Ally clung to Juice's shoulders as he slowly and deeply moved within her. She tried to keep her pants soft so she wouldn't wake Gabriel who was sleeping in his new bassinet by the bed.
"Juan Carlos," she sighed as he kissed her neck.
They clutched each other after their climax and the alarm Ally had set began to beep. With a grimace, Juice reached over and turned it off before it woke the baby and carefully rolled off of her.
"You remember," he said quietly, turning to her and pushing her slightly sweat damped hair out of her face, "our first time?"
Ally chuckled and curled into his chest. "Yeah, it was in this bed and we had to be so quiet so Dad wouldn't hear. Then we couldn't keep our hands off each other."
Juice grinned and kissed her forehead. "Now it's going to be our last time for a long time."
Ally didn't respond. That had been weighing on both their minds all night. Today was the last day Juice was going to be a free man. They were going back in that afternoon.
"I need to get up and start on making breakfast," she murmured, getting out of the bed. After she cleaned herself up she began beating the eggs while the stove warmed up. Juice stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and began nuzzling her neck.
"Juan Carlos," she whined weakly. "I gotta get this done or nobody's gonna be able to eat this morning."
"Fuck them. Come back to bed with me."
Ally turned in his arms and bit her bottom lip. "You have no idea how bad I want to do that." Sadness fell on her face. "I dunno what I'm gonna do without you."
"It's only a few years."
"Five. Two or three on good behavior," Ally responded automatically. "I just . . . I'm just so scared, baby. How can I raise our son and build our house and keep the shop up and just keep going without you here with me. You've always been there for the big stuff. I've never had to do any of that alone."
"You're gonna be fine," Juice told her. "You're the strongest woman I know and I know you can handle it. I wish I was going to be here for you for this and I'm gonna regret that I'm not for the rest of my life. I'm going to miss all the big stuff with Gabe. First word, steps, Christmas. All of that."
Ally's eyes began to water and she swallowed roughly and nodded. "I know."
"Just come see me," he asked, resting his forehead against hers. "And bring Gabe. I can't do this without seeing you and talking to you as much as I can."
"I will," she promised, pulling his face down for a kiss. "Just please be safe."
"I will."
Ally tried to smile before nudging him back with her hips. "Good. I'm gonna start cooking this batch if you'll crack some more eggs for me?"
With a smirk, Juice kissed the top of her head and wordlessly did what she asked. Tig came in with Gabriel as Ally was dumping the first batch of eggs in the tin catering pan.
"We're hungry," he announced as Juice handed him Gabriel's bottle. "Smells good, baby."
"Thanks, Dad," Ally replied. She looked over and watched Tig feed his grandson as she mechanically cooked the eggs. "Big day today," she started in attempt to diffuse the tension.
Tig nodded as he looked at her. "Yeah," he agreed dully. "Still don't like what you're doing, though." Juice nodded in agreement as he started transferring the cinnamon buns onto a travel pan.
"I know," Ally replied. "Stahl all ready texted me this morning with the meet time. I won't be there to see you guys go."
"Probably best," Tig murmured as he moved Gabriel to his shoulder to burp him. "Probably won't be pretty and you need to play the part. Know what you're gonna say?"
Ally shrugged. "I'm mostly going to play poor little me now I'm a single mother thing. Women eat that shit up not matter how manly they are." After she dumped the last of the eggs and covered them with foil, she turned and looked at her three men.
"I'm gonna miss you," she said softly knowing their quiet time as a family was about to be finished.
"We'll be fine," Tig insisted as he put Gabriel's bottle and his coffee mug in the sink. "You just gotta keep going baby and it'll be over before you know it."
Ally nodded and wiped at her watery eyes. "I know. We gotta get ready so we can get going."
Tig eyed her carefully and handed Gabriel off to Juice. He stepped closer to her so they were face to face. "Are you sure you can do this? Club's asking a lot of you."
Ally nodded and looked down at their feet. "I can do it."
Tig lifted her chin and eyed her critically. "I know. You're gonna handle this even though we're gonna be gone. You're not gonna break. Raised you better than that."
Ally smiled softly. "I know. I love you, Daddy."
"Love you too, Ally cat."
After a tight hug, they pulled away before things became too emotional. They quickly got ready and loaded Ally's SUV with the food and headed towards the garage.
Juice and Tig helped carry in the breakfast foods to the Clubhouse while Ally carried a small tin of eggs with Gabriel on her hip. Gemma was unwrapping a tray of still warm pancakes.
"Who brought that," Ally asked skeptically as she put her pan of eggs down.
"I did."
Ally raised an eyebrow. "You were released yesterday afternoon and the doctor told you to take it easy. I don't think cooking for an outlaw army falls under 'taking it easy,' Gem. And, I thought Tara was helping with food?"
Gemma shook her head and put serving spoons in all the containers. "Yeah," she scoffed. "Tara would order catering and that's not the home cooked meal our boys need to be sent off on. I'm a big girl, Ally. I'm fine. Did you hear the news?"
"What?"
"I'm gonna be a grandma again."
"Oh, yeah. Tara told me earlier," Ally replied knowing it would get under Gemma's skin that knew first. A glance over Gemma's shoulder revealed Clay and Jax embracing in congratulations. "I'm excited for you."
Gemma grinned and accepted Ally's hug. She sighed and scooped Gabriel out of Ally's arms, who was quickly taken away by Juice. "Now we just have to get another one out of you."
"Yeah, well, you gonna be waiting for awhile," Ally muttered as the clubhouse filled up and conversations began to flow around them. "Then when Juice gets back he'll have to clean out all the cobwebs that are gonna be there before he can even do anything."
Gemma snorted and fixed them both a cup of coffee. "You know there's a prison clause."
"Yeah, I know," Ally answered as she fixed one for Juice, who was showing Gabriel off to anyone who would look. "But I don't want anybody else. I'll wait. I can wait."
Gemma smiled softly and pushed a tendril of hair behind Ally's ear. "Go spend some time with your boys."
Ally took the two mugs and set them on a table. Juice joined her shortly afterward. Everyone seemed to be in high spirits even though today was going to be difficult. Hugs and smiles were passed freely as everyone fixed themselves a plate and took a seat at the scattered, mismatched tables.
Juice held onto Gabriel and ate one-handed. Ally didn't argue or try to take the baby away. She knew he desperately wanted and needed these final, precious moments with his son before they ended for an unknown amount of time.
Tig took a seat with them and patted Ally's knee in a silent show of support and love. Ally smiled at him in response.
"All right everybody, Lyla's got something she wants to say," Opie called out as he and Lyla stood.
"We're getting married," Lyla shrieked in excitement, flashing her ring.
The room erupted in cheers and Ally went to congratulate the couple with a hug.
"I'm so happy for you," she murmured to Opie, who gave her an extra squeeze in response. "Love you big brother."
"Love you, lil' sis."
As congratulations were finished and plates were being cleared, Juice and Ally stepped outside away from the commotion with Gabriel. Their family time was running dangerously low and they wanted a few quiet moments alone.
"Anything in particular you want in the house," Ally started quietly as they sat at the picnic table. She didn't expect this time to be heavy with awkwardness.
Juice shook his head and moved Gabriel to his lap. "I don't care what you do, Ally. You know what I like and don't like and I trust you 100% with everything you want to do. Just make sure we can afford it and I'm good. And, I don't exactly want to spend this last little time we have together talking about floor plans."
"I know," Ally murmured. "Me either. I just don't know what to say other than that I'm gonna miss you and I'm pretty sure I've said it twenty times this morning alone."
Juice cupped the back of her neck and kissed her temple. "Then we don't have to talk. Just know that I love you and please keep it together while I'm gone. Be my strong girl. Protect and teach our son everything he needs to know like if I were here, you know. Uh, uh. Don't start crying." He wiped away the burgeoning tears forming in her eyes. "It's gonna be fine and it's gonna be over before you know it."
"I'm going to wait for you," Ally promised him softly, cupping his cheek in her hand. "And I'm going to take care of our son and our home. I love you."
"I love you, too."
After a gentle kiss, Ally leaned her head on Juice's free shoulder. Their serenity only lasted a few minutes before the Sons began pouring out of the Clubhouse.
It was time to go.
Reluctantly, Juice handed Gabriel back to Ally before pressing a kiss to Gabriel's head that was sprinkled in downy dark hair. His features and coloring were becoming more and more Juice-like every day.
Juice looked into Ally's eyes. She didn't say anything and neither did he. Their lips met in one final, powerful kiss before Juice stepped away. Ally said her goodbyes to the men and Tig gave her a crushing hug.
"Be a good girl," he murmured. "Take care of your shit."
"I will," she murmured. "Keep him safe, Daddy, and I'll see you both soon. Love you."
"Love you, too."
She held onto Gabriel tightly, who began crying at the noise of all the motorcycles cranking.
"Shhhh," she cooed softly as she bounced him. "I'm sad, too. We're both gonna miss them." She raised one had in a half hearted wave as the Sons rode off. She didn't know the details of their plan for the day, but she knew it was dangerous and she knew this was going to be the last time she saw them free for a long time.
Gemma stood next to her with a sigh. "They'll be in and out all day," she murmured. "Have you talked to Jax lately?"
With a deliberately confused look, Ally shook her head. "No. Not since he sat with me while Gabe was in the hospital. Even then, it wasn't much. I kinda wasn't too worried about making small talk. Why?"
"Nothing," Gemma replied quickly and shook her head. "Just worried about him."
Gabriel had quieted down and was snuggling into Ally's neck.
"He's got a lot going on," Ally murmured carefully. "He'll he fine. They'll all be fine. We're gonna be fine. It's fine."
"So it's fine?"
"It's fine," Ally replied with a nod. "It's gonna be fine. Um," she knew she needed to get out of here quickly before Gemma sniffed her out. Gemma had no idea of her plan with the Club and it was crucial to keep it that way. "Ah, I'm gonna get him," she nodded to Gabriel, "out of here. It's almost nap time and I think we could both use one."
"You not gonna hang around for when the guys come back? You and Juice could fit in a quickie, I'm sure."
Ally shook her head sadly. "We decided it would be best to say our goodbyes this morning. I can't handle anymore emotional trauma, you know. So, that's what we decided to do."
Gemma pursed her lips in disapproval. She stepped in front of Ally and put her hands on her hips. "Is something going on I need to know about?"
"What? No, Mom," Ally insisted. "I just don't want Gabe around this today. I can't be around this today. It's too much. Please try to understand." After a moment of stare down, Gemma stepped aside and Ally left with Gabriel.
She ran a hand through her hair as she parked in the driveway of Cho's house.
"We're gonna get to the other side of this Gabe," she said softly as she unbuckled herself. "And then we just have to wait for Daddy to get out. We're gonna make it baby. We're gonna make it."
Cho was waiting for her on the porch with a sad smile. "How'd it go?"
Ally shook her head as she met her friend on the porch. "It went. Let's get inside before someone sees me."
Once they were in, Ally set Gabriel in his carrier on the kitchen island. "Thanks for keeping him," she murmured softly. "I really appreciate it, Cho."
"Oh, it's no problem," Cho replied. "He's gotten so big since the last time I saw him," she cooed as she tickled his foot and he promptly jerked it away. He did not like his feet to be touched.
Ally chuckled weakly and pulled Gabriel's Sons hat more firmly onto his head. "Yeah, he's becoming a little chunk. I love his little rolls."
"Ally, what exactly are you going to be doing today?"
It was a simple question but not a simple answer. Ally bit her bottom lip and sat on one of the barstools. "I can't really say, Cho. But, I shouldn't be long."
Cho shook her head. "You're kinda scaring me Ally. I don't understand what's going on."
"You don't need to," Ally countered carefully. "Even if I could tell you what I was doing I wouldn't be able to explain it in a way that you'd understand. You and me, we're not from the same world. Your every day life, your normal, is a dream I'll never be able to have. And, my reality is probably your worst nightmare. What I do and what I'm doing today, I'm doing for my family. To protect them."
"I just don't understand."
"You'll never be able to understand," Ally murmured sadly. "But everything's going to be okay. I just need someone not associated with the Club to watch him while I did this."
"Will you be able to tell me later?"
Ally shrugged. "I don't know," she whispered thickly. "I don't know."
- - - - - STRONG GIRL - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ally's heart pounded as she drove down the open stretch of highway. The clock was ticking. She knew she was going to be early, but that was the plan. She needed a few minutes alone to calm her nerves. She pulled into the gravel parking lot of the highway truck stop. It was the middle of the day and obviously slow from the slim amount of cars.
Her phone buzzed in her purse again.
Ally ignored it again.
She had ignored several missed calls from Gemma. She didn't need to answer. She all ready knew what it was about.
The guys had been picked up.
A bell chimed as she stepped into the diner and took an empty booth towards the back. She pushed her hair out of her face as a young waitress walked up with her pad out.
"What can I get ya?"
"Just a cup of coffee," Ally murmured quietly, pushing away the menu set in front of her.
"Cream and sugar?"
"Just cream," Ally replied and looked up at the waitress. 'Gertie' was on her name tag. "Thanks Gertie."
"No problem. Coming right up."
Ally stayed quiet once her coffee was delivered. Her time was running out and her palms were beginning to sweat with nerves. She had one job and it was her responsibility to see it through and do it right.
She jumped when the bell over the door chimed. Agent Stahl had arrived. As casually as she could muster, Ally took a too big sip of the hot coffee.
"Ally," Agent Stahl greeted as she slid into the opposite side of the booth. Her eyes darted around cautiously. "Where's the baby?"
"With a friend," Ally responded softly as she pushed her hair back behind her ears nervously. "I don't want him around this," she waved her finger between them, "you know."
Agent Stahl nodded. "Is he with Gemma?"
"No." Ally shook her head. "Friend of mine. Not of the Club."
A smirk curled on Agent Stahl's face. "Cho, right?" Her smile widened at Ally's surprised face. "I saw you drop him off. Wanted to be sure you were holding up our end of the agreement, Ally. Once I get your statement and signature we can securely pick him up and deliver him to you." She noticed Ally's nervous ticks of pushing her hair and fiddling with her shirt sleeves increasing. "Are you all right?"
With a thick swallow, Ally nodded. Tears were beginning to brim in her eyes. "I, um, I'm just, you know, not comfortable here. I don't like being, like, sitting still with you. I feel like anyone can drive by and see us and get back to the Club and I have a baby to think about and,"
"Ally, Ally," Agent Stahl held up a hand. "Calm down. The majority of them have been picked up and taken into police custody. The rest are in the wind probably trying to figure out what to do now. But, if it makes you feel better, we can go to a different location."
"Can we," Ally asked softly, letting her eyes dance around the patrons of the diner. She wanted to make sure she didn't recognize anyone. "There's, um, this park further up the road. There's always families and stuff out there and, I dunno, I just think I'd be more comfortable, you know. I'm just paranoid. Can't believe I'm doing this."
Stahl hesitated before nodding. She tossed a few bills on the table and jerked her head in a motion for Ally to follow. She opened the passenger door of her sedan and gestured for Ally to get in.
Ally breathed in deeply and twirled a strand of hair around her finger nervously as they pulled out of the parking lot and headed back down the highway. It was quiet in the car and Stahl noticed the anxiousness radiating from Ally.
She grabbed one of two folders from the dash and tossed it to her. "Here. As agreed here is your statement. Once you sign it we'll get you and your son in protective custody. From there you'll get your new identities and go into wit-pro."
"What about Juice?"
Stahl's jaw twitched. "That's going to be a little more difficult since he's on his way to the pen. He did commit a crime and he has to serve his time."
"That wasn't the deal," Ally snapped. "I went behind everyone's back, my family's backs, for you. The deal was me and my husband and kid get out. Together."
"I might be able to arrange a transfer to wherever you are and potentially get his time reduced. That's the best I can do."
"I gave you intel on the Real IRA and that's the best you can do," Ally retorted darkly. "You gotta do better."
Stahl slammed on her breaks as someone cut her off. The other folder slid onto Ally's lap. "Son of a bitch," Stahl swore while honking the horn.
Ally picked the other folder up and saw a familiar signature scrawled across the bottom of a page.
Jax Teller.
Ally's jaw dropped and the folder shook in her hands. "Oh, my God."
"As you can see," Stahl drawled, "I got a better offer. What you got is the best it's going to be and before you try to change your mind, I'm sure they've noticed your suspicious absence by now."
Ally's heart pounded in her chest. "You're gonna get us all killed."
Stahl didn't respond. She kept checking her rearview mirror. "What is that idiot doing?"
Unser was behind them with his police lights flashing.
"What's going on," Ally asked as they pulled off on the side of the road. Unser pulled up behind them.
"Stay in here," Stahl ordered, getting out.
Listening closely she heard Unser warn Stahl of a trap of Irish waiting a few miles up. As nonchalantly as she could, she pulled the small handgun of Tig's she had tucked into her boot and slipped it into her jacket pocket. Slowly, she got out and Unser got a look at her. Disappointment flashed across his face.
"Ally, what are you doing?" He didn't wait for an answer. "You know better than to make a deal with his woman."
"Wow, Wayne, you really know how to flatter a girl," Stahl quipped. "But why she's here is none of your business. It's ATF business."
"I know what I'm doing Unser," Ally argued quietly as a school bus came down the quiet highway. "I'm doing what I gotta do. Just like what you gotta do."
Stahl rolled her eyes. "What are you,"
She was cut off as Unser pointed his gun at her.
Ally did the same.
"Whoa. What is this?"
The yellow bus didn't pass, but instead pulled off with them. When the door slid open, Opie, Chibs and Kozik filed out, weapons at their side.
Stahl stepped back, surprise and fear on her face. "What are you,"
"Get in," Opie snapped with his gun pointed at her head. He nodded towards the car. "Get. In."
Kozik tugged on Ally's arm. "Come on."
Ally pulled her arm back and shook her head. "No. I want to see if finished."
Kozik sighed and put his hands on his hips as Opie got into the backseat of the car. "Fucking Trager," he muttered. He leaned against the bus and put his arm around her. "Ope may be a little dramatic with it, but she deserves it."
Ally didn't respond. She knew Opie was imitating the way his wife Donna had been killed. Stahl may of not been the one to physically pull the trigger that ended her life, but she was responsible for it. Her lies and power trips brought her here.
They could see Stahl pleading for her life as she put her hands on the wheel. Her fear was clearly evident as her entire body shook and tears streamed down her face.
In a flash dotted with the popping sound of bullets from an automatic weapon, the windshield was broken and splattered with blood. Ally swallowed roughly. All the buildup and lies had built up to that moment and now it was over.
It was over.
After a moment, Opie got out with the two folders in his hands. Without even looking at the contents, he ripped them up while Chibs drew something on the back windshield with Stahl's blood. Kozik went to Unser, who had watched everything with uncertainty.
"Left side. I had bridge work done on the right," Unser told him. They knew they needed to make it look as legit as possible that someone else had done the dirty work. Kozik gave him a solid punch to the jaw and caused Unser to fall against the car.
"All right?"
"Yeah," Unser insisted with a nonchalant wave. "I'm all right"
Ally kept her eyes on the ground as Kozik led her onto the bus with a hand at the small of her back.
"You aight," he asked her softly as she took a seat behind Piney, who was driving the bus.
Ally nodded with a shrug. "I'll be fine. Where's his phone?"
Kozik pulled Juice's iPhone out of his pocket and handed it to Ally. It was Juice's personal phone and once had a background picture of her lying in a pool chair in a little black bikini. Now it was a photo of her holding Gabriel in the hospital.
With the swipe of her finger, the photo disappeared and opened to a GPS tracker that was linked to her phone. A red dot blinked with her location with coordinates and directions. Ally closed it out so it was hidden in a seemingly innocent fruit cutting game.
Then she deleted it.
She leaned back on the cracked seats and looked over to see Chibs sipping from a small Jameson juice box. "Got another one of those?"
The ride back to Charming was quiet. Ally sighed with relief once she was back at Tig's with Gabriel.
"Welcome home baby boy," she murmured. "Looks like it's just gonna be me and you for awhile. Ally and Gabe against the world."
After his bath Ally tucked him into his bassinet and changed her clothes. Her limbs felt like lead as she crawled back into bed and pulled the pillow Juice had slept on towards her and buried her nose in it. It smelled faintly of him. It would fade quicker than his pillow at home would of. He only spent two nights on this one, but his body wash and aftershave were still present.
Her phone rang from her purse and Ally quickly scrambled to get it before it stopped ringing. She had been waiting for this.
"Hello," she answered breathlessly.
"Hey Pretty Girl," Juice replied quietly. She could hear the commotion of the line behind him waiting to use the phones. "Just wanted to hear your voice and make sure you're okay."
"I am," Ally replied thickly. She knew she couldn't go into details. Inmate calls were monitored. "I'm so glad to hear your voice. Me and Gabe just got home. He's asleep."
"That's good," Juice murmured. The commotion grew behind him. "Look, I don't have long, but wanted to let you know we were good and I'll see you soon."
"Yeah, soon," Ally repeated. "I love you Juan Carlos."
"I love you, too. I gotta go."
"Okay." Her voice was thick with emotion. "I'll see you soon." She wasn't sure if he heard the last bit because a dial tone met her ear.
She wiped away the tear that had fallen and set her phone down to charge. She scooped up the contents of her purse that had been thrown out in her frantic search for her phone. Her hand grabbed the leather bound manuscript Jax had given her. It felt like it had been years since he had given it to her.
She got back into bed and situated the sheets around her comfortably before she opened it. The pages were old and slightly yellowed, but the text was still bold and legible.
'The Life and Death of SAMCRO: How the Sons of Anarchy Lost Their Way. By John Thomas Teller.
The name Sons of Anarchy was the name I came up with In 8th grade for me and my best friends. We were going to change the world. . . '