Savannah P.O.V.
10 years later.
The past 10 years have been crazy, and wonderful somehow all at once. Deran, who we called Derry, or Jax, grew up strong and healthy. He called Baz 'Pop' and Craig was 'Dad'. He was 11 now and he was tall, like Opie. His hair grew out long, which he liked, and it stayed the same color that mine was. Craig and I had gotten closer in our relationship and 6 years ago we got married, and we had two more children. Thankfully their births were easier than Deran's. So now it was Craig and me with Deran, our 4-year-old daughter Meredith Grace (who we all called Maggie), and Shepard Michael (Shep) who was 9 months old. I graduated school and became a general surgeon at the local hospital in Oceanside, and Craig and I moved into a three-bedroom house by the beach.
Not long after Derry was born, Baz and Cath got back together, and had a baby girl named Lena, then also got married. And about a month ago Julia's son, J, came to live with Smurf since his mother died. Unfortunately, Pope was in jail at the time and came home the day after we all found out.
I still missed Charming and my family, I tried calling and writing letters but the calls went unanswered, and the letters were returned. I even had tried to send a few wedding invitations, but no one from the club had shown up. It was awful that I almost didn't want to get married because I wanted my family there, and my dad to walk me down the aisle. But that didn't happen and after a talk with Deran I decided I wasn't going to let that stop me, and we went on with the wedding. It was truly a beautiful ceremony and I wouldn't change it at all. I was so truly happy that day.
"Hey anybody home?" Deran called, strolling into the house
"Kitchen" I called back
I was chopping up some veggies for dinner and Deran sat at the table behind me
"Where is everyone?" he asked
"Derry and Maggie are out with Smurf and J, and Shep is sleeping,"I told him
"Craig?"
"Work"
Craig worked for Smurf, checking properties and collecting rent
"He should be back in a bit," I told him. Deran nodded.
I stopped cutting up food and turned to face Deran, twisting my ring around my finger
"What?" he asked
"Nothing"
"Bullshit. I know you. You started twisting that ring when you got nervous"
I sighed. He did know me very well "I got a job offer"
"From where?"
"St. Thomas. In Charming" I said
"Oh shit" he gaped
"Yeah oh shit. It's a great offer, double my pay, I'd run the department, and I'd have more time for the kids."
"What does Craig say?"
"Don't know yet. I have to talk to him about it"
Suddenly we heard Craig's car pulling up in the driveway
"I'd tell him now," Deran said walking out as Craig walked in
"Thanks a lot, bro!" I called to him sarcastically
Craig came into the kitchen
"What was that?" he asked
"Oh nothing" I replied kissing him
"Where are the kids?"
"Derry and Maggie are with your mother and the baby is sleeping,"I told him
"Great," he said with a wicked grin
He kissed me again, harder. I kissed him back and he grabbed my butt and lifted me onto the counter. Things were getting heated but the job offer was pressing on my mind. I pulled away
"Hang on I need to talk to you,"I said
"Oh god are you pregnant again?" he asked
"No, surprisingly"I laughed "I got a job offer at another hospital"
"Where?"
"Charming," I said
"Seriously?" he scoffed
"Yes they want to make me the chief resident for general surgery, and double my pay," I told him, he rolled his eyes.
"Plus,"I said throwing my arms around his neck and pulling him closer "We'll have a lot more time" I kissed his neck a few times and he let out a small groan.
"I don't know babe, that's a far move. And are you ready to deal with your family?"
"I know and I think so. I mean I have you and the kids and that's all I need"
He sighed and buried his face in between my neck and shoulder
"We'll talk to Smurf" he mumbled
"Ok" I whispered, stroking his back
'That should go over well' i thought to myself
AKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAK
The next day we all went over to Smurf's house, to have a family meeting about the job offer. Cath was going to watch the kids while we talked, so when we arrived I handed her Shep and the diaper bag
"Thanks for helping out with them Cath, I really appreciate it"
"No problem, glad I can help. And I love spending time with this little guy" she said, tickling Shep "I keep bugging Baz to have another one"
"I think you should. They're just so amazing. But until then let me know when you want to borrow mine" I laughed nudging her arm. She laughed and went into the backyard with the kids.
I went inside and everyone was sitting in the living room spread out on the couches. I took my place on Craig's lap with my legs over Pope's. Smurf sat cross-legged in an armchair
"What's going on that you needed to talk to all of us?" She asked
"Savannah got a job offer from a hospital back in Charming" Craig told everyone
"And you're considering it?" Baz asked me
"A bit yeah"I replied
"You haven't seen or spoken to your family in what 10 years?" Pope spoke up "And you really want to go back to them?"
"No." I replied "I want to do what's best for my family. Here, now."
I looked at everyone in the room "That's why I had everyone come today. You're all my family and I want to know what you have to say"
Deran sighed from across the room "If and I mean if you did go, what about when we need to pull a job"
I looked at Smurf for an answer
"Expansion," said J
"What?" asked Craig
"If you guys go to Charming, that's northern Cali. It gets us out of pulling shit jobs down here" he answered
"Isn't it more risk?" I asked
"No, because if we get questioned we tell them we were going to see you guys," stated Baz
"Smurf?" I asked
"Baby I can't exactly tell you what to do. But you've been family for a long time, they haven't been. What are you going to do when you see them?" she said
"I'll extend the olive branch, see what they want to do. They cut me down I move on. Like you said you guys have been my family for a long time, I have Craig and the kids and I'll be ok" I told her squeezing Craig's hand.
"So I guess that's that then?" Craig asked
"Yeah looks like we're going to Charming," I said with a small smile
Pope tossed my legs off of himself and jumped up rushing out of the room. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair
"Let me go talk to him," I said following him
I followed him to the driveway where he was about to get into his truck
"Pope!" I called "Pope!"
He ignored me and continued trying to get into his truck. He opened up the door and I slammed it shut in his face
"Goddamnit Andrew!" I yelled using his full name
"Move" he stated
"No. What is your problem?" I asked him
He tried pushing me out of the way and I shoved him back, hard
"Talk to me, man. Why are you acting like this?" I tried
"You want to know why I'm acting like this?" he spat, pacing in front of the seat
"What are you pissed at me?" I asked. He looked at me with teary eyes, I saw the pain in them and it reminded me of the look Jax gave me when I left home. Realization finally hit me "You're upset because we're leaving"I whispered
"It's bullshit. First Julia left, then she died. And now you, my sister who I can talk to about anything is going to leave too." he cried
"Pope, I'm not really going anywhere. I may be living in another town but I'll always be here for you, I'm only a phone call or text away. And of course, you know you're always welcome at the house" I said tearing up myself
"But what if you end up like Julia did?"
"I'm not going to die, Pope, not by going to Charming. I promise" he nodded at me, and I pulled him into a hug "I love you brother"
"I love you too Sass," he said
We went back inside and Craig stood up
"We good?" he asked looking from me to Pope
"Yeah we're good," I said reaching up to kiss him
Smurf suddenly got up and clapped twice "Alright let's go eat"
We headed into the backyard while Smurf set up platters of food. Maggie saw us and abandoned her game with Lena, running to Craig and cheerfully yelling "Daddy!"
He lifted her up "Maggie!" he replied kissing her cheek. She wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled. They came up to me and Craig gave me a soft kiss on the lips
"Hi, Mommy!" Maggie exclaimed jumping into my arms
"Hi, baby! Are you having fun?"
"Yeah me an Lena playing," she told me
"That sounds like fun," I said placing her down "Go back and play ok?"
She nodded and ran off to play again. I shook my head and laughed at her energy
"I swear she doesn't stop," says Craig
"Gee I wonder where she gets it from"I replied sarcastically
He laughed and smacked my butt as he walked past me. I swatted at him with a towel.
"Hey dad," Derry says walking into the kitchen.
"Hey Slim" replies Craig with a smirk. Craig jokingly calls Derry 'Slim' since he's so tall and skinny
"Mom in there?" he asked
"Yup"
Derry continues into the kitchen where J, Smurf, Baz, and I were grabbing extra food and plates to bring out. "Hey pop," he says to Baz
"Hey what's up?" he asked
"Was looking for Uncle Deran, he said he was going to show me some tricks on my skateboard"
"I think he just went into the bathroom" Baz replied
"Oh ok"
"Honey where's Shep?" I asked
"Still with Cath" he replied "I don't think we're getting him back"
We laughed and Baz grabbed Derry's shoulders, steering him outside "Let's go get him before she tries to take him home with us"
I laughed again "Give her another one and she won't try and take mine"
Baz shot me a look and went out the door
J shifted across the island "Savannah can I ask you something?"
"Sure what's up?"
"So Derry calls Craig 'dad' and Baz 'pop'. Is he Baz's kid?"
I looked at him "Sort of"
"Well, i'm just wondering because if you had a kid with Baz how'd you end up married to Craig so soon after he was born and he really doesn't look like Baz or Craig at all. Plus you're just so close to Pope and Deran" he stated
I stood straight up and crossed my arms over my chest "J look, you haven't been around that long so I don't expect you to get how things work with me and the boys" I leaned over the island and put my face close to his "But don't you dare insinuate that, or question about my kids. Who Derry is to Baz is none of your concern so keep your nose out of it, or so help me god I will make sure you regret ever living here"
I pulled away and he nodded at me
"I've taught you well baby," Smurf said behind me
I smirked at her and walked outside. Everyone was seated at the glass table eating and laughing. Maggie was seated on Pope's lap, Derry sat next to Deran and the other side of Baz who was next to Cath and Lena, and on the other side was Craig who finally had gotten Shep back from Cath. He was holding him and making faces while the baby laughed.
I smiled at them all and went to sit next to Craig and Shep. I knew that no matter where we went or what happened in Charming, this was my family.