Chapter 8:

(A/N: Since is the first Fan Fiction I've ever written, I have to be honest. I have an idea where this is going. I have an idea of why she left and what happened. I have an idea of how it's going to be when they finally all are reunited. I have an idea of how Tig is going to react when he sees his son for the first time. But sometimes it's really hard for me to stay on course. I write how I think, stream of consciousness, so feel free to call me out if I seem to be going way off course. Also, the next couple of weeks are sort of crazy for me, but I'll do my best to update if you guys are liking this story. Thanks for reading.)

Tig POV

I wasn't sure why I agreed to let Opie look at the file, but, I guess it's because I'm scared of what I'll find.

He opens it and since I'm sitting right next to him the first thing we see is a picture of Jesse that's a mug shot from when she was 19. I remember that day. She beat the shit outta some guy that came after her and I had tried to step up first, but because she's a feisty kitty cat she handled it. She was arrested and charged with aggravated assault but the Club's Lawyer was able to argue self-defense so the charges were dropped. Given what a hellion she was back then, it's actually pretty amazing she doesn't have a permanent record.

Both Opie and I smirked at the photo as we remembered that day. That's oddly probably the day I realized that she's the one I wanted to spend my life with.

"So, whaddya got?" Jax says impatiently. I can tell that he wants answers as much as I do. "It's the mug shot from when she got arrested." I say with a chuckle.

Gemma scoffs. "I still can't believe that Hunser arrested. That was such bull shit." Typically Gemma. She's a real lioness when it comes to protecting her kids.

Opie flips to the next phot and my heart seizes. I can tell automatically it's one taken after she left and it makes me wonder who took it and why we never saw it until now. What grabs me is that I see the baby bump where my son is.

Opie looks at me cautiously and says "You sure you wanna keep goin?" At this point we're sitting so that Jax can see too. Oddly enough he doesn't get why I react the way I do.

"What? What's up with you…?" Opie and I look at him with a "Seriously?" face and I show him the baby bump.

"Wow, it's really real. You've gotta kid." Yeah, tell me about it.

And then there it is. The next photo, again, it looks like there a lot of time in between because it's of her and our son playing on a playground. I can't believe it. That's my kid. I feel tears coming to my eyes and quickly blink them away. But, I'm not fast enough and Opie puts his hand on my shoulder. All he says is "I know dude, I know…"

Jax has a similar reaction. "That's how I get every time I see Abel."

Gemma's been quiet but mostly because she's driving. She notices our reaction and says "Is that a picture of my grandbaby? Show me."

Jax chastises her. "Mom, you're driving."

In her typical snarky manner she says "I can do two things at once. Show me…"

I pass the photo up to her and she says what I realized when I first saw. "Tig, he's like a spitting image of you."

Even though the photo was taken from a little bit of a distance, I can see the resemblance. I think that's what shakes me the most. It's proof.

The next few photos look as though they're one's that were taken at her job or something. There's one where she looks like she's giving some sorta talk. There's one where she's at some sort of high class event, looking drop dead gorgeous as usual. Two things stuck one: The caption had her new name and her tattoos were gone. Or covered up at least. I don't really know what to make of that. It seems like she's a completely different person.

Opie and I keep flippin' through the file and they're a bunch of articles on all the shit she's accomplished and stories about her. There were some with photos and, again, she almost looks like a stranger. What's weird is the video we saw that started this whole thing showed her as I remember her. It's seriously like she's two different people. I just sorta sit there tryin' to process it all.

Jax seems to be on the same page as me because he says "This is weird, man. In that video she looks pretty much the same as she did before we left, but these photos of her at these events make her look like a completely different person. If it wasn't for her eyes and her face, I don't think I could tell.. Even her tattoos are gone. What the fuck happened that made her change so much."

I sighed. "As much as it kills me to say this, man, it looks like she's changed for the better."

Gemma pipes up "Family is family, Tig. You can't forget your own flesh and blood. And, in your case, you can't run away from your heart." I know I can't and I guess that's what she means by Jesse too.

I wonder again about those photos of her by herself that look like someone was following her. I can't help but ask "Who do you think took these one's?" I point the one of her pregnant and the other with *our* son.

"Part of me think Happy knows a shit more than he's tellin' us, especially with the weird BS about how connected she is." Opie says. I sight. I gotta agree with him. Happy was really sketchy when he was tellin' us about her. So far, though, it's just a bunch of normal pictures. Of course, I didn't read the captions of who she was photographed with and Jax said, "read the captions, man."

I go back to the news clippings and it shocks the shit outta me.

"Holy shit. This says this guy is the fuckin' FBI director. Like the Director of the mother fuckin' FBI." What the fuck does she do for these people? I know she doesn't do anything like rat on us about our stupid ass gun runnin' and other shit because the fuckin' FBI woulda been up our asses. But, ever since that douche ATF agent started sniffin' around it makes me wonder if she had anything to do with it. I know in my heart that she didn't but she was a trouble maker and she knows a lot of shit.

"I think it's cuz she can fuckin' hack into anything, man. I bet they need her to help monitor shit or whatever or design like systems to help block that shit…" Opie says after a minute. I think about it and it makes sense.

Jax and Gemma seems to agree. "I know my girl and she's got brains I can't even imagine. It doesn't surprise me that she's in such demand."

I sigh again and shut the file even though there's more shit in there. I take a deep breath, roll down the window and light up a smoke. I fill my lungs and slowly exhale. I don't know what to think. I wanna see her, I want her back, I want my kid in my life. I wanna know him. But I can't help think she wants nothin' to do with us. If she did, she woulda reached out at least. She woulda told us what the fuck she's doin'. She woulda told me I'm a Dad. I'm also still confused why the fuck Happy had all this shit and never shared it.

"Why do you think Happy never said anything? It looks like he's been keepin' tabs on her this whole time. And, he just keeps his mouth shut? I've been lookin' for her for years and it's like he knew she where she was all along. What the fuck is up with that?" They can all tell I'm pretty pissed at this point but I feel like I have a right to be. Part of me wants to call him and lay into him but I can almost guaran fuckin tee he won't pick up or just blow me off.

"It's fucked up, man. This whole shit is fucked up. It's like somethin' happened that made her leave, or made her drop off the grid, man." Opie says.

We're all quiet for a minute and Jax finally says "What if somethin' happened? I mean, think about it, one day she's here, the next day she's gone. And all that she left was a fuckin' one line note.

I remember findin' that note after coming home from a run we had just for that day. All it fuckin' said was "I love you all. Goodbye." I remember bein' scared shitless at first cuz it seemed like a God damn suicide note. But, I know my Jesse. She'd never do somethin' like that. We've all had shit lives and Clay treated her like God damn shit, but I know she'd never do something like that. I knew she left. Her bike was gone. And some of the shit that mattered most to her was gone, too. That makes me look at the file again. I'm goin' fast enough that Opie notices. "What's up man?" I don't say a word. I find the one of her at that event lookin' all dolled up and I see it. A necklace. With my ring. The ring I gave her promising to love her for the rest of our fuckin' lives. The ring I gave her when I told her she's it and I wanted her to be my wife. Son of a bitch. She still has it.

I can't help but smile and Opie looks over my shoulder. "Well, I'll be damned. Looks like she didn't cut all ties, man."

"What are you talkin' about?" Jax says.

"Look at her necklace" says Opie.

"Wow. Her necklace has Tig's ring." He says to Gemma.

"I don't know why you boys are surprised." I'm staring at the photo but look up suddenly.

"Whaddya mean?" I ask.

"You never forget your firs love and you can never escape your past, honey. Trust me, I know."

I try to find the year the photo was taken. I smile again. Looks like it was just a few months ago. Hope. I can't believe it. It gives me hope. For us. For our family. For the future. I know seein' her, well, confronting her is gonna suck and I know I gotta control my anger and pain for her leavin', but seein' this makes me think we gotta chance.

They all notice and Jax says "This is a good thing."

I'm scared shitless but I smile. "Yeah, yeah it is."

I finally close the file and look out the window again. My girl. I'm comin' baby.