One Rule

Chapter 4

Note: Now we're back to the present.

I was still sitting by Chibs when the front door opened to reveal Jax carrying a small baby boy. Wendy and Gemma were a few steps behind him.

He came to stand in front of me as the room erupted into applause. "Hey, little man. There's someone I want you to meet. This is your Aunt Diana," Jax cooed. I think I could honestly feel my heart melting a little bit. "You ready?" He asked, looking down at me.

"Yeah," I nodded, holding my arms out so Jax could put him in my arms.

He gingerly put the little boy into my waiting arms. "Hi Abel," I smiled, cradling my nephew against my chest. "I'm going to spoil you rotten."

"You're a natural," Chibs said, watching Abel cuddle against me. "It'll be your own next."

I flushed bright red, turning my attention back to Abel. "My sweet little boy," I cooed.

"He likes you," Donna said, standing over me. "Look here," she said.

I looked up and smiled when I realized that she had a camera.

I didn't get to hold him for too much longer before Grandma wanted a turn. Gemma really was a pro, but then again, she had two of her own and me.

I got up to go get a drink from the kitchen and Juice followed me. "He's cute, isn't he?" he asked.

"Perfect," I smiled.

"Do you ever think about having any?" Juice asked.

What the hell is it with these guys and me having kids?? "Have to find the right guy first," I replied. I grabbed a bottle of wine out of the fridge and poured a large glass.

Kids is not a topic Kozik and I have discussed yet. We're still working on the whole when-is-the-right-time-to-tell-people-about-us-? talk... Honestly, I'm kind of waiting for Jax or Tig to screw up big to take the heat off of us. In a perfect world, I'd tell them while they were in prison so that they would have to deal with the news in a controlled setting, and then have to time to cool off about it... but that's asking a lot.

I heard Jax call for Juice, and he scurried out of the kitchen. I about died laughing when I was alone. Donna came in at the tail end of my giggle fit. "They all want to know when it's my turn."

"Oh my god. You two aren't going to be able to keep this up much longer," she warned. "They might try to make you an Old Lady, Clay's rules be damned."

"Too bad someone already beat them to the punch," I smiled. "We're just waiting for the right time to tell people."

"You've been together for three years. That says something. That's not a casual fling. Opie and I were together less than that before he proposed," she teased.

"I heard my name," Opie said, walking into the kitchen.

"Nothing bad. Just girl talk," I grinned.

"You're hiding something. I don't know what it is, but I know you've got a secret," he told me.

"I do not! I'm an open book," I replied, trying to sound casual.

"I don't believe you."

Towards the end of the night, Opie took the kids home. Donna stayed to help Gemma and I clean up. Well, Donna ran an errand to get soap for the dishwasher....

~~~

I was washing a wine glass when I heard the news... Donna was dead, gunned down in the middle of the street. I guess I squeezed the glass so hard that it broke in my hand. I looked down to find a shard of glass sticking out of my palm.

"Fuck!" I swore under my breath as I picked out the glass and wrapped my hand in a towel.

"Are you okay?" Juice asked. He had to turn around when I showed him the blood coming out of my hand.

"Calm down," I said, rolling my eyes.

Chibs came to take a look, and reacted instantly. "Let's get that stitched up." He pulled a first aid kit out of a closet and sat me down.

"I'd do it myself, but that's my dominant hand," I mumbled, trying to fight back tears.

"You don't need to be brave." He stitched the wound closed in a flash.

"Can someone take me over to Opie's. I'll sit with the kids," I volunteered, wiping at my eyes, still trying to keep a brave face.

"I'll take you," Juice said.

"Thanks."

I let myself in with the spare key, and stayed in the living room. I didn't want to wake either Kenny or Ellie up. I sat down on the couch and buried my face in my hands as I began to quietly sob.

I must have fallen asleep on the couch, because I woke up with a start when Opie came home at after two in the morning. I just got up and hugged him as tightly as I could. "I'm so sorry," I said, trying not to cry again.

"Thanks for staying with them. Did they wake up?" he asked.

"No," I shook my head.

"Good. Um, Juice is outside, waiting to take you home."

I nodded, and hugged him again. "If you need anything, just ask."

"I know."

I went outside and got on the back of Juice's bike as he handed me a helmet. When we got back to my place he asked if I was alright.

"I'm still breathing, and my heart is still beating," I replied before going inside. I locked all my doors and pulled out my phone.

"Babe, it's almost three in the morning, what the hell?" Kozik groaned into the phone.

"Donna's dead," I managed to get that much out before I started crying again. "Someone just gunned her down as she was waiting at a stoplight," I sobbed.

"Shit," Kozik groaned. "I'm so sorry baby. I'm headed your way now," he said. I heard rustling as he spoke. "I can be there by midday tomorrow."

"No, babe. Just come down in the morning. I don't want you driving in the dark. And I'm sure Tacoma will be called down as a whole," I said, wiping at my eyes. I got up and changed for bed.

"I don't want you to be alone," he said.

"I'll survive until the morning," I said, crawling into bed.

"I'm staying with you when I get to town. I'm not staying at the clubhouse," he insisted.

"Good. I was going to ask you to stay," I replied through a yawn. "I don't give a shit what any of them think right now. Can I ask a favor?"

"You know you can always ask me anything," he replied.

"You know that purple zip up hoodie?" I asked.

"Yeah, of course," he said. I could tell he was already sensing where I was headed with this.

"Will you wear it for a while, and bring it with you?" I asked. It was kind of a comfort thing. He used to leave me his hoodie when he'd go on a run. I'd sleep with it and wear it around the house because it smelled like him.

"Yeah, that's an easy request," he said.

"I love you. I don't tell you enough, but I really do love you," I said into the phone.

"I love you too, Diana. Babe, you need to try to sleep. I'll be down tomorrow no matter what. Just hold on a little bit longer. I'm sorry that we're being brought together by such crappy circumstances," he sighed.

"Me too, but I'm glad you're coming. I miss you."

"I love you. Get some sleep," he told me.

"I love you too. Goodnight," I yawned.

"Goodnight."

We hung up and I laid there in the dark. My best friend was dead and there was nothing I could do. I pulled my blanket tight around me and just sobbed.