It was three weeks after the IRA had tried to kill the whole club, and we were still not completely out of the crosshairs. We'd managed to convince them to come to a truce, so no more lives were in danger, but we still hadn't figured out a way to get out of doing business with them completely. I knew Tara was putting pressure on Jax. If he didn't get the club out of danger so he could step away, she might actually leave him this time. They had three children and she simply wasn't going to put up with this life anymore. She knew that with Gemma gone, there was no reason Jax had to stay in Charming anymore, as long as he made it so the club was safe, he would be able to go. She was getting impatient with waiting for that, though.

Honestly, I couldn't blame her. She'd wanted him to get out for years, and even though she had settled into the idea that maybe this would be her life, now that her mother-in-law was killed, she no longer wanted any part of it. She wanted out and she would get away with or without her husband. Jax wanted to join her, but he wasn't going to leave until he knew for sure the club he loved was safe. I could understand his side of it, too. He'd been invested in this club his whole life. He loved his brothers. He wanted them to be safe and okay before he stepped away to put his family first.

So far, there had been talk with the guy who was in charge stateside. Connor was almost willing to do business with color, but the kings were refusing, and he knew unless we could figure out a way to change that, they would simply kill him and find someone else to take his place unless he did what they wanted, so he was pretty much useless as far as helping us goes. I could understand that, but I just wanted this to be over nearly as much as Tara did. I didn't want out, really, but I wanted to be able to feel safe and not worry about my husband or children being in danger.

In the meantime, life had to go on. A lot of us were in a rut, I knew. Losing Gemma had left us feeling lost and kind of like we were wandering without our matriarch. Venus had said I would likely need to be the one who had to step up and take her place. Her words still echoed in my mind. "You know it's not going to be Tara, because she's got one foot out the door. Brie would be second choice, because we all know Jackson is going to have Filip take his place, but you and I both know she's not the right person. You've got a natural maternal instinct, and I'm 90% sure Filip will ask Juan to be his VP, so it simply makes sense for you to step into Gemma's shoes. Part of the reason you guys disagreed so much when you first came into our lives is because of how alike you are. I think she was threatened by you in a similar way she was by Tara when she moved back from Chicago. Regardless, though, the club needs a matriarch, and you've got the stuff to be it," she'd told me.

Even though I was reluctant to admit she was right, she made good points. I didn't want to replace Gemma, and didn't want to make it seem like that was my intentions, though. I still wasn't even sure I wanted to be the mother figure, but we needed something, so I'd planned a dinner for tonight. I was leaving work early, not going back after my lunch break, and I'd go home to cook and prepare. I was mentally going through lists of everything that needed to be done as I got ready to head home. My husband was on a run, finally able to ride again, but he would be back before dinner.

A few hours later, I had a roast in the oven, and was working on side dishes when I heard some bikes pull up, recognizing the sound of my husband's as one of them. Brie, Skye, Tara, Brooke and Venus were all in the kitchen with me as we cooked and laughed together and the rest were due to be arriving soon, as well. We had music going and I was dancing around when I heard the front door open, followed by footsteps that were obviously the guys before I saw Juan, followed by Jax, Chibs, Rat, Tig, Happy and Quinn and even T.O., from the Grimm Bastards. I held out a slice of the tomato I was cutting for the salad and wrinkled my nose as my husband ate it. I hated tomatoes, but he loved them. He gave me a kiss once he'd swallowed and the other guys were greeting their women, too.

With my knife, I pointed to the fridge. "On the bottom shelf, there's beer. There's snacks in the living room, and that's where the kids are playing, with Wendy watching them. Kallie is down for a nap. You guys can hang out in the back yard or where ever. Dinner should be ready in roughly 45 minutes," I told everyone, setting down my knife as I heard a knock on the door. Tara took over for me as I removed my apron and headed to answer it. I found Lyla on the other side, with all four kids, and opened the door wider to let her in as I repeated what I'd just told the guys, adding that she could join us in the kitchen if she wanted, and that I had both red and white wine if she preferred that to beer, though I suggested the red with the pot roast we were having. She agreed to that, and I went into the kitchen to pour a glass for her, while she led the kids into the living room.

After dinner was over, I changed the music to more dance-y music, and shoved the living room furniture out of the way, so people could dance, if they wanted. I didn't usually dance, but I knew other people liked to. I brought out my bong to loosen people up, and my hookah too, just for fun. I wanted everyone to have a night to relax and let loose. I knew we all needed it. We needed to get together, but more than that, we needed to be reminded that we could all have fun together, that life goes on, even in the face of loss. I knew that reminder wasn't going to come easily, but if we had one night of fun, I could consider that a success.

My husband found me as I was mingling and being a hostess, and pulled me into his arms. I didn't even realize he wanted to dance, until I heard the song playing, and realized it was our song. I melted into him and swayed with him in our living room. "You did good, angel. I think this was exactly what everyone needed. I know it was what I needed," he kissed my temple as we continued to dance until the song ended. I didn't want to move from his embrace, even though the next song was a fast one, so we ended up just standing there with our arms wrapped around each other.

Tilting my head back so I could look into his eyes, I lifted onto my tip toes to give him a kiss, then looked around the room. Wendy and Skye were sitting together, arms wrapped around each other. Brie and Chibs were dancing nearby. Venus and Tig were on the couch with Jax and Tara involved in conversation. I noticed everyone in the room had a smile on their face that I hadn't seen in weeks. I knew it wasn't an immediate fix, but it was definitely a start, and I wondered if maybe Venus was right. I could be the person who held the guys together, held the club together and maybe I needed to be that person as much as that club needed someone to be that person.

Turning my gaze back to my husband, I nodded. "You're what I need," I said, feeling a bit more affectionate than I usually was. He had a way of bringing that side out in me though. I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck and linking my fingers together at his nape. I had to snort though, as I usually did when someone said something that mushy. "That was cheesy as fuck, but you know it's true, right? I can get through anything, as long as I have you by my side," I stretched up on my tip toes again, this time pulling him into an even deeper kiss. I had to pull away after a moment, breathless.

Taking a minute to catch his breath, he met my gaze. He had his 'I'm-going-to-fuck-you,' look on his face, and he put his lips to my ear. "You need to save that thought for later, or I'm going to bend you over the couch or kitchen table. You can take your pick, once everyone leaves," he whispered, his words sending warmth through me all the way to my vagina. I had to close my eyes and take a deep breath to keep a hold of my control. I whispered that he was a fiend. "I may be, but you love it," he added and I met his gaze, biting my lip. I didn't need to say anything because he was right. There was no argument for that.

Cocking his eyebrow, he shook his head. "You have your fuck-me look on," he said, and I couldn't deny that either, so I smirked at him. I would spend the rest of the evening trying to decide which option I was going to go with, and I was heavily leaning toward both, to be honest. I played the gracious hostess for another couple hours, but I was sure they all knew why we wanted the house to ourselves. I was completely unapologetic. I was a newlywed and had many years to make up for, so I was going to have my husband as much and as often as I could.

Once everyone was gone and everything was cleaned up, I sat on the kitchen table, beckoning my husband towards me with one finger. "We're going to start here, and then move to the couch, and quite possibly some other places before we end up in bed," I said when he had approached and was standing with my legs bracketing his waist. I sent him a devilish smirk and slowly began stripping from the waist up, removing shirt then bra, and then removing his cut and shirt. I leaned back and lifted my ass so I could slip off my shorts and thong.

A few moments later, he'd stripped off the rest of his clothes, but instead of bending me over the table, as he'd told me he was planning, he left me laying on my back, and he kissed his way down my torso, paying attention to each nipple before he began to lick and suck my clit. I gripped the edge of the table, my back arching in pleasure as he ate me expertly to two orgasms before he finally pulled me up and flipped me over so he could thrust into me. He took me hard and fast, pounding into me again and again and I was coming again quickly, moaning his name, and a few moments later he followed me over the edge, moaning my name in return.

While we were fucking, I hadn't heard anything but our noises, but as we both recovered, I heard my phone going off and I only went searching for it so I could turn it off, but I hesitated when I saw I'd missed three calls from the same number. I answered this time, barely getting out a hello before the person on the other end was speaking. "Krystal, there's been an accident. My mom's dead and your dad's in the hospital. I wouldn't be calling. I know you don't give a fuck about your dad, but our little brother's gonna be taken into state custody. They won't give him to me and my boyfriend, but they'll let him go home with you while things get settled. You said I could call you for anything about him. Please," it took me a few moments to process the voice as Seth's, and then a few more moments to realize what he was saying.

Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair and began gathering my clothes. "Alright. I'll be there. What hospital?" I asked, noticing my husband's curious look. I held up a finger to him as Seth gave me an answer, and then I said goodbye, looking at my husband as I threw on clothes. "We're going to have to continue this sexcapade later. Apparently Larry's son needs me. I don't know much. I guess Larry and his wife were in a car accident. She's dead, and it's not looking good for him. If I don't come take him for at least a bit, he's going to go into the system, and I don't want that," I sighed again, and Juan, to his credit, absorbed what I said and began to get dressed so we could go.

A/N: I kinda like this chapter. Next one is pretty good too. Hope y'all like it. Please review and I'll update again in a few days. As for now, I'm gonna try to sleep cuz I've been up all night.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.