Alma reminds herself to not get used to the pain relievers the hospital is currently doping her body up with. She knows once she is discharged that her body is going to go through one hell of a withdrawal. She has already been informed of her brain injury, which has resulted in her having racoon eyes. She was lucky she didn't walk away with any broken bones or internal bleeding. The only serious trauma was to the brain. She would be kept overnight to make sure nothing overnight would arise.

If it was up to her she would already be discharged. She wants to be away. Far away from this place. She feels embarrassed. She is scared despite the cops' assurances that considering the state of her body and her defensive wounds there wouldn't be any legal action against her. She knows Vitaly's family will want answers. Jax and the club will want answers. She is going to have to explain to Nathan why Vitaly tried to kill her. She is safe to make that assumption because the hits were harder. This time when he had wrapped his hands around her throat he was intent on killing her.

She was truly scared for the first time in her life. It was the first time she had been terrified of anything. She isn't too sure how she made it out alive. Alma curls into herself. She is thankful that at least she had been able to get Nathan out of that house so he didn't have to witness this, or be caught in the crossfire.

Alma hesitantly grabs the hand mirror she had requested of the nurse. She turns the mirror over and she should be sad at the sight of her face. She just feels nothing. She is no longer scared. She really has nothing to be scared of anymore. If anything, she can feel anything at the moment it is disappointment for allowing herself in this situation.

Alma jumps startled at the knock that comes at her door. She places the mirror down and her body stills at the sight of Agent Stahl walking through the door. It's been years since she has seen the skinny blonde agent since she had stepped foot in Charming to unsuccessfully bring the club down.

"What do you want?" Alma says hoarsely.

"Was nearby heard about what happened and considering our past history -"

"This is a real shitty time for you to be trying to grill me for info." Alma interrupts. She is disgusted with the thought that Stahl would even think she would be that emotionally fragile to get a pair of loose lips. "Besides, I'm not even married to Jax."

"It seemed you moved from an outlaw Biker to the Russian Mafia. It's impressive."

"Really because by the state of my face it seems I have shitty taste in men."

Stahl goes quiet. "I'm not here about the Sons. I'm here about your currently deceased husband."

"I don't know shit about Vitaly's business." Alma tells her.

"You know I actually believe that." Stahl replies.

"So why are you here?"

"When a high ranking member of the Russian Mafia is killed the ATF takes notice especially when there are rumours about said member working with small outlaw bikers for automatic weapons. The thing that connects them happens to be a wife. I thought I would give you a courtesy visit."

Alma bristles. "You are so considerate. Thanks for the warning."

"You know not alot of women make it out of this outlive. You should consider this a third chance in life." Stahl departs before walking out of the door.

. . .

Alma doesn't remember falling asleep. She surmises that the hospital had her medicated nicely. She knows the only reason she is awake right now is because of the need to use the bathroom. She groans as she works to open her eyes. She almost forgot that her eyes are nearly swollen shut.

"You okay?"

Alma jumps. She whips her head to look behind her where she finds Jax wiping a hand down his face. She turns her head back to look in front of her. She didn't really want anyone to see how she looked.

"When did you get here?"

"A few hours ago." He tells her softly.

Alma doesn't say anything. She doesn't really have anything to say exactly. She is sure he has already seen the state of her face.

"Hey, look at me," Jax pleads softly.

Alma doesn't turn around. "I can't talk about it now, Jax. I can't."

"Al - "

"Where's Nathan?"

"With my Mom." He informs her.

"Who else knows?"

"They know he's dead. That's about it." He tells her. He isn't exactly sure what had gone down himself. Although by the look of her face, he can paint a vivid picture. Jax stands up from the chair. He doesn't walk over to look at her. He knows better to break that boundary. "I need something, Al."

"I killed him. That's it." She replies before she sits up and goes to the bathroom.

. . .

The ride back to Alma's house is quiet. She had been discharged from the hospital late in the afternoon. She had to go back to her place to grab a few things before going to the small apartment she had atop of her shop. She just wanted to grab a few pictures and clothes. She knows she will sell most of everything in the house. She will most likely sell everything and donate it to a charity.

Her main concern is her son and of course her salon. She knows she can't stay here anymore. She doesn't want to close her shop because her girls will be out of a job. She has steady clientele. She will miss her first store.

She knows she won't leave until she has that settled and she doesn't want to see Nathan until her face is presentable.

Jax had been quiet the whole time. She saw how his nostrils flared as they stepped into her house. She didn't know how she could forget that her house was a crime scene. Pots with plants were broken, the table and chairs knocked over or shattered. She just wants to burn the house down to the ground.

She only filled about a smaller suitcase as she had packed things to take to leave to Charming. It was the reason why she is in the situation she is in. Alma knows that she needs to rethink the moves and decisions in her life.

She walks down the stairs with her bag and finds Jax walking in a circle in the foyer. "I have an apartment above my salon. I'm going to stay here for a while until this settles."

"Do you plan on coming back to Charming?"

"I will. I don't need Nathan seeing me like this."

"You shouldn't be alone right now."

Alma sighs. She doesn't want to really have a heavy discussion right now. She just needs a little peace. Some space without anyone giving her what they think is right or should do.

"Jax, I'm grateful you're here, but I can't do this right now. I just want to shower. Order some food and just relax."

Jax moves closer to her. Her face is hidden by the bulky sunglasses and she has put on an oversized hoodie with the hood up. "I understand that, Al. I just don't think you should be alone."

"I've been alone for years, Jax."

Alma moves down the stairs and she heads to her car. She can't rely on Jax with this. She is not going to shoulder her feelings onto anyone else. She needs to work through this alone. Besides, she thinks it would be best to wait until Vitaly's family reaches out to avoid having Jax or even Nathan near her. She doesn't think there will be any serious repercussions. She doesn't plan on going after the Russians or anything. She will sign over anything that will link her to Vitaly or his business. She doesn't need the money. She doesn't need anything.

"Is this about his family?" Jax asks her as he follows her.

"Jax, can we please not do this now."

"So it is?"

Alma sighs as she throws the bag in the passenger seat. "Why? Because you are doing business with them?"

"It's not -" Jax stops. "Who told you that?"

"It doesn't matter. I don't really care." Alma decides. It really isn't any of her business. She doesn't bother waiting for a response. She just wants to get away. She gets into the driver side of her car. She was going to pull out and leave Jax standing on the steps. Instead she rolls down her window. "You can come and follow me. But I'm serious. I don't want to talk about this."

. . .

It was three weeks before Alma made her home back in Charming. She had handed her store over to a trusted employee to be the manager. Alma decided she would open a new store in Charming. Much to Jax's displeasure, she had found a house to rent while she made the transition back to Charming. She wasn't going to be staying in her former houses. There were just too many memories and she didn't want to fall back into that old comfort. She didn't need to be clouded while she figured out the next chapter of her life.

Luckily, she had the distraction of opening up her new store that kept her pretty isolated from everyone. More pointedly, Gemma and Jax. Jax knew there was a time and place for confrontations. Despite her remaining tight lipped, his poking and prodding had decreased over the days.

Gemma couldn't take the hint that this was something Alma was not going to discuss with her. She had always known that Gemma was overbearing, but now it is at an increased level.

The thing was she knew Gemma's concern wasn't for her really. All Gemma wanted to know - to control - was how what she believed Alma may or may not be doing to Jax. As far as Alma was concerned she didn't particularly care about nurturing any relationship with Jax outside of the one they maintained for Nathan.

Alma is opening one of the many boxes that liter her shop as she begins the decorating. She wasn't surprised that Gemma showed up and wanted to lend a hand.

"So are you keeping the last name? Or dropping back to Teller?" Gemma asks.

Alma sighs. "I feel at this point I might as well go back to my maiden name." Alma didn't see any reason for her to keep both of her ex-husbands'. The only reason she kept Teller was for Nathan. Now she doesn't see any reason to.

Gemma doesn't press. "Nathan's real happy your back. It is great for both of his parents to be living in the same zip code."

"Where are you going with this, Gem?"

Gemma stops her unpacking and turns to Alma fully. "I just want to know where your head is it?"

"In general or when it comes to your son?" Alma asks bluntly.

"There is a lot of hurt between you and Jax - "

"And what makes you think I want him back?"

"Maybe it is the way he follows after you like a lost puppy." Gemma replies sarcastically.

Alma rolls her eyes. "It's not like I ask him to, or even want it. I also learned there is no point in arguing with Jax when he is dead set on something."

"I don't want my son and grandson getting hurt."

"Despite your belief, my life's mission is not to hurt, Jax. If memory recalls correctly, he was the one that fucked up not me. Your son is the one to blame."

"My son wasn't the one to push you into marrying that Russian."

Alma's nostril flares. She doesn't even want to respond to that. "If you think my life choices revolve around your son, you are sorely mistaken. But let's get one thing clear, Jax didn't make me marry Vitaly, but don't downplay the fact that because of your son's wandering dick I was even in Vitaly's arms in the first place. Your son is the one that fucked up. If he still has lingering shame, remorse, feelings that are all on him. I'm not asking him to do anything nor do I want him to."

Alma doesn't care to hear a reply from Gemma as she grabs a box and moves to a different part of the store.

. . .

Jax is drinking another cup of coffee to try and keep himself up. He just got back from a 4 day run to Arizona and he is bone tired. He can't stop yawning or rubbing his eyes. He is thankful that he isn't needed at the club today.

"Why don't you just go to bed?"

Jax looks up at his son, who is eating a bowl of cereal. He shakes his head. "I haven't seen you in four days."

"We've had longer days apart."

Jax hides his grimace at the reminder by taking a sip of his coffee. "How's your mother?"

"She bought me some stuff for my room at her place. She's busy setting up for the store. Thinks she can open within a month."

Jax nods his head. He knows Alma has purposefully kept herself distracted with her store. Even if Jax had hoped they could mend some type of relationship with her, he has learned that Alma wants nothing to do with him. Conversations are now stunted as they were when they first separated. He doesn't like it at all. He doesn't like Nathan having to witness this again.

"You know if you want to live with your mom again you can."

Nathan doesn't reply for a bit as he shoves a couple more spoonfuls of cereal in his mouth. "I think Mom needs her space."

Jax goes silent. He doesn't know how to respond with that. "She talk to you about it?"

"What is there to talk about? And why would she even say anything to me?"

"What do you have to say?"

"I'm glad he is dead." Nathan replies dismissively.

"Nate - "

"What Dad?"

"Don't bury this down. Don't let this hate dig deep into you." Jax tells his son.

"Who said anything about hate?" Nathan says as he gets up from his chair to clean out his bowl.

"I'm just trying to figure out where your head is at. You and your mom both have gone way inside -"

"And why do you think that is?"

Jax furrows his brows. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"If you really have to ask that…."

. . .

"Why didn't you tell me about Vitaly?" Ann asks. The last place she expected to find her daughter back to was Charming. She should've not been surprised. She knows Jax's influence is all over this, but she is upset her daughter couldn't come to her about her abuse.

"Like you care." Alma replies.

"Excuse me." Ann asks affronted.

"Don't act so shocked. You were like Gemma with Vitaly how she is with Jax." Alma tells her as she grabs their plates and places them into the sink. Ann had finally come to Charming after learning what had ended Alma's second marriage. She had been mortified of the secrets her daughter was keeping.

"How can you say that to me?"

"Just did, Mother."

"Can you please explain what happened? You both were so happy -"

"Happy?" Alma echoes.

"Yes, happy. Please don't act like you weren't."

"I was never happy with him. I settled for him. I settled for his bullshit. I even believed I deserved it most days. Don't sit there and tell me I was happy with him when I wasn't especially when my happiness never factored in it for you."

"But you were happy with Jax. And I even imagine you're happy now with him. Did you even consider Vitaly's feelings knowing you were still carrying a torch for Jax."

Alma looks at her mother insulted. If there was truly a time she was ever disgusted with her mother right now tops all of it.

"If Vitaly was insecure of Jax being the father to my children it didn't give him the excuse to beat me."

"So we are going to ignore the fact you fucked Jax on your wedding night?"

Alma goes still. She knows her mom wouldn't. She wouldn't do that to her and Alma knows that Vitaly never had suspicions about that night. "Why are you here?"

"You're making a mistake by coming back here."

Alma turns around and leans against the sink. "You know I never asked for your opinion."

"It's not like you would listen. I warned you about Jax. Warned about these men and their wandering dicks."

"I'm not doing this with you. Dad broke your heart and I'm sorry. I really am. I'm sorry that the choices I made in my life didn't satisfy you. But I am not going to sit here and defend them. At this point you need to come to terms with them, or you can leave."

. . .

Alma is in her backyard digging up the ground to plant some flowers. She always had some interest in planting. She gained some knowledge from Gemma and research, but never took the time to plant anything outside of a few spider plants, some pathos, or easy manageable green plants.

She can see why Gemma finds it calming puttering around in the dirt. She has just placed a dahlia seed in the ground when she hears a familiar growl of a bike. She uses her forearm to wipe the sweat gathering at her hairline. She stands up from the grown and pulls off her gloves and stuffs them into the pockets of her overalls. She makes her way over to her gate and opens it. She finds Jax stepping off his bike. She eyes him briefly before she makes her way back to her backyard. She goes to her patio and takes a sip of her water.

She can hear his footsteps a few seconds later.

He moves to her patio and stands a few feet from her. She looks up at him with an raised eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"Can we talk?"

Alma stares at her ex-husband. She wants to roll her eyes, but she does oblige him and takes a seat in one of her patio chairs. "Where is Nathan?"

"With Opie." He tells her as she sits across from her.

Alma nods her head. She analyzes her ex. He is starting to grow his hair back. She remembers being privy to a conversation between Nathan and him about hair gel. It was then she had figured out the culprit to her missing hair products as she looked at the slicked back look her husband is transitioning to.

She crosses her legs. She has an inkling about what this talk could be about. "You guys going away?"

Jax looks at her with wide eyes, but he does nod his head. "14 months."

"Everyone?"

"Opie, Chibs, Filthy Phil, and Piney are good. We are voting in some new Prospects. Have a few transfers."

"You tell Nathan?"

"Not yet." Jax says before he leans back in his chair. "I want to talk about us."

"There is no us, Jax."

A pained look comes across his face. "Al, I just...I miss you." He reveals. "I'm lonely. Since you've left...I'm sorry. I fucked up. I know I did. I just want my family back. I want you back. I want my wife back."

Maybe a couple years ago, Alma would've swooned at Jax's speech. She would probably fly into his arms and take him back. A part of her that still holds onto her past with Jax wants to. She isn't going to deny that. She knows she will always love Jax in some capacity. Just now, she isn't the same woman he married. She is probably not the same woman he seems to have envisioned in his head. Getting back with Jax, it wouldn't be good for her. She doesn't know if she wants him back. All she knows that is she needs to be alone right now.

"You broke my heart, Jax." She tells him. "It still hurts what you did. I moved on. I think in some ways I am at peace with what went down especially for the sake of Nathan. He was able to come out of it not fucked up." Alma pauses as she gathers her thoughts. She licks her lips as she looks beyond Jax.

She has her own salon. She has her own house. Her son is healthy and growing. She is on her own for the first time. She is able to put herself first. She did it without anyone. She was able to do that all on her own.

"I don't think I can be or even am the woman you think I am or want me to be, Jax."

"I'm not asking you to be other than yourself."

Alma takes a deep breath. She leans forward and scoots her chair closer to Jax. She grabs his jewel covered hands. She brings them up to her lips and presses a kiss against them. She holds his hands tightly. She looks up into his blue eyes. Brown and blue collide.

"I love you, Jackson. I always will. I just...I can't be there in that way for you. Not now and I'm not sure if I ever can be again."

Alma releases his hands and stands up for her chair. She leans forward and presses a kiss to his forehead. She lingers for a few seconds before pulling away. She leans down and presses a kiss to his lips.

She pulls back and walks away back to her garden.