Heres to another chapter!

I have started to work out how i will get this to continued into Season 2 with some of the events and plot points from it.

All errors as always are mine, and i appreciate you all sticking around.

So in rewatching season 1 and season 2 (because you know why not) i really felt like a lot of Topper's faults are in peer pressure from his friends. In Season 2 ... Spoiler if you havent seen it... sorry in advance... but despite him using the whole deal with Sarah's dad and John B as a way to get closer to her, he truely was looking out for her i think, and i do think he has some redeeming things that could happen in future seasons... so that being said i wanted to give him some redemption in my story.

Hope you like it.

I am always open to suggestions if you have any :)

Thanks!

We stayed embraced together until I could feel the water, once warm on JJ's body, now cold. Slowly our group hug dispersed. Pope stepped aside, followed by Kie, both stepping back but not out of sight. My hand still on the back of his head moved so I could cup the side of his face and pull his head up to look at me. His eyes were red and he was doing a good job avoiding meeting my eyes.

"Come on J," I whispered softly pulling back slightly. He gave a small nod and we slowly made our way out of the hot tub. It had been a long day for everyone, but just by the way JJ allowed me to lead him through the Chateau to the bathroom, it was evident he had no energy left. He sat unmoving as I turned the water for the shower on. "Hey," I whispered kneeling in front of him, putting my hands on either side of face so he couldn't avoid me. "Take a shower, it always helps. I will be right outside okay." He didn't respond right away, but finally he took a shaky inhale of breath and closed his eyes nodding.

Giving him a small smile, I placed my lips to his forehead before turning and walking out of the bathroom. Kie and Pope both sat on the pull out, looking up as I walked out.

"I had no idea it was that bad…" Pope commented quietly.

"Don't do that." I shook my head. "Don't do the pity, he didn't tell anyone how bad it was because he didn't want you guys to look at him as a victim. He doesn't want you to feel bad or fix this, just knowing he has you guys is enough for him."

"He does." Kie nodded taking a deep breath.

"I know…. And deep down so does he, he just needs the reminder sometimes." I said looking over my shoulder at the bathroom.

"I'm gonna call John B." Pope stated as he moved to stand up. "Let him know what…"

"Don't say to much… Its not our story to tell." I warned and Pope nodded holding the phone up as he walked to the porch.

"You two going home tonight?" I asked Kie leaning on the table behind me.

"I think we're gonna stay, even if…. I just think we all need to be here together." She shrugged and I gave a sad smile nodding, looking at my feet. "You know he is going to kill me for saying something, but Pope has been beating himself up, blaming himself for all this… I don't know what to do or say."

"I don't think we can say anything. We just need them to know we are all together." I sighed. "Never leave a Pogue behind." We sat silently for a moment after that both lost in our own thoughts. After the silence became too much, I resigned myself back to John B's room after saying good night to Kie. Looking through John B's room I quickly found what I had been looking for under his bed. The stash him and JJ and put there after Peterkin had made her visit.

I heard the water stop in the bathroom and busied myself rolling out a blunt and setting myself on the open window, lighting it and taking the first drag. I heard a quiet 'night' from Kie and 'love you man' from Pope in what I assume was them giving JJ another comforting hug before he came into the room. Choosing to keep my eyes focused on the black space out the window the wood creaked as JJ entered the bedroom. J still between my thumb and index finger I gave it another puff before turning to find him leaning on the foot of the bed beside her.

Standing I stood in front of him, placing myself between his legs holding the blunt in front of him. He gave a soft quiet chuckle, and a small smile threatened the corner of his mouth as he took it, putting it to his lips almost instantly. My fingers trailed the side of his face, up his jaw to the hair above his ear, gently running them through it, keeping my touch light.

We finished smoking and moved to lay on the bed. The last few days JJ typically would hold me as I fell asleep but tonight, I pulled him to me, wrapping my arm around the back of his shoulders so his head was on my chest. He hesitated for a second before placing his arm over my stomach, his hand finding the hem of my shirt, his fingers running over the skin at my hip. I continued to run my fingers through his hair long past when his breathing became slow and calm as he fell into a dreamless sleep.

I laid unable to sleep staring at the ceiling and listening to his breathing my mind running 100 miles an hour. My thoughts raced from going after Luke, to Rafe, the gold, restitution. There had to be something I could do, something that would ease all the pressure that was on, not just JJ's, but Popes, and Kies and even my own shoulders. These were my people, this was my family, I had to do something. It wasn't until the dark sky started to grow lighter as the sun threatened to peak over the horizon that I came up with a solution to everyone's problems.

Slowly I moved myself from JJ's hold trying to avoid waking him up. Once I had removed myself from his grasp I slid from the bed finding my bag and shoes on the floor next to the door. Turning to the bed, JJ was still asleep and I made my way over to it one more time giving him a kiss on his cheek softly before opening the bedroom door. All I had to do was get to the front door. Pope was asleep on the pull out his back to the door as I slipped out holding the door as it shut keeping it from slamming against the house.

"Where are you going?" Kie asked surprising me, and I cursed under my breath holding my chest. I put my finger to my lips and headed down the steps Kie close behind. "What's going on?"

"I think I can fix this whole mess." I said quietly unlocking my car throwing my bag in. "Look if I can fix this, I am going to."

"That's not suspicious at all…. Are you going to elaborate at all?" She scowled at me.

"No." I shook my head rolling my eyes leaning on the hood of my car. Her scowl deepened as we stared at one another.

"Why."

"Because you wont like it, and if I don't tell you… you wont tell them." I said gesturing to the house where the boys were still asleep.

"I already don't like it if you won't tell me." I sighed not wanting to get into this with her.

"I have to go to the main land okay. I need to get to the ferry." Raising an eyebrow out me she urged me to continue. "Look I should be back by this afternoon. I will text JJ so he knows I didn't dip on him and I will let you know if something comes up. Kie… I have to do this… I have to do something, please just trust me." I begged her and her expression softened.

"He isn't going to like that you're not here you know that." She crossed her arms, not aggressively but to keep out the early morning cold.

"I know," I said softly and decided before she could talk me out of going to get in my car. Giving her a reassuring smile I turned my car and pulled away from the Chateau watching it shrink in my rear view. I made it to the Ferry a few minutes before it left barely making it. While I sat in my car as it pulled away from the island I pulled my phone out and sent a quick text to everyone.

The Maybank

I promise I will be back this afternoon.

Had to run into town and pick somethings up.

I will bring food when I get back.

I tried to make it light, I didn't want to bring anything from the night before into the message, but I needed him to know I would be coming back. We still hadn't talked about what was said the day before, and he may truly believe that I didn't belong there, but that was still something we needed to talk about. I then hovered over John B's name.

Johnny B

I am sure Kie already called you.

I will be back this afternoon.

No, I am not telling you what I'm doing.

Look after JJ for me.

After that I turned my phone off and threw it on my seat leaning back and closing my eyes. Once the ferry docked on the mainland I drove towards my destination, that just happened to be a bank. I had a plan, but I knew paying the restitution would be monumentally stupid. Not only would that solve nothing between Kooks and Pogues, but JJ would be pissed. However, there was another option and the money was just a way to help the situation overall.

The money was mine, it was from my savings account from all my odd jobs so my dad couldn't claim it. My dad may be on my account since I was a minor, but it was my money, money I could choose to spend as I wanted…and this is what I wanted to do. After spouting some shit about buying a boat on the cut I walked out with an envelope of money. The longest part of this whole plan was the stupid ferry. Just as I had left the ferry, I was in the line again to get back on to head back to OBX.

Turning my phone back on I knew I would have several messages.

Miss Kie

Girl you better get back before the boys send out a search party.

Johnny B

That's too vague. Where did you go?

Kook Princess

Rowyn you have succeeded in freaking everyone out.

Please call me

Miss Kie

I don't know how much longer I can keep him here.

He thinks you left because of what he said.

Call him

The Maybank

I didn't mean what I said Roe.

Please just come back.

Did you go home?

Talk to me.

I will be there in an hour. Promise. 3

I felt bad. I really did. I knew what waking up alone would do, but if I had waited for him to wake up, leaving without telling him what I was going to do would have been that much harder. I didn't want him talking me out of it, and he would have, I would have stayed in bed with him all day if he had asked. As the ferry pulled into the Kildare Port I headed back on the island and headed towards Figure 8.

Pulling into the country club I waited a whole minute before killing my engine and stepping out. I greeted several people as I entered the club, several asking about my dad and commenting about the antics of Midsummers. Finally, I found who I had come to see.

"Topper." I walked up to the table. Kelce was there along with girl, Sydney I think and a boy I had only seen at a few parties, I think his name was Elliot.

"Uh, Rowyn what are you doing here?" Topper seemed shocked and surprised to see me and he pushed his chair out to stand.

"I was hoping I could talk to you for a second." I said eyeing an empty table out on the balcony. I saw him hesitate and Kelce gave him a confused scowl. "Please."

"Sure… yeah, okay." He nodded moving away from the table. I felt his hand on my lower back ushering me out to the table I had motioned to earlier. I could feel the eyes from the table follow us out, but I disregarded them as I took my seat in front of him. "So, uh… how's the hand?"

I looked down at my hand on the table distinct purple and blue littered my knuckles. Self-consciously I clenched it and put it under the table. "Its um… sore."

"Yeah. You got him pretty good, took a good minute to get his nose to stop bleeding." Topper nodded. This whole conversation was awkward, and at this moment pointless.

"He had it coming… for a long time." I murmured. "Look Topper I have a request." He brought his eyebrows together in a scowl and I took a deep breath before continuing.

"I want you to drop the charges for the damage to your boat." He looked away from me like he couldn't believe what I was saying. "Hear me out. Your boat wouldn't have been sunk if you guys hadn't jumped Pope as he was doing his job, am I wrong?"

"No but that thirty grand Rowyn. Someone has to pay for that." Topper said.

"I agree and to be honest I really think Rafe should pay it, but since I don't see that happening, like ever… I have the money." I pulled the envelope out and set it on the table out of sight from everyone else in the club.

"You… you're going to pay for the restitution?" he raised his eyebrow now confused.

"No." I shook my head. "Did you really want to press charges Topper?" I asked. He turned away looking out at the coast line. "Fine don't answer I will talk instead…. You didn't want to beat Pope up Rafe did and you were just there…. You didn't want to press charges, shit the charges were on Pope, seventeen years old merit scholar, that would ruin him, but your mom didn't care she pressed the charges."

"What do you want me to do Rowyn…"

"I want you to grow a set Topper. You obviously give a shit about people, unlike other Kooks, grow a pair and do the right thing." I interrupted him raising my voice slightly leaning into the table. "Stand up to your freaking mom. She wants you to grow up, then grow up and stop putting the fall on everyone else."

He leaned forward and closed his eyes his hands intertwined on the table his thumbs on the bridge of his nose. "I will pay for the damage Topper, damage the never should have happened because you have shit friends, but this has gotten out of hand. People's lives are being affected, people that shouldn't have to deal with it… hell you shouldn't have to deal with it."

"Look I cant just drop the charges, that's not how it works." He sighed.

"Yes it is. Tell your mom you wont testify, you are the witness, outside of what the sketchy picture they have… Look you don't testify and you claim it was done under aggravated reasons is enough the DA could drop it." I said, I had thought this all out last night and had run it through several scenarios multiple times on the ferry. "Your grandfathers a judge, he can get ahold of the DA and get the charges dropped." Topper seemed to think over what I was saying but his jaw was set and he looked back into the club again.

"Rowyn…"

"Prove to me that Kooks aren't all just selfish assholes." I said quietly my tone becoming soft. "Do you really want to be in Rafe's shadow… going down that road. You know he's slipping, is that really who you want to follow?"

Topper met my eyes finally and I stared at him, my eyes seemingly begging for him to be the guy Sarah talked about those years they were together. To be a fucking man. Before he could say anything a women came up to the table. Her hair in a tight clip on the back of her head.

"Topper." She greeted stepping up to our table. Her eyes traveled from him to me eyeing me up and down.

"Good Afternoon Dr. Thornton." I smiled. "I was… um came in to pick food up. I'm just going to go." Something about the women always gave me chills. Slowly I stood grabbing the envelope and putting it back in my bag as I waved at Topper, pleading with him to consider our conversation. As I made my way to the bar to order food for the Chateau I heard Toppers conversation with his mom.

"I want to drop the charges." I kept my eyes in front of me biting my lip trying to keep from turning around.

"Topper we will discuss this later." His mother hissed firmly.

"You told me to grow up mom." He continued. "That is what I am doing. The boat incident was aggravated from something that happened earlier. I will pay for the damage, but I am not going to have someone's life destroyed because a feud went to far. I wont testify for it. Its my boat… and I'm dropping the charges, I'm gonna call grandpa and have him talk to the DA."

"Did that … Did she talk you into it?" I knew she was pointing at me but I choose to keep my back to them.

"She is a friend having lunch with me… And this was my choice, I never wanted to press charges in the first place." He said and despite how scared I knew he was, finally standing up to her, his voice was strong. There was a long pause and I thought maybe they had left.

"This is your decision… fine but you will not see a dime from me to fix that boat." She stated and then I heard the familiar sound of her heals walking across the club. Risking a look over my shoulder Topper was now leaning on the railing looking out towards the coast his head down, shoulders tense. Stepping away from the bar I went to stand next to him.

"Thank you." I said and in response all I received was a loud exhale of breath and a nod. Reaching back into my bag I pulled the envelope out and handed it to him. "Here"

"You don't have to pay Roe. You didn't do anything." He shook his head still refusing to look at me.

"I know a thing about demanding parents that thinks your never good enough." I smiled sadly pushing the money towards him on the railing. He looked up at me and I met his eyes. "I want to help." I heard my name at the counter, and I turned. "Will you um… when you talk to your grandpa, will you tell me what happens?" He nodded as I left leaving the envelope beside his hand. Grabbing the two bags of food from the counter I headed out of the club. Once in my car I breathed a sigh of relief and felt tears come to my eyes and a little bit of the weight lift from my shoulder.

Pulling into the Chateau I knew the shit show I was driving into. Kie was going to be up my ass about what I did, John B and Sarah would be right there with her, Pope would be concerned that I just up and left, and then there was JJ. True to my word I had only been gone half the day and I had brought food, so hopefully the second degree wouldn't be too bad. The Pogue's, minus Pope, were out in the yard each sprawled around the hot tub in the hammocks and chairs. Taking a deep breath I walked up to them, John B looked up and I gave him a 'don't ask' look followed by looking at Kie shaking my head slightly.

"Bout time, wasting away over here Rowyn." John B resigned himself to say and I smiled a small bit of relief rushing through me.

"Next time you can custom order everyone's meals." I said setting the bags down in the center of the group. Despite their curiosity they all eagerly went to the bags tearing at the containers passing them to each other. Smiling I looked to the hammock a few feet away, JJ was swinging slowly, his lighter flicking on and off in his hand. I felt a small shutter of my heart and I looked away. "I'm going to go clean up. I'll um… I'll be out in a minute."

I went into the Chateau and went right to the bathroom shutting the door. Running the water in the sink I splashed it over my face relishing in the cool liquid as it ran down my face. A knock on the door startled me from my thoughts and I turned the sink off and grabbed a towel drying my face. I opened the door just as JJ was about to knock again. He just stared at me in the doorway.

"Hey." I breathed out.

"Hey." He responded. His voice was quiet and deflated. I sighed the silence between us stretching even as we stood only inches from each other. I wasn't about to stand awkwardly in the bathroom, so I gave him a small smile and snuck past him heading out to the porch. "Wait." He reached out and grabbed my hand only for me to grimace and pull it away a pained expression on my face.

"Shit." I cursed under my breath holding the hand to my chest. He scowled at me stepping closer his touch gentle as he pulled my hand to him, the scowl deepening and turned to concern as he ran his thumb over my bruised knuckles.

"What happened?" he asked looking up at me. I chewed my lip pulling my hand back slowly.

"Its really nothing…"

"That's not what I asked." He said his voice harder.

Defeated, and to be honest to tired to argue or come up with any excuse I let out a breath before answering. "Rafe."

"Rafe..?" He repeated still searching for a better answer.

"To be more specific, his face." I said with a bit of amusement in my voice. Before he could say anything else I went out to the porch planting myself on the torn, and ratty old couch I claimed whenever I stayed at the old fish shack. I didn't know if he would follow me, but I was happy to find he had and he sat himself beside me, but there was a distance between us that I wasn't okay with. We watched the others as the tossed fries across the yard to each other not saying anything.

"J…" I finally spoke but he spoke at the same time.

"I didn't think you would come back." He said. I turned to look at him, but he was intently focused on the trees in front of us. "I woke up and you weren't…"

"JJ…" I turned myself and tried to reach out and touch his hand, but he flinched away. It wasn't a big flinch, I was subtle and could have been mistaken as a hand twitch, but I knew different.

"What I said… when you came after me… I didn't mean…"

"I know," I sighed. "You were angry, scared."

"When I woke up this morning, I thought you went back. My first thought was you went back to your house. After everything I thought I pushed you back to that…that house." He said his voice quiet as he spoke, but his fist clenched in anger. I didn't hesitate this time, I placed my hand over his fist, and he finally turned to look at me. My eyes were wet with unshed tears and the tension in his shoulder released. "I was wrong Rowyn you belong here you know that right."

I nodded and moved closer cuddling up into his shoulder. I felt his arm wrap around my back and pull me closer. He let out a shaky breath and I closed my eyes taking in his scent, listening to his heart in his chest beat.

"I need you Roe." He whispered his lips touching the top of my head and I smiled lazily.

"I need you too JJ." I say back and his hand ran up and down my back. After a few minutes he broke the quiet with a small chuckle.

"So Rafe huh?" he asked, "Sure wish I could have seen that, what'd he do anyway?"

"Brought up my mom." I shrugged. "Plus, I've wanted to punch him for the last year." He responded with a good hearty laugh and he squeeze my shoulder. As he held me, I felt myself slowly drifting into an exhaustion fueled sleep. As soon as I fully relaxed into his embrace Pope came running down the driveway.

"Guys!" he yelled, and I shot up heart pounding. The other stood and JJ and I met Pope in the yard. JJ stood close behind me as he made his way to us doubling over trying to catch his breath.

"Pope… you good man?" John B asked. He walked up to him putting a hand on his shoulder as Pope took in a few deep breaths.

"I know… I know …."

"Spit it out man." JJ said.

"I know where the gold came from." He said and we all froze looking at one another.