Sons Of Anarchy One-Shots (Tig Trager)

End Of The Road

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Carly leaned against the counter in her kitchen, waiting for the teapot to whistle as she thought back to earlier in the day when she had run into Gemma Teller-Morrow in the grocery store. She sighed as she remembered trying to dodge her by turning down another aisle but it hadn't worked and the SAMCRO matriarch had followed her with a knowing smirk on her face.

"Stop right there, Carly Weaver! You can't get away from me that easy, sweetheart."

Carly pasted a smile on her face as she turned to face the woman who at one time was one of her closest friends. "Hey, Gemma. How are you?"

Gemma arched one perfect eyebrow. "I'm great, how are you? I haven't heard from you in months."

Carly sighed and nodded. "I just thought it would be easier for everyone if I steered clear of all of you."

Gemma scoffed as she put a hand on one hip. "Easier for who? You?"

Carly narrowed her eyes at Gemma and shook her head. "No, easier for you, for Tig... hell, Gemma, just easier."

Gemma sighed then, shaking her head. "Tig's been a mess, baby. I wish you would talk to him. These past few months have been hell on earth around him. Can't you swallow your pride just this once?"

Carly snorted out a bitter laugh and shook her head. "Unbelievable. Gemma, I wasn't the one that ended things. Tig did. I can't help how he is. That's no longer my business." She turned back to her cart. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I really need to get going. It was nice seeing you, Gem."

The teakettle whistling brought her back to the present and she sighed wearily as she filled a mug with water. When Tig had broken things off with her, she really had thought it would be easier for everyone if she just stayed away from TM. Honestly, besides Tig and her friendship with Gemma, she didn't have a reason to go there. She worked at the high school in Lodi, and if she happened to have car trouble, there were plenty of auto shops near her work.

She'd lied to Gemma about why though. Tig hadn't been the reason for her steering clear all of those months. It had been her own heart she'd been guarding. When he had ended their relationship, she'd been gutted. She'd thought they were happily on their way to getting married and having children one day, only to find out that he hadn't been as invested as she had. Of course, she couldn't fault the logic he used. He was bad for her reputation, he said. She'd always be in danger, he'd probably end up cheating if he didn't get thrown in prison first, or worse die.

She'd listened to him patiently, not once letting on that he was crushing her soul under his work boots. What he said did make sense, and any normal, well-adjusted woman would have readily agreed, but Carly didn't care about any of those reasons. To her, it was bullshit, plain and simple. She'd grown up in Charming and knew exactly what the Sons were all about. She'd walked into the relationship with both eyes wide open, and she hadn't regretted it.

Even now, after everything, she still loved Alex Trager, and she feared that she always would. She missed him with an ache that was physical. It had taken until a month ago before she could lay her head down at night in what used to be their bed without breaking down. She sighed again before picking up her tea and walking through her silent house to the front door. She'd do what she'd been doing with her evenings. She'd sit on the front porch swing and watch the world go by until it was time to sleep.

When she stepped out onto the porch, she was taken aback to find Tig sitting on the steps, facing the street with his back to her. She took a deep breath before walking over and sitting down on the swing. She took a sip of her tea before setting the swing to moving, still being silent. He had ended things but he had also shown up. If he had something to say, she'd patiently wait to hear what it was. Finally, after about ten minutes of the only sound being the birds settling in for the night and an occasional car driving by, he cleared his throat and spoke quietly.

"Gem said she saw you today."

Carly nodded, even though he couldn't see the movement. "She did."

He nodded before she heard a sigh from him. "I'm sorry, Carly. I was a dick."

"You were."

Tig snorted and nodded again before turning around to face her. She was shocked for a moment by how sad he looked. "I know it was sudden, but at the time, we were facing some prison time. I didn't want to tell you and worry you, but I... " He shook his head. "Nah, that's not true. I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to see me any different."

Carly nodded before speaking quietly. "I'm going to assume that the charges went away?" When he nodded, she continued. "So, you let your pride come before our relationship."

Tig nodded again, this time reaching out to mess with her shoestrings as he thought about what he wanted to say. "Part of me didn't want you to find out what I was and then leave me, so I left first."

Carly shook her head as she moved her foot out of his reach. "I always knew what you were, and it never once occurred to me to be bothered by it."

Tig nodded as he looked back out over the yard. "I don't expect you to forgive me but... "

Carly snorted and shook her head, causing his gaze to come back to her. "I forgave you months ago, Alex."

She almost chuckled at the look of relief that came over his face as he nodded. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to start over? Give me a chance to make it up to you? Try harder to be the old man you deserve?"

She sighed before shrugging. "I need you to be more, Alex. You have to love me more than you did before." When he nodded in agreement, she stood up and held out a hand to him. "Come on. I need to get to bed. I have work in the morning and I'm assuming that you do too."

Carly had time to see a tear roll down his face before he was pulling her into his arms in a crushing embrace. As they swayed back and forth on her front porch, he whispered into her hair. "I'm so sorry, baby. I love you more than anyone, always have."

Carly pulled back to look up into his eyes, seeing his sincerity in his gaze. "Just don't let me down again."

Tig shook his head. "Never again, baby. I'll die first."