Chapter III

New Character: Mike 'The Savage' Calhoun ~ Face Character Taylor Kitsch

{Reno, Late April 1995} Jax stood beside his parked Harley the dust thick in the air from them barreling into the parking lot. Opie and Aiden followed, all three taking their helmets off in sequence, each man forming up to the side of Jax, as they walked towards the building that housed the Reno members of the Sons Charter. It was their first official trip to Reno with the MC as prospects, each boy dropping out of school, obtaining GED's so they could work at the garage, and move towards their future in the club full time. The times were bloody with the endless Mayan War raging, and every possible hand being needed as the first nine, and many other members continued to be found dead. It was as if they were an endangered species that the rival gang was hunting to the point of extinction. Clay had even suggested at the last meeting that they younger boys be careful having their girls on the bikes. The last thing the club needed was civilians, especially young girls being harmed, as a result of the war. Everyone knew the fucking Mayans were barbarians, and would cross lines the other MC's would not. He had also laid down the law pretty firm that no one was to disappear off the radar for a long period of time. His eyes meeting Aiden's when he spoke the words, since he had been disappearing as if he were fucking Houdini lately.

Jax looked over at Opie a sense of relief that he was at his side again, shortly after Valentine's his mother, Mary, had taken him away from Charming. Jax and Aiden sat many a night up on the roof of the TM waiting for him to roll back onto the lot. True to his word Opie stayed only long enough for her to get settled, and returned to the club immediately. During that time Piney had been more of a mess than usual, many times staying drunk at the cabin for days at a time. Finally sobering up when Opie returned. He had heard the rumbling through the club that Clay was making a move to unseat his old man as VP. To Opie and Jax it seemed the rumble to unseat Piney sobered him up quicker than anything. Jax had confided in Opie that Gemma had already told him that when Piney was no longer able to sit in the Vice Presidents seat he had to be strong, and step up regardless of his age, reminding him it was his legacy as JT's only living son. Opie knew if that time came sooner rather than later he was going to need not only the support of Gemma, his Step Dad Clay, and Aiden, but him as well. Opie had made a pact with Jax he would be there for him through thick, and thin.

Opie formed up on the right side of his brother as they walked in almost unison towards the door. He was truly glad to be back with them; even though his time away from Charming had been short it had seemed an eternity. Being away from Jax and Aiden had been extremely hard, but he was surprised at how hard it had been to be apart from Donna. He knew before leaving she was like no one he had ever met, and that he cared for her deeply, but it wasn't until they were apart that he realized how much he truly loved her. Not being able to see, or talk to her daily had been more torture to him then even being separated from his brothers. A smile crossed his face momentarily as he thought of his return to Charming, after meeting up with his Jax, and Aiden briefly he didn't stop until he reached Donnas. He had tapped on her window for what seemed hours before she finally awoke, pulling back the curtain a surprised look upon her face. Opie snuck her out of her window, placed her on the back of his bike, and found a motel on the outskirts of Charming, finally doing what he should have done months, and months ago. He wanted Donna to be with him always, and showed her just that.

Aiden took a final pull off his cigarette exhaling the smoke into the air before flicking it to the ground, and forming up on the left side of Jax as they walked through the dusty parking lot to the SAMREN club house. Aiden like Jax was glad Opie was back with them, sure they jousted at one another a lot, but he loved Opie. His thoughts shifted to Amelia who he had left early that morning, her beautiful flawless porcelain colored body laying on display in her bed. Aiden had sat for an hour watching her sleep peacefully before brushing his hand against her cheek to arouse her. Even though the day was ending the taste of her was from their goodbye kiss was still in his mouth. He could taste her, smell her, she was all around him.

He knew his mind should be focused more on the club issues at the moment, but he couldn't help how she consumed his every thought. The look on her beautiful face that morning when he told her he loved her kept flashing before him. It had taken everything he could to walk out of her bedroom door to meet up with the boys at the TM. Amelia was an island of peace for him, a peace he had never expected to find, and he hated leaving that peace, leaving her. More, and more he found himself sitting out by her pool in the mornings watching the glorious sunrises wondering what the fuck he was doing. Aiden knew the MC heritage coursed through him, the MC life expected of him, but with Amelia bringing her rays of sunlight into his life he was wondering if this was the right path for him now. Her birthday was in a few days, and she would turn seventeen. A small frown creased the corners of his mouth, really wishing she were turning eighteen, rather than seventeen so they could just disappear off the grid together.

The loud noise and the aroma of booze, pussy, and smoke mingled together drifted into the dusty parking lot as Clay, Piney, Tig, Bobby, Chibs, and the others members of SAMCRO burst through the SAMREN doors.

"We are here, Brothers," Clay walked into the Club just as he walked into every location these days as the King of the fucking world, his arms extended into the air, his trade mark cheeky smirk upon his face as he bear hugged several of the members walking up to him.

Piney glanced over at Clay in disgust; he could feel the vomit rising from the pit of his stomach up through his liquor eroded esophagus. Desperately he wanted to grab the first bottle of Tequila he could find, followed by a wet pussy, and just bury himself there for the duration. He knew however that several club eyes were upon him since his last bender which lasted several weeks. It had actually been Gemma showing up at the cabin with news that the club was talking about whether he could handle the VP position any longer that had snapped him back into reality. Even though she didn't know about the discussions he, and JT had, had she wasn't your run of the mill Ol' Lady. Gemma was the Queen of the MC, and knew the importance of Piney keeping the VP seat warm for Jax. He loved Gemma, how could he not, they all did, they had fallen in love with her when she hopped on the back of JT's bike at seventeen. Piney knew though that she was just as dangerous as Clay, he honestly felt she was more dangerous, because she was smart, and cunning. Clay was a stupid piece of shit without Gemma's smarts behind him. Had Gemma Teller-Morrow been born with a dick she would have ruled the MC with an iron fist, and no club would have been a match for them, not even the eastern MC's.

"Smell that aroma boys, pussy, pussy, pussy," Tig came up behind Jax slapping him on the back, "You boys need to get buried up in that shit," Smirking as he made a lewd thrust with his hips, "Come on Aiden you game, brother? Let's get us a few of these Damsels and have a little slamming party."

"You go ahead brother. I'm gonna get a beer." Almost cringing at his lame response to Tig's pussy announcement, knowing what was coming next.

"Damn, Aiden since you have been tapping that young blonde pussy you been acting like you're married or something." Tig arched his brow, "Man, you are young brother, your dick working at its maximum power right now. Which means you need to be fucking every bitch you can snatch up, in every hole you can hit, same for you boys as well," He glanced quickly at Jax and Opie "Shit it ain't natural the way y'all are acting. It's almost freaky like one of those fucking clown dolls; yeah you guys are freaking me out like one those fucked up creepy dolls." Tigs shuddered for a moment before his eyes strayed to a slender red head passing by who might as well have been nude for the lack of clothes she was wearing, her cheap perfume almost suffocating.

"Whew saved by the bell, Oh, wait I mean croweater," Aiden commented chuckling, feeling a sense of relief as Tig walked away with his arm already around not only the red head, but a brunette that had come over to join in the fun. He had partied with Tig on many occasions and he truly was one twisted fucker.

Aiden had tried to be with one other woman since Amelia. A few weeks after they had gotten together feeling a little overwhelmed with the intense feelings he was experiencing for the first time. He felt as if he was sinking the deep blue sea, his head slowly being pulled under water, drowning in Amelia. It had scared the shit out of him, and Aiden figured bedding another woman would balance things out, and keep him afloat. That life preserver had not lasted past unbuttoning his shirt, and a few kisses. Aiden had politely shown her the door, and she had cussed him the entire time, until he finally slammed the door in her face. He knew then as he stared at the cheaply painted back of the front door that the pussy market for him was closed, except for Amelia Tate, of course.

Jax let out a laugh, patting Aiden on the back as they headed to the bar together, secretly relieved Tig was on his way as well, and out their fucking face with the need to get laid. Since he and Tara had consummated their relationship weeks back he couldn't even think about being inside another girl. He could feel his dick growing hard just thinking about her delectable body underneath him, her wet inviting … Fuck me, he thought knowing his life was never going to be the same. The first night he had been with her, he knew he was lost man, he had known it before, but after being inside of her, Jax knew nothing would ever compare to Tara Knowles.

Just as he had predicted making love had ignited the already consuming desire of their relationship. It had been like pouring gasoline on the fire. They couldn't breathe without one another, be without one another for any length of time. The times they were apart like now he felt as if he were only partially complete, as if he were going to wither, and die. Christ some MC legacy you are, Jax Teller, he thought to himself only caring briefly, as his mind drifted back to being inside Tara's warm wet inviting pussy.

Opie walked up asking for a beer from the pleasant, older looking woman behind the bar. He recognized her as being one of the SAMREN soldiers Ol' Ladies from previous trips with his father Piney. Opie leaned his large frame against the bar taking in the scene of the club house, as his father, Clay, and the others did the tradition meet and greet bullshit. He nodded his chin at a few members who acknowledge him. Opie knew without asking that Tig had made both Jax, and Aiden feel uncomfortable. He figured they were just going to have to grow some balls, and tell Tig to fuck the hell off; otherwise that sadistic fucker would keep on nagging them about their lack of extracurricular pussy activity. That's where Opie differed from Aiden, and Jax he didn't give a flying fuck if the other guys called him pussy whipped, shit he was pussy whipped by the sweetest angel of them all and he didn't care who knew it. They wanted to cross the line with him they were welcome to step; he would bring it with his large fist, which he would cram down their fucking throat.

He glanced over at his old man, Piney, wondering if he was going to be able to keep it his shit together for the weekend of meetings. He had heard the many whispers from the other crew about his father's slow decline since JT had been died almost two years ago. Shit, he thought to himself, it hadn't seemed that long since they laid him in the ground, but that was the summer of 1993, and here they were already fucking spring of 1995. Still they all talked of it as if it were only yesterday, and it still felt like a raw open festering wound. Opie looked over at Jax taking a pull off his beer, he knew without anyone telling him that it was important that his father keep his shit together for just a little longer. Jax need to make it to eighteen at least, and they had another year to go before that occurred.

Aiden took a drink from the bottle of beer as he surveyed the room in front of them. He watched as Clay made his way around the room with Piney in tow. They all knew that this trip to Reno was to recruit help with the Mayans who were causing them pure fucking hell at the moment. Always dick heads the Mayans, Aiden personally agreed with Tig on this matter, "Slaughter all the Son of Bitches," Tig had proposed at a recent Chapel meeting, and Aiden had agreed it was nothing a few bullets to the head wouldn't take care of. Unlike his father he was more of a clean kill man himself, look them in the eye sure, but just blow their fucking head off quickly. He knew some would call that mercy killing, and him a weakling. Aiden didn't give a shit though, knowing no mans last thought of him would be as a weakling when the the hammer of his gun was being pulled back to blow their fucking head to kingdom come.

Aiden's thoughts were interrupted as he caught sight of a guy and with a girl across the room. The guy wasn't much taller than him, but far broader in build, more muscular, with a demeanor that clearly emitted don't fuck with me. He watched as the girl reached up running her fingers through his dark long hair, the sight troubled him as he watched the guy reach down cupping the cheeks of her petite ass, pulling her into a kiss, which was quickly turning sexual as the girl placed her hand on his crotch. Feeling like a fucking voyeur Aiden couldn't break his eyes away from the provocative scene unfolding before him, and then he looked the girl over for the first time realizing why. From behind she looked just like Amelia; her hair the same beautiful snowy blonde, even the shape of her supple body was similar. He raised his head from gazing at the girl to find a pair of intense green eyes staring straight at him, quickly he glanced away, but for a reason he couldn't understand the scene was grating at him. His gut felt uneasy as he attempted to swallow another drink of beer, his stomach almost feeling as if was going to reject the cool liquid.

"Boys, welcome." The deep voice of the SAMREN club President sounded as if it were coming from a megaphone as he approached them.

Jax was the first to reach out giving him a brother slap on the back, followed by Opie, and then Aiden.

"How's your old man, Lenny, doing in the big house, Aiden? You know he and I go way back soon." He winked at the lady behind the bar as she handed him a beer.

"He's making it ok, don't think he will ever see freedom again though with the death of three ATF faggots hanging over his head." Aiden let out a sigh as he spoke the words, his father being in the slammer sucked. He wondered briefly if it wouldn't be better to be buried ten feet under, rather than locked up for life.

"Hate to hear it son. Your dad was one hell of a Sgt. At Arms, and well the pussy loved him. I hear you are following in your dads footsteps in more ways than one." He winked at Aiden, a smirk upon his face.

Aiden smirked back quickly changing the conversation from his pussy conquest, "Hey who's the guy over there with the blonde?" He tried to ask the question as casually as possible, but could see Opie looking at him from the corner of his eye with his brow arched.

Looking in the direction that Aiden was pointing the tip of his beer bottle the SAMREN President nodded his head his smirk growing deeper.

"That's Mike Calhoun, he just stepped into our Sgt. Of Arms seat couple months back. Been with us a while now, had some problems as a kid, no family, armed robbery bullshit charges. Spent some time in Juvenile that hardened him a bit, found his way to us after getting out, and been here ever since."

"Sgt. At Arms?" Aiden arched his brow looking back over at him once again. Sure he had the whole don't fuck with me persona going on, that made him look serious, maybe older, but if one really looked they could clearly see he was not that old, to Aiden he really didn't look much older than him. For a brief moment Aiden felt resentment at the fact his old man had gone in unexpectedly, costing him a seat that should have been his not Tig Trager's. Just as the resentment came crashing in like a wave, Amelia's face floated into his mind, sending the wave back out to sea, and suddenly he found himself surprisingly grateful the seat had passed him by.

"Yeah, he's only 20, youngest we have ever put in a seat like that, but damn he is one cold son of a bitch when it comes to getting the job done."

"Cold?" Jax questioned tilting his head towards the conversation his brow arched, as he brought the beer bottle to his mouth.

"He's a fucking killer, a tortuous one at that, haven't seen anything like it since, well your old man, Aiden. We nick named him the Savage," The President leaned back against the bar, "He is 100 % bad ass mother fucker, no stopping him, once he's set into motion. He loves this club though, and is loyal to the brothers. Seems the club is the only thing he cares about."

"He ain't got a permanent Ol' Lady?" Aiden inquired he could see Opie now giving him the Where are you going with this brother look. Honestly he didn't know where the comment came from, just that for some reason he hoped he had a steady piece of ass.

"Mike, shit no. He's not the settling down type, I mean the women love him, but steady piece of ass, shit he ain't built like that." The SAMREN President popped out a cigarette from the pack sitting on the bar as he spoke the words, pulling his Zippo from the inside of his leather cut.

Aiden locked eyes with the green eyed cold hearted killer once more as he turned putting his arm around the blondes shoulder, casually directing her toward the back rooms. The sight once again so disturbing, he finally had to look away. He knew it was the blonde looking like his girl that had him so drawn to the whole scene. He felt an overwhelming urge rush over him to exit the clubhouse, get on his bike, and take Amelia far away.

{Charming} "Tara, I really wish you would reconsider this," Amelia looked around the tattoo parlor very noticeably out of her element, and normal surroundings. In a way she was glad Donna had not come with them since she was not feeling well, but on the other hand she felt a little insecure being alone in such a place. The men were looking at them both as if they were the meal of the day.

"I am not reconsidering this I want to get it done before Jax gets back in the next few days." Tara turned back to the counter counting out the money she had been saving from her after school job as a waitress at the diner. It had taken her months to save what she needed to get the ink she wanted.

"It's just so….. I don't know Tara ….. So permanent." Amelia looked away from the second man behind the counter that was licking his lips at her in a way she found very uncomfortable.

"Do you not feel Aiden is permanent, Amelia? Cause Jax is permanent for me, and I want him to know that in every way possible." Tara stepped back from the counter heading over to the booth indicated, as Amelia followed reluctantly.

"No, that's not what I am saying, Tara. I love Aiden; he is the love of my life. It's just … I don't know… a tattoo of a crow?" Amelia followed her friend to the booth where they both took a seat waiting for the lady who was going to be doing Tara's tattoo.

"So, he's it for you."Tara leaned in closer almost whispering the words, "Listen, Amelia their life is the club, you better start thinking more long term Ol' Lady like, or you and Aiden will never last. Not to mention those club whores will push you out of the way." Tara offered the advice as if she was a pro.

Amelia looked at Tara for a moment unable to respond, she had changed so much since the Valentines get together at her house. The night she had lost her virginity to Jax, her whole attitude had become so possessive of him, she was embracing the club life more, and more. Tara would hang out with Jax all hours of the day, and night at the TM, partying, getting high, rather than way from the TM in their small group.

Amelia was happy that they were so in love, but would have been lying if she didn't admit that the shift in Jax, and Tara's relationship made her a bit uncomfortable in her own. She wondered if that's what Aiden wanted from her. She had been holding out hope that Aiden would turn away from the life, and they could simply disappear when she turned eighteen. They hadn't really talked about it officially, but she had noticed small differences in his attitude about the club life. Amelia hoped that meant perhaps when the time was right she could persuade him to walkway with her, before he patched in. She knew he was the love of her life, but she didn't know if the club life was for her. She closed her eyes for a moment recalling his kiss that morning before departing for Reno, he had told her he loved her.

"Tara, I don't want to be his Ol' Lady," Amelia spoke the words softly.

"What? I thought you just said he was the love of your life? I don't understand what you mean; you don't want to be his ol' lady? That's how it rolls, you love the man, and you become his ol' lady. "Tara eyed her curiously unable to understand Amelia's inability to embrace the club. She supposed it was because she was so rich, or going to be as the years progressed. Tara couldn't help but be concerned that her refusal to totally embrace the club, and back her man, was gonna cost her Aiden in the long run.

"I don't want to come second to him, Tara. I want to be the most important thing to him, because he is the most important thing to me. I want a real life with him, one where we make the rules, where we are in charge." Amelia smiled dreamily at the thought of it just being her, and Aiden.

"Oh, I see you want a traditional life full of babies, and a house with a white picket fence, and Aiden in a suit for work." Tara laughed as she spoke the words the thought of Aiden in anything but jeans and leather totally absurd.

Amelia burst out laughing at the thought of Aiden in a suit, "I don't want to change him like that," She paused for a moment, "I definitely don't want babies, he and I have already talked about that much. We don't want that traditional life, and I don't want to ever have a child." Amelia shuttered at the thought of having a baby.

She had confessed to Aiden one night that she had a fear of becoming her Mommy Dearest, and felt no child should ever be subjected to that. He knew the how her mother had pushed her emotionally after she was expelled from the prep school. What had resulted from that push, self consciously she pulled the shirt down over her left wrist. She knew no one could see the scare unless they were looking for it, but to her it was an ugly reminder of the past. Aiden had reassured her that he didn't need a family, just her, and would never demand such a thing of her unless it was something she wanted. They had talked for hours, and surprisingly both felt the best way to avoid becoming what you most feared was leaving the factors you felt would cause this out of the equation. Aiden didn't voice it to Amelia, but he had been secretly relieved she didn't want a traditional life with kids. He knew he would never have the patience to be a father, and frankly couldn't imagine sharing Amelia with anyone ever, even a baby.

"You don't want kids with the love of your life?" Tara arched her brow laughing at Amelia.

"No, I don't need that, a tattoo above my ass, or even a marriage certificate to make me feel what I already know to be true. He is it for me; there will never be anyone else. Aiden is the love of my life. I see us years from now on a beach together, the warm sun on our face, sipping beers, making love in the sand. Just the two of us, no club, and no society expected domestic life, just us." Amelia smiled brightly a gleam in her eyes as she spoke the words.

"Are you ready to get this started," The woman's voice interrupted their conversation as she sat down preparing to start the tattoo that would in a way make Tara Knowles legendary. She was about to become the youngest girl to ever tattoo herself with a crow to symbolize her connection to SAMCRO. Lucky for Tara the fake I.D Jax had hooked her up with a while back had worked, or they would have kicked their underage asses to the curb.

As began to fill the prick of the needle piercing her skin, Tara could only smile at the image that Amelia created of her future with Aiden. She seriously doubted he would ever walk from the club with her. Of course little did either of them know at the time there was another equation that would be added to Amelia's life before it was complete.

Years later when Tara and Jax's world was crumbling around them, Tara would think back on the conversation they had shared in the tattoo parlor that day, as she starred down at Thomas slumbering in his crib. Her beautiful friend Amelia's life had turned out to be anything but conventional. Even her own life with Jax had not turned out as she had envisioned it. Amelia's unconventional life however had been shocking even in the MC world. Then as if she had never existed Amelia simply vanished into thin air, poof gone just like the rabbit in a magic show. Tara had hoped that Jax was right, and Amelia and Aiden had escaped the bloody path that was SAMCRO. The thought she perhaps alive somewhere happy gave Tara a sense of hope that she and Jax too would survive, and find refuge with their boys before it was too late.