"Ally, Baby! Where are you?"
Juice burst into the house with a huge grin on his face. His kutte was finally back on his chest and it had never felt better. His knuckles were bleeding and raw from the beatdown he had given Salazar. It had been the ultimate pleasure watching the Calavares crumble right before their eyes as they handed Alvarez the heroin they had stolen. The Calavares had been in charge of safe delivery of it.
He had taken great joy in beating the shit out of Salazar as Tig and Opie held his arms. Now that his kutte was back he felt as if his armor was back in place. He could do anything again. Right now, though, he wanted his wife.
"Al?" He moved through the house that was quiet and empty. Ally had said she was going to be running errands that day, but he figured she would have been back by now. As he headed down the hall, he saw Jessica step out of the guest room. He stopped as his back tensed. "What the fuck are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see you," she said as her body swayed slightly. "She's keeping us apart, Juice. You said it wouldn't be like can't we be together? I gave you a son. What more do you want?"
"Get out," Juice growled, pointing to the door.
"No," she whimpered, rushing towards him. The closer she got, the more he could tell her eyes were pinned and dazed. She was high. "I love you, Juice."
"No, no." Juice grabbed her by the arms and pushed her off of him. "I never said any of that shit to you. You're batshit crazy. Get the fuck out of my house and stay away from my family. How the hell did you get in?"
"But, it's our family," she wailed as Juice physically hauled her towards the door. "I'll do anything to make you happy and you know it. Want me to suck you off? I'll do it. Right now. I'll even swallow. Does she swallow?"
Juice paused and turned to look at her. Even in her hazed state, Jessica smiled at him as if she sincerely knew what she was saying.
"You want to make me happy?"
She nodded as took his hands as he released her arms. "I do."
"All right," he said in a much softer tone as his hands gently ran up and down her arms. "Come on. I know how you can make me happy." He led her to his and Ally's bedroom and sat her on the bed. "Stay here," he murmured before going to the safe in the closet. Jessica leaned back on the bed and threw Ally's pillow on the floor.
Juice came out with some papers and a pen in his hand. "Here," he said quietly, taking a seat on the bed and handing her the pen. "Sign these. This will make me happy, baby. This will make me love you."
"What is it," she slurred as she swayed while she sat up. Juice held her hand steady over the appointed line marked with a red arrow sticker.
"It's a contract so everyone knows I love you and not her," he whispered carefully as he ran his fingers down her back. "Just sign it and I'm yours, baby. I promise. Then, we can be together. But, you gotta sign it."
"M'kay," she signed as she sloppily wrote her name on the line.
"Perfect," Juice murmured as he flipped the page. "Now here. Good job, baby." He waited until she dotted the I before he grabbed her by her arm and yanked her out of the room.
After dealing with the Calavares and knowing the fact that Jessica broke into his and Ally's home, his blood was pumping violently through his veins. "Now get out," he snapped firmly. "You can't come here anymore and if you do, so help me God, I'll kill you."
He brought her ear to his lips so he could whisper darkly into her ear. "Get out and don't fucking ever come back." He released her with a jerk and glared as she rushed out the door with tears in her eyes.
Juice gritted his teeth and tried to control his breathing as he went to slam the still open front door shut.
How dare she come into his house and make outrageous demands and statements towards him? He looked down at the papers in his hands. Regardless, he got her to sign away her rights to Gabriel, so at least he had that going for him.
As he tucked them into the inner pocket of his kutte, the door opened again and Ally came in with Gabriel on her hip and two overflowing canvas grocery bags on her other arm. "Hey," she greeted breathlessly as she dumped the bags on the table and went to put Gabriel on his fuzzy blanket in the living room. "I'm gonna get the rest of the groceries out. I got milk in the car."
Juice sighed and waited as she made one final trip to the car. She deposited the three extra bags on the table and began pulling its contents out. "I'm thinking lasagna tonight. What do you think?"
"Sounds good," Juice muttered, leftover irritation and rage still flowing through his veins. He glanced back at Gabriel, who was completely immersed in his overhead toy. "Ally. Look at me."
Ally looked up from the fridge and closed the door. "What? Oh, my God! You got it back!" She crossed over and slid her hands underneath the leather and ran them up his chest. "How? What happened?"
"Don't worry about it," he replied shortly, stepping back so her hands fell away. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Did you forget to set the house alarm before you left this morning?"
"Um," Ally shifted from foot to foot, uncomfortable with his stern expression. It was very un-Juice-like. "I don't know. It was crazy this morning. I can't remember if I did or didn't. Why?"
He saw how nervous she was getting and his expression softened. Nothing happened really and it would only upset her and make her paranoid if he told her what had just happened in their home. "It wasn't on when I came in," he lied, stepping to her and putting his arm around her shoulders. "I need you to remember to set it whenever you leave. Shit's not right, right now. I just want to make sure you're safe, you know."
"Sorry," Ally murmured. "I'll remember next time. What are you doing home right now?"
"Wanted to show you," he said with a grin as he held his arms out so she could fully see his beloved kutte back on his body. "Got it back today and I beat that punk-ass Salazar down," he told her as he started unloading a bag to help her out. "We took his cut and everything. Bitches tried to run shit behind everyone's back. Now he's no one. Hey," he gently grabbed her arm and pressed a kiss against her forehead. He had noticed her quiet tone and gestures as she put away groceries. He was rarely so short with her and she had been just as on edge lately as he had been. "Lasagna sounds great, baby."
Ally smiled softly and pecked his lips. "Good. I'm glad you got your kutte back. Can't wait for you to wear it tonight," she purred, nudging his hip with hers with a wink. "Ah," she snatched the next bag out of his hands. "Girly stuff," she answered to his questioning look. "I'll put it up."
Juice nodded without arguing as he put some vegetables in the refrigerator crisper. "All right, pretty girl. I gotta go. Time to get back to the garage." He swiftly kissed her lips. He felt as if the papers in his pocket weighed a ton. "I'll see you tonight."
"See you tonight," she repeated as Juice left. She finished putting up the groceries and waited until she heard his bike rev up and go down the street. She sighed and picked up the last bag. Gabriel was cooing on his blanket. "All right, big boy. You stay here and out of trouble while I go find out if you're gonna be an Irish twin."
She bit her lip as she went into the bathroom and followed the directions of the pregnancy test in her hand. She rapped her fingers nervously on the countertop as she waited. Gabriel's coos could be heard from the baby monitor clipped to her hip.
The opening and closing of the door made Ally jump practically thirty feet in the air.
"Ally?"
Tara was there. The test wasn't ready yet. "I'll be out in a minute," she called out, closing the bathroom door quietly.
"I can't stay long," Ally could hear Tara's voice on the other side of the door as she came into her and Juice's bedroom. She could hear Tara fussing with Gabriel. "You all right in there?"
Ally stayed quiet. The stick was beginning to reveal its secret. With bated breath she watched as 'Not Pregnant' slowly became more and more visible. Her shoulders slumped and she released the breath she had been holding.
"Ally?" Tara knocked on the door before slowly opening it. Ally didn't bother trying to hide the failed test. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Ally murmured sadly. "I'm fine." She looked over her shoulder at Tara and weakly waved the stick. "Not pregnant. Again," she sighed as she tied everything up in a bag to throw in the trash can outside.
"I thought you didn't want to get pregnant right now with Juice going in soon?"
Ally sniffed and shrugged as she stepped out of the bathroom. "I mean, it would have been shit timing, but we have been trying to get pregnant for years, Tara. I fucked up a long time ago and now it's like my body just says 'nope,' when it comes to making a baby."
"But, you thought you were pregnant?"
Ally shrugged and sat crosslegged on the bed after picking up her pillow that had been mysteriously laying on the floor. "Yeah. No. Maybe, or whatever. I don't know. I've been feeling off lately and I haven't had a period in about two months, but that's not unusual for me. I went six or seven months one time without having one. I guess I've just been stressed and exhausted or whatever. Really hoped I was pregnant, though."
"Um, how has Juice done with Gabriel? Babies and Harley's don't exactly mix that well."
"Great," Ally commented as Reaper came into the room and sat next to Gabriel's bassinet. "Juice is gonna be a good daddy. He is a good daddy. Babies and Harley's go together better than you think, Tara. Why do you ask?"
Tara shook her head quickly while looking down. "Just wondered."
Ally eyed her critically. "Tara . . . did you decide what you're going to do?"
Tara shook her head. "Not yet. But, I know Jax isn't ready for another baby. He's going in and Abel's so little. I don't think I can do this. I'm not like you, Ally. Motherhood came so easily to you."
"I did what I had to do," Ally insisted. "I will never tell you to get rid of it. I think it'd be selfish and stupid of you. Stop tempting fate, Tara. You don't know how many more chances you're gonna get. If any. Before you do anything, though, look into Abel's eye and decide if you can live with your decision to get rid of his brother or sister."
"Promise me you won't tell Jax or Gemma or anyone. Not until I decide what I need to do."
"I promise."
Ally's phone rang, disturbing the two. It was the shop.
"I should get going. I have surgery soon," Tara said, getting up to show herself out. "I'll talk to you later, Ally."
"Bye, Tara," Ally replied. "Don't be stupid." She waited until Tara was down the hall before answering the ring. "Hello?"
"Hey, Al," Pike's deep voice greeted her through the receiver. "Look, I didn't want to do it, but I got a guy here willing to double your rate if you can get him right now."
"What? Are you serious? Did you tell him I just had a baby and I'm kinda busy at the moment?"
"Yeah, but I don't think he believes me. Said he came in a few weeks ago and you worked on him and you weren't pregnant."
"I didn't know I was pregnant," Ally answered dryly. "There's a show about it and everything on TV."
Pike chuckled. "Look, I know I'm putting you on the spot and you're the boss. Your can always say no. But, he told me what he was thinking about and Al, it's gonna be big money without doubling your rate. That's some serious scratch and kids ain't cheap."
"Yeah, I'm figuring that out," Ally replied. "Um, just tell him to stick around for a minute and let me see what I can do." She ended the call with a sigh and dialed Gemma's number. "Hey Gem, got a big favor to ask."
After explaining the situation, Gemma agreed to come watch Gabriel until Juice came back later that evening. Ally didn't know how long the piece would take, but even if it was two hours, it would be worth the doubled money.
She rolled her neck with a satisfying pop. "Maybe a little time at work is just what Mama needs," she told Gabriel, picking him up and laying him on her stomach as she leaned back onto the bed. "Mama's really good at her job. If you ever decide you want a tattoo when you get old enough, you better bet I'm going to give you your first one. Just don't do a scalp tat. Your daddy can barely pull it off on a good day. Even if it is pretty sexy sometimes."