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This chapter is short, but I'm wanting to set up the scene for what's coming next. Note: There is still a few chapters left to this story.

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Fallon: End of an Era

Chapter Thirty-Six

In another time, maybe another place, Dru wouldn't be in the predicament that she's in. For four years she had continually thought of what if. Parallel universes would be nice if they existed. In the counterpart to what was going on here maybe she would simply still be Dru, the Princess of SOA. If that were the case it was a possibility that she and Jax wouldn't be lovers. That would be depressing. However, maybe Opie would still be alive. That was a wonderful thought. Gemma wouldn't have killed Tara and Jax's boys would still be under his guidance. Tara still being alive was disheartening, but at least Abel and Thomas would have their mother. All of these prospects were forever circling Dru's thoughts, but it would never come to pass. She was stuck in this universe; the universe where she was being hunted for who she had become.

There wouldn't be much of a hunt considering anyone who knew her well would know where to find her. She would be by Jax's side till the end of her days. She had promised him that. More importantly she had promised herself that. It was important to live as his lover until she couldn't any longer. After all, it had been her dream for far too long. Dru had to know what it was like to be loved by this man no matter the length of time she had with him. She wouldn't give back a single day to save herself.

As she lay next to the man who had salvaged her soul and revived her spirit Dru couldn't regret anything she had done. After all, her actions had brought her here. It had carried her to this place where she was loved and cherished by this man. Her heart was forever full. It didn't hurt that in the meantime she had preserved her father's legacy. There would be no end to the SOA era. The only thing that hurt was that a Fallon would no longer be a part of it. Soon she would join her father in the afterlife and reap in the rewards of what she had done. Connor Fallon would be so proud.

The night before had been beautiful. Jax had loved not only her body, but also her soul. She no longer felt empty like she had done for so long. She felt whole. Dru was relieved to know she would leave this world feeling this way. It would be demoralizing if she was to leave any other way. No matter the trials before her she would remember their lovemaking as the last breath left her body. There was nothing else she needed.

Dru had been sure to mix the tranquilizer up well in the glass of water she had fetched for him after their fourth round. Jax Teller wouldn't wake up anytime soon which was exactly what she wanted. He didn't need to see her fate. Someone would deliver the news to him she was sure.

She involuntarily crawled out of the bed to begin searching for her clothing he had peeled away from her body the night before. After she redressed herself Dru gave one last lingering look at the man in the bed. The sheets were only tossed over his lower extremities. The Sons of Anarchy tattoo, a large beacon on his back, called out to her like a lover. Dru looked at the scar tissue on her left side with regret. When her own tattoo had been burnt from her body she should have expected the fate awaiting her. Only with the Sons had she felt like she belonged. She never should've left home four years ago. Dru shook her head. It was too late for those thoughts. Her eyes traveled back to Jax. "I'll be seeing you. But hopefully not too soon," she whispered as she walked away for the last time.

She met him out in the desert where there was no one around for miles. Dru couldn't leave without seeing him one last time. After all, he had been the savior she had begged for once upon a time ago.

"Hi, Murphy," she said.

"Dru," he greeted her with a dismal grin. "It's good to see you."

Dru's eyes filled with tears, but refused to let them fall. "It's good to see you too," she told him. "I hate that it's like this, but I couldn't—"

"I know," he cut in.

She nodded in understanding. Murphy always knew.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" he asked.

"There's nowhere for me to run, Murphy," Dru shrugged. "I'm down to one option. I know that's not like me considering I always have several tricks up my sleeve. Not this time though."

"I warned you, Dru."

"I know you did, and I'm grateful. I'm grateful for everything that you've done for me. More so for helping me escape four years ago. But you knew that eventually I would return here, to Charming. You knew I would choose this if it was the only way for Jax and the Sons to live. It's the only thing I've dreamed of, their legacy…my dad's legacy."

Murphy could only nod because he did know. He knew four years ago even as he was falling in love with her that he would never have a chance. Her heart had been claimed long before. "I love you, Dru," he said. He had to say it. He had to let her know that there was one more person that loved her.

The tears fell then. "I know. And I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he shook his head. "I'm not."

"You're a good man, Murphy. I hope whoever loves you back one day will make you the happiest man in the world because you deserve that," Dru told him.

"And I hope you finally find peace."

Dru wiped away the tears and struggled to pull herself back together. "I will," she declared. Now to get back to the matter at hand. "Did you set everything up?"

"I did," Murphy answered.

"Good," Dru nodded. "Now it's only a matter of time."