Thank you all so much for your incredible patience! I know it takes me forever to update, and I'm so grateful for those of you who are still hanging in there with me! Thank you for those of you who took the time to read and review! I really appreciate your kind words!
I apologize for my lack of updates. I've been going through a really rough time at work, so I've lost a lot of the drive to write, but I'm trying to be better about it! :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Angela and Chloe. The rest is all from the mind of the brilliant Kurt Sutter. :)
Overexposed
Chapter 21: Rest
By Love Ink
Juice trudged up the stairs of the Alvarez's place thoroughly exhausted. Thankfully, the Santo Padre chapter was still sitting on the house and let him in, otherwise he would've been locked out. He could hear Dia and Marcus talking in soft tones as he passed by their bedroom. He peeked into Tessa's room, smiling a bit when he saw Tessa and Evie cuddled up together in the lower bed of the bunk bed, a book and a flashlight on top of the covers with them. He walked in and turned off the flashlight, leaning over to kiss his daughter's forehead before pulling the covers over them and heading back out. He hoped when he got to the room Angela would be asleep like she was supposed to be; she hadn't slept well since Chloe and Dia had been kidnapped, which he knew was bad for the twins.
He opened the door and found her awake, face illuminated by the light of her iPad. Her hair was a complete mess, dark bags under her eyes. "Angel, its almost three in the morning," he said, closing the door behind him.
Her dark eyes were wide as she looked up at him. "What?"
"It's three A-M. You should be asleep. You need to sleep."
"Why are you here? Thought you were staying with Chloe."
"They kicked me out," he lied on a shrug. "Hap texted me while I was on the way over. Said she's awake and fine. No other details."
Angela let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God," she said, flopping onto her back and staring at the ceiling. She tossed the covers off of her, sitting up a bit. "I should go…"
"Sit the fuck down and get back in bed," he ordered, his frustration evident in his voice.
A confused look crossed her face; it'd been years since he'd talked to her like that. "What?"
He pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it into the hamper as he opened up his suitcase for a clean one to sleep in. "I'm tired of this shit, Angel. You are pregnant with twins. You have to take care of yourself, and if you're not gonna do it, then I'm gonna have to force you to," he said, hating himself for being such a dick. It had to be said, though. "Chloe is fine. She's awake and alive and you going to the hospital right now is gonna do absolutely nothing. She's safe, Dia's safe, everything is okay now. Go the fuck to sleep. Now. Please."
Angela's jaw dropped a little, but she didn't look upset, instead there was a familiar darkness to her eyes as they moved over him. She closed her mouth, biting at her lower lip. "You gonna make me, Juan Carlos?"
Juice hesitated, unsure if he was reading the signs right. The way she'd said his name had sent shivers down his spine, his blood rushing to one particular part of his body. He hoped to God he was right. "I um…this is…are you turned on right now?"
She nodded slowly. "A little. Baby hormones. What else do you want me to do, baby?"
He blinked at her, trying to process what she was saying. He'd expected her to be upset with him for trying to order him around. This was the complete opposite and had completely thrown him off his game. "Oh. Oh, right," he stammered before clearing his throat. "I um…I want you to eat more and better."
"Uh-huh," she said, gesturing for him to come closer with a finger.
He moved in closer, smirking as her hands went to his belt buckle. He dipped his head closer to hers, and she tilted her head back as she sought out a kiss. He didn't give her one, pulling away ever so slightly. "Lie down."
She did as she was told, her hand going to the back of his neck to bring his face closer to kiss him, but he denied her again, loving the little sound of frustration she made in response. "Promise me you're gonna take care of yourself," he said, looming over her. She nodded quickly, her dark eyes on his lips. "Say it, Angel."
She swallowed hard. "Promise," she breathed, her thumb smoothing over the base of his neck.
He caught her lips in a hot kiss, lowering himself on top of her gently as her hands moved through his hair. Pulling away from her, he kissed his way down her neck, nipping at her collar bone lovingly. " 'm gonna tire you out, Angel. Make you sleep for days."
Angela laughed, tilting her head to the side to allow him better access as she undid his belt, her hand sliding into his pants. "Not if I tire you out first, Juan Carlos."
"Game on."
Angela's stomach churned as she pulled up to the front of St. Thomas. Juice had told her time and time again Chloe was fine, but she had a feeling he was sugar coating things and dreaded what she was going to find once she got to Chloe's room. She didn't bother with the front desk at St. Thomas, going straight up to the ICU. No one really paid her any mind. Throughout the years, she'd spent a lot of time at the hospital and most of the nurses and doctors were used to her being there. No one even tried to stop her from visiting on off hours anymore.
"It is only six in the morning. You should be sleeping, no?" a familiar voice said from behind her.
She wheeled around and fought the urge to roll her eyes at her mother. "I was. And then I woke up and decided to come visit Chlo. Make sure she's okay," she answered on a shrug, her eyes scanning over the name board to find Chloe's name.
Graciela clucked her tongue, shaking her head. "What you are doing is unhealthy. You need to take better care of my grandbabies."
"I am, I am," she insisted, rubbing a hand over her belly. "How's Chloe?"
"Stable," she informed her with a frown. She explained more of what happened, but it all went pretty far over Angela's head. "Pero she woke up and talked to your cousin for awhile. He said she could move her feet so that's a good sign."
Angela smiled, feeling a wave of relief rush over her. "Thank God. Hap still there?"
"No. She sent him away, so he's been sulking around in the cafeteria. He won't go home pero he won't go in her room either," she explained with a shrug. "Chloe's hurt now, but I think she will see how much he loves her and want him back. Vas a ver." (You'll see)
She nodded slowly, twisting her ring around her finger. It didn't surprise her that Chloe sent Hap away. Hell, she was surprised Chloe had stayed with him for so long. This dangerous life wasn't something she was used to, and Angela couldn't blame her for not wanting to be a part of it anymore especially since it had put her in a hospital. "We'll see. Can I go in there?"
"She's sleeping, mija."
"So? I want to sit down. Put my feet up. I'm pregnant and tired. Just lemme sit in there and hangout. I promise I won't wake her up," she pleaded, knowing she might be able to sweet talk her mother. "C'mon, Mama. I don't want your nurse friends fussing again. Just want to support my friend in peace. Por favor."
Graciela hesitated before sighed shortly. "Bueno. Pero if you wake her up, you come get me. The doctors need to run tests and she needs to be awake for that."
"Gracias," she said, kissing her mother's cheek.
She kissed her back, patting the side of her face lovingly. "I'm so happy you're home, mi Angelita. I've missed you so much."
Angela smiled a bit; not used to hearing such kind words from her mother. "Missed you, too," she replied, shoving her hands in her pockets. She saw a nurse heading towards them and grimaced. "I'm gonna go, 'fore anyone sees me."
"Go, go," Graciela urged, gesturing her away. "I'll distract her."
Laughing softly, Angela entered Chloe's room closing the door behind her. Turning, her heart sank in her chest when she spotted her friend laid up in the hospital bed. Bouquets and balloons covered the tables around her showing off messages of "Get Well Soon" and "Feel Better." Angela was willing to bet those were from her co-workers. They made the room look a little brighter, but they didn't detract from how sad Chloe looked laid up in that bed.
"Shit, Chlo," she murmured, moving to take a seat in the chair beside her bed. "Hopefully things aren't as bad as they look, huh?"
She leaned back in the seat, moving another one over to prop her feet up on. Sighing, she grabbed remote and turned on the TV, flipping through channels until she found a good one. "Hope you don't mind Animal Planet. 's the best channel they got, to be honest. The rest all come in fuzzy as shit…and I know that because I've spent way too much time in this hospital."
Angela's hand moved to her belly. "Next time I come here, 'sides for Lena, is hopefully going to be for you two bugs because no one else is allowed to get hurt."
The next time Chloe opened her eyes, it was Angela who was sitting beside her perfectly in her eyeline as if she hadn't wanted to startle her. Chloe felt guilt blossom in her stomach; did Angela know she'd sent Happy away? That she was considering never letting him back in?
While she could see her, Angela wasn't aware she was awake just yet. Her chair was turned towards the television, her feet propped up on another chair. Chloe smirked when she realized a kid's animal show was playing on the TV and her friend was absentmindedly stroking a hand over her belly as she watched it. She didn't look upset at all, just exhausted.
"Hey," Chloe croaked, catching her attention.
Angela turned her head, a small smile on her face. "Hey," she replied, a look of relief on her face. "How you doing?"
"Okay," she answered, frowning a little. She tapped her fingers against the stiff mattress. "Anyone tell you what my damage is?"
"Umm the medical shit goes way over my head, but apparently they put metal rods in your back to stabilize it? So you're bionic now. Congrats," she drawled, without any real enthusiasm.
Chloe couldn't help but smile at her friend's sarcasm. Leave it to Angela to make light of the situation. "It sounds a lot cooler than it is, trust me," she stated, rubbing some of the sheet between her thumb and forefinger.
"I don't doubt that," she muttered, looking at her phone for a moment. "You want me to get a doctor or a nurse? They're supposed to run tests 'n' shit when you're fully awake."
She glanced at the clock on the wall surprised by how early in the morning it was. Angela was definitely breaking hospital rules by being there. Then again, Angela never followed hospital rules in the first place, so she wasn't really surprised. "Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
"I did. I've only been here a few minutes, I swear," she replied with a scowl. At Chloe's look of disbelief, she rolled her eyes. "Relax. If you must know, Juice made sure to tire me out last night, and he was very, very successful. I slept just fine."
Chloe could see the dark hickey on her neck and a red chafed area on her chest which could only have been made by the short facial hair just was rocking. She wrinkled in her nose in disgust. "Gross."
"You wanted to know if I slept. I'm telling you I did."
She laughed, feeling a little better with her friend there. "Surprised you're not mad at me. Figured Hap might've mentioned I sent him away."
Angela seemed to consider it for a moment before she sighed. "You were my friend before you started fucking my cousin," she stated bluntly. "Curious about why, but…I'm not gonna leave you when you need me."
"Why," she repeated softly, wondering how to tell Angela so she would understand. "He promised me his life would never bleed into mine. That I was safe, and I have always felt like that. And then this shit happens, and I get shot and wind up in a damn hospital bed. That's some scary stuff, Ang. I don't know how you did it. How did you put up with all that stuff with you and Juice and being shot and stabbed and stayed with him? Its not normal."
She was quiet for a very long time, contemplating what she'd said. Finally, she cleared her throat. "Shockingly enough, it was kinda normal for me, back then," she murmured, messing with her wedding ring. "I grew up in this life, Chlo. I was held up at gunpoint when I was eight years old, was doing stupid shit with the Mayans as a teen, and honestly, getting shot and stabbed had nothin' to do with Juice or the Sons. Getting abducted the first time with Tara did, obviously, but the real bad one was my own shit coming back to haunt me. Reason I made it through all that was because of Juice. I couldn't have done it without him. He kept me sane. He still keeps me sane."
"You never resented him? He put you through a lot of shit, and I only know like half of it."
Angela was silent again as she twisted her wedding ring around her finger. "I dunno how to answer that. I was…pissed at him for a lot of things, but I never resented him for them. Juice is…he's a loyal guy at heart and the Sons were his family. Everything he did was for his family. And I love him for that. For wanting to be there for them, even though they killed him for it. How can I resent him for that shit when it's the reason I fell in love with him to begin with? I wanted a family man. His family was…unconventional, but his loyalty to it wasn't. It's something that attracted me to him 'cause I value family and the people I love the same way."
Chloe couldn't help but smile; the love Angela had for Juice was insane. She honestly didn't quite understand it. The only thing she understood was when Angela loved, she loved hard and held on until someone pried her away. It was the reason why she worried herself sick when anyone she loved was hurt or injured. Why she'd broken every single hospital rule to be sitting there beside her that day to make sure she was okay. "I don't know how you do it."
"Sometimes, I don't either," she murmured softly, her hand falling to her stomach again. "But me and Juice are not you and Hap. I knew what I was getting into when I started my relationship with Juice, you didn't."
"I'm not naïve, Ang. I had a feeling it was more dangerous than it seemed. 'specially since the first time I met him was when he brought you into the hospital with a bullet wound and a stab wound."
Angela smirked at that, sighing softly. "Yeah. That was a crazy night. First time we saw Evie. First time she felt…real."
Chloe raised an eyebrow at her friend. She'd been stabbed and shot, yet the memory she had of that night was of seeing Evie for the first time. "You're insane."
"A little," she admitted on a light laugh. "Hurts getting shot, huh?"
"Oh God, so much," Chloe answered emphatically.
"Almost worse than giving birth…which I'm going to have to do again. With twins. Which is terrifying."
Chloe was grateful for the subject change, but she also knew Angela's comment was her way of being vulnerable, of voicing her own fears. Chloe had shared something with her, and she was reciprocating. It was a rare thing for anyone in Happy's immediate family to open up to anyone, and Chloe was grateful Angela trusted her enough to do so. "You'll be okay. If you carry them to full term, we'll make sure you're drugged up. If not, it'll be a C-section. You won't feel a thing."
"Fuck, I didn't even think about them being early," she murmured, her brows drawn together in concern. "This twin thing is…insane. Not sure I'm ready for it. Not sure Evie will be ready for it."
"She's little, she can hang," she assured her. "And you'll be fine. You've got Juice and Ken to help you with everything."
Angela nodded, aimlessly drawing shapes on her stomach. "We're actually thinking of moving back."
Chloe couldn't help but smile at the announcement. "No shit."
"Yeah," she confirmed on a laugh. "Not to Charming, of course, but…back to California. Bay Area. Something close to the Silicon Valley since Juice's job is going to put a satellite office there."
"And Juice is okay with it?"
"Was his idea," she stated, twisting her rings around her fingers again. "Since Ken's moving back out here for school and my family's all here and he's safe with the club, he thought we should move back."
For some reason, she got the feeling Angela wasn't a hundred percent on board with the idea. "You're not happy?"
"I love this place. I love the idea of being close to my family and friends and all that."
"But this place fucks with Juice's head, and it has you worried."
Angela was quiet for a moment, contemplating before she shook her head. "Honestly, it fucks with my head. It doesn't feel safe anymore, Chlo. I don't want to raise my kids in this place. Worried about what's going to happen to them when they visit my Ma in Charming, having them be raised with the Teller boys and Nero and Chibs hanging around dying to be a part of it all. It's not…I'm not thrilled about that. I can't believe Juice wants to come back. "
"I think a part of him misses it too. Sitting at a computer all day is a hell of a lot different than playing outlaw," she pointed out. "But, you can work at the funeral home again. Do what you love. Raise the twins with your family around, with Happy around. You know that's something you want."
She smiled a little, nodding her head. "You in that picture too?"
"Evie's my goddaughter," she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I'm stickin' around 'til you tell me to fuck off."
Angela grinned, leaning over to squeeze her hand. "I won't. You keep me sane. Not sending you off anytime soon. You're family now. Whether you're fuckin' my cousin or not. Just means you probably won't want to come to our family dinners when he's around, which is fine. I'll bring you leftovers and we can trash talk my crazy ass family."
Chloe smiled, feeling tears rise to her eyes; she was so grateful to have Angela in her life regardless of Happy. "Sounds fantastic."
"Do not cry on me," she ordered, her own voice sounding thick with tears. "Because if you start, my pregnant ass is going to start, and we're going to end up just one big mess."
A tear slipped down her cheek, and she lifted her hand to wipe it away. "Sorry, sorry."
"Stop!" Angela exclaimed, wiping at her own tears.
"I'm trying!" Chloe replied, more tears spilling down her cheeks. "You're not helping!"
"I'm pregnant!"
"I'm on pain meds!"
They both started laughing at that, the laughter filling the room and making Chloe feel a thousand times better than she had. Angela stopped laughing first, a smile still on her face. "You're gonna be okay, Chlo. Everything's going to be okay."
Chloe smiled, nodding slowly. "God, I hope so. I'm just hoping I'll be able to walk again."
"You will. I know it," she said with a confidence Chloe wish she felt too. "And if you need to re-learn how, my pregnant ass it going to be waddling right beside you."
She laughed again knowing it was one-hundred percent true. "Love you, Ang."
Angela grinned at her, squeezing her hand again. "Love you too, Chlo."
After being pushed out by Chloe's doctor, Angela found herself wandering around St. Thomas. She remembered what her Mom had said about Happy being in the cafeteria and gravitated towards that area. Once she was in the overly bright place, it took her a minute to spot him. He had found the only dark corner of the whole place and was currently sitting there with his arms folded on top of the table, head on top of them. Sleeping, no doubt. She bought him a cup of coffee and a muffin with a bowl of fruit and an orange juice for herself. Carrying it over to him, she smirked, happy for the chance to surprise him for once in their life. She plopped down at the table, waking him up with a jolt.
"Shit," he rasped, rubbing at his eyes. "The fuck you doin' here?"
"Same as you," she answered, pushing the coffee and muffin at him. "Little more successful at it, though."
Happy took a long sip of the coffee, narrowing his eyes at her as he did so. "She kicked me out."
"I heard."
" 'm not goin' back there."
Angela popped a grape in her mouth and shrugged. "Didn't expect you to. Eat your muffin. It was fuckin' expensive."
Happy glared at her again but picked a piece off of it anyway. "How is she?"
"She's a mess mentally, but I think she's going to be okay physically. The Doctor's testing her legs and shit now. We'll know more in a little bit."
"Huh," he said, though there was a look of relief in his dark eyes. He settled back in his chair, tearing another piece off of his muffin. "She say anythin'?"
Angela hesitated a moment before shrugging. "She's not used to this shit, Hap. It's the first time your outlaw shit bled into her life, and it wasn't a slow seepage, it was like an arterial bleed, just gushing and spattering everywhere. Gonna take awhile for her to stop freakin' out about it. For her to heal."
He raised an eyebrow at her description, though she knew he understood exactly what she meant. "You think she will?"
"Yeah, but I think you're gonna push her away like an asshole."
He scowled at her, shaking his head. "It'd be for her own good."
She rolled her eyes, stabbing a little too hard at a piece of melon in her bowl. Hap always made decisions for peoples' "own good". It was why they hadn't talked in almost three years. Hearing him say that now brought up the old familiar resentment she felt about their lack of communication. "Why don't you let her decide that?"
His jaw clenched for a brief moment, before he sighed, rubbing a hand over his head. "Why do I get the feelin' this ain't all about her?"
"Cause its not," she muttered guiltily. She had originally meant it to be all about her friend, but she couldn't resist bringing up the other elephant in the room. "You can't just decide what's good for someone. Two years, Hap. You didn't call me for two fucking years."
" 's not like you called me."
"How could I? I don't have your number 'cause it changes all the fuckin' time! And even if I did, would you have picked up?" she asked, feeling a lump form in her throat. Happy considered her question for a moment before shrugging. She felt like reaching across the table to smack him. "I needed you, Hap. And you weren't there."
"The idiot was. Gave you to him at the weddin'."
"That's fuckin' bullshit and you know it," she seethed, her mood swinging to anger quickly. "And if you truly believe that, then I'll walk away right now and I won't come back."
Happy sighed softly, his hand clenched into a fist. "What d'ya want me to say, kid?"
"Sorry's a start!" she said, her voice a little too loud. "I thought you were mad at me. Mad at the life I chose because of Juice and all his shit."
"Wasn't that. Wouldn't've let him live if I thought that. Told him the same shit. Didn't call 'cause I didn't think you needed me. Thought you'd be happier if I just left you alone."
Angela's anger dissipated, fresh tears taking their place. "I wasn't."
"That's what the idiot said."
She wasn't surprised Juice knew how she was feeling. As much as she bottled up her feelings of homesickness, she knew he sensed it. Knew she missed Hap. "I love that man."
Happy rolled his eyes at her. "Whatever."
"He um…he wants to move to California. Not Charming, of course, but Bay Area," she stated, watching his expression carefully.
The smallest hint of a smile turned up the corner of his mouth. "Ma will like that."
"You gonna freeze me out if I'm here?"
"Don't think you'd let me," he replied, though she knew it was his roundabout way of saying he wouldn't. He let out a long breath before clearing his throat. " 'm sorry, kid. For pushin' you away. Was real shitty."
For a moment, Angela couldn't believe she'd heard him right. He wouldn't repeat it though, she knew that much. "Don't do it again. I already lost Koz. Don't need to lose you too especially when its because you're being lame."
Happy nodded slowly. "Won't happen again."
She stood up from the table, going over to kiss his bald head. "Love you, Hap," she told him. "And don't worry about Chloe. She's gonna bounce back and want you back. She loves you just as much as you love her."
He shook his head slowly. "Don't bet on it. I ain't worth her time."
"I'm gonna. 'cause I know her, and I know you. Give her some time," she said confidently. She knew it would take awhile for Chloe to come around, but she had faith her friend would figure it out. She just had to make sure she kept reminding Chloe what a great guy he was despite his killer ways and outlaw lifestyle. "And don't doubt yourself. It's unattractive."
A little bit of Kozik slipped in there. I miss that guy.
Thanks so much for reading! Please let me know what you think!
Also, for those interested in reading the AU I had talked about, I have a couple chapters posted on Wattpad. It's called "She Will Be Loved". Not sure if I'll get around to uploading it here just yet, but if y'all really want me to, I can! :)
-Love Ink