Total Disclaimer. I do not own SOA or the characters within it.
AN. I just want to address something that someone asked about from chapter 2. It's not all that bad but she probably knows I'm talking about her review. Anyway it was the age difference between Freya and Jax.
Sometimes when my head is in the story, I tend to forget how old the characters are. Freya is clearly 17 but she is 4-5 years younger than Jax which would make him around 12-13; which then would mean he and Tara hadn't quite met if I was following the teenage years of what I'd assume was the story line from KS. So initially Jax wouldn't be in his horny years just yet. So for now, Tara is just a friend from school that Freya and Megan took a liking too and Tara being from Charming knows Jax and thinks of him as a friend.
I've made this mistake before with another story and it bugs the hell out of so much that I change my way around the chapters without changing too much of the plot.
Secondly, I'm really enjoying writing Clay. He seems less intimidating and not in control. I personally think that JT would've made a great president- even if he went off the rails a little like we all assume but I hated that Clay was the president in all actuality. He was power driven and greedy when it came to the club and what not so writing about him being in less control of things makes me happy.
Sorry about my huge little rant but I just had to get this off of my chest. Anyways, on with the good stuff. I hope ya'll like it.
Part one.
For JT, it wasn't so much his wife's indiscretions towards him that had him embarrassed. It was more so that Gemma had humiliated their daughter in front of his club. A whole crowd of patched members had witnessed his business. Personal business. She had purposely said what she did to hurt his little girl. Which in turn hurt him. It showed that he was weak in front of the guys. It showed that he couldn't control his old lady.
Gemma could tell with that one hard cold look from JT that she was gonna get her ass handed to her. She knew first hand that she had stepped right out of line. Not only had she humiliated her family but she had disrespected JT in front of the club. It was Piney however who forced the crowd to die down around them as JT spun on his heel running after their daughter.
"Freya, stop" JT rasped as he tried catching up to his eldest. He barely managed to reach for her arm before she fell straight into them. Shit, he thought. Freya was a crying mess in his arms. He was thankful that she was standing just outside of the dorm she and Megan shared.
"Move" Piney growled low, trying his damn best to be friendly with Gemma. Gemma slowly laid her eyes on Piney and nodded without a fight as he escorted her back into the clubhouse with Clay following a few steps back. She was partially thankful that Piney had ordered the rest of the club to get back to work in the garage and cleared the clubhouse of all the crow eaters cleaning up inside as they made their way into chapel.
"Baby girl, I need you to calm down. Your better than this" JT whispered as best as he could while moving Freya into her dorm.
"Please don't leave me daddy" Freya cried once she hit the bed.
"I won't be long princess. Just try to calm down."
After reasoning with Freya, he finally managed to pull himself away from her and headed straight for the chapel knowing his right hand and old lady were alone in there.
Happy was fuming. He had no idea what the fuck was going on but it wasn't good. He spent most of the afternoon trying not to think of the worst case scenarios. Had even gone as far to calling almost all of his Charming brothers but it seemed like they didn't know how to pick up their damn phones.
"What's wrong brother?" It was Kozik who dared to walk up to him. Happy tensed his jaw and closed his fists right before finally letting his aggression out with a string of words.
"I'm riding to Charming."
"What the hell do you call that shit Gemma?" JT growled a lot angrier than he thought he was.
"I don't know John" was her reply.
"You don't know?" He scoffed. "You just broke that little girl's heart. Now not only the truth about you two has come out but apparently the mother figure in my kids life actually hates her. She's done nothing but love you since the first day she met you Gemma. Went as far as calling you mom because hers was a meth addict who overdosed. Why the hell did you do that?" Gemma was in tears now and JT could see Clay was getting riled up over her state. "None of this shit would be happening if you just kept your dick in your fucking pants."
"Don't treat Gemma like that" Clay warned with a growl in his voice. He stood toe to toe with JT and didn't back down.
First mistake; sleeping with the President's old lady.
Second mistake; not backing down when he should. That was disrespectful all on its own.
"She's my fucking wife. Remember that. Oh but wait, you have a hard on for her don't you?" JT asked with a cold glare. "Think I didn't know you were fucking her? Think I didn't see all those side glances you gave her when you thought I wasn't looking? I'm not a fucking idiot Clay and if you think for one second I'm gonna spare your life, consider that thought wiped off the table." JT was trying his damn best to calm his anger down but it couldn't be helped. He always knew Clay had it out for him. It was partly the reason why some bone in his body didn't fully trust him even though Clay was his Sergeant at Arms. His right fucking hand man. The man who should protect him should shit go south if they ever had a run in with another MC.
That seat was solely reserved for men he trusted. And JT no longer trusted this ignorant man standing before him.
"Then there's the faithful wife" JT snapped his head from Clay to Gemma. He took a few steps away from Clay to sit down in his seat at the head of the table all the while looking at his wife and seeing her more shocked expression than anything else. "You seem surprised that I picked up on that." And she was.
"John-" She choked.
"Don't John me" JT scoffed. "I thought we were fucking getting somewhere" inhaling sharply not wanting to continue their personal shit in front of Clay, he glared hard at him. "Got anything to say for yourself?"
There wasn't anything Clay could say to make things any less easier on him. Correction- there wasn't anything less that he could say to save either of their asses.
"Didn't think so" JT scoffed. "I'll give you both until 7PM tonight to think about what you want in the near future now get out" he ordered. Clay stayed standing for a moment having not said anything throughout the whole thing before without questioning made his way out.
"If you didn't get the hint, I was talking to you too" JT spat out.
"We still have to talk about this John. It's not just us we're talking about. It's our babies lives at stake here too."
"Shoulda thought about that before your mouth went wild and you fucked a brother."
"I know" she sighed in defeat.
"That's all you have to say?" She could hear the loss of trust he had for her, knelt down by his legs and took his hands in hers. "Please don't do this."
"There isn't a marriage worth saving Gemma. I can't seem to please you whether I'm here or not." And he'd been here for the past two months willing to put all his best efforts back into his marriage. He payed more attention to her, even took her out for rides occasionally when club shit wasn't busy and he wasn't needed. That often lead to dinner under the stars off some remote reserve off the highway.
"Please John. I'll do anything." She was practically down on her knees begging now.
"Just get out Gem. If you stay any longer, you won't like the shit I say to you."
Gemma knew she shouldn't push him but this wasn't entirely on her. Instead of speaking her mind like she always did, she simply made her way out of the chapel. She looked up at the silence of the club room and huffed. Apparently they found it fit to all make their way inside and all eyes were on her. Members and crow eaters. "What? The show down outside not good enough your all waiting like teenage girls for more shit to gossip about? Get back to work" she snapped as she stomped her way out of the clubhouse.
A little while later, JT finally reappeared from the chapel. His club all standing in recognition towards him showed how much of a brotherhood they really were. Showing him that whatever way this shit turned, they were all willing to stand behind their president. It was JT's VP who came up to him with a glass of whiskey in hand.
"You good pres?" Piney asked simply while offering the amber liquid to his brother.
"Yeah brother. I'm good." In reality, he was still angry with Gemma and Clay. He was always a hard thinker. If he thought too hard he would eventually get somewhere though and that was what he was intending to do. He raised his glass with a nod of recognition before downing the hard liquor in one swig. He hissed at the burning sensation before placing his glass on the table. "Need to ask a favour though."
"Anything brother." JT pushed the door to the chapel open so Piney could enter then shut it behind him. After a moment, JT sighed heavily before speaking out his first plan to get his kids away from their mother.
"You think-" he inhaled once again before managing to continue and it wasn't at all easy to ask. "You think you and Mary could have my kids for a few days. Least until I sort some shit out?" Piney was silent for a moment. There was no doubt in his head that he wouldn't take in the three living Teller kids and he would do it for his closest brother by loyalty. JT finally looked to him and sighed in defeat. "I don't want Gemma poisoning Megan and Jax. She's already wounded Freya up more than she even realizes."
"Of course brother. I wouldn't have it any other way. Just don't treat them the way you did after Thomas died." JT mentally shivered at that comment but nodded his agreement. He hated for one that he wasn't around as much as he wished using the excuse 'I'm on a run' to excuse his behavior as a father. Although, at the time he really was just trying to get SAMCRO out of the gun running business with his IRA connections.
"I wouldn't ever dream of doing that shit again" JT responded more clear than anything. They parted with a brotherly hug before JT stepped out of the chapel.
"Chibs, find Jax for me. That bitch won't take my son from me and Bobby, make sure Megan comes back here instead of heading straight home." Without waiting for a response, JT needed to make a quick call before headed straight for his daughter's room.
He found Freya still a sobbing mess once he got off the phone with his intended call falling lost on the receiving end, her head bowed down into her knees that were pulled up to her chest as she leaned against the headboard of the bed she shared with Megan and occasionally Jax whenever they were on lock down. It was the moment he closed the door that he gained her attention.
"What happened daddy?" She didn't move. She wasn't looking at him and he could see the small resentment in her eyes.
"That's for me to deal with baby girl. For now, I want you to pack a bag. Your not staying here."
"What? Where am I going?"
"For now, Piney is taking you, Jax and Megan for a few days. But once you turn eighteen in a few weeks and with high school grad just around the corner, I want you to start looking for some place to stay up in Tacoma."
"I'm sorry what?" Freya gasped out. "Where the hell is this coming from?" Freya had been so excited to start applying for college that once her father allowed her to start applying, he had given her specific requests not to apply outside of California for his own reasons but she knew it was because she would apply into the university of Washington to be closer to Happy. Suddenly she wasn't happy about his change of heart.
"I got a call from UC Washington a few days ago. One of your future college professors called about wanting to know what extra curricular you wanted and needed to obtain for your undergraduate degree in medicine" JT announced in one breath causing Freya to shake her head from left to right in disbelief. He had done his research and they did offer a great undergraduates program considering she wanted to become a doctor.
"I'm not going daddy. I'm sorry for even going behind your back and applying" but before today's cause of events she hated that her father wouldn't allow her outside of the state. There were many perks with living within Cali. California had some of the best educational programs to obtain a career in medicine and they were a lot closer to home than the current said one. "I've been accepted into UCLA too and-" she was cut off right after that.
"Your going to UC Washington in Seattle whether I like it or not. I don't want you here Freya." That comment caused Freya to furrow her brows while gesturing her head from left to right. That was a burn all on it's own.
"Daddy please don't do this-" she knew where this conversation was headed and she didn't like it one bit.
"Keeping you a lot closer to home is my own selfishness and I don't want you resenting me."
"Please daddy don't-"
"At least if your away from the club then no danger will come to you. I'll ask your uncle Lee to keep an eye out and no doubt Happy will be there to keep you safe." He had already made his mind up and there was no changing it. "I'll buy you a decent car so you can drive to and from Tacoma or I can set you up in Seattle so you don't have to travel so far."
"What? No way. This isn't about the club dad. It's about mom" she knew she was spot on when JT's shoulders slumped in defeat and she moved closer to him. "Los Angeles is far enough if your thinking of putting distance between me and mom."
"The closest club near there is Fresno and even that is too far for you to run to should anything happen to you. My mind is made up Freya and I didn't think you'd put up a fight considering Happy is up there."
"I wouldn't be putting up a fight if the current situation was anything but what it is now. Happy isn't my main concern though. Being away from you and Jax are. Megan was already excited about living together in Los Angeles. Now she's just gonna think your favoring me by giving me what I want, and more."
"I'll talk to her. She'll understand it ain't the case." Freya sighed in defeat. Yeah there was no changing his mind she thought as she leaned her head against his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm sorry for going behind your back" she repeated once again.
"It's okay sweetheart" he still didn't like the idea of sending both his daughters thousands of miles away but at least if Freya was near another charter, his brother's up there would protect. Megan he felt a little more chilled with however.
"You don't hate me?"
"Your my daughter Freya of course I don't hate you. I just want you close to family is all. Cali would've been my ideal thinking for you to go to college but I don't want you to hate this place. I don't want you to hate me."
"I could never hate you dad. You saved me from my lowest and I love you."
It was true. As the cliche was, John was definitely his daughter's first love. He pulled his baby girl into his arms and never let up on the massive bear hug he had on her.
JT had no idea what made him think sending his daughter away- much less Tacoma- would do. It definitely put distance between his wife and daughter but knowing Happy was up there- protecting her with his life that he no doubt knew the man would- made him partially- or fully- allowing her what she wanted.
A rasp at the door finally pulled JT from Freya. "Try and get some sleep. I got more shit to handle" he stated on a heavy sigh.
"I think I'm gonna go to sleep" as much as she was thrilled about finally being allowed to attend college in Washington, she was exhausted from crying until her heart was content.
JT let her be while he spotted Jax sitting with Opie at the bar eating a snack some crow eaters had given them.
"Dad, where the hell is ma? She was supposed to pick us up" Jax scowled, hating that he and Opie had to make the twenty minute walk to the clubhouse before Chibs had spotted them and picked them up. That was only five minutes from the compound.
"That's a long story boys." Looking around, he waved Chibs and Tig over. "I want you both to take Jax home and get a bag packed then take him and Opie back to Piney's until I figure out this shit storm" JT announced causing Jax's brow to furrow as Piney came over to them.
"Do as your old man says son" Piney rasped as he patted Jax on the shoulder who nodded without another question and left with Opie.
"I'm sending Freya to college" JT rasped, stopping Piney in his way out. He spun around with furrowed brows.
"Wasn't that the plan all along John?" Other than Gemma and his parent's, Piney had been the only other person to call JT by his name. They had been considerably close since their time serving in the war.
"It was considering I wanted her to go to UCLA or some college closer." Piney furrowed his brow until he read between the lines.
"She's not attending anywhere close by ain't she?"
"No" was JT's simple reply. "Don't trust Gemma around my daughter. I'm planning on keeping Megan closer considering she actually wants to go to UCLA but we'll see."
"What about your boy? He gonna head off to college too?"
It was no lie that Jax had wanted to follow in his father's footsteps but JT didn't want his son to just have the club to live for. He wanted his son to have something up his sleeve should he choose or want something outside of the club.
"He's still young. Has a few more years to go before the prospecting years but we'll see. I'll start drilling college into his head early though."
Piney nodded with finality before heading out.
"Everything okay dad?" Opie asked as JT followed his father.
"Yeah son, Chibs and Tig will take you to get your shit" he said looking to Jax "then back home. I'll be home later."
"I still need to find mom" Jax rasped. He knew something was seriously wrong by now after sensing everyone's hostility in the room. The guys made a habit to keep their nose out of the latest gossip in the clubhouse while the crow eaters played back and forth Chinese whispers- ending in them being put back in their place.
"NO" JT growled a little harsher than he meant. He inhaled a calm breath before sighing. "Just do as I say son. Go with Chibs and Tig. I'll be by later to check in on you two."
That was a first. If JT ever sent his kids to stay with Piney then he hardly ever announced that he would stop by to just check in on them- but Jax didn't question it. Lately he'd made it a habit to do just that. Maybe it was coz Thomas was gone and he felt that much more obliged to check in on them. He didn't know.
Did she seriously want to give this all up? The past thirteen or so years being Queen of Charming. Building an entire empire with her old man all for what? Some man who fucked her into oblivion.
How had they even ended up in hers and JT's dorm was anyone's guess.
2 hours prior
"Clay, what are you doing?" His hands running up and down her sides sent shivers down her spine but not in a pleasurable way.
"What does it feel like baby?" He pressed his semi hard shaft into her back as he gathered one side of Gemma's hair and pulled it behind her neck to peck her now exposed skin.
"Stop Clay. I can't do this." And she'd been good so far. She kept her absolute distance from Clay. No communication. No nothing and she liked it like that. JT had finally started opening up with her and she didn't want to destroy her marriage anymore than it already was.
"Why not Gem? We got the whole clubhouse to ourselves. I sent the prospect to work in the garage. Come on baby, I see the way you look at me on Friday nights. When I'm getting head or leading some gash down to my dorm. I know your jealous. Just give in" he rasped huskily into her ear and lightly bit down on it. "Come on baby. The club ain't due back for a few more hours." He suddenly spun her around so they were facing each other and he pressed his half erect self into her front before claiming her mouth in a needy kiss.
Gemma pulled back as if he'd burnt her and slapped him hard across the face causing his head to whip to the side.
"I'm sorry, I didn't-" that was the only reaction he knew was gonna come from her but her comment made him grin. He knew she cared about him and met her eyes with glimmer as he now pulled her flush against him and claimed her mouth with his.
Present
She hadn't really tried as hard as she would have to stop the kiss- or the need for him to claim her. She was desperate in some way. Why though? She had no fucking idea. JT had been opening up a lot lately and she was grateful for that. They were finally getting back on track with their marriage that it was finally nice to remember the old times they had together.
Sure Clay was no John in the sack but he had a lot of other features going for him. Like the fact that he was there to take care of her when Thomas died.
That was a con if you asked her. He used her vulnerability against her.
Then there were small times when he'd send her unanimous flowers to the office that she always placed on her desk whenever she received them.
That was a positive. She loved small gestures from him. JT used to be all romantic but he'd lost his touch once they lost Thomas.
Then there was his plans to take over the gavel. JT was beginning to show signs of weakness. Something the club didn't need.
That was a… she didn't know whether that was a pro or con but she didn't want the father of her kids to be thrown off the wagon- his rightful place in the club for the sake of Clay's selfishness and power driven ways. JT wasn't weak and wasn't growing weak like Clay had been spinning in her head. No. She didn't want him dead like she knew Clay wanted. Not at all. She loved John. He gave her the most amazing, heartwarming kids anyone could ever ask for. She was given a stepdaughter and they both adopted another. Gemma had always wanted a big family. Sure she wanted all boys and sure he had put a stop to wanting more than two after their two sons showed signs of her genetic congenital heart defect and she understood herself his fear. She understood it two years ago when Thomas died.
Gemma had suddenly made her decision.
But with that decision came consequences she didn't even know were coming her way.
Fucking fuck Clay thought as he paced his dorm room. Once it hit 7 there was no other way he was or could be walking out patched member. He knew Gemma didn't love him. He knew she would pick the club and her love for John over their pathetic love story. It was bad that he had it bad for his president's old lady and he wasn't gonna live it down. Least if he was excommunicated- which right now seemed to be his only way out to keep his life- he would at least try to move on with his life.
But he wouldn't.
The club was Clay's life. It was everything he knew. The only thing he knew.
Fuck he cursed once again and slammed his closed fists right into his wall before picking up his pace once again wishing time would go by slower than faster.
"So, what's the verdict?" JT rasped at the head of the table once again. This time Gemma was standing to JT's left- behind the VP's seat while Clay sat at his right- still claiming his seat for now.
"You have every right to offer what you think best fits our sins" Gemma spoke up. "Number one rule is to not sleep with another brother's old lady." She swore she saw a hint of a smile at the corner of his lip before it disappeared. "And vise versa. And not only did Clay and myself do that but I let it go on for so long."
"You have anything to say for yourself?" JT asked looking Clay over for a second.
"Everything she said I agree with but I love Gemma. I know she don't love me back" he looked up to catch her eyes and sighed regretfully. "And what we did was wrong. All blame on me. I was the one who used her state to my advantage and I never should've. I get whatever the hell you plan for me but don't ever take it out on Gemma."
"I won't kill either of you. I will spare your life. Just this once and you won't get a fucking second chance" JT rasped more deeper than his usual stern voice and Clay's eyes shot up to his. "But you will be stripped of your rank in the club and I order you to the ring. Put up a fight but I'll be damned if you win."
As if in shock, Clay could only stare blankly at his president. He was still a member of the club. That took a lot of guts out of JT to even consider him a brother still and he would know how weak he'd look to the rest of the club.
"Does that mean-"
"Your not being stripped of your kutte, today" he added the last part drawing it out. "But know this; if I ever see you talking to my wife, glancing her way or even going so far as to push up on her again, I will kill you with your own gun and make it look like a suicide. Understand me?" JT asked. Clay nodded as his response.
Without a second thought, JT stood and placed his hand over the sheath of his military combat knife.
"Take your kutte off." Clay flinched at the hard cold tone he was receiving. After a long hesitant and unwilling attempt to do so, he swallowed the thick lump building up in his throat before giving in and reluctantly pulled his kutte off.
Clay had to look away as JT tore through the binding of his Sergeant at Arms patch. It took everything in Clay not to fight the urge to pull his kutte from JT's hands.
"You. Me. Ring in an hour. Fight to save your filthy fucking life but I'll be damned if I let you get away with this shit accordingly." JT cast his eyes to his wife and scoffed. "It wouldn't of been this way had you not slept around with my wife brother" JT snickered trying his damn best not to let his emotions get in the way. It was for the better anyway. He no longer trusted Clay Morrow from a bar of soap.
To be continued.
AN. Was I too nice to just let Clay live? Please review and tell me your honest opinions.
I just want to address, am I wrong that Gemma's crow was for JT? Just, when Tara claimed to stand behind Jax at the end of season four, the scene fades and we see Gemma doing the exact same- it is clear that she has her crow on her chest so that is what I was going off of. Her crow did not belong to Clay. It belonged to JT.
And last thing, I will update again this weekend because I missed last weeks update and I was trying to keep myself in the groove of updating once a week but even though I hate to ask and sound desperate, the more reviews I get, the more I will work faster to knock out the next chapter. XOX
