"Love is seldom - almost never - an even proposition. Someone always loves more." - Emily Griffin
--
Amelia and Jax raced through the halls of Saint Thomas to be greeted by Clay and, sadly, Tara. "Everyone is safe," she said calmly. "Alice is perfectly fine." She said with a bright smile as if their history was all but erased from their minds. "As far as I hear, of course, since I can't treat her." There was a tinge of bitterness in her voice, even a bit of exasperation as if Amelia's feelings were not warranted, but Jax nor Amelia made an issue of it. All they wanted was to see Alice. "But I am treating Gemma, she requested that I be the one to treat her." Tara's chest puffed out with pride. "She's got a bump on the head and a few bruises but other than that she's just fine. She's down the hall if you'd like to see her."
"What about Alice? Any bumps or cuts?" Amelia asked, not truly worried about Gemma in the least.
"Like I said, I'm not treating Alice, she's on the third floor, pediatrics."
"Go," Clay nodded at Jax, "I'll tell her you're here."
Tara watched as Jax and Amelia went, hand in hand, off to see their daughter. Not long after, Juice and Chibs arrived, huddling with Clay while they waited for Gemma and understanding that Alice took priority.
Jax and Amelia hurried to the third floor to find Alice's doctor jotting something in her chart right outside her room. "Your daughter is perfect." He said with a bright smile. "She's very lucky, not even the beginnings of dehydration, they were on the side of the road for a few hours, off in a ditch," The doctor explained. "We checked her out, head, heart, everything. If they didn't tell me she was in a wreck, I wouldn't have ever thought it."
"Hours?" Amelia gasped. "Can we see her?" She asked desperately.
The doctor nodded and opened the door to Alice's room. She hadn't been admitted but with her history they brought her right out of the ER. Amelia raced in, Jax not far behind, and gently cuddled Alice, holding her close, as she cried silent, overjoyed tears.
"Thank God," Amelia whispered as she littered Alice's cheeks with kisses, her face turning into a grimace as she took a deep breath smelling Alice's hair. "She smells like smoke and antiseptic."
"We'll give her a bath when we get her home." Jax said as he pressed his lips to his daughter's forehead noticing too the strength of the smell. "I'm so sorry, Ally girl."
"You need to find out what happened."
"I will," he said firmly as he comforted not only Alice but Amelia as well. "I'll find out who," he growled.
"I want to go," Amelia said with a heavy sigh. "I want to take her far away from here, Jackson."
His jaw was tight as their blue eyes met over Alice's head. "I know, we will. I just gotta find out who this was, they're not getting away with this shit."
"Go," she sighed, "We'll get married later, when all this is settled."
"Yeah, we will." Leaving them each with a kiss, Jax charged out of the room and off to find the rest of the club members who had gathered at Saint Thomas. He sent Juice up, worried that they had no clue who would have gone after Gemma and Alice, to keep an eye and be sure nothing else happened to his girls.
"Guess you won't put her down for a few days, huh?" He asked with a goofy smirk as he entered the hospital room, Alice's car seat in hand. "They gave this to Jax so you can take her home but they said you gotta replace as soon as possible."
"Thank you," she smiled. "You on protection detail?"
"Yeah, Jax told me to keep you safe."
"I was so scared," she whispered.
Juice nodded on his way over to her and as he placed the car seat down, a clattering stole their attention away. "What the hell is this?" Crouching, Juice picked up a cheaply made souvenir Vegas poker chip.
"What is it, Juice?" She asked, terrified to know, and laid Alice back down to join him on the floor. "I'll be seeing you." Were the words scraped on the chip. "Fuck, guess we know this isn't club related?"
"You need to tell Jax," Juice said warningly. "Amelia, this psycho went after Alice and Gemma, he was close enough to put this in her damn seat."
"I know," she pushed him back and began to cry. "But I can't tell him, he'll lose his mind and I don't even know who is doing this."
"Someone in Nevada," Juice said quickly. "You think he won't leave, don't you?"
"Maybe," she shrugged. "Work will deal with this."
"Did you call em'? You know, since our research went nowhere."
"I did," she sighed. "He's had no visitors and no incoming or outgoing mail."
"So it's not him?"
"Not unless the accomplice we always assumed he had is doing it."
"And if it's the accomplice?"
"Then he's in the wind," she sighed. "We looked for this guy for almost two years, Juice." Seeing he was conflicted, Amelia grabbed his hand. "Look, the lab is investigating but with the club looking for whoever did this, his connection to Vegas doesn't matter. If they can find him, they will, right?"
"Yeah," he shrugged, "I guess."
"Besides, who's to say it's not club related and they don't want you guys in Vegas so they want to spook the club?"
"It's a stretch," he sighed.
"But possible," she glared at him. "And Jax is already taking precautions. I have my body guard here with me, right?" She nudged his shoulder before they both stood up again, the poker chip in Amelia's hand. "You're watching my back, keeping me and Alice safe."
"I'm watching more than your back," Juice smiled sweetly.
"Pretend," she scolded him although secretly she loved it. "Remember?"
"You're right." He held his hands out, palms up, and gave her an apologetic look. "Sorry."
"I'll tell you what, one more thing happens and I'll tell Jax, I'll come clean about it all, okay?"
Juice nodded, knowing he wouldn't manage to get a better deal especially when she smiled at him like that and killed what little will power he had. "Okay, it's a deal."
About to move in for a hug, Juice froze when the door swung open. "I am so sorry," Gemma said as soon as she walked into the room. "Is she okay?"
"She's fine," Amelia assured Gemma. "Please don't pick her up, she just fell asleep."
Gemma pursed her lips but nodded and stepped back from the bed. "Of course."
"Are you okay?" Amelia asked as she gave Gemma a hug.
"I'm fine, just sore."
"Thank god you're both okay," Amelia smiled. "Thank you, I'm sure you did whatever you could to protect her."
"I would never let anything happen to our sweet Alice." Gemma eyed Amelia. "I hope this didn't ruin any plans. Jax said you two were going to spend some time alone, we can try it again as soon as you're comfortable."
Amelia wanted to rub it in Gemma's face, tell her that Jax wanted to run her off to the courthouse and marry her right then and there, but she didn't, she didn't want to destroy their romantic little secret. But, Gemma already knew, Jax told her exactly what was going down in an effort to keep as many people away as possible. It wasn't what Amelia originally planned but she went along with it, hoping it would settle their relationship, at least settle it in her head.
--
Following his rule, playfully feigning hesitation and prudishness, Mae stripped down and crawled into bed with him. "How long do you think this'll last?"
"Talking?" He asked innocently. "As long as you want."
"All night long?" She smirked and she curled up beside him. "We can have a long, slow, deep conversation."
Opie grinned wickedly and kissed her. "You won't get a word outta me if you keep this shit up."
"Okay!" She laughed and moved away from him, sitting up in bed and turning toward him. "Let's talk."
Thinking it easier to start with questions, Mae interrogated him about everything she could think of.
"Wait you that young?" Mae was horrified to hear the things Opie and Jax did at the young ages of sixteen, seventeen and eighteen. "I can't imagine ever firing a gun but not as a teen! Jeez, our upbringings couldn't have been more different."
"You said your dad was locked up." He said questioningly.
She nodded. "He was but my mom didn't keep me around his criminal buddies, she shielded me from all of that." Mae thought about it, wondering how it molded her mind and her approach to her relationship with Opie. "I think that's one reason why I do what I do. It was so mysterious to me, you know? I wanted to know more, I do it to help the prisoners but I think my interest pushes me as well."
They went on, the conversation focusing on growing up in and out of the life, schooling and any hopes outside of MC life. He was purposely vague about SAMCRO, giving more details about his family growing up and Kenny and Ellie, than anything club related. He still wanted to shield her, keep her as far removed as he could, so she'd remain pure, in his eyes, and his secret oasis.
"How thrilled were you to have Kenny?" Mae asked interested in seeing a more fatherly side to Opie. "All
guys want sons don't you?"
"I guess," he shrugged. "I did, I mean shit, I never wanted a girl." He admitted slightly shamefully. "What the hell do I know about raising a daughter? Lucky, she's got Donna, I wouldn't know how to raise her alone."
"I would have though having a sister would help."
"She wasn't really girly," Opie laughed. "I mean with the club surrounding her she really didn't have a chance."
"That must have been hard for your sister, growing up with you and Piney, no real female role model or anything."
"Nah," Opie chuckled. "I think Meels' got bigger balls than I do sometimes."
Mae rolled her eyes. "Gross," she pushed him playfully. "This might be kind of forward but you said your mom just left you guys?"
"She tried to bring us but she didn't really push. We wanted to come back and she did shit to keep us." He was clearly disgusted.
"Do you wonder what it would be like if you never came back?"
"I never woulda met you cause I never woulda gotten locked up."
"Chino was worth it, then?"
He had a dreamy look in his eyes as he nodded, giving her ankle a tug signaling her to come closer. "I love you."
"I love you too," she giggled. "I'm kind of surprised that your mom didn't fight, especially for Amelia. Moms and daughters, they're supposed to have this bond, you know?"
"My mom wasn't much of a mom," Opie shrugged. "She always seemed kind of detached, especially with my sister though."
"Hmm," Mae cocked her head to the side, intrigued by that. "Did she have a rough pregnancy maybe? Had a hard time bonding?"
Opie's face screwed up as he thought about it. "I don't know; I don't actually remember her being pregnant. One day Meels' was just here."
"You must have been traumatized about not being an only child anymore or maybe it's all the weed?" She crawled back over to him. "So we discussed your childhood and prospecting, I think we should take a break."
"Yeah?" He yanked her down on top of him. "I'd like that." He pet her cheek, tucking a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, and kissed her as she moved her hips teasingly. Groaning, he pressed his palm against her back holding her tight against him.
"Excited?" She whispered as her lips moved down his neck to his chest.
Grinning devilishly, he tangled his fingers in her deep auburn hair as she wrapped her lips around him. Opie exhaled a deep breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding as her head started bobbing on her.
"Jesus, Mae," he closed his eyes. On the nightstand his burner buzzed incessantly and, clouded by the physical pleasure he felt, Opie winged the phone across the room.
"You have to stop breaking phones," she chastised. The only response she received though was his hand pushing her head back toward his crotch. "Oh, I'm sorry, were you enjoying that?"
"You joke too much," reaching down a bit he gently pinched her erect nipples. Mae yelped and giggled before he pulled her back up on top of him.
Mae smiled, her eyes so full of love, as she slowly lowered herself down to his lap, taking in his entire length. She gasped, her nails digging into his chest, while she rode him, her hips moving fluidly with his.
"Fuck," she hissed surprisingly as she moved faster on him.
"Up," he uttered, "Sit up, I wanna see you." Doing as asked, Mae straightened her back, her breasts bouncing with every roll of her hips when the roar of Harley's up the street and idling in the drive hit their ears. Feeling her start to slow, Opie gripped her waist, his fingers kneading her skin, and held her on him. "Don't," he ordered her.
She began to weaken, pleasure and exhaustion making it harder to keep her pace, so Opie guided her, his muscular arms picking up the slack. She tightened around him, her head rolling back as she orgasmed, his name leaving her lips with adoration and intense pleasure. Following her seconds later Opie climaxed with a grunt, feeling their mutual wetness dampening the sheets.
"That was amazing," she laughed as she laid flat on top of him. "I never want to stop telling you I love you."
"Ope!" Jax pounded on the door, knowing he was home as his bike and truck sat in front of the house. "Brother, we need you."
"I'm sorry." He said rolling her back onto the bed and heading to the window. "What?" He snapped.
"Gem and Alice were in an accident," Jax said sternly.
"Shit, they okay?"
Jax nodded. "Hit and run." His tone of voice proved there was much more he couldn't shout in the middle of the street. "We got church. Now."
He nodded and slammed the window shut. "I gotta go, Mae."
"Okay." She was wrapped in his sheets, a heartbroken look on her face no matter how hard she tried to hide it, and Opie hated himself for being the cause of her upset. "Is everyone okay?"
"Yeah, Jax said they're fine." He wouldn't have been annoyed, not in the slightest, if one of them was injured but the constant interruptions were beginning to grate on him.
"I'm sorry."
"Ain't your fault, it's probably ours." He shrugged as he began to redress. "I'm sorry this shit keeps happening."
"Don't be," she sat up and moved to gather her clothing when he stopped her.
"Stay here," he offered. "Sleep, eat, I don't care I just need you here when I get back." He glanced out the window again. "
Mae smiled and nodded. "I'd like that."
"I need you, Mae." He knelt on the bed. "I'm trying to be truthful and open with you. Please be here when I get back."
"I'm not going anywhere, Harry."
"They'll probably be someone out front, a prospect, until we know the whole story. So just uhh stay away from the windows.
She thought for a second and made a rash decision. "Why don't I come with you? You said you wanted to tell people, let's do it."
He did. He wanted to tell the club but that would mean losing the secret, the peace she provided, and he wasn't willing to do that.
"Not now," he kissed her cheek. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
--
When Amelia came in the living room from the nursery, her hair up in a messy ponytail on the top of her head, she saw Juice on the couch flipping the channels.
"She out?"
"Like a light."
Amelia knew Jax wouldn't be the one to bring them home and that she'd be giving Alice a bath alone. It was so obvious and common place that she didn't think twice.
"Sit down," he patted the cushion beside him. "Beer? Something harder?"
"Harder," she sighed sadly. "Whiskey with ice, please Juicy."
He nodded and went to fetch her drink and appeared again quickly. "She smell better when you put her down to sleep?"
"She did," Amelia took her drink and pecked him on the cheek as a thank you. "Like lavender and baby powder," she smiled. "You'll tell me right?"
"Tell you what?"
"What they said? When they update you on church, you'll tell me?"
Juice pulled a face. "Won't Jax?"
She shrugged. "Maybe, but he'll probably leave a few things out."
"You really don't trust him do you?"
"I do," she shook her head. "Anything he kept would be because he thought it was safer, so it's not really a lie."
"It's not a lie?" He scoffed. "Amelia, I don-" Juice clamped his mouth shut. "Never mind."
"No, say it." She sat up and put her glass on the coffee table. "Spit it out, Juan Carlos."
"It's a lie," he said coldly. "No matter his motivation, it's still a lie."
"Stop." She lowered her gaze.
Juice shook his head and sat back. "Fine." Watching her fiddle with her ring Juice's guilt grew. "What was the big surprise?"
"What?" She looked throughly confused.
"Jax made sure we all knew he wasn't reachable." He shrugged. "Figured he had some kind of surprise."
"We were going to get married." She said sadly but not even Amelia knew if she was upset over the interruption or the dark truth she was so adept at denying.
"Married?" He was shocked.
"Yeah," she shrugged. "I'm sorry, Juicy, I just, I love him."
"Don't apologize." He rolled his eyes. "That's what you do when you're engaged. You get married."
"I love him." She sputtered as she began to cry. "I love him so much."
"Why?" He wanted to be sympathetic but Juice only grew more angry when she said it and he couldn't figure why she felt so strongly. "Why do you love him? Jax is a good guy, to me, he's a good brother and VP, but honestly, he's a shitty fiancé, Amelia."
Her chin trembled as she glared at him. "You're an asshole." She spat.
"Me?" He stood up and paced the room. "I'm the asshole?"
Amelia followed him toward the mantle and slapped him across the face. "Get out."
"Amelia," he moaned sadly seeing how he had hurt her. "I'm sorry." They had spent so much time together over the last few weeks that he'd grown incredibly comfortable around her but it proved problematic when it made saying such things so easy.
"You need to leave." She stood her ground, unlike every fight she ever had with Jax, and it made her feel a fondness for Juice she never felt before. It wasn't that he strengthened her but that he somehow made her feel safe and comfortable enough to be strong.
"I love you," he whispered. "I've loved you for...ever. Since I met you."
"Stop it." She cried as she pushed him toward the door. "I can't do this."
"I get that." He moved slowly. "But I can't leave you here, alone, unprotected. I'll just sit on the steps," he pointed to the front door.
"Why couldn't I have met you first?" She sobbed, her fingers grabbing his cut and keeping him from leaving. "You're too good, Juice."
"I'm sick of hearing that." He spat bitterly.
"I love him." She said, letting him go but following him closely. "But I wish I loved you."
"Me too." When he reached for the handle she called his name quietly and, as he turned, Amelia kissed him. A current surged through them and Juice pulled her closer as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. "Are we still pretending?" He uttered breathlessly as their kiss ended.
"We have to," she sighed. "This isn't real," she said knowing it would hurt him. "You don't really love me, Juice and I'm just...upset. It'll pass."
"Yeah, I'm sure it will." He pulled his cigarettes out of his pocket and opened the door. "You should go to bed, you had a long day. If you need anything I'll be here," he pointed to the front step under the porch light.
Amelia nodded and waited until he sat, leaning against the side of the house, before she shut the door and did as he suggested. Burying her face in the pillow she sobbed so hard her body shook. She hated how unconditionally she loved Jax, she hated the way he treated her, but she wouldn't leave him. She swore she could never leave him let alone stop loving him.
--
As soon as Donna received the text, hours after Amelia had originally sent it, she raced back to Charming and directly to Opie's house. Seeing the prospect out front she shook her head knowing it was yet another dramatic club issue. And although felt relieved she was not in the middle of it she couldn't help but feel such a need for Opie being on what was once their front lawn.
"Do you mind if I just sneak in to put the kids in bed?"
Half-Sack had no idea Mae was Opie's bedroom. He had no idea of the dirty secrets and fights between the soon-to-be divorced couple. So, he nodded and let Donna in with Kenny and Ellie so she could be with Amelia despite how drastically the situation has changed since the initial text.
Donna settled the kids and walked back down the steps. She sat in the living room, looking around nostalgically, while Mae panicked silently in the bedroom.
"Oh my God," she whispered into the pillow. "What is she doing here?"
Knowing Opie no longer had his burner as it sat in pieces on the floor, she racked her brain for some other way she could contact him. He had given her Jax's number weeks before in case of an emergency but even though to her it felt emergent Mae wasn't sure if it was. When she heard Donna's feet creaking on the steps she didn't wait a second longer to text him.
"Jax, it's Maelynn, Donna is here at Opie's roaming around. I don't know what to do. Can you let him know, please?"
Jax's phone was in the cigar box outside chapel as he club discussed the accident, what exactly could be done and who could have reason to hurt their family. Clay brought the gavel down, dismissed them all with their duties and as they filed out Jax snatched up his phone.
"Oh shit," Jax looked up to see Opie at the bar with Piney talking over a quick beer. "Ope, you gotta go."
"What's up?" He was on his feet in a second.
"Donna is at your place," Jax explained. "She's looking around, Mae text me about twenty minutes ago."
"Fuck."
--
"Donna?" Opie hollered as he took the steps two at a time. "Donna what are you doing?"
She stepped out of their bedroom wearing a look of disgust. "You've been busy." She spat whipping Mae's bra at him.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Your sister text me."
He pulled a face and shook his head. "Then shouldn't you be with her? Not snooping around my bedroom?"
"Who is she?" Donna asked, suddenly heartbroken rather than enraged. "How long?"
"Couple months," he hung his head knowing he couldn't lie. "Who she is doesn't matter, Donna."
"Opie," she cried. "How did this happen? How did we become such strangers?"
"I don't want to do this." He groaned looking past her to see into the bedroom and wondering where Mae had hidden herself.
"We have six weeks, six weeks until it's official. Let's have dinner, talk, see how it feels."
"I can't do that, I don't want to do that."
Mae was crouched in the closet, wrapped in nothing but the top sheet, listening to the painful conversation. She felt for Donna but she was terrified of losing Opie, of him realizing some love for his wife that he had forgotten.
"I love you, I still do, I can...learn to accept the club."
"No you can't, if you could you woulda years ago."
She nodded and walked further from the bedroom. "Guess you're right, guess you never loved me enough to leave either."
"Guess n-" Opie was interrupted by a kiss.
Donna threw her arms around him and pressed her lips to his. Mae caught the sudden silence and panicked so much so that she peeked out the door to see them, lips locked. Her heart stopped on her chest, Opie's visceral anger couldn't help her heartbreak.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly as he pushed her away.
"Don't you do that." He growled. "This is done. I'm with someone, I love her."
"Who? That prison bitch?" She gasped.
"It's not." He growled. "But you call her that again and we're gonna have problems, Donna."
"Oh we already have problems, Opie. Just wait until Amelia hears this shit."
"You would wouldn't you? You're so miserable you'd go to her, not giving two shits what she's going through, and load her up with more drama."
"I'm not miserable."
"Jesus, you're just as bitter as Mary."
"I guess marrying a Son does that." She spat.
"You go ahead and keep blaming me for everything." He nodded. "Now get out, you can pick the kids up in the morning."
She glared at him for a long moment before storming out of the house she once called home. Opie watched her go, feeling guilty but at peace now that a much needed conversation between them had come to pass. Once he heard her peel out of the driveway he turned back and headed for the bedroom picking up Mae's bra on the way.
"Forget something?" He dangled it from his pinky as she crept out of the closet.
"Why the hell was she here?" Mae asked with exasperation. "Jesus, the first time I stay here like this and she shows up." Snatching her bra she plopped down on the bed.
"I'm sorry." He mumbled. "I'll change the locks."
"I would appreciate that."
"And I'll give you a key," he sat beside her. "Kids are still here, you're stuck in bed till they go."
"I'm not really in the mood," she dropped her head against his arm. "Could do with a cuddle though."
"That sounds good." He stood up and started to undress.
"You told her you love me but not that it is me, Ope."
"I thought you wanted to wait."
Mae shrugged. "I'm tired of hiding actually."
"Soon," he lied right to her face as he got into bed beside her. "We'll tell em' all soon."
--
Gemma and Clay sat in bed, settling in after the long and dramatic day, talking in the privacy of their bedroom. "Where are you on this?"
"We have no idea," he sighed able to let his guard down with her. "Business is fine. Me and Jax have to sit down with Alvarez, see if this is some kind of push against us expanding to Vegas."
It was a good thought but Gemma had already committed to the idea of the attacks and threats coming from the accomplice. Although, it was clear Amelia had not been honest with Jax so if necessary she could frame the Mayans but outing the lie made it more likely Jax would not marry his fiancée.
"Maybe you're looking at the wrong end." She suggested hoping to lead him in the right direction. "It may not be SAMCRO that's drawing the negative attention."
"You?" He asked with concern. "Did you get mixed in with some shit?"
"No, but maybe it's something with that red headed she devil."
"What do you have going on?"
"Nothing," she said coolly. "And that's exactly why I think it may be about Amelia."
Clay's eyes narrowed. "What did you do?"
"Nothing," she drew her head back feigning offense. "I can't believe you'd think I had something to do with this." But she did. "What did I do, Clay? Fake a hit and run?" That was exactly what she had done. "Put my granddaughter at risk?" Alice was never at risk, she was with Tara while Gemma set it all in motion and only placed in the vehicle after it had gone into the ditch, right before the paramedics were called. "How could you think that?"
"I don't," he hung his head. "But Jax is on the warpath and I know you want him to stay here. I'd hate to see something blow back on you and your good intentions."
"I do want that but I'd never do something like this."
He nodded and kissed her. "I'm sorry. I promise you, no one is going to hurt our family or this club."
Gemma nodded confidently as Clay climbed out of bed and dragged his feet toward the bathroom. She grinned, her initial plan to keep Jax away from Amelia and happy in Charming grew in her head as she now had the ability to discredit Amelia. "Just you watch me. I dare her to keep her claws in him when I'm done."