Tig walked out of the bathroom and buttoned his shirt. He stopped in the doorway and stared at Gracie, who was asleep in the bed. She rolled over, exposing her back. The bullet holes were now just red, raised reminders. She kept herself busy; he knew she was trying to keep her mind off of the baby and Hale. She was tough. Any other girl would have given up and left him. But, there she was sleeping soundly. She was too good for him. He walked over to her and sat down on the bed, resting his arms on either of her. She turned and looked up at him, "Morning," Tig said, grinning. He loved the way she looked when she first woke up, her hair covered her pillow.

Gracie ran her hands up and down his arms, "What do you want for breakfast, like I should ask," she smiled. She sat up, holding the sheet against her body. She kissed him; they were long past the worries of morning breath, "Are you staying here today?"

"Yeah," he said, "Need to keep the garage open… we're not sure how to work the computer… or do paperwork… or anything that has to be done in the office."

"That's what I'm here for," Gracie smiled and kissed him again, "I'm glad you stayed… I know you wanted to go but, I'm glad you stayed."

Tig pushed Gracie down on the bed with a kiss and straddled her, "Me too," he grinned.

I was in the little kitchen, washing up the dishes from dinner. I'd made the little family, Tig, me, Piney, Kozik and the Prospects, a spaghetti dinner. Things had been quiet for the day. I stacked the plates and lifted them into the cabinet. My shoulder was healing nicely, after my romp with Tig, everything seemed a little better. Maybe a good roll in the hay was what I needed. Tig pushed open the door, making me jump and drop the pan I was holding. "You," Tig pointed at me, "Do not leave this clubhouse. You understand me? Don't even go outside."

"What's wrong," I asked following him out into the bar.

"Tara and her boss," Tig said, pushing a fresh clip into his gun, "some prick's got them hostage… wants Alvarez dead and a shit ton of cash."

"Holy shit," I said, following Tig to the door, "Does Jax know?"

Tig turned around, "No," he said, "Don't tell him either. He's got too much shit goin' on over there. Do not tell anyone," Tig turned to walk outside and I instinctively followed, he pushed me back into clubhouse, "Stay inside, Gracie."

He walked to this bike and drove off, followed by Piney and Kozik. I turned around and the two Prospects, looking worried and out of place stared at me, "Anyone know how to play cards?"

"Shouldn't you be worried," the skinny Prospect asked, picking at the edge of his cut.

I rubbed my face, "Look kids," I said, "I've been around this club my entire life," I added up the years and realized how long it really had been, "and, things like this will work out… they always do. They'll have her back by tonight, no problem."

I cleaned the clubhouse the rest of the day, bored out of my mind. Gemma wasn't answering her prepaid, Tig wasn't keeping me updated and the Prospects were horribly shy. By the time Piney, Kozik and Tig came in the sun had set, the clubhouse was sparkling and the smell of Pine-Sol filled the air. "Where's Tara," I asked, passing out three, cold, much needed beers.

"Still missing," Piney grunted.

I looked at Tig, "What happened," I asked, rubbing my shoulder, the spring cleaning of the club used all the elbow grease I could muster and I was feeling it.

"Shit happened," he said, staring at Kozik. I figured it wasn't anyone's fault but, Tig probably found it easier to blame it on Kozik, "I'm going to bed," Tig said, walking to our room.

"Good night boys," I said, kissing Piney on the cheek and giving Kozik's shoulder a squeeze.

"Night Gracie," they said.

I slipped into the room, Tig was lying face down on the bed. I changed into some pajamas and sat on Tig's butt, "Hey," I said, tugging on his hair, "What's going on?"

"Don't worry about it," Tig said, rolling over so he was on his back, looking at me.

I smiled, "But, I wanna worry about it. I wanna worry about you."

"Don't get mushy on me now," Tig said turning over, he sat up on his elbows and stared at me, "What? You've got a weird look on your face."

"Do you know what tomorrow is?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Friday?" Tig guessed.

I rolled my eyes, "I'm not gonna be one of those women but, after thirteen years of," I wasn't sure what to call this relationship, "going steady…"

"It's been thirteen years?" Tig said, "Holy shit… What am I doing with my life? Spending it with a magnet for bullets and despair."

"Hey, shit dick," I said, pushing him down on the bed and kissing him, "Tomorrow happens to be my thirty-third birthday."

"Thirty-three?" Tig laughed, "That's it? That grey tells me otherwise."

"What?" I jumped off of Tig and ran to the bathroom mirror, "I don't see any grey, asshole."

"I'm just kidding," Tig said laughing, "There's no room in that hair for a grey one."

"You're mean," I said, lying down beside him, "But, I dig it."

Tig smiled, "Your poofy," he said, grabbing a fistful of my hair and shaking it, "But, I dig it."

"Oh, Mr. Funny," I laughed and rested my head on his chest, "I love you." Tig grunted. I looked up at him, "You know, over the span of thirteen years you've said that like, three and a half times."

"First of all," Tig smiled, "I'm not one to vocally profess anything but, my love of pussy, booze and guns. Second, I love you."

"I accept that," I said, quoting my favorite chronic masturbator."

The guys came back another day, empty-handed. After the first night without any progress, I began to worry. After the failed attempt with the help of Stahl and her gang, I began to panic. Jax came back a day later.

I paced the parking lot, waiting for the van to drive in and unload. I missed everyone so much. Finally, one of the Prospects pulled the gates open and the black cargo van pulled in. I could see Happy driving, Gemma in the front seat. It pulled to a stop and I walked as quickly as possible up to the doors as they slid open. Jax jumped out of the van and I scooped him up. He buried his head in my shoulder, "I missed you," he said quietly.

I didn't want to let go but, I saw Gemma and quickly walked over to her, "Hey baby," she smiled and brought me up to her, "You look better."

"Yeah," I smiled, "I just needed to get home."

"Well," she smiled and handed me Abel, "We're all here now."

"Hey baby boy," I laughed, "You're huge!"

"All those potatoes," Clay smiled and kissed me on the cheek, "Missed you."

We all sat around the clubhouse, I sat wedged between Jax and Opie, holding Abel. We talked about Tara and what we were going to do with the next few weeks. Jax went to bed early, I knew he wouldn't sleep. Everyone stayed in the safety of the clubhouse, Tig and I gave our bed to Gemma and Clay.

We slept on the couch, pretzeled together to keep from falling off, "What's going to happen now," I asked Tig, running my fingers through his curls.

"Anything," Tig said with his lips against my forehead.

"As usual," I said, falling asleep.

Gemma woke Tig and I up to help her cook breakfast. She had already gone to the store and bought an apocalyptic amount of eggs, bacon, pancake mix and milk.

Tig hopped on a bar stool next to Clay, who was holding Abel. I took Abel and held him close. By now, I would be a few months away from having a baby. Tig saw the look on my face, the empty womb look, and took Abel, "Go help, Gem," he said.

I shook off the emotions, something I was getting used to and walked into the little kitchen behind the bar.

Clay took a sip of hot coffee and watched Gracie walk away and Tig cradle Abel, "She still wants a baby, eh?"

Tig never took his eyes off of Abel, he smiled, "Yeah, she does."

"Do you," Clay asked, nonchalantly. He knew he was the only person Tig would talk to about this. He wasn't even sure if he would have talked to Gracie about it.

Tig paused and raised his head, his usual goofy yet, terrifying grin on his face, "With Gracie? It'd be nice."

"Well," Clay said, leaning against the back of the stool, "Judging by the amount of sex you guys have I wouldn't be surprised if it works someday."

Tig only laughed.

I cracked the eggs and poured them into the giant bowl. Gemma and I worked in synchronized silence. Finally she spoke, "I'm proud of you," she said, leaning against the counter and staring at me.

"Do I get a sticker," I laughed.

Gemma scoffed and I knew it would be one of those talks, "I'm serious," she said, "You're more of an old lady than any of us could ever expect to be," Gemma continued to stare at me, "I'm serious," she said, "When someone around here talks about loyalty, I tell them to go look at you. What this club, what this family stands for, is what you are."

I wiped a happy tear away from my cheek, "Thanks Gem," I said.

We talked quietly after that. Ignoring the fact that today could be the last time we see some of them. Breakfast and kidnapping Jimmy O, we should be used to it but, today was the most dangerous of them all.

Gemma and I set the food out on the bar as everyone began to fill up the clubhouse. Jax and Tara came out, "Hey," I said, hugging him. I missed him, "Don't ever leave again."I had never been without Jax and Opie for so long. I moved over to Tara, pulling her close.

"I'm glad you're okay," I said, kissing her cheek, "And, I'm glad you decided not to go through with the, you know."

"Me too," Tara whispered.

We all ate together, scattered around the clubhouse. Tig kept his hand on the small of my back; he kept kissing my head, face and ears. I didn't mind but, it wasn't Tig. He either really needed sex or wanted something new and shiny. He was never cute and cuddly around anyone but me.

Opie and Lyla came in a later, both grinning. Opie's voice made us jump, "Everybody listen up," he yelled and we all became silent. I wrapped my arms around Tig and rested my head on his chest, "Lyla's got something to say."

We all waited for a few moments and then Lyla raised her hand and I realized what was happening, "We're getting married," she grinned, happy as I had ever seen her. Even Opie was smiling.

I felt Tig hold me tighter, "Hey," he said, against my forehead, "Its okay."

"I know," I said, faking a smile, "Its great."

I cheesed it up until Tig and I could slip out into the garage, after we hugged and congratulated Lyla and Opie. I threw a wrench at the wall and it bounced off, clanging on the ground, "A porn star, Tig?"

"I know," he said, leaning against the workbench. He was silent, his arms folded, leaning against the workbench.

I grabbed my hair and stared at the ceiling, "My sister is being replaced by a porn star?" I picked up another wrench and sent it sailing past Tig, it thudded on the door. A few seconds later, Juice came walking into the garage. Tig shook his head and Juice looked at me, then back at Tig and backed out. Jackson came in a few moments later. Tig gave him the same gesture as Juice but, Jax ignored him, "Can I just be alone right now?" I said, accepting a hug from my best friend.

"Sure," Jax said, "But, if this is what is gonna make Ope happy then we leave it be."

"That's why I'm out here, Jax," I rolled my eyes, "I just can't believe he didn't tell any of us. And, I can't believe it's her. I wouldn't have let him if he'd of said anything about it."

"Exactly," Jax said, pulling my hair, "Leave it alone."

I picked up another wrench and chucked it as Jax walked out. I saw a beat up metal trash can, picked up a crow bar and beat the hell out of the trash can. Tig came up behind me and gently held my arms, taking the crow bar out of my hands and throwing it on his workbench. I turned around and threw my arms around him, "I miss her," I said against his Sergeant of Arms patch.

Tig sucked in a breath, "I'm sorry."

Every memory and every emotion from the past few years came flooding back to me. And in one flash, in one moment I realized the one thing that had never changed, probably would never change was Tig. He was the only one in my life that knew me. Gemma, Clay, Piney… no one could ever possibly know as much as Tig did. Not Jackson or Opie. Tig knew. He knew what buttons to press and which ones to stay the fuck away from. He knew I liked to mix maple and blueberry syrup on my pancakes and I always had a craving for chocolate after sex. He knew I wouldn't drink my coffee if it was too hot and he knew that I thought I was a superstar in the shower. He knew that I missed my sister. How much I wanted to see David again. He knew how to touch me after really great sex, how to make me want more. He knew how much I wanted a baby, one of our own. What he didn't know was that I had utterly and completely forgiven him for everything he had ever done. Most people would have killed Tig a long time ago. But, I couldn't live without him. When we were apart I only thought of him. When we were together I was happy, no matter what. He was it. We had both sacrificed too much too not be together. Tig had paid his price for his past. He was still paying it. Every time he saw Opie, the kids, me. I knew what he was thinking. The point of no return had come and gone the night Abel came home. I loved Tig and we were bound to Charming, Sons of Anarchy and each other. Forever.

We all gathered in the parking lot. I clung to Tig, thanking God he was safe. We were all somber; Jimmy O. was ours, now what? We heard the short siren of a squad car and turned our heads to the gates at the end of the parking lot. Four or five black cars with tinted windows pulled into the parking lot. Following them, a large, armored truck came to a stop.

Tig pushed me behind him, standing possessively in front of me. I held onto his hand with both of mine. Agent Stahl gracefully and nonchalantly stepped out of the car that had led them in. She walked past Tig and I, looking us up and down. She stopped and smiled a wicked smile, "I'm not sure why you left David," she said quietly, loud enough for only Tig and I to hear, "He was good in the sack. Probably better than Mr. Trager here. Of that I have no doubt."

"Stupid bitch," I yelled, loud enough for everyone to hear. She walked away and I went after her but, Tig caught me around the waist, spinning me around away from everyone.

He pressed his mouth to my ear, "Just wait." He pushed me over to Gemma, who wrapped her arms around me, "Stay," he pointed at me and walked to Tig's side.

"I hate it when he does that," I whispered, and Gemma gave me a reassuring squeeze.

The next few moments went by too quickly for me to comprehend. I watched, dumbfounded as a man in a suit and sunglasses handcuffed Tig. My heart raced as I ran over to Tig and threw my arms around him. "Its okay," I heard Stahl say.

Tig pressed his head down, against mine, unable to hold me, "Don't worry," he said, so indifferently that I thought he might be going to buy cigarettes at the gas station.

"Fuck you," I said against his chest.

"Let's go," the cop said, pushing Tig along.

I stumbled backwards and Lyla came up behind me, holding me back from Tig. He turned around before he hopped into the back of the truck and winked. Bastard. I turned around, horrified and saw Gemma with the same look on her face. She stared as all of them were loaded up into the back of the truck. Jax was last. The placed him on the opposite side of the truck. He stared at me as they closed the heavy doors.

"This cannot be happening," I said as they pulled out of the parking lot.

"Oh yes it is," Stahl said, coming to stand next to me, "And your best friend is the cause of it all. Have a great day."

She sauntered off to her car before getting in a driving away, a smirk of triumph on her face.