"It's about fucking time." Luann calls out when we walk in. "What's he doin here?"
"Just dropping me off Auntie. Don't worry, our secret will be safe." I wink at her.
"I don't wanna know. Take care of my girl." He presses a kiss to my forehead before leaving. His shoulders shaking in laughter as he rounds the corner and the door closes behind him.
Luann runs around, working whatever magic she has planned. After about a million shots and four hours, she finally calls it quits. We clean up and she gives me a ride home. Filip's bike is there when she drops me off. I walk in and Filip is lounging on the couch, watching some old movie.
"Comfy?" I laugh as I walk to the kitchen and get some water.
"Are ya wearin glitter?" He looks me over, noticing the heavy makeup and effects Luann piled on.
"Maybe. Nosy much?" I tease, moving to the bedroom to get in my pajamas. "How did it go with my brother?"
"Uh, He made his peace with Clay. Said he wanted to be all in." Filip puts his hands on his hips and sighs, something's on his mind.
"We can't keep shit from each other. If this is what we want, we gotta talk. I ain't ending up like Gemma and Clay or Op and Donna." I stop what I'm doing, turning my full attention to him.
"I don't think Clay or Tig believe Opie." He says, running his hand over his beard and looking at me.
"You believe him?" I ask tentatively.
"Yeah, I do. Opie wouldn't rat." His voice was sincere, so were his eyes.
"That's all that matters to me. Jax and Opie will convince Clay. Besides, if he brought that to the table, there's no way it would pass." I dismiss his worries and turn back to my closet.
"Aye." Was his only response.
I quickly change into SAMCRO sweat pants that I stole from Opie and a black tank top. I walk back out of the closet and reach out to him, pulling him over to the bed. He sits on the edge and I kneel behind him. My hands roam all over his back, stopping on his shoulder blade to knead away the tension. He sighs and I feel his body start to unwind. He hangs his head low in front of him as I continue massaging his back for some time.
Eventually he turns toward me and grabs my hand in his. I reach up and run my fingers through his shiny black hair, pushing it off of his forehead. He closes his eyes for a moment at the contact.
"Listen sweetheart, the club ain't good right now. Bobby locked up, this shit with yer brother, it's just a bad time." He starts; not sure where he's taking this.
"Ok so we get through it with our family, like always." I tell him, putting my hand on his cheek.
"I know, I just need ya ta know what yer getting inta. I can't have you jumpin inta this and gettin hurt." He explains.
"I've been in this since the day I was conceived. There's nothing that I'm not already aware of. We should just forget about it tonight. Let's watch a movie in bed and lock the doors. Just us." I suggest, pulling him to his feet.
"So no sex?" his face falls and I laugh at him.
"Bite your tongue." I lean in for a kiss, my tongue fighting against his until I take his tongue between my teeth and gently bite it. "Better yet, let me."
"That was corny." He laughs, grabbing my face and pulling me in for another kiss.
Gemma is blowing up my phone early the next morning, demanding I help her decorate and cook all day. Filip laughs at me as I grumble all the way to the bathroom to get ready. When she rings the doorbell, I'm still getting ready so he opens it to her. She flies in and a mini-tornado is suddenly rushing around my house, rushing me to get going.
"Becoming a granny has made you so much more of a pain in the ass." I tell her as I pull my shoes on.
"Watch it. Filip kiss her and tell her you love her and will see her tonight and if you're not there, your ass is mine." She is practically dragging me through the living room. I stop in front of him. He leans down and gives me a sweet kiss mixed with a smile.
"I love ya and I'll see ya tonight or my arse is hers." He repeats and winks at me. I laugh at him as I follow the bouncing energy to the car.
"Go make sure Able's room is all set." Gemma directs me. She starts hanging streamers and balloons in the living room. Moments later I hear the door open and close again.
"Where you been?" I hear Gemma's voice from the living room. I don't hear a response right away so I take a step down the hall. The sound of Wendy's voice stops me in my tracks.
"I know what you're doing." Her voice is quiet. "With me and Tara."
I hold my breath, waiting to hear what she's talking about.
"What am I doing?" Gemma asks, her voice says she is automatically on the defense.
"Playing us against each other, using me to get her outta Jax's life. 'Do I want my family back? Do I still love him?' It was all about getting her out of the picture." The anger wells up in me. I continue to listen, fighting the urge to run out there and demand answers.
"Does it matter? I meant what I said. What do you care what my motives are?" Gemma counters; lowering her voice. "We both get what we want."
"Look, I was ok with you slippin me enough crank to kill a horse. I deserved it for what I did to Abel. But I'm not the same person I was a few months ago. I can't do this. You're playing with our lives."
I listen to Gemma cut her down, my breath caught in my throat. Wendy turns and walks out. I wait a few minutes and then walk out in the living room.
"Hey Gem, mind if I use the car quick? I wanna run and get some of those disinfecting wipes to wipe off the changing table and stuff. Plus I'll get some more balloons." I try to keep my voice even. "Anything else we need?"
"Sure sweetheart, I'll give you a quick list." She hurries to write down a few things before handing me her keys and some cash.
I step outside and let out a deep sigh. Not sure if it's the right thing or not, I jump in the car and head over to St. Thomas. I find Tara in the NICU, filling out some charts over the cribs. I knock on the window to get her attention. She gives me a strange look and glances over her shoulder. I roll my eyes at her and she steps out into the hall.
"Got somewhere we can talk?" I ask.
"Uh, sure. Let's go use one of the consultation rooms." She leads the way, glancing at me from the corner of her eye. We sit down at a round table and I fidget nervously.
"So maybe I'm stupid and wrong for coming down here and I should probably stay out of it but I need to know something before we talk." I watch as the confusion settles on her face. "Do you love my brother? Are you in love with Jaxson?"
"I don't think-"She starts.
"Tara, I'm not asking for selfish reasons. You're just gonna have to trust me on this one." I tell her. "I need to know if you love him. If this is real and if you plan on sticking around before I blow a hole in my family." She must sense the urgency in my words.
"I love him. I do. I still don't know where this is headed but I wanna find out." She stares at her hands and I see tears well behind her eyelids.
"Gemma isn't happy about you and him. She did give Wendy that syringe. Now she's making nice with the junkie to push her on Jaxson." I blurt out, not really stopping to worry about any kind of tact or gentleness that would have worked better. She searches my face to see if I'm lying.
"Why are you telling me this? I know how close you are to Gemma." She is skeptical.
"I know what Jaxson feels for you. I know that no matter how many times we try to tell either of you what a terrible idea it is and how horribly this is going to end, you're gonna be together. Some loves just don't fade. I see it on his face. I get it. I watch your face and I know what you're feeling for him. Tara, it was me, you and Donna against the world growing up. I introduced both of you to my brothers. When you left, you didn't just hurt Jaxson. We were all crushed." I explain.
"I had to leave. I had to." She still can't put it into words.
"And now?" I ask.
"I can't leave." She says, the tears overflow. I stand up and go to her, pulling her into a hug.
"Then you fight for him Tara, don't let him walk away from you and don't let Gemma come between you. You stand up to her." I tell her, running my hand over her hair. She stops crying slowly.
"Abel is being released today." She whispers, wiping the tears away from her face.
"I know. Thank you for saving my nephew. That bitch tried to kill him." I tell her, trying to hide my disgust for Wendy. "That might have something to do with why I told you. I trust this conversation stays between us?" She nods.
"Thank you Bree." She tells me as I leave again. I hurry to the store so Gemma doesn't start to question my absence.
Gemma is gone by the time I get back to Jax's house. Luann pulls up behind me, a large envelope tucked under her arm. We unload my car and carry everything inside. A few of the regular crow eaters start trickling in and help us get everything going. Donna shows up a short time later. Luann and I sneak off so she can show me the pictures. A soft knock at the door startles me.
I peek out the door and Filip is leaning against the frame, forearm above his head. He leans in and gives me a kiss. I giggle and start to close the door on him.
"Give me a few minutes." I tell him. Luann puts her hand on my arm.
"Show him. They're all gorgeous." She whispers, before heading back to the kitchen. I open the door so he can come in and he sits down in the rocking chair. I pick up the envelope and hand it to him.
"They're for you and only you. I catch one of these in one of those perverts hands or toolboxes; they will be the only view you have for a long time." I threaten him with a smile. He gives me an odd look before he pulls out the black photo album. He starts flipping through it and his eyes grow wide. "Like them?"
"Like em? Jeysus." He smiles from ear to ear before closing the book and sliding it back in the envelope. He pulls me into his lap and gives me a long passionate kiss.
"I love you Filip." I tell him when I finally break the kiss.
"If we didn't need to get outta this room and welcome home Jackie's boy, I'd have you ride me right here." He growls as I slap him playfully.
"Let's go perv. Keep those outta sight or you're dead." I tell him again. Everyone has started to trickle in while we were in the room. Luann and Donna are busy loading up plates of food. I hurry to help them, pulling out beer and putting it on ice.
When Jaxson walks in with Abel, everyone gathers around them for a good look at our newest family member. Everyone is laughing and smiling. My smile falters a little when I see Wendy behind Jaxson. Gemma stands next to her, looking proud. I shake my head at her and look away. She notices my irritation but I don't let her get close enough to ask any questions, avoiding her most of the night by spending time with Donna and Opie.