SOA: Please come back

Radio silence....Mary looked at her phone, her fingers ready to tap on the keyboard to write a text to Maya. She pinched her lips together and put the phone against her chest. No... Not now. She couldn't write to Maya at the time. What if she didn't make it? What if she couldn't text her back because she was dead? She clenched her jaw and shook her head. No! Maya couldn't be dead! She couldn't be losing yet another family member. She couldn't cry, not now.. not until she was sure about what was happening. When Nakota texted her to tell her that Maya wasn't home because their cats had not been fed for a while, her heart sank. Maya was not negligent. She wouldn't have left their cats unattended. She wouldn't have stood Nakota up and certainly wouldn't have remained silent. They picked her outfit for the concert together, with Maya on a FaceTime conversation with her best friend. Mary remembered her girl waltzing around the room, trying on outfits she presented to her friend for her honest opinion. They picked the outfit together! They said "I love you" before Maya promised to text her when she arrived at the concert and to tell her about Nakota's reaction to seeing her. She honored the first part of her promise and then radio silence. 

Radio silence.... Perhaps she had forgotten? Mary tried not to make a big deal out of it at first because Maya was cautious and could protect herself well. So she simply worked. She tattooed her clients, took care of her dog Anubis, and enjoyed her solitude. All was well, right? Except it wasn't. Nakota texted her and her world crumbled. Anxiety took over as Mary was thinking about the worst. Anxiety took over because she knew that something had happened to her best friend. Maya had managed to escape SAMCRO. She wasn't a gangster princess anymore and she put this part of her life behind her.  She started a new life with Nakota, away from the turmoil and danger the life of a gang member could bring. So why? How? What happened to her between the moment she went to the concert and her disappearance? Mary held back a sob at the memory of her older brother Cody who fell victim to another gang. She had flashbacks of his body lying on the concrete,  riddled with bullets and soaked with his own blood. He played such a dangerous game and died because of it. Maya was out of that life, she couldn't meet the same fate, now could she? 

Radio silence... Soon after Nakota's text, he called her and they started to talk about what to do. Mary was ready to do anything in her power to find her sister. She needed to do something in order to keep her sanity because if she didn't, then she would have curmbled on the floor. Maya couldn't be hurt. She couldn't be hurt! She shouldn't be! After all she's been through, Mary wanted her best friend to finally enjoy a good life. She was her biggest support when Nakota entered her life, and she was the biggest supporter of them moving out of Charming. She needed to leave that cursed town to finally  start anew. She needed to leave to build her family, to make the life she wanted for herself a reality. Mary understood it and while the first couple months away from her friend were difficult, she got used to it. Maya was happy and it was all that mattered to Mary.  All was well... All was well until she received Nakota's text.  He told her what he knew, as he knew it. Maya had been abducted by her ex. Nakota had to go to her location and face that bastard. He was the one who held Maya's fate in his hands and that left Mary a nervous wreck, back at Charming. 

"I'm so useless... I can't help you from where I am. I don't even know if you're okay. What if Nakota dies? What if you... What if... It can't happen. It can't be. You can't be...oh Maya! Maya... If you die I would join you." She said, choking on her tongue as she bit back a sob. She couldn't imagine a world where her best friend wasn't alive. What could she do? How much more could she take?

Maya... She saved Mary's life. Plain and simple. When they met Mary was about to give up on everything. She was still an active alcoholic, nursing her broken heart with booze, crying herself to sleep at night. Her brother was dead, her parents were long gone and she was running away from an abusive ex who beat her self-esteem and drive down to a pulp.  Her shop was routinely vandalized and she didn't make a lot of money. Why did she keep on trying? When she met Maya, she took it upon herself to help the woman and stitch her up. It seemed like nothing but it was the first step towards a better life. Sobriety. Friendship. A future... A purpose. Maya became her sister, someone Mary would fiercely protect. Someone Mary would always support in whatever she wanted to do. Family...Mary couldn't lose her family again. She had to hear from Maya, maybe it was stupid, but she had to. She took a deep breath and started to type a text. 

"Hey, My favourite. I don't know in what fucked up state you're in but you better text me back and tell me that you're okay. I don't know what to do with myself and I've already ran out of theories about how you'll be back home.  I'm.. I love you. Please come home."

And she hit sent. 

And she still felt awful.

Jax x asma (soa) : the kids are alright

The kids Are alright. Or so she told herself. How could she proceed with life if she didn't tell herself a little white lie? Months went by since Jessica left Charming and Mayhem shook the town and the other nearby ones. Months went by since Jax was in prison and a visit here and there allowed for the pink hair to keep tabs on him. /he/ was the only one she was sure of his whereabouts. She knew where he was at least... she could visit him. When she could.

For a couple months, Jax was at med bay.  His future was not certain. He could have died because so many people wanted him dead... starting with the CO. The director of the prison or even the nurses. Some did hate Teller Son because his gang... his dad's gang hurt people they knew, cared for, loved even. Others hated him because they perceived him as vermin, as someone who had it easy, an outcast who didn't deserve to live. Others were scared of him. They knew how savage he was when angry, how vindictive as well.... they had reasons to believe he would come after them should he survive prison. 

The kids are alright. But were they? Abel and Thomas were used to not having their dad for a while but Ava wasn't and because she was smart she realized the truth and felt betrayed. Her smiles weren't the same anymore. Her eyes had lost her precious innocence. She saw the reality of her dad's life and had frequent nightmares about him being killed. Her mother wasn't around so she was quickly thinking of the worst. What if mom was like dad? What if she lied too? Asma wanted to be honest with the little girl but it wasn't her place, to tell the truth to her niece. And it was excruciatingly painful to keep the truth from this angel.

 But the truth? What was the truth? Asma knew "a" truth. What Jessica used to do before. She had no clues about today. Was she a mercenary? Was she something else? Something more? She was in the dark and it made her uncomfortable. She needed answers. The pink-haired inker knew she would never get them from Opie, Jax or even Jessica. She was too scared to ask the devil... Asma knew she would never know and frustration crossed her face and twisted it, much to Jax dismay. 

"How are the kids?" -he asked again while she tapped her fingers on the heavy black wooden table-

"The kids are alright. They are all waiting for your return and Jessica's" -her voice died at the back of her throat-

"Asma?..." 

"Blondie.... how---how are you holding up?"  -She tucked some hair behind her ear and flashed a crooked smile.- "do you get your muscles back? You were awfully slim last time I saw you." 

"I'm good. Tell Jess I'm getting my good looks back. She'll faint when she sees me."  -always the cocky smile. His trademark.-

"Good. I will..." she looked down and tucked some air behind her ear again. "Jax...." words escaped her mouth faster than she Intended to. "Nevermind...." she tweaked her brows and sighed deeply. 

"Spit it out Azz... what's wrong?" Jax tried to keep his strong face. He knew damn well what was wrong. He was locked up, away from his family and unable to help. His main concern was about survival and that was it. Make sure he would wake up and sleep safely at night. He knew the whole situation was taking its toll on the pink head but there was nothing more he could do but make her talk. 

"I'm okay. I'll soldier on." She rubbed her neck and closed her eyes. "I just.... really miss you guys that's all." 

"I know." Jax wanted to cover her hand with his or hold onto her shoulder. He wanted to say that she would be alright and he would be alright but the truth was... he had no idea. The prison was a jungle and parkour he had to do every morning. "I miss home too." He said, his blue eyes filled themselves with unshed tears. 

"A fresh bed would wait for you and Jess. I'll make sure of that." She nodded and ran her hand through her pink locks. " and the kids..... and me. I'll be waiting for you." 

"I know." He gave her his infamous smirk and gently leaned into his chair. "The wait is long. But I will be home. I promise you that." She tilted her head and leaned her cheek against her palm. 

"I know...I know. And you will do your best." 

She repeated and closed her eyes, a soft smile crept on her lips and she looked up to him. Visits were always difficult but this time things were different. This time she was truly hopeful. 

SOA: You made me cry

SoA! : You made me cry.

// <3 <3 somehow found myself thinking of you. <3 love you 

:)

The carnival was a success, truly it was. Everyone was enjoying each other, everyone was living their life as if nothing had just happened. Nothing happened?... nothing happened? That was a pure line of bullshit. Everything happened! Not so long ago, Jessica had been missing. Nobody knew where she went, nobody knew if she was alive. Everyone tried to keep it together, pretend everything was alright. Opie lied to Asma's face several times, sometimes he even added a smirk just so she would calm herself down. She understood why they did it, but her guts were telling her otherwise. Her eyes were telling her otherwise. Jax was.

For weeks she watched the King of Samcro decompose himself. He was driven mad with anguish and fear for his wife. Was she even alive? would she come back unharmed? Last time she had gone away was when a sick fuck kidnapped her. He still remembered the days spent at the hospital, walking in a circle, praying she would wake up, hoping he wouldn't have to tell his sons that their mom, this new woman they had welcomed into their young lives was dead. Asma vividly remembered those days, for she forced herself to go to the ether-smelling, dreadful place the hospital was. Akin to another dimension, she felt time goes slowly, excruciating minutes spent in vain, each of these filled with hope and fear of seeing a doctor or a nurse come and bring bad news. She still remembered how livid and unhinged Jax was back then. How he was when Jessica was missing.

And here he was, pretending that nothing had happened. Here he was, pretending he wasn't affected by his wife's disappearance and suddenly come back. Did it matter? it had to matter at some point. Asma knew it couldn't just go away because they ate candy and rode cartwheels. but fuck it was needed. Today, of all days, was a well deserved nice day and they had earned their joy, their smiles, their happy sighs and kisses. Asma's stomach was still tight, heavy as if she had a brick inside of it. Each and every time she saw the King walk past her and Alex, she remembered how he felt when Jessica was outside. He was nothing but a shell of a man. She could still hear his footsteps as he walked in a circle, the sound of his fists hitting the walls, the sound of his screams after he heard from Brad or got a brief call from Jessica. She remembered his face, pale as the moon, his eyes injected with blood, his fists red from the punches he gave earlier. She remembered her own fears.

Her relationship with the king was a nice one. When Jessica was around and he wasn't worried, Jax was charming. He was teasing Asma and Tig, he was really fun to be around. Because Tig opposed filling-in Asma about the club's activity, and Jax wouldn't anyway, Jax never truly explained what he was doing, they kept it civil, light-hearted, innocent almost. The only moment things became a little heavier was when Asma wrongfully texted him instead of Jessica, a year or so ago when she drank on the anniversary of her sobriety. it brought them closer, they truly became friends on that night so she always expected things to go a certain way. At least, with Jax. But when Jessica went missing, he wasn't pleasant at all. He tried his best to keep his tone even, to tone down his anger and his fear but he couldn't. He was transparent and she read him loud and clear. she knew something was up which made his refusal to talk about Jessica's case even worse.

He made Asma cry. That's what Jax did. He was the very first reason she picked up something was wrong. Jessica not texting back happened, she knew that, but to have Jax this worried about his wife told everything Asma needed to know without Jax saying a word. And because he remained silent, she was upset with him. How could he do that to her? how could he leave her in the dark? how could he make her cry like that? She wanted to be mad, and she somehow was. She somehow wanted Jax and her to sit and talk about what happened but decided against it. If anything, Jax was blindsided here. If anything, Jessica had to do the explaining. If anything, she should... oh fuck.. no..let it rest, Asma, let it go. She rubbed her belly, as anguish overwhelmed her guts but was distracted when Tig wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pressed his lips to hers. Now wasn't the time to be angry. now wasn't the time to be upset. now was just the time to rejoice and celebrate.

Now...

soa: Keep an eye on him for me.

(Soa): Keep an eye on him for me.

"Keep an eye on him for me", Jessica told me before she left. I told her I would, it was an easy task after all. I would look after him the way I looked after the kids. At least, I thought it would unfold like this. It wasn't the first time she went on a job or the first time I had to babysit the kids and ensure her man was doing fine. Jax usually handled her absence pretty well, so I expected things to go smoothly as usual. I didn't know what was going on, I didn't pick up that something was wrong. Maybe it was in the way she said it, maybe it was in the way we said goodbye. On a lie...

She texted me hours after she left Charming and I didn't think twice about it because that meant she was okay. We exchanged texts up until she stopped texting me back. I didn't mind at first until days turned into weeks and weeks turned into a month. She wasn't home, she didn't give updates, she didn't text back and I knew in my bones that something was wrong. I already knew it, when I spent the week at her place after mom died, that she was hiding something. I didn't need to wait too long to confirm my intuition was right.

If it wasn't for the kids and the way they were crying after their mother more than usual, I wouldn't have known. I would have assumed it was business as usual, she was out like she always did. Abel and Thomas knew when their mothers went on a "trip" because she always said goodbye to them. They would complain of course, but they knew she'd come back because she said so. This time, they seemed lost and confused... and afraid. It was a pretty big dead giveaway. The biggest, however, was Jax. Asma didn't need to look too hard into it to know that something was fucked up. Jax was unhinged, under pressure, he didn't sleep. His eyes were puffed out, red veins betrayed his anxiety. His beard was scruffier than usual, some would say, unkept. He was angry. The King of Charming had always had a temper, he was known for that, but this anger had a different flavor: He was worried.

He was upset, he felt betrayed and confused just like his kids. He walked in circles in his office and I could see how sensitive he was to anything happening around. He never yelled at me or threatened me, but he was exhausted and colder than usual. That was how I could tell. Then I heard stories of some fisticuffs happening here and there, and I heard his voice raised hell to whoever he was talking to. Even Tig wasn't his usual self. Something happened and they were in the dark, I was in the dark. "Keep an eye on him for me," Jessica said and suddenly I realized that the tone was different. It carried sadness and guilt, it carried something uncertain about tomorrow, it felt like a definite goodbye. I couldn't panic. I would panic if I allowed herself to, but I had some responsibility. I had Jax and the kids and eventually Tig's well-being to ensure, protect, preserve and so far, I was doing a lousy job. At least with Jax.

"Hey...Jax.." I tried to say, one night I was staying home with the kids. "I trust she will come back," I said, in the most determined and confident tone I could have. I had to trust Jessica will come back, because if she didn't...If she didn't...

SoA: Blondie Birthday present

Asma couldn't keep her excitement for herself. Today was the president's birthday. While she was completely out of the loop regarding the true activities of SAMCRO -by her own request-, she still knew a little bit of the hierarchy and how to address Jax. Well, she called him Jax, or Blondie but only President when shit went down or she freaked out. For her, he was Jax, Jessica's husband, more than meets-the-eye gangster boss. He was good to her and maybe on that very day when he entered her parlor to order a tattoo for Jessica and himself, something connected between the two of them. She liked to think of it like that. He was the one responsible for the hurricane Jessica was in her life by requesting a tattoo for Jessica.

Today was Blondie's birthday and Asma was eager to give him in person the gifts she found him. She took the opportunity of a flea market, taking place a few weeks before Jax' birthday and decided to look for the most vintage present she could find. It took a while, a massive argument with one of the sellers there who didn't like the way her hair was dyed -you know those old hags who have an opinion about anything and anyone- and of course a near-fight breaking between the son of that old hag and Asma was all it took for a gentleman to notice her. He stopped the fight, invited her to his booth and told her stories about his son who used to be in the gangs while she took a look at his items. He sounded proud of his boy, to the point that he once he noticed that Asma wasn't bothered by his rambling, he showed her his most treasured box: His son's rings. He didn't put all of them because he wanted to keep those his son treasured the most with him, but the collection was beautiful.

There it was. A beautiful couple of rings, Asma absolutely fell in love with. The first one was a small ring with a beautiful lady Aries sculpted on the front. When Asma asked, the man said it belonged to his son's wife, Darlene, who gave it back when she decided to move from Charming after his son's death. It was a ring that could please Jessica so Asma chose it. The second one also had horns but the face that carried them was a vampire skull, which made the pink haired tattoo artist smirk. It would fit Blondie like a glove since he was somehow a vampire. He had good looks, he was mesmerizing and people were drawn to him like virgins to Draculas. He was draining too, emotionally speaking and you had to be strong in order to handle the King. He was made of the same stuff legends were and it was draining. There was no other word to describe it. You had to be strong, like Jessica and Lady Aries was. You had to have what it took to handle Jax, to provide for him, to care for him. You had to have what it took to survive by his side. The ring pleased Asma who chose it too. When it was time to pay, he said he knew she was the new inker of the block and instead of money, he wanted a tattoo. When asked what the old man wanted, he said he wanted his son inked on his chest, near his heart. He was in too much pain to have the last picture of his boy inked on his skin but now that time went by and he heard of Asma's skills, he wanted to honor his boy. She agreed and came back home.

She found a nice box and a nice red bow to wrap it around and headed to Jax place -like she always did when she visited Jessica or when she took turns watching after the kids-. She cleared her throat and put the present and card on the counter, near the fridge. -most likely, the place he'd check first when he would come home, to fetch himself a beer or something-. On the card it said :

« For Blondie's special day I decided to give him a double present. There is one for him and one for my queen because that's how I met the two of you. Together. Your special day is hers and her special day is yours, forever entangled. I can only wish you'd come back home in one piece, alive and happy. I can only wish you'd live long enough to see your kids grow into adults, live extraordinary lives like the extraordinary people they are and will be. I wish you get to be happy cause that's what you deserve. Enough sappy shit, Happy Birthday, blondie!

PS: This means, you'll always get double presents, in case I wasn't clear !! Ah!

With Love,

Asma. »

SoA: You gave me hope Jax-Asma

//All usual disclaimers

"Jax...Do you have a minute?"

He didn't have a minute. In all honesty, how could he have a minute when his head was busy with the club's most recent business? Asma was mostly his wife's friend. She would spend more time with her than she did Jax until he needed to fix a tattoo or stopped by to check on the woman because his wife requested it. They had their moments... they even shared a secret that lasted until Asma told Jessica that she did relapse one night and ruined her one year anniversary of being sober. That she sent a text to Jax instead of Jess and he picked her up and took her to his place. They bonded that night.

He noticed what was happening between Tig and her and given how relaxed Jessica seemed to be about these two lovebirds getting close to one another, Jax didn't think too much of that. Asma proved to know how to keep her tongue in her mouth. She kept herself far away from the club's business and he respected that. Asma didn't want to know what they were doing. She didn't want to take part of it but that didn't prevent her from caring about the members of the club. That didn't mean she couldn't be a friend of his family, spend time with them, get close to them. He let her, thinking it brought no harm to his family and the two developed a nice relationship. One akin to an older brother and a younger sister.

"Sure. What is it about?" He asked, putting his papers down on the table of his office.

"I wanted to....I wanted to thank you."

Now that took him by surprise. He furrowed his brows and tilted his head to the side. "Thank yous" weren't exactly what he used to hear. He looked at her with an intense blue gaze, eyes almost wide open as he didn't know how to react to her words. Of course, he cleared his throat and played it cool.

"You are welcome."

"You have no idea of why I've just said that, right?" -she teased him-

"Not really...it seems uncalled for. I didn't do much, save for taking you home that one night." She grinned and grabbed a piece of paper she rolled on itself and used as a telescope. he furrowed his brows and tried to take the paper from her but she dodged him "Asma! I don't have time to play."

"I didn't come to play. I came to say thank you. I meant my words."

"Okay. Why would you say thank you? what for?"

"For Jess. For you and Jess... For Love."

"What?" He blinked and leaned into his seat as she sat on the chair next to his.

"I mean... you gave me hope. That's what you two did. You also played a key role in my recovery. I'm still going to AA meetings and trying to get my life together but it all started when you came into my parlor for a tattoo for Jess. It all started with you. I had to say thank you."

"You don't have to say thank you...I honestly... I didn't do anything." He said, giving her a sheepish smile. He scratched the back of his neck and shrugged. " Jess happened to me. I was lucky enough to realize it. I am just a lucky chump..."

"Not just lucky. You believed...It made me believe.." She said, giving him a soft smile as she leaned into the chair. "I just.... I needed to see that it could happen..Love I mean.."

"Love you say?" He said with a grin. Of course, it was Love, Jax knew it, but saying this had a different flavor.

"Love I say." She replied with a grin. "Also, this baby girl better be named after me because if she's not I'm going to riot." She said standing up. "I'm going to buy something for the little one. See you around Blondie."

The king and Queen of Charming -SOA-

A/N: Call me fucking sentimental tonight aight? <3 All usual disclaimers

xxx xxx

"The King and Queen of Charming.

I still remember how I felt the first time I saw them. I still remember how quickly I was to judge them. She was a newcomer, probably one of those gang groupies and he was the big bad. That was what I told myself when we crossed paths.

How wrong was I. I realized I didn't know anything about them when they came for a tattoo? I had inked Jax a couple of weeks earlier and it was time for me to ink Jessica with Thomas and Abel and Jax names on her arms. It was life changing I think. I can still remember the shivers I got on that day. I can still remember what my eyes saw, and my heart and soul. Two souls merging into one. Real love in all of its glory.

The King and Queen of Charming.

How strange life is at times. It pushes you into the arms of the people you need without you even realizing it. Jessica and Jax weren't the people I wanted, as in, they were far too deep into the "not pretty business" for me to even look twice at them. Old me would have never imagined how important they were to me today. Old me would have rejected them altogether because they were criminals but old me would have been an idiot.

Old me was an idiot.

New me is still an idiot but at least, I welcomed the unwelcome

I opened a door into my life to this family of misfits and I have no regret in my bone. From the two little jellybeans, Thomas and Abel that I adore, to the boys of SAMCRO I am slowly starting to know. I think they gave me what I have been looking for the whole time. I feel like I belong. I feel like Charming is the right place for me, filled with people I actually care about and who care about me.

That's the key word here. They /care/ about me.

The King and Queen of Charming. My outlawed friends.

Funny how Life is at some points. When the merchants of Death are the ones who brought you back to life. When the miscreants and the thieves and the murderers, are the ones giving you solace and a real chance at a fresh start. Old me wouldn't have believed it and yet, here I was.

They do not know how much I care about them. They do not know how much I love them. I wanted to tell Jess she was like a sister to me but I'm afraid it is too soon, too fresh and she might be scared of that. I wanted to tell Jax that I actually loved him too. Not just because he came to me and tucked me into bed that one time I fucked up, but also because I know the man he is. I might not have seen the ugliest parts of him -I don't need to. I don't need to see him murder and beat someone else to death to know he does that- but I have seen the best. I have seen the father he is to his kids, the husband he is my queen and the brother he is to his men. I have seen the good in him, the friend who took me home so I wouldn't get into troubles, the one who helped me go back to that AA program so I could take a second chance at sobering up and who didn't say a word to Jessica. I know who he is.

So yeah...The King and Queen of Charming

Son of bitches and badass motherfuckers.

I might not ride, I don't want to deal with their business, but even if I'm an outsider, that doesn't mean they're not welcome into my life, into my heart, into my soul.

Check-fucking-mate Life!"

S.o.Asma ! Failing

A/N: All usual disclaimers

xxx

Jax pushed open the door of the bar Asma was sitting at. She accidentally sent him a message instead of Jessica reading « I fucked up ! » followed by several messages where she gave Jessica the address of the bar she went to. After a year and so of being sober, the anniversary of her brother Cody was coming soon and suddenly everything in Charming reminded her of him. The gangs.. how she hated the gangs. They were responsible for her brother's death since he was a member of the One-Niners and while she managed to ignore seeing them around, today she couldn't. One of them noticed her shop and came for a tattoo. He offered a lot of bucks and she agreed way before she realized he was one of the Niners. Her blood turned cold and she remained silent for the rest of the day as she proceeded to ink her client. The tattoo artist kept her feelings to herself in order not to make a fuss about a situation that could escalate very quickly. The work lasted three hours but it was a gorgeous one and she was very proud of herself.

It didn't hit her until much later, at the dawn of the day, when she found herself on her own. She decided that she wouldn't race tonight and instead would try to relax. She would buy some of her favorite take-out, would put some music and would maybe watch Netflix. Any other day would have been a good time for her to do so, but tonight wasn't. Tonight she couldn't. Confined in her house, she only saw Death. Every corner of it had a memory with Cody attached to it. Where he used to lay his feet against, the chair he used to sit at when he came home or even any of his stupid pranks he made for her. Cody lost his ways and had blood on his hands but he used to be a good soul, he still kept some parts of that when he tried to rescue his sister from the abusive monster she used to be engaged to. So she couldn't sleep. She couldn't relax and she felt the urge coming. The desperate need for a drink came through and she couldn't fight it anymore. Her throat was dry and couldn't seem to get better. Her heart was bleeding out as if she'd scratched open a wound and without even thinking twice, she went to a bar she wasn't used to. They didn't know her, they wouldn't possibly know she went to AA meetings so they would serve her without questions and this is exactly what happened that evening. She drank. Not enough to get stupid drunk, but enough to know she shouldn't have and feel miserable. So she texted Jessica, in hopes her friend would come find her and shake some sense into her.

« What are you doing here ?' » Her voice was hoarse and raspy due to the high level of alcohol in her veins.

She blinked and looked around for Jessica but it only was Jax. Stiff and worried, the pink haired tattoo artist straightened on her seat as he put his keys on the table and ordered a drink. He sat by her, his icy blue eyes staring at the woman in front of him. He didn't know her very well per say, Jessica spent more time with her. He did know enough to see that she wasn't a threat to his family at all. She inked the name of Jessica on his skin and she inked his name and the boys' name on hers so at least he owed her a little bit of consideration. They occasionally talked and bantered but it never really was that serious. It never was « come pick me up at 3 am in the morning at a bar » kind of relationship and yet here he was, sitting next to her.

« You called for help miss. I am helping. » He said as he ordered a glass of whiskey. As the bartender fetched him his glass, she quietly crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive position and looked at him. He was intimidating her, because of the way he was carrying himself. He looked calm and collected which for Asma wasn't that much of a good sign. She bit her bottom lip and ran her hand through her curly dyed pink locks.

« I didn't call for your help Jax. I am fine. I'll be on my way. » She said as she tried to leave, but he shook his head and grabbed her arm, preventing her from leaving the seat. She was intoxicated, how could she even think about going home on her own in that state? He shook his head and had her remain seated while he savored his glass.

« It doesn't matter if it was me or my wife. You sent it to the wrong number anyway. »

« Yeah, I am fucking lucky, mate. » She said as she shrugged her shoulders and leaned against her chair. He looked at her and furrowed his brows. She had quite the mouth on her but he knew it was just a defense mechanism. She couldn't do much aside from sassing her way out so he simply shrugged at it and furrowed his brows quietly.

« Not really miss. You're in trouble with me and you better be fucking honest if you don't want to be in troubles with Jess. What do you think would happen if she walked in and she found you drunk and sorry uh? » He didn't raise his tone, but she didn't need him to. His face said all the words he needed to say. He actually cared for the woman. From all the stories and comments his wife told him since she met Asma, she sounded like a good and honest soul, except with a drinking problem and a harsh past. He could see Jessica wanted to protect her friend and make her feel welcome in this little town and had noticed the efforts made by Asma to keep herself on the right track. She was a good soul, and he could use someone who wasn't in the business but close enough to them to count on her. She had wit, she was funny and she definitely was honest and genuine in her love for his wife.

« She would want to know why I got into troubles, to begin with. » She said, pouting as her hazel eyes stared into his blue ones. He lifted a brow and took several sips of his beverage.

« And why did you drink on the fucking day of your anniversary? You almost made it Azz. You almost made it. » He said taking another sip.

« I know. Don't you think I feel ashamed mate? » She furrowed her brows and clenched her teeth.  « Thing is... my brother died today. He was a one Niners. I always told him 'Cody, one day you gonna get fucked and you won't come back from this.' and he always laughed. He always laughed. » She said shrugging her shoulders off. « He died like he lived. I was pissed off on the first year of his death because he was a fucking idiot who got himself killed but then.. then.. two years later I miss him. That's all there is. I fucking miss him. I miss feeling his presence, I miss feeling protected and I am alone. My life is shit because I can't do shit about it Jax. I am miserable and it hit me today. So, I thought, 'you know what? Go grab yourself that drink. It's not as if someone would notice if you weren't there.' kind of shit. » She said, leaning her chin against the back of her hands.

« You missed him, sure, but Azz, you drank and heavily so. » He curbed a bow, making her pout even more and stroke her arms.

« I know. I fucked up. » She closed her eyes and groaned painfully. Her head was banging and she let put her forehead against the back of her hands. He finished his drink and looked at her.

« Yeah, you did. I know how much it takes to someone to actually achieve it. Succeed in being sober and shit. It's a lot of effort, man. It took you a lot of strength to get there and that's how I know you'll get there again. It's okay. I'm taking you back home safely and you will safely tuck yourself to bed young lady. »

« Whowowowowoah! Jax! You're not my dad!  Jess might be Mama but you're not my fucking dad! » She said, pouting even harder before she shook her head and yawned. Alcohol was tiring her fast and she leaned against the table again. « I thought you'd hate me you know? » She said as he stood up and grabbed his keys.

« Why would I? You inked Jess and I. You're good to her.»

« That I am. I love her Jax. I love her like a sister I never had. It's funny because when I first met you, I assumed you were very bad people with very bad morals and you couldn't even know what love was. And then you came to my shop and all I saw was a man who loved his woman. You loved her. I wept inside. I wanted a man who looked at me the way you look at her... always dreamed about it, but always got shit, cause I'm shit. So.. I envy you two because you found each other and I am grateful you did because I can witness it and save it somewhere in my brain. » She said as she stumbled and struggled to stand up. Jax held her gently and pushed her forward so she could start walking towards his bike. How on Earth did she think it was a good idea to walk home by herself when she couldn't even stand? Jessica would have freaked out and knowing his wife, would have spent the night next to her until she got better.

« Well.... got lucky I met darlin' you know? She chose Charming and I like to think it wasn't just hazardous but fucking fate you see? Like we had to meet one another. Don't make me say sappy shit like that and don't tell her I said that. »

« My lips are zipped! » She said before she tripped and nearly fell on the floor. He grabbed her by the waist and wrapped a solid arm around her waist and walked towards his bike. « Yours shall be zipped too. She doesn't know I love her this much yet... she might have an idea, but I want to tell her this myself. Do we have a deal? »

« Ahahah yes we do. Now hop on the bike and let me take you to our place. You'd sleep in the guest room and Darlin' would come see you in the morning. »

He was unusually kind tonight. Maybe Jax softened up because she was celebrating her brother's anniversary and was vulnerable. Maybe he softened because she was a friend of Jessica and grew into appreciating him. Maybe he softened because he could see himself in the hopelessness that radiated from her. He couldn't say and he didn't want to know.

Tonight, he simply took a friend home.

S.O.A: Enter Elias Tobbins

A/N just explaining a little bit of my OC :)  All the rest but Elias Tobbins and Asma Jensen belong to their respective owners

xxx xxx

Elias « Scar » Tobbins stared at the broken bike in front of him with an empty gaze. He still had the spanner in his hand but it was useless. The man wasn't a mechanic and you'd think that after all these years owning a Harley he'd known how to fix it, but this time the damage was beyond his skills. Luckily for him, he was only a few miles away from the next small town: Charming, so he decided to walk his bike over there and see if they could fix it. He could still play in his mind the day he learned about the terrible fate of his family. How his sister-in-law, Carol Thompson discovered the mutilated bodies of her sister and her niece. Both suffered from the hands of the Nordics, a white supremacist gang that couldn't accept in the very least that his wife was a bi-racial saleswoman who made a fortune and came back to her hometown in order to raise her child there. T

hey threatened her, tried to make her leave, called her names and then became more and more violent. If only she left when they asked her to, maybe she would still be alive today. Elias was blaming himself for not having been able to know something was going on. He knew his wife, he knew when she was holding back from him and yet he decided to let her do as she pleased. They only had a couple of weeks left before he could join his family, some business in Chicago was holding him back. Some business. How meaningless it became to him. He slowly went down the gutter, underperforming to the point he lost his job, falling into alcohol and becoming a drunkard, spending days and night asking himself what he did wrong and how he could have saved his family from such gruesome murders. How could a man like him overcome such drama?

He lost his will to live and sunk so deep into depression that he tried to take his own life. The cold metal of the gun against his mouth gave him an epiphany. He needed to avenge his family. He needed to find and kill the people who killed his loved ones. Elias entered the city. He's been to Charming in the past, some ten years ago and he met his wife there. The place didn't change. There still was that restaurant he took Marianne to in order to propose to her. There still was their favorite shop where they had « organic food » she loved so much. He paused for a while as he noticed a new shop, a tattoo one where « get out Nigger » was tagged in red and a singular pink haired woman was painting over it. She paused for a while, grabbed her bottle of Jack and gulped it down before he interrupted her with his gruff voice.

« Excuse me. I kinda broke my bike and I need to fix it. » -She tilted her head to the side and curbed a brow at him.-

« Don't I look busy right now? » -She spat at him before taking another sip of her beverage. -

« I can see that. Listen, I can help you get it done faster if you tell me where I can have my bike fixed. »

«....Sounds fair. I'll save you the troubles There's the Teller-Morrow Automotive Repair nearby.Just pick up this street, turn to the left and then the right. Follow the road for a couple of blocks and then you'll have your Automotive repair. » She then leaned against her front door and crossed her arms over her chest. Their eyes met and for a brief moment, Elias gave her a faint smirk.

« They're kinda making it hard for you as I see. » To which she replied with a slight shrug.

« Nothing I ain't used to. I don't care really. »She sounded like his dead wife.

Elias furrowed his brow for a while, concerned for a brief moment about the safety of this woman but then he reminded himself that if he was back in this town it was to seek revenge.

« Be careful with these people. I heard they were kinda mean out there. » He said walking closer to her.

Asma swallowed hard but kept staring at this complete stranger with a questioning look.He didn't seem to be scared and he looked familiar with the place. She lifted a brow.

« Nothing I haven't seen before. Excuse me, what are you doing? » She said as he outstretched his hand to grab the brush she still had in her hand.

« Keeping my word to you. I said I'd help you go faster with the painting over. »

« I don't need it. » She said, looking up to that huge and broad man before her. He kept moving his hand towards her and in a stupid moment of panic, she dropped her bottle of Jack. When he bent over to start grabbing the shards she shook her head and hands. « Don't! Don't please. It's my mess. I'm gonna clean it. I don't. You don't have to help me paint over that crap. I can do it on my own. Thanks. » She looked at him, uncomfortable to have him this close to her. Elias stepped backward and gave her a sheepish grin.

« Okay, pretty lady. I won't insist. I'll give it back to you someday though. »

« Ah... You sound like I'm going to see you a lot more. » « It might just be that. » He replied as he walked back to his bike. Asma nervously clenched and unclenched her fists until she finally braced herself enough to speak to him.

« Err.... Just in case I might want you to.. keep your word, who should I call? » She said, allowing herself to give him a sheepish smile. He stared at her beautiful face and chuckled lightly.

« A guy named Elias. Elias Tobbins. What about you princess? »

« Don't princess me! The name's Asma. Asma Jensen. » She said, feeling her cheeks burn as obviously he was making her blush for no reason at all. Elias grinned and waved at her with one hand as he took off.

« Well, Be careful out there Miss Jensen. You never know what might come your way. » And he left.

As he walked he had to remind himself that no matter how sweet and maybe naive this woman was, his mind was set on his revenge. His plan was perfect. He could stay in the murder house, their house and from where would begin to investigate. Hopefully, he'd find out the leader and the members of the Nordics. He heard they weren't active anymore but a cockroach would never leave its nasty nest and they would never leave Charming. They might be reformed, they still were a threat he was hell-bent on destroying. The brunet's bloodthirst was torturing him but once he would get his hands on smuggled guns and do a « Punisher » on these guys. As he walked he realized that the pink hottie didn't lie to him and finally found his way to the Teller-Morrow joint. He entered the place and cleared his voice.

« Anybody's here? I'd need a little fixin'. »

He came prepared with a bag full of cash he was able to save during his years spent in a hell hole. Enough to handle the year to come, buy guns, booze, and maybe company. He grabbed the bag and secured his gun on his back. A simple Glock was the gun he registered but Elias knew he'd need better and bigger firearms if he wanted to win this war.