Author's Note: Hey all and welcome back! I just want to say thank you for your continued support! A huge shoutout to Khyharah and Jianali for leacing new reviews for me! seriously, reviews make my heart super happy!

Onto some serious business.

***TRIGGER WARNING*** This chapter contains mention of a suicide attempt, if this is something distressing and triggering for you, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS CHAPTER! This chapter also contains crude language, mention of alcohol, and sex, if these are things you prefer to steer clear of in your reading this is not the chapter for you.***

As always, Read, Enjoy, & if feeling so compelled too leave a review or two.

Oh and I don't own SOA, this is purely for entertainment purposes only, Grace-Ann however is all mine as are any other original characters and storyline. So please don't sue me Mr. Sutter.

Much love and Squishy Hugs,

Emmy

p.s. come look me up on tumblr, you can find me at callmemrskozik

Chapter Seven: Stay

Women wrapped in itty bitty swatches of material and lace flock to the boys in leather, and here I stand in the middle of it all wearing jeans and a tank top, it's while taking it all in I realize how overdressed I am compared to most, not to mention how just downright ordinary I am in comparison. I know I stare, but I can't help it, looking at Luann's girls is like looking at fucking Photoshop come to life.

Shaking my head, I make a beeline straight for the drinks table, and grabbing the first cup I see I toss back its content, wincing at the taste but enjoying the burn as it slides down my throat.

"Hey, Grace-Ann right?" a soft voice asks and looking up I see the girl Luann was at the hospital with. She's a pretty girl and her smile is sweet but something about her just, pisses me off. I know logically I'm only projecting, but still, I can't bring myself to offer a smile back so instead I pick up another cup lifting it to her and with a slight nod I toss it back, "I'm-I'm Lyla."

An uneasy silence settles between us but before I can think of anything to say a voice comes from behind me.

"Well...well, look who came running back home," the voice sets a chill in my bones as I turn slowly to see that it's a bad dream come fucking true.

Madison Kelley was once my best friend; and in the grand scheme of things, she's the only best friend I ever had. We were in every class together from kindergarten up, but it was around third grade that we became inseparable. It was always Gracie and Madi; where you found one, one wasn't far behind.

She looks the same, still gorgeous, her slip of a dress riding high, showing off the impeccably toned skin of her thighs. I could hate her for that alone; but in my estimation it just gets worse from there. Her tiny waste is accentuated by clinging material, a V cut deep to her navel showing off breasts I know for a fact were paid for. If there is one thing I've had one up on her since we hit puberty, it's the fact that my tits have always been bigger.

"I know for a damn fact that you aren't pretty enough to be working in front of your Mom's cameras, so you must be working behind them…" her voice drips with condescension and taking a deep breath I look her square in the eyes.

"And I see your skill for swallowing cum by the gallon has finally paid off," I say which earns a strangled chuckle from behind me.

"What the fuck did you just say?" she demands taking a step towards me, and because I know that if I close the distance between us one if not both of us will end up bloody I take a step back and reach for another drink.

"All those headboards you've banged your head against must've made you hard of hearing Madison," I keep my voice light, trying not to call attention to the mounting tension between us.

"There's that quick wit of yours Grace-Ann, I'd say I missed it, but I'd be lying, in fact, nobody missed you while you were gone, not even Luann," she says a smile of satisfaction crossing her lips because she knows she's struck a nerve. "Funny, Luann and I have lunch once a week, and she hasn't said a word to me about you being back…"

"Hey," Kozik's voice comes out of nowhere breaking through the gauzy veil of anger that was starting to form at Madison's revelation, "why didn't you come find me when you got here?" His arm comes around my waste as he presses a kiss to my hair.

"I was just about too," I murmur keeping my voice steady, "if you'll excuse us." I run a hand through my hair as Kozik and I start to walk away.

"Hey Gracie," Madison calls from behind me and turning I see her motion to the white bandage on my arm, "what happened, another failed attempt at ending your miserable and worthless life?"

Everything grows silent as the weight of her words crash down around me; the low blow hitting just hard enough to knock the wind from my lungs. She laughs looking from me to Kozik, and then back again.

"What, you didn't know?" she asks her tone forcing me to take a step back from Kozik shaking my head. The shame is overwhelming as his eyes fall to me. "Why don't you tell your friend all about it? Come on Gracie, you were more than happy to run your mouth at me, why not now?" Her words taunt me, creating a sick mixture with the liquor that courses through my system.

"Madison that's enough," Lyla admonishes her, but it seems to spur Madison on as she closes the distance between us.

"Stay out of it Lyla," she spits before turning her attention fully to me. "Let's take a trip down memory lane shall we…"

"Madison, please," my voice is small as fear threatens to consume me.

"Oh no, it's just getting fun. See, when Gracie was sixteen Mommy didn't show up for her birthday party, and you know what she did?" Madison asks and I grow acutely aware at all of the eyes that watch what's going on between us. "She slit her wrist. She was committed, for nearly two years, because it seems that little Gracie was doing all sorts of ugly things to herself, all because her Mommy didn't love her…"

My rage explodes; one minute I'm vibrating with anger and the next we're fighting. Fists flying, flesh tearing under the bite of nails. Voices rise as the men try to pull us apart and when we're finally separated I'm carted off kicking and screaming into Luann's office.

"What the fuck was that Grace-Ann?" Luann demands as she paces in front of me.

"You know exactly what that was! Why the fuck is she working for you? You had to know that this was going to happen eventually," I say ignoring the taste of blood that fills my mouth.

"I invited you tonight thinking that maybe we'd find a way to get along, that maybe you'd find a way to fit in, not cost me one of my most popular girls!" she screams and her words hit harder than any blow Madison landed.

"You don't care about me at all do you?" I ask shaking my head in disbelief at her words, "tell me, was it you who wanted to pay off my loans, or was it Dad?" She doesn't have to say anything; her silence speaks volumes. "Of course it was Dad, how could I be so stupid? Why else would your number one concern be the fact that Madison is threatening to walk, and not that she laid out all that dark shit from my past. You don't give a fuck about me."

"Oh come on, so she dug up a little dirt, shake that shit off…"

"Shake that shit off? Really? You had me sent away, because you-you couldn't be bothered to do as the doctors and shrinks recommended! That isn't something you just shake off! God, you are so unbelievable, just when I think you can't possibly surprise me anymore. I'll make this easy for you, from here on out you're dead to me. I don't want to see you; I don't want to speak to you. I'm done. I was a fucking idiot to think you could ever change."

"Grace-Ann! Grace-Ann get back here!" Luann's voice chases me from the office but I ignore it as I push through the crowd. I know people stare after me, but I don't care, I'm more concerned about trying to keep a shaky hold on what little control I have left.

::

"Gracie!" Kozik's voice rings behind me as I make it to my car, and pulling on the door I curse, realizing I've left my keys inside. His hands grip my shoulders and I jump pulling away from him.

"Don't-don't touch me," I say shaking my head. "I need-I need my keys." My voice stammers violently as I try to swallow.

"You can't drive like this," Kozik points out and somewhere under the anger and hurt I know he's right. "Let me take you home."

"N-no. Th-this, whatever it was, it's over," I say brushing furiously at the tears that manage to roll down my face. "You don't need this."

"You don't get to tell me what I need," his voice is calm, but the heat behind them simmers on the surface and is just enough to burn. "I'm going to go inside, find your keys, and take you home. Stay. Put." I watch him as he stalks back inside and as he does he brushes past Juice.

"Juice," I call out to him and when he lifts his face he smiles at me, "mind giving me a lift home?"

-Kozik-

Finding Gracie's keys took a little longer than he had intended, of course it didn't help that Luann is going crazy in her office, throwing shit and cursing the air blue, or that Jax and Opie stopped him to find out where Gracie was, so he isn't all that surprised that she wasn't waiting for him beside her SUV when he finally made it back outside. He lets out a sound of frustration all the same as he kicks the tire on her SUV. Of course she wasn't going to stay put. Damn stubborn woman.

The weight of what he found out tonight was heavy, no fucking doubt about it, but he's good at the heavy; he always has been, and damn it he wants the heavy she brings because it means she trusts him, wants him, needs him, and God help him, he's desperate to be needed by her.

"Hey," Juice calls out as he pulls his bike in a smile on his face, "I just dropped Gracie off at her Nana's. You might want to hurry brother, from the sounds of it, Gracie's not looking to stick around."

::Gracie::

I pack slowly, refusing to be more of a walking cliché then I already am. If I'm going to run away in the middle of the night, I'll be damned if I'm going to do it in a frenzy like I'm living in some God-forsaken Lifetime movie.

Thankfully Nana's gone for the weekend, having gone to Reno for some ladies retreat, the last thing I need right now is for her to try and talk me out of leaving. Folding my clothes meticulously, I purposely keep my mind blank, refusing to dwell on what's led me to this.

"I think I always knew coming back would lead to this," I say keeping my voice steady; I don't have to turn to know Kozik stands behind me. "There's some shit that, no matter the time or distance, doesn't just go away."

"Stop packing," Kozik says but I ignore him, reaching for another shirt. The silence grows between us, heavy and tense as I finish the first suitcase, and set it aside.

"Why are you here?" I ask reaching for my duffel bag, but his hand covers mine, stilling me.

"You know why I'm here," his words are soft as he cuffs my wrist in his fingers, brushing against the raised skin of my scars and lifting flooded eyes to him I let out an unsteady breath.

"You should go," I murmur but he shakes his head. "You can't possibly want this."

"You're wrong, I do want this," he says softly pulling me so that I'm facing him. His hands cup my face, thumbs brushing at my tears.

"I'm a mess," the words slip miserably through my lips.

"Oh baby," the smile that spreads on his lips has a sadness to it as his forehead comes to rest on mine, "we're all a mess."

My hands come up to his wrists, squeezing tight as his lips draw precariously close to mine.

"Koz," my voice is swallowed by his mouth taking mine and the kiss is soft, warm, and dangerously delicious.

"Ask me to stay," the words carry a tone of desperation.

"Stay."

::

His hands are warm as they creep under my shirt, fingers scraping across my skin lighting fires as they move; his head dipping so he can press his lips to my throat.

"I've been thinking of this from the moment I met you," his words are slow as his hands sink into my hair. He moves us slowly so that he can settle onto the edge of the bed and hooking his fingers into the loops of my jeans he pulls me toward him so that I'm positioned between his legs.

"All the women who hang around TM and you've been thinking about me?" I ask immediately regretting the words when his grip tightens on my hips.

"They don't mean shit to me," my hands come up to rest on his neck, fingers caressing his hair.

"I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry," I try to steer us back to where we were but he stares unconvinced by my words.

"I need you to believe me Gracie," his fingers press into the skin of my lower back.

"Show me," the words are barely out of my lips before he's flipping me onto my back, his weight pressing me into the mattress, lips hot on mine.

::

Our bodies are slicked with sweat as I straddle his hips, one of his hands gripping the nape of my neck while the other presses against my lower back and with each twitch of my hips his hard length slips between my folds. I shuddering against him reveling in the sense of power that courses through me when a deep moan escapes him. I know I'm driving him crazy, and in the process I'm halfway to crazy myself.

"Gracie," Kozik says my name like it's a prayer when he finally buries himself inside of me, and when he fills me it feels like my nerve endings are on fire. He holds me still against him his eyes sliding closed, lips parting to let out a shuddering breath. I smile realizing that at least in this moment I'm completely in control. I tighten my thighs around his waist and start rocking against him. I can't help the sound that bubbles up and escapes my lips, and suddenly I'm not so concerned with who has the power, instead I lose myself completely in him.

I lay curled against him, my arm slung across his chest, one of my legs resting comfortably between his. He runs his fingers up and down my shoulder as I listen to his heart beat; but looking past him I see my half packed baggage and with a sigh I look up at him.

His eyes are closed, but everything about him in this moment radiates contentment, and resting my hand on the center of his chest I smile.

"Ask me to stay," I whisper the words and when there's a momentary pause I begin to worry, but then his eyes slide open, and he's turning onto his side so that we're face to face, his hand brushing at the hair that sticks to my forehead.

"Stay."