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This festival was bigger than the previous one, so the signings, pictures and meet and greets took longer. When Jax would feel himself entering that zone of being tired of men touching Val, he would just step forward and brush his hand over her shoulder, or hair. She didn't seem to mind, most times she would just look at him and smile.

Val was tired. She was physically tired, and she was emotional, and she was tired of people she didn't know touching her. In the past she'd always put up with it, but right then she wanted to scream and punch someone. Jax would touch her on occasion, and she figured out it was when it was getting hard for him to deal with, but it also helped her. And it was Jax, unless they were in the middle of performing on stage, he could touch her anytime.

She made it through the meet, pictures and autographs, and knew if she didn't get out of there, and back on the bus, or even to their little area where it was just them and their friends, she was going to flip out.

Jax was worried as they left the roped off area, and Val was striding, not waiting for him, straight back to their bus. He caught up easily, and just followed her. His mom and Miranda had taken Abel somewhere, so the bus was empty, and Val went straight in, so he followed her there too. She was standing in the middle, her back to him. "Darlin', are you alright?" he asked walking right up behind her.

Val turned around, burst out crying and flung herself into Jax's arms.

"Shhh," he murmured. "What's going on? Do you hurt? Did someone say or do something?" he wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"I just couldn't take it anymore. People, strangers everywhere, touching me, in my space. It was too much," she sobbed. "Closed off, tired, mad, and I couldn't do anything about it because they're our fans, ya know? Everything they've done for us, I can't treat them badly. And I don't want to, I just needed space. I'm so tired."

"Why don't we take a nap?" he suggested. I understand how you feel, and I know that unless someone does something inappropriate, you wouldn't treat anyone badly." Jax had maneuvered her over to their bunk. "So let's take a nap, and my mom and Miranda should be back with our boy when we wake up. Okay?"

She nodded and climbed in, with him following. Val went to sleep quickly with Jax holding onto her.

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Kes and Kozik were walking slowly, enjoying each other's company.

"Kes, what made you pick me?" he asked. Kozik had lived a hard life. The Marines, drugs, and then earning his way into the club. He was glad she'd picked him, but he didn't always understand it. He could have accepted that she just wanted to hook up. He'd had his share of those, but Kes had stayed.

Kes looked at him. He was so handsome, she didn't understand why he would be so unsure of himself. The epitome of a Son of Anarchy; tough, smart, loyal, clever, observant, and sometimes so smug she wanted to punch him in the face. She had learned how to speak Kozik quickly. Like the time he'd been looking at the picture that had been sent to Val of Jax with another woman. When Kozik had stared at it for such a long time, normally that would have pissed her off. The Sons might be possessive and jealous bastards, but so were the Daughters of Darkness plus Mouse… she was a Daughter, she just didn't perform. She knew him by then though, and she knew he was working something out. He thought. He thought about things for a long damned time before he did anything or said anything.

"You are the only man I've ever met that was trying to both manage to get me in the ring, like I wanted, and to keep me safe. You wanted me to be happy, so letting me fight wasn't a question for you. You, Herman Kozik, were just trying to make it happen. I couldn't not pick you," she told him, and stopped walking to look at him. "You made me fall in love with you."

Kozik blinked at her, and was silent for a moment, but not nearly as long as she'd expected. "I love you too."

She nodded, smiling. "I know. You wouldn't have put up with nearly half of our crazy shit if you didn't."

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Sam and Happy were walking, and he had his arm around her. Sam wanted funnel cake, so they were making their way to get her funnel cake. Thinking about it, she might want two. When she explained that to Happy, and explained that it made more sense to get two so they wouldn't have to come back later, he'd just smiled and kissed her forehead. She'd taken that as a yes. Max and Miranda were with them, walking slightly behind, and Max had chuckled through Sam's entire explanation, earning himself a slap to the arm by Miranda. Sam really like Miranda.

There was some murmuring off to her left, Happy was on her right. There was a group of teenage to early twenties boys making nasty comments about interracial dating. Sam didn't let it affect her. As if she cared what some small minded children thought. She was sadder for them really. It meant their parents had raised them to believe that shit. Crappy parents. Unfortunately, Happy and Miranda were NOT so ready to let it go. Max was like Sam, hell, when they'd dated they'd had to put up with that shit constantly, so he knew Sam's feelings on it. Not that he appreciated the comments, he just chose to follow her lead.

For a moment, Miranda thought they were going to have a confrontation, which was sort of exciting because she sort of wanted to punch that little bitch boy in front with the sneer who'd used THAT word about Sam. Okay, there was no sort of to it, she really, really, wanted to hit him.

Happy, with his ever present toothpick in his mouth, just turned his head and stared the boy in the eyes. Then he sort of grinned, only it wasn't the grin he gave Sam, or his friends. This grin was one that promised death, Miranda was impressed and thought she might try practicing that in the mirror. He smiled at the one boy, but all of the boys froze, and went silent. Finally the boy he'd been in eye contact with, looked away, and muttered a 'sorry', before turning and walking quickly away.

Sam rested her head on Hap's arm. Always taking care of her, from even the smallest threat. They reached the food booths and perked up. "I think I want a corndog before my funnel cakes," she told Happy. Happy just chuckled.

"That actually sounds really good," Miranda agreed. She knew that everyone had expected her and Sam not to get along since Sam had dated Max previously, but Miranda didn't care about that shit. Sam was sweet and awesome, and obviously the relationship had been over when she met Max since Max and Sam seemed more like siblings.

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Gemma sat on one of the lawn chairs outside of the bus, and rocked Abel. He was so precious. She was so grateful he'd survived, and now, although he'd had a rough start in his life, everything looked brighter for him. Jax was more centered and stable than he'd been before Abel's birth. And happy. She couldn't forget how much happier he was.

When Tara Knowles had returned to Charming, Gemma had been horrified, just knowing that Tara would try to twist Jax up again. Then fortune had smiled upon them and brought them those five beautiful girls, and it was like Tara never existed. Not only that, they'd made so many of her boys happy. Including Happy. Gemma had never thought she'd see a day when Happy settled down, but he'd been wrapped around Sam's little finger from almost the moment he'd seen her. Just like Jax and Kozik. Just like Juice when Mouse showed up. Gemma was sure the boys didn't know that they'd been caught, but they had been. The Sons of Anarchy were entering into a whole new world. Gemma wondered if perhaps now should be the time Jax started making use of his father's manuscript. She'd asked him not to out of concern for what they would become.

The club hadn't been in any position to try to go legit. Now, they were moving towards change, it would make sense to incorporate those ideas that Jax had been so excited about. Clay would not be pleased. If she was honest with herself, he hadn't been pleased in a long time. That was part of the reason she'd come on this trip. She needed to get away from him for a few days. Every day it seemed he got angrier. There were still moments that he was the man she'd fallen in love with. Like when he'd talked to the girls and told them they were family. That had been HER Clay. But then later that night… Gemma rubbed her upper arm where he'd gripped it so tightly.

Toni startled Gemma out of her thoughts, and took a seat in the chair next to hers. Gemma smiled at her, and Toni returned the smile. She began speaking softly. "When I was six, I got sent to this foster home in a little suburb of Houston, Deer Park… the place really doesn't matter that much. I think it was the only foster home where I didn't get hit." Toni was silent for a moment. "But the dad there, he beat the shit out of his wife. Nowhere you could see, but eventually people noticed things. The ways her eyes shifted nervously when he was in the room. Or how she would jump if he made a loud noise. Eventually, he beat her bad enough that people found out. He got arrested and we got sent back to the Home. From what little I found out later, she took him back again, and two years later, he ended up beating her so bad he broke her neck. She's a quadriplegic now."

"Christ," Gemma murmured.

"Gemma, we love Clay, but you've become our Mom." Toni stated. "We know the signs. We know he's hurting you. We just don't know how badly. We haven't told the men… they don't see anything they don't expect to see, although it's possible Kozik or Happy have noticed something."

Gemma almost cried. "He hasn't hit me." She almost added yet. "But sometimes he grabs my arm too tightly, or pushes me. He's more aggressive in bed. I don't know why. I don't understand why," Gemma murmured.

"He might not know either. Or maybe he feels like he's losing control of something." Toni shrugged. "It doesn't matter why he's doing it, not at the end of the day. You can't let it keep happening."

Gemma nodded. She knew that. She did.

"Because eventually, he's going to do more. He's going to seriously hurt you. You need to talk to Jax and the other men. Not one of them would allow this to continue."

"Talk to us about what?"

Gemma startled, looking over to see Jax and Val stepping off the bus. Val was looking at her with knowing, compassionate eyes. Her son looked seriously confused and worried. Tears slipped from her eyes.

"Ma, talk to us about what?" Jax repeated, the tears making him anxious. Behind him, some of the others were joining them. And off in another direction, a few more of their group arrived.

Gemma had forgotten they were grilling out. Val walked past Jax, and moved to Gemma, taking her hand. "If you'd like I can take the others away, so you can talk to the Sons."

Gemma just shook her head, and gripped Val's hand. "Not necessary. Miranda, will you hold Abel?"

Miranda moved forward and took the baby, going to sit quietly in a chair, Max taking a chair next to her.

"Baby," Gemma began weakly. "I didn't want you to know. I didn't want you to think I was weak."

Jax moved and knelt in front of his mother. "Ma, what's going on?"

Gemma couldn't find the words. Vinnie did. "Clay's been hurting her," Vinnie said, and moved away from Tig. He loved Clay; would do just about anything for the man, and she didn't know how Tig would take this.

Tig stared at her. No. Clay wouldn't hurt Gemma. Clay worshipped Gemma. Why would Vinnie say that?

Jax went cold all over. "Is it true?" he asked his mother, who was now crying.

"It is true," Kozik murmured. "I thought I was imagining shit."

Happy pulled Sam closer, and kissed her head. She looked at him, and he knew she'd known. Hadn't he known as well? Or at least suspected? Fuck.

Juice sighed heavily. He hadn't known, but he trusted the women.

Opie was holding Donna. "Jesus, we should have known."

Tig was still shaking his head in disbelief. It made him so angry. Why would they… why would Vinnie…

"Yes, it's true," Gemma finally said, and was surprised to feel a little better. "He hasn't hit me yet, but he pushes me, grabs my arm leaving bruises, and swings me around by it. The day before we came out here, he grabbed me and threw me into the wall. He just gets so angry." Gemma took a deep breath, and rolled up her sleeve to show the large bruises wrapped around her upper arm, in the shape of a hand. "I think it's time to put your father's manuscript to use. He'll be angry, but it's time."

Jax stared at the bruises and rage filled him. That bastard had put his hands on Jax's mother. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to find Val staring down at him. Everything was in her eyes; love, compassion, understanding, retribution. His warrior woman. "I wish you'd told me when it began," he told his so very strong mother.

Tig stared at the bruises. It was true. Jesus Christ, it was true. Of course it was coming from the girls so of course it was true. Clay was hurting Gemma; the woman who really had taken care of all of them for years. And Tig knew how it went. Right now Clay might not be hitting, but it would go there. For now, he chose to focus on the second part of Gemma's revelations. "What manuscript?" he asked numbly.

Jax shared a look with his mother for several moments before he began to speak. He didn't even care that outsiders were there. The girls had made these people family, and they'd already assisted in getting rid of a problem or two. Hell, they might as well be Prospects. He explained everything dealing with John Teller's manuscript. And the other Son's listened. They knew they'd have to fill Bobby and Chibs in later. When he finished speaking there was silence.

"It's none of my business," Miranda began.

Tig was the one to actually interrupt her, "You're Sons' family now, I'd say it's your business." He moved over, pulling Vinnie into his arms. It would be hard… going legit… all his life he'd been a biker, or a delinquent. But if they went clean, it would make everything safer for Vinnie. It would make everything safer for all the girls.

Miranda gave him a brief smile. "Your Dad had some brilliant ideas, but you're still going to have to bring in income."

"We have our share in Luann's porn studio," Juice offered.

"I have an idea of something you could do that would earn an income, and be completely legal."

Everyone looked at her.

"One, you currently have a very popular band in front of you that does not have management. Gemma would be brilliant for that. Two, you have access to a studio. Maybe it's time for DOD to start putting out some videos. And if you include all of their merch and downloads, that too is additional income."

"We would love to put out a few videos," Max added.

"The final idea that I have currently is opening a club. Like a dance club, but that has nights where you have live music. That benefits you, and whatever band is playing."

Everyone was staring at the little brunette. Tig tilted his head, "What is it you said you did for a living?"