Sliver of Melody: Thank you for the review! I know, the alerts thing is pissing me off *sigh*. It's happening to all my stories. I'm not even getting emails telling me that I have in fact updated my stories. But I'm working on it :):)

Bamby

SPOV

I rolled over in Juice's arms, knowing perfectly well that the two of us had to get up and help the others get ready for the lock down. It wasn't my first lock down, but I hadn't been in one since I was a little girl. Even then, I wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea of being stuck at the clubhouse, unable to leave without a good reason and an escort. There always seemed to be a mixture of fun and fear in the air during lock downs... You were stuck with the people you loved, but you also knew shit was going down.

"Morning." Juice smiled down at me, kissing my forehead.

Sighing, I pulled away slightly as I sat up, refusing to look at him. "You'll be out today, won't you?"

Pulling himself up to sit as well, he sighed back. "You know Clay and Jax need me. I have to be there for the club."

Still not looking at him, I pulled the blanket off me and got out of bed, grabbing my shirt off the floor before I tugged it over my head. Its not that I was upset with him, it was just that... I hated the idea of the man I'm with being in danger. Sure, I knew being with a Son would mean I'd probably never stop worrying. But that doesn't mean I have to like it, or that I'm use to the idea.

Pulling my hair out from under the shirt, I started towards the chest of drawers where we'd put some of my stuff last night. We had moved all of my things into his room last night. Seeing as we were in lock down, and I would probably be spending my nights in Juice's room anyway, I thought I should pack my stuff and clear out of the other room so someone else could use it.

Jax and Clay had not liked that idea. They didn't exactly say anything, but I was pretty sure the two of them still didn't like the idea of me being a club member's Old Lady- not that I was. Mum on the other hand had given me the nod. The one where I know she doesn't necessarily approve of my decision, she just wasn't going to fight it. That was enough for me to be happy.

Juice pulled himself out of bed and came over to stand behind mt, brushing my hair away so he could kiss my neck as his arms wrapped around my waist from behind. "I know you hate this." he sighed once more, placing his chin on my shoulder as he looked at me through the mirror of the dresser. "I want to be here for you, you know that right?"

Nodding, I leaned back against him. "I know... I just never thought I'd be with a Son." I admitted, turning in his arms to look up at him. "I'll support you as best as I can, Juice. But I'll worry about you ever second you're not with me."

Smiling down at me, he leaned in to press a kiss to my forehead. He didn't have to say anything, because I could just tell, by the way he held me a little tighter, and how his lips lingered a little longer. He worried about me too.

...

Walking hand in hand, Juice and stepped out of the clubhouse, I looked over at the opening gate as Tara drove in with Jax in the passenger seat, Abel no doubt in the back. Driving the club van behind them was Chibs. Juice gave my hand a squeeze before he headed over to Jax while I moved to Tara, seeing her pulling Abel's carrier out of the car.

"Here, I'll help you." I offered, seeing her juggle the carrier and a bag.

Taking the carrier out of her hands, I smiled down at my nephew as Tara and I headed for the clubhouse. Walking inside, we found ourselves in the crowded main room where all the club's friends and family were gathered, waiting to hear from Clay. As soon as I found a spot where Tara could set Abel down, I made sure she was okay, handed my nephew over and then started for my brother.

Jax and I stood by mum, watching as Clay stepped up to stand on a small stage- that was usually used for strippers. Being the 'Princess', it was expected of me to stand at the front with my family, and I had no problem with that. I was proud of who I was and where I came from.

Seeing his president ready and waiting, Tig whistled, silencing the crowd. "Everybody! Listen up!"

Clearing his throat, Clay began. "I wanna welcome you all to Club Reaper. Glad you made your reservations early, 'cause as you can see we are booked to capacity." everyone chuckled at his joke. "You're here because you're family..." I felt an arm come around my waist then, as Juice came to stand beside me, "and because Samcro takes care of it's own. Next couple of days, this club's got some business to handle that could put our members and the people connected to us, in unfriendly situations. Now, chances are nothing's gonna happen, but people have already been hurt on my watch." he turned to look at mum, Chibs and myself.

I felt Juice hold me tighter, telling me he was there for me if I needed it. That I would be okay now. I leaned into him, comfortable and at home. Knowing that he would always be there for me.

"And that ain't ever gonna happen again." Clay added, making sure we understood he was sorry and ready to get revenge. "Nobody gets in, nobody leaves without an escort. You got a safety concern, you talk to Piney." Piney lifted his hand that happened to be holding a gun, showing everyone who he was. "You got a comfort concern, you talk to my Queen, or our daughter." mum nodded as I gave a little wave.

Most people hadn't seen me for years, and I'd just been a girl when I'd left. I was sixteen when mum and Clay sent me to live with distant family. I had visited, but not often. It was when I was twenty one, six years ago, that I had completely disappeared. So as people looked to me now, seeing who Clay and Gemma's daughter was, I could tell they were surprised. I guess most of them had just thought I was a Sweetbutt or Old Lady, until now.

"Under this roof, you'll all be safe. I want you to make yourself at home." nodding at everyone, Clay finished. "I love all of you."

"All right!" Tig called, before everyone started clapping and cheering, the music going back on.

Clay kissed mum, before turning to Jax and hugging him. As he stepped back, he looked to me, arms open. Stepping away from Juice, I walked into Clay's embrace, feeling him kiss my head as he held me.

JPOV

The moment I stepped out of church, my eyes landed on Scarlett as she stood by the bar. Heading over to her, I let my hands slid onto her waist as her's rested on my shoulders. We met each other half way, pressing our lips together, not caring that we were in the middle of a crowded room. I hadn't heard or seen Jax and Ope as they come over, it wasn't until I felt a pat on my shoulder that I realised someone was behind me.

Pulling away from Scarlett, I turned to them.

Jax looked from his sister to me, his face unreadable as he spoke. "We gotta go." was all he said.

"I'll meet you outside." I assured them. Both hesitated a moment before walking off, leaving Scarlett and I alone once more. Turning to her, I tried not to show her how concerned I was. The thought of leaving her right now didn't exactly sit right with me, but there were things to do. "I'll be back okay. Don't go anywhere alone. I don't want to come back and find out something's happened to you."

Smiling lightly, she reached up to press a quick and soft kiss to my lips. "I promise to stay safe, so long as you come back in one piece."

I didn't smile back, or try to reassure her. I knew things were going to get rough today. There was no way to make sure I did as she asked. So, instead of responding, I just kissed her one last time before walking out to go meet with Jax and Opie at the bikes.

SPOV

I sat with mum by the bar, fiddling with my empty cup. I had been drinking tea nonstop, hoping that it would calm my nerves. But the longer I sat there, staring at the security screens, the more anxious I got. It wasn't just because of Juice, mind you. Out there was my brother, my step dad, and more of my family. They were risking their lives to keep this club and it's people safe.

"Hey." I was drawn out of my thoughts as Tara came to sit in between mum and myself.

Mum turned to her. "Hey." she said back as Tara sat before all three of us looked to the screens.

One of the crow eaters came up then, coffee pot in hand. Reaching over, she filled mum's cup as mum thanked her before she turned to Tara. "You want some coffee, doll?"

Tara shook her head politely. "I can get it." both mum and I looked to her. We knew she wasn't exactly used to been treated like this when it came to the club...

"I got it." the woman insisted. "Cream and sugar?"

A moments hesitation, Tara then agreed. "Sure. Black, two sugars."

The woman grabbed my cup. "Another tea?" I just nodded, knowing perfectly well there was no point in telling her no.

"They need to do that." mum explained to Tara once the woman was gone. "Shows respect."

"Oh, please." Tara just shook her head.

"Don't just toss that off. You've earned that, sweetheart. You're not just some crow eater... you're Jax Teller's Old Lady. And that means something. In this clubhouse and in this town. People need to show you respect. And you don't take shit from anyone."

I nodded, agreeing completely. "The only women that get that kind of respect around here are mum, you and me. The Queen, the Prince's Old Lady, and the Princess. It's part of being in this family, and this club." I shrugged. "Don't knock it."

...

I'd been sitting outside, at one of the tables, when I heard a commotion down by the gate. Soon after, I saw a few Sons hurrying around the corner, with someone I recognised. It took me a moment, but after a second or two I realised the guest was none other then Chucky. The guy the club had saved from the Chinese a few months ago. You know... the chronic masturbater...

When I realised who it was, I'd been able to go see if everything was okay- even though I knew it was club business, and that Piney could handle it. But before I got far, the gates opened again as Clay and the others came back. Seeing that they were all safe let me relax a little, but not entirely. The day and the drama wasn't over just yet.

I waited and watched as the guys started for the clubhouse, and me. Clay leaned over to press a kiss on my forehead. Jax and the other's giving me quick hugs. As soon as they all walked off, Juice's arm wrapped around my waist as we followed the others into the clubhouse, heading over to a corner away from them. My eyes couldn't help but look over at Chucky. I instantly noticed his hands and how all this fingers but his two pointers were gone...

Now facing Juice, I pulled my attention back to him. "Everything okay?"

"I need you to do me a favour..." gesturing over his shoulder at Chucky, Juice went on. "Chuck over there has to go with Unser to the police station. We need you to go with him. You're close with Hale. Maybe you can figure out a few things that could be useful for us." he shrugged.

I couldn't help but grin. "You want me to get close to my ex, to find out information the club can use to help them do whatever they have planed for Zobelle and the League?" I gave a short shrug. "Sound's fair enough. Should I change into a short skirt and tight top?"

His eyes flashed with a possessive and protective glare. "'Get close', I said. Not seduce."

"What's the difference?" I teased, biting my lip.

Shaking his head, he grabbed my waist and pulled me to him, his lips crashing down onto mine. He backed me up to the wall as the kiss deepened. One of his hands coming up to tangle into my hair as the other grasp on my waist tightened. I tried to hold back a moan, my hands moving over his shoulders as he pressed himself against me so I could feel all of him. Before I knew what was happening, Juice pulled back, grabbed my hand and lead us to our room, looking behind us to make sure the others were still too busy to notice.

...

Entering the station, I smiled at Hale, walking up to his desk where he sat working. "Hey, deputy."

Smiling lightly, he shook his head, clearly a little suspicious of my presence. "Do you want something? Or is it a coincidence that you're coming to me now while Samcro's in lock down?"

He couldn't know I was there to get information from him. He needed to think I had simply gone for a break, to get away from the chaos of the club for a few moments. If he knew the truth, I'd lose him as a friend, not just someone I can get information from.

Rolling my eyes, I set myself on the edge of his desk. "You and I know lock downs are extreme." I noted. "They always make me feel..."

"Locked in?" he finished for me, nodding. "Yeah, I remember." I swear there was a hint of sympathy in his tone.

"Exactly." I shrugged. "I just needed some air and to get out of there for a bit. So I thought I'd come to the only other place where I know I'll be safe... Here." I smiled. "Plus that means I get to catch up with my good buddy." grinning lightly, I gave him a playful punch on the arm. "Is that so hard to believe?"

"Yes." he admitted, before smiling again. "But, I know you, and I know you do need your space away from the club every now and then. So," he got up, grabbing a file of the table, "I'll believe you." he stated as he started for the door, knowing I would follow.

Walking beside him, my smile fell for a moment. "I never did thank you for helping me the other night."

"You don't have to thank me." he assured me without hesitation. "How are you going anyway? With everything...?"

"You mean, how am I going after my abusive and psychotic ex-boyfriend tried to rape and kill me? But instead I managed to stop him by shooting and killing him?" I asked, a little coldly. Shrugging, I went on, unable to look at him as I did. "I'm fine I guess. I mean, it's better than being dead, right?"

"Letti..." he sighed, sympathy in his tone once more. "If you need to talk to anyone, I'm always available."

"Thanks." I offered a smile as we walked out of the building.

Unser stood by the door, looking down at Weston as he argued with a Department of Child Protection agent. I had heard about his kid, and how he'd almost shot Jax. The little psycho deserved to be taken away in my opinion.

"Was this you?" Hale asked Unser as the two of us came to stop by him.

Unser shrugged. "Just protecting the children."

While he was distracted, I tried to get a look in the file, only seeing a few words. It was something about a murder. Three dead. Two Mexicans. That's all I got. But it was enough, I suppose. Actually asking him questions would be too suspicious.

The sound of bikes approaching had all of us turn to see Jax, Ope and Juice ride into the lot. Weston, who had been moving to his car, changed course. Instead he met the guys half way, tension radiating off all of them. Their need for blood and revenge obvious to all. Something about the way they stood, talking to each other. It made things seems clearer. I knew, I'm not sure how or why, but I just knew whatever the guys were gearing up for at the clubhouse, was whatever they were talking to Weston about.

"Shit." I sighed before I hurried down the steps and towards them.

As I got closer, I caught the end of whatever Opie had been saying to Weston. "No weapons."

"No witnesses." Juice added, causing my blood to run cold.

I froze a few steps behind Weston, as Jax moved closer to him. "Either you or me... goes home in a bag." my brother told him.

Everything inside me felt like it fell to the ground as I looked at Jax, Opie and Juice. The looks on their faces... The tone of their voices... I did not like or agree with the idea of my brother, friend, and Juice- who I still didn't know what to call- organising a fight that would most probably end with someone dead. Losing any or all of them scared the crap out of me. To lose anyone, it would crush me. I'm not sure what I'd do...

"I'll be there." Weston promised, hate and anger smothering his words. Even his body language was screaming nothing but negativity towards the three men who stood in front of him.

After a moment, Jax pulled his gaze from Weston, his eyes landing on me. With a short nod from my brother, I found my limps working once more, knowing it was time to leave. Starting towards them, I tried to ignore Weston as he turned to head for the station. But as we passed each other, he purposefully bumped into my shoulder, causing me to stumble a little.

"Hey!" Juice went to grab him, Jax seething as well. But Ope held them at bay as I gestured for them to stay back.

"Watch it." Weston snarled at me, ignoring the others.

I gave short bitter laugh, shaking my head. "I'm sorry, did you just tell me to watch it?"

"Yeah. I did. What are you gonna do about it? Whore."

Nodding, smile still lingering on my lips, I looked away for a moment, lifting a hand up to tuck some hair behind my ear. Then I snapped.

Instead of putting my hand back down, I left it up and elbowed Weston in the face. As he groaned and leaned forward to spit some blood out onto the road, I grabbed the back of his head and quickly kneed him in the stomach three times before I stepped away as he went to make a move. Then with another quick jab, I elbowed him in the back, getting him on the ground.

Looking down at him, I shook my head. "Asshole." then I turned, heading over to Jax, Juice and Opie.

Jax was grinning proudly as he nodded to his bike. "Scar, let's go."

A smile crept on to my lips as I moved over to Juice, seeing the dark look in his eyes that told me how turned on he was at that moment. He handed me his spare helmet, helping me put it on. We took a moment to look over at Weston, seeing him up and moving to his car, clearly embarrassed and still pissed. Feeling pretty good, I climbed onto the back of Juice's bike where he was already waiting, and wrapped my arms around him tightly as the bike came to life.

Looking off to the side again, just as Juice started to ride off, I found my eyes lock onto Hale, as he still stood where Unser and I had joined him before. He looked from Weston, Jax, Opie, Juice and then myself. He stopped there, seeing me with Juice, my arms around him. There was understanding and a sense of defeat in his gaze, before he nodded and walked away.

For some reason, for a split second, I actually felt a little guilty...

...

My back was against a pole outside the clubhouse, my hands grasping Juice's cut as he pressed himself against me, his hands on my waist, our lips pressed together in a urgent kiss. My heart my breaking and swelling at the same time as one of Juice's hands came up to caress my cheek as he tried to offer comfort and reassure me. I was sure he could feel the fear I was trying to hide.

We were standing outside the clubhouse with a few others. Jax and Tara, mum and Clay, Ope and Lyla. We were all saying what could possibly be our last goodbyes. Jax had gathered nine of his best guys. No one had told me what they were gathered for, but I wasn't an idiot. Clay, Jax, Tig, Bobby, Chibs, Juice, Ope, Kip, Happy, and one other member who wasn't from this charter- Kozik I think his name was- were about to go where ever this fight with Weston and his men was going to go down. This was it. This could literally be the las time I see some of these guys...

Pulling back slightly, I looked up at Juice with pleading eyes. "I don't want you to go." I whispered so only he heard me.

He leaned closer to speak in my ear as his lips pressed kisses to my neck. "I know. But I have to." he mumbled against my skin. Stepping back a little, lower his hand to hold mine, he let out a guilty sigh. "I gotta go."

As he started to back up more, I stopped him. Pulling on his arm, I brought him back to me, pressing my lips against his fiercely. Knowing that things may go very wrong tonight, I needed to show him how much I cared, and how much he meant to me, because he meant a lot. Over the few months of knowing him Juice had quickly become one of the most important people in my life, so the idea of something happening to him absolutely terrified me.

Letting out a shaky breath as I pulled back once more, I looked him in the eyes. "I love you." it was obvious I was nervous as I went on. "I just didn't want you to go without knowing, okay?" I held back the sob that was threatening to come out. "Come back to me."

Instead of answering, he leaned forward to kiss my cheek. As he moved back he nodded, his hand releasing mine. Backing up, he slid his glasses on and moved to his bike with the rest of the guys. I watched as they rode out, finally letting a tear slide down my cheek. Tara grabbed my hand, as we moved to see the guys drive out the gate and disappear.

"Come here." mum wrapped an arm around Tara and another around Lyla. "Come here. It'll be all right. Let's get them all inside." she let them go, everyone turning to go back into the club house.

I stayed where I was, feeling every ounce of my being shake with nerves and a sickening fear. All of them, they were gone. And I had no idea if I was going to see any of them again.

"Come on, sweetheart." mum kissed my cheek, arm coming around me.

Nodding absentmindedly, I let her walk me inside, even though I didn't want to move until the guys were back safe.

Bamby