Spark in the Dark

Chapter 120

Shawn sat at a picnic table with a worried Tara and Lyla waiting for the guys to come back. Gemma was nearby, but didn't seem even remotely concerned. Shawn wondered briefly how Gemma managed to stay so composed no matter what was going on. Even now that her own son's life might be in danger, she was a pillar of strength.

There was a roar of motorcycles and Tara and Lyla leapt from their seats and rushed over to find Jax and Opie. Shawn walked over, too, at a slower pace. She smiled as she passed Tig on her way to Juice. Tig watched her pass him, then watched as Juice embraced her and kissed her. Tig looked over at Happy.

"I already don't matter," Tig said. Happy walked passed him with a pat on his shoulder and Tig followed.

"Oh, my God!" Lyla said, interrupting their kiss. "You weren't kidding when you said everyone knew now."

"Wait, you knew?" Opie asked Lyla.

"Of course I did," Lyla said proudly.

"She's sort of the reason we weren't just a one night stand actually," Juice admitted.

"That's... still weird," Jax said after hearing Juice's words.

"Wait, what's going on? Tara asked.

"Oh yeah, Juice and Shawn dated for like a year before we went to prison and kept it a secret from everyone."

"Seriously? Am I the last to know?" Tara asked.

"Pretty much. Sorry," Shawn told her.

"Wow. You couldn't have mentioned something all those times we've hung out the past 14 months? I used to let you babysit the boys and you were keeping this secret from me?" Tara asked, pretending to be offended.

"You let me babysit to save your own sanity," Shawn joked.

Tara shrugged. "You're right."

"Did you see inside yet?" Juice asked Shawn.

"No? What's inside?"

"The new sheriff trashed the place."

"You're kidding."

"C'mon," Juice said and led her inside behind everyone else.

Juice hadn't been kidding. The clubhouse had been destroyed. Everyone stood around, silently taking in the damage. Tara looked around the crowd.

"I have some good news," Tara announced. She pulled a ring out of her pocket and put it on. "We're engaged!"

Jax looked uncomfortable for a moment, but Tara pulled her to him and kissed him. Everyone began to clap, Shawn included. Juice went behind the bar and grabbed two beers. He pulled the cap off one and handed it to Shawn before opening the second for himself. Jax and Tara made their way through the crowd of people, hugging everyone as the congratulated them, until they got to Shawn and Juice.

"Congrats!" Shawn told Tara and hugged her.

"Juice, you better make a move quick otherwise Shawn might get a complex since I'll be married twice before she's married once."

"Yes, I'll just be so sad I didn't rush into marrying a junkie the first chance I got," Shawn said sarcastically.

"Hey, be nice!" Jax told her.

"I don't think Tig is ready for that anyways, man," Juice said.

"That mean you are?" Shawn asked.

Juice responded by putting his arm around her and kissing her temple. She smirked up at him before asking to see Tara's ring. Lyla joined the girls and Jax and Opie hugged. Juice looked around at everyone and felt happy to be home.

* * *

"You sure you don't want to ride with me?" Juice asked Shawn, again, as he walked her to her car.

"I need my car in the morning," Shawn explained with a laugh. "I drove Lyla here from the studio. I'll have to pick her up before work in the morning."

"Opie can't take her to work?" Juice complained. "It's the first time you could be on the back of my bike without us being sneaky about it."

"How about a trade? Instead of a ride on your Dyna, I'll buy you dinner. Not take out either. We can go to an actual restaurant and sit at a table where people can see us and everything."

Juice considered her offer. "It has to be a restaurant inside Charming, we have to sit in a booth next to a window so everyone can see us, and... You have to let me pay."

Shawn groaned making Juice laugh. "Yes to the first and second. C'mon, this was my idea. I wanna pay."

"I pay or throw you over my shoulder and carry you to my bike."

"You're underestimating my desire to be thrown over your shoulder," Shawn told him. He smiled broadly and dipped down to pick her up. "No! Fine! You can pay!"

Juice stood back up and kissed her as they laughed. "I like this. Everyone knowing about us. Not having to hide. Why didn't we do this sooner?"

"I can think of one reason," Shawn said and gently touched the cut under his eye.

"It's worth it," Juice promised. "Hannah's?"

"Okay. Meet you there."

"Yeah, since you don't have to go home and change," Juice said while looking at her more modest work attire of dark wash jeans, white v-neck tee, and black blazer with the sleeves rolled up.

"What? Are you disappointed I don't wear the skimpy dresses anymore?"

"A little."

"Well, too bad. I was disappointed when I saw you cut your hair off, again. Guess we're even," Shawn told him and opened her car door. "Although, I do happen to still have a certain black dress I know you like."

Juice smiled broadly. "You know you're putting that one when we get back to your place later, right?"

Shawn shrugged and started to get into her car. "We'll see."

Juice playfully slapped her ass, causing her to jump a little before walking back to his bike. He saw Tig near his bike and got worried for a second.

"Did you just slap my daughter's ass?" Tig asked.

Juice climbed onto his bike and strapped on his helmet, suddenly feeling more confident. "Yes, I did."

"I don't think I'm okay with this anymore."

"Too late," Juice said with a smile and started his bike. He pulled out of his spot and followed Shawn's car out of the lot.