*18 Months Later*

"I really appreciate the ride," Macy said sheepishly. "I've never really been good with keeping up on car maintenance."

Opie chuckled a little, "Yeah, I know. You gonna be good without the car till tomorrow?"

Macy nodded, "I'm off the next two days."

"You need anything, you know uh, just let me know, or Jax, or whoever."

"I will, thanks," she said again. "Can I get you something before you head back?" The question was innocent but she knew deep down she didn't want him to run right back to the clubhouse.

"Sure," he shrugged casually.

Opie looked around the living room, it wasn't what he'd expect but Macy wasn't the girl he knew anymore. He noted the pictures of Macy and Shane from their wedding still hung on the walls along with pictures of them with their son, Shane Clarence Walsh. He figured by now Macy would have put certain things away but Shane's face was everywhere and her weddings rings had yet to leave her finger.

"I was kind of surprised you went with Shane for the kid," Opie commented randomly. "Seems kinda arrogant."

Macy looked at him, surprised he'd be so bold in his stupidity, and shook her head. "Really? He's only been gone a year and you're really pulling that shit?"

"No," he said quickly. "I just," he sighed. "It was a joke," Opie uttered awkwardly. "Me and Jax, we used to joke about it before Abel was born. Sorry, Mace."

It was true and Macy believe him mostly because she wanted to. Opie did find Shane to be painfully arrogant at times but he didn't mean it to be as cruel as it sounded.

"It's fine," she shrugged. "I know people think it's odd, all this," Macy gestured to the photos. "All I wanted was a normal, happy family."

"What's normal?" Opie shrugged, trying to sound supportive.

"Maybe growing up with both your parents and definitely not surrounded by criminal activity and violence?"

"We turned out okay," he told her, slightly defensive.

Macy scrunched up her nose. "Did we? You're a mess, Ope, let's be real and I still have photos up featuring a man who abandoned his family." Glancing down at her wedding rings, Macy felt the urge to cry growing stronger. "Why do you assholes always leave? What's wrong with me? What's wrong with my son?"

Hanging his head, Opie rolled the hem of his shirt nervously between his fingers. "It's not you, trust me. Shitty guys don't know what to do with someone like you so we run when things get real or real tough."

Nodding, Macy huffed. "Now I need a fucking drink. You sure you don't want anything?" She asked, escaping into the kitchen.

"Guess I'll take a beer," he shrugged, following her through the house. "When's Beach dropping off the kid?"

"Around dinner," Macy sniffled. "Guess it was a good day to leave him at the county employee daycare, huh?"

"Just don't let Gem find out," Opie joked, gratefully taking the beer she offered him.

"Yeah, Mom of the Year really disapproves of daycare," Macy scoffed.

"I know Gem is tough," Opie sighed, "But she does love you."

"Oh I have no doubt she loves me, it's the like part I doubt."

"Why?"

"I've done a lot of growing up since I left Charming. I can see how fucking bitter she is, I can see how she resents me. I swear if she was able to find out I was a girl before I was born, she would have aborted me."

"Jesus, Mace," Opie grumbled. "Don't say that shit."

"It's true."

"It's not."

"Agree to disagree," Macy huffed.

Opie nodded and took another swig of his beer. "Maybe I should head out."

"Why?" Macy asked quickly.

"I don't wanna, ya know, bother you or something."

Macy shook her head. "You can stay. Honestly I get pretty fucking lonely lately."

"Uh, alright," he mumbled. "How's work?"

Giggling, Macy shook her head as she answered. "Good. Fine, I guess. You're really very awkward, it's endearing though."

"Still?" He laughed. "Thought by now it would be annoying."

"Nah, honestly I wish it was," she said seconds before taking a drink from her own bottle. "It would be easier to keep up the years of bitterness and hateful shit."

"That's an effort, huh?" Opie rolled his eyes. "Good to know it's hard to hate me."

"I don't hate you, not anymore at least."

"I'll write that shit in my diary," he joked to cover his joy.

"Smartass," she sneered. "You really think naming him after his father was weird?"

Opie nodded, "Sorry, but yeah. I kept trying to get Wendy to agree to name Abel after Jax. Jackson junior," he laughed heartily, "But she refused."

"Then she shot up and almost killed him," Macy huffed.

"That hate easy to keep up over the years?" Opie asked, growing more and more comfortable.

"Yeah," she said spitefully.

"Guess I'm special," he smiled a little, only partially joking.

"You always have been, Ope," she admitted. "I'm sorry if I was ever overly cruel. You fucked me over, you crushed me, but I know you had your reasons even if they were selfish deep down."

"Uh," he cleared his throat. "Was that good or bad? I don't know," he said hesitantly.

Macy felt her eyes well up. "Oh Ope," she sighed. "It was good, I don't think I'll ever fully forgive you, to be clear, but I don't harbor any ill will."

"I missed you," he admitted sadly. "Even just as my best friend, my only real fucking friend outside the club."

"We had a lot of fun," she said nostalgically. "Sometimes I miss that stuff, before we hooked up, when things were much simpler."

"Me too," he sighed. "Woulda done shit a lot differently."

"Being with me?" She asked so quickly she didn't even have a chance to stop herself.

Opie shook his head. "No way, not you. I wouldn't have done that job or I wouldn't have trusted Hobart."

"I haven't thought about him in years," she sighed.

"I think about him," Opie grunted, "All the fucking time. He ruined my goddamn life."

"You're putting it back together pretty well," she said supportively.

"Still fucking alone," he admitted.

Macy inhaled sharply and broke eye contact. "You'll find someone."

"I already did," he whinnied. "It's always gonna be you, Mace." Opie placed his half empty bottle on the mantel and headed for the door.

"I'm married," she whimpered.

"Shane bolted, Mace. Left you and that kid alone, he was just a couple months old. That really better than what I did?"

"You know it's not," Macy snapped. "It's different though."

"How?" He asked forcefully.

I'm not doing this," she grumbled. "This is the first time we've spent more than two minutes alone together. Let's not push it."

Nodding, Opie pulled his keys from his pocket. "Yeah. Sorry."

"Why do you have to ruin everything?" She asked, on the verge of tears. "We were having fun. We could have tried to be friends again."

"Cause I can't do that," he said sadly. "Since I picked you up I've been obsessing over you. Your hair still smells the same, you're still so beautiful."

"Okay, yo-you should go," she swallowed hard. Macy's heart ached as she looked up at him wanting nothing more than to keep him there with her.

"I'm sorry," he huffed. "Can't help myself."

"Yeah, me neither," she said quietly, her chin trembling. Macy moved toward the door and grabbed his hand, giving in to the budding feelings she'd had for months. "Finish your beer. I really don't want to be alone."

"Me neither," he admitted. "I'm so tired of being alone, Macy."

"Ope," she whimpered. "How did we fall back into this so quickly?" Macy asked, looking up at him as they moved closer and closer together.

"Maybe it's where we're supposed to be," he suggested, pushing her bangs back out of her eyes.

Macy opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Instead, she remained still as he leaned down and kissed her softly. Her heart skipped, her fingers gripping the edge of his kutte as their kiss deepened.

"This is bad," she whispered, their lips still touching.

"I don't care," he said breathlessly. "I need you, Mace."

Macy just nodded and let him pick her up, carrying her across the house and perching her on the edge of the dining room table.

"I love you," he uttered as he began kissing her neck.

"Don't say that," she told him, her fingers already tangled in his hair. "Just don't say anything."