A/N 12/10/2018: Good morning lovlies! Well, a new chapter is up, and while I'm not thrilled with the length, it's not too bad... I hope. I left Amelia alive for now. Until I can off her without making Carlisle look incompetent like Tara was. I don't want that and neither do you guys! lol Writing this week will be a hat trick. First shift at work is slacking BIG TIME and us second shifters are picking up the slack with 10 hour days... ouch... Thankfully, orders are down tuesday, so here's hoping we get ahead enough then to lay off OT for a bit. Fingers crossed. Also, I really need to add something to my Mummy story. I haven't touched it for a month, at least and I don't want to leave it sitting too long or I won't write anything more for it... trust me, I know myself this well at least XD So I'm hoping to add another chapter to that this week. If you don't see an update for this story, it's because of that. Well then... I hope you enjoy this chapter! ALLONSY!

Bobby, Opie, Jax, and Clay were meeting with the Grim Bastards to give them the update on what was going on with the latest drug intel. Everyone greeted each other with the same amiability as last time, though Clay knew this news wouldn't be well received.

"Mayans are locking down Lodi," Clay told T.O. "Setting up distribution for heroin."

"Ferrying through Charming to get to Stockton yard," Jax said.

"Aw, shit. I know you ain't gonna let that happen," T.O. said.

"We run at this now, it turns long and bloody."

"Alvarez don't want a war anymore than we do," Clay said. "What we need is intel- Where they process, when they mule. T.O. looked over at his men before answering.

"All right, we can start diggin'. But we're gonna need AK's- at least half dozen."

"Shit, I ain't gonna have no shipment until the end of the month."

"Listen man, it's been a long time since we had this kind of weight in our back yard, brother."

Clay gave a half shrug. "We may be able to find some MP-5's."

"All right. That'll work," T.O. said, bending a little for the man. They parted as amiably as they greeted, but before the Sons could leave, Clay's prepay began ringing. He looked at the ID and recognized Liam's number.

"Yeah?"

"We've got something. An email sent to me from Bella. We picked it up from the nearest tower. The bastard had her not half a mile from our base church in Belfast," Liam said.

"Had her? She's not there anymore?" Clay asked, worry for the young woman seeping through his tone.

"Nay. I sent men out to retrieve her. Some to the apartment she sent the email from, some to the church she said she was going to. I haven't heard back from the church team yet, but just got word from the team I sent to the apartment. Shit hole one bedroom, Fiona dead. Strangled by the looks of it."

Clay let out a sigh of relief. "But she's safe?" he asked.

"We'll have to wait until I get word back from the men I sent to the church first. And I want her in my eyesight before I deem her safe. But Clay, I have to tell you, and I need you to pass on the message to Chibs. The email said she was in labor."

"Jesus Christ!"

"You need to get Chibs here now. The man needs to see his woman and his son."

"But the council-"

"Have at least lifted the exile long enough for him to come collect his family. Get him here, Clay," Liam said firmly. "I'll call you once I know what's happening with her."

"Thanks, brother," Clay said, hanging up. "We need to find Chibs. Now."

"What's going on?" Opie asked.

"They have a lead on Izzy. Sent an email they were able to track. She's in labor," he said simply.

"Shit!" Jax exclaimed.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Maureen Ashby led Bella into the house, looking this way and that to ensure she wasn't witnessed.

"You're connected with the Sons then?" she asked Bella.

"Aye, you could say that. I'm close with the mother charter, among others. I need your help. I need to get to the nearest church," she said through pained breaths.

"Depends on who's after you, love. And if you have any support on the way?" Bella gave her a suspicious look at that statement.

"Something happens to me, and you'll have more than the Sons on your ass, I promise," Bella bit out. "Jimmy O'Phalen and his bitch learned that the hard way."

Maureen froze. "You're running from Jimmy O? What happened? Tell me quickly!"

So Bella did, in as few sentences as possible. "Kidnapped for being Filip Telford's old lady. Jimmy wants my son, even if he has to cut him out of me. Fiona is dead. Now I need to get to Siobhan and Liam McCreery before Jimmy realizes I'm gone and he kicks up a shit storm looking for me, and I can't stand to defend myself anymore. Quick enough for you?"

"Jesus Christ! More than just the Sons, indeed. You're acquainted with the Coven's attack dog?! Come! Come, I need to get you to my safe room, and then I need to call my brother. He'll know who to call."

"Liam and Soibhan are close friends. Please, call them," Bella whimpered as another contraction ripped through her. "They can help."

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

"You should be fin, Tig," Carlisle said. He had rushed up to Gemma and Tig once he received the call, making sure that the younger Hale brother was stable. "There's no bone or muscle damage."

"Thanks, doc. I'm sorry I pulled you away from your work."

"It's okay."

"How's Chibs holding up? Do you know? Any word on Izzy?"

"Got a call from Liam on my way in," Carlisle said. "They got an email that pinged off a local relay tower in Belfast. It was a simple enough message. Short. She'd gone into labor."

"Does she have anyone with her?! Will she be okay?!" Tig asked as his worry mounted.

"Calm down. I'm sure that Liam will be calling very soon with an update. She gave him a local to meet her, so I have no doubt we'll have the whole story before the day is out."

"Dad? Daddy? Nate?" They heard Gemma calling through out the house. "Have you seen Nate? He's not in his room," she asked them, coming in to see them.

"No, not since this morning," Tig said. Carlisle only shook his head.

"He's gone. So's the hunting rifle."

"Oh, shit. You know, I did hear a car about 20 minutes ago," Tig admitted.

"Oh, Christ!" Gemma exclaimed, leaving the room. She went out to the parking lot, Carlisle following her. "Oh, shit! The Caddy's gone."

"Is he okay to drive?"

"Yeah, it depends on what decade he thinks he's cruising in."

"Any idea where he may have gone?" Carlisle asked.

"I have no goddamn idea."

"Someone must know his routine," he said calmly as she looked up and down the street. Gemma then turned her focus to him and pressed her lips in a thin line.

"Yeah, somebody does." Gemma went back into the house and led Carlisle to the basement where they found Nate's caretaker blindfolded and duct taped to a wheelchair.

"And she would be-" Carlisle trailed, looking at the woman.

"His Caregiver. Threatened Tig once she knew he was worth something in the state of Oregon."

"Ah, and if there's one thing you protect fiercely, it's those you consider family," he said knowingly. "As my own MC should have."

"Damn straight on both accounts."

"Is someone there?" Amelia asked, her head turning this way and that, trying to catch any form of sound.

Gemma knocked on the railing twice as she descended the steps. "Amelia. I need to as you a question," she said.

"Yeah, and I need to take a piss, like, an hour ago," Amelia shot back.

"Sorry, forgot," Gemma said, taking a bed pan from a nearby chair and sliding it under the care giver.

"Ah, that's cold!"

"Nate took off in the car. Any idea where he might be heading?" Gemma asked.

"What was he wearing?"

"Don't know."

"Depends," Amelia said. "He could be a hundred different places."

"Could you be a little more specific?" Gemma asked in irritation. Amelia's blindfolded face 'looked' at Gemma.

"I'm done," she snapped with attitude. Gemma slid the bedpan out from under Amelia and handed it to Carlisle. "You cut me loose, I'll help you find him."

"Can't do that."

"My hands and my feet are numb, my ass is killing me. You can keep a gun on me. I'll make a few calls, help you find him. That's the deal."

"Let me remind you of your circumstances, sweetheart. You are tied up in a basement, with no family, no friends anywhere in the States. You drop off the planet, no one knows. No one cares."

"Jesus Christ. Are you threatening to kill me?" Amelia asked with indignation and a small amount of fear. Carlisle snorted.

"No imagination, this one," he said under his breath.

"No, but I look around this room, I see a drill, box cutters, a welding torch. Lots of shit make you really uncomfortable."

"Psycho bitch!" Amelia spat.

"Listen, you ain't heard nothing, Chiquita. Anything happens to my dad because of your stalling, I'll make sure you end up in this wheelchair permanently!"

Amelia spat in Gemma's face, and Gemma lost her temper. "Bitch!" She punched the caregiver in the face, a love tap really, but hard enough to get the point across. Carlisle wrapped his arm around her center pinning her arms to her sides.

"Whoa, there! Let's take a moment, calm down," he said lowly, pulling her towards the stairs.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

"Buddha's birthday?" Clay asked Lin.

"Luncheon for my Hong Kong clients. What do you need?" Lin asked to the point. Clay turned around to the Asian behind the bar.

"MP-5's. Half dozen."

"I heard about the attack."

"Deeper than that."

"AB gave Alvarez a pipeline to Stockton Yard. Mayans set up shop in Lodi. Guns are for some brothers helping us out," Jax said.

"Explains why they've been giving us less resistance in Oakland. New shipment from Gaza. 2K each," Lin said, gesturing to one of his men who pulled a gun from behind the bar.

"Shit. Jew guns are a little steep," Clay said.

"That's the family rate. I'd double that price on the street."

"We're gifting this hardware. Ain't got that kind of up front cash."

Lin thought for a moment, then turned to Jax. "You, uh, still got your Caracara contacts?"

"Why?"

"Client's new favorite American pastime- making videos with young white porn stars. All I got are Asian whores."

"How many bodies you need?"

"Four or five willing to get messy." Jax pulled out his phone and dialed Jasper, who answered on the second ring.

"Whitlock."

"Hey, man. Lyla with you?"

"A bit indisposed, but yeah, she's here," the southerner said, and Jax could hear the smirk in his voice.

"Got a chance at some hardware. But the seller wants a shot at some professional pussy before he hands over the goods. Four or five up for a dirty roll around and the guns are ours, plus a bit on the side for the girls. 50-50 split."

There was a muffled moan on the other end of the line, and what sounded like Jasper talking lowly to Lyla.

"She'll do it. Get a hold of Ima, Tina, and the twins might be up for it as well."

"You cool with this? I know you two are hot and heavy… especially now."

"I get the sole attention of a fuckin' porn star. My cock is the only one that gets a real moan out of her. What's not to be okay about?" Jasper asked smugly.

"All right, all right. Thought I'd make sure. Enjoy your fun. But we have news on Izzy when you are."

"10-4, brother."

Then the line went dead and Jax went back to the bar. "Okay, personal appearances. Ten grand each."

"Come on."

"Hey, you're getting the family rate. I'd double that price on the street."

"Give us the guns, pay us the difference in cash, charge Hong Kong Spewy whatever you want for the party flicks," Clay said.

"Okay, better be some high-end lily white pussy. Need 'em here by 3:00."

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Unser had just finished with his shave and was checking out the results in the mirror when he addressed Floyd.

"You and Denise coming to Hale's service?" he asked the barber. The local church had put together a little shindig to pray for the recovering Deputy-Chief.

"Yeah. We'll be there."

"What time's it start?" asked another patron. But before anyone could answer, they heard a throat clearing at the door and Piney walked in.

"Boys. How long for a chair?"

"About 15," Floyd said. Piney smiled at the barber and sat with a groan between a young man and one who was old enough to be his father.

"You- uh- you know that young man who shouted for everyone to get down at the kid's wake?" the man who asked about Hale's service asked Piney.

"If it's the one I'm thinking of, Jasper, you mean. He's a friend of a friend of the club."

"Could you pass on a message for me?" Piney nodded.

"Tell him thank you. He saved my grandson. Pulled him down before gunfire could hit his gut."

Piney smiled. "I'm sure he'll appreciate it. Seems his military instincts are still pretty much on the surface. He's the one who spotted the gun before they started firing. Shouting at everyone to get down. I'll tell him."

"You can take my turn, Piney. As my thank you to you as well."

"No, I- I couldn't," Piney began.

"Please." Piney nodded and took to the chair. "Thank you."

"No. No, thank you. And the rest of the Sons."

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

"Chibs," Clay called to the Scot as they left Lin's. "Need to talk to you brother."

"Aye?"

"Heard back from Liam. You, Jax, and a few others on on the next flight to Belfast."

"We have news on Izzy?!" he asked urgently. Clay nodded.

"Seems she managed to send Liam an email from some little shit hole not even a mile from the church of one Kellan Ashby. Killed Fiona in the process of escaping, but-" Here Clay trailed off, knowing Chibs wasn't going to be happy about this next part.

"But?!"

"The email said Fiona was dead, as they found out was true, and that they could find her at the nearest church. But she had also gone into labor." Chibs froze and paled.

"She's- the baby- now?!" he asked. Clay nodded.

"Liam got the exile lifted long enough to go to Ireland and get her and your son and come back." Chibs staggered at the news and Charlie held him steady.

"I'll go with you, Chibs. We'll get our family back." Chibs gripped the handle of his bike to steady himself, though his knuckles were white from the force.

"Aye," he croaked.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Tig flipped through a little notepad with numbers on it, seeing if he missed calling one as Gemma hung up the phone.

"He's not at the church," she said, slamming the phone into it's charging station. Then Carlisle walked in.

"I went up and down every street, checked the mini mart, the gas station- there's no sigh of him," he said, his keys still in hand.

"I tried calling a few of his friends- there's nothing," Tig said.

"I can't believe I just let him drive away. Jesus, how could I do that? Stupid Bitch!"

"I'm assuming this isn't about the young woman in the basement?" Carlisle asked.

"No!"

Gemma through a phone book at the little cabinet holding the porcelain dolls and walked out of the room, unaware that her father was at the lake, remembering everything and contemplating ending it all right there before he was put in a home.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

"AAAHHH!" Bella screamed as another contraction rocked through her. Thankfully, Maureen was more loyal to the Cause than she was to anyone else but her daughter because she called Siobhan and Liam. The former was now with her in Maureen's hidey hole helping to birth her son. She'd have to ask the woman why she had a spare bed in the room later, when she wasn't in so much pain.

"That's it, little Bella. Squeeze as hard as you need. You're not ready yet. Another couple of centimeter's to go," Siobhan encouraged.

"I want Filip," she cried. "Please! Please, I want Filip."

"I know, darling. I know. Liam called and said he was on his way with your da. They should be here within hours.

"Siobhan, we have a little problem," Maureen said from between Bella's legs.

"What?! What is it?" Bella asked, her worry spiking. Siobhan shushed her, comforting her as she sent a glare towards the other woman.

"Bella, little Callum is breech. I'll need to turn him. It'll be painful, lass, but thankfully, it shouldn't take long, Aye?" Maureen told her. Bella was trying to breath through the pain, sweat matting her hair to her head. She looked at Maureen and nodded.

"Aye, do it," she said through her breaths. A few moments later, she wished she hadn't as a pain from between her legs felt like it was splitting her in two. She screamed, but did everything she could to hold back the urge to thrash. Though she was pretty sure she had broken a few of Siobhan's fingers.

"You're ready to push now, love. You need to push," Maureen said.

"Just follow what your body is telling you, sweetling," Siobhan said.

So Bella did. She bore down and the searing pain returned. It felt as though someone were stabbing her in the stomach while someone twisted her insides and were trying to pull them out. She screamed and screamed every time Maureen told her to push. It was no wonder. She had been in labor for most of the day. It was dark when Maureen took her in. The day passed, and according to Siobhan, it was now the wee hours of the morning.

Finally, it felt as if something finally gave within her, and the pain was gone. But her screaming was soon replaced by that of Callum's. His first cries in the world were music to her ears. She herself cried in relief that her son was here and they were both safe. For the moment at least. Maureen came over to her, Callum still crying and wrapped in an old baby blanket, and handed Bella her newborn son. Bella thought she had never seen a more beautiful sight than this little infant in her arms. She held him gently but firmly, letting the little one know that the world wasn't so scary on the outside. She calmed him and sang whispered lullabies to him.

"He's beautiful, lass," Siobhan said. "You said his name was Callum?"

Bella nodded. "Callum Charles Filip Telford."

"That's a mouthful, to be sure. How about just little Cal for now, eh?" Bella smiled at Siobhan.

"Thank you. Both of you," she said, turning her gaze towards Maureen. The blond smiled and stood.

"I'll leave the two of you alone for a bit. Let you catch up," she said, leaving the room.

"What happened, little Bell?" Siobhan asked once she was out of the room.

Bella sighed and looked at Callum now sleeping in her arms. "Jimmy and Fiona brought me to a little shit hole not too far from here. Jimmy made two mistakes. One was getting an insecure internet line, and the second was leaving Fiona alone. Once he left, I lured Fiona into my room. Strangled her with a plastic bag I had found. She got a lucky shot in. Caught me in the side hard enough to start my labor. I went as far as I dared with the contractions starting. It was pure luck I ended up here, though I intended the church."

"Was a stroke of luck indeed. I don't trust Maureen's brother, the local priest in charge of that church, St. Matthew's, when it comes to children. He's heard one too many scare stories about children being recruited for the cause, and he'd probably have taken the lad before you even got to hold him. But the council still holds him in high regard, so he's protected for now."

"What am I going to do, Siobhan? How am I going to get home?" Bella asked.

"Don't you worry, little Bell. Your da and Filip both are coming to get you. I suppose Filip is mad with worry for you. In the mean time, you and the wee lad are coming with me. Liam and I will put you up until you are well enough to travel. I'd give it a week or two to be on the safe side."

Bella had tears running down her face, her eyes conveying deep gratitude towards the Irish woman, before she focused again on her son. The most beautiful being she had ever laid eyes on.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Jax walked up to Clay, a cigarette in his mouth. "You're missing a sweet Asian buffet inside. All you can eat," he said, lighting the cig.

"Ah. With your mom being away, it feels to much like cheating," Clay said, taking a drag off of his cigar. "I miss her so goddamn much. But she needs this."

"Yeah."

"Shit, I better go get my dick sucked. I'm starting to sound as whipped as you," Clay said, standing.

"Blow me," Jax snarked.

"I love you too, son," Clay said half sarcastically with a one armed hug.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Carlisle unzipped his medical bag, then turned to examine the bound girl. He put one of his hands on the side of her face, and the girl jumped as much as being bound allowed.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he said kindly.

"You're the doctor they were waiting for?"

"Indeed. I'm going to clean out that cut on your cheek. It'll sting." Carlisle pressed an alcohol soaked gauze lightly to the wound and Amelia gasped.

"I can't see them, but I'm guessing my hands are a nice shade of purple right now." Carlisle's hands left her face and checked the duct tape. It was snug against the chair and her arms, but enough to wiggle them so she wouldn't lose circulation. Gemma was no amateur.

"They look human colored to me. And you're fingers are warm, so you're getting circulation. You'll be fine, miss," he said, turning his attention back to the cut.

"You're a doctor? How does this not fuck with your Hippocratic Oath?"

"Ah. It's a fine line. The way I see it, Gemma is the one to subdue you and tie you up. She is the one who gave you this cut. The oath I took states I won't harm anyone. It doesn't say anything about freeing them. Besides, I have my own MC. There are rules. Freeing the prisoner of another breaks those rules. Sorry, but you're stuck here."

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Jasper was sitting at one of the tables at Lin's, a bottle of Tennessee whiskey and a shot glass in front of him as he watched his girl work. He didn't lie to Jax. He wasn't all that bothered at what Lyla did for a living. But it was getting to be about that time he thought about the future of their relationship. After he broke it off with Alice, he was sure he was done with the fairer sex for a good long while. At least romantically. Until he had come down to be Bella's new bodyguard. An occupation he failed spectacularly in. He already practically owes her his life. But he was hoping she didn't hold his choice to save Abel rather than her against him.

He watched as Lyla led a bald man into the filming room, and smiled, knowing that while she liked her job, she only truly screamed for him. Oh, yeah. It was time to put a ring on that. She was a way better choice than Alice.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

"Hey, Gem. Nate just pulled up. He's heading into the back yard," Tig told Gemma. They ran outside and Gemma found Nate sitting on one of the stone benches.

"Daddy?" Nate looked up as Gemma sat. "Where'd you go, Dad? Where's the gun?"

"I got rid of it," he said.

"Why?"

"Did I kill someone?" he asked in anguish over the thought.

"Oh, no, no, Daddy, no."

"I remember, I-"

"It was an accident. Tig is okay. It's perfect. Everything is fine," Gemma assured him. Nate looked away, his face set in introspection.

"Days like this...when I can remember everything I usually forget, these are the worst days," he said. "I was useless to her, Gemma. I couldn't even comfort her at the end."

"You know mom's gone?" she asked tentatively. Nate looked at her, his eyes still incredibly sad and gave a small nod. "And, um, you know we're gonna have to leave this place soon? Go someplace where people can take care of you?"

"I know. I know."

"I'm sorry, daddy." Gemma wrapped an arm around him, her head resting on one of his shoulders, and they enjoyed what they could of this, one of Nate's last lucid moments. It was nearly too bittersweet.

~~~~~~~~~)O(~~~~~~~~~

Chib's leg was bouncing up and down in his nervousness. Charlie was sitting on one side of him, and the poor sap on the other side up and left when his leg bouncing got to be too much for him.

"Chibs, they'll be all right. Liam and Siobhan won't let anything happen to either one of them. I promise," Charlie tried to comfort him.

"That bastard made me miss the birth of my son, Charlie. He and that bitch both. I'm glad Bella took care of my ex for me, but I promise you... Jimmy's end will be as painful as me missing my son's birth is for me at this very moment. I should have been there!" he said harshly.

Charlie put a firm hand on his shoulder. "There is nothing you can do about it right now. Bella is strong. She will pull through this birth just fine. Focus on that. Focus on her and your son. You have a newborn son. I am a grandfather. I want to beat the shit out of you for knocking up my baby girl and share a drink with you for giving me a grandchild. Focus on this good in life until we have them both home. And then we'll get back at Jimmy. Right?"

Chibs took in a steadying breath to calm himself before looking at Charlie. "Aye. I'm a father. A father! I never thought I'd feel this again. After Kerrianne… Kerrianne… I'm going to have to figure that out as well. The lass lost her mother and is not yet old enough to be on her own. That's going to be a tricky minefield, make no mistake."

"I'll help you through it, brother. You aren't alone."