arrived in Charming is pushing you to them."

"You knew," Lana whispered. she wasn't upset about him knowing, just curious.

"So did you." Hale took her hands and cupped his tightly over them. "You had all the pieces right there - you just didn't know how to piece them together."

"Stahl tell you?"

"Unser."

"Unser knows!?" Gemma knows. After saying it to herself it really sunk in. Gemma knows. Lana stared at him and nodded her head. "Lincoln Montgomery is my father." Hale smiled and let go of her hands.

"You were shot by Clay Morrow." Hale stated, since he was telling the truth - he may have started to be honest. "I only know that because he came every day to see you in the hospital. First it'd be Gemma and the guys - then him alone once visiting hours were over. It's why I put that protection order against him and the club." Lana stared at him wide eyed. She screamed at Gemma about all of this today. "You may not be there yet, but they are. You're their family... and it drives me insane having to compete with that."

"It's not a competition."

"I love you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me in this god awful town. The history's already been written - you were always meant to come here. You were looking for a family..."

"You're my family." She couldn't hide how upset she was and when the tears started to fall - Lana quickly wiped them away. "Why are you saying all of this? Why now?" When Lana's phone starts ringing again, she watches as Hale moves to pick it up. He flips it open - noting that it's one of theirs and he presses his fingers against the call button and hands it over to her. Taking it from him - she holds it against her ear and doesn't say a word. It was Tara - and she needed her to come to Jax's. Seconds later Hale's phone started ringing - it was the station. Half Sac had been stabbed to death and Jax's son Abel had been taken. Neither responding to their phone calls.

"... because every scenario I picture in my mind ends in a call like that."