A/N: Updated 8/21/20

Chapter 12

Eliza POV

Opie and I were sitting in Abel's hospital room and later on that night and I noticed that Opie had drifted off to sleep. I sat there thinking about the last several years that I had been away from Charming. I thought about the fact that I had wanted nothing more than to be here with Opie. My heart had belonged to Opie since I was thirteen years old. I thought back to a conversation that I had once had with my dad.

FLASHBACK…

I was sitting in a chair in the garage, while my Dad worked on his bike. There weren't many people that he would let work on his bike so most of the time he did the work himself. "Hey kid, everything okay with you?" He asked me while he worked.

"Yeah, I'm okay Dad. Just thinking about this boy that I sort of have a crush on." I said.

"A crush, huh?" He asked.

"Yeah, Dad. A crush. Don't worry though. That's all it is."

"You sure about that?"

"Yeah dad. He doesn't like me."

"How's that even possible. You're a wonderful person, sweetheart." My dad said.

"Thanks Dad."

END OF FLASHBACK…

Sometimes the more that I thought about him, the more that I realized that he was missing out on a lot of stuff. Jax had a kid and here Opie and I were getting serious. Opie and I were getting so serious that I had even been thinking about marriage. Something that I hadn't thought about much in the past. It was something that I never thought was on the table. Tomorrow I was getting Opie's Crow tattooed on me and I wondered what else the future held for the two of us. I decided to let Opie sleep and we could talk about the future later.

The next morning Opie told me that he would wait for Mom to show up so that I could head home and shower before heading to TM. When I walked into the house, Jax was sitting at the kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee. "Hey." I said.

"Hey. How'd it go last night?" Jax asked me.

"It went good. I gotta shower, but can I talk to you before we head out?"

"Sure."

I headed off to the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day. When I walked out of the bathroom, Jax was still at the table. The only difference was that there was now a second coffee cup on the table. I sat down across from him and he pushed the cup toward me. "Thanks."

"No problem. What's on your mind?" He asked.

"Do you ever think about what Dad's missing?" I asked. Jax raised an eyebrow at me. "Let me rephrase. Do you ever think about how things would be different if he had lived?"

Jax nodded. "Yeah, I've thought about it. Honestly, lately I've been thinking about what he would think about you and Opie moving so quickly."

"Why that?" I asked and Jax raised an eyebrow at me. "I mean, why that specifically?"

"Seriously?" I nodded. "E, you came home and within a couple of weeks you've got his crow. How are you not scared about how fast the two of you are moving." Jax said.

"Jax, I thought you supported me and Ope?" I asked.

"Look, I do support you and Ope. I always have. But at the same time, I want you to be careful. I don't want to see my little sister with a broken heart, and I don't want to see my best friend depressed because he lost the one girl that he really loves." Jax said.

I guess that I could understand where he was coming from. Ever since Dad had died, Jax felt like it was his responsibility to protect me and look after me. "You know Jax, I'm not thirteen anymore. You don't have to protect me." I finally said.

"I know I don't but your still my little sister." He said with a smile.

—

A little while later, I found myself sitting at the desk in the TM office. Ever since I had gotten to the office that morning after talking to Jax I had been busy. Not only with paperwork, but I was trying to keep my mind from thinking about my future with Opie. I guess some part of me thought that Jax had made a good point. Opie and I had been moving pretty fast. However, another part of me realized that it had been a long time coming. I had been in love with Opie since I was thirteen. I think that, I knew, the day at the hospital when he told me that I would make some guy really happy. I think that, that was the moment that I knew that I was truly in love with Opie Winston.

When lunch time rolled around, Piney walked into the office. "Hey princess. I thought I might see if you want to join an old man for lunch today?" He asked.

"Sure thing. Let me just finish this parts order real fast?"

"Yeah, not a problem sweetheart." Piney said as he sat down on the couch.

I finished up the parts order that I was working and closed up the office. "So, diner?" Piney nodded and we walked over to my car. I drove us over to the diner and we sat in a booth. We ordered our drinks and our food. "So, not that I don't love having lunch with you Pops, cause I do…but what's up?"

Piney smiled at me. "I'm really glad your home sweetheart. This place hasn't been the same without you. Actually it's been pretty dull." He said, causing me to smile. "Your dad would be proud of you."

When Piney said this, I began to cry. "I've been thinking about him a lot lately." I said.

"Look, your dad was my best friend. I've tried to be there for you and Jax just like I am for Opie. I hope you know that."

I touched Piney's hand. "Of course, I do Pops. It means a lot." I said.

"Good." He slid an envelope towards me.

"What's this?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. I was really confused right now and not just by the big envelope in front of me.

"It's some letters that your dad wrote. Some to me, but there are some in there to you that he gave me in case something ever happened to him."

I nodded. "Thanks." I said. Dad had left a piece of himself behind and he'd left it with the one person that he trusted more than anything.

Opie POV

I was working in the garage that afternoon, when Jax walked in. "Hey man." I said.

"Hey. Can we talk?" He said.

"Sure, what's up?"

"So, I noticed that things seem to be moving pretty fast with you and E."

"Yeah, I guess they are moving kind of fast…but man you know how long I've liked her. Thought you were okay with this?" Where was he going with this?

"I am. I just don't wanna see you hurt or her. You're my best friend and she's my sister."

I sat the wrench that I had in my hand down and looked at Jax. "Dude. I would never hurt her…at least not intentional. I did kinda wanna talk to you though…."

Jax stood up straight. "What's on your mind?"

Eliza POV

When mom came to releive me at TM, I decided to head home and read the letters that Piney had given me. I pulled one out of the big envelope and started to read.

"Eliza -

If your reading this letter, then that means that I am not there in person to tell you this myself. The other day after you told me that you had a crush on a boy, I began to think about who it might be. The only conclusion that I came to was that it's Opie Winston. I have to be honest, I hope that you don't end up with Opie because there is no doubt in my mind that he will become a patched member in the club, just like I know that Jackson will. However, if you do end up with a club member…I hope that it is Opie. I would hate for you to end up with someone like Tig.

Stick close to Jackson, he will always protect you…just like Opie and Piney will. Promise me this, whatever you do…do not trust Clay or your mother.

Love always,

Dad"

What was that supposed to mean? I needed to find Jax. I decided to call him. "Hello?" He answered.

"Jax? Where are you?" I asked.

"About to go see Abel why?"

"Meet me at the cemetery. I need to show you something."

"Okay. Headed there now."