AN: I know I've been a horrible person and neglected this along with my other stories and I apologize. I'm still trying to get back into the flow of things. And thanks to the haters. You really do inspire me to keep writing whatever I want J Go ahead and flag my story. I'll repost it. Again. And again. And again. For the readers who love my stories and always send me feedback. Yes, I should take the bad with the good but when you are flat out rude I certainly won't. Be respectful. By the way, I realized that I changed her son's name from Jamie to Callum. I'm sorry for the eff up, his name is Jamie.

The next week was an emotionless blur. Maddie did her best to act like she was fine but today was just one of the days she couldn't fight through it. She had played with Abel, shopped with Tara, talked to Opie but she felt like the façade she had been building for three years was fading quickly. She currently lay in the bed of Opie's dorm staring at the ceiling as her ipod played from the dock on the nightstand. Everyone was downstairs working and more than likely trying to find out who had threatened the women of the club. Jax has deemed it safe enough to send Tara and the boys home and had offered Maddie a place there. Just the thought of a real home and being with boys almost had her accepting the offer, but Roosevelt's threat to yank her off the case hung in the air. Reluctantly she declined the offer and stayed in the clubhouse. She had hardly seen Opie since they had left the station and maybe it was better that way. She needed to clear her head of these "feelings" for the biker and get her head back to business.

With a sigh she turned her head to the door as Opie came in. She offered him a small smile but stayed where she was. Madison hated how her heart sped up at the mere sight of him. Wordlessly he took his cut off and placed it on the dresser along with his gun and knife. Madison's eyes stayed locked on his as he walked over to the bed and lay down beside her. He reached out to stroke her cheek gently and she turned so she was on her side facing him. She was in so much trouble.

"Come for a ride with me." He spoke softly, his fingers smoothing her hair from her face. She leaned into his touch, moved closer even. Madison's brain was screaming at her, telling her to cut the shit but her body betrayed her.

"Where? Don't you have work to do?" Her eyes scanned his face taking every little crease and scar in. Opie shook his head.

"Jax gave me the rest of the afternoon off to spend with you." Madison melted on the spot when he smiled. She bit down on her lip to try and keep from smiling like a fool. His fingers moved from her hair to where her eye was now healing. It was an ugly yellow green color but she knew it would be gone soon. She turned her head away and let her eyes find an interesting spot on the ceiling. "Why ya gotta do that Mads?" Gritting her teeth together Madison sat up and slowly made her way to the bathroom. Running the water in the sink she splashed some water on her face and closed her eyes. No, she wasn't going to do this. Get a hold of yourself Madison! You have a goddamn job to do! Don't you dare forget what they did to Tommy. Don't you dare for one second think they are capable of feeling anything other than revenge and spite. The young woman reached for the towel and dried her face. When she looked up she found Opie stand behind her watching her carefully. Avoiding his eyes she looked back down at the sink, towel gripped tightly in her hands. Opie moved forward and placed his hands on her shoulders, his lips pressed to the back of her head. Subconsciously Madison leaned back into his chest.

"I know things have been pretty hard this past week but please don't push me away. I thought we got over what happened. I thought we were okay." His deep voice was sweet and caring. It cut Maddie right to her heart. Turning she pressed her lower back against the sink and put her hands against Opie's chest.

"We did and we are. I'm just…it's a lot to take in. We went from being this secret thing that happened to not be such a secret to suddenly out in the open and there's….there's more involved now. There's more at stake. We didn't….I didn't think I was…" She trailed off shaking her head. "I wasn't supposed to care so much." She finally said. Opie gently lifted her face so he could look in her eyes.

"I'm with you on that but at least you know that I do too. I care about you too Madison." Tears filled the woman's eyes and she tried to move her face away from the bikers. "No, don't do that. Don't hide anything from me anymore. I want all of you, the good and the bad." This brought even more tears to her eyes and she buried her face in Opie's chest. His arms came around to hold her tight to him as she cried softly. "Everything's gonna be okay. We are gonna find the fucks who threatened you and the others, take care of it and then we can figure the rest of this out. I hope you still want to be in my life after." Pulling herself away a little she looked at him with a tear stained face. Her hand moved to cup his cheek.

"I already know I do." She gave him a small smile before pressing her lips against his. Opie's hands moved to her hair where his fingers tangled it tightly before pulling her head back so he could reach her neck. A soft sigh escaped Madison's lips as he slowly kissed his way along her neck before nipping at her collar bone. Her hands slid underneath his shirt and tugged upward. Releasing her long enough to discard his shirt along with hers Opie pulled her back to him. His hips pressed against hers, pinning them to the sink behind her. He ground his arousal into her and Madison let out a low whimper. Her hands maneuvered between them to get to his belt, quickly wrenching it open. Their movements were becoming needier, quicker.

"Maddie! Look what Daddy got me!" The couple pulled apart and turned to find Abel running into the bathroom holding something. Madison ducked behind Opie and peered over his shoulder. Before she could say anything Tara came running in and covered his eyes.

"I am so sorry. He's a lot quicker than people think. I turned my back for two seconds." She gushed out an apology. "Abel I told you to wait for Maddie to come downstairs." She gathered the boy into her arms.

"I know but I got too excited. How come Opie was attacking Maddie?" Madison tried not to laugh.

"No sweetie, Opie wasn't attacking her he um…" She shot a look at the couple.

"I was trying to help her with her necklace kiddo. It got stuck in her hair." He lied smoothly still covering Madison.

"Then why is your shirt on the floor?" This time Madison did laugh. Tara's face turned bright red and she rushed out of the room with the child. You could hear her sputtering some kind of explanation as she left. With a groan Madison pressed her forehead against Opie's back.

"Babe, this is killing me." Opie turned around. She pouted.

"I know, me too but I kind lost it." She confessed. Opie nodded in agreement.

"Yea, something about a kid running in like that…" Something flashed across his face but it left as quickly as it came. They pulled on their shirts and straightened themselves out before walking downstairs. Madison couldn't help the surprise when Opie took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. When they reached the bottom he didn't let go like she thought he would. Instead he tugged her over to Abel. When the little boy spotted Madison he came running and threw himself at her legs.

"Maddie! Daddy bought me a really cool toy!" He pointed at the table where a remote was sitting. On the floor was a car.

"That's really cool Abel." She smiled and pulled him up into her arms.

"You have to try it! It's so awesome!"

"Actually sweetie, I was hoping to steal Maddie for a little bit. Mommy wants some girl time." Tara cut in before Madison could answer.

"But who will play with me?" The little boy pouted.

"I will." Opie stepped forward smiling. Tara's mouth fell open but she quickly recovered.

"Really?!" Abel squirmed around in Madison's arms and she put him down. The second his feet hit the floor he launched himself at Opie. A light giggle escaped her mouth as Opie picked the boy up.

"You betcha." Tara took the opportunity to tug on Madison's sleeve and jerk her head towards the door. The two women took advantage of the distraction to make it outside and into the sun. Madison groaned in satisfaction as it warmed her skin.

"You have no idea how nice this feels."

"You'd see it a lot more if you came and stayed at my house." Tara raised an eyebrow at her.

"I know, I just don't want to leave Opie right now. Things are so weird between us with everything that's been going on." She tried to explain.

"No I totally understand. " She held her hands up. Tara headed for a car in the lot, pulling the keys from her pocket.

"Aren't we going to get into trouble? I'm not supposed to leave without a chaperone."

"Not if we get out of here quick." She shot a look to her partner in crime. Madison smiled and they rushed to the car. Getting in they started it up and quickly made their way out of the parking lot. "I'm sorry for dragging you out like this; I just can't stand to be cooped up anymore. If I'm not stuck inside at home, I'm stuck inside the clubhouse. I needed to get out and I really do need girl time. Gemma has been so busy with the garage lately. It's like everyone needs repairs all at once." Tara slowed down a little as they got further away from the garage without the sound of a bike. With a sigh of relief Tara kept driving past houses and stores.

"It feels sort of unreal to be out of the clubhouse." Maddie commented. She couldn't remember the last time she had been out of the parking lot. Tara nodded in agreement before turning the car into the lot of the small strip mall of the town. It wasn't much, hardly anything to be honest. There was a small restaurant, a few stores that sold clothes and one that sold the most random things someone made. It reminded Madison of the stores that sold gaudy little trinkets at the beach. People would make little rock people or glue googly eyes to sea shells.

"I figured some lunch and shopping might do us good." Tara smiled as she and Maddie climbed out of the car and headed to the closest clothes store. After a good two hours of clothes shopping and many bags the girls headed to grab some food after dumping their purchases in the car. Once seated and ordered Madison became uneasy when she saw the look on Tara's face became serious. Maddie toyed with the straw in her iced tea and lowered her eyes to the table. "I want to talk about Opie." In a way Madison knew this was coming. The woman sitting across from her was married to his best friend. Of course she, at some point, would want to discuss the situation. "I just worry about him Madison. He's the uncle to my children, my husband's best friend. He is family." Madison knew all of this and she knew Tara didn't mean any harm but she still felt attacked. As she should. I mean here she was playing at being a good friend, a caring pseudo-aunt and yet her agenda was much darker. Guilt swarmed through her veins and she forced a smile.

"I know. I understand Tara and honestly it's no big deal. I…" She bit down on her lip for a moment trying to steady her voice. "I care about him. A lot. When we first started seeing each other, if you can even call it that, there were no feelings. Well not anything solid aside from the sexual attraction. I suppose two years later someone is bound to feel something." She let out a soft sigh and shrugged. There was no explaining whatever this thing was between her and the burly biker. It had to end soon anyway.

"I know he cares about you. The way he looks at you….he hasn't looked that way at anyone in a very long time Madison. You've been kind of distant since the raid. Are you sure everything is alright?" Maddie's eyes shot up to Tara's half expecting accusation in them but instead found concern.

"Yea, just scared me is all. I'm not used to the MC life. I was never supposed to become a part of it." The words were true albeit leaving out her involvement in the raid. Tara reached across the table and took Maddie's hand in hers.

"The Sons will protect you no matter what. You are family now." She smiled and Madison hated the warm tingly feeling she felt in her chest. The food came, saving the woman in having to reply or carry on the conversation any longer. They ate in relative silence until Tara's cellphone rang. She grimaced when she read the ID. Flipping it open she tried to sound cheerful. "Hey baby." The smile dropped from her face the second the person on the other line started speaking. More like yelling, as Maddie could hear a loud buzzing on the other side of the table. "Sorry I just needed to get out for a bit. It's been…." She was cut off. "I understand that Jax but…" Madison waved the waiter over and paid for the meal while Tara waited to speak. "Yea she's right here. We'll be back soon." Shutting the phone she sighed.

"Jax sounded pretty pissed."

"He's furious. Not with you though. With me for taking out with me when we are still under lock down. Well mostly a lock down." The girls began gathering their things and left for the car. There was no conversation as they drove back to the garage. Jax and Opie stood in front of the office door with their arms crossed looking pissed.

"Oh oh." Madison muttered.

"Good thing we made that extra stop huh?" Tara smirked and Madison nodded her head. Before coming home the girls made one last stop hoping it would soften the blow with their old men. Both ladies exited the now parked car as the men stalked forward. "Where are the boys?" She asked when Jax got nearer.

"With Gemma at her place. We need to talk." His face was serious as his eyes flickered towards Madison. Oh shit. He knows. I'm screwed. Maddie's hands tightened around the bags she was holding on to. Opie stepped forward and took Madison's arm in his large hand and pulled her towards the clubhouse. Wordlessly she allowed a prospect to take her bags as he brought her into the room where the boys held church. Her heart leapt into her throat as he pushed her gently into a chair before taking a seat himself. Jax and Tara did the same thing. The room was silent as Opie pulled his gun and placed it on the table in front of him.