Disclaimer: I own nothing but Harley Stanley.
Thank you all for the reviews! Momoftwins1970, MadisonJM, Guest, angel897, Guest 1, Guest 2 and hanaharoo! they mean the world to me!
Beta: girl-at-home13! THANK YOU!
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After the throwing up stopped I quickly cleaned myself up. I left the bathroom and returned to the living room. Darby was still sitting where I left him on the couch. He looked at me with concern as I walked into the room.
"Are you okay, Harley?" Darby asked.
"Yeah. I guess the diner food I ate wasn't well." I have to stop blaming the Diner. Their cheeseburgers where amazing. The best I ever had.
"Yeah, I never go there." Thankfully he played along. I slowly sat back down beside him on the couch.
He held a few pieces of paper in his hand. I was afraid to ask but I knew I had to.
"I have to admit something, Harley... I knew you two were alive." Whenever this man opened his mouth something horrible came out.
"What do you mean?" I stared at him quizzically. This guy had to be full of shit, right?
"I helped you disappear. Denise showed up at my doorstep in the middle of the night smelling like gasoline and smoke. She held you in her arms and cried. I'd never seen her like that. She told she had to leave. As soon as possible." He rubbed his face and took a deep breath. "I gave her all the cash I had at the moment. I didn't know how to feel. I was glad she was leaving that poor excuse of a man, but at the same time she was leaving me. And taking you with her."
I really had to bite my tongue. The way he talked about Tig. It drove me insane. But I didn't want to interrupt him. Apparently Darby was the last person in Charming to see my mother alive.
"It wasn't till the next day that I found out what she did to the house. The whole town was in a dramatic state. The SON's blamed us. The Mayans. Everyone. Charming was a war zone for a pretty long time. Trager made sure everyone would feel just as miserable as him." Darby continued. His tone got so cold. It reminded me of the veteran who talked about Vietnam at our school. It was scary, but moving at the same time.
If it was the truth...
"I was really worried. I had no clue where you two were. If you were safe, hell, even alive. But then 6 months later...this arrived." He pulled out an envelope and gave it to me. I looked at him and felt a question mark form my face, but he just nodded.
So I opened it.
"Earnest,
I can never thank you enough for what you have done for the both of us. I know some drastic methods were used, but I had no other way out. Harley is so beautiful. I wish you could see her now. I promise to keep in contact. I won't leave an address. I don't know if it's safe. Who knows who might be watching you now. Please take care and stay safe.
Denise"
It was my mothers handwriting. But it wasn't till I saw the picture of us she had also sent along that I felt the tears streaming down my face. I felt Darby's hand on my back so I quickly got up and walked around the room.
"What is that suppose to mean? She was running... from what?" I shot out, my voice rising with panic and frustration.
"From Trager. The Sons. Harley she was scared to death."
"That's not true. She would have told me about this."
"Oh really? Not the Denise that wrote the next letters." He pulled out a bunch of other letters, all bundled up and held together with a rubber band. There must have been at least 30 of them. What the fuck?
"She kept being afraid even though you two were safe. She kept writing to me about how she felt she was being watched. She was so glad that your grandmother was able to watch over you. It killed her that she didn't have the strength to do it herself."
"Stop it! All she had to do was get out of the fucking bed." I yelled!
"She couldn't, Harley!" He got up and yelled at me. "She wanted too, but she couldn't! Take them! Read them for yourself! Maybe it will help you understand!" He looked at me and I stared back.
He put his hand over his hairless head.
"I'm sorry, Harley. I just want you to understand. Your mother was afraid. That's why she couldn't take care of you. Trager is the reason your mother became this shell of a woman. That Club is the reason she had to take all that medication!"
"What do you know about her medication?"
"She wrote it! In those! Please read them... if you really want the truth... read them."
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I sat at the cemetery in front of two empty graves that used to be mine and my mothers. The start of so much misery for so many people. So it seemed to be the perfect place to cry my eyes out while reading those letters.
"Earnest
I don't know how long I can do it any more. Every time I hear a bike pass our road I panic and look for Harley. He's gonna take her away from me. I know it. It's driving me insane. Not knowing when it's going to happen. I have to take care of it.
Denise"
The tears started to pour down my face. It felt like I was crying my heart out. Literally. This wasn't happening. This didn't happen. It couldn't be true. What could have happened that mom was so afraid of dad..Tig? He was nothing but caring, protective and loving towards me since I showed up out of nowhere and turned his life upside down. All the Sons have been. Gemma, Opie and Jax.
What happened? What changed?
"Earnest
She turned 10 today. I am grateful for every year that he doesn't find us. I don't know how much longer I can handle this. I think I figured out what the true problem is. Harley can't have a normal life as long as I'm still afraid. So I finally know what to do...
Denise"
The date was right. This letter was written on my tenth birthday. The last birthday my mom was with me. She had passed away 2 months after that. And there was only one letter left.
"Thank you."
Those were the only words written. I started crying even more.
My mom committed suicide.
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JAX's POV
"What the fuck do you mean she's gone?" I yelled at Opie and grabbed his cut.
"You had one job!" Tig yelled behind me while he was pulled back by Clay and Juice.
"I'm sorry! She went to the bathroom. Am I suppose to listen to her take a piss?"
"YES!" Was yelled by every single member present.
"Screw you guys." Opie said and removed my hands from himself. "How about we get the fuck going and find her!"
Tig was the first to run out of the club house and start his bike. It was hard to not follow him, but I waited for everyone to leave. When he tried to pass me I grabbed Clays arm.
"I told you! This is your fucking fault!"
"What could you have done to prevent this boy? Fuck her against the bathroom stall?" he said through his teeth and I was gonna swing my fist back when Ma came in.
"What the fuck are you two talking about? Whatever caused this 'Whose dick is bigger' fight has to wait. Find my girl!"
I went outside and ran to my bike.
All of Charming was filled with the sounds of bikes looking for Harley. Ma had also contacted Unser who was on patrol.
I had never felt such hopelessness. What had happened? Did she run away? I could kill Opie for telling her about our lack of a plan for Tigs rescue. He knew that she was afraid of Tig going to prison. He knew that she threatened to leave if it happened.
How could I think I was good enough for her to stay if her only family was gonna get locked up because of the Club. I ...We can't loose her again.
And what if the Nordics had finally gotten to her? I'd kill any fucker who dared to touch a single hair on her with each street and corner that I passed I got more frustrated. I couldn't imagine how Tig was feeling, but I felt like I was gonna throw up any second.
I got to the center of Charming by the park and decided to stop my bike. This was the place I used to go when I wanted to talk to Harley. The version of Harley that I thought would be like a little sister to me. But now the real Harley was here and had destroyed every sisterly feeling I used to have while coming to her grave.
As I entered the cemetery it felt weird to be back. I came here so often for comfort...just as much as I climbed up onto the roof of Teller-Morrow. I hadn't been here since Harley and I watched the grave stones being removed.
I took my time to walk to the old spot. There weren't any new grave stones and the hole's were clearly visible. Even at night. My phone rang and I saw Opies name on the display.
"What?" I asked still furious with him. Of course you walk Harley to the bathroom after you tell her Tig will spent years in jail. Idiot.
"She's home."
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Harley's POV
"What the fuck were you thinking? Are you out of your fucking mind? There is a fucking maniac following you around because he has nothing better to do and you just up and leave Opie in the diner?" Tig stood in front of me yelling his heart out. I was surprised he still had a voice.
Opie sat on the couch looking like a beaten puppy. I felt bad for him now. He was gonna get in a lot of trouble for my actions. I had to take care of that. But not now.
"What else did you think I was gonna do when I found out? At least Opie is the only one who had the balls to tell me you were gonna go to jail and leave me here!"
"I'm not gonna be gone for long, Harley."
I just laughed and dropped my bag onto the floor but double checked to make sure that nothing had fallen out. Dad... Tig stood behind the couch Opie sat on. It looked like a barrier between us. To protect him or me... who knew.
"What makes you so sure about that? What makes you so sure you will ever walk out of there alive? I've heard stories Dad!" I yelled back at him.
The door opened and Jax walked in. Our eyes met and he stormed towards me. I waited for the next yelling session but instead found myself in his arms.
"Jax. I am yelling at my daughter..." I heard Tig... Dad say through his teeth. But it seemed like Jax didn't care cause he put his hands around my face and kissed me.
Tig just threw his hands in the air and turned around "So much for discipline..." And Opie put his hand on his face. When Jax released me he stared into my eyes again. It seemed to last for an eternity, but probably were about ten seconds. He let go of me and walked towards Tig.
"Keep going..."
What the hell...?
"Tell us where you have been!" Dad...Tig yelled again while my confusion was clearly shown on my face. I rolled my eyes while answering.
"I've been out! I needed time. Something you will have a lot of in the future!" I turned to walk towards my room.
"We are not finished! The entire Club has been out looking for you goddamn it! Even Unser! The fucking police was looking for you!"
"Congratulations. You guys haven't figured out what the hell is going on with the Nordics and you weren't able to find a sixteen year old girl in a town that would fit into the grandcanyon! Just like you don't know why the fuck mom burned down her house. Do you keep any of your promises?"
And I walked around to slam my door.
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JAX POV
"Well... you always wondered if she would be all puberty growing up..." Opie tried to lighten the mood like the good hearted bear that he is. Failing miserably.
"Puberty? Harry Winston I swear to god I will rip your balls off..." I got between Tig and Opie who had gotten up when he heard his given name. It was never a good sign when it was used.
"Calm down, Tig." I said, but got interrupted by a hit on my head. "What the fuck,man."
"Kiss my daughter while I am fighting with her one more time boy..." he used the 'father finger' on my chest so I knew he was sorry. I said nothing and walked towards their kitchen. I needed a beer. And I knew they did too.
"Where's ma?" I asked while giving Tig his opened bottle.
"She's the one who found her. Gave her a peace of her mind as well when I showed up." and he drowned half of the bottle in one sip.
"Is this what it is like? Being a father?" Opie asked while looking at his beer and some worries on his face.
"You tell me!" Tig said emptying the bottle and on his way to get a new one. I sat next to Opie and started to drink.
"She is right." he said and closed his fridge.
"What are you talking about?" Now he confused me. If Opie is going to be this way when his soon to be old lady bears his child I might as well take a bullet.
"We haven't kept a single promise. I haven't..." he walked out of his kitchen and I knew what he meant. Finding out what happened to Denise. Did really she burn the house to make Harley and her dissapear? And if so...why? My memories of Denise were mostly with Tig and Harley and she was nothing but loving and kind. The way she looked at Tig. It was the same way Ma had used to look at my old man. And now sometimes at Clay. When he wasn't an ass. And deep down I knew I wanted Harley to look at me the same way. I figured that out tonight.
"I hate to ask this of the two of you. But Jax you'll be our VP very soon and I take it that you...like my daughter."
"Yes, sir."
"Then I'm asking you to take care of her. I doubt I will be able to figure out what happened 12 years ago, but I'll make sure Darby and his boys will stay away from my girl. We all know I won't be out for at least a year... if I behave." We all appreciated this little joke with a little laugh.
Right. Behave. In Chino State. The second club home of the Mayans.
"Opie, Jax." He sat down on the table to look at us. "I am asking you to protect her. To make sure she has everything she needs. Wants. I could strangle her right now but I need to know she is safe. That's what I get for reproducing. My eyes, tongue and temper and hormones of a girl... I should have apologized to my mother more often."
He got up again. Opie and I just shared a look. Tig had many states of drunkenness. But this was a new one. And it was frightening close to the suicidal Tig. Whenever he had reached a certain limit he would be haunted by memories of Denise and Harley and miss them so badly... Juice and I got him of the highway where he he had laid down once.
Sure enough he had turned around to go to bed. Opie and I finished our beers and got out. We locked the front door knowing damn well Tig wouldn't remember to.
"I'mma watch out." I just said to Opie while I light my cigarette.
"I'll come by at 6 to take over." was all he said and got on his bike.
As the sound of his engine had left the street I heard a stick break. I reached for my gun and aimed towards the corner to find Harley leaning on the wall. To my surprise she just raised an eyebrow.
"Are you out of your fucking mind? What the hell is wrong with you today?" I asked her while I put my glock away. She really was a Traeger.
"I could have asked you the same thing this morning but I guess I messed up to bad to be the pissed maybe-girlfriend now." she said and ran her hand through her hair. I loved it when she did that.
"Yeah, you could say so." I whispered and took a drag knowing very well she heard me.
"So you can storm off mad and I can't? Are those some kind of club rules I still have to learn and won't obey?" she crossed her arms building a wall between us. I could feel it. Something had changed tonight. I knew what I wanted her to be for me. But looking at her know I had a feeling she had changed her mind. Freaked out by that thought I did all I could think of.
Loosing the cigarette as I walked towards her and pressed her against the wall. My hands found her neck and waist and my lips went home to hers.
I felt her being distant at first yet responding at the same time. I had never met a more confusing girl. And that included tara.
She finally warmed up and it soon turned out to be just like in the photo booth. She grabbed my shirt on my waist and pulled me towards her so our bodies were touching. I felt her on my waist and knew she was gonna start feeling something very soon as well. Grabbing her soft her and ass at the same time got me hearing the most beautiful music I had ever heard in her moan.
This woman was going to be the death of me.
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Yay you guys a new Chapter! I am sorry it is a little shorter than usual but it felt right stopping there instead of starting the next scene.
So what do you guys think? What happened 12 years ago? Is Tig going to go to jail? What is Harley going to do about Darby and the letters?
All love
Joey