I own nothing you recognize. All original characters and storylines are my own.

Home

...

"Well I'm going home,

Back to the place where I belong,

And where your love has always been enough for me.

I'm not running from.

No, I think you got me all wrong.

I don't regret this life I chose for me.

But these places and these faces are getting old,

So I'm going home.

Well I'm going home."-Daughtry

Belfast

"So, who are you sending with us?" Milla asked Jimmy as she sat in his parlor with her son quietly playing at their feet and her husband standing at the window and glaring at the back of her head.

"I decided to send Doyle, he's always wanted ta go ta California and he'll take care a' ya." Milla nodded, she trusted Doyle and even liked him a bit. He was newer to the cause but he was loyal and she knew he'd die for her or her son.

"Ok, I talked to my Mom and they're doing some remodeling and they sold my house to recoup some business costs so I'm staying with a friend. I'm certain that Doyle can't stay." She looked at Jimmy who smiled.

"Is this friend a Son?" He asked as his eyes moved to Keegan whose jaw was clenched so tightly that Jimmy was sure he'd broken a tooth.

"Well his wife extended the invite but yes it's a Son's house." Milla said and at the mention of "wife" Keegan's jaw unclenched. Married? That meant it had to be that Opie guy or a Son he didn't know about. She wasn't stayin with Juice or at the clubhouse. He could relax a bit and since Cormac was staying to take care of some shit for O'Flagherty he had nothing to worry about.

"It sounds like yer set. I'll have the boys pick ya up tomorrow mornin'. Doyle'll be with. " Jimmy said and Milla couldn't keep the smile from her face. She was going home.

…

"Hey." Milla said quietly as Kerri sat on her bed and dabbed her eyes. She wanted Milla to go home; to be the woman she loved again but she had failed to take into account how much having her gone would hurt.

"Hey, ya ready ta go?" Kerri asked as she put on a brave face and Milla sat next to her on the bed and took the young girl into her arms.

"I love you and I'll miss you but I'll be back. I have to come back." She kissed the top of Kerri's head as the girl clung to her.

"I love ya too but bloody hell I'll miss ya." Milla chuckled at the profanity coming out of Kerri's mouth but she kissed her head again and hugged her closer.

"I'll miss you too. Are there any messages you want me to send...anyone..." Milla let it hang but Kerri understood. This was a unique opportunity, a chance to send a message to her father, and not get in trouble for it. She had so much to say, so many questions to ask. Did he still love her? Was he ever coming back? Why'd he let Jimmy take what was his? Her mind swirled with all the possibilities but she decided on the simplest request.

"Tell Da I love him." She whispered and Milla nodded into her hair.

"I will...I will..."

…

"What're ya doin' here Milla?" He asked as he moved aside to let her in quickly. She was running a risk coming to him but he was too weak to turn her away.

"I needed to see you. I'm leaving and lord knows when I'll be able to see you again, let alone touch you." Milla said quickly and Cormac smiled. He'd been thinking the same thing and with Keegan already gone for the next few days and Little Clay at Fi's now was the perfect time.

Neither of them said another word as Cormac pressed his lips to hers, kissing her with as much passion as he could muster and she kissed back just as ferociously. The clothes were quickly removed as they made their way to his bedroom, leaving a trail that neither one thought or cared about. Once she was naked he took the time to skim his lips over every available bit of skin before he moved back up to stare in her eyes. She traced his face and that was the invitation he needed as he slid into her body. She gripped him tightly as she moved with him, giving as good as she got and better as her nails scored his back. He tried to hold back, to go slow but she was having none of it as she begged him to take her, to fuck her so he did as she asked and with one look in her eyes dark as his morning coffee he lost control and came and with a strangled moan she came too.

Once he rolled over he gathered her in his arms and held her as they came down from their high. After a few minutes of silence as they caught their breath he heard the sound of sniffling coming from the body resting on him. He looked down and saw tears running down Milla's face.

"What's wrong lovely? We just had a great shag, why're you cryin?" He asked and she moved slightly away to wipe her eyes on the sheet.

"I'm just going to miss you." She said but it was so much more than that. He was her security blanket, her truth among the lies. When she left she wouldn't be able to use him to shield her heart anymore, to give her solace. She also knew neither of them would be the same when she came back.

"I'm going to miss ya too lovely." He kissed her head then smiled down at her. "Fancy another go?"

He wiggled his eyebrows at her and she laughed before she kissed him, she definitely had time for one more go.

Charming

The Following Day...

Gemma stood at the gates ready to kill someone. The flight was an hour behind schedule and the people at the desk had told her that one more outburst would get her kicked out but damn if she wasn't ready for another outburst. It had been two years since she'd seen her baby and her grandbaby and these extra hours were going to kill her.

"Flight 813 from Belfast..." Her head shot up and she looked at the doors, she didn't know what the announcement said but she knew on instinct that her Milla would be coming through those doors. With a smile that would have shocked the people that knew her she watched her baby girl walk out with a sleeping angle in her arms. She looked exhausted but when she caught sight of her Mom a grin split her face and she practically ran. Neither said a word as Gemma pulled both her daughter and grandson into her arms as tears poured down her face. It was like a puzzle piece had been put into place, she felt whole...the world felt whole as she held them and Milla clutched her back as tightly.

"God I've missed you." Gemma managed to choke out before she kissed her daughter's forehead then a new wave of tears formed in her eyes when she saw the baby boy. He was so beautiful; he had his Mama's cheekbones and brow with brown ringlets that made him look like an angel straight out of one of Raphael's paintings. She looked at Milla who nodded and took the sleeping boy from his Mom's arms. In his sleep he clutched her and new tears sprang forth as Gemma held her grandson in her arms.

"I need to have Doyle get our bags." Milla said as she wiped her eyes and Gemma just nodded and held Little Clay as they walked to the baggage claim. Neither knew what to say as the bags came around but the silence wasn't uncomfortable. Just being with each other was enough.

…

The clubhouse...

Clay sat at the bar and admired the look of the room before him. The sweetbutts had really outdone themselves with the crepe paper and the banner and the food looked perfect. Gemma had been up half the night making Milla's favorite foods and made sure her favorite drinks were stocked. Their little girl was coming home and she wanted her to know that they wanted her there. At the sound of an electronic screech Clay looked over to where Juice was making sure the sound system was hooked up properly but seemed to be doing a piss poor job of it. It didn't take a genius to understand why the usually technically savvy young man was out of it. Clay was one of those non-geniuses; he'd seen how the situation with his little girl had put the young man through the wringer but now was the time for him to prove he could look past it. Hell the boy had already moved on! He had that sweet piece that worked in the cafe, a sweet piece Clay was hoping would be absent from the party. He could see her starting shit to claim her territory and Clay didn't want anything marring his baby's happy homecoming. He was smiling at the thought of his baby and grandson when he felt a vibrating in his pocket. He smiled wider as he took out his phone and answered.

"Hey Mamabear, got that precious cargo?" He asked and he swore he could hear the smile in her voice when she answered.

"Sure do, Little Clay's asleep in the back and Milla's sitting next to me. The Irish is in the back. Say 'hi' to your Daddy babygirl." He felt some moisture come to his eyes at the exchange.

"Hey Daddy, we're about half an hour away. I can't wait to see you." He heard her voice get thick and coughed as a lump formed in his throat but he swallowed it down.

"I can't wait either Angel."

…

Juice stood at the back and felt the fine tremor that was moving through his body. Clay had just announced that they'd be there any minute, not enough time to leave or even go to a dorm room and Koz was blocking those off. He didn't want anyone missing his Kiddo's entrance back into their lives. Hell if he tried to take off it was guaranteed that Bobby or Tig would tackle him and he'd be higher on Clay's shit list than he already was but the thought of seeing her, of being near her was enough to make his heart beat out of his chest and his palms sweat. Fuck she reduced him to a teenager.

"Gemma's Caddy just pulled up!" Half Sack yelled from the front and Juice suddenly found it harder to breathe but he managed and stared at the door. For several long, agonizingly slow minutes he waited for the doors to open until, suddenly it happened and there she was, his Milla, his love, looking more beautiful than anything he'd ever seen. He felt his resolve shift and knew he was a goner.

…

Milla stood inside the doors of the clubhouse, overwhelmed by the love that was pouring out of everyone in the room. She lost track of the amount of hugs and kisses on the cheek she got as she was brought through the room with her Mom carrying a groggy and jet lagged Little Clay behind who was getting as much love as his Mama. The room quieted down when Koz's spinning hug ended with him setting Milla in front of her Father. With tears in her eyes she hugged her Daddy and he hugged her so tightly that she was sure some ribs were broken. She couldn't have possibly cared less though and hugged him even tighter breathing in the scent of leather, wood chips and cigars that permeated everything Clay Morrow was. Once he was hugged out he set her back on the ground and kissed her forehead in the gesture that said it all. She was home, she was safe and he loved her.

"Millipede..." Jax said quietly from beside Clay and Milla couldn't contain herself as she leapt into his arms. She'd missed him so much even his whining, his cockiness, and his bravado. But more than that she missed how much he loved her, his loyalty, the late night conversations about books he'd never admit reading and the way he made her feel important even though she was the little sister.

"Jax." She felt tears pour down her face as she clutched him to her but he disentangled her arms and moved to kiss her cheek, there were a lot more people who needed to say hello.

…

Juice found his feet propelling him forward as he moved to the knot of people surrounding Milla. She was there, she was actually there and he couldn't seem to believe it. God, she looked more beautiful than anything he could even imagine and he felt the walls he'd put up within himself crumble with each step he took toward her. He watched her, seeing the tears she fought to control the snot that was leaking from her nose from the force of her tears and the flushed skin and none of that mattered, she was still beautiful.

Soon he found himself within the knot of people and he watched as Milla turned to him. The look of pain mixed with hope in her eyes reminded him of a dog that had been beaten but still hoped to get a treat. He knew he had some part in that look and no amount of apologies could make up for it but he would try. They stood staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity but must have been seconds before he did what he'd been waiting years to do. He took her in his arms and held her.

"It's ok now, you're home...with me..." He kissed her hair and closed his eyes as he held her, not wanting to let go.

…

When Milla saw Juice the world stopped moving as she looked into those brown eyes that stared in her most provocative fantasies and provided the most comfort when she was at her lowest. She'd hurt him and still he stood there, his eyes shining with something she never thought she'd see again. She thought she'd hurt him too much, had done irreparable harm but no, there he stood looking every inch the man she loved. As they stood staring she felt the part of her heart that would always bear his mark suddenly flair to life so hot and so powerful that she thought it would burn her, so powerful that she didn't know how she was still standing. Suddenly he took her into his arms and held her tight and she forgot to breathe. He was holding her, all the pain all the doubt all the sorrow she felt was gone. If she could just stay in his arms forever everything would be alright.

...

Author's Note: I had intended for this chapter to cover a lot more ground but I felt that breaking it up made more sense. Besides it was way too large as it was and the emotions in this chapter were meant to be the focus. Don't worry Milla still has some hello's to go so part 2 should be up later this week and fair warning, I'm messing with the timeline a bit, but since this is an AU, I figured I'm set. Anyway, thank you for reading and reviewing!