"Illusion is the first of all pleasures." - Voltaire
With everyone who currently resided in Vegas back home, it was time to get back into it, their regular lives and daily responsibilities wouldn't wait much longer. The weekend had been a mess for Amelia but Jax felt victorious after their day at Lodi Lake Park and Juice, well, he obsessed the entire weekend only to return to Vegas with little desire to speak to her. On the other side of the street, Opie sulked, missing Mae, while Mae, back in Charming, slowly but surely, bent to her father's will and gave into everything he requested.
Amelia wanted to give Juice time, she wanted to let him come to her, but they hadn't spoken in person in just shy of a week and it was killing her. Leaving work early one day she showed up at his place, after finding he was not at the clubhouse, and banged on the door.
Juice answered fairly quickly and looked at her with a blank stare. "Hi?" She said with annoyance. "You just gonna ignore me?"
Stepping aside, he waved his arm for her to enter and Amelia did, noticing he'd switched the place around since her last visit. "I didn't have much to say. I heard all about your day at the lake, wasn't interested after that."
"Nothing happened," she said defensively. "He kissed me, but nothing happened."
"That's something," Juice snapped. "I told you he wanted more than family time."
"Okay, so you were right about that, but I told him I'm seeing someone. That's good, that's something, right?"
Juice sneered. "Yeah I heard about that too. Why would you say that?"
"So he knew I was serious."
"He was so close to wrangling up the whole club to find this guy, Ope talked him out of it, thank god for that or else I'd be dead already."
"I knew he wouldn't look," she sighed. "I told Opie to make sure he didn't."
"Thanks for that," he scoffed. "You know this ain't just hard for you, Amelia. This fucking sucks for me and you don't make it easier." When she didn't say anything Juice shook his head. "I don't want to do this anymore."
"What?" She was dumbfounded. "Juan Carlos, come on."
He smiled sadly, tears in his eyes. "Fuck, Amelia, you're Jax." He said it harshly although he hated to. "Right now, you're Jax and I'm you and really, when you think about it, Jax is Tara. How can you not see that?"
"I'm not him," she shouted, horrified by the accusation. "I told you this was gonna suck at first. You said you just wanted me to be yours," she threw his words in his face. "I told you, Juice."
"Yeah, but you didn't tell me you'd kiss him and sleep in that fucking house, under the same roof as him, that is shit we talked about." Seeing her reaction that bit of information despite knowing everything else hurt even more as if there was something he didn't know about her stay.
"I was tired," she whined.
"Okay, that explains the first night," he spoke with such attitude that the words stung. "What about the rest the week?"
"I think Ally is coming down with a cold, she's a wreck." It wasn't a lie but it was far from the only reason.
"Just stop," he snapped. "I don't care about your excuses, if you didn't want to be there, you'd find a way not to be while still caring for Alice, or you know, you'd ask him to leave."
"I'm not sleeping in bed with him," she whispered, feeling mortified and guilty. "I'm in Ally's room."
"Small miracles, I guess," he shrugged. Amelia glared at him, inferring so much from the comment, and he closed his eyes, pointing to the door. "When you finally actually decide what you're doing, you let me know, till then I can't do this anymore."
"Juice," Amelia started but she really didn't know what to say.
"Go, Amelia, just leave, please."
She did as he asked, slamming the door and squealing out of the parking lot despite knowing she was wrong. Before racing out of the lot she cried, gripping the wheel with all her strength and yanking, knowing she could not do any real damage, in an attempt to ease her sorrow and self-hatred.
--
"I can afford to buy this baby his own clothing," Tara snapped when Gemma arrived at her office unexpectedly.
Gemma drew her head back. "Just because you're the crazier of the two doesn't mean I won't be a good grandma to this baby."
"I thought we'd be shunned." Tara rolled her eyes.
"Oh darlin' I didn't say anything about you," Gemma scoffed. "When are you due exactly?"
"A few months," Tara said coolly. She knew better than to give a woman like Gemma too much information, especially since the time lines wouldn't match exactly as they should have.
Gemma eyed her, eyebrows raised high, and started to smile. "That baby really my grandson?"
"Excuse me?" Tara was appalled and she showed it. "What kind of woman do you think I am?"
"The kind that would pay some Mexican to kidnap my granddaughter in some insane attempt to win my son." She took quick steps toward Tara but kept a few feet between them. "If this is some sick game, you're going to be very sorry you played it at all."
Tara swallowed hard, anxious but only until she realized the upper hand she held. "This baby is a Teller and even if he wasn't what would you do?"
"Oh sweetheart, we both know what I have on you."
"That's right." Tara nodded. "You know I paid to have Alice taken, and you've sat on that information for months." She smiled, finally feeling victorious, and shrugged as she handed Gemma the bag of clothing back. "I don't think Jax would be happy to hear about that, do you?"
"I'm his mother, you're just some whore who ruined his life." Gemma spoke confidently, head held high, but she was panicking internally.
"No, I'm the mother of his son," Tara sneered. "I'm giving him his heir to the throne."
Gemma now knew how dangerous Tara was and she knew she had to move quickly and quietly to neutralize, at the very least.
"Mmm, that's right. The newest Prince," Gemma mused.
Beaming with pride, Tara rubbed her belly. "I'm glad you seem to be coming around."
"I've always wanted a grandson," Gemma said with a smile. "I'll check in with you two soon." She gave Tara a hug, a dark expression covering her face while Tara couldn't see, and hurried out of the office.
--
When Amelia got home from Juice's Jax was there with Alice, a big smile on his face. It lessened the ache in her chest but not by much.
"Hey, babe, how are you?" He greeted her warmly but Amelia went directly to the sink. Jax watched as she loaded up the dishwasher and ignored his question. "Amelia?"
"What?" She didn't look at him, her eyes focused on the dishes he'd let pile up. "You need to take that extra five seconds and put the dishes in the washer, Jax. I don't even live here full time and I'm cleaning up after you."
"Amelia," he put Alice in her high chair and stilled Amelia's hands. "What happened? This is not about dishes."
"I'm tired," she sighed, her voice cracking. "I am so fucking tired."
"Take a nap," he offered. "I don't have to be out of here for a few hours.
"No, I'm tired, Jax. I'm exhausted." She went limp and leaned into him, crying as her fingers grasped at his shirt. "I hate this."
"Shhh," he held her and smoothed her hair hoping to comfort her. "Where's all this coming from?"
"Me and that guy, we broke up, he was pissed about you and I just, I'm tired of all the fighting." Amelia didn't think to look for a smile or smug grin in reaction to his victory but if she did, she'd see it was not as bright as she would have expected. "I'm tired of the upheaval and the drama. I don't sleep, I can hardly keep a full meal down. I want to go home. I want to go back."
Jax sighed, each word adding more guilt and sorrow on his shoulders, and listened intently until she seemed to have said her piece.
"I'm sorry he's a dick," Jax chuckled as she gave him a stern look. "What do you mean you want to go home?"
"I feel like Vegas was a mistake." She admitted reluctantly. "Ever since we got here it's been one mess after another. Our relationship is shit, I hurt this guy who I really care about, work has been a goddamn nightmare, the club is still in the middle of this Irish Italian pissing match."
"Guy better get a thicker skin," Jax joked. "You're not easy to be with, I'm not either. Can't be with just anybody."
Amelia thought about that for a minute and realized Juice was her escape just as Tara was, in a way she guessed, for Jax. Juice didn't manipulate her but he was there, providing what she needed while Tara filled Jax with love and adoration, things everyone knew he fed off of constantly. Even as those pieces clicked in her head, it made her even more confused.
"You're so right," she sniffled. "I can't even be with you."
"Meely," he tried to back peddle. "I didn't mean it like that, I just meant we're so in sync, we know each other so well, no one else could be a better fit."
"Do you really love me?" She stepped away and looked at him. "I mean really, really, love me? I tried to tell myself you don't, that you never did, it makes it easier but at the park and right now, I don't believe it. I feel it. Why can't you be this man all the time? This is the Jax I love," she gripped his shoulders.
"I love you," he said simply. "I do love you, everyone else," he pouted. "Just filler, I guess." Jax grabbed her and kissed her, his hand palming the back of her head while his rings tangled in her hair. "It's always been you, Amelia."
She closed her eyes and nodded not ready for anything more. "Can I still get that nap?"
"Of course," Jax assured her. "You can even get a shower too," he winked.
"Thanks," she said coolly. "Just wake me up before you go, please."
"I will." Jax watched as she kissed Alice's head and disappeared into the back of the house. "Maybe I should put the rest of these in the dishwasher, huh?" He asked Alice as she slapped at her tray. In silence, he loaded the washer, only starting it when he heard the shower turn off, and sat at the table sharing small bits of a banana with Alice.
"Ally, I think I should leave Mommy alone," he sighed not knowing Amelia was watching him from the hall. "Maybe we'll have Grandma stay for a bit, get our shit together."
"Don't go anywhere," she called out to him. "I don't know what I'm doing but I can't be here alone. It just makes me sad, more so than I already am."
"You want me here, not Ope or Juice, you want me?"
"I always want you," Amelia laughed. "That's what got us in this mess. You're my best friend, you were my friend before all this and you're a great friend."
"Just not a great husband?" He asked in dismay.
"Not always," she sniffled. "So please, stay."
"I'm not gonna leave you," he smiled. "Not until you want me to."
Amelia smiled and disappeared down the hall. "You could do a load of laundry too if you want," she called out before shutting the bedroom door.
Jax chuckled, rolling his eyes, and trudged into the laundry room while calling Gemma. "Hey Ma," he spoke softly as he tossed a mess of clothing into the washer. "Look, whatever you meant about getting me back to SAMCRO, just drop it. Ain't worth it, not right now. I got too much shit on my plate."
"You trying to fix things with my red-headed she devil daughter-in-law?" Gemma asked as relief flooded her system. She had too many fires to extinguish without lighting her own.
"Don't call her that," he whined. "Just, leave it." Jax's curiosity was piqued as his eyes caught a few boxes pushed under the utility sink.
"I can do that, for you." She assured him. "I just saw Tara."
"Not a name I want to hear. Keep an eye on that crazy bitch for me?"
"What do you think I was doing?" She laughed.
He sliced open the box and dove in immediately. "Alright Ma, I gotta go."
"Love you," she said with a smile in her voice.
Jax nodded, scanning some photos, before handing up and hurrying to comfort Alice as she began to fuss. "Shhh, it's okay Ally girl," he sang. Bopping her around the kitchen Jax completely forgot about the box while his daughter cried, overly tired but too upset to sleep.
--
"Are you hearing anything back?" Mae tried keep her questioning calm and innocent but she was annoyed.
"It's only been a week," he used as his excuse. "You know, that Opie seems like a solid guy."
"He is," she smiled dreamily. "And the sooner you get on your feet the sooner I can move to be with him."
"Vegas right?" Charlie asked as he nursed his beer. "I could do Vegas."
"Dad," she sighed. "I don't want you living with us in Vegas. Besides, it's Opie's house, I couldn't even say yes if I wanted to."
"Ahh, it's okay," he chuckled. "He mentioned something about TM, said they lost a few guys recently."
Mae's eyebrows furrowed as she thought about that offer. Sure, they lost the majority of their employees but each of them did very little mechanic work it didn't seem like a loss.
"Yeah," she sighed. "I don't know, you have a bad track record. I'd hate to be in the middle of that." Mae refused to look at him know his expression wouldn't be a happy one.
"I've gone straight," he said defensively. "Shit, Maelynn, I'm your father."
"Then act like it," she stomped her foot. "I'll talk to Opie, get you a shot in, but I'm going to warn Piney."
"No," Charlie planned this argument. He'd mention the offer then when she brought up his past they'd fight and she'd refuse to let him out of fear but she, surprisingly, she went the opposite way. "If you think I'd rip off your boyfriend I don't want the gig."
"I don't," she sighed. "But I gotta cover my ass, Charlie. Didn't you use that as an excuse or two?" He huffed and grumbled but didn't give her a proper response. "You'll take the job, it's a start."
A start he didn't want. "Alright," he shrugged. "I'll head over there tomorrow."
"Today," Mae said. "I'll call Piney myself."
--
Later that evening the guys gathered and headed out to their meeting with the Italians, and hopefully the Irish. This would be the second meeting they scheduled, the Irish stood them up at the first, and Jax knew it would be bad if it happened again. Purposely they had Cacuzza meet them later, to give them a jump incase the Irish bailed yet again but the time was slowly approaching.
He chewed the inside of his lip, hands crossed over his chest, while they waited. Opie eyed the entrance for any vehicles, Irish or otherwise and the others paced the area all feeling a mix of paranoia and frustration.
"Guys," Juice jogged down the path. "They're coming. Two Range Rovers, tinted windows so I don't know how many inside."
"At least they're fucking here," Chibs flicked his cigarette into the darkness.
The SUVs pulled up and two men came from each, none of them Jimmy O. "What is this shit?" Jax spat. "We're getting crushed because that pussy Jimmy O won't show his goddamn face."
"Have some respect," Jimmy said as he stepped out of the back seat of one of the Range Rovers with a smug grin.
"Respect?" Jax sneered. "That when you stand up a meeting? I called you myself to set that up, as President, and you never showed."
"I give respect where it's earned." Jimmy said, his smug smile never faltering. "President sure, but you got there by making your own charter, not earning a vote."
"Jackie," Chibs mumbled. "Rein it in."
"We're here to mediate," Opie rolled his eyes. "This ain't that."
"How's your sister?" Jimmy asked Opie with a knowing grin.
"What?" Opie and Jax both questioned Jimmy with equal suspicion and concern.
"Little Amelia, true Irish Rose with those eyes and that hair, aye?" Jimmy chuckled. "Almost hard to believe she's one your lot."
"Let's get to business, aye." Chibs interrupted. "The mind games are old, Jimmy."
Jax and Opie shared a look but got right on with business, they waited too long to let Jimmy O distract them now.
"The Italians are coming," Jax straightened his cut.
Opie checked the time. "About ten minutes probably," he grumbled.
"And why do I give a shit about those greasy scumbags?" Jimmy sneered. "He was interfering with our business, he was taught a lesson."
"He didn't learn shite," Chibs growled. "And now he's in our goddamn business."
"You don't go killin' kids," Jax spat.
Jimmy O clicked his tongue, "He was a grown man that's much different than Alice or Kerrianne. Wouldn't you say?"
With a palm on each man's chest Opie held both Chibs and Jax back. Opie glared at Jimmy, sure he knew the game and shook his head. "You know better then to go after our kids."
"Aye, I'd never hurt those two, they're practically part of the family!" He laughed for a moment, proud of himself, but quickly returned to the business at hand. "What do they want to end the tantrum?"
"I know Cacuzza wants blood," Jax said as he composed himself, "And I don't blame him. Business? You gotta ask him. He's getting his guns from Eastern Europe, shitty quality, I'd bet he wants in on the Irish pipeline but," Jax shrugged, "You're gonna have to ask him."
"And say the daygo bastards do want our hardware, where are you with that?"
"I don't really give a shit," Jax growled, spitting at Jimmy O's feet as Cacuzza and company arrived.
The Sons took a few steps back, allowing Jimmy and Cacuzza to talk but they remained close in case something broke out.
"Jax," Opie called Jax's attention and they took a few steps even further away from the others. "Those comments about my sister," he mumbled. "That seem weird to you?"
He nodded, scratching at the scruff on his chin, his eyes on Jimmy O. "Ain't the first weird shit someone's said about her." His eyes scrunched as he thought back, little minute gestures and awkward silences adding to the intrigue.
"Didn't someone say some shit about if Alice was a boy?" Opie was struggling to remember the exact words or even just the context but it escaped him.
"Yeah," Jax looked horrified. "When she was taken, I remember that. Who the fuck said that?"
"I got no clue," Opie whined. "Brother," it was the first time he had called Jax that in months, "Something ain't right."
Jax nodded and caught sight of Cacuzza and Jimmy about to come to blows. "Alright," he bellowed. "What's it gonna take to end this shit?"
"I want the fucking mick who killed my son," Cacuzza growled.
"I have no problem with that," Jimmy chuckled. "Shite almost got himself locked up, we'd don't need that kind of incompetence."
"Then what's the problem?" Jax looked at Cacuzza, his face reading annoyed and even more so bewildered.
"Irish guns," he said quickly. "I want in."
"You can't sell to any of our buyers," Jax snapped. "You can't renegotiate deals or undercut our prices."
"I'm protecting you, Jackson," Jimmy said. "You two need your terms before I agree."
"I don't need to sell," Cacuzza relented. "I'll be happy with personal stock and a few minor deals here and there."
"I'm good with that." Jax nodded at Jimmy.
"We'll go through the Sons," Jimmy said smugly. "Small fee for our biker boys as middle men, just until I know we can trust our new friends."
Opie looked hesitant and as VP he felt it was imperative he let Jax know of his reservations. "That's a lot of risk on us," he whispered.
"Do we trust him enough?" Jax asked, his eyes darting to Cacuzza for a split second.
"Well," Opie looked the Italians up and down. "We did before his kid got shot and we lost our fucking entire stock."
"Boys," Chibs interjected himself. "What's the problem?"
"Cacuzza's loyalty," Jax sighed. This was his first big deal as President, after a long tumultuous arbitration, and he felt the importance, the precedent he was about to set.
"I do have a flight to catch," Jimmy said mockingly.
Jax nodded. "Alright, ten percent?" He looked to his Vice President and Sergeant at Arms for approval, both men nodded. "It's a deal," he offered Cacuzza his hand. "Ten precent at delivery, you handle the prick that killed your son we're out of that."
Cacuzza nodded. "It's been good doing business with you."
--
Mae pulled into TM anxiously, never having spent much time there at all let alone without Opie, and headed directly up to the office. Piney was sitting at the desk, sniffing a cigarette longingly, distracted as Mae poked her head in.
"Hi," she spoke timidly. "Did Opie talk to you?"
Clearing his throat, Piney stood and greeted her, nodding as he gestured for her to sit. "He told me about your old man this morning."
"I know we don't really know each other at all," she said as she sat. "I mean we've hardly met, but I really appreciate this."
"It's no problem, really," Piney grunted. "After what you did for my grandchildren and the way up support my boy, it's the least I can do."
She smiled at that, a slight flush warming her cheeks, and started the speech she had practiced on the way over. "I'm not sure if you guys really need help," she sighed. "I know you lost a lot of guys but Opie kind of made it seem most Sons really didn't do much mechanic work."
"They didn't but ya lose six half assed employees you're gonna need at least two or three whole ass replacements." Piney chuckled and coughed and Mae found herself relaxing in his presence as she laughed right along with him.
"Well, my dad hasn't always been a whole ass, or actually he has, that's why I wanted to talk to you."
"Opie said he was a good guy from what he knew."
Mae shook her head. "He's a good guy when you're hanging out with him." She sighed, hating to speak ill of Charlie but knowing she really had to warn Piney. "He has a history of...less than stellar behavior and I'm worried it'll have an impact here."
"You don't trust your father?" Piney asked flatly not wanting to dance around any facts.
"I do, to an extent, but he has a history that keeps repeating itself." Mae explained. "I want him to get a job and his own place so hopefully we can have some semblance of a normal relationship. I really want that, it's something I've wanted my whole life but it would be irresponsible and disrespectful of me not to tell you he's been fired for a bunch of reasons."
Piney softened toward the idea as she talked about her father, how badly she wanted a relationship with him, but he knew it was a risk.
"I'll bring him on," he said, "But I'll keep an eye myself. Our little secret."
"Really?" Mae was touched by the generosity. "Thank you so much, this means so much."
Piney chuckled and waved off her. "Don't mention it, you're my boy's old lady, you're family."
The words brought tears to her eyes. Mae was just as family oriented as Opie but she never truly had a family and that only made Piney's words that much more powerful.
"If there's any problems please let me know," she stood. "I would love to be the one to kick his ass if he screws you guys or anything."
Piney looked at Mae for a second, his eyes cutting as he read her, judgmental and harsh, before speaking again. "You love my son, don't you?"
Mae blushed and nodded, speaking emphatically. "I love Opie very, very much."
"Good," he smiled and walked her out to her car. "Have him come by tomorrow morning."
"Thank you," Mae hugged Piney. "I'll talk to you soon."
--
Hey! Thanks for all the support guys! And of course the votes/comments/follows too! Please keep it coming! I'm taking a poll everyone, please message or comment with who you believe Amelia should be with! It seems pretty split but I'm interested in the final tally!
Thanks again! You guys rock.