Chapter 45: Out

Opie POV

Today was the day. The guys were finally coming home. And not only that Bells and I were getting married today. I couldn't be happier even if I tried. I stood there with the others outside of Stockton while we waited for the guys to come out. When we heard the gate we all took a couple steps forward. I approached Jax. "It's good to see you on this side, brother." I said.

"Shit, good to be here man." Jax said. He hugged me. "Big day for both of us, huh?"

"Wouldn't do it without ya." I told him, and it was true. When Bells and I had gotten engaged she'd made me promise that we wouldn't get married until they came home.

"We missed you lunatics." Chibs said as he approached Juice.

"I knew you'd vote in when I was gone, you pussy." Tig said to Kozik. Seemed like things were better between them…for now anyway.

"Thank you Stockton. It's been a real pleasure. Let's get the hell outta here!" Clay said as everyone climbed on their bikes.

We headed back towards Charming, however we were stopped on main street by the new sheriff. "Well, now, if you're the welcoming committee, I was kinda hoping for flowers, maybe a bundt cake." Clay said.

"I'm sorry. No cake." Roosevelt said.

"What the hell is this, man?" Jax asked.

"Just a friendly heads up. Charming is now under the jurisdiction of the San Joaquin Sheriff's Department." Roosevelt said.

"I'm guessing that's you." Clay said.

"Lieutenant Roosevelt. Charming-Morada substation is my command." He said.

"Well, you got to show everyone how big your stick is, Teddy. Can we go now?" Jax said.

"The conditions of your release state that no gang colors or identifying clothing may be worn in public." Roosevelt said.

"We're not a gang, we're a motorcycle club." Clay added.

"Well, the federal government disagrees. So the next time I see any one of you who got out today wearing kuttes, well, they'll belong to me. We clear? Welcome home, gentlemen." Roosevelt said.

Third Person

The girls and Piney were all waiting outside the clubhouse for the guys. Tara was swaying back and forth with Thomas. Abel was sitting at a picnic table coloring, while Gemma was standing off to the side with Bella and Lyla.

"Hey." Piney said getting Tara's attention. "History's dead, sweetheart. It's gotta stay that way, huh?" He said before he walked away.

"You okay?" Gemma asked Bella.

She nodded. "Yeah, just nervous." Bella said as they approached Tara. "It's a big day."

"Mhmm. It is." She put her hand on Tara's shoulder. "I'm proud of you. Ain't easy when they're inside. You did great." Gemma told Tara.

"I couldn't have done it without you." Tara told her.

Gemma shook her head. "Wasn't just me. It was the whole club, especially Bells and Lyla." Gemma said.

"Yeah, that's true." Tara said.

"I love you." Gemma said. "I love all of you."

"Me, too." Tara said.

They all turned as they heard the bikes approach and pull into the lot. Gemma turned to Abel, who was still coloring. "Daddy's home." She said.

The four women turned to look at all the guys as they climbed off the bikes. Gemma greeted Clay and Jax and shoved something into Jax's hand discreetly.

Bella POV

I saw my dad and ran over to him. I quickly threw my arms around his neck as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a hug. "I'm so happy your home." I said to my dad.

"Me too Bells. I missed you so much." Dad said to me. "You ready for tonight?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. Are you?" I asked him.

He shrugged. "I'll get through it." He said. Everyone stood there greeting each other until Clay announced for them to meet in the Chapel.

When the guys headed into the clubhouse I told Gemma that I was heading home.

Clay POV

Chibs passed out envelopes. "Your combat pay, gentlemen." Chibs said.

"I knew that two years of community college would pay off." Bobby said.

"Even at a small percentage the new guns are pretty sweet." Opie said. "Mayans, Italians, Niners, everybody loves 'em. The small percentages are over."

"Piney, Ope… Chibs, Kozik. You did an outstanding job holding us together, making this new business work." I told them.

"You did all the hard work, brother. We just grunted out the day to day." Ope said.

"Well, you got my deepest appreciation." I said.

"Absolutely." Jax said.

Everyone agreed. "So, you know anything new with our mayor's little McMansion utopia?" I asked.

"Rich yuppies are fleeing Stockton. The city's a war zone. We're hearing that Hale's got a shitload of presales and just needs a few more investors before he starts swinging hammers." Opie said.

"This, um, Oswald Construction bid, what is that? Is that some sort of consolation prize from Hale?" I asked.

"And when Hale pushed that 99 on-ramp through the city council, all that timberland went eminent domain, and Elliot, you know lost millions. So Hale, he's letting him make it up with lumber and labor." Piney said.

"Yeah, Charming's pretty much embraced it, Clay." Kozik added. "I mean, it'll provide construction jobs, doubles the output at the mill…"

"Short term." I said, interrupting him. "Hale's building homes in this town that no one in this town can afford. Anybody else see a problem with that? I mean, Jacob Hale's been laying this track for more than five years now. City councils, zoning committees, getting rid of Charming PD. No. We're not gonna let this happen." I said.

"The black and proud Sheriff Roosevelt. Who the hell is he?" Jax asked.

Chibs leaned back in his chair. "We don't know much. He's out of a gangland task force from Oakland. He's been working ten months. He's let us know he's here, but this is the first time he's whipped his dick out." Chibs said.

"Yeah, he's been pretty low-key." Kozik said.

"Bells has talked to him a time or two. Nothing major." Ope added.

"Yeah, not anymore." Tig said.

"Yeah, I guess today was about letting us know it ain't gonna be business as usual." Jax said.

"Yeah. We're gonna have to dig pretty deep into this guy." I said.

Piney shook his head. "You're not gonna get this sheriff on your payroll. This boy's a straight up cop." Piney said.

"All right. The meet is set with Putlova. The Jellybean Lounge." Chibs said.

"What is it with Russians and strippers?" Jax asked.

"They ain't strippers. You been to the Jellybean? It's horse meat in a g-string." Ope said.

"I love the Jellybean." Tig said. I rolled my eyes. Dude was a freak at heart.

"Of course you do." Juice said.

"I love it too." Hap said with a big ass grin on his face.

"And the freak circle is complete." Juice added causing everyone to laugh.

Jax cleared his throat. "Ope… everything set?" Jax asked.

"Yeah. The Wahewa's are gonna let us use the southwest reservation. You exit off at mile marker 18. Be there at 6:00. And I know how much money is in those envelopes, so those wedding gifts better not be bullshit." Ope said.

"All right. We all got our marching orders." I said. Everyone started to get up. "It's a very big day. So let's get it done." I said.

Tara POV

I couldn't help but notice that Bells had left the clubhouse as quickly as she could. I was hoping that it was just her nerves about today. I made a mental note to check on her in a little while. I had just put the boys down for their nap and walked out of Abel's room when I saw Jax standing at the end of the hallway. I walked towards Jax. "The boys are napping." I said. Jax smiled at me and leaned forward like he was gonna kiss me but then he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder and heading towards our room. "Jax stop!" I squealed.

He put me back on the floor and I couldn't help but laugh. He cupped my face with both of his hands. "I missed you so much." He said.

I looked into his eyes and I could see the love he had for me. "Love me." I said.

"I think we should talk about some things, Jax." I said, laying with my head on his shoulder.

"Yeah, we should talk about all the chick shit you decked out my house in." Jax said and slapped his stomach.

We both laughed. "I'm sorry, Maxim posters and Harley mirrors aren't really my style." I told him. "I want to talk about the boys, Jax. About what we're gonna do."

I heard Thomas start crying through the baby monitor. "Sounds like someone else wants a shot at those puppies." Jax said. I couldn't help but laugh. I loved him but he was a complete pervert. "I'll get him." Jax said getting up.

Bella POV

I stuck my head out of the bathroom door and saw that Ope was standing by the bed packing a bag so that he could head over to Jax's to get ready. "Hey, you're supposed to be gone by now. It's bad luck to see the bride." I told him.

"Just getting my stuff. Figured I'd wear my clean socks on the big day." Ope said, folding his shirt and stuffing it into the bag.

I walked out of the bathroom and leaned against the dresser. "Wow, I'm honored." I said.

He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at me. "You sure you want to do this?" He asked me.

"It's kinda late to back out now." I told him.

He reached his hand out to me, I took it and he pulled me to him. "It's never too late to run." He said.

"I'm not running. I'm not going away. Like it or not… I'm apart of this family. If we could get through The Volturi…my ex… your ex-wife… and everything else… we can do this." I said.

"I like it." He said looking up at me. "And one way or another we will add to it." He told me.

I could feel the tears. "You promise?" I asked.

"I promise." He said pulling me to sit on his lap and kiss me.

Roosevelt POV

I'd had deputies following SAMCRO all day. One of them had called me out to the edge of the Wahewa Reservation. "They all here?" I asked climbing out of my car.

He nodded. "Yep. It's a who's who of bad guys." He said. "Niners, Mayans, Russians."

"Love is in the air. Keep your eye on that party, make sure it doesn't leave the reservation." I said and he nodded.

Bella POV

Dad and I were standing just outside the entrance to the ceremony. Nobody could see us. Suddenly, I felt more nervous than I had when I'd woken up this morning. "You okay, pumpkin?" Dad asked me. The only thing that I could do was nod. For some reason I couldn't find my words. I guess that he could see my anxiety. He grabbed my shoulders and turned me to look at him. "You sure about this? Cause if you're not, I can get you out of here."

I looked at my dad. I could see a mixture of emotions. "Do you not want me to do this, Dad?" I asked him.

"Pumpkin, I just want you to be happy. If Opie makes you happy then I'll happily support you and walk you down this aisle. But… if for some reasons you are having doubts, it's okay. You don't have to get married today." He told me.

I nodded. "I know. I just don't like being the center of attention. You know that." I told him. "Opie makes me really happy Dad and I love him and the kids." Dad nodded, right as the wedding march began to play.

"It's time then." He said holding out his arm for me.

As Dad and I made our way down the aisle, I heard the cheers coming from our audience. When we got to the alter, Ope held his hand out for me. Dad kissed my cheek and I took Ope's hand, handing Tara my bouquet. "Brothers and sisters, we come together under the all-seeing eye of nature to witness the blessed joining of Opie and Bella. I'd like to share with you a blessing." The Chief said.

"Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other.

Now you will feel no cold, for you will always be warmth for each other.

Now you will feel no loneliness, for you will always be each other's companion.

Now you are two persons, with only one life before you.

May beauty and peace surround you both in your journey ahead and through all the years to come." He said.

Opie turned to Jax. "You got the… got the rings?" He asked.

"What?" Jax asked, causing all of us to laugh before he handed Ope the rings.

He handed them to the Chief before the Chief handed me Opie's ring. I slipped it on his finger. "With this ring, I vow my love. I promise to always be a faithful and loving wife…and old lady." I said.

Ope slipped my ring on. "With this ring, I vow my love. And I promise always to cherish and protect you." Ope said.

"And?" Jax said from behind Ope.

Ope rolled his eyes. I looked at him confused. "And… treat you as good as my leather and…"

"Ride you as much as my Harley" All the guys chanted.

We all broke out in laughter and cheers. "By the power vested in me by the laws of the Wahewa and the State of California, I pronounce you husband and wife." He said. We both looked at him. "Have at it."

Ope grabbed my hand, pulling me to him and crashing his lips to mine.

Our reception had been beautiful. Everyone that had helped had definitely made it beautiful. I knew that things weren't always going to be perfect but what I did know was that as long as Ope and I were together that we could get through anything.