I can't believe I'm saying this, but here is the final chapter to A Charming Life…

The inspiration for Gracie's character came to me one night when I was watching that heartbreaking episode of SOA when Juice, high on Oxy, goes to Diosa and talks to Lyla. When she asks him what kind of girl he wants, the only thing he said was, "someone nice." And that is exactly who I tried to write for him. Someone as nice and sweet as he was who could help him through his struggles, love him through his mistakes, and give him hope for his future. And I hope you all believe that, by the end of this chapter, I succeeded. I really tried my best.

Thank you so much for taking time out of your lives to read my story, and a special thanks to all of you who reviewed. This was my very first fanfiction, and all of you made it so worthwhile. The support I've received blows me away and I can never thank you all enough.

So after you finish reading this chapter (and after you review on it, of course :)) please go and read my brand new fic that I just posted a few minutes ago! If it's not seachable just yet, I'm pretty sure you can find it on my bio page. It's a Jax/OC story, rated M, entitled Call and Answer. I'm really excited about it so far, and I can't wait to hear what you think.

Ok, this is it! I'm seriously crying right now! So I'll say one last time, I hope you enjoy it and please review…

Chapter 54

It turned out that Chibs was right. When Juice explained everything to the club, they understood why he had to consider giving the drugs and information to Roosevelt. He was manipulated and forced into an impossible situation. But at the end of the day, all that mattered to Jax and the rest of his brothers was that he didn't rat. They also felt the same way about his suicide attempt. The club could never condone or support a brother choosing to take his own life, but because Juice changed his mind in time and realized his mistake, all was forgiven.

As for Juice's father, the entire club agreed that the bylaw excluding black members was antiquated and racist, and that it no longer reflected the feelings of most of the club's members. So they immediately held a vote to allow men of all races to patch into the club, which passed unanimously.

And from that point on, the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club began a whole new era.

The long journey to making the club legitimate wasn't easy. Just as Chibs predicted, the Irish didn't take too kindly to being forced into business with the Mayans, and during a retaliatory shootout with Galen O'Shay and his men, the club sadly lost both Phil and Miles. But after the smoke had cleared and the blood had been shed, the Kings finally understood that the Sons were really out of the gun business and that selling to the Mayans was better than selling to no one at all.

And as was expected, the Niners were also out for blood when they realized that the deal between the Sons and the Mayans had resulted in Alavarez locking down control of the Oaktown heroine and weapons trades. They hit the clubhouse with a drive-by during one of the Friday night parties, and even though it was terrifying for everyone there, the only injuries were Bobby losing an eye and Tig getting shot in the arm. But it only took one call from Jax to Alvarez and Romeo for them to fulfill their promise to protect the club. The next morning, the streets of Oakland were filled with dead One-Niners, and from that point on, there were no other retaliation attempts.

Romeo gave the club one more parting gift in the form of information. He revealed to Jax that, through some government contacts that they cartel had in the States, he knew that the feds had used Roosevelt to get to Juice in hopes of building a RICO case against the Irish, the Galindo's, and the entire MC. Apparently Otto had given up some old crimes when he was messed up over Luann's death, and all they needed was a member to confirm current criminal activity for the club and everyone else to go down. But because Juice didn't turn rat, and the feds had no other proof of illegal activity, the federal case against them had been blown apart.

Once the guns and drugs were behind them, Samcro finally started building up their legitimate business income. What was once Caracara studios became Red Woody Productions, and under Lyla's guidance, the new porn studio became more successful than any of them ever dreamed. The club made a deal to use some of the girls from Diosa in the movies, and in turn, Nero got a small cut of the profits. The partnership turned out to be so successful that Jax eventually turned right back around and invested in Diosa, so that Samcro and Nero eventually opened a second location, Diosa Norte. The escort business was officially a franchise.

After a few years, it became an unwritten rule that the single guys in the club would run the day to day operations at Diosa and Red Woody, while the brothers that had wives and kids would manage the other businesses. So Jax, Opie, and Juice usually handled all things related to TM and protection runs, as well as what was left of Unser Trucking, which they purchased and turned into Redwood Trucking; an incredibly successful shipping operation. And even Tig drifted away from pussy and over to the other side of the club when things got serious and he finally settled down with Venus.

As hard as it was to take the club in a new direction, the long road to repairing the damaged relationships was just as difficult. It wasn't easy for Jax and Tara to regain what they'd lost when the truth about the letters came out, but after a little time had passed, they realized that the love they had for each other was just too strong to let anything stand in its way. Tara eventually accepted that Jax was capable of making decisions that were in the best interest of their family, and Jax accepted that Tara would, from that point on, always be honest with him. They both put in the work, both stayed dedicated, both stayed faithful, and they kept their family together.

And it was just as difficult for Tara and Gracie to rebuild their friendship. Since the day they'd met, Grace had been completely devoted to Tara; always there for her, always loyal, always on her side. So when Gracie had gone against Tara's wishes and told Jax the truth about Maureen's letters, it had hurt in a way she'd never thought possible. Tara didn't even start to forgive her until she saw that, much to her surprise and relief, Gracie had been right; that once in control, Jax was able to lead the club in a safe and legal direction, ensuring the safety and future of her family and her boys. So once the guns and violence and danger were behind them, the two friends slowly started to mend what was broken. Because when push came to shove, the two of them weren't just friends. They were sisters with an unbreakable bond, and they would always find their way back to each other, no matter what.

So their relationship gradually healed, not only because Tara eventually understood why Gracie had done what she did, but also because Tara just couldn't stay mad when she fell completely in love with the baby growing inside of Gracie, especially when her best friend started to show…

Almost nine months to the day after the club voted to forgive Juice and go legitimate, James Filip Ortiz made his way into the world. He weighed 7lbs 8 oz, was 20 inches long, and had a head full of beautiful, thick black hair. He was named after two of the greatest men Gracie had ever known; James, her beloved father, and Chibs, who would be the baby's godfather. And even though their son's name was James, it only took a few days for the club to unofficially rename him J.J., for Juice Jr., because the baby was, in every way, the spitting image of his father. From his gorgeous caramel skin, jet black hair, and warm brown eyes, their precious boy was an exact replica of Juan Carlos Ortiz.

It didn't surprise Gracie in the least that Juice turned out to be an amazing father. J.J. was the light of their lives and gave them more happiness than they ever could have imagined. But as much as Juice adored his son, he still dreamed about having a little girl that looked just like his wife.

So only two years after J.J. was born, Juice got his wish. Rose Tara Ortiz, named for Gracie's mom and the baby's godmother, was a true daddy's girl, the apple of his eye, and the last piece of the puzzle that made his beautiful little family complete.

23 years later…

Anymore, it was rare when their entire family was gathered together in one place, but today was an exception. Today was special…

J.J. grew up into a man who was almost exactly like his father; not only in looks, but in personality as well. He was sweet, caring, loving, loyal, and just like his dad, a computer genius. From the moment he got his first laptop, J.J. was in love. So even though Juice taught his son how to ride a motorcycle, a part of him was relieved when his oldest child declared that he didn't want to patch into the club, instead choosing to attend the University of Southern California to major in Computer Science. Now at 25 years old, J.J. Ortiz worked as a computer programmer for an IT company in San Francisco, and he couldn't be happier.

Abel Teller surprised his parents in much the same way. Maybe it was because he spent so much time in hospitals as a kid, or maybe it was because he worshipped the ground his mother walked on, but when Abel turned 18, he walked away from the club and went to college, determined to be a doctor. And now at almost 28 years old, Dr. Abel Teller had just opened his first pediatric practice in Oakland.

But on that beautiful California afternoon, both J.J. and Abel would find themselves back in Charming with their families. They both had a wedding to attend…

From his blond hair and blue eyes to his confident and flirtatious nature, Thomas Teller was in every way his father. He had dreamed about wearing a patch since he was old enough to reach for his daddy's handlebars, and had started prospecting the day he graduated from High school. All he thought about was earning his top rocker, and all he cared about was the club. Well, at least that was all he cared about until a girl he'd known his whole life turned sixteen and suddenly turned Thomas Teller's entire world upside down…

Rosie Ortiz may have looked like both her parents, with Juice's dark features and Gracie's bright green eyes, but when it came to her personality, she was just like her mom. She was sweet, a little shy, and always wanted to help people. She even followed in Gracie's footsteps and became a nurse, taking a job at St. Thomas as soon as she got her degree.

So it was no surprise to Gracie when Rosie came home one day and announced that, just like her mother, she had fallen madly in love with a biker…

On that day seven years before, when 16 year old Rosie and an almost 20 year old Thomas announced to their parents that they wanted to be together, Juice had lost his mind. He lunged at the young man who he had always considered a nephew, and threatened to take him to the ring over taking advantage of his young, naïve teenage daughter. But after Gracie calmed him down, and they all sat down to talk, things slowly got better. Thomas and Rosie were allowed to start dating, but he wasn't permitted to even think about putting a crow on her until after she graduated from High school, and even then, wasn't allowed to ask Juice for her hand until she graduated from college.

So after all that time and all that waiting, nearly a year after she graduated from nursing school, little Rosie Ortiz was finally going to marry the only man she would ever love, Thomas Teller.

As Gracie smoothed down the dark green silk of her knee length dress, she looked around the church and smiled. Everyone that they loved had shown up to be a part of Thomas and Rosie's wedding. Chibs, Bobby, and Tig were outside the door each smoking a few cigarettes before they had to come inside. Kozik, Nero, and Jax were in the corner catching up with J.J. and Abel. Tara was in the front of the church with Thomas, sharing a quiet moment before the ceremony. Opie and Lyla were trying to teach their two grandkids, Kenny's daughters, how to walk down the aisle since they were going to be the flower girls, and Venus and Ellie Winston were handing out programs and making everyone sign the guestbook.

Then Gracie sighed when a small ache formed in her chest, sadly realizing that the only one missing today was Happy…

Hap had worked just as hard as the rest of his brothers to make Samcro and the rest of the MC legitimate, but after about five years, he started to get restless. There was just too much outlaw inside of him for Happy to ever be contented staying in one place. So with Jax's permission, he opted for the freedom of life on the road.

Happy found peace once again as soon as his tires hit the highway, and after a couple of years away from Charming, he became President of the Nomad charter. Long ago, when Jax had once thought about jumping charters, the Nomads had been thought of as a last resort; just a place for those lost souls to go who couldn't or wouldn't adhere to the laws of a permanent charter. But under Happy's leadership, a Nomad patch became something to be proud of, something that only the bravest and most dedicated brothers had the honor of wearing.

For those first few years before he left Samcro, Hap was a constant presence in Juice and Gracie's life. He was Juice's brother, one of Gracie's closest friends, and J.J. and Rosie both thought he was a superhero. So when he decided to leave, it broke all their hearts, but he never stayed gone for too long.

Every year for 15 years straight, Happy showed up on Gracie and Juice's doorstep for his birthday. He didn't have to call first or let them know he was coming. They just knew that, no matter where he was or what he was doing, Happy would be there that day. His annual visits were always the same. J.J. and Rosie would tackle him, asking their favorite uncle a million questions about his exciting, dangerous life on the road. Then Hap and Gracie would drive to Bakersfield to put flowers on his mother's grave. And finally, when evening fell, they would head back to the house where they would all eat the ropa vieja and tres leches cake that Maria had taught Gracie to make for Hap all those years ago.

So five years ago, when Happy's birthday came and went and he never arrived at their door, Gracie knew in her heart that something was wrong. She called Jax immediately, who got in touch with some other Nomads, and it was only a matter of hours before they all got the news; Happy Lowman, at the age of 62, had laid down his bike on a highway during an ice storm somewhere north of Tacoma, when a car had spun out of control and run him off the road. He had died instantly.

It was only three days after Hap's passing that Gracie received a letter in the mail, and even after all this time, she remembered every word…

Dear Gracie,

I gave this letter to my lawyer a long time ago, and told him to send it to you in case of my death. So if you're reading this, I guess the life I've led has finally caught up to me. I just hope I went out on my bike. That's the only way I've ever wanted to go.

I want you to know that I've lived the life I wanted, and I have no regrets. I was meant to be a Son and spend my days on the road, just like you were meant to live yours with Juice and the kids. There's just always been something inside of me, something dark, that prevented me from ever settling down and having a normal life. I know you've seen that part of me, too.

But since I'm gone now and no harm can come of it, I just need you to know that, if I could have ever settled down for anyone, it would have been for you.

I've loved you since the day we met.

So it might not be much, but everything I have, I leave to you.

Always Yours,

Happy

Gracie was still lost in thought when she heard someone come up behind her and felt a pair of strong, familiar arms wrap themselves firmly around her waist. Then soft, full lips were showering a trail of kisses up and down the length of her neck.

"You smell so fucking good, Mrs. Ortiz." Juice leaned in a little closer and sighed at the scent of vanilla and coconut that had become one of his favorite addictions over the last 28 years.

Then he just smiled in awe as Gracie turned around in his arms and he caught sight of her face. The ever present blush was on her cheeks, emphasizing her beautiful ivory skin, all set against an emerald colored dress that lightly clung to her curves and set off her gorgeous sea green eyes and coppery auburn hair.

So fucking pretty. Juice took her face in his hands and barely brushed his lips against hers. And when he slowly pulled away, she was beaming.

Gracie lost herself for a moment as she looked at her husband, constantly surprised by the fact that, even after all these years, his smile still made her dizzy. She reached up and straightened the collar of his dress shirt before running her hands down the front of his kutte. "How's are girl doing?" She knew that he had been talking with Rosie in the bridal room, trying to calm their daughter's nerves.

Juice smiled wider. "She's perfect, just like her mother."

He just shook his head as he watched his wife roll her eyes. "I mean it, Gracie. Take a look around us." They both glanced around the church and at all their family and friends gathered around them, before Juice took both of her hands. "This life I have, this beautiful, amazing life with our friends and family and kids…it's all because of you. You gave me everything, sweetheart."

Gracie blinked happy tears away as she stared up at the love of her life, shaking her head softly before leaning forward and giving him a slow, sweet kiss. "We gave it to each other."

She placed her arms around his neck and found his lips once more, but this time when they kissed, they lost themselves. It was intimate and deep and passionate, reflecting every bit of love the two had shared since the morning they first met what seemed like a lifetime ago.

Juice could never get enough of her; her taste, her touch, and the simple light that shined around him whenever he was in her presence. So as he felt his body start to react to her, he tightened the hold he had around her waist, pulled back just slightly, and flashed his flirtiest smile. "You know, we've got a little time before the ceremony starts. Why don't you come out back with me and let me show you how I can still ride you as much as my Harley?"

Juice just laughed as he watched his woman turn beet red before hiding her face in her hands. "Do you have to say stuff like that, Ortiz?"

He couldn't help but grin as he reached for her wrists and gently pulled her hands down. Yep, still fucking adorable. Then he just gave her a gentle kiss and smiled. "I love you, Gracie Jane."

She could only smile back. "I love you too, Juan Carlos. Forever."

The End