Ok so the upcoming chapters will explain what happened during the three year gap. Please review, comment, etc. Most importantly, enjoy :)
While Elle waited for the pair to come out of 'church', she lost herself deep in thought about the dive the club had taken over the fastest three years of her life.
….Three Years Previous…..
"So Angel, who was the hat that was hanging around the lot today?" Clay asked with a grin on his face.
Her cheeks immediately tainted pink and she cleared her throat, "He's an old friend I met when I was out of town"
The boys all had massive shit-eating grins on their faces, knowing exactly where their president was taking this conversation, "Yeah you know that ain't gonna cut it. If I'm gonna have some stranger walking around my place of business then I want to know who he is"
"Uncle Clay you have tons of strangers come in and out of TM daily" She tried to get out.
"They are all simple business transactions; none of them show any interest in my family. Now spill the beans Angel"
A chorus of 'Yeah Angel' 'Come on Elle' and 'Spill it' came from every direction of the table and she slammed her fork on the oak table, "OK FINE" The noise stopped immediately, "His name is Mitch, he is on the PBR circuit. Competes every year and finishes up in Vegas, that's where you" She pointed at Jax with a polished purple nail, "came in. The circuit was finishing up and we were out for a drink before the championship round the next day. Plain and simple he is a cowboy and nothing more. A nobody to a bunch of outlaws" Elle looked around the table, "Now can we get back to eating like a normal family?" She asked as she picked up her utensils and started on her meal again.
The men looked around at each other and Elle before picking up their own utensils and conversations again.
The clean-up in the kitchen was the same chatty henhouse as usual. Elle was silent as she stacked the dishwasher and cleaned off the leftovers into the bin.
"You ok hunny? You've been rather quiet since dinner" Gemma asked quietly.
"You know, I'd like to say I'm ok but I was embarrassed at that table. I know I should brush it off but Uncle Clay made me feel like an idiot for making friends outside the MC and for wanting to show him where I lived"
"Oh baby I know. You definitely got the prospect treatment tonight. He just doesn't want to see you get hurt. You're like his daughter, his special baby girl. Clay was only trying to find out what was going on, granted he did it the wrong way but still. He means well baby girl"
Elle sighed and rubbed her forehead, "Yeah I know. Do you mind if I cut out and go get ready? There are still a couple of coffee mugs out on the table but everything else is done"
"Yeah go ahead Angel, we'll meet you there" Gemma rubbed her back and watched the younger girl walk out.
Elle spent a few hours at the clubhouse before calling it a night. The next day she decided she was going to trade her beloved Charger. Even though the car was what reminded her most of Otto; it was time for a change. Pulling up at a car yard in Oakland, she grabbed her handbag and headed into the office. The manager came out and inspected the car thoroughly.
"Everything on this is original. All in excellent condition" Elle pointed out.
"What you looking to get for it?" The heavyset man asked.
"That" Elle pointed to the gunmetal grey 1967 Shelby Mustang sitting on the edge of the lot, "Plus an extra $1000" He looked at Elle with his eyebrows raised, "It's more than fair. I had a look over it earlier and there are a few parts on it that aren't factory standard. I mean sure they are mustang parts but not what that baby had on her when she rolled off the line"
Less than half an hour later Elle roared out of the lot in her new Shelby and a pocketful of money. She saw soaring and right at that moment nothing could make her feel down.
She was eating lunch at Nicky's Diner when Jax and Juice walked in. Her back was to the door and she didn't notice the genuine grin that spread across the VP's face.
"Pick up lunch" He instructed his Intel officer.
"Hey darlin', what's going on?" Jax swaggered over and sat in the booth opposite her.
"I'm just having some lunch" She replied calmly, spinning her coffee.
"You ok Angel?" A confused look spread over his face as he leaned against the table.
"Yeah Jax I'm fine. Why?"
"You just seem like you're somewhere else. You didn't stay at the clubhouse very long last night"
"Were you expecting a repeat of the previous week? Because I'm not sure my liver could handle it"
Jax's frown deepened, "Alright cut the bullshit and tell me what the hell is going on?"
"Keep your goddamn voice down. There is nothing going on, I came in here for a quiet lunch by myself. I've just had a bit on my mind ok? After trading my car, I've been trying to look for a place to live because I don't want to stay with mom and I feel it's time for me to leave the nest and…"
"You traded the charger?"
"Yeah a place in Oakland took it and I conned that sucker too. I got a Shelby instead plus extra" Elle pointed out the window with a smile on her face.
Jax scoffed and his hand dropped between his shook it with a smile of his own, "Eleanor. Of fuckin' course" Jax couldn't count how many times he had watched 'Gone in 60 seconds' with Elle when they were younger. She not only had an obsession with the actors but the cars. One car in particular had stuck with her; Eleanor. He looked up at her, bright blue eyes staring back into his own ocean coloured orbs, "Are you sure that was the right move? I mean your dad…wait, did you say extra? How much extra?"
"Yeah I know the charger was a gift and it held a lot of memories but it's time for a change and I got an extra grand on top of it"
"Atta girl" He grinned, "You first learnt about cars on that thing, picked me and Opie up on numerous drunken occasions. Do you remember when we drove out to like the middle of nowhere to escape Clay, our moms and Otto and we ended up crashing in the back se…"
"Yeah Jax, I remember" Elle cut him off. Jax out the window then at Elle before a person coming towards them caught his attention; Juice.
"Hey Jax you ready to go?" The Intel officer looked at his company, "Hey Elle"
"Hey Juice" She smiled.
"Yeah Juicey let's get out of here. I'll see you around?" His hand on her shoulder. Elle just nodded and left money on the table, following the boys out. The trio parted ways, the boys headed to the hospital to check on little Abel, hopefully to check him out and Elle headed back to the Clubhouse to help Gemma set up for Abel's homecoming.
"Hey Gem" Elle panted as she walked past.
"Hey Angel, where have you been today?" Gemma questioned.
"I went and traded my car, looked around at a few small places and I ran into Jax while I was having lunch at Nicky's" Elle walked behind the bar, grabbing herself a glass of water.
"You traded the charger? Well what did you get?" Gemma put a hand on her hip as she stood on the ladder. Elle put the glass down and headed towards the door.
"Come on" The matriarch climbed down and followed Elle outside. The shiny grey car caught Gemma's attention immediately.
"Really?" The tone of Gemma's voice set Elle's thoughts down and she knew that Gemma was thinking exactly what Jax had been.
"My car, my choice" Elle smiled. The pair rallied croweaters and sweetbutts to finish the decorations and make sure that everything was ready to go when Jax walked in with his son. Gemma and Elle put the finishing touches on everything and soon the placed was done up to the nines.
Juice's bike came roaring into the yard and he walked into the clubhouse, "Hey Elle"
"Hey Juice, where's Jax?" She asked as she put the last set of plastic plates out on the bar.
"He's still at the hospital. He needs you to take your car over there cuz he only has his bike"
Throwing the wrappers in the bed Elle said, "Yeah, I'll just finish up here and head over" Elle walked outside to the picnic table to Gemma, "I'm gonna pick up Abel from the hospital since Jax has his bike"
"Ok Angel" Gemma kissed her cheek.
Elle headed to the porn studio, "Hey mom can I borrow the caddy? I have to pick up Abel from the hospital. Jax only has his bike and my car doesn't have a back seat"
"No problem beautiful. Here ya go" Luann handed her the keys.
"You're coming around right? Abel's homecoming"
"I'll be there in an hour. I need to finish up this set and go home to change. I'll see you soon baby girl"
"Thanks for the car" Elle waved as she walked out.
Parking the car, she leaned over to the passenger side and picked up her bag and its contents after spilling during the rushed exit from the studio. She walked up to Abel's room and found father and son in a special moment. Jax was reading Abel a book as he slept. Gingerly Elle knocked on the door, "Hey Jax"
"Hey darlin" Jax smiled up at her as he closed the book.
"You ready to go? I stopped by Gemma's and picked up the baby seat" Elle looked over the small baby.
"You in the mustang?" A frown appeared across his face.
"No I've got mom's caddy so you can relax" Elle smiled still not lifting her gaze, mesmerized by the baby boy, "He's beautiful Jax" She chuckled softly when she took in the blue beanie; a small reaper sitting on his forehead.
"He definitely takes after his old man that's for sure" Elle laughed.
"You are so full of it. Come on let's get out of here" Jax stood up and while Elle fetched a doctor, he got all his shit together. Once the doctor was with Jax, Elle went out to the car and moved it up to the front door and had a smoke while she waited. Jax came out with a proud smile on his face and an arm full of tiny Son.
With Abel loaded in the car and Jax riding in front, Elle couldn't have felt more like a part of the Teller family at that very moment. The sweet little boy in the back and the protective badass biker in the front.
Pulling into TM, Elle parked on the far wall while Jax lined his bike up with the others. She sat Abel in his carrier and walked over to Jax, who pulled him out again as soon as he was close enough and the trio headed inside the clubhouse. The room erupted in cheers and whoops as the new father proudly showed off his son to his brothers. Elle sat the carrier in the corner of the room and grabbed a beer from the bar.
"Noticed you looked rather happy when you walked in" Opie nudged Elle.
"No I didn't" She tried to defend.
"Bullshit you didn't. I was watching you and how you looked at Abel. Jax was over the fucking moon as well, I could tell just by the way he walked in that he loved having you up next to him"
"Well I told him how I felt and I got nothing in return" She took a swig of beer, "Clearly there isn't anything there" She walked off to the other end of the room, sitting with the other old ladies and hang arounds.
Chibs and Bobby had come over to Opie when Elle left, "What was all that about?"
"Aye, what's goin' on with the lass there?"
"I was saying that Jax was mighty pleased that he was standing next to Elle. She told me he knows how she feels" Opie admitted.
"Yeah he does. Jax needs a push in the right direction" Bobby looked around the room.
"I agree with Bobby and I think it needs to come from you boyo" Chibs slapped Opie on the back.
"Whether you just push him in the right direction or you tell him flat out, either way it needs to be done" Both senior members walked away from the giant redwood and grabbed themselves some drinks before heading to meet their newest family member.
Opie took his opportunity when Abel was with Gemma, "Jax can I have a minute?"
"Yeah sure, you ok bro?" Jax got up and followed Opie to the bar.
"You gotta talk to Elle man. You have to tell her how you feel" Opie ran his hand through his beard.
"Ope she is friend" Jax tried to get out.
"You're full of shit and you know it. Look man, I'm not telling you how to be or what to do but everyone in this clubhouse knows there is something going on. You can deny it if you want, tell everyone that there is nothing there but I'm not gonna believe that bullshit; not for a second. Do whatever you need to do" Opie put the empty beer bottle on the bar and walked outside to the picnic table.
The party ended after a few hours, kids going home tired and Gemma was eager to get her grandson home. Jax had been by himself for almost two hours up on the roof thinking about what Opie said and about how he really felt. He'd be lying to himself if he honestly hadn't thought about the idea of him and Elle. Climbing down from the roof he was stalking out a certain redhead.
"Elle, can I talk to you for a minute?"
She threw the handful of beer bottles she had collected, into the bin and followed Jax into church.
"What's going on?" Elle asked, brushing her long bright locks behind her ears.
"Elle what's going on between us?" He asked flat out.
She frowned, "I don't know what you mean Jax"
"You tell me straight out that you love me and then take off out of Charming"
"Jax that was a long time ago" She said looking down at the ground.
"Are you saying something's changed?" Jax put a finger under her chin.
"No I'm not but clearly those feelings are returned so it doesn't matter if anything's changed or not. I don't need it rubbed in my face so I don't bring it up" Elle huffed.
They stared at each other for a few minutes before Elle's hands came off her hips, slapping her legs, "Look I gotta…" Jax's lips pressed firmly to hers; silencing any chance of her trying to get away. Elle felt her knees go weak and her hands came up to the back of his neck. Jax reluctantly and slowly pulled away. "What was that?" Elle asked; her eyes still closed. She opened them slowly, taking in Jax's expression.
"Whatever this is, there is a chance it won't work" Elle was set to argue, "But I don't care what your mom says and it's prolly a good thing Otto is locked away " Both smiled at his comment, "I've been trying to convince myself that there was nothing here. That you deserved someone better"
"Jackson how many times have I told you that I'm only as good as the other women here? I'm SAMCRO and that's all I want to be"
"Shut up" He smiled before pressing her ass into the table and kissing her again.
Banging and cheering against the windows and doors told the smitten couple that everyone now knew that pair had finally stopped dancing around. Jax and Elle both pushed a hand out towards the noise and stuck a finger up at them. Jax pulled away once again, "I'm not sure how to make this work Elle"
"We'll figure it out. But Jax, I want to know everything; no secrets" He nodded. The pair walked out of church and were greeted by all of the club and numerous hang arounds and old ladies.
"You take care of him" Gemma spoke softly to the young redhead.
…Reaper….…..…..One month later…..Reaper…
"Baby I promise, I'm on my way home" Elle smiled at his dirty promises, "Yeah alright give me 15 minutes and I'll be there ok? Alright, bye sweets" Elle came to a stop at the end of the road. Suddenly out of nowhere there was a blonde woman knocking on her window, "What's wrong?"
"My baby swallowed something, he's not breathing" She answered erratically.
"Ok, alright. What did he swallow?" Elle pushed her hair behind her ears.
The blonde pulled open the sliding door on the minivan, "A bottle cap I think" Elle leaned in and pulled the blanket from over the car seat to find a doll. Just as she turned around, an elbow came crashing into her face and she blacked out.
Almost 2 hours later Elle slowly came to. Everything was spinning and she felt like she had been hit by a truck. She opened her eyes and saw a man with a white rubber mask standing in front of her.
"You tell your old man to stop selling to colour or we find you and we do this again" The muffled voice spoke. Elle looked around and saw three other men in masks standing around. One by one they took their turn at raping her.
Elle registered that she was being dumped on the ground but she couldn't seem to open her eyes and comprehend anything. Regaining full consciousness she heard the sweet voice of Chief Wayne Unser calling out her name.
"Chief! I'm in here" Her voice scratchy after screaming out for help during the last 4 hours.
"Elle?" Wayne called, as he came around the corner he stopped dead in his tracks, "Jesus Christ"
"Get me out of here Chief" A fresh tear rolling down her face and humiliation coursing through her veins. The car was eerily silent as they drove away from the warehouse, "Where are we going Wayne?"
"St. Thomas"
"No, I can't go there" Elle sat up more in the chair; cringing at the burning pain in her lower regions.
"Sweetheart you need to see a doctor" He tried to reason.
"Take me to Gemma" Elle caught Unser's eye, "I mean it Wayne"
"Alright" He sighed, reluctantly giving in. Wayne pulled the cruiser into the Morrow drive, "Just take it easy" He got out of the car and went around to help Elle out. The door was open and she was attempting to pull herself out of the car without much luck, "Jesus girl, take it easy" Elle gave Unser her hand and helped her stand. Together they slowly walked up the drive and through the kitchen door.
"Gem?!" Elle called out; her voice gravelly.
"Gemma you here?" Wayne called.
"Jesus what is going on?" Gemma called from somewhere in the house. Wayne sat Elle down in the living room just as Gemma walked in, "Holy shit. What happened baby?"
"Zobel's right hand man" She fought desperately to hold back tears.
"Wayne give us a minute" Gemma said without lifting her gaze from the broken girl in front of her.
"Yeah sure' He replied, walking back to the kitchen.
"Angel, I'll be right back and then you have to tell me everything" Gemma stood up to get a wet face cloth.
"No Gemma" Elle panicked, "Don't leave me alone" The terrified voice hit Gemma like a ton of bricks. Elle couldn't contain her tears as she fought for the safety of her aunt.
"It's alright baby girl, I'm just gonna get something to clean your face with" Elle was shaking her head, "Its ok" Gemma soothed, "Wayne!" The police chief stuck his head around the corner, "Sit with her til I get back" Once Unser was seated Elle fell into him; clinging to his uniform like he was her lifeline. Gemma wasn't gone five minutes before the padding of feet on the carpet returned to the living room, "Alright sweety, I'm here. Wayne can you make some coffee?"
"Yeah sure" Elle sat up straight and Gemma started cleaning the bloody cuts on her face.
"Weston and his men" Elle started shakily, "want the club to stop selling to the niners and Mayans. Did this to send a message"
"Jesus Christ" Gemma cursed quietly, "I take it you haven't told Jax"
"I can't Gemma, with everything that's been going on. He doesn't need this on his plate" Gemma looked set to argue, "If the roles were reversed, you'd do the same thing, don't deny it"
"Alright fine, little miss princess. We need to get you to the hospital though"
"Gem, if I go there, I'd have to check in. The boys would know"
"You were in Luann's car weren't you?" Elle nodded, "Alright get in the caddy" Gemma ordered. Elle slowly got off the couch and headed to the garage while Gemma headed to the kitchen. "Wayne, go back to the warehouse and deal with the car. An accident you hear me?" Wayne set the mug on the bench and nodded.
The two SAMCRO women slowly walked through the door of St. Thomas, "Get Darcy, she'll keep it quiet"
"Helena Delaney. I need Da…" Gemma trailed off.
"Oh my god, Elle what happened?" Darcy had been heading to the desk when she saw her friend sitting in the chair; beaten.
"Car accident" Gemma announced.
"I need your help Darcy" The pleading look in her eyes was enough.
"Alright, come on" Darcy helped her friend up and the trio walked into a spare room. "You want to keep spinning bullshit or you want to tell me the truth?"
"I was attacked and raped" Darcy's mouth dropped open, "You can't tell anyone, you understand? I mean it" Darcy nodded and took a look at the damage caused and made sure that Elle was ok.
"There's a few small tears, nothing that won't heal over time. Hospital standard to treat for any diseases" She continued cleaning the blood stains and making sure there was nothing that needed stitches before moving onto her face. As Darcy was finishing, there was a knock on the door. Gemma got up from her seat next to Elle and checked it out.
"Jax is here" Unser informed.
"Jesus, how did they find out?"
"I told them that Elle was in a car accident. Crashed Luann's car into the blockade on the end of the street"
"Them?"
"They're all here" Gemma's head dropped down. Elle sighed and felt the hot tears coming but she suppressed it.
"I want them to go to the clubhouse" Elle demanded, "I'm not gonna hide this shit"
"Angel I'm not sure that's a good idea right now and a few hours ago you thought the same god damn thing"
"Gemma, have you seen the shit that has started to build between Jax and Clay?"
"I need a minute with Elle" Unser and Darcy headed towards the door.
"I can get you a few minutes before the boys want to come in" Darcy offered.
"Thanks" Elle replied.
Gemma waited until the door was closed, "Elle you and Jax have been together only just over a month. This is gonna tear him apart and he doesn't need to be distracted right now. Like you said, all the bullshit he is dealing with right now, his head needs to be clear and focused on the club"
"And if I leave it, it will get him killed!" Elle blurted out, "I know I agreed with you but I can't keep it buried or it will kill me!" Elle started sobbing, "I can't do this old lady shit. I'm not strong enough to do it" Gemma put her arms around the weeping girl.
"You've got me baby. I'll help you through all the bullshit but you gotta promise me that you won't tell him. Old ladies like us, don't need to burden our men with this shit. You let it play out and we go from there" Gemma spoke softly as she ran a manicured claw through the red hair.