after charming |ez reyes|

1

Then

"I can't stay here anymore. It just reminds me of everyone I've lost," Meredith said through her tears. Charming was her personal Hell. She had lost her mother, her father, and now her older brother. She also had custody of Abel and Thomas. Mer wasn't ready for any of this. She wasn't ready to be a mother basically, but she couldn't stay in Charming where death and destruction were constantly looming.

"I know lassie," Chibs said, pulling Meredith Teller into a hug and kissing her forehead. "I wish you would stay close. You're family and so are the boys." She knew he was right. She wanted to stay, but everything told her not to.

"I know, but everyone's dead. How am I supposed to raise them where death is all around them Chibs? I can't do it."

Now

It had been 4 years since Meredith had left Charming with Abel and Thomas. Abel was 8 and Thomas was 6. At first, Meredith had no idea where she had planned on going. She went on the coast and rented a beach house where she just grieved all her losses. She had also lost Juice whom she was extremely close to. She wanted to stay with the rest of the guys, but it broke her heart being there and the boys needed a fresh start.

Once it was time for Thomas to officially start Kindergarten is when Meredith got her ass in gear about settling down and buying a house. She wasn't ever short on money because the guys took care of her, sending her a cut. Chibs had also suggested that she reach out to Marcus Alvarez, someone who respected Jax deeply.

So now, here she was, packing her stuff again and heading to Santo Padre, where Marcus recommended, to get their fresh start. She always loved being around the MC and knew Marcus was the founder of the Mayans. There was a branch of the MC in Santo Padre and she was sure she would eventually be introduced to them. Marcus had assured her that no one would mess with her and had set her up with a house in a neighborhood close to the clubhouse. Little did she know that he would also be moving to Santo Padre to be working for Miguel Galindo soon.

The little family of three was working their butts off moving boxes in from the moving trucks, trying to get everything ready. Meredith was used to doing things by herself. She saved the majority of the money that the club sent her for when the boys got older or when she needed to take them to the doctor and she made her own money working side jobs she could get.

Mer knew she needed to get a job that she could work while the boys were in school and then be home when they got home. It wouldn't bring in a lot of money, but anything would be better than nothing.

Meredith Teller was only 28, being only 24 when she started to take care of her brother's two children. She had been trying to become an artist, but put her dreams on hold for the boys.

Meredith grunted as she picked up a heavy box and put it inside when she heard motorcycles pulling up. She basically dropped the box and grabbed both boys hands, thinking it might be everyone coming to see them. She ran back out the door and noticed different motorcycles than what SAMCRO rode.

She pulled Thomas up to her hip and held Abel's hand. She knew they weren't going to be a threat but still. She honestly looked like shit to be meeting the Mayans for the first time. She had tiny shorts on and a tank top with her hair thrown up half-hazardly.

She counted four men pulling up to her house. She watched closely when they stepped off their motorcycles. One man stepped forward, "Meredith Teller?"

She nodded and looked at them all. "Yeah that's me," She said back, not asking who they were yet. Abel watched and so did Thomas.

"I'm Obispo Losa. Marcus' cousin. President of the Mayans chapter here in Santo Padre. You can call me Bishop. He said you might need some help moving in today." He said, walking forward to shake her hand.

Meredith relaxed a little and smiled, "Nice to meet you Bishop." She shook his hand, unlinking hands with Abel for a second.

He crouched down for a second, "Hi buddy, I'm Bishop. What's your name?" Mer smiled as he interacted with Abel.

"I'm Abel. That's my brother, Thomas." He said pointing to Thomas who was burying his head in Meredith's shoulder.

"Well it's very nice to meet both of you boys." Bishop smiled softly. He ruffled Abel's hair. He stood back up, "These are 3 of my guys here to help. Angel, Coco and Ez."

"Hi," Meredith said looking at each of them and slightly blushing when she looked at the one named Ez who was already smiling at her. She immediately changed the topic, "Well we have a lot of boxes and a lot to unpack. Who wants to show them their rooms?" Mer said and jiggled Thomas a little.

He looked up a little and smiled. Abel took off running with Bishop, Coco and Angel following. Ez stayed and approached the two of them. Thomas hid his head again. "Hey buddy, do you wanna show me your room? She can come with us too." He smiled as his eyes shifted from Thomas to Mer.

Thomas nodded and scooted down from Mer's arms. He grabbed her hand and Ez's hand and started to lead them into the house.

After Thomas got done showing them his room and talking up a storm, he went to go find Abel. Meredith looked at Ez and almost broke into tears, "Thank you." He was taken aback by her reaction.

"He never opens up like that. I'm not their mom. I'm just their aunt and I barely know what I'm doing even though I've had them for four years." She wiped a tear falling from her eyes. "He's so attached to me. He doesn't remember his mom so I'm mommy to him and I feel like I'm fucking him up even more."

Ez took her shoulders, "Hey, you're doing a great job. The kid obviously loves you. They both do. You stepped up and that's what counts. It doesn't matter if you're their birth mom or not. You are their mother and father figure. I can tell that just the 20 minutes I've been here."

Mer nodded, getting ahold of herself, "I'm sorry. I don't normally cry to strangers. I normally save that for 3 weeks in." She joked.

Ez smiled, "It's okay. We all have our moments." He rubbed her shoulder. "Alvarez was friends with your brother so you're a friend to the club. We're gonna be here for you and the boys. I'll check with Bishop but the three of you guys should come by on Friday."

Meredith nodded again, "Yeah okay, that would be great." She sucked in a breath and wiped her tears. "Thank you, Ez." She leaned close to him and kissed him on the cheek before walking out of the room