Jax was surprised as he listened to Ivan talk with Clay.
"My granddaughter is right Clay your current course will get someone killed and more than likely it will be an innocent. Can you handle that kind of blood on your hands?" Ivan asked as he leaned back into his chair.
"Agent Stahl will stop at nothing to take you down. And if it means painting someone to look like a rat so she can use them she will." Victoria said as set a mug down on the table before heading out into the back yard to sit on the deck with Nikky.
"Alright so what the hell do we do then? This is what we've been doing for years." Clay asked in exasperation.
"Let me take care of the Irish. They know me and will understand my reasons for getting involved here. Also I know he will not want children to be hurt and I know they will be." Ivan said with a small tilt of his head. "I've seen it happen to many times." They followed his gaze to Nikky who was laughing at something Tony has said.
"That's how Nikky's parents died?" Jax asked looking Ivan who just looked away from the scene in the back yard closing his eyes.
"A similar situation." He stated softly. "I lost my daughter because of it. My little Pasha lost her parents and while my son adopted her and took her in, she is an orphan. I was with Phillip during the worst of it. I watched the vibrant little girl shut down and become a shell." With that he looked at Juice who had just come back inside and smile on his face. "It is why I do what I can to stop things like this from happening again. I don't want to see another child lose their parents because of something we were too stupid to stop."
"Everything alright Ivan?" Ivan just waved Juice off making the young man roll his eyes. "Be back in second." Ivan just shook his head.
"I know you still don't understand why we trust him so much as he has never shown you all that he is capable of." He said watching the young man for a moment.
"No we really don't get it. Half the time he's an idiot, the rest of it I can't understand a damn thing coming out his mouth." Tig said shaking his head.
"You have painted him into a roll and you get angry when he plays that roll." Ivan said with a wry smirk on his face as Juice came back and handed him a tumbler of vodka.
"It's the good stuff." Ivan laughed as he took the glass as juice headed back outside to sit next to Darcy. He smiled at the brunette rested her head on Juice's shoulder.
"You trust the kid don't you?" clay asked watching Ivan's gaze
"I have for many years. The boy has helped save my life and the lives of my friends and family more times than I can repay." The Sons watched as Darcy kissed Juice before getting up to come inside.
"How goes it gramps?" She said as she grabbed a bottle of an unknown amber liquid from the counter.
"Well my dear. And how are things out there?" Darcy just smiled as she held up the bottle.
"We're thinking of heading for the beach." She said looking at Nikky who was on the phone with someone before she let out a scream and practically jumped into Clint's arms. The Sons were a bit confused as she ran inside and whispered something into Darcy's ear before she started digging around in the kitchen. "Jake and the boys are in town." Darcy said with a smile watching her friend all but flail around in the kitchen. Ivan nodded and clapped his hands down on his thighs.
"The family comes back together again." He said before standing. "Again I will deal with the Irish Clay. I will get you out of the guns then I will find you a better way to make your money." Ivan shrugged a small smile on his face. "Is what I do best."
"What's going on Ivan?" Victoria asked as she came down the stairs with Pepper by her side.
"A trip to the beach my Bunny." He said pulling her close. "Our other grandson is home finally." Victoria moved to meet his gaze so fast she nearly knocked Ivan to the ground.
"Will you lot be coming with us then?" She queried looking at Clay.
"I guess we're going to the beach then." Clay said still not sure exactly what had happened but he decided to go with it anyway.
"Alright bitches we're going to the beach." Nikky said as she skidded to a stop right next to Jax. "So go grab your beach gear and meet us there." She said practically shoving them towards the door.
"What has you so excited?" Jax couldn't help but ask looking at the smile that was painted on her face.
"My brother is home!" She said before kissing him. After that she turned to run up the stairs to change. Jax was surprised as Nikky was usually fairly composed and she was acting like a five year old on Christmas morning.
"I thought she was an only child?" Jax asked Juice as he stood at the back door laughing. Juice just shook his head holding his ribs.
"Yeah she is. It's a bit more complicated than that." He said wiping away the tears that had started from laughing at Nikky's reaction. "Jake is Nikky's cousin. They were really close growing up and were always more like siblings." He said clapping his friend on the shoulder. "Jake lived on the other side of Nikky and Phil with his parents. Gunnar moved them next door after NIk's parents were killed." Juice said with a sigh. "A lot of things happened and Jake was declared killed in action. Don't know what happened but I'm thankful that Nikky had been in the hospital cause otherwise whatever happened she would have been right there with the rest of their unit." Juice said as she came running back down the stairs dressed in a deep purple sundress over a bio-hazard green halter style bikini. "Excited much sis?" She just smiled and hugged the young Puerto Rican.
"I'm getting to see my Uncle and my brother and the rest of my boys Juice what do you think?" She stated as she let him go. "And what are you all standing around for get to gettin'. I'm heading for the beach like five minutes ago." She said grabbing her keys and heading for the kitchen.
Jax made his way over as he watched her fill up coolers with drinks and snacks.
"Need some help?" She looked behind herself and smiled.
"That would be lovely. I have some stuff that would probably fit you if you don't wanna leave." Jax just smirked as he leaned against the counter as she finished with the first cooler.
"Hey you loading up the coolers kiddo?" Jax looked over to Clint who was decked out in black and purple board shorts and black tank top.
"Yeah Pops. Do you think Jax could borrow something for the beach since he's riding with me and no offense but I don't want to have to take him home and wait for him to change." Jax's eyes widened at the speed of which Nikky was speaking.
"Yeah I'll grab him something while you finish loading those things up then he can change and we'll put those in the cars." Clint said with a small smile as Phil came back down.
"Kay Pops." She said her head back in the fridge.
"She's excited." Phil said wrapping his arms around his husband's waist.
"Yeah she is." Clint all but laughed as Phil went over to help. "Jax come on let's find you something to wear for the beach."
"Alright." With that Jax pushed off the counter and followed Clint upstairs. "Thanks for this."
"No problem." He said with a shrug as he went over to the dresser and pulled out a pair of black shorts with spider web detailing and red tank. "These should fit you." Jax nodded as he took the offered clothes. "I'll see you downstairs." Clint said leaving him to change.
Jax couldn't believe the amount of energy Nikky had as she sat next to him basically vibrating. He was driving as she didn't think she would be able to do so without crashing.
"You gonna be okay?" Nikky just nodded as she looked at the scenery speeding by. "Juice said you guys were pretty close." Again she just nodded. "He also mentioned something about you being in the military." She looked at him and sighed.
"Yeah me and Jake were always close. His dad did his best to make sure we could spend time together after Jake's mom died. Me and Jake both went into the military and ended up in different units. We were both problem children for Uncle Sam." She said a small smile gracing her face as she looked over at Jax. "We disobeyed orders to make sure our units came home safe. So not long afterwards we both ended up in the same unit. They called us the Losers because it was a last ditch effort to make decent soldiers out of us. We became one of the best Spec Ops units out there. I was injured right before a mission in Bolivia. I don't know what happened all I know is that Jake and the rest of my boys had to fake their deaths and went underground. Now they're back." With that she looked back the passing scenery her head resting on her hand while one of her legs bounced up and down. Jax just shook his head.
"So you were a soldier for a bit. Why did you leave?" He asked as he pulled around the bend the beach in view.
"I had a break down during my rehab." She looked back to Jax as he pulled car to stop. "I got the news that Jake and the guys had been killed. I was declared mentally unfit." She said as the car shut off. Jax took her hand making her look at him.
"Hey they were wrong. You thought you lost people you consider your family." He said shutting off the car. "Now come let's get down there and set our stuff up." She just nodded letting go of his hand and getting out of the car.
Phil smiled as Clint parked them next to Nikky's car.
"She looks a bit calmer now." Clint said as they watched Nikky and Jax set up their things.
"Yeah I just wonder how this is going to go down when Frank and the boys get here along with Barney and his guys."
"We'll just have to see won't we." Clint said with a smirk joining his step daughter down on the sand. "You holding up okay sweetie?"
Jax watched at the she rested her face on his chest nodding when heard the Sons pull up decked out in their beach gear.
"How is she doing?" Gemma asked coming to stand next to her son as they watched Clint and Nik who had rested her head on his shoulder.
"She'll be okay." Phil said watching his husband and daughter as they held each other. "Nikaia is just a bit over whelmed with the fact that people she thought she had lost are still alive and back home." Gemma just looked at him as Clay came up beside her.
"So I'm gonna take a wild guess here….she was military?" Clay asked watching the young woman his step son had fallen for.
"Yes she was." Phil said as Clint let her go and she walked down to the edge of the water, where it lapped at her ankles. "The people we're waiting on are her old unit and her uncle's unit." Phil said as the group made their way down the beach to where Nikky and Jax had set there things up.
Nikky stared out over the waves as she waited for the rest of her family to show up. She sighed as Jax came up behind her and pulled her back, wrapping his arms around her.
"Everything'll be fine Nik." He said as he rested his chin on the top of her head. Nikaia just chuckled.
"I'm just waiting for what happens when the Sons meet the Losers and the Expendables." She said quickly turning his arms. "I hope your right Jax. My boys are pretty boisterous." At that moment she all but jerked out his arms at the sound of a group motorcycles, a large van and truck came rumbling up to the beach. Jax was surprised as a spikey haired blond man was out of the truck before it stopped and Nikky was out his arms racing towards the other guy before he could say anything.
"Baby Bird!" The guy yelled as he caught Nikky and spun around before landing on his ass with Nikky firmly planted on his lap. Jax looked to the hodgepodge group of guys coming down the beach towards them. Jax sidled up to Phil and looked at Clay and the rest of the Sons who were looking at men in suspicion.
"Should I be worried?" Jax asked Phil as Nikky rested her forehead against the blond's before she pulled back and head butted him. He winced at the noise of the impact before she just sat there with her hands on her hips.
"I deserved that." The man said holding his head.
"No Jax you have nothing to worry about, that young man is her cousin Jake." Phil said pointing back to pair and Jax was shocked as she tackled him back into the sand both of them laughing. Nikky quickly stood and pulled the man up hugging him before pulling the knife out of his back pocket and throwing in the direction of three of the older men. The Sons held their breath as the three men looked the knife planted with the handle facing the middle most man. The large black man just laughed before bending down to pull the knife from the sand.
"Little bird I know you're mad at me and the boys…."He stopped at the glare he received over Jake's shoulder and held up his hands. "You know I'm sorry baby bird." He said coming over to her and handing the knife back to her.
"I should gut you like a fish for the shit you pulled Roque but…. you saved all of the guys." Jax was shocked as she let go of the blond and hugged the man.
"I know baby bird but it was the only way." He whispered hugging her before a large menacing blond man came over as Roque let her go. NIkky just laughed as the blond hugged her and picked her up and moving her so that she was sitting on his shoulders.
Jax hadn't seen Nikky smile so brightly as she was with these men that had shown up.
"Now I really see why you call her sunshine." He said as Clint just smirked.
"Yeah there is that full sun shine smile." Clint said watching his stepdaughter laugh. "Her family is finally whole again." He said wrapping his arm around Phil who just rested his head on Clint's shoulder.
"Good to see you up and about Phil." The Sons looked at the dark haired mustachioed man.
"Yeah it was touch and go for awhile but I'll be fine in another month or so. I think Nick will be keeping me out this way to help keep an eye on things." Phil said with a smirk as Nikky leaned forward and took Gunnar to the ground before leaping to her feet with dark smirk on her face.
"Should we step in?" Clay asked coming down with a few beers and handing them out. "Clay Morrow" He said after handing out the beers.
"Barney Ross honorary uncle to Nikky and Jake." He said taking Clay's hand.
"Lee Christmas." The bald man who had been quiet until this moment said before taking Clay's hand.
"Nice to meet you guys but still should we step in?" He asked as Nikky once again took one of the men she had been talking to down to the beach with ease.
"No." Phil said simply smiling as he watched his daughter as her cousin slammed her into the sand while the others stepped back cheering them on. "She's just playing." He stated as Nikky ran at Roque and in the blink of an eye flipped and pulled Roque to sand with her legs.
Jax watched in shock as the men around Nikky cheered as she stood.
"I win." She said as stood with a smile. Roque just lay in the sand smiling as Jake quickly moved so that Nikky was sitting on his shoulders.
"Ladies and Gentlemen the queen of losers regains her crown!" Jake crowed trotting around the beach with her on his shoulders.
"Are they always like this?" Jax asked as Clint joined in the madness that was happening. Phil just laughed as sat down in the chair Clint had set up a moment ago.
"Yes it is often like this when our family is all together." He said as Gunnar came over.
"Hello Phil." Jax just looked at the blond giant that had just squatted down next to Phil.
"Hello Gunnar, how have you been?" Phil said with a small smile as the man just smirked before finally sitting.
"I'm good nowhere near as bad as you have been. My son is home my niece's heart is finally whole again. Plus it looks like we have new family to greet." The giant said as he looked at Jax. "Gunnar Jensen, I'm Nikky's uncle."
"Jax Teller and I've been given the shovel talk by just about everyone of the avengers already." He said as Gunnar just laughed making Nikky stop in the middle of the group that was surrounding her.
"Ah my little bird has noticed." Gunnar said with a smirk as Nikky wormed her way from the crowd and as she saw her uncle broke into a sprint. Jax couldn't help but laugh as he flattened into the sand by the amber haired missile. "I've missed you too my little darling." Gunnar cradled her in his arms as she
"You're all here." She whispered her face buried in her uncle's neck.
"We're all here little bird and all in one piece." He kissed the side of her head smiling as Phil lay back knowing his family was safe and sound for now.
Nikaia finally let go of her uncle and leaned back looking over at Jax.
"How are you holding up?" She asked right before Jake dove beside her and his father.
"JENSEN!" Jax just looked over at the very angry black man stalking towards their group.
"It wasn't me Roque!" Jake shouted from behind the Phil's chair. The other man just stopped and raised an eyebrow before turning around and staring at the man in the cowboy hat behind him. Jax just stared as they chased each other around the beach.
"Is it always this crazy ?" Nikky just smiled as Roque and Cougar chased each other around the beach.
"Pretty much." She looked at her cousin who was now sitting next to her. Jake just smiled at her before she smacked his arm "Tag you're it!" Jax started laughing as she made a beeline towards the crowd.
"Damn it Nikky I just got comfy." With that Jake was up and running chasing his cousin threw the group on the beach and getting a couple of the younger guys playing with them.
"Still getting used to the crazieness?" He looked at the woman who had just sat next to him and nodded. "I'm Jolene, I'm with Jake's group." She said holding out the hand the wasn't holding on the toddler in her lap.
"Yeah Jax Teller. Do you ever get used to it?" He couldn't help but ask making her and Phil laugh.
"For the most part." She said with a smile looking back to the group. "This group guarantees that your life is never boring. You've got former special operative team members, mercenaries, government agents and super heroes." Jax just looked around as she pointed out the different groups while the rowdy game of tag was still going on. "They've all got varying forms of psychosis and p.t.s.d but the one thing that really helps pull them all together is Nikaia. She makes this group a family and makes them work out their differences."
"No the Pooch is down!" Jax looked at the group as a man with a shaved head fell into the sand rather over dramatically.
"And that would be my husband Linwood." Jo said shaking her head as Nikky started making her way back to the group. "Hi Nikky."
"The Pooch is fine now go set up the net you lazy ass." Nikky called over her shoulder as Pooch just raised a one fingered salute to her while laying in the sand panting. "And hello Jo, how's the munchkin holding up?" Jo just smiled as the little boy reached out to his adopted aunt.
"He's behaving unlike his father." She said as Pooch got up only to get tackled by Jake again.
"Your family is crazy babe." Jax said as Nikky sat in front of him.
"Trust me I know but I wouldn't have it any other way." She said with a smile watching Clay talking Barney, Lee, and Frank. She looked around to see the sons mixing with her family. Tig and Happy were sitting with Yin and Cougar, while Bobby was talking Roque , Thor, Cesar and Tony. Juice was playing in the waves with Natasha , Darcy and Clint. "My family is together that's all that matters to me.