CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Website where all photos of all outfits mentioned is on my profile. Thanks again for the concern regarding my health. I've had another couple of attacks bad enough that I ended up sick from work, one where I ended up hospitalised again, but I'm holding on till the 19th for my surgery then 2 weeks off. Hopefully I'll be able to get a WHOLE LOT of writing done during those two weeks . I've started writing bits for the trial chapters which are proving to be very hard on me, both in terms of details (having never been in a court room) and Sarah having to relive her memories, and face her fears.

About 90 minutes after we arrived Luann turns off the TV's and whistles loud enough to make Tig look slightly jealous.

"If I can have your attention for just a moment, you can all go back to the free food and drink when I'm done. This is both the party to wrap Sorority Sisters 4 and to celebrate Lyla's retirement. Well you all celebrate; I'm losing a great star. Anyway, Lyla, you're work over the 2 years with me has been incredible, I'm sad to see you go but onwards and upwards. And those that would like to come outside shortly we're going to light the pile in the back that everyone keeps asking about." Turning the movie back on Luann steps off the tiny stage and picks up another glass of whiskey, working her way slowly towards the office as she sips at the drink.

Jax appears at my side, a beer in one hand and shot glass in the other, from the inside pocket of his kutte I can see he's conned the bar tender into giving him a bottle of bourbon. "You coming outside Darlin'?"

I nod, hopping to my feet and swaying for a second as I regain my balance. Looking down at my glass I frown before looking at Donna "Hey D, how many drinks have I had?"

Donna giggles "About 5."

Passing the glass to her I grimace "Water now only please. Don't let me say otherwise."

Donna nods, dropping the glass on a passing tray and following us outside, snagging a couple of water bottles from the table of bottled drinks as she passes.

It's obvious to me, even in my intoxicated state, when we get outside that it's more than just Lyla's porn stuff that's being burnt, while I can see several posters from the almost 2 dozen movies she's made there's also some odd shapes that take a second for my brain to work out. Turning to Jax I narrow my eyes "Why does it look like some of your old furniture is over there?"

Jax chuckles, resting his arm around my shoulder and pulling me till I lean on his chest "Babe, that's cause there is. The bed that you wanted to burn is there."

I look over my shoulder "What else? I can see the bits of the bed base."

Jax kisses my forehead lightly before turning me around so my back is against his front "The bed base is there, we couldn't burn the mattress that got dumped by Miles and Ope this morning. There are a few other furniture bits, like the bedside table that Tara engraved her fucken name on, that we didn't know till Al and Juice went to rearrange the room for their new bed. And there's some of the clothes that she brought me."

I lean back against his shoulder "You know you didn't have to baby. I was fine with it when we moved and I didn't have to sleep in the same place she did."

Jax shrugs, my head moving slightly against his arm "I know I didn't, but Al and Donna wanted to, and I wasn't gonna argue. Besides, Juice brought some huge bed for them, something about Al liking wrought iron and roses."

I smile "What happened to Al's bed though?"

Al's voice comes from the other side of Jax "It's in the spare room. Double just wasn't big enough, Juice is like a bloody octopus when he sleeps. I'm sure the second he falls asleep he sprouts 10 more arms and 8 more legs."

"Hey!" Juice sounds like he doesn't know if he should be offended or laughing, settling on laughing he tugs Al's arm lightly "I may become octo-man, but you're a blanket hog."

I laugh at them and the pure normalness of their argument, my smile so huge it makes my cheeks hurt a little.

Al jabs her finger in my side "Stop that."

I shake my head "Nope."

Luann comes through the door behind us with Lyla in tow; almost everyone else has already come outside. Miles is following Lyla holding something that looks like a branch, the top of it wrapped in dark material. Jax smirks at the young prospect as the three of them reach our side; holding out a hand Miles immediately puts one in Jax's hand.

Jax pulls his lighter from his pocket and passes the 'torch' to me waiting while Lyla is handed the other one. Flicking his lighter he twitches an eyebrow at me as he lifts it to the top of the torch, igniting the top of it before leaning over and lighting the one Lyla's holding as well. When I stretch my arm towards him to hand it to him he lifts his hand and shakes his head, gesturing for me to follow Lyla.

Lyla had watched our quiet exchange while standing a step away from me and leans over to grab my hand, pulling me forwards, her voice low when she speaks so that no one else can hear "Jax wanted to do this for you."

I frown slightly, but mimic her actions, tossing the entire thing I'm holding onto the pile before backing away quiet rapidly as the pile starts burning. Sliding back under Jax's arm I curl into his side.

"Why did you do this?" I ask softly, watching the flames eat parts of Jax's history.

Jax shrugs "Cause I could, and I wanted to." Jax kisses my temple "I know I didn't need to before you say anything but it's done."

I shrug "Okay."

Jax's eyes widen fractionally "You're not going to argue?"

I shake my head laughing "Nope, not at all."

Jax lifts his hand and brushes it over my head chuckling at my glare as he asks me if I'm feeling okay.

Lifting my bottle of water out of his hand I pick at the lid for a second "I'm fine. I get why you're doing this, even though you don't need to."

Jax nods, kissing me again then lifting his head to look at the flames licking through Lyla's posters and his bed base. The heat being put out by the pile of stuff is intense, after a few minutes most of the people go back inside till it ends up with just me and Jax, Donna, Opie, Lyla, Miles, Al and Juice outside watching the flames as they symbolically incinerate Lyla's past as a porn star, opening the future to her working retail for me. I internally snort at the huge drop in money that she's bound to be looking at, but her finances aren't really my problem I remind myself, looking over at her where she's laughing at something Miles is whispering in her ear.

Jax follows my gaze and then looks down at me "You've done this all you know."

"What?" I ask, wiggling as close to him as I can, even with the warmth from the fire in a short skirt and corset the evening air is cold on my back.

"This." Jax waves his arm around "Not Caracara obviously, but the distribution was your idea, the web house was your idea, you've brought your friends to town and gave Juice his other half, you inspired Cherry and Lyla both to go after what they wanted which made the guys happy. You coming back made us whole again, it made us better than whole."

Turning in his arms I lift my empty hand to cup his cheek "You okay baby?"

Jax nods, squeezing me close to his chest and kissing the top of my head "Yeah I'm fine Darlin', I have you here, what more do I need?"

I snort and giggle running my thumb across his cheek once before turning around again and looking back into the flames.