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Beta: girl-at-home13
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I laid in bed, but sleep hadn't found me so far. All I could think about was the look Jax had given me.. I guess I should feel lucky. A jealous Jax meant he really liked me... I think. But it would also make things even worse if I was actually Darby's daughter. He would never want to see me again.
The simple thought of sharing DNA with this guy made me taste bile in my mouth. Why couldn't he wait with such news for just a few days longer. I had just found Tig and everybody else and they were there to ruin it all.
A knock was heard on the door and shortly after it was opened. I sat up to signal whoever that I was awake.
"Did I wake you?" Dad...Tig came in and closed the door.
"No... can't sleep." I yawned, rubbing the side of my cheek.
"Me neither. Just wanted to check if you were still breathing." He sat down on the bed next to me and I sat up so we were both leaning against the head of the bed.
He grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze.
"Anything I can do for you, Munchkin?" I gave him a puzzled look.
"I don't know...as a kid you really enjoyed drinking a glass of chocolate milk before going to bed... I don't know when that stopped..." My look got even more puzzled.
"I did? I don't remember that. Nana always used to prepare me for bed, no chocolate milk there." I half laughed.
"Oh..." There was so much sadness in his voice it broke my heart. I can picture him bringing a cup of milk to my bed and tucking me in. My heart ached to have memories of that.
"I wish I could remember more." A tear rolled down my face and he quickly wiped it away.
"I'm just glad you're finally here. We will create new memories. Together. I promise."
"But how when you're about to be locked up?"
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. It seemed like he had forgotten about that problem at all. I thought about it every new hour.
"I will find a solution for that, Munchkin. Please don't worry to much about it. If I really have to go, Jax is gonna take care of you."
"Like he took care of Juice tonight?"
He just chuckled and looked at me.
"You really are messing with that boy, honey. I'm proud of you." He kissed my head and I started to laugh.
"What is that suppose to mean?" I put my elbow into his stomach and that just made him laugh even more.
"I'm just saying it is a lot of fun to see the VP lose his mind over my daughter. Even though I would love to lock you up in a tower... it was good to see how much he actually cares about you. He was ready to beat up one of us because he thought he could lose you. I know that feeling all to well and I am very happy that somebody is feeling this way about you."
"You really think he is serious?" I leaned against his shoulder and took a deep breath. He smelled like motor oil, whiskey and cigarettes. For some crazy reason it was the most calming smell I could imagine.
"After tonight, I really think so."
"Did you ever try to beat someone up for mom?" I looked up to him and he looked down at me and a smirk formed on his lips.
"Several times, munchkin. I am pretty thin skinned when it comes to dudes checking out what's mine. I was pretty close to hitting Jax the first few days if you haven't noticed."
"I have noticed." I said and cuddled closer to him.
"I actually brought Darby into a hospital once."
My head shot up "What?"
"Yeah. I saw him outside our old house with your mother. You were already born and playing in the kitchen. I watched until she started to scream for me. I have no idea what he wanted, but it didn't matter. Had him in there for a week. Then...it happened." He said, rubbing his head and I knew what he was talking about. The fire. Our deaths.
"He tried to talk with mom? And she screamed for you?" He nodded his head.
"And I would gladly repeat it anytime, Munchkin." He kissed my head and I felt a huge weight being lifted from my heart.
Mom had screamed for Tig when Darby tried to talk to her. I have no idea what their conversation was about but the fact that she screamed for Tig made me smile and I hugged him more tightly.
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I woke up when Dad...Tig started to move the next morning.
"Keep sleeping, Munchkin. I gotta go. We are going to take care of things." I leaned up on my elbows.
"What's the plan?"
He stayed silent for a while and didn't move a muscle. I got a really bad feeling. I tried to get up from bed, but I felt his hand on my shoulder.
"Please, Harley. Stay in bed." And the feeling in my stomach got worse. There was going to be blood. Because of me.
As soon as he left the room I got up and ran after him. A few Sons had already gathered in the party room. Jax and Opie were with them. The all looked at me weird. I guess a 16 year old girl with bed hair and a Samcro shirt that reached till her mid thighs wasn't something they expected at this hour.
I finally locked eyes with Jax and walked towards him.
"What is going on? Where are you going?"
"What were you and Juice doing yesterday?"
"What?" His question surprised me. My brain didn't seem to work just yet.
He put his hand on my arm to lead me out of the club house. It was still chilly outside since the sun had just started to rise.
"You know damn well what I am talking about. You two are keeping something from me."
"Jax...whatever you think is going on between Juice and me … there is nothing. Sexual or romantic. Nada."
I didn't dare to touch him. He looked like a tiger who felt like he had his back to the wall.
"So what is it that you are hiding from me?"
"Nothing..." I said putting both my hands through my hair and leaving them there. I had such a bad feeling about lying to him but the fear of losing him right this second got me saying those words without hesitation.
He didn't say anything. He just looked at me. Waiting for my facade to crack.
"Jax... I don't know why you are worried about Juice. I don't know the whole thing with Tara..." He looked away and I saw his jaw tighten. Great move, Harley. Bring up his ex while lying to him. Well at least I'M not lying about having feelings for Juice...
"You are the only one I care about...in that way at least." Jax looked at me again and his eyes had softened a little. This man in front of me, along with my hopefully father and many more who saw me as some kind of niece or something like that were on their way to end a threat. A threat towards me. So I might as well spill all the truth that I could for now.
I walked towards him and grabbed his shirt so he wouldn't turn away.
"The thought of you leaving right now doing hell knows what is scaring the shit out of me Jax. I really like all of you but I really … really like you." I said putting extra pressure on the second really to get my message through to him.
"Harley," He started and put a strand of my hair behind my ear. But I couldn't let him start talking. Not now. Who knows whatever they will find out now.
"Please, Jax. You know me right? You got to know the real me. Better than anyone here. Please always keep that in mind." His forehead furrowed and I could feel a question coming up.
So, I got on my toes and put my hand on his neck pulling him a little towards me to kiss him.
And I tried to put every fucking thing I felt for him into this kiss. I have no idea what would happen to Jax and me. No matter my DNA. We aren't even officially together for all I know. Even if Tig is my real father we might also get bored after two weeks. But for now I had the biggest crush on this guy that I have ever had. And I wanted him to know that.
As our kiss stopped I took another moment to look into his eyes and smile at him.
The others got out of the clubhouse just before he could ask what I was talking about.
"We gotta go, boy." Clay said as he approached us.
"Go to bed little one." He said and put his hand on my shoulder as he walked past me.
Jax put his hand around my face again and kissed me which surprised me. As our lips parted he put his forehead on mine.
"We are talking about this as soon as I am back. And I will be back. And this mess will be over."
I could only nod. This man was unbelievable. Please god or whoever let me be Tigs daughter.
"I am still watching, boy." Tig ...Dad came out of the clubhouse as well. Jax kissed my forehead and walked towards his bike.
"Munchkin. I promise that everything is going to be alright." Dad... Tig put his hands on my shoulders. "I know I haven't done much that would nominate me as father of the year... I know that... I promised a lot the last few days and haven't done a good job at keeping them. But this time... nobody will stop me from coming home to you. Do you understand. Nobody." He looked me dead in the eye and I understood. They weren't wearing their cuts.
This was life or death.
"Dad I have to tell you something..." I said feeling tears starting to form in my eyes. It was now or never. I had to tell them the truth. They were running into an open knife.
"It can wait munchkin." He put his hand on my cheek.
"No it can't. Please..."
"Tig. We gotta run." Clays voice was heard.. Tig just gave me a quick kiss on my other cheek and quickly walked away.
"Dad!" I screamed after him, but Clay had started his engine making it clear that every chance of discussion was over. The president had spoken.
The bikes started rolling out of Teller-Morrow one by one. I saw Jax's head turn towards me one last time right as his bike had left the ground they called home.
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JAX POV
Harley really was a master at confusing me. This girl... I have no idea what the hell she was talking about. She seemed so sincere when she told me that there was nothing going on between Juice and her, but something else was going on. She wasn't completely honest with me...with all of us. And I would make her spill it.
It hurt to think that she wasn't trusting me with something that was clearly bothering her. It hurt even more that apparently Juice knew what it was. It didn't just hurt. It pissed me off. That Mohawk is a Son just like me. He is a brother. No matter what. But damn I wanted to cut his balls off so bad.
But I had to use that anger towards the wannabe Nazi's. This shit was going to end today. The earlier the better. I could have kissed Clay for his fast thinking and action. Coming at them at night is too easy. We all expect shit to go down at night. But in the morning when you are the weakest... I couldn't wait to crash in some bleached skulls.
As we drove through Charming to get to the Nordics usual spot I could feel a stupid kind of happiness starting in my body. Like a kid that was waiting to open up Christmas gifts.
We arrived at a spot near their clubhouse. If you could call it that. I had only been there twice to get some shit done like today. It looked like an old pub that was out of business. I had never stepped foot into it but that would change right now.
We all got off of our bikes and got our guns out. My finger was ready to pull the trigger.
"Jax." I hear my name being whispered so I turned around and saw Tig standing there his gun also out and ready. He looked at me and apparently wanted to say something that was bothering him.
"Tell her yourself old man." I said and looked him dead in the eye. No way in hell was I going to deliver some fucked up last words to his daughter aka the girl I was crazy for. Talk about killing the mood.
He nodded and his face hardened again. That's the Tig I knew and liked.
Clay snapped his fingers to get our attention and signaled the groups to surround the building. All of a sudden I was really glad I was able to talk Opie out of this. He had been pissed about it, but the look on Tigs face from just a few seconds ago had proved to me that it had been the right decision. He was going to be a dad real soon. He should at least stay alive to hold his baby in his arms.
Tig and I were together in the group to approach the front door. Along with Juice of course.
"We are going to talk after this goes down, hombre." I told him when we reached the front door. He just looked at me and probably tried his best to not move a single face muscle.
Tig just made a hissing sound towards me and a little death glare. Rational thinking wasn't something I was good at in these kind of situations I guess.
Clay leaned on the wall next to the door and Tig on the other side. He checked both corners where one man of each group had stayed to spread the commands my step father was about to give. He raised his right hand and held up three fingers for them to see. I tightened my grip on my gun raised my arms. Ready to shoot.
One finger on Clays hand went down. The corner men each raised one.
Another finger on the presidents hand got down making it a two for the others.
The last finger dropped and so did the hands of the others making them tighten their grip on their guns as well, as Tig kicked the front door open.
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HARLEYS POV
I had decided against going back to bed. What would have been the point. Lying awake or sitting on the couch awake. Same thing.
I had made a fresh coffee and was now staring at my cup.
A thousand thoughts were running through my mind while I couldn't grab a single one of them at the same time and it was driving me insane.
"You'll have wrinkles at 18 if you keep that face, honey." Gemma had come into the clubhouse with her own cup of coffee. She was already dressed to slay as the Queen of Samcro. "Stop doing that to your pretty face. And stop worrying so much. They will be fine."
"How do you know?" I said. "How can you believe they are just all gonna come back and everything will be fine."
"I have to." Was all she said as she sat down next to me.
I just shook my head and started shaking my right leg. A horrible habit that would always drive my nana insane.
"I can't believe they just up and left."
"I saw you kissing my son, honey. That's not just up and leaving." She singsonged in my ear and took a sip of her coffee.
"You know what I mean!" I slightly raised my voice and got up. I had both hands in my hair now walking up and down the length of the bar.
"Munchkin. They know what they are doing. This aint their first rodeo you know. And they are outnumbering them by at least 4. Plus, the Nordics have never been good at anticipating that kind of stuff. How they are even tying their shoelaces is beyond me."
"I don't give a fuck about them being dumber than bread or us being pros at man slaughtering. None of this shit would have happened if Darby hadn't poked my mom with his fucking stick!" I spoke in rage and hadn't really processed what was coming out of my mouth until I heard Gemma interrupt me.
"What the fuck are you talking about, Harley?" She yelled and I instantly stopped pacing and dropped my hands to my side. She placed her cup of coffee on the table and slowly got up.
"What did you just say? The shit about Darby and your mother..." I hesitated to answer. Fuck Fuckity Fuck Fuck Fuck.
"Speak girl!" she yelled and was now in front of me.
"It's the truth. This wanker is following me around for days and keeps reminding me that mom and him were a thing before and while she was with Tig and that he might..."
"Stop it!" She yelled and held up her hand. "I have no clue how hard my son banged you against his bed, but I wont let you say this bullshit about your mother! How dare you say she let that freak touch her?"
She was beyond pissed.. Anyone could see that.
I had never seen Gemma like this. She was scary as fuck and I didn't dare to move a muscle. Her eyes widened in realization.
"Is this what you have been hiding. This wanker made you think your mom cheated on Tig?" I nod. She almost hit the bulls eye with this guess so it was good enough. And I was afraid if I spoke I would piss myself.
She raised her hand like she would slap me any second. I already closed my eyes preparing for the hit, but it never came.
"Are you fucking kidding me girl? Your mom hated that bastard! He was following her every step. I remember the day she met this coward in the park. He then started following us after school and kept complimenting her blonde hair and that it must run in the family bla bla bla. None the less she befriended him for a few weeks but soon got totally creeped out. He wouldn't have it and kept pushing until she got a restraining order.."
"She got what? Why didn't anybody tell me this?" I squeaked shocked about this news. Why isn't anybody sharing the important aspects of my moms and my life with me?
"Don't ya'll think that this should be common knowledge since this guy is giving us problems since I showed up?"
"I wanted to!"
"Why didn't you!"
"They didn't want you to know! I thought you would get even more scared and run away..." she explained in a mad tone.
"They are off on a killing spree!" I yelled sarcastically. "If there would have been a point for me to run away it would be now!"
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. All of these facts that I could have thrown into Darby's face. Sure no one here knew I tried to confront him but...Damn it. Those letters are still there. Why would my mom have sent those letters if she had a restraining order on him? Was my mom that delusional?
"Are you completely sure about how she felt about him?" I asked Gemma after a few seconds of breathing. My head felt like it was going to explode any second. To me it felt like this entire town didn't make sense. I had fallen down a really special rabbit hole.
"A thousand percent, Harley. The restraining order and a few beat ups by your father had helped, but when you were born he showed up again a few more times."
But how did the picture with me in his arms happen? Did he like...kidnap me to get it? Was he obsessed with my mother? Was she schizophrenic?
"Honey, you look like you are about to faint any second." Gemma walked towards me and rubbed my arms. I did see the room spinning in front of me so I held onto her. As much as I loved rollercosters, now was not the time to be on one.
She led me to the couch again and held her hand on my forehead.
"He ...told me so many things..."
"When, honey? What did that asshole tell you?"
"I went to meet him once." Gemmas eyes got as big as golf balls. I held up my hand.
"Save it. I know it was stupid. But I did it for dad. I wanted him to take back his charges against him so he doesn't have to go to prison. He told me then that him and mom had been secretly in love and..." I was about to mention the letters but I just couldn't say it out loud. Not until Juice had found out something. I prayed to god he would find anything. None the less for his own ass. I could only imagine what Tig and Jax would do if they knew that he knew.
"Whatever this fucker told you about your mother is a lie. She liked to believe there is something good in anyone and Darby was the person that taught her differently.. She gave him a chance to prove to be a decent human being without trying to get under her skirt but he blew it. He is a maniac. Who knows...maybe he sees her as the one who got away. In his weird strange horrific fantasy world..."
"So...there was nothing romantically between them. They weren't even friends? At all?"
I had asked this question probably a hundred times and I knew what Gemmas answer would be.
"Of course not. I bet he wished though. Considering all the pictures he insisted to be taken of them together... Ignoring all the shit he tried to get close to her she couldn't have been friends with him anyway even though she tried to be the bigger person. As soon as he would talk bad about people of another race, as you know his kind just love to do, she would freak out. She was very sensitive to that. She once told me that that was why she got to Charming in the first place."
"What do you mean?" I tried to focus on every word she said and stared at her lips to concentrate and not faint.
"No clue. She never got deeper to it. Whenever I asked her why she left your grandparents she would change the subject. I assumed it was the usual needing your freedom shit that I had to deal with at that time with my folks."
Nana and Papi had been nothing but kind people. I could not imagine anything wrong with them and my mom. They had taken care of us in such a loving way. They weren't capable of thinking like that. So what had mom been talking about?
"I have no idea what happened 12 years ago but I am pretty sure this Darby fucker had something to do with your mother and you disappearing honey." Gemma finally said.
"I've been around long enough to know there aint anything like a coincidence when it comes to the Nordics. And all of their bullshit since you showed up... I don't know what they had on your mom but it wont matter once our men show up there." she said and put her arm around me.
But it didn't calm me in any way.
Suddenly the air was filled with the sound of engines. I felt Gemma stiffen.
"What's wrong?" I asked getting a weird feeling.
"That was fast. Too fast." she said and got up to walk behind the bar. She suddenly had a gun in her hand and I also got up.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I squeaked at her in a whisper that probably only the pit bulls where able to hear.
"Move your beautiful ass here honey." I ran towards her and got behind the bar. She gave me another gun.
"it's not registered so don't worry about it. Got it?" I only nodded.
This felt like a fucking action movie. I could not believe this was actually happening. If someone would have told me a month ago that I would be hiding behind bar with my godmother, gun in hand pointed towards the door I would have called an asylum. But here I was.
"Just stay calm honey. It's defense so just shoot." she whispered towards me. We heard running steps in front of the door. And then there was silence.
A knocking was heard. Two fast ones. One with a long pause. Then three fast ones again.
"Wait to make sure it's them." she whispered towards me then yelled "Safe." and the door opened.
A gun was seen in the door frame and my whole body stiffened. "Shhhhh. Wait." Gemma whispered again. Then the gun got closer into the room and the person holding it looked around the corner.
It was Jax.. Gemma and I dropped our arm to the bar and I took a deep breath while dropping my head.
"Thank god." Jax said and ran towards us. He pulled me out of the bar and hugged me tight.
"What happened?" Gemma asked her son impatiently. She had probably only calmed down for a second and was ready to fight again.
"We are looking through the whole town. They weren't there. Their meeting point. It was trashed."
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I am so deeply sorry it took so freaking long for this chapter to get to you guys!
I had the next two chapters prepared but lost them and then we had a new show to practice for in the hotel I work in which I had to spent all my vacation time for so I had zero time to even think about writing or reading the fan-fictions I am following.
So... I am really really really really sorry.
Tell me what you think. Are you confused? Disappointed? Excited? What do you think will happen next? Let me know!
All Love
Joey