Blood vs. Loyalty

Black Widower

Holly smiled happily as they pulled up to Ope and Lyla's, climbing out of the truck and went up to the door and knocked.

"Hey, Holly. Welcome home. They're in the living room. We were having a movie night."
"Thanks, Lyla. I'm sorry about the extended stay."
"It's ok. You two don't get much of a chance to be alone. I get it."

She hugged Lyla before going into the living room, standing behind the couch and tapping Abel's shoulder gently, smiling when he looked back at her, watching him light up and jump off the couch.

"Mommy!"
"Hey, buddy. Mommy and daddy missed you guys so much."

She smiled and picked him up as Tommy and the girls ran over too, hugging and kissing all of them before thanking Opie and Lyla and getting the kids into the car, ready to be at home with her family.

Holly looked over as Jax came into the dining room, making him a plate of pancakes.

"Morning, wife."
"Good morning, husband."

She smiled as she kissed him back, smiling softly as she gave him his plate.

"You heading to the shop today?"
"Yeah. Gotta play catch up with the guys."
"Hey, mommy?"

She looked at Abel.

"What is it, buddy?"
"Can I go to work with daddy today?"
"You'd have to ask daddy."

She smiled, kissing Abel's head as he asked Jax if he could go to the shop with him.

"I don't mind, buddy. But you know the rules."

Jax pulled up to the shop with Abel and Valentina. Tommy and Lilia were at the house with Holly, who was unpacking and doing laundry from their trip. He smiled as he walked inside with the kids, hugging and greeting the guys.

"Welcome home, Jackie Boy. Welcome home."
"Thanks, brother."
"So how's the ball and chain?"
"At home unpacking and housework."
"She feeling any better, Jax?"
"Yeah, she is. She's gonna go see Tara today and get checked out."

Holly walked into St. Thomas with the Tommy and Lilia, going to Tara's office, knocking.

"Come in."

She walked inside, pushing the stroller.

"Hey, Tara. How are you?"
"I'm doing really good. How about you? How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling a lot better. I'm still adjusting to married life, though."
"You look happy, though."
"I am. Very happy."
"How's Jax?"
"He's good too."
"Good. I'm happy for you both."
"Thank you."
"Were you able to finish your bottle of antibiotics?"
"Yes, I was. That's why I came to see you. I wanna get a checkup."
"Ok. Let's go."

Jax sat at the table with the guys, having Chucky watching the kids.

"So what have I missed?"
"Diosa Del Sur is going strong, as is Diosa Norte and Redwoody. They're hoping to wrap up their first movie in the new space next weekend. And they're setting up webcam shows. Juice is helping with the tech and Nero just brought in two new girls."
"Good. Where are we with Patterson? She sniffing around?"
"We haven't heard anything. It's been quiet. Relatively speaking."
"Very good. I wanna thank you all. For your patience with me getting us out of guns and for your help with the wedding and the kids while Holly and I were gone. I might have the President's patch, but the club wouldn't be successful without all of you. So thank you."

He smiled as the guys all clapped the table a bit. He looked around at his friends, his brothers. He was lucky and he knew it. As far as the club went, things could've gone a lot worse. Especially while Clay was still president. He knew that if he had tried to do this back then, either nothing would've happened, or something could've gone horribly, horribly wrong. He could've lost his brothers or his wife or his kids. Things were good. And he hoped they would remain that way.