May 30, 2009

Jacey sat down on the air conditioning unit and sighed, looking back at Elijah after she pulled her long blonde hair up into a top knot, tucking her side-swept bangs behind her ear. Her hand lazily rubbing the fourth set of diamond studs in her ears as she watched the man sit down beside her. "I'm assuming you came up with an answer?" She ran her hands over her thighs, looking down at her dress.

Elijah nodded slowly. "Yes, I've come up with an answer." He looked at her. "I'm not usually allowed to watch anyone I'm not assigned to but since you're basically family, I will happily watch over Cam as I've done with Monica."

"You're not going to get in trouble with Aleksandr or anyone, are you? I don't want that if so…" The blonde shook her head.

"I don't actually answer to Aleksandr anymore." He shook his head. "Bri is technically my boss, so I doubt I'll get in trouble for watching over Camryn."

Jacey nodded slowly, her blue eyes landing on the man beside her again. "I appreciate this a lot. I just figured with all this crazy shit going on, the extra eye on her wouldn't hurt. Plus I figured there's some seriously loyal ties with you and the guys since you're staying in Charming, close to Bri and the kids."

"Don't mention it." Elijah shrugged slightly. "Charming isn't the most ideal place to bunker down so we like to stick around just in case. I'd die if anything ever happened to Bri and the kids, or you and Cam. It'd mean I failed at the one thing I've dedicated my life to."

The blonde slowly nodded her head. "I understand and I really really hate to put this on you now that you've informed me of that. There's no telling what could happen with this supremacist mess, these guys are bat-shit crazy… but I'm sure it'll be over soon and you won't have to worry about watching out for Camryn anymore."

"You don't understand. Once I agree to look after someone it becomes a lifetime thing. I won't ever stop watching after you or Bri, not until I die. I won't stop watching after your kids, until I die. That's how it works, I'm in it until one of us dies and hopefully I'll be going out before the lot of you because I am older." He smiled at her. "I'll always be watching out for your daughter now."

Jacey sighed, nodding. "Then I don't want you doing this, Elijah. I can't burden you with this…" She shook her head. "I won't."

"Too late, you asked, I accepted, I'm doing it." Elijah stood up and adjusted the cuffs of his white dress shirt. "End of story."

She rolled her eyes, leaning back on the unit to get a better look at the man in front of her. "Really, Elijah? You're being a little much here…" She smiled and shook her head as she started to tap her nails on the metal beneath her small hands. "I don't get any say-so, huh?"

He cracked his neck at the annoying sound she was currently making and shook his head slowly. "If you don't want me to watch her then I won't watch her. You can have all the say-so you want Miss Teller."

"I do want you to watch her but you really make me regret asking you because you'd feel like you failed if something happened to her, god forbid nothing does, but still. It'd break my heart if you blamed yourself." She momentarily stopped tapping her fingers before continuing. "You seriously just call me Miss Teller? Makes me sound like I'm fifty."

"Then I won't watch her if what I said makes you feel regretful." Elijah nodded. "Yes, I seriously called you Miss Teller. It's how I show my annoyance if you were Bri, I would be arguing with you right now in Russian."

The blonde rolled her eyes, looking away from the man. "Why are you annoyed with me, sweet Elijah? What have I done now?"

"You know I absolutely abhor the tapping Jacey." He shook his head. "It's annoying."

She shrugged her shoulders. "It's not annoying, you just have a seriously low tolerance for things you can't control." She cut her eyes to him briefly before shrugging again.

"It's annoying, it has nothing to do with control." Elijah rolled his eyes. "If we're done here, I have to handle some business with Bri."

The blonde scoffed. "Of course." She mumbled, moving to stand up. "Go for it. You know the way down."

"And exactly what is your problem?" He eyed her. "What have I done now?"

She shrugged. "I don't have a problem so I don't know what you're referring to…" She shook her head. "You haven't done a thing, you're absolutely perfect." She looked at him briefly before looking away from him.

Elijah scoffed. "You got all upset just now. I was just trying to appease you, give you your way. I didn't mean to upset you Jacey. You know I'm going to look after your daughter regardless of if you had asked me to or not. She's important to Bri and Monica, she's your daughter. It's a family thing."

"I did not get upset…" She shook her head. "Why? It's not a family thing… We're not family. Hell, me and Bri are barely friends anymore so why do you care so much?"

"You scoffed and mumbled." He shrugged. "If you want to look at it that way, then it's fine Jacey. Consider me out of your life and out of your daughter's life. Since we're not family and you and Bri are barely friends. There's nothing tying us to each other anymore. I'm sorry for trying to be a friend and looking out for you. I'm sorry for considering you important enough to deem family. It's my mistake since you obviously don't see us that way."

The blonde huffed and shook her head. "Are you kidding me right now, Elijah? That's not what I meant but ya know what? Have it your way!" She stepped away from the man, a glare clear on her gorgeous face.

Elijah shrugged. "You said what you meant. We're not family, so we shouldn't care about you then? We've known each other for how long now? You need to get out of your head and realize I care about you Jacey and you can push back and say that we're not family or friends but it won't change shit. I like you, I care about you. End of story. You can stomp away now, pitch a fit, glare at me. Do whatever."

"Oh my god, fuck you, Elijah!" She hissed at him, stepping back to him. "I'm not even going to discuss any of this with you. You care on your own terms!" Jacey shoved at his chest. "But only on your terms and when it's convenient for you."

"You've lost your mind. I've cared since the moment I met you and I still care now." He glared at her. "You're the one who needs to take a look in the mirror. I care in my own way, I show it by protecting and watching out for that person. I've been through how much shit with you? I don't know what makes you believe I only care when it's convenient for me because let's be honest here, none of this is entirely convenient for me. I showed up in Cali to look after Bri, not you but since I cared about you, I took you on when we all realized you were super important to Brianna."

Her hand touched her chest. "God, I am just lucky to have you… But tell me something, how were you protecting and watching out for me five years ago? Pretty sure that was a different ball game, huh? Don't think they teach that in bodyguard academy…" She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "If watching out for me is such a difficult task for you then leave, walk away from me and never look back."

"Never went to any bodyguard academy." Elijah rolled his eyes. "It was a mutual physical attraction that could have potentially lead to more had the circumstances have been better… I'm not walking away because like I said this is a lifetime task… I also don't take too kindly to that awful tone of voice you're giving me right now."

Jacey scoffed, shaking her head slowly. "Who left who? Who walked away? Right." She rolled her eyes. "What are you going to do about it? Put me in time-out, spank me, ground me? What's the punishment here? What is Big, Bad, Scary Elijah gonna do?"

"Oh that is such bullshit Jacey. You know I didn't leave you, never walked away. I went away and did a job I was assigned to. It ran long and I let you know that it would go from a week to a month and I never received a call back from you." He shook his head. "I'm not going to do anything but leave this roof and this clubhouse. I'll have Igor come up here and continue to stay with Bri and the kids."

The blonde rolled her eyes again. "Yeah you did. I called you back and told you I'd be here, waiting for you. I told you it was fine. You never called back, you ignored the message and moved on. It was just you wanting something to do since nothing big was happening around you." Jacey looked away from him again. "Perfect… run from this, go right ahead." She mumbled, moving back to the unit to sit down.

Elijah inhaled and closed his eyes before pinching the bridge of his nose and letting the breath out slowly. "Jacey, you're really going to say I moved on when I came back to town after being away I was greeted at your apartment door by Esai?" He shook his head. "You need to open your eyes and realize that I'm not the problem in this situation. I'm never going to be the problem in this situation. I don't even know why we're talking about this since you're practically married with a child… We can go back and forth about this all day but it all comes down to this, I care about you. That's all that matters in this situation."

"Did you ask for me? No. Did you even try to talk to me? No. Like I said you just wanted something to do while you were bored. Ya know what? You're right, I am practically married and I do have a child so what the fuck are you doing here? Why are you arguing with me?" She wiped at her eyes. "I'm apparently the problem in this, I'm the one with all the problems and shit so just walk away. Don't you have to call Igor to handle all this for you?" She shook her head, looking down at the ground. "Forget I even asked you to do anything, it's ok."

"I did ask for you, he said you were in the shower." He shrugged. "You're so delusional if you think you were something that I kept around for entertainment purposes when I got bored. Maybe I shouldn't have even stuck around. Foolish of me to think that you'd- Forget it, I'm done wasting my words and energy with you Jacey." Elijah moved towards the hatch. "Forget it all, I'm beginning to think that I should have stayed in Russia with Monica a little while longer. So far her and Bri are the only two that have shown any signs of being grateful to have me around. I don't even think we can call ourselves friends. I'm done here Jacey, when you decide to grow the fuck up, reach out to me and maybe we can be friends or something."

Jacey stood up and moved to the man, managing to move around him to stand on the door. "I'm ungrateful? Really now? I'm fucking ungrateful? Are you fucking shitting me, Elijah? Wow… And I'm apparently a child too? Good to fucking know, real good. You know what? Why am I even still here, trying to have a conversation with you? Oh but I guess that's because I care about you, you're important and no matter how much of a brick fucking wall you are to talk to, I actually like having you in my life and find you to be highly important." Jacey ran a hand down her face, pushing her bangs behind her ear again. "Ya know what? I'm sorry, really truly sorry… Why I ever even believed anything would come of us sleeping together, I don't know… But I'm sorry for everything… Sorry for always fucking you over."

He nodded slowly as he crossed his arms and stared at the blonde. "We went through all of that just to pull that out of you and I'm the brick wall? I would like to have you know that I'm perfectly open with expressing my feelings to those who are open to expressing theirs with me." He ran a hand over his face and sighed. "Something could have come of that… I don't think you realize a important key factor in the equation. You never stay single for long. Never. You have nothing to apologize for but I am done with this conversation because nothing is going to come out of it because you're in a relationship and I'm a brick wall with poor communicational skills." He smirked at her before lifting her off of the hatch and setting her aside. "I'm done having this conversation here, if you ever want to talk in place that's actually private you know where my place is, you know where my room is at Bri's if I'm there. You know how to find me."

"Don't do that again, Elijah." She grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Do what? Lift you out of my way?" He frowned at her. "Jacey, as much as I would like to stay up here with you, I just can't."

She shrugged. "Why? What so called business is there for you to handle?"

Elijah stared at her before shrugging his shoulders. "I have a date… I promised Monica I would have tea and sandwiches with her."

"Don't think she's too worried about that…" Jacey pointed toward the lined up Harleys."She found her best friends." She smiled before looking down at Happy. "And his Dyna."

He chuckled and shook his head. "One thing you need to know about the Hohrykova women, no matter who they call their best friend or who they date, they will always drop everything to keep their word with me. It's how we stay close and keep the loyalty." Elijah shrugged. "She may be his right now but she'll always be mine."

"Well aren't you just a possessive little bundle of fun…" She cocked an eyebrow at the man.

"Yes, yes I am." He smirked. "It makes for some interesting interactions."

The blonde nodded slowly. "Don't even... That just isn't ok."

"It's not my fault some women like the whole possessive thing." Elijah rolled up his sleeves and continued to smirk. "I really think we should head down though."

The blonde shrugged. "You know damn good and well… - Nevermind. Forget it." She stared at him. "Go ahead… I'm gonna stay and try not to wreck anymore shit."

"Just to clear something up, you and Bri are barely friends? Correct?" He looked at her as he opened the hatch and looked down. "You're aware you can wreck stuff just by avoiding it all, right?"

Jacey eyed him carefully. "If you fuck her please know that this is potentially the last time we will speak..." She nodded her head. "I'm just avoiding my daughter trading me for her father. Nothing more, nothing less."

"You think I'd actually fuck Bri? I'm asking to understand the friendship." Elijah shook his head. "She thinks you guys fixed things but you think there's barely a friendship… Cam will ultimately get with the program and realize you're better to hang out with."

She shrugged. "We're like a separated married couple... Still together because of our profound love and adoration but trying to figure out what happened along the way to drive us apart..." Jacey nodded, smiling. "He's her favorite and that's fine with me for now. She just needs to understand who she put through hell. It definitely wasn't him." She shook her head.

"You two need to get your act together." Elijah frowned. "Once upon a time you were inseparable. Kids don't realize what hell they caused their mom until they become parents."

Jacey shook her head. "You still want to fuck her though." She smiled. "I definitely love her but things just change. Do not speak of her becoming a mother... I just had her!"

"If I wanted to fuck her, I would have done so already." Elijah shook his head. "That's so sad. Alright, no speakin of Cam becoming a mom."

Jacey smiled, nodding. "Let's be honest here. It's Bri. Who wouldn't wanna fuck her? Hell, I'm sure even Hap wants to, he may feel indifferent towards her but he'd definitely fuck her." She grinned. "We'll find our way back..."

Elijah smirked and nodded his head. "I'll admit she's easy on the eyes." He shrugged. "I hope so, it'd suck to live next door to each other and not even talk or whatnot. I'm pretty sure you two see Monica more than you see Bri."

"Uh huh." Jacey shrugged. "I'm fully aware... That child has her own room at my house now. It used to be Bri that had her own room. She used to practically lived with me at the apartment. Those were the good days." She smiled. "We were always having fun, no worries ever."

"I'm gonna go stare at her now." He chuckled. "Oh those were some of my toughest days, having to keep track of where you two were going. Don't think I forgot about that drunken arrest where you two flashed the damn officers."

Jacey rolled her eyes. "Go for it." She looked back at the man she used to love so much and laughed. "I don't have any clue what you're talking about... We so didn't flash anyone, especially any cops."

Elijah nodded. "Don't sound so enthusiastic." He pulled his wallet from his pocket and pulled out two pictures. "I keep the mugshots on me at all times… Just in case I need to use them against you two." He held them up in front of her face. "You look gorgeous in yours."

"Well what was I supposed to say?" She shrugged, smiling at him. "Hey... I was looking good back then! I don't know what you expected from me..." She patted his cheek and shrugged again.

"Don't stare at her or something to that effect." Elijah shrugged and passed her the picture. "Keep it, maybe they'll tack it up on the wall of mugshots down there."

She smiled, shaking her head. "I don't have that authority..." She shook her head. "You keep it. Remind you of the greatest night of your life."

"That wasn't the greatest night of my life, memorable but not the greatest." He pocketed the picture and smiled. "Let me leave you to your thoughts now. I'll talk to you later Miss Teller."

"Whoa whoa no. What was the greatest night of your life if getting a call from some douchebag cop saying he got flashed by your favorite girls wasn't?" She grabbed his arm, stopping him. "And quit with that. I'm twenty five, not fifty-five."

"Meeting you." Elijah smiled. "Quit with what? I thought calling you Miss Teller was a term of respect that you could appreciate."

Jacey smiled. "You remember that? Respectful but it seems a little formal for us."

He nodded. "I remember it. It's more of a reminder to me so I don't cross the line."

"Why?" She shrugged. "What line could you possibly cross with my name?"

"It's a reminder to respect boundaries. There are certain ones that I can't cross with you Jacey." Elijah looked at her before shaking his head.

The blonde shrugged, looking down at herself. "Like what? I don't do anything, say anything, I'm just here." She shook her head. "Why do you remember the night you met me?"

"I can't do the things I do with Bri with you. I have to keep the respect and not take it to far. I can have the whole playful banter with her but not with you. Calling you Miss Teller pulls me out of the mindset I had when we were closer." He shrugged. "Because it was a good night, met a gorgeous, funny, spunky blonde that turned my life upside down because I was caught off guard."

Jacey cocked an eyebrow at him. "What things can you do with her but not me? What's wrong with me?" She looked down at herself before her blue eyes hit the ground as she pursed her lips. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to."

"Oh, no, no. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you." He shook his head. "I just respect you and your relationship. It seems more serious than whatever it is Bri has with Juice. I don't want to disrespect you or Happy." He lifted her face up. "It's not a bad thing Jacey, I just never expected it all to happen. It was good for me even if it didn't end up how I thought it would."

The blonde nodded slowly. "I'm really sorry we got mixed up... I should've stayed on the proper side of the line. The respectful side." She backed away from the man, her eyes looking around them, trying to find something to focus on.

Elijah groaned and dragged a hand down his face. "Stop apologizing for something we both wanted to happen. I have no regrets and I hope you don't either."

"I'm sorry, Elijah, I can't help it!" She shrugged. "We just didn't get a fighting chance."

He sighed, pulling the blonde into a hug. "It's alright, if we're supposed to happen, it'll happen. Don't stress over it. Alright?"

"You have things to tend to and invisible lines not to cross, Elijah. You should get to those things." She quickly recoiled, pulling back.

Elijah nodded. "Fine." He fixed his sleeves and moved closer to the opening. "Enjoy your alone time, Miss Teller." He lowered himself down the ladder, leaving the blonde alone to her thoughts and feelings.

SOA

"What happened to you? Said you were going to talk to Elijah hours ago..." Happy walked to his girlfriend and sat down beside her, squeezing her thigh.

She looked up and shrugged, moving to him and wrapping his arm around her. "We did talk and I just stayed up here..." She pressed a kiss to his cheek and sighed. "You been productive today or did you and Cam just lay around?"

"You finally wanna tell me about Elijah? We robbed a bank, shot up the QuikTrip and then played hide and seek in walmart with Bri, Monica and Javier. You missed out." He grinned at the look on her face. "Seriously, Jace, you know I'm not stupid so don't try to keep shit from me."

The blonde nodded. "I've never thought you were stupid... I just didn't want you to be upset with me over this shit." She sighed. "We were together a long time ago. At some point, me and Esai broke up and I swore we were gonna stay broken up so I started sleeping with Elijah, spending time with him and shit. But the that ended when he left for a while and me and Esai somehow ended up together again."

"Ok... But tell me something. Does your past with Elijah affect our present or future in any way possible?" Happy inquired, not letting his true emotions be seen in his dark brown eyes or on his handsome face.

AN: Because of lack of feedback on this story, I've decided to slack on getting chapters up. I really hate wasting my time writing only to turn around and get no feedback in return. It sucks and makes me feel like I'm just wasting my time so if this chapter and Chap. 39 receive bad feedback, I will stop updating.

Sorry to sound like a bitch but it's honestly discouraging.

On a different note, me and Vaeh (Fairytellerxo - author of Fated who also helps me from time to time) decided to drop a little minor bomb... And I was even nice enough to cut this chapter short and let you lovely readers form your own answers over Happy's question to Jacey. Let me know what you think she's going to say...