Disclaimer: I do not own the Sons of Anarchy or anything that you may recognize.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed or favoritied this story. I appreciate you joining me on this journey more than I can ever express with words. There will be two more chapters after this. Life is pretty hectic at the moment but I will update as soon as possible. That's enough from me. Enjoy!
Chapter TWENTY NINE
Debbie carefully unpacked the wedding dress from its garment bag as Eden prowled around the hotel room. The plan was simple, check in now and then return to the club in order to make sure that everything would be ready for the night.
The list of charters arriving that day was long. It meant obscene amounts of food, drink and an influx of sweet butts who had all seemed to have gotten the memo about the party.
The party was the closest that most of them would get to the wedding the following day. Only the most trusted sweet butts would be at the ceremony and only a few more at the reception to follow. Debbie wasn't attending as a sweet butt, she was going to be there as Eden's friend.
It was completely unexpected for her that they'd become friends. She liked Eden, she really did.
"Maybe purple was a bad choice," Eden was critically eying the second dress that was hanging on the back of the door. "Maybe we have time to go to the shop but shit, I already did my nails to match and my toes. Plus I brought shoes."
"Are you sure wedges were a good idea?" Debbie tried to ask as tactfully as she could. It wouldn't do to push Eden's buttons today. "Besides, it's going to look great on you," she said, "and I'm not just saying that."
"I'm nervous. I shouldn't be nervous but I am," Eden whirled around in search of a mirror so that she could stare at her reflection instead of the dress.
"In just about twenty four hours you'll be married," Debbie pointed out as she sat down on the bed, "I'd be pissing my pants and considering running away so I would say nervous isn't that bad of a thing."
"I don't have any doubts about marrying Kozik," Eden admitted, "there's just so many details." And there were so many things that could go wrong in so many ways. Maybe she should just have suggested eloping to Kozik. He would have probably gone for it. They could have had a party after they were already husband and wife.
"Sure, things can go wrong." Debbie stated. "And things probably will. They always do. At my cousin Anna's wedding everyone got food poisoning, fast acting food poisoning. It was disgusting, I'd never been so glad that I hadn't eaten in my life. Her dress was so stained you couldn't tell it was white and her new husband upchucked on her hair and veil."
"That's disgusting," Eden replied, "are they still married?"
"Absolutely, it's been nine years and they're still fucking nuts about one another. They love each other. Just like you and Kozik love one each other."
"Yes, we do." Eden felt a sense of relief settle over her, they did love one another and nothing could ever change that. "You know, it's funny. I think that your cousin's wedding became an urban legend because I swear someone else told me that story."
"Really?" Debbie looked pleased. "Anna would love to hear that. I'm going to have to call her and tell her."
29 29 29
"I thought that Charming had a no bud before nine rule," Kozik sat down across from Jax and Opie at one of the tables set up outside of the club house.
"That's Bobby's rule," Jax corrected him, "so in twenty four hours you'll be chained down for life. How's it feel?"
"Fucking amazing," Kozik replied without hesitation and all three men grinned at each other. "Gonna be nuts tonight."
"Donut get any girls?" Opie asked as he took the joint from Jax.
"He hasn't said," Kozik knew that there would be more women than the guys would know what to do with because of how many charters were there.
"You know there will be," Jax let out a snort of laughter, "and you're the only one at this table who is going to be enjoying them. Tara will surgically remove my dick if I fuck around," he let out another laugh, "and she knows exactly how to do it."
"Pussy whipped son of a bitch," Opie offered the joint to Kozik who accepted it.
"You have no room to talk Op, none." Jax's shoulders were shaking with barely controlled laughter. "Do you remember when Donna found you talking to Jez?"
"Fuck you man, fuck you. That shit isn't funny." Opie scowled at his best friend.
"She didn't say shit at the club house, she went home like nothing was wrong. But when she got home, she threw all his clothes out in their backyard and refused to let him in the house for two days," Jax explained. Kozik began to laugh as well.
"She was pissed," Opie finally let out a laugh as well. "I was in the dog house for weeks and I was just talking to Jez. I never wanted to fuck her, she was Tig territory."
"Wait a second, did she have black hair?" Kozik asked as the memory of a crow eater with fake tits and a mouth that didn't quit.
"You hit that?" Jax questioned. "You're nasty. She used to work at the Jelly Bean."
"There's nothing wrong with the Jelly Bean," Kozik dropped the end of the joint on the ground and lit a cigarette. "Not saying there's anything right about it either, it is what it is."
"What is?" Tig approached the table with a frown on his face.
"The Jelly Bean. What's the matter Tiggy, have a rough night?"
"Did you know that bitch is completely bat shit?" The dark haired man sat down and tapped his fingers against the table. "Asked me if I thought she could be an Old Lady?"
"What did you say?" Opie asked with a grin.
"Might not have said much, let her think it a while. She was really eager to show her gratitude." Tig smiled and then it faded. "We get off, laying there half passed out and she spoons me. And I'm like are you fucking serious? She says yeah, she's serious and she loves me. Will do anything, emphasis on anything, to be my Old Lady."
Kozik actually was surprised, he hadn't expected Claire to be aggressive. She was completely delusional but she'd always been pretty passive. She'd left when he'd told her to without a harsh word.
Fuck, he hadn't wanted to think about her because that bitch was the worst mistake of his life. Sure he and Eden hadn't been doing much more than fucking, they'd had several conversations about how that was all they were and he'd been so wound up that night he was only thinking about not scaring her.
The irony of it was when they finally admitted what they were to one another weeks later it was after an exceptionally heated argument about how they felt for one another. The sex that followed had been mind blowing and rough, really rough. It hadn't taken long to realize that Eden was into it, it only took him pulling her hair to make her come.
If he'd have gone to her that night, well he was sure that he wouldn't have frightened her. After that night he'd never even got so much as a blow job from another woman and he never would again as corny as it sounded.
"I'm talking to you Blondie," Tig kicked Kozik underneath the table, "did you know she was psycho?"
"Maybe," Kozik admitted, "but I thought that's the way you liked them Tiggy."
29 29 29
Eden stared at Katie. "You're serious right now?"
"Look, I know you and Tricia didn't get off on the best foot but she's my friend and Donut said that unless you specifically tell him it's okay that she can't be here for the party or the wedding."
"And why would I do that?"
"Because I'm asking you, one Old Lady to another," Katie replied.
Eden barely stopped her laughter. "Are you shitting me?" She asked finally though she really couldn't stand the expression though at this point it felt like the only possible thing to say. "Unless I missed a really big memo, you're not an Old Lady. You're the woman Donut's dating who can't seem to wrap her head around how shit works around here. Do you realize how badly you've embarrassed him? Embarrassed yourself?"
"I didn't come over here for a lecture, if you want to say no then say it and fucking spare me your bullshit. I don't know how this club works? Please. You don't know how it works and you're pregnant and half crazy even when you're not riddled with hormones so people try to give you a wide berth. Emphasis on the wide part right now."
Eden had been curtailing the urge to punch Katie in her face since she walked up
to her but as she saw Donut approching from behind his woman she was glad that she'd resisted the urge.
"Katie!" Donut's voice made the woman jump. He strode forward, it was easy to forget how dangerous a man he could be because he was normally so mild mannered but there was no mistaking it now.
Eden didn't say anything, there was nothing to say. She watched as Donut took Katie by the arm and pulled her towards the rooms in the back of the clubhouse. "Someone's in trouble," she glanced over to see Opie standing there.
"Apparently," Eden replied, "need me to get you anything Op?"
"Nah, saw her in your face. Figured I'd come over and make sure you were okay."
"I've never been better," her hand ran across her stomach, "just putting the last touches on everything."
"Place looks great," he replied, "but you look like you could use a few minutes off your feet. Want to come sit with me and Jax for a while?"
"Sure," she would be glad to. Jax and Opie were her two favorite Brothers from the Charming charter. It would be nice to sit for a while and see if she could get someone to make her a sandwich from the massive lunch meat platters in the kitchen. "You guys wouldn't happen to be hungry?"
"Let me guess, you are." He grinned. "Go on and sit, I'll get one of the girls to get you something."
"Sandwich," she told him. "And chips."
"Got it."
29 29 29
Kozik found Eden sitting on a chair outside, directly in the sun and very much asleep. He had to grin though he knew that she shouldn't be pushing herself so hard but there wasn't going to be any way of stopping her. She was head strong and it was just one of the things that he loved about her.
"Hey," he crouched down in front of her and touched her knee. Her eyes opened and she sat straight. "Relax," Kozik ran his hand over her leg. "Come with me."
"Where?"
"Inside. Figure we need a nap before tonight's festivities. Don't you dare worry about any of this party shit. It'll get taken care of." Kozik looked around, spotted Debbie as well as several other girls including Claire. He sure as fuck wasn't asking her for anything. "Hey Debs? Come here a sec?"
"I can..."
"Shut it," Kozik told his bride to be. He focused on her friend as she approached. "Think you can handle shit out here for Eden so she can take a nap?"
Debbie didn't hesitate. "Of course."
"Thanks Debs," Eden smiled at her.
"Don't worry about it," her friend assured her with a smile. "Everything is going to go exactly as planned, trust me."
Eden realized that she did trust Debbie and it made it easier for her to walk away and leave the plans in her hand. She was exhausted down to her bones, her doctor had warned her that her seventh month would be a bitch and it was. She'd already realized that she'd need to figure out alternate shoes for tomorrow or more likely just say fuck it and wear a pair of white flip flops.
"Did you eat Baby?" Kozik stroked her lower back as they headed for the room.
"I had lunch with Opie and Jax while you and Lorca were gone." Eden couldn't stop herself from yawning. "Maybe I am a little tired."
"Maybe?" Kozik let out a snort of laughter. "I was going to try to get some but I'm pretty sure you'll fall asleep mid stroke."
"I would not." Eden protested though her face reddened because that exact thing had happened just the week before. She was seriously lucky he loved her and though it was funny instead of getting pissed off. "You're really getting the shitty end of the stick with this pregnancy."
"Nah," Kozik used his key to open the door, "I fucking love you pregnant, wouldn't change a thing."
"That was a really good answer. When I'm not practically asleep on my feet I owe you head for that."
"And I will not let you forget it," his hand moved down to slap her ass playfully. "Get in that bed Woman."
29`29
Lorca sipped a beer and watched as the sun started to go down. Soon the fires would get lit and the party would begin officially. Kozik and Eden hadn't made an appearance yet but the word was she'd needed a nap.
She deserved a nap. He'd watched as she busted her ass getting everything ready. All the guys had noticed it and their respect for her had grown. Everyone agreed that Kozik was a lucky bastard.
He saw an SUV pull in, rose to his feet because he knew that it was Lump back with Happy who needed another week or so before he'd be able to be back on his bike.
SAMTAC was healing, just like he was. Lorca no longer worried that other charters saw them as weak or damaged. No, they were whole. He intended to keep them that way. The wedding the next day was the perfect chance for Lee to strike and it wasn't going to happen on his watch.
Happy got out of the SUV and the crowd went wild. He moved through, shaking hands and hugging Brothers he hadn't seen in a long while and it felt good. Someone handed him a beer and another pressed a joint into his hands. He tucked it behind his ear and smiled. It was good to be home, to be surrounded by his Brothers and he hadn't realized just how much he'd missed it until that very moment.
Eventually he'd greeted everyone, the crowd around him thinned and Happy spotted a table loaded down with food. He started towards it, caught sight of Debbie to the left and nodded at her.
She smiled and nodded back before her eyes went back down to her phone. He noticed her frown, thought nothing of it and headed to get a plate. At first he'd thought that Eden was trying some match maker shit but he'd soon realized that it hadn't even crossed her mind. She'd just been looking for a friend. And Debbie was pretty cool even if there was something that he couldn't quite put his finger on about her.
It didn't really matter though, as long as she was Eden's friend he'd consider her off limits. He wasn't pissing that crazy, hormonal blonde off anytime soon. No, he didn't need to strain a friendship with someone he cared about. He remembered one of Tig's favorite expressions, Bros before Hoes and let out a low chuckle. How would Eden take hearing she was like a bro to him? Depending on the state of her hormones he might just be able to keep his head.
29 29 29
"Baby," Kozik stroked his hand over Eden's back and she buried her face deeper into the covers, "it's time to get up for the party."
She made a groaning sound, sighed and shifted so she was pressed against him. "I'm still so tired."
"I know," he was tempted to just stay in the room all night but knew that eventually someone would come looking for them, "it's almost over and it'll be fun."
"I am hungry, again." Eden realized that she was always hungry, always tired and maybe her doctor and Kozik were right about her needing to slow down and take it easy.
Kozik chuckled. "There's no great surprise there Eden."
"Shut up. I'm up," she shifted to get off of the bed and even though she struggled slightly getting herself upright he didn't reach out to help her. The last time he'd tried she'd nearly taken his head off. "I was going to shower but fuck it, we're already late."
Kozik remained in bed and watched her pull the dress she'd chosen for the party. "I really like that dress," he spoke up. He liked it enough to be doubly tempted to just stay in the room.
"Don't look at me like that or we'll never get out of this room and I'm not eager to have someone knocking the door down while we're in the middle. I might stab someone in the throat."
Kozik laughed and got off of the bed. "Well I'll tell you one thing, I've got the hottest Old Lady in the fucking world."
"Probably the fattest one too," Eden smoothed the dress down over her stomach.
"Shut up," he pressed his lips to the K between her shoulder blades. "You ready?"
"Can I do my hair first?"
"I kind of like it the way it is..."
Kozik's forgot what he was going to say next as the sound of a loud explosion rocked through the air. The room shook. Eden screamed and he immediately reached for his gun only to realize that it was still by the bed. "Get in the bathroom and stay there."
"Really? Do you really think that's going to happen?" Eden cocked an eyebrow at him even though her heart was threatening to pound out of her chest. She didn't know what had happened, it could have been an accident with one of the grills outside but why did the building shake.
"Fuck," Kozik smelled something burning, heard screams from outside. "You stay close to me Eden, close!"
"Got it," she shoved her feet back into the boots that she'd worn with her jeans earlier. The heels certainly weren't going to cut it and the flip flops she had as back up would leave her feet too exposed and be seriously shitty to run in.
She nearly fell as another explosion sounded, the screams that followed were louder and filled with more pain. "Now Eden, come on." Kozik could smell the smoke. Something was burning. The screams made him wonder if someone was burning.
Eden grabbed her purse, dug inside and came out with a gun. "What?" She demanded as Kozik raised an eyebrow. "I always have it." She slung the purse over her shoulder and took the hand her offered her."
"I love you Eden," his face grew serious as he pulled her close to him, "stay close and do what I tell you."
"I love you too," she replied as she tried to keep the fear out of her voice when the building shook again.
The door to the room burst open, Opie's large body filling up the door. "You two whole?"
"Yeah, what's going on?"
"Chaos," the man replied. "First explosion was in the kitchen, second in the chapel and the third was in one of the rooms. Don't know what's blowing but if I had to guess I'd say everything's on a timer so we need to move."
Eden followed them into the hallway well aware that both men were using their bodies to shield her and her child. If she wasn't pregnant she would have told them both off, she could handle herself and handle the gun she held as good as either of them but she understood why they'd shield her and she appreciated it.
They barely made it out of the club house, they were feet from the door when three more explosions rocked the structure. The ceiling was even on fire, smoke was so thick that Eden couldn't see Kozik but she could touch him if she reached her hand out.
She coughed and threw up once they hit the fresh air but the air wasn't so fresh. There were bodies everywhere, people who had been inside and people who had fallen victim outside.
There was no rhyme or reason as people milled around. Lorca was barking out orders and she caught sight of other charter President's doing the same. "Fuck," Kozik looked around. "Start getting people out of here, if they don't have a patch get them gone."
"I can do that," Eden fought the urge to vomit again. "Did anyone call the fire department?" The club house was without many neighbors and the ones that they had were known for discretion but with a black cloud of smoke filling the sky she knew that it was a dream to believe no one would have called.
"Probably," Opie looked around, "cops are going to show too."
"And we're all going to be fucked if we're armed." Eden went perfectly still and looked around. "Shit. It's a trap."
"What?"
"It's a trap, it's a fucking trap." She was near hysterical but knew she couldn't afford to be. "This is Lee, get us confused, exposed and knowing that the cops are coming people are going to ditch their weapons which leaves us more exposed."
"Son of a bitch," Kozik swore because he knew that she was right. "There's no fucking way he got inside to plant anything."
"He had someone do it for him," Eden went perfectly still, her eyes closed briefly as her brain finally connected something that had been gnawing at the back of her mind. "Where's Debbie?"
"Debbie?" Opie frowned. "Your friend? I saw her earlier, I saw Hap helping her after the first explosion."
Eden felt her chest tighten painfully, she didn't want Happy anywhere near Debbie. She didn't want anyone anywhere near Debbie now that her brain was firing in full force. Her mouth opened and closed but she couldn't seem to make any sound come out.
"Eden," Kozik stepped in front of her. "Now is not the time to worry about your friend. If she's with Hap I'm sure that she's fine."
"If she's with Hap then I'm not sure he's fine." Eden exhaled as she finally found her voice. "She's got something to do with this. I don't know what but she's got a connection to Lee and I just realized it."
"The fuck are you talking about?" Kozik demanded.
"She told me a story earlier about people getting food poisoning at her cousins wedding but the thing was I'd heard the story before, I couldn't remember who told me. I thought it was like an urban legend but now I remember. Now I know it was Carmen who told me."
"Jesus Christ," Jax exclaimed as he came over to them. "I need everyone's weapons now. Cops will be here in no time and we'll all go down for them. Gonna send Lump away with them in the SUV."
"This is Lee, he set it up some how so that we'll be exposed and unarmed." Kozik told him. "Got to get people out of here, starting with her."
"Me?" Eden shook her head. "No, I'm not leaving."
"Baby, you're going." Kozik moved forward and kissed her hard. "Get her in the SUV with Lump, tell him to head into the forest. He knows spots where they can lay low. I've got to find Lorca. We've got to get ahead of this thing. Get ahead of Lee."
"But..."
"I'll go with them," Opie offered. "Come on Eden, don't make me have to carry you."
"Keep your phone on Baby, I'll call you. I promise."
Tears streaked down Eden's face as Kozik leaned in and kissed her softly. "Don't get dead," she told him as she struggled to compose herself. Hysterics just wouldn't do. Not now.
"Come on," Opie put an arm around her. "Gonna be fine, you'll see."
They'd only taken several steps when the sound of gun fire split the air. People screamed, Eden was one of them but then the next thing she knew she was on the ground with Opie over her.
As soon as the burst of automatic gunfire started, it stopped. The smell of spent casings and blood filled the air. "Fuck, are you hit?"
"No," Eden choked out the words, "can't breathe but I think that's because you're smothering me."
Opie moved off of her cautiously, helped her to her feet and together they surveyed the damage. There were people down, more people than before, there was blood on the hard packed dirt all around them.
People began to call out to one another but there was one voice that Eden didn't hear. She turned slowly so that she could see the spot where she'd last seen Kozik. A scream tore from her lips and then the entire world went black.
