Hello, my readers! It looks like we are only hours away from 2018! To celebrate, I figured it was time to post a new chapter. I hope you enjoy!

Evie set the cordless house phone onto the kitchen table once she finalized the payment with the florist.

Today was Opie's wake and she took it upon herself to arrange everything.

Jax and the club insisted they had it all under control, but she knew deep within each one of the members they were relieved someone else stepped up and took over.

Their hearts were currently broken and bleeding for their fallen brother and planning a funeral would only make the open wound spread even further.

With one of her credit cards in hand, she slid the card back into her open wallet, placing it back into her purse.

Andre entered the kitchen with his basketball in his hands.

He set the basketball next to Evie's purse, looking up at his mother.

"Hey mommy?," he asked as he lightly tugged at her black and purple blouse.

Evie turned around, giving her son her full attention.

"Hey baby, are you and Abel hungry? I'll start making you two something to eat," she stated, making her way over to the cabinets located over the stovetop.

"No. Jax made us breakfast already. I have a question."

"Okay. What is it?"

" Is Jax okay? He's looks really sad. I thought he'd be happy to be home with us."

Evie strolled back over to her son, kneeling down in front of him to be at eye level with him, internally searching for an explanation simple enough for a five year old to understand and a grown woman to deliver without miserably tripping over her words.

"Dre, do you remember when grandpa died a year ago?"

"Yeah. You said his body was too tired to keep going and he went to heaven."

"That's right. That's what happened to Jax's best friend. He got hurt and he unfortunately wasn't able to bounce back from it. He went to heaven where grandpa is. That's why Jax is so sad, baby. He really misses his friend."

Andre stayed silent and nodded.

"I'd be sad too if Abel went to heaven. He's my best friend."

Evie's eyes began to brim with tears since what he had just said could've been a devastating reality the day of the car accident.

"I know you would", she replied with a shaky voice as she gently rubbed his forearms with both of her hands.

"I'm not gonna go play outside. I'm gonna make something for Jax to make him feel better."

" That's a great idea, Dre."

"Do you think Abel would wanna help me?"

"I know for a fact he would love to help you," she smiled, kissing his forehead before he jetted off toward his and Abel's bedroom.

She stood upright, smoothing out her blouse.

Evie's eyes shifted from the hallway onto her open purse, seeing the envelope she recieved from St. Thomas that contained the results of her pregnancy test slightly sticking out the top.

She quickly glanced at the hallway once more to confirm Jax was still in their bedroom, getting ready for the day.

Since he was still out of sight, she pulled out the paperwork that sat inside the envelope to look at it for what felt like the thousandth time.

Flashback:

Dressed in a hopsital gown, Evie laid back on the hospital bed with her brown eyes glued to the fluorescent lights that were right above her.

"How many pregnancy tests did you take at the office?", Rita asked as she sat next to her sister-in-law, flipping through an aged pregnancy pamphlet.

She was okay with doing this alone.

But, Rita just so happened to have an appointment of her own today which was located on the same floor.

Go figure, right?

In exchange of making Evie the godmother of her unborn child, she was going to be there for the pregnancy test they both already knew the results to.

"Seven," Evie finally replied with her eyes still on the lights.

"Seven? Eve, you took seven tests, seven, and they all read positive. Why even bother with this test? You're pregnant, sweetie. If anything, you should've scheduled your first sonogram."

Evie sat up, turning herself toward Rita.

"I know how ridiculous this might sound, but this test for some reason solidifies the pregnancy."

"You probably feel that way because a doctor is doing the test."

"Yeah, probably."

"I know you already shared with me that you're eager to expand your blended family, but have you shared that juicy tidbit to Jax? Ya know, before you got knocked up."

"I did. We both love the idea of adding a new addition to our family. I just didn't think it would happen so fast."

"It only takes one time, Evie. In your case, multiple times in a glass shower," she teased.

Evie smiled as she laid back down onto the cold, hard bed.

"I just hope he's okay with the timing of it all, " she whispered, loud enough for Rita to hear.

"You both have been through such a shit storm made of chaos and drama, but somehow your relationship went untouched. It managed to come out stronger than ever, and that's a god damn miracle. This baby is a representation of that strength. Believe me, your biker stud will be over the moon when you tell him," she pointed out as she put the pamphlet down onto the mobile table next to the hospital bed and rubbed Evie's stomach.

" You're gonna be an amazing mom," Evie stated.

"I would say so will you, but you already are one."

Present:

Evie refolded the paperwork and slipped it back inside the envelope, returning it back to its original home, which was her purse.

"Mommy!," Abel called for Evie from the bedroom.

"I'm comin' sweetheart," She yelled as she jogged toward their room.

Jax sat on the bench in their bedroom as he finished tying his sneakers.

Andre and Abel entered their parents' bedroom side by side, bringing themselves in front of him.

Jax sat up straight, looking at the both of them with concern.

" Is everything okay?", he asked them.

Abel nodded while Andre held a piece of paper close to his chest.

"We know you are sad because your friend is in heaven, daddy," Abel started.

"Yeah buddy, I am."

"We made a picture for your friend ," Andre chimed in, handing Jax the piece of paper.

Underneath the colorful drawing of the four of them standing outside their home was a note.

Dear Opie,

You are my daddy's friend and now you are in heaven. Even though you are not here, don't worry. We promise, we'll keep him safe and make him smile like you used to. Just promise, if we aren't around, you keep an eye on him for us until we are.

From,

Andre and Abel

With the picture still in his hands, he gently pulled the boys to him, wrapping his arms around the both of them.

"Thank you. I love it, and I know he will too."

Andre and Abel pulled out of the firm embrace to look at Jax.

"Mommy helped too since we can't spell yet," Andre stated, causing Jax to chuckle.

"It looks like I have to go find mommy and give her a hug too, huh?"

Both boys nodded in response as Jax got up from the bench to find Evie.

She was letting Alita inside when she was quickly turned around and pulled flush against Jax.

His hands gripped each side of her face and his mouth crashed into hers, creating a heated liplock.

"Andre and Abel gave me the picture they made for Op," he mumbled in between the brief moments when their lips seperated.

"I'm glad you liked it. They just told me what they wanted it to say and I jotted it down for them," she replied as she rested her forehead against his.

"Since it was from both Andre and Abel, is Andre really starting to see me as his dad?"

" He does. He says unlike his real dad, you're always there and you don't make mommy cry. That's what daddies are supposed to do."

"Oh, I make mommy cry, just not in the way he's refferring to."

Evie's mouth went agape and she playfully hit him in the arm before giving him another kiss on the lips.

"Thank you," Jax breathed.

"For what?"

"For everything. You've gone and above and beyond for me. But most importantly, for moving next door to begin with."

"You're welcome."

Jax pulled into the Teller-Morrow automotive lot, parking his bike in its usual spot.

As he dismounted his two wheeled vehicle, he spotted Clay carting around an oxygen tank outside the clubhouse, talking with Frankie Diamonds and Gogo.

He angrily hung his helmet onto the handlebar closest to him, glaring at his stepfather.

Gemma strolled out of the office, touching her son's back, causing him to whip his head around to look at her.

"When did he get out?"

"The day before last. I just don't understand it, Jackson. Why is he still breathing? After what he di.."

"I have my reasons, mom. Once those reasons no longer exist, neither will he," he cut her off as he headed toward the clubhouse.

"Hey son," Clay greeted as Jax turned the corner to where the entrance of the clubhouse was.

Jax tightly clenched his fists, bringing himself closer to Clay.

Frankie and Gogo stood up, closing in on the former and current president's personal space.

"Church. Five minutes," he ordered all the while ignoring Clay's greeting, forcefully shoving open the clubhouse's door.

"There's a lot of fucking hostility there, brother. We should put this shit in motion sooner rather than later, " Gogo suggested with Frankie in agreement with him.

Clay brought himself in front of Gogo, standing only inches away from him.

"This "shit" stays under wraps until I say otherwise. Got it?"

"Got it."

The entire clubhouse was overrun with people paying their respects to Opie.

Jax came down the ladder that led to the roof, heading down the hallway with Bobby right by his side.

Without hesitation, Evie followed suit and stood up as Jax passed through and entered the room where Opie's body was displayed.

As Jax led the club who carried Opie's closed coffin, he stopped and stretched his hand out for Evie to take.

She immediately took his hand in hers, walking with her man side by side.

They both stopped walking as their eyes fell onto the hearse awaiting to take Opie and lay him in his final resting place.

Evie's brown eyes shifted over to Jax who was already looking at her with a fresh set of tears building within his eyes.

The sight alone caused a set of tears of her own to uncontrollably stream down her face.

She lifted his ringed right hand and gave it a quick kiss before reluctantly letting go to allow him to open the hearse's door.

The club carefully lowered the coffin into the vehicle, sliding it in until it could go no further.

Once the club stepped away, Jax closed the door with his eyes remaining on the coffin through the back window.

Evie and Jax made it home well after midnight.

Alita was asleep on the couch in the living room.

Andre and Abel were asleep in the sealed giant dark blue tent a few feet away from their babysitter.

Evie rounded the corner, pulling the zebra print blanket off of the back of the couch.

After she draped the blanket over her, she turned on her heels and carried her fatigued body to their master bedroom.

When she reached the doorway, Jax was already dressed down to his boxers, making a beeline to the adjacent bathroom to brush his teeth.

Evie dropped her hefty purse atop of her dresser, pulling out the envelope that she has been hiding from the man who is the father of the growing fetus inside of her.

Jax exited the bathroom, noticing she was still dressed with an envelope in her hands.

"Why are you still dressed darlin'," he asked as he climbed into bed.

"There's something I have to tell you."

"Okay, what is it?"

Evie made her way over to the bed, nervously handing Jax the envelope.

"Babe.."

"Just open it.. Please."

He removed the paper from the envelope, his eyes taking in the results of her pregnancy test.

"You're pregnant," he stated, looking over at her who had tears in her eyes.

"Yeah. I know we just started talking about having a baby less than a week ago and now here I am, pregnant. I just hope you're okay with how quick this happened because I'm so okay with it. I'm beyond okay. I.."

He cut her off, taking her face in his hands to give her a gentle reassuring kiss.

"I'm more than okay with it, Eve," he replied after he pulled away from their kiss.

"You really mean that?"

"Yeah. Of course I do. Did you really think I wouldn't be?'

" I'd be lyin' if I said I wasn't. I figured with everything that's happened, you'd want the idea of building a family with me put on the backburner for now."

"Two things. One, I'd never put anything that has to do with you or the boys on the backburner. You'll always be front and center, darlin'. And the second, with all the shit that has gone down these past few weeks, we deserve to have something good come into our lives. What better way than our baby boy?"

"Or girl."

"I'm tellin' you babe, it's gonna be a boy. Watch."

"Okay, and I'm tellin' you it's gonna be a girl. Actually, do you care to make a wager on that?"

"Sure. But first things first, I need to get your ass undressed. Then, we'll make that wager," he stated as he began to slowly move his body on top of hers.