Gracie's Story

Red Velvet

"Auntie!" Jax yelled when he opened the door, I was packing the last of our stuff when I ran to the doorway. There was Jax, smiling ear to ear, as he held my nephew in his hands. I quickly walked over to take Abel from him, planting a single kiss on his forehead, before I cuddled him close to me. We were all going home happy now, even though the worst was yet to come.

"Hey lovie, wanna go to an irish restaurant before we leave?" Opie asked

"Sure, where were you thinking?" 

"Surprise. Just dress like your classy self, I got to run an errand."

"Ok. Love you."

"Love you too babe."

At about 4:00 that afternoon I was sitting on the picnic table, wearing my silver skinny jeans, american flag tank top and black cardigan and aviators, cigarette in hand, just waiting for my knight on a shining Harley to show up. Clay walked by and said, "Mind if I join ya?"

"Sure. Why not?"  

We smoked in silence, until the roar of the Harley pulled next to the table, he shot Clay a look and then shouted to me, "Lets go sweetbutt!"

"Ok. Nice smoking with ya Clay." I said sarcastically to him before he smiled at me going, "That's my girl."

He pulled in front of this cute, little cafė and patisserie, I could only imagine what was inside. I slipped off the back and was embraced from behind from my giant teddy bear, I reached up and grabbed his beanie, placing it on my head. Before I walked out of the embrace I turned around to see his bright smile under his identical sunglasses, I demi-pointed and kissed his smile with my dark red lips, he kissed back, placing a hand on my lower back. We finally separated and walked in hand-in-hand.The manager looked at Opie and then whispered something in a workers ear who also looked at Opie, and ran in the kitchen with a smile.

"I'll have red velvet and a chocolate cupcake. Also a black coffee and lemonade."

"Ok sir, your total is $7.50, we will serve you in a moment." the manager said as Opie threw the money on the counter. We sat down at one of the booths and he just looked into my eyes, they glimmered with nothing more than love and happiness. He knew I loved cupcakes, he even tried to make them once.

For my eighteenth birthday I just wanted a peaceful day at the cabin, just me and Ope. Jax and the rest of the guys were going to celebrate with me next week but for now I just wanted Ope. I awoke in the king bed alone, even though I feel asleep with my head resting on the wide chest of my love who wrapped me in both his arms. I smelled something burning from inside and then heard Ope ask himself, "Shit, how does she make this look so easy?" 

I giggled as I pulled on his oversized reaper shirt and walked outside, ruffling my hair as I leaned against the doorway watch Opie try to bake, he was swearing up a storm as he took the burning cupcakes out of the oven and threw them on the counter. Even if he wasn't swearing and throwing baking stuff I still would have laughed at the sight of him in an apron. I walked across the floor and hugged him from behind, which must have caught him off guard since he jumped a bit, then relaxed. 

"Did you set a timer?" I asked, moving from his back to his side, looking at the blackened cupcakes in the tray

"No, I don't think I even made them right to begin with."

"Well lets try this again, that way you know how I make it appear so damn easy."

"Ok so it should only take 10 minutes to bake, then we let them cool completely and we can frost them." I instructed as I placed the trays in the oven, then boosted myself on the counter, Opie placed a hand on each side of me on the counter and whispered, "Happy birthday Lovie."

"Oh I'm glad you whispered it this time, instead of waking me up at midnight and screaming it so loud that you woke a Russian up in Moscow." I laughed as he kissed me, my hands playing in his hair as he moved to my waist, my legs opening to hug his waist tightly. I pulled away for two seconds, which was enough time to say, "No, we can't."

"And why is that?" Opie asked

"Opie I love you, but I might love cupcakes more, so for the sake of not burnt cupcakes I will have to deny your request and ask you to check the cupcakes?"

"Have I told you lately that I love you?" he asked

"Well I mean not recently, but I know you do, I just might not love you as much as cupcakes."

He laughed, "I was just thinking about the same thing. Well I love you Grace Lee Morrow, more then anything. I want you to know that, and to know that I will until the day I die."

"I love you too Harry Opie Winston, I may love the red velvet cupcake more though."

"You will once you see it." He stated as the waiter placed both cupcakes before us.

When I looked down at mine though I noticed a ruby ring sticking out of the frosting. I looked at Opie, tears welling up as Opie said, "I think Grace Lee Winston has a better ring to it, if you will have it?"

"Harry are you..."

"Yes I am, now are you saying yes or should I go propose to Tig so I don't have to be afraid of dying alone?"

"Yes... yes I will." I pulled the ring out, licking the frosting off before Opie placed it on my finger.

"So this is probably one of my last nights as a free man for a while." Jax said, his arm wrapped around Tara, who was recently freed from a hostage situation with some crazy Mayan. Opie and I sat in their lazyboy, as I laid my head against Opie's shoulder he said, "Well maybe I can lighten that mood by telling you that your sister is ditching the Morrow name."

"So does this mean..." Jax started to ask but you cut him off by holding up your left hand revealing the ruby ring on a gold band. 

"Oh my gosh, my little Gracie is marrying my best friend. It's a dream come true." Jax joked

"Ok Tara, your turn." I stated causing all eyes to turn towards her.

"I'm pregnant. Jax I meant to tell you when we were alone, but since Grace insisted..."

"Oh it's ok Tara, I guess we should tell the club too, before half of em go inside."

"Just be glad Ope isn't." Tara snapped

"Well I will leave you alone I guess." I started to stand and leave, hearing Jax ask Tara, "Why were you so snappy to her?"

"It's nothing Jax. Opie, might wanna go get the future Mrs. Winston."

He quickly came out to find me sitting on the hood of the truck, smoking in the dark blanket of the starless night. He leaned against the bumper and pulled his own out before I said, "She doesn't hide jealousy well."

"How do you know she is?" He asked as he motioned needing a light.

"Jax still hasn't asked her hand, we were both girls involved in high school love, left for months, came back and rekindled old love but yet you and I are getting married first. She probably wants a fucking rock on her finger."

"Maybe." Opie said staring at the sky

"Also Jax got caught and you didn't, so now she has to deal with being alone for 14 months, while I have you." I leaned over and kissed his cheek. 

He then lifted me off of the hood and carried me to the cab, quickly turning the key and driving up to the cabin. 

"Stay here Lovie." He said, racing into the cabin and reappearing with a bunch of blankets and pillows. He placed them all in the bed of the truck and then jumped out, opening my door and carrying my bridal style to the fort he just built. We started kissing when he laid me down, which quickly escalated to naked wrestling.

When we were down and out of breath we laid on our backs looking up at the now clear sky, revealing some stars. I looked at Opie's profile and sat up, clutching the blanket to my chest as I climbed out of the bed, racing to the cabin and returning with one bottle of Jack.I poured some in my mouth before passing the bottle to Opie and laying back down, resting on his shoulder. We laid there the rest of the night just drinking in silence. We knew tomorrow everything was going to change.